When the plane landed Sydney tried hard to seem optimistic and unworried.
She knew that Vaughn was worried about his mother, but she also knew he was
worried about her. He always worried, and Sydney smiled at the cute little
lines that formed in his forehead. Once they had gathered their suitcase
and found Vaughn's car they were headed to the hospital. Vaughn had been
silent since they'd stepped off of the plane, and Sydney was unsure of how
to start a conversation. Ryan on the other hand was busy chatting away, and
most of his mutterings were easily tuned out. Sydney watched as Vaughn
drove through the city she once knew so well. It didn't look that
different. But for some reason Sydney felt the same way she had when she'd
come back to LA after her disappearance. She shuddered at the though of
returning home from Hong Kong, five years ago. She'd been devastated after
finding out that Vaughn was married, and was apprehensive about seeing the
people she knew and loved. Her father had been overjoyed to see her, but it
had soon come out that he wasn't revealing the whole truth. Will had been
overjoyed as well, but Sydney still felt guilty about everything that had
happened. She had been returning to a life that was no longer hers, much
like she was now. She had been disgusted by her father, and by Vaughn. The
two people she loved most in the world, had betrayed her.
As Vaughn hurriedly drove through the streets, all the painful emotions of five years ago returned. As the car turned a corner Sydney recognized, she felt deep pangs of homesickness that she'd never experienced before. She didn't miss the life she'd come back to after her disappearance, at all. But she did miss the one she'd disappeared from seven years ago. She missed her father, her mother, and Will. She missed her house, her work, and she even missed LA a tiny bit. As these thoughts continued to whirl in her head. The car pulled to a stop. Vaughn had pulled into a space outside the hospital and was unbuckling his seatbelt.
"You don't have to come, you can stay here, or go wherever, if you want." He said closing the door. Sydney watched through the windows as he came around to her side of the car. She got out and smiled at him.
"Vaughn, lets just go inside and figure out what's going on okay. Everything will be alright." She tried to assure him as he pulled Ryan from his car seat. After shifting Ryan into one arm he reached for Sydney's hand.
"I'm sorry Syd. Thanks." He said as she took his hand and they began walking toward the door.
After finding their way through a maze of long hallways and lobbies, they finally found the correct nurses station. "I'm looking for my mother, Vaughn, Leoni Vaughn, is the name." He looked around worriedly as the nurse looked for his mother's room.
"Oh, Vaughn, okay go down this hall and make a right. The room is on the left, it's number 314, and you should be able to see her now." The nurse directed. As soon as she finished Vaughn began walking toward the hospital room. Sydney stayed close to his side, squeezing his hand periodically. Ryan watched in awe as they walked through the halls, he remained quiet, and Sydney suspected he was much more tired than he'd admit. When they reached room 314, Vaughn took a deep breath before opening the door. He went in first and Sydney followed.
"Dad!" Two voices exclaimed in unison. Sydney watched as two tall boys stood up from their chairs in the corner and smiled at Vaughn. One was noticeably taller than the other, but they could have been twins. Both had identical blonde hair, and blue eyes, and matching bright smiles. They both noticed Sydney at the same time, and smiled at her before resuming their stare at Vaughn.
"Michael, it's about time! These boys were going berserk cooped up in this little room with their ailing grandmother. And who do we have here?" Vaughn's mother lay on a gurney in the middle of the room, against the wall. She looked to be in her sixties, and had fading red hair, and brilliant green eyes.
"Oh, this is Sydney and her son Ryan. Mom how are you?" He asked as he bent down to kiss his mother on the cheek.
"Oh Michael I'm fine. I just have a nasty lump on my head. Got up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom, and I must have tripped that's all. I'm fine. Now explain to me who the pretty girl is!" She said causing Sydney to blush. Vaughn stood back and let his mother have a good look at Sydney, this causing her to blush even more.
