Julian watched Sydney intently as she spoke quietly on the phone. He noticed that her smile had brightened, but at the same time, fear registered in her glorious brown eyes. When she had finished the conversation, she placed the phone down, and glance over at him sighing. Julian patted the cushion next to him on the couch, and she moved slowly to sit next to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she allowed her head to rest on his shoulder. Moments passed before either spoke. Julian felt her take in a deep breath, and then sigh again.
"That was my father," she said, "He's on his way..." she trailed off.
"Well, that was fast," he said, smirking.
"Agent Vaughn is with him," Sydney whispered, attempting desperately to be formal when talking about her ex-boyfriend. Julian sighed, squeezing her shoulder.
"It's going to be alright Sydney," he said. She smiled up at him, and it melted his heart.
"I know. I just...they are the two men that I never wanted to disappoint," she said, her face growing serious. Julian shifted his weight, turning on the couch to face her. She did the same, her arms placed loosely around his neck. He moved his hand to her stomach, his hands grazing it smoothly.
"This child isn't a disappointment. The disappointment is not being able to remember it, at least...that's how I feel," he said, looking down at her abdomen. She sighed.
"Me too," she said, and their eyes locked. He smiled at her, and she leaned forward to kiss his forehead, and then pulled back to look at him again.
"In the hallway, you said you were in love with Sydney, not Julia...is that true?" she asked slowly, and his eyes widened.
"You remember that?" he asked, his blue eyes becoming cloudy. She only nodded. He sighed, smirking at her.
"It's true," he said, "It's always been true..." he said, trailing off. She smiled.
"Always? Even when I lodged that ice pick into your leg?" she asked, giggling. He smiled at the memory.
"Especially then. You were tough. Despite the fact that you royally pissed me off, the point was you made me feel something. I hadn't felt something in...as long as I could remember," he said, brushing a hair from her face. She smiled, asking him silently to continue.
"Your mother has been talking about you since the moment I was taken into her care. I felt like I knew you personally. When I met you, I was intrigued by how someone so strong, could be so emotional, so caring, so devoted to her country..." he trailed off again, his eyes searing her own.
"Sydney, you have a wonderful heart. A generous heart. It's so difficult to maintain the innocence that you have, when you're in this life. I admire you, always have, always will. Of course, admiration evolved into something different, and soon, Allison Doren was accusing me of falling in love with you. Much as I've lied in my life, I couldn't deny what she was saying. It was unavoidable," he said.
"So you don't prefer Julia?" she asked, smirking. He shook his head.
"Lord, no. After I snapped out of my programming, it took all the strength I could muster not to bloody punch her....you...Julia," he said, laughing, "It was so refreshing to have you back, banter and all. I've always loved a challenge Sydney. You will always be my greatest challenge."
"Good to know," she said, kissing his cheek tenderly.
"So, why are you being so friendly with me?" he asked. She sighed.
"I really couldn't attempt to explain it. I just know you love me, and I know that I love you. Maybe I always have...or was always meant to. Rambaldi's in control right?" she asked, laughing ironically.
"Wrong," he said roughly, "Sydney, I'm going to protect you and this baby. The Covenant will not take out child. We're a family now," he said, kissing her lips softly. She pulled away, eyes wide.
"A family, huh?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, "I want to make it official as soon as we are able," he said. She looked at him questioningly, and he smiled mischievously.
"I want you to marry me Sydney. I want to protect you...our family...for life," he said, his eyes searching her own. Tears ran down her face, yet she smiled through them.
"What?" she asked.
"I would be so happy if you would marry me," he said, "I, the secret romantic that I am, already have a ring..." he trailed off.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes, not here, however. I obviously was planning a more romantic setting," he said, smirking. She smiled, and kissed him squarely on the mouth, pulling away after a moment.
"I've been proposed to before, in a cheesy, albeit sweet way. This gives me variety," she said, her face bright, "I accept." His eyes widened, and he smiled the most adorable grin.
"Really?" he asked, his arms tightening around her waist. She didn't answer, but instead kissed him firmly on the lips. He pulled away slowly, and rested his chin over her head.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said.
"Yes to what, exactly?" a voice chimed in, and Sydney and Julian's eyes widened when they noticed their guests. Her arms remained around Julian's neck, but he removed his hands from her waist, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"Hi daddy. Vaughn," Sydney said, smiling sheepishly.
"Hello Sydney. Does somebody want to tell me what the hell is going on here?" Jack asked, anger rising. Sydney looked at Julian, and they collectively sighed.
*****
Sydney looked her father with wide eyes, but her arms remained around Julian's neck nonetheless. She heard Julian sigh again, and suddenly he was helping her up, extending his hand to her thoughtfully. She smiled at the gesture, small as it was, but remembering how he had treated her in years past, she couldn't help but think it was sweet. When they were in standing position, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. She noticed the her father and Vaughn both visibly stiffened at the sight of the man they knew as an assassin, clinging to the woman they both loved so dearly.
"What's going on Syd?" Vaughn asked, only repeating Jack's previous question. Sydney smiled slightly, looking up at her counterpart. He turned to her, his eyes dancing. She could tell he was nervous about what was to come. He smiled nonetheless.
"Do you want to tell them or should I?" Sydney asked him, and he smirked. He leaned over to whisper something in her ear, and she smiled, nodding. Suddenly, he left the room, and she was alone with the two CIA agents before her. Jack cleared his throat, and his eyes seared through her own.
"Sydney...you have some explaining to do," he said. She nodded.
"I know," she said, "I'll explain some things to you both now, but I'd rather wait to disclose everything until everyone has arrived. Who is coming?" she asked. Vaughn cleared his throat nervously, while Jack hesitated.
"Tippin, Weiss, Dixon...and Lauren," Jack said finally, and Sydney's eyes widened, though she hid her surprise well.
"Oh," she said, "Okay."
"So what's going on?" Jack asked, and just then Julian re-entered the room. "Why are you with Sark?"
"Julian," Sydney stated calmly.
"What?" Vaughn asked.
"His name is Julian. Julian Lazarey," she stated, and smiled when Julian returned to her side. He pulled her left hand behind her back, and Sydney smiled again when she felt what he was sliding onto her ring finger. She cleared her throat, and glanced back at her father and Vaughn.
"We were both taken by the Covenant, as you know," she said, and Jack and Vaughn nodded. "We were partners for many of our missions, at least that's what we've been told. Neither of us can remember that time because we were being controlled. Julian," she said, looking up at Julian, "ran into mom on one of his missions, and she reminded him of who he was. She sent him back to the Covenant, where he later pulled me out of my own trance."
"We're aware of all that. What did we walk in on a few moments ago?" Jack asked, looking at the two people in front of him. Their closeness was alarming. He didn't like it. At all. Sydney hesitated, and was stunned when Julian began to speak.
"We've established a new relationship, Mr. Bristow. Your daughter and I have a lot in common," Julian stated, smiling down at Sydney.
"Like hell," Jack said. Sydney glared at him, and he was quiet again.
"Dad," she said, "It's true. I've learned about Julian's life, how he was raised, his background with mom...we're not so different, him and I. And he's the only one who can understand what I went through with the Covenant..." she said.
"Just because he understands is no reason to begin some sick emotional attachment," Jack interrupted. This pissed off Julian, and he stepped forward, taking Sydney's left hand in his own.
"We're engaged Jack," he said, displaying the diamond on her finger, "and Sydney is pregnant. I'm the father."
