Chapter 8
Thanksgiving 2002

Happy Thanksgiving, Vaughn stated as he walked into the hotel room in Montreal. Sydney had her back to him trying to open the window. Vaughn reached around Sydney and presented her with a flower.

Upon seeing the flower, Sydney immediately forgot about the window and spun around to look at Vaughn. Puzzled, she asked, Is this for me?

Not exactly, Vaughn replied. Look at it more closely.

Sydney took the yellow petaled flower in her hands. The petals were small and the stem was long. Sydney concentrated on flower, knowing it looked familiar, but not quite sure where she had seen one like it before. She racked her brain, trying to remember.

Oh my god, Sydney exclaimed suddenly. Is this the Rambaldi flower? The flower my parents and I took in Kashmir along with the six nuclear cores?

The very one.

Vaughn, how did you get it?

I went to Kashmir, before your parents and you left LA, and stole the flower and the cores, Vaughn responded simply.

Sydney asked, confused.

Vaughn sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew this was going to be difficult to explain, and he wasn't sure if Sydney would approve. He knew he did the right thing, but it would take some time to clarify his motives. He gestured for Sydney to sit down on the bed, as he dragged a chair closer to the bed, facing Sydney.

After he sat down, Vaughn began, After you came back from Kashmir, I noticed you felt closer to Derevko. Apparently, going through that mission with her and your father, you grew closer to her. I was trying to prevent that. I thought it might facilitate our mission.

Facilitate it how?

If were forced to bring our younger selves into the mission, it will make it easier for the younger Sydney to lose her mother, if the bond between them isn't as strong as it was for you and Derevko.

But you changed history, Sydney argued, obviously unhappy about Vaughn's actions. Marshall warned us about that. Yes, it might help lessen Sydney's grieving when Derevko dies, but you may have changed other things. You might have done more harm then good.

I think it'll be alright-

And what did you do with the nuclear cores? Sydney asked, interrupting Vaughn.

I dropped them off near Langley. I left a note stating where they came from and they could double check with the communication codes you bought from Zoran Sokolov.

Ah, Sark's pot smoking contact, Sydney remembered. How did you get the cores?

I went undercover as a new People's Revolutionary Front guard, when I knew you and Dixon would be buying the codes. The PRF had stolen the warheads six months previously, they just didn't have the codes. So I went to their stronghold posing as a guard and stole the cores and the flower.

I still think there are consequences that you aren't seeing, Sydney said. And what if you had gotten yourself killed? Or caught? You were stationed in India for two years. Your father was stationed there. It wouldn't have been impossible for someone there, or in Pakistan, to recognize you. And I wouldn't have known since you didn't tell me where you were going.

I'm sorry, Vaughn replied quickly. I just knew you would object to the mission, and I didn't want to argue about it.

We're still going to argue about it, Sydney responded. We need to think of all the consequences of my parents and me not going to Kashmir.

Vaughn asked, irritated. It's not like we can change it now.

Because it would be better to be informed of what has changed, Sydney argued, her voice rising higher. Something could affect our younger selves.

Vaughn conceded, leaning back in his chair. What else would have changed?

I'm not sure. I need to think back to that mission, Sydney said more calmly, but exasperated. She sighed as she laid down on the bed, trying to recall the details of the Kashmir mission. After a minute she stood up and went to the desk. Sydney sat down and began writing what wouldn't occur now that Vaughn had changed history.

Sydney said after ten minutes, turning to Vaughn, I think I've got a fairly comprehensive list.

Great,' Vaughn replied sarcastically.

Vaughn this is your fault, I don't need to deal with your indifference now.

I'm not indifferent, Vaughn shot back. I just don't think this will affect much more than your relationship with Derevko.

Wait till you hear the list.



Most of the things do have to do with Derevko, Sydney started. She won't help with my injuries or save Dad from the land mine. She won't help us to escape. Dad and Derevko won't reminisce about the dangers of being drunk and operating toasters.



Don't ask, Sydney said as she shook her head. She continued, Umm, she won't ask about how I was doing in school. Dad won't feel the need to rescue her. And she won't explain why she shot me.

I think the world will go on without those things happening. And it will probably be better for you not to know why she shot you. That is if she told you the truth in the first place.

