Disclaimer: I do not own Alias or any of it's characters or themes. This story is intended for my own amusement and no financial gain is involved.

Summary: This is set sometime in the future. I've started writing it after episode 5.13 and I don't think it contradicts the series up to that point. Depending on where the final episodes go it may be set after the series ends or it may be AU after 5.13. As far as pairings and plot go, I'm not real sure where I'm headed. Only 2 things I know for sure and that is that everyone loves Sydney and Vaughn is dead.

Sydney Bristow was tired of disappointment. It seemed that everyone in her life was destined to disappoint. Her father spent so many years not being there for her and then several more trying to arrange her life. Her mother left her as a child and later was always on the opposite side of the fight. Danny, Francie, Emily, and Nadia all left her. Not really their choice, but they were gone just the same. Will and Weiss deserted her. Sloane had never been honest with her. Noah turned out to be the Snowman. And there was Vaughn. Vaughn married another woman. Vaughn wasn't really Vaughn. And Vaughn left her, same as the rest. With a history like hers, eventually you expect to be let down. You depend on yourself, and while you may trust others with your life, you trust no one with your heart. And life becomes lonely, a shadow of it's former self. And eventually you just don't care anymore.

"I'm approaching the warehouse. There's a blue sedan on the northeast side of the building. The informant must be inside."

"Copy that Mountaineer."

"Going radio silent."

The door to the warehouse swung open with a load creak. Sydney stepped inside cautiously and glanced around.

"Mr. Taligani?"

The stillness that greeted her in reply was not a good sign. Either the informant had been compromised or was this was a set-up. Sydney pulled her gun and began a sweep of the warehouse. When the CIA had received intel of a possible Prophet 5 defector they had jumped at the opportunity. Now, it seemed, things had been too good to be true. Why was it the most straightforward missions always proved to be otherwise? In the future she would have to remember not to volunteer for this type of assignment. Before Sydney could question the wisdom of her choice further, she felt a sharp pain in her side. She hadn't even heard the assailant approach. And before the knife came down again, she couldn't help but admire his prowess.

This wasn't how she had imagined things would end. Sydney knew the risks that came with the line of work she had never managed to escape. But years of success had left her with a feeling of invincibility. She certainly hadn't planned on being taken down during a fairly routine operation. But it didn't make much difference, did it? The end of her life meant the end of her disappointment. And as the darkness overtook her, she couldn't help but smile.

But there was a third player in this act, waiting in the wings. The assailant turned and left Sydney to her fait. And, as if on cue, he emerged from the shadows and dust. He lifted Sydney carefully while dialing for assistance on his cell. And in moments, they were met outside by an unmarked ambulance. As they sped away, the warehouse exploded behind them.