Chapter 7: First Contact

Sydney was still in bed the next morning when she heard the phone ring.

She picked up the phone from her nightstand and answered it with a sleepy voice.

"Hello?" She had no idea who it could be.

"Good morning sleepyhead!" She smiled as soon as she recognized his voice. It was Vaughn.

"Good morning. How did you know my number?"

"I pulled your file."

"Clever." He smiled in the phone.

"Hey, I don't work for the CIA for nothing you know!" She loved teasing him.

"So, I don't think you called just to say good morning, right?"

"No, I didn't…I was actually figuring out a way to meet Cassie. I mean, we don't have to go to the CIA today, so I thought that maybe we could go to the park or something…" He paused because he wasn't sure if it would be ok with Sydney.

"Vaughn that would be great! Why don't you pick us up at noon and we can explain things to Cassie before we go to the park. What do you think?" Vaughn smiled.

"I'd love that. I'll see you later!"

"Ok. Hey, I guess you have my address too, right?"

"Of course. It is surprisingly to know what is actually in those files, you know!" Sydney smiled. She loved the way he could always make her smile.

"I know. Bye!"

"Bye!"

"Oh, and Syd?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you!"

"I love you too!" They both hung up.

Sydney took a shower and went to make breakfast. Five minutes later she heard her little girl coming down the stairs.

"Hi mommy!"

"Hey sweetie!" She gave Cassie a kiss on her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"Uh-huh! Can I have a bagel please?"

"Sure you can!" The little girl went to sit at the table and Sydney brought her a bagel and some milk.

"I don't have to go to work today so I thought that it would be fun to go to the park." Cassie's eyes brightened up and she started to run over to her mother.

"Yeah! We're going to the park! Can I take my ball with me?"

"Sure you can, honey!"

"When are we going?"

"You still have to wait a bit, ok! We're going at noon!"

"Ok!" She wasn't too pleased about it but she knew she didn't need to argue with her mother. Instead she went to the garden to play with her toys.

Sydney cleaned up the kitchen and went to the living room to read a book. She couldn't really concentrate because she still had to find a way to explain everything to Cassie. She didn't know how the little girl would be handling it all.

It was almost noon and Sydney felt very nervous. She was just about to go to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Sydney went over to the door and opened it.

"Hey, gorgeous!"

"Hey!" They kissed for a brief moment.

"Come in."

"Thanks."

"Why don't you sit down in the living room and I'll get you something to drink, ok?"

"Sure. That would be great."

"What do you want?"

"You!" She smiled.

"Thanks, but I meant what do you want to drink?"

"Oh! I'll have some coffee, thanks."

"Ok."

A while later she came back with two coffees in her hand.

"Here you go."

"Thanks."

"Are you ready to meet your daughter?"

"Yeah. I guess I am."

"Good. I'll go get her. She's still playing in the garden. I'll be right back."

She was about to go to the garden when Vaughn called her back.

"Syd!"

"Yeah?"

"No matter what will happen, I'll always love you!"

"I know." With that knowledge she went to call her daughter.

'Hey, honey?"

"Yes, mommy?"

"There's someone in the living room who would like to meet you. So would you come with mommy for a minute?"

"Ok." The little girl ran over to where Sydney was standing and gave her mother a hand. Together they walked into the house to the living room. Cassie saw Vaughn sitting on the couch and she immediately recognized him. She smiled at him and then turned to her mother.

"Look, mommy! He's the one who picked up my ball when we were at the mall!"

"Yeah, I know. Look honey, there's something I have to tell you!"

"What is it mommy?" She really wanted to know what her mother wanted to say.

"Remember that I told you a few days ago that your daddy had to leave us because he had to go work in France?" Cassie nodded. Sydney sighed and continued.

"Well…Your daddy is back."

"Really?" The girl was pleased to hear that her father came back to her.

"Where is he?"

"Well Cassie…I would like you to meet your daddy, Michael Vaughn."

