Disclaimer first chapter.
Chapter Three
It had been three weeks since the last fight. Sydney had calmed down, ready to forgive, and then got angered again. Three weeks! He hadn't contacted them in three weeks. She just wanted to take him down this very moment. She wanted to break something. When she was a double, she took out a lot of pent up frustrations in her fights. So she waited for any sign of Sark. One day later, he appeared. The minute he walked in the door, Sydney punched his face and kicked him in the groin before twisting him over her shoulder. He landed on the coffee table, which broke into wood shards. She hovered over him.
"I see you're mood has improved greatly." Sark said before jumping up and tackling her onto the couch.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" She rolled over and kicked him in the stomach. Francie jumped out of the way. Will and Vaughn came running into the living room to see what the commotion was.
"I went to Mexico."
He flipped her over and held her by the throat.
"WITHOUT ME?!"
She headbutted him.
"Only to case the area."
He kicked her in the leg, but she jumped over his foot. She grabbed him into a head lock. He overpowered her arms and pulled them behind her. He pushed her against the wall, panting.
"I picked something up for you on the way."
She tried to twist out of his grip, but he had too good of a hold on her. He studied her with excited blue eyes. He put his hands in his pocket.
"Aw, bloody box. I lost it. In our fight!"
He growled.
"A box? The jewelry box?"
"A box."
He kept a hold of her as she searched around the living room. He found it by the table. He picked it up.
"Here it is."
Sydney's mouth dropped open.
"That looks like a..."
He shrugged. "Does it?"
"Yes! Yes! It does!"
He looked at Sydney and briefly let go of her. She had stopped struggling.
"Will you marry me, Sydney?"
He opened the box. Inside was a platinum ring with a large heart shaped diamond in the center. She stared at it for a moment. She gasped, "Andrew..."
Sydney couldn't stop smiling. She could feel her eyes well up.
"How do you do that?"
She asked, slamming a fist into his chest.
"What?"
"Make me want to kill you and then in 2.5 seconds, I love you more than before."
"I know I'm supposed to blather on some romanticisms, you changed my life, you make me a better man, I can't live without you, but I think you already know all of that. You know exactly how you effect me, Luv. Just answer my question."
Sydney glanced around the room at her three closest friends. Will and Michael were in a state of shock, these priceless expressions on their faces. Francie looked ecstatic for her, but she didn't really know the whole story of Mr. Sark. Sydney stared into his eyes.
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
He kissed her lightly, his lips just barely brushing against hers. Sydney deepened the kiss.
"I love you." She whispered in between kisses.
His eyes were twinkling again. His forehead rested gently against hers. She broke into a huge grin. He took her left hand and slid the ring down her finger. She watched it glittering in the light, changing from blue, to yellow, to green, back to clear.
"It's so beautiful."
"I hope so."
"Did you buy it?"
"You mean, did I not steal it?"
She shrugged, nonchalantly.
"Hey, I just wanted to make sure no major governments are looking for a ring that looks remarkably like mine, a priceless artifact that, oh, I don't know, used to be Catherine the Great's or something."
Sark kissed her cheek.
"I bought it with my hard earned money."
She chuckled. Francie hugged her tightly and the two women squealed.
"I'm getting married!" Francie hugged Sark also, which threw him off guard. Sark's surprise echoed on his face. Sydney smiled, but then her face darkened considerably.
"What is it, Luv?"
"Don't get yourself killed."
"What?"
"Last time I was engaged, he was murdered. Don't get yourself killed."
"I already know the truth about you."
"So does Sloane."
"Sloane can't get to me. He never has been able to."
She nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry."
He brusehd a stray tear of her cheek.
"Don't cry, Sydney."
"I am happy. I promise. I just, I don't want you to die, too."
He touched her softly. "I won't. It's going to take a lot for me to not marry me."
Sydney nodded. "Sorry. I don't usually fall apart like this."
