Title: To Love Again

Author's Notes: Okay all you Jack and Kate lovers…fear me! I know where you all come from, for I once was a Jate shipper once…but I hate the fact that Kate plays with his mind, and plus a man always needs spice in his life. And that spice happens to be Ana-Lucia. Latinas para siempre!

As the days grew longer, Jack and Ana-Lucia spent every passing minute talking to each other. Every topic surfaced in their conversations: religion, football, favorites, Harry Potter…you name it, they talked about it. For the first time in weeks, both felt comfortable waking up in the morning…knowing that the day was going to be spent in one another's presence. Today happens to be totally different…

"You've got to be kidding!" Ana shouts at Jack and smashes her fist against the sand beside her.

"What's there to kid about?" Jack laughs throws a rock into the water, "So I haven't seen Grease, big deal," he laughs again.

"Big deal? Big deal? That just happens to be one of the best John Travolta movies and you haven't seen it?" she asks incredulously.

"Well tell you what…once we get off this godforsaken spit of land, I promise we'll dedicate a night to watching it," he smiles at her and sees her smile fade away, "What's wrong?"

Ana thinks back at what to the recent events of her life…

"Danny don't go, please, I need you," she calls out to him as he starts to walk out the door.

"Ana, take it for what it is…we're done," the door shuts behind him.

Another thought surfaces…"Jason, I was pregnant," and the gun shots reverberate through her thoughts…

She snaps back to reality when Jack touches her shoulder, "Ana, what's the matter?"

"I don't feel too good, I'm going to take a nap," she states as she gets up and walks away. Jack watches her leave and realizes that his words about going back home sparked something within her.

Later on she leaves her tent to find some fruit to eat. Jack sees her pass by and ignores Hurley completely.

"Dude, are you even paying attention to me?" Hurley flashes a hand in front of Jack and then follows Jack's eyes, "Oh yeah, I'll let you go man…I have some...I guess I'll…" Jack continues to look away, "Whatever dude, I'll talk to you later."

Jack departs from his spot and follows her, "Ana, wait up," he calls to her, but she continues to walk at a faster pace, "Ana!"

She turns around abruptly and Jack stops dead in his tracks, only a few inches away from her, "Yes?" she snaps back at him.

"What's wrong?" he asks, concern in his tone.

"You want to know what's wrong Jack? We're stuck on an island with people who are trying to kill us and you ask me what's wrong?" she starts to turn to walk away, but Jack holds her back.

"That's not why you're angry…I said something this morning that didn't sit too well with you. I want to know what's bothering you," he lets go of her arm and wipes the sweat of his brow with his forearm.

"At the moment, you are, so just leave me the fuck alone," and with that she immerses herself into the jungle.

Nothing between them changes since that moment. He watches her do her normal routines…wash clothes, converse with others, take a swim in the ocean…When he doesn't look, she looks back. As much as she hates to admit it, she knows that she's fallen hard for him. And that's what she's afraid of. Falling in love with someone who might leave her, just like Danny. Not only that, but she's a murderer…a fugitive…a cop who followed the rules and broke them in an instant. Her distance from him makes her believe that what she feels for him will go away…when it's actually hurting her…and him.

As much as he hates to admit it, he knows that he's fallen hard for her. And her isolation from him literally breaks him into pieces. He thought he was never going to feel love again. Kate made him feel like that at times, but he was tired of her games. But Ana…Ana is different and that's what he loves about her. He sits with his back to a tree and sees her from afar. This is his moment…

The sun rises at the horizon and Ana is amazed at its beauty. She sits at the edge of the ocean rocks and carefully pays attention to the crashing waves beneath her.

"Why are you shutting yourself in?" she hears Jack's voice behind her, his arms out at his side in frustration, "Why are you hiding?" she stares at the horizon, intent at not making eye contact, "Say something? Anything…" he says as his arms come down to his side as if giving up.

She closes her eyes and breathes in the ocean air, "Si solamente tu supieras cuánto yo te quiero," (If only you knew how much I want you) she opens her eyes, stands up, and turns to make direct contact with Jack, "Yo soy una persona mala," (I am a bad person) she says this pointing to herself, "Yo no te merezco," (I don't deserve you) tears begin to fall down her face, "Mi corazón ha sufrido suficiente…dejame sola." (My heart has suffered enough...just leave me alone)

She starts to walk away like last time, but Jack is too fast and grabs her arm yet again. Ana looks at him as she wipes her tears away, "No, I won't leave you alone." Jack cups her cheek with his hand and she looks at him with an incredulous expression on her face.

"You speak Spanish?" she let out with a skeptical laugh.

"It's one of my hidden talents," he gives her his trademark smile and she smiles back. He loosens his grip on her arm and laces his fingers with hers, "I don't care about your past. God knows I've been through the same shit you have," she starts to shake her head in disagreement.

"Escúchame," (Listen to me) he says with a pretty good accent as he holds her head still, "Give me a chance…give us a chance. Don't assume it's not going to work because of your history. Just let me in," he says in a sort of pleading way.

"You say that now, but when we get out of here you'll do otherwise," she replies, "Jack, I killed a man…I shot him…and I don't regret it, not one bit. He shot me and in the process killed my unborn child…I lost everything. I lost my baby, I lost my job, and I lost the man I thought I loved. To tell you the truth, I'm scared…not because I might get arrested when this all over, not because of the others, but because I'm afraid to love again and have everything happen all over again." There. She let all out in one breath, relieved at the fact that she wasn't holding anything back from him.

"Ana, we're in the same boat. I may not have killed, but I've definitely seen people die under my care. I was married once and she left me…left me for the man that had left her in the hospital to die. I'm sorry for all your hardships," and he kisses her forehead, "but if you give me this chance, I will never leave you."

At hearing these words, Ana breaks down and wraps her arms around his neck. He buries his head against her hair and breathes in the scent he so desperately missed. She moves back a bit and rests her forehead against his, "How long have you known Spanish?" and reveals a bright smile.

He shoots his head back and laughs at her random question during a sentimental moment. He then takes this time to finally get what he wants since he first met her. Jack places a strand of hair behind her ear and pulls her in to a kiss. You know that rich feeling in your mouth when you eat caramel chocolate…well that's what they felt, only ten times better.

He unexpectedly pulls away and answers her question, "Junior high," she kisses him back and knows that this might be a good beginning after all.

Fin.