Author's Note: Hi, everyone. After reading several comments that things are moving too slowly, I had to speak up.
The S/V ship seems to have a life of its own and I can understand that you're impatient for them to hook up (much like on the show). But for me, half the fun is the anticipation. Of course, the show drives me crazy sometimes with J.J.'s "one step forward, two steps back" approach, but I know S/V will get together eventually.
I realize that as the author of this story, I have the advantage in knowing how the situation will play itself out and the only thing I can advise is to be patient. After this chapter, there are only four more left (I've had the whole storyline pretty much sketched out from the beginning) and the pacing is how I always planned for it to be. From my POV, explanations need to be made before actions can be forgiven and that takes time. Maybe it's just me, but I like it when the questions I have get answered and the resolution is not always quick and tidy. Sorry if you don't agree, but hey, I'm entitled to my opinion just as you all are.
Thanks for your reviews and for allowing me the opportunity to respond.
Now back to the show!
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Sydney and Will were back in his car the next afternoon and making their way towards the Fairchild estate for the "Family and Friends Barbecue" (which was the exact wording as Will showed Sydney on the schedule of events that Alice had given out to all members of the wedding party). Will had broken down and was wearing a pair of the dreaded khakis, but he had absolutely refused to wear a polo shirt. He was wearing a golf shirt instead (he had recently taken up the sport), which he thought was a world of difference. She didn't say anything, but privately and with some amusement, Sydney thought the two shirts were strikingly similar.
The dress code was supposed to be casual, but the outrageously wealthy had different ideas of what that meant, so Sydney opted to play it safe. She didn't think it wouldn't do for her to show up in a pair of shorts and a tank top, so instead she chose a simple slipdress in a summery floral print. She looked anything but sweet and demure, however, as the cut of dress showed off her lissome figure to its fullest advantage. It was hard to hide any flaws in a dress that moved when she did, but then again, Sydney didn't have any imperfections about which she needed to worry. Her makeup had been done with a light hand and she was wearing her hair long and silky-straight as she usually did. Her only jewelry was an antique pendant with a teardrop-shaped garnet, the deep red hue of the gemstone being a nice complement to the splashes of color on her dress. The necklace was one of her treasures, not only because it was a beautiful piece of jewelry, but also because it had been a gift from Vaughn.
It had been her 30th birthday and Sydney had been feeling a bit depressed. Not because it was the Big 3-0, but because it made her realize that she had spent over a third of her life working for the likes of Arvin Sloane and SD-6. Sure, they had made great strides in their efforts to take the organization down, but it was still agonizingly slow going. She knew she would never give up until she made that evil monster pay for what he had done to her, but at the same time, she didn't want to still be doing what she was doing ten years from now. That would mean she'd given over half of her lifetime to Sloane, which was a gift he truly didn't deserve. If anyone was worthy of her complete and utter devotion, it was Vaughn, for being so kind and patient and supportive. It just wasn't right for Sloane to usurp a position that should have rightfully belonged to the man she loved.
Sydney was supposed to meet Vaughn at the warehouse for one of their routine counter-mission strategy sessions. She was feeling cranky because it was late in the day and she had just come from SD-6, where Sloane had been cackling gleefully over some coup he'd just perpetrated. On most days, she could suck it up and pleasantly lie to his face that he'd accomplished a great bit of maneuvering, but today, it rankled her that he was acting so jubilant on her birthday. Couldn't just one of her birthday wishes come true in that he would suffer some horrible misfortune over which she could cackle gleefully?
Vaughn was already at the warehouse when she arrived. He had his back to her, but she didn't bother to greet him before she started ranting.
"God, Vaughn, you would not believe Sloane this afternoon!" She grumbled as she walked towards him. "He--" Sydney suddenly stopped short as Vaughn turned around. When he moved, she saw a pink bakery box on the table. She looked at him questioningly, her foul mood having instantly evaporated into thin air. "What is that?"
His lips twitched amusedly. "What does it look like?"
"It looks like a cake box."
"Can't fool you, Syd." His eyes crinkled as he grinned. "Happy birthday."
"You remembered?" Sydney felt the urge to blush.
"Have I ever forgotten?" Vaughn arched one eyebrow. "I seem to recall that I always wish you a happy birthday on the appropriate day."
"Well, that's true, but this is the first time you've ever gotten me a cake."
"This is a milestone." He replied. "Your thirtieth birthday is supposed to be a big deal."
Sydney felt ridiculously pleased. "Isn't it impolite to talk about a woman's age?" She asked teasingly. "The trouble with you, Vaughn, is that it's too easy for you to look in my file. There's no way I can lie about how old I am."
"No reason why you should." Vaughn met her gaze with an unusually affectionate look in his eyes. "You haven't changed at all from the first day we met." He said softly.
Now she really did blush. She busied herself with the untying of the red string around the cake box. "So what kind of cake did you get me?"
"Chocolate, of course." His tone was superior. "I know it's your favorite."
Sydney lifted the cover of the box and she exclaimed admiringly over the beautifully decorated cake with its shimmery sugar crystal decorations in lavender and pale blue. "Happy Birthday Sydney" was scrolled on top of the cake in a lavender icing. It looked too pretty to eat.
"I've never seen a cake so elaborately decorated." She looked up at Vaughn. "Do you have a friend who's a pastry chef?"
"Actually, it's from a French patisserie my mother frequents. She says they make the most authentic croissants she's been able to find since she left France."
"Well, it really is beautiful and I'm sure it's delicious. If I had a knife, we could share--"
"That's okay." Vaughn waved his hand. "You don't want to spoil your appetite if you're going out tonight with Will and Francie for your birthday."
