On with chapter 12! Thanks to all my reviewers *muah* you're terrific.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* The time at the cabin had been just what the doctor ordered, even if Sydney hadn't realized how much they needed it. She and Michael had been able to really relax, sleep in, and concentrate on each other before the baby- craziness started to increase. As July moved along, Sydney's time was taken up more and more with preparations for the baby. The emergence of her belly sent her off on her first real maternity clothes shopping trip with Lisa, who spent almost the entire time talking about Eric. They had been on two dates and from what Michael had said, they were both entirely smitten with each other.
Annie had been around as well, helping paint the primer and base coat in the newly cleared out study. She would start the sewing lessons with Sydney next week so they could begin on curtains for the room. Annie had assured her that they would be a piece of cake to make, but Sydney was still a little uncertain about the whole process. It seemed ridiculously early to be working on the nursery, considering she hadn't even started the second trimester, but Sydney knew that once she headed back to school in August, there wouldn't be time for sewing curtains, painting walls, or waxing floors, the activity she found herself engaged in now.
Edging towards the door on her hands and knees, she was almost done with the second coat of wax. The radio in the kitchen was blasting out some peppy pop song that had Sydney bopping a bit as she finished the room. The music was loud enough that she hadn't heard Michael come in and she jolted in surprise when she bumped into him in the doorway.
"How long have you been there?" Sydney asked, pushing the stray hairs out of her face.
"Long enough to realize that my wife knows all the words to a boy band song, and the poor baby has no choice but to listen," he laughed. "It looks great in here. Anything I can do to help?"
"No, I'm just finishing this second coat of wax and that will only take a minute. We'll have to stay out for awhile to let it dry, so no more nursery work tonight."
"Well in that case, let me go change and then I'll get started on dinner. Anything particular you wanted tonight?" he asked Sydney. "Or you?" he said to her stomach.
Sydney patted the small bulge "Well, this one seems to always want ice cream, but we should probably eat the halibut we got before it goes bad. And I think there's still asparagus in the produce bin."
"Okay. I'll start on the fish. Why don't you finish here then take a nice shower before we eat?" He leaned in to give her kiss then headed down the hall to their bedroom.
It only took Sydney a few minutes more for the waxing to be done. She took the bucket and supplies back to the laundry room and grabbed a fresh towel from the dryer to take with her to the bathroom. Michael's suggestion for a shower was perfect and she gave a sigh as the warm water pulsed down her back. When she joined Michael in the kitchen ten minutes later, he was just pulling the fish out of the oven to check on it.
And Sydney was back out of the kitchen almost as quickly as she had entered, making a beeline for the bathroom. The scent of the fish had triggered the strongest case of 'morning' sickness she'd had in weeks. As she finished heaving, she felt Michael's hands on her back, holding her hair and rubbing soothing circles.
"Sweetie," he said, handing her a cup of water, "I thought you were done with the nausea."
Sydney leaned back against him, testing the queasiness in her stomach. "I thought so too, but one sniff of that fish and ugh! We haven't cooked halibut in a long time and I had no idea it would affect me this strongly. It sounded good in theory," she said with a small smile. Her stomach began to roll again and she shuddered against him as she willed it to settle.
"How about this," Michael suggested. "I'll bring you a cup of tea, get rid of the fish, and then we can go get whatever you'd like from take out."
"I feel bad for wasting the fish. You could take it for lunch if you wanted."
"Syd, if the smell makes you that ill, I'm not putting halibut in the refrigerator with the rest of our food. I think it's okay to toss it, just this once. If you lay down, I'll have tea for you in a minute and then we'll go get something else."
"Okay." She accepted his offered hand and rose to her feet, letting him lead her to the bed. He was back as promised with a cup of chamomile and by the time he returned so that they could leave, she was almost asleep. All the energy Sydney had felt after the shower was gone.
"Syd?" Michael leaned over her and stroked the hair that spilled across the pillow. "Why don't you stay here and rest. I'll get you whatever you want."
"Hmmm.thanks" she said, sleepiness evident in her voice as she burrowed deeper into the pillow. "We want ice cream."
"For dinner? How about Chinese? I can get mo go gai pan," Michael offered.
"No, just mint chocolate chip," Sydney said, turning over.
"Okay, honey. I'll be back in a bit." Michael kissed her cheek and left.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Alek sighed in frustration as he watched Michael's car drive away. He knew Irina considered his surveillance invaluable, but it had been weeks since they'd had any sign of Sloane. The days of watching the house and Sydney were growing very long, and if he didn't care so personally about the success of this mission, he probably would be losing his mind at the idea of another six months-at least-of this. Which is exactly why Irina sent him instead of some other operative, Alek was sure of that.
