A/N: A huge THANK YOU to Edy, who kindly agreed to beta this chapter for me and did a wonderful job of it.

Chapter 2

"Michael!"

Michael turned in the direction of the voice calling his name and a large grin broke out on his face when he saw who it was. His sister was shoving her way through the crowds of people, dodging bags, suitcases and trolleys, trying to make her way to him. LAX was crowded and busy, streaming with people traveling to and from Los Angeles. Michael made his own way through the crowd and met Ella halfway. He dropped the bag he was carrying and picked her up in his arms, swinging her around. Ella laughed and wrapped her arms around Michael's neck.

"Put me down!" she squealed.

Michael did as he was told. "I missed you, squirt."

Ella rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was inwardly pleased. "Duh. We just saw each other last Christmas. You're getting too sappy on me, big bro."

It was true; they had just seen each other last Christmas. But Michael couldn't help but think Ella changed a little bit every time he saw her. She wasn't a little girl anymore; she was 20 years old now and at least 2 inches taller than when he left for France five years ago. Her honey blond hair was longer, hanging halfway down her back. Her eyes were a jade green, and probably the only physical trait the two of them shared. Ella was a beautiful young woman, but she would always be his baby sister.

"Michel." A voice said from over Michael's shoulder.

He spun around. "Mom!" He cried, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"Oh, my little boy," she whispered as she returned his embrace enthusiastically. "You're home."

She pulled back, her eyes bright and shining. "Well, come on, you two. Don't just stand there, we have to get home. Michel, you must be exhausted."

His mother wrapped her arm around Ella's and together they started to make their way out of the airport. Michael picked up his bags and followed them. "I'm fine, Mom I slept on the plane."

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Well, you must be hungry. Airplane food is horrible."

Michael couldn't help but smile at his mother's doting. I'm home, he thought happily.

"Why are there no lights on?" Michael asked his mother as they entered the foyer of their house. He put down his suitcases and reached for the light switch.

"Surprise!!!"

As soon as Michael had turned on the lights, over a dozen or so people jumped out from their respective hiding places. All of his close college friends were there and about a handful of people he either didn't know or didn't recognize.

A banner that said 'Welcome Home Michael' hung in the living room. A huge grin spread over Michael's face as he took all of it in.

Eric Weiss, his best friend, came rushing forward. "Hey man!" He shook Michael's hand in greeting.

"Hey!" Michael said happily.

"So did you bring back any of those éclairs?"

Michael laughed. The first year Michael had returned to LA for Christmas he had brought home a huge box of chocolate éclairs and Eric had fallen in love with them, he'd been pestering Michael to bring some home every year since.

Ella, who had just walked in the door, lugging one of Michael's bags behind her, heard this and rolled her eyes. "God, Eric, think of your stomach first why don't you?"

"Hey, you love those éclairs just as much as I do!" Eric said. He examined her lips carefully. "Wait a minute, is that chocolate on your lips?" He looked even closer.

"It is! You've already had one!" Eric exclaimed.

Ella wiped her mouth self-consciously and looked down guiltily at Michael's carry-on duffel bag. The zipper was half-way open. Sure enough, inside was a crumpled white box decorated with chocolate fingerprints. Ella blushed.

Michael took the éclairs from the bag, "Now don't kill each other, there's plenty enough for the both of you. I want you to share, kids."

Eric and Ella eagerly took the box from him and began devouring the éclairs with gusto.

"Man these éclairs are 'eaven," Eric said through mouthfuls. "Ish goad doo 'ave yo ohm, Ike-y," he mumbled as he continued to stuff more and more éclairs into his mouth.

"It's good to be home," Michael smiled. After four years of sharing an apartment with Eric in college, Michael was quite adept at understanding Eric talk through mouthfuls of food. He watched them in amusement for a few seconds before going into the living room to greet his guests.

Craig, a friend from college and Michael and Eric's partner-in-crime in drinking and sports went over to him and shook his hand. "Welcome home Mike!"

"Thanks, man."

"There's someone I'd like you to meet." A beautiful woman with long dark hair came up beside Craig. "Mike, this is Mylene, my girlfriend. Mylene, Mike."

