Sydney clung to her daughter for dear life, hoping, that perhaps, when she let go, Emily would be a baby again and Michael would still be alive. The disappointment of reality was nothing compared to they way her heart broke when Emily jerked out of her embrace.

Her daughter's eyes were stormy; the exact color of Michael's whenever they fought. Her teeth ground together as she jumped up and said in a very shaky tone, "My name is Kate, and my mother is dead. I don't know who the hell you are."

Sydney closed her eyes in confusion and hurt, not understanding why Emily called herself Kate. It struck her then, that Irina had never mentioned how they were protected, and it pained her even more as she realized that they must have gone into protective custody.

Irina stepped forward, eyes boring into her granddaughter's. "You were born Emily Brigitte Vaughn, you know that, Kate."

Her voice was no longer shaky, but insolent as she replied, "Yea, I know. But I'm not her anymore. Besides, who the hell are you?"

During their exchange, Sydney's mind was flooded by new memories. Happy, domestic, loving memories of a life as someone else. Interrupting their conversation, she whispered loudly, "Oh god," and turned to run upstairs. The people she was after, however, were already down.

She was crying, the tears dripping down rapidly. "Oh John, I'm sorry."

Wesley was still confused, although the woman before him looked like his mom again. "Momma?" he whispered, and she pulled him into a tight hug.

"Baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." She began to rock back and forth with Wesley in her arms.

"Its ok, Momma. Are you better now?" She couldn't respond to that, she could only continue to rock him.

Kate and Irina watched, the former with tears in her eyes and the latter with waves of guilt.

John finally spoke, touching his wife's arm gently. "Cindy, what's going on? Is what that woman said true?"

Letting go of her son, she stood up slowly. "First, my name isn't Cindy. It's Sydney. That young lady over there is my daughter, Emily Brigitte Vaughn, and the other is my mother. I used to work for the CIA, John, and I had a lot of enemies. They did this to me as revenge. And although this tore me away from my family, I will never regret the life we had, the one we built. I have a son, and a loving husband. I will never regret that, John."

He felt the 'but' coming, and sighed as her eyes broke contact with his. "But I can't stay here. Our lives can't be the same. And I know you. You wouldn't be able to live with me, knowing all the horrible things I've had happen to me in the past. You may deny it now, but I know."

He nodded, the tears forming. She was right, it killed him to know that she had loved someone else the way he loved her, and that she had it ripped away from her.

She turned to Kate, eyes still wet. "I know you don't know me, but I want to get to know you with all of my heart. Will you let me?"

Kate thought back to the craziness and sadness she had endured in the past month, the heartache of losing Dad, getting a new family, moving somewhere completely foreign. The world had become dark and ugly to her, but finally, she was getting a little light back.

"Yes."

Epilogue

"Dad, it's been a little less than two months since I've been to visit, and you know why. I can't stay here long, because Mom and I are going to live in Canada, Grandma Irina is going to help us get there. We haven't told anyone about her being alive, and that's hard on her, because she misses her old friends. The hardest part, for both of us, is that you're not going to be there with us. We've been telling each other stories, a few a night. I've learned about how you two met, since I know about the CIA now, and she's been learning how well you did as a parent."

Kate stroked the daises she had placed on the headstone moments before, and Sydney rubbed soothing circles on her back. Haltingly, she continued, "John and Mom are separated, but they are still friends. He understands that she can't be Cindy Cross anymore, and Wesley is coming to stay with us for Easter. He's accepted things very well, and although he misses his mom, I think he's happy he has a sister."

Another deep breath, and then she said, "We love you so much Dad. It's still so hard, living without you. But, if I have to do it, I'm glad I found Mom so we can do it together. Goodbye, Dad. I'll always love you so much."

Now, Sydney stepped forward and traced his name with a trembling finger. "Oh Michael. There are so many things to say. I won't say them all here, but start, and I'll add to it every night. Deep down I'd always prepared myself for that moment that I'd lose you, just like I've lost every other man I've ever loved. It was like a sledgehammer, Michael. Worse than anything I've ever felt, even finding Danny in the bathtub, or Noah under the mask.

"Mom is helping us, I know you hate that, but her words feel so sincere. I've never seen her more ashamed than when she told me about the night you died. I know it may be foolish, but for once, I'm trusting her. She may have been absent as a mother, but she's trying so hard now.

"I'm so sorry you had to parent alone, although, you did a wonderful job. Our daughter is so beautiful and smart, and just.perfect. Thank you. We're going to live in Canada, and try to have as normal a life we can have. I will always love you, Michael. Always."

With a final caress of the cold marble, Sydney took Kate's hand, and they walked to their car, ready to start a new life. Together.