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Sydney looked horrified, and ran to the hall. Her friends' watchful eyes looked concerned as she not only ran to the hall, but into the elevator. "Dad? What are you doing calling me? You trying to get me caught?" She hissed.
"I wanted to apologize."
"For what?"
"I was ordered to lace your drink."
"Kendall knows that you visit yearly?" Sydney got off the elevator and began to walk around the block, while talking to her father.
There was an uneasy silence, as Jack attempted to think of the right answer. "Yes. I had to get permission to go the first couple of times. He figured it out from there."
"But why?" Sydney was confused. Why would the CIA lace her drink as if she was being pumped for information, if there was no information to give, and she wasn't pumped?
Jack took a deep breath before continuing. Sydney smiled and waved to a couple that lived in her building walking their dog. "Kendall had his suspicions."
"Does he think that I deflected or something? Because I haven't. I want a normal life, and no amount of money, and only a few offers would ever change it."
"Not that kind of- wait a second, offers could change your loyalties."
"Only two. If the KGB, or anyone else for that matter, came up to me and told me that I had a choice between joining them, and killing you, I would chose to join rather than have you killed. The same deal with Vaughn."
"Flattering. But I am not worth it. Vaughn is the reason Kendall sent me with the lace."
"Vaughn? What does he have to do with anything?"
"This may be hard for you to take, but Kendall doesn't believe that you two should be close. It is too precarious to your situation."
Sydney sighed exasperated. "Dad, we're both well aware of this. But there is a fine line between love and insanity. And I love him. I love him with all my heart. And I don't care if you have to drug me to find this out. But I love Vaughn so much. We're careful. After all, it was our relationship that got us in trouble in the first place. That isn't something you can easily forget. And it wasn't like we went out looking for each other. We happened to meet at his bookstore. It was an accident. I didn't even know he entered."
"He was only concerned; he could have sent any average Joe on the mission. I volunteered. I wanted to see my daughter."
"Dad."
"Sydney. Kendall only wanted to see if you would request Vaughn to come or not. That bar is really a dangerous place for you and Vaughn to be. Just you is fine. Just you and your friends is fine too. But you and Vaughn together raise the danger level in that bar a lot. Everyone in the intelligence business is looking for you two. You guys are the most wanted alive out there."
"Dad, we are so careful."
"You are not as careful as you would like to think. You rambled on about your mother shooting you, and kept referring Travis as Vaughn. Your friend was confused out of her mind."
"I was drugged."
"I'm not going to report that to Kendall, because you are so close to the end that it may not matter. But knowing Kendall, he would have you relocated, or put into isolation until it is over."
"Dad, you put something in my drink. I wasn't able to physically think straight. I never have gotten drunk as Mary. I couldn't risk it. Vaughn and I are very careful."
"Then why did one of our operatives, who only knew you two by pictures, recognize you in New York about a month ago."
Sydney had walked herself to a small park, and sat shocked on the swing. She covered her mouth. "Oh God." She whispered. "I persuaded him for on night for us to go without our contacts. It was only one night. I didn't see the harm in that."
"What were you thinking?!?! You have been in this business far too long to do something that stupid."
"I was thinking that I was tired of it. All of it. The lies, the costumes, all of it. For one night, we didn't go out as Mary and Travis; we went out as Sydney and Vaughn. And for one night, after 6 years, I felt like myself again."
"Well, put up with it for another month."
"What?" Sydney stumbled over her words. "A month?"
"The raid has been planed for the end of this month."
"Dad, what are you telling me?"
"Just what you think I am telling you." A small tear formed in Sydney's eye, as her father explained to her how they had planned on taking down SD-6. Her dreams were coming true. She had Vaughn, she was teaching, and soon, she would be able to return as Sydney Bristow and live a normal life, away from the CIA. She stood speechless, at the edge of the playground. There was an uneasy silence between the two people. "Sydney, are you there?" Jack asked.
