Alphabet Soup II (Part 6/8)
Title: Alphabet Soup II (Part 6/8)
Characters: Kate, Jack, Kate/Jack
Summary: A series of drabbles. Jack/Kate. Post The End. Set in the Afterlife-verse
Questions
She cannot but laugh when he gets that look in his eyes and she just knows she is going to spend the next couple of hours answering his questions. She swears she has probably told him every detail of every day of her life, from the moment she watched him walk away on the cliff to the moment she took her last breath. She has shared with him every tale of joy, despair, anger, achievement, happiness… she has felt her heart swell with joy every time he has smiled or laughed, with every tear he had shed for her, and every beam of pride she’d seen radiate from him. Every time he starts with the questions, she gives him a look of disbelief and chuckles, “Jack! I have already told you that,” and playfully pushes him away. But when he gives her his signature, pleading eyes, she concedes. She will kiss him gently before curling her body against his, laying her head on his chest and embarking on a journey into her previous life, to relive it with him; just like it should have been.
Ring
The look she had on her face the day Juliet and James got engaged is one he cannot get out of his mind.
The truth is he has had her ring with him from the beginning. He has almost given it to her on numerous occasions but the moment had never been as perfect as he wanted it to be. He has been given a second chance and he does not want to ruin it.
Every time he wanted to do it, the moment just did not seem right, every moment until now, until this moment. They have been hiking all morning and have finally stopped at a stream to take a break and freshen up.
She is kneeling at the edge of the water, sipping water from her hand, gently dabbing the cool water against her heated skin. She is wearing brown pants and a green shirt. Her ponytail is messed up and the hair is sticking to the back of her neck. A rebellious curl had escaped its confines is clinging to her brow. She tries to push it off with the back of her hand before she turns to see him staring at her.
She laughs, “Are you checking me out?”
He ducks his head and chuckles, moving forward to kneel down next to her. He tucks the stray curl behind her ear and plants a quick kiss on her lips.
Her eyes are searching his curiously now, the playfulness of their banter seems to have been replaced by something serious and it has made her slightly nervous.
“Jack…” she says calmly.
He just smiles, reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring. Kate can only stare, speechless, as he takes her hand into his and says, “Kate, I know the first time I did this, I messed up, badly, I hurt you, I … I failed you,” he swallows, hard and continues, “I am just wondering if you could give me a second chance, maybe we can try this again. I think I can get it right this time,” he says the last part with a shy chuckle and Kate manages one as well, despite her tears.
He looks at her and smiles, “will you marry me?”
She lets out a joyous sob and says, “of course I will. Yes!”
Shower
He is back from his morning run and is casually making his way to the little lake behind their house. There is something special about taking a post workout shower under a private waterfall as opposed to a steamy bathroom. He strips down and swims out in the clear, cool water towards the waterfall and enjoys the jets against his hot skin. He sees her walking out of the house, making her way through the landscape towards the lake and smiles.
She takes of the shirt she has on (one of his) and swims out towards him. “How was your run?” she asks coming out of the water.
“Great,” he says, “wish you’d come along, though.”
“I would have loved to,” she replies, locking her arms around his neck, making him support her weight, “but I was too tired.” She giggles the last part and captures his lips in hers in a slow kiss.
“Too tired, huh?” he says, when they break for air.
“mhmm…” she manages, when his lips find her neck, “you wore me out last night, mister,”
He is too busy to answer her right away, his mouth too busy nibble at her shoulder, slowly making its way south. Her arms wrap around his neck tighter, and she presses her chest closer into his, he lets out a groan, raising his eyes back up to meet hers and says, “oh, I’m sorry, do you want me to stop?”
He starts loosening her grip on him and releasing her, swimming slowly away. But she is too fast, grabbing the back of his head and crashing her lips to his in a passionate kiss, only managing to let out a breathy “never.”