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Sydney woke up Saturday morning to find the other half of the bed empty.  But she knew that he was not far away.  Quietly, she went into the kitchen where Vaughn was sitting sipping coffee and reading the paper. 

"I feel so good right now."  She said, taking the seat next to him.

"Why?"

"I like waking up and feeling this domesticated."

"Really?"

"Yeah.  So what do you have planned for today?"

"Well, how does nothing sound?"

"Are you serious, nothing?"

"Well, almost.  I have to stop by my apartment, and feed Donavan, and to get a couple of things."

"Ok."  Sydney said.  "I'm going to take a shower."  Emerging half an hour later, Sydney felt better.

"Come on."  Vaughn said, putting on his jacket.

"Wait a second, where are we going?"

"My apartment, and then to finish our plans."

"You told me that you made no  plans."

"That's not entirely true.  We have lunch plans."

"I just woke up."

"Actually it isn't so much as lunch plans, as it is brunch plans.  But they only serve lunch and dinner kind of things."

"Better."

"Come on, lets go."  Vaughn grabbed Sydney's hand, and pulled her into his car.  "I see you're not nervous about tonight."

"I'm not thinking about it.  That's why.  But now that you reminded me, I am definitely getting antsy."

"Just relax about today, ok?  I went to my reunion, and I had to lie too.  It's not that bad."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me."

"Did it ever occur to you that it might be true?"

"Vaughn, I…"

"Shush Syd.  You are going to have a good time whether you worry or not. That is my guarantee."

The moment Vaughn walked into his apartment, Donavan was all over him.  "I'm going to let him outside really quick.  Make yourself comfortable."  Vaughn opened up the back porch, and walked outside.  Sydney looked around her surroundings.  Everything was as she expected it to be.  Clean, with a small mess that only a lonely dog could make.  Hanging over the edge of one of the chairs was a bagged suit with a note attached.

"Next time, do your own errands.  Here is the suit you wanted for Saturday.  Let Donavan out. I know you love Sydney and all, but you got to come here sometime to feed and exercise your dog.  Eric."

Sydney couldn't help but smile as she read the note.  She sat down on the dying couch waiting for Vaughn to come back.  He arrived a few minutes later, dog-less.  "Where's Donavan?"  She inquired.

"This complex has a small dog run.  I left him there for a little while."

"Ah."

Vaughn walked into the kitchen, and Sydney followed him with her eyes.  He picked up the dog bowl and began to fill it.  "Are you going to tell me what you were like in high school?"  Vaughn questioned.  "Or are you just going to leave me to guess?"

Sydney laughed.  "Ok, let's see.  I was the quiet, smart one in all of my classes.  I was athletic but I wasn't on any sports teams."

"Why not?"

"I don't know.  I guess because at my school you were either athletic or smart.  You weren't really both.  But I was.  And I sort of made a choice, to be smart."  She explained.  "And there are also so many stereotypes that went with all the sports.  I didn't want to be once of those ditsy, slutty  cheerleaders, or egotistical basketball players, snobbish gymnasts, geeky, but not smart golfer, loud and annoying volleyball player, and a loud and stupid soccer players.  So I chose to be smart."

"Was that what it was like at your school?"

"I'm way over generalizing, but yeah."

"Ok, so what else were you?"

"I was in the band.  Played the sax.  And late.  I was always horribly late.  My teachers didn't mind so much, because I always made up the time after school because Hannah was always late.  I was always hanging around Will and Shelby."  Sydney then mumbled under her breath.  "I also left school the most hate girl in history."

"What did you say?"

"I just said I was also treasurer."

"Wow.  Quite a job."  Vaughn, said beaming.

Sydney didn't feel the same way.  "I guess."

"So you and Will would hang out."

"Yeah.  Oh, Will and Francie are coming tonight."

"Ok, what time do you want to leave tonight?"

"For the part, or from the party?"

"For."  Vaughn put down Donavan's food.  He held out his hand for Sydney to take, and they walked out to retrieve Vaughn's dog, hand in hand.

"It starts at six, so about five."

"Dead set on not being late?"

"No, it's actually about an hour out."

"Really."  Vaughn whistled, and the large dog obediently waked back to his loving master.  "Yeah.  That's a good boy." He praised.

