Before long Ryan had warmed up to Jack and Irina and was having a ball
showing Jack all of the dinosaurs, which Alex had recently given him.
Vaughn sat close to Ryan and Jack, watching them interact. Vaughn was
amazed at Jack's demeanor with Ryan. He had never seen Jack totally without
stiff barriers, or business on his mind. But here he was playing bouncing
dinosaurs with his grandchild and having a ball.
Irina and Sydney had both gone into the kitchen to make lemonade, and found themselves talking about actual-normal things. No spy drama, or lies and deception, but they talked about children, and homemaking. Sydney was surprised at the amount of advice Irina had for Sydney, about everything from baking cookies to choosing schools. Here was the number one person on the CIA's most wanted list, giving baking advice as though she were Martha Stuart. As Sydney stirred the pitcher of lemonade Irina glanced over her shoulder to make sure the men were out of earshot. "Have you and Vaughn made any plans for your future?" She said softly, just for good measure. Sydney stopped stirring and looked at her mother.
"No. Everything's been happening so fast. I mean three days ago I was still basically running from him, and now." Sydney paused remembering their amazing night together. She smiled and Irina smiled a very knowing smile back, as if she knew exactly what Sydney was thinking. "Now we're together again, and we're happy. That's enough for now."
"Sydney, I cannot tell you how glad it makes me that you are happy. I know your relationship with Vaughn has been difficult, but he is a good man, and he makes you happy." Irina said, once more glancing over her shoulder at Vaughn, Jack, and Ryan. Sydney smiled at her mother and resumed stirring. "Your son is absolutely amazing Sydney. I feel blessed that you have let me be a part of his life." Irina said so sincerely it took Sydney aback. Sydney hesitated as she thought of the reasons why she would or could keep her mother out of Ryan's life. Looking at Ryan so gleefully playing with Vaughn and her father, Sydney shook the regretful thoughts out of her head. She smiled at Irina who was just standing from her chair.
"Mom." Sydney paused wondering if she wanted to breech the subject of her disappearance. Irina turned to her daughter as she pulled several glasses from a cupboard. She looked at Sydney as if she knew what question she was about to ask.
"Yes, Sydney." She said carrying the glasses to the counter where Sydney stood.
"I've tried not to think about this. I've forced myself to forget the thousands of questions I had when I came back, but ..Now that Vaughn knows about Ryan, now that Ryan knows about Vaughn, I can't help but wonder how.." She trailed off, looking at her mother with intensely hopeful eyes.
"Sydney are you sure you want to know this?" Irina said softly.
"No, I'm not, but I can't live my life, I can't let Ryan live his life not knowing how, or why he was even born." Sydney said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Irina looked into the living room, and then back to Sydney.
"Sydney I will tell you what I know, but I think that Ryan's father should hear this as well." She said glancing at Vaughn once again. Sydney shook her head, and then began to walk toward the living room. Irina stood in place trying to decide the best way to explain things. Sydney walked over to Vaughn and whispered in his ear.
"Will you come into the kitchen, please." He looked at her with questioning eyes, and then stood and went into the kitchen. Sydney kneeled down and smiled at Ryan. "Sweetie Mommy needs to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for a little while and I was wondering if I could put on a movie for you downstairs?" At this Jack gave Sydney the same quizzical look that Vaughn had.
"Okay Mommy, can I watch the monsters one?" Sydney quickly scooped Ryan up off of the ground and carried him downstairs to the basement. Damien and Alex were playing video games, and Sydney explained that she need Ryan to hang out with them for a while. Both boys agreed, smiling, and helped Ryan pick out a video. When Sydney came to the top of the stairs she found her parents and Vaughn all sitting in the living room. She quickly took a seat and then looked at her mother.
