* * * * *
Mary looked around, confused momentarily at her surroundings. "Hi." She whispered, waking Travis. "When did you get here?"
"I brought you home last night."
"Did you really?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry." Mary looked briefly at her bedroom. "What time was that? Because I'm not even packed for moving tomorrow."
"I don't know. You were passed out by 7:00."
"That explains the hangover."
"You were pretty drunk."
"I don't remember any of it."
"How many drinks did you have?"
"Like two margaritas." Sydney painfully held her hand. "I can take so much more than that, and still be able to drive home."
"Gretchen said you were balancing spoons off your nose. I don't think you could have driven home."
"God. I hope she didn't have pictures." Mary said, burring her face into her pillow. Travis laughed, and kissed the back of her neck, in a reassuring way.
"Not a camera in sight."
"How did you know to come get me?"
"Gretchen called." A very serious Vaughn came out. "Sydney, you kept calling me Vaughn last night. I don't know what you could have told everyone else at your table. Your cover could have been blown."
"Shit." Sydney buried her head into her pillow. "There were only three of us left. And Kelsey, she already knows. And I might have just confused the hell out of Gretchen."
"It's alright. Gretchen called last night, and told me everything you said. We just need to create an old ex- boyfriend of yours, named Vaughn Williams, about college age. He has to have brown hair, and needs to have a wife now. And I was able to explain your rambling about being shot by your mother with a simple fantasy thing. So, next time when you're so drunk you don't know what you're saying, Gretchen will think that you just have very vivid fantasies about being an international spy."
"God. I blew it. And you saved me, again."
"And I'd save you again in a heartbeat."
"Fantasizing about being a spy. Why would anyone want to do that? I mean look what it gave me. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a new name."
"It's ok Syd." Vaughn just held Sydney for a while. The comforting silence spoke the only words they needed. "Sydney, why was your father there?"
"He's always there on the last day of school. Wants to see me. Check up on me. We never talk. Last night was the first time he ever talked to me. And he never gets me drunk. I don't know why he would ever do that. It had to be him. In the afternoon, there is only one bartender, and Dad is the only one once a year. He always does our parties, so he knows most of the teacher's names."
"Sydney, that is dangerous."
"It's not really. It's a CIA bar. Didn't you see the agents in the corner? Everyone knows that the bartender is the infamous Jack Bristow, and that I am his daughter. If someone they know is a terrorist comes in, he will be so dead. I'm the one that suggested the change to go there when I first started teaching."
"Sydney, it is still dangerous. I don't know what I would do if I lost you again."
Sydney leaned over and kissed Vaughn. "I'll keep that in mind, because I can't lose you again either. But he's my dad."
"Ok. I'm going to tell you something I have told you for years. Be careful. I love you too much." In reply, Sydney only kissed him. They laid there for a long while, just basking in each other's company. Travis was the one to break the silence. "How much have you packed."
Mary let out a guilty laugh. "Like none. I have been so busy with school that I haven't had time. I was only going to stay an hour, but you saw what happened. I wanted the kitchen and the bedroom packed before today, so that I could pack the rest of the apartment today."
"Do you think we're moving too fast?"
Mary only laughed. "No. I don't think seven years is too fast for us to be moving in together."
"Then let's get you packed. What are we still doing in bed?"
"Easy. I feel too sick to move."
"You're the one that got drunk last night. Come on, this isn't even my apartment."
"Maybe later."
"Come on, let's go. If you don't get up, I will start screaming at the top of my lungs."
Mary opened her eyes, wide with fear at the thought of loud noises. "Fine." She threw back the covers, and stood up. "Promise you won't yell."
"I promise." Travis kissed, Mary's forehead. "So why do you think he did it?" Vaughn asked, as the two got dressed.
"Why do you think who did what?" Sydney asked.
"Why do you think your father spiked your drinks?"