Whatever. I'm not done, Sydney responded. I won't call her mom' after I told her my mother died when I was six.

Another good thing, Vaughn interrupted again.

We also talked to contacts of Dad's, who told me how Dad bragged about me. And Dad did tell me he was proud of me for the first time since I was little.

That will still happen, Vaughn stated quietly. He has been, and will always, be proud of you. He'll still tell you.

I hope you're right, Sydney replied. Oh, the CIA contact, Saeed Akhtar, died in the PRF attack. Now he lives, and we don't know what consequences that will bring about. It could be good, could be bad.

He was a good guy, lets assume it's good.

The PRF guards that my parents and I killed in the gunfire fight are now still alive. They are bad guys.

Vaughn didn't respond, knowing that neither one of them could predict what would happen now in Kashmir.

And there are a couple of things that could effect us, Sydney stated.

Vaughn asked, nervous of the answer.

On the plane ride to Kashmir, Derevko told me you had a difficult time sleeping when I was out in the field.

You didn't know that before?

I guess, Sydney replied, but I never thought too much about it. Let alone have someone else vocalize it. It made me think more about our relationship, what it was back then, and what we meant to each other.

I told you later I couldn't sleep while you were out on missions, Vaughn stated.

Yes, you did. You also rescued us when the mission was over.

Vaughn responded questioningly, not knowing how this would affect them.

Was it easy to get Kendall to agree to let you rescue us? Sydney asked.

Not at first, Vaughn smirked, but I wore him down, or he was just trying to get rid of me. I was never sure why he agreed to that. All I knew was you were once again risking your life, and I had to do whatever it took to make sure you were safe.

Now you won't feel that.

I always felt that, Vaughn corrected Sydney. That time I was just able to do more.

I was so relieved and happy when I saw you on that chopper, Sydney admitted. I couldn't believe that you were in Kashmir to get us. To get me. I realized how much I relied on you.

You'll still have moments like that.

Sydney agreed, but no miniature golf.



You gave me the miniature golf tickets after the mission, Sydney answered. I think you were just making fun of me, and the way I spent my Thanksgiving with my parents.

Vaughn said. I just wanted to bring you some fun in your life. Even if it was only for an hour.

I appreciated it, Sydney remarked, then looked back at her list. The last thing I'm not sure about is the watch story.

What watch story?

Your father's watch, Sydney reminded Vaughn, October first, your admittance of your feelings toward me, and my feelings for you, sort of. Though I gotta say, not the most direct approach to saying how we felt for each other.

No, it wasn't, Vaughn admitted, but I had to say something to get us over the awkwardness. You had found out about Alice, and you weren't sure how I felt about you. I had to tell you, but protocol got in my way.

Right, Alice. I remember her, Sydney grimaced.

So I talked around my feelings. Then you said, Me too,' I knew that somehow everything would end up alright, Vaughn said, ignoring Sydney's reaction to Alice.

I liked the watch story, Sydney replied. The story came out of left field, but it was nice to think that maybe fate was on our side. Though I had no idea how, or even if, we were ever going to make us' work. And I had to hold myself back from crying. The moment you said it was your father's watch, I knew the story was going to be gut-wrenching... I'd really hate to lose that.

We won't, Vaughn reassured Sydney. I told that story after you came to me about firing Will. You remember the questions I had him research about Project Christmas.

You're right, Sydney sighed. Good, I'm glad.

They stared at each other for a moment, relishing the memories of their past, but stuck in the future. The irony didn't go unnoticed that they were in their past. A familiar sadness swept over them, as they were once again faced with what they had lost.

What are you going to do with the Rambaldi flower? Sydney asked quietly, trying to make the situation more comfortable.

Oh, umm, Vaughn stuttered as he was pulled out of his own thoughts, I'm going to drop it off at the Montreal's CIA office.

Do you want me to? Sydney offered, They might have saw you at Langley, it might be better for me to do it.

Sounds good. Make sure to include a note stating it's anywhere from 400 to 600 years old, so they'll be careful with it.

Yeah, like they'll believe that, Sydney replied getting up to put her shoes on. I'm going to put a wig on, in case Alliance security is watching the hotel. Don't need them to start making connections.

Good idea, Vaughn responded. We should probably switch cities soon.

Yeah. I'm going to be so happy when the Alliance is taken down again.