Cassie turned to Vaughn and smiled at him. Vaughn smiled back.

"Are you really my daddy?"

"Yes I am." Cassie went over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi daddy!"

"Hi Cassie!" He hugged his daughter and saw that Sydney had tears in her eyes.

After a while Cassie and Vaughn broke the hug. Cassie went back to her mother.

"Mommy?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"Can we still go to the park?" Sydney smiled.

"Of course we can. Why don't you go to the garden to catch your ball?"

"Ok. Oh, mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Can daddy come with us?"

"Sure he can. But I don't know if he wants to come. I guess you have to ask him yourself."

Cassie turned back to Vaughn.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetie?" Sydney smiled at the use of his words.

"Will you come with us to the park?"

"I'd love to!"

"Yeah! Mommy, daddy is coming with us!"

"Yeah, I know."

Cassie went to get her ball and Sydney went to sit down next to Vaughn. he took her hand in his and they intertwined their fingers. Sydney was the first to speak.

"I guess she took it quite well."

"Yeah, she did. She's a real angel."

"I know. She really likes you!"

"I like her too." They kissed each other and they broke the kiss seconds before Cassie re-entered the room.

"I'm ready!"

"Good. Then we are ready to go!" The three of them walked to the door and went towards the park.

About fifteen minutes later they arrived at the park. They chose a spot near the playground and placed their blanket and pick nick on the grass. Cassie immediately ran over to the swing and Sydney went to sit next to Vaughn on the blanket.

She laid her head on Vaughn's shoulders and Vaughn gave a kiss on her hair.

"You know Syd, she looks exactly like you!"

"You think so?"

"Yeah. You both have the same hair color, the same smile and the same look in your eyes when you're happy."

"And she has the same beautiful eyes as you and the same cute little dimple in her chin." Vaughn smiled.

"I guess she's a perfect blend between the two of us, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is…Syd?"

"Mmm?"

"I'm sorry for all the years I wasn't there to help you bring up our daughter."

"Vaughn"

"No, I have to say this. I'm sorry that I was such a coward to let you go. Sydney…letting you go was the biggest mistake I've ever made and I won't let it happen again. I love you!"

"I love you too, Michael."

Vaughn smiled as he heard Sydney using his first name. Sydney looked up at him and noticed his smile.

"What?"

"Nothing!" But he couldn't stop smiling.

"Come on!"

"Ok, It's just…I like hearing you call me Michael!"

"So…That is your name right?"

"Yeah, it's just that I waited five years to hear you calling me like that." She leaned over and kissed him deep on his lips, she felt him kissing her back.

After a while they broke apart and went over to play with Cassie and her ball.

They all had a great time.

About an hour later they were ready to go back home.

As soon as they got home, Cassie went to the living room to watch a movie and Sydney started preparing dinner. Vaughn watched her as she made her way through the kitchen.

"You need some help?" Sydney looked up.

"Sure."

"What can I do?"

"Well…you could set the table if you want."

"Sure. No problem." Sydney went on with slicing vegetables and Vaughn went to set the table.

A while later they were finished eating and they went to sit in the living room. It didn't take long before Cassie fell asleep and Sydney picked her daughter up and carried her to bed.

She came back downstairs about five minutes later. Sydney entered the living room with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. She sat down next to Vaughn and he opened the bottle.

They were both silent and they enjoyed each others company. Vaughn suddenly took Sydney's glass out of her hand and put it on the table, together with his glass.

He then leaned over to her and kissed her. The kiss soon deepened and both of them longed for each other.

They got up and went upstairs to her room.

Vaughn led her to the bed and both of them were soon undressed….

After they made love they fell asleep in each others arms.

Both Sydney and Vaughn slept very peaceful that night.

Authors Note: Thanks to all of you who reviewed…the reviews really mean a lot to me!

                          Please let me know what you think of this chapter…good or bad?

                                   Lots of love Ms.MV