"Who was that?" Sydney asked from inside the bathroom. Vaughn didn't answer
but set the phone down in its cradle. He was still trying to think of a way
to tell this to Sydney. "Vaughn?" She said walking toward him," What is
it?"
"Your mother." He said softly looking up at her as she strode toward him. "She's on her way here."
"Right now?" Sydney said in disbelief.
"Yes, apparently she's keeping the promise she made when we were at your house." He said running his hand through his hair. Sydney looked confused and worried. "I think she is just interested in Ryan, that's all. He is her first grandchild." Vaughn said forcing a smile. Sydney wasn't smiling. She still hadn't decided weather to introduce Ryan to his grandmother. How was she supposed to explain things to him? Vaughn was wondering how to explain Irina to Damien and Alex.
"I guess I should go make sure Ryan is dressed then." Sydney said, still quite bewildered.
"Yeah, me too." Vaughn said realizing he was still in his boxers. As Sydney left the room Vaughn went to get dressed. It wasn't long before the doorbell rang, and Vaughn hurried down the stairs to answer it. Sydney was in Ryan's room getting him dressed and ready to meet his grandmother. Vaughn walked to the door and took a deep breath before opening it. He slowly did so, and was greatly surprised to find Irina standing outside, accompanied by Sydney's father. Vaughn stood for a moment staring.
"Well are you going to invite us in?" Jack said impatiently glancing around.
"Yeah, yeah." Vaughn said extending an arm to lead them in. Once the pair stood inside Vaughn shut the door tightly and locked it. "Umm...the living room's in here." He said as he walked past them and down the hallway.
"Where is Sydney?" Irina asked as they entered the living room.
"She's upstairs getting Ryan dressed. Umm.would you like coffee or something?"
"No," Jack said as he sat down on the couch. Irina sat down next to him and shook her head.
"Well, I'm going to check on Sydney. Make yourselves at home." Vaughn said awkwardly as he backed out of the living room. He vaulted up the stair three at a time and ran into Ryan's room. Sydney looked at his worriedly and Ryan shouted "Daddy!" Breathless, Vaughn's heart melted every time Ryan said that.
"What's wrong." Sydney said as she finished tying one of Ryan's shoes.
"Umm..well we have more than one visitor." Vaughn said trying in vain not to alarm Sydney.
"Is Grandma here?" Ryan said as he wiggle off the bed, as soon as Sydney let him go.
"Yes big guy, and Grandpa is here to." Vaughn said looking at Sydney, who inhaled sharply. Sydney just stood and stared at Vaughn. "Syd why don't I take Ryan down stairs, and you can get ready and come down when you're ready." Vaughn said taking Ryan's hand. Sydney just stared at him, and then shook her head as if to clear it.
"Okay," She breathed almost inaudibly. She walked out of the room ahead of Vaughn and Ryan and padded her way into their bedroom. Vaughn helped Ryan down the stairs and then held his hand as they walked into the living room. When Jack and Irina saw him they both stood up. Jack had a hopeful smile on his face and Irina was beaming. Ryan took one look at them and turned to run. Vaughn caught him by the shoulder and picked him up.
"Ryan these are your grandparents." Vaughn said softly as he hoisted his son up. Ryan quickly found his hiding place and wrapped his arms around Vaughn's neck. Vaughn looked to Jack and Irina and smiled awkwardly. "We're being shy this morning." He said as he carried Ryan to a chair and sat down. Irina smiled and then sat down, pulling Jack with her. Jack who couldn't tare his eyes away from Ryan awkwardly sat down.
They sat for a long moment in silence, until the sound of footsteps came thumping up the basement stairs. A tired looking Alex rounded the corner and spotted Jack and Irina. He instantly reddened, and looked to Vaughn. "Alex, come here and meet Sydney's parents." Vaughn said waving him over. "This is Jack Bristow, and," Vaughn paused, "Irina. This is my son Alex" He finally said flashing Irina a look or confusion. Alex walked to where Vaughn sat and gave a half wave to the pair sitting on the couch.
"It's .a...nice to meet you." He said sitting on the arm of Vaughn's chair. A soon as Ryan heard Alex's voice he peeked out from where he'd buried his face. Ryan instantly giggled when Alex gave him a smile. "Hey Ry you want to play trains," Alex said excitedly.
"Trains," Ryan questioned as he looked up. "Okay Alex." He said and wiggled down from Vaughn's lap. Both Jack and Irina watched in awe as their grandson walked over to where a toy train was sitting, and happily began to play with Alex. Vaughn watched the expression on both of their faces. He had never seen either of them so completely without a false, hardened exterior. Both Jack and Irina sat watching their grandson in total wonder.
