Epilogue
As the rented minivan pulled up to the curb, slowing to a stop, Sydney Bristow raised her head and shielded her eyes with her hand, squinting behind her dark sunglasses. The afternoon sun, low in the western sky, appeared to be perched upon the roof of the house as she gazed at it. The home was ablaze with brilliant orange and yellow.
Sydney unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Vaughn. He was in the drivers seat, peering past Sydney at the house. When he realized she was now looking at him, he smiled and reached over to take her hand.
"Nervous?" He asked, the one word question breaking the silence they'd held since leaving the airport. A combination of nerves and curiosity had kept them quiet as they'd navigated the city streets, watching the roads and neighborhoods they'd not seen for two and a half years.
"Yeah," Sydney admitted. "I am, a little. Is that stupid?" She glanced back at the house. She knew that nothing malevolent lurked within, but that knowledge did not stop her palms from becoming damp with perspiration.
"No, it's not stupid," Vaughn assured her, gently stroking her chestnut hair. "It's completely understandable."
Sydney smiled before leaning towards Vaughn and kissing his lips. He kissed her back, and when they parted, he gently placed his hand on her cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you," Sydney echoed. She caught his hand as he pulled away. "I'm gonna go up to the door. Will you bring Ava?"
The couple glanced into the backseat where their daughter sat in a car seat, sleeping soundly, her honey curls glowing in the sunlight streaming through the rear windows.
"Yeah, I'll get her," Vaughn said quietly. "Go ahead." He nodded to Sydney and she smiled at him before opening the car door and climbing out, once again squinting up at the house. She took a moment to close the car door and straighten her gauzy summer dress before striding confidently across the lush, green lawn toward the front door.
Her feet on the welcome mat, her knees slightly weak, Sydney raised her hand and knocked, swallowing hard. The waiting seemed endless, and she occupied herself with scanning the outside of the home, noting to herself that nothing much had changed. After a minute or two, she knocked again, and then moved to a front window a few feet away to peer inside.
What Sydney could see of the interior looked the same to her, as well, and her heart skipped a beat at the familiar sight. Suddenly she was eager to go inside, to reconnect with parts of her past life, to touch things in the place that had once been her safe haven from a crazy, heart-breaking world. She was disappointed to see no movement within the house, but she thought she could hear faint music as she pulled back from the window.
Turning towards the street, Sydney waved to Vaughn as he got out of the drivers seat and walked around to the passenger side of the car to retrieve Ava from her car seat.
"I'm going around back," Sydney called, pointing toward the side of the house. Vaughn nodded that he understood, and Sydney walked off, finding the narrow track of grass between the house and the property line. She followed it, the music growing louder the closer she came to the backyard.
Rounding the corner of the house, Sydney stopped in her tracks. Along the back porch was a wide flowerbed full of blooming plants, each one beautiful. Sydney couldn't help but smile; she had always wanted to plant there but had never found the time. It was obvious that someone else had, however, and Sydney's eyes quickly fell upon her as she kneeled in the grass, reaching in between the plants to extract weeds and fallen blooms.
Francie Calfo grabbed one last handful of weeds and then leaned back on her heels, dropping the unwanted plants into a yard waste bag at her side. She then reached up through the rungs of the porch railing and turned off the radio. The intermittent static was beginning to annoy her. Returning to the flowerbed, content with the sudden quiet, she was unaware that someone stood behind her, watching as she worked.
"In all the time I've known you, I've never suspected that you have a green thumb."
Francie snapped her head up from her work, startled at first by the voice behind her and then even more surprised that it was a voice she recognized. She stopped short of turning around, drawing in a sharp breath, trying to decide if what she'd heard was real. It was almost too good to be true.
Slowly, Francie turned her head. "Sydney?!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Oh my god! Sydney!" In an instant, Francie was on her feet and rushing to engulf her in a hug.
Sydney couldn't stop grinning, even when her cheeks began to ache. She threw her arms around Francie and held on tight, warmth spreading from her heart through her whole body.
By the time they parted, both women were in tears. They pulled back just far enough to get a good look, their eyes resting on each other's faces as they tried hard to continue smiling through the onslaught of tears.
"Oh, Francie," Sydney sighed, grasping her hands. "It's so good to see you," She said, her chin quivering. "I almost can't believe it."
"I thought you were never coming back," Francie confessed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's been so long. I was so afraid-" She couldn't go on, emotion overwhelming her. Sydney pulled her into another hug, and that was how they stood as the back door of the house opened and Will Tippin walked out onto the porch.
"Hey, Fran," He called, not looking up from a notebook he held in his hands. "I think I found something. Wait until you hear-" At that moment, he raised his eyes and stopped cold, his voice catching in his throat. The notebook hit the porch with a loud slap as Will abandoned it and bounded out into the grass, taking the steps two at a time.
"Sydney!" He shouted, reaching her just as Francie pulled back, allowing Will to sweep Sydney into his arms. He nearly crushed her, hugging her tightly as she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his and placing a kiss on his stubbled cheek.
"Will," Sydney breathed his name, the familiarity of his arms putting long lost pieces inside of her back into place. She couldn't stop smiling, the sight of her two dearest friends the most wonderful thing she had seen in a very long time.
"Sydney," Will said again, her name sweet like candy on his tongue. "When did you get here? I can't believe you're here. This is so great!" His words came rapid-fire, helpless to stop them. "This is unbelievable," He turned to Francie. "Did you know she was coming?"
"No, she just showed up," Francie was still wiping tears from her eyes, smiling at them both, her heart filled to nearly overflowing.
Sydney was about to say something when Vaughn appeared around the corner of the house, Ava riding high in his arms. Will and Francie looked up at him, dumbstruck, their mouths hanging open.
"Mama!" Ava declared, opening her arms wide as Vaughn grew near.
Sydney reached out and took her daughter into her arms and then turned back to her friends, nearly laughing outright at their amazed expressions. Motioning back towards Vaughn, she began to introduce them all.
"Michael, this is Francie Calfo. Francie, this is my husband, Michael Vaughn," Sydney paused as Vaughn and Francie shook hands, exchanging pleasant greetings. "And Will, you know Vaughn, but neither of you have met our daughter," Sydney shifted Ava from one hip to the other. "This is Ava Miette Vaughn," She then looked into Ava's eyes and pointed to her friends before saying, in French, "Ava, this is mama's friend Francie and mama's friend Will."
Francie and Will smiled at each other before turning to Ava, smiling brightly. In turn, they shook her hand, saying hello. She grinned broadly, showing off her tiny teeth before letting out with a loud bellow, throwing all of her small, two-year-old body into it.
"Bonjour!"
Francie and Will laughed, watching as Sydney set a squirming Ava onto the grass. She paused for a moment to get her bearings, then she took off, running as fast as her little legs would take her. Vaughn grinned at the group and then took off after her to make sure she didn't get into any trouble.
"She's two, what can I say," Sydney shrugged, watching them go. When she turned back to her friends, she drew in a sharp breath when she realized that Francie was crying again. "Fran," Sydney said gently. "What is it?"
"I'm so happy for you, Syd," Francie said, reaching out to grasp Sydney's hand. "It's everything you wanted, isn't it?"
Sydney just nodded, suddenly unable to speak, a sizeable lump in her throat.
"We missed you, Syd," Will said, his blue eyes bright as he lightly rested a hand on her shoulder. "But if this is the payoff for missing you, then I'd gladly do it again, in a heartbeat. It's easy to see how happy you are."
