To Everything Its Place

By: Ellie (Chshalogrl)

Rating: PG-13

Summary: The fluffy sequel to "Like Normal People Do". Fluffity-fluff.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am not JJ Abrams nor am I affiliated with ABC, Touchstone, or Bad Robot.

A/N: My apologies for the delay between chapters. Between a hectic schedule and a defective computer, it's been difficult for me to do much reading or writing online. But I finally managed to get my computer online so I wanted to go ahead and post this. Thanks as always to my online partners-in-crime. You guys know who you are. :)  And welcome to all newbies: SVSoulmates, Nichole, Dancer4life115, Aliaschica316, SydneyVaughn47, Blondy, and ucd. And welcome back to Zoemcd08! Of course I remember you! I'm glad you're all on board for the ride.

You all are the greatest! Happy Reading! Ellie

Previously…

Jack nodded his agreement and Sydney sank back against her pillow in an attempt to relax. She knew that they would get the nursery squared away. But a sense of panic washed over her anyhow. She loved her daughter. She wouldn't hesitate for a second to sacrifice her life in exchange for Ava's. But what did she know about motherhood?

Suddenly as she stared at her daughter resting peacefully in Jack's arms, there was just one thought running repeatedly through her head.

What had they gotten themselves into?

Ch. 7- Small Wonders

The overwhelmed expression must have been frozen on Sydney's face. After saying their good-byes to Jack, they said good-bye to their daughter when one of the nurses came to take Ava back to the nursery. It had been a late night and the sun was just peeking its way into Sydney's room to indicate the morning hour.  Since Sydney hadn't had more than a few moments of rest, Vaughn knew that she had to be completely out of sorts. One look at the bewildered expression on her face confirmed his thoughts.

"You okay, Syd?"  He moved to sit on the edge of her bed and he dipped his head to catch her lowered eyes.  "You've been really quiet since your dad was here."

Sydney shook her head silently before she looked him in the face. "I have absolutely no idea how to take care of a child. How am I possibly going to be a good mother?  I mean, when was the last time you met a spy who had to hurry home to get milk and cookies on the table?  Because I know I haven't met one."

Vaughn tried to hide his smile at her sudden bout of insecurity. Both of their doctors had informed him that this was likely to happen and that all he could do to soothe her fears would be encourage her.

"Sydney, did you see her?  Do you remember how she stopped crying as soon as they gave her to you in the delivery room?  She already loves you.  All we can do is try to be the best parents we can. I don't think there have been many first-time mothers who haven't felt frightened by the idea of raising a child. But I have faith in you. And I think Ava will probably give us a break when we explain to her that we're learning as we go." He finished with a teasing smile and Sydney couldn't help but respond with a wry laugh.

Vaughn relaxed when he saw that he had eased some of her worries and he moved to lower his lips to hers. "You need to sleep. You've been up all night and there's no way you're going to convince me that you aren't completely exhausted."

Sydney shook her head. "I wasn't going to try."

"Get some sleep, Syd. I have a feeling things will seem a lot less daunting after you've gotten some rest."  His eyes pleaded with her to relent.

She watched him as he tucked the sheets around her tired form and, with a soft sigh, she lowered her head back against her pillow.  In no time, she was basking in the wonderful feeling of contentment that washed over her as she let her eyes fall closed.

It was already early morning when she fell asleep, so when she woke up to see a tray of food at the foot of her bed, she knew that she'd slept right through breakfast.  Fighting a moan with the effort it took to sit up, Sydney winced as she felt the searing aches in her lower half.

The rustle of the bedding caught Vaughn's attention and he smiled when he glanced up to see a bleary-eyed Sydney sitting up against her headboard.  Glancing down towards Ava who was fidgeting in his arms, he stood and offered the baby to Sydney, who gladly accepted.

"She's ready for another feeding." He filled her in. "The nurses brought her in about ten minutes ago."

Sydney nodded silently before she offered her baby a wide-eyed smile. Lowering Ava to her lap, she started to repeat the process she'd completed just a few hours before and she began unbuttoning her pajama top. Once Ava was nursing in a manner that was comfortable for both mother and daughter, Sydney fixed her attention back on Vaughn.

"Tell me you managed to get some sleep while I was napping."

