DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, except for the original ones. Yada yada? Yada yada… :D

PART TWO, CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

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Jack, wearing mustard colored polo shirt and casual khaki pants, walked towards the front door of Nadia and Sydney's house. The house is still in Christmas mode, and is very welcoming. The lawn is beautiful and the flowers are thriving even in the cold weather.

He rang the doorbell. A few minutes later, it was opened by Will.

"Oh hey, Mr. Bristow. Come in." He greeted and opened the door wide.

Jack acknowledged his greeting and walked inside. "You're out of witness protection program, Mr. Tippin?" he asked as Will closed the door.

"Uh, not really." He answered and gave Jack a little smile. "Have a seat. I'll call Nadia."

Jack sat down and looked around the living room. Picture frames are strewn around the tables. He took one of them and inspected the photograph. It was am image taken in the arcade. Sydney, Nadia and Ana are all smiling goofily at the camera.

Nadia walked in wearing a green sweater and jeans. "Hi dad, how are you?" she asked, smiling at him.

Jack looked up to her and smiled back. "I'm fine." He answered and set down the frame back to its original position. Nadia gave him a hug, which Jack received and gave back.

"Do you know where your mother is?" He asked after they separated.

Nadia's eyebrows furrowed. "You have to get it from Dixon. It's-"

"Its protocol, I know." Jack sighed. "But you know where she is?"

His daughter nodded her head. If her father knows about mom's protocol then he had already talked to Ana.

"Oh, well. I guess I really have to go to Dixon to get it." He said and gave a small smile.

Nadia felt sad for him. Her mother was so insistent not to give it to him. "Uh dad?"

Jack, who is turning to leave, looked at her.

"If you're going to see mom, just tell her what you really feel about her. She doesn't like it when she's being led around in circles and being left hanging up in the air or something like that…"

Jack hid his surprise. Exact same words from Ana's mouth.

"Uh… I'll try."

-x0x-x0x-x0x-

"This is the third time I've been stabbed… why are you laughing?"

Sydney smiled at him. "Nothing. Few days ago, I was worrying about you and now, I'm sitting here next to you, laughing. It's just… I like it."

Vaughn smiled back at her. "I like it too, Syd. But then again, its unfair. Your father was shot and he was released earlier than me." He replied, his eyes, twinkling with amusement. He doesn't really care if he stays in the hospital longer. As long as Sydney is by his side, he can get through anything. Even hospital food.

There was a knock on the door. A few minutes later, Jack's head popped in.

"Sydney, may I talk to you for a while?" he asked while at the same time giving Vaughn a steely glare.

"Uh sure." She answered and then looked at Vaughn, still smiling.

She went outside and closed the door. "What is it, dad?" she asked gently. She has an idea what he's going to ask her.

Jack looked uncertainly at his daughter. 'Uh… do you know where your mother is?"

Sydney smiled. She was right. "Yes. But you have to get it from Dixon."

He sighed. He heard that line three times. All his three daughters saying the same thing, refusing to tell where their mother is. "Okay, fine. It's her protocol."

She stared at him and then laughed. "Oh, did Ana and Nadia say the same thing?" Her father's stoic look answered her question.

"Oh well, if you're going to see her, just tell her that-"

"That I love her because she hates being led in circles and left hanging up in the air. I know, I know." Jack interrupted. He will not hear this "love" line again.

Sydney smiled again. "That and that Vaughn and I are thanking her for the tickets to Hawaii."

This time, Jack stared at her. Irina gave her two tickets to Hawaii as a Christmas gift?

"Oh… so, when are you going to take that… trip?" Jack asked, the casual tone he adopted seemingly contrived in his ears.

Sydney grinned and gently pushed her father towards the direction of the stairs. "Go on, dad. You still have to ask Dixon where mom is." Her father put up both his hands, accepting defeat.

"You really don't want to tell me?"

"I will not. You will really have to face Dixon for that… intel

-x-x-x-

(Liverpool, England)

"Signora, will you want anything else?" Dante asked, setting the glass of water on top of Irina's desk. Wearing a red sweater and her hair up in a French Twist, she seems tired. And she is working, as usual.

