A/N: I'm soooo sorry about all the spelling mistakes. My spell check's not working right now. Forgive me! Lol

Disclaimer: The poem was written by Lewis Carroll. It is from the book "Alice through the Looking Glass"

Chapter Eight

I awoke the next morning, feeling oddly out of place. I opened my eyes slightly and looked around through slits, the bright sunlight making them water.

Vision cleared and I saw Vaughn, still sleeping on the couch, but moving slightly.

Child of the pure unclouded brow
And dreaming eyes of wonder...

I stood and went to the couch. I sat by him and took his hand as he stirred awake.

"Syd?" he muttered.

"Yeah..." I answered. "You okay, Vaughn?"

His eyes fluttered open and I thought I felt him squeeze my hand. "I think... Syd? I want to talk to her."

I was startled. "Anya?"

He nodded.

"You're ready?"

Though time be fleet and I and thou
Are half a life asunder

"Yes," he answered solemnly.

I took his other hand, nodding.

He was doing the right thing.

Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love gift of a fairy tale

I smiled at him. "Good."

"What... what do you think she'll do?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

Pause.

"Thank you for being here for me, Syd."

I smiled again. "Anytime. You shouldn't always have to be the shrink in this relationship." I winced at the word 'relationship.' What relationship did we have?

It was awkward, so we let it go. We went into separate rooms to get dressed, then I called Anya.

And we left, just like that.

I have not seen thy sunny face
Nor heard thy silver laughter
No thought of me shall find a place
In thy young life's hereafter-
Enough that now thou will not fail
To listen to thy fairy tale

She saw us and beckoned, obviously confused.
The confrontation was almost too much, but Vaughn stayed strong.

"Anya, I have to ask you something..." he began.

"What is it?"

"I know this sounds crazy, but tell me about your childhood. Your early childhood. Whatever you remember."

Such a strange request from a man she thought she hardly knew, and yet effective. Maybe it was because of the connection she felt to him. Maybe she was curious. Maybe she just didn't have the heart to say no.

No matter how you choose to look at it, a story unfurled.

A tale begun in other days
When summer suns were glowing

"I don't remember much, but sometimes I have flashes. Flickers. Sometimes I have dreams... usually the same. I'm a little girl, no more than three..."

A simple chime that turned to time
The rhythm of our rowing.

"There's always someone with me, a boy. he's my age and we're always together. I think we love each other very much. He must be my brother or twin. I don't know if I have one, though.

I was adopted. The couple who brought me up found me on a swing set with nothing but a diper and t-shirt, and a tag that stated my first name and birthday."

Whose echos live in memory yet
Though envious years would say 'forget'

"In the dream, my brother and I are asleep in our room. Then, very suddenly, it's cold, and we're outside. People are talking, and my brother and I are scared. We cry, but no one seems to care.

I try to push aside the dreams. They scare me, and I want to forget. But I can't. What terrifies me is the thought that maybe they're not just dreams. Maybe they're real... memories from my past."

Come hearken then, ere voice of dread
With bitter tidings laden

"What happens after you cry?" I asked carefully.

And in unison, they looked gravely at each other and replied, "A gun is fired."

"And then all..." Anya began.

Vaughn nodded slowly, wide eyed. "...is quiet."

Shall summon to unwelcome bed
A meloncholy maiden

Anya's eyes glistened with tears.

Understanding, realization, rememberence. Fear.

"Oh, my God..."

And thy embraced tightly, reuinting thirty years of lingering memories, sharing in a profound and extrodinary moment.

"I missed you..." they said at once.

We are but older children, Dear
Who fret to find our bedtime near.
*********
A/N: What did you think? I'm actually thinking of making that the end, and then maybe writing a sequel or epilouge. Or maybe I'll just keep it as one fic and leave what happens next for you to decide. Or maybe I'll write more chapters. I dunno, you decide. lol.