Disclaimer: These characters are the property of J.J. Abrams and Alias.
Additional disclaimer: Please let me know what you think about this chapter. I'm always open to reworking something if it will make it a better piece. Please leave a review even if it's only a few words. Thanks.
***
Sydney strode toward the warehouse praying that he was already there. She thought she might explode if she had to wait for him to show up. As she pushed through the door and rounded the corner, Vaughn stood up and smiled at her. Sydney stopped and put her hand to her mouth. He was dressed in a black suit and shirt with a silver tie. He was fresh from the shower with his hair still slightly wet. She could smell his aftershave in contrast with the musty smell of the warehouse.
Vaughn grinned at her surprise and chuckled to himself. She never suspected a thing. "Hi Syd. Have you had dinner?" He worried silently that he'd been too hasty in making a decision to do this tonight.
Sydney blinked several times in disbelief at the scene before her. "No I haven't." she said "This is lovely Vaughn. Why did you go to all this trouble?" He glanced her way and grinned letting their eyes meet for only a moment. "It was no trouble at all. In fact it was my pleasure to do something for you for once. You're the one who's always out on the missions so I figured it was time to return the favor." He took her gently by the hand and led her to the table. He moved a box out for her and gestured for her to have a seat.
He put on a silly accent and recited the menu to her. "This evening we will be dining on the finest Chinese take out money can buy." Sydney giggled at this side of Vaughn she really had never experienced before. She liked it.a lot. He uncorked the wine and poured two glasses. As he sat down across from her, visibly proud of himself that she'd been so surprised. Sydney could do nothing but watch him in sheer fascination as she wondered what had compelled Vaughn to do this so suddenly. "To us." He said quietly proposing a toast. Sydney couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as they toasted.
She spooned food onto her plate and handed the paper box to him. She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully glancing over at him. "What are you thinking?" Vaughn asked playfully. "I was just thinking how nice it was to not to have to only talk about work with you for once." She admitted. "It is nice." He agreed.
"It occurs to me that you probably know way more about me than I know about you, Michael Vaughn." Smiling devilishly at him with her dimples cutting deep canyons in her cheeks. He couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.or what it would be like to touch her face when she smiled like that. "Well.feel free to ask away. You've got me all to yourself this evening." He volunteered and then took a sip of his wine to avoid her eyes for a moment. She considered her potential questions then settled on one. "Favorite food?" "Are these the warm up questions?" Vaughn chuckled, "Actually it's Italian. You?" "Oddly enough, Chinese food," She responded, a bit surprised that he was asking questions as well. "What other type of food comes with its own utensils in little individual boxes? The elusive added bonus of no dishes!" Vaughn congratulated himself on his choice of food for the evening. "Alright, my turn again" she said moving onto to the next question, "did you ever try to talk your way out of a speeding ticket?" Vaughn nearly choked on his wine while Sydney took in every moment as if it might be her last.
They talked for hours exploring one another's interests in music, books, and films. They talked about their experiences and memories from their childhoods and about trips that they had taken. They explored the mind of the person who they had longed to be so much more to for so long. Eventually the wine was gone and had loosened their thoughts further as they leaned close to each other across the makeshift table.
"What does your future look like when you picture it?" Sydney ventured. The question hung heavy in the air between them as they both realized that their already complex future would become further entangled if they continued with evenings like this. Sydney instantly regretted her question when she became aware of how quiet Vaughn was all of a sudden. "I'm sorry Vaughn. That was out of line."
Vaughn studied the tabletop, all of his worry lines visible in his forehead. "No you weren't." he took a deep breath, "I want to have a family. I want to wake up in the morning next to the woman I love more than life itself. I don't want to run for my whole life from evil. I want to grow old and die a happy man. I'm tired of all this hurt and pain that is in the world right now. That's the kind of future I picture when I dream at night. But my worst fear is that I'm never going to have the chance to have that." He looked off to the corner of the warehouse surprised at his speech. He hoped that she hadn't realized that the woman he was talking about was her but knew all too well that she understood already. "I'm sorry Syd. Got a little caught up in my rant. What about you?"