"This would be fine, Dante. Thank you."

He looked at her. Sadder than usual, and unusually lifeless. After her triumph against her enemy, she looks defeated. She looks like she lost everything.

"Are you sure? You haven't had anything but water for three days."

Irina sighed. If she will not ask for anything, Dante will bug her more. "Hot tea and egg sandwich will be fine. Thank you."

Dante nodded his head and turned to leave the room.

"Uh, Dante?" her friend faced her. "After you've brought the sandwich, you and Francis may go out. Have some… fun. See a movie."

He raised a brow. "Are you going to kill yourself, signora?"

Irina snorted. "Don't be ridiculous. Where did you get that idea?" She asked. "The security the CIA is giving me is more than enough, so don't worry."

Dante smiled at her and left the room. The moment the door closed, Irina sighed and leaned back on her chair. Byron was and will always be, an ally. Who would have thought that he and Katya are… lovers? It was Katya who proposed to him that he use his looks and built to seduce Yelena and spy on her.

'Crazy, reckless, but effective. But still, she should have told me…' Irina thought and opened her eyes. She never would have imagined Yelena obsessed with Rambaldi. She seems so… untouched by him.

Her eyes fell on a big, colorful box by the coffee table. She stood up to get the gift. 'Hmm… I wonder who sent this.' She thought as she retrieved the box and returned to her desk. Irina looked for a tag. Knowing who sent it will give her an idea what the thing inside could probably be.

To Irina. Merry Christmas. From, Jack.

Jack.

'He gave me a something?' Irina thought as she quickly tore the wrapper and opened the box. She suddenly felt a lump on her throat when she saw what was inside.

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, second edition.

"Did you really like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales?"

'So that's why he asked me that.' Irina thought, remembering that day in the café. She gently traced the book with her fingers. The book is in good condition. Mint, actually.

'I should thank him.' Irina quickly set aside the book, grabbed a clean paper and a pen from the pen holder and started to draft a thank you note.

She was busy scribbling her thoughts away when the door opened and then closed. Her hot tea and egg sandwich is ready.

"Thank you, Dante. Have fun out." Irina said, not looking up. She heard the tray being set down and was too preoccupied that she didn't realize that her visitor didn't leave.

"I'm guessing the pen in your hand isn't yours."

The voice startled her and she quickly looked up. Jack is standing in front of her, smiling a bit. He is wearing a black turtleneck with the sleeves pushed past to his elbows and dark slacks.

"Uh…" Irina looked at him and then at the pen. It's a Harry Potter pen, long and stout. She smiled. 'How did it get here?' she thought as she looked at the pen holder. "It belongs to Ana."

He smiled wider. "It seems like it. It's a cartoon version of Harry Potter."

Irina looked at the pen again. He's right.

She set down everything and leaned back on her leather chair. "How did you know where I am?" she asked, a brow raised. "Did you bribe one of your daughters to tell you?"

Jack stepped up a bit, going closer to her. "No, I asked Dixon. Your daughters were very… stubborn to stay with your decision."

"How come I didn't know you were coming?"

"I asked Dixon not to tell you."

Irina sighed. What is he doing here?

"Do you need anything, Jack?"

Her question made his smile freeze a bit. Does she always expect him to come to her because of something? Does she think he's using her?

"Uh… I need… you?"

Jack decided to play it her way. He sat down on one of the chairs in front of Irina's desk and looked at her directly in the eye. "Actually, I do." He said while at the same time trying to think of something to make her come back to him.

Disappointment filled her, but Irina tried not to show it. She wants his reason to be "I came here because of you." and not because he needs something from her.

"So, what do you need?" Irina asked, maintaining her composure. After he gets what he needs and leaves, she can cry. But not now.

"I need someone who can take care of Jacob when Ana and I are in a mission."

Irina stared at him. "You came all the way here to tell me that?!" she asked, a bit incredulous. He wasted fuel for the plane, money for the tickets, just for that?

