-Damn my Spanish teacher! I have more homework than imaginable and just
arggggg. I would loved to have updated this more quickly but homework has
kept me busy.
-Jenn, Jenn, Jenn . . .your reviews always have me smiling ( And at the same time have me feeling guilty for not updating more quickly! Haha . . . Thanks again for your support! And to everyone else who is reviewing, thank you as well, it just makes my day to hear that people actually like what I'm writing!
-I am so glad everyone is getting the evil vibe I am trying to give Emily so well. It is so fun writing her because she just infuriates me and eventually I get to . . .well, you'll find out soon enough. He he. Without further delay, here's 9. Enjoy, and be sure to review!
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"Why didn't you TELL ME!"
"Take a minute and look at yourself Syd. I was merely attempting to postpone this anger as long as possible!"
Eric Weiss sat on his couch quite relaxed, while Sydney on the other hand was rapidly pacing across the room. He sighed as he watched her burn holes into his carpet.
"Well if you had said something maybe I would have been prepared for it!"
"Do you honestly think that it would have made it any easier?"
"Damnit Weiss! He didn't try and move on, he REPLACED me! Good Lord, that woman could have been my twin!"
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Do you? Really, do you? It was like looking into a mirror, the same height and weight, same facial features . . ."
"Same eyes and same hair. I know, Syd."
"Did you bother telling him?"
"And why on earth would I do that?"
She stopped and looked at him incredulously for a moment.
"Look, Syd, you know how in every television show that ever aired there is always an episode where the best friend sees something not-so-good going on with his pals girl, and attempts to tell his pal in order to prepare him for the worst, but in the end the best friend just gets yelled at by the pal for being jealous, therefor exterminating best friend status?"
"But the 'pal' always ends up discovering the truth anyway."
"Right. So I skipped the whole 'extermination of best friend status' bit, because that can be painful."
"And did your 'pal' ever end up discovering that he married a near clone of his MIA girlfriend?"
"Well, no."
"Weiss!"
"I figured he would get to that eventually."
"I am not going to even honor that with an answer."
"Well, you know, you could always tell him."
"OK, I can't even listen to this anymore."
Once again her sighed and motioned to the couch. At first refusing, she finally took her seat, crossed her legs and arms, and began to pout.
"You're pouting."
"Shut up."
"Yes ma'am."
"This is just so hard, I . . ."
As he saw the tears began to form in her eyes he scooted down to her end of the couch.
"He was supposed to be the one, Weiss. He was it. There wasn't going to be anyone else. We were so happy, we actually had a future. And it . . . it's so hard knowing that he is living that future with someone else, pretending she's me."
She swiped furiously at her eyes trying to rid the evidence of her hurt. He consoling put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"Sydney, listen to me. Just because she *looks * like you doesn't mean she *is * you. She doesn't even come close."
"I could take her."
"I don't doubt that. I also don't advise it."
A smile reaches his face as a small laugh escapes from her mouth.
"Thank you Weiss."
"Anytime, Syd."
"I'm sorry for yelling at you the other day."
"Yeah well, seeing as your regular punching bag seems to be occupied at the moment, I am glad to fill in."
"At the moment?"
"You do know it won't last, don't you?"
"Don't say that."
"It's the truth. It wasn't going to last without you here, and your return just ups the odds."
"I still don't want to think about that. It's . . ."
"I know."
She shifted out of his arms and stood up, attempting to de-wrinkle her skirt and dry the tears from her eyes. He stifled a laugh at the sight of this.
"Look, I would really love to stay, but . . ."
"I know. I'll see you later?"
"Yeah. Thanks again, for everything."
"No thanks needed."
They shared one last smile and she left.
Upon entering her apartment, for some odd reason she began to check every room for intruders. After the unexpected visit from earlier that week she didn't want any more surprises. Letting go of a breath she didn't know she was holding, she collapsed on her bed. It had been one of the longest days she had ever had, and it was only one o'clock.
It had shaken her up more than a bit to hear the name 'Vaughn' come out of the woman's mouth, and had caused her to immediately check the time on the watch she wasn't wearing and announcing a meeting she didn't have.
It hadn't taken more time than that to notice the similarity between herself and the woman. Normally, when someone was said to look like you it was hard to believe and normally denied. But this was an unmistakable likeness. The hair, the eyes, even her skin tone matched perfectly.
It made sense of course, that a grieving man would latch onto someone who replicated the one he had lost. But she still hadn't expected it. The similarity, it was too much, almost as if . . .