"It's okay. I don't mind."
He glanced around the room.
"If you wanted to redecorate, you could have just asked."
Sydney surveyed the room. The coffee table was splintered, a couple of couch cushions split, the pictures were lopsided, a crack in one of the glass frames.
"Sorry."
"It's all right."
"I have a wedding to plan. Only you and I will be attending..."
"My family, your family," He nodded to her friends. He continued, "And the...we can't use a judge."
She giggled. "Should you be allowed in a church? I mean, won't you be struck down..."
"Guess we'll have to take our chances."
Sydney nodded.
"I'll tell your dad if you want to invite him."
Sydney sighed. "I guess that would be best."
"We can call my parents now." Sydney nodded. He dialed the number.
"Hey, Mum."
"Andrew?"
"Yes. I have great news!"
"You do?"
Sydney couldn't help but grin at his mother's kind voice. She was on speaker phone.
"Hello, Mrs. Canton."
"Sydney?"
"Yes."
"I am intrigued. What is the great news?"
"We're getting married."
"You and Sydney!"
"Mhm."
The elder lady squealed like a child.
"MARRIED!"
"Yes, Mum."
"I am so proud of you."
"I just asked her."
"How did you propose? Did you take her out?"
Sydney answered this one for him. "No. He just kind of...held me for a moment and found the ring. Then, he just asked me."
"Was it still romantic?"
"I don't know how it couldn't be."
"This is so great. Now I'm going to have another daughter, right after getting my son back, thanks to you and your investigation company."
"I have to go, Mum. I will call you later. Will you tell Dad and the others?"
"Of course. I love you, Andy, and Sydney, welcome to our family."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"I love you, Mum. Bye."
Sark hung up the phone and he exuded happiness. His life seemed to be falling into place.
"Canton. Andrew Canton. He's Andrew Canton?!"
Sydny glanced a little guiltily at Will.
Will looked at Sark, who shrugged. "I am."
"I helped find Sark's parents. You told me a little boy had been kidnapped and couldn't find his parents."
Sydney stared at her hands.
"I know."
"Is it true?"
"Kind of."
Sark gave Sydney a look that clearly said you promised to keep this a secret.
"He wasn't able to locate his parents."
Not a lie. Sark's stance relaxed.
"I knew you wouldn't look for them if you knew it was Sark. So I with held some information."
"So you used me?"
"No. Will, please. Listen to me."
But Will would have none of it. He stormed away and Francie followed.
"Will?" Francie called quietly as she entered the bedroom. His eyes were watering.
"She's marrying SARK?! It was bad enough that she was dating Vaughn. At least she was a good guy, human, at least. Sark isn't. I can't believe her!"
Francie embraced Will. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm just great."
Francie sighed.
"He doesn't even make her happy, Fran."
"Yeah, he does."
"Why does she get so upset every time he's here?"
"Why does she get so upset when he leaves? Sark makes her feel different, dangerous, capable. You all tried to baby her the whole time we've been here and she hates it. She wants to be independent. Sark gives her that independence."
He shhok his head. He didn't want to understand it.
"We have to accept it. If we don't, we'll lose Sydney."
"Maybe that's what she wants."
"I seriously doubt that. You don't have to like Sark, just deal with it."
Will nodded. "I just hate him so much. He tortured me, Francie. He tortured me." Will whispered it over and over. Francie held him while he got it all out.
Sark had left a couple days later, but swore he would be back within the week. So Sydney cleaned up the mess they had made and waited impatiently for her fiance's return. He came on a Wednesday and came in dragging several long bags that resembled body bags.
"What are those?"
"Wedding dresses."
"You..."
"Borrowed these. You pick and I'll buy that one for you."
"You don't have..."
"I want you to have the wedding you dreamed of. I'll bring everything to you, if I have to."
Sydney threw herself into his arms.
"I love you."
He captured her lips and they shared a happy kiss. Sark took her into the bedroom with the bags.
