Sydney opened her eyes slowly, reluctant to let the peace slumber had
brought disappear. For the first time in a long while, she felt completely
secure. She figured it had something to do with Vaughn's arms encircling
her. He always had a way of making her feel safe. Carefully, so as not to
awaken the man beside her, Sydney raised her head to look at the clock,
who's glaring red digits told her it was half past two in the morning.
Knowing she shouldn't, and not completely sure why she was unable to stand the idea of not, she laid her head back down, and snuggled even closer to Vaughn. She felt the arm around her tighten its hold, as in his sleep he slightly shifted positions. Sydney smiled softly as she drifted back to sleep.
* * *
Jack Bristow opened his bedroom door and surveyed the scene before him, trying to ascertain what had awoken him. The suit he had worn to bed was rumpled, the dress shirt untucked on one side. Yet even after sleep, he was still an intimidating figure.
Duncan, Palmer, and Weiss were still dead to the world, so it couldn't have been them. He glanced in his daughter's bedroom door, which had been left standing open, saw her bed was still bade, save for a few wrinkles on the top cover. Awfully big wrinkles for one person to make, Jack thought, looking again at Weiss' bed, which should have been shared with Vaughn. I'll have to kill him later.
The him in question was sitting next to Sydney at the kitchen table, which had two plates stacked full of pancakes on it. He slowly took in their chosen attire. Vaughn, obviously still in bed clothes, and Sydney. was wearing the Belly once again, with light blue pajama bottoms, and a large Kings shirt. Jack was fairly sure where THAT had come from.
"What are you two doing?" he snapped, still managing to convey his irritation at having his slumber disturbed even in the loud whisper he had used. Simultaneously, they looked down at the food, then back up at him. Frustrated, he yelled, "I know what you're doing, but why are you doing it?!"
"We called room service," Sydney said, by way of explanation.
"At 6:30 in the morning!" Jack exclaimed.
"Mara and Jake needed food," she said, smirking at Vaughn briefly before looking back at her plate. It was suddenly very hard for Vaughn to keep a straight face.
Part of the information sunk in, as Jack calmed down and said, "At least you had the presence of mind to keep your cov - you NAMED your fake baby."
"BabIES," Vaughn corrected, earning himself a glare. He shrugged, and added, "Well, it was the only explanation as to why she was showing so much but could still fly."
"And you NAMED them."
"We got bored," Vaughn told him.
"We named Jake after you!" Sydney offered, attempting to keep the smile off her face.
Jack stared at her for a moment in disbelief before going back into his bedroom for his bag, entering the bathroom then shutting the door. It was way too early in the morning for that. It was also too early to think about how disturbingly normal the whole scenario had seemed to him.
* * *
"First, you will do 100 sit-ups, then 100 pushups, then 20 minutes of running on the spot," Jack told the small group of agents in front of him. "That will be your warm up."
They stood in the hotel room, which now had even more space in it, since they had moved all of the furniture off to the sides. Obviously, when Jack said training, he hadn't been kidding, Vaughn thought. Everyone knew better than to argue, and they all took their places on the floor. As the onslaught of training started, Sydney called to Vaughn, who was on the other side of the room, "Hey! I'll bet I can finish before you."
Vaughn rolled his eyes as he finished a sit up. Of course she could, but then, who was he to give up without a fight? He replied, a half smile on his face, "So this is a contest now."
"It's not a contest unless the winner gets something," she told him, while counting her sit-ups mentally. She paused as she got an idea. "Okay, if I lose, and you and Weiss can have my bed. If I win, which I will, and you have to get me out of seeing Barnett."
"What if I can't? Not that it will matter, since I'M the one that will be winning."
"What if you stop flirting and let me die in peace?" Weiss interjected, as he continued the task Jack had set him to. The work out was obviously tiring him after the slight blood loss the other day, on account of his neck.
Jack chose to ignore the goings on, attempting to block out the word flirting. Vaughn and Sydney traded a quick look, but kept silent for the remainder of the time. Must've hit a nerve, Weiss thought.
* * *
After finishing the so-called "warm up", Vaughn sat on the couch next to Sydney, smiling despite himself at how happy she looked. She had finished 2 minutes earlier than him, and now seemed to be trying to restrain herself from jumping up and doing a dance over the excitement that the idea of getting out of visits to Barnett created.