Out of nowhere, the end of conversation she had with her mother started to replay in her mind.
--"Have you met her yet? -
--"No, and I don't plan to."-
--"You must remember Sydney, nothing is ever as it seems."-
No. It couldn't be. There was just no way.
She began repeating the phrase over and over again in her head, trying to convince herself that there was no hidden subtext within her mothers' words. But it wasn't working.
Slowly, a plan began to formulate in Sydney Bristows mind. It was a plan that would most likely get her into trouble, but one that she could not likely ignore.
*
"Hey Weiss."
Normally he would be happy to hear his long-time friends' voice in his less than friendly office, but today all of the memories from earlier that day came flooding back. Without looking up to acknowledged his arrival he replied.
"Vaughn."
"It's weird being back her after so long. Like things should have changed but they didn't."
"You weren't gone for that long."
"I know, but it feels like I was. So do you want to go out or something tonight? I'm in the mood to get drunk."
Still not looking up from his paperwork he purposely put a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Are you sure your wife won't mind?"
"I, um . . .she has some girls night out thing tonight. Won't be home for hours. So are you free?"
"I'm not sure."
Finally sensing the aggravated tension coming from Weiss, a confused frown appears on Vaughns' face.
"You don't seem very happy to see me."
"Probably because I'm not."
"Can I ask why not?"
Weiss stopped writing for a moment and just stared at his papers, contemplating his choice of words. Eventually he looked up at his friend and spoke.
"She saw her today. At the store."
"What are you talking about? Who saw who?"
"Who do you think saw who?"
The answer dawning on him, Vaughns' eyes shifted to his feet.
"Sydney met Emily."
"Bingo. And I just spent my entire lunch break trying to calm her down. Do you have any idea how hard it must have been for her, to hear someone say 'Hi, I'm Emily VAUGHN.'?"
"I didn't *mean * for it to happen."
"Damnit Mike, I know that. But that doesn't make it any easier for her! I have never seen Sydney Bristow that unsettled, having to sit and watch her break down knowing that there is nothing you can do to help her was so . . ."
"Difficult? Frustrating? Unbearable? Believe me Weiss, I KNOW that. I spent nearly two years of my life filling that role and now I can't. Not because it would get us killed, not because it's against protocol, but because I screwed up! I gave up on her and this is what I get, do you know how *ucking hard that is? DO you?"
Weiss sighed and began to tap his pencil realizing the mistake he made.
"Look Mike, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I . . ."
"No, Eric, there is nothing to be sorry about. I just . . .knowing that the only thing keeping us apart is me, it becomes harder with each day. And I know that meeting with her so often probably isn't helping, but I can't not see her. Now that she's back, I can't stay away from her. But every time I do, I feel as if I'm cheating on my wife. And I never thought I would be that guy"
"Stuck between a rock and a hard place."
"You have no idea."
"No, I guess not."
"So how about that bar."
"I'm off in about thirty minutes."
After letting out another sigh, Vaughn gave him a small smile and left the office.
Will the two of them ever be happy? He knew that Mike was more in love with her than anyone would ever know, he could see it in his eyes. And Sydney, well, from today's outburst there was no second-guessing on her feelings. But the problem they had gotten themselves into wasn't even something a producer would try to get out of, there was no right answer, no solution. And most certainly no happy endings.
*
"Yes?"
"The meeting?"
"It went well."
"How well?"
"Well enough to have her fleeing from the store without her items."
"Very good."
"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly was the purpose of this."
"We need to gain every psychological advance possible before I make her my offer. Normally, Sydney would not agree to my terms. But if she truly believes that there is no way back, that she has been replaced and there is no longer use for her in her former life, she may take the offer into consideration."
"And what if she doesn't?"
"She will"
"Of course."
"I must go. I will contact you later this week with the next step. Goodbye."
As he hung up she smiled once again. The meeting *had * gone well, she had indeed become the first person to get under the legendary Bristow's skin. And that meant she could be done with the tedious assignment, that she could leave this dull life and return to her former self. While Mr. Vaughn was a good-looking, charming man, he was far from over Sydney, and being considered second best was not something she was found of. Soon, it would be over. The irony pleased her, as soon as Michael was free to be with her, Sydney would be gone.
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-I hope you are enjoying these cliffhangers as much as I am. And yes, Vaughn will be addressed with the 'you replaced her' ordeal eventually, just not yet : ) And not by Weiss, or Sydney, or evil Emily (that's almost as fun as Freplica isn't it? Hehe . . .). I will post the next chapter as soon as I can, which may not be that soon considering the massive amount of HW waiting for me. More reviews always have me updating faster though!
