A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting. I swear I had this whole thing written, but then 2 new parts demanded to be inserted and here we are. I started out tweaking the past 2 parts (which I feel much better about now) and somehow 2 new parts emerged from there. So now there's this part and an epilogue that didn't exist in the original story. In the end I believe the story is stronger for them, but I do still regret the delays. I hope you find that it was worth it.

In life, unlike chess, the game continues after check mate. – Isaac Asimov

Part 6: Unseen marks

When Sydney had come back from that other timeline, the first thought she focused on, the first thought that focused her, was that everyone she loved was alive and well. It was what allowed her to take her first deep breath amongst all the overwhelming, conflicting and nearly suffocating emotions of grief, terror, and hope.

She still woke up some nights choking on phantom debris and terrified until her memory and her surroundings kicked in. Until she could focus on the walls of the bedroom in the apartment she shared with her best friend.

Taking down SD-6 had just been a condition of keeping those she loved alive and well. Re-forming her relationship with her father and getting to see her friends from that other life were just bonuses.

It was definitely more than she expected when she came back.

The problem was that on the nights when she didn't wake in a panic, she woke reaching for Vaughn and her heart ached when she encountered only cool sheets; when she remembered that there was no reason for him to be beside her in this new/old life she was living.

Hence the reasons why she wasn't sleeping well, and why she had her best friend so worried.

Francie dropped into the seat next to her on the sofa, snapping her out of her reverie and throwing an arm over her shoulder, pulling her close. "Syd" she said quietly, and Sydney just collapsed into her for a moment. "I don't know what's wrong, and you clearly aren't ready to talk about it." Sydney opened her mouth to protest, but Francie squeezed her shoulder. "It's ok. I just want you to know that you're not alone. You know that, right?" She waited for Sydney to nod. "You've been so different these past few weeks. At times you look at me like you're surprised I'm here. Other times you just seem…" she sighed "…lonely."

Sydney exhaled with her whole body.

"Now I don't understand why or what's changed, and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but just know that I'm here, Syd. I love you and I'm here." She wrapped her other arm around Sydney in a hug, then got up and came back with a tub of ice cream and two spoons, handing Sydney one. She then picked up the remote, switched to Netflix and started up the first episode of Community.

"These are age-old cure all's. Maybe they'll make you feel better" she said, aiming a hopeful smile at Sydney, then focused on the tv.

Sydney scooped out a spoonful of ice cream and absorbed Francie's words; contemplating them.

As much as she missed her relationships from that other life, the reality was that there was plenty she didn't miss from before.

In that other timeline, she had spent so much time hiding what she did and who she was from her friends. But at the most base level, how was what she was doing now any different?

She was no longer living a double life, yet somehow, she was still lying and keeping secrets.

Sydney set her spoon down and drew her legs onto the couch, wrapping an arm around her knees. She muted the show and finally said softly "You ever have a dream that felt real?"

oOo

"The thing about remembering is that you don't forget."