He was just about to comment on her state of giddiness when Jack walked into the hotel room. He had left a while ago, apparently having to attend to some business. Coming further into the room, and seeing Weiss still running, he said, "Agent Weiss, if you're tired, stop. Personally, I never expected to you finish this far with that injury."
"Well. there may have been some breaks," Weiss said, stopping his running and collapsing on the floor. "And. some skipping of pushups. and sit ups."
Jack nodded, unable to stop a slight smile from crossing his face. He turned his attention to Sydney, and said, "Would you mind coming with me for a moment."
After leading her off to the side, away from listening ears, he said in an uncharacteristically apprehensive voice, "I . made dinner reservations at a restaurant a few blocks away from the hotel Sydney . I was hoping. that you would join me."
Sydney felt her jaw drop in surprise. "Dad -," she said softly, but he anxiously cut her off, coming as close as Jack Bristow would ever come to babbling.
"I know you won't want to wear your. disguise. the whole time, so I made the reservations far enough away that you would only have to wear it out of the hotel. I. called the CIA and talked to the person who designs your outfits to wear on missions to find out your dress size. and - here."
He walked toward her and placed a bag Sydney hadn't noticed he was carrying down in front of her.
She smiled up at Jack, and told him, "Dad. I don't know what to say. I can't wait."
Jack nodded, mouth set in a straight line, swallowed, and said, "The reservations are for 6:00."
Sydney watched him walk quickly out of the room with a look of amazement on her face, then at the people still running on the spot. Her father was a mystery to her.
Part 7
Vaughn had been listening to Spy Kids for what seemed like the millionth time when Sydney called to him from her room, where she had been getting ready for dinner with her father. Grateful for an escape from Spy Kid hell, he quickly got up and made his way across the room.
Inside, Sydney, fidgeted with her hands as she nervously waited for Vaughn to enter. For some reason, how she looked to him right then was important to her. When he finally did come in, a strange expression came over his face as he looked at her. After a moment, she grew slightly embarrassed at his stare, and began shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Noticing her discomfort, Vaughn forced himself to stop staring, and moved his gaze to focus on her face. He opened his mouth to say something and found his throat suddenly dry. He said honestly, "You look beautiful."
Sydney felt a huge smile spread across her face, and she beamed at him before looking quickly down at her feet. She hoped he hadn't seen her blush.
The dark, wine red dress she wore fell to just above her knees, clinging in all the right places, and flaring slightly at the bottom. Each cap sleeve had al small bow tied of thin ribbon, and the scoop neck delved low, but not so much that it took away from the classiness of the dress. He hair was down, and curled loosely, framing her face, which had only a bit of eye make up on. The silver heart pendant necklace she wore was the perfect finishing touch. And Vaughn had never seen anything more amazingly gorgeous than Sydney at that moment.
Realizing he was staring again, Vaughn cleared his throat before saying, "Well. We'd better get the rest of your outfit on before your father gets tired of waiting."
Sydney nodded ad gestured for Vaughn to help her strap the Belly on. He picked it up from its resting place and walked over to her. Once she had slipped it over her head with minimal assistance, it was the buckles that were the trouble.
"Turn around," he said. She nodded and turned her back to him, moving her arms slightly away from her body. He stepped closer to her, hoping she didn't notice the effect being so close to her was having on him.
Sydney breathed in sharply as she felt Vaughn's hands run lightly down her sides, smoothing the fabric.
"We don't want to wrinkle your dress," he whispered. She nodded mutely, trying to concentrate on something other than Vaughn's hands, which were still resting on her hips. He shook himself, and made his arms reach around her to grab the lower straps on either side, buckling them together.
As he did the upper straps, he allowed his fingers to brush the nape of her neck. He felt more than heard her breathing quicken slightly, and he said softly, "All done."
Sydney turned around slowly, and found herself only inches away from Vaughn, who had yet to move. Her eyes found his, even as she saw them drift languidly towards her lips.
At that moment, Weiss burst into the room, seemingly ignorant of the tension in the atmosphere. They jumped apart, and Vaughn reached for the long coat Jack had also bought for Sydney, one large enough to fit over the disguise.
"Sydney, Jack's waiting, and he's getting really impatient," Weiss informed her. Sydney nodded, and Vaughn simply gave her the coat instead of helping her on with it. She quickly slipped it on and buttoned it, glancing at Vaughn only once before leaving the room.
"Have a good time," he said, a small smile on his face. Sydney turned and grinned back at him.