As Vaughn observed the pair sitting across from him on the couch, someone in the hallway caught his eye. Sydney had crept downstairs, and was standing where only Vaughn could see her. She looked at him, wearing an expression of apprehension, mixed with fear. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he was sure it wasn't much help. Vaughn watched as Sydney took a deep breath and rounded the corner from the hallway into the living room. No one in the room noticed her at first, but as soon as Ryan saw her he squealed "Mommy!" alerting everyone to her presence. All watched Ryan as he ran over and hugged his mother's legs. Sydney didn't even look down, but had her eyes fixed on her father, who was staring at her with equal intensity. There was silence for a long moment, until Vaughn decided to break in.
"Alex, would you please take Ryan to the back yard and show him around?" Vaughn said giving Alex a look that said 'do it now!'. Alex quickly stood and walked over to Ryan. Asking him sweetly if he wanted to go outside, and then taking his little hand and leading him, the two were soon out of sight. Sydney broke her gaze with her father, and Vaughn stood and offered her his seat, directly across from her parents. She sat down and Vaughn moved a smaller chair up next to hers, and sat as well.
"Sydney," Her mother sighed, and then looked down as if trying to form the right words. "Ryan is beautiful." She said looking up at her daughter.
"Thank you." Sydney said softly looking cautiously at her mother.
"I assume you know who the father is?" Jack said bluntly. Vaughn noticed his return to his normal hard, uncaring façade.
"Yes." Sydney said looking down at the floor. A moment of silence passed and then both Sydney and Jack began to speak at once. "Dad I."
"Sydney." They both stated and then stopped. Sydney decided to speak.
"Dad I want to move past what happened five years ago. We have a lot of catching up to do." She said forcing a smile, and her gaze up to her father. Jack looked relieved but still uncomfortable. Irina looked noticeably less nervous, and relaxed her posture slightly.
"That sounds good Sydney." Her mother said smiling. Sydney looked to Irina and smiled as well.
"How are you feeling Dad?" Sydney said softly.
"I'm doing alright," he sighed and relaxed slightly into the couch. "I've been in remission now for a year, and the doctors say the prognosis is good."
"That's really great Dad," Sydney smiled at him.
"Where have you been living?" Her father asked.
"In Colorado; I teach there, and Ryan goes to a great little pre-school." She said glancing at her mother, when she mentioned teaching. Her mother just smiled and Jack nodded.
Again the sound of pounding footsteps came from the basement stairs. "That will be my other son Damien." Vaughn smiled at Jack and Irina.
"I wasn't aware you had children," Jack said bluntly.
"Well it's a long story, but I adopted them almost six years ago now." Vaughn smiled, and then mentally kicked himself for mentioning that time period. He looked at Sydney, who smiled sheepishly at him. Soon Damien came waltzing into the room, and stopped in his tracks when he saw Jack and Irina.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt," he said and wheeled around to leave.
"No Damien it's alright. These are Sydney's parents, Jack and Irina." Damien stopped and looked at the pair on the couch. He looked them over.
"Hey," He said before heading back downstairs. Vaughn looked to Irina apologetically, but she spoke before he could.
"How old are Damien and Alex?" She said softly.
"Damien's fifteen, and Alex is fourteen." Vaughn said smiling. As he finished speaking the sound of a smaller pair of footsteps rang out. Ryan came dashing into the room, followed by a very out of breath Alex. Ryan ran straight for Vaughn and Sydney, crawled up into Sydney's lap. Vaughn nodded at Alex, who quickly retreated down the stairs.
"Ryan have you said hello to your Grandma, and Grandpa?" Sydney said as she kissed him on the cheek. Ryan glanced over at Irina and Jack, and then looked at Sydney.
"No, but Mommy, can I have a snack?" Irina and Jack watched the boy intently, and Sydney noticed their wondrous stares.
"Well I don't know, it seems to me that you have visitors right now." She said motioning to her parents. "Ryan these are my mommy and daddy." Sydney explained to him as he looked over at Irina and Jack.
"Really?" Ryan said, sounding very surprised. He quickly wiggled down from the chair, and walked cautiously toward Jack and Irina, who were both still looking amazed and dumbfounded. Ryan took a deep breath and then bravely marched up to his Grandparents and took both of their hands in his own. Vaughn looked at Sydney, who smiled at him, and they both chuckled softly. Jack and Irina were too entranced by Ryan to question what was so interesting about their hands. They just watched intently as their grandson studied their hands.
Soon Ryan jumped up and yelled "Yay, yay Gramma, and Grampa!" Jack and Irina laughed, as did Vaughn and Sydney. Ryan turned to Irina when he finished jumping and stared at her for a moment before turning and looking at his mother. "Mommy, Gramma looks just like you do!" Ryan squealed excitedly. The four adults laughed again, as Ryan resumed jumping. Soon Ryan was bouncing all around the room, and everyone was talking about inconsequential subjects like the weather, and Colorado.
