Business To Take Care Of
Irina told Jack roughly the same story she'd just told Emily, and while she enjoyed Jack's reaction-- while Emily's face had showed quiet, if incredulous, acceptance, Jack's eyes flashed anger and disgust-- she had to admit, her heart wasn't really into the telling of the story. Seeing her grandchildren again had caused a flood of memories she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to relive.
She thought of a day, nearly twenty years ago, when she'd led Sydney and Michael, newlyweds just home from their honeymoon, through the house they would live in for the next decade.
"What's the matter, Sydney?" Irina asked, noting the hesitation on her daughter's face. No doubt she was still wondering what her mother was up to. Still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"It's-- nothing, Mother," Sydney responded, the hesitation clear in her voice, as well. "It just seems a little-- big. Four bedrooms?"
"Well," Irina said, smiling from Sydney to Michael and back again. "Maybe you'll fill those rooms one day, hmm?"
Sydney grinned almost in spite of herself, turning to face Michael. "What do you think, baby?" she purred, touching his cheek tenderly. "Do you want three children?"
"Mmm," he responded, pulling her close to him. "Two, at least. A boy and a girl."
They'd started filling those rooms not two years later, and Irina had visited them at the hospital, entering the room to find Sydney and Michael both nestled into her bed, cooing over the precious infant in front of them.
"Well, now," Irina said gently. "Is that my beautiful grandson?"
"Isn't he perfect, Mom?" Sydney asked warmly.
"He's gorgeous," Irina agreed. "Can I hold him?"
"Of course," Sydney said.
Irina took the infant in her arms, staring down at his sweet little face. "He's an absolute angel," she declared. "Have you thought of a name?"
Sydney and Michael shared a quick, troubled glance. "We--" Sydney said, the old hesitation returning to her voice. "We were thinking about Jack."
Irina looked down at the boy, thinking of the first Jack, the Jack that had been hers, if only for a short time. He was a man who was strong and fiercely unemotional, but could be quite warm and caring when it suited him. Though Irina had been forced to break his heart, to completely ruin him, she truly had been fond of him. "It's perfect," she decided.
Michael and Sydney both looked up at her, smiles flashing across both of their faces, though not before Irina noticed the quick, though clearly visible, gleam of hatred in Michael's eyes. Sometimes she catches the same gleam in Sydney's. Not today. Today Sydney absolutely beams at her. Everything is perfect in her universe, and she has accepted that her mother is part of that universe.
Michael had smiled at her like that, too, though not till later. Not till after Emily was born.
"Michael," she said with a smile as he opened the door to the Vaughn family home. After weeks of wondering if little Emily would even make it, the doctors had finally allowed her parents to take her home. The look on Michael's face told Irina that the man couldn't have been happier.
"Hello, Irina," he responded, surprising her by kissing her cheek.
"It must be wonderful to have your little family home together," Irina observed.
Michael beamed. "It's amazing. Irina, I just wanted to thank you again for all of your help with Jack these last few weeks, and-- um-- with me," he said, looking more than a little embarrassed. "I would have been useless if you hadn't gotten me to snap out of it."
"Well, you certainly had cause to be worried," Irina noted, feeling something very close to adoration for the man who loved her daughter so much that the thought of losing her had nearly destroyed him. "But I'm glad you were able to stay strong for Jack."
"Yeah, well," Michael said, face flushing. "Thank you again for your help."
"It was my pleasure, darling," Irina said, giving his arm a reassuring pat. "Now. Why don't you let me say hello to my new grandchild?"
"Of course," Michael said, leading her into the kitchen.
"Grammy!" Jack cried, flinging his little four-year-old body at his grandmother.
"Good morning, darling," Irina said with a smile.
"Hi, Mom," Sydney said, an easy smile crossing her own face. Like Michael, she looked nearly deliriously happy. Nestled in her arms was the loveliest little girl Irina had ever seen, with the possible exception of Sydney.
"Hi, sweetheart," Irina responded, crossing the room to press a kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "That's a beautiful little girl you have there."
"Isn't she, though?" Sydney replied, beaming. "Would you like to hold her?"
"Of course," Irina said, allowing Sydney to deposit the infant into her arms as she rose from her chair.
"Emily just had her breakfast," Sydney announced. "What do you want for yours, Jack?"
"I can have anything?" he asked, green eyes gleaming.
"Anything," Sydney responded with a grin.
"Chocolate chip pancakes," Jack said, a challenge in his eyes. Irina knew it wasn't a breakfast his mother prepared for him often.
"Chocolate chip pancakes it is," Sydney said. "Michael? Mom? Do you want chocolate chip pancakes, too?"
After breakfast, Michael whipped out a camera and played the part of the doting papa to the T, showering his new little girl with attention, all the while taking care to make sure his son felt included and his wife felt adored. As for Irina, she thought she had never seen such a caring little family, and she felt privileged to have even a little part in it. She hadn't seen such love and devotion since-- well, since she'd been with Jack Bristow.
Irina shook her head then as if to clear the thoughts from it. This was not the time for memories of happier occasions.
She had business to take care of.