But this is the longest he'd ever spent on any mission, and being constantly attuned to Sydney when she wasn't even aware he was in the same hemisphere was getting hard too. Sometimes a bloke just wants to chat with his family, and Sydney and Irina were all he had left. Yet here he was listening to bugs he planted in Sydney's house so he could report to her mother. Sydney hated him and only knew him as Irina's little henchman. Irina loved him in her own way, but her concerns for Sydney and about Sloane precluded any real closeness with Alek. And Alek knew that his past made any kind of real life nearly impossible for him. God their family was messed up.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"So Lis, have you set a date for the wedding?" Sydney teased as they walked to the bathroom of the restaurant. They were on a double date and this 'typical girly thing', as Eric had termed it, gave Sydney time to chat with Lisa alone.
"Ha, ha. Eric and I have only been dating for three weeks," Lisa retorted. "Besides, there is no way I'm getting engaged to anyone who hasn't had the chance to meet my family-and run away screaming-first."
"Your parents are a bit crazy, but you've yet to meet Eric's clan. The Weiss's may give the Montgomery's a run for their money. You've probably already heard stories."
"Some," Lisa said as she fixed her lipstick. "But it's one thing to hear stories about the hilarity and chaos and an entirely different experience to be face to face with the whole circus. But we both care enough-or are insane enough-to try"
"Are you thinking of taking him to 'Montgomery Days'?" Sydney was impressed. From what Lisa had told her, the yearly family reunions in Northern California were the stuff epics were made of.
"Well, I mentioned it and he seemed to think it was a fabulous idea."
"Wow, Lis. This is really serious between you," Sydney could see the emotion in her friends eyes.
"Yeah, it really is. Do you think it's too soon? Maybe we should wait a bit more."
"Lisa, love doesn't operate in a world of 'soons' and 'maybes'. When its right, you know and you fight for it with everything in you because it's the most important gift you will ever be given," Sydney said, unsure if her words were more advice or memory.
"Thank you, Sydney," Lisa responded with a hug. "It just gets scary when I realize how much I feel already."
"Well, I'm here for you, and I know Annie is too. If you get scared, if you want to vent, if he's being a pain in the ass, we're with you. But I also know Eric's an amazing guy and he will do anything for the people he cares about. And now, that includes you." The two friends returned to the table where dessert had just been served, smiles wide.
"Wow," Eric commented, "that must be a great restroom to have you smiling like that."
"Actually, we were talking about you," Lisa said, kissing him on the cheek.
Eric turned bright red. "Ah, well.oh," was all he could manage, his eyes fixed on the brownie in front of him.
"Oh my goodness," Michael exclaimed in mock amazement. "I do believe Eric Weiss is for once in his life speechless! Lisa that is the first time I've seen anyone leave him without a comeback. Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Lisa said, feeling rather pleased with herself. "It's really a special talent."
"Yep, she's amazing," Eric said. "But don't expect to see her able to use that super power often. Speaking of power, I think it's taking all of Sydney carefully trained spy skills not to abscond Michael's pie." Michael looked over at his wife, who was indeed admiring his dessert with fierce interest.
She fluttered her lashes as she met his gaze. "What?" she said with feigned innocence, "I'm eating for two. And your baby likes pecan."
"Can't argue when she play's the 'your baby' card, buddy." Eric said as Michael pushed his plate towards a happy Sydney.
"I can't argue period," Michael pouted. "Twelve months into retirement, three months pregnant and she could still kick my ass."
"True." Sydney said through a mouthful of pie. "But you love it." And she handed him back the remainder of his dessert. "All done."
"Syd, you left me the crust." The piece of pie was entirely gone except for the scalloped edge.
"Your baby doesn't like crust." Seeing Michael's face of resignation at that, Lisa and Eric both began to laugh.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Michael wrapped his wife in his jacket as they walked across the parking lot.
"Thank you," she said, as he opened her door and helped her into the car. "That was fun. Did you get any good info out of Eric while we were in the bathroom?"
"Well, I commented on how much he seems to already like her and for once he didn't deny it. They've really got something going."
"Yeah, Lisa said she wants to take him to her family reunion in a few weeks."
"Wow, that's a big deal. I haven't even met your whole family yet."
"Well, the Bristows are a far flung group. I think it would take quite an event to bring my dad's cousins and their families all to the same place at the same time. As for the Derevkos, I don't think my mom had any family. She's never mentioned it, at least."
"Well you met my family in France, but my dad's family back East would love a visit at some point. Maybe we can arrange to go back with mom, Nenet, Craig and Teddy after our own little one has arrived."
"That would be great," she agreed when Michael's cell phone began to ring inside his jacket. Sydney fished it out and didn't recognize the number on the display.
"Hello?"