"Ok, where now?"  Sydney asked as they left the apartment.

"There's a little restaurant a couple blocks from here.  I figured that we would go there for some brunch."

"Is it good?"

"One of my two favorites in LA.'

"What's the other?"

"Francie's."

"Good answer."

"Michael, your mother was just in here last week looking for you!"  The bubbly owner said, the moment the two walked through the front door.  "And I said, 'No Bridget, I haven't seen him in a while.  He's got this new girl, and been spending all of his time with her.'"

"Annette, how lovely to see you too."

Annette came from behind the counter to give Vaughn a warm embrace.  She then turned to Sydney.  "And you must be the girl Mikey couldn't stop talking about when he last came here.  I thought he was talking about Alice at first, but he never talked about Alice the way he talked about you."

"That's me. I'm Sydney."

"I'm Annette."

"Annette is an old family friend."

"That's right. I can tell you stories about this one here was so little.  He would sometimes run around his mother's shop naked."

Vaughn turned red.  "That's enough Annette.  I don't want to scare her off yet."

Sydney smiled happily as she pictured a young Vaughn running around naked, and in his mother's store, too.

"But of course you didn't come here to talk with an aging woman.  You came here to eat.  Now sit!  Eat!"

Vaughn and Sydney took a booth near the back of the restaurant, but next to a window.  "What would you two like?"

"Annette, Sydney hasn't even had the chance to look at the menu yet.  Give us a minute."

But Annette did not give them a minute.  Instead she slipped into the booth next to Vaughn.  "You know, when your father came in here with your mother for the first time, he said something very similar.  Of course back then, I was just a waitress.  I never actually thought that Catalina would will me her restaurant.  God bless her soul.  But she did.  But when William and Bridget first came in here, at that point I had come to know William very well.  He came in here at least once a week.  But something was different when he brought your mother here.  He was all like "Annette, give my Bridget time to think.  But I'll have your famous cheeseburgers.  They were married within the year.  They made such a cute couple.  How is your mother Mikey?"

"I don't know.  You're the one that talked to her last."

"Right dear."

"Annette, can you please let Sydney look at the menu."

"Of course."  Annette patted Vaughn on the leg before leaving.

"Mikey?"  Sydney teased.

"Annette is an old family friend.  She knew me as a kid.  Now hurry up and decide what you'll order before she comes back. She won't give you another chance to look."

"What ever you say, Mikey."

"You're going to hold that over my head now, aren't you?"

"You bet.  I've decided."

"Shh… If you say that too loud, she'll hear you, and we won't get a minute of peace until our food comes."

"Oh, I like listening to stories of you."

"Those are reserved for my mother, not Annette."

"I'll take them either way."

The chimes of the front door ran.  Sydney and Vaughn were so intensely talking that they didn't notice the new customer until:

"Bridget!"  Annette squealed, coming from around the counter.

Vaughn turned a pale white, and slowly turned around.  "Is that your mother, Vaughn?"  An amused Sydney asked.

"Yes, that's her.  I can honestly say that I had no idea that she was going to be here."

"Your boy is here." They heard Annette tell Bridget.

"My boy?"

"Yes, and his girl.  Oh, she is a real beauty."  Annette dragged Bridget over to their booth.

"Michael, look who popped in."  Annette proudly proclaimed.

"Maman, lovely to see you." He got up from his seat and hugged his mother.

"Michael Vaughn.  How is that Annette knows this beauty before me, and I don't?"  Bridget smiled lovingly at both Sydney and her son.

"First time she's been here too."  Annette added.

"Won't you two please sit down?"  Vaughn slid down next to Sydney.  Eagerly, Bridget sat down, across from Sydney, and Annette quickly followed.  "Maman, this is my girlfriend, Sydney."

"Hello."  The two shook hands.

"Let me get your orders now."  Annette offered.  She took out her order pad, and began writing.  "Michael?"

"Cheeseburger."

"Sydney, for you dear?"

"Could I just have a hamburger?"

"Of course.  And for you Bridget?"

"I don't know why these two are ordering food.  I came in for coffee, and that is all I intend to have."

"A cheeseburger, a hamburger, and a coffee."  Annette left, leaving Sydney feeling rather awkward.