"I don't know. He's my father. This is the man that blew up a building to keep me away from my mother. He does strange things to protect me from what ever it is. In high school he wouldn't let me go to school for a week because one of my teachers was having mental break down, and was afraid that I would be at the sharp end of the stick. We had a sub that entire week. But yet I was at home because he was protecting me. He's always worked in mysterious ways."
"I'll call Eric and find out. I mean the CIA has got to know why he did it."
"Oh. They don't know that he does that."
"Jack, defying work?"
"More like not telling them anything. I mean come on Honey; we've both done it many times. True we always got caught, which is why we're here now, but we did it. My dad is just better at the spy game than we are."
"Do you really believe that?"
"Well yeah. He has more experience than we do. He got me drunk for a reason." She kissed him, when he tried to continue the conversation. He got her 'discrete' hint that the conversation was over, and kissed her back, as the two struggled to get into the shower.
Travis pulled a box out from the closet sometime after lunch. "Where do you want me to pack next?"
"I need my office packed." Mary called from the kitchen. In the distance, they could hear the hired help of Gretchen and Kelsey laughing at the suggestion.
"I'm sorry you got stuck with the office!" Gretchen called, as she put books into a box.
"I don't think you can pack that room in a day." Kelsey added, as she gently wrapped some of Mary's glasses in newspapers.
"How come I got stuck with the office?" Travis whined.
"Because you finished the bedroom, and the bathroom, and the office is really all that is left. We have everything else covered." Mary answered, coming over to support Travis as he opened the door to the office.
He slowly opened it, and did a fake scream as he saw the horrendous mess. There are some people that have junk drawers. Others, like Mary, had junk rooms. Over time, her office had become less of an office, and more of a place to store everything. "You lived here 5 months Mary, how did you get it so messy so fast."
Mary assessed the damage. The minimal metal book shelves, had books and papers strewn randomly all over it. Photo albums full of people she had never met, but was related too sat open on the couch, from where they had fallen off a stack of things. Pictures had fallen out, and littered the floor, with blank paper, from where her printer freaked out, and spit out papers. Boxes, still unpacked from her last move were piled in the corners. There was even some dirty laundry lying around. Travis saw a pair of his boxers, and blushing furiously, threw them into the box. "It's not so bad. A lot of it can be trashed. And half of it is still packed from my last move."
"Mary, it looks like some C-4 blew up in here. I thought you were a tidy person."
"C-4 makes a cleaner mess. This is more like Eric came through here." Sydney slipped, coming through.
"Even my brother Eric is better than this." Vaughn covered.
Kelsey and Gretchen paused momentarily to watch as the lovers quarreled over the mess. They made eye contact before moving behind them to listen better.
"Your brother is way worse." Mary ventured in and began to throw away things she found. "He had week old cereal bowls in his sink, and company over."
Travis came behind her, and threw books into the box. "He wasn't expecting you."
"You were arranging it, how was I supposed to know?"
***Flashback***
"Happy Birthday Vaughn." Sydney announced, as Vaughn entered the warehouse. He looked at the makeshift table made out of some cartons. Upon it sat two chicken dinners, and two candles, and two glasses of wine. Sydney stood there, in a long sleek black dress, with her hair loose.
"Syd, this is amazing." He walked over to Sydney, and kissed her. "You are amazing." He kissed her again. "How am I supposed to give you your counter mission with all of this?"
"There is no mission. There never was. I made one up so that I could see you tonight."
"This is so great. How did you even know it was my birthday?"
"I have my ways."
"Syd, I can't tell you how amazing this is." He passionately kissed her again.
Sydney smiled. "I think you already have."
"But not properly." He smiled suggestively, and made his advances. He slowly moved forward, but stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of a ringing cell phone. They both reached for their phones and pulled them out. "It's mine." Vaughn said, answering it. "Hello?"
"Hey man!" A cheery voice called. In the background the radio blared some rock.
"Eric, hi."
