For disclaimer and other information, see chapter one.
Author's Note: A note explaining the delay is at the bottom of 7, as are review responses. (Two chapters instead of one have been posted as an apology.) Oh, and thanks so much for participating in my impromptu trivia quiz! Wedding vows aren't the same without full names, don't you think? ;)
For a moment they just stand there, guns aimed at each other. Vaughn stares, astonished, both at the fact that his soon-to-be father-in-law has been spying on him (no surprise there, he supposes), and because, well…
Is that a smile on his face?
"Care to put that down?"
Even his voice sounds amused! Who knew?
"Mr. Vaughn? Put the gun down, son."
He blinks, shaken more than a little at the uncharacteristic term of endearment. With a noise of exasperation, Jack holsters his own revolver and gently twists Vaughn's from his grip, flipping it around and handing it back to him. He takes it reflexively.
"What… what are you doing here?" he manages at last.
"Sydney sent me here to look for you."
Vaughn frowns, immediately snapping to attention. "I didn't tell her where… is everything all right?"
"I suppose I should be delighted in your apparent lack of talent in decepting my daughter, Mr. Vaughn," he replies drolly. "Everything is fine, although your wedding planner seems to not realize that she only has 4 hours until the ceremony. If she rearranges the church one more time, I will–"
Vaughn sighs at the ever-present argument. "As I have told you before, Jack, my wedding planner is the best in the business. Don't you think your daughter deserves the best?"
Sydney's father arches an eyebrow, impressed in spite of himself. Touché, Mr. Vaughn.
"Yes, well–"
"Look, Jack. My apologies, but as you can see, and can report to Syd, I'm fine. I'll be back shortly, and I've got my cell if she has an emergency. A real emergency, not a chipped nail, which she has already called about. Twice." He pauses to take a breath, annoyed in spite of himself. "Now if you don't mind, I'd really like to be alone with my father."
Jack presses his hands into the small of his back, ignoring him smoothly. "I'm going to tell you something, Mr. Vaughn, which I should've said a long time ago."
"If you're going to tell me you're my father," Vaughn says seriously, "I think I'd prefer you held on to that secret."
He doesn't seem to have even heard the interruption, hesitating and dropping his eyes uncharacteristically. Vaughn frowns. Maybe something is wrong.
"Jack?"
"I guess… what I came here to… what I'm trying to say is, despite our differences, I am genuinely proud of all you have accomplished, Mr. Vaughn. I know I hesitated to give you my blessing when you asked for it… but when Sydney asked me to find you, I wanted to make sure you knew you had it. You are indeed worthy of my daughter."
