Sydney felt herself being raised to her feet and she turned around, hoping it was the one person she wanted—needed—it to be.
Vaughn gave her a small nod and hugged her to him, knowing the tremendous pain she must have been going through. Sydney leaned with her head on his chest, her arms dangling at her sides, still in absolute shock at the day's events.
A mere few seconds later, Jack and Irina came running up to Sydney and Vaughn. Relieved to see that Sydney was okay, Jack and Irina smiled a bit as they caught their breath. Sydney immediately pulled away from the arms of Vaughn and into the arms of both of her parents. They embraced her fiercely and the three of them stood in their group hug.
Vaughn nodded to himself, as he took in the sight of the happy family and walked away.
Jack and Irina bumped foreheads as they both went to kiss the top of Sydney's head. They shared a brief chuckle then nervously turned their attention back to their daughter.
Everything's going to be fine, Sydney, Jack whispered, I just want you to know that.
Sydney forced herself to nod and wiped a few tears from her eyes. I know, it's just going to take me awhile to pick up all the pieces.
Well, here's a start, Jack began and Sydney and Irina looked at him curiously, your mother and I are going to be here for you, and all of three of us will be together.
Sydney felt tears of happiness form in her eyes. All three of us? she asked in disbelief.
Irina chimed in.
Jack nodded. He kissed the top of Sydney's head and then shared a brief kiss with Irina.
I don't know what to say, Jack, Irina said quietly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Jack smiled—a real smile—and shook his head slightly. You can figure it out later. He wrapped his arms tighter around Irina and Sydney gently pulled away, leaving her parents in each other's arms. She smiled in spite of everything that had happened. Her parents still loved each other despite their complicated and utterly screwed up past and she was glad that they had decided to try and work things out. She sighed contentedly and stood with her arms wrapped around herself, watching her parents whisper things back and forth. She was about to go back to her car when a voice from behind her stopped her in her tracks.
Ms. Bristow.
Oh God. I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming, I have to be dreaming. Sydney turned around slowly and found herself staring into the eyes of the man she loved and whom she thought was dead. Her voice cracked when she tried to speak.
Sark smiled broadly and took Sydney into his arms when she came running over to him. He felt her tears go through his shirt and he whispered in her ear that everything was all right. She pulled back after a few moments.
How did you get out?
I had already driven out of the parking garage and was on my way when the building exploded behind me. Since I wasn't told anything about doing things a day early, I immediately went to the CIA and demanded an explanation. Kendall told me everything and I came back here to see if I could find you.
Sydney stared into his eyes for a moment before saying, I thought I'd lost you. I mean, Will, Francie— she shook her head, —I was running on empty.
Sark gave her a small smile. It's all right now, love, I'm here. He lifted her chin and their lips melded. Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck and Sark pulled her close against his body. After a bit, Sydney pulled back. She looked down nervously then looked back up and gazed far into his eyes.
I love you, Andrew.
Sark felt the muscle in his chest tighten as he ached from all the love he had inside of him. I love you too, Sydney.
That's the first time we've said that to each other, Sydney whispered.
But it won't be the last, Sark told her, smiling.
Sydney melted and felt herself lean back into Sark's loving, comforting, protective embrace. Do you want to go for a walk?
Sure. Where do you want to go? Sark asked.
I was thinking the beach that's not that far from here, Sydney said with a shrug.
Sark nodded and he and Sydney waved to Irina and Jack who were grinning broadly at them. Sark wrapped his arm around Sydney's shoulders and they walked.
It wasn't long before they ended up at the beach that was fairly close to where the Credit Dauphine building once stood. They walked along the shore after removing their shoes and holding them with their fingers hooked in the back of the heels, dangling them at their sides.
They both looked around absently, almost expecting someone to be watching them. They were sure it was over, but someone could still be watching. If their conversation was heard and people either formerly working for SD-6 or currently working for the Alliance had learned of their involvement, they could be in for an awfully unpleasant surprise.
You want to sit down? she asked after they had been walking for a while.
Sark stopped walking and stood in the somewhat damp sand. He absently dug his toes into the sand and Sydney did the same. There was something strangely comforting and relaxing about sand between one's toes, but Sark couldn't quite lay his finger (or his toe) on it.
He gave her a grin and nodded as they trudged up the dry—and deep—sand to sit down. He spread out his overcoat on the sand when Sydney did so as well and they both sat down.
They looked at each other for a moment and exchanged goofy grins. Neither one could fully comprehend what they had accomplished.
We did it, she said in disbelief. I mean, we actually did it.
It was all you, Sydney, Sark insisted, smiling at her.
Sydney blushed and smiled back. They looked at the sunset. The colors of the sky. Sydney pointed out its symbolism and Sark had agreed. She turned towards him after a couple minutes. Without a moment's hesitation, Sydney's lips collided with Sark's with incredible force and passion.
Sark tangled his hands in Sydney's hair and Sydney ran her fingertips across the back of Sark's neck. Sark moved his hands down to Sydney's back and finally leaned back and pulled Sydney on top of him. His hands slid underneath her shirt and caressed the silky smooth skin of her back as Sydney's hands artfully undid each button of his shirt.
Once all the buttons had been undone, Sydney opened the shirt and ran her hands across Sark's chest. Sark gently raised Sydney's shirt and she helped to lift it over her head and toss it on the sand. Sark pressed Sydney's body against his in an embrace as he kissed her before gently rolling over so that he was on top. He tossed his own shirt in the sand and he and Sydney both went to work removing pants and all other material barriers.
In a matter of a couple minutes, all garments had been shed and Sark sat on his knees looking far into Sydney's eyes. Sydney lay on her back, her legs stretched out and spread apart because Sark was sitting between them. She gave him a small nod as her eyes stared into his. Sark understood it as she had meant it to be—an invitation for him to take all of her.
So he did.
His hands ran over her entire body, softly caressing her curves as their bodies worked together as one. Their legs intertwined as they moved with a sort of yearning and passion as they strove to achieve one goal. The ardor between them grew as they got closer and closer.
Soon, the goal was met and their bodies convulsed as their cumulative desires were eagerly fed. The two of them caught their breath and Sark slipped onto his side and took Sydney into his arms and held her. Sydney curled her body into Sark's and lay her head on his chest. She relished the protective shield Sark's arms seemed to form around her and she sighed contentedly.
Sark reached a hand to Sydney's head and stroked her hair. He kissed the top of her head and looked up at the sky when he saw Sydney do the same. He wrapped his arms tighter around her when she huddled closer to him. He stared up at the night sky, a dark blue with some of the sunset shades mixed into it. The stars twinkled as they shone down on the pair.
I love you, Sydney said softly for the second time that night.
I love you, too, Sark replied as he held Sydney tighter to his body.
Tomorrow's a new day, she whispered, and it's going to be different.
Sark said in agreement with a slight nod of his head.
We'll finally get to explore the path we wanted to explore months ago, she continued. She sniffed as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Yes, love, he whispered into her hair, and it's going to be absolutely perfect.
Sydney said smiling,
Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was an incredible journey especially with getting Sydney and Sark together *finally* and having a final blow be struck to SD-6 so their relationship could actually work. I feel bad that I killed off Will and Francie (especially Will, as he was so amazingly supportive of the S/S relationship), but I felt it was necessary for everything to play out like it did. I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who read this story, so...THANK YOU! ;x