Chapter 3.

Kate felt Claire's hand go limp. The baby was wailing and Kate wanted to, too. How could this stranger put this upon her? Kate looked at Jack through her tear-filled eyes and then looked at the baby, at Aaron. Jack looked more wrecked than the plane outside the tent and Charlie just stood there for a moment before patting his pockets and hurriedly exiting the tent.

"Give him to me." Kate reached out for Aaron. Jack numbly placed the screaming baby into Kate's arms. Kate held him away for a moment as she took in the blood covered infant. He had very little hair, and his fingers were the smallest thing Kate had seen. Jack had wrapped him in an airline blanket, a scratchy fleece material, but better than nothing. Kate bounced Aaron and shushed him, trying her best to be maternal. Her mind raced as she rocked him.

"How are we going to feed him?" Kate asked Jack. Jack didn't look at her. Was he expecting the baby to follow his mother? No, Kate thought determined, this baby is going to make it.

Someone outside the tent was calling for Jack and he exited the tent as well. Kate was alone with the orphan and the corpse. Bile rose in Kate's throat as her anxiety surged. She couldn't feed this child, she didn't know how to care for a baby in the real world let alone on a deserted island. Kate had never even changed a diaper, and now she was expected to be a mother? Doubt swirled in Kate's head, but she clutched the infant close to her.

Doubt and determination. The true test of one's character. Kate had never been one to back down from a challenge. Hell, half of the challenges she had endured were of her own making. But this was entirely different. Kate's past was filled with pain, from her mother… from her… father, would she cause that same pain to Aaron?

****Flashback****

Kate was 17 when she took a pregnancy test for the first time. Kate was cursing herself for not being smart with her stupid boyfriend, but the real issue was making sure absolutely nobody knew. Kate had ridden her moped to the next town over to get the test, because she knew every cashier in her hometown in Iowa. She hadn't told anyone about her fear or the test, not even her stupid boyfriend, not even Tom, her best friend. Well, sort of best friend.

Tom and Kate had been thick as thieves until puberty. Then Tom started liking girls, and Kate was more consumed with planning her escape from Iowa. Throughout middle and high school, the pair still talked but not deeply like they used to. Kate was used to being alone, so she let him go. She cared for him more than just about anyone, but she wasn't going to force a friendship, she had enough to worry about.

BANG BANG BANG

"GET THE HELL OUT OF THE BATHROOM!" Wayne screamed at the door.

"Fuck off I need a minute!" Kate's hands were shaking as she waited for the results of the test.

"DO YOU WANT ME TO SHIT ON YOUR PILLOW, BITCH? I SAID GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM!"

Kate tucked the pregnancy test back into the box with the instructions, flattened the box as much as she could, and put the test down the front of her jeans. Glancing in the mirror, she pulled her shirt down but she knew it was noticeable. Yet, Wayne was already drunk off his ass at 4PM so Kate thought if she hurried past him, he wouldn't notice.

Opening the door, Wayne had his arm up ready to bang on the door once more, only to swing and narrowly miss Kate's arm. Kate glared at Wayne with vehement hatred then quickly rushed past him into her room. Wayne didn't have time to see the bulge of her jeans. Safe in her room, Kate pulled the box out from her pants, and nervously pulled the test out of the box.

Negative. Relief poured through Kate. She knew she never wanted kids, but especially not now, not here. She couldn't imagine anything worse.

****Flashback Ends****