Sydney and Eric were the last to arrive to the party. Soft Christmas carols were playing in the background and Jack's laugh could be heard over all else. It was good to have everyone safe and in one place, relaxing, for a change.
Nadia came out of her whispering state with Michael long enough to realize that they had arrived. Excited, she hurried over to Sydney, took her coat and gave both a long hug. "Tonight is going to be so great! You should have been here earlier. Michael was telling all sorts of stories on you guys."
Sydney held her sister out at arm's length and studied her. Finally, she breathed, "Oh. Now I get it."
"Get what? Ah, it doesn't matter! We've must do presents!"
Everyone was in such great spirits; the night could only get better.
"Nad, who's first?" Sydney asked, taking the arm of Eric's chair.
"Um, I'll go first. Jack, I pulled your name."
"Well, I must say that I don't envy you having pulled my name, but thank you." Taking the small package from her, Jack pulled off the paper, revealing a glass figurine of a woman dancing.
"Jonathan," Antoinette gasped with noticeable tears forming in her eyes, "that is the glass figure that you gave me the night we left Belize. And I left for you the night I left. Nadia, how did you get this?"
"It was in mother's things and she gave it to me telling me the story of your relationship. Of course, it was only until I met you that I realized the story was true."
"Thank you, Nadia. This means a great deal to me. Us."
"Of course."
Sydney slipped the package she had wrapped for Dixon to him which he promptly handed to Antoinette. Saying that it was the perfect time to open it, Monte excitedly slid off the lid and pulled the tissue apart. Inside was a locket, tarnished a bit with age, and in the shape of a star.
Jack spoke softly, "The locket she left around the figure. How did you get that?"
Clearing his throat, Dixon replied, "An angel got it to me."
Jack immediately turned to Sydney and offered a heartfelt smile.
The gadget that Marshal gave to Vaughn was well liked but the tickets were the bigger hit. Vaughn mouthed a thank you to Nadia who beamed back at him, acknowledging her hand in the present.
Equally liked was the gizmo that Antoinette gave to Marshal. "I pinched that from my 'old job' before I left. Jonathan told me about a plate that you created that reflected the carpet below it, on a toy car I do believe, so it wouldn't be seen. This is the next grade of that. It reads the ground coming up so there is no lapse in the image reading."
Marshal, for once in his life, was at a loss for words. He showed it to Mitchell who immediately wanted to put it in his mouth and Marshal pulled it back to his chest, causing everyone to laugh.
Vaughn went next. "Weiss, you and I go way back. And I never want to lose that." Handing him a gift bag, Vaughn offered his half-grin.
Eric reached in and pulled out a movie. "A signed copy of 'Last Crusade?'"
"Read it."
"'From one perfect team to another.' Man, I don't know what to say."
"We're good then?"
"Always."
Breaking the almost awkward moment, Nadia declared, "Okay, it's my turn."
Sydney explained that her gift had two parts and after Nadia opened the book, she claimed she couldn't want anything else.
"Nonsense. Vaughn, could you help me bring it in?"
Vaughn followed her into the hallway and watched her hang something up. "Stand here, okay?"
"Sydney, what are you doing?"
"It's about time that someone did this. You deserve to be happy and I know who can make you happy." She called to her sister who promptly came to them. "Enjoy."
Nadia watched her sister leave and turned back to Vaughn. "What's going on?"
He pointed to the archway above them and smiled. They both looked up at the mistletoe and then back at each other.
"I think it took me liking Sydney long ago for me to realize how much more I like you now. Sydney was lacking something that you've definitely got."
"Michael, I don't know. Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah, for that very reason."
"What reason?"
"You always call me 'Michael.' And then there's that cute way about you. So get over here and get me out from under this mistletoe." Vaughn held his arms out wide and welcomed Nadia getting closer. Finally, the two kissed their first kiss, realizing what they had been missing not being together. When they finally parted, Vaughn whispered, "I think I found it. That thing that Weiss and Syd have."
Nadia smiled and pulled him back into the party where they found Eric poised to speak. They watched him turn to Sydney and reach into his pocket. What else but a ring would be the perfect gift from Eric to Sydney? Thrilled, Sydney let Eric slip the ring on her finger and they kissed as everyone applauded.
The cheers finally subsided and the room settled in holiday cheer. Sydney and Eric eagerly looked at Jack who took his cue. "Well, I do believe it is my turn to give a gift. Dixon, my present is to you."
"Well, it's about time. I was beginning to think that I wouldn't get a present at my own party."
"No,no. The only problem was that it was too big to wrap and it's out on the porch."
"I can't imagine what it would be," he said as he hurried over to the door. The gang turned to watch him open the front door where his gift was standing.
"Merry Christmas, Marcus," she said, stepping into the room.
"Diane? But, it can't be."
"But it is. Jack found me a few weeks ago in Canada and said it would be safe for me to come. And now I'm here. To stay. Oh how I've missed you!" She cried, falling into his arms.
Yes, it was true. Jack had found the love of Dixon's life, not lost as everyone believed for so long after the car bomb. For there is something special that happens in the world of Sydney Bristow, that no one ever really dies, they just vanish until it's time for them to reappear. It was definitely a magically time of year for the clan: everyone happy, home, and with the person they loved. Good things do come to those who wait and the crew had certainly done there fair share of waiting to find true happiness.
The end.