"Hello Sydney." Michael glanced at his wife to figure out who called, slamming the car to the side of the road as he saw her face go pale. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Duh duh duh! My first cliff hanger! I'll try not to leave you in suspense for too long.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* The time at the cabin had been just what the doctor ordered, even if Sydney hadn't realized how much they needed it. She and Michael had been able to really relax, sleep in, and concentrate on each other before the baby- craziness started to increase. As July moved along, Sydney's time was taken up more and more with preparations for the baby. The emergence of her belly sent her off on her first real maternity clothes shopping trip with Lisa, who spent almost the entire time talking about Eric. They had been on two dates and from what Michael had said, they were both entirely smitten with each other.
Annie had been around as well, helping paint the primer and base coat in the newly cleared out study. She would start the sewing lessons with Sydney next week so they could begin on curtains for the room. Annie had assured her that they would be a piece of cake to make, but Sydney was still a little uncertain about the whole process. It seemed ridiculously early to be working on the nursery, considering she hadn't even started the second trimester, but Sydney knew that once she headed back to school in August, there wouldn't be time for sewing curtains, painting walls, or waxing floors, the activity she found herself engaged in now.
Edging towards the door on her hands and knees, she was almost done with the second coat of wax. The radio in the kitchen was blasting out some peppy pop song that had Sydney bopping a bit as she finished the room. The music was loud enough that she hadn't heard Michael come in and she jolted in surprise when she bumped into him in the doorway.
"How long have you been there?" Sydney asked, pushing the stray hairs out of her face.
"Long enough to realize that my wife knows all the words to a boy band song, and the poor baby has no choice but to listen," he laughed. "It looks great in here. Anything I can do to help?"
"No, I'm just finishing this second coat of wax and that will only take a minute. We'll have to stay out for awhile to let it dry, so no more nursery work tonight."
"Well in that case, let me go change and then I'll get started on dinner. Anything particular you wanted tonight?" he asked Sydney. "Or you?" he said to her stomach.
Sydney patted the small bulge "Well, this one seems to always want ice cream, but we should probably eat the halibut we got before it goes bad. And I think there's still asparagus in the produce bin."
"Okay. I'll start on the fish. Why don't you finish here then take a nice shower before we eat?" He leaned in to give her kiss then headed down the hall to their bedroom.
It only took Sydney a few minutes more for the waxing to be done. She took the bucket and supplies back to the laundry room and grabbed a fresh towel from the dryer to take with her to the bathroom. Michael's suggestion for a shower was perfect and she gave a sigh as the warm water pulsed down her back. When she joined Michael in the kitchen ten minutes later, he was just pulling the fish out of the oven to check on it.
And Sydney was back out of the kitchen almost as quickly as she had entered, making a beeline for the bathroom. The scent of the fish had triggered the strongest case of 'morning' sickness she'd had in weeks. As she finished heaving, she felt Michael's hands on her back, holding her hair and rubbing soothing circles.
"Sweetie," he said, handing her a cup of water, "I thought you were done with the nausea."
Sydney leaned back against him, testing the queasiness in her stomach. "I thought so too, but one sniff of that fish and ugh! We haven't cooked halibut in a long time and I had no idea it would affect me this strongly. It sounded good in theory," she said with a small smile. Her stomach began to roll again and she shuddered against him as she willed it to settle.
"How about this," Michael suggested. "I'll bring you a cup of tea, get rid of the fish, and then we can go get whatever you'd like from take out."
"I feel bad for wasting the fish. You could take it for lunch if you wanted."
"Syd, if the smell makes you that ill, I'm not putting halibut in the refrigerator with the rest of our food. I think it's okay to toss it, just this once. If you lay down, I'll have tea for you in a minute and then we'll go get something else."
"Okay." She accepted his offered hand and rose to her feet, letting him lead her to the bed. He was back as promised with a cup of chamomile and by the time he returned so that they could leave, she was almost asleep. All the energy Sydney had felt after the shower was gone.
"Syd?" Michael leaned over her and stroked the hair that spilled across the pillow. "Why don't you stay here and rest. I'll get you whatever you want."
"Hmmm.thanks" she said, sleepiness evident in her voice as she burrowed deeper into the pillow. "We want ice cream."
"For dinner? How about Chinese? I can get mo go gai pan," Michael offered.
"No, just mint chocolate chip," Sydney said, turning over.
"Okay, honey. I'll be back in a bit." Michael kissed her cheek and left.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Alek sighed in frustration as he watched Michael's car drive away. He knew Irina considered his surveillance invaluable, but it had been weeks since they'd had any sign of Sloane. The days of watching the house and Sydney were growing very long, and if he didn't care so personally about the success of this mission, he probably would be losing his mind at the idea of another six months-at least-of this. Which is exactly why Irina sent him instead of some other operative, Alek was sure of that.
