Quickie:

LostSista - Well, they wouldn't be Sawyer and Kate if they weren't, would they? I have to make sure to keep them as in character as possible. Hopefully I'm still doing a good job at it.
bonboni - Yep. She got it, but didn't want it. So what does that tell you?
HannyHan - Ooh new person - shiiinny! Hehe. Anyway, glad to hear I am keeping your interest.
LockeFan - More new person! Locke is indeed great, but I don't see anywhere for him to fit in this story. I'm almost certain - and I'll check after this - that I mentioned he stayed on the island in..."Like a Boomerang". Sorry. Glad you like the fic though!

Okay. Is that it? Yeah. That's it. I'm diggin' the more reviewers thing. (I mean compared to some who have..oh..100 reviews for only 11 chapters, I shouldn't be even opening my mouth. But oh well:-P ) You all know I love you right? Bah. Of course you know.

Anyhoot...you knew it was coming!

Chapter 28

Sawyer awoke the next morning in the guest room of Charlie and Claire's apartment. He turned over expecting to see Kate beside him, but instead, he only saw bed. After giving himself a few minutes to wake up, he walked out of the room to find Kate. He heard Claire's voice which was coming from the nursery.

"He likes to hear a story every night before he goes to sleep," she was saying. "So I've put a few of his favorite books in the bag."

"Okay," he heard Kate say.

Confused, he walked to the nursery and stood in the doorway. Kate wore an uneasy expression on her face. She was staring at Aaron who was standing in his crib, holding his wolf. Claire, on the other hand, was packing a few things into a very colorful bag.

"I usually put him to bed between seven thirty, and eight o'clock."

"Seven thirty, eight. Got it," Kate said.

Sawyer cleared his throat making his presence known. Kate turned around, eyes wide, and Claire looked up. Neither said a word.

"Morning," he finally said.

"Good morning, Sawyer," Claire said cautiously.

He stared at Kate whose wide eyes were instantly filling with guilt. He began to wonder why. She walked over to him and took a hold of his arm.

"I need to talk to you," she said quietly, pulling him out of the room.

He let her lead him back into their room and shut the door. This wasn't a good sign, he decided. But then again, it was never a good sign when she needed to talk to him.

"What's goin' on, Freckles?"

"I need you to promise me something," she started.

He already didn't like where this was going.

"Promise you, what, exactly?"

"You can't get mad, okay?"

This was an argument in itself already, he realized. What had she done now?

"Mad about what?"

She took a deep breath. "I kind of promised Claire we'd do her a favor."

"What kinda favor?" he asked, his anger already brewing.

"Well, you know, they're leaving for their honeymoon tomorrow."

"Why don't you quit beatin' around the bush and just tell me?"

She nodded, slowly. "I said we'd babysit Aaron while they were gone."

He stared at her, incredulously. "You did what!?" he said loudly.

"Sawyer, please," she said quietly.

"And you weren't gonna even ask me about this!?"

"I couldn't just say 'no'."

"Like hell, you couldn't!"

He turned away from her, walking toward the balcony. He couldn't believe that she'd done that behind his back.

"It's only for four days. You can handle that, can't you?"

"What if I had plans for when we got home!?"

She laughed. "Plans?"

He opened the door and walked outside, taking out his cigarettes. She sat on the bed, looking down guiltily.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"Why the hell would you go and do somethin' like that?"

"I was put on the spot. I wasn't going to tell her we couldn't, when really, we could!"

"We? It was never about we. You did this all on your own, sweetheart!"

"I thought it would be nice to help!" she said, quickly getting angry.

"You thought it would be nice? To bring that damn kid into my house!?"

She stared at him, hurt. "Your house? Now it's your house again?"

"Well it ain't gonna be our house if we can't make decisions."

She looked away from him, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Damn hormones, she thought.

"Fine," she said, trying to keep her breathing steady.

He turned around in time to see her get up and leave the room, wiping her eyes. He sighed and tossed the half-smoked cigarette over the ledge.

"Son of a bitch."

Kate and Sawyer didn't speak the rest of that morning, nor even spare a passing glance at each other. Sawyer was still angry, Kate was hurt. They packed their luggage in silence, ignoring each other's presence in the room. Charlie and Claire had taken notice, but decided not to press the issue and kept to themselves.

Soon, they were all boarding the plane. Sawyer grabbed the window seat. Knowingly, Charlie took a seat next to him, and Claire settled Aaron between him and her. Kate sat in the isle seat. Sawyer stared out the window for a while, letting his angered thoughts get the better of him. Kate snuck a few glances at him before she was forced to close her eyes in an attempt to sleep. Why did being pregnant have to make you so tired? she wondered. She sighed, trying to get comfortable but, within an hour, she felt the morning sickness she'd been due for. She unbuckled her belt and made her way quickly to the nearest bathroom.

Sawyer watched her out of the corner of his eye. After a good twenty minutes, he started to wonder about her. He turned his head to look and see if she was coming out yet, but only saw a young girl standing near the doorway, apparently waiting for the bathroom to open again. Feeling compelled to go and check on her, and also in need of a bathroom himself, he unbuckled his own belt and carefully made his way out to the isle. He brushed past the girl and went into the empty men's room.

