Author's Note: Thanks for all of your reviews on the first chapter. I'm letting you know in advance that what follows is very long, but there's a nice twist involved, so hopefully you'll think it was worth the time.
P.S. to Ash (if you're still reading): If you've read any of my other fics, you know it won't be sad and depressing, but it won't be smooth sailing, either. (grin)
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Sydney had the vague sensation that her skin was becoming flushed and hot to the touch. She came out of her reverie wondering if she was coming down with something, only to realize that her hair was dry and the blow dryer was bellowing hot air directly onto her face, accounting for the warmth she'd mistaken as impending illness. Sydney turned off the dryer and shook her head as if to clear it. She had been doing so well in not letting the past invade her present. It would be a setback if she allowed herself to wallow in self-pity and to reflect on what might have been.
After flipping off the bathroom light, Sydney went into her bedroom and walked over to the chest of drawers to find something to wear. She needed to run some errands later, but the stores wouldn't be open for hours, so maybe she could do some work on the guest bedroom for the time being.
Sydney was undecided on what she wanted to do with her spare bedroom, but she did know that the countrified geese-in-bonnets had to go. Whoever had owned her house before her had been inordinately fond of a Country Kitsch decorating theme and Sydney had spent a lot of time and effort getting rid of it. Not that she didn't like bushels of apples or sheaves of wheat or black-and-white spotted cows, but when it was all lumped together in the same house, it was a little too much to take.
Her latest do-it-yourself project entailed scraping the wallpaper from the walls in the guest bedroom. It was a thankless and time-consuming chore, involving steamers and scrapers and bits of wet wallpaper. As Sydney got into the rhythmic scritch-scritch-scritch of the scraping, her thoughts began to drift again.
Three days after Vaughn came to see her, Sydney's ordeal finally came to an end. On that morning, they told her it was over and that she was free to leave. Sydney immediately turned over her ID badge and marched straight out the double bulletproof-glass doors without a backwards glance. Her father met her outside CIA Headquarters with her car gassed up and loaded to the bursting point.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Sydney gave her father a confused look.
"I'm making sure that you take some time to recover from all the stress you've been under for the past few weeks." Jack said in his most stern voice. "Here." In his hand were her car keys and what looked like a house key.
"What's this?"
"It's the key to a house I rented for you." Her father replied. "The house is located in Santa Barbara and I've been told that it's right on the beach. The address and a map are on the passenger seat of your car."
"You rented me a house?" Sydney said slowly. "Dad, that's very sweet of you, but I can't just drop everything and leave town." She protested.
"Why not?" He asked her. "I am assuming that you turned in your resignation to the Agency when they released you from custody. You are no longer under any obligations to anyone."
"That's not true." She shook her head. "Just because I no longer have a job doesn't mean I still don't have people to answer to. I mean, I haven't had a chance to talk to any of my friends yet to explain what's going on and you and I haven't really discussed what this all means and besides that--" She had been running off at the mouth when she suddenly faltered, hesitant to bring up a certain person's name. She wasn't sure how her father would react.
"And what, Sydney?" Her father prompted her.
"Vaughn." She replied softly. "We were supposed to get together after I got out." Sydney wondered if Vaughn had known she was going to be released today. But then wouldn't he have been there to meet her?
A muscle in her father's jaw twitched. "He's not here. He's been sent to Washington." Jack informed her.
"What?" She gave him a blank stare. Why hadn't Vaughn told her that he was going to be out of town?
"It was a last-minute thing. He just flew out last night."
"Oh." She looked dejected.
Jack studied his daughter for a long moment. "Sydney, he will be here when you get back." He said quietly. "We all will. Right now, I'm more concerned about you."
Sydney was touched in spite of herself. It had taken five long years and a multitude of false starts, but they were finally at the point in their father-daughter relationship where Sydney could trust that her father always had her best interests at heart. He might not always go about it in the most ethical fashion, but she knew he loved her. Making sure his daughter was happy and fulfilled and cared for had increasingly become one of the most important goals in Jack Bristow's life. He owed Sydney that much after everything he and her mother had put her through.
Soft-hearted as she was, there was no way Sydney could refuse her father's generosity. It had been a thoughtful gesture on his part and it was only decent that she show her appreciation.
"Well, maybe I could use some time to decompress." She admitted. "The past few weeks have taken a lot out of me."
"That's exactly what I thought." Her father agreed wholeheartedly. "The sea air will do you some good. Help you clear away the cobwebs."
"Maybe so." Sydney gave him a smile. "Thanks for thinking of me, Dad."
"It's what I do." Jack returned her smile with a brief one of his own. "Sydney, if you like, I'll make sure that Vaughn knows where you are." He added magnanimously.
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that." Sydney said hastily. The two most important men in her life had come to a sort of mutual understanding over the past few years in regard to their placement in her life and while Sydney was fairly sure that they now respected each other, she also had the feeling that they were still a bit wary where the other was concerned. Vaughn was fully cognizant of all the times her father had cut a few corners in his sometimes misguided efforts to protect her and Jack had never been completely convinced that Vaughn was the most effective handler the CIA could have given her.
But that was all ancient history now that SD-6 had been eliminated and Sydney hoped that any future strife between them could be averted now that she was no longer the centerpiece in their power struggle to be her chief protector. If things went the way she hoped, Vaughn and her father would have to deal with each other for a long time to come and it was better for everyone if they did it with smiles on their faces.
However, that being said, she and Vaughn still had to figure out where they were headed, so there was no sense in letting Jack act as a go-between for them at this time. That could come later when Sydney had a better idea if she and Vaughn even had a future together.
"I'll call him when I get to Santa Barbara." She said to her father as she hugged him goodbye.
Some three hours later, Sydney turned into the driveway of her rented beach house and found herself enamored by it before she even got out of the car. She could tell by the slightly battered paint job that it wasn't a newly built dwelling, but one that had been there for years and years, managing to withstand the elements as well as the test of time with a hardy determination. The cornflower blue paint was peeling and faded a bit, but she didn't mind if the house looked lived-in; that only added to its charm. The cottage was a little bigger than she thought it would be (who needed a two-story house when she was only one person?), but Sydney conceded that it would be nice to have the extra space in which to ramble around. She absolutely loved the wraparound porch that extended along the front of the house and the fact that the sandy beach was right at her doorstep.
When Sydney let herself into the house, she was surprised to find that it was fully furnished with some fairly nice pieces. She went exploring room by room, through the bright and sunny kitchen with its cozy little breakfast nook into the living room, which was light and airy and had a lovely view of the beach thanks to a large bay window. There was a small bathroom in the back as well as a nice-sized library/den, which came complete with a whole wall of bookshelves, a rather comfy-looking sofa and a real wood-log fireplace.
