Authors note: Wow, it's been ages since I last posted a new chapter, but I'm excited to finally dive back into this story—with four more chapters on the way! :) A huge thank you to everyone who's stuck around, kept reading, and sent me such thoughtful feedback. Your support means the world to me.

And a very special thanks to Erica for mentoring me through this one. Honestly, reading 'No notes' might just be the highlight of my week :). You already know how much I adore you, Queen!

She couldn't recall how they'd made it from the kitchen counter to Jack's bedroom, but somehow they'd ended up tangled together in his bed, exhausted and fully satisfied. She had to admit he had moves.

He pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms and gently stroking her until sleep finally overtook him, and he drifted off with her beside him.

Kate, however, couldn't sleep soon after the connection they'd experienced—a bond of intimacy that had left her feeling fulfilled in every possible way. She closed her eyes, only to find herself replaying her favorite moments: the warmth of Jack's bare skin pressed against hers, the way he'd held her so closely, his soft and tender touch exploring her with care. A quiet laugh escaped her as she relived some of those memories.

She couldn't help but wish they had reached this point sooner. Back when they'd returned from the island and spent a brief time living together under the roof of the Shephard family home, their relationship had been progressing well. They had been finding their rhythm, learning to coexist, and it had felt as though they were finally building something lasting. But then, just as everything seemed to be falling into place, Jack had pulled away after his father's service—abruptly and without any clear explanation.

"He was right. I had no idea what I was missing." She thought, as she savored the comfort of his embrace. "What now?"She wondered, a slight wave of uncertainty washing over her as she thought about what the future might hold.

This was, without a doubt, a turning point in their relationship, with no chance of going back, and she didn't regret it for a single second. She felt a deep sense of peace and joy about the choices they had made together, the decisions that had led them to apologize, open their hearts, truly communicate, and find a way forward. She was especially grateful that Jack had taken the first step to call her—not only to express his feelings, but also to tell her about Claire. He loved her completely; she could see it in every gesture, every glance, every small thing he did. And without a doubt, she loved him just as deeply.

Even so, she knew it would be best to take things slow and focus on enjoying what they were building together—not just for the sake of their relationship, but because she was a mother. Aaron was still so young, and Jack would need time to get to know him—not as the baby he knew anymore, but as the boy he was becoming—to connect with him and form a new bond in this evolving dynamic.

For now, she chose not to burden herself with thoughts of the future and instead focused on savoring the present.

Kate turned to face Jack, who was still asleep, his arms securely wrapped around her naked waist.

"Jack—" She whispered softly in his ear. "Jack, wake up." She insisted gently, her voice barely above a murmur.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze settling on Kate lying beside him, still wrapped securely in his arms as he woke.

"Hey." He mumbled drowsily, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey, you." She replied, her own smile mirroring his.

Jack closed his eyes again, falling into the pull of exhaustion as he drew her even closer, savoring the feeling of her warmth against him. He still couldn't believe she was really there—naked in his bed, smiling at him with those sparkling green eyes and the delicate freckles scattered across her face. After a brief struggle, he fully opened his eyes, meeting her gaze as his fingers gently brushed through her hair.

"I'm so in love with you, Kate." He confessed naturally, as though the words had always been a part of him.

Kate's heart seemed to skip a beat, and Jack noticed the way her fingers lightly brushed against his arm, as if anchoring herself to the moment.

It wasn't the first time Jack had laid his feelings bare, but it was the first time Kate felt she was in the right place, at the right moment, to tell him how she had always felt about him.

Jack watched as Kate stepped off the path and sat down to remove her shoes. For a moment, he thought something might have happened along the trail. "You ok?" He asked.

Kate glanced up to find Jack standing in front of her. Only minutes ago, she'd seen him kissing Juliet, and talking to him was the last thing she wanted to do. Avoiding his gaze, she dropped her eyes back to her shoe, focusing intently on it.

"Yeah, I just—I got a rock in my shoe." She said, adjusting her footwear. "It's name is Juliet." She could have easily added but kept it to herself.