"Yeah Dad. I'm here. Just trying to process it all." An awkward silence filled the air again, and Sydney began to slowly walk back to her apartment.
"I heard that you and Vaughn bought a house together. When do you move?"
"Tomorrow actually. We found a modest sized place not far from school."
"That's great. I didn't know that you and Vaughn were so serious."
"Yes you did Dad. You just don't want to admit it. And we are really serious. He proposed to me before I left. I accepted, we just couldn't do anything about it. But once you guys take him down, we can finally get married. I mean I've been in it for 6 years, Vaughn only 4, and we were engaged for about a year before that. So we have had one very long engagement, and it is time we finally got married." It was Jack's turn to be too stunned for words. Sydney stood at the door of her apartment building, waiting for an answer before she entered. She paused before getting onto the elevator. "Dad?" She hissed.
"Huh, yeah. That was just a lot. You're my little girl, and you're all grown up and in love."
Sydney gave a small chuckle. "Yeah that kinda happens. Listen, Dad, I have to go. I've got a bunch of guests up in my apartment. I'll see you soon ok?"
"That isn't something I have heard you say in almost 6 years."
"Bye Dad."
"Bye Sydney." With a smile on her face, Mary entered her apartment. Her friends were eagerly watching the door, for some sort of explanation to her sudden disappearance. But Mary only smiled, as she shut the door.
"Who was that?" A concerned Travis asked, approaching happy Mary. She got up on her toes, and kissed Travis passionately. "Who was that?" He asked again.
"Oh no one." Mary kissed him again, this time lingering on his lips, in a quest for more, which Travis was all too happy to grant.
"No one should call more often."
"That wasn't no one. Are you going to tell us who that was?" Gretchen pushed.
"Just someone with really good news."
"What kind of news?" Kelsey asked, joining in the pushing fun.
"The kind only my Uncle Jack can give." Mary said, stressing the name Jack. For a split second Travis looked confused. And then a smile spread across is face, and he leaned over and kissed Mary.
"We do like your Uncle Jack." Travis kissed Mary again.
"Oh yes. Uncle Jack is a good man."
"Are you going to tell me what he said?" Travis asked, between kisses.
Mary only smiled, dragging him into the bedroom. Kelsey, and Gretchen who were still there, watched with amused looks, but then talked amongst themselves about other things. Kelsey knew not to push it. She knew Mary didn't have an Uncle Jack. Gretchen, who didn't know better, was surprised to learn that Mary had an Uncle Jack, but since he was never talked about, knew better than to talk about him without Mary's presence. In the bedroom, Sydney came out smiling brighter than she ever had before. "How would you like to have a New Years wedding?" She hinted.
"I prefer spring weddings." Vaughn earnestly said. "The winter is so bleak, and spring represents everything new, and us together, well, that is new. Why do you ask?"
"Think about it Sweetie."
Vaughn thought for a minute, but shook his head, not getting where Sydney was going with it. "Are you proposing to me Mary?" Travis asked.
Sydney only laughed at Travis, and kissed him, looking for Vaughn. "No, I am already engaged to a perfect man. Why would I need to propose to him?"
Travis shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Give me another hint."
"You are seriously not getting this? Fine. How about next month, we take a vacation to LA? See everyone again." She took one finger, and slowly stroked his chest.
"That is dangerous Syd. You know that. The only way we could do that is if…" Travis stopped talking, realizing what Sydney was getting at. "Is this what your Dad told you?"
"Yeah. He said that the take down is scheduled for the end of the month. Which means we can be ourselves again." Mary kissed him.
"What do you mean ourselves?" Vaughn asked. "I thought we were being ourselves. We're together, isn't that being ourselves? Just you, and me, together, is already defying orders. Isn't that us?"
"Not quite the same and you know what I mean. I love you so much." Sydney said, pulling her self out of the small pothole that Vaughn dug for her.
"Love you too." Vaughn kissed Sydney.
"Oh God. Kelsey and Gretchen are still out there. What am I going to tell them what the phone call was about?"
