Sydney stood under the hot spray for what felt like an eternity. Part of her wanted to stay in the shower in the hopes that the hot water would strip away all of the hurt and the disgust that she felt, and part of her realised that she simply wanted to avoid facing her friends. Were they still friends?

After all this time it seemed like they had all moved on, found new lives. Lives that didn't include her.

Maybe coming here had been a mistake. Her friends were happy and she couldn't bear to bring them sadness, and she knew with certainty that they would want to know what had happened to her over the past two years.

A knock on the door made her jump.

"Syd, are you alright? You've been in there a while do you want me to send Z in?"

"I'm okay Sky. I'll be out in a minute" Sydney wrapped herself in one of his towels and sat on the edge of the bath. "Sky?"

"Yeah?" He replied.

"Could you...do you mind...can you come in please" her voice trailed into a whisper and she wasn't sure he had heard until the door slowly opened.

Sky cautiously entered and stood by the door waiting for her to speak but the words got jammed in her throat and her eyes burned once again with tears.

Sky dropped to his knees in front of her in an instant, his hands clasping hers.

"Talk to me Syd. I'm not going anywhere"

Sydney swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut willing the tears to stop.

"I wish it had been me"

Sky flinched as though she had slapped him, how could she say that? He stood and turned fighting for control of his emotions.

"Don't go! I'm sorry!"

"Syd you have nothing to apologise for, he does! He took you away from us, made us believe we had lost you forever. We had a funeral for you! There is a headstone with your name on it! We grieved Syd!"

"You moved on' Sydney whispered, her eyes downcast.

"You're wrong. Our lives might have carried on but we never moved on, we never stopped thinking about you, missing you. Loving you" Sky once again dropped to his knees in front of her, this time however he gently cupped her face in his hands.

'I never stopped loving you Syd"

Sydney didn't think she just reacted, grabbing onto his shirt she didn't hesitate for even a second as she pulled him towards her, her lips finding his for the first time.

This was something she had dreamt about, something she never thought she would get to do. Kissing Sky was like coming home.

Sky pulled back after a few moments and gazed into her crystal blue eyes. He gently tucked a damp curl behind her ear and ran his hand down her cheek.

"Stay with me"

"What?" she replied.

"I want you and Belle to stay here with me"

Sydney nodded and smiled gently. "We would love to stay the night"

Sky shook his head and placed his lips on hers again briefly. "No Syd, I want you both to stay with me permanently"

Sydney launched herself into his arms, the feeling of safety and love enveloped her and slowly, for the first time in years she began to relax, she began to feel happy. Then the fear hit.

"I can't" she whispered. She tried to pull herself out of his arms but Sky wouldn't let her.

"I'll keep you safe, both of you. You aren't doing this alone again Syd. I won't let you"

"I can't let you get hurt because of me, he will find me eventually and he will kill us both and take Belle"

"No he won't. He won't ever lay a finger on either of you again"

"How can you be so sure?" Syd asked, her face pressed into his neck. His arms tightened around her as he replied.

"Because I'm going to kill him"

"Should we go in there? Someone should go check that they are alright, shouldn't they?"

Jack and Z shook their heads at Bridge who was currently pacing outside Sky's bedroom. They had heard the shower shut off ten mnutes ago and yet neither of their friends had exited the room.

"I think we should let them be. They both need this time together" Jack said his hand gently stroking the blonde curls of his niece. His niece. Syd had declared them family that day when she offered him her birthday. His heart surged with joy when he looked upon the sleeping face of Syd's daughter but then it squeezed painully as he noticed the way her small nose curved downwards instead of up, the dark freckles across her cheeks, the slightly square shape to her jaw.

These were her fathers features. Correction, her sperm donors.

He wanted to love this tiny human like an uncle should but seeing those small details on her sweet innocent face brought back all the hurt and rage he felt towards that man, no, that monster. Without a word he gently passed the sleeping baby to Z and walked out of the apartment, desperately needing fresh air to clear his head.

Z sighed as she watched her brother leave, Syd's 'death' had hit him harder than he would ever admit and he had never truly dealt with it, and now with her here, alive, they were all a mix bag of emotions. She gently shifted the sleeping baby in her arms and stroked the curls from her face. Sydney Drew, the pink princess of SPD had a daughter. Z smiled but it quickly turned into sobs. Sydney Drew had a daughter. But not with the man she loved. Not with Sky.

Bridge rushed to his wifes side when he felt her distress.

"This is wrong, it's not fair" Z managed to get out between sobs.

"I don't understand Z, what's the matter?" Bridge rubbed her back as she forced herself to calm down.

"Syd has a baby"

Now he understood. He understood her tears and Jacks departure.

"It's not Belle's fault, she is innocent in all of this and we mustn't take our grief out on her. She may be John's child but she is also Syd's and we will love her as much as we would if she had been conceived by choice with someone else. Syd has been through enough and she has found her way home and we will not let him anywhere near her again, either of them. But this little girl needs her Aunt and Uncles to be strong for her, to show her kindness and love"

Z nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, her arms wrapping tighter around her niece.

Her husband was right, Belle needed to be surrounded by peple that would love her and care for her, protect her and make sure her fathers evil never tainted her pure soul.

The door to the bedroom opened and Sky and Sydney exited holding hands.

Bridge and Z froze holding their breaths afraid that they would do something to make their sister vanish. Perhaps that is why it came as a great shock to them both when she ran straight towards them and threw her arms around their necks.

"I'm so sorry for what you guys had to go through. I'm sorry you were hurting and grieving for so long. I should have told you about him sooner" Bridge picked her up and placed her in his lap, inwardly cringing at how small and fragile she felt.

"We are so glad you are home Syd"

Sydney curled her feet up and tucked herself further into Bridges embrace, the feel of her brothers arms around her made her feel safe and secure.

"Tell me about the wedding" she requested, her eyes n her daughters sleeping face.

"It was on the base roof. It was perfect, simple, no frills." Z smiled as she recalled the day, her smle only dimming when she caught the sadness in her sisters eyes. "I wish you had been there Syd, but I felt you in my heart the entire time"

"I've missed so much. You guys are married, you're pregnant! Your lives are so different now" Sydney whispered.

"Yeah they are and yeah you have missed a lot but you will be here for the rest of it, princess" Z reached out to squeeze Sydney's hand.

"Where's Jack?" Sydney asked. Sky frowned noticing for the first time that his friend was missing.

"He got a little, overwhelmed, andwent for a walk. He'll be back" Sydney nodded at Bridge and yawned. "You're exhausted why don't you have a sleep, we will still be here when you wake up I promise"

Sydney looked hesitant to leave until Sky held out his hand. Slowly she uncurled herself from Bridge's lap and placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her into his bedroom.

As soon as he pulled the cover up over her shoulder, Sydney felt herself falling into a deep sleep, and for the first time in a long time she felt safe and she let the feeling wrap around her as she dreamt, for the first time of a happy future.

Sky closed the door to his bedroom and laid his head against the wood for just a moment, his eyes closed, his heart beating erratically. She was alive, she was real, she was here, she was safe. At least she would be very soon.

"Sky?" Z called his name cautiously.

Slowly he turneed to face his team, his friends, his family.

"I'm going to kill him"

Bridge and Z shared a look before turning to their leader and as one they replied.

"We're in"

A/N Reviews are much appreciated! Much love to ever single reader! xxx