Sydney knew that he'd included her in his vision of the future. All she wished was that they could get in the car and drive away and have their life. However, they both understood that there was more at stake in all of this then just a happy ending. She tried to smile at him through her misty eyes. "Would it be ridiculous to say that I want a little house with a picket fence? And when I walk into the house there's a family there and a man who will love me unconditionally even after everything I've been through and done to get to that point." Sydney wiped her eyes, embarrassed that she'd allowed herself to be so forward with Vaughn.
Vaughn extended his hand across the table and gripped her slender fingers in his hand. "I promise you Sydney, that I will do everything in my power to make sure that you have that. That day is going to be here sooner than you think. I swear on my father's grave." The intensity in his voice was unmistakable. He had made an oath to her and intended to follow it through no matter what.
Sydney grasped his hand in hers, remarking at the power she felt in his fingers. She rose from her seat and slid in next to him still holding his hand. She wrapped her arms around his chest as his arms slid around her. Sydney laid her head against his chest as he stroked her back soothingly. "And I promise you that I'll do anything it takes to make sure that you have the same Vaughn." She barely spoke the words before she started sobbing onto his shirt. He comforted her the best he could, holding her; defending her from evil even if it was only for the night. They sat for hours, just holding each other, silently repeating their pledges to each other hoping beyond hope that in the future they'd be together and those pledges would be fulfilled. Their emotions coursed through their embrace and said more than words would ever. They would triumph over evil, or die trying.
Shortly before dawn Sydney woke still encircled in Vaughn's arms. He was staring into space, tear stains still noticeable on his cheeks. She pulled him tighter and he smiled softly realizing that she was awake. "Happy Valentine's Day Vaughn." "You too Syd." He replied quietly.
Vaughn smiled at her again and kissed her lips softly. She squeezed his hand and slid off their crate. She walked to the entrance of the warehouse, then hesitated and turned around to face him again. "Thank you Michael." She smiled at him once more, her eyes wet with the tears that would come. He took in every detail of her face in the pale morning light. "You're welcome." Vaughn winked at her, "I'll see you later today."
Sydney turned the key in the ignition and drove away making plans in her head and leaving Vaughn alone with his thoughts.
*** Okay.very sappy I know. Please review though. Thanks again for reading this far.
Additional disclaimer: Please let me know what you think about this chapter. I'm always open to reworking something if it will make it a better piece. Please leave a review even if it's only a few words. Thanks.
***
Sydney strode toward the warehouse praying that he was already there. She thought she might explode if she had to wait for him to show up. As she pushed through the door and rounded the corner, Vaughn stood up and smiled at her. Sydney stopped and put her hand to her mouth. He was dressed in a black suit and shirt with a silver tie. He was fresh from the shower with his hair still slightly wet. She could smell his aftershave in contrast with the musty smell of the warehouse.
Vaughn grinned at her surprise and chuckled to himself. She never suspected a thing. "Hi Syd. Have you had dinner?" He worried silently that he'd been too hasty in making a decision to do this tonight.
Sydney blinked several times in disbelief at the scene before her. "No I haven't." she said "This is lovely Vaughn. Why did you go to all this trouble?" He glanced her way and grinned letting their eyes meet for only a moment. "It was no trouble at all. In fact it was my pleasure to do something for you for once. You're the one who's always out on the missions so I figured it was time to return the favor." He took her gently by the hand and led her to the table. He moved a box out for her and gestured for her to have a seat.
He put on a silly accent and recited the menu to her. "This evening we will be dining on the finest Chinese take out money can buy." Sydney giggled at this side of Vaughn she really had never experienced before. She liked it.a lot. He uncorked the wine and poured two glasses. As he sat down across from her, visibly proud of himself that she'd been so surprised. Sydney could do nothing but watch him in sheer fascination as she wondered what had compelled Vaughn to do this so suddenly. "To us." He said quietly proposing a toast. Sydney couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as they toasted.
She spooned food onto her plate and handed the paper box to him. She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully glancing over at him. "What are you thinking?" Vaughn asked playfully. "I was just thinking how nice it was to not to have to only talk about work with you for once." She admitted. "It is nice." He agreed.