There were only two bedrooms upstairs, but both of them were of an unusually large size, which more than made up for the fact that the connecting bathroom was meant to be shared between the two rooms. Both bedrooms had a breathtaking view of the ocean, although the one with the bigger bed might have been a tad nicer. Sydney immediately chose that room as the one she would use for her own. That decision turned out to be one of the few she remembered making over the next couple of months.
Sydney didn't like to think about that period of her life--from when she first arrived in Santa Barbara until three months later when she decided to stay on permanently--because that was the point at which her future took a seemingly irreversible turn. What little memory she had of that time was clouded by an indefinite haze where days seemed to pass quickly into next week without her even realizing it. Sydney would go sit out on the porch at eight o'clock in the morning and she would find herself still sitting there at six o'clock at night. She would wonder where the time had gone, becoming distressed when she couldn't account for even a single moment of her day. She told herself before she drifted off to sleep each night that she would stop zoning out so much, but when she woke up the next morning, the vicious cycle would just start all over again.
By the time Sydney awoke from her stupor, June had metamorphosed into September in the blink of an eye. She had been away from L.A. for almost three months and in all that time, she had not been in contact with anyone from her old life. Not Will, not Francie, and most importantly of all, not Vaughn. When Sydney realized what she had done, she was mortified. She had cut herself off from everyone who loved her without any explanation and she honestly didn't know what she could do or say to make up for her inexcusable behavior.
There was a reason, of course; a very good one, in fact, but Sydney was hesitant to play the pity card. It had been ingrained in her from an early age that she always had to be the strong one; to display vulnerability--even to one's friends--was considered a weakness.
But maybe they would understand. Will and Francie were her friends, she kept reminding herself. They were friends who had supported and nurtured her through some of the darkest times of her life. They wouldn't judge her for her failings. They knew she wasn't perfect, so perhaps it wasn't too far out of the realm of possibility that they could find it in their hearts to forgive her.
Vaughn, however, was another matter entirely. He had placed her on such a high pedestal and she had always done her best to live up to what he expected from her. His belief in her had always given her the confidence to do anything she set out to do.
But now Sydney believed she had fallen from grace. To disappear from his life with nary a word was unspeakably cruel and his crushing disappointment in her would wound him quick and deep. It pained her to the center of her being that she had hurt the one person in the world whom she cared about the most and it preyed upon her mind that he might never forgive her for doing so.
When Sydney finally did work up the courage to get in touch with Vaughn, it was with a heart full of trepidation. It wasn't a simple little thing to just pick up the phone and dial his number when she wasn't sure how he would react to hearing from her. Would he hang up at the first sound of her voice? Would he listen silently while she babbled an incoherent and inadequate apology for her behavior? Or worst of all, would he simply not even care that she was on the phone?
To say Sydney was reluctant about putting herself in the line of Vaughn's fire would be a gross understatement, but recent circumstances had forced her to take action. As she was psyching herself up to make the call, she kept telling herself that it was the right thing to do. After all, it wasn't fair to either of them that she was keeping them in this state of limbo with everything still up in the air between them. She owed it to him to resolve the situation once and for all. Then they could get on with their lives, whether it be together, or most likely, apart.
But it was not only for her sanity that Sydney was choosing to bite the bullet. The other reason for her call stemmed from an offer she had received to stay in Santa Barbara on a permanent basis.
Sydney had recently become friendly with Claire Donahue, a fortysomething mother of three whom she had met in yoga class. They had ended up on adjoining mats one Saturday morning and after class, they struck up a conversation while waiting in line at the coffee bar. It turned out to be a fortuitous meeting for Sydney because in addition to being a wife and mother, Claire Donahue was also the principal of the nearby high school. When Sydney mentioned to her new acquaintance that she had her Masters in English Literature, Claire replied that her school happened to have an opening in their English department and would Sydney consider applying for the position? Sydney had been surprised at the out-of-the-blue job offer, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a perfect fit.
Sydney went through the interview process and sailed through with flying colors. She was not surprised when she was formally offered the job a few days later, but she found herself unable to say yes on the spot. That was because there was still one thing holding her back.
That one thing was the reason why she found herself staring at her phone one morning, early enough that the sun had not yet broken over the horizon. She had been agonizing for days about making that first phone call to Vaughn because she was so afraid of what his reaction would be. In her little fantasy world, she would get no further than "I'm sorry" before he would tell her how much he missed her and beg her to come back to him. If that were to happen, she would jump in her car without even bothering to hang up the phone, giving no mind to the fact that she was clad only in a nightgown and robe.
But of course, fantasy was always more preferable to reality. Sydney knew it wouldn't be an easy task to convince Vaughn to forgive her and really, there was no reason for him to make it so. She would be lucky if he didn't say good riddance to bad rubbish before slamming the phone down in her ear.
When did Sydney Bristow become such a coward? A little voice inside her head chastised her. A woman who was strong enough to succeed in taking down such an omnipotent force as SD-6 should not be afraid to make a simple little phone call!
With a firm resolve, Sydney picked up the phone and punched in the number she knew by heart even though this was the first time she had actually ever called him at home. She had deliberately chosen such an early hour in which to make her call because she knew he was an early riser and would be getting ready for work right about now. God forbid she should get his answering machine and have to leave some stuttering, stammering message full of um's and uh's.
"Hello?" The voice was groggy as if its owner had been awakened from a sound sleep.
Sydney's heart took a nosedive into her stomach and she nearly dropped the phone. She checked the LCD display on her phone just to make sure she had dialed the correct number.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" The voice asked, sounding faintly annoyed.
Why was a woman answering Vaughn's phone? Sydney suddenly lost all power of speech as the picture of Vaughn and some unknown woman in his bed flooded into her mind. How could he? She wailed silently. How could he do this to me?
Sydney was just about to hang up when she heard Vaughn's voice in the background. Tears sprang to her eyes and she heard her breath intake sharply.
"Oh, sorry, hon, I was just getting out of the shower when I heard the phone ring. Who is it?"
She couldn't stand it anymore. Rather than just hang up the phone, she ripped the cord from the wall, breaking the little plastic insert that fitted into the jack. Well, at least that will put an end to making any more foolish phone calls, she gave a mirthless laugh.
God, how could I have been so stupid! Of course Vaughn wasn't going to wait for her forever. After five long years of suppressing their feelings for each other--not to mention the fact that she had let three whole months go by without even a word--how could she have expected him to? He was only human. The man had the patience of a saint, but even he had his limits and apparently, she had pushed him over the brink.