"Mom, guys, this is Sydney, and this is Ryan. And Sydney I would like you to meet my mother, and my boys, Alex and Damien." Vaughn tried to look down at Ryan, who had effectively buried his face in Vaughn's neck. "Ryan do you remember I told you about Alex and Damien?" Ryan didn't respond but smiled and Vaughn patted his son's head. Meanwhile Sydney had stepped closer to the hospital bed and reached out to shake Vaughn's mother's hand.
"It's very nice to meet you, I'm glad you're feeling better." She said as his mother took her hand and squeezed it.
"Um..Dad, they said we could take grandma home. We just have to sign her out or something." Alex said, trying not to blush too much when his voice cracked.
"See, Michael I told you I'm fine. Smile would you." She looked at Sydney. "He's just like his father, worries about every little thing." She and Sydney smiled at each other.
"Well should I go see about breaking you out of here?" Vaughn said trying to stop any embarrassing stories that might come next.
"Thank you, Michael. Now Damien would you please see about finding a chair for Sydney here. Oh, dear I'm sorry we had to meet like this." She said motioning for Damien to give up his chair. Vaughn left his mother to direct the room, and went to sign the release forms. Ryan was still hiding from the world with his arms tightly wrapped about his neck.
"I'm just glad to meet you, and Alex and Damien." Sydney said smiling at the boys. "Michael has told me so much about you, and Ryan was very excited to meet all of you. He's a little shy around new people."
"How old is he Sydney dear?" Mrs. Vaughn chimed in.
"He turned four three months ago." Sydney said sitting down in the chair Damien had provided for her. She watched as Damien went to the window and gazed through it. Alex on the other hand sat excitedly in the opposite corner watching Sydney.
"That's a wonderful age. I remember Michael at the age, he was so smart and excited about everything. Oh I do miss those years. But hopefully I will be getting some new grandchildren here. Some little ones to compliment the big ones I've already got!" She looked at Sydney knowing exactly what she was insinuating, and then smiled at Alex.
"Where do you live Sydney?" Alex asked pleasantly.
"I live in Colorado, near Denver. But I am from LA originally." She said, trying not to think about what the "originally" actually referred to.
"Really Colorado that's cool. So do you live in the mountains?" He said with even more enthusiasm.
"Yeah, just in the foothills though. But it's not far to the real mountains. Actually it's only 45 minutes to the Continental Divide." Sydney added with excitement.
Damien decided speak after he heard this. "Do you ski?" He tried to sound as bored as he possibly could with their conversation.
Sydney smiled. "You know since I've lived there I've only been skiing once, Ryan is so little still that it's hard to get up there and do real skiing. But we spent all afternoon once, skiing on the bunny hill. You should ask him about it, he loved it."
"So are you the reason Michael's been going out of town so often?" Damien asked in his same nonchalant tone, and without moving his gaze from the window. Before Sydney could answer Mrs. Vaughn cut her off.
"Damien, there is no need to be rude!" She snapped. "If you want to ask your father, than go right ahead, but leave Miss. Sydney alone! Sorry Sydney, So what made you decide to leave LA for Colorado?" Sydney wasn't sure how to answer her question, but was fortunately saved by the sound of little feet.
"Mommy!" Ryan squealed running into the room, followed closely by Vaughn. Sydney picked Ryan up and set him in her lap. He held up a red lollypop in his clenched fist as if it were a prize.
"Ryan can you say hi to Mrs. Vaughn, and Alex and Damien. I was just telling them what a great skier you are!" Sydney said kissing the squirming boy. He wiggled him way off of her lap and looked at the three new people. He said a quick "hi" before running back to Vaughn and hugging his legs tightly.
"Well Mom, they say you're free to go. An orderly will be by shortly to take you down to the car." Vaughn smiled, clearly much more relieved than he'd been previously.
"Thank goodness, I was beginning to think that they'd keep me here forever." Mrs. Vaughn said joyously.
