A/N: Okay, switching POV's on this from first to third person. Sydney's new name is Paige (remember?), so people refer to her as Paige, not Sydney. I would write Paige through the whole thing but I would start to confuse myself and probably write a Charmed fic. Which, by the way, is where I came up with the name Paige. So I write Sydney because it is her that's doing all this. I am probably not making any sense right now.

Italic sentences are thoughts. And when you see this (), that means a change in location or time has lapsed or both.

Oh, and in case you haven't read any of my other fics, I respond to reviews at the end of chapters because I'm wierd and like to do things differently.

Beep, beep, beep.

Sydney reached out a hand and hit the snooze button on her alarm for the third time already that morning. She snuggled into the blankets farther and tried to let sleep claim her again. But Angelique had other ideas. The sheltie spaniel mix puppy jumped up on the bed and started licking her owner's face. Sydney laughed and finally opened her eyes, picking the puppy in her arms.

Angelique had been a gift from the fellow teachers at the school Sydney taught at. They said, they didn't like the idea of her living by herself in the big bad city and had all chipped in to buy her the puppy. Sydney welcomed the puppy happily. She hadn't realized how quiet the apartment was so quiet until she brought the puppy home.

Though Angelique wouldn't attack a fly much less anyone that would break into Sydney's apartment. Sydney could take care of that. Being a former spy had taught her how to defend herself pretty well, but the people at school had no idea that she was an ex-spy and that would raise more questions than she wanted.

Sydney had agonized over what to name the puppy. Finally she came up with Angelique. One because it meant Angel and two, because it was French just like Vaughn. A small pang went through her heart at the thought of Vaughn but she just shook it off and fell back into her bed farther, clutching Angelique in her lap. She sat there, holding the puppy closely staring off into space, until her alarm clock sounded again.

Sighing, Sydney reached over and clicked it off. After a moment's hesitation, she set Angelique down on the bed spread and stood up. She stretched her cramped muscles and made her way to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, she stepped in front of the mirror, splashing her face with cold water to wake her up, and waited for the water to warm up. The plumbing in her apartment wasn't top of the line and took a minute to warm up enough so she didn't freeze in the shower. She tested the water, and satisfied that it was warm enough, she stripped of her P.J.s and stepped into the shower.

She spent a few moments longer in the shower than normal, wishing that she had had enough time to take a long soak but her inability to get up that morning caused her to be running late. Finally, she turned off the water and step out, reaching for a fluffy towel.

Halfway through her make up routine, the phone began to ring. She sighed in frustration, and half threw, half set the eyeliner pencil down. She made it to the living room before her answering machine picked up. Throwing up her hands, she waited for whoever was calling to leave a message.

"Hey Paige," A voice said, after the beep, "It's Karen. Do you want to catch a movie tonight? I'm free cause Trevor's taking care of the kids and we never hang out anymore. Well, anyway, call me." The machine beeped and shut off.

Sydney smiled. Karen and her had worked together on some of the community plays before Karen's second child Hana came and Karen quit to stay at home and care for her son and daughter. A movie couldn't hurt. She'd call her back after school, which she was late for. Silently cursing herself, Sydney made her way back to the bathroom, and finished doing her makeup.

"Good morning Paige." Mrs. Ashley said to Sydney as she headed towards the elevator.

Sydney smiled at her dear old neighbor, "Good morning, Mrs. Ashley. How's Mr. Buttons doing?" Mr. Buttons being Mrs. Ashley's cat. Even though Mr. Buttons turned out to be a Ms. Buttons and a pregnant Ms. Buttons at that, though Mrs. Ashley never bothered to rename the poor cat or did and forgot about it.

Mrs. Ashley smiled, "She's better now. Thanks for asking, dear."

"It's no problem," Sydney assured her, "I'll come by later and see the new kittens, okay?"

"Alright, dear. Say hello to your students for me." Mrs. Ashley said, unlocking her door.

"I will." Sydney promised and waited until Mrs. Ashley stepped into her apartment before continuing on her way to the elevator.

Go to dry cleaner, pick up more food for Angelique, stop by the post office. Sydney thought, pressing the bottom floor button. Remember to arrange for Jake-Jake being one of her students who wasn't doing so great in English- a tutor. Call Karen. See Mr. Button's kittens. The bell dinged and when the elevator doors opened, Sydney stepped out, continuing her mental to-do list. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she bumped into someone. "Oh, sorry." She mumbled and continued walking. It wasn't until she had gotten ten steps away that she stopped and turned suddenly. That man she had run into, she could have sworn it looked like Vaughn.