As she sat there feeling utterly lost and forlorn, Sydney tortured herself with thoughts of if only. If only she had called him last week…if only he hadn't met that tramp…if only their feelings had been all she had hoped they were.
Was it possible that she had spent the last three years of her life holding onto a pipe dream? Ever since Sydney had admitted to herself that she was in love with Vaughn, she had always thought that they were meant to be. The way he had always treated her, with concern and compassion and tenderness mixed in with an air of solid strength, seemed to confirm their commitment to each other even though they could never express it in words. She had thought she could trust him, not only with her life, but also with heart, believing that he would always take care of her.
But now it seemed as if it had all been an illusion, a fantasy she had conjured up in order to get her through all those many months when things looked their bleakest and it seemed as if SD-6 would never go away. In the beginning, it had all been about revenge--to make Sloane and SD-6 pay for what they had done to Danny.
And then her priorities shifted once she fell in love with Vaughn. Yes, she still wanted to avenge Danny's murder, but as time went on, payback became her secondary objective. What had driven her for the last three years was the simple desire to love and be loved in return--without fear, without boundaries, without limits. SD-6 had already taken so much from her and she was going to be damned if she would let them take away her one chance at happiness with the man she loved. They had already done it once before. She wouldn't let them do it to her again.
That was why Sydney had fought so hard. That was why she didn't mind the bruises that marked her body all the way down from her shoulder blades to her ankles. That was why she ignored the ache in her bones as she climbed into bed every night. When Sloane would gaze at her with that slightly smarmy look on his face, she would smile back sweetly, never once giving away how much she wanted him to suffer, painfully and infinitely.
When Sydney finally triumphed over Sloane, it had seemed like the sweetest victory. The evil despot was now in prison for his crimes and his precious SD-6 had been destroyed, weakening an already faltering Alliance. She had done everything she had set out to do, positive that her good deeds would enable her to receive her greatest wish.
If only Vaughn had stuck to the plan. While she couldn't blame him for washing his hands of her, a small part of her did feel betrayed. Even though they had never said it out loud, she had been sure in her heart of hearts that he loved her just as much as she loved him. But if that love had actually existed, then how could he have gotten over her so quickly? It had taken her months to get over Danny. If Vaughn had truly cared for her, there was no way he could have fallen into bed with another woman so soon.
Sydney tried to fight that insidious picture from infecting her brain. The thought of Vaughn with another woman sickened her because it made her feel jealous and angry and betrayed. No woman could remain unaffected if the man she loved was cheating on her with someone else.
But it also terrified her that he was with another woman because she was in love with Vaughn and she didn't want to face the fact that he might not feel the same way about her. She'd always had a tiny doubt in the back of her mind that what existed between them wasn't a real and lasting connection between two people, but simply a by-product of their very unusual circumstances. It would be very easy to get swept up into the sexy thrill and the seductive danger of a secret agent existence. They were only human, after all, and the temptation of forbidden fruit is a powerful aphrodisiac. For a long time, she had been able to hold back, remain aloof, but Vaughn had somehow found a way to break through her protective shell and now he was solidly and firmly planted deep within her heart.
This was not the way she thought it would end. At the very least, she expected words packed with bitterness and glares full of reproach. She would have actually preferred listening to him rant and rave at her rather than hear that casually tossed-out comment about him being in the shower while his new girlfriend lounged around in his bed.
But through whichever medium his brush-off occurred, she had received his message loud and clear. She wasn't going to allow herself to pine over a man who could dismiss her so easily from his life after five turbulent and tumultuous years. Sydney knew she wasn't blameless for the situation and that her own thoughtless mistreatment of him had no doubt spurred Vaughn into taking some action of his own, but the fact remained that she didn't see how he could have such a cavalier attitude where she was concerned. If he could be with another woman so soon--if he could call her hon--then maybe he wasn't the man she had thought him to be. Maybe she had never really known him at all.
When the clock struck eight that morning, Sydney was already on her cell phone and punching in the numbers to Claire's office at the high school. After informing her new boss that she would accept the teaching position, Sydney called the real estate agent handling the rental on her beach house and made an offer to buy. At least something good would come out of those two salaries she had been pulling down these last five years as a double agent for SD-6 and the CIA.
For the next nine-and-a-half months, Sydney threw herself into her job and found that it fit her to a T. She had been assigned two senior classes, two junior classes and one sophomore class, all in English Lit. It took some creative thinking on her part to come up with three different lesson plans for three sets of teenagers who were all at different crossroads in their lives, but never let it be said that Sydney Bristow wasn't up for a challenge.
Sydney was thrilled that the kids seemed to respond well to her, deducing that it was partly due to the fact that she was one of the younger members of the faculty and therefore seen as someone to whom they could more easily relate. But what really tickled her was that the great deal of effort she put forth into making her classes informative and enlightening yet at the same time engaging and fun really seemed to make a positive impact on her students. She loved doing the play readings and had great fun refereeing the lively discussions and was touched when the kids engaged her in their friendly banter. Whatever terrible things her mother had done to her in the past, Irina had at least imparted one precious gift to her daughter and Sydney found herself to be reluctantly grateful.
As far as the faculty was concerned, everyone for the most part seemed to accept her into the educational fold. At her very first departmental meeting, she was greeted warmly by all the members of the English department before being relegated to the role of observer for the rest of the proceedings.
At first it was hard for Sydney to sit in on the biweekly department meetings, during which she was supposed to be seen but not heard. It wasn't so much that the other teachers were trying to exclude her as much as it was an attempt to let her get the feel for their gatherings before jumping into the fray. Sydney would sit quietly as she listened to the complaints about the budget or the slightly tense bickering over what fall play would be produced by the drama department or the silly stories about some of the more "creative" excuses the students would come up with when asked why their homework wasn't completed on time. These get-togethers were such a drastic change from the SD-6 briefings, where the subject matter was always so seriously put forth to them and her input was something that was necessary and welcomed. But Sydney knew it was nothing personal. Office politics would be the same in whatever the surroundings and she realized she had to pay her dues before she would be allowed to contribute.
Most of the time she was too busy staring at the department head, anyway. Dr. Phillip Bosworth had been a fixture at the school for twenty years, the last seven as Head of the English department. He was a nice enough man, if slightly pompous-sounding, but what freaked Sydney out was how much he reminded her of Arvin Sloane. Not so much facially, but they were both short in stature and shared the same prickly salt-and-pepper beard. Half the time she expected Marshall to pop in with exploding erasers or a laser pointer that doubled as a stun gun.
Then again, maybe she was just projecting. These people with whom she now worked were so far removed from her old life, it was almost laughable. They were just nice, ordinary people who wouldn't know what the hell to think if they ever found about her previous existence as a spy for the CIA.