"It's nice to meet you," Michael extended has hand and she shook it.

She smiled, "Craig's told me a lot about you."

"Like how he can never beat me at pool or basketball?" Michael smirked.

Craig raised an eyebrow. "Are you challenging me, Vaughn?"

Michael shrugged. "Feel up to a game this weekend? It's been awhile since we played. Who knows? Maybe you've actually improved."

"Oh, you're on, Vaughn," Craig grinned. "Be ready. I'm gonna kick your ass."

Mylene, who had been watching this exchange with obvious amusement, cut in. "Is this one of those male bonding things?"

"Mike was a hustler in college. He needs to get his ass whipped badly or else he gets all smug" Craig said.

"Well," Mylene said. "It's better than you getting drunk with Eric."

Michael excused himself and began greeting his other guests. Soon Michael was being bombarded with questions about his life in Paris and his new job here in LA, and for the next half-hour or so Michael kept them enthralled with stories of France.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a woman standing off to the side talking to his mother. His curiosity piqued, he excused himself from the small group assembled around him and made his way over to them.

"Hey mom," he said.

"Michel," Amelie looked up at him and smiled. "You remember Sydney, of course."

The woman turned around and to Michael's great surprise, it was Sydney. He could hardly believe his eyes; she definitely did not look like the Sydney Bristow he remembered. Her tall body was no longer lanky, it had filled out and had very feminine curves. Her hair was shorter now, shoulder length. It framed her face beautifully.

"Uh…h-hey," Michael stuttered. He couldn't help it, she just looked too damn beautiful, even in just a t-shirt and jeans.

Sydney raised an eyebrow. "Are you just going to stand there? Don't I get a hug?"

She wrapped her arms around him and Michael gladly returned the hug. He couldn't help but notice that her hair still had the same familiar strawberry smell.

Amelie Vaughn excused herself and left the two alone. Michael pulled away from Sydney reluctantly, but he couldn't wipe the broad grin off his face. He hadn't seen Sydney since that night at the park. His mom and Ella visited him and their relatives in France during the summer, and Michael came home to LA each Christmas. But Sydney always went with her father to visit family in Canada during winter break.

"Welcome home," Sydney said, giving him the patented Sydney smile, dimples and all, that he somehow hadn't noticed that he missed so much until right at this very moment.

"Thanks," Michael replied. "How have you been?"

"I've been great."

"I heard you're attending UCLA."

Sydney nodded. "Major in English Lit."

"Ella told me. I have to say I wasn't that surprised."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You always were a bookworm," Michael shrugged. "Besides, wasn't your mom a Lit. Professor at UCLA?"

"You still remember," Sydney said softly.

"Of course I do," Michael frowned. "Syd, I know we haven't seen each other in years, but did you think I could just forget about you?"

Sydney shrugged absently and looked at her watch. "I should go; I have an early class tomorrow."

"Did you drive over? I can give you a ride home," Michael offered. He winced inwardly, hoping he didn't sound as eager as he felt.

"No, that's alright. I brought my car," Sydney said. "Besides you should really get back to your guests."

Michael glanced over his shoulder where Eric was entertaining the guests with his own version of the Macarena. People were laughing so hard they were almost crying. "I think they're fine. Beer and sugar does not make a good combination for Eric."

Sydney laughed and waved to Ella, who was holding a video camera, taping Eric.

"Blackmail material," she mouthed to them.

Michael and Sydney laughed harder. He missed her laugh, it had an almost musical quality to that he didn't remember noticing before.

"I really should get going," Sydney told him once she had recovered.

Michael walked her to the door and she hugged him again. "Good night Michael. It's good to have you back."

His voice became softer. "Night Syd."

Michael watched as Sydney walked towards her car. He stood there in the doorway for a minute silently debating with himself before making a decision.

"Syd," he called out just as she got to her car.

She turned around. "Yeah?"

"Would you like to, uh, grab a cup of coffee sometime?" Michael asked.

Sydney looked a little hesitant at first but then she smiled. "Sure," she waved to Michael and got into her car. He stood there in the doorway watching her until her car was out of sight.