Title: Just Feel

Author: Mango

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, please let me know what you think. I think we're starting to wind down, kids. Only a few more chapters left. Then again, I thought this was going to be around 6 chapters initially.

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"God," He said before he could stop himself. "Your scent is intoxicating." He half expected her to stop dancing and look at him like he had gone crazy but instead he felt a smile grow across her face.

She did stop, however, when the song ended and she took his hand and led him up the stairs. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow." She said. "An even longer night" he almost slipped out but caught himself in time. "You should rest."

She stood on her tippy-toes then and brushed a kiss on his cheek before leaving him to wallow in her scent of lavender and jasmine. He skin felt cold where she had kiss him, like she was meant to be there, always. He felt empty when he let himself into his room and half thought about inviting her in with him.

His mind slipped to the day when they had kissed with an undying passion. Thinking back it was almost eight months previous. He wished they could take down SD-6 one more time if just to have her lips on his again. Just to taste her one more time. But in all honesty, he didn't need to. He could feel her and taste her like he did every night for the past eight months. Reliving the moment when she sighed into his mouth and he took. He took with selfish abandon and only now could he think to almost regret it. To not take more time for her.

Sighing with remembrance he stripped down to his boxer briefs and crawled into bed. A soft knock came to his door just moments later. He wasn't even completely sure he heard it, but he called out anyway. "Syd?"

His door opened with a tentative push and there she stood in all her glory. She walked toward him and he smiled at her choice of attire. The pink flannel shorts with sheep on them and a white tank top, seemed almost suiting for her. Very functional, yet cute and playful.

She sat on the corner of his bed and was silent for a moment, like she was trying to remember why she came. "God," She swore "I don't even know why I'm here. I just thought that you might … I don't know cause last night …" She stumbled on her words. In all honesty, last night felt like forever ago but he reached across and pulled a corner of the covers down and looked at her. It was up to her this time.

She got up and slid under the covers and turned to look at him. If he moved his right hand he could touch her. But he didn't and instead she did. She reached out and took his hand in hers, as if to lend strength. He watched her as she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. He did the same hours later, when he buried his face in his pillow to stop her scent from reaching his nose.

~

Waking up to the early morning sunrise he found that her hand was still in his. Only this time her back was pressed firmly into his chest and their hands lay on her stomach. His face was buried in her hair and he kept it there, dreading the day in front of them. He wanted to bathe in her warmth and smiled at the thoughts of her being too cold to feel. The thoughts he had for so many days and now couldn't even fathom.

When she moaned and stirred slightly he had to suppress the initial reaction to kiss her graceful neck until she woke. He settled instead for softly kissing her temple. She woke when he did and seemed almost immediately embarrassed. "How long have you been up?" She asked, turning onto her back and looking up at him.

"Not long." He replied. "But we should probably get going. The service starts in a couple hours." She looked up at him with slightly confused eyes before she remembered what day it was.

"Oh! Right. Why don't you shower first, you probably have some things you want to get done today."

He did as she asked, and when he returned she was fast asleep again. He changed swiftly, getting into his suit. He sat on the edge of the bed and she stirred slightly. He reached out and touched her cheek. She leaned into it and continued to sleep. "Syd. Syd," He found himself wanting to add an endearment but stopped himself in time. "You have to get up, you only have an hour or so."

She woke up with this is and apologized quickly before scurrying off to the washroom. He stayed there on the bed, thinking about her and the situation he had put them in. When he rose to go down stairs and start coffee he noticed the water stop indicating Sydney was out of the shower. How long had he been there? He couldn't place it.

Coffee was just finished being made when she walked into the kitchen. He turned to face her and found that she was wearing a simple black long skirt and a dark red top. She looked perfect, but he figured she knew so he didn't say anything and handed her a mug of coffee instead.

"Thank you." She said graciously accepting the cup of potent liquid.

"Thank you." He said, staring into her eyes. The statement was meant to come off as light but was anything but that.

They were interrupted when there came a knock on the door and a voice. "Michel? Michel?" Annabelle's voice travelled through the halls.

"We're in the kitchen, Belle." He called before turning to put some toast down.

Sydney was the first to greet her. "Can I get you some coffee, Annabelle?"

"No, thank you. I never touch the stuff." She responded. Vaughn cursed the awkwardness that always seemed to be around when they were to together.

"Toast, Syd?" He asked, trying to avoid the inevitable awkward silence.

"No, thank you, Michael." She responded shortly before taking a seat at the table and glancing through the newspaper.

"You should eat something, we're leaving after the service." He informed her. Both women looked at him, but only Annabelle was surprised. Sydney just nodded and shrugged as if to accept a piece of toast.

Annabelle glanced over at Sydney and said "If you would prefer an English newspaper, I think I have one at home …"

"No, thank you. French is fine."

"She doesn't have time for it anyway. She needs to pack." Vaughn intruded shortly.

Sydney looked at him with her eyebrows raised. "Because of the special circumstances of the day, I will let that slide. Watch yourself, Vaughn, I don't take orders well. You of all people know that."

He sighed slightly and put a hand to his already aching head. "If you two will excuse me," Sydney said rising from her seat. "I have to pack." She said, shooting Vaughn a slightly amused look and exited the room.

"Syd …" He called after her. He knew she wasn't really mad, just annoyed so he sat at the table and finished her toast.

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