This is it. The very last chapter. I might be persuaded to write an epilogue, if I break my record for the number of reviews. So far, my record is 82, so if I can get more than 82 reviews, an epilogue is all yours. This was pretty much how I planned to end it. So, the end of this story is my holiday gift to all of my readers. Happy Holidays!
This is also my last chance to thank the people who took the extra couple of minutes to leave a review, well, for this fic at least. I can't believe how awesome you guys are. It makes me want to just write for you. Which I do. If you're a writer as well, you live off the feed back as I do, and I more than appreciate the feedback everyone has given me.
If you liked this fic, I have written several other fics that might interest you. Perhaps you'd like:
Endless Waters: S/V. Sydney prepares to meet Vaughn at the pier for one of their midnight meetings, but something goes wrong. Will they be able to tell each other what is in their hearts before it's too late?
Tickets: S/V The missing scenes at the miniature golf parts at the end of Passage Part 2 (2.09)
Why?: She ran. She didn't know why she was running. He loved her. She loved him, or at least she thought she did. But why was she running from him? S/W S/V
Wherever You Will Go: Sydney's and Vaughn's thoughts on what can't be. Song fic of "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling. S/V
Nothing Can Happen: Vaughn catches up with Sydney at the end of "Counteragent" what happens then? Contains spoilers.
Back to Your Heart: Sydney and Vaughn have been married now. But when something goes totally wrong with a mission, will Sydney be able to fall in love again? S/V.
Enough advertising for my other Alias fics. I now present to you, the last chapter!
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Sydney woke the next morning, and took a deep breath of the dirty air. Despite the horrible smell, Sydney was happier than she had ever been. By the end of the day she was free. No more lying to her friends, no more "business" trips, just her, being a lit teacher. Sydney reached as far as she could and stretched. She sat up, where a rose was gently set on the table across from her. She smiled and picked it up. She smiled brightly as she read the card.
To replace the one that Alex destroyed yesterday.
I'll have breakfast waiting for you in my room until 10. Stop by.
~V.
Sydney smiled as she looked at the clock, and noticed that it was only 9. She quickly got dressed. She took a peek at the schedule, and noticed that her times had been crossed out. She knew that Vaughn had done that for her. Sydney knew what she was going to do with her time away. Not like it was all that important of a day for her to have off. In fact, part of her wanted to be a part of everything today. Last night, before she and Vaughn started to watch their movie (Runaway Bride), Vaughn had given the agents a briefing before the last day. There was going to be no action in New York, (much to the disappointment of many) instead, Vaughn would get a call at about 4, and they would begin to pack up the SD-6 people to take them back to LA for questioning and other things. A clean up crew would come by, and prepare the school for students and teachers to come back from summer break in a month. Sydney got dressed, and quietly exited her room. As quiet as possible, she went through the slender halls, until she arrived at the front office, where Vaughn was stationed. She passed the desks upon desks of paperwork that obviously was needed to be done, and went right to Vaughn's 'bedroom' (it was really the principals office) She quietly tapped on the door. "Yea?" Vaughn's weary voice called.
"I got your note." Sydney said. She heard Vaughn jump up, and practically run to the door.
The door flung open. "I'm glad." Vaughn showed her where he had some bagels and juice sitting out. "I know it's not much, but it's better than powdered eggs that we've been having for the past week."
Sydney chuckled and kissed Vaughn. "Bagels sound great."
"I'm glad." Sydney looked around the room. She had never actually been in it, and it was a mess. It was obvious that he had attempted to clean it up a bit, but never got around to finishing it. He saw Sydney looking around and began to quickly make excuses. "I sorta lost, um…, umm…something." He said, as he threw some clothing into a suitcase.
"Are you normally this messy?"
"Yeah." Vaughn admitted. He handed Sydney a bagel, she smiled before she took a bite.
"I saw what you did you my schedule. Thanks."
"Thought you might like the day off." Vaughn smiled.
"Do you have the day off too?" Sydney tempted.
