Title: Warning Sign

Genre: Romance, angst, others could make their appearance later.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Just having my fun with them. I don't even own the title. I borrowed it from my favorite Coldplay song of their album A Rush of Blood to the Head. The song itself will probably find its way into one of the chapters.

Summary: This is the sequel to Yesterday. Read that fic first if you like, but if you don't want to, here's the gist of it: Set in early Season 3 before anyone even suspects Lauren of being Covenant, Sydney yearns for Vaughn. He comes to her apartment one night, drunk, telling her that he still loves her. She admits that she loves him, but she doesn't want to be the destructive force in his relationship with Lauren. So, she decides that she has to leave. Vaughn, who can't stop thinking about her, goes after her after the watch incident with Lauren at the restaurant. He tells Sydney that he loves only her, and they make up. And now, here we are…

It's not necessary, but I suggest that you at least read the last chapter of Yesterday to get into the swing of things.

A/N: I was not expecting to even think about starting this before next month, but hey, I'm finally done with AP tests forever and it's definitely time to celebrate! I can't say how often I'll be updating this – it mostly depends on when inspiration decides to strike. But I'm pretty sure that if you review, inspiration will be more willing to stick around (hint, hint). Enjoy the fluffy romance while it's here because I have plans for plenty of angst…

Prologue: A Lazy Morning

As my mind gradually awakens, and the remaining threads of some elusive dream escape my grasp altogether, I notice for the first time the warm sheets around me and the soft tapping of the rain outside. I smile, knowing that when I open my eyes, the woman whom I have longed to wake up next to will not fade with the darkness.

"What are you doing awake already?" I hear her murmur, causing my eyes to flutter open and search through the dimness for the face that need no longer reside solely in my dreams.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" I answer, my voice thick from sleep. As I study her in the subtle glow of the drizzling not-quite-morning, I notice that she appears to have been awake for a while, the traces of sleep absent from her features whose beauty has never failed to startle me.

The smile that has been ingrained into my very being, that stunning upturn of her lips that seems to illuminate her entire face over which I rejoice at witnessing, the expression of simple happiness that makes me want to dedicate myself to finding ways of always ensuring its presence shines brightly as she quietly responds, "I guess I wanted to make sure that this night wasn't a dream."

I caress the bare skin of her shoulder – a gesture that we have both been fond of ever since our first time together. "I know what you mean. This seems almost surreal, finally being here with you again – a very good kind of surreal."

"Yeah…" Her voice drifts off, and I see worry start to mar the aura of peace that had settled over her.

"What's wrong?" I ask cautiously, not wanting her to retreat from me ever again.

"Nothing," she quickly defends. Her pretense does not last for long though, my expression telling her that I will not buy an answer like that. She sighs as she slowly continues, "It's just that…are you really sure about this? I mean, do you really think that we can just pick up from where we were two years ago? Because it seems like we've thrown ourselves head-first into the middle of our old relationship, expecting to be able to act like the events of the last two years never happened. I don't want to start, or restart, another relationship in my life based on false pretenses. I need something in my life to be real and stay real. For me, you always have, and I don't want that to change."

"I'm not trying to pretend that the last two years didn't happen," I answer strongly, confidently. "I don't want to pretend, either. And I don't think that we're in the middle of our old relationship. This is very new for me. I mean, I knew that I loved you two years ago, but I didn't know how deeply until I didn't have you anymore. And now…now I know that I can't bear to lose you again."

I sigh as I prepare myself for a confession that is itching to be made. "When you left, Sydney…I was torn apart. I didn't understand – or maybe I didn't want to understand – your need to drop everything between us and disappear." I pause as I bring my hand to her face and gently stroke my thumb across her cheek. "When I thought you were dead, I vowed so many times that, given another chance, I would make sure there could be no doubt in your mind about how much you mean to me. It hurt, thinking that even after telling you that I love you, I lost you anyway."

As I begin to feel her cheek moisten under my touch, I decide that I need to start changing the direction of the conversation.

I smile slightly in an attempt to lighten the mood. "After having experienced so much grief and regret, I can't believe that it took something as drastic as you breaking off all contact with me for me to realize that you are the only person I could ever need," I say, leaning in for a kiss of reassurance that I really haven't lost her for a second time.

Sydney pulls away, however, surprising me as her gaze pierces through the grey light of the room.

"Vaughn…I didn't leave to get you back."

The self-imposed guilt that I have seen far too many times has returned to her eyes, and I mentally chastise myself for causing it to resurface.

'How could I have been so stupid as to make her think that's why I thought she left?! We're treading in rough enough waters as it is...'

"No, Syd, that's not what I meant to imply. I didn't come after you only because you left, and not only because I need you, either. I came because I want to be with you and because I finally know that what I want is right."

I pause as I shift closer to her, bringing my arm around her and pulling her to me, reveling in the feeling of her breath against my neck. "I love you…you know that, right?"

Her only answer is a brief smile before she places her lips against mine and draws me into a soft kiss. I'm amazed and glad at how well we can communicate without words. No verbal response could have ever matched the quality of her reply. Through the action of her lips with mine, I feel rather than hear her answer of, 'I know.' I respond back in kind, breathing in only her, exhaling a satisfied, 'Good.'

I feel myself start to get carried away with her, as if the walls are being dissolved in the rain, the warm water sweeping around me, but somehow allowing me to stay afloat, safe from submerging into the cold, dark depths. Only with Sydney could I find these waves of comfort. Only with Sydney would I want to venture into these unfamiliar waters, relinquishing my need for control to the forces around me until I find myself back on dry land, still wrapped in her arms.

The transitions are so subtle, so smooth that I don't realize how much time has passed until the sunlight streaks beams of gold across her body that has molded with mine, highlighting the glints in her hair, mixing with the shine of her slightly flushed face, whispering 'Good morning' with every sigh of her breath. This morning, I notice everything about her in greater detail than ever before. This morning has synchronized my every heartbeat, my every breath with hers. This morning, I am born again, rejuvenated because this morning is the stuff that dreams are made of, dreams that are too good and true simultaneously.

"Vaughn…" she whispers, still bound with sleep, but she is not an unwilling captive. The hint of a smile splayed across her face is evidence of this.

"I'm here," I whisper back, hugging her closer if it's even possible. I really am here, amazing as it is, and it doesn't matter where exactly here is because I know that with Sydney, I'll never be lost.

'I'm here. I'm home.'

A/N: You think the ending was too cliché? Me too, but my 'shipper heart couldn't resist.