It went without saying that Sydney didn't tell any of her new co-workers what she used to do for a living. She would mention the bank, which sounded boring, so hardly anyone ever asked her to elaborate. It troubled her a bit that the lies she had thought were a part of her past were still very much alive in her present and probably in her future as well. She would never know these people well enough to tell them the truth about herself. When that realization hit her, Sydney suddenly found herself wanting very much to have her old friends back in her life again.
That longing spurred her into contacting Will and then Francie soon after settling into her new job. Will had been overjoyed to hear from her, Francie less so. Sydney had been a little dismayed at the coolness of Francie's tone, but she understood that it would take time to rebuild her relationships with her friends. She had completely ignored them for almost five months and that wasn't something that could be so easily forgotten.
By the time the school year came to a close, Sydney felt relatively satisfied with her life. She loved her job, she had made new friends, she had finally put down some roots by buying a house and becoming part of a community. Her relationship with her father was better than it had ever been (they spoke to each other at least three times a week and Sydney was amazed when she actually started to look forward to his calls).
And of course it could never be said enough how happy she was that she no longer had to look over her shoulder in constant fear that someone was out to get her. For the first time in her life, Sydney Bristow had finally found some peace.
But peace and harmony weren't all they were cracked up to be. Sydney didn't miss the turmoil that used to accompany her old life, but she would be lying if she said she was blissfully content. Sometimes she would feel an ache in the pit of her stomach, the ache that told her something was still missing in her life. She wanted to forget about him, but her heart wouldn't let her.
Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if she had someone to talk to about how she was feeling. She had tried to maintain her old friendships, but somehow a lot of the people from her old life had become rather distant. Whether it was by her fault or theirs, she wasn't sure, but maybe it was apathy on both parts. She still kept in touch with Dixon (who was now working for the CIA after Sydney and Jack both vouched for his innocence in regard to having any knowledge as to the true nature of SD-6), but that was mostly by email since his transfer to Miami. Marshall had also moved on to CIA op tech, but he was always so busy in the lab, inventing new spy toys.
Sydney was thankful that Will was still a huge chunk of her life, one of her only links to the past six years. He was now working with the CIA, having been recruited about a year after learning the truth about Sydney. At the time, Will had been drifting, not knowing what to do with himself and with no serious prospects, thanks to his well-publicized phony drug bust. Sydney had felt sorry for him, since she was partly to blame for his current status as Francie's part-time waiter/restaurant troubleshooter. So she had appealed to her father, who in turn went to the CIA on Will's behalf.
It was decided that as a former newspaper reporter, Will could be of some use to the CIA. Not as a field agent (he wasn't into the whole rock 'em, sock 'em mentality), but perhaps in some other capacity. Will went through the extensive interview process as well as a battery of mental and physical tests and when all was said and done, he was assigned to the L.A. branch and given a job title that gave no clue as to what he really did. What it essentially amounted to was that he was once again using his crack ace-reporter research skills as a fact-finder and intelligence-gatherer.
And for the most part, Will was happy with his newfound career. Or at least he never complained to her about it. Sydney was very glad that the two of them were still able to maintain their friendship, even though they were no longer living in the same city or working for the same employer. He kept her up-to-date on the goings-on at the CIA (even though he probably wasn't supposed to) with the one notable exception that he never talked about Vaughn. He had some dirt to dish, of course, because one couldn't help but hear things about one's co-workers, but since Sydney never asked, he never volunteered.
From the beginning, the relationship between Will and Vaughn had been cordial if a bit strained. Will had been dismayed to learn that Sydney's CIA handler was a young, good-looking man and Vaughn had always been envious of Will's easygoing friendship with Sydney. It became more of a struggle for the two men to keep their jealousies in check once Will joined the CIA and the mood was still palpably tense whenever the trio found themselves working together on a case.
Sydney was aware that a lot (if not all) of the tension between them had to do with her. At the time Will came on board with the CIA, he still had illusions that they might have had a future together. Sydney had not totally committed herself to the idea of her and Vaughn just yet, but at the same time, she always knew that there was never any chance that her feelings for Will would develop into something deeper. She couldn't bring herself to flat-out say it to his face, but after awhile, he seemed to have gotten the message. Will was a former reporter, trained to be observant to body language and to pick up on the subtle nuances that existed where there were seemingly none to be found. It didn't take much for him to be made painfully aware of Sydney's growing attraction to Vaughn; it was obvious whenever they were in the same room together.
Once Will realized that Sydney would never feel the same way about him that he felt about her, he was finally able to let it go. There was no sense in wasting the rest of his life pining for a woman who was in love with another man. After he had come to terms with the situation, Will was able to accept Vaughn for what he meant to Sydney. Sometimes he even encouraged her to talk to him about Vaughn, especially in those times when she was feeling particularly frustrated about their current state of affairs. Sydney had always felt sort of awkward discussing Vaughn with Will and while she hadn't done it often (and not at all since finding out about Vaughn's betrayal), she had been grateful that he was willing to be a sounding board for her. It was definitely a true measure of their friendship that he would do that for her, particularly considering how he used to feel about her.
If only things could be as congenial with Francie as they were with Will. The one person Sydney thought she would always be able to talk to had been Francie, but finding out that Sydney had been lying to her all these years had caused a huge rift between them. Upon discovering the truth about Sydney's secret life, her best friend had been extremely hurt and angry to realize that she had been the only person in Sydney's life who had been out of the loop. During the few times they had spoken since Sydney's move to Santa Barbara, there had always been an open hostility radiating from Francie that could be heard loud and clear across the phone lines. Sydney had tried to explain why she'd had to lie to Francie for so many years, but her friend hadn't wanted to listen. All she could do was spout off about trust and honesty and the meaning of friendship and how Sydney apparently didn't have a clue about any of those things.
Their last actual spoken conversation had been back in November when Sydney called to tell Francie that she had arranged to have someone come to the apartment to pack up her things. Sydney had kept up her share of the rent in their apartment even after she bought her house in Santa Barbara as a gesture of goodwill and in an effort to keep herself in Francie's thoughts. She thought that if Francie had to keep looking at her books and her CD's and her photographs that eventually her attitude would begin to soften up towards Sydney. She firmly believed in that old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind." and she didn't want that to happen for her and Francie.
But after awhile, Sydney began to realize how impractical the arrangement was. She wanted her things here with her, so that her new house could feel like home. It wasn't as if Francie needed her rent money, anyway; the restaurant was a major success and she had actually been talking about expanding in the coming year.
