Title: Barren
Author: Chickiee-Dee
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias or its characters.
Summary: Sydney Bristow never wanted children, but after battling cancer as a teenager, it left her unable to fall pregnant. When she meets the man of her dreams, how will her opinion change? And how does she break the news to him? AU. S/V. S/N. Sydney POV.
Authors Notes: In this story, Jack and Irina are divorced. They still kinda get on, but Irina re-married. Jack has a son from a previous relationship, Damian (five years older), Sydney has a younger sister, Jessica (four years younger), and Irina has a son with her new husband, David (eight years younger).
Chapter 14To say I'm shocked is the understatement of the century. I stood there stupidly frozen in place as I watched my parent's separate, wiping their lips like it would change what I'd just seen. "Sydney…" Dad started, I stuck my hand up quickly to stop him, as I tried to keep my tears at bay, "Don't, there's nothing you can say." I turned away, rushing for the door, Vaughn following close behind.
As we approached the car, Vaughn pulled me into his arms, "Syd, you ok?" I lifted my head up from his shoulder, "I just don't understand why, why would he do that?" I heard the front door slam shut, and the tapping footsteps as they came closer. Not really wanting to talk to whoever it was I made a beeline for the car and started it, barely giving it time to warm up before I put my foot to the floor, hurtling out of the driveway.
The drive to Vaughn's was made in total silence, with the exception of the car radio blaring in the background. I pulled up in front of his complex and shut the engine off, completely forgetting that Vaughn was with me, as I burst into tears. I vaguely heard him get out of the car, and the next thing I knew he was around my side of the car, helping me to undo my seatbelt and climb out. Dutifully taking my bag in one hand, and wrapping his free one around my trembling body, we made our way upstairs to Vaughn's apartment.
When the lift finally deposited us on the fourth floor, I could barely stand, completely numb to everything. Vaughn opened the door and sat me on the couch while he went into the kitchen, presumably for something to eat. "I can't believe it, why?" Vaughn came out carrying two steaming mugs, hopefully filled with coffee. "I dunno Syd, I think that's something you'll have to ask him."
"I don't wanna listen to anything he has to say."
"Sydney, no matter what, he's still your father."
"I don't get it, why would he even consider getting back together with her? After everything she did, it destroyed Dad when they divorced, I just don't want to see him hurt again."
"Maybe she's changed?" Vaughn suggested. Clearly, he doesn't know my mother.
"Irina could never change. She's always gonna be like she is, I just hope Jess doesn't end up like her, I sure as hell won't."
"Why do you call her Irina?"
"That's her name isn't it? I'm sure as hell not gonna call her my mother anymore, not after everything she's done to me." Vaughn never responded. There were a few long minutes of silence between us as we sipped at our drinks, and I tried to process everything that was going on in my head, "I need to move out," I said all of a sudden. Vaughn looked at me totally shocked. "I don't mean for me to move in here, I just need to get out, I'm twenty-two years old, I shouldn't be living at home still, I only went back 'cause of Danny. When we split, I had nowhere else to go." Vaughn looked at me, still somewhat confused, before replying, "I'll help you find somewhere if you want, but Syd, how are you going to pay for it? I don't mean to be intrusive, but you don't have a job."
"I've saved up a lot of money over the years, plus I got a whole lot of money for my twenty-first that I haven't spent yet. Dad's paid for school already, so I'm set. I'll get a job if I have to, but right now, it's not necessary." I paused for a moment, "And it's not intrusive or rude, it's sweet" I added as an afterthought as I ran my fingers through his hair. Sighing lightly, I rested my head in the crook of his neck, and he responded by wrapping his arms tightly around me, as if to shield me from the world.
I have to admit his gesture was so sweet, but I guess I learnt early that life sucks, between everything that happened with my parentals and getting sick, I'm not nearly as innocent as people perceive me to be. Maybe I've just been acting like it for so long that it's become second nature to me. I can remember doing my Deb when I was sixteen, it was just before I got sick, and even though I'd already had sex, everyone thought that I was still sweet and innocent Sydney Bristow, that used to smile all the time, despite my missing top teeth, and used to draw pictures for everyone that I knew. That's so not me anymore, but I guess sometimes it's nice to pretend, to long for those lost times when all I had to worry about was whether or not I could convince my 'Daddy' to braid my hair for school. How I long for those simpler times now.
I woke up the next morning, still in the same position as the night before. As much as I was enjoying being in his arms, I no longer had any feeling in most of my limbs, so I slowly began to dislodge myself from his grip. I was almost free when he began to stir, "Where are you going?" he mumbled.
"I can't feel my legs, they're numb, and I need coffee."
"Don't worry about coffee, I'll take you to breakfast."
"Vaughn, seriously, you don't have too."
"Syd, I want to, so you get ready, and I'll be up in a minute." I kissed his cheek lightly and headed off in the direction of the shower. I was midway through washing my hair when he appeared again, "What's taking so long?" He asked as he stepped inside the curtain. "I need to wash my hair, makes it look purdy," I told him, a childish grin plastered across my face.
The shower went cold long before we were ready to get out. We stumbled out of the bathroom and into the hallway half-dressed, my back hitting the plasterboard wall, as we continued our horny-teenager antics. We broke for air and I pushed him away as my stomach emitted a loud rumble, "I'm hungry, and someone promised me breakfast…"
"Get dressed then," He said, running his hand up my bare arm, sending shivers down my spine. "If you keep doing that, we won't get to eat, and personally, I'm starved." I shoved him away lightly, planting a soft kiss on his forehead, on my way into the living area to collect my bag.
Vaughn and I walked to a café a few blocks from his apartment, the mid-morning sun illuminating the path in front of us. We'd just sat down and ordered when my phone interrupted our comfortable silence. 'Jess' the caller id flashed. This better be good. "Yeah?"
"Syd, where are you?"
"Having breakfast."
"Where?"
"Why does it matter?" I asked, not sure exactly why my sister cared where I was.
"David called."
"What does he want?"
"To tell us the Derevko's will be in town next weekend and we are required."
"I'm not going, there's no way."
"He said that and I quote 'Sydney can bring that guy she's screwing', probably got it from his father." How much do I wanna strangle that little fuck right now?
"He's more like his stupid father than we thought, isn't he?"
"I guess, so are you coming? Please don't leave me and Matt to face them alone."
"I dunno, I'll let you know."
"Whatever," Jess replied, not sounding too impressed.
"I'll call you tomorrow and let you know. See ya."
"Yeah, talk to ya then." The phone clicked on the other end, and I flipped it shut, placing it back in my bag. "Who was that?" Vaughn asked, somewhat confused.
"Jess, the Derevko's will be in town next weekend."
"They are?"
"Mum's crazy side of the family. I'm required, and you can come too, if ya want."
"Will you go alone?" He asked, not really convinced of the crazy-ness of my family.
"God no, everytime we were all together when I was younger one or more of us were injured. I'm seriously not looking forward to it."
"It can be that bad Syd. I'll come with you, if you want me too."
"Thanks, Vaughn but seriously, if you thought Mum was bad, the rest of her family…well, there's actually no word to describe how insane they are."
"Something to look forward too." He has no idea. A weekend with the Derevko family, one word springs to mind…Goodie.