Shattered Paradise
Chapter 4: Making Everything Right
A/N: *crawls out from under computer desk* You guys are amazing! I couldn't believe all the great reviews I got. Thank you SO much, it really made my day…Yes, I do love cliffhangers, but I think it makes the story more interesting, don't you? The cliffhangers were what sucked me into Alias in the first place…Well, since the objects have stopped flying (at least the sharp ones anyway), and I have already managed to drag pretty much the same cliffhanger through two chapters, I'll stop rambling…Here's chapter four. Enjoy!
Suddenly, the sky opened up and the rain poured down in sheets. It's deafening clatter brought an end to the silence, and other sounds found their way to her ears.
Children squealing and running from their parents. Footsteps, shouting, dishes crashing as people hurriedly moved them out of the rain.
She heard someone call out to her, telling her that she should get inside. She heard, but she didn't listen. She didn't know who it was, didn't care either.
A hand grabbed her arm, trying to tug her in the direction of the house. She shrugged it off, not even looking to see who it was. Her eyes never moved from his, not once.
A moment later, when everyone had gone inside, and the only noise she heard was the pounding of the rain, she turned from him, she tore her gaze away.
She ran, her feet pounding noisily on the ground, splashing in the puddles that were already forming. She felt him reach out for her, felt his fingers brush her elbow as she turned away, but it only made her move faster, run harder. She had never thought that she would be running from him. Never. Him, of all people.
She didn't know where she was going, but she knew why she ran. It was the emptiness where his voice should have been. It was the silence broken only by the rain. The void left empty because he hadn't smiled. Hadn't touched her, hadn't kissed her, hadn't hugged her. He hadn't told her he loved her. He hadn't told her that it was going to be all right.
That was why she hadn't wanted to tell him, had been afraid of what his reaction might be. She hadn't wanted to be disappointed.
And it looked like she had been right in worrying, had been right in being afraid. Because she had been disappointed. He hadn't made it better, as she'd hoped he would. Her nagging fears seemed to have won; he had made it worse.
She was sobbing now, crying harder than she ever had before. Harder even, than that day when he had told her what that bastard had done to her. He had been there to comfort her then; he wasn't here now…
But as the tears ran down her face, so did the rain. At least the rain showed sympathy, washing away her tears so that no one, not even him, had to know that she had cried.
She didn't turn around, but knew that he was behind her, running, trying to catch her. She could feel him there, sense his presence; she didn't need to see.
Sydney didn't even make it halfway across the yard, when he caught her, grabbing her elbow and pulling her backward, causing her to turn around and come crashing into him.
She didn't try to move away. The truth was, she didn't want to. She had wanted him to hold her before, and deep down inside, she still wanted him to now.
So, she gave in to him. She wouldn't run anymore; hadn't wanted to in the first place, she realized. She covered her face with her hands and leaned into his chest, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
He gently took hold of her shoulders, pushing her away from him to gaze into her eyes.
She looked up at him, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. The rain was still pouring down, blinding her, but only to everything else, not to him. Maybe he wasn't upset after all. Maybe everything would be okay…
She was still waiting for his answer, waiting to hear his voice.
He placed a hand on the back of her head, tangling it hopelessly in her dripping hair; the other was on her cheek, caressing it softly.
He leaned down to her, and captured her lips with his. It was tender and sweet, filled with sugar and love. He kissed her slowly, letting her know without words that everything was going to be all right, that he loved her, that there was no need for tears.
The rain started to let up. It had been a freak shower; maybe their picnic wouldn't be spoiled after all. The two of them seemed to control the rain, willing it to come and go with their moods. It started to taper away as soon as Sydney's tears stopped falling.
Sydney sighed happily into him. Everything was perfect now. This was the reaction she had wanted, the one she had been afraid she wasn't going to get.
The rain became softer, a mere whisper of the angry pounding it had been only minutes ago. Michael's lips became hot and urgent, and she knew that if she looked into his eyes at that moment, she would see fire burning in their depths.
