Title: A License to Flirt

By: Ryan aka: star

Disclaimer: It's not mine

Summary: Sydney and Vaughn aren't 'together' yet but they will be when this is over. Sydney decides to play games with Vaughn. She crosses the line to show him how she feels; will he grow a backbone and show he returns the same feelings? Read and find out. It's lots of Syd/Vaughn fluff!

Chapter 8: Is Love a Dream or Reality?

I rested one of my hands on his pillow and the other underneath it. I listened as I heard Vaughn shuffle around the dark room. I heard some drawers screech open and closed, and some things fall to the ground. I figured he was changing into some more comfortable clothes. A few moments later Vaughn crawled in bed next to me. He rested on his side behind me, facing my back. He wrapped his arm protectively around my waist, resting on my abdomen.

I smiled at how wonderfully relaxing it felt to have Vaughn holding me like that. I reached my hand from the pillow to rest over his on my stomach. I held it in mine and pulled it up to my chest, over my heart. I felt Vaughn scoot closer to me. Our bodies were as close as possible without us being on top of each other. Now I would love that but I think this is good way to start. Our bodies seemed to fit perfect together. Our feet entangled at the foot of his bed, his arms around me, and my head in the nook oh his neck.

Then you came around me

The walls just disappeared

Nothing to surround me

keep me from my fears

"Syd?" Vaughn whispers sleepily in the silence of the dark bedroom.

"Yeah?" I respond half asleep, not bothering to open my eyes.

Vaughn lifts his head off the pillow and leans over my right shoulder. "I love you." He says as if it's the simplest thing in the world. Then he rests his head back down gently on the pillow. With those words my eyes shoot open but I'm still frozen.

I want to respond with the same words but I just can't. It's like there is this huge lump in my throat and I can't speak. I'm sure he can feel me tense at his words, but he doesn't say anything. I know I feel the same way especially after what we've shared today, but for some reason I just can't say it yet.

Today he made me feel as if I was the only person in the world. It all started with me misplacing a house key. Maybe I should loose things more often. I was treated like a princess or even a goddess. He did everything just to make me smile. I don't know last time I forgot about the million troubles of my abnormal life and just had fun. Not to mention spending the day at my handlers house.

Suddenly, some of my wildest dreams could become reality. You know the ones where Vaughn 'handles' me a bit closer, if you know what I mean. Even if that doesn't happen though just being in the same room would rate high because my heart races and my verbal skills deteriorate. If I look into his eyes or he smiles too, forget me even moving.

I return from my thoughts. I shut my eyes again when I feel my eyes start to fill with water. I pull his arm even more around me and a single tear escapes my eyes and rolls down my cheek. Of course though Vaughn some how can tell I'm crying and he sits up again, resting on his elbow.

"Well, that's not exactly the response I was hoping for." Vaughn joked as he reached his hand up to my face and whipped the single tear from my face. I have to admit as awful as I was feeling even that comment got a smile on my face. "Are you okay?" He further questioned worriedly.

Such a simple question couldn't be harder for me to answer. I smile as brightly as I can, "Yeah." Is the best I can get out.

"You want to talk about it?" Vaughn asks, knowing I was lying. Sometimes I feel like he can see right through me, like I'm defenseless. Am I that transparent? Maybe only to him, but is that such a bad thing? I need to be completely honest and truthful to someone. Him being able to read me kind of comforts me, even when I don't have the strength to tell him how I'm feeling, he can be my strength.

I've never felt like this b4,

I'm naked around you

Does it show

You see right through me

and I can't hide

I'm naked around you

and it feels so right

"Not now. Tomorrow. Tomorrow." I plead once again. He nods and then he shifted to rest on his back. I turned too and rested my head gently on his chest, resting my arm beside it. He gently brought his lips down and kissed my head.

"Tomorrow." He repeated softly in my ear before closing his eyes to sleep. His hand soothingly moved up and down my back and I eventually gave into a slumber also.

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The sun shone through the window dancing across my face. My eyes slowly fluttered open. I blinked a few times for my eyes to adjust to the light. When I adjusted I found myself alone in bed.

I was sprawled across the bed, covered by the soft white sheets. My hair was down and fanned across the bed. I slowly sat up enough to rest on my elbows. I glanced around the room looking for Vaughn. Where could he have gone?

"Vaughn?" I called into the house. I waited for a few moments and only heard silence. Suddenly I heard the running water of the shower, which I hadn't even noticed, stop. I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

I laid back down a bit more relaxed. I just stared at the ceiling for a while, lost in my thoughts about the previous night. Then I heard the bathroom door open. I looked over and saw Vaughn coming in the room. He had a pair of cargo shorts on but no shirt. As much as I wanted to keep staring I closed my eyes so he wouldn't know I was awake.

Vaughn rustled around the room opening and shutting draws, and windows. I kept peaking; he had thrown on a tight white t-shirt that looked so great on him. His hair was left damp and tussled, the way I like it. Eventually, Vaughn made his way over to the bed.

He sat down on the edge and leaned in towards me. Once again I shut my eyes tight closed. He reached his soft hand up to my face and gently caressed my cheek, whispering softly, "Syd, Syd. Time to get up." I stirred lightly and opened my eyes slowly taking in the extra lights he'd turned on.

"Morning sleep head." Vaughn greeted me with a huge smile.

I couldn't help but smile back, "Morning." He leaned in more closing the gap between us and captured my lips with his. It was a chaste, slow kiss. I involuntarily let out a moan. He pulled away just enough to rest his forehead on mine.

We both were silent for a minute; at first I thought he was going to say he loved me again. Secretly I didn't want him to, not yet. I needed to tell him I felt the same way before he showered me with anymore love. "Can we talk about last night?" I whispered barely audible, probably because of my uncertainty.

