Sydney was worried.
And they hadn't reached her mother's home in Ireland as of yet.
She had observed Alexander all morning, though she was careful not to be caught staring. She would have never heard the end of that one. As her dad, Vaughn and Alex had discussed the mission, she found her stomach wrapping itself in those same irritating knots...
And not because she doubted that they could succeed in saving her mother.
No, that wasn't what was bothering her at all.
What bothered her was the sight of Alexander Lazarey in one of infamous Armani suits, looking very much like his former alter-ego, 'Sark'. Not that he didn't look good, because...well, he did. The grey suit somehow managed to make his eyes appear bluer, and the black shirt beneath complimented every muscle in his chest. She had to shake the thought. She hated the change that was coming over him this morning. He was all business, yet his cocky air remained. His eyes threatened to return to the icy glare that had previously inhabited them...
She shook her head. Why was she stressing this? It was most likely because in the last month or two, she come to respect him. She had basically been forced to trust him, although now in hindsight, she realized it had not been that difficult to put faith in him. Though she hated to admit it, she had grown to like her previous adversary. Maybe even admire him. Possibly, maybe even adore him.
Ugh, she thought. Did I just say that I adore him? God, I can never tell him that.
Just as she was starting to believe that she was suffering from schizophrenia, she glanced over at Lazarey again. She was surprised to see him already staring at her. The meeting was obviously over, and there were no signs of Jack, Vaughn or Adrianna anywhere. He smirked at her, and a wave or relief flooded over her. God, I love that smirk. Before she hated loathed it, and the man who owned it. What had happened to her?
He stood up slowly, advancing toward her. Her breath caught in her throat, not just as the sight of him, or because he was slowly closing in on her...
Because for the first time, she noticed his eyes. Breathtakingly blue, they were anything but icy. There was an unquenchable fire inside of them. It almost frightened her, as she realized that his eyes were lit for her.
*****
He wasn't sure what had possessed him to wear one of his suits this morning.
Perhaps it was the idea that he would be running into his former employer in later hours of the day. He wanted to look professional.
Yeah, that's what it is, he thought sarcastically.
Or perhaps it was because he wanted to make his former employer's daughter squirm.
He wasn't an idiot, Jack had been right about that. He had noticed Sydney's eyes on him all morning. The look in her eyes told him that she wasn't just visually assessing him. She was confused. She was worried. She was worried that when the clock struck midnight, he would be Sark.
That realization had left him looking sour all morning. He had appeared to be all business, when his mind was on Sydney the entire time.
God, she was exasperating. How far did he have to go to prove himself? He was angry, but at the same time he felt so sorry for ever making her feel any doubt. He looked over to her, catching her gaze, and he could not help but smile. He could not stay angry at this woman. Any notions that he could would be absolutely preposterous.
His eyes glanced over her. Her hair was pulled back into a french braid, and she was wearing black stiletto heels (how the devil did she walk in those, let alone run?), slimming black pants and a black shirt. Though the black contrasted starkly with her pale skin, he decided that he had never seen her appear so beautiful. Although, he was starting to say that every moment he saw her. She was just amazing. Simply amazing.
He stood up slowly, advancing toward her. As she watched him advance, two different thoughts crossed her mind, he realized.
First: fear.
Second: desire.
He could run with that second one.
*****
Sydney stood up, surprising him, and met him in the center of the room. As she walked in his direction, she found herself searching for any signs of their other three companions, only to realize she didn't really care about there whereabouts at the moment. She picked up her pace, and suddenly like something out of a movie, their bodies were smashed together, their lips plastered together.
Alexander reveled in the same vanilla scent that had radiated off her during their last kiss. Her lips tasted like vanilla as well, and the gloss she must have placed on her lips softened them and occasionally made their lips slide off one another as the kiss deepened.
Electricity. Everything about this kiss, about her, about them together, was pure electricity.
Sydney felt the same, as she reveled in the smell of whatever cologne he was wearing. It smelled like Spring Rain, and she found herself wishing that he could wash over her completely.
They would have been a sight, had anybody walked in just then. Sydney's hands tugged at the lapel of Alexander's jacket. His hands moved from her waist to her face, and were now raking themselves through her hair. Though she was sure that her hair was probably a mess, that was the furthest thing from her mind. Suddenly, they broke apart, simultaneously gasping for air.
He moved his hands to the sides of her face, his left hand stroking her face tenderly. He pulled her closer to him again, only this time placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. She melted into his touch, her hands on his chest.
"Alex..." she began, speaking into his chest.
"Shhh..." he interrupting her, "Sydney, let's just enjoy this for a moment."
This was how Alexander's sister found them, wrapped up in one another's arms, completely silent, completely content. Adrianna simply smiled, before turning around to leave the room, shutting the door as she left.
*****
Several moments passed before either of them spoke. He stroked her hair tenderly, as she leaned her ear against his chest, heart his heart beating wildly. She stepped away, just enough to look up into his eyes.
"I'm scared," she said honestly.
"I know. You're mother is going to be alright. We're going to get Lazarey," he said. She glanced down at the floor, as he struggled to read her emotions.
"Not about that. I'm worried about you," she said, glancing back up at him to meet his gaze.
"Sydney, why? I'm going to be fine," he said, trying to sound reassuring.
"I'm not so sure, Alex. It's going to difficult for you to see him again," she said, her eyes now trying to read his. He tore his gaze away from hers as he glanced at a nearby wall, sighing.
"Maybe. But I'm going to be fine. It's you I'm worried about," he said, staring into her eyes again, as he caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"I'm fine...I'm just...thinking..." she trailed off.
"About?" he asked.
"What's going to happen to you after this is over? Will the CIA put you back in that cell?" she asked. He looked at her, his eyes displaying immediate sadness.
"I think we both know the answer to that," he whispered. Sydney's eyes began to fill with tears, and he struggled to wipe them all away.
"There's got to be something I can do...yes, you committed crimes, but you paid for them...you're different now," she spoke, her hands coming to sides of his face. He lowered his hands to her waist, and he pulled her closer to him, their noses almost touching.
"We'll figure something out Sydney. And, if we don't..." he nuzzled his nose with her, her eyes closing at the touch, "Then this is enough for me," he finished. Her eyes opened at his last statement. He nodded.
"If this is all I get with you Sydney Bristow, it's more than enough for me," he said, planting a short kiss on her mouth, and when he pulled away he spoke again.
"I'm so in love with you," he said, his voice barely a whisper. Her breath caught in her throat, but before she could respond, he silenced her with another kiss.
Again, it was electric. But this time, it was so, so bittersweet.