Sydney let the tears spill over and run down her cheeks as both Francie and Will pulled her close, the three of them clinging to each other as emotions ran strong and deep. Finally pulling back, Sydney wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"So," She said brightly, attempting to change the subject so she could get a handle on her feelings. "How are you two?" Looking from Francie to Will, she raised her eyebrows in question, a thought occurring to her. "Wait, Will, are you still living here?"
Will laughed. "Yes, I am," He replied, sliding an arm around Francie's shoulders. "Francie can't bear not having a man around the house," He joked.
"That's partially true," Francie said, looking sideways at Will. "The other part is this," She raised her left hand to show Sydney a diamond ring. "Will and I are getting married."
"Oh my god!" Sydney clamped both hands over her mouth. "You guys really have to stop this," She demanded teasingly, new tears rimming her eyes. "My eyes are really starting to itch. I don't want to cry anymore!" She hugged them both again, then pulled back to examine the ring. "This is lovely," She praised. "How did this happen?"
"Well," Francie said, grinning slyly. "We were already shacking up, so we decided to make something out of it."
The three friends laughed, and Will shook his head. "That's not exactly how it happened," He said, grinning as he took Francie's hand into his and kissed it. Sydney just sighed, her heart full. She couldn't believe she had been nervous about this reunion; it was proving to be nothing but wonderful.
Vaughn and Ava soon returned to the small group, Ava now content in her father's arms as she gazed around the backyard and at the faces of the new people she had met. Pointing up towards a nearby tree, she began to talk in French, her little girl voice sweet and melodic.
"What's she saying?" Will asked, following Ava's outstretched arm and gazing up at the treetop.
"There's a bird in the tree," Sydney explained. "She's asking why. It's her new favorite question. She asks why about everything."
"Does she speak English?" Francie wanted to know.
"A little," Vaughn answered, smiling as his daughter grasped his cheeks in her tiny hands and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose before turning her attention to the flowers in the dirt. She pointed at them and chattered excitedly. "Flowers," Vaughn said to her in carefully pronounced English. "Can you say flowers?"
As father and daughter worked on this, Francie turned back to Sydney, lightly touching her arm. "Unless you've already gotten a hotel or something, Will and I would love it if you'd stay here tonight."
"Yeah, that's be great," Will put in, nodding. "We've got the extra space. Your old bedroom, in fact."
"Are you sure?" Sydney questioned. "Ava can really be fussy sometimes, especially when she's tired."
"So she takes after her mother?" Francie teased, ducking as Sydney took a playful swat at her.
"I've missed your sense of humor," Sydney confessed before sighing deeply. "Who am I kidding?" She said. "I've missed you. We'd love to stay here."
That having been decided, Vaughn handed Ava off to Sydney before he and Will went to gather the luggage from the minivan. After they were gone, Francie, Sydney and Ava went into the house. For the next several minutes, as Will and Vaughn carried in suitcases, Sydney helped Francie "baby proof" the house, moving any and all breakable or dangerous objects up to high shelves or hiding them away in cabinets. When they had finished, Vaughn took Ava to change her while Sydney and Will set about putting fresh sheets on the bed in Sydney's old bedroom.
Knowing that Francie was out of earshot, busy in the kitchen mixing a fresh pitcher of lemonade, Sydney glanced up at Will as together they unfolded a fitted sheet and started to put it on the mattress.
"Will," She said. "I'm really pleased about you and Francie. It surprised me, but I'm really glad."
Will smiled, using his hand to smooth wrinkles from the sheet. "It surprised us, too," He confessed. "One night were making soup in the kitchen together, and we were talking about relationships, and then - boom. It just happened. We kissed. And then the rest, well, it just all fell into place." He tossed a pillowcase across the bed to Sydney. "We've been together for about a year and a half."
Sydney watched Will carefully, remembering the last night she saw him, remembering things he had said as they exchanged a tearful goodbye. "So," She said quietly. "The torch has been extinguished?"
Will looked up, his blue eyes shining. "No, Syd," He replied, fully aware of what she meant. "It hasn't gone out. It's just been passed."
Sydney smiled brightly at that, dropping the pillow in her hands and moving around the end of the bed to pull Will into a hug. He held her tightly, grateful for her return, thankful to share these special things with her.
Francie called out from the kitchen, her voice floating in to them from the hallway. "Did you find the extra set of sheets, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, we're good in here," Will called back, releasing Sydney from the hug as she tried to hide a chuckle. "What?" He asked, puzzled.
"I don't know if I'll ever get used to her calling you sweetheart," Sydney said, grinning.
Will smiled back. "This is a good day. You should hear what she calls me on a bad day."
The first pillow swat was unexpected, landing squarely on Will's head. He laughed outright and grabbed a pillow, too, whapping Sydney's back as she turned to run, giggling devilishly. The fight was on, and they were chasing each other around the room, shouting with delight, the air full of the sound of pillows finding their target. It wasn't long before the noise drew Francie into the room, and she joined the fray, grabbing an extra pillow from the closet as Sydney and Will attacked her from behind.
Hearing the noise from the next room, Vaughn quickly finished diapering Ava and scooped her up into his arms before walking down the hall to peer into the bedroom where an all-out pillow war was on. Ava took in the sight with wide eyes before giggling and calling out in French.
Hearing her daughter's voice, Sydney dropped to the floor in a fit of laughter as Vaughn leaned in the doorway, grinning.
"That's right, Ava," He said. "They sure are silly."
As Vaughn watched Sydney try to defend herself against the tag-team attack of her two best friends, it was clear to him then, for the first time, all that she had sacrificed to be with him. He turned away, hugging Ava tight as his heart overflowed with love for his wife, her screams and laughter echoing behind him.
The white, windowless van moved expertly through the noontime traffic on the streets of Los Angeles. In the back, Vaughn and Sydney leaned forward to see through the windshield, curiosity causing them to nearly slip off the front of their seats. Between them, Ava rode soundlessly in her car seat, chewing on a graham cracker, her eyes darting around the inside of the dark van.
In the passenger seat, in a dark blue suit and striped tie, Eric Weiss looked back over his shoulder, his dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
"We're almost there," He smiled. "How's she doing?" He nodded toward Ava, who looked back at him like she'd never seen sunglasses before, her eyes wide and curious.
"She's good," Vaughn answered, smiling down at his daughter. "I think that graham cracker is doing the trick."
"She actually likes car rides," Sydney explained, reaching down to smooth Ava's curls back from her face. "We didn't have a car in France. It's a new experience, and she's fascinated by it."
"That's cool, Ava," Weiss reached back to shake one of her hands. "I'm fascinated by it, too."
The van started to slow as the driver, a CIA courier, made a series of turns and finally ended up in what appeared to be a service tunnel leading underneath a freeway overpass. At the end of the tunnel, where there seemed to be nothing but a brick wall, the driver stopped and picked up a hand- held walkie-talkie.
"Delivery Boy requesting entry."
There was a crackle, then static before a voice sounded back. "Delivery Boy, security scan complete. Proceed with entry."
Vaughn and Sydney glanced at each other, exchanging tight smiles as the brick wall before the van lifted like a garage door and the van continued on. After another series of turns, they drove down a short ramp and entered the CIA operations center parking garage. The driver pulled the van to a stop near a pair of elevators and turned to Agent Weiss.
"It's all yours from here."
"Thanks, man," Weiss clapped a hand to his shoulder before turning to Sydney and Vaughn in the backseat. "Let's go, kids. You, too, Ava," He grinned and climbed out of the car. After sliding open the rear van door, Weiss helped Sydney climb out and then waited while Vaughn removed Ava from her car seat and lifted her into Sydney's arms. Once Vaughn exited the vehicle, Weiss closed the door and the van continued on, leaving the garage the same way it had come in.