-Jenn, Jenn, Jenn . . .your reviews always have me smiling ( And at the same time have me feeling guilty for not updating more quickly! Haha . . . Thanks again for your support! And to everyone else who is reviewing, thank you as well, it just makes my day to hear that people actually like what I'm writing!
-I am so glad everyone is getting the evil vibe I am trying to give Emily so well. It is so fun writing her because she just infuriates me and eventually I get to . . .well, you'll find out soon enough. He he. Without further delay, here's 9. Enjoy, and be sure to review!
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"Why didn't you TELL ME!"
"Take a minute and look at yourself Syd. I was merely attempting to postpone this anger as long as possible!"
Eric Weiss sat on his couch quite relaxed, while Sydney on the other hand was rapidly pacing across the room. He sighed as he watched her burn holes into his carpet.
"Well if you had said something maybe I would have been prepared for it!"
"Do you honestly think that it would have made it any easier?"
"Damnit Weiss! He didn't try and move on, he REPLACED me! Good Lord, that woman could have been my twin!"
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Do you? Really, do you? It was like looking into a mirror, the same height and weight, same facial features . . ."
"Same eyes and same hair. I know, Syd."
"Did you bother telling him?"
"And why on earth would I do that?"
She stopped and looked at him incredulously for a moment.
"Look, Syd, you know how in every television show that ever aired there is always an episode where the best friend sees something not-so-good going on with his pals girl, and attempts to tell his pal in order to prepare him for the worst, but in the end the best friend just gets yelled at by the pal for being jealous, therefor exterminating best friend status?"
"But the 'pal' always ends up discovering the truth anyway."
"Right. So I skipped the whole 'extermination of best friend status' bit, because that can be painful."
"And did your 'pal' ever end up discovering that he married a near clone of his MIA girlfriend?"
"Well, no."
"Weiss!"
"I figured he would get to that eventually."
"I am not going to even honor that with an answer."
"Well, you know, you could always tell him."
"OK, I can't even listen to this anymore."
Once again her sighed and motioned to the couch. At first refusing, she finally took her seat, crossed her legs and arms, and began to pout.
"You're pouting."
"Shut up."
"Yes ma'am."
"This is just so hard, I . . ."
As he saw the tears began to form in her eyes he scooted down to her end of the couch.
"He was supposed to be the one, Weiss. He was it. There wasn't going to be anyone else. We were so happy, we actually had a future. And it . . . it's so hard knowing that he is living that future with someone else, pretending she's me."
She swiped furiously at her eyes trying to rid the evidence of her hurt. He consoling put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"Sydney, listen to me. Just because she *looks * like you doesn't mean she *is * you. She doesn't even come close."
"I could take her."
"I don't doubt that. I also don't advise it."
A smile reaches his face as a small laugh escapes from her mouth.
"Thank you Weiss."
"Anytime, Syd."
"I'm sorry for yelling at you the other day."
"Yeah well, seeing as your regular punching bag seems to be occupied at the moment, I am glad to fill in."
"At the moment?"
"You do know it won't last, don't you?"
"Don't say that."
"It's the truth. It wasn't going to last without you here, and your return just ups the odds."
"I still don't want to think about that. It's . . ."
"I know."
She shifted out of his arms and stood up, attempting to de-wrinkle her skirt and dry the tears from her eyes. He stifled a laugh at the sight of this.
"Look, I would really love to stay, but . . ."
"I know. I'll see you later?"
"Yeah. Thanks again, for everything."
"No thanks needed."
They shared one last smile and she left.
Upon entering her apartment, for some odd reason she began to check every room for intruders. After the unexpected visit from earlier that week she didn't want any more surprises. Letting go of a breath she didn't know she was holding, she collapsed on her bed. It had been one of the longest days she had ever had, and it was only one o'clock.
It had shaken her up more than a bit to hear the name 'Vaughn' come out of the woman's mouth, and had caused her to immediately check the time on the watch she wasn't wearing and announcing a meeting she didn't have.
It hadn't taken more time than that to notice the similarity between herself and the woman. Normally, when someone was said to look like you it was hard to believe and normally denied. But this was an unmistakable likeness. The hair, the eyes, even her skin tone matched perfectly.
It made sense of course, that a grieving man would latch onto someone who replicated the one he had lost. But she still hadn't expected it. The similarity, it was too much, almost as if . . .
Out of nowhere, the end of conversation she had with her mother started to replay in her mind.