"Sydney I hope that I can answer your questions, without causing you to have too many more." Irina said slowly. She glanced at Jack who gave her a half smile, and then continued. "Sydney seven years ago I told you that the prophesy was about you, not me. I am still not sure that that statement is incorrect, but I believe that while Slone was holding you he might have discovered otherwise. I am not fully sure of anything and I want you both to understand this. But what I do know is that Slone believed that the Prophesy spoke of Sydney's child, not Sydney herself. While Sydney was being held be Slone he tried several times to fulfill Rambaldi's Prophesy to no avail, but then began research on the cause of his failure. According to my sources Slone realized that his part in the Prophesy was not to fulfill it but to ensure that it will be fulfilled in the future. I am not sure why he took the actions he did, but he impregnated Sydney, with your child Vaughn, and I believe you know the result of that. The strange part is that when Ryan was born, Slone was at the hospital. He examined Ryan soon after he was placed in the hospital's nursery. He then promptly left, without any hint of explanation. But four years have passed and Slone hasn't made a move since he left the hospital Ryan was born in." Irina had been watching Sydney's reaction to all that she said. Sydney's eyes overflowed with tears, and Vaughn looked horrified. Irina had hoped to answer questions but was afraid she had done more harm than good.
Sydney looked at Vaughn after a long moment of contemplation. Both were totally taken aback, and Vaughn too had tears in his eyes. Sydney looked to her mother, who stared back with a worried expression. Jack also held this expression, but both looked as if they knew much more. "I know you don't know anything for sure, but what do you think is the purpose of all this?" Sydney questioned slowly.
"Sydney we are at a loss. Slone's actions are erratic at best, but absolutely inexplicable. I cannot even give you a logical theory. I'm sorry Sydney I didn't mean to cause you more pain." Irina looked truly regretful, and Jack absolutely in pain.
"I don't understand how Slone was able to impregnate Sydney." Vaughn said in disbelief.
"This is another mystery which I am regretful that I cannot explain. But I do have theory." Irina looked at Jack cautiously. He nodded with pain still lingering in his eyes. "The only way I have been able to explain this, is that Sydney was pregnant when Slone abducted her seven years ago. I do not know how Slone was able to accomplish it exactly, but this is the only logical conclusion I have found. Sydney looked at Vaughn quickly in absolute disbelief. She was trying to process everything her mother had told her. Vaughn looked as though he wanted to say something but wasn't able to speak. Sydney and Vaughn just starred at each other. Jack and Irina exchanged looks, both knowing that there was more to the story, but both refused to divulge what they truly suspected. They had agreed that if the time came for the truth, they would take action. But they were also keenly aware that trying to stop the Prophesy was impossible. It had taken both most of their lives to realize that they were merely servants to the Prophesy. They were put on the earth to help it along, just as Slone was. Their role at this time was to only give enough information to continue the process, nothing more, nothing less.
'If only Sydney's child had been a girl, this might all be over by now.' Jack thought to himself. He was tired. Tired of playing Rambaldi's game. He, unlike Slone, was not joyously playing his part in Rambadi's masterpiece, he was not a willing player. It had taken almost forty years to convince him that there was no fighting it. He had been reluctant to join Slone to say the least, but he had done it in the end. He was a servant to the Prophesy, and he wanted it to end. He wanted Sydney to be happy, though he wondered it that was even possible. 'It's possible that I won't live to see the end of this.' He thought suddenly, and than just as quickly realized that he didn't care. 'I could die right now, knowing that Sydney is happy, and I wouldn't care less, except for the grief I know it would cause her.' He longed to tell her everything. He wanted so much to just tell her Rambaldi's plans, to help her to understand that she had to make herself happy playing her role in Rambaldi's game. It was the only way. To fight it was futile. But go on with life letting the events of the game unfold around you, to take everything in stride, and just be happy knowing that you were alive to experience life, and love; that was the only way. Jack had learned the hard way, as Sydney would. He hated that part. But he could do nothing to stop it. So he was silent and watched his daughter's pain.
She was the "Mother," Rambaldi had prophesized. She was to have an enormous role in 'his' little game. But she had no idea. She had not even a clue that Slone had deciphered all of the Prophesy, no idea that long list of happenings he had proclaimed. She had no idea at all. But she would. She would understand, everything. And Jack hoped that he would not be alive when she discovered the truth, because he could not bear to see her in anymore pain. She had suffered too many losses in her short life, and when the next one came, Jack didn't want to know. 'Yes,' he thought to himself, 'there will be much more pain."
