A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. There's only a couple more chapters to go, and hopefully I'll have them posted in the next few weeks.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Chapter 44

Three weeks later Sydney and Michael found themselves at the local Golf Club with baby Amelia as Sydney celebrated the end of exams with other members of her class. The fifteen teens sat at a table up the middle of the room with family and teachers spread on tables around the room. Michael was sitting at a table with Jack and Laura and Jesse's family, with baby Amelia sleeping peacefully in her pram beside her father. After the main course was cleared Arvin Sloane stood at the front of the room, ceremoniously clinking a spoon against his almost empty wine glass. "Ladies and Gentleman, if I could have your attention for a few moments, I'd like to say a few words." The room was silent. "Firstly, I want to congratulate this years Year Twelve students. Your efforts over the past thirteen years have finally paid off, and you are officially free. This year has been a tough one for some of you, but I'm proud of the way you have conducted yourselves with such maturity and as a team to ensure that you all made it here today.

"As you are all aware, Sydney gave birth to a beautiful baby girl six weeks ago, and the support that you all have shown her throughout the year has been astounding.

"I understand that not everyone agreed with the schools decision to allow her to continue her study with us, but the faculty collectively made the choice to grant her permission to complete her VCE, and her dedication to her studies are a fine example to all of us that we can achieve our dreams, despite any obstacles that life may throw our way. Congratulations Sydney, we are all so proud and wish you all the best for the future.

"Our joy at Sydney's miracle was short lived however when we learnt of the death of one of our Year ten students following a car accident. I know that each and every member of our community has been affected by this loss, and we, as a faculty, are so proud of your ability to compartmentalise your emotions surrounding this accident while completing your exams. We were all shocked by this death and the circumstances surrounding it but once again you were all able to pull yourselves up and help each other through this tragic time. I know these wounds are still raw and will remain so for a while yet, but the maturity that you have shown these past three weeks has been immeasurably helpful in setting an example to the younger students at our school who are struggling to come to terms with this loss. And for that I thank you.

"Finally I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the best with your future endeavours. May the lessons that you have learnt throughout your time at this school help you to achieve your ambitions, and know that no matter how far you travel in life, you will always have a home here." Applause erupted from the audience as Arvin took his seat once again. Once the principal was seated and the applause had died down, Laura took centre stage, smiling at her daughter as she began a speech that Sydney knew she had been working on for weeks. The group laughed and cried as Laura spoke about each of her students, from first impressions to how incredibly proud she was to see them all complete their studies and move onto the next phase of their lives. Her speech was interrupted by the cry of her granddaughter and without skipping a beat she collected the infant from her pram, cradling her against her chest, rocking her back to sleep as she continued to speak to the crowd.