Waiting for the elevator, Ava in her arms, Sydney turned to Weiss with an expression of concern.
"Weiss," She said, patting Ava's back as the child stirred, restless. "Are you sure we're not getting you into any trouble?"
"No, not at all," Weiss waved away her question, shaking his head. "I had to pull a couple of strings, but really, it's fine." He smiled at her then, a genuine show of pleasure. "It's good to see you guys," He said. "Really good."
Vaughn reached over and nudged Weiss's arm with his fist, grinning broadly.
"We missed you, too," He said before he suddenly sobered, his smile fading. "We want to thank you-"
"Stop," Weiss interrupted. "I'm not letting you do that, especially since I know you would've done the same for me." As the elevator doors opened, he reached in to hold them with his hand while stepping aside to let Sydney and Vaughn pass.
"Even so," Sydney said quietly. "Thank you, Eric."
Weiss looked away from them, pressing the button inside the elevator, watching the doors close. He was uncomfortable with praise and he could sense it in their gratitude, wrapped up in the center of Sydney's warm show of appreciation. Weiss cleared his throat, pushing the thoughts from his head. He had helped them because they were his friends. In his opinion, accepting credit for that was wrong.
When they reached the ground level, the elevator doors opened and the small group walked out into the main corridor that led to the ops center. Sydney's heart began to pound as they continued on, the familiar sights and smells nearly overwhelming her. In her arms, Ava was silent, her eyes wide as she craned her neck to look up at the light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
They soon entered the heart of the ops center, the central room where agents worked at computer terminals as phones rang and fax machines beeped and whirred. Many of the agents didn't pay attention to the new arrivals, their eyes steady on their work. Across the room, however, one agent stood slowly as he watched the small group move to the center of the room.
Sydney had just handed a squirming Ava to Vaughn when she looked up to see a familiar face approach. It took her a moment, but Sydney finally placed him and her face broke into a wide smile.
"Agent Gelman!" She greeted him warmly, ignoring his outstretched hand and pulling him straight into a hug. When they parted, Vaughn shook his hand and quickly introduced him to their daughter.
"It's good to see you," Gelman told them. "I never got the chance to properly thank you for helping me after what happened in London."
Sydney couldn't stop the tears that sprang to her eyes as she recalled the incident at Heathrow that had been the catalyst for her departure two and a half years ago. Confronted with it for the first time, she turned away from the group, covering her mouth with her hand. It was clear to her then that even with all that she was feeling, being back in LA, it was really only the tip of the iceberg of her emotions.
Vaughn gave her a sympathetic smile before turning back to Gelman. "There's no need to thank us, Gelman. It never would've happened it we-"
"You saved my life," Gelman interrupted pointedly. "That's all I remember about that day."
Vaughn dropped his head, gazing down at the floor, unable to find words. He was moved that Gelman was expressing gratitude when he had every right to express anger instead.
"It's good to see you," Vaughn finally managed, meeting Gelman's eyes. Gelman just smiled and shook Vaughn's hand again before wishing them well and returning to his desk. Vaughn reached out to Sydney then, sliding his arm around her waist and squeezing her against him as she finally got her emotions under control.
"Would you like to say hello to another old friend?" A deep voice said behind them, causing them to turn around.
"Dixon," Sydney made no attempt to hold back her tears then, inwardly declaring it a lost cause. She hesitated, watching Dixon's eyes. He regarded her cautiously before finally taking a step forward, his arms outstretched.
Vaughn squeezed Ava tight as he watched his wife collapse in Dixon's embrace, her tears coming fast, a sob escaping her lips. Dixon slowly rubbed her back, soothing her as she cried.
"I'm sorry, Dixon. I'm so sorry," She said, finally pulling back from him. She wiped her eyes with her fingers, sweeping tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "About Madrid, about lying to you, about everything."
"I'm sorry, too," Dixon said, resting a hand on Sydney's shoulder. He shook his head, a bad memory clouding his mind. "I'm still haunted by what I did that day, holding a gun on you."
"You did what you had to," Sydney assured him.
"So did you," Dixon nodded, gazing past Sydney at her husband and child. Sydney smiled, grabbing Dixon by the elbow and leading him to her family.
After a quick round of introductions, Vaughn firmly shook Dixon's hand. "Great work," Vaughn said. "Weiss detailed for us the take-down of SD-6 and the Alliance. He told us your work was instrumental in leading to the destruction of the world-wide SD cells."
Dixon smiled, humbled by Vaughn's kind words of praise. "I was only following the lead of the person who did the work before me," He nodded towards Sydney, and she just smiled, her cheeks warm.
"Hey, Syd," Weiss said suddenly, piping up behind them. When she turned, he pointed across the room to a desk covered in stacks of papers, technical manuals and various parts and pieces of gadgets and electronic equipment. In the midst of it all, an agent was bent over a computer circuit board, concentrating deeply.
Sydney and Vaughn exchanged knowing looks as Dixon chuckled. "You've got to go say hello to him," He said. "It'll be a moment he'll never forget."
Sydney broke away from the group and made her way across the room. Silently, she snuck up behind the desk and leaned way over the agent's back until her lips were next to his ear.
"Whatcha workin' on, Marshall?"
"Oh my god!" The tools flew from Marshall's hands as he sprang backwards, nearly knocking Sydney over as he swiveled his chair around. When his eyes met her face, he froze, his mouth hanging open. "Oh my god," was all he could say, followed closely by, "Wow!"
"Hi," Sydney raised her hand and waved. "How are you, Marshall?"
"How am I? You're here, somewhere you haven't been for a long time, right here in front of me, and you're asking how I am? Wow. How are you? Really, Sydney, how are you?" Marshall slowly got to his feet, still awash in disbelief. "I didn't know you were coming back. I mean, I hoped you would, and I asked about you a few times, and after I found out the truth and started working here, a month ago, by the way, a month ago today, in fact, I really hoped I'd see you again, but - wow. Just, really, wow."
Sydney couldn't help but laugh as she pulled Marshall into a hug. He was amazed by this and melted into her arms slowly, his eyes even wider than before.
"It's good to see you," Sydney said, smiling again as they parted. "How are you adjusting to your new job?"
"It's really great," Marshall nodded enthusiastically. "The facilities are so much better. And I have access to the coolest stuff, really. Here, let me show you-"
"Marshall," Dixon appeared at Sydney's side, taking her gently by the elbow. "I'll bring her back around later, all right?"
Marshall was disappointed, his face falling. "Oh," He said quietly. "Oh, sure, Dixon, yeah, that'd be great. I'll be right here, working away. Just right over here."
Sydney cast him a sympathetic smile as she followed Dixon back across the room. Vaughn and Weiss were joking around together, Vaughn's hand locked securely around Ava's. She was on the floor, pulling against him in an effort to get free, whining quietly when her attempts proved unsuccessful.
Sydney joined them and scooped Ava up into her arms, supporting her on one hip as she turned towards her husband. "Marshall was glad to see me," She said as Dixon laughed outright, quickly joined by Weiss.
"That's the understatement of the year, I'm sure," Weiss shook his head. "It's a good thing Kendall had already retired before Marshall started working here. Kendall would have probably taken his head off."
Everyone in the group chuckled at this, even Ava, wanting to join in the fun. Sydney shifted her from one hip to the next as she took the diaper bag from Vaughn and dug inside it for another graham cracker.