"It occurs to me that you probably know way more about me than I know about you, Michael Vaughn." Smiling devilishly at him with her dimples cutting deep canyons in her cheeks. He couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.or what it would be like to touch her face when she smiled like that. "Well.feel free to ask away. You've got me all to yourself this evening." He volunteered and then took a sip of his wine to avoid her eyes for a moment. She considered her potential questions then settled on one. "Favorite food?" "Are these the warm up questions?" Vaughn chuckled, "Actually it's Italian. You?" "Oddly enough, Chinese food," She responded, a bit surprised that he was asking questions as well. "What other type of food comes with its own utensils in little individual boxes? The elusive added bonus of no dishes!" Vaughn congratulated himself on his choice of food for the evening. "Alright, my turn again" she said moving onto to the next question, "did you ever try to talk your way out of a speeding ticket?" Vaughn nearly choked on his wine while Sydney took in every moment as if it might be her last.
They talked for hours exploring one another's interests in music, books, and films. They talked about their experiences and memories from their childhoods and about trips that they had taken. They explored the mind of the person who they had longed to be so much more to for so long. Eventually the wine was gone and had loosened their thoughts further as they leaned close to each other across the makeshift table.
"What does your future look like when you picture it?" Sydney ventured. The question hung heavy in the air between them as they both realized that their already complex future would become further entangled if they continued with evenings like this. Sydney instantly regretted her question when she became aware of how quiet Vaughn was all of a sudden. "I'm sorry Vaughn. That was out of line."
Vaughn studied the tabletop, all of his worry lines visible in his forehead. "No you weren't." he took a deep breath, "I want to have a family. I want to wake up in the morning next to the woman I love more than life itself. I don't want to run for my whole life from evil. I want to grow old and die a happy man. I'm tired of all this hurt and pain that is in the world right now. That's the kind of future I picture when I dream at night. But my worst fear is that I'm never going to have the chance to have that." He looked off to the corner of the warehouse surprised at his speech. He hoped that she hadn't realized that the woman he was talking about was her but knew all too well that she understood already. "I'm sorry Syd. Got a little caught up in my rant. What about you?"
Sydney knew that he'd included her in his vision of the future. All she wished was that they could get in the car and drive away and have their life. However, they both understood that there was more at stake in all of this then just a happy ending. She tried to smile at him through her misty eyes. "Would it be ridiculous to say that I want a little house with a picket fence? And when I walk into the house there's a family there and a man who will love me unconditionally even after everything I've been through and done to get to that point." Sydney wiped her eyes, embarrassed that she'd allowed herself to be so forward with Vaughn.
Vaughn extended his hand across the table and gripped her slender fingers in his hand. "I promise you Sydney, that I will do everything in my power to make sure that you have that. That day is going to be here sooner than you think. I swear on my father's grave." The intensity in his voice was unmistakable. He had made an oath to her and intended to follow it through no matter what.
Sydney grasped his hand in hers, remarking at the power she felt in his fingers. She rose from her seat and slid in next to him still holding his hand. She wrapped her arms around his chest as his arms slid around her. Sydney laid her head against his chest as he stroked her back soothingly. "And I promise you that I'll do anything it takes to make sure that you have the same Vaughn." She barely spoke the words before she started sobbing onto his shirt. He comforted her the best he could, holding her; defending her from evil even if it was only for the night. They sat for hours, just holding each other, silently repeating their pledges to each other hoping beyond hope that in the future they'd be together and those pledges would be fulfilled. Their emotions coursed through their embrace and said more than words would ever. They would triumph over evil, or die trying.
Shortly before dawn Sydney woke still encircled in Vaughn's arms. He was staring into space, tear stains still noticeable on his cheeks. She pulled him tighter and he smiled softly realizing that she was awake. "Happy Valentine's Day Vaughn." "You too Syd." He replied quietly.
Vaughn smiled at her again and kissed her lips softly. She squeezed his hand and slid off their crate. She walked to the entrance of the warehouse, then hesitated and turned around to face him again. "Thank you Michael." She smiled at him once more, her eyes wet with the tears that would come. He took in every detail of her face in the pale morning light. "You're welcome." Vaughn winked at her, "I'll see you later today."
Sydney turned the key in the ignition and drove away making plans in her head and leaving Vaughn alone with his thoughts.
*** Okay.very sappy I know. Please review though. Thanks again for reading this far.