"Thanks."
* * *
The restaurant Jack had chosen was an intimate, fairly high class setting. The table they sat at was just off the small dance floor, where a few couples swayed to the accompaniment of a piano. Three candles floated in a china bowl filled with blue tinted water, placed in the center of the table.
Sydney placed her menu down and smiling, said, "I almost don't know what to have, everything sounds so good."
Jack said wryly, "I'm surprised you and Agent Vaughn don't already have a dish picked out from this restaurant. This must be the only one in Europe."
"Dad -," Sydney started, frowning slightly.
He held up a hand and said, "I didn't mean anything by that. It was just a poor attempt to lighten the mood. There's - something I need to talk to you about. And I'm a little. I'm not sure how to say it. As you know, the heart to heart talks aren't exactly my specialty."
The waitress' arrival cut him short, and Sydney looked up at her and said politely, "I'm sorry, would you mind coming back in a little while? I haven't quite made up my mind."
The waitress shot her an irritated look before walking away in a huff. Sydney shook her head at the reaction, and prompted her father, "You were saying."
Jack shifted his eyes around the room, looking anywhere but at his daughter's face, as he began, "I know. that I haven't always been there for you, and that with the. events of the past few days, namely your mother's reappearance, I know you might not always have someone to talk to. I understand that it may be. difficult, considering the circumstances for you to talk with Vaughn about that. And I just want you to know that while I may not outwardly choose to show it, Laura's - Irina's - actions have affected me just as it has you, and to some degree I DO know what you're dealing with right now."
After pausing for a short breath, and regrouping his thoughts, Jack continued, "What I'm trying to say is that this time. I want to be here for you."
Sydney sat in silence for a short moment, emotions flooding her, the most prominent was love for the man sitting in front of her. Her father. She knew her eyes were once again tear filled as she reached for her father's hand, and she had to wait a moment before she was able to say, "Thank you. And dad. this time? I'm here for you, as well."
* * *
"So let me get this straight," Vaughn said. "Floop is now on their side, but he was never really a bad guy. It was mostly his evil assistant."
"Exactly," Weiss grinned.
They were sitting on the couch, which had been moved back to its original spot in front of the television, waiting for Duncan and Palmer to return with food. Somehow, Vaughn had ended up being coerced in to watching the remainder of Spy Kids with Weiss. While it was actually an okay movie, he was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the other men.
As if on cue, the door opened, and the two agents entered, carrying several bags of groceries.
"We're having spaghetti," Palmer announced, walking into the kitchen and starting to put the food away. Duncan nodded, and flopped on the couch on the other side of Weiss, who was still fully engrossed in the movie. Palmer sighed at his friend and added, "Vaughn, you want to help me?"
In response, Vaughn stood and walked into the kitchen. He pulled a pot out of a bag and filled it with water, as Palmer set aside some beef for the spaghetti sauce. They worked in silence for a while before Palmer asked, "So, what's going on between you and Agent Bristow?"
Vaughn looked up, startled. Why does everyone think. "Nothing!" he said. From the couch, Weiss guffawed loudly. Vaughn directed his attention on him. "What is THAT supposed to mean?"
"It's supposed to mean that that thing you just said there? About "nothing" going on? Yeah, that was a load of bull."
Vaughn frowned, forehead wrinkling. "Why would you - you know perfectly well we aren't -,"
"We aren't blind -," Duncan began.
"Although you and Sydney seem to be," Weiss interrupted.
Duncan glared at him, but continued as if nothing had been said, "We know you aren't "involved". But it's obvious that your feelings for each other go deeper than they should."
"We're friends, yes. But that's it. No feelings go deeper than that," Vaughn stated. At there skeptical look, he repeated, "They don't."
* * *
Jack eyed Sydney as she gazed at the couples on the dance floor. After wrestling with himself for a few minutes, he tentatively asked, "Would you like to dance?"
"Sure," she answered, hoping she kept the surprise out of her voice. Jack rose and strode over to the floor, waiting for her. She couldn't help but smile at how uncomfortable he looked standing there.
She joined him, and as they began dancing he surprised her by saying, "When you were little, you used to dance only if you could be on my feet. you were my little girl."
Sydney took in the information, and impulsively she hugged him. She was rewarded a moment later when his arms tightened around her. Into his shoulder, she whispered, so low he might not have heard, "I never stopped being your girl."