"You can't see me in them!"
"Please?"
"Absolutely not. We don't need anymore bad luck."
"Fine."
Sydney called Francie in and they examined each dress. They chose the perfect one.
Sark laid back on the bed and Sydney settled comfortably in his arms.
"When are we going to Mexico?"
"Tomorrow. The place is dangerous. It seems to be almost booby trapped by Rambaldi."
"But no guards."
"It'll be enough just to get to the artifact."
"What do you think it is?"
"I really don't know. There was no indication in the manual or the jewelry box."
"Oh."
"I'm telling the truth. I have no idea what we're going for. I assume we'll know when we find it."
"Okay."
"Are you going to live here with your friends after we get married?"
"Do you have a better offer?"
"Several, actually."
"What?"
"I give Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Tippin, and Miss Calfo new identities and they can go to the city and country of their choice. And you, Luv, you can come to live at a beach house in the South of France on the Mediterranean. It is absolutely gorgeous and I think you would adore it."
"I hate to be separated from them."
"You have to let them live their own lives, Luv."
"I know."
Silence fell over.
"Do you think they'll be safe somewhere else?"
"I know it. I'll keep tabs on them. If they look like their in danger, you and I can stop it."
She nodded.
"You do still want to marry me, don't you?" Sark asked, feeling vulnerable. He was always afraid that Sydney would change her mind.
"Of course. It'll just be hard. Will has sacrificed so much for me, his job, practically his life. Michael has been there when no one else was. And Francie's been my best friend forever. Since Freshman year of college and I was still shy Sydney."
He smoothed her hair.
"Have you talked to my dad yet?"
"How about we talk to him when we get back from Mexico?"
"All right." They held onto each other.
"Andrew?"
"Mhm."
"I'm sleepy."
"Then sleep."
She shifted around so her arm was laying across his chest. He smiled and prepared to doze.
THE END OF PART FOUR! READ TRUTHS, THE LAST IN THE HAVEN SERIES!
Chapter Three
It had been three weeks since the last fight. Sydney had calmed down, ready to forgive, and then got angered again. Three weeks! He hadn't contacted them in three weeks. She just wanted to take him down this very moment. She wanted to break something. When she was a double, she took out a lot of pent up frustrations in her fights. So she waited for any sign of Sark. One day later, he appeared. The minute he walked in the door, Sydney punched his face and kicked him in the groin before twisting him over her shoulder. He landed on the coffee table, which broke into wood shards. She hovered over him.
"I see you're mood has improved greatly." Sark said before jumping up and tackling her onto the couch.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" She rolled over and kicked him in the stomach. Francie jumped out of the way. Will and Vaughn came running into the living room to see what the commotion was.
"I went to Mexico."
He flipped her over and held her by the throat.
"WITHOUT ME?!"
She headbutted him.
"Only to case the area."
He kicked her in the leg, but she jumped over his foot. She grabbed him into a head lock. He overpowered her arms and pulled them behind her. He pushed her against the wall, panting.
"I picked something up for you on the way."
She tried to twist out of his grip, but he had too good of a hold on her. He studied her with excited blue eyes. He put his hands in his pocket.
"Aw, bloody box. I lost it. In our fight!"
He growled.
"A box? The jewelry box?"
"A box."
He kept a hold of her as she searched around the living room. He found it by the table. He picked it up.
"Here it is."
Sydney's mouth dropped open.
"That looks like a..."
He shrugged. "Does it?"
"Yes! Yes! It does!"
He looked at Sydney and briefly let go of her. She had stopped struggling.
"Will you marry me, Sydney?"
He opened the box. Inside was a platinum ring with a large heart shaped diamond in the center. She stared at it for a moment. She gasped, "Andrew..."
Sydney couldn't stop smiling. She could feel her eyes well up.
"How do you do that?"
She asked, slamming a fist into his chest.
"What?"