He brought his hand to my cheek and stroked it a few times and then used it to bring my lips to his once more. This time it was just a quick reassuring kiss. "Of course."

He backed up to rest against the bed backboard. I scooted that way also and leaned into his shoulder, while he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Why were you crying last night Syd?" he asked curiously. When I didn't answer immediately, he continued, "Did I scare you when I told you that I love you?" I finally figured I should start talking since I was the one who asked if we could talk.

"I don't know if scared is the right word. I wasn't scared that you're in love with me, actually it was quite the contrary." I pause as I can see him smile pleased. "I guess I was more flustered by your words. I've known for a while that we had a special bond, more than a handler and his asset, but actually admitting it is different. I was happy that it was finally out there in the open, but yet I was, yes, in a way scared."

"But why?" Vaughn asked, a bit confused.

"You've never shown me anything but love. Always being there when I need you, always comforting me, and never letting me give up on life, or my excuse of one." I say with a chuckle. "You have truly been my Guardian Angel." I gradually feel new tears start to well up in my eyes.

"You build me up too high Syd." Vaughn admitted humbly.

"No, no I don't. For me you were a lifesaver. You may not see it, but I would have given up years ago without you. Then sd6 would still be out there and I'd still be trapped in that life. Vaughn, I'm nothing without you. Before you came into my life; I just went through the motions of life, now I live it and enjoy every second of it. You are what makes life worth living for me. The prospect of seeing you each day is what gets me out of bed in the morning and what gives me the strength to take on each new day." I pause to catch my breath.

I'm protected

see how I've opened up

You made me trust

"The reason why I didn't want to talk yesterday was because I wasn't ready to.to...say this; 'I Love You' Vaughn! I love you so much it hurts!" Finally, I let those tears I'd been holding, fall.

Vaughn turns me in his arms, "I love you too Sydney. Since I met you I've loved you, even with that bozo red hair. You're beautiful, intelligent and persistent." He cups my face in his hands, gently wiping my falling tears with his fingers. Then our lips crash together and kiss passionately.

Trying to remember

why I was afraid

to be myself

and let the covers fall away

Guess I never had someone like you

To help me fit in me skin

"Syd, why are you crying?"

"Because.Because I'm so happy, but at the same time I'm scared to death." I see his confused face and feel the need to explain myself more. "I'm in love and that's such an amazing feeling, but at the same time; I've given you my heart Vaughn. You alone. You have my heart in your hands and you have the single power to crush it or love it tenderly. I've never been so dependant on one person in my life and that scares me."

He sighs and kisses my forehead ever so lovingly. "Sydney you should know by now that I'll hold it closer than my own." Vaughn proclaimed as he caressed my cheek gently with his hand.

"And for that I will always love you." I said, truly touched by his words.

"For the record, you hold my heart as well." Vaughn added before we shared yet another passionate kiss.

Finally, for the first time in the day I smiled. For once, in my life I had something, or rather someone to live for. For once, love is reality. I may not know what will happen today or tomorrow but I do know as long as Vaughn is there beside me I'll be happy.

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We spent a while in bed that morning just holding each other, kissing and caressing the other. Just being in the same room as Vaughn was good enough for me, so being in his arms is like heaven.

I know it's hard to believe but we did eventually get out of bed. We enjoyed a nice breakfast together. Vaughn, to my surprise, is quite a chef so he prepared a feast of bacon, eggs, toast and everything else you could imagine.

"Want me to take you home now, before Francie leaves for the restaurant again?" Vaughn offered generously.

As much as I didn't want to leave him I knew I had to go home at one point to at least let Francie know what I've been up to. She'd be so anxious to meet Vaughn and at the same time so mad at me that I'd never told her about him.

"Sure, I guess."

Vaughn sensed my unwillingness to leave, "Then maybe we could do something together tonight; dinner, movie, sleep." With the last one I look up at him with a smile. "Sounds fun." I admit. This time he blushes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the drive over to my house we discussed our plans for the night. We were going to rent some movies to watch at his apartment; that way if we get bored with the movie and/or find other ways to pass the time we'll be in the comfort of his house. He planned to order a pizza for us too. Finally, my favorite part, I'd spend the night. Life was starting to have an upside for me!

Vaughn turned down my street and then parked in my driveway. Francie's car was already there and the lights were on inside. "Looks like we caught Francie." Vaughn said half happy, and half disappointed.

I smile understandingly, "Yeah, we did." Neither of us moved and we both just stayed silent. "Well I'll see you tonight right?" Making sure of our plans.

"Of course." He said confidently as if it was the only thing he was sure of for the moment. He reached over and grabbed my hand in his to reassure me. I leaned over and kissed him. We stayed kissing and embracing each other in the car for about 5 minutes. We finally broke apart and I opened my car door.

I made my way down my pathway to the front door of my house. He pulled out of the driveway. I waved to him as he drove away down my street. When he was out of site I turned back towards the door.

I reached down into my purse and rummaged through. I felt the bottom and zipped open a small hidden pocket. I grabbed my house keys I'd had all along from inside it and then pulled them out. Before opening the door though I toss my keys up and catch them in my palm. I've successfully completed the hardest mission of all 'Love'. I looked back at the street and smile; this road of life was definitely turning up!

Life without love is life without purpose.

**Naked-Avril Lavigne ***Okay hope you enjoyed this story. It's COMPLETE now so I hope it was worth your time, let me know, seriously, I want to know what could have been done better to make it a better story. Thanx so much for reading! Hope you all liked the fact that Syd made up the whole not having the keys thing so she could spend time with Vaughn. I thought the title of the story was very appropriate.