"I'll go pull the car up then and meet you guys down there." Vaughn said as he lifted Ryan into his arms. Ryan was inspecting his lollypop thoroughly and didn't seem to mind at all having Vaughn hold him. Vaughn turned to leave when his mother spoke.
"Boy's why don't you go help with the car." She said smiling. Vaughn glanced back at his mother and smiled; Then gave Sydney a smile as well before leaving the room followed by the two teenagers. Once they were gone Mrs. Vaughn spoke again. "Alex has taken to Michael so well, but Damien is still distant. It was hard enough for them to lose their father, and then their stepmother, the way they did, and I'm afraid Damien hasn't taken it well. You'll have to forgive his rude behavior, I don't think he likes the idea of Michael having someone else in his life." She smiled at Sydney.
"It's fine, I know losing parents is difficult." She said looking down at her hands.
"Well their lucky that my son found them, those two are. After what their father did to them, just dumping them on their poor stepmother. I think Michael is the best thing to happen to them in a long time."
"Were they close to Alice?" Sydney questioned, noticing the words come out before she was sure she wanted to speak them.
"Well, I think it's been hard for them to get real close to anyone, especially Damien. But I know they cared for her a lot. The poor girl didn't really know what to do when that bastard left her, and I'm afraid Michael had to take on way too much responsibility with them, but he loves them that's for sure." She said as she noticed the orderly come to the door. She waved him in and then pulled the covers back from her bed. Sydney stood and let the orderly and wheelchair pass.
Once Mrs. Vaughn was securely in the chair and covered by blankets Sydney took over and wheeled the chair along the winding corridors to the exit. From inside of the automatic sliding doors Sydney could see Vaughn's black Explorer waiting outside. When they made it to the car Sydney could see Ryan in the back seat bouncing his dinosaur off of Alex's leg, and giggling wildly. After helping Mrs. Vaughn into the front seat, Sydney let herself into the back seat and set Ryan on her lap. Once they had all piled in Vaughn set off driving to his mother's house, and Sydney watched as every once in a while he adjusted the mirror to look at the back seat. He would look at Damien, leaning up against the window acting moderately bored; Alex in the middle seat playing hoping dinosaur with Ryan; and finally Sydney struggling to control the giddy four year old. Once she'd caught his eye in the mirror and smiled a happy grin, and he smiled back.
Vaughn stopped worrying as he drove, and started again to focus on the wonderful family he had all around him. He was certain that everything he loved in the universe, everything that mattered was in this car; and as he caught a beautiful smile from Sydney he realized that thought the past was rocky, the future looked absolutely wonderful.
As Vaughn hurriedly drove through the streets, all the painful emotions of five years ago returned. As the car turned a corner Sydney recognized, she felt deep pangs of homesickness that she'd never experienced before. She didn't miss the life she'd come back to after her disappearance, at all. But she did miss the one she'd disappeared from seven years ago. She missed her father, her mother, and Will. She missed her house, her work, and she even missed LA a tiny bit. As these thoughts continued to whirl in her head. The car pulled to a stop. Vaughn had pulled into a space outside the hospital and was unbuckling his seatbelt.
"You don't have to come, you can stay here, or go wherever, if you want." He said closing the door. Sydney watched through the windows as he came around to her side of the car. She got out and smiled at him.
"Vaughn, lets just go inside and figure out what's going on okay. Everything will be alright." She tried to assure him as he pulled Ryan from his car seat. After shifting Ryan into one arm he reached for Sydney's hand.
"I'm sorry Syd. Thanks." He said as she took his hand and they began walking toward the door.
After finding their way through a maze of long hallways and lobbies, they finally found the correct nurses station. "I'm looking for my mother, Vaughn, Leoni Vaughn, is the name." He looked around worriedly as the nurse looked for his mother's room.