Vaughn shrugged. "I'm fine, Syd. I took care of some things." He grinned. "I called Leanne…all of Lucosa should know about Ava within the next twenty-four hours. And I called Dixon and Marshall. They should be by later this afternoon."

Sydney's expression brightened considerably when she heard the names of her colleagues. "Have I mentioned how relieved I am that everything worked out for them?  I'm so glad that they were able to join the CIA."  She paused for a moment. "How was Leanne?"

"She was good. Asked how you were and how the delivery went. And congratulated us, of course." Moving back toward the table on the far side of the room, he lifted one of the packages and held it up for Sydney to see. "Speaking of Lucosa…did you want to open Mrs. Trenton's gift?"

"Sure." Sydney nodded enthusiastically. "Why don't you do it?" She suggested with a nod towards her resting daughter.

Vaughn nodded agreeably before he moved towards the bed and began unwrapping the small package. Tugging gently at the thin, tissue-wrap, he pulled a white box free from the paper and pried the cardboard lid away.  Carefully, he lifted a tiny, white gown from the box and held it up for Sydney to see.  It was clear that the gown had been made by their former neighbor and Sydney marveled over the smooth, white material edged and accented by the delicate patterns of lace.

Although she had to be still for the sake of the sleeping baby in her arms, Sydney's eyes lit up at the sight of the beautiful Christening gown. With a dimpled grin, she gushed quietly "Oh, it's so sweet! Can you imagine how perfect she'll look in that?"

Sydney's giddiness was contagious and Vaughn found himself nodding as he looked quickly between his daughter and the tiny white gown. They were so absorbed in examining the detail of the garment that Vaughn almost missed the slip of paper still sitting in the box.

"There's something else here, Syd.  Looks like a receipt or something…" He let his words trail as he picked up the thin slip of paper crackled between his fingertips.

"What is it?" Sydney questioned with a raised brow.

"It's a claim slip, I think."

"For what?" Sydney frowned before reaching for the slip of paper.

"Uh…a stroller?" He shrugged. "Maybe I'll ask Will and Francie pick it up and take it to the house."

Sydney nodded in agreement. "I can't believe Mrs. Trenton would go to so much trouble for us."  She handed the slip back to Vaughn before fixing her attention on her sleeping daughter.

"I can." Vaughn thought.  He was watching the tender mother-daughter scene with tired eyes when there was a soft tap at the door. With a confirming glance towards Sydney, Vaughn opened the door to see a composed Dixon and an eager-looking Marshall just outside.  After some handshakes and congratulatory words, Vaughn invited the two men in to see Sydney and to meet Ava.

Sydney's face split into a huge dimpled grin at the sight of her friends as Dixon pressed a kiss to her forehead and Marshall offered an antsy wave.  Ava was passed to each of the visitors and Sydney's smile only grew as she accepted their flattering words.

"She really is beautiful, Sydney."  Dixon smiled. "I have no doubt that you'll be as wonderful a mother as you are an agent."

Marshall nodded in agreement. "She's really…uh…cute, Syd. Oh, and Mr. Vaughn. Because it takes two to…well, because you're her father and…"  He stopped. "She's really neat."

"Thank you, Marshall."  Sydney responded graciously.

Each of the men had come bearing flowers and their respective arrangements were added to the table of gifts. After some friendly conversation and a bit of shoptalk, a nurse came to retrieve Ava, and Vaughn caught Sydney as she smothered a yawn.  Dixon and Marshall seemed to have noticed as well because they quickly began to make their exit.

"It was really great for you guys to stop by." Vaughn offered his hand to Dixon and then Marshall.  The pair nodded in response before turning to say their good-byes to Sydney.

She was already fast asleep.

On Monday afternoon, Sydney was dressed comfortably in a pair of light, drawstring capris and a sleeveless blouse while Ava was in a soft, pink sleeper, a tiny cap on her head. Perched comfortably in a vinyl-seated wheelchair, Sydney cuddled her daughter towards her chest as Vaughn wheeled them out the front door of the hospital where he had parked the car. After loading Ava carefully into her carrier and strapping her into the seat, Vaughn helped Sydney into the back of the car so that she could be near the baby.