Jack's mind flew unbidden to the man waiting at the hotel, who by now was probably counting the minutes until Sydney returned, and he thought, No Sydney, not just mine. not anymore.
Knowing she shouldn't, and not completely sure why she was unable to stand the idea of not, she laid her head back down, and snuggled even closer to Vaughn. She felt the arm around her tighten its hold, as in his sleep he slightly shifted positions. Sydney smiled softly as she drifted back to sleep.
* * *
Jack Bristow opened his bedroom door and surveyed the scene before him, trying to ascertain what had awoken him. The suit he had worn to bed was rumpled, the dress shirt untucked on one side. Yet even after sleep, he was still an intimidating figure.
Duncan, Palmer, and Weiss were still dead to the world, so it couldn't have been them. He glanced in his daughter's bedroom door, which had been left standing open, saw her bed was still bade, save for a few wrinkles on the top cover. Awfully big wrinkles for one person to make, Jack thought, looking again at Weiss' bed, which should have been shared with Vaughn. I'll have to kill him later.
The him in question was sitting next to Sydney at the kitchen table, which had two plates stacked full of pancakes on it. He slowly took in their chosen attire. Vaughn, obviously still in bed clothes, and Sydney. was wearing the Belly once again, with light blue pajama bottoms, and a large Kings shirt. Jack was fairly sure where THAT had come from.
"What are you two doing?" he snapped, still managing to convey his irritation at having his slumber disturbed even in the loud whisper he had used. Simultaneously, they looked down at the food, then back up at him. Frustrated, he yelled, "I know what you're doing, but why are you doing it?!"
"We called room service," Sydney said, by way of explanation.
"At 6:30 in the morning!" Jack exclaimed.
"Mara and Jake needed food," she said, smirking at Vaughn briefly before looking back at her plate. It was suddenly very hard for Vaughn to keep a straight face.
Part of the information sunk in, as Jack calmed down and said, "At least you had the presence of mind to keep your cov - you NAMED your fake baby."
"BabIES," Vaughn corrected, earning himself a glare. He shrugged, and added, "Well, it was the only explanation as to why she was showing so much but could still fly."
"And you NAMED them."
"We got bored," Vaughn told him.
"We named Jake after you!" Sydney offered, attempting to keep the smile off her face.
Jack stared at her for a moment in disbelief before going back into his bedroom for his bag, entering the bathroom then shutting the door. It was way too early in the morning for that. It was also too early to think about how disturbingly normal the whole scenario had seemed to him.
* * *
"First, you will do 100 sit-ups, then 100 pushups, then 20 minutes of running on the spot," Jack told the small group of agents in front of him. "That will be your warm up."
They stood in the hotel room, which now had even more space in it, since they had moved all of the furniture off to the sides. Obviously, when Jack said training, he hadn't been kidding, Vaughn thought. Everyone knew better than to argue, and they all took their places on the floor. As the onslaught of training started, Sydney called to Vaughn, who was on the other side of the room, "Hey! I'll bet I can finish before you."
Vaughn rolled his eyes as he finished a sit up. Of course she could, but then, who was he to give up without a fight? He replied, a half smile on his face, "So this is a contest now."
"It's not a contest unless the winner gets something," she told him, while counting her sit-ups mentally. She paused as she got an idea. "Okay, if I lose, and you and Weiss can have my bed. If I win, which I will, and you have to get me out of seeing Barnett."
"What if I can't? Not that it will matter, since I'M the one that will be winning."
"What if you stop flirting and let me die in peace?" Weiss interjected, as he continued the task Jack had set him to. The work out was obviously tiring him after the slight blood loss the other day, on account of his neck.
Jack chose to ignore the goings on, attempting to block out the word flirting. Vaughn and Sydney traded a quick look, but kept silent for the remainder of the time. Must've hit a nerve, Weiss thought.
* * *
After finishing the so-called "warm up", Vaughn sat on the couch next to Sydney, smiling despite himself at how happy she looked. She had finished 2 minutes earlier than him, and now seemed to be trying to restrain herself from jumping up and doing a dance over the excitement that the idea of getting out of visits to Barnett created.
He was just about to comment on her state of giddiness when Jack walked into the hotel room. He had left a while ago, apparently having to attend to some business. Coming further into the room, and seeing Weiss still running, he said, "Agent Weiss, if you're tired, stop. Personally, I never expected to you finish this far with that injury."