"Speaking of Kendall," She said, handing the treasure to Ava, her little eyes lighting up. "Have they named his successor yet? It seems like it's taking forever. Kendall has been retired for six months."
"There was an interim guy," Weiss replied after glancing briefly at Dixon. "But he came on the scene before the SD-6 take-down, and the pressure proved to be too much. Since the take-down, after a big campaign by Devlin, Kendall's permanent replacement was finally chosen just two weeks ago."
"If you'll follow me," Dixon stepped in, motioning to Sydney and Vaughn. "I'll introduce you to him."
Vaughn and Sydney looked at each other and shrugged. It all seemed so official, the introduction, the way Dixon escorted them across the room and into a short corridor just outside the door that led to the office previously occupied by Kendall. As she stood there, waiting, Sydney was struck by a sense of deja vu, her mind slipping back to the day so long ago when she had confronted Kendall. She was struck by the memory, wondering suddenly if she had ever apologized.
Three of the office walls were glass, and the person within had chosen to pull the vertical blinds for privacy. Dixon went up to the door and knocked lightly before turning back to Sydney and Vaughn.
Weiss stood behind them, his hands clasped as he rocked back on his heels, a self-satisfied grin on his face. Dixon was smiling, as well, a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes.
"Sydney, Michael," Dixon nodded at each of them. "It's my pleasure to introduce to you," He paused, turning towards the office door as it opened. "The new Assistant Director, Head of Special Operations, Jack Bristow."
Sydney let out a shocked gasp as her father walked through the door and stepped into the corridor, smiling. After handing Ava to Vaughn, Sydney went to him and they hugged, embracing tightly.
"You didn't tell me, Dad," Sydney said accusingly. "We spoke on the phone not too long ago and you didn't mention it."
Jack pulled back from his daughter. "It didn't become official until yesterday," He explained, looking into her dark eyes. "And I knew you'd be here within a month. This way I was able to see your reaction."
Sydney grinned. "I hope it was worth it," She said.
"It's always worth it when I get to see your face," Jack affectionately squeezed her arm.
"I'm gonna cry, really," Weiss teased, pulling a handkerchief from his back pocket and dabbing at his eyes. "This is too much, you guys. It's just too much."
"Some things never change," Vaughn groaned. Leaning close to Ava's ear, he whispered something to her, his eyes on Weiss's questioning face. Ava pulled back to look at her father, hesitating only a moment before turning to Weiss with a giggle, her eyes bright.
The sentence she spoke in perfect French instantly sent everyone but Weiss into a gale of laughter. Even Jack let loose, a guffaw escaping before he had the sense to quiet it, remembering the room full of CIA agents no more than three feet away.
Weiss looked at each of them in turn, his eyes wide. "What?" He demanded. "C'mon, guys, that's not fair. French is like the one language that I don't know. What did she say?"
Instead of an answer, he was only met with more laughter when Ava suddenly reached out and grabbed both of Weiss's lips in one of her pudgy hands. With the other, she lifted a finger to her mouth and forcefully admonished, "Shhhhh!"
A few minutes later, after everyone had calmed down, Weiss and Dixon went back to their desks, leaving Sydney and Vaughn to spend time with Jack. They sat in his office and talked while Ava played on the floor, crawling around underneath Jack's large mahogany desk.
Jack watched her, smiling to himself as Sydney and Vaughn discussed their flight, the reunion with Will and Francie, and their tentative plans for the future.
"Have you decided to stay?" Jack asked, reaching under the desk to pull Ava into his arms. She didn't fight him, choosing instead to snuggle against him, laying her head on his shoulder. Jack gently stroked her back, her silken curls soft against his cheek. He looked like a man utterly smitten, and Sydney couldn't tear her eyes away.
"Yes," She said softly, sliding her hand into Vaughn's as he reached out to her. There was no other answer she could give, seeing her daughter and her father together. It would be wrong to separate them, to keep Jack from being a part of Ava's life, and she a part of his. Sydney remembered her father's advice and knew she had to give Ava the one thing she herself had not had: the opportunity to grow up knowing Jack Bristow.
As if he could read Sydney's thoughts, Jack raised his eyes and communicated gratitude through his smile. He held Ava closer, feeling her back rise and fall with each breath she took, her hands gripping the fabric of Jack's suit coat. Jack rested his chin against the top of her head and looked up again at Sydney and Vaughn, taking a deep breath before he spoke.
"Your mother has been asking about Ava," He said quietly. He phrased it carefully, but Sydney knew what he meant. Vaughn did, too, and he looked away, his eyes darting around the room as his pulse raced. He had known this would come up and he had tried to prepare himself for it, but the dilemma raging inside his head was not easily diffused.
Vaughn felt Sydney squeeze his hand, but he did not acknowledge her as he stared hard at the floor, trying to make sense of his feelings. How could he explain to Sydney the thoughts he did not understand himself? Ava had one grandfather but not the other because of the actions of one of her grandmothers. It sounded like the plot of a bad made-for-TV movie or a word problem encountered in a perverted math textbook.
Finally turning to look into Sydney's eyes, Vaughn felt his resolve give way to reason. How could he have asked her to sacrifice so much over the past two years and not be willing to sacrifice, as well? It might have felt good to deny Irina Derevko access to her granddaughter, but it wouldn't change the past. The only thing it would change is the way Sydney viewed him, as a man who chose to hurt her and deny their daughter a chance to understand the legacy with which she was entrusted.
His thoughts finally clear, Vaughn spoke up, his eyes never leaving Sydney's face.
"We should take Ava to her."
Sydney drew in a sharp breath, holding back tears. She reached up to touch Vaughn's face before leaning in to kiss him, their lips brushing lightly as Jack busied himself with Ava, rising up from the leather desk chair with her in his arms.
Silently, Sydney and Vaughn followed as Jack led the way out of his office and across the busy ops center. As they neared the guarded doorway that led to Irina's cell, Jack turned and handed Ava to Sydney. Meeting her eyes, he lightly touched her arm before backing away and nodding to the security agent at the door.
As they passed into the corridor, Sydney heard Vaughn take in a deep breath as the metal gates began to rise. She glanced up at him once before putting Ava down, holding her hand. The child took a few tentative steps beside her mother, watching the dark tile beneath her feet, uncertain of her surroundings. Growing more steady and sure of herself, she pulled ahead, straining against Sydney's grasp.
She let go of Ava's hand as the last gate thudded into place in the ceiling above their heads. Sydney and Vaughn then stood back, holding hands and watching as their daughter, the life they had created, toddled on ahead.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * fini * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: Well, this is it. I'm a little sad the journey has come to an end, but I hope it was worth the trip.
Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed or is about to review as soon as you're done reading this (please?!) - your kind words have been a genuine encouragement to me and I appreciate every and all opinions. You all rock - especially the rabid Alias fans who may have let me get away with a stray detail or two.
One more thing before I return to waiting for the next plot bunny attack: I believe that one of the many things that make Alias such a great show is the music. I enjoy the "mood music" almost as much as the story and dialogue. Because of that, I like to have music play a large part of my creative process. Long story short: I'm a bit of a geek, and that has led me to actually put together a soundtrack for this story. It's a bunch of songs that I used to put me in the writing mood and help me keep the tone and pace of the story. For all those who have just read that and now think that I am crazy, you can stop reading now. For the rest of you who might be slightly intrigued, I invite you to come along and be a geek with me: email me (my address is in my profile) and I'll forward you my "A Thousand Oceans" soundtrack list.
Enough of me - thanks again for reading.