Sydney's heart did a somersault inside her chest. He really did know her so well. "How did you know that?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"Don't you always?" He looked a bit wistful. God, he would give anything if he could just do something normal like celebrate Sydney's birthday with her.
"Yeah, I guess I do." Sydney wished silently that Vaughn could have come to dinner with them. In a bold move, she reached out and grasped his hand in hers. "Thank you." She whispered. "It was very sweet of you to do this."
"You're welcome." He smiled, relishing the warmth of her hand in his. "Oh, I also come bearing gifts." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a flat square velvet box. "In honor of your thirtieth birthday."
Sydney could only stare at the box in his hand. "Didn't I tell you to stop talking about my age?" She felt as if she'd had the wind knocked out of her and her words came out in a breathy undertone.
Vaughn grinned. "Sorry." He held his gift out to her. "Are you going to take it?"
She met his gaze. "You know you always get into trouble when you give me a gift."
"Haladki's been gone a long time." He reminded her.
Tentatively, Sydney reached out and took the box from him. She cracked open the lid and gasped when she saw the exquisite antiqued gold pendant with a teardrop-shaped garnet suspended by a fine gold chain. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Vaughn.
"It's beautiful." She murmured. "Wherever did you find it?"
"I may tell you someday." He gave her an enigmatic smile. "Do you really like it?" He was careful to keep the anxiety out of his voice.
"Yes." She nodded. Her heart ached for this wonderful man standing before her. "It's the loveliest thing I've ever seen."
Vaughn gazed back at her with a tender expression on his face. "I know what you mean."
As Sydney drifted back to the present, she touched a hand to her throat to feel the coolness of the gemstone against her fingers. It was probably dirty pool to flaunt Vaughn's obviously meaningful gift in front of him, but she was getting desperate. The wedding was tomorrow. If she didn't do something quick, he would be lost to her forever.
"Will?"
"Hmmm?"
"Tell me what's in store for us today." She was just trying to make conversation to keep her mind off of other things. "I'm already having a hard time picturing Alice as a barbecued ribs and corn-on-the-cob kind of girl."
"What was your first clue?" He deadpanned. "You're right. Alice Fairchild doesn't do barbecue. There's too much smoke and it's too messy and you have to eat with your hands." Will gave her a grimace. "'Barbecue' just sounds more family-oriented, but Francie told me it's really more of a buffet/picnic-type thing. No broiling over mesquite wood grills or taking turns basting the chicken with barbecue sauce. All the cooking is being done in the kitchen, which Francie says is a chef's dream. Her words, not mine." He added unnecessarily.
"Thanks, I got that." Sydney replied without missing a beat. "Is it going to be mostly the same people from last night?"
"Yeah, but there will be more of them and they're bringing their kids today." He told her. "Again, this is coming from Francie, but the kids are supposed to be cordoned off around the pool area and kept out of their parents' hair for the afternoon. Mike told me that Alice hired some party planner to organize some games for the kids and then there's a magician coming in and pony rides for the littler ones."
"Why, it's practically a child's birthday party." Sydney drawled. "Is she trying to impress Vaughn with her potential mothering skills?" She snorted.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Will shot her a smirk. "It wasn't lost on me, either, that she was making this shindig very kid-friendly."
As Will turned a corner, he suddenly had to hit the brakes rather sharply or else he would have run into the tail end of a long line of cars, all waiting to turn into a gated drive. A ten-foot high brick wall spanned either side of the black wrought iron gate and seemed to go on forever. Sydney tried to crane her neck out the window to see just how much territory was enclosed by the ivy-covered walls, but it was impossible.
"Wow!" Sydney breathed softly. "The Fairchild estate must be enormous. I can't even see where the wall turns a corner."
"Wait'll we get inside. It's pretty impressive even though I'm not much for showing off just because you can afford it." Will commented dryly.
As they inched their way onto the estate, Sydney gazed at her surroundings with more than a little awe. It was hard to believe that real people actually lived so lavishly. The grounds were lush and green and perfectly manicured down to the neat edging of the grass along the side of the driveway. The air smelled sweeter and flowerbeds were more vividly colorful than any she had ever seen. She knew it was probably all in her imagination, but the perceived sheer perfection of it all disconcerted her. She didn't want Vaughn's future with Alice to be so bright and rosy. It would just make her feel lousier about trying to take him away from all of it.
The house suddenly became visible through the trees and Sydney's heart sank even lower. It was as if she'd wandered onto a movie set from Gone With the Wind, where the Fairchild mansion looked every bit like the first cousin to Tara, Scarlett O'Hara's beloved ancestral home. She half-expected Alice to come sashaying out from behind one of the tall white pillars in a poufy hoop-skirted dress with her waist cinched in to an impossibly tiny circumference.
"If this is what the front of the house looks like, I can only imagine what's in back." Sydney remarked a little shakily. She had known Alice came from money (inherited on her mother's side and earned on her father's), but she hadn't realized Vaughn's fiancée was a bona fide heiress. If Vaughn married Alice, he would quite possibly never have to work another day in his life and be able to live the rest of his days in opulent splendor.
Of course, Sydney was fairly sure that he would never willingly leave the CIA, but from what she'd been told, Alice seemed to rule the roost these days. What if Alice was somehow able to talk Vaughn into abandoning his precious career, which he viewed not merely as a job, but more as a living tribute to his father? Was she twisted enough to exact her revenge by getting Vaughn to give up on everything that mattered to him, so that he was left completely dependent on her?
"Oh, it's totally what you expect. Directly below the terrace, we have the requisite Olympic-sized swimming pool and jacuzzi. Beyond the rose garden are two tennis courts--one grass and one hardcourt. There's also a new horse stable and an old horse stable as well as a small paddock that Alice uses for jumping." Will looked at her sideways. "She jumps horses as a hobby."