Unfortunately, Sydney's plan failed to achieve its desired result. Francie wasn't ready to forgive and forget just yet. Her tone had been cool but not without a hint of relief that Sydney had finally decided to pack up her things and move on. When Sydney realized that Francie was glad to be rid of her, it killed any thought of trying to apologize one more time. She was too afraid that Francie would be indifferent to it and that would hurt more than yelling would.
So in the end, that was where they left things. Sydney sent a Christmas card along with a rather impersonal gift in December and Francie did the same. Sydney forwarded a note of congratulations (at Will's behest) when Francie's restaurant received favorable notices in a newspaper review and Francie responded in kind when Will told her that Sydney had been voted Favorite Teacher by the senior class for the yearbook.
But they no longer talked as best girlfriends do and Sydney missed that terribly. She had become friendly with some of the other female teachers at the high school, but those were still surface friendships. Sydney was naturally reticent about sharing anything about her past life with people she hadn't known for very long, so it was hard to make a real connection with anyone. Maybe she was shortchanging herself and them, but secrecy was something she was good at and it was a hard habit to break.
If Sydney's relationship with Francie was at its lowest point, then it was a complete opposite of how things were with her father. Surprisingly enough, their relationship had blossomed in the year since SD-6 had been eliminated. Maybe it had to do with the fact that there was definitely less stress in their lives now that they were no longer double agents together, but Jack was noticeably more relaxed. Sometimes he even smiled.
Of course, it was in the nature of Jack Bristow that he would always be a little cautious and on-guard where Sydney was concerned. For years, his only goals in life had been to keep her safe and to act as a buffer from those who wished to harm her. He had fulfilled those duties to the best of his abilities and it had all paid off when the dissolution of SD-6 was finally realized.
Now that his daughter was no longer subjected to the precarious lifestyle that both SD-6 and the CIA had foisted upon her, Jack was able to ease up on his protectiveness somewhat. He still worried about her, of course; that came with the territory of fatherhood. These days, however, he was more troubled about Sydney's internal strife rather than what could harm her externally.
Sydney let out a sigh as the wallpaper scraper fell to the ground. Her hand was cramping and she decided that she would take a break to run her errands. Her father continued to occupy her thoughts, however, as she changed her clothes and then left to drive into town.
It still felt odd to her that Jack was much more of a meddling father these days than during the time when she was living the dangerous life of a spy. If anything, Sydney had thought that he would ease up on the whole overprotective thing now that her life was no longer in mortal danger for every second of the day, but that hadn't happened. Instead of being concerned with her physical well-being, her father was now turning his attentions to her mental stability. Every time they talked, the conversation invariably turned to her emotional state and how she was coping with her return to a "normal" life. It got to the point where she wondered if Jack was doing a secret apprenticeship with the CIA shrink Barnett and using her as a case study.
Her father's single-mindedness was never more so apparent than during the last time they had dinner together, when Sydney had the distinct impression that she was being forced to lie down on the psychoanalyst's couch rather than stay seated on her cozy white wicker loveseat at home.
They had been sitting outside on her porch, sharing the last bit of wine from dinner. Sydney had roasted a chicken served with an herbed gravy for which her father had praised her dutifully. During dinner, he had told her stories about his latest crises and she had regaled him with amusing anecdotes about her students. Jack had been in such a good mood during the meal that Sydney thought he might ease up on her just this once, but no such luck.
"So, Sydney, tell me how you've been doing since we last saw each other." Jack said to her in an abnormally (for him) concerned manner.
"Haven't I been doing that for the last three hours?" She hedged.
"I wouldn't say that exactly." Her father shook his head. "We've mostly been talking about things that have happened or people you've encountered. I want to hear about you."
"There's not really much to say, Dad." Sydney said with a shrug. "I get up, I run, I go to work. On weekends, I'm busy fixing up the house."
Jack nodded thoughtfully. "What about your friends? Are you going out much?"
"On occasion." She replied. "We're planning a big department luncheon in a few weeks to celebrate the end of the school year." She said with a bright fake smile on her face. Faculty get-togethers were just about as stuffy and dull as you would expect them to be.
"Sounds stimulating." Her father said with a straight face. "And what's going on with that Spanish teacher you've been dating?"
"We're not dating." Sydney corrected him. "Mark and I have gone out a few times, but he's going to Spain this summer, so we decided it would be better if we just remained friends."
"You don't seem too broken up about it." Jack observed.
"I'm not, Dad." She said patiently. "There was never a chance that it would turn into something serious."
Hmmm, and I wonder why that is? "Are you happy, Sydney?" Jack suddenly asked, rather bluntly.
Sydney shot him a surprised look. "Why would you ask me such a thing?"
"Because I don't know the answer to that question, Sydney." He replied candidly. "I mean, by all appearances, you seem to have made great strides since leaving the CIA. Your new career is immensely satisfying to you. You've done a wonderful job fixing up your new house into a very comfortable living space. You've made new friends and you've even started going out again." Jack gave his daughter a pointed look. "So why do I get the feeling that you think there's still something missing in your life?"
"Dad, have you been spending too much time with Dr. Barnett?" Sydney asked matter-of-factly. "Why are you always pushing me to tell you what's wrong with my life? Maybe there's nothing wrong. Have you ever considered that?"
Sydney was shocked when her father's face slightly reddened as if he were embarrassed. Had she hit on something without meaning to? Her father and the CIA shrink?? She was about to delve deeper when Jack spoke up.
"I'm sorry if you think I'm badgering you, Sydney." Her father said in a brisk manner, hoping his daughter would drop the subject of him and Barnett. "It's just that whenever I look at you, there's seems to be a sadness in your eyes that won't go away." He gave her a rather penetrating glance.
Sydney dropped her head to avoid her father's gaze. "Dad, I appreciate that you want to help me deal with whatever you think I'm going through, but I have to tell you that all this touchy-feely over-involvement is really not working for us." She said, feeling awkward. "It's just not something we do."
Jack looked contrite. "Sydney, I know I wasn't there for you when you were growing up and I will always regret that. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm over-compensating now." He gave a shrug. "I just want you to feel you can turn to me if you have something in your life that needs fixing. Why do you think I took myself off of active field duty? Because I wanted you to be able to count on my presence in your life."
Jack had remained with the CIA after the SD-6 takedown, but he was no longer on active "Field Duty" status. When he and Sydney were still working together, it had been prudent for him to take on a more visible role, either in the planning of missions or as an actual participant in some cases. Sometimes it had been necessary for him to watch over her, although he was careful to never reveal to her that his presence was partly due to the fact that he was just being an overbearing, controlling dad.