As the rented minivan pulled up to the curb, slowing to a stop, Sydney Bristow raised her head and shielded her eyes with her hand, squinting behind her dark sunglasses. The afternoon sun, low in the western sky, appeared to be perched upon the roof of the house as she gazed at it. The home was ablaze with brilliant orange and yellow.
Sydney unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Vaughn. He was in the drivers seat, peering past Sydney at the house. When he realized she was now looking at him, he smiled and reached over to take her hand.
"Nervous?" He asked, the one word question breaking the silence they'd held since leaving the airport. A combination of nerves and curiosity had kept them quiet as they'd navigated the city streets, watching the roads and neighborhoods they'd not seen for two and a half years.
"Yeah," Sydney admitted. "I am, a little. Is that stupid?" She glanced back at the house. She knew that nothing malevolent lurked within, but that knowledge did not stop her palms from becoming damp with perspiration.
"No, it's not stupid," Vaughn assured her, gently stroking her chestnut hair. "It's completely understandable."
Sydney smiled before leaning towards Vaughn and kissing his lips. He kissed her back, and when they parted, he gently placed his hand on her cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you," Sydney echoed. She caught his hand as he pulled away. "I'm gonna go up to the door. Will you bring Ava?"
The couple glanced into the backseat where their daughter sat in a car seat, sleeping soundly, her honey curls glowing in the sunlight streaming through the rear windows.
"Yeah, I'll get her," Vaughn said quietly. "Go ahead." He nodded to Sydney and she smiled at him before opening the car door and climbing out, once again squinting up at the house. She took a moment to close the car door and straighten her gauzy summer dress before striding confidently across the lush, green lawn toward the front door.
Her feet on the welcome mat, her knees slightly weak, Sydney raised her hand and knocked, swallowing hard. The waiting seemed endless, and she occupied herself with scanning the outside of the home, noting to herself that nothing much had changed. After a minute or two, she knocked again, and then moved to a front window a few feet away to peer inside.
What Sydney could see of the interior looked the same to her, as well, and her heart skipped a beat at the familiar sight. Suddenly she was eager to go inside, to reconnect with parts of her past life, to touch things in the place that had once been her safe haven from a crazy, heart-breaking world. She was disappointed to see no movement within the house, but she thought she could hear faint music as she pulled back from the window.
Turning towards the street, Sydney waved to Vaughn as he got out of the drivers seat and walked around to the passenger side of the car to retrieve Ava from her car seat.
"I'm going around back," Sydney called, pointing toward the side of the house. Vaughn nodded that he understood, and Sydney walked off, finding the narrow track of grass between the house and the property line. She followed it, the music growing louder the closer she came to the backyard.
Rounding the corner of the house, Sydney stopped in her tracks. Along the back porch was a wide flowerbed full of blooming plants, each one beautiful. Sydney couldn't help but smile; she had always wanted to plant there but had never found the time. It was obvious that someone else had, however, and Sydney's eyes quickly fell upon her as she kneeled in the grass, reaching in between the plants to extract weeds and fallen blooms.
Francie Calfo grabbed one last handful of weeds and then leaned back on her heels, dropping the unwanted plants into a yard waste bag at her side. She then reached up through the rungs of the porch railing and turned off the radio. The intermittent static was beginning to annoy her. Returning to the flowerbed, content with the sudden quiet, she was unaware that someone stood behind her, watching as she worked.
"In all the time I've known you, I've never suspected that you have a green thumb."
Francie snapped her head up from her work, startled at first by the voice behind her and then even more surprised that it was a voice she recognized. She stopped short of turning around, drawing in a sharp breath, trying to decide if what she'd heard was real. It was almost too good to be true.
Slowly, Francie turned her head. "Sydney?!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Oh my god! Sydney!" In an instant, Francie was on her feet and rushing to engulf her in a hug.
Sydney couldn't stop grinning, even when her cheeks began to ache. She threw her arms around Francie and held on tight, warmth spreading from her heart through her whole body.
By the time they parted, both women were in tears. They pulled back just far enough to get a good look, their eyes resting on each other's faces as they tried hard to continue smiling through the onslaught of tears.
"Oh, Francie," Sydney sighed, grasping her hands. "It's so good to see you," She said, her chin quivering. "I almost can't believe it."
"I thought you were never coming back," Francie confessed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's been so long. I was so afraid-" She couldn't go on, emotion overwhelming her. Sydney pulled her into another hug, and that was how they stood as the back door of the house opened and Will Tippin walked out onto the porch.
"Hey, Fran," He called, not looking up from a notebook he held in his hands. "I think I found something. Wait until you hear-" At that moment, he raised his eyes and stopped cold, his voice catching in his throat. The notebook hit the porch with a loud slap as Will abandoned it and bounded out into the grass, taking the steps two at a time.
"Sydney!" He shouted, reaching her just as Francie pulled back, allowing Will to sweep Sydney into his arms. He nearly crushed her, hugging her tightly as she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his and placing a kiss on his stubbled cheek.
"Will," Sydney breathed his name, the familiarity of his arms putting long lost pieces inside of her back into place. She couldn't stop smiling, the sight of her two dearest friends the most wonderful thing she had seen in a very long time.
"Sydney," Will said again, her name sweet like candy on his tongue. "When did you get here? I can't believe you're here. This is so great!" His words came rapid-fire, helpless to stop them. "This is unbelievable," He turned to Francie. "Did you know she was coming?"
"No, she just showed up," Francie was still wiping tears from her eyes, smiling at them both, her heart filled to nearly overflowing.
Sydney was about to say something when Vaughn appeared around the corner of the house, Ava riding high in his arms. Will and Francie looked up at him, dumbstruck, their mouths hanging open.
"Mama!" Ava declared, opening her arms wide as Vaughn grew near.
Sydney reached out and took her daughter into her arms and then turned back to her friends, nearly laughing outright at their amazed expressions. Motioning back towards Vaughn, she began to introduce them all.
"Michael, this is Francie Calfo. Francie, this is my husband, Michael Vaughn," Sydney paused as Vaughn and Francie shook hands, exchanging pleasant greetings. "And Will, you know Vaughn, but neither of you have met our daughter," Sydney shifted Ava from one hip to the other. "This is Ava Miette Vaughn," She then looked into Ava's eyes and pointed to her friends before saying, in French, "Ava, this is mama's friend Francie and mama's friend Will."
Francie and Will smiled at each other before turning to Ava, smiling brightly. In turn, they shook her hand, saying hello. She grinned broadly, showing off her tiny teeth before letting out with a loud bellow, throwing all of her small, two-year-old body into it.
"Bonjour!"
Francie and Will laughed, watching as Sydney set a squirming Ava onto the grass. She paused for a moment to get her bearings, then she took off, running as fast as her little legs would take her. Vaughn grinned at the group and then took off after her to make sure she didn't get into any trouble.
"She's two, what can I say," Sydney shrugged, watching them go. When she turned back to her friends, she drew in a sharp breath when she realized that Francie was crying again. "Fran," Sydney said gently. "What is it?"
"I'm so happy for you, Syd," Francie said, reaching out to grasp Sydney's hand. "It's everything you wanted, isn't it?"
Sydney just nodded, suddenly unable to speak, a sizeable lump in her throat.
"We missed you, Syd," Will said, his blue eyes bright as he lightly rested a hand on her shoulder. "But if this is the payoff for missing you, then I'd gladly do it again, in a heartbeat. It's easy to see how happy you are."