"Why am I not surprised?" Sydney murmured, still feeling a bit troubled by her earlier thoughts of Vaughn and Alice and her vengeance plot. "Will, do you know if Vaughn and Alice are planning on living here after the wedding?"
"He's said privately that he wants them to get a house of their own, but Alice is pushing for them to stay here with her mother." Will told her. "She's trying to feed him some sob story about how her mother will be lonely in this big house all by herself, but personally, I think she just doesn't want to give up all the perks of being a spoiled rich girl."
"Well, Vaughn can't exactly treat her to the lifestyle in which she's become accustomed." She pointed out, but it wasn't meant as an insult. She was just stating a fact.
"Not on our salary." Will agreed.
"I wonder if that's going to become a problem for them." Sydney ventured. "I mean, Vaughn will never get rich working for the government."
"Too true." He nodded. "And even though Alice is the sole heir to her family's fortune, I know he won't be happy if she makes him live off of her family wealth."
"A lot of guys wouldn't have a problem with it, but I think Mike would." Will added. "He doesn't want to depend on her money when he's perfectly capable of earning his own. He would see it as a sign of losing his independence if he didn't lift a finger to provide for his wife's needs."
"Even needs that are extravagant as hers probably are?"
"Maybe he'll have to get a second job." Will joked.
"Either that or a new one." Sydney muttered. "Speaking of that, what does Alice think about Vaughn's chosen career?"
"Are you asking if she approves of it?"
"I guess." She nodded. "What I really want to know is if she would ever ask him to give it up."
"Well, I know she kind of thinks it has a certain cachet when she tells people her fiancé works for the CIA. You know, in that cool espionage kind of way."
"But if you think Alice sees him staying until he hits retirement age, you'd be sadly mistaken." Will revealed to her. "One of her ten--or is it twelve?--bridesmaids let it slip to me last night that Alice is really going to work hard to get Mike to quit within the next couple of years. Supposedly she wants to do some traveling before they settle down and bring some spoiled brats of her own into the world."
"It's all part of her plan, isn't it?" Sydney frowned. "She'll get Vaughn to give up his career because it would allow him to spend more time with her. Without a job to go to everyday, it'll isolate him from his friends at work until it gets to the point where she's suddenly the center of his world."
"And then to bind him even closer to her, she'll produce a couple of cute little kids who he'll instantly adore." She bit her lip uncertainly. "Vaughn would never leave her if there were children involved."
"No, Mike would definitely be honorable in that way." Will agreed, which was not what she wanted to hear.
Will finally reached the circular drive that was to be their drop-off point. Sydney saw a number of young men in black pants and long-sleeved white shirts with skinny black ties (and on a summer day no less!) busily running back and forth as they tried to keep up with the overflow of arriving guests.
"I think this is the first time I've ever seen valet parking at a private home." She mused to Will.
"Yeah, you and I have definitely never hung out with this kind of crowd."
Will came around to help her out of the car and then handed off his keys to one of the valets. He took hold of Sydney's elbow and ushered her inside through the wide-open forest green double doors with brass doorknockers in the shape of a lion's head.
They stepped into a foyer that was two stories high with a huge crystal chandelier hanging down from the ceiling. The floor was Italian marble, a sort of pearl white color with a pinkish vein running through it. There were people milling about everywhere, up the sweeping marble staircases that curved around to the second floor or next to the twin antique mahogany sideboards, one of which served as a resting place for two huge vases of white lilies. Sydney could just barely see past the throng of people in the foyer to catch a glimpse of the sunroom, which had two pairs of French doors flung open so that the terrace could be accessed.
Will and Sydney found themselves in another receiving line. Vaughn and Alice were greeting people together today, looking for all intents and purposes like a Ralph Lauren magazine ad come to life with their picture-perfect smiles and great-looking hair. She was wearing a pair of caramel-colored cords and a white shirt that tied at her waist, displaying just a hint of her flat, toned stomach. Alice's blonde hair was styled in some sort of a flippy pageboy with a thin velvet ribbon in the same butterscotch shade as her slacks serving as a headband. Sydney supposed she was going for that carefree, privileged look of relaxed gentility and had to admit that Alice was the kind of woman who could pull it off.
Vaughn, on the other hand, looked a tad uncomfortable in charcoal gray slacks and a long-sleeved slate blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and the collar unbuttoned at the neck. Sydney knew he was a jeans casual kind of guy, but for some reason, he seemed perfectly willing to capitulate to Alice on the subject of his wardrobe. Maybe because it was easier to give in than to argue about it.
"Will! Sydney! How nice of you to join us today!" Alice simpered at them as they got to the head of the line. The look in her eyes betrayed the cheerful tone of her voice, but Vaughn was unaware of it because he was standing behind her.
"It's so nice of you to have us." Sydney smiled sweetly, doing a much better job at hiding her distaste than Alice had done. Then again, she did have a lot more practice at it from her years dealing with Sloane. Sydney made a point to catch Vaughn's attention and then she held it with her gaze. "Hello, Michael." She murmured, deliberately making her voice low and sultry.
His heart hammered in his chest just looking at her. Damn it, why did it seem as if she became more beautiful with each passing year? It must have to do with her genes. Even though he hated Irina Derevko, he could admit that Sydney's mother had been a beautiful woman, her stunning good looks clearly belying her chronological age. It was obvious that her daughter would follow along the same path.
Vaughn could feel Alice's eyes on him even though he didn't dare look at her. "Hello, Sydney." He purposely spoke in a monotone, pretending not to notice the light and warmth in her brown eyes or how the ends of her hair brushed lightly against her bare shoulders, which looked unbelievably soft to the touch. And then his eyes fell upon her necklace and his breath caught. He'd never had the chance to tell her exactly what it had meant to him. After tomorrow, he probably never would.