But after the takedown, Jack saw no reason to take any more unnecessary risks with his life. He was still physically fit, but he wasn't getting any younger, either. Now that Sydney had retired to civilian life, he wanted to spend more time with her. They had learned a lot about each other in the five years they had worked together and even though he was ashamed to admit that he'd hardly had a hand in how she'd turned out, he was proud of the woman she'd become. His daughter was someone he liked and respected as well as being the only person on earth whom he loved.
Jack now worked as a consultant, the person who was called in whenever a pressing and urgent matter arose. He was actually traveling more now than he did when he was still a field agent, but at least the odds were better that he wouldn't be coming home in a body bag when the trip was over.
His home base was still L.A. and he and Sydney always got together whenever he was in town. Since she never wanted to come down to L.A. ("Too many bad memories," she would always say), he was the one who would drive up the coast to Santa Barbara to see her.
Jack never pressed Sydney, but he knew her reluctance to visit her old stomping grounds had something to do with Vaughn. She had never given him the full story as to why she had cut off all contact with her former handler or why she could not even bear to hear his name, so Jack remained puzzled as he tried to figure out why his daughter wasn't with the man she loved.
Jack Bristow had known for years that his daughter's feelings for her handler went way beyond a friendly camaraderie between business colleagues. Rumors of the two of them being "emotionally attached" had swirled around the Agency since their first year of working together. In the beginning, Jack had not given much credence to the gossip; he had been confident that Sydney was professional enough to keep her personal feelings from entering into what was purely a business arrangement.
He hadn't been so sure about Vaughn. Jack could remember all the instances when Vaughn had wanted to leap before he looked in an effort to keep Sydney from getting hurt. It was an admirable trait to want to safeguard someone who had placed their life in your hands, but Jack knew Vaughn's feelings went much deeper than just a handler looking out for his agent. When he thought back to Donati Park where Sloane had tried to trick the CIA into revealing Sydney as a double agent or to Greece when Ineni Hassan had Sydney trapped in that gasoline-filled bunker or to Taipei when Vaughn had risked his career and very nearly, his life, in order to rescue Will Tippin, it was obvious that Vaughn's commitment to Sydney was nothing that should be mocked. This wasn't a silly high school crush; the man was carrying around serious feelings for his daughter and for a time, Jack didn't know if that would do more harm than good.
Eventually, he had to concede that Vaughn was exactly what Sydney needed, at least in a professional sense. Feeling the way he did for her, Vaughn went over her counter-missions with a fine-toothed comb, making sure that each step was calibrated exactly right so that she wouldn't be put unnecessarily into the path of danger. Vaughn was concerned and thoughtful and reassuring and most of all, Sydney trusted him implicitly. A bond like that was hard to come by, especially in a life where lying and backstabbing was second nature.
Jack wasn't quite sure when the tide had turned for Sydney and Vaughn. Never having before experienced the joys and sorrows of seeing his daughter in love, he had been shocked when he walked into the warehouse one evening to find Sydney sitting in rapt attention as her handler described her latest counter-mission. Jack stayed hidden in the shadows for a few moments as he observed the subtle changes in Sydney's demeanor.
It wasn't that she was sitting too closely to Vaughn or smiling a little too brightly or giggling like a lovesick schoolgirl whenever he made a joke. Sydney was a mature woman, who didn't resort to such tactics.
But there was something different about her. Jack caught the soulful look in Sydney's eyes and the uncertain way she kept biting her lip as her gaze followed Vaughn, who happened to be in a rather restless mood judging by all the pacing he was doing. He glimpsed the high color that arose in her cheeks whenever Vaughn stopped to smile at her. Jack felt an unexpected pang as he realized that Sydney was desperately trying to rein in her intense feelings for the man. The rumors had suddenly turned into reality and she was obviously having a difficult time dealing with it. Part of him was upset that she had let her guard down with Vaughn, but then he immediately chastised himself for being too hard on her. Not everybody is as good as you are when it comes to maintaining the cool, aloof façade, Jack chided himself with a wry grimace. Even though she was his daughter, he couldn't expect her to shut herself off so completely as he had done for so many years.
As the years went by, Jack found himself feeling more and more sympathetic to Sydney's plight. It was true she had entered into her pact with heartache and disappointment willingly and with her eyes open, but it still didn't keep him from feeling sorry for her. He knew what it was like to be in love with someone you couldn't (and in his case, shouldn't) have. His newfound compassion for his daughter was perhaps the reason why he strove so hard to be a father she could always lean on. So that she would know that no matter what other problems she might be facing, she would always have someone in her corner.
"Dad, you have been there for me." Sydney gave him an urgent look. "Do you think I've forgotten what you did for me last summer? I will always be grateful to you for bringing me back amongst the living."
Jack's mouth quirked. "As if I could ever leave you to fend for yourself."
"I know you never would." She gave him a smile. As she caught the sympathetic look on her father's face, Sydney suddenly realized that she no longer wanted to pretend with him that her life was going along rather swimmingly. "And okay, if want to know the truth, I do have some issues."
"But what's going on with me can't be so easily fixed by pushing it all off on you. Any problems I have I've created for myself and they won't go away just because my Big Bad Dad glares at them threateningly." She said teasingly.
Jack shot her an amused smirk. "Talk to me, Sydney." His voice was kind. "What are these problems you keep mentioning? If I can't glare them away, maybe I could offer a suggestion as to how to go about fixing them."
Sydney hesitated for a brief moment. "Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the way things used to be." She finally admitted. "I mean, before when SD-6 was still around and I was still a spy."
Her father raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me you miss your double life?"
"No, I would never wish that I was still involved in all that, but I have to admit that that time of my life…well, let's just say that certain aspects of it weren't all that bad." She said evasively.
Ah, this is where I find out about Vaughn. "And to which aspects would you be referring?" He inquired.
"I miss…I miss seeing the people I used to see." Sydney said wistfully. "We still keep in touch, of course, but it's not the same. Dixon emails me all the time with pictures of him and Diane and the kids and Marshall sends me funny little mock-ups of all his latest gadgets, but it's still hard to get used to the fact that they're no longer an integral part of my life."
Jack nodded understandingly. "It's natural that you would miss them. Dysfunctional as it was, the people at SD-6 were your family for many years."
"And it's not just them." Once she got wound up, Sydney found it hard to stop. "Things are still so screwed up with Francie. We send Christmas cards and birthday cards and an occasional email, but that's mostly due to Will nagging at us. We haven't actually spoken to each other since last November." Sydney let out a frustrated sigh. "Francie and I have been best friends since college, Dad. I know she was hurt, but I still don't see how she could throw away our friendship like that."
"I assume you've tried to talk to her?
