You guys and these funny feelings. "Wait, is it really Cassidy and Clementine?" I must have done a real number on you all. And I can't help but giggle...

Chapter 42

Those few steps from the stairs to the door were the longest few steps Sawyer had ever taken. His heart pounded in his chest with fear. In a moment's time, he would go from being Sawyer to 'daddy'. The door was the only thing stopping the transformation from taking place – a thin plank of wood held up by hinges, and that was all. He heard Kate's footsteps as she slowly walked down the rest of the stairs, and knew he had to stop stalling. He reached for the knob and pulled the door open to see Cassidy and...no one else. Sawyer glanced around then back at her.

"She's hidin'," Cassidy explained.

And for a split second, he saw a flash of blonde hair by Cassidy's thigh.

"You gonna let us in, or are we gonna be standin' out here all day?"

Sawyer moved aside and let them in. Clementine clung to her mother, not sparing a glance at him, so he could only see the back of her head. Cassidy stopped when she saw Kate by the staircase.

"Hi, Kate," she greeted.

"Hi."

Sawyer closed the door and they all stood awkwardly. He cleared his throat.

"Sit, if you like."

And Cassidy did, Clementine sitting behind her a ways from Sawyer.

"Why don't you sit too, James? You're not so scary that way," Cassidy said softly so Clementine couldn't hear.

Kate and Sawyer exchanged a glance, both surprised to hear Cassidy say his name. Sawyer forgot she had known and it made things ten times as awkward. He sat down and Kate stood behind him, putting a comforting hand over his. He took hold of it instantly.

"C'mere, pumpkin," Cassidy said, lifting Clementine onto her lap. "There's someone I want you to meet."

Sawyer looked on, finally getting a full view of Clementine. Her wavy blonde hair curved around her face and ended at her shoulders. It was a darker blonde than his, he realized. Cassidy was right about her eyes, though. He felt like he was looking in a mirror in her eyes. They were the same color, same shape, and filled with fear. Did that mean he was as scared as she was then? Or was she as scared as he?

"Clemmy, this is your father," Cassidy said softly.

They stared at each other, curiously. Clementine looked up at her mother in disbelief.

"Say somethin'," Cassidy quietly urged him.

"Uh…hi."

He saw Cassidy roll her eyes, but at the same time felt his hand squeezed by Kate's.

"It's okay," he felt her breath on his neck.

"That's my daddy?" he heard Clementine whisper to Cassidy.

"Sure is. Ya'll have the same eyes, did you see?"

Clementine looked at Sawyer again, and stared.

"And you know those cute little dimples you get when you laugh? He's got 'em too."

Then, Cassidy began to tickle her and she erupted with laughter. Sawyer took the moment to glance up at Kate and she put on a small comforting smile. He looked down. When she finally calmed down, Clementine looked at him again, shyly.

"What's your name?" Clementine said quietly.

He thought for a moment – there was no use in telling her his name was 'Sawyer'. Cassidy would put up a fight anyway.

"James."

"How old are you?"

"Pretty old," he said with a sigh. "How old are you?"

"I'm six."

Sawyer's eyebrows rose. It had really been that long?

"I just graduated Kindergarten."

"Well, how 'bout that?"

Clementine looked down, seemingly out of questions for the moment. Mackenzie walked over, spying Clementine. She jumped when he hopped onto the arm of the couch next to her, clinging to her mother.

"It's just a cat, baby," Cassidy explained. "It ain't gonna hurt you."

"He's a very nice cat," Kate added.

Clementine looked at Kate now, appearing to just realize her presence.

"What's his name?" she asked hesitantly.

"His name's Mackenzie," Kate told her, lifting Mackenzie in her arms. She pet him a few times then spied Clementine watching. "Do you wanna hold him?"

Clementine looked up at her mother for her approval – Cassidy nodded. She put her arms out to take the cat. She held him carefully at first until he eased into her arms comfortably. Thoughtfully, she stroked his back and he began to purr. She smiled up at her mother, taking a liking to her new friend.

