Disclaimer: I don't own Alias :)
Previously on Why Can't I... :)
"Ta-da!" She whispered, and from behind her back she pulled out a book - the first edition of Alice in Wonderland.
"Sydney Anne Bristow! How did you manage to get that?" Francie exclaimed, pointing at the book.
"You don't underestimate my ability or anything Francie, do you...?" Sydney said jokingly.
She walked over to her desk, plonked herself in the swivel chair and then hugged the book to her chest.
Sydney giggled for a moment and then started explaining herself when she saw Francie's amazed face.
"Well Francie, I now know why shop assistants sell people pants a size too big."
A confused look crossed Francie's face. "What?" She asked. "Why?"
"So that you can tuck a book down them, just when your father comes into the room of course!"
Francie joined in with her friend's laughter, feeling the relief of finding the cherished book wash over her. After all, it was her fault or partially her fault it was taken from Sydney in the first place.
Flash back to six months ago
'...Happy Birthday dear Sydney, Happy Birthday to you!'
Sydney smiled around at all her friends, before blowing out the thirteen candles on her 'Cheesecake Shop Mud cake' (the best mud cake around?). Next to her she heard Francie tell her to make a wish.
Mentally, she concentrated on what she wanted most. And her thoughts were drawn straight to her father. Quickly, but with all her heart, she made a wish and then slowly pushed a knife to the bottom of the cake.
All of a sudden, the conversations stopped and Sydney's group of mates started wolf whistling, announcing "You touched the bottom of the cake; you have to kiss the closet boy!"
Sydney caught Francie's eye, and together they burst out laughing.
"Off you go Syd, go find Rex!" Francie laughed.
Looks of question were sent around from the group of friends.
"No offence guys, but who's Rex?" One of the girls asked.
"Rex is my thirteenth birthday present. And considering we're at my house and my dad's away, and we all go to the same school – a girl's school – there are no guys here other than Rex," Sydney explained.
"Rex," she called with a whistle.
Around the corner of the house came a blue heeler barrelling towards Sydney.
"This is Rex." Sydney announced, picking the puppy up. "Rex, meet my friends."
'Ohhs', 'ahhs' and cries of laughter now filled the air as everyone crowded around the puppy as it lapped up the attention. Sydney looked over at Francie and smiled. While all of her friends had rushed over to see Rex, Francie had made the most of the diversion and had dived for the cake, and had already started to indulge herself with a huge chunk.
"Typical," Sydney thought, shaking her head.
Later that day after all her mates had left, Francie and Sydney helped Tracey (the housekeeper/nanny) clean up the after-party mess.
"So Syd, how would you rate your 13th birthday hey?" Francie asked.
"Um," Sydney stopped for a moment. "Alright I suppose. I got a new friend!"
She meant Rex, who was now curled up asleep in his basket, dead to the world.
"All that attention must be tiring," Tracey said with a smile.
Sydney turned to her, and gave her a hug.
"Thanks so much Trace, he's just what I wanted."
"And what you needed as well," said Tracey, returning the affectionate gesture.
"Uh!" Francie interrupted them. "What about me?"
Although Francie was not the one who'd given Rex to Syd, she'd been in on the idea and had given Sydney all the must-have accessories (eg. the basket, leash, bowl etc.) that Rex would need.
"Come here then Francie" and with that, Sydney and Tracey offered there arms and Francie ran over.
"Group hug!" They all screamed, giggling.
"Um... Excuse me. Hello? Sorry, is one of you a Miss S. A. Bristow?"
The three girls broke apart and spun around to find a nervous looking delivery man standing a few metres away.
"Hey! How'd you get here?" Tracey asked, "Who let you in?"
The Bristow house was surrounded by six foot fences and the state-of-the-art security cameras.
"Ah, the gardener let me in. I have a package for a Miss Bristow. Would that be you?" The delivery man's voice trembled with nervousness.
"That would be me." Sydney stepped forward and lifted the box out of the man's hands, grimacing with the weight.
"If you just sign here then..." The man said, holding out a clipboard.
Balancing the box in one arm, Sydney quickly scribbled her name and with that, the delivery man literally ran away.
"What is it Syd?" asked Francie. "Who's it from?"
"One guess." muttered Sydney before plonking the package on the table.
