The magical force that seemed to be keeping Sydney's tongue still wore off and she dissolved into sobs. How had everything gone so wrong? She felt just like she had when she came back to find Vaughn married and she had to watch him be happy. Watch him with Lauren. It was how her life seemed to be going recently. Being captured at the bank, facing her death, and then finding out that Sark was her brother. Her world had gone mad around her and she was letting it happen. And it was twisting her up inside so much that she could hardly breathe.

Why had things gone so horribly wrong with Eric? It was her track record with guys that was her biggest problem. First Danny, then killing Noah in that fight, Will getting stuck in witness protection, and Vaughn. Every guy she had ever loved had ended up hurt... or dead. Eric was right; she would have hurt him if she came to visit him in the hospital.

No Sydney. This time, it's different.

Eric wasn't like the other guys in her life. He wasn't as serious, or something, to let something bad happen. There was something there that she couldn't figure out and that's what she liked about him. She hadn't figured him out yet. And why was that? Because she hadn't bothered to. Maybe she was afraid to but she didn't know: she hadn't been afraid of anything for the longest time.

The fog seemed to clear in her mind. She hadn't been afraid because she hadn't bothered to try for anything.

If Eric was tired, Sydney was sick of not taking action.

Grabbing her keys, she ran out the door after Eric. She spotted him halfway down the block under the orangey glow of a streetlight. His hands shoved into his pockets, he seemed in no hurry to go anywhere yet determined to put as much distance between himself and her house. Vaulting down her porch steps, she ran through the yard, closing the distance between them to a few yards.

"I don't want to hurt you!" She called to him, causing him to stop and turn.

"What makes you think you would hurt me?"

"Because of Da--, well because of the other guys I've dated. They haven't fared too well."

"And you think that'll happen to me? You don't put much faith in me. Or us."

"No. That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"I don't know."

He smiled and nodded, "that's okay. You somehow have the same affect on me. So, are you putting me on the same level as... those other guys?"

She scrunched her face in thought. "No. I think I want you on a whole different shelf. You're special."

"That's right. And it's about time someone realized that fact. I'm sick of playing second fiddle and it's time something good starts happening for me. And that sompun' good is you."

"Is that so, Agent Weiss? Look Eric, this is going to be difficult."

"Yeah, I'm up for the challenge. Come here." He held out his arms, stepped closer, and wrapped them around her. "Now see, this is the perfect start."

Eric was sure in his love for her; more than anything else in his life. Images of taking her to meet his family, strolls in the park, and long talks together filled his mind. He couldn't help it. Sydney had turned him into a romantic.

&&&

He leaned closer to the steering wheel, resting his chin on his forearms, and watched the two people obviously falling in love with each other. Did he expect anything less from them? For them? She hadn't had anyone to love her for so long and Eric had loved her forever. It was just natural for them to find each other.

It was rough seeing her happy, knowing she had moved on. But it was time for her to. She deserved to be happy and it was apparent that Eric obviously made her happy.

Was he mad at them? No. He was mad at himself. He had been foolish to think that she would wait for him; he had given her no reason to hope that they could end up together. Had he expected her to wait for him forever? Yes. The truth was, he thought she would have always waited for him. But he wasn't mad that she had moved on. He was mad at himself because he had long ago.

He had always loved how she made his heart stop with just a smile. But, those smiles were no longer his. However, his heart did leap when she came running out of her house, thinking that she had seen him pull up.

His best friend could give the girl he loved so much what he couldn't. And she deserved to have that gift because of who she was. Even his friend deserved to be happy. No, his friend especially deserved to be happy. It was Eric's time to be the hero.

&&&

"Eric, you need to go home and get some sleep. It's been a crazy week and we need to talk about a lot of things. But I think we should do that in the morning."

"Maybe you're right," he whispered before lowering his head to kiss her. It was a sweet kiss. It wasn't like their last when he thought he would never see her again. It wasn't like their first when he couldn't help but kiss her as she slept on the train. It was their very first real kiss and he loved it. But, regretfully, he had to pull away quickly. Running his tongue over his bottom lip, he felt the split that was slowly healing. "Yeah, let's talk in the morning."

Taking her hand, he walked her back to her door. Tomorrow had so many promises with it and he was looking forward to every single one. Stealing one last kiss on the cheek, he let her pass into her house but made her turn back to face him.

"I'm not dreaming am I?"

"No."

"I definitely have to find that butterfly and thank it."

"Go home and get some sleep."

&&&

Full of his thoughts, he smiled his half smile and started the car. Tomorrow was going to be rough. And the next day and the next. But he was going to make the effort and love both of his friends as best he could. Nodding in agreement, he slowly drove off leaving the two happy people alone.

&&&

Eric turned to the sound of the passing car. "What was that?"

"I think it was his blessing."

Eric nodded his understanding, kissed her softly, and offered a smile before stepping off of her porch to go home. The whirlwind of his life that had started with the heart-stopping news that Sydney was missing, had ended with another heart-stopping feeling which he preferred far more than the other. Sleep was the last thing on his mind as he walked the short distance down the street to his house. It was the greatest night of his life and for once things had worked out for him.

Eric deserved the spotlight for once, and got it.

the end.