Disclaimer:  I do not own any of the Alias characters that are portrayed on this story, so please don't sue me!!!!!!

Summary:  Five years have passed since the fall of SD-6, and Sydney has gone missing for the 3 last years.  Vaughn is in for the shock of his life when he finally finds Sydney…with a family. S/S; some S/V

While She Was Missing

            In the car, Sydney looked out the window at the ocean while Vaughn drove.  The cerulean blue of the water and the crash of the waves against the cliffs put Sydney in a hypnotic state.  In her hands was a wallet-sized picture of Annabelle smiling back at her.  It was taking at the beach, and Annabelle was wearing a dainty, white sundress.  Now that everything had settled in, Sydney regretted some of the words she had said while she was arguing with Sark.  She did not want to imagine how he felt at this time.  Would she ever see him again?  Did he still love her?  Sydney smiled bitterly at the thought that those questions had been posed about Vaughn just a few days before.  Sydney was pulled out of her reverie when she realized that Vaughn had pulled up to a Vista Point and had gotten out of the car.  She opened her door and climbed out and stretched.  Sydney looked at Vaughn, who was standing near the edge of the cliff and looking out at the ocean. 

            "Beautiful day, isn't it?" Sydney asked.  Her voice was nervous because she did not want to have to rehash her argument with Sark.

            "Sydney, what happened back there?  What did he say?  Why are we here?" Vaughn asked as he turned around.

            "I…I don't know.  I just honestly don't know!  I can't just go back to Sark and act as if nothing ever happened!"

            "Well what did happen?"

            "You! You're what happened!  When I was just finally feeling like I could adjust to the way things were, you showed up, and all my feelings for you just reappeared.  I wasn't ready to see you again.  Now look what happened!  I left my husband and my child for you!  I don't know whether I should be happy or sad," Sydney said as tears fell down her cheeks.

            "And you know what hurts the most?  Knowing that I might never see my child again!  Do you actually think that Sark would let me see Annabelle after what I did?  He would surely get custody over her if we ever divorced!" Sydney exclaimed.

            "Wait, what do you mean by 'if we ever divorced'?  Aren't you going to get a divorce?"

            "The marriage between Sark and me was difficult, you could say.  With Sark being wanted, everything was private, and if I got a divorce now, they would surely catch him!"

            "What is wrong with catching him?  He's a criminal!  He has hurt so many people, and you're afraid that he'll be caught?!" Vaughn asked, incredulously. 

            "Can we just move off this topic?"

            "I just need to know one thing.  In our lives, we have to make important choices, and I need to know your choice.  I hate giving ultimatums, but in this case, I don't think that there can be any other alternatives.  Are you going to come back to L.A. with me, or are you going to go back to Sark?"

            Sydney looked at Vaughn and her voice caught at the back of her throat.  Should she pick the man that she had dreamed about and wanted for so long over her own child, her flesh and blood, and her husband who had been so adoring and loving?  Sydney squeezed her eyes tight, for she was going with the impulsive decision of her heart over her rationality.

            "I'm coming with you."

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A/N:  Thanks you guys for the reviews!!  S/S fans, don't fret!  There will be so much more Syd/Sark to come, just be patient!  In my next chapters, there will be a little 'change of pace', and keep on reviewing!  I love it when readers review!