Quickie:

SassyLostie - Well of course they're treating the baby as an item. Neither really know what to do, and they're afraid. But they do know that their chances are wearing thin. P.S. - Kidney. I'm not going to let you live that down, you know. Hehehe.
LordXwee - I know how it's pronounced. And yeah it makes me laugh. I'm weird. I know. It's me, not you. P
bonboni - I know I didn't do well with Cassidy's character. Something I realized too late. I wish I could have made her more human before I posted but...oh well. And about them giving up on the kid. They certainly CAN...but it's a question of whether they WILL.
Mathildou - Again, did a poor job with Cass's character. As for the decision, where did you assume it's been made? I guess you'll see your mistake soon...hehehe.

Now, I know it seems like it's been a long wait. I'm sorry to have to say get used to it. I've been updating on another site and now you guys are finally caught up with them. So I'm going to try and keep to updating both sites at the same time. On the other site, the restriction for updates was one every 5-7 days. Right now, it's the same for you all too. Again, freebies are a possibility. I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience or anything, but the story isn't fully finished yet and I don't want to run out of chapters.

Also, I was recently asked by a reader via MSN how long this story would be. Right now, my ballpark estimate is about 60 chapters. Might be more. Might be less. But around 60. Figured I'd let you all know.

So...Yayyyy everyone likes Clementine! Good! Sorry this chapter's a bit on the short side.

Chapter 45

Sawyer and Kate remained on the couch after Cassidy left, in silence. Neither knew what would come when Clementine found out her mother had abandoned her. They could only hope for the best. But why was it that hoping for the best didn't seem to leave them with much hope at all? Maybe from experience with Aaron. Or so Kate was thinking. She looked up at Sawyer, and his expression was pained.

"Hey," she said softly to gain his attention. When he looked up, she said, "It's going to be okay."

"If she's as like me as Cassidy says, it ain't gonna be okay, Freckles."

"Well, we'll just have to deal with it in our way."

"And what way is that?"

Kate sighed. "I don't know."

"Right."

"Give me a break," she smiled slightly. "I'm trying to help. And don't you dare tell me not to."

"Wasn't gonna," he smirked.

"Good."

Clementine, having been present for the whole conversation between her parents and Kate, finally came out from her hiding spot – the top of the stairs. Slowly, she made her way to the bottom, and stood thoughtfully before them. Sawyer looked up at her, bemused.

"Can I help you?"

"Mommy left," she said.

"Yeah. Yeah she did."

"She'll be back though," Kate added, gently.

"I know."

"She's not leaving you here for good."

"I know."

"She will be back."

"I know. When Summer's over."

"Right…"

"She said 'bye' already."

"She did?" both Sawyer and Kate asked.

"Yeah. When you were outside." She paused, looking around. "Do you got any toys?"

"Wait," Sawyer spoke up. "So, you're okay with this?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"And how's she s'posed to be like me, exactly?" he whispered to Kate.

She laughed silently. "Did you bring any toys with you?"

"Just my tea set," she said, smiling widely at Sawyer.

"Oh no. I ain't doin' that now."

"We could play with my baby doll!" she cried, running to her bags. "Her name's Emily. Come on, Baby Emily. Let's go see Daddy."

Sawyer glanced at Kate, helplessly. Unfortunately, she seemed to be too amused by the situation to notice his dread. And then she came at him – the three foot terror armed with a pink plastic baby, whose rosy cheeks were brighter than the pink jumpsuit it wore and were coincidentally dotted with freckles.

He felt fear pounding in his chest as he envisioned the doll taking on a life of its own, crying and drooling and cooing. And, oh! The freckles – they reminded him of Kate, but then, it was his and Kate's child that was in Clementine's hands. And suddenly, he couldn't breathe.

Before he could stop himself, his arm thrust and his hand smacked the doll out of his daughter's arms and onto the floor. The loud thud it created snapped him out of his trance. He got up and walked out to the back yard for a much needed breath of air, and a much needed cigarette. Shocked, Kate stared after him, disregarding the appalled look on Clementine's face for the moment.

"Why'd he do that?" Clementine whined.

"Um…" Kate trailed. "Clementine, I'll be right back, okay?"

Without waiting to hear Clementine's answer, Kate got up and followed Sawyer outside. He was sitting on the swing, smoking a cigarette faster than she'd seen before. She hung onto the side of the swing, and looked down at him, but he wouldn't look up at her.

"What was that about?" she said softly.

He said nothing, and only continued to smoke. She stared at him, waiting, but got no response.

"James?"

Finally, he looked up at her, but a moment later, his eyes were back on the trees. Frustrated, she stopped the swing from moving. Still, Sawyer refused to look up at her.

"Sawyer, talk to me."

"I don't wanna talk, Freckles."

"Why not?"

"Just…forget it," he said, in a repressed voice.

She let go of the swing and walked in front of him, rolling her eyes.

"Sawyer, just tell me."

For a split second, she caught a glimpse of his eyes – they were filled to the brim with fear.

"What is your problem?"

"Nothin'."

"You can't just hit a doll out of your daughter's hands and expect me to think nothing of it." She quickly grew agitated. "Hey! Would you please look at me?"

"Just…leave me alone, all right?!" he snapped.

"No. I won't leave you alone. Not until you tell me what it is that – "

"I can't do this!" he said, loudly.

"Do what?" she peered.

In response, he looked at her stomach. She saw it and, too, looked down at it. Then, she looked back at him.

"You don't want to have it."

He sighed. "No."

She kneeled in front of him. "That's it?"

He exhaled, looking down again, and so did Kate.

"You know," she started. "No one said we had to do this."

"I know that," he muttered. "But my word can't be the final one."

"No." She looked up at him. "But I'm not going to make you do something if you don't want to."

"Don't do that, Freckles," he said, finally meeting her eyes.

"Do what?"

"Make the decision 'cause of what I said."

She shook her head. "Why shouldn't – "

"It ain't up to me. It's up to us."

She looked down, smiling. "Wouldn't have expected that from you. Not after everything I've put you through."

He smiled, slightly. "Well, lucky for you, I'm nowhere near as bad as you."

"Oh really?" she laughed.

"Hell, I might be bad. But you're worse."

"I'll remember that," she teased.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Grinning, she stood again and walked toward the doors. But she stopped herself, and turned toward him again.

"Just wait until tonight."

"That a threat, Sassafras?"

"Let's just say you better be fond of that couch."

He scowled as she walked back inside. Instantly, he got up, following her in.

"Now hang on a tick," he called after her.

Just out of the doorway to the living room, Kate turned around, and leaned against it, waiting for him to go on. He slowly walked over toward her.

"I'd be careful of what you say, James," she said challengingly. "Your daughter's right behind me."

He glanced over her shoulder and spotted Clementine sitting on the couch with 'Baby Emily'. He grunted in defeat.

"Fine. But it'll be your loss, sweetheart."

She laughed. "A nice big bed all to myself? I'd hardly call that a loss."

"You'll see," he said, brushing by her.

Glancing over her shoulder, she watched him join Clementine on the couch, puzzled by his last comment.