Alice stepped in at that moment to slip her arm rather possessively through Vaughn's. "Drinks are being served on the terrace and the buffet has been set up under the grove of oak trees. Feel free to wander around the grounds."
"Thanks, Alice." Will greeted Vaughn with a clap on the back and then linked his arm through Sydney's to lead her into the sunroom. "Could there be any more electricity between you two?" He muttered in her ear.
"What are you talking about?" Sydney asked, genuinely clueless.
Will gave her a smirky grin. "I guess you can only see it if you don't have it."
The happy squeals of children splashing around in the pool filled the air as Sydney and Will stepped outside. A passing waiter came by with a sterling silver tray of mimosas and Will managed to snag two glasses for him and Sydney. She sipped at her drink while she took in the view from the terrace. It was just as Will had described with the pool and the rose garden and the tennis courts. If she stood on her tiptoes, Sydney could just make out the roof of the horse stables through the trees.
Two staircases on either side of the terrace curved down to the pool area, where the children were being watched over by a couple of lifeguards as well as a bevy of young college-aged adults dressed in t-shirts and shorts. There was one woman dressed in jeans and a red top who was off to the side, supervising as some of the college kids set up for a water balloon toss. She must have been the party planner Alice had hired.
"Now why do I think that the kids will be having a better time today than we will?" Will's lip curled.
"Maybe because they're totally oblivious to the tension I seem to have created around here?" Sydney suggested wryly.
"Alice did seem rather peeved that I brought you here today, didn't she?" He tried to keep a straight face and failed miserably.
"I wonder if seeing me again is causing Vaughn to have some doubts." She pondered to herself. "If I could just talk to him again…" Her words trailed off wistfully.
"Well, you know it's not going to be easy to get him alone." Will warned her. "Alice is going to do everything short of handcuffing him to her side to make sure he doesn't go anywhere near you."
"Vaughn is not a dog she needs to keep on a very short leash." Sydney retorted. "I wish he would realize that he has a perfectly good mind of his own and he doesn't need her to make all of his decisions for him."
Eventually Will and Sydney wandered over to the buffet, which was set up under an enormous white tent in a grassy knoll beneath a canopy of oak trees. There were dozens of round tables scattered about under the circus-like big top, a good many of them already occupied by talkative and hungry partygoers. While in line for her food, Sydney spotted Francie, who waved at her and Will before rushing back to the house for another tray of sesame chicken wings.
After procuring two bottles of Evian from a galvanized metal tub full of ice, Sydney joined Will, who had just come out of the buffet line. He was scanning the crowd for a familiar face with whom they could sit when a loud voice suddenly called out to the both of them.
"Will! Syd! Over here!"
"Oh, God," Sydney uttered under her breath when she saw who was beckoning to them. "Do you think it would be terribly impolite if we ignored him?" She murmured to Will.
"Well, yeah, since he's already called everyone's attention to us by bellowing our names over the general din of the conversation in here." He replied. "Weiss is such a loudmouth." Will added, but it was said with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"But, Will, he's sitting with Vaughn and Alice!" Sydney hissed at him. The displeased looks on their faces mirrored her own.
"Oh, come on, Syd," He shot her an impish grin. "I've never known you to back away from anyone." He headed for Weiss' table and Sydney reluctantly followed.
When Will and Sydney arrived at the table, Weiss took the initiative to make the introductions. Luckily, a couple of Alice's bridesmaids (as well as their dates) were also sitting at the table, so the presence of others somewhat relieved the situation of its potential for awkwardness. Sydney shuddered to think if it had just been the five of them at the table.
The two chairs to Weiss' right were open and Sydney felt extremely self-conscious as she set her plate of food down on the table. She knew it wasn't true, but it felt as if everyone at the party knew exactly who she was and why she was there and thus they were all waiting for her to challenge Alice to a duel for Vaughn's hand in marriage. The image nearly made her laugh out loud, but she stifled it lest anyone think her mad for giggling in an entirely inappropriate situation.
Both of Alice's girlfriends gave her a rather evil eye as she sat down, which made Sydney realize that Alice had probably groused about her to them. She supposed she could take it as a compliment that Alice was sufficiently worried enough about her presence to complain about it to her friends, but it also meant that she would just be more diligent about keeping Vaughn close and out of Sydney's orbit.
"My, you do have a healthy appetite, don't you?" Alice suddenly remarked in a vaguely nasty way. It was the type of tone that most men were oblivious to, but women could hear it for the slam that it was.
Sydney looked down at her plate and felt her cheeks grow warm. She'd woken up late that morning, so she'd only been able to scarf down a banana before going out for a run. By the time she got back to Will's apartment, it was time to get ready for the barbecue, so she was starving by the time they arrived. Add to the fact that she knew everything would be delicious because Francie was catering and there were the reasons why her plate was piled high with a plethora of mouth-watering delicacies.
Sydney knew, of course, that Alice was just trying to make her look bad in front of Vaughn, but it didn't make her feel any better when she noticed that Alice was only nibbling on green salad and fresh fruit, probably in preparation for her to fit into her wedding gown the next day. It just made Sydney feel even more like a glutton, in spite of the fact that she'd never had a weight problem and her metabolism was such that she could eat anything she wanted without it affecting her figure in the least.
"What's wrong with that?" Weiss came to her rescue before she could reply. "Syd's so active she burns it off, anyway. She doesn't have to resort to eating rabbit food to keep her shape." He gazed rather pointedly at Alice's plate of lettuce leaves and carrot sticks. Alice fixed him with a steely glare. Sydney's eyes darted back and forth between the two combatants and in the process, caught Vaughn as he tried to hold back a grin.