"Your father? Tracey asked. She was answered with a glum nod. "Well at least he remembered your birthday. I'll be right back girls. I'm just going to go have a word with these gardeners, they should know better then to let a delivery person into the house." And with that Tracey turned on her heel and left the two girls alone.
"Tracey's right you know, at least he remembers your birthday." Francie said comfortingly.
"Yeah I know. I just wish he'd given it to me before he left for his trip, or even when he comes home." Sydney blinked back her tears. "Oh well, here goes."
And with that, she tore open the brown paper and string and was left with a few books neatly stacked and tied with a pink satin ribbon. Sydney slid the card out from under the ribbon and read "Happy Birthday Sydney. These were your mother's. She would have wanted you to have these. Dad."
Sydney looked up at Francie with anticipation. Francie was reflecting her excitement.
Eagerly they both untied the bow and Sydney carefully opened the top book. Inside was a personal note from her father to her mother.
"Laura. All my love forever and a day... Jack" Sydney and Francie read out together.
"Gee Syd, that's a side of your father I've NEVER seen," Francie commented.
"Yeah. He loved my mum." Sydney said, pointing out the obvious.
Together, they picked up the books and carried them inside. Tracey met them in the kitchen and was immediately shown the gift.
"I remember these books." Tracey said, lifting up Alice in Wonderland. "Every time your father went away, he would bring back a book like this for your mother. She loved him doing that." Tracey placed the book down on the counter, turned to Sydney and continued to say "Take care of these, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Uh, Tracey?" Francie said hesitantly, "You kinda put the book in some water."
"Sugar!" Tracey cried, quickly lifting the book up and wiping it on her shirt. In an attempt to dry it, she started shaking and fanning it.
"Tracey, don't worry about it. A little water won't do much damage." Sydney took the book off of Tracey and calmingly patted her shoulder. "Don't worry." She then motioned to Francie and together they started climbing the stairs up to Sydney's room.
"So is there anything wrong with the book?" Francie asked Sydney.
Sydney opened the front cover. "No I don't think so... Hang on, what's this?"
She pointed to a pattern of pale grey ink on the title page.
"One, one, i, eight," she read out loud. "Oh! Wait a tick!" Sydney turned the page over. The ink was clearer on the opposite side. "Bill!" Sydney said, looking up at Francie. "That's what it says. Bill!"
"What's that supposed to mean? Is there anything else?" Francie questioned her.
"Yeah, it must be a last name too. Bill Vaughn." Sydney said.
"You might want to show this to your father Syd..."
– end of flashback -
And that was exactly what had happened. The moment Jack Bristow stepped through the door on return from his trip, Sydney and Francie had pounded him with questions.
"What's this? Who's this? Why's this?" Those questions hadn't really alarmed Jack at all. It was the next question that Sydney had asked that did.
"Who's Bill Vaughn, dad?"
Jack Bristow had realised his mistake when he saw the book.
"Give me those books Sydney. Bring them to me at once!" Jack had demanded, loudly and clearly.
"But dad, you gave-" Sydney had protested.
"No 'but's'! Bring them to me now!"
So following the orders, Sydney and Francie had reluctantly handed over the books. And had never heard a word mentioned about them or seen them again.
Until yesterday, when Tracey, the housekeeper, had commented on the extra books she had to dust in the library. It was this hinting that drew Sydney and Francie to the conclusion and to the decision that the books were being kept safely in the library, and that they needed to go back to the rightful owner - Sydney.
And that is exactly what they did.
Back to 'now'
"So Sydney, how are we going to find Bill Vaughn? We have absolutely no idea who he is!" Francie exclaimed.
"There's only one place to start." Syd announced, and with that she pulled an outdated white pages (a phone book) out of her desk draw.
Together, the two girls searched for 'Vaughn, W', after concluding that 'Bill' would be short for 'William'.
"Bingo!" Francie screamed, pointing to the name she had just read. "But Syd, this book is pretty old - they might not live there anymore."
"There's only one way to find out mate." And Sydney picked up the phone and dialled the number that was listed under the name.
Author's Note: Ok, so Imay have babbled on a bit too much during the party thing, but hopefully (finger's crossed) I can explain why in the next few chapters. So if you want to see the next few chapters, or if you don't, please tell me!
Till next time then, Cheerio!