Chapter 65

After a little while of talking and teasing, and discussing what would happen when Mason was brought home, the door opened to interrupt them. Dr. Park walked slowly in, cradling a blanket that was Mason in her arms.

"I think it's time he met his mom," she smiled.

Kate took a deep breath, her heart practically leaping out of her chest. This was the defining moment - or at least one of them. She sat up straighter, trying to steady her pulse. As she laid her arms out, Dr. Park lowered Mason into them. Kate held him gently, staring down at his blue green eyes – Sawyer's eyes. A few small brown curls covered his head. There was no sign of freckles, but she knew he would get them. For the first time, as she held her son in her arms, Kate wasn't afraid.

Sawyer leaned closer and slid his finger under Mason's tiny ones. When he looked up at Kate, he saw tears rolling slowly down her smiling face. She was staring at him in wonderment. And it wasn't a surprise. He was a good looking baby, Sawyer thought. He leaned back again and looked at the bigger picture of Kate holding their baby.

"Well how 'bout that," he said to himself.

"Congratulations," Dr. Park said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Though he would normally have found a way to shrug her off his shoulder with a snide comment, he was too intently focused on Kate. She couldn't stop watching Mason. And while he knew it was just because he was their little miracle, Sawyer realized that Kate was letting go of her fear and embracing their future. And that was a miracle in itself.

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Within the next few days at the hospital, several friends – and foes – stopped by to see Kate and the baby. And Sawyer.

Charlie and Claire flew there with Aaron, bringing a few hand-me-downs with them. They stayed for two days, driving Sawyer up the wall, but helped out in their own way, especially with the hand-me-downs. Kate and Sawyer hadn't really thought of stocking up on the necessities.

Jack and Allison were back and forth every few days for the week Kate was there. Allison crooned over how "adorable" Mason was and made subtle hints to Jack. Sawyer made sure to be in the room at those times. He always spitefully enjoyed their visits.

Cassie stopped by once or twice to see Mason and give her congratulations. She always brought a cooked meal from the diner for Kate, claiming that "hospital food ain't nothin to live off of!"

Cassidy and Clementine were the only other visitors. They were the quietest visitors, even despite Clementine. She would tell Mason stories promising to teach him everything she knew. Cassidy stood awkwardly, watching, not exactly sure what to say. Until one day – the last day Kate and Mason would stay at the hospital, and the last day Clementine would be there – Cassidy asked to speak to Sawyer outside of the room. As he closed the door behind them, she exhaled.

"He's a beautiful baby," she started.

"Thanks," Sawyer said after a pause.

"Look, I just…I want to thank you. For lettin' Clemmy into your life."

He raised his eyebrows. "Sure."

"It means a lot."

Sawyer leaned back against the wall. "She's my kid."

Cassidy nodded. "Our kid." Before he could speak, she continued. "I'm not askin' for nothin'. Just sayin'." After a pause, she said, "Just promise me you won't hurt her?"

"Excuse me?"

"I don't…I don't want her to know what happened between us. And…I don't want to see you walk away from her again."

"Am I walkin' away right now?"

"No," she said after a long silence. "You're not."

"And I'm not gonna," he turned back facing the door and turned the doorknob.

"If you do, don't expect to come back."

"Thanks, Dimples," he grinned coldly, walking back into the room.

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Later that evening, Kate and Mason were both released. Gravel crunched under the tires as Sawyer pulled the truck up to the house. Kate looked back and saw Mason start to wake up. When they got out, Kate lifted him into her arms, ready to take him to first set his eyes on their home.

"Ready to see home, Big Guy?" Sawyer said to him.

Kate smiled. "Here we go," she said softly as they walked in the door.

The house was cleaner than Kate had seen it before. Her eyes widened almost as much as Mason's as they looked around.

"When did you find the time to do this?" she asked Sawyer.

"Durin' the non-visiting hours," he smirked.

"You sure you didn't just hire a maid?" she teased.

"Yeah. And I paid her in all kinds a ways."

"Not funny," she glanced sideways at him.

He chuckled as Kate rounded the couch toward the stairs.

"Where you goin?"

"I think he's still tired," she explained. "I'm gonna feed him and put him down to sleep."

Sawyer nodded and watched them disappear. He looked around then sat on the couch, sighing. It was good to be home…

As he reached for the remote for the TV, he heard Kate's voice speaking to Mason as she set him down to sleep. She was reading none other than "The Three Little Pigs" to him. Sawyer smiled despite himself, and decided then and there that he would later on burn that book. Memories of Aaron flooded back, and with that, came an entire recollection of his life since Kate.

Without intending it, she had changed his life completely. He went from the closed off, badass, confidence man to a slightly more vulnerable, and slightly less badass man with confidence. She had brought him back to life without even realizing it. When he was on that island, his life was nothing and he wanted nothing more than to kill or be killed. Then she found his letter, called his bluff, and for the first time, he had found a woman with a refreshing attitude and ironically similar past. And she found the James inside his Sawyer.

His thoughts were instantly interrupted by the footsteps down the stairs. She let out a sigh of relief and sat beside him. Almost as a reflex, he put his arm around her and she nestled in.

"He good?" he asked.

"He's good," she nodded. "What about you?"

"Better than ever, Freckles," he dimpled.

"Yeah? What were you doin' down here all that time?"

He shook his head. "Just thinking."

He got quiet again, and she wondered what he had been thinking about. About Mason? Maybe he was wondering about what to do with Mason. She was sure he'd be fine. He would probably be a better father than he thought. After all, he had done pretty well dealing with everything she had put him through. And she put him through a lot. He had put up with everything on the island AND with her antics with Jack. He had somehow forgiven her for everything with Damien, being a better man than she could ever imagine. And then there were her mood swings and the entire pregnancy. She was never ungrateful for anything he had done or dealt with. And she always let him know how much she appreciated him and loved him, in her own way.

Somehow, even though there was a great deal of tension and disdain between them at the start, they had created a relationship – no – a love that could survive anything. What with their criminal backgrounds and insecurities life was always hectic and dramatic. But that was how they worked best. He did his part, she did hers. They got through it all together. She loved him. And he loved her. She smiled and finished Sawyer's line: And that was that.

When she looked up at Sawyer again, he seemed to have been deep in thought as well. He looked down at her and before she could say anything, he leaned down, cupped her face, and kissed her, gently and lovingly.

"What was that for?" she asked when he broke away.

He didn't answer, just dimpled and gazed into her eyes. And again, he kissed her. This time, she broke away, but with a smile.

"You know what happens when we do this."

"I was bettin' on it," he smirked, and they lowered into the couch.

It truly was an adventure with all the twists and turns, and the roller coaster ride through the many obstacles thrown their way. But it had been an adventure from the very beginning when they first met on the island. Back when Jack was a threat and island monsters were on the hunt. Fast forward to when all hope of getting back to each other seemed lost and when Ally suddenly appeared on the doorstep. And now? Well, now the adventure would only continue with Mason.

Would they truly live "happily ever after"? Who cared.

THE END

(Yes, for real this time.)