Jack shrugged.

Irina bit her tongue and shook her head.

He looked at her. She is so beautiful. And so much has changed ever since Jacob came. She stopped being ambiguous. Still secretive, but it was a necessity. She changed when Jacob arrived in her life. But she's still… in denial when it comes to feelings.

"Is that all? I can arrange a nanny. She can be trusted-"

Irritation arose in him. "Goddamit Irina! Can't you see that I'm asking you to come with me?!" Jack exclaimed.

"Why?" Irina asked, a bit startled with his reaction.

"What do you mean, why?" Jack replied.

"Why do you want me to come back with you?"

Jack stared at her. Why is she being so stubborn?

But he can't give her an answer. "Uh… because…"

"I'll not accept a lousy answer, Jack. So give me a good one." She coolly stared at him. She only wants to hear three words from him. The three words she told him back in the Naval Hospital. Just those three words and she'll gladly drop everything for him.

"Because Jacob needs a mother."

His answer brought tears in Irina's eyes.

"Irina…"

She held up a hand, stopping him from continuing. "Don't. Just don't. I've heard that before and I'm telling you that Jacob will be better off of he stays with you and his sisters."

"Don't deprive my son of a mother, Irina."

She looked at him, a steely glare amidst the tears. "Fine. I'll live near you. Is that okay with you? Bring him over when you and Ana are away."

Her answer unsettled him. He didn't expect her to say yes easily but he didn't expect that she will be giving him alternate answers to every suggestion he makes. And he certainly didn't expect her to cry.

"But I don't want you to live near us?"

"Oh god, so where do you want me to stay?" Irina exclaimed. This conversation is getting sillier every minute.

"Stay with us. With me."

That stopped her anger. But his answer is still not good enough.

"Why."

Jack felt like tearing his hair out. STUBBORN!

"What more reason do you want?" Jack asked, exasperated.

Irina pressed her lips together and just looked at him. jack sighed and stood up. She felt like her world is crumbling.

'Hey, get hold of yourself. You lived without him for almost twenty years. You could live without him for another twenty.' Her head said. But her heart is saying otherwise.

It's your fault if he leaves.

'No, its his choice.' Irina said to herself. Jack is standing, staring at her.

He started to move around the desk and walk to her chair. "Do you really want to know why I want you to come back with me?"

Irina just raised a brow and turned the chair so that she will be facing him. Jack's face is serious, impenetrable.

"Ana, Nadia and Sydney… they told me something that I must really say and mean. But before that, please forgive me if I have been adistrustfuljackass."

"Jack, I've been a bitch too."

Her comment made things light. But he's not yet finished.

"Irina, our daughters made me realize that… I don't want to live another twenty or thirty years without you."

A lump on her throat. Irina tried to stop the tears from forming in her eyes again.

"I… I love you."

Irina lowered her head as the tears slipped out. She doesn't want him to see her cry.

"Irina?" Jack said and kneeled down. "Irina… I should have told you that before. Back in the hospital. But I was afraid that… please don't cry."

"I can't help it." Irina sobbed. "I've always thought that you're still hating me for what I've done to you, to Sydney, to Nadia and to Ana…"

Jack kissed her hand. "Remember when you asked me to check if our marriage is still valid? And then I told you that we're still married? Guess what, I haven't annulled it. You're still my wife."

"Are you sure you love me? I think you're drunk."

He shook his head, amused with the remark. Without letting go of her, he stood up and gently pulled her up to her feet. His arms encircled her as he gave her an embrace.

"I am 200 percent sure." He whispered and freed her locks from the French twist. Her brown hair fell on her shoulders. "I like it better this way."

This elicited a laugh from Irina and she gently tugged from his hug. She placed a hand on his cheeks and smiled.

"I love you. And I love you in black."

Irina leaned forward and kissed him.

-z-z-z-

A/N- hello… I hope you like my little ending. On the 25th, I will upload the epilogue. I enjoyed all your comments and your support (naks…) and I hope that when I post my other stories (oh, I have more… hehehehehe) all of you will be there to read them. :D