AN: I haven't updated this in over two weeks yikes, but life has been hectic lately and (hopefully) I'll be updating more regularly for these last few chapters.

They'd had to wait about twenty minutes for the next ferry, and about five minutes into the ride, Louis had fallen asleep again, leaning against Jack's side. Jack hadn't let go of Katherine's hand since he first took it. He feared that if he let it go, she'd disappear and he'd realize that it was all a dream. He squeezed her hand gently, just to make sure she was real, and he smiled when she squeezed back.

Jack glanced down at the sleeping Louis, and then looked up at Katherine. "I told him he could stay with us for a night or two, his folks ain't the nicest. That okay?"

Katherine was a little surprised that he'd even felt the need to ask, and she nodded. "Of course." She noticed that Jack had his arm wrapped protectively around the boy. "Is he doing alright?"

Jack closed his eyes for a moment. "I think it's pneumonia. The doctor's didn't notice - or pretended not to."

Katherine rubbed circles on the back of his hand. "I'll call a doctor tomorrow. He'll be okay."

Jack nodded and brought both of their hands up so that he could press a soft kiss to the back of hers before lowering his head onto her shoulder with a sigh. "I love you, Ace. So much."

Katherine smiled softly. "I love you too, Jack."

oOo

A half hour later, the three of them had arrived at the Kelly apartment, and Jack hadn't been this relieved to see it since he'd come back from the war. He suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion, and all he wanted to do was sleep.

Luckily, Katherine knew what exhausted boys looked like, and didn't even bother offering them any food - that could wait until the morning. She looked at Louis.

"We don't have an extra bed, just the couch - is that okay?"

He nodded. "It looks good."

Katherine gave him a smile and headed to the supply closet, quickly returning with some blankets and a pillow. Jack stood and watched his wife get Louis settled in, and he didn't know if it was just because of his exhaustion, but he felt himself falling even more in love with her. She came back over to stand by him, and he wrapped an arm securely around her waist. She glanced at him before turning to face Louis.

"We'll be right down the hall if you need anything."

Louis gave both of them a grateful look. "Thank you."

Jack ruffled the boys hair as he walked past, feeling a little guilty for leaving him to sleep by himself, especially with him being sick, but his guilt was overcome by a desperate need to lie down next to Katherine again. So when Louis smiled at him, Jack decided it was okay.

Once they'd gotten to the bedroom, Jack breathed a sigh of relief, but that was short lived, and he felt himself start to panic as Katherine started to close the door. He quickly stopped her.

"Can you... keep it open?"

Katherine's face softened with realization, and she nodded. "Of course." She opened the door again, and Jack could breath again.

She took one of his hands in hers. "You haven't gotten any better, then?"

He scoffed quietly. "Nah." He glanced at the door, as if to make sure it was still open. "Everything reminds me of things from over there, and I'm still seeing things." 

"Are you seeing things now?"

Jack shook his head without hesitation. "Right now all I'm seeing is you." He gave her a dreamy look that she only got when he was on the verge of falling asleep, and she laughed softly, squeezing his hand.

"Let's get you to bed, you should try and get some sleep."

In response to this, he wrapped his arms around her waist and put his lips to her neck, smiling as he pressed soft kisses to her skin. 

"Jack..."

He recognized the tone of her voice, and groaned before pulling away. "Yeah, okay."

He kicked off his shoes, not bothering to change clothes, so neither did Katherine, who simply unlaced and removed her boots as well.

Feeling safe for the first time in so long he'd forgotten what it felt like, Jack dropped down into bed, pulled Katherine close to him, and fell asleep.