"Make me want to kill you and then in 2.5 seconds, I love you more than before."
"I know I'm supposed to blather on some romanticisms, you changed my life, you make me a better man, I can't live without you, but I think you already know all of that. You know exactly how you effect me, Luv. Just answer my question."
Sydney glanced around the room at her three closest friends. Will and Michael were in a state of shock, these priceless expressions on their faces. Francie looked ecstatic for her, but she didn't really know the whole story of Mr. Sark. Sydney stared into his eyes.
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
He kissed her lightly, his lips just barely brushing against hers. Sydney deepened the kiss.
"I love you." She whispered in between kisses.
His eyes were twinkling again. His forehead rested gently against hers. She broke into a huge grin. He took her left hand and slid the ring down her finger. She watched it glittering in the light, changing from blue, to yellow, to green, back to clear.
"It's so beautiful."
"I hope so."
"Did you buy it?"
"You mean, did I not steal it?"
She shrugged, nonchalantly.
"Hey, I just wanted to make sure no major governments are looking for a ring that looks remarkably like mine, a priceless artifact that, oh, I don't know, used to be Catherine the Great's or something."
Sark kissed her cheek.
"I bought it with my hard earned money."
She chuckled. Francie hugged her tightly and the two women squealed.
"I'm getting married!" Francie hugged Sark also, which threw him off guard. Sark's surprise echoed on his face. Sydney smiled, but then her face darkened considerably.
"What is it, Luv?"
"Don't get yourself killed."
"What?"
"Last time I was engaged, he was murdered. Don't get yourself killed."
"I already know the truth about you."
"So does Sloane."
"Sloane can't get to me. He never has been able to."
She nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry."
He brusehd a stray tear of her cheek.
"Don't cry, Sydney."
"I am happy. I promise. I just, I don't want you to die, too."
He touched her softly. "I won't. It's going to take a lot for me to not marry me."
Sydney nodded. "Sorry. I don't usually fall apart like this."
"It's okay. I don't mind."
He glanced around the room.
"If you wanted to redecorate, you could have just asked."
Sydney surveyed the room. The coffee table was splintered, a couple of couch cushions split, the pictures were lopsided, a crack in one of the glass frames.
"Sorry."
"It's all right."
"I have a wedding to plan. Only you and I will be attending..."
"My family, your family," He nodded to her friends. He continued, "And the...we can't use a judge."
She giggled. "Should you be allowed in a church? I mean, won't you be struck down..."
"Guess we'll have to take our chances."
Sydney nodded.
"I'll tell your dad if you want to invite him."
Sydney sighed. "I guess that would be best."
"We can call my parents now." Sydney nodded. He dialed the number.
"Hey, Mum."
"Andrew?"
"Yes. I have great news!"
"You do?"
Sydney couldn't help but grin at his mother's kind voice. She was on speaker phone.
"Hello, Mrs. Canton."
"Sydney?"
"Yes."
"I am intrigued. What is the great news?"
"We're getting married."
"You and Sydney!"
"Mhm."
The elder lady squealed like a child.
"MARRIED!"
"Yes, Mum."
"I am so proud of you."
"I just asked her."
"How did you propose? Did you take her out?"
Sydney answered this one for him. "No. He just kind of...held me for a moment and found the ring. Then, he just asked me."
"Was it still romantic?"
"I don't know how it couldn't be."
"This is so great. Now I'm going to have another daughter, right after getting my son back, thanks to you and your investigation company."
"I have to go, Mum. I will call you later. Will you tell Dad and the others?"
"Of course. I love you, Andy, and Sydney, welcome to our family."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"I love you, Mum. Bye."
Sark hung up the phone and he exuded happiness. His life seemed to be falling into place.
"Canton. Andrew Canton. He's Andrew Canton?!"
Sydny glanced a little guiltily at Will.
Will looked at Sark, who shrugged. "I am."
"I helped find Sark's parents. You told me a little boy had been kidnapped and couldn't find his parents."