"Oh, Vaughn, okay go down this hall and make a right. The room is on the left, it's number 314, and you should be able to see her now." The nurse directed. As soon as she finished Vaughn began walking toward the hospital room. Sydney stayed close to his side, squeezing his hand periodically. Ryan watched in awe as they walked through the halls, he remained quiet, and Sydney suspected he was much more tired than he'd admit. When they reached room 314, Vaughn took a deep breath before opening the door. He went in first and Sydney followed.
"Dad!" Two voices exclaimed in unison. Sydney watched as two tall boys stood up from their chairs in the corner and smiled at Vaughn. One was noticeably taller than the other, but they could have been twins. Both had identical blonde hair, and blue eyes, and matching bright smiles. They both noticed Sydney at the same time, and smiled at her before resuming their stare at Vaughn.
"Michael, it's about time! These boys were going berserk cooped up in this little room with their ailing grandmother. And who do we have here?" Vaughn's mother lay on a gurney in the middle of the room, against the wall. She looked to be in her sixties, and had fading red hair, and brilliant green eyes.
"Oh, this is Sydney and her son Ryan. Mom how are you?" He asked as he bent down to kiss his mother on the cheek.
"Oh Michael I'm fine. I just have a nasty lump on my head. Got up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom, and I must have tripped that's all. I'm fine. Now explain to me who the pretty girl is!" She said causing Sydney to blush. Vaughn stood back and let his mother have a good look at Sydney, this causing her to blush even more.
"Mom, guys, this is Sydney, and this is Ryan. And Sydney I would like you to meet my mother, and my boys, Alex and Damien." Vaughn tried to look down at Ryan, who had effectively buried his face in Vaughn's neck. "Ryan do you remember I told you about Alex and Damien?" Ryan didn't respond but smiled and Vaughn patted his son's head. Meanwhile Sydney had stepped closer to the hospital bed and reached out to shake Vaughn's mother's hand.
"It's very nice to meet you, I'm glad you're feeling better." She said as his mother took her hand and squeezed it.
"Um..Dad, they said we could take grandma home. We just have to sign her out or something." Alex said, trying not to blush too much when his voice cracked.
"See, Michael I told you I'm fine. Smile would you." She looked at Sydney. "He's just like his father, worries about every little thing." She and Sydney smiled at each other.
"Well should I go see about breaking you out of here?" Vaughn said trying to stop any embarrassing stories that might come next.
"Thank you, Michael. Now Damien would you please see about finding a chair for Sydney here. Oh, dear I'm sorry we had to meet like this." She said motioning for Damien to give up his chair. Vaughn left his mother to direct the room, and went to sign the release forms. Ryan was still hiding from the world with his arms tightly wrapped about his neck.
"I'm just glad to meet you, and Alex and Damien." Sydney said smiling at the boys. "Michael has told me so much about you, and Ryan was very excited to meet all of you. He's a little shy around new people."
"How old is he Sydney dear?" Mrs. Vaughn chimed in.
"He turned four three months ago." Sydney said sitting down in the chair Damien had provided for her. She watched as Damien went to the window and gazed through it. Alex on the other hand sat excitedly in the opposite corner watching Sydney.
"That's a wonderful age. I remember Michael at the age, he was so smart and excited about everything. Oh I do miss those years. But hopefully I will be getting some new grandchildren here. Some little ones to compliment the big ones I've already got!" She looked at Sydney knowing exactly what she was insinuating, and then smiled at Alex.
"Where do you live Sydney?" Alex asked pleasantly.
"I live in Colorado, near Denver. But I am from LA originally." She said, trying not to think about what the "originally" actually referred to.
"Really Colorado that's cool. So do you live in the mountains?" He said with even more enthusiasm.
"Yeah, just in the foothills though. But it's not far to the real mountains. Actually it's only 45 minutes to the Continental Divide." Sydney added with excitement.
Damien decided speak after he heard this. "Do you ski?" He tried to sound as bored as he possibly could with their conversation.