"Of course." She nodded vigorously. "But it's as if I'm speaking to a brick wall. She's doesn't want to listen to anything I have to say." Sydney looked petulant.
"You know, I think you might have an easier time of it if you went to see her in person." Her father suggested. "It's harder to stay angry at someone if you actually have to look them in the face when you're yelling at them."
Sydney's expression became guarded. "I'm not ready to go back to L.A. yet, Dad. Not even for a visit."
"Are you expecting Francie to come up here then?" Jack asked. "Sydney, you know how busy the restaurant keeps her. She's there six days a week and now she has the catering business on the side. The poor woman barely has any time for herself."
"And obviously I'm not important enough to make any attempt to salvage our relationship?" She queried him.
"Sydney, you can't put all the blame on Francie." Her father shook his head. "Yes, it's true she could be a little more receptive in listening to what you have to say, but you also have to make the effort to show her that you still care about her and want her in your life."
Sydney let out a sigh as she contemplated her father's words. "Well, maybe we could meet each other halfway." She said grudgingly. "I guess I could drive down one day after school lets out for the summer."
"I think that would be your best option." Jack nodded approvingly. "You need to stop hiding from people, Sydney. Confront Francie face to face. Tell her that you've already apologized many times over and that if she can't find it in her heart to forgive you after all the times you were there for her, then you don't need her. You could wash your hands of her and that would be that." He said with a rather dismissive shrug.
"Are you saying you think I should issue a do-or-die ultimatum to my best friend?" Sydney said skeptically. "Yeah, that'll really go over well."
"Well, at least it would get you out of this state of limbo you're trapped in." Her father retorted. "And while you're laying down the law with Francie, you might as well do it with Vaughn, too." He added, just to see what kind of reaction he would get.
"What?" Sydney's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Her father's eyes flickered briefly. Exactly what he thought. "Yes, Sydney, I said his name."
"I know, I heard you." She said sharply.
Jack's face softened. "Sydney, do you want to tell me the story behind your split with Vaughn?" He asked gently.
"You know what happened." Sydney had her lip stuck out in a pout. Her father hid a smile. She looked just as she used to when she was a child. She was stubborn then and she was stubborn now. Just like her old man.
Jack waited patiently. Now that Vaughn's name was out there, he was sure Sydney's curiosity would get the better of her. He knew it couldn't have been easy for her all these months to purposely not speak of someone who had occupied her thoughts for so many years.
Sydney couldn't stand it any longer. "Dad?" She said timidly.
"Yes, dear?"
"Have you--I mean, do you know…how he's doing?" An odd sense of relief washed over her as she uttered those words. It was as if a dam had suddenly been broken within her.
To his credit, her father didn't act smug. "Well, I'm never actually around long enough to pick up on the office gossip, but I do know that Vaughn is doing quite well professionally. The higher-ups were very impressed with how he handled himself during the takedown operation last year and he was promoted shortly after you left town."
"Oh, well, that's wonderful!" Sydney felt a rush of pleasure at the news. She was genuinely happy for him and maybe even a little proud that she had been one of the reasons for his success.
"It's more responsibility, but he seems to be handling it well enough." Jack informed her. "Although…" His voice suddenly trailed off as his look turned pensive.
"Dad?" Sydney prompted him after a few moments of silence. "You were saying?"
Her father came out of his thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry, it's just that I've heard rumblings that Vaughn might be taking on his old handler duties again."
"Are you serious?" Sydney felt oddly perturbed by this news. Maybe it was petty and selfish of her, especially when she knew firsthand how some green, wet-behind-the-ears agent could benefit from Vaughn's wisdom and experience, but she found herself hoping he would reconsider going back to what he arguably did best. Sydney wanted to be the only agent Vaughn would ever handle (and take that statement in any way you choose); if someone else were to take her place, she felt as if it would somehow diminish all that they had accomplished together as handler and agent.
"I would have thought his promotion would preclude him from taking on the extra duties that come with being a handler." Sydney commented.
"Oh, paperwork can always be transitioned for a good enough reason." Her father gave an indifferent wave of his hand. "What do you think he was doing before he got you?"
"'Got me?'" Sydney turned slightly red. "Oh, you mean before he was assigned to be my handler."
"Of course, Sydney." Jack replied blandly.
"So am I to assume that the CIA has recruited another super-agent like myself?" Sydney asked facetiously, her face still feeling a bit warm. "Is that why they're wooing Vaughn back?"
Jack smiled amusedly. "No one could ever be quite as exceptional as you were, Sydney, but the kid has potential."
A flash of irrational jealousy spurted through her veins. Would Vaughn take to his new agent as quickly as he had to her? Would he meet his young protégée at the pier for midnight chat sessions? Would the second coming of Sydney Bristow receive a beautiful antique picture frame as a Christmas gift? Would he risk life and limb time and time again for her?
Was it a her? She had to know. "So who is this wunderkind?" Sydney asked in her most casual manner. Of course, she wasn't fooling her father, who was never very easily fooled.
"I believe the name is Prescott." Jack told her. "Casey Prescott."
Well, that was no help at all. Her father was forcing her to ask him point-blank if Vaughn's new agent was male or female.
"And is Casey short for something?" Like Cassandra or Catherine?
Jack gave her a knowing look. "Charles, I think." He replied with a smile.
Sydney flushed, realizing he knew what game she had been playing all along. Why did she even bother?
"Okay, so I'm relieved." She made a face.
"Interesting." Jack replied thoughtfully, studying his daughter. "You're still in love with him, aren't you, Sydney?" He uttered softly.
Sydney turned her head to gape at him. "You knew how I felt about Vaughn?" She said slowly.
Her father gave her a little smile. "Maybe you don't want to hear this, but it was one of the worst-kept secrets floating around CIA Headquarters."
"Oh, great." She groaned. "My love life was fodder for the office gossip mill."
"Well, it wasn't exactly the water cooler conversation you think it was, Sydney." Jack sympathized. "In the beginning, there were concerns, but after awhile, it just became sort of accepted."
"I want you to know that nothing ever happened, Dad." She said hastily.
"I know that, Sydney, and so did your superiors." He assured her. "If it had, it would have come out eventually, but there were never any rumors of inappropriate behavior between the two of you."
Her mind briefly wandered to Cairo and the kiss that had changed her life forever. At least they never found out about that. She had never told anybody about that night and obviously Vaughn hadn't said anything, either. That one perfect moment in time had been theirs and theirs alone.
"That's good to know." Sydney said, thankful that her father couldn't read her thoughts.
Jack was uncertain as to how to proceed. He didn't want to push, but he did want Sydney to admit her true feelings. It was the only way she would be able to achieve her heart's desire.
"So was I correct in assuming that you still care for Vaughn?" He asked tentatively.