"And furthermore, most guys like a woman with a few curves. They're much more preferable to stick figures." Weiss turned to Vaughn. "Wouldn't you agree, Mikey?"
Sydney had to suppress her own chuckle as Vaughn choked on his beer at being brought into the middle of the scuffle between his best friend and his fiancée. After a few slaps on his back, he was able to gasp out a "No comment." before Weiss dropped the matter, looking a little too pleased with himself for stirring up trouble.
One of the bridesmaids piped up to turn the conversation towards the wedding. "Allie, tell us about your dress again. Exactly how many yards of organza went into your train?"
At the mention of the wedding, Sydney zoned out, grateful that she was no longer the focus of attention at the table. She studiously avoided looking at Vaughn, who was doing his level best to keep his eyes from wandering in her direction. Sydney proceeded to tackle the mountain on her plate while keeping up a quiet discourse with Will. Weiss was busy plotting his next move.
During a moment when Alice paused to take a breath between describing the intricate hand-stitched beading on the bodice of her wedding gown and the delicateness of the French lace in her veil, Weiss decided to jump back into the fray. "So, Syd, did you hear where Mike and Alice are going on their honeymoon?" He asked her in a loud voice, effectively stopping all other conversations in their tracks.
Sydney had just put a forkful of lobster salad into her mouth when Weiss put the spotlight back on her and she froze in mid-chew. She was tempted to give him a kick under the table for his meddling. "I think I heard they were going to Italy." She replied after swallowing, shooting Weiss a dirty look. He just grinned at her.
"That's right." Alice smiled prettily. "I adore Italy. The art, the architecture, the people." She let out a blissful sigh.
"The food." Sydney added before she could stop herself. Vaughn looked up sharply. Their eyes met and they both knew exactly what the other was thinking. Alice was still gushing about Italy, so she didn't notice.
"Oh, that goes without saying. Michael adores Italian food, but I've already told him that I'm not taking him to any restaurants where he can gorge himself." Alice sounded like a stern parent trying to reign in her child's self-indulgent behavior. "Luckily, he's clueless when it comes to finding a good restaurant."
"Oh, really?" Sydney did an excellent job of looking surprised. "Even in Rome?" She pretended not to notice Vaughn looked extremely uncomfortable.
Alice's eyes narrowed slightly, as if there was some underlying subtext she should be picking up. "Especially in Rome." She replied, latching onto Vaughn's arm for no good reason other than that she could. "Michael's already told me I'm going to have to plan all of our meals while we're there."
"How wifely of you." Only someone who knew Sydney very well would have been able to hear the light touch of sarcasm in her voice. To the casual acquaintance, her comment sounded perfectly bland. "Well, if you want any suggestions, I know of a place you might like. I've never been, but I've been told the food is to die for." She gave Alice a sweet smile as she popped a Greek olive into her mouth. Will kept eating because he was afraid if he didn't, he might start laughing. Weiss just looked tickled.
Sydney was relieved when Vaughn and Alice left the table a little later on to go mingle with their guests. Weiss took off for parts unknown and the bridesmaids (and their dates) followed shortly after, so she and Will were left to chat amongst themselves.
"Enjoying yourself?" He asked her, sitting back in his chair as he pushed his empty plate away from him.
"Oh, sure, I'm having a grand time." Sydney said flippantly. "I so enjoy watching Alice cling to Vaughn as if he's some life preserver and she's a drowning rat." She made a face.
Will grinned. "She's only doing it to get to you."
"Well, bravo to her, it's working."
"Oh, come on, you got in some shots at her as well." He pointed out. "That whole Italy thing? She could tell there was more to the story and it drove her crazy because she didn't know what it was."
"I told you about that, didn't I? Even though it never could have happened, we were in Italy the first time Vaughn ever asked me out." Sydney let out a sigh. "I always thought that one day we would actually be able to go to that restaurant and have dinner together."
Will gave her a sympathetic look. He knew he had to take her mind off of the self-pity. "Syd, since Mike and Alice have abandoned us for awhile, now might be a good time to go talk to his mother." He suggested.
Sydney looked startled. "Is she here?"
"She's been here the whole time. She's sitting at that table with Alice's mother." Will gestured behind her.
Sydney turned and spotted the older woman who had just stood up to discard the remains of her meal. Marguerite Vaughn was tall and sylph-like with delicate, fine-boned features that hinted at her Gallic ancestry and ash blonde hair gathered into an elegant twist at the nape of her neck. Sydney was sure Vaughn's mother had to be close to her sixties if not already there, but she looked ten years younger with her trim figure and smooth, unlined face. It was odd, but also kind of interesting that she and Vaughn both had mothers who were ageless wonders.
"She's pretty." Sydney commented, not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah. It's too bad Mike looks like his dad." Will said, tongue-in-cheek.
Sydney cut her eyes at him. "Don't make me laugh." She scolded him. "You're going to make me lose my nerve."
His lips curved into a grin. "She's heading over to the buffet table for some dessert. Go head her off at the pass." He urged her.
Sydney took a deep breath and then stood up to make her way over to the buffet. She came to stand side-by-side with Vaughn's mother, who looked as if she were having trouble deciding between the sinfully rich-looking chocolate fudge cake or the more virtuous oatmeal apple cake.
"I'd go for the chocolate, if I were you." Sydney leaned in rather conspiratorially.
The older woman turned her head to look at the attractive young woman standing next to her. "Are you telling me it is worth the two step classes I will have to go to next week?" She asked with an amused twinkle in her eye. Sydney's finely tuned ear was able to pick up the lingering French accent in her speech.
"It's actually worth a whole month of step classes." She smiled. "I may be biased, though, because the caterer is a good friend of mine."
