I adore the way you ended this. It just fits so well... if they ever really saw each other... Jack and Kate may not have had the drama they did. But another thing you pointed out... they were both very stubborn.

This was perfect and honest and just a great way to put into words what we saw on screen. I love that I got no hint of "shipper" in this that I may have otherwise gotten if this had not been written so well. Perfect.

I stumbled upon this, and it's gorgeous. Fantastic job!

Good GOD!

This is amazing.

Call it a sixth sense, if you'd like. I got goosebumps when I read this, and that never happens. Congratulations.

Not only do I love the whole idea of this, but I also enjoyed the way it was written.

Keep up the great work!

Great oneshot! You should write more oneshots of Juliet's point of view of the Kate-Jack-Juliet triangle. There isn't enough oneshots like this and I love them! Good job! I really feel like this is the way it is on the show too!

I really liked this! Good way of describing it...

you should write more Jack/Kate/Juliet stuff! that was just perfect!

This was very introspective, and best of all, it was conveyed through great writing. Aspects of the Jack/Juliet relationship versus the non-existent Jack/Kate relationship are very well articulated, and I am not too surprised at finding myself agreeing with this piece on its argument, & with it furthering my conviction on why it is the latter relationship that is real.

I am surprised to find a piece that explicates the emotions well, and instills the angst of both Jack & Juliet w/out bringing down a parade of character hate.

Thank you for this.

i loved this. i'm so torn on this whole love square mess i wish they would just resolve it because i hate seeing kate act like a bratty child around juliet and jack. anyway, ranting aside, i think you did an awesome job defining juliet's point of view. it was beautifully written and believable

I'm not a shipper of Jate or Skate but even I can tell that Jack does not really "love" Juliet. If Kate had never slept with Sawyer, then no way would he be all over Juliet. I think his feelings for Juliet come from that heroic aspiration inside him that wants to "save" her. He may want to love Juliet but he simply can't let go of Kate. And we all know, Jack can't let things go, lol. Thus, the Triaangle (Rectangle?) of Doom shall continue. Anyways, I thought your fic is pretty accurate in my perspective. ;-)

Wow! This is exactly what I've been trying to explain to people who were confused about the second Jacket kiss - that Jack wants to choose Juliet and be happy with that because he knows it makes more sense (just like Kate wants to choose Sawyer because to her, that makes more sense), but as Kate's mother said, you can't help who you love (I always thought it was more about Jack than Sawyer!). We don't always love those most deserving of it which is something we've seen Jack struggle with. I loved that you described him as logical and used that to explain the draw of Juliet - it's true, his love for Kate isn't logical and that scares him, but at the same time, he seems to be realising that it's that leap of faith he's always been afraid to take!

All in all, this is one of the best analyses of the Jack/Kate/Juliet triangle (which doesn't get nearly enough attention - not as much as the other, more infamous one!) I've seen on this site, because you didn't try to make it black and white it by claiming that Juliet is evil and out to manipulate Jack, or that his feelings for her aren't real, because we've seen that they are, even if they're less passionate than the ones has has for Kate. I especially loved the last few lines, where Juliet acknowledge that there may come a day when she has to ste aside. Like Sawyer, she isn't stupid or naive - she knows where Jack's heart lies (you could see it in her face when they pulled back, that whatever she was feeling, he wasn't sharing it), she's just not the type to give up on something she wants that badly.

I hope at lot of Jaters read this before they get too angry or dishearted, because I think you captured the subtext of that scene perfectly - that Jack's logical side is telling him to stop pining for Kate and focus on the woman who has actually declared herself to him, but of course after seeing Eggtown, we know that's not gonna happen! Anyway, great job, and keep writing (maybe you could tackle the other side of the quadrangle next, as a kind of companion piece?);)

I ship Jack/Kate and Jack/Juliet and heck, even Sawyer/Kate, so I'm good with all of the ships. I really liked this fic, it explored the two sets of relationships very well, with a nice contrast. :)

I loved it. Great insight!

The Jater in me is sighing because I've never looked at their relationship like this before and I don't know why. This is an amazing story. Favoriting!

The thought of Jack/Juliet in an "romantic" relationship makes me want to vomit in my mouth, and I pray TPTB aren't going to go any farther than that "kiss". I don't believe Jack loves Juliet, but I understand, kinda, why Jack did it and why he would explore a relationship with her, because at the moment Juliet's giving him what he wants from Kate, some honesty and confirmation of feelings.

I like Juliet's train of thought. How with her, it would be a choice, but with Kate if would be 'fate'.

"He loved her on instinct."

"He had no choice when it came to Kate. What he felt for her was so natural, inevitable from their first meeting, engrained inside as it was thrust upon him by fates much stronger than he."

Those are my favorite parts above. Well written! I'll have to check and see if you've written anything else. Thanks for sharing.

Alas. I'm a Jacket shipper, through and through, so this fic hurt me. But I can see how true this might be. I feel Jacket's really quite tragic. Given all the Shakespeare references, I'm feeling like my darling ship is doomed. Anyway, lovely writing. It had a very nice feel to it.