Sydney let the tears spill over and run down her cheeks as both Francie and Will pulled her close, the three of them clinging to each other as emotions ran strong and deep. Finally pulling back, Sydney wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"So," She said brightly, attempting to change the subject so she could get a handle on her feelings. "How are you two?" Looking from Francie to Will, she raised her eyebrows in question, a thought occurring to her. "Wait, Will, are you still living here?"
Will laughed. "Yes, I am," He replied, sliding an arm around Francie's shoulders. "Francie can't bear not having a man around the house," He joked.
"That's partially true," Francie said, looking sideways at Will. "The other part is this," She raised her left hand to show Sydney a diamond ring. "Will and I are getting married."
"Oh my god!" Sydney clamped both hands over her mouth. "You guys really have to stop this," She demanded teasingly, new tears rimming her eyes. "My eyes are really starting to itch. I don't want to cry anymore!" She hugged them both again, then pulled back to examine the ring. "This is lovely," She praised. "How did this happen?"
"Well," Francie said, grinning slyly. "We were already shacking up, so we decided to make something out of it."
The three friends laughed, and Will shook his head. "That's not exactly how it happened," He said, grinning as he took Francie's hand into his and kissed it. Sydney just sighed, her heart full. She couldn't believe she had been nervous about this reunion; it was proving to be nothing but wonderful.
Vaughn and Ava soon returned to the small group, Ava now content in her father's arms as she gazed around the backyard and at the faces of the new people she had met. Pointing up towards a nearby tree, she began to talk in French, her little girl voice sweet and melodic.
"What's she saying?" Will asked, following Ava's outstretched arm and gazing up at the treetop.
"There's a bird in the tree," Sydney explained. "She's asking why. It's her new favorite question. She asks why about everything."
"Does she speak English?" Francie wanted to know.
"A little," Vaughn answered, smiling as his daughter grasped his cheeks in her tiny hands and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose before turning her attention to the flowers in the dirt. She pointed at them and chattered excitedly. "Flowers," Vaughn said to her in carefully pronounced English. "Can you say flowers?"
As father and daughter worked on this, Francie turned back to Sydney, lightly touching her arm. "Unless you've already gotten a hotel or something, Will and I would love it if you'd stay here tonight."
"Yeah, that's be great," Will put in, nodding. "We've got the extra space. Your old bedroom, in fact."
"Are you sure?" Sydney questioned. "Ava can really be fussy sometimes, especially when she's tired."
"So she takes after her mother?" Francie teased, ducking as Sydney took a playful swat at her.
"I've missed your sense of humor," Sydney confessed before sighing deeply. "Who am I kidding?" She said. "I've missed you. We'd love to stay here."
That having been decided, Vaughn handed Ava off to Sydney before he and Will went to gather the luggage from the minivan. After they were gone, Francie, Sydney and Ava went into the house. For the next several minutes, as Will and Vaughn carried in suitcases, Sydney helped Francie "baby proof" the house, moving any and all breakable or dangerous objects up to high shelves or hiding them away in cabinets. When they had finished, Vaughn took Ava to change her while Sydney and Will set about putting fresh sheets on the bed in Sydney's old bedroom.
Knowing that Francie was out of earshot, busy in the kitchen mixing a fresh pitcher of lemonade, Sydney glanced up at Will as together they unfolded a fitted sheet and started to put it on the mattress.
"Will," She said. "I'm really pleased about you and Francie. It surprised me, but I'm really glad."
Will smiled, using his hand to smooth wrinkles from the sheet. "It surprised us, too," He confessed. "One night were making soup in the kitchen together, and we were talking about relationships, and then - boom. It just happened. We kissed. And then the rest, well, it just all fell into place." He tossed a pillowcase across the bed to Sydney. "We've been together for about a year and a half."
Sydney watched Will carefully, remembering the last night she saw him, remembering things he had said as they exchanged a tearful goodbye. "So," She said quietly. "The torch has been extinguished?"
Will looked up, his blue eyes shining. "No, Syd," He replied, fully aware of what she meant. "It hasn't gone out. It's just been passed."
Sydney smiled brightly at that, dropping the pillow in her hands and moving around the end of the bed to pull Will into a hug. He held her tightly, grateful for her return, thankful to share these special things with her.
Francie called out from the kitchen, her voice floating in to them from the hallway. "Did you find the extra set of sheets, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, we're good in here," Will called back, releasing Sydney from the hug as she tried to hide a chuckle. "What?" He asked, puzzled.
"I don't know if I'll ever get used to her calling you sweetheart," Sydney said, grinning.
Will smiled back. "This is a good day. You should hear what she calls me on a bad day."
The first pillow swat was unexpected, landing squarely on Will's head. He laughed outright and grabbed a pillow, too, whapping Sydney's back as she turned to run, giggling devilishly. The fight was on, and they were chasing each other around the room, shouting with delight, the air full of the sound of pillows finding their target. It wasn't long before the noise drew Francie into the room, and she joined the fray, grabbing an extra pillow from the closet as Sydney and Will attacked her from behind.
Hearing the noise from the next room, Vaughn quickly finished diapering Ava and scooped her up into his arms before walking down the hall to peer into the bedroom where an all-out pillow war was on. Ava took in the sight with wide eyes before giggling and calling out in French.
Hearing her daughter's voice, Sydney dropped to the floor in a fit of laughter as Vaughn leaned in the doorway, grinning.
"That's right, Ava," He said. "They sure are silly."
As Vaughn watched Sydney try to defend herself against the tag-team attack of her two best friends, it was clear to him then, for the first time, all that she had sacrificed to be with him. He turned away, hugging Ava tight as his heart overflowed with love for his wife, her screams and laughter echoing behind him.
The white, windowless van moved expertly through the noontime traffic on the streets of Los Angeles. In the back, Vaughn and Sydney leaned forward to see through the windshield, curiosity causing them to nearly slip off the front of their seats. Between them, Ava rode soundlessly in her car seat, chewing on a graham cracker, her eyes darting around the inside of the dark van.
In the passenger seat, in a dark blue suit and striped tie, Eric Weiss looked back over his shoulder, his dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
"We're almost there," He smiled. "How's she doing?" He nodded toward Ava, who looked back at him like she'd never seen sunglasses before, her eyes wide and curious.
"She's good," Vaughn answered, smiling down at his daughter. "I think that graham cracker is doing the trick."
"She actually likes car rides," Sydney explained, reaching down to smooth Ava's curls back from her face. "We didn't have a car in France. It's a new experience, and she's fascinated by it."
"That's cool, Ava," Weiss reached back to shake one of her hands. "I'm fascinated by it, too."
The van started to slow as the driver, a CIA courier, made a series of turns and finally ended up in what appeared to be a service tunnel leading underneath a freeway overpass. At the end of the tunnel, where there seemed to be nothing but a brick wall, the driver stopped and picked up a hand- held walkie-talkie.
"Delivery Boy requesting entry."
There was a crackle, then static before a voice sounded back. "Delivery Boy, security scan complete. Proceed with entry."
Vaughn and Sydney glanced at each other, exchanging tight smiles as the brick wall before the van lifted like a garage door and the van continued on. After another series of turns, they drove down a short ramp and entered the CIA operations center parking garage. The driver pulled the van to a stop near a pair of elevators and turned to Agent Weiss.
"It's all yours from here."
"Thanks, man," Weiss clapped a hand to his shoulder before turning to Sydney and Vaughn in the backseat. "Let's go, kids. You, too, Ava," He grinned and climbed out of the car. After sliding open the rear van door, Weiss helped Sydney climb out and then waited while Vaughn removed Ava from her car seat and lifted her into Sydney's arms. Once Vaughn exited the vehicle, Weiss closed the door and the van continued on, leaving the garage the same way it had come in.