"Yes, you were correct." She replied. There was no sense in denying it.
"Then help me out here, Sydney." Her father looked her straight in the eye. "I don't understand why you're cutting yourself off from the man you love."
Sydney bristled slightly. "That's not what I'm doing!" She protested. "I have responsibilities here, Dad. I have my job and the house. I'm making a new life for myself."
"And are you saying that you don't want your new life to include Vaughn?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "I find that very hard to believe, Sydney. I mean, you must have entertained the notion that one day you and he would have a chance to be together. Isn't that one of the reasons why you were always so determined to bring down SD-6?"
"It was." She admitted in a small voice, feeling choked up. "I always thought that once we got rid of SD-6, I would get everything I wanted. I'd pay back Sloane for what he did to Danny, I would get my freedom and I would be able to tell Vaughn that I loved him."
"But things didn't work out the way I wanted them to, Dad." She said sadly. "After I was released from custody…when I got here…well, you know what happened. By then, it was too late. Vaughn had moved on. Without me."
"You know this for a fact?" Her father asked shrewdly.
"Yes." She said firmly, remembering that horrible phone call. "And I don't blame him for it. Not completely, anyway. My conduct last summer made him think that I didn't want him in my life."
"But we both know there were extenuating circumstances." Jack pointed out. "Why can't you go to him and explain what happened to you?"
"My telling him won't change what he did." Sydney's temper was quick to flare. The pain of Vaughn's betrayal was still quite raw and close to the surface even after all this time. "I had no control over what happened to me, but he clearly knew what he was doing when he jumped into bed with another woman." She said heatedly and then flushed when she realized what she had blurted out.
"I see." Her father said awkwardly.
"I'm sorry." Sydney looked embarrassed. "I didn't mean to involve you in what should have been kept between him and me."
"That's all right. At least I know now why you feel you can't forgive him." Jack said neutrally.
Sydney cut her eyes sideways at her father. "Why do I hear in your voice that you think I'm doing the wrong thing?"
"Maybe because I don't know if saving your pride is worth what you're losing." Her father replied. "Sydney, I have watched you struggle with your feelings for Vaughn for a very long time. Now you finally have the chance you always wanted. Why are you so willing to give that up without a fight?"
Sydney could feel the sting of tears in the corners of her eyes. "I guess it's because I got scared." She confessed quietly. "I know I gave him cause to doubt my feelings for him, but he gave up on me so easily. All the dreams that used to keep me going just fell apart in my hands and I started thinking that maybe I would just be better off if I didn't wish for something I was never supposed to have." She bowed her head, hot tears falling down her face.
"Damn that Arvin Sloane." Her father muttered. "He did this to you."
"What?" She cried out. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Because he's the reason you got scared." Jack's expression was thunderous. "When he took Danny from you, he killed all the dreams you had for a bright, happy life with the man you loved. You began to believe that you would never have a happy storybook ending, so why even bother hoping for one?"
"He doesn't have that much power over my life." Sydney said through clenched teeth.
"Oh, no?" Her father's voice was slightly taunting. "You're letting what he did to you control your destiny."
"No." She said fiercely.
"Then prove it, Sydney." Jack said forcefully. "Prove that he no longer has the ability to hurt you."
Sydney was silent, not knowing what to say.
"Don't let your fears from the past ruin your future." Her father's tone was gentler now. "It's okay to have dreams again and it's even okay to make some of them happen."
"Because they can't take them away from me anymore, is that what you're trying to say?" She looked at her father for reassurance.
"Not unless you give them the power to do so."
Sydney's lip quivered. "Maybe you're right, Dad." She said after a long pause. "Maybe I need to start taking back control of my life instead of letting my fears control me."
"That's my girl." Jack smiled.
Sydney gave him a little grin, her entire outlook suddenly brightening. What her father said made sense. She had been on the verge of having everything she had ever wanted yet at the first sign of adversity, she'd run away in the opposite direction like a scared rabbit. Wasn't Vaughn worth the effort it would take to get him back? If he wasn't, then what had she been fighting so hard for all these years?
That conversation Sydney had with her father two weeks ago served to open her eyes. Before her father left the next morning to drive back to L.A., she made a promise both to him and to herself that she would settle her unfinished business with Vaughn just as soon as she was able.
The end of the school year arrived amidst a flurry of final exams, yearbook signings and graduation. Sydney found it hard to watch as a good number of her students walked across the stage in their caps and gowns to pick up their diplomas. On the one hand, she was proud that she'd had the privilege to shape a small portion of their lives, but on the other hand, it was very sad to say goodbye. She'd always had a problem with goodbyes.
So that was where Sydney found herself as she ran her errands, stopping by the home improvement store to pick up some finishing nails before going to the bank to withdraw some cash and finally ending up at the post office to mail her bills. For the first time that she could remember, Sydney Bristow had absolutely nothing to do and nowhere to be. She had a long, lazy summer stretched out before her and as she drove back home, she thought to herself that this might be the perfect time to take a little trip back to L.A.
When Sydney arrived back home, her mail carrier was just putting up the little red flag on her mailbox. He waved to her and she waved back as she walked down the driveway to retrieve her mail.
Hmmm, I never get anything interesting, she grumbled silently as she skimmed through the contents of her mailbox. Sydney let herself inside the house, tossing the bag of nails on the dining table as she adjourned to her living room to separate her magazines from the catalogs. Then she opened her bills, placing them promptly on her desk so that she could file them away with her other debts that needed to be paid.
One letter remained when she was finished sorting through her mail. The cream-colored envelope had been fashioned out of a heavyweight marbleized paper and looked suspiciously like an invitation of some sort. Sydney was puzzled as she broke the seal on the envelope. She didn't think she knew anyone who was getting married.
The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Alice Amanda Fairchild, Daughter of Mrs. Elaine Fairchild and the late Kenneth Fairchild to Michael C. Vaughn, Son of Mrs. Marguerite Vaughn and the late William C. Vaughn…
Suddenly, the room started spinning out of control…
To be continued…
Author's Note: Now we're getting started, kids. I know this second chapter was very long and if you managed to make it to the end, I really do appreciate that you took the time to read it. I didn't intend for it to be this way, but I just could not find a good place to put a break in the action because the entire backstory sets up for future chapters. By the way, did you like my mini-cliffhanger?? (grin)
Also, I realize that I'm being a bit cryptic about some of the plot points, such as what really happened to Sydney after she got to Santa Barbara, but the only thing I can tell you is that it will come out later on. Believe it or not, I do have a plan.
Anyway, let me know what you think by leaving a review! Happy Thanksgiving and thanks again for the read.