"How are you feeling Sydney?" He asked politely, the snake like hiss of his
voice resounding in the bright room. Sydney did not respond but rather shot
him the most hateful look she could conjure up. As the injections Slone had
given her coursed through every part of her body the fog which was clouding
her mind seemed to lift. Slowly she began to remember things, but it was
still difficult to remember the events of the recent past. As far back as
she could remember was being in Mexico City with Vaughn. The thought that
her memory was failing her, startled Sydney and she was filled with a
growing sense of dread. "Sydney do you remember why you are here?" Slone
said, his small evil eyes still beating down on her. Sydney searched her
mind trying to remember why she was there, and how she'd gotten there.
"Good, well then let us begin." As the words came out of Slone's mouth.
Sydney felt an arm slip around her waist and was suddenly jolted back to
reality.
She woke suddenly sitting up swiftly and looking around. Vaughn had been startled by her movement, and sat up with her. Sydney looked around, not recognizing her surroundings at first but then quickly realizing that she was in the basement room. She let out the breath she was holding.
"Sydney? What's wrong?" He said softly rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Sydney didn't answer but looked to the clock, it was 3:47. She lay back softly and looked at Vaughn.
"I had a dream." She said softly, still very badly shaken. She rolled toward Vaughn tears in her eyes. Vaughn pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead.
"Everything's going to be fine. I'm here Sydney, I'm here." He soothed rubbing her back gently. As Sydney drifted back to sleep, Vaughn lay thinking. Since they had been reunited she had been virtually dream, or nightmare free. It was only when they were parted that Sydney said she still had nightmares, but whenever Vaughn was there to hold her through the night, she was fine. It bothered him to no end that she had been having a nightmare as she lay wrapped in his arms. He wondered what had changed. 'Why now?' He thought racking his brain for some explanation. He quickly found that sleep came before any answers did, and soon he too was fast asleep.
They were awakened the next morning by the wafting smell of eggs and bacon. Sydney stirred first and she tried to sneak out of bed without waking up Vaughn. HE opened his eyes slowly and then watched her carefully move his arm from her side and then slip her own arm out from under him. Then she lifted the covers and was about to swing her legs to the floor when he reached out and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her deep under the covers with him. She giggled as Vaughn pulled the covers up over their heads and smiled at him once they were covered. "Thought you could sneak off eh?" Vaughn laughed leaning over to kiss her.
"I thought you might be tired, that's all." She said hugging him tight. She breathed in his scent as she ran her fingers through his hair. She thought back to when she'd awoken the night before. It frightened her that she'd started having nightmares again. But Vaughn's strong arms and soothing words were so comforting she'd been able to forget most of what she'd dreamed. 'What was it about?' Sydney wondered. She vaguely remembered a great feeling of confusion, but no overpowering emotions, just a strange sort of eerie indifference. She had never felt that way before, that she could remember, so the fact that she was dreaming about these emotions made Sydney feel strange.
"Well shall we go see what's for breakfast?" Vaughn said softly not truly wanting to move. The only thing that was even remotely making him want to go upstairs, was the swift-small footsteps of his son, which rang out clearly though the ceiling above.
"That would probably be good." Sydney said reaching up and pulling the covers from their heads. "What time is it?" She looked around for the clock.
"It's quarter to ten." Vaughn rubbed his eyes, not sure if he'd seen the clock correctly. Upon hearing this Sydney was jolted into motion.
"How is it that late already?" She said pulling the covers back completely. Soon she and Vaughn were dressed and heading upstairs.
"Oh good. You two sleepy heads are up." Mrs. Vaughn sang merrily as Sydney and Vaughn came to the top of the stairs. "Breakfast is ready and I think if you move quickly you might still have some company while you eat." She smiled joyously as Vaughn and Sydney grabbed plates and filled them. Both walked to the kitchen table and sat down.
"Good morning." Will said smiling as he looked up from the paper, a cup of coffee steaming in his hand. Sydney smiled back, extremely happy to see Will's smiling face.
"Hey." Sydney said to no one in particular, but smiled at Alex and Damien who were sleepily pushing the food around on their plates. Mrs. Vaughn came to the table and set down a glass of orange juice in front of Alex.
"Eat up boys, I don't know what you're father has been feeding you but you look awful skinny to me." She said turning and exiting the kitchen. Alex and Damien both looked at their grandmother, but neither said a word. Vaughn chuckled softly, and Will smiled as he watched they boys' expressions.
