First of all, thank you all sooo much for the reviews! I've never had so many in only two chapters of a story, you're all fantastic! And I'm sorry about the wait. I really wanted to get this up last weekend but due to bad weather and losing electricity for three days, that was impossible...Well this is the last chapter, I hope you enjoyed reading and thanks again! :)

Jack quickly got up from the table and rushed out the restaurant doors, only to collide into a very familiar musician who was playing Wonderwall on the sidewalk.

"Best watch where you're going mate." Charlie barked out as he recovered from the stumble. And as he grabbed his fallen instrument, he observed, "Ah, look what ye' did. Damaged my guitar. Ye' got any clue how much this cost?"

"Look, I'm sorry." Jack apologized before glancing back at the restaurant windows and proposed, "You know what, let me make it up to you."

"Yeah? How do you suppose you'll do that?"

"I came here with a girl named Claire. She-"

"Wha? Claire?" The man's eyes lit up, "The beautifully pregnant blonde? She's quite the girl-met her the other day." He looked Jack up and down, "You her boyfriend? I was under the impression she was single."

"Sister actually." He explained, running his fingers through his hair, "And something came up and I had to leave her in there, so uh, if you don't mind...it's all already paid for."

"You asking me if I'd like to accompany a lovely young lass for a five star dinner free of charge?" He questioned, "Why, it would be my pleasure. But what's the catch?"

"No catch. It'll make up for the guitar." He answered, examining the Brit's eyes, joyfully noting that there was no evident sign of recent drug use, "Just treat her right."

"Wouldn't think otherwise, mate."

Jack reached the steps leading up to the hotel after a fairly short taxi ride, and reached for the door handle anxiously with a grin on his face. He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to say to Kate, but getting her number or simply making her laugh would be a start to rebuilding their relationship. He took one last deep breath before taking a step into the hotel lobby and as he made his way over to the elevator, he heard a voice call out to him.

"If I were in your shoes...I'd take a second to think this over."

Jack slowly turned his head towards the speaker, "Sorry. Do I know you?"

The man nodded, "In a matter of speaking."

Jack eyed him carefully, unsure of what to say, so the 'stranger' continued, "You're probably wondering why you and your sister are the only to remember."

"How do..." Jack arched his eyebrows, "How do you know?"

"My name is Jacob." The man stated, ignoring the question and continuing on, "You're special, Jack. You and Claire both. And dispite what you may think, remembering isn't a curse-neither is forgetting...It depends on the situation, doesn't it?" He paused, "All your friends, they all have the potential to remember. That is, if you help them."

"What are you saying?"

"Are you aware of what shepherd means?" He asked, not waiting for an answer, "It's someone who watches over, protects, and guides a group." He paused, "No one else will remember unless you or Claire mention the crash. You both have the Shephard blood and therefore have to do what you think is best for them all. Their fate is in your hands, Jack."

The doctor scoffed, "No, I...I can't-I can't make that decision."

"You can, Jack." He answered serenely, placing his hand on the doctors shoulder, "You have what it takes."

Kate opened the door to see a doe eyed Jack leaning against the doorframe and smiled, "Jack? What are you doing here? Where's Claire?"

"She's back at the restaurant. Don't worry, I didn't leave her alone-she's with Charlie." He explained before answering her earlier query, "I came here to, uh, to ask you a question."

She could clearly tell that whatever he wanted was serious so she replied simply, "Ask away."

"Kate. Would you want to..." He sighed, "If something happened-something that made you so happy but then it...then it all turned to misery, would you want to forget it?"

She eyed him carefully, "What?"

"Just answer the question." He said flatly, his eyes pleading with her.

She shrugged, "If it made me happy, even for only a split second, I don't see any reason I'd want to forget." She paused, "Now why are you..."

She trailed off, startled by his sudden grip on her waist. She simply stood, frozen, as his lips descended closer and to hers until they were merely an inch away.

She cleared her throat, "What are you doing?"

Normally she'd have pushed him away-slapped him even-but there was something distinct and compelling about him-something that told her to trust him.

He pressed his lips against hers hungrily and although startled, she passionately returned the kiss. His body fluttered at her touch, his heart pounding vigorously in his chest, and he couldn't imagine why he had ever wanted to forget the feeling of her slim, flawless body pressed up against his.

When they reluctantly pulled apart, she breathed out, "This is crazy. We just met."

"No." He gulped, "No, we didn't."

She let out an awkward laugh, "Excuse me?"

"We crashed on an island, Kate." He looked up at the ceiling as he spoke, "You sewed me up on our first day there. And after uh, after what seemed like forever, we got off the island and got together-were even engaged. But then we..." He glanced down to meet her eyes and noticed she was no longer standing.

"Kate?" He asked, rushing over to her body as she lay on the ground beneath his feet, "Kate, are you alright? Are you okay? Kate-talk to me."

"What's the matter, love?" Charlie asked in the midst of dinner, watching carefully as Claire wiped a tear from her eye from across the table, "You not enjoying my company?"

"No, no, of course I am." She said quietly, looking back and fourth from Charlie to her pregnant stomach, "It's just a lot to handle is all."

"What's that?" He questioned, and with all her heart she wanted to explain. Wanted to tell him that she loved him and respected and treasured him for always being there for her, for helping her with Aaron-for giving his life for her. But instead she answered simply, "Oh, nothing. I shouldn't burden you with my petty problems."

"Don't be daft. I'd love to be of any help."

She smiled, "You're sweet...Just being here, with you, it's lovely. I haven't had such a good time in ages."

"Guess we feel the same, then." He grinned, "Couldn't imagine a place I'd rather be."

And in the moment Claire knew, memories or not, they'd be together in the end. She'd make sure of it.

A while had passed and Kate had finally awoken in slight dissaray. While she was out, he had heard her mumble bits and pieces of certain conversations they had had in the past. He decided, for some unknown reason, the memories caused her to black out. He wondered why the same hadn't happened to Claire or himself but once Kates eyes fluttered open, the questions seemed to dissipate-the only thing that mattered was that she was alright.

"J-Jack?" She asked as she looked up at his body hovering over her.

"Kate, are you alright? Do you feel-"

"I feel fine."

"Thank God." He sighed, "I was afraid that I-"

"Jack." She interupted, "You made me remember?" It came out as more of a statement than a question.

He slowly nodded his head, "Did I make the right choice?"

She nodded back, trying to shake the tears that were threatening to leave her eyes, "Yes, Jack." She swallowed, her voice cracking slightly, "You made the right choice."

He stared at her while she took some time to absorb the entire situation, before saying, "I'm sorry." She opened her mouth, but he shook his head and continued, "I know I've said that plenty of times before, but-I want to make this right."

"Don't, Jack." She put her hand up in protest, "Don't apologize. Clean slate, right?"

"But-after everything that's happened..." He closed his eyes briefly, "How can you not hate me?"

She shook her head and replied slowly, "I could never hate you." She paused, "Yes, I was mad at you-furious at you...But if we can flash through time and go to hell and back, then how can we not forgive each other?"

He shook his head, "But...the bomb-"

She put her hand on his and said softly, "It's okay. You were just trying to help. And hey, it worked, didn't it?"

He smiled slightly, both delighted and confused at her reasoning, "Why are you sticking up for me, Kate?"

Her smile widened, "Because I love you."