She's so beautiful.
Irina catches her breath, her gaze that of reverent awe. A nervous Sydney twirls in front of her, checking her reflection in the church's multi-paned mirror.
"What do you think?" the wedding planner asks.
"It's a little tight," Sydney murmurs, unable to tear herself away from her reflection. She has worn the most outrageous of costumes over the years, but somehow, she never saw herself in one of these.
"That's just nerves, girl!" is the reply.
"Mom?"
"Yes?" she replies quickly, blinking away what were not tears. Irina Derevko does not cry.
"What do you think?"
"You look beautiful, Sydney," Irina replies quietly. "I am so honored you agreed to wear my dress."
"What else would I wear?" Her gaze is genuinely puzzled, though the silent understanding that passes from mother to daughter is unmistakable. Silently, Irina thanks God that her daughter did not inherit her parents' difficulties with forgiveness. They were hardly the model familial relationship, but they were trying. All of them were trying, including the husband-to-be and the former KGB officer. The dress was merely the first step in what would hopefully be many.
"Can I wear your bracelet? It looks like an antique."
She blinks, her confusion enough to snap her out of her surmises. "What?"
"The saying, you know. The dress qualifies as something borrowed, I think. I need something old."
"I have something for that, if you don't mind."
Surprised, they turn. A misty-eyed Jack stands in the doorway.
He steps forward wordlessly, gesturing for Sydney to hold out her wrist. Puzzled, she does so, only to gasp when Jack quietly slides on a stunning diamond tennis bracelet.
"Dad!"
"It was my mother's favorite bracelet," he says quietly. "Your grandmother's." He trails off, blinking away what were not tears. Jack Bristow does not cry. "You look so like her today."
"You look lovely," Irina says again, feeling very much like an intruder. "Well, that's it for me," Vaughn's hired wedding planner says quickly. "I'm gonna go check the grounds." She leaves swiftly. Irina can't help but envy her.
Deliberately, Sydney steps forward, pulling a tissue from the table beside her as she does so. "Don't cry, Daddy!"
He smiles, feeling his stomach twist. "You haven't called me that in awhile."
She wipes his eyes gracefully and then hands him the Kleenex.
"I know."
"Vaughn and I actually did accomplish something this morning," Jack adds dryly.
"Oh?" she brightens.
"Yes. You know I have been hard on him…"
"That's an interesting way to put it. You slammed him against a wall the first time you met and then spent every conversation you had with him trying to outdo him!"
"Indeed. And I don't regret that, Sydney. But Vaughn is a good man. I couldn't have you two marry without him knowing he had earned my respect."
It's her turn to grab a tissue. "You told him this?"
"Yes," he smiles faintly. "And I don't regret that, either."
Irina sighs deeply, feeling even more uncomfortable. "I'll let you both finish."
"What? Mom, you're leaving?"
"I don't want to interrupt."
"Don't be silly!"
Without warning, Sydney reaches out and grabs both her parents by their hands, pulling them closer to the mirror so that they flank her. Both swallow hard, their accomplished daughter has never looked more innocent, or more happy.
"I still can't believe today is finally here," she gushes, smiling broadly at them in the mirrors. Carefully, she eyes each of them in turn. "And I'm so happy you both are here."
They stand there, united by blood and by handgrips. A family of spies, liars, murderers, con artists, blackmailers, snipers, martial arts experts and more, for the good side and the bad.
But yet a family.
And then Sydney scowls, checking her watch again. Suddenly their daughter is gone and in her place stands Vaughn's Mariée Obsessionnelle. Or, according to Agent Weiss' somewhat loose translation, the Wedding Nazi.
"I'm glad you're here," she says again. "But you may be here for an execution instead of a wedding if my darling fiancé is not reported to be on the grounds soon."
Irina grins at Jack, who mystifies them all by returning it. "Our daughter and Mr. Vaughn will reach our version of a relationship before you know it."
"May God help us all," he returns drolly. Unnoticed by them both, a thrilled Sydney frees her hands and connects the two of them together before vanishing into the hallway.
In the dressing room, buoyed by the day's events, Irina and Jack continue to hold hands and make each other laugh in front of the mirror, due to the fact that they never noticed their daughter leaving and were pretending to be civil for her sake.
At least that's what they were telling themselves.
Review Responses:
Kat27: A calm cliff? I didn't know that was possible. ;) Thanks for leavin' a word even if you were in a hurry! That's dedication, man.
Nattie700: LOL, I'll try! It'll actually be longer than 20 chapters, because I was revising some stuff and two characters wouldn't shut up. Typical of them. I was so thrilled when I found out Greg was gonna be a regular! Him and Michael are hilarious together.
Star: I agree. Let's just say there's a reason why she's so off. Two, actually. ;) There's a Panic Bride in all of us. hehe
Ryanne: I hate that. If it happens again, just put "ss" after the address @ FF.net. Works every time.
Julie: :blushes: Wow! You've totally made mine!
Britt: Good to know Syd's not annoying! LOL! And yes, Weiss is awesome. He has a whole chapter or two to himself later. Poor Vaughn. ;)
Crosserfan: Well, I'm glad you were entertained! I love Weiss to pieces.
Kiki: Yes, that finale was quite annoying, ay?
Ilovemypenguin: LOL, well, this story actually does take place a few years after that horrid finale. What can I say? I'm a sucker for happy endings.
Hermione512: I'm glad you found it, too. ;)
Tesseract: Well, you left a review. Apology accepted. ;) And thanks! Hehe
Aliasgurl: Why, thank you!
Paperclip: aw, thank you! And your wish is my command. ;)
