A/N: I am so so so so so so so very sorry for the impossibly long wait between chapters. I had this chapter half written like forever ago, but I never had the time or energy to update it. I hope you'll all forgive me… *makes pouty face.* Anyhoo, that's all I really have to say right now, but be sure to review, enjoy, and I'll post the next chapter when I get the chance.
xoxox Blondie
PS – I saw the movie Down With Love last night, I highly recommend it – it was freaking hilarious. I'm seeing it again tonight! Ewan McGregor is HOT!!
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WELCOME BACK VAUGHN
CHAPTER 6 – those horrible mesh t-shirts
"Hi! How can I help you?" A very perky woman whose name tag said Marci Kay asked, sitting behind a table.
"Ummm, is this where I get my name tag?" Michael asked, looking at the table.
"Yes it is. And what is your name?" She looked at a sheet of paper in front of her.
"Michael Vaughn."
And once Michael said those 2 words, everyone around turned to where he was standing and gasped.
Sydney could hear people around them start murmuring.
"He actually came?"
"Is that really him?"
"What's he doing here?"
"Is he wearing a suit?"
"He looks so different!"
Michael took his name tag from Marci and said his thanks. He took Sydney's hand and they walked to the gym. People moved aside as they walked, Sydney glancing around in confusion.
"Yo James!" Some one yelled from across the gymnasium.
Michael turned around and laughed. "Hey Matt." The two men shook hands.
I'm sorry. James?" Sydney asked. She could hear Weiss laughing over the comm-link.
"Yeah. Old Mikey here was quite the rebel, so his friends called him James, as in James Dean."
Sydney burst out laughing. "You? A rebel?" She laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes.
"What?" Michael asked.
"Sorry hun, you just don't seem the rebellious type." She wiped away the tears and tried to catch her breath, but started to laugh again.
"Hey! I told you I've changed!" Michael exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. I don't think we've been introduced." Matt interjected. "I'm Matt Thomas. I was on the hockey team with Vaughn here."
Sydney finally stopped laughing. "Sydney Vaughn." They shook hands.
"So, James finally got hitched, eh?" Matt winked. "Or is this a gorgeous sister I never knew about…"
Michael lightly punched Matt. "Nah. Syd and I met at work, and we got married about 5 months ago."
"So, ummm, how much of a rebel was my dear old hubby?" Sydney asked, smiling mischievously. She could still hear Weiss laughing in her ear.
"Well…" Matt paused to think. "He was the guy that cut a lot of class, was always really late when he would show up, was never in uniform – usually wearing a leather jacket and ripped jeans, with those horrible mesh t-shirts, he rode a motorcycle, smoked various substances in the washrooms, he told our math teacher to f*** off, and egged his car…"
"Whoa. You smoked?" Sydney asked.
"Hey. I was a teen in the 80s!" He exclaimed, as though that explained it all. "I quit in college."
"And you told a teacher to f*** off?"
"Again, I've told you that I've changed."
"And you wore mesh t-shirts?" Sydney started to laugh hysterically again.
"That was…" He trailed off and paused. "That I can't explain."
"So tell me more about Michael in high school." Sydney said to Matt after she stopped laughing.
"Well, old James here was quite the ladies man…"
"Really…?" Sydney smiled to her blushing husband.
"Oh yeah. The chicks seemed to dig the whole mysterious rebel thing."
Sydney and Michael could hear Weiss snort over the comm-link.
"So, what do you do for a living now Matt?" Michael asked, trying to change the subject.
"I work at a computer manufacturer. How bout you? Did you ever get to…?"
"Nah." He interrupted. "I work for the…I work for a bank."
Matt snorted. "A bank? I never thought I'd see the day when James would have that kind of job,"
"What did you think he'd do?" Sydney asked, intrigued by the new information she had on her husband.
"Well, he always said he wanted to…"
"Don't you dare Matt." Vaughn glared at his old friend.
"Oh look. Is that Brad over there? I think I'm gonna go catch up. See ya around man." Matt walked away.
"So Michael, What's this mysterious job you wanted?" Sydney smiled.
"No way. I'm not telling."
Sydney leaned into him seductively. "Oh really…?"
"Syd…" Vaughn groaned.
She batted her eyelashes at him and leaned in and whispered in his ear "Please…"
"I… it's too embarrassing."
"Honey…"
"I'll tell you at home. I don't exactly want Eric and your father to hear this."
"Okay babe."
They heard Weiss groan and start muttering 'It figures' through the comm-link.
A woman approached the couple. "Michael Vaughn?" She asked.
"Yeah…"
"Oh my god!" The woman exclaimed. "I never thought that you'd show up to this. And in a suit and without long hair nonetheless."
Sydney laughed at the thought of Vaughn with long hair, and then laughed even more when she pictured the long hair paired with a mesh t-shirt.
"Yeah, well I've changed quite a bit since high school."
"I'd say." The woman eyed him flirtatiously, which Sydney picked up on.
"Hi. I don't believe we've met. I'm Sydney Vaughn, Michael's wife."
"Oh." The woman said, obviously disappointed as she sized up Sydney, and she walked away without introducing herself.
"Man, those catholic girls really can be bitchy at times, huh babe?" Sydney asked.
But Michael was too distracted to reply. He was staring at something, someone across the room. Someone very familiar to them both.