"I know you didn't have plans for you birthday today, so you're coming over for some beers and the kings game."
"Um…" Vaughn looked over to Sydney, where she sat in one of the old desk chairs, waiting for Vaughn to finish up with his phone conversation. She drooled over the plate in front of her. "I'm kinda busy right now."
"Oh right, that counter mission for Sydney. Stop by after that."
"I've kinda made plans with someone."
"Bring them by. Come on, drinks at my apartment."
"I'm not sure that it is such a good idea."
"Is it a girl?"
"Maybe."
"Then bring her by. Come on, I want to meet this girl that has deterred your attention away from Sydney on your birthday." Eric said. Vaughn smiled, and looked at Sydney again. His attention wavering from Sydney, was that even possible? He shook his head, no. No one, nothing, could ever turn his attention away from Sydney. Especially when she was sitting across from him, looking the most beautiful he had ever seen her.
"Well,"
"Bring her. And even if it is only for a minute."
"Fine. I need to finish up here first."
"Good. And don't forget about the Kings game too."
"I'll be there before the face off." He promised. He shut his cell phone after saying good bye to Weiss.
"Where were we?" Sydney asked, standing up and kissing Vaughn.
"Somewhere here." Vaughn passionately kissed Sydney.
"Where do you have to go?" She asked.
"Eric's. And you're coming with me."
"How are we going to pull that off?"
"You wouldn't happen to carry wigs around in your car would you?"
"Yup. Because carrying wigs in the trunk of my car is normal. And since I strive to be normal." Sydney sarcastically answered. She rolled her eyes, and Vaughn only smiled.
"Sydney, come on. Let's eat some of this dinner you made, and then head over to Eric's for the King's game."
"You and your Kings. One of the many things I love about you." Sydney said.
"How many ways are there?"
"Let me count the ways." She got up from her chair, and kissed Vaughn. "That's another." She kissed him again, more passionately this time. "And that's another."
"Keep this up Ms. Bristow, and I think the game might have to be canceled."
"I can't do that on your birthday, now can I?"
"Oh, please do." Vaughn moaned, as Sydney moved onto his lap, kissing him.
Again, a cell phone rang, interrupting their moment of peace. "Mine again." Vaughn said.
"Hello?"
"Pick up some beer for me." Eric's voice greeted.
"Isn't that your job?" Sydney looked annoyed at all the interruptions, and moved to her chair across the table from Vaughn. She ripped a piece of chicken off, and put it into her mouth. Vaughn nodded to her, sending her to eat while he was on the phone. Sydney made an annoyed face, but ripped off a large piece of chicken, taking her time to slowly chew it, as Vaughn talked to someone. Sydney could tell by his tone, that the someone wasn't just anyone; it was Weiss, disturbing their romantic night at the warehouse for the second time that evening. And it wasn't just in the evening that he had disturbed their dinner. It was within a five minute time period.
"I just discovered that I'm out. You're going to be out anyway."
"Now isn't exactly a good time."
"Oh right. See you soon. Face off is at 7."
"I know." Vaughn closed his cell phone, and turned it off. "Now, where were we?" Vaughn asked Sydney.
"Honey, I think he's ruined the mood twice now."
"Are you saying let's eat, and head over to his place?"
"Yeah. I'll have to give you your present later."
"My present?" Vaughn picked up his fork, and began eating.
Sydney smiled seductively. "You didn't think you would get away today without me giving you a present, did you?"
"Are you going to give me a hint at what it is?"
"Let's just say that my present doesn't come in a box. Well, not all of it comes in a box."
"I can't wait to see what it is."
They chatted, carefree throughout dinner. Vaughn looked at his watch. "Sydney, the face off is in 15 minutes. We can still make it to Eric's."