"Ah, well, then that is even more of a reason to trust your judgment." Mrs. Vaughn picked up two servings of the chocolate cake. "You will join me, yes?"
Her invitation caught Sydney unawares. "I-I would like that." She stammered out and followed Vaughn's mother to an empty table. She waited for the older woman to take her chair and then sat down next to her.
Mrs. Vaughn sampled a bite of her cake. "This is delicious." She raved. "It is even better than the one I buy at the French patisserie near my house." A flash of recognition crossed Sydney's face as she was reminded of her thirtieth birthday for the second time that day.
"I get one of their chocolate cakes every time my son comes to visit me because he has loved them since he was a little boy, but now I think he should bring me one from his caterer friend."
Sydney smiled. It was endearing to think of Vaughn as a little boy with a smudge of chocolate frosting on his face. She wished she could ask Mrs. Vaughn to tell her all about that boy who grew up to be the man she admired and adored.
"You know, I have just realized that you probably do not even know who I am talking about because we have not introduced ourselves." Mrs. Vaughn set down her fork. "My name is Marguerite Vaughn. I am Michael's mother." She held out her hand.
Sydney had hoped to avoid revealing her name for a few moments longer. She was too afraid that Mrs. Vaughn would dump the chocolate cake right in her lap once she found out who she really was.
Sydney thought frantically. "You must be very proud of him." She grasped Mrs. Vaughn's hand with a sweet smile.
Marguerite beamed at her. "Yes, I think my son is a wonderful man."
"He is." Sydney agreed. "I know that because we used to work together."
A look of surprise registered on the older woman's face. "You were an agent with the CIA?"
"Yes." Sydney nodded.
"But not anymore?"
"No, I left the Agency about a year ago."
"Smart move." Mrs. Vaughn said approvingly. "I wish my son would follow your lead."
"He loves his job." Sydney replied, as if that explained everything.
Oddly enough, Marguerite seemed to know exactly what she meant because she nodded understandingly. "He also loved his father. That is why he stays." She gave a little shrug. "Oh, well, I should not complain. When he received his promotion, it meant no more field action so at least he is out of harm's way now."
"From what I hear, he used to be pretty good in the field."
Mrs. Vaughn smiled at her praise. "Michael always used to tell me that every mission he participated in brought him one step closer to his goal." Her expression grew thoughtful. "Of course, he never told me what that goal was, but I knew it was very important to him. Whenever I would express my worries about the potential for danger, he would just smile and say, 'I'm doing this because it's an investment towards my future, Mom.'"
Sydney felt her face turn red. Sharp-eyed as her son, Mrs. Vaughn noticed.
"That is a lovely pendant, dear." She commented in a neutral voice.
Sydney's hand automatically went to her throat. "Thank you." She smiled, the heat draining slowly from her face.
"Did you know it belonged to Michael's grandmother?" Mrs. Vaughn went on in that same placid tone, acutely aware of what kind of response her words would bring.
Sydney was struck speechless. Vaughn had never told her where he'd gotten the pendant. She'd just assumed he'd been prowling around antique stores again.
"Y-you've known a-all along who I was, haven't you?" Sydney stuttered, the blush returning to her cheeks.
"Yes, once I saw the pendant. It belonged to my mother." Marguerite gave the younger woman an indulgent look. "You're Sydney, aren't you?" Her tone was kind.
"Yes." She whispered. "Sydney Bristow." She watched Mrs. Vaughn carefully for any sign of rancor in her eyes. To her amazement, Vaughn's mother did not look as if she wanted to throttle Sydney.
"Your mother was Laura Bristow." Mrs. Vaughn uttered as a statement of fact. "AKA Irina Derevko." Again, it was a statement, not a question.
Sydney nodded again, her eyes lowered.
An awkward silence ensued. There were several tense moments before Mrs. Vaughn spoke again. "Michael told me the whole story regarding her death a few years ago. He probably shouldn't have considering that it violates the rules of confidentiality, but he thought I would want to know that my husband's killer finally met her own end."
Sydney swallowed the huge lump in her throat. She had to get something off of her chest and she had to do it before Mrs. Vaughn decided she wasn't worth the effort it would take to listen. "Mrs. Vaughn, I know nothing I can say will change what my mother did to your husband or take away the pain of missing him all these years, but I want you to know that I'm deeply sorry for what she did to you and Michael."
"She left me when I was just a child and I didn't know until six years ago who she really was." Sydney forced herself to meet Mrs. Vaughn's gaze. "When I found out what she did to your husband, to Michael's father…that was one thing for which I could never forgive her and I held it against her until the day she died."
"Is this the reason why you sought me out, Sydney?" Marguerite asked. "To apologize for your mother's transgressions?"
"It's not the only reason, but yes, I have wanted to talk to you for a long time." She nodded. "Not just to apologize, but also to compliment you for raising such a fine son. I know it couldn't have been easy to do that all by yourself, but Michael is truly an amazing man and you deserve a lot of the credit." Her cheeks flushed when she realized she was gushing over Vaughn. Every word of what she said was true, of course, but it was probably bad form to fawn over a man who was about to marry another woman.
"Thank you, Sydney." Vaughn's mother patted her hand. Sydney looked up in surprise. "I am glad to know how much you appreciate him."
"You know, his grandmother--my mother--willed some of her most precious pieces of jewelry to Michael with the express intent that they be given to his future wife. She wanted them to be passed down, generation by generation."
"Is that so?" Sydney experienced a moment of conflict. Should she offer to give back the pendant? But how could she when it was one of the few things she had left of Vaughn? "I-I didn't know that."
"When Michael decided to give that pendant to you for your birthday, he told me all about you." Marguerite revealed to her. "How brave and strong you are. Whenever he used to speak of you, his eyes would light up and he would have a lovely smile on his face."