"Your mother." He said softly looking up at her as she strode toward him. "She's on her way here."
"Right now?" Sydney said in disbelief.
"Yes, apparently she's keeping the promise she made when we were at your house." He said running his hand through his hair. Sydney looked confused and worried. "I think she is just interested in Ryan, that's all. He is her first grandchild." Vaughn said forcing a smile. Sydney wasn't smiling. She still hadn't decided weather to introduce Ryan to his grandmother. How was she supposed to explain things to him? Vaughn was wondering how to explain Irina to Damien and Alex.
"I guess I should go make sure Ryan is dressed then." Sydney said, still quite bewildered.
"Yeah, me too." Vaughn said realizing he was still in his boxers. As Sydney left the room Vaughn went to get dressed. It wasn't long before the doorbell rang, and Vaughn hurried down the stairs to answer it. Sydney was in Ryan's room getting him dressed and ready to meet his grandmother. Vaughn walked to the door and took a deep breath before opening it. He slowly did so, and was greatly surprised to find Irina standing outside, accompanied by Sydney's father. Vaughn stood for a moment staring.
"Well are you going to invite us in?" Jack said impatiently glancing around.
"Yeah, yeah." Vaughn said extending an arm to lead them in. Once the pair stood inside Vaughn shut the door tightly and locked it. "Umm...the living room's in here." He said as he walked past them and down the hallway.
"Where is Sydney?" Irina asked as they entered the living room.
"She's upstairs getting Ryan dressed. Umm.would you like coffee or something?"
"No," Jack said as he sat down on the couch. Irina sat down next to him and shook her head.
"Well, I'm going to check on Sydney. Make yourselves at home." Vaughn said awkwardly as he backed out of the living room. He vaulted up the stair three at a time and ran into Ryan's room. Sydney looked at his worriedly and Ryan shouted "Daddy!" Breathless, Vaughn's heart melted every time Ryan said that.
"What's wrong." Sydney said as she finished tying one of Ryan's shoes.
"Umm..well we have more than one visitor." Vaughn said trying in vain not to alarm Sydney.
"Is Grandma here?" Ryan said as he wiggle off the bed, as soon as Sydney let him go.
"Yes big guy, and Grandpa is here to." Vaughn said looking at Sydney, who inhaled sharply. Sydney just stood and stared at Vaughn. "Syd why don't I take Ryan down stairs, and you can get ready and come down when you're ready." Vaughn said taking Ryan's hand. Sydney just stared at him, and then shook her head as if to clear it.
"Okay," She breathed almost inaudibly. She walked out of the room ahead of Vaughn and Ryan and padded her way into their bedroom. Vaughn helped Ryan down the stairs and then held his hand as they walked into the living room. When Jack and Irina saw him they both stood up. Jack had a hopeful smile on his face and Irina was beaming. Ryan took one look at them and turned to run. Vaughn caught him by the shoulder and picked him up.
"Ryan these are your grandparents." Vaughn said softly as he hoisted his son up. Ryan quickly found his hiding place and wrapped his arms around Vaughn's neck. Vaughn looked to Jack and Irina and smiled awkwardly. "We're being shy this morning." He said as he carried Ryan to a chair and sat down. Irina smiled and then sat down, pulling Jack with her. Jack who couldn't tare his eyes away from Ryan awkwardly sat down.
They sat for a long moment in silence, until the sound of footsteps came thumping up the basement stairs. A tired looking Alex rounded the corner and spotted Jack and Irina. He instantly reddened, and looked to Vaughn. "Alex, come here and meet Sydney's parents." Vaughn said waving him over. "This is Jack Bristow, and," Vaughn paused, "Irina. This is my son Alex" He finally said flashing Irina a look or confusion. Alex walked to where Vaughn sat and gave a half wave to the pair sitting on the couch.
"It's .a...nice to meet you." He said sitting on the arm of Vaughn's chair. A soon as Ryan heard Alex's voice he peeked out from where he'd buried his face. Ryan instantly giggled when Alex gave him a smile. "Hey Ry you want to play trains," Alex said excitedly.
"Trains," Ryan questioned as he looked up. "Okay Alex." He said and wiggled down from Vaughn's lap. Both Jack and Irina watched in awe as their grandson walked over to where a toy train was sitting, and happily began to play with Alex. Vaughn watched the expression on both of their faces. He had never seen either of them so completely without a false, hardened exterior. Both Jack and Irina sat watching their grandson in total wonder.
