Sydney couldn't believe it had all been set up so easily. The CIA had created a pattern for the heists Kaylee had previously made, and with it they were able to deduce her next objective. As quick as a blink of an eye, Sydney found herself scheduled to leave on a plane to Brighton, England where another extremely valuable Rambaldi artifact was hidden. All she had to do was say goodbye to Francie and Will then she was off to the airport to meet the sister she never knew she had.

Lucky for Sydney, Francie and Will had told her a few days ago that they planned to eat lunch at Malarkey's Tavern which was right across the street from Francie's restaurant. According to Francie, "my food may be the best in the world, but sometimes even I get tired of it." Sydney found herself chuckling softly at the comment as she pushed hard on the solid wood front door of the restaurant. She heard her name as soon as she set foot inside the tavern and immediately located her best friends seated at one of the back booths.

"Hey, guys!"

"What are you doing here, Syd?" Will asked her as soon as she got her jacket off.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that I have to leave on yet another business trip today."

Predictable as always, Francie commented, "But you're always going on these trips."

"I know. And I realize I say this every time but this trip's really important. There's a client I've really been waiting to get a meeting with, and the bank's finally set it up."

"Really?" Francie replied. "Looks like you're not the only one whose wishes are being granted." Francie made slight head motions towards Will.

"What is going on?" Sydney said. She was happy that her time with Francie and Will would be casual like always. She liked having people to talk to who she could guarantee wouldn't add to the problems she was facing in her life.

"Well, our little Will over here has finally scored a big date with his boss's daughter. Only don't tell the boss."

"Will! You didn't! Haven't you been lusting after that girl for two months now?"

"I'm proud to say that yes I have, and the lusting finally paid off."

"Well, it's good to see you out there in the world dating," Sydney commented. She was constantly worried about Will and the fact that he hadn't formed a solid relationship with another woman since that whole fiasco where they kissed.

"Yeah, we were afraid that you're little run in with Syd had scarred you for life," Francie said as if she had read exactly what Sydney was thinking.

"Francie!" Syd screamed. "That was blunt!"

"No, I deserved it," Will admitted. "I mean, didn't we all think for a while there that my whole life would be spent pinning after the great Sydney Bristow?"

"Oh, shut up!" Sydney playfully slapped Will's arm.

"Why oh why can't you have a sister, Sydney? Then this entire debate wouldn't be going on. I could finally live my dream of spending the rest of my life with a Bristow woman," Will continued to tease.

Sydney tried to smile without giving too much away. 'If Will only knew how close his dream was to reality,' she thought. Pushing all notions of her sister out of her mind, Sydney threw her heart and soul into relaxing with her two best friends before she tried to turn her life upside down one more time.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Kaylee couldn't help but eavesdrop at the door while her mother told Sark about the different missions she had sent Kaylee on. It seemed that these missions had another purpose other than letting Sydney, Jack, and the CIA learn of her existence. Her mother was testing her to see if she would be field ready to do what would eventually need to be done. Frustratingly, her mother and Sark never went into detail about what exactly she was being prepared to do.

Hearing Irina and Sark begin to finish up their business talk, Kaylee raced halfway down the hallway and then turned around to walk back towards where she had been hiding. When the two associates had exited the meeting room, the only thing they saw was Kaylee walking down the hall toward them.

"Couldn't wait to see me again," Sark said to immediately return to the teasing-like conversation they had begun earlier.

"Actually, no," Kaylee said. She had decided her mother probably wouldn't be happy if she continued to flirt with her right hand man. "I just wanted to be a part of whatever business was going on. I know I'm a huge part of what's going to happen next. I want to be involved."

"And you will be," Irina agreed. "Starting tonight, I want you and Sark to go recover a Rambaldi artifact we've located in the south of England. It should be a relatively easy assignment with little to no problem."

"Then, why send both of us?" Kaylee said, quick to point out the oddness of the plan.

"Well, I think you two should get to know each other a little more," Irina said rather shadily. "I think Rambaldi would have like that."

Once again, Irina left the area with a flourish. "I really hate when she does that," Kaylee muttered.

"At least I know I'm not the only one she likes to leave half confused and wishing she had explained herself a little more," Sark said honestly. "So, kid, I guess it's just you and me for a while."

"If you want to call twenty-four-year-olds kids, sure," Kaylee said hoping Sark would pick up on the fact that she was listening to his conversation with her mother.

"No, you're right. You're no kid." Sark gave her a smirk and walked off down the hall. When he was almost out of sight, he turned around and called. "I see you on the plane, kid!"

"Did he not just listen to what I said?" Kaylee muttered as she returned once again to her bedroom.