Once he was in the driver's seat, Vaughn adjusted the rearview mirror to get a better look at his precious cargo.

"How are you feeling, Syd?"

Sydney squirmed and cringed slightly before responding. "Stressed.  What are we going to do about the nursery?  And did Will and Francie pick up Mrs. Trenton's gift?"  Vaughn gave her a scolding look through the mirror and watched as she blushed slightly before answering his original question. "I feel like I'm never going to go to the gym again."  She paused to run a finger across Ava's cheek.  "But it's totally worth it."

He smiled at her words before he was forced to focus on the task of driving. But the smile just continued to grow when he heard Sydney jabbering nonsensically to their daughter. He was certain that he probably looked like an idiot as he drove down the freeway with a massive grin on his face, but he couldn't care less as he eavesdropped on the backseat conversation.

"Hi baby!" Sydney spoke perkily as Ava watched gamely. "You're such a pretty girl, Ava. Are you my girl? Yes. You are, aren't you?  Mommy loves you so much…" Sydney continued make faces into the carrier and Vaughn chuckled at the sudden emergence of yet another side to the multi-faceted Sydney Bristow...no…Sydney Vaughn.

Both of the new parents were feeling rather anxious as they arrived at their front gate. Making eye contact through the rearview mirror, Vaughn drove slowly up the narrow drive and braked to a stop in front of the house. They were now officially clueless parents in charge of raising a daughter. Staring fixedly at their daughter, they both had the same thought.

Here goes nothing.

The house was quiet save for the hum of the much-needed air conditioner. With Ava's carrier in one hand and Sydney's hand folded in the other, Vaughn led his small family into their home. They immediately headed towards the bedroom so that both Sydney and Ava might get some rest. They had just passed the nursery when Vaughn felt Sydney give his hand a tug and he heard her give a small gasp. Taking a few steps back and peering into the room, he grinned at the sight that had shocked his wife.

The room that had been left in a state of chaos was now immaculate. Sydney stepped inside and immediately began to marvel at the work had been done. Trailing her fingers over the pale, wooden crib they had purchased, she noted that it had been made with the sage green bedding they'd selected. The pale yellow of the walls looked almost white as the bright light poured in through the wide window on the far side of the room. An antique rocking chair was resting in the corner opposite the crib and Sydney felt a stab of nostalgia when she recognized it as the chair that had been in her own room during her childhood. The fully-stocked changing table lined the third wall and framed sketches of Beatrix Potter's beloved animal characters were scattered over the walls of the room. Sydney even let out a tiny cry of delight when she finally noticed the old-style pram that was resting near the closet. Will and Francie had gone to pick the package up the day before and now Sydney couldn't resist going to examine the handsome navy blue carriage with its large, shiny wheels and its cheerful, white trim.

"Pretty nice, huh?" Vaughn chuckled.

"You could say that." She remarked. "I'm not even going to begin to wonder how she pulled this off. I've learned not to question Mrs. Trenton's ways."  She shook her head in disbelief before turning to take another look around the nursery.

Vaughn watched Sydney explore the small room and he smiled when he realized how much work had gone into getting it ready.   Lowering Ava's carrier, he lifted her into his arms.

"Look Ava. It's your room! Your Grandpa, Aunt Francie, and Uncle Will got it ready just for you. Isn't it nice?"

Sydney laughed softly as Vaughn gave their daughter a tour and she lowered herself gingerly into the cushioned rocking chair as she watched. The tour of the room was a quick one and before she knew it, Ava was being lowered into her arms.

"She told me she's hungry." Vaughn deadpanned.

"Oh really?" Sydney lifted an eyebrow before nodding and preparing to feed the newborn. Once Ava had started eating, Sydney glanced up to see Vaughn watching with a wistful expression.

"What's wrong?" Sydney questioned in concern.

"It's just incredible.  You can give her everything she needs to survive. All she needs is you."

Sydney shook her head. "Except for the fact that she wouldn't exist if it weren't for you. You did play a key role in getting her here if you'll recall…"

Vaughn felt his heart swell at the reminder that the little girl was a part of him and he watched with a tender smile at the intimate image in front of him. He knew he could stand there and watch them for hours. But he also knew that it would be more helpful if he were to go and unpack their bags from the hospital.