Waiting for the elevator, Ava in her arms, Sydney turned to Weiss with an expression of concern.
"Weiss," She said, patting Ava's back as the child stirred, restless. "Are you sure we're not getting you into any trouble?"
"No, not at all," Weiss waved away her question, shaking his head. "I had to pull a couple of strings, but really, it's fine." He smiled at her then, a genuine show of pleasure. "It's good to see you guys," He said. "Really good."
Vaughn reached over and nudged Weiss's arm with his fist, grinning broadly.
"We missed you, too," He said before he suddenly sobered, his smile fading. "We want to thank you-"
"Stop," Weiss interrupted. "I'm not letting you do that, especially since I know you would've done the same for me." As the elevator doors opened, he reached in to hold them with his hand while stepping aside to let Sydney and Vaughn pass.
"Even so," Sydney said quietly. "Thank you, Eric."
Weiss looked away from them, pressing the button inside the elevator, watching the doors close. He was uncomfortable with praise and he could sense it in their gratitude, wrapped up in the center of Sydney's warm show of appreciation. Weiss cleared his throat, pushing the thoughts from his head. He had helped them because they were his friends. In his opinion, accepting credit for that was wrong.
When they reached the ground level, the elevator doors opened and the small group walked out into the main corridor that led to the ops center. Sydney's heart began to pound as they continued on, the familiar sights and smells nearly overwhelming her. In her arms, Ava was silent, her eyes wide as she craned her neck to look up at the light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
They soon entered the heart of the ops center, the central room where agents worked at computer terminals as phones rang and fax machines beeped and whirred. Many of the agents didn't pay attention to the new arrivals, their eyes steady on their work. Across the room, however, one agent stood slowly as he watched the small group move to the center of the room.
Sydney had just handed a squirming Ava to Vaughn when she looked up to see a familiar face approach. It took her a moment, but Sydney finally placed him and her face broke into a wide smile.
"Agent Gelman!" She greeted him warmly, ignoring his outstretched hand and pulling him straight into a hug. When they parted, Vaughn shook his hand and quickly introduced him to their daughter.
"It's good to see you," Gelman told them. "I never got the chance to properly thank you for helping me after what happened in London."
Sydney couldn't stop the tears that sprang to her eyes as she recalled the incident at Heathrow that had been the catalyst for her departure two and a half years ago. Confronted with it for the first time, she turned away from the group, covering her mouth with her hand. It was clear to her then that even with all that she was feeling, being back in LA, it was really only the tip of the iceberg of her emotions.
Vaughn gave her a sympathetic smile before turning back to Gelman. "There's no need to thank us, Gelman. It never would've happened it we-"
"You saved my life," Gelman interrupted pointedly. "That's all I remember about that day."
Vaughn dropped his head, gazing down at the floor, unable to find words. He was moved that Gelman was expressing gratitude when he had every right to express anger instead.
"It's good to see you," Vaughn finally managed, meeting Gelman's eyes. Gelman just smiled and shook Vaughn's hand again before wishing them well and returning to his desk. Vaughn reached out to Sydney then, sliding his arm around her waist and squeezing her against him as she finally got her emotions under control.
"Would you like to say hello to another old friend?" A deep voice said behind them, causing them to turn around.
"Dixon," Sydney made no attempt to hold back her tears then, inwardly declaring it a lost cause. She hesitated, watching Dixon's eyes. He regarded her cautiously before finally taking a step forward, his arms outstretched.
Vaughn squeezed Ava tight as he watched his wife collapse in Dixon's embrace, her tears coming fast, a sob escaping her lips. Dixon slowly rubbed her back, soothing her as she cried.
"I'm sorry, Dixon. I'm so sorry," She said, finally pulling back from him. She wiped her eyes with her fingers, sweeping tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "About Madrid, about lying to you, about everything."
"I'm sorry, too," Dixon said, resting a hand on Sydney's shoulder. He shook his head, a bad memory clouding his mind. "I'm still haunted by what I did that day, holding a gun on you."
"You did what you had to," Sydney assured him.
"So did you," Dixon nodded, gazing past Sydney at her husband and child. Sydney smiled, grabbing Dixon by the elbow and leading him to her family.
After a quick round of introductions, Vaughn firmly shook Dixon's hand. "Great work," Vaughn said. "Weiss detailed for us the take-down of SD-6 and the Alliance. He told us your work was instrumental in leading to the destruction of the world-wide SD cells."
Dixon smiled, humbled by Vaughn's kind words of praise. "I was only following the lead of the person who did the work before me," He nodded towards Sydney, and she just smiled, her cheeks warm.
"Hey, Syd," Weiss said suddenly, piping up behind them. When she turned, he pointed across the room to a desk covered in stacks of papers, technical manuals and various parts and pieces of gadgets and electronic equipment. In the midst of it all, an agent was bent over a computer circuit board, concentrating deeply.
Sydney and Vaughn exchanged knowing looks as Dixon chuckled. "You've got to go say hello to him," He said. "It'll be a moment he'll never forget."
Sydney broke away from the group and made her way across the room. Silently, she snuck up behind the desk and leaned way over the agent's back until her lips were next to his ear.
"Whatcha workin' on, Marshall?"
"Oh my god!" The tools flew from Marshall's hands as he sprang backwards, nearly knocking Sydney over as he swiveled his chair around. When his eyes met her face, he froze, his mouth hanging open. "Oh my god," was all he could say, followed closely by, "Wow!"
"Hi," Sydney raised her hand and waved. "How are you, Marshall?"
"How am I? You're here, somewhere you haven't been for a long time, right here in front of me, and you're asking how I am? Wow. How are you? Really, Sydney, how are you?" Marshall slowly got to his feet, still awash in disbelief. "I didn't know you were coming back. I mean, I hoped you would, and I asked about you a few times, and after I found out the truth and started working here, a month ago, by the way, a month ago today, in fact, I really hoped I'd see you again, but - wow. Just, really, wow."
Sydney couldn't help but laugh as she pulled Marshall into a hug. He was amazed by this and melted into her arms slowly, his eyes even wider than before.
"It's good to see you," Sydney said, smiling again as they parted. "How are you adjusting to your new job?"
"It's really great," Marshall nodded enthusiastically. "The facilities are so much better. And I have access to the coolest stuff, really. Here, let me show you-"
"Marshall," Dixon appeared at Sydney's side, taking her gently by the elbow. "I'll bring her back around later, all right?"
Marshall was disappointed, his face falling. "Oh," He said quietly. "Oh, sure, Dixon, yeah, that'd be great. I'll be right here, working away. Just right over here."
Sydney cast him a sympathetic smile as she followed Dixon back across the room. Vaughn and Weiss were joking around together, Vaughn's hand locked securely around Ava's. She was on the floor, pulling against him in an effort to get free, whining quietly when her attempts proved unsuccessful.
Sydney joined them and scooped Ava up into her arms, supporting her on one hip as she turned towards her husband. "Marshall was glad to see me," She said as Dixon laughed outright, quickly joined by Weiss.
"That's the understatement of the year, I'm sure," Weiss shook his head. "It's a good thing Kendall had already retired before Marshall started working here. Kendall would have probably taken his head off."
Everyone in the group chuckled at this, even Ava, wanting to join in the fun. Sydney shifted her from one hip to the next as she took the diaper bag from Vaughn and dug inside it for another graham cracker.