Irina and Sydney had both gone into the kitchen to make lemonade, and found themselves talking about actual-normal things. No spy drama, or lies and deception, but they talked about children, and homemaking. Sydney was surprised at the amount of advice Irina had for Sydney, about everything from baking cookies to choosing schools. Here was the number one person on the CIA's most wanted list, giving baking advice as though she were Martha Stuart. As Sydney stirred the pitcher of lemonade Irina glanced over her shoulder to make sure the men were out of earshot. "Have you and Vaughn made any plans for your future?" She said softly, just for good measure. Sydney stopped stirring and looked at her mother.
"No. Everything's been happening so fast. I mean three days ago I was still basically running from him, and now." Sydney paused remembering their amazing night together. She smiled and Irina smiled a very knowing smile back, as if she knew exactly what Sydney was thinking. "Now we're together again, and we're happy. That's enough for now."
"Sydney, I cannot tell you how glad it makes me that you are happy. I know your relationship with Vaughn has been difficult, but he is a good man, and he makes you happy." Irina said, once more glancing over her shoulder at Vaughn, Jack, and Ryan. Sydney smiled at her mother and resumed stirring. "Your son is absolutely amazing Sydney. I feel blessed that you have let me be a part of his life." Irina said so sincerely it took Sydney aback. Sydney hesitated as she thought of the reasons why she would or could keep her mother out of Ryan's life. Looking at Ryan so gleefully playing with Vaughn and her father, Sydney shook the regretful thoughts out of her head. She smiled at Irina who was just standing from her chair.
"Mom." Sydney paused wondering if she wanted to breech the subject of her disappearance. Irina turned to her daughter as she pulled several glasses from a cupboard. She looked at Sydney as if she knew what question she was about to ask.
"Yes, Sydney." She said carrying the glasses to the counter where Sydney stood.
"I've tried not to think about this. I've forced myself to forget the thousands of questions I had when I came back, but ..Now that Vaughn knows about Ryan, now that Ryan knows about Vaughn, I can't help but wonder how.." She trailed off, looking at her mother with intensely hopeful eyes.
"Sydney are you sure you want to know this?" Irina said softly.
"No, I'm not, but I can't live my life, I can't let Ryan live his life not knowing how, or why he was even born." Sydney said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Irina looked into the living room, and then back to Sydney.
"Sydney I will tell you what I know, but I think that Ryan's father should hear this as well." She said glancing at Vaughn once again. Sydney shook her head, and then began to walk toward the living room. Irina stood in place trying to decide the best way to explain things. Sydney walked over to Vaughn and whispered in his ear.
"Will you come into the kitchen, please." He looked at her with questioning eyes, and then stood and went into the kitchen. Sydney kneeled down and smiled at Ryan. "Sweetie Mommy needs to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for a little while and I was wondering if I could put on a movie for you downstairs?" At this Jack gave Sydney the same quizzical look that Vaughn had.
"Okay Mommy, can I watch the monsters one?" Sydney quickly scooped Ryan up off of the ground and carried him downstairs to the basement. Damien and Alex were playing video games, and Sydney explained that she need Ryan to hang out with them for a while. Both boys agreed, smiling, and helped Ryan pick out a video. When Sydney came to the top of the stairs she found her parents and Vaughn all sitting in the living room. She quickly took a seat and then looked at her mother.