"Well. there may have been some breaks," Weiss said, stopping his running and collapsing on the floor. "And. some skipping of pushups. and sit ups."
Jack nodded, unable to stop a slight smile from crossing his face. He turned his attention to Sydney, and said, "Would you mind coming with me for a moment."
After leading her off to the side, away from listening ears, he said in an uncharacteristically apprehensive voice, "I . made dinner reservations at a restaurant a few blocks away from the hotel Sydney . I was hoping. that you would join me."
Sydney felt her jaw drop in surprise. "Dad -," she said softly, but he anxiously cut her off, coming as close as Jack Bristow would ever come to babbling.
"I know you won't want to wear your. disguise. the whole time, so I made the reservations far enough away that you would only have to wear it out of the hotel. I. called the CIA and talked to the person who designs your outfits to wear on missions to find out your dress size. and - here."
He walked toward her and placed a bag Sydney hadn't noticed he was carrying down in front of her.
She smiled up at Jack, and told him, "Dad. I don't know what to say. I can't wait."
Jack nodded, mouth set in a straight line, swallowed, and said, "The reservations are for 6:00."
Sydney watched him walk quickly out of the room with a look of amazement on her face, then at the people still running on the spot. Her father was a mystery to her.
Part 7
Vaughn had been listening to Spy Kids for what seemed like the millionth time when Sydney called to him from her room, where she had been getting ready for dinner with her father. Grateful for an escape from Spy Kid hell, he quickly got up and made his way across the room.
Inside, Sydney, fidgeted with her hands as she nervously waited for Vaughn to enter. For some reason, how she looked to him right then was important to her. When he finally did come in, a strange expression came over his face as he looked at her. After a moment, she grew slightly embarrassed at his stare, and began shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Noticing her discomfort, Vaughn forced himself to stop staring, and moved his gaze to focus on her face. He opened his mouth to say something and found his throat suddenly dry. He said honestly, "You look beautiful."
Sydney felt a huge smile spread across her face, and she beamed at him before looking quickly down at her feet. She hoped he hadn't seen her blush.
The dark, wine red dress she wore fell to just above her knees, clinging in all the right places, and flaring slightly at the bottom. Each cap sleeve had al small bow tied of thin ribbon, and the scoop neck delved low, but not so much that it took away from the classiness of the dress. He hair was down, and curled loosely, framing her face, which had only a bit of eye make up on. The silver heart pendant necklace she wore was the perfect finishing touch. And Vaughn had never seen anything more amazingly gorgeous than Sydney at that moment.
Realizing he was staring again, Vaughn cleared his throat before saying, "Well. We'd better get the rest of your outfit on before your father gets tired of waiting."
Sydney nodded ad gestured for Vaughn to help her strap the Belly on. He picked it up from its resting place and walked over to her. Once she had slipped it over her head with minimal assistance, it was the buckles that were the trouble.
"Turn around," he said. She nodded and turned her back to him, moving her arms slightly away from her body. He stepped closer to her, hoping she didn't notice the effect being so close to her was having on him.
Sydney breathed in sharply as she felt Vaughn's hands run lightly down her sides, smoothing the fabric.
"We don't want to wrinkle your dress," he whispered. She nodded mutely, trying to concentrate on something other than Vaughn's hands, which were still resting on her hips. He shook himself, and made his arms reach around her to grab the lower straps on either side, buckling them together.
As he did the upper straps, he allowed his fingers to brush the nape of her neck. He felt more than heard her breathing quicken slightly, and he said softly, "All done."
Sydney turned around slowly, and found herself only inches away from Vaughn, who had yet to move. Her eyes found his, even as she saw them drift languidly towards her lips.
At that moment, Weiss burst into the room, seemingly ignorant of the tension in the atmosphere. They jumped apart, and Vaughn reached for the long coat Jack had also bought for Sydney, one large enough to fit over the disguise.
"Sydney, Jack's waiting, and he's getting really impatient," Weiss informed her. Sydney nodded, and Vaughn simply gave her the coat instead of helping her on with it. She quickly slipped it on and buttoned it, glancing at Vaughn only once before leaving the room.
"Have a good time," he said, a small smile on his face. Sydney turned and grinned back at him.
"Thanks."