Jack nodded and let out a small, casual smile. He glanced around as the rest of the group moved ahead, debating whether this might be the right moment to say something to Kate about what had just happened. Kate flicked her eyes up briefly, feeling a wave of discomfort as she watched Jack seemingly work up the courage to start a conversation.
Then, Jack crouched down beside her.

"He didn't mean it, you know?"

Kate heard him but took a moment to process what he was trying to say. When it didn't click, she frowned slightly and asked, "What?"

"Sawyer—" Jack clarified. "—When he said he didn't want you to come with him, he didn't mean it."

Kate replied with a sarcastic smile. "If he didn't mean it, then why did he say it?"

He understood, better than anyone, what it was like to watch Kate repeatedly put herself in danger. He had long accepted that Sawyer loved Kate and cared deeply for her, so it wasn't difficult for Jack to picture himself in Sawyer's place. He had been in that position before so many times. The real reason behind Sawyer's actions was clear to him—Sawyer wanted to shield Kate from unnecessary risks. He didn't want her coming along because he couldn't bear the thought of exposing her to danger.

"Um—trying to protect you." Jack said, his gaze fixed on the group moving ahead of him, deliberately avoiding eye contact with her.

Kate took a moment to weigh Jack's words. It didn't feel like he was speaking on Sawyer's behalf—it felt more like he was revealing his own feelings. She studied him, her mind flashing back to just a few days ago, when Jack had begged her not to come back for him. In that moment, she realized he might have done it for the very same reason—to protect her.

Jack knew that Kate and Sawyer shared some kind of romantic relationship—one he had no interest in knowing more about. Damn, he'd even witnessed them together in the cages, a mental picture he tried to avoid as much as he could. But the moment she asked that question, he felt an overwhelming need to make her understand that there were people who cared deeply about her—both him and Sawyer. He also felt compelled to explain why he had begged her not to come back for him so hard, to make her feel that he cared for her as much than Sawyer ever could. He hadn't been trying to push her away or abandon her to the mercy of the "Others"; he had only wanted to protect her.

"That's why I told you not to come back for me." He added, this time holding her gaze deep into hers.

In that moment, everything became clear to Kate. She had been right about Jack.

And Juliet had been wrong.

She froze, caught off guard, unsure of how to reply. What was she supposed to do now?
She hadn't exactly chosen to give Sawyer a chance; instead, she had been caught in a situation that spiraled out of control. Having sex with Sawyer in the cages had been a desperate, impulsive decision—one she made believing the Others were about to kill him. It wasn't until later that she realized it had all been part of a plan to manipulate Jack into agreeing to operate on Ben. Watching her with Sawyer had broken him in ways she hadn't fully understood at the time.

After that, Jack had grown distant, and Kate, unaware he had seen what happened, couldn't figure out why. She tried to fill the void his absence left with Sawyer, but it was a hollow effort. No matter how hard she tried, Sawyer was not Jack, and pretending otherwise became unbearable. The fights, the tension—it was clear that what she shared with Sawyer was nothing compared to the deep emotional bond she had with Jack.

In the past 20 days, everything had changed. So much had happened—so much that had altered them both.

In the silence that followed, Jack smiled faintly, got to his feet, and hurried to catch up with the group. He hadn't expected her to say anything; he knew his words might have been out of place, especially since Kate's heart didn't seem to belong to him.

"Hey!" Kate called after him, standing up and raising her voice to stop him. There was still something she couldn't wrap her head around. "Why are you sticking after Sawyer? He'd never do it for you."

This question Jack hadn't seen coming. Kate had completely caught him off guard. The answer was simple, but it felt so out of place in the moment that he couldn't help but let out a small, ironic laugh. He knew the answer all too well, but he hesitated, battling with himself for a few seconds, trying to hold back the words. He repeated her question in his mind, hoping that hearing it again would help him craft a different response. It didn't.

So, finally, he gave in, stopped fighting what his heart wanted to say.