"I'm afraid I scared your mom half to death when she came down stairs this morning." Will said setting down his newspaper, and looking at Vaughn. "I was asleep, but when she opened the door to get the paper I woke up and, well I think I'm just glad she didn't pummel me to death with it." Vaughn and Will laughed in unison. Sydney smiled as she sipped her coffee.
A few moments later Ryan came running into the kitchen followed by his grandmother. "Mommy, Daddy!" He squealed running and hugging them in turn. Will watched eagerly as Sydney lifted the boy onto her lap and kissed him several times. "Mommy is this your friend Will?" He said as if he thought the story was suspicious.
"Yes sweetie, Will came to visit us." She said smiling.
"Oh," Will said looking to Will, and then looked as though he was thinking about something very hard, evidently it was very important. "How come Will never came before?" Ryan said looking up at Sydney. Sydney's smile faltered slightly, but returned after a moment.
"Will lives in LA, where Alex and Damien, and your daddy live." Sydney explained.
"Oh," Ryan said smiling. "Will watched the monster movie with me this morning, but he fell asleep again. He slept on the couch!" Ryan said gleefully, and laughed as if he'd made an enormous joke. Everyone around the table laughed as well.
After dinner a glorious Christmas Eve breakfast, everyone went about doing their separate activities. Sydney and Mrs. Vaughn began wrapping presents in the living room, and Vaughn took Alex out to do some last minute shopping, while Will, Damien, and Ryan were downstairs playing Video games.
"When does your father arrive dear?" Mrs. Vaughn asked as she placed the last piece of tape on a rather large present.
"His plane arrives at noon, and he should get here around one thirty." Sydney said, inscribing Ryan's name on a gift. She had gotten him the sixth Harry Potter book, even though they were working on reading the first one still. Because the book had come out right before Christmas, and simply because of the sheer demand for it, Sydney had ordered it months in advance. She had to admit that she, herself was addicted to the series, and couldn't wait for the time to sit and read the sixth installment. She carefully placed the present toward the back of the enormous pile of presents that was growing between the tree the couch. The space under the tree was, of course, filled to the brim.
"Well I think that's the last of it." Mrs. Vaughn said sighing. "It really didn't seem like that much when I was buying everything, but it sure does mount up." She chucked softly.
"And to think, Michael went out and bought more presents." Sydney said rolling her eyes. Both women laughed and began to pick up the several rolls of paper, and tape which were now strewn around the living room floor.
"So, dear, tell me about your parents." Mrs. Vaughn said cheerfully. Sydney hesitated, unsure of exactly how to answer. In truth her mother had killed Michael's father, and Mrs. Vaughn's husband. So decided to leave that part out of the story, and focus on her father.
"Well my dad's worked for the government for a long time." Sydney said picking up a pair of scissors. "He and my mother split up when I was young, and he has pretty much been alone since then." Sydney explained. In the back of her mind thinking, 'Well my mom faked her own death only to be found twenty years later, and is said to be the woman who will, and I quote, 'wield ultimate power unto utter desolation'. Oh, and did I mention the part about her killing your husband?' Sydney hesitated before continuing, trying to push the thoughts out of her head. "That's about it. I really hadn't seen either my mom or my dad in a long time, before a few months ago when I was in LA." Sydney put her armful of wrapping paper into a large bin and then dropped the tape and scissors in as well.
"What about your mother, you haven't mentioned her coming." Mrs. Vaughn said taking a seat on the couch.
"Well, she wasn't able to come. She travels a lot and is out of the country right now." Sydney smiled sitting down opposite of Vaughn's mother, who was now staring at her as if trying to analyze her appearance.
"Have you told her about the baby?" She said smiling. Sydney froze. Mrs. Vaughn had mentioned the baby earlier, but Sydney had just blushed and she'd dropped the subject. Now she wanted to know more, she'd made that perfectly clear.
"Not yet, but I know she'll be overjoyed when she hears the news." Sydney smiled politely.
"Michael knows, doesn't he?" Mrs. Vaughn said, again gazing upon Sydney with suspicious and analyzing eyes.
"Yes, yes he knows. But I haven't told him that you," She paused, "figured it out."
