Chapter5:

Will was watching Sydney from a distance. She was standing over her father while he talked to her, probably something about Irina, he thought. He was starting to realise that he couldn't deny what he felt for Sydney. He had loved Francie, but this was feeling different. True, it started the same, but he was feeling more for Sydney, he had moved on from that. He wanted to ask her out on a date. A real date, just to see if it would work. How am I supposed to ask her out without making it uncomfortable? How should I make it sound like a date?

He had already made reservations at a small Italian place he knew of. Real Italians owned it, not those people who cooked Italian food, people who were Italian food. It was a Friday night, and he had to make the reservations a month in advance for that place. Originally, he had planned it as a 'welcome back' dinner, but started to think that maybe it was a bit much for that, and eventually, he became so preoccupied with his work that he forgot to cancel the booking. He had only remembered it when he turned the page of his calendar.

When he saw "Syd" and "Valentino's" for the coming Friday, he started thinking about making it a date, and now he was about to do just that. First thing Tuesday morning, and he was going to ask her out on a date. He watched her, and waited for the right moment to come. Sydney noticed that his, eyes were glazed over, like he was looking through her, and was thinking of something to say. She walked over to him, and asked what was on his mind. Looking down at the ground, and scratching the back of his neck he mumbled "wanna-go-fer-a-date-Friday?" "Will, what are you saying? I can't hear you when you mumble like that. What is it." she flashed her amazing smile at him, but only succeeded in making him feel even more awkward, if that was actually possible, "You know you can tell me anything." "I was wondering," he looked up, took off his glasses and smiled back at her, "I was wondering if maybe, if you aren't busy or anything, if you would want to, maybe, ummm., have dinner with me Friday night?" He punctuated his question with a goofy smile. "All you had to do was ask Will, of course I'll have dinner with you. Why are you acting so funny about?" The look on her face suggested that she knew why, but he wanted him to say it first. "I was wondering, maybe, if it could be, like a, er.ummm , a date?" He didn't want it to sound like a question, but he couldn't change it now. All he could do now was hope she wouldn't say no. He closed his eyes and waited for it. Of course she's going to say no. He was already preparing for that. What has come over me. Why on earth would she- "Of course." "I understand, I mean if you-what? Did you just say yes?" His sky blue eyes opened a bit wider. "I have reservations at 8:00, so when should I pick you up?" How stupid! I live with her for goodness sake! What an idiot! "How about 7, and then we can have drinks, and maybe dance a bit." She smiled at him, and felt as though some strange poison was flooding her body, and it felt wonderful.

The moment she realised he was asking her out on a date, the feelings she had been hiding from Will flooded her mind. Her conscious, her subconscious, her emotions, everything screamed 'YES!' at her. How could she say no to him? Vaughn didn't matter any more. He was gone. When Will had asked her out, she didn't think 'What about Vaughn?' for even a split second. All she thought about was Will. Her smile brightened up the room. The dams they had built within themselves had broken, and the spark was electric.

Michael even looked up from the folder he was pretending to go through. He realised, from the look on her face, that she had found the person she was looking for. It wasn't him it was-Will. Good for him, thought Vaughn. He had known for a while now that Will had feelings for her. He could tell by the way he looked at her. Even when he wouldn't recognise it inside of himself, Vaughn could see it from the gestures. Michael doubted if any two people deserved to be happy more then Sydney and Will. Finally, he could stop feeling that small pang of guilt whenever he walked past Sydney. She had been missing for two years, and he had needed to move on. He was sure that he loved her, but while he looked at Will and Sydney now, he knew that they were in love, and he could tell that it was deep.

Just for the fun of it, Will went outside in his suit, and knocked on the door. Both he and Sydney had calmed down since the original euphoria early that week. They had stayed the same, but there were more looks, more smiles, more winks and blown kisses. Sydney had changed in her room, and through the closed door, told Will to go outside and knock. So he grabbed the flowers he had bought her, and stood out on the porch. "Coming!" came the call from inside. As the door opened, Will saw Sydney differently. She was wearing a long black dress. It was plain, but it hung over her figure to amazing effect. She was wearing hanging earrings, and her hair was curled and done up. She looked beautiful.more than beautiful. She looked, wow, she looked, resplendent. She took his breath away.

"These are for you." He passed her the flowers. The look on her face showed that she wasn't expecting them. "Let me put them in a vase, and then we can go." She did so, and then they linked arms and walked to his car. "Allow me." He opened the door for her and helped her in. Will, always the gentleman.

They arrived, parked, and entered. As if almost on cue, the previous song finished, and a new one started. Will realised it as Bon Jovi's 'If That's What it Takes', and asked Sydney to dance. She accepted, and they made their way to the 'dance floor' and started to dance, looking into each other's eyes. Close together they danced, eyes locked on each other. It was a night for them to remember, and both of them would.

THE END