Vaughn moaned. "No, Devlin has me doing so many different things, I'm wondering if I could be in all ten places." Sydney smiled. "But I would trade it all for an hour with you."
"No, do your thing."
"Thanks. Besides, we'll have the whole plane ride."
"We will?" Sydney asked amazed. "From the way you described it last night, it sounded like we won't."
Vaughn thought on it for a moment. "I'll arrange for it to work." He promised.
Sydney smiled up into his bright green eyes. "Promise?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'll figure something out."
"Let me figure something out. You are already doing to much."
"MMMM, no. It is the man's job to do that."
"It also stereotypically a man that kicks a girl's ass." Sydney reminded him. "I think I could take you on, and kick your ass right now." She said.
"I also happen to be higher on the pecking order."
Sydney tired to think of a witty comeback to that, but he was dead on. "Ok, but let me take one of your shifts."
"Fine." Vaughn handed her the schedule, and Sydney took a pen off the desk, and scratched her name in, for three of his shifts.
"I've got a shift in ten minutes. I'll see you later." Sydney leaned over and gave Vaughn a kiss. She handed the paper to him, and left. She was glad that she took three of Vaughn's shifts. Honestly, she didn't know what she would have done with herself if she hadn't. There was so little for her to pack. Although none of the shifts she took were inside 'the room' Sydney took guard at several corners.
At 4:32 that afternoon, Vaughn came running through the halls, proudly shouting that it was all over. Sydney gave a whoop of excitement, as he and several other agents went running by. He winked to her as they passed. Sydney went running down the other hallway that led to 'the room.' She ran in, and gave everyone a large smile.
"WHO'S READY TO GO HOME?" She called.
Everyone looked up and went running towards the door, their mouths bursting full of questions. Sydney smiled, and led them to a storage room where the clothes they had arrived in was kept. While everyone was changing, Vaughn came up to her.
"I hold in my back pockets, two tickets to LA." He said.
"Really? Just us?"
"Just us."
"How did you pull that one?"
"Well, Devlin knows. He thought we deserved it."
"Wow, that doesn't sound like him."
"Ok, so Weiss bought the tickets for me, and I was able to come up with a lame excuse. We're going to have to arrive at different times, but our seats are right next to each other."
"Then Weiss knows."
"He actually figured it out the first week."
"He did? How come he didn't tell us?"
"He told me. But he didn't think it was all that important since the minute you were done debriefing, you resigned."
"Weiss was my handler, he should have confronted me. Not telling me, was just so unlike him."
"Eric and I are best friends. And when he's around you, he's not himself, he is really strict. Hopefully he'll loosen up when you're not in danger every day."
"I know I will."
They heard movement from inside the rooms, sounding like they were ready to leave. Vaughn quickly gave Sydney her ticket, and left. Sydney starred down at it, and immediately wished that she could be on the plane right then.
Three hours later, Sydney sat at the airport terminal. She looked around nervously. He hadn't shown up yet, and boarding ended in ten minutes. She sat down in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, and began to mindlessly fiddle with the strap on her purse. A stewardess, came over and gently touched Sydney's shoulder. "Miss, are you going to LAX?"
"Yes." Sydney said.
"Final boarding call." She said, she smiled.
"I just don't like being on the plane for all of that extra time." Sydney explained, as she handed the ticket to the stewardess, who gave Sydney a polite, uncaring smile. Sydney quickly found her seat, and leaned back. The middle seat next to hers was still empty. She looked out the window, where night had befallen the city.
"I think this is my seat." A voice said. Sydney turned around, to be facing Vaughn face to face.
"I thought you were going to miss the flight." Sydney said, kissing Vaughn.
"About the time you were getting on, I was sprinting to the door. It was closed, but they reopened it for me."
"I'm so glad they did."
"Why is that?"
"Because I love you Michael Vaughn."
"I only tried because I love you Sydney Bristow." The two kissed, and let the world revolve around them for a change.
FIN.