Title: The Simple Life

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Alias or its characters.

Summary: AU. No CIA or SD-6. Syd and Vaughn are married. S/V.

Authors Notes: *wipes tears* I'm sad, when I wrote this there were no reviews for the last chapter, was it that bad? Anyway, I got some inspiration to write another chapter for this. I want to thank EVERYONE who has read/reviewed Secrets and Lies and this as well, thanks heaps. I also want to thank everyone who put me on their favourite authors list. Now to do some promoting my friend Caitlin has written an awesome Stargate SG1 fic called Givin' up on You. I think her pen name is Caysha. Check it out and in return she promises to read n review ur fics as well (and tell her Chickiee-Dee sent ya).

Chapter 9:

After Valentines Day past there was little happening in the Vaughn house. Both were busy at work and by the time Sydney came home from school, she was so tired that she usually went straight to bed. On the weekends she spent most of her time sitting down resting and trying to relieve the constant backache. She had also become incredibly moody and her cravings drove Michael mad. Unlike most other women who crave the weirdest foods, Sydney craved ice cream and cheesecake. It drove Michael insane because she ate a cheesecake every couple of days and he was constantly at the shop buying more ice cream. He hated to think how big she was gonna be after the birth, although her looks didn't bother her, he'd love her no matter what she looked like.

One Saturday Sydney's cravings were particularly bad, as was her mood. Her back was aching and her feet were beginning to swell so she was sitting on the couch barking out orders to a frustrated Michael who was trying to prepare for his next trial, which began that coming Monday. He'd set her up with some movies on the couch and filled her a big jug of water, which she had drained within half an hour. Once the water was gone she began to crave ice cream and since she had finished the last two tubs the previous day Michael was sent out to get some more. While he was gone she had managed to heave her enormous body off the couch and up to the bathroom to empty her bladder. By the time Michael returned she was back on the couch with a half empty jug of water and a large spoon. She grabbed a tub off him before he had the chance to put it in the freezer. She pulled off the lid and dug into the tubs contents. Within an hour she had finished that tub and looked over at Michael expectantly, wanting another tub or a cheesecake, either one would do. He looked up from his paperwork and saw Sydney giving him her famous puppy dog eyes. "What Syd?" he questioned.

"Can you get my cheesecake from the freezer?" she asked.

"You ate it last night after you finished the ice cream."

"Well can you go and get me some more then?" she asked him sweetly.

"No I can't"

"Why not?" she snapped.

"I have work to do sweetie, my trial starts on Monday and I haven't finished preparing plus I have to go into work soon."

"Please" she begged.

"If you want cheesecake, go and get it yourself. Grab some money from my wallet."

"Your really not gonna get it for me?"

"No, I've already been to the shop for you once and I have a meeting in twenty minutes." Upset that Michael wasn't going to the shop for her she managed to heave herself up off the couch and picked up her keys and some money before heading out the door. Michael jumped up and grabbed her arm "I'm sorry honey, I just have this meeting to go to." He kissed her cheek "I'll see you when I get back." She nodded and watched as his hand travelled down to her stomach before pulling her into a big hug. She pulled away and headed down to her car, trying to ignore the pain in her back and feet. She thought about how much her life had changed in the past couple of years. She thought about what her life would be like if she hadn't taken the job at St Mary's. Then she wouldn't have met Michael and she couldn't imagine her life without him. As she drove through the streets she thought about the last couple of months. Her stomach had been growing increasingly bigger and many of the students commented about it. So did their parents. At parent teacher night she wasn't wearing her wedding ring because her hands were swelling and it hurt to wear it on her hand, so it was on a chain around her neck, and she received may disgusted looks from parents because she had a huge belly but no wedding ring. One parent even asked her what sort an example she was setting by having a child out of wedlock. She assured them that she happily married and showed them her rings that were dangling round her neck. Embarrassed, they had apologised quickly. Sydney had taught many of her students since she began at St Mary's and they were all excited about her having a baby and were always asking her questions when she was out in the yard. She pulled into the car park at the supermarket and found a park. She lifted her body out of the car and slowly made her way into the shop. She grabbed a trolley and started walking through the aisles. She walked down the cake row and threw several cake mixes into the trolley along with various muffin mixes. Continuing through the shop she turned into the frozen food section and grabbed another three tubs of ice cream and six cheesecakes. She was just about to head to the counter to pay when she spotted Angela and Eric. She waved to them and they came over to see her. "Syd, what are you doin here?" Angela asked as she hugged her friend.

"I wanted cheesecake and Michael's working so I had to come myself." Eric looked into her trolley and started to poke through its contents "Three tubs of ice cream and six cheesecakes AND cake and muffin mixes. Man are you gonna be huge when that baby is born!" Angela hit him "Ouch, what was that for?" he asked innocently.

"How insensitive can you be Eric?" she asked her husband. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Hey Eric, have you heard of cravings?" Syd asked him.

"Yeah, but three tubs of ice cream and six cheesecakes?"

"Michael's already been in today and he got me three tubs of ice cream, I already ate one." His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You already ate a tub of ice cream today? Man I wish I was pregnant."

"No you don't" Sydney said shaking her head. He looked his friend up and down and noticed how tired and sore she looked. Her stomach stuck far out from her tiny frame and her face and hands were swollen, she looked like she had the mumps, her hair was messed up and her eyes were full of pain. He reached out to hug her and as he did he rubbed her back. His gentle rubbing relieved the pain momentarily and after a couple of minutes he pulled away from her and looked at her eyes, they looked less pained. He smiled at her, glad he could ease her suffering, and even it was only a little. "Well, I better go" she announced, "See ya." She turned her trolley and headed off to pay for her food so she could get home and lay back on the couch. As she waited in line to pay she received many disgusted looks from other customers as they peaked into her trolley. Trying to ignore them she paid for her food and trudged slowly back to her car before climbing in and heading back home. She managed to make it up the stairs. She walked in the door and packed away her food, keeping out a cheesecake and collapsed on the couch with it. After eating for a while the phone rang, she managed to get up and answer it and answered it angrily, because she had just stopped the pain and her moving started it again. It was her father. She quickly apologised and she talked to him briefly before speaking to her mother. She went back to the couch and had just settled down when the phone rang again. She swore sharply as she got up again to answer it. It was Bridget Vaughn. She spoke to Bridget for a while and after hanging up the phone she returned to the couch and began stuffing herself with cheesecake in an effort to dull the backache. She eventually willed herself to sleep, deciding that if she were asleep then she wouldn't feel the pain. That was how Michael found her, asleep on the couch with a half eaten cheesecake resting on her belly. He made a move to grab it and she swung her fist at him. He didn't duck in time and it connected with his jaw. He stepped back and Sydney stared at him in horror before quickly apologising. He rubbed his jaw for a while before accepting her apology. He hugged her and then went to prepare dinner. She listened to him tell her about work over dinner and after they had eaten she headed off to bed with Michael not far behind.

A/N: Was it good??? Was it bad??? Review and let me know and if I don't get reviews for this then I won't write any more cos its really all you reviews that inspire me to continue (I'm not trying to be a bitch). LOL Alyce.