Author's Note: Wow, 45 reviews at last count! I'm really stoked; it beats my last story. Anyway, here's the next chapter…
Author's Note: cough cough REVIEW cough cough.
The next day
Francie woke up slowly, stretching luxuriously in the bed. 'When the CIA forks out money for safe-houses they can really do a good job,' she thought as she sat up. The sunlight shone through the gap in the curtains, and she reached up and pulled them completely open. Light poured through the room, making Francie blink slightly. She reached out for her watch and glanced at it. 10:30am. 'Makes sense, I've had a pretty hectic couple of days,' she thought. She slid her feet around the floor, looking for her slippers.
Dressed still in her pyjamas and a robe, Francie shuffled into the kitchen to make some coffee. It seemed that Michael and Sydney weren't up yet. Francie switched the kettle on and looked through the cupboards for something to eat while she waited for the water to boil. Her eyes fell on the bacon and eggs, and she grinned. Yum.
Vaughn staggered out of bed, wearing only a pair of tracksuit pants, to the wafting smell of bacon and eggs. He wandered into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes with his good hand. He stopped rubbing and stared in amazement. Sitting on the table was a plate of the most delicious breakfast he had ever seen. He looked up to see Francie cooking more food. She glanced over at him and smiled.
"Eat up, it's good for you," she said. Vaughn grinned, then pulled up a chair. Francie dumped the last of the food on another plate and joined him.
Francie studied Vaughn as he ate. She could see why her best friend had fallen for him, he was definitely a good-looking guy. She frowned slightly at his chest, then looked up.
"Michael?" she asked her voice one of mild curiosity. Vaughn looked up, still chewing. He swallowed.
"Yes?" he asked, spearing some more bacon with his fork.
"What's with the tattoo?" she asked, sipping at her coffee. Vaughn looked thoughtful.
"I could say it was to declare my undying love to my ex-girlfriend, but then I'd be lying. If I said it was done in a drunken stupor, now, that would be the truth," he said. Francie grinned, intrigued.
"Do tell," she invited. Vaughn grinned.
"Not much to tell. I went to a party, got wasted and woke up in the morning with a tattoo. Weiss denies that he had anything to do with it, but I don't know…" he said, his face suspicious. Francie snorted. She was just about to ask some more questions but Sydney chose that moment to wander into the room, wearing loose pants and a tight singlet top. She wandered into the kitchen and grabbed the food, oblivious to the outright staring Vaughn was doing.
Sydney sat down at the table and took a bite of the food. Francie waited anxiously.
"Wow, this is great! Who cooked it?" she asked, looking from Francie to Vaughn. Vaughn shrugged and pointed at Francie, who blushed.
"It's nothing," she said, embarrassed. Vaughn shook his head.
"It's not nothing, you shouldn't degrade yourself like that. This is possibly the best food I've tasted. When are you opening a restaurant?" he asked, taking another decisive bite of the bacon. Francie glanced over at Sydney.
"That was meant to be part of my cover," she admitted. Vaughn looked abashed.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No, no! I was really getting into the idea. It's still dawning on me that I can actually do that now, I can do whatever I want," she said. Sydney frowned slightly.
"What about your parents? I mean, your real parents?" she asked, confused. Francie looked over to her.
"It's kind of complicated…" she said. Vaughn leaned back, laying his cast on the table.
"We have a lot of time," he suggested. Francie nodded.
"Okay…the people who have been acting as my parents are actually my real parents. Francine is my middle name, so it was easy to alter my records. When I started out, I was still Cassandra, playing the role of Francie. But after 7 years…well, no one is supposed to be undercover that long. You start to…absorb…your role. Well, that wasn't too hard for me. After all, Francie was so much like me already. Towards the end I really started to envy her freedom. Now…well, I don't really know what I'm going to do. I'll figure it out later once I've worked everything out."
Sydney listened carefully throughout, then patted Francie's arm comfortingly.
"I'll be with you, no matter what choice you make," she said. Vaughn shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but I'll be right back," he said before walked back to the kitchen. Sydney watched him go, then turned to Francie.
"He is so hot," she mouthed to Francie. Francie giggled. After a minute Vaughn came back into the room. He grinned devilishly at both of them, then pulled out a buttering knife and shoved it down his cast. He then scratched for a few minutes, sighed contentedly. Sydney snickered and her shot her a death glare.
"It itches, alright," he said. Sydney looked at him angelically.
Francie reached over and picked up the empty plates.
"I think I'll start washing up," she said. Sydney nodded absently and Francie walked into the kitchen. She piled the plates into the sink and turned on the tap, staring out the window pensively. 'Opening a restaurant would be kind of cool,' she thought as she squirted detergent into the sink. The bubbles frothed up and coated her arms. She smiled to herself as she scrubbed the dishes. 'That's my dream job, restaurant owner and cupid,' she thought, glancing surreptitiously over her shoulder at where Sydney and Vaughn were talking animatedly.
*
After another relaxing day of board games, cable television and exploring Francie found herself regretting having to leave. She looked around the wood cabin, then down at her suitcase. Sydney was sitting in the lounge room, watching her sadly.
"Do you have to go?" she asked, knowing it was a stupid question but needing to know anyway. Francie smiled consolingly.
"Yeah, I do. Part of me wants to stay but…well, I get to spend a few hours getting to Agent Weiss," Francie said, winking conspirationally.
"Go get em sister," Sydney declared. Francie snickered. The horn outside beeped loudly, and she glanced out the window. Vaughn jogged down the hall and opened the door. He walked outside and spoke quickly with Weiss, then walked back to Francie.
"Well…see you," he said, hugging her awkwardly. Francie hesitated, then hugged him back. Then she turned to Sydney, who smiled though her eyes were filling with tears.
"You be careful, you hear?" she whispered into Francie's ear as she hugged her.
"You too," Francie whispered back, then stood back. She picked up her suitcase and climbed into the car. Sydney and Vaughn drew closer together and waved until the car was gone from sight. Sydney turned to Vaughn, her face worried.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" she asked. Vaughn looked at her seriously.
"Of course she will," he said comfortingly, drawing her into his arms. Sydney relaxed and he rubbed her back in small circles with his good hand.
"She be fine," he said.
Author's Note: aha! Now I can write some PROPER romance…keep tuned peoples!!!