"What do you do Sydney?"

"I work at a bank."

There was an uneasy silence. The meeting was not planned. Annette brought out Bridget's coffee, and then took her seat again.

"What are you two off to this afternoon?"  Annette dared.

Vaughn took Sydney's hand, and answered for her.  "Actually, its Syd's 10 year high school reunion tonight.  So we're going to that."

Bridget eyed her son carefully.  "Oh?"  She simply questioned.

"Yes."

Annette left at the sound for the order bell, and came back seconds later, with their burgers.  Sydney hungrily looked at the burger, but nimbly took a bite out of her French fry, as both the older woman's eyes were focused on her.  Vaughn could sense Sydney's uneasiness, and decided to break the silence, by mentioning his cousin.  "Maman, have you talked to Jeffery lately?" 

"I talked to him just last week.  He called all happy.  Did you hear that he and his wife are expecting their first child?"

"I did.  He left a message on my machine last Wednesday."

"Jeffery.  Little Jeff.  Wasn't he the one that was always hanging around Michael.  You two were always such trouble makers."

"Yes, that Jeff."

"Where are they living now?"

"Seattle.  Oh you should see his wife."  Bridget pulled out her walled, and she and as she and Annette were looking at the pictures, Sydney turned to Vaughn.

"Thank you."  She silently whispered."

"You're welcome."  Vaughn mouthed.

"Oy!  Annette!  Do you have any more cleaner for the grill?"  The cook called.

"Look in the back!"

"I did!"

Annette groaned and went to deal with the cook.

"Excuse me, I have to run to the restroom."  Bridget excused herself.

Sydney let her breath go.  "You know, we can make a run for it before they get back."  Vaughn suggested.

"But our food…"

"We'll take the plates, and run back to my apartment.  I'll leave a note to Annette that we'll bring them back, and to charge the meal to my tab."  Vaughn said, already scribbling the note.

"Ok." 

"Lets go."  Vaughn left the note and the two took their plates and went running down the street.  They collapsed three blocks later at Vaughn's apartment.

Sydney put her plate on the counter, and then collapsed in a chair laughing.  "I haven't done anything like that since high school."

"I honestly didn't know my mother was going to be there.  Annette I can have you handle alone.  But you get my mother and her together for the first time, and you get instant death.  They weren't going to help the cook or go to the bathroom.  They were plotting."

"They were really sweetie."

"Only because you go to hear stories.  I counted three.  You owe me three stories."

"Go ahead, ask my dad."

"That is cruel."

"My mother probably has a few."

"I can't do that either.  Come on, what about Hannah?"

"Died.  Three years ago, so there is no one else."

"Will might have one or two."

"He wouldn't date."

"Your friends that I'll be meeting tonight might have a few."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I think I would."

"You wouldn't."

"How else would I get your stories that you'll never tell?"

"Except for one thing, I was a goody-goody in high school. There are no stories of me."

"There has got to be at least one."

"Just don't hold any of them over my head."

"So, there are stories."

"A few."

"I thought so.  Hey, I noticed that you haven't stressed about tonight yet."

"I am.  Still not showing it."

"See, all you have to do is use those spy skills of yours and everyone will be fooled."

"Nothing would have changed from when I worked at SD-6."

"Hey, stop worrying about it."  Vaughn moved and put his arms around Sydney and placed a gentle kiss on her neck.  "I'm going to be there.  And if anyone decides to give you crap about not teaching, we can easily kick everyone's ass in there."

"It's not the teaching I'm worried about."

"What?"

"Never mind.  How is it you always know how to make me feel better?"  Sydney said, kissing him passionately.  Vaughn groaned with pleasure.  "You like that?"

"Oh yeah."  The two began to passionately kiss when Vaughn's watch began to beep.

"What's that?"  Sydney asked.

"The start of the Kings game."  Vaughn said, gently pushing the advancing Sydney away, and jumping over the couch and turning on the start of the hockey game.  Sydney knew that there was no getting Vaughn back, and crawled onto the couch, and curled next to him.  Tenderly, he draped his arm around her shoulder as they watched the game together.  A short time later, Donavan came by and laid down on the rug at their feet.  A feeling of tranquility fell throughout the apartment.

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