He took the kiss deeper, pulling her down with him into the depths of his passion. Her head was spinning and her knees grew weak. She was helpless whenever he kissed her like that, and knew it.
She tried to raise a weak protest, tearing her lips from his. "Michael…they're watching…"
She could see them in the windows, knew that the children would be tittering with laughter and the adults whispering and smiling knowingly.
"I don't care," he responded, pulling her closer to him. "I love you."
She lost it then. She had wanted to know that everything was going to work out for the better, but this was what she had really been looking for. Everything was truly right, now.
The rain had softened to nothing more than a sprinkle, showering sweetly down on them like sugar from heaven.
He dove into her, plowing his lips against hers. He wanted to taste her from every possible angle. He was taking her breath away and she gave it to him willingly; oblivious to everything but him, forgetting, even, the party guests watching curiously from the window.
The sun came out, fighting its way through the last drops of rain. The door opened, but quickly shut again. One of the children had tried to get outside, but had been stopped by Jacqueline, who was fiercely standing guard over the door.
Sydney pulled away from him slowly, holding a hand up to stop him when he tried to claim her lips once again.
"Michael…" she whispered, glancing toward the house.
He understood and smiled, kissing her on the forehead before taking her hand and leading her into a quiet corner of the backyard. As soon as they moved, Jacqueline stood away from the door, and the party guests came pouring outside again, bringing the food and music out with them.
"Sydney, how could you…why did you…?" He was still at a loss for words.
"I thought you'd be upset," she answered, biting her lip and looking toward the ground.
"How could you ever think that?"
She shrugged. "At first, I thought you were…angry."
"I'm so sorry, Syd, but you have to understand. I thought that you were going to give me the worst news of my life. I thought…"
He paused and looked down. Sydney followed his gaze. Despite the harsh watch that Jacqueline and a few other adults seemed to be issuing on their corner of the yard, Seth had somehow found his way between them and was tapping Michael's knee.
"Uncle Mikey, you better make Auntie Syddy go inside. She's all wet."
Michael laughed. "What about me, little man? I'm all wet, too."
Seth looked up at him gravely. "Cherry said Auntie Syddy went to the doctor's. If she stays all wet, she'll get the snifflies and…"
Michael tried to interrupt him, and tell him that wouldn't let that happen, that he would take good care of "Auntie Syddy," and that everything would be all right; but Seth was adamant.
"I don't want them to give you a shot, Auntie Syddy," he said sorrowfully, wrapping his arms around her legs. "Cherry and Sara said they hurt."
"It's okay, baby," Sydney said, tousling his hair.
"I'm not a baby," he replied, looking up at her. "I'm a big boy."
She smiled. He's not a baby. Now everything's back to the way it should be…
"I know, my little man. Now, if you don't let go of me, you're going to get all wet, too," she said, tickling him.
He let go of her and ran away laughing. They watched him make his way to the other children. Michael turned to her and smiled.
He took her hand and led her across the yard, to the stereo. He turned the music down, quickly grabbing the attention of those closest to them. He cleared his throat and put his arm around Sydney.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make."
All conversation stopped; for once even the children were quiet. Sydney snuggled closer to Michael; all eyes were on them, now.
"Sydney and I…Well, we're going to have a baby."
This time, when those words were said, there was no silence. Instead, the air around them exploded with applause and cheers, as their family and friends offered their congratulations and wishes for good luck.
Sydney smiled up at Michael and he leaned down to kiss her soundly. Their party guests were closing in on them, wanting to shower them with kisses and hugs, but Michael wouldn't let them get too close.
He led Sydney out of the crowd and toward the house, insisting that they needed to get into some dry clothes, promising that they would be back out in not more than ten minutes.
She had barely closed the door behind them, when Michael claimed her lips once again.
And everything was right in the world. At least it was for awhile…
Okay, no big cliffhanger this time. *sigh* That would have been a little too evil…I know there were a few of you who guessed what was wrong with Syd. Congratulations! Did anyone else get it?…You guys were so great with the reviews last chapter; please keep it up. I haven't written the next chapter yet, and could really use some inspiration…