Sydney stared at her hands.
"I know."
"Is it true?"
"Kind of."
Sark gave Sydney a look that clearly said you promised to keep this a secret.
"He wasn't able to locate his parents."
Not a lie. Sark's stance relaxed.
"I knew you wouldn't look for them if you knew it was Sark. So I with held some information."
"So you used me?"
"No. Will, please. Listen to me."
But Will would have none of it. He stormed away and Francie followed.
"Will?" Francie called quietly as she entered the bedroom. His eyes were watering.
"She's marrying SARK?! It was bad enough that she was dating Vaughn. At least she was a good guy, human, at least. Sark isn't. I can't believe her!"
Francie embraced Will. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm just great."
Francie sighed.
"He doesn't even make her happy, Fran."
"Yeah, he does."
"Why does she get so upset every time he's here?"
"Why does she get so upset when he leaves? Sark makes her feel different, dangerous, capable. You all tried to baby her the whole time we've been here and she hates it. She wants to be independent. Sark gives her that independence."
He shhok his head. He didn't want to understand it.
"We have to accept it. If we don't, we'll lose Sydney."
"Maybe that's what she wants."
"I seriously doubt that. You don't have to like Sark, just deal with it."
Will nodded. "I just hate him so much. He tortured me, Francie. He tortured me." Will whispered it over and over. Francie held him while he got it all out.
Sark had left a couple days later, but swore he would be back within the week. So Sydney cleaned up the mess they had made and waited impatiently for her fiance's return. He came on a Wednesday and came in dragging several long bags that resembled body bags.
"What are those?"
"Wedding dresses."
"You..."
"Borrowed these. You pick and I'll buy that one for you."
"You don't have..."
"I want you to have the wedding you dreamed of. I'll bring everything to you, if I have to."
Sydney threw herself into his arms.
"I love you."
He captured her lips and they shared a happy kiss. Sark took her into the bedroom with the bags.
"You can't see me in them!"
"Please?"
"Absolutely not. We don't need anymore bad luck."
"Fine."
Sydney called Francie in and they examined each dress. They chose the perfect one.
Sark laid back on the bed and Sydney settled comfortably in his arms.
"When are we going to Mexico?"
"Tomorrow. The place is dangerous. It seems to be almost booby trapped by Rambaldi."
"But no guards."
"It'll be enough just to get to the artifact."
"What do you think it is?"
"I really don't know. There was no indication in the manual or the jewelry box."
"Oh."
"I'm telling the truth. I have no idea what we're going for. I assume we'll know when we find it."
"Okay."
"Are you going to live here with your friends after we get married?"
"Do you have a better offer?"
"Several, actually."
"What?"
"I give Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Tippin, and Miss Calfo new identities and they can go to the city and country of their choice. And you, Luv, you can come to live at a beach house in the South of France on the Mediterranean. It is absolutely gorgeous and I think you would adore it."
"I hate to be separated from them."
"You have to let them live their own lives, Luv."
"I know."
Silence fell over.
"Do you think they'll be safe somewhere else?"
"I know it. I'll keep tabs on them. If they look like their in danger, you and I can stop it."
She nodded.
"You do still want to marry me, don't you?" Sark asked, feeling vulnerable. He was always afraid that Sydney would change her mind.
"Of course. It'll just be hard. Will has sacrificed so much for me, his job, practically his life. Michael has been there when no one else was. And Francie's been my best friend forever. Since Freshman year of college and I was still shy Sydney."
He smoothed her hair.
"Have you talked to my dad yet?"
"How about we talk to him when we get back from Mexico?"
"All right." They held onto each other.
"Andrew?"
"Mhm."
"I'm sleepy."
"Then sleep."
She shifted around so her arm was laying across his chest. He smiled and prepared to doze.
THE END OF PART FOUR! READ TRUTHS, THE LAST IN THE HAVEN SERIES!