Title: Just Feel

Author: Mango

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Alright kids, here it is. I apologize profusely for the delay, this one took me a long time to write, writer's block's a bitch. Thank you for your patience and for the reviews, please tell me what you think of this one.

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Sydney stared at the envelope. It looked worn now, like it had travelled half way across the world. Funny that. She fingered the dog-eared corners and pondered whether to open it. Her curiosity got the best of her and she slid her fingers into the envelope pulling out a letter. She noticed first the impeccable penmanship, then the words. Yes, the words …

Chere Michel,

If you are reading this, I am gone. There are so many things to say that I have left unsaid, not because I did not want to say them, just because I couldn't find the words. I knew my time was coming, that is the reason I planned my trip to Los Angles when I did.

Months ago I told you to do something for me. I told you to deny your feelings and leave the girl who stole your heart. For purely selfish reasons, I did this, not wanting to taint your father's memory with scandal. A few months later I told you to follow your heart, and you refused. However, now looking at the man you have become since, it hardly seems worth it. You've become a shell of the man I once knew.

Looking back on this, I see now that this was not only selfish, but foolish. Your father, if there is one thing he taught me in the years I was blessed to be with him, it was that following your heart was the only way to achieve true happiness.

So go now, and tell the girl you love her. Put the love back into the home that was once so full of it, and now is almost stagnant. Tell Sydney that your father and I both would have been proud to have such a strong daughter, and we don't blame her for the actions of her mother.

Don't miss us too much, know that we're happy now, together. And don't rush to see us either, we're not going anywhere and we'll be waiting for you both when the time comes. I love you, Chere, and have grown to love the girl who will make you happy.

Your Loving Mother.

Tears were streaming down her face at this point. Dashing them away with her left hand she reached for her coat with her right. There was no way she was waiting until tomorrow to see him. No way she was waiting that long. Quite frankly, she had waited long enough.

She opened the door, turned back to lock the door quickly before turning to find Vaughn leaning against his SUV with a mysterious smile on his face. She froze. Jacket in hand forgotten and discarded on the ground and keys dangling from her fingers. A smile grew across her face, one that she couldn't control if she wanted to.

They stood like that, maybe ten feet apart looking at each other for what seemed an eternity but in actuality was probably only around five minutes. Each daring the other to make the move. She gave, he could always make her give.

"So …" She said, smiling an almost knowing smile as she lifted the letter up to show that was what she was referring to.

"Yeah …" He replied with a slight chuckle.

"She seems like quite the woman." She said, boosting herself onto the ledge that lined her path. She began to swing her legs like a child she fidgeted with her nails.

"You would have liked her." He replied, trying to get her to look at him. She refused, the last thing she needed right now was to get lost in those eyes. Stay with safe territory.

"Probably." Silence enveloped the situation before she broke it, once again. "Vaughn?" She looked up then and he was looking directly into her eyes. "Why did you give this to me?"

"I wanted you to see it." He answered simply. No way he was getting off this easy.

"Why?" She pried.

"God, Syd, aren't you sick of analyzing this?" he said, pushing himself off the vehicle and making his way across the distance that separated them. Anger was laced with frustration in his voice, and pride glinted in his eyes.

"Not really. I need you to tell me." She said, repeating the words she had said what seemed decades ago. He looked at her, shaking his head slightly and smiling.

"Of course, you do." He said, reaching out to touch her cheek. When she leaned into his hand, he continued. "I needed to show you. Show you why I couldn't be with you. Why no matter how much I did … I do, I couldn't."

"And now?"

"And now … there's only one woman who can stop me."

Her breath caught in her throat when he leaned down and pressed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. She shivered involuntarily and he smiled with knowledge.

"And I needed you to accept it. Accept everything. Without hiding anything away, like you always do. I needed you to let it go and just feel. Feel what I feel."

She stared up at him in silence, a sort of awe. Like her whole life was on hold and waiting … just waiting for this moment. And here is was, staring her in the face and she didn't know how to react.

"And you choose this moment to not say anything." He said, half smiling but she could see the fear in his eyes. She reached up and touched his cheek, then up to smooth the lines on his forehead.

"No, I mean yes, I mean … I choose this moment to be inarticulate." A blush rose in her cheeks and she suddenly felt like she was in high school again. What was her problem? Proximity, that was the problem. He was simply too close to her for proper thought.

"I like you inarticulate." He said smiling, the smile reaching his eyes making them wrinkle. A smile grew on her face, how could one not when his was so genuine?

"You would." She said laughing now. All mirth ceased when his hand trailed down her neck and across her collar bone and down her arm sending little shivers everywhere he touched. She was sure her eyes were clouded when he leaned down and set fire to her mouth. When their lips met, she could swear that sparks were created igniting every nerve ending. She could hear bells, literally hear bells. "Shit, my phone." He leaned his forehead on hers, both noticeably out of breath and laughing. "Hello?"

"So, I came by to see how your trip was, but decided to keep driving when I saw the little scene that was being created." Will's voice echoed in her ear laughing. She laughed slightly embarrassed.

"It's Will." She said smiling. Vaughn grabbed the phone out of her hands and placed it against his ear.

"Tippin, we have to go. She'll call you in the morning." He said. He pressed end and grabbed her hand dragging her through the threshold into a new life, laughing.

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fin

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