When she reached his door, she knocked lightly, and entered once she heard a response. She turned back to the door to close it quietly, and remained facing it for a moment.

"Jack, I am sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to talk to you, and I could not wait any longer. Seeing what is happening between Alexander and Sydney just caused me to start thinking about us. I know you have every reason to doubt me, but I've always loved you," she said, looking down at her feet.

"That's a lovely admission Irina," came the answer.

Irina froze.

That was definitely not Jack's voice.

*****


Irina closed her eyes when she realized the severity of her situation.

She turned around hesitantly, immediately noticing Jack's unconscious body lying on the floor. She gasped as she looked up into the icy eyes of Adrian Lazarey.

"What did you do to him?" she hissed, but her attempt to run to her husband was halted by Lazarey's arm. He smirked at her, and for a moment she marveled at how much his smile reminded her of Alexander...

"I assure you Derevko, your precious Jack is not dead. Not yet anyway..."

"You bastard..." she spat, trying to break away from his hold on her elbow.

"Oh Irina, there's no need for name-calling my dear," he said, stroking her hair. She closed her eyes, disgusted by his touch.

"Let me go," she hissed, opening her eyes.

"I don't think so darling. You know far too much for me to let you go," he said, and she gasped at the sight of his knife. Her ability to speak became lost, but her eyes pleaded with him as he lifted the blade to her neck.


*****


Alexander marveled at Sydney's beauty as she lay sleeping in his arms, her legs entwined with his own. He was amazed that she trusted him enough to be in this position with him. So much had happened in the last few months. He stroked her face, immediately regretting the gesture when she began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she grinned when she took in his appearance.

"Hey," she said, yawning.

"Hey," he said, stroking her face again, "Go back to sleep."

"Not on your life," she said, "Sorry I fell asleep on you there."

"Nonsense Sydney. You need your..." she cut him off with a gentle kiss on his mouth. When she pulled away, she touched his lips with her fingers.

"I need you Alexander," she said tenderly, kissing him again. He reveled in her touch until she suddenly pulled away, surprising them both.

"What, what is it?" he said, watching as her eyes grew with fear.

"Alex...something's wrong," she said. He took her face in his hands.

"What?" he asked, searching her face. Her eyes grew wide.

"It's my mom," she said. It took a moment to register in his mind, but in mere seconds, they were racing out of the room.


*****


Irina prepared herself for death.

Regrets filled her mind at the moment the icy feel of Lazarey's blade had settled into the sensitive skin of her neck. Memories came in flashes.

Saying yes to Jack's marriage proposal.

Jack, looking incredibly handsome on their wedding day.

Sydney's birth...the overwhelming pain was overshadowed by the first sight of her daughter's beautiful face, as well as the knowledge that someday, 'Laura Bristow' would leave her husband and baby girl.

Jack and Sydney unwrapping gifts at Christmas, their smiles eerily similar.

Meeting her handler in that God-forsaken hotel.

Her car disappearing into the Pacific Ocean.

William Vaughn taking his dying breath, and the wallet that laid beside his body...the picture of his son and daughter visible to her eyes.

Embracing Alexander...she loved him, but he couldn't replace Sydney.

Her daughter with blue hair, tied to a chair.

Killing Khasinau, and seeing the look of disbelief on Sydney's face

Kissing Jack.

Telling Sydney she loved her.

That was it really. Fifty years of a wasted life. She had wasted years on a life that had brought her to this inevitable death. She had deserted her one chance for happiness almost thirty years ago. She wasn't going to put up a fight. She licked her lips in anticipation, and gasped when she felt Lazarey's blade graze over her skin, and the smell of blood wafted through the air.

In this last instant, her eleventh hour, she gasped again as her daughter and Alexander, followed by Adrianna and Vaughn, bursted through the door, all holding tightly onto pistols. Irina realized that a look of relief must have been evident in her eyes, seeing that Alexander nodded instantly. Lazarey only sighed in irritation.

"Julia, it's been a long time love," he said, glancing at Sydney.

"My name is Sydney you bastard. Let my mother go," Sydney hissed, her eyes and her gun never faltering. He snickered.

"You're mother won't be leaving my grasp alive," Lazarey spat. He was mistaken.

Irina and Sydney had shared a glance and a plan was already in action. Within moments, Irina had summoned all her strength, elbowing Lazarey in his abdomen, to which he keeled over, and she escaped his hold. Irina immediately ran to Sydney's side. Alexander stepped closer to Lazarey, his eyes piercing his father's. Lazarey squirmed under the intense glare.

"Can I help you?" he asked, looking the man over.

"I wouldn't expect any help from you. I never have dad," Alexander spat, allowing the last word to sink in. Lazarey's eyes grew wide, then immediately narrowed, becoming skeptical.

"That's not possible," Lazarey spat, withdrawing a gun from a holster beneath his jacket, "You're lying."

"Look at me," Alexander spoke, stepping closer to Lazarey, "Tell me again that I'm lying." Lazarey did as he was requesting, surveying the man's appearance. He did not have to glance for long. He only nodded his head, aiming his gun at his son's forehead, to which Alexander picked up his own gun. They were quite a sight: father and son, guns pointed at one another's head.

"I suppose it's time I finish what I started," Lazarey hissed. Sydney gasped.

"No!" she yelled, to which Alexander signaled for her to be quiet.

"He won't do it Sydney," Alexander spoke with confidence, his eyes never leaving his father. Lazarey smirked.

"Perhaps I won't. But neither will you," Lazarey answered, glaring at his son.

A gunshot rang out, and all in the room gasped as he fell to the floor.