"I had another dream," she said, and he nodded.
"I figured that was the case," he said, "Go on."
"I was arguing with you, in the same hallway. You told me that the Covenant had our DNA..." she trailed off, her eyes darting to the floor.
"You remember that?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, and she pulled up on his chin, forcing him to look at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?
*****
He sighed, hating the look of doubt that was now apparent in her eyes. He thought he had seen the last of it weeks ago.
"I didn't want to upset you," he said, "We infiltrated their labs and stopped them. We burned the lab, the DNA, the...creation..." he trailed off. Her eyes began tearing.
"You cried for an hour afterward. Though you weren't carrying the child, you felt guilty," he said, glancing down at the floor, "Truthfully, I did too," he whispered.
"We had to do it," she said. He glanced at her, nodding slowly.
"Yeah," he said.
"So that's not a concern?" she asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head, "We left the Covenant, I restored you to your mother, and turned myself into the CIA. I knew that was the only way I would be safe. A few days later, you were back, and you didn't remember anything. Not the Covenant, not your mother...not even me," he finished.
"I'm sorry Julian," she said. He shook his head.
"Don't apologize," he said, a tear running down his face. She reached over to her night stand, grabbing a tissue box. He looked at her questioningly, grabbing a tissue from the box. She shrugged, smirking.
"I've been emotional lately," she said, laughing softly. Another tear ran down his face, and she looked at him with concern.
"What?" she asked.
"I should have been able to protect you. I can't remember those months when we were Julia and Andrew. I don't know what happened between us. I've never been controlled by anyone in my life. I was weak, weaker than I've ever thought possible..." he said, trailing off. Sydney cupped his face in her hands.
"You're not weak Julian. You saved me. I would still be in the Covenant's possession if it weren't for you," she said, smiling. He nodded, wiping his tears from his face, smirking.
"At least we don't have to worry about a little one running around anytime soon," he said. Sydney looked at him in horror, but still felt it was not time to tell him the truth. She only nodded.
*****
Irina sat in her office, trying to distract herself with any menial task she could find. Worrying about Sydney's pregnancy was beginning to wear on her, and she felt older and more tired than she had in years. She rested her head in her hands, and sat for a few moments in complete silence.
Suddenly, the phone on her desk rang, and she picked it up slowly.
"Hello?" she asked, rubbing a hand over her forehead.
"I have the results," a man's voice said.
"Dr. Michaels...so soon?" she asked.
"The marvels of modern technology, Irina," he said, "the tests are conclusive. Adrian Lazarey is most certainly the father of your daughter's child."
Irina froze, panic seeping into her body.
"Irina, are you alright?" Michaels' voice came again, and Irina nodded, forgetting that he could not see her.
"Oh...oh...yes. I'm fine. Thank you so much for you help, doctor," she said, and ended the call. She placed the phone down, and her eyes widened.
The prophecy.
It was coming into being.
Sydney was carrying the child that would bring the destruction of the known world.
*****
Sydney rested her head on Julian's chest as they laid side by side on her bed. She couldn't help but wonder at the irony of the situation. The man she felt most comfortable with today, had been her enemy only weeks before. She smiled.
Maybe they had never been enemies.
Not really, anyway.
After she had woke up from her dream, Julian had stayed with her, and they had talked about their lives up until this very moment. She discovered that at the time she had been planning her Sweet Sixteen party, Julian had changed his name to 'Sark' and had become a respected member of her mother's organization. Julian's father had been Adrian Lazarey, the man she had killed, and his mother had been the daughter of an Italian diplomat. His mother had died when he was only eight years old, and his father had sent him to boarding schools all around the world, basically ignoring his son. This ignorance has sent him into the arms of her mother, whom he deeply respected, admired, and loved, as if she was his own mother.
Sydney told him about the struggles of dealing with her mother's 'death', her strained relationship with her father, and about the shy, quiet girl she had been in high school and in her early years of college. He had smiled at the thought, considering how beautiful and confident she had become. Her arm was draped lazily over his chest, her hand entwined in his own, and every time either one of them came to a sad memory in their respective lives, one would squeeze the other's hand, in order to offer some sort of comfort. She told him about Danny, and how she still carried guilt over his death. Sydney proceeded to tell him how hard it had been to adjust to returning to Los Angeles after her disappearance.
"Agent Vaughn is married?" he gasped, and she only nodded, sighing into his chest.
"Yeah," she said, "Guess he just forgot I ever existed..." she began. She could feel Julian shaking his head, and he turned her face up to him, meeting her gaze.
"That's nonsense, Sydney. First, because, no man could ever forget you, and second, because Agent Vaughn is just a little boy who was never good enough for you," he said, smirking.
"Thank you," she said, "I've been trying not to insult him, but by all means, you can."
He smiled, and she smiled as well. Irina found them like this, laying together, gazing at one another with brilliant smiles gracing their facial features. Julian noticed her presence first.
"Irina," he said, sitting up abruptly. No matter how he felt about Sydney, it didn't mean he wanted her mother to kill him for being so close to her daughter. Sydney looked in the direction he was, and her eyes widened. She sat up as well, and then stood up, straightening her clothes.
"Mom, what's up?" she asked, noting her mother's pallor.
"Sydney, we need to talk. Privately," she said, glancing in Julian's direction. Julian nodded, moving to leave the room. Sydney halted him, grabbing his arm.
"Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Julian," she said, her eyes searing his. He smiled, and she melted. She glanced back at her mother, who looked at them questioningly.
"It's about your doctor's visit the other day," her mother said, and Sydney's eyes widened. She looked at Julian, whose eyes displayed confusion. She smiled, reassuring him, and glanced back at her mother.
There would be no more lies.
"Say it, mother. He deserves to know," she said, glancing back at Julian.
"He doesn't know?" Irina asked. Sydney shook her head.
A throat cleared.
"Excuse me, ladies? What am I not privy to here? Someone want to clue me in?"
