Disclaimer: I don't own any of the main characters in Tale of Two Cities

Sydney Cartan had a secret. It was a secret he had known for years and a secret he had always wanted to keep to himself. Now however, his daughter's life was in danger and the secret had to come out. He could only hope the friendship he'd developed with Charles and Lucie over the years could survive his secret.

"When I was 19 I met my fiancee. She was the most beautiful perfect, wonderful person the creator had blessed the world with. Her name was Sara and she could have been Lucie's twin. Later that year I proposed to her. Naturally she said of course and we kissed passionately. Unfortunately we were too close to the water. She fell in. She had developed Pneumonia and weeks turned to months. Shortly after her sixth month of illness she passed into the next world. I felt like my life was taken from me."

Sydney Cartan had a secret. It was a secret not even Lucie had known and a secret he always wanted to protect her from. Now however his daughter's life was in danger and the secret had to come out. He could only hope the secret could save the life of his precious child

"After Sara died that was when I started drinking. I drank to ease the pain. I had hoped to drink myself to death. All I wanted was to be with my fiancee. I didn't care about anything or anyone. I couldn't afford to care about anyone or anything. I just didn't want to care. Loving meant losing. I could have been the winner. I just never bothered to try. I assumed I would lose so why bother trying"

Sydney Cartan had a secret. It was a secret that he was ashamed of. Now however his daughter's life was in danger and the secret had to come out. He could only hope that the secret would not destroy his 'family'.

"One night about four years ago... I got very drunk. Charles, you have to understand that I was so drunk I couldn't see straight, worse then usual. That was the night I fathered a daughter."

Sydney Cartan had a secret. It was a secret that could end his friendship with the man he considered his brother. It was a secret that he promised himself Charles and Lucie would never know. Now however his daughter's life was in danger and the secret had to come out. He could only hope that the secret would not cause harm to his beloved.

"That night you were away from town. I fell and hit my head. Because of that I believed myself to be you, and you to be nonexistent. I believed also that Lucie was Sara."

Charles's voice was gentle as he said

"I think I know where this it headed"

"I wish you did. I wish it was as simple as a moment of stupidity but it isn't. For you see that was the night that I fathered Little Lucie.

Sydney Cartan had finally revealed his secret. To his surprise his friend held no anger, just curiosity.

"Lucie honestly believed I was you. She had no idea that I was me... a wretched pathetic excuse for a human being. I never would have done anything right had it not been for that night. Ironic that the one thing I did right was the worst thing I ever did

"You couldn't help it. You were drunk and had a boo-boo in your head"

Sydney Cartan would never have revealed his secret if his precious daughter hadn't fallen ill and needed a bone marrow transplant. This secret was the test of their friendship. Sydney and his "family" shared an embrace, an assurance that everything was going to be alright