"I still think it's risky." She looked at Vaughn. He looked at her, with his green, puppy-dog eyes shining brightly at her, begging for her to come to his best friend's apartment for a little hockey game. Sydney looked back, her eyes full of concern. Vaughn just lifted her chin, bringing his own lips to hers. Sydney pulled away smiling. "But love is worth the risk. Let me go change."
"Change?"
"I can't say I'm going to the gym in this dress. I came in some more comfortable clothing." She pulled a gym bag from under the table, and went to a corner of the warehouse, to change. Vaughn came by, and gently caressed her bare skin with his lips. "You should go to his place, like this." As he laid sweet dew on her collar bone.
"As much as you like it, I'm not sure that Weiss will like it as much." She joked, pushing his lips away from her back, and onto her own lips.
"I really don't think that he will mind."
"Does he know it's me?"
"No. He just figured that it was a girl. He actually believes that it isn't you." Vaughn kissed her again, and Sydney gently pushed him back, using her powerful lips, she could throw her shirt over her head. She continued kissing him, as she put her pants on. "Normally, we're taking off our clothes over here, while kissing. I don't think putting them on has ever been a problem."
"I know what you mean. But I'm dressed now, and we're going to Weiss's to catch the game." She said, as she put the plates and stuff in her gym bag. He took her hand, and led her to his car.
"We have to return here for your car later." Vaughn said, as he held open the door to the car. Sydney smiled, and got into the car. They made a quick stop the liquor store. Sydney stayed in the car, hidden under the dashboard, while Vaughn went in to buy the beer that Weiss was too lazy to get himself. Vaughn drove quickly to Weiss's apartment. Sydney put her hair up, and grabbed one of Vaughn's King's caps, and sunglasses to disguise herself for her entry to Weiss's apartment. Vaughn knocked on the door, and a surprised Weiss answered.
"Sydney!" He said surprised. The game had started moments before, and Sydney took a few seconds to get a bearing of her surroundings. There was a clean path to get from the door to the couch, and the couch. But that was about it. "If I had known you were the girl Mike was bringing, I would have cleaned a little more than a path. Normally he brings girls that are like Alice, and I drive them away with my apartment."
"That's not true. They just all knew that my heart was somewhere else." Vaughn defended. "Your apartment just meant we never hung out with you."
"I take offence to that." The two were so engrossed with the game that they failed to notice how Sydney took the seat next to Vaughn on the couch. Automatically, she curled into his side, and his arm came around to her side. Eric jumped up during a commercial, and ran to get a camera. "Smile!" He said, standing in front of them. Before they knew what was going on, Sydney and Vaughn looked up from their bliss smiling, and Weiss. Click. The deed was done.
***End Flashback***
"Do you think that we should tell them that they just packed the office together?" Gretchen asked Kelsey quietly. While Mary and Travis were bickering over what was more of a pig sty, Travis's brother Eric's (Sydney and Vaughn knew him as Eric Weiss) apartment, or Mary's office, they had thrown things away, and threw things into boxes.
"No." Kelsey answered. "Sometimes it's good to leave them naive."
The bickering lovers, noticed the empty office, and said nothing as they continued to playfully bicker as they then packed the kitchen. "Well, you're the one that invited me."
"He didn't know it was you!"
"That night," Mary lowered her voice. "That was the night we got caught." Sydney whispered.
"I know that. How could I forget that? It was the happiest day of my life that turned sour only weeks later."
"No more of this now. Gretchen is here." Kelsey said. Mary and Travis turned around and looked at Kelsey. "You didn't lower your voices that much. I could here you over here." Kelsey pointed a few meters away, where Gretchen sang softly along with the stereo.
Mary and Travis looked guiltily over at each other, before bursting into a fit of giggles. "What is so funny?" Gretchen asked.
"We just realized we had packed the office, and most of the kitchen, without knowing we were even working." Mary leaned over to kiss Travis, when her cell phone interrupted her. She leaned over, and picked it up.
Mary answered brightly. "Hello?"
"Sydney." Came a voice on the other end.
* * * * *