"Because I love you." He replied, his gaze piercing through hers, as if trying to reach her very soul. The moment of truth.

His confession left Kate as unsettled as her question had left him. She couldn't respond. What was she supposed to say? "I love you too?" She probably did—after all, she couldn't stop caring about Jack or risking her life for him whenever she had the chance. She crossed an entire island, fought battles to bring him back and never once hesitated, for him.

She wanted to say it. She wanted to reply "I love you" so bad, but it sounded so ridiculous in that context, right after Juliet had kissed him, and while she herself was in a relationship with Sawyer. And suddenly, there was Jack, confessing his love to her without expecting anything in return. He just said it. Despite everything, despite the heartbreak she'd caused him, he was still willing to put himself out there, knowing the situation they were trapped in.

She hated herself for not being able to respond, for having pushed them to this point where they loved each other but couldn't find a way to be together. The circumstances, the island, the Others, the rescue, survival itself. It looked like a text book "wrong time, wrong place" situation.

The silence between them lingered, the kind of silence that carries its own weight, saying everything that words cant.

Jack realized there was nothing more he could do. Kate's silence was deafening. He reminded himself, once again, that her heart wasn't his. For a fleeting moment, he felt like a fool—exposed, humiliated. Avoiding her gaze, he looked down and quietly resumed his path.

She leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "I love you, Jack Shephard—" She said, finally uttering those words for the first time, in the right context, at the right moment. "—I love you so much."

He smiled, his heart overflowing with emotion. He had never imagined Kate would respond this way, or at least not so soon. Everything between them still felt surreal, as though he were caught in a dream he was afraid to wake up from. But in that precise moment, nothing else mattered—Kate had finally told him she loved him too.

He returned her feelings with a passionate kiss, one that suddenly became the perfect distraction as his hands wandered slowly, deliberately, to explore the softer, more sensitive contours of her figure. Together, they began to surrender once more to the passion that simmered between them, losing themselves completely in each other again.
"Jack—" Kate whispered, her voice soft and hesitant, as though battling with herself, while he trailed kisses along her neck. "Jack, I can't." She added, her tone gentle but firm.

Jack paused inmediately, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Why? What's wrong?"

Kate offered him a warm smile, noticing that he didn't quite understand. "It's not that I don't want to. I do—" She explained. "—but I really should be going."

"Why? Something wrong?" He asked again. His concern now more evident.

Kate hesitated for a moment before answering. "I have a son at home, and it's getting late. Veronica is waiting for me to come back."

Jack pressed his lips together and nodded, quietly taking it all in. Kate had responsibilities—she was a mother, and if he wanted this to work, he would have to find a way to fit into her life and Aaron's. He accepted it, even if the thought of her leaving so soon didn't sit well with him. He was not letting her go that easy tho, so he did what he did best: He bargained.

"Listen, how about I drive you home?"

She took a few seconds to consider his offer before nodding, a soft smile lighting up her eyes. "Yes, I'd love that."
"So— does that mean you can stay a little longer?" Jack asked, his eyes lighting up like those of a hopeful four-year-old trying to get his way.

It wasn't so much an offer as it was a playful attempt at bribery. Considering she had seen that exact same look on her little boy more than once when he was trying to persuade her, she knew there was no way she could say no to those eyes. She was close to officially dubbing them the "Shephards puppy eyes."

Kate gazed at him tenderly, remaining silent, giving him the space to keep persuading her— because he was.

Gently, he began to caress her hands and added. "It's just—I really don't want you to leave so soon." He admitted, leaning closer to whisper softly in her ear. "Besides, I still have a few tricks left to show you."

Jack had noticed that every time he whispered in her ear, she would shiver ever so slightly. The first time he'd caught it was when he'd said goodbye to her before his attempt to leave the island on the submarine. "But I'll come back for you" was all it had taken for him to see her body language soften and melt at his words.

It didn't take him long to realize this was her weak spot—one he could use to his advantage whenever the moment called for it. And he didn't hesitate to press it now. "What do you say?" He asked, his voice low and deliberate.

