AN: Sorry again for the late update. School was just getting in the way again. Darn thing. Anyways, enough of my ranting, enjoy the chapter! Please review!!!!!

Thanks for betaing my fic, Michelle and thanks to everyone for the patience and reviews!!

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Chapter 10

Vaughn's POV

It couldn't hurt, right? Yeah, right.

"Sure, Sydney. Come in." Vaughn stepped to the side and let Sydney in. As she walked past him, he could smell the light scent of her lavender perfume. It was so intoxicating to him that he had trouble concentrating for a moment. When Vaughn turned around, Sydney was sitting on the bed. Deciding it was probably best to keep his distance, he took a seat in the chair near the window.

"So what's troubling you?"

"There was this man that came to my cell a couple of times during the few days that I was there. The first time he visited me, he told me that my mother had told him a lot about me. He said my mother worked with him. That she used to be a KGB agent."

"Sydney..." Vaughn looked down at his hands. He didn't know what to say. Vaughn assumed that since Irina hadn't wanted Sydney to know about who she really was, Sydney didn't know anything about her mother's secret. Obviously, he was wrong.

"Was there something you didn't tell me, Michael?"

"Sydney, I really shouldn't be the one to tell you this. You should really talk to your father first."

"It's true, isn't it?" Sydney's voice was breaking and her eyes were filling with tears. Her question really didn't need an answer. Sydney already knew the truth. They were both quiet for awhile before Sydney spoke again.

"Did you see her?"

"Yes." Vaughn didn't want to look up. If he did, he felt like his heart would shatter as soon as he saw the pain in her soft, brown eyes.

"What did she say?" Her voice was barely above a whisper now.

"She talked about my father and how she didn't want you to know about her."

"God, all this time, my image of her has been a fake. She was never a school teacher or a mother. She was just someone doing her job. She wasn't even a good person. She probably didn't even love me." Sydney was sobbing now. Her body seemed to shake from her sobs. Vaughn got up from his chair and sat down on the bed next to her. He wrapped his arm around her and tried to wipe her tears away. No one should ever have to go through something like this. Why did life have to be so cruel to this beautiful, kind woman? The saying "Life is not fair" really applies in this case.

"Don't say that, Syd. How anyone not love you?" Sydney gave a tear-filled bitter laugh.

"My father doesn't."

"What are you talking about, Sydney? Of course he does. Your father's a complicated man. You know that. "Ever since your mother... left, he just didn't know how to express his emotions. I think it's just better for him to keep his distance like that."

Sydney sniffed. "I guess you're right. Oh, I'm sorry, Mike. I got your shirt all wet."

Vaughn looked at his shirt and gave a small laugh. "It's okay, Sydney." He reached out and tucked a stray strand of Sydney's hair behind her ear.

Before Vaughn knew what was happening, Sydney was kissing him. It felt like Graduation night all over again. This time though, it was him who had to stop. As much as he wanted to continue kissing Sydney, it wasn't fair to Alice. Vaughn also thought that Sydney didn't really want this. She was just vulnerable right now and he wasn't about to take advantage of that. He finally pulled away.

"What's wrong?"

Vaughn sighed. "This is wrong, Sydney. You don't want this, not right now."

"How do you know what I want?"

"Look, Syd. We can't do this. I have a girlfriend."

Sydney's POV

She didn't really comprehend what he had said at first, but when it hit her, it hit her like a brick. He had a girlfriend? Sydney felt like a fool. Of course, he had a girlfriend. Did she really think he would wait for her forever? Sydney had moved on. She had even gotten engaged. It should be no surprise that Vaughn had a girlfriend, but it was. Sydney just wasn't expecting it.

"Oh, I see." She started to get up from the bed. It was wrong for her to come here. Not only did she know the truth about her mother now(a truth she would have been better off not knowing), but she got too close to someone she shouldn't be getting close to. Even though they were friends before, it would be dangerous for them to get emotionally attached now. It was also against protocol. God, she sounded like she was trying to convince herself of this.

"Sydney.."

"No, no, I understand. I think I'm going to leave now. Our flight's early tomorrow and I should probably try to get some sleep."

"Please don't leave upset, Syd."

"I'm not upset. Why would I be upset? You have every right to have a girlfriend. It's not like we were involved or anything."

"Yeah." Sydney didn't look at Vaughn for fear she would burst out crying again. She opened the door to the room and walked out calling a good night behind her. Good night. What was that actually? Sydney didn't think she had had a good night in a long, long time. Most of her nights were spent either on a mission or twist and turning trying to get some sleep. Sydney was happy when she was able to get five hours of sleep. God, she felt like everything that came out of her mouth was a lie. Did she even know what truth and honesty was anymore? Sydney just wasn't sure. Everything in her life just seemed to keep going downhill. First Danny, then her mother, and now Vaughn. Would life ever be normal for her again? Would she ever be truly happy?

She went inside her hotel room and laid on the bed. Grabbing a pillow, she buried her head in it and cried herself to sleep. Maybe things would look brighter in the morning.