But this is the longest he'd ever spent on any mission, and being constantly attuned to Sydney when she wasn't even aware he was in the same hemisphere was getting hard too. Sometimes a bloke just wants to chat with his family, and Sydney and Irina were all he had left. Yet here he was listening to bugs he planted in Sydney's house so he could report to her mother. Sydney hated him and only knew him as Irina's little henchman. Irina loved him in her own way, but her concerns for Sydney and about Sloane precluded any real closeness with Alek. And Alek knew that his past made any kind of real life nearly impossible for him. God their family was messed up.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
"So Lis, have you set a date for the wedding?" Sydney teased as they walked to the bathroom of the restaurant. They were on a double date and this 'typical girly thing', as Eric had termed it, gave Sydney time to chat with Lisa alone.
"Ha, ha. Eric and I have only been dating for three weeks," Lisa retorted. "Besides, there is no way I'm getting engaged to anyone who hasn't had the chance to meet my family-and run away screaming-first."
"Your parents are a bit crazy, but you've yet to meet Eric's clan. The Weiss's may give the Montgomery's a run for their money. You've probably already heard stories."
"Some," Lisa said as she fixed her lipstick. "But it's one thing to hear stories about the hilarity and chaos and an entirely different experience to be face to face with the whole circus. But we both care enough-or are insane enough-to try"
"Are you thinking of taking him to 'Montgomery Days'?" Sydney was impressed. From what Lisa had told her, the yearly family reunions in Northern California were the stuff epics were made of.
"Well, I mentioned it and he seemed to think it was a fabulous idea."
"Wow, Lis. This is really serious between you," Sydney could see the emotion in her friends eyes.
"Yeah, it really is. Do you think it's too soon? Maybe we should wait a bit more."
"Lisa, love doesn't operate in a world of 'soons' and 'maybes'. When its right, you know and you fight for it with everything in you because it's the most important gift you will ever be given," Sydney said, unsure if her words were more advice or memory.
"Thank you, Sydney," Lisa responded with a hug. "It just gets scary when I realize how much I feel already."
"Well, I'm here for you, and I know Annie is too. If you get scared, if you want to vent, if he's being a pain in the ass, we're with you. But I also know Eric's an amazing guy and he will do anything for the people he cares about. And now, that includes you." The two friends returned to the table where dessert had just been served, smiles wide.
"Wow," Eric commented, "that must be a great restroom to have you smiling like that."
"Actually, we were talking about you," Lisa said, kissing him on the cheek.
Eric turned bright red. "Ah, well.oh," was all he could manage, his eyes fixed on the brownie in front of him.
"Oh my goodness," Michael exclaimed in mock amazement. "I do believe Eric Weiss is for once in his life speechless! Lisa that is the first time I've seen anyone leave him without a comeback. Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Lisa said, feeling rather pleased with herself. "It's really a special talent."
"Yep, she's amazing," Eric said. "But don't expect to see her able to use that super power often. Speaking of power, I think it's taking all of Sydney carefully trained spy skills not to abscond Michael's pie." Michael looked over at his wife, who was indeed admiring his dessert with fierce interest.
She fluttered her lashes as she met his gaze. "What?" she said with feigned innocence, "I'm eating for two. And your baby likes pecan."
"Can't argue when she play's the 'your baby' card, buddy." Eric said as Michael pushed his plate towards a happy Sydney.
"I can't argue period," Michael pouted. "Twelve months into retirement, three months pregnant and she could still kick my ass."
"True." Sydney said through a mouthful of pie. "But you love it." And she handed him back the remainder of his dessert. "All done."
"Syd, you left me the crust." The piece of pie was entirely gone except for the scalloped edge.
"Your baby doesn't like crust." Seeing Michael's face of resignation at that, Lisa and Eric both began to laugh.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Michael wrapped his wife in his jacket as they walked across the parking lot.
"Thank you," she said, as he opened her door and helped her into the car. "That was fun. Did you get any good info out of Eric while we were in the bathroom?"
"Well, I commented on how much he seems to already like her and for once he didn't deny it. They've really got something going."
"Yeah, Lisa said she wants to take him to her family reunion in a few weeks."
"Wow, that's a big deal. I haven't even met your whole family yet."
"Well, the Bristows are a far flung group. I think it would take quite an event to bring my dad's cousins and their families all to the same place at the same time. As for the Derevkos, I don't think my mom had any family. She's never mentioned it, at least."
"Well you met my family in France, but my dad's family back East would love a visit at some point. Maybe we can arrange to go back with mom, Nenet, Craig and Teddy after our own little one has arrived."
"That would be great," she agreed when Michael's cell phone began to ring inside his jacket. Sydney fished it out and didn't recognize the number on the display.
"Hello?"
"Hello Sydney." Michael glanced at his wife to figure out who called, slamming the car to the side of the road as he saw her face go pale. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Duh duh duh! My first cliff hanger! I'll try not to leave you in suspense for too long.