"I'll be right back, Syd. Call me if you need anything."

Sydney nodded her response without taking her eyes off the baby. She had known that breastfeeding might not be the most pleasant experience in the world, but she had also known from the very beginning of her pregnancy that she wouldn't trade that bond for anything. She watched Ava's tiny cheeks puffing in and out as she ate and Sydney couldn't resist brushing an index finger over Ava's dark head.

Even after Ava was finished, Sydney stayed seated with her in the rocking chair, just enjoying every second she could spend with her daughter.  When Vaughn still hadn't joined them after a few minutes however, Sydney decided that they would go to him.

"Let's go find your daddy, Ava. It's just not the same without him." Sydney spoke to her daughter as she left the nursery and headed down the hallway towards the bedroom. Ava reacted by smacking her lips and letting her eyes fall closed and Sydney couldn't help but giggle.

"What's so funny?"  Vaughn smiled as the duo joined him in the bedroom. Once he had unpacked, he'd figured that he might as well put up the small bassinette they had received at their shower.

Sydney noticed the new addition to the room and nodded her approval. "You know, when we got that, I didn't really think we would need it since we already had the crib. But I can't imagine letting her out of my sight…forget letting her sleep down the hall."

"I figured." Vaughn smirked. "We're going to have to let her sleep in her own crib eventually."

Sydney lifted her chin and responded in a defensive tone. "I know. We will. In a week. Or a month. Or eighteen years." She admitted.

Vaughn laughed. "Ah yes. I can already see the makings of a healthy family relationship."

"Hey!" Sydney protested. She moved over to the bed and let Ava rest on her back in the center of their mattress. Carefully, she and Vaughn both lowered themselves onto the bed to watch her sleep.  Reaching for Vaughn's hand, Sydney whispered. "I just don't want her to ever hurt as a result of the things we've done in the past. I know it's not realistic for me to wish she'll have a pain-free life…as much as I want her to.  But I'm not sure I could handle being the one responsible for her pain."  She felt Vaughn give her hand a squeeze and she raised her eyes to his.

"I know, Syd. We're going to do everything in our power to keep her happy, healthy, and out of harm's way.  And we're going to love her. We're going to love her an insane amount. To the point that she'll be pushing us away and wiping off our kisses."

A small smile worked its way onto her features at the image of their adolescent daughter disgusted by her parents' blatant displays of emotion. Sydney nodded playfully.

"I think I could have fun with that."

Sydney was feeling a bit under the weather due to some afterpains of Ava's birth so she decided to fall into bed rather early that evening. Though the pains were rather mild, she was still exhausted and she wanted desperately to catch up on her sleep. Vaughn had been happy to inform her a few weeks before that he had managed to get three weeks off from work so that he could help her with the baby while she recovered. And she had a few months before she needed to make a decision about her future with the CIA. Sydney had always been certain that she would want to return in full capacity to her position with the agency, but the sight of Ava had been enough to complicate her feelings on the topic. Suddenly the prospect of darting through corridors and dodging bullets wasn't so thrilling.

Lying comfortably atop the blankets of their bed, Sydney had Ava in her lap once again.  She felt silly, like a little girl with a new doll, but she just couldn't get enough of her new baby girl. It seemed that there was no number of kisses, caresses, or coos of adoration to fulfill the new mommy quota. So after finishing her evening feeding they were enjoying some more mother-daughter bonding time while Vaughn took a shower.

"I have no idea what I'm doing, Ava. I've never been a mother before and I didn't really have a mother when I was growing up. So if you could go easy on me and work with me a little bit, I would really appreciate it. And if you could avoid getting involved with any supposed black-ops divisions of government intelligence agencies…it would mean a lot. Can you do that for me?"  Sydney looked down at her daughter's scrunched up face and laughed. "Maybe we should have this discussion later."

"That's probably a good idea." Vaughn spoke as he came back into the bedroom in just a pair of boxer shorts.

Sydney watched him as he came around to his side of the bed and climbed in next to her. He scooted his way toward her and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth before he spoke again. "How are you feeling?"

Sydney shrugged. "Not great, but not terrible." She smiled rather bashfully at him. "I can't get enough of her. No matter how much I hold her or look at her or talk to her, I can't believe that she's here."

