28. Two Princes

NOTE!!!: I know you guys are going to hate me after this chapter so I BEG you to read the author's note at the end… it should explain a few things and reassure any of you that get S/V paranoid. This was the lesser of two evils. Trust me, it was.

To everyone who wished me luck with my finals… I'm being so bad writing instead of studying but oh well…

Lyrics from 'Two Princes' by the Spin Doctors (arranged and sung by the Stanford Mendicants with Ben Bodnar as the soloist) I LOVE THE MENDICANTS!!! Especially the hot one that I mentioned in Chapter 26…

Here it is…

***

Vaughn picked up the phone with a trembling hand. The tears that had somehow managed to gather in his eyes threatened to fall. Turning his back to the window of his office, he dialed a familiar number and cleared his throat to steady his voice.

"Hello?"

God, her voice sounded so sweet. He had never in his life heard a voice that could fill him with such happiness.

He spoke, cursing himself for the slight trembling of his voice. "Jo- Joey's Pizza?"

There was a slight hesitation on the other line and he knew that she had heard his tremble. "Wrong number."

~:~

He saw her silhouette first, walking steadily towards him, the sun behind her, outlining her in black. Faceless. But still beautiful.

It wasn't until she was a foot away from him that he saw the concerned expression on her face. "Vaughn? What's wrong?"

Without a word, he pulled her to him, hugging her as tightly as she had hugged him the night before.

Sydney was slightly scared; she didn't want to know what was happening to Vaughn but she knew she had to. "Michael?" Her voice was soft and tentative in his ear.

"I am so sorry."

"For what?"

"For what I have to make you do."

Fear overtook her, she wasn't sure why but from the tone of Vaughn's voice and the pained expression in his eyes, she knew it was going to be something awful.

"What is it?"

"You have to go to SD-6."

"And?"

"They have Danny."

Unlike the time it had taken Michael, Sydney had the realization right away. Shock ran across her face as she lifted her hands to her face.

He knows. He knows everything.

He'll blow our cover.

He'll tell Sloane everything.

Oh. My. God.

Then her face changed and she lowered her hands and was suddenly calm. Professional. "What do I have to do?"

"Your father got the results of Danny's psych tests."

"And?"

"He's highly unstable. He goes back and forth between hating you and loving you. But he does love you. More than anything he relies on you to keep a hold on himself; the part of him that he loves and wants to be forever."

Vaughn gulped. He had practiced saying it but it didn't make it any easier. "The person he was when he was with you."

Sydney looked down, feeling ashamed for some reason.

"He hasn't revealed any information yet, partially because of his inherent need to protect you but it's close. He just needs some affirmation of your feelings."

She looked up, understanding showing in her eyes, dragging her down and away. "I have to pretend to love him."

Vaughn felt his heart breaking for her. He took a step closer to her. "The key word is pretend. That's all it's going to be. I promise. I love you and I will love you forever."

She nodded. But it was the most realistic game she had ever played. With higher stakes. She choked back a sob as she felt his gentle fingers pulling her ring off her finger.

Tears having a mind of their own and finally trickling down her cheeks, she nodded.

He kissed her tears away and then leaned his forehead on hers. "We'll get through this. And it will only make us stronger."

She nodded. "I love you."

He kissed her, pulling away quickly before emotion overtook him.

One, two princes kneel before you

(that's what I said now)

Princes, princes who adore you

(Just go ahead now)

Sydney turned away, feeling her heart being dragged downwards to her feet and then feeling as if she was treading on it. This was different from anything else she had ever done.

It was too real.

Pretending to like someone was one thing. Pretending to love someone was something completely different.

Especially when it was someone she had loved before.

Danny.

This one, he's got diamonds in his pockets

(has lots of bread now)

But Vaughn was right. This would only make their love stronger. And that was what really mattered. Because when SD-6 went down, she wanted to be able to look him straight in the eye, tell him that she loved him, and kiss him outside in the sun. In front of everyone.

With no conflictions.

This would be her closure.

Her closure with Danny's life, Danny's death, Danny's resurrection. And it would leave her free. Completely free. For Michael.

Michael.

And this one, he wants to buy you rockets

(Only in his head now)

Michael watched Sydney walk away, saw how strong she was and how strong she would continue to be. And felt his heart swell with love for her. She would get through this. They both would.

But why was he still feeling so scared?

Marry him, your father will condone you

(how bout that now?)

Marry me, your father will disown you

(gonna eat his hat now)

He sighed as he turned to get his briefcase. He would put his trust in her.

She already had his love.

Aww, marry him or marry me,

I'm the one that loves you baby can't you see?

~:~

Sydney walked into SD-6 with an almost exultant expression on her face. There was even a bounce in her step as she walked into Sloane's office.

She was beaming. Absolutely beaming.

Sloane put down his phone. "Yes Sydney?"

"Is it true? My father told me that you had Danny?"

He nearly chuckled at her expression. "Yes. Would you like to see him?"

At her nod, he led the way. It seemed as though he had made the right decision.

If you want to call me baby

(Just go ahead now)

An' if you want to tell me maybe

(Just go ahead now)

And if you wanna buy me flowers

(Just go ahead now)

And if you'd like to  talk for hours

(Just go ahead now)

He opened a door.

Danny sat at the desk, his hands being unbound by the two guards that had stood outside the door.

"Danny?" Sydney asked, her voice full of emotion.

He turned at the sound of her voice. "Syd?"

She smiled and walked towards him.

There was a moment of awkward silence as he eyed her suspiciously.

"Hi."

He blinked. Was this actually happening? Wasn't she engaged? He looked down at her hand. It was gone.

Had he imagined everything?

One, two princes kneel before you

(that's what I said now)

Princes, princes who adore you

(just go ahead now)

"I can't believe-" Her voice stopped as she stood before him, eyes taking in every inch of his face.

Resting on the scar on his throat.

"It's you," she said, tears brimming. "It's really truly you."

And she watched as he stood, tears glistening in his eyes as he took in her appearance. "Yeah."

Ain't got no future or a family tree

But I know what a prince and lover ought to be

And they just stood there, not touching, merely looking at each other in complete wonder.

And Sloane was satisfied.

TBC…  I know I was evil and you guys all probably want to strangle me right now but think about it.

I'm trying to make this story realistic and we all know that there has to be some problems… Danny was a major thing and he knew everything that could completely kill them… he wasn't going to keep silent for nothing.

Just remember what Vaughn said. The key word is PRETEND.

Wouldn't you rather they have a slight hurdle to jump over than Vaughn (and Syd and Jack) be dead???

They love each other and they are still engaged.

Remember that.

Will it make you feel better to tell you that a LOT of your wishes will come true…? I promise. I know what's going to happen (thank god) and don't worry, everything will work out.

So review and tell me what you thought. (I LOVE THAT SONG SOO MUCH!!!)

-Jenn