Kate took a moment to appreciate how adorable Jack looked, practically pleading for her to stay.

"I think that's a pretty fair bribe." She finally answered.

"A bribe?" Jack frowned, pretending to be offended.

"Well, Jack, it's not like you don't know exactly what you're doing."

"Oh—so you think I know exactly what I'm doing?" He replied, his tone teasing.

"Jack—you know exactly what you're doing to me." She said with a smirk.

"Here we are." Jack said while turning off the car and pulling the keys from the ignition.

They had arrived at 42 Panorama Crest—Kate's home.

"Do you want to come in?" She asked, gesturing toward the house.

"Sure." Jack replied confidently, quickly stepping out of the Bronco to open Kate's door. She couldn't help but smile. It wasn't often these days that a man opened a car door for a woman, but it was so Jack, it didn't surprise her. He was thoughtful, attentive—a gentleman through and through.

Kate stepped out of the car and took his hand, leading him to the door. This time, it was him who felt slightly self-conscious. It was the first time they had walked hand-in-hand like that, and the gesture, though simple, felt deeply significant.

When they reached the door, Kate pressed the doorbell. A few seconds later, Veronica came out.

"Hey! Good to see you. Aaron's already asleep, but he was asking for you earlier."

"Thanks for staying a bit longer. I promise it won't happen again." Kate said as she pulled her into a hug.

Jack couldn't help but notice the closeness and familiarity between them. It was clear that Veronica was more than just Aaron's babysitter—she was a real friend. Kate was naturally warm and caring with everyone, but she kept very few people truly close. Knowing that Veronica was part of her life, especially through the difficult times Kate had endured recently, gave Jack a quiet sense of relief. After everything she had been through—including her high-profile trial—it was comforting to know she had someone by her side all this time.

"Don't worry about it. Aaron's a wonderful little boy. We had a great time." Veronica said, holding Kate's hands with affection.

Kate smiled warmly before remembering that Jack was standing nearby. Turning quickly, she introduced them. "Veronica, this is Jack. He's my— um—"

"My boyfriend? My friend?"She wondered, pausing mid-sentence as she realized it was too soon to put a label on things. They hadn't talked about it yet.

"Dr. Shephard, I've heard so much about you." Veronica said, coming to Kate's rescue as she extended her hand in greeting.

"Really?" Jack replied, shaking her hand, slightly surprised. He glanced over at Kate with a playful and teasing smile.

The comment made Kate's lips twitch into an embarrassed smile, her gaze momentarily dropping.

Veronica didn't add anything, choosing not to embarrass Kate further, though she raised her eyebrows and nodded knowingly. "It's nice to finally meet you." She added warmly.

"The pleasure's mine." He answered.

After the introductions and pleasantries, Veronica gathered her belongings from the table by the entryway and turned back to say goodbye to Kate.

"He's even more handsome than you let on. You'll have to tell me everything later." She whispered conspiratorially, careful that Jack wouldn't overhear.

This time, Kate felt like a high school girl, her face growing warm. After the nanny left, she closed the front door and turned to face Jack. He was staring at the floor, quietly laughing to himself.

"What?" She asked, wondering what could possibly make Jack laugh like that.

"You talk to people about me?" He asked back, while slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Are you trying to tease me?"

"No, it's just—" Jack replied, his tone softening as he looked up at her. "Do you?"

"You're really enjoying this, aren't ya?" Kate shot back, trying to deflect. There was no way she was going to answer that. She still had some dignity left.

"Just a little." He admitted with a grin, stepping closer to her. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her gently toward him. The playfulness faded from his voice as he asked:

"Why did you hesitate earlier? When you said: 'This is Jack, he's my—' He paused, holding her gaze. "What am I, Kate?"