Oh, God, he's found me, was her first thought. But when she caught an actual look at the man's face, she sighed in relief. It wasn't Vaughn. That man didn't even look anything like Vaughn except for the spiky dirty blonde hair, but that seemed to be a very popular hair style now-a-days. The spiky, messed, just rolled out of bed look thing. Enough of her students adopted that hairstyle to prove that point. She shook her head and continued walking. You have got to get a grip, Sydney. No, you're not Sydney. You're Paige. Sydney's gone, remember? Sydney put a hand to her forehead trying to clear her head.

"Yeah, I remember." She muttered to herself, unlocking her car. She couldn't remember what kind of car it was, but she didn't really care. As long as it wasn't black or a sedan or a four-wheeler, she could have cared less what it was. Maybe I need to visit the "relatives" again, she thought, pulling into traffic. A smile crept to her lips thinking of her visits to the "relatives". It meant a weekend alone to shop and hit a spa, most of the time getting an extra long massage. Next weekend, I have way too much to do this weekend. She thought with some bitterness. Then started to mentally check off what she had to that weekend, Chaperone, again, the school dance, grade midterms, bring Angelique to the vet, think of what to assign Sarah- Sarah was one of the kids she tutored at school in Italian- for homework, come up with homework for tenth grade honors English, type up ninth grade book report requirements, call Jamie and ask if she needs me at the shelter on Sunday. Yep, I have way too much to do. All in a day's work.

()

"Ms. Waters?"

Sydney looked up from her desk and lunch to see one of her freshman students, one of the more shy ones, standing in the doorway. "Yes, Lea, come in."

Lea smiled and came in. She stood in front of Sydney's desk before speaking again, "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your lunch, I just had no one else to go to."

Sydney smiled affectionately at the girl and shook her head slightly, "Oh this," She gestured to her half eaten turkey sandwich and diet coke, "I can just eat it during class. So what's up?"

"I need some help with my French and normally I would ask my dad but he's on another of his business trips." Lea, said, sitting down in the chair Sydney gestured to.

Oh, yes, the business-trip dad. Something I know all too well, Sydney thought. "What about your mom?" The look of pain on Lea's face instantly told Sydney she had touched a sore spot, Nice one Bristow. No, Waters. Grrrr, that vacation is sounding mighty good right now. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Lea shrugged, "It's okay. She died a few hours after giving birth to me. I never really knew her." Yeah, my mother lived with me for six years and I never really knew her either, at least not until three years ago. Sydney said, silently. That would just raise too many questions if she said it out loud.

"My mom died when I was six." Sydney said softly and out loud. She wanted Lea to know that she wasn't the only one without a mother. Even if Irina had come back alive, she had betrayed Sydney and the entire CIA. She may as well be dead in Sydney's mind.

Lea looked up, "Yeah?" She had gotten the reassurance that she wasn't alone that Sydney hoped she had.

"Yeah."

Lea smiled and looked down at her lap again. Sydney could tell she was fighting tears. "Well, anyway, like I said, my dad's out of town on yet another business trip, so could you help me?"

I wonder if her dad works for the CIA like mine did, well does. Is there even a branch of the CIA in Colorado? Two years with them, you would think I would know that if there was or not. I didn't do my homework on the CIA apparently. I should check online to see if there is one. It never hurts to keep tabs on where the agency is. That way I know if I have to leave. What was I doing again? Oh, right, Lea and French. Focus Sydney, Paige, whoever you are today. Sydney smiled, "Of course."

"Good," Lea said, pulling out her French book and opening it to a page. She scooted her chair over so Sydney could see the book, "Now what I don't get are adjectives."

"Okay," Sydney's brow creased in concentration, leaning over the book with Lea. This is what she loved about being a teacher. Helping someone instead of hurting them. And with all her spy training she came in handy for foreign language help and well as tips on self defense. Yeah, this is why she left and why she didn't go running back to her old life.

elemenohpee- I'm glad you like it.

Heidi- I can assure you if she stops running, it will be in Vaughn's arms. This is most definately a Syd/Vaughn story. I love them!

Fair Cate- Thanks and I did. Hope ya like.

cg's-gal-72689- Does this intrigue you anymore?

Dora- Thanks, I will!

daisyduke947- I will continue. Thanks for the encouragement.