"Speaking of Kendall," She said, handing the treasure to Ava, her little eyes lighting up. "Have they named his successor yet? It seems like it's taking forever. Kendall has been retired for six months."
"There was an interim guy," Weiss replied after glancing briefly at Dixon. "But he came on the scene before the SD-6 take-down, and the pressure proved to be too much. Since the take-down, after a big campaign by Devlin, Kendall's permanent replacement was finally chosen just two weeks ago."
"If you'll follow me," Dixon stepped in, motioning to Sydney and Vaughn. "I'll introduce you to him."
Vaughn and Sydney looked at each other and shrugged. It all seemed so official, the introduction, the way Dixon escorted them across the room and into a short corridor just outside the door that led to the office previously occupied by Kendall. As she stood there, waiting, Sydney was struck by a sense of deja vu, her mind slipping back to the day so long ago when she had confronted Kendall. She was struck by the memory, wondering suddenly if she had ever apologized.
Three of the office walls were glass, and the person within had chosen to pull the vertical blinds for privacy. Dixon went up to the door and knocked lightly before turning back to Sydney and Vaughn.
Weiss stood behind them, his hands clasped as he rocked back on his heels, a self-satisfied grin on his face. Dixon was smiling, as well, a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes.
"Sydney, Michael," Dixon nodded at each of them. "It's my pleasure to introduce to you," He paused, turning towards the office door as it opened. "The new Assistant Director, Head of Special Operations, Jack Bristow."
Sydney let out a shocked gasp as her father walked through the door and stepped into the corridor, smiling. After handing Ava to Vaughn, Sydney went to him and they hugged, embracing tightly.
"You didn't tell me, Dad," Sydney said accusingly. "We spoke on the phone not too long ago and you didn't mention it."
Jack pulled back from his daughter. "It didn't become official until yesterday," He explained, looking into her dark eyes. "And I knew you'd be here within a month. This way I was able to see your reaction."
Sydney grinned. "I hope it was worth it," She said.
"It's always worth it when I get to see your face," Jack affectionately squeezed her arm.
"I'm gonna cry, really," Weiss teased, pulling a handkerchief from his back pocket and dabbing at his eyes. "This is too much, you guys. It's just too much."
"Some things never change," Vaughn groaned. Leaning close to Ava's ear, he whispered something to her, his eyes on Weiss's questioning face. Ava pulled back to look at her father, hesitating only a moment before turning to Weiss with a giggle, her eyes bright.
The sentence she spoke in perfect French instantly sent everyone but Weiss into a gale of laughter. Even Jack let loose, a guffaw escaping before he had the sense to quiet it, remembering the room full of CIA agents no more than three feet away.
Weiss looked at each of them in turn, his eyes wide. "What?" He demanded. "C'mon, guys, that's not fair. French is like the one language that I don't know. What did she say?"
Instead of an answer, he was only met with more laughter when Ava suddenly reached out and grabbed both of Weiss's lips in one of her pudgy hands. With the other, she lifted a finger to her mouth and forcefully admonished, "Shhhhh!"
A few minutes later, after everyone had calmed down, Weiss and Dixon went back to their desks, leaving Sydney and Vaughn to spend time with Jack. They sat in his office and talked while Ava played on the floor, crawling around underneath Jack's large mahogany desk.
Jack watched her, smiling to himself as Sydney and Vaughn discussed their flight, the reunion with Will and Francie, and their tentative plans for the future.
"Have you decided to stay?" Jack asked, reaching under the desk to pull Ava into his arms. She didn't fight him, choosing instead to snuggle against him, laying her head on his shoulder. Jack gently stroked her back, her silken curls soft against his cheek. He looked like a man utterly smitten, and Sydney couldn't tear her eyes away.
"Yes," She said softly, sliding her hand into Vaughn's as he reached out to her. There was no other answer she could give, seeing her daughter and her father together. It would be wrong to separate them, to keep Jack from being a part of Ava's life, and she a part of his. Sydney remembered her father's advice and knew she had to give Ava the one thing she herself had not had: the opportunity to grow up knowing Jack Bristow.
As if he could read Sydney's thoughts, Jack raised his eyes and communicated gratitude through his smile. He held Ava closer, feeling her back rise and fall with each breath she took, her hands gripping the fabric of Jack's suit coat. Jack rested his chin against the top of her head and looked up again at Sydney and Vaughn, taking a deep breath before he spoke.
"Your mother has been asking about Ava," He said quietly. He phrased it carefully, but Sydney knew what he meant. Vaughn did, too, and he looked away, his eyes darting around the room as his pulse raced. He had known this would come up and he had tried to prepare himself for it, but the dilemma raging inside his head was not easily diffused.
Vaughn felt Sydney squeeze his hand, but he did not acknowledge her as he stared hard at the floor, trying to make sense of his feelings. How could he explain to Sydney the thoughts he did not understand himself? Ava had one grandfather but not the other because of the actions of one of her grandmothers. It sounded like the plot of a bad made-for-TV movie or a word problem encountered in a perverted math textbook.
Finally turning to look into Sydney's eyes, Vaughn felt his resolve give way to reason. How could he have asked her to sacrifice so much over the past two years and not be willing to sacrifice, as well? It might have felt good to deny Irina Derevko access to her granddaughter, but it wouldn't change the past. The only thing it would change is the way Sydney viewed him, as a man who chose to hurt her and deny their daughter a chance to understand the legacy with which she was entrusted.
His thoughts finally clear, Vaughn spoke up, his eyes never leaving Sydney's face.
"We should take Ava to her."
Sydney drew in a sharp breath, holding back tears. She reached up to touch Vaughn's face before leaning in to kiss him, their lips brushing lightly as Jack busied himself with Ava, rising up from the leather desk chair with her in his arms.
Silently, Sydney and Vaughn followed as Jack led the way out of his office and across the busy ops center. As they neared the guarded doorway that led to Irina's cell, Jack turned and handed Ava to Sydney. Meeting her eyes, he lightly touched her arm before backing away and nodding to the security agent at the door.
As they passed into the corridor, Sydney heard Vaughn take in a deep breath as the metal gates began to rise. She glanced up at him once before putting Ava down, holding her hand. The child took a few tentative steps beside her mother, watching the dark tile beneath her feet, uncertain of her surroundings. Growing more steady and sure of herself, she pulled ahead, straining against Sydney's grasp.
She let go of Ava's hand as the last gate thudded into place in the ceiling above their heads. Sydney and Vaughn then stood back, holding hands and watching as their daughter, the life they had created, toddled on ahead.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * fini * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: Well, this is it. I'm a little sad the journey has come to an end, but I hope it was worth the trip.
Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed or is about to review as soon as you're done reading this (please?!) - your kind words have been a genuine encouragement to me and I appreciate every and all opinions. You all rock - especially the rabid Alias fans who may have let me get away with a stray detail or two.
One more thing before I return to waiting for the next plot bunny attack: I believe that one of the many things that make Alias such a great show is the music. I enjoy the "mood music" almost as much as the story and dialogue. Because of that, I like to have music play a large part of my creative process. Long story short: I'm a bit of a geek, and that has led me to actually put together a soundtrack for this story. It's a bunch of songs that I used to put me in the writing mood and help me keep the tone and pace of the story. For all those who have just read that and now think that I am crazy, you can stop reading now. For the rest of you who might be slightly intrigued, I invite you to come along and be a geek with me: email me (my address is in my profile) and I'll forward you my "A Thousand Oceans" soundtrack list.
Enough of me - thanks again for reading.