A/N: completely unbetaed and I was too lazy to read it over. so... if there's a mistake... just tell me. just remember that I'm spoiler free!

thanks to gabs for the name of Vaughn's ex-wife.


Thanks to:

alias4ever: hmm… not directly yet, no ;) thanks for reading!

Likethestory: I'm glad you enjoy it! And of course I will continue it. I don't like letting things hang.

star16: yay! If you're enticed, then what can I say? My job as an author is complete ;) thanks for reading

valley-girl2: hehe. Yes, I guess you do have 2 WIPs to hound me on. Still have too much coffee in your system? ;) hehe. Why do I have this feeling that you're going to be keeping me on my feet with updates? Actually, this story isn't Lauren… it's another person… which you guys don't get to know the name of until chapter 2. Hehe. Yes, let's make Vaughn suffer a tiny bit more. Not too much though… otherwise he'll die of a broken heart. Hehe… still at home? ;) are you bags still… packed? Hehe… calc. Ahh! I'm going to die! Oh well. I saw LotR yesterday… so, I'll be ok… until I see my grade. Sigh. I bet it's the grade I don't want. Heh.

Brynne: hehe… well… I guess we'll see if it matters or not ;) welcome back to another roller coaster story.


please keep in mind that this was written in the summer of 2003




Chapter 1—Liana's Mistake



Their relationship had only gotten stronger when Sydney had found out that Vaughn's wife had left him. With a two-year-old daughter.

Before, they had been avoiding one another, but talking just enough so they kept the appearance that they were still good friends. Enough to evade any extra visits to the dreaded shrink's office. But after she found out about Vaughn's situation, she started stopping by the house, in order to see how Vaughn was doing after hours. Sometimes even making dinner while Vaughn and she talked. She was also always available to babysit Liana whenever Vaughn had a late night meeting with Kendall. [ "Hey Syd, it's me again. I need a favor. Can you watch over Liana again? I have a late night meeting with baldy again.]

When Vaughn's wife left him, she just disappeared one day. And yet, he had no desire to even find her. Renee had dropped Liana off at the babysitter's that day, like any other day, and disappeared. Vanishing into the large populous of the world. The only reason he felt any guilt was because Liana would never know her mother.

But that didn't matter as much anymore either; the guilt had languidly ebbed away. ["Vaughn, don't feel guilty. You weren't the one who left. She did. You have a daughter who loves you more than anything. Do not feel any guilt for her actions!"] The two-year-old had found someone to replace her missing maternal figure. From the moment Sydney had picked her up, Liana had come to accept her and love her.

They truly loved each other. Sydney and Liana could play hide and go seek for hours on end. Sometimes he would also join them. [ "Liana! Let's go find your father. Now where is that funnyman hiding?" ] In the end, Liana would be the one to win, always finding the two adults. When it was Liana's bedtime and after her adamant refusal to sleep, Sydney would be there to read her some of the books she picked up from the library just for his baby girl.

[ "Autie Syddy. Rwead!"

"Sure, honey. What do you want me to read tonight?"

"Go Dawggies."

"Go, Dogs, Go?"

Liana nodded her head vigorously, her eyes bright with anticipation. ]

And if the baby still refused to sleep, she'd make her repeat the alphabet. Liana had been only two and a half when she learned how to recite the alphabet and was capable of reading a few words.

["A B C D E F G…."

"Fantastic job, sweetie! Keep going. Show your daddy how much Aunt Sydney taught you."

"H I J K L M N O P Q R…"

She always stopped there. Just to think things over.

"Keep going! You know what's next. What is that animal that slithers?"

"S!" and she'd always say that letter with such glee. Happily giggling to herself. Perhaps because of the funny tingle on the tip of the tongue whenever that letter was said.

"What's next? Is that it? What else has your Aunt Sydney taught you? What comes next? I know you know it! Syd's a great teacher."

"T U V W X Y…"

"One more, sweetheart!"

"Z!"

"Fantastic job! I knew you could do it! You're daddy's little girl right? And daddy loves you."

Then Liana would erupt into more giggles, and Sydney and Vaughn would tuck her into bed. Hoping that she'd fall asleep.]

All the credit had to be given to Sydney. He would never be able to live without her. And he still had no idea how he'd managed those two years alone.

Vaughn continued to stare at a picture of Sydney reading to Liana in his photo album. His daughter's brownish blonde hair tied up in braided pigtails, which he'd learned how to do himself. The child's emerald T-shirt accenting her emerald eyes. And her jean shorts peeking out from under the fabric of the long T-shirt. He'd come home from work an hour ago and had picked up his now three-year-old daughter from the babysitter's.

She was resting in her room, pillows surrounding her small frame, and he was sitting by her bed in a rocking chair. He didn't know how to tell her that Syd wouldn't be able to take care of her tonight when he had a meeting. He thought of all the possible questions that she might ask, Does she have a lot of work to do too? Did she find another baby? Does she still love me? Where is she?, and the temper tantrum that might occur. I want Auntie Sydney! I want Auntie Sydney! He didn't know how to explain to her that Sydney just didn't have time tonight because she had a date.

A date.

And that word left a bad taste in his mouth.

He had a feeling that Liana was part of the reason why Syd had gone and found herself a boyfriend. He'd been there when another kid had come up to Liana and asked who her mother was. Liana had been extremely confused at first.

[ "A mother? I don't have a mother?"

"You don't have a mother?" the other kid taunted. "Everyone has a mother!"

"I don't," Liana's eyes had gotten watery.

"Do you even know what a mother is, you baby?"

Vaughn had been about to interrupt the conversation, but a kid on a bike had raced in front of him, throwing him a few seconds behind. Sydney was right behind him, not wanting Liana to cry.

Pause.

"You know. A big girl that takes care of us. She plays with us, reads books to us, tucks us in at night? And loves us?"

"Oh! I have a mommy then! Right over there!"

Vaughn froze. Liana was pointing at Sydney.

And Sydney had a horrified expression on her face. He could tell that she was compartmentalizing. Distancing herself.]

That had only happened three days ago. And then Sydney came into the office and told him that she'd met someone so she wouldn't be able to look after Liana tonight.

Nothing fit correctly.

An uneasy feeling sat in his stomach.
~tbc~