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: Thanks heaps for the response I got for the last chapter. I guess u guys want me to keep going then, huh? I might have a couple more chapters by the end of the week cos there is a teachers strike on Wednesday and I'll have a day at home by myself. Before I start I just wanna clear something up for broadway baby, Vaughn isn't a doctor, he's a lawyer; Syd calling him 'Doctor Vaughn' was just a joke. One more thing, I want to thank all u guys who reviewed this story, u r reviews give me inspiration to keep writing, especially when I am out of ideas. So here it is chapter 10, dedicated to all u peoples who have left me a review. Here goes…

Chapter 10:

It was April and Sydney had just gone on maternity leave. Angela was around almost every day to see Sydney cos she was going crazy without her to talk to at school. Michael was still working. Syd spent most of her days resting on the couch, trying to relieve the pain in her muscles. One afternoon she was dozing on the couch when Eric came to visit her.

She got up and answered the door. She was surprised to see Eric standing on the other side of the door. "Hey Syd" he said as he reached out to hug his tired friend. "Hey Eric" she replied "Michael's in court at the moment."

"I came to see you," he said as he walked through their door. Sydney offered him a drink as she headed towards the couch again. She managed to lower her tired body to the couch and sighed in relief as she hit the fabric. Eric came in from the kitchen and looked at his friend in concern. She looked worse than what Angela had said. Her stomach stuck even further out from her small body. Her face, hands and feet were swollen; her feet were particularly fat and cracked. When she stood up her back had a huge curve in it making it look like her little body was going to collapse under the weight of the baby. Her eyes looked even more pained and her hair hung limply from her head, in a tangled mass. They had been talking for about half an hour when Syd pushed herself up from the couch and slowly limped into the kitchen, groaning in pain as she moved. Moments later she returned carrying a cheesecake and a tub of ice cream. As she sat down again, Eric shook his head at her after she opened the ice cream. She offered him some and he politely declined. They continued to talk and he watched her in amazement as she demolished the rest of the ice cream and the cheesecake. Eric shook his head at her after she put down her spoon and once again lifted her huge body up and limped into the kitchen. Eric heard the tap running followed by a gurgling sound before he heard her fill up her glass again. The fridge door slammed before Sydney came back into the room carrying a huge jug of water and a can of soft drink for Eric. He accepted the drink and they began talking again. By the time Michael returned from court Eric was still there talking with Syd. He came through the front door and dropped his briefcase on the table before walking over to greet his wife. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before softly kissing her dry cracked lips. She smiled at him and pulled him down for a hug. Eric watched the scene before grabbing Michael's arm and leading him up to the office. "Syd looks terrible mate, is everything ok, I mean there's gotta be something you can do, she's in pain."

"Yeah, its hard for me to see. The doctor said that we can't really do anything for her. She just needs to get heaps of rest." The two men came back out of the office and went back into the living area before Eric left, hugging Syd as he headed out the door. Michael turned and faced his tired wife. He went over to her and she carefully sat up before he slipped his body behind hers and began to massage her sore shoulders and back to help relieve the pain. Half an hour later he stopped and wrapped his arms around her tired body. She leaned into him and he gently kissed her neck. Later that night he got up and made dinner for the both of them before helping Sydney take her tired body up to the bedroom.

The next morning Sydney woke up alone in bed. She groaned as she rolled her large body over to face the clock. She sighed when she realised that it was a little after 10am. She attempted to sit up in bed when Peanut began to kick. Her insides ached as Peanut continued to kick her. In the beginning she enjoyed feeling their baby kick but now she was constantly in pain and Peanut's kicking caused more pain. Sydney managed to lift her body out of bed and into the bathroom. She had a quick shower and limped towards the kitchen. She looked over at the table and saw a piece of paper sitting on the wooden surface.

Syd,

I'm sorry that I can't be there next to you when you wake up. As much as I would love to be there to massage your back and to kiss away your pain, even if it is momentarily. Just remember, not long now and it will all be over. I love you, you mean everything to me, never forget that.

All my love

Forever Michael.

She smiled at the letter and sat down on one of the uncomfortable dinning chairs. After a few moments she managed to get up and make herself some breakfast before retreating to the couch once again, to watch movies and eat. Early that afternoon Sydney fell asleep and was woken up by a loud knock at the door. She groaned in her sleep and got up to answer the door. Sydney opened the door and there was a man standing there holding a bunch of flowers. "Sydney Vaughn?" he questioned.

"Yes."

"These are for you," he said handing her a clip board "Sign here."

She signed the sheet and took the flowers out of his arms. Thanking him she shut the door and paused to smell them. She smiled as she fished through the bouquet, trying to locate a card. Finding it she set the flowers on the table before opening the card.

Syd, thought these would cheer you up. All our love Angela and Eric.

She went into the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers and put them in water before returning to the couch to watch TV. Once again she fell asleep and when she woke up later that evening Michael was at the table sifting through a large stack of papers frowning. She lifted herself up and approached the table. She threw her arms around his body and kissed his neck. He turned around and returned her kiss. He pushed his chair out from the table and patted his legs, indicating to her that she could sit on them. She carefully lowered her body and turned to face her husband. Michael gently ran his fingers across her puffy face before running them down her front and resting them on her big belly. Sydney looked up at him and smiled, before leaning into gently kiss his lips. They broke apart and he moved his hands from her belly and over to a container of Chinese food that was sitting next to one of his stacks of papers. He began to feed her slowly and she giggled at him, commenting on the fact that she could feed herself. He ignored her comments and continued to feed her. Once she had finished he placed the container on the table and began to trace the large bags that had settled under her eyes before moving his arms around behind her to gently rub circles on her back, helping to relieve the ever present pain. They sat there for almost two hours, speaking occasionally, when Sydney announced that she was going to bed. Michael helped her up and watched as her hunched form retreated to the bedroom. By the time he went to bed, she was already sleeping peacefully.

A/N: What did ya think??? Was it good or bad??? Review and let me know and remember, the more reviews I get, then its more likely to be updated sooner. LOL Alyce.