--"Have you met her yet? -
--"No, and I don't plan to."-
--"You must remember Sydney, nothing is ever as it seems."-
No. It couldn't be. There was just no way.
She began repeating the phrase over and over again in her head, trying to convince herself that there was no hidden subtext within her mothers' words. But it wasn't working.
Slowly, a plan began to formulate in Sydney Bristows mind. It was a plan that would most likely get her into trouble, but one that she could not likely ignore.
*
"Hey Weiss."
Normally he would be happy to hear his long-time friends' voice in his less than friendly office, but today all of the memories from earlier that day came flooding back. Without looking up to acknowledged his arrival he replied.
"Vaughn."
"It's weird being back her after so long. Like things should have changed but they didn't."
"You weren't gone for that long."
"I know, but it feels like I was. So do you want to go out or something tonight? I'm in the mood to get drunk."
Still not looking up from his paperwork he purposely put a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Are you sure your wife won't mind?"
"I, um . . .she has some girls night out thing tonight. Won't be home for hours. So are you free?"
"I'm not sure."
Finally sensing the aggravated tension coming from Weiss, a confused frown appears on Vaughns' face.
"You don't seem very happy to see me."
"Probably because I'm not."
"Can I ask why not?"
Weiss stopped writing for a moment and just stared at his papers, contemplating his choice of words. Eventually he looked up at his friend and spoke.
"She saw her today. At the store."
"What are you talking about? Who saw who?"
"Who do you think saw who?"
The answer dawning on him, Vaughns' eyes shifted to his feet.
"Sydney met Emily."
"Bingo. And I just spent my entire lunch break trying to calm her down. Do you have any idea how hard it must have been for her, to hear someone say 'Hi, I'm Emily VAUGHN.'?"
"I didn't *mean * for it to happen."
"Damnit Mike, I know that. But that doesn't make it any easier for her! I have never seen Sydney Bristow that unsettled, having to sit and watch her break down knowing that there is nothing you can do to help her was so . . ."
"Difficult? Frustrating? Unbearable? Believe me Weiss, I KNOW that. I spent nearly two years of my life filling that role and now I can't. Not because it would get us killed, not because it's against protocol, but because I screwed up! I gave up on her and this is what I get, do you know how *ucking hard that is? DO you?"
Weiss sighed and began to tap his pencil realizing the mistake he made.
"Look Mike, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I . . ."
"No, Eric, there is nothing to be sorry about. I just . . .knowing that the only thing keeping us apart is me, it becomes harder with each day. And I know that meeting with her so often probably isn't helping, but I can't not see her. Now that she's back, I can't stay away from her. But every time I do, I feel as if I'm cheating on my wife. And I never thought I would be that guy"
"Stuck between a rock and a hard place."
"You have no idea."
"No, I guess not."
"So how about that bar."
"I'm off in about thirty minutes."
After letting out another sigh, Vaughn gave him a small smile and left the office.
Will the two of them ever be happy? He knew that Mike was more in love with her than anyone would ever know, he could see it in his eyes. And Sydney, well, from today's outburst there was no second-guessing on her feelings. But the problem they had gotten themselves into wasn't even something a producer would try to get out of, there was no right answer, no solution. And most certainly no happy endings.
*
"Yes?"
"The meeting?"
"It went well."
"How well?"
"Well enough to have her fleeing from the store without her items."
"Very good."
"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly was the purpose of this."
"We need to gain every psychological advance possible before I make her my offer. Normally, Sydney would not agree to my terms. But if she truly believes that there is no way back, that she has been replaced and there is no longer use for her in her former life, she may take the offer into consideration."
"And what if she doesn't?"
"She will"
"Of course."
"I must go. I will contact you later this week with the next step. Goodbye."
As he hung up she smiled once again. The meeting *had * gone well, she had indeed become the first person to get under the legendary Bristow's skin. And that meant she could be done with the tedious assignment, that she could leave this dull life and return to her former self. While Mr. Vaughn was a good-looking, charming man, he was far from over Sydney, and being considered second best was not something she was found of. Soon, it would be over. The irony pleased her, as soon as Michael was free to be with her, Sydney would be gone.
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-I hope you are enjoying these cliffhangers as much as I am. And yes, Vaughn will be addressed with the 'you replaced her' ordeal eventually, just not yet : ) And not by Weiss, or Sydney, or evil Emily (that's almost as fun as Freplica isn't it? Hehe . . .). I will post the next chapter as soon as I can, which may not be that soon considering the massive amount of HW waiting for me. More reviews always have me updating faster though!