Once the speeches were over for the evening many of the students shifted from their place in the centre of the room, dispersing to chat with parents and their former teachers. Michael made a beeline for the bar, feeling slightly awkward about the whole evening. He never went to this school, he didn't really know anyone aside from the Bristow's and Syd's friends. Leaving his daughter in the capable hands of her Grandpa Jack, he went to the bar where a small congregation of students had gathered, intent on having a few celebratory drinks before heading off to the after party at Becky's house. While he waited to be served his gaze wandered over to his girlfriend, currently engaged in an animated conversation with the Club Chef, her boss, whom had been so kind to her throughout her pregnancy. Michael knew she was planning to begin work again in the lead up to the Christmas season and he himself was already back at work, having exhausted the generosity of his employer. "Two beers, a glass of Sav Blanc and whiskey straight up thanks." The bartender, another unfamiliar face, nodded setting to work on the order. Drinks sitting on the bar in front of him, Michael handed over some money, accepting the change and shoving it in his pocket for later. He delivered Jack and Laura their drinks, smiling at his now awake daughter who had her grandparents and all those around her enthralled. Going back to the bar he grabbed the two beers from their spot on the hard surface, taking one over to his girlfriend who was eagerly nodding at whatever her boss was saying. Kissing the side of her head, Michael handed her the beverage, taking a sip from his pot, swallowing the liquid eagerly before taking another mouthful. Bidding the couple a quick goodbye the other man left, heading back into the kitchen to help his other staff with the clean up. Lifting the glass to her lips Sydney swallowed almost half the pot in one go, a smile spreading across her face as she swallowed, "Hello old friend," she said, staring at the beer as Michael laughed, "It's been too long." Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, her boyfriend grabbed her round the waist, lowering his lips to hers, deepening the kiss as she moaned against him. Breaking apart for air, she whispered huskily in his ear, "Mum and Dad are watching Amelia tonight." Michael gulped, picking up on her unspoken meaning. "Is there anything in particular you wanted?" he asked, trying not to groan as she ran her lips down his neck. "I could think of a few things," she said innocently, pulling away from her current position to stare into his eyes. The intense stare she was giving him was almost enough for him to take her there and then, but the public nature of their current positioning caused him to rethink, instead he sculled the rest of his beer, slamming the empty glass on the table he had found himself leaning against. Sydney's empty glass followed soon after as the pair grabbed refills taking them back over to where the bulk of people were still gathered.

The music blared from the stereo as the intoxicated teens attempted to dance to the pulsating beat. Becky's family had vacated their home for the evening, offering up their residence as party central for former students. Sydney's class, along with a handful of other students from the school, and out of town friends who had made the trip to Mallacoota, had begun their celebrations in earnest after leaving the Golf Club an hour earlier. Planning what was deemed to be the 'Party of the Year' had started weeks ago, and the students pooled their cash to buy masses of alcohol which was now chilling under chunks of ice in an old tinny in the backyard. Becky had set up the families massive sound system on the back veranda, the vibration from the speakers shaking the wooden structure. A swaying Sydney found her leaning up against the solid chest of her boyfriend, an icy cold stubbie clutched tightly in her left hand. Looking up, she gave him a wobbly smile, turning in his arms so that they were linked around his neck, the condensation off her beer dripping onto his heated skin. Breathing heavily, Michael leaned down to press his lips against hers, deepening the kiss as their tongues began a familiar dance. Pulling apart minutes later, Michael pressed a kiss to her forehead and running his fingers across the delicate skin on her jaw. "I love you Sydney Bristow," he whispered, dropping another kiss to her forehead. "I love you Michael Vaughn," she whispered back, standing on her toes to place a kiss on the bump in his nose. Pulling her arm from its place behind his neck, she takes another drink from her beer, relishing in the cold liquid as it slid down her throat, settling in the pit in her stomach. The song change was met with screams of delight from a number of the girls at the party who stumbled over to dance in front of the speakers, glass bottles clinking against each other as the girls bodies made contact with others. Pressed in between the masses of girls on the 'dancefloor' was Danny. His body was squashed tightly against one of the Year Ten girls and the pair, who had been dating four weeks, were practically humping in amongst the other gyrating bodies. Feeling a pair of hands on her shoulders, Sydney turned around to see Becky standing there, gesturing to the Danny and his latest toy. "Fucking ridiculous isn't it?" Becky said, "You think they'd at least take it inside." Sydney shrugged,

"Typical Danny, tryna prove his manliness. Too bad he's latched onto the one girl who's already slept with half the guys at school. Noah said she tried it on with him, but he told her to piss off." Becky laughed, knowing that Sydney's first love Noah had higher standards than most of the guys in town.

Stumbling through the door of their flat in the early hours of the morning, Sydney and Michael barely made it to the couch before collapsing in a mass of limbs. "God I love you," Michael whispered between heated kisses, pulling at her clothing, throwing the fabric to the ground.

"Love you," she panted, as the pair unceremoniously rolled off the couch, hitting the slate floor together, the sudden jolt not dampening their passion as they continued what they had started earlier that evening.