2. Oranges

But the woman bent in front of him didn't answer and, for a second, Vaughn was confused. It was Sydney wasn't it? After all, that was her hair, and she was that size, and she had that jogging outfit… and it sounded exactly like her.

The woman looked up and Vaughn felt his breath catch in her throat.

My God, there's two of them.

She smiled apologetically as she handed him the remaining two oranges that had been on the ground. "I'm sorry... I don't know how that happened. I'm such a klutz." She grinned sheepishly, looking at the ground in nervousness.

Vaugh couldn't say a word. This woman in front of him... She looked almost exactly like Sydney. The amazement that there were two of them was the only thing he could think about as he dumbly accepted the oranges.

Shaking himself out of it, he put them back and smiled. "No, it's okay, really. I'm fine, the cart's fine, the food's fine, and I'm assuming your fine?"

She laughed at him a little, this guy was funny. "Yeah, I'm fine." She stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Vivian Heights."

He took it, a little more at ease with himself. "Michael Vaughn. Nice to meet you."

"Was it really?" she asked, a laugh in her voice. "I thought it might have been nicer to meet you under better circumstances."

"What? Really? No, I love meeting women by crashing carts with them in the supermarket." He grinned at her but still couldn't believe it. This woman sounded exactly like Sydney.

Vivian laughed for real this time. If she wasn't such a professional, she would have been charmed. This man was actually cute, smart, and had a good personality.

She suddenly loved her job.

"Well, then, I'm not sorry."

He wasn't sure why he felt so comfortable with a woman he had just met. Well, that was a lie. He did. It was obvious wasn't it? He felt like he was meeting and talking with Sydney.

Stop thinking that. This woman is her own person, not just someone who happens to look like Sydney. Don't even think about going on a date with her if you don't like who she really is.

He wouldn't let himself do that. Yes, he was getting a little ahead of himself by assuming that they would go on a date but he just wanted to be ready.

After all, if it happened that he went on a date, he wanted it to be because he was truly attracted to this woman and not because she was a psuedo-Sydney.

He smiled at her and looked at her again. It was strange really. How much they looked like each other. And he had read Sydney's file enough times to know that she didn't have any siblings or even any cousins and no one named Heights.

He grinned at the idea of a long-lost twin. How twisted would that be?

"Well, I have to get to the fruit section," Vivian said quickly. "It was really nice to meet you."

He grinned and watched her walking away from him. But then, he wondered why he was letting her. She wasn't Sydney. She wasn't off limits to him. And from the time he had spent with her, he thought she was nice. Beautiful of course but she had a nice personality and seemed to enjoy his humor.

So he went for it.

Rolling his cart to hers, he stopped her. "Hey, I just came from the fruit section; maybe I could show you where the best oranges are."

She laughed out loud. "Was that some sort of weird pick up line?"

He grinned as he realized exactly what he had said. "Well, I didn't plan for it to be... But I guess it kind of was. I know we just met but I'd like to get to know you a little more. Can I buy you a drink?"

She arched her eyebrow. "A drink at a cafe, a bar, or from this market?"

He laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of a restaurant."

"And I suppose you would want to buy dinner as a side dish?"

Grinning, he nodded. "You've read my mind."

Vivian smiled. Everything was going perfectly. Absolutely perfectly.

"I'd like that."

"Great. So... How can I reach you?"

Vivian pulled a pen out of her purse. "Got any paper?"

Vaughn looked down and around him quickly but came up with nothing. "I'm sorry, I don't have anything." Looking around frantically, he finally seized an orange. "Here, write it on that."

She laughed, a real laugh from the deepest part of her throat. In truth, it relaxed Vaughn a little. When she really laughed, she didn't sound like Sydney. And that lessened his worry.

"Okay..." She said, reaching for the orange.

Vivian Heights

(323) 473-6792

She handed it to him, smiling. "You know, I could have just written it on your hand."

Michael blushed. "I forgot about that option."

"Well, I'm going to get my fruit. I'll see you later."

And then she walked away, knowing that he was watching her.

This was going to be simple.

TBC...

AND????????? What do you think? Review and let me know~

Oh, and I know that a lot of you aren't liking Vivian too much but remember, you're not supposed to like her. I mean, Sydney's still around and Vivian is trying to infiltrate the CIA so why would you?

Vivian Heights is supposed to be a character you love to hate.

And if you don't, then you probably will eventually (I know she isn't really evil right now but...)

Thanks and review~

Jenn