"Yes well a mother knows these things. It's written all over you face darling. You're eyes have this unmistakable gleam, anyone who knew anything about mother's and children could see it. It's hard to miss." Mrs. Vaughn smiled knowingly. Sydney shifted nervously. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're mother knew the second she saw you." Sydney laughed in her head. 'Well the next time I see my mother it might show elsewhere besides my eyes.' Sydney thought as her hand slid over her stomach. Vaughn had reassured her that their baby had many people to love it. Unlike when Ryan was born this baby would have grandparents, and siblings, and both a mother and father to love it. She smiled thinking of this fact, and then realized that most of her life had been the exact opposite. She was never quite surrounded by loving people as this baby would assuredly be, and this comforted Sydney to no end. 'Everything will be different this time.' She thought, 'Everything will be right.'
She woke suddenly sitting up swiftly and looking around. Vaughn had been startled by her movement, and sat up with her. Sydney looked around, not recognizing her surroundings at first but then quickly realizing that she was in the basement room. She let out the breath she was holding.
"Sydney? What's wrong?" He said softly rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Sydney didn't answer but looked to the clock, it was 3:47. She lay back softly and looked at Vaughn.
"I had a dream." She said softly, still very badly shaken. She rolled toward Vaughn tears in her eyes. Vaughn pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead.
"Everything's going to be fine. I'm here Sydney, I'm here." He soothed rubbing her back gently. As Sydney drifted back to sleep, Vaughn lay thinking. Since they had been reunited she had been virtually dream, or nightmare free. It was only when they were parted that Sydney said she still had nightmares, but whenever Vaughn was there to hold her through the night, she was fine. It bothered him to no end that she had been having a nightmare as she lay wrapped in his arms. He wondered what had changed. 'Why now?' He thought racking his brain for some explanation. He quickly found that sleep came before any answers did, and soon he too was fast asleep.
They were awakened the next morning by the wafting smell of eggs and bacon. Sydney stirred first and she tried to sneak out of bed without waking up Vaughn. HE opened his eyes slowly and then watched her carefully move his arm from her side and then slip her own arm out from under him. Then she lifted the covers and was about to swing her legs to the floor when he reached out and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her deep under the covers with him. She giggled as Vaughn pulled the covers up over their heads and smiled at him once they were covered. "Thought you could sneak off eh?" Vaughn laughed leaning over to kiss her.
"I thought you might be tired, that's all." She said hugging him tight. She breathed in his scent as she ran her fingers through his hair. She thought back to when she'd awoken the night before. It frightened her that she'd started having nightmares again. But Vaughn's strong arms and soothing words were so comforting she'd been able to forget most of what she'd dreamed. 'What was it about?' Sydney wondered. She vaguely remembered a great feeling of confusion, but no overpowering emotions, just a strange sort of eerie indifference. She had never felt that way before, that she could remember, so the fact that she was dreaming about these emotions made Sydney feel strange.
"Well shall we go see what's for breakfast?" Vaughn said softly not truly wanting to move. The only thing that was even remotely making him want to go upstairs, was the swift-small footsteps of his son, which rang out clearly though the ceiling above.
"That would probably be good." Sydney said reaching up and pulling the covers from their heads. "What time is it?" She looked around for the clock.
"It's quarter to ten." Vaughn rubbed his eyes, not sure if he'd seen the clock correctly. Upon hearing this Sydney was jolted into motion.
"How is it that late already?" She said pulling the covers back completely. Soon she and Vaughn were dressed and heading upstairs.
"Oh good. You two sleepy heads are up." Mrs. Vaughn sang merrily as Sydney and Vaughn came to the top of the stairs. "Breakfast is ready and I think if you move quickly you might still have some company while you eat." She smiled joyously as Vaughn and Sydney grabbed plates and filled them. Both walked to the kitchen table and sat down.
"Good morning." Will said smiling as he looked up from the paper, a cup of coffee steaming in his hand. Sydney smiled back, extremely happy to see Will's smiling face.
"Hey." Sydney said to no one in particular, but smiled at Alex and Damien who were sleepily pushing the food around on their plates. Mrs. Vaughn came to the table and set down a glass of orange juice in front of Alex.
"Eat up boys, I don't know what you're father has been feeding you but you look awful skinny to me." She said turning and exiting the kitchen. Alex and Damien both looked at their grandmother, but neither said a word. Vaughn chuckled softly, and Will smiled as he watched they boys' expressions.
"I'm afraid I scared your mom half to death when she came down stairs this morning." Will said setting down his newspaper, and looking at Vaughn. "I was asleep, but when she opened the door to get the paper I woke up and, well I think I'm just glad she didn't pummel me to death with it." Vaughn and Will laughed in unison. Sydney smiled as she sipped her coffee.