"Does he have any brothers or sisters?"

"No," Kate answered. "We found him all by himself."

"Where was his mommy and daddy?"

"I don't know."

"Are you his mommy now?"

"I guess you could say that."

She looked at Sawyer now. "And you're his daddy?"

He shrugged. "Sure."

Her little eyebrows creased. "Does that mean he's my brother?"

They all laughed. Cassidy explained to her that Mackenzie was not, in fact, her brother. It took her a few minutes to understand, but once she did, the room fell silent again. Kate pulled her hand from Sawyer's grasp, having an idea. He looked up at her, bewildered. Since when did he say she could let go?

"Would you like anything to drink, Clementine?" Kate asked. "Or maybe a snack?"

"Juice, please."

"Sure." She paused. "Cassidy, do you think you could give me a hand?"

After a moment, Cassidy caught on and rose from her seat. Sawyer stared after Kate begrudgingly. He wouldn't let her get away with this, later. He turned back, facing Clementine now. She was swinging her feet over the ledge of the couch. He sighed, knowing he was stuck, and decided he had to give into it.

"So…" he started, uncertainly. She looked up at him with bright eyes. "What, uh, what kinda things…do you like?"

"I don't know," she said, shyly.

"You don't know?"

She smiled a little. "I don't know."

"Well what kinda toys do you play with?"

"I have dollies."

"'Dollies'," he mimicked. That was something he'd need to ease into...very slowly.

"Do you know how to play tea party?"

"Tea party…?" he grimaced. "I guess."

"Wanna play with me?"

"Now?"

"No," she giggled. "Later."

"Maybe."

"But you have to wear a hat and necklaces, okay?"

"What??"

"You can't go to a tea party in regular clothes. You hafta dress up."

"Why do I gotta dress up in a hat and necklaces then?"

"What else are you gonna dress up in?"

"Can't I wear what I got on now?"

"Nu-uh. You have to be fancy."

"I have to?" he smirked.

"Yes. You do."

He sighed. "You're a trip, you know that?"

She swung her feet again, but stopped abruptly.

"My shoe's untied," she said, simply.

"So tie it up."

"I don't know how to yet."

He sighed and slapped his knee. "Put 'er here."

Clementine turned sideways so she could raise her foot to his knee. She watched, intrigued, as he tied the shoe in a few quick movements.

"There. Good as new."

"How'd you do that?"

"What? Your mama hasn't shown you?"

"She ties it differently. With two bunny ears."

"Bunny ears??" he shook his head. "That's the pansy way to do it."

"What's a pansy?"

"Uh…Well…" he paused, then grinned. "Ask your mother."

In the kitchen, meanwhile, Cassidy and Kate stood away from the doorway, talking quietly.

"What do you think so far?" Kate asked.

"To tell you the truth, I'm surprised he's takin' to her so easily."

"Well, maybe he realized it was time to man up."

Cassidy peered, smiling. "You had somethin' to do with it, didn't you?"

Kate laughed. "I might have given him a little push."

"Well, that's more than I could ever do."

"She's taking to him pretty easily, too, you know."

"That's to be expected though. They're two of a kind, you know?"

"Why's that?"

"You wouldn't believe how like him she is. She's stubborn as ever."

Kate smiled. "That sounds about right."

"Got a good heart though, she does."

"So does he."

"Yeah. I'm startin' to realize that. But I'm guessin' you had something to do with that as well."

Kate looked down, flushing. "I don't know if you could say that…"

"Quit bein' so modest, wouldja? He was never like this with me."

"Why does that mean that I changed him then?"

"Cause it wasn't 'til he met you that he changed."

"How could you be so sure? You haven't seen him in – "

"I haven't seen him since I visited him in prison. But that wasn't too long before he was on that plane of yours."

"What makes you think it was me? There were forty other people on that island."

"And you're the one he wound up with."

Kate stared at her, then looked away.

"I think there's something you should know, Cassidy."