PART 20

"Mum? Where's dad?" Alex wanted to know from his mother as soon as she had stepped in together with Francie. "Why didn't he pick us up at school? I thought it was his turn today?"

Sydney was astonished "What do you mean where he is? He's not here?" she couldn't believe that Vaughn had even forgotten to fetch them at school!

"No he's not....that's why I asked you! So good that Uncle Eric was there to pick up Joey because Amy had to go home earlier... The buses had already left without us..."

That's exactly when Weiss showed up around the kitchen counter waving at Sydney but when he saw her darkened face, his smile dissipated. He hurriedly grabbed a towel to dry off his fingers as he approached his friends with Tim, Collin, Oliver and Joey on his toe with each one munching on a peach.

"Hey Syd!" Weiss just walked up on her, gathering her into his arms.

"That's not funny. Where's Michael, Eric? Did you talk to him?"

"No, no! Why? Is something wrong?" Weiss noticed Sydney's uneasiness. She was no longer irritated, what she felt right now was worries about where Vaughn was. How could he forget about his children. He would never forget about them. Something serious must have come up.

While Francie explained to Weiss, the reason as to why Sydney was so upset, Sydney had grabbed the phone and dialer her father's number in the office but as nobody answered, she tried his cell. Reluctantly she called her father hoping he would give her some instructions about Vaughn's whereabouts but he unfortunately didn't know either. Jack reminded his daughter that he fervently asked for a special day off today which she had to agree on but maybe he would have gone in anyway after they had had the fight.

Her father insisted no to be aware of any of Vaughn's activities and he decided to check up on her later tonight reassuring her that he might be home some how later anyway... Quite irritated with her usual talks with her father she slammed the phone onto the receiver.

"Mummy I wanna know where daddy is. Why didn't he pick us up at school like he said he would do this early morning when you dropped us off.... Why is daddy not with you? Did he have to go into work again?" her little Timmy looked up at her with a worried face and puppy dog eyes.

Sydney grabbed her youngest chin and told him she didn't know and that probably he was called in at work and since her mobile was off, Vaughn wasn't able tor each her. She hurredly tried to withhold her sobs as her hand flew to her mouth.

As she rushed out of the living room into the kitchen, with Weiss right behind her. While Weiss was in charge of Sydney's condition, Francie looked after the other five children, as they finished their peach and then started off their homeworks before getting ready for their different afternoon activities.

Francie had dropped off the three boys at hockey and then had gone home to her own house. She only left on the agreement that Sydney would call her if ever something turned up or if she needed somebody talk to, no matter what time in the middle of the night.

Weiss in the meantime had also gone off. He needed to pick up Amy and then drop both of them off at ballet and basketball respectively. Christina had late night hour work and wouldn't be home before 8pm. He would check up on her, before fetching up the kids again around 7pm.

Sydney remained alone with Tim, enjoying the time with her son, practising his reading. He'd been progressing a lot lately and she was really proud of him. She noticed it was easier to learn with him when he was alone and whenever they were, she took the opportunity to do so.

Two hours later the boys were all back home again while Sydney was preparing dinner for them as somebody knocked at the door. For some kind of reason Sydney said out Vaughn's name as she opened the door, only to find a smiling Weiss on the porch. Why had she said Vaughn's name, she didn't know.... After all he had the keys to get in and thus wouldn't knock at the main door. That didn't make sense to her.

She shook her head and motionned to Weiss to step in.

"Everything's fine here?" he looked around the place only to find the boys seated around the table with their father still missing. On his side, he had also tried to reach his friend on his mobile without any success. He swore to himself mentally to kick his ass, once he would face Vaughn again.

"Funny, very funny!"

"Hey!" he comforted her, putting an arm around her shoulder "I'm sure Mike is all right. He'll be home soon."

"You said that already 3 hours ago!"

"I know... I'm just...Thanks for being here..."

"I know...don't worry and of course I want to be around you. Mike is my best friend just like you are. I'm here whenever you need help.... But back to Michael... I'm sure he can handle himself on his own."

"Sure, that's not what I am worried about Eric... I've already thought about calling every hospital in this area to be sure nothing happened to him but on the other side if something would have happened I would already know it.... we were just shopping and I was tired.... and he just kept on dragging me... I'm so lost... this is all my fault!"

Sydney was totally loosing it. Her children were desperately looking at her. They were just all as lost as she was and didn't know how to handle the situation either. They wanted their father to be home too.

"No it's not your fault Sydney. Don't you ever dare think something like that. Things like these happen in a relationship. You were just tired Sydney and you had the right to and Michael knows that. He's not that bad of a jackass...." Weiss joked in the hope to lighten the mood.

"Eric! There are kids around!"

Weiss shook his shoulders looking at the boys excusing himself. The boys only laughed inwardly as they caught him saying a bad word.

"It's gonna be ok... I swear it! Michael loves you with all his heart and soul. I know that!"

"Then where is he?" she screamed, giving Weiss a punch into his chest, without doing it in purpose who emited an aching groan upon which Sydney apologized.

"Well Sydney, that's the part I don't know..."

"Well you should!"

"Why should I? He's not my husband!"

"Don't argue with me.... I'm desperate and I thought that Michael must have called you when we had this fight earlier"

"If he had called me, I'd have told you! I swear"

While Weiss held her in his arms, Sydney all of a sudden felt a hard twist in her lower part. Her hand flew to her belly as she screamed out in pain.

"Syd, what's wrong? You ok?" Weiss got scared.

"I think my water just broke" she looked down at the water pooling between her feet. "Oh no, this can't be happening now"