Kate let out a soft sigh, feeling taken aback. "I didn't know what to say cause we haven't talked about it yet— and I didn't want to put you on the spot." She confessed, her eyes dropping to avoid his.
Jack had the feeling this might be one of those topics Kate tended to avoid—a conversation she'd rather sidestep, at least this early in their relationship. Still, he decided to press just a little, hoping to chip away at her walls and move them forward. Gently, he lifted her chin with his fingers, guiding her gaze back to his.

"We can talk about it now, if you're ready."

She nodded, silently signaling that she was willing to have the conversation he was offering.

The truth was, she had never felt more prepared to have this conversation than she did now. For the first time, she was ready to let him fully into her life—not just in pieces, but completely. It wasn't as if they hadn't discussed their relationship before. After returning from the island, they had agreed to take things slowly, to let their bond evolve naturally and see how it unfolded. Back then, they were still burdened by unresolved issues, each navigating the wreckage of their own past and present lives, trying to find solid ground.

The love between them had been their anchor, grounding them through chaos. They had promised to support one another as they worked through the aftermath of everything they had endured. But at the time, the path forward had been murky, clouded by uncertainty and unfinished business.

Now, though, things were different. She was free. She realized it was no longer enough to simply love him or to stand by his side. It was time to open herself up, to stop holding back. They had been through so much together, yet let so many moments slip through their fingers. It was time to stop avoiding the harder conversations to actively build something lasting.

If this was going to work, they needed to learn how to navigate the challenges together. Communication was no longer optional; it was essential. They had to find a way to truly understand each other, to bridge the gaps that had once held them back.

"I'd love to be your boyfriend—if you'll have me." He said, his voice soft yet steady, making it clear he had no doubts about wanting to be part of her life. At the same time, he left no question that it was entirely her choice whether to let him in.

Jack had long ago come to understand that Kate found it difficult to open up. He struggled with it too, at times, but Kate was someone who had built towering walls around herself—walls meant to protect not only her, but also the people she cared about. He had recognized this about her shortly after they met, and he had no intention of asking her to change. Instead, he was determined to give her the space and freedom she needed to make her own decisions, in her own time.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Kate's heart began to race, and a knot tightened in her stomach. Jack still had this uncanny ability to make her feel lightheaded with just a look or a touch—like a teenager with a crush. With him, though, it always felt natural to play along. He had a way of effortlessly meeting her wit with his own playful banter, matching her energy beat for beat. She realized it was one of the things she cherished most about their friendship—the way they shared the same sense of humor, always challenging each other in the best way.

"Well, since you're asking so persistently—"

"I wouldn't be asking if you weren't so desperate." Jack shot back with a teasing grin.

"Excuse me?" Kate replied, pretending to be offended. "If I remember correctly,you'rethe one who called me today. Clearly, I'm not that one here."

"I'll take that as a yes." Jack said nodding, laughing as he waited patiently for her final answer.

Jack knew her well enough to recognize that Kate often struggled to articulate her feelings, doing everything she could to keep them hidden. Fortunately for him, he'd grown adept at deciphering the subtle language of her expressions and humor, picking up on the unspoken layers in her actions. It was a skill that had spared him from more than a few surprises over the years.

Kate leaned in, closing the small distance between them, and kissed him softly before whispering. "Of course, Jack. Yes."

They both smiled.

"Listen, maybe tomorrow after the consult, I could stop by and pickyou bothup for a little outing." Jack suggested.

"Yes, definitely." She agreed.

"Its 6:30 okay?"

"Yes, we'll be here."

"Perfect." Jack said with a nod. Then, as he gently ran his fingers through Kate's hair, he added, "I should go now; it's late."

Kate nodded silently, though the joy on her face softened, giving way to a quiet sadness. Jack noticed the shift immediately.

"You okay?" He asked gently.

"It's nothing. It's just— I miss you already." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack's lips curled into a small, affectionate smile, and he leaned in to press a tender kiss to her cheek. He didn't want to leave either, but he knew prolonging the goodbye would only make it harder.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said tenderly.

"See you tomorrow." Kate echoed, her eyes lingering on him as he stepped out the door.