Author: Kim Phan

E-mail: hibiscus_sweetie@hotmail.com

Rating: PG for now, maybe PG-13 later

Disclaimer: Look all I own is my journal which I barely even write in. I don't Alias, its characters, and/or anything else. Don't sue! Please I don't think I'll even have money for college.

Archive: Don't have one at the moment, but if you want it, take it. Just credit me and an e-mail would be nice. :)

Feedback: Please, pretty please?? Be easy on me though. It's my first ever fan fic.

Summary: This takes place 10 years after SD-6 is gone and Sydney has quit the CIA. She is not with Vaughn and has moved back to L.A. after being in New York for the past 7 years. She is not alone though, and by chance the two people she hoped would never meet, somehow find each other. Not what you think! Total S/V fic!

Author's Note: Did you guys enjoy the last chapter? I hope so. I'm sorry. I just can't bring myself to call him Michael no matter how much I try. ;) This part takes place in Syd's apartment. Vaughn's coming over to talk to Joey and well, just where Chapter 4 left off. Hehe. I know I said I wasn't going to write anymore today, but well change of plans. You guys don't mind though? Do you? Enjoy and please review!

Chapter 5

Sydney sat in her living room looking through a photo album, waiting for Vaughn to show up. After she had gotten home, she had changed into dark blue sweat pants and a white t-shirt. Now she was debating whether she should change again. Vaughn was going to come over later. Relaxing, she took a sip of coffee from her cup as she remember Vaughn's and her last meeting before she left for NY.

He was already there waiting for her. Then again he always was. She can't even remember a time he had come after her at one of these meetings. Sydney sighed and walked closer. Her footsteps echoed through the warehouse. She was silently thinking about how she would tell him about New York. Under different circumstances, she wouldn't be telling him about NY, she should be telling him about their baby. She felt a tear slid down her cheek and wiped it away. She scolded herself for thinking about that again when she had promised herself not to.

Vaughn didn't notice her at first. He was turned away from her and seemed deep in thought. As her footsteps became louder, he turned around and gave her a big smile.

"Hey."

"Hi." Sydney said, giving him a small sad smile.

"SD-6 is gone. Can you believe it? I never thought this day would come," Vaughn excitedly said. He was so happy this was over. They wouldn't have to sneak around anymore. No more secret rendezvous to faraway places where no one could find them. No more pretending they didn't know each other in public. They were free.

"No, I can't. I'm glad it's over though," Sydney replied with a faraway look in her eyes.

Vaughn, sensing something was up, questioned her, "What's wrong, Syd?"

"I have to tell you something, Vaughn," Sydney replied. Vaughn was confused. What could she possibly have to tell him?

"What is it?" Vaughn asked as those ever present wrinkle lines started to appear on his forehead once again.

"Since SD-6 is now gone, I've decided to quit the CIA.(pause) That's not what I wanted to tell you though. I've been offered a teaching position at Columbia University in New York and I've decided to take it," Sydney told him, trying to read the expression in his eyes. Shock turned to sadness and then to something she couldn't recognize. *If he really loves me, he'll ask me to stay.* Sydney thought.

"Well, thank you for all your help, Agent Bristow. Good luck in New York," Vaughn replied in an all-business tone. All his thoughts about them and being free flew out the window with her words. *If she really loved me, she would want stay.* Vaughn thought.

"Thank you, Agent Vaughn. I have to go pack now. Goodbye," Sydney said, trying to keep her voice level. She looked at the ground, grounding the toe of her tennis shoes into the concrete.

"Goodbye," Vaughn said as Sydney started walking away, puddles of tears in her eyes, threatening to fall. Vaughn watched her walk away with a sad look on his face as he fingered a blue velvet box in his pocket.

To think that meeting could have ended up differently. Sydney sighed once more. She had been doing a lot of sighing lately. It seemed evitable. She pushed those thoughts from her head. The past was past. There was nothing she could do to change that so she would now think about the future. Her future with her family. Her thoughts were once more interrupted by the voice of her son.