* * *
The restaurant Jack had chosen was an intimate, fairly high class setting. The table they sat at was just off the small dance floor, where a few couples swayed to the accompaniment of a piano. Three candles floated in a china bowl filled with blue tinted water, placed in the center of the table.
Sydney placed her menu down and smiling, said, "I almost don't know what to have, everything sounds so good."
Jack said wryly, "I'm surprised you and Agent Vaughn don't already have a dish picked out from this restaurant. This must be the only one in Europe."
"Dad -," Sydney started, frowning slightly.
He held up a hand and said, "I didn't mean anything by that. It was just a poor attempt to lighten the mood. There's - something I need to talk to you about. And I'm a little. I'm not sure how to say it. As you know, the heart to heart talks aren't exactly my specialty."
The waitress' arrival cut him short, and Sydney looked up at her and said politely, "I'm sorry, would you mind coming back in a little while? I haven't quite made up my mind."
The waitress shot her an irritated look before walking away in a huff. Sydney shook her head at the reaction, and prompted her father, "You were saying."
Jack shifted his eyes around the room, looking anywhere but at his daughter's face, as he began, "I know. that I haven't always been there for you, and that with the. events of the past few days, namely your mother's reappearance, I know you might not always have someone to talk to. I understand that it may be. difficult, considering the circumstances for you to talk with Vaughn about that. And I just want you to know that while I may not outwardly choose to show it, Laura's - Irina's - actions have affected me just as it has you, and to some degree I DO know what you're dealing with right now."
After pausing for a short breath, and regrouping his thoughts, Jack continued, "What I'm trying to say is that this time. I want to be here for you."
Sydney sat in silence for a short moment, emotions flooding her, the most prominent was love for the man sitting in front of her. Her father. She knew her eyes were once again tear filled as she reached for her father's hand, and she had to wait a moment before she was able to say, "Thank you. And dad. this time? I'm here for you, as well."
* * *
"So let me get this straight," Vaughn said. "Floop is now on their side, but he was never really a bad guy. It was mostly his evil assistant."
"Exactly," Weiss grinned.
They were sitting on the couch, which had been moved back to its original spot in front of the television, waiting for Duncan and Palmer to return with food. Somehow, Vaughn had ended up being coerced in to watching the remainder of Spy Kids with Weiss. While it was actually an okay movie, he was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the other men.
As if on cue, the door opened, and the two agents entered, carrying several bags of groceries.
"We're having spaghetti," Palmer announced, walking into the kitchen and starting to put the food away. Duncan nodded, and flopped on the couch on the other side of Weiss, who was still fully engrossed in the movie. Palmer sighed at his friend and added, "Vaughn, you want to help me?"
In response, Vaughn stood and walked into the kitchen. He pulled a pot out of a bag and filled it with water, as Palmer set aside some beef for the spaghetti sauce. They worked in silence for a while before Palmer asked, "So, what's going on between you and Agent Bristow?"
Vaughn looked up, startled. Why does everyone think. "Nothing!" he said. From the couch, Weiss guffawed loudly. Vaughn directed his attention on him. "What is THAT supposed to mean?"
"It's supposed to mean that that thing you just said there? About "nothing" going on? Yeah, that was a load of bull."
Vaughn frowned, forehead wrinkling. "Why would you - you know perfectly well we aren't -,"
"We aren't blind -," Duncan began.
"Although you and Sydney seem to be," Weiss interrupted.
Duncan glared at him, but continued as if nothing had been said, "We know you aren't "involved". But it's obvious that your feelings for each other go deeper than they should."
"We're friends, yes. But that's it. No feelings go deeper than that," Vaughn stated. At there skeptical look, he repeated, "They don't."
* * *
Jack eyed Sydney as she gazed at the couples on the dance floor. After wrestling with himself for a few minutes, he tentatively asked, "Would you like to dance?"
"Sure," she answered, hoping she kept the surprise out of her voice. Jack rose and strode over to the floor, waiting for her. She couldn't help but smile at how uncomfortable he looked standing there.
She joined him, and as they began dancing he surprised her by saying, "When you were little, you used to dance only if you could be on my feet. you were my little girl."
Sydney took in the information, and impulsively she hugged him. She was rewarded a moment later when his arms tightened around her. Into his shoulder, she whispered, so low he might not have heard, "I never stopped being your girl."
Jack's mind flew unbidden to the man waiting at the hotel, who by now was probably counting the minutes until Sydney returned, and he thought, No Sydney, not just mine. not anymore.