For disclaimer and other information, see chapter one.

Author's Note: 9 reviews to almost 500 readers… every other day it is. lol

Chapter Three - Realizations (Vaughn)

"I love her, Dad," Vaughn says quietly. "We tried to fight it for so long. Everything had to come before us. But that's over now. I wish you could've met her."

Despite his best efforts, a tear escapes his closed eyes.

"You know what's funny?" he says suddenly, wiping the tear away. "You wouldn't have liked her. And not just because of her mother and all that. She's too much like you."

He laughs to himself.

"She's got that determination to do good no matter the cost, and no matter whom she has to punch, just like you did in all your journal entries. Same loyalty, too. And not just to people she knows. To people she'll never meet, who will live a better life because of her successes."

He swallows hard. "I look at her and I see the man she thinks I am, the man I am only when she stands beside me. And Dad, I don't know if I should be scared or proud of that."

- to be continued -

Reviewer Responses:

Whitney: Although he is that too, right? ;-)

JoAnn13: I think S/V wanna know the answer to that, too. lol

Erin: Thanks for the compliment! I wouldn't mind posting every day (especially since the chapters are really short, like this one), but it seems the majority has spoken. Ah, well. An extra day isn't too long to wait, I hope.

Terra: One of my good friends was married last weekend, and I swear she didn't allow herself time to breathe until it was over. That's where Sydney's current mentality comes from. Hehe (It's a torture of a whole other kind!)

reverie: You did? Awesome! I was hoping I could convey that, since like I said, I'm only goin' from second-hand knowledge. Thank you so very much for dropping by!