Sydney smiled. "You know since I've lived there I've only been skiing once, Ryan is so little still that it's hard to get up there and do real skiing. But we spent all afternoon once, skiing on the bunny hill. You should ask him about it, he loved it."
"So are you the reason Michael's been going out of town so often?" Damien asked in his same nonchalant tone, and without moving his gaze from the window. Before Sydney could answer Mrs. Vaughn cut her off.
"Damien, there is no need to be rude!" She snapped. "If you want to ask your father, than go right ahead, but leave Miss. Sydney alone! Sorry Sydney, So what made you decide to leave LA for Colorado?" Sydney wasn't sure how to answer her question, but was fortunately saved by the sound of little feet.
"Mommy!" Ryan squealed running into the room, followed closely by Vaughn. Sydney picked Ryan up and set him in her lap. He held up a red lollypop in his clenched fist as if it were a prize.
"Ryan can you say hi to Mrs. Vaughn, and Alex and Damien. I was just telling them what a great skier you are!" Sydney said kissing the squirming boy. He wiggled him way off of her lap and looked at the three new people. He said a quick "hi" before running back to Vaughn and hugging his legs tightly.
"Well Mom, they say you're free to go. An orderly will be by shortly to take you down to the car." Vaughn smiled, clearly much more relieved than he'd been previously.
"Thank goodness, I was beginning to think that they'd keep me here forever." Mrs. Vaughn said joyously.
"I'll go pull the car up then and meet you guys down there." Vaughn said as he lifted Ryan into his arms. Ryan was inspecting his lollypop thoroughly and didn't seem to mind at all having Vaughn hold him. Vaughn turned to leave when his mother spoke.
"Boy's why don't you go help with the car." She said smiling. Vaughn glanced back at his mother and smiled; Then gave Sydney a smile as well before leaving the room followed by the two teenagers. Once they were gone Mrs. Vaughn spoke again. "Alex has taken to Michael so well, but Damien is still distant. It was hard enough for them to lose their father, and then their stepmother, the way they did, and I'm afraid Damien hasn't taken it well. You'll have to forgive his rude behavior, I don't think he likes the idea of Michael having someone else in his life." She smiled at Sydney.
"It's fine, I know losing parents is difficult." She said looking down at her hands.
"Well their lucky that my son found them, those two are. After what their father did to them, just dumping them on their poor stepmother. I think Michael is the best thing to happen to them in a long time."
"Were they close to Alice?" Sydney questioned, noticing the words come out before she was sure she wanted to speak them.
"Well, I think it's been hard for them to get real close to anyone, especially Damien. But I know they cared for her a lot. The poor girl didn't really know what to do when that bastard left her, and I'm afraid Michael had to take on way too much responsibility with them, but he loves them that's for sure." She said as she noticed the orderly come to the door. She waved him in and then pulled the covers back from her bed. Sydney stood and let the orderly and wheelchair pass.
Once Mrs. Vaughn was securely in the chair and covered by blankets Sydney took over and wheeled the chair along the winding corridors to the exit. From inside of the automatic sliding doors Sydney could see Vaughn's black Explorer waiting outside. When they made it to the car Sydney could see Ryan in the back seat bouncing his dinosaur off of Alex's leg, and giggling wildly. After helping Mrs. Vaughn into the front seat, Sydney let herself into the back seat and set Ryan on her lap. Once they had all piled in Vaughn set off driving to his mother's house, and Sydney watched as every once in a while he adjusted the mirror to look at the back seat. He would look at Damien, leaning up against the window acting moderately bored; Alex in the middle seat playing hoping dinosaur with Ryan; and finally Sydney struggling to control the giddy four year old. Once she'd caught his eye in the mirror and smiled a happy grin, and he smiled back.
Vaughn stopped worrying as he drove, and started again to focus on the wonderful family he had all around him. He was certain that everything he loved in the universe, everything that mattered was in this car; and as he caught a beautiful smile from Sydney he realized that thought the past was rocky, the future looked absolutely wonderful.