"I know what you mean." He replied. "But I have a feeling that the lack of sleep, the diapers, the breastfeeding, and the crying will convince us soon enough." He was silent for a moment and he watched as Sydney rolled her eyes in amusement. Quickly, he lifted Ava from her mother's lap and pressed a light kiss to her tiny forehead. He then settled her into the crook of his arm and turned to Sydney with a look of adoration. "I'll never be able to explain how grateful I am that you're the mother of my child."

"Vaughn…" Sydney responded softly to his charged words. "You're going to be such a good dad."

He was focused on their daughter and smiled in acknowledgement of Sydney's words. "Get some sleep, Syd. You need to rest."

But neither of them got much sleep that night. They were too enamored with Ava's perfection. Just watching her sleep was restful enough.

It wasn't easy for Vaughn to return to work three weeks after his daughter's birth.  Although the first weeks of having their daughter home had been exhausting, he had enjoyed spending so much time with his new family, and he had enjoyed being able to pamper Sydney as she recovered from their daughter's birth.  Though he had been tempted to request more time off, Sydney had convinced him to come back to the agency.  

He was somewhat reassured by the fact that Sydney was feeling much more like herself. Between the breastfeeding and the long walks they had been taking in the evenings, the weight was quickly falling away and her lithe figure was emerging. Vaughn smiled as he recalled their conversation just a few days before. She had expressed her concerns about losing all of the weight and had been shocked when he had informed her that he liked the few extra pounds.

"It just reminds me of Ava."

He had stated it simply and without bravado, but she had been both touched and calmed by the reassurance. It had been the truth too. Sydney had always been gorgeous. But Sydney with some extra curve was downright delectable.  He heaved a small sigh as he picked up the first of the large stack of files that had been placed on his desk. After some extensive discussions on the topic, both he and Sydney had decided to avoid fieldwork unless absolutely necessary and his waiting workload looked to be rather overwhelming.

With a quick glance around the busy room, he picked up his phone and dialed an oh-so-familiar number.

"Hello?"  She sounded slightly out of breath when she picked up on the fourth ring.

"Syd? Is everything okay? You sound flustered." 

Sydney smiled when she heard his voice and she felt a surge of adoration at the obvious concern of his tone.

"I'm fine. I was just dressing Ava and I had to hurry to get the phone. You certainly didn't make it long without calling." Her voice trailed off teasingly.

"Did you really think I would?" He questioned with a grin.  "I've been spoiled after the past few weeks. I knew that new mothers were supposed to be wrecks when leaving their babies, but no one informed me that the rule holds for new fathers."

"Do you want to talk to her?" Sydney asked.

Vaughn paused for a moment. He knew it was a silly question. Ava wasn't even a month old and she certainly wouldn't comprehend the fact that some distant voice was actually her daddy. But he also knew that he was going to be miserable for the rest of the day if he didn't accept Sydney's offer.

"Yeah. Actually, I would."  He agreed.

"Just a second…"

And a moment later, he was met with nothing but the morning ambience of their house combined with the faint breaths of his daughter.

"Hi Ava!" He spoke cheerfully into the phone, uncaring of what his colleagues thought. "I love you, baby. I miss you. Be good for your mommy and I'll see you girls tonight."

Another second passed before he heard Sydney's voice back at the other end of the line. "She loves you and she misses you too." Sydney confirmed.

Vaughn smiled. "I'll see you tonight, Syd. I love you."

"Have a good day, Vaughn. I love you." He could hear a trace of sadness in her voice and he knew that she was suffering from the separation as much as he was. 

He lowered the phone slowly and settled his chin into his open palm to stare at the photo he'd placed on his desk when he'd arrived that morning. A grinning Sydney with a yawning Ava in her arms; the photo had been taken just a few days before.  A heavy smack on the back pulled him from his daydream and he smiled gratefully when Weiss lowered a cup of coffee to his desk.

"Thought you might need this."

"Thanks, man." Vaughn nodded his appreciation.

"How's family life?"  Weiss questioned teasingly.

Vaughn glanced quickly at the photo before gracing his friend with a wry smile.

"Let's just say it's going to be a long day."

TBC…