As Vaughn observed the pair sitting across from him on the couch, someone in the hallway caught his eye. Sydney had crept downstairs, and was standing where only Vaughn could see her. She looked at him, wearing an expression of apprehension, mixed with fear. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he was sure it wasn't much help. Vaughn watched as Sydney took a deep breath and rounded the corner from the hallway into the living room. No one in the room noticed her at first, but as soon as Ryan saw her he squealed "Mommy!" alerting everyone to her presence. All watched Ryan as he ran over and hugged his mother's legs. Sydney didn't even look down, but had her eyes fixed on her father, who was staring at her with equal intensity. There was silence for a long moment, until Vaughn decided to break in.
"Alex, would you please take Ryan to the back yard and show him around?" Vaughn said giving Alex a look that said 'do it now!'. Alex quickly stood and walked over to Ryan. Asking him sweetly if he wanted to go outside, and then taking his little hand and leading him, the two were soon out of sight. Sydney broke her gaze with her father, and Vaughn stood and offered her his seat, directly across from her parents. She sat down and Vaughn moved a smaller chair up next to hers, and sat as well.
"Sydney," Her mother sighed, and then looked down as if trying to form the right words. "Ryan is beautiful." She said looking up at her daughter.
"Thank you." Sydney said softly looking cautiously at her mother.
"I assume you know who the father is?" Jack said bluntly. Vaughn noticed his return to his normal hard, uncaring façade.
"Yes." Sydney said looking down at the floor. A moment of silence passed and then both Sydney and Jack began to speak at once. "Dad I."
"Sydney." They both stated and then stopped. Sydney decided to speak.
"Dad I want to move past what happened five years ago. We have a lot of catching up to do." She said forcing a smile, and her gaze up to her father. Jack looked relieved but still uncomfortable. Irina looked noticeably less nervous, and relaxed her posture slightly.
"That sounds good Sydney." Her mother said smiling. Sydney looked to Irina and smiled as well.
"How are you feeling Dad?" Sydney said softly.
"I'm doing alright," he sighed and relaxed slightly into the couch. "I've been in remission now for a year, and the doctors say the prognosis is good."
"That's really great Dad," Sydney smiled at him.
"Where have you been living?" Her father asked.
"In Colorado; I teach there, and Ryan goes to a great little pre-school." She said glancing at her mother, when she mentioned teaching. Her mother just smiled and Jack nodded.
Again the sound of pounding footsteps came from the basement stairs. "That will be my other son Damien." Vaughn smiled at Jack and Irina.
"I wasn't aware you had children," Jack said bluntly.
"Well it's a long story, but I adopted them almost six years ago now." Vaughn smiled, and then mentally kicked himself for mentioning that time period. He looked at Sydney, who smiled sheepishly at him. Soon Damien came waltzing into the room, and stopped in his tracks when he saw Jack and Irina.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt," he said and wheeled around to leave.
"No Damien it's alright. These are Sydney's parents, Jack and Irina." Damien stopped and looked at the pair on the couch. He looked them over.
"Hey," He said before heading back downstairs. Vaughn looked to Irina apologetically, but she spoke before he could.
"How old are Damien and Alex?" She said softly.
"Damien's fifteen, and Alex is fourteen." Vaughn said smiling. As he finished speaking the sound of a smaller pair of footsteps rang out. Ryan came dashing into the room, followed by a very out of breath Alex. Ryan ran straight for Vaughn and Sydney, crawled up into Sydney's lap. Vaughn nodded at Alex, who quickly retreated down the stairs.
"Ryan have you said hello to your Grandma, and Grandpa?" Sydney said as she kissed him on the cheek. Ryan glanced over at Irina and Jack, and then looked at Sydney.
"No, but Mommy, can I have a snack?" Irina and Jack watched the boy intently, and Sydney noticed their wondrous stares.
"Well I don't know, it seems to me that you have visitors right now." She said motioning to her parents. "Ryan these are my mommy and daddy." Sydney explained to him as he looked over at Irina and Jack.
"Really?" Ryan said, sounding very surprised. He quickly wiggled down from the chair, and walked cautiously toward Jack and Irina, who were both still looking amazed and dumbfounded. Ryan took a deep breath and then bravely marched up to his Grandparents and took both of their hands in his own. Vaughn looked at Sydney, who smiled at him, and they both chuckled softly. Jack and Irina were too entranced by Ryan to question what was so interesting about their hands. They just watched intently as their grandson studied their hands.
Soon Ryan jumped up and yelled "Yay, yay Gramma, and Grampa!" Jack and Irina laughed, as did Vaughn and Sydney. Ryan turned to Irina when he finished jumping and stared at her for a moment before turning and looking at his mother. "Mommy, Gramma looks just like you do!" Ryan squealed excitedly. The four adults laughed again, as Ryan resumed jumping. Soon Ryan was bouncing all around the room, and everyone was talking about inconsequential subjects like the weather, and Colorado.