"Sydney I hope that I can answer your questions, without causing you to have too many more." Irina said slowly. She glanced at Jack who gave her a half smile, and then continued. "Sydney seven years ago I told you that the prophesy was about you, not me. I am still not sure that that statement is incorrect, but I believe that while Slone was holding you he might have discovered otherwise. I am not fully sure of anything and I want you both to understand this. But what I do know is that Slone believed that the Prophesy spoke of Sydney's child, not Sydney herself. While Sydney was being held be Slone he tried several times to fulfill Rambaldi's Prophesy to no avail, but then began research on the cause of his failure. According to my sources Slone realized that his part in the Prophesy was not to fulfill it but to ensure that it will be fulfilled in the future. I am not sure why he took the actions he did, but he impregnated Sydney, with your child Vaughn, and I believe you know the result of that. The strange part is that when Ryan was born, Slone was at the hospital. He examined Ryan soon after he was placed in the hospital's nursery. He then promptly left, without any hint of explanation. But four years have passed and Slone hasn't made a move since he left the hospital Ryan was born in." Irina had been watching Sydney's reaction to all that she said. Sydney's eyes overflowed with tears, and Vaughn looked horrified. Irina had hoped to answer questions but was afraid she had done more harm than good.
Sydney looked at Vaughn after a long moment of contemplation. Both were totally taken aback, and Vaughn too had tears in his eyes. Sydney looked to her mother, who stared back with a worried expression. Jack also held this expression, but both looked as if they knew much more. "I know you don't know anything for sure, but what do you think is the purpose of all this?" Sydney questioned slowly.
"Sydney we are at a loss. Slone's actions are erratic at best, but absolutely inexplicable. I cannot even give you a logical theory. I'm sorry Sydney I didn't mean to cause you more pain." Irina looked truly regretful, and Jack absolutely in pain.
"I don't understand how Slone was able to impregnate Sydney." Vaughn said in disbelief.
"This is another mystery which I am regretful that I cannot explain. But I do have theory." Irina looked at Jack cautiously. He nodded with pain still lingering in his eyes. "The only way I have been able to explain this, is that Sydney was pregnant when Slone abducted her seven years ago. I do not know how Slone was able to accomplish it exactly, but this is the only logical conclusion I have found. Sydney looked at Vaughn quickly in absolute disbelief. She was trying to process everything her mother had told her. Vaughn looked as though he wanted to say something but wasn't able to speak. Sydney and Vaughn just starred at each other. Jack and Irina exchanged looks, both knowing that there was more to the story, but both refused to divulge what they truly suspected. They had agreed that if the time came for the truth, they would take action. But they were also keenly aware that trying to stop the Prophesy was impossible. It had taken both most of their lives to realize that they were merely servants to the Prophesy. They were put on the earth to help it along, just as Slone was. Their role at this time was to only give enough information to continue the process, nothing more, nothing less.
'If only Sydney's child had been a girl, this might all be over by now.' Jack thought to himself. He was tired. Tired of playing Rambaldi's game. He, unlike Slone, was not joyously playing his part in Rambadi's masterpiece, he was not a willing player. It had taken almost forty years to convince him that there was no fighting it. He had been reluctant to join Slone to say the least, but he had done it in the end. He was a servant to the Prophesy, and he wanted it to end. He wanted Sydney to be happy, though he wondered it that was even possible. 'It's possible that I won't live to see the end of this.' He thought suddenly, and than just as quickly realized that he didn't care. 'I could die right now, knowing that Sydney is happy, and I wouldn't care less, except for the grief I know it would cause her.' He longed to tell her everything. He wanted so much to just tell her Rambaldi's plans, to help her to understand that she had to make herself happy playing her role in Rambaldi's game. It was the only way. To fight it was futile. But go on with life letting the events of the game unfold around you, to take everything in stride, and just be happy knowing that you were alive to experience life, and love; that was the only way. Jack had learned the hard way, as Sydney would. He hated that part. But he could do nothing to stop it. So he was silent and watched his daughter's pain.
She was the "Mother," Rambaldi had prophesized. She was to have an enormous role in 'his' little game. But she had no idea. She had not even a clue that Slone had deciphered all of the Prophesy, no idea that long list of happenings he had proclaimed. She had no idea at all. But she would. She would understand, everything. And Jack hoped that he would not be alive when she discovered the truth, because he could not bear to see her in anymore pain. She had suffered too many losses in her short life, and when the next one came, Jack didn't want to know. 'Yes,' he thought to himself, 'there will be much more pain."