A few moments later Ryan came running into the kitchen followed by his grandmother. "Mommy, Daddy!" He squealed running and hugging them in turn. Will watched eagerly as Sydney lifted the boy onto her lap and kissed him several times. "Mommy is this your friend Will?" He said as if he thought the story was suspicious.
"Yes sweetie, Will came to visit us." She said smiling.
"Oh," Will said looking to Will, and then looked as though he was thinking about something very hard, evidently it was very important. "How come Will never came before?" Ryan said looking up at Sydney. Sydney's smile faltered slightly, but returned after a moment.
"Will lives in LA, where Alex and Damien, and your daddy live." Sydney explained.
"Oh," Ryan said smiling. "Will watched the monster movie with me this morning, but he fell asleep again. He slept on the couch!" Ryan said gleefully, and laughed as if he'd made an enormous joke. Everyone around the table laughed as well.
After dinner a glorious Christmas Eve breakfast, everyone went about doing their separate activities. Sydney and Mrs. Vaughn began wrapping presents in the living room, and Vaughn took Alex out to do some last minute shopping, while Will, Damien, and Ryan were downstairs playing Video games.
"When does your father arrive dear?" Mrs. Vaughn asked as she placed the last piece of tape on a rather large present.
"His plane arrives at noon, and he should get here around one thirty." Sydney said, inscribing Ryan's name on a gift. She had gotten him the sixth Harry Potter book, even though they were working on reading the first one still. Because the book had come out right before Christmas, and simply because of the sheer demand for it, Sydney had ordered it months in advance. She had to admit that she, herself was addicted to the series, and couldn't wait for the time to sit and read the sixth installment. She carefully placed the present toward the back of the enormous pile of presents that was growing between the tree the couch. The space under the tree was, of course, filled to the brim.
"Well I think that's the last of it." Mrs. Vaughn said sighing. "It really didn't seem like that much when I was buying everything, but it sure does mount up." She chucked softly.
"And to think, Michael went out and bought more presents." Sydney said rolling her eyes. Both women laughed and began to pick up the several rolls of paper, and tape which were now strewn around the living room floor.
"So, dear, tell me about your parents." Mrs. Vaughn said cheerfully. Sydney hesitated, unsure of exactly how to answer. In truth her mother had killed Michael's father, and Mrs. Vaughn's husband. So decided to leave that part out of the story, and focus on her father.
"Well my dad's worked for the government for a long time." Sydney said picking up a pair of scissors. "He and my mother split up when I was young, and he has pretty much been alone since then." Sydney explained. In the back of her mind thinking, 'Well my mom faked her own death only to be found twenty years later, and is said to be the woman who will, and I quote, 'wield ultimate power unto utter desolation'. Oh, and did I mention the part about her killing your husband?' Sydney hesitated before continuing, trying to push the thoughts out of her head. "That's about it. I really hadn't seen either my mom or my dad in a long time, before a few months ago when I was in LA." Sydney put her armful of wrapping paper into a large bin and then dropped the tape and scissors in as well.
"What about your mother, you haven't mentioned her coming." Mrs. Vaughn said taking a seat on the couch.
"Well, she wasn't able to come. She travels a lot and is out of the country right now." Sydney smiled sitting down opposite of Vaughn's mother, who was now staring at her as if trying to analyze her appearance.
"Have you told her about the baby?" She said smiling. Sydney froze. Mrs. Vaughn had mentioned the baby earlier, but Sydney had just blushed and she'd dropped the subject. Now she wanted to know more, she'd made that perfectly clear.
"Not yet, but I know she'll be overjoyed when she hears the news." Sydney smiled politely.
"Michael knows, doesn't he?" Mrs. Vaughn said, again gazing upon Sydney with suspicious and analyzing eyes.
"Yes, yes he knows. But I haven't told him that you," She paused, "figured it out."
"Yes well a mother knows these things. It's written all over you face darling. You're eyes have this unmistakable gleam, anyone who knew anything about mother's and children could see it. It's hard to miss." Mrs. Vaughn smiled knowingly. Sydney shifted nervously. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're mother knew the second she saw you." Sydney laughed in her head. 'Well the next time I see my mother it might show elsewhere besides my eyes.' Sydney thought as her hand slid over her stomach. Vaughn had reassured her that their baby had many people to love it. Unlike when Ryan was born this baby would have grandparents, and siblings, and both a mother and father to love it. She smiled thinking of this fact, and then realized that most of her life had been the exact opposite. She was never quite surrounded by loving people as this baby would assuredly be, and this comforted Sydney to no end. 'Everything will be different this time.' She thought, 'Everything will be right.'