A/N: I made a slight adjustment to this story. The letter used to read 'Forever, Sark' but now it reads 'Forever, Julian'. You will discover the reason for this in the next chapter.

REGRET

He remembered every detail vividly.

She was wearing white. He thought she looked like an angel. She was wearing the perfume he had given her for her birthday. She walked down the stairs and her face lit up at the sight of him. He was beaming so hard he thought his face would crack. And she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and he strode up to meet her. He took her hands in his own and held them over his heart. She leant forward and kissed him so sweetly he thought he'd pass out. But he found the courage to speak.

"I love you. I always have. From the first moment that I saw you I knew that you were the one for me. And I never believed that we would ever make it here, but we did, my darling. Oh, how we did. And there is not a moment I would ever give up. But now there is something that I need to tell you, something that you never wanted to hear from me. But I love you too much to hide it anymore. I love you more than life itself, but I can't go on living the way we are. " At that, a tiny frown crinkled her brow, but he pressed on. "I can't live my life knowing that you won't be with me always. And so I know you never me to tell you this, but I can't hide it anymore. I want, so much, to marry you and have you all to myself for the rest of my life."

At his admission he bowed his head and rested it on her shoulder, not wanting to see her perfect face, not wanting to see in her eyes that she didn't feel the same. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours, before he felt brave enough to lift his head and look at her. But he did, and instantly regretted it, as he saw the unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. And in that instant his heart broke. He wished he could turn back the hands of time, and take back his words.

He dropped her hands. He felt like he was dying inside. And yet, she stood there, unshed tears glinting like the most precious of diamonds. He couldn't do anything but stare into her eyes, knowing that she could see the remnants of his shattered soul, but he was powerless to stop it. He had been a fool to tell her how deep his feelings ran, and along side them, how deep his anguish.

She seemed to curl into herself in that moment. As she first tear found it's way down her unblemished cheek, she shook her head and whispered the only two words that could destroy his whole life. "I'm sorry."

Sark woke, jolting as though someone had stabbed him in the gut. There was that dream again. He sat up, running his hands through his tousled hair, trying to regain any semblance of rational thought. He didn't know how many more of the dreams he could tolerate. They were always the same, every night. Every night he was condemned to break the heart of the only living being he had ever been able to bring himself to love. And they were slowing wearing him away.

He had sworn to himself that he would never bring himself to live a person, after seeing the torturous effects first hand. It had destroyed his mother, and now it threatened to do the same to him.

He had to get away from it all, but mostly he had to get away from her. Every time he saw her all the blinding pain came screaming back to stab at him, over and over. So he would leave. Move far, far away. Start a new life where no one knew him, or what he did. He could start afresh, and forget his old life, and the pains that went along with it.

He stood and flung what few possessions he had into a bag. He dressed in the first thing he saw, not caring to maintain his usual impeccable image. He simply didn't care anymore. He left his apartment wide open, not bothering to even close the door. He threw his small bag of possessions into the back seat of his car, and drove off.

As he drove, he realised that he could not leave without seeing her one last time. 'One last time, and then it's over,' he swore to himself. 'One last time, and I will never have to think of her again.' But in his heart he knew it wasn't true. He would never be able to forget her.

He parked and quietly stole up to her front window. He knew he wouldn't be able to face her; so looking in on her seemed the only option. He only hoped she was up that early. And for once in his life, luck was on his side. She was.

He looked in at her, and all the reasons he loved her came flooding back. To him, she was perfect. And knowing this was the last time he would see her se drank in her appearance. He memorised every square inch of her face. And as he left for his car, he shed a tear, the first in a very long time.

She heard the newspaper thud against her front door. As she went to retrieve it she saw a white envelope with her name etched on the front, in a heartbreakingly familiar script. She bent and picked it up, worried to read the letter enclosed.

Sorry to leave this for you to find like this.

I didn't have the strength to tell you this in person, but I am
leaving. By the time you read this, I will be gone. And I have
no plans for returning.

I know that you think what I told you was reprehensible, but I
could not have hidden the truth for any longer.

I love you, Sydney, I don't know how to stop. And everyday I
hope the hurt will grow a little less, but I can't carry on,
trying to live out my life, seeing you, and knowing what I lost.

So I've gone, and I hope you can one day forgive me for what I
did.
Forever, Julian.

The note fluttered out of her grip and landed on the stoop, as Sydney Bristow struggled to fight back the tears. He was gone; all because she was frightened, worried what would happen, if she told him that she wanted to marry him too.

A/N: Come on, guys! Review. Tell me what you think! Pleease? I'll love you all forever, and you might even get an admission that Vaughn isn't as spineless as he seems...