Sydney felt the sting of tears in the corner of her eyes. The reason Vaughn had given her the pendant was because he had envisioned her as his future wife. The knowledge nearly broke her heart.
"The look in his eyes was so honest and true and absolute." Mrs. Vaughn gave her a sober glance. "That is when I realized my son was in love with the daughter of the woman who killed his father."
Sydney gulped. "Does that upset you?" She asked warily.
"I was not pleased at first." She admitted. "It seemed to me a betrayal of his father's memory."
"But eventually I came to realize that you had nothing to do with what your mother did and that I shouldn't hold it against you."
"That's very generous of you." Sydney murmured.
"You give me too much credit." Marguerite gave a careless wave. "It was just more practical. Michael was in love with you and I did not want to alienate him by speaking badly of you."
"One of the reasons he joined the CIA was because he wanted to bring his father's killer to justice. I used to worry that his need for revenge would eat away at him." Mrs. Vaughn looked pensive. "I did not want my son to turn into someone cold and embittered and disillusioned."
"He's not like that." Sydney burst out. "I mean, he wasn't like that when I knew him." She finished lamely, realizing that much could have changed in the past year.
"No, you are right, he is not, and that is because of you."
"Me?" She gave Vaughn's mother a quizzical look.
"Michael told me about the first time he met your mother face-to-face. He said he was surprised that his first instinct was no longer to make her suffer as she'd made him suffer having to live without his father for so many years."
"Instead, he saw Ms. Derevko as your mother, the woman who brought you into the world and into his life. As strange as it may sound, I think he might have felt a debt of gratitude towards her for that reason alone." Marguerite Vaughn gazed at the young woman whose brown eyes were so full of guilt and anguish. "You must be an extraordinary woman, Sydney, for my son to look past the pain and suffering your mother's actions have caused."
As gratifying as it was to learn that Vaughn's mother didn't believe she was the root of all evil, it made Sydney feel tormented inside when she realized how much of himself Vaughn had willingly relinquished to her. She knew how much he had loved his father, but in giving up on his notion of revenge towards Irina, he was telling her that he loved her more. He was telling her that he wasn't willing to risk losing her faith or her trust or her love over some meaningless vendetta.
"I think Michael is the extraordinary one." Sydney said quietly. "I only wish I could tell him that."
"Why can't you?"
Sydney bit her lip hesitantly "Did he…tell you what happened between us?" She asked.
"Well, he told me what didn't happen." Marguerite replied. "Michael said that you left town and cut off all contact with him." There was slight disapproval in her voice.
"That's right." She admitted. "It's not something I can easily talk about…" Her voice trailed off.
"You do not need to explain to me, Sydney." Mrs. Vaughn put her hand on Sydney's arm and gave it a squeeze. "Whatever it is, I am sure you had a good reason. If my son were not so stubborn, he would realize that you would not have given up so easily on the great love the two of you shared."
"I don't blame him for doubting my feelings." Sydney looked ashamed. "I hurt him. Very badly."
Marguerite Vaughn felt a wave of sympathy for the younger woman. She wanted to say something that would make it better for her. "Sydney, when Michael loves, he loves deeply, with his whole heart." She began. "It started with his father. Michael worshipped the man. He thought his father was the sun and the moon and everything in between."
Mrs. Vaughn's blue eyes turned thoughtful. "After William died, I did not think it was such a bad thing for Michael to keep up the image of the perfect father he had created. What harm could it do to an eight-year-old boy if I let him idolize his father?"
"But now perhaps, I think I did my son a disservice by not presenting him with a truer picture of his father." The older woman looked regretful. "Michael's father was not perfect by any means. He had his flaws just like any normal human being. The only reason Michael never realized this is because William never got the chance to let his son down."
"I think a lot of kids start out believing that their parents can do no wrong." Sydney said wistfully. "For the longest time, I revered my mother as some sort of saint. When I found out who she really was, it was devastating."
Marguerite nodded. "We expect our heroes to be perfect and so the letdown is much greater when they do something to disappoint us."
"That is why Michael felt it so profoundly when he thought you had left him." She went on. "He was unwilling to face the fact that you can make mistakes just like the rest of us and so instead of trying to understand or figure out why you did what you did, he blamed you for not being the perfect woman he always thought you to be."
The look on Sydney's face remained pensive she let Mrs. Vaughn's words sink into her brain. After a few moments, she exhaled a deep breath and then cleared her throat to speak.
"I have a lot of regrets in my life, Mrs. Vaughn. Too numerous to count." Sydney gave a little shake of her head.
"But it goes without saying that one of my biggest is what I did to your son." Her voice grew thick as the tears clogged the back of her throat. "There were extenuating circumstances involved…issues that I had to overcome, but I still should not have given up. I didn't treat his love for me with the care and respect it deserved and I am truly sorry for that." She looked downcast.
"I believe you, Sydney." Mrs. Vaughn replied softly. "Unfortunately, I am not the person you need to convince of your sincerity."
"Well, actually, you are." Sydney surprised Marguerite by her response. "Michael's still very angry with me and because of that, I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to tell him…everything." She said with some difficulty. "That's why it's important that you believe me when I say that I love him and I only want what's best for him."
Sydney looked Mrs. Vaughn straight in the eye. "Mrs. Vaughn, you have to do something to stop the wedding."
Marguerite was taken aback by Sydney's ominous statement. "What do you mean?" She frowned.
"I mean that the wedding should not take place." She said fervently. "Michael would be making a terrible mistake!"
Mrs. Vaughn's blue eyes narrowed slightly. "What is your reasoning behind this, Sydney? Are you saying this because it is not you he is marrying?" She arched a delicate eyebrow.