Kate, meanwhile, had just finished washing her face. She didn't know if it was her raging hormones or not, but after getting sick, she couldn't stop the flow of her tears. She'd finally just calmed down and after looking in the mirror, decided she looked good enough to go. She opened the door to go back to her seat and almost jumped when she saw Sawyer coming out of the bathroom across from her. She moved out of the way to let the little girl use the bathroom, then got caught in Sawyer's gaze once more. He sighed and started to walk past her.

"When are you gonna stop being angry at me, Sawyer?" she asked softly, her voice still pained.

He stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly. His eyes shot through her, stingingly.

"I already said I was sorry," she tried, desperately. "Would you please – "

"Now ain't the time, Freckles," he said in a low, angry voice.

As he turned away again, she grabbed his arm. "James…" she said quietly.

That seemed to anger him more. She had to look down, unable to take the glares he was shooting at her.

"Later," he told her and turned away again.

Aggravated, she decided she wouldn't let him get away with it.

"James!" she called, louder.

She watched him tense up and sigh exasperatedly before turning around to face her. This time, she was ready for his cold stare. Before he could say something, the little girl walked out again. She looked up at them, then walked slowly away, watching over her shoulder. Kate sighed and pulled Sawyer into the ladies room with her. The confined bathroom made it hard for them to move away from each other. They were almost close enough to feel each other's heart beating.

"What do you want, Kate?" he said bitingly, taking a step back from her.

"Just stop, Sawyer!" she cried, feeling tears welling up again. She turned away, agitated, trying to hide them. Damnit, she thought.

"Right here, and right now, Freckles - this ain't the time or place for this."

"I don't care," she turned around sharply.

"We'll talk when we get home," he urged. "The flight's almost over, and – "

"Why do you always have to be mad at me?!" She stared at him, her eyes burning with livid tears.

He wasn't going to let her tears affect him, however – not this time. His glare only hardened.

"Every time I try to do something, it always has to annoy you and you have to make everything about you," she said, shoving him backward.

He took a step forward again, hovering over her. "Well maybe if you decided to ask me once in a while instead of goin' behind my back – "

"I thought I could help!"

"Well you thought wrong."

"And I've come to terms with that. I just wish you would!"

"You can't just decide to bring these people into my house and think I'll be okay with it!"

"It's our house, Sawyer - our house!"

"Really?" he sneered. "Was that our decision?"

She stared at him furiously. Why did he have to be so stubborn, and yet, so desirable at the same time? She wanted to kill her damn hormones.

Sawyer shook his head. "It doesn't even matter. You got what you wanted, Princess. I hope you're happy."

He tried to leave but she moved to block the door.

"I'm not!" she said, frustrated. "Can't you see that!?"

"What the hell do you want me to say!? That I'm sorry!? I'm not. I got nothin' to be sorry for!"

She turned away from him, tears pouring at full force now. She had to choke back a sob. As he tried to leave again, his arms just brushed against hers. She turned around sharply, grabbing his right arm.

"No!"

"Get off me, Freckles!"

He wrestled his arm out of her grasp, then seized her arms, trying to move her out of the way. She wriggled against his hold and fell back against the plastic sink. She stood upright again and forced him against the wall of the tiny room. They were both panting now, snarling, practically. She saw his eyes burned with fury, matching her own.

Kate grabbed his shirt in her fists and pulled him to her in an angry, forceful kiss. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and she had to break the kiss to gasp in pain. She glared up at him and dug her nails into his chest, kissing him again. He lifted her, turning around to force her against the wall now. Her hands wandered up into his hair, and around his head, her nails scratching and fingers tugging. He gripped her waist, forcing her shirt up slightly and started to unbutton her pants. She forced her body against him, causing him to stumble back against the opposite wall.

She broke the kiss to look down as she started unbuttoning his jeans. He looked down too, watching. She looked up and kissed him again, hungrily. He lifted her, and she latched her legs around his waist. Again, he turned them both around so she would be against the wall again. Her back slammed into the wall causing her to bite down on his lower lip. He pulled back sharply and she grabbed tightly onto his arms, spitefully. He pressed her against the wall harder and entered her.

As he roughly thrust, his hands carelessly wandered, explored her clothed body, and slid up her neck. He mischievously rested his thumbs beneath her lobes and lightly massaged, knowing exactly how it would affect her.

Her body was suddenly overcome by a pleasurable feeling and she felt numb with bitter delight. She kissed him again, furiously. He broke away sending kisses down her neck and dipped his head low as he started down her chest, shoving her shirt down lower. She was gasping for air but that was soon cut short as he encompassed her parted lips with his own and dove his tongue inside. She moaned in ecstasy, her eyes forcing themselves closed. She bit gently into his lip again and tugged it lightly.

The plane suddenly interrupted them and began to shake. Sawyer saw Kate's eyes fly open, widely and exchanged a worried glance. The plane shook again and Kate started to slide on the wall. Sawyer held onto her, and they waited. Three minutes later, the plane was normal again. Kate looked down, her eyes closed, forcing herself to breathe. The turbulence had stopped…