"Hey Mom! I'm home," Joey called as he entered the house.

"Hey Joey. How was Grandpa's?" Sydney asked.

"Oh it was fine. We went to see the Lakers play. Grandpa's really into basketball. You know me though. It was fun, but hockey games are much better. Grandpa bought me a hat though," Joey told her holding up his new Lakers hat. Sydney chuckled. She knew her dad had taken Joey to a basketball game and she knew Joey wouldn't like it as much as hockey, but didn't have the heart to tell her father that. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Sydney knew exactly who was at the door and didn't want Joey to see him just yet.

"Joey, why don't you go put your stuff in your room and I'll get the door, okay? It's probably Francie coming over early to help with the unpacking," Sydney told her son even though it wasn't true. She hated lying to Joey, but what could she do?

"Alright, Mom," Joey replied as he headed towards his room. Sydney opened the door and smiled at Vaughn.

"Hey," Vaughn said, his green eyes nervous as he gave her a small smile.

"Hi," Sydney replied.

Sensing his nervousness, she whispered in his ear, "Don't worry he'll like you. I know."

The feel of her breath on his ear set shivers through his body. She, of course, knew he was nervous about what Joey would think about him. Who's to say Joey would like him though? Sure, he has met him already, but these were different circumstances. *What am I supposed to say? Hi, I'm the father you've never seen. I was your mom's CIA handler?* Vaughn thought.

"Why don't you sit down? Joey's in his room, but he should be out any minute now," Sydney said. Vaughn took off his wool jacket and sat on the coach. Sydney joined him making sure she wasn't sitting too close to make Joey curious.

"Hi, Fran..," Joey started to say as he came into the room, but he noticed that sitting on his couch was not Francie, but his hockey coach.

"Mom? What's coach doing here? Are you guys talking about me being on the team?" Joey asked, clearly confused.

"Joey, why don't you sit? I have something important to tell you," Sydney replied. Joey wasn't sure what was going on, but decided he would take his mom's advice and sat on an armchair near the couch.

"Um.. Joey. Well, you see. When you asked me if I had met your coach before, I lied to you. I do know him. I know him very well actually. He's your father," Sydney said nervously, waiting for his reaction.

"My father?!?" Joey cried, jumping out of his seat and staring at the two adults. His eyes the size of saucers.

"Look, Joey. I know I said that your father just couldn't be with us, but there was a misunderstanding which I will explain to you when you're older. Don't be mad at your father, though. It's not his fault. It's mine. It's my fault you didn't know your father before now," Sydney explained, desperately hoping he would understand.

Joey sighed. There was silence in the room for a while before Joey spoke again.

"So do they allow a dad to coach his son?" Joey asked. Vaughn looked at him with a smile. Sydney, on the other hand, was on the brink of tears.

"I'm sure it can be arranged," Vaughn replied. Joey didn't say anything. He just nodded.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm not mad at you, but don't lie to me again," Joey warned. Sydney laughed at the maturity he showed at his age.

"Okay, Joey. I promise," Sydney replied. Joey glanced at the clock realizing it was near time for the Kings game to start.

"So the Kings game is starting soon. Do you want to watch...Dad?" Joey asked, nervousness in his eyes as he looked at his father.

Vaughn grinned. "Sure, Joey."

"Oh so you guys get to watch the game while Francie and I unpack, huh?" Sydney asked, raising her eyebrow and pretending to be angry.

"Oh, come on, Mom! This is one of the most important games of the season! Please??" Joey begged.

"Yeah, come on, Mom. I'll make it up to you," Vaughn whispered huskily into her ear. Sydney shivered, giggled, and gave in. Those two could make her agree to almost anything.

"Alright, alright. Just don't make a habit of it," Sydney said. Both guys grinned at her before turning on the television and focusing on the game. Sydney silently shook her head and laughed. *I could get used to this.* Sydney thought.

*What do you guys think? I'm adding one more chapter after this one. It'll be the epilogue. Then it will be complete. :( Kind of sad huh? lol.*