"No, it has nothing to do with me." Sydney shook her head and then immediately recanted. "Well, no, that's not exactly true, but I'm not doing this for selfish reasons. I would be thrilled if Michael didn't marry Alice, but mostly for his sake, not mine."
"You talk as if it would be detrimental to my son if he were to marry Alice." Marguerite gave her a sharp look. "How can you possibly know that? You just met her last night. You don't know how they are with each other."
Sydney flushed. She would have to feel out Mrs. Vaughn's regard for her future daughter-in law very carefully. If Vaughn's mother liked Alice and thought she would be a good match for her son, then Sydney could kiss her support goodbye.
"Mrs. Vaughn, I know we've just met, but may I ask you a rather personal question?" Sydney said tentatively.
"I feel as if we have known each other a long time." Marguerite's stance softened slightly. "Ask whatever you like."
Brown eyes met blue eyes head-on. "Are you happy that Michael is marrying Alice?"
Mrs. Vaughn contemplated silently for several moments before replying. "She is not the woman I would have chosen for my son." Her statement was uttered in a very diplomatic but pointed manner. "But it appears she will make him a good wife. Whenever I see them together, they always seem to get along very well."
"I don't doubt that he cares for her." Sydney said slowly. "Michael is a decent, honorable man and I know he wouldn't have proposed to Alice if he didn't believe he was fully committed to her."
"Did Michael give you some indication that he is not fully committed to his fiancée?"
"No, it wasn't him." Sydney replied. "It was her."
Marguerite looked at her in disbelief. "Alice dotes on Michael."
"No, she's only pretending." She shook her head. "She's only marrying him to get back at him for dumping her six years ago."
"What?" Mrs. Vaughn's blue eyes flashed into protective mode. "How do you know this?"
"Because she told me so last night at the cocktail party." Sydney divulged. "No doubt she regrets it now, but she probably just wanted to throw it in my face that she's going to make his life miserable and I won't be able to do a thing about it."
"I cannot believe that Alice would be so spiteful." Marguerite appeared stunned. "I cannot believe that anyone would be so spiteful."
"When Michael broke up with her, he didn't tell her it was because he realized he had feelings for another woman." Sydney explained. "He just told her that things weren't working out."
"But she knew it was really because of you?"
"I guess she sensed it somehow that his attention was wandering." She refrained from telling Vaughn's mother exactly how Alice found out about her. Discussing his sex life with his mother was one conversation she didn't want to have. "In any case, Alice thinks that Michael deceived her by becoming attached to another woman while he was still with her. That's when she swore to get even with him."
"It appears to me that she is getting even with the both of you." Marguerite remarked with some dismay. "If Michael and Alice marry, she will become the obstacle between you and your true love."
"That's not my main concern, Mrs. Vaughn. All I care about is that Michael doesn't go through with the wedding. I don't want him to be hurt anymore because of me." Her voice cracked.
"Because of you?" Mrs. Vaughn repeated. "It would be Alice who is doing the hurting."
"She wants to hurt him because he had feelings for me." It pained Sydney to speak in the past tense, but that was all she had to go on at the moment. "She wants to make him regret that he ever loved me."
"Mrs. Vaughn, I'm telling you all of this because I think you're the only one he'll believe." She gave the older woman an imploring look. "I would tell him myself, but Michael distrusts me too much right now to put any faith into what I say."
Marguerite Vaughn let herself absorb this most unsettling information about her son and his bride-to-be. She was fiercely protective of her only child, but at the same time, she believed in letting him make his own mistakes. When he was sixteen, she did not scold him for throwing his hard-earned money away on an old clunker of a car that he bought the day after he received his driver's license. When he talked of joining the CIA like his father before him, she did not try to talk him out of it. It was his life to lead and he had to make his own choices and live with the consequences.
"Sydney, do you think knowing this information will cause Michael to cancel the wedding?"
"I would hope so." Sydney replied a bit uncertainly. She couldn't deny that Vaughn and Alice had a bond. What if it was strong enough to withstand something as devious as what Alice had planned? Maybe the snooty debutante would be able to convince him that she'd only come up with her revenge plot because she was hurt, but when push came to shove, she loved him too much to ever go through with it. He just might be vulnerable enough to believe her.
"If he leaves Alice, would I be correct in assuming that you would want Michael to somehow find his way back to you?" Mrs. Vaughn gave her a perceptive look. Sydney didn't bother to deny her claim. "Is this the way you want it to happen? Do you want him to come back to you because he found out some unsavory news about Alice? Or would you rather it be because of his own volition?"
"Of course I want it to be his choice." She said firmly. "That would be the only way I would know that he's forgiven me."
For some reason, Vaughn's mother looked pleased by her answer. "Then I think you'll understand if I do not share this information with him."
Sydney was confused. "Mrs. Vaughn, I don't understand. I've just told you that Alice is going to make your son's life a living hell and you're not going to do anything to prevent that?"
"Sydney, one thing you should know about me is that as a rule, I do not believe in interfering with my son's life." Marguerite stated flatly. "Michael has always made his own choices. That way, he only has himself to answer to in regard to how things play out."
Sydney frowned. While she could admire Mrs. Vaughn's posture that her son be held responsible for his own actions, she couldn't quite believe that a mother would willingly let her son walk blindly off the edge of a cliff. She had to try one more time.
"But, Mrs. Vaughn--"
Marguerite cut her off (in a polite way, of course). "Sydney, you have pleaded your case to Michael, have you not?"
"Not as well as I could have." She admitted.
"Well, then, you need to get Michael alone and talk to him." Marguerite advised her. "When he has all of the facts, he will come to his own decision."
Sydney looked uncertain. "I wish you could guarantee that he would make the right decision."
"If he follows his heart, it will be." Mrs. Vaughn said with absolute conviction.
To be continued…