Title: Life Victorious
Summary: They cheated death out of two souls that day
Author: BristowBoyScout545 or Tess
Timeline: Post S5
Genre: angst, but happy if that makes any sense
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias, but if I did, do you honestly think Vaughn would have "died"?

Life Victorious
The Beginning
Prologue"It wasn't your fault." he whispered to the small child he held in his arms. And it wasn't. He didn't blame her for what had happened.

Part I
Seven months. He had been "dead" for seven months. They had been apart for seven months. They had cried, screamed, longed for each other for seven months. And for seven months they had been fighting the enemy that threatened their existence. And, after seven months, they had been reunited.

She watched the building burning to the ground. This was the last remaining headquarters of Prophet Five. It was over. Then she saw him, standing in the shadows, the flickering flames illuminating his face with eerie light. She stood, transfixed by the sight of the man she had loved and lost. Then something clicked. It had been too easy to take down the organization. He had been helping them all along.

"Vaughn." she called, and he turned. She saw her name form on his lips and escape into the cool night air. He ran to her, feeling as if he was floating through a dream. It was over.

"But how?" he felt her whisper as he took her in his arms, receiving a joyous kick form their child whose presence among them was far more evident than it had been when they parted.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I had to leave you. But they would have hurt you; they would have hurt you both."

"Its over."

Part II
Six days. They had been together for six days. Just the three of them back home for six days. They had bliss for six days. And for six days, he was able to get to know his child, talk to her, sing to her, and pat her affectionately by way of his fiancé's stomach. And, after six days, things went terribly wrong.

She lay in the hospital bed, weak and confused. What had happened? What if something was wrong with the baby? Her hand traveled to her raised stomach, and she felt the baby move, but the movement was erratic and panicked. Then she saw him enter the room, worry etched onto those perfect features.

"Vaughn." she whispered, fear creeping up her throat and strangling her voice. He let out her name, more of a sigh than anything else. He knelt beside her bed, reaching over the slick metal railing to grasp her hand in both of his.

They had two choices. They could give her medication to delay the premature labor, which could put their child at risk, or she could deliver now, an action that would be fatal to her. She recalled her father's voice as he taught her to play chess. "The Queen sacrifice, Sydney. You offer up the Queen, and your opponent will think they've won. But in reality, Sydney, you are the victor, for you have foreseen something your foe has overlooked. Your sacrifice has put you in perfect position to claim victory."

"You know what we have to do." She saw the anguish behind his eyes turn them a darker shade of emerald, and she saw something inside of him die. For years they had cheated death, her as Julia Thorne, him as Michael Vaughn. This was it, the final test. By willingly giving in to death, they would triumph. For their enemy saw only consumption of a soul, its blind, blackened eyes not seeing through the pain it would cause to the salvation they would gain through her actions. The only way to beat death was this surrender.

Part III
Five hours. She had been in labor for five hours. He had held her hand tightly for five hours. She struggled to bring their child to life for five hours. And for five hours, she had screamed and cried with the pain. And, after five hours, Isabelle Bristow Vaughn was born.

"Vaughn." she said softly as her child was taken from the room and into emergency care. Her name escaped him, and he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"I'm sorry. But this is the only way." He knew there was nothing else he could do, but he clung to her, wanting to forfeit now. His will was cracking; he wanted to quit this game. But she stayed strong, the end was near and soon, soon this would be finished.

"We did it. We won." He kissed her gently, one last time. There was so much he needed to say, but there was no time. This kiss would have to suffice.

"I love you." She exhaled her last breath against his lips, and slipped away.

Part IV
Four weeks. Isabelle had been in intensive care for four weeks. She had fought for life for four weeks. She had been kept alive by machines for four weeks. And for four weeks, her father had cried and screamed and prayed that her mother's sacrifice had not been in vain. And, after four weeks, she proved him right, emerging five whole pounds, two and a half more than she had been born.
"Sydney." he whispered fondly, sitting in their apartment, photographs lining the walls.

"It wasn't your fault." he whispered to the small child he held in his arms. And it wasn't. He didn't blame her for what had happened.

He missed her everyday, but he found solace in their victory. They had cheated death out two souls that day. Because Sydney Bristow wasn't dead. No, she lived on, her presence evident in her daughter's big brown eyes, her own mirrored back at him. She was marked with her mother's sacrifice, two souls now cohabitating in one being. He tickled her cheek gently with one finger, and he heard his daughter's laughter for the first time. He waited, and then it came. Sydney's laughter echoed only moments later, the sound filling the room and his heart. He recalled her last words.

"We did it. We won." And they had.

Fin
Click here to read The End
Reviews please!
Edited because i can't count...