"Um…"
"Come on, think faster!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying."
"What if I said that my aunt is dead and willed me a whole lot of money?"
"Would you be happy about that?"
"The money part, but I would still be really sad, probably more sad than happy, about my dead aunt that I've never mentioned."
"What if we told them the truth?"
"Are you the same Michael Vaughn I know?"
"I'm serious."
"We can tell Kelsey the truth later. But we still need a lie for Gretchen. Come one, we're spies, or at least we used to be. Lies are our life. How come we cant think of a little one for right now?"
"Ok, I got one."
"Do tell."
"Ok, it's the truth, but hidden. Why don't we say he invited us to a vacation in LA in a couple of weeks? Your Dad did suggest returning home for a while, and you want to return anyway."
"Actually he only mentioned LA for work purposes." Sydney paused for a minute to think. "And I have been thinking, life here is really good. I loved LA, but Greenwich feels better, and I don't really want to move back to LA."
"Whatever you say Love. But you got to work with me about this little lie thing."
"Alright, aright. Come on Travis, let's go." Mary grabbed Travis' hand, and they went to their friends.
"Are you going to tell us what your Uncle Jack said, or are you going to leave us guessing?" Gretchen pressed. Kelsey, who didn't know exactly who "Uncle Jack" was, but she knew it was likely someone they weren't supposed to know about, stood quietly in the back, trying very hard not to look too eager. But in her eyes, she screamed for information of some kind, even if she wasn't supposed to hear it.
"Oh nothing much." Mary lied, gliding over to the couch, Travis following in her wake. "He just invited us to an LA vacation sometime next month, and he's going to spring for the tickets."
"Oh my God! You guys are so lucky. I want your Uncle Jack! So are you guys going to accept it?"
"We're not turning down an opportunity like that." Travis and Mary simultaneously said. Gretchen and Kelsey burst out laughing at the coincidence. Soon Mary and Travis joined in, laughing like hyenas as well. After all was packed, and dinner was eaten, Travis stood up.
"I'm going to head back to my place. I've still got some packing."
"Do you need help?"
Travis placed a tender kiss on Mary's cheek. "I think I got it."
"You sure?"
"Yes, stay here."
"Alright."
"Ok, I'll stop by here with the moving truck tomorrow about 10. I got a couple of buddies that are going to come help us." Travis turned to Gretchen and Kelsey. "Will you guys be there too?"
"Are you going to give us something for it?" Kelsey questioned.
"Um... you'll get lunch and dinner." Mary offered.
"I'm only kidding. You don't have to feed me. I'll be there. No other plans, I'm just a big looser."
"I have plans with Trevor tomorrow." Gretchen answered. "He's got tickets."
"For…" Kelsey prompted.
"Baseball." Gretchen responded rather unenthusiastically.
Kelsey burst out laughing. "Does he even know that you don't really like sports?"
"They were a gift from his company. He had to accept them." Kelsey and Gretchen continued their conversation on how much Gretchen liked sports, or disliked as the case was, as Travis packed up his things. Mary followed him to the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Travis promised, kissing Mary good bye.
"See you tomorrow. I love you."
"Love you too." He kissed Mary goodbye one more time before leaving.
In a daze Mary walked to her couch and fell into it sighing. "Girl, you got it bad." Kelsey said, noticing her friend's daze.
"I sure hope so. You two are moving in together tomorrow."
"So when do you think he'll proposed?"
Mary only smiled. Vaughn, propose to Sydney? It has already been done. And both Travis and Mary agreed that they wouldn't get married or even engaged before they became Sydney and Vaughn again. Mary smiled as she remembered the conversation Sydney had with her father that afternoon. "I don't know. Hopefully soon."
"Soon as in tomorrow soon or as in the next couple of months soon?"
"Let's put it this way, if he asked me right now, I'd say yes in a heart beat. If he asked me several months from now, I'd still say yeas in a heart beat."
"I am going to repeat what I said earlier. Girl you got it bad." Mary could only blush.
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