Hey My Homies! Welcome to yet another installment of the other side of the story, and though I didn't get the five reviews I had hoped for I decided that I love you guys and I wanted to give this to you!

Sheeplover and alpineracer88: this fic is solely dedicated to you, thanks for keeping the spirit alive.

Now just stick with me for a little bit more, we're getting to the conclusion!!! Perfect for those who are as pissed as I am for making Vaughn's wife so innocent and hard to dislike!!!Lots of Love!!!!

Part XV The Other Side of the Story Leo's l'il sista

Sydney was about tired of moping.

No, scratch that, she'd been tired of moping from the moment she'd started, but three months had passed and she still couldn't pull herself out of the rut. Every moment she was in front of people, she'' learned to conceal her feelings under a bubbly and happy or professional façade as the case may be. In her opinion, the CIA knew more than they probably needed to know and she didn't want to give them anymore insight, especially on her private feelings. She also couldn't stand how the CIA psychiatrist had labeled her condition as "denial," and "emotionally distraught." She knew it was true but nobody else needed to know that.

Nobody needed to know whenever she heard the words "French," that it brought Michael to her mind.

Nobody had to know she constantly, kept herself occupied afraid that the next stray thought she had would be of the love of her life.

And nobody had to know the moment she was alone, all her mind would allow her to do was admit she was hurt and reminisce those happy moments, wondering where she'd gone wrong and racking her brain to figure out whether she could have prevented what had happened to her.

The answer to that was that she should have never gotten into a relationship no matter how handsome, caring, sexy and loving Michael Vaughn was. She should have just left him for Alice's taking.

But then again, being with Vaughn, knowing someone did care for her more than for her intelligence and her ability to deceive had been perfect and she would rather have died than to not have experienced that.

Sydney squeezed her eyes shut. Damn it! She could feel the water fill her eyes. She didn't want to cry. She wanted to be over with this part of her life. She wanted to prove to everybody that she could find happiness with some who wasn't Michael.

But the tears were stubborn and the more she fought it, the more she lost the battle. In seconds she as leaning over her bed, both hands rolled into tight fists and her head hovered over her open suitcase, sobbing.

Did she mention the moment she closed her eyes she was greeting by flashback after flashback of Michael?

This was pure torture.

But then it was just one last time. Maybe she should thoroughly enjoy the memories, maybe the warmth of her tears would melt the wall she'd placed around her heart.

She reached for the phone and dialed Jane's number when she saw the post-it that read: Call Jane, go to her house for the dinner.

Jane picked up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's Sydney."

"Oh Sydney! I was just going to call you. Did you get settled in okay?"

"Y~yeah." Sydney was so touched by Jane's concern that she could barely keep her voice from cracking. "Um, listen, about tonight. Is it all right if I come over to your house? My hotel room is so dull and I don't want to be in here, all musty and dark."

"Whatever you want, Syd," Jane chirruped. "I do hope you like Mexican. It was either that or French."

"Mexican is great!" Sydney blurted out quickly and she could imagine Jane's eyebrows go up.

"Okay, so I'll see you at seven?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Syd is crying. I'll see you later."

Sydney didn't even get a chance to acknowledge that before she was given the dial tone.

So once again, she was alone.

She turned her head and saw the radio sitting there. Music wasn't even close to human company but it was better than being in silence and continual suffocation by her painful memories.

As long as it didn't pay any sappy love song.

She turned the radio on and was greeted by the voice of an overly enthusiastic d.j. In her opinion she thought some of the d.j's must be fed speed. Some people were just too happy.

"And our next song is "Immortal," or excuse me, "My Immortal," by Evanescence."

"Hmm, sounds gothic," Sydney commented as her ears were greeted by the low piano notes. She could listen to this, a moment later she realized just how much.

I'm so tired of being here~~~

Yes, Sydney sure was. She grew more tired of being in that hotel room as she packed shirt after shirt, trinket after trinket into her huge suitcase.

Suppressed by all my childhood fears

So her fears weren't from childhood but her act of running away from her troubles could hardly be called "mature." But she was suppressed by the fear of wondering what would happen if he'd comfort her like he used to or if she'd been reading all his signs all wrong. If they all were.

And if you had to leave, I wish that you would just leave

Sydney would like nothing more than to forget Michael existed. It would have been better if she'd woken up in L.A. and didn't remember him. It would have been better than registering his shock, or seeing that golden piece of metal that kept her from being with him. Because if she didn't remember, it wouldn't matter whether he'd kept his promise to love her or not. If she didn't remember, Michael and she would be free.

Because your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone

His presence did. In everything she touched, hidden beneath every emotion she felt, no matter where she would go she imagined he was on her arm r trailing right behind, thinking of more ways to show her just how much she meant to him than known to man. He'd even managed to invade her daydreams and fantasies. But that was because from the moment she'd gone on her first mission with Michael, it had felt natural to have him by her side, whether it be in physical form or a spirituality that can only be reached between two soul mates.

Maybe that was why everything felt wrong.

The next words the vocalist sang summed up the feelings that seared her fresh, enveloped every atom of her body and had slowly been breaking down her life force.

These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there's just too much that time cannot erase

Sydney clutched the pillow to her chest after closing her suitcase, swearing to herself that she wouldn't break down but how it was as inevitable as the approach of a new day. She caught sight of the gold watch and held it tightly in her hand, trying no to think of what he'd said about how it had stopped the moment they'd met.

God she'd been so happy! So happy!

She then unlocked the doors tot he gate she'd placed before her heart and the memories, the pain, the anger came rushing through like water through a damn.

She literally felt her life flash before her eyes. She watched how normal she'd been then lost Danny all over again. She watched herself and how she'd found out her father was to blame. Then how she'd felt the minute Michael had looked her way dressed in leather and a ridiculous pink punk rock wig on top of her head and how she'd known at that moment she was in love. She watched herself meeting, "mom?" and how Michael had always tried to be there but wouldn't do more than that, claiming his feelings were only of concern. But then she gazed tearfully at he first real date they'd had at a French restaurant, giving him one of the drawers to her room and then when Michael had told her he'd booked Santa Barbara, then waking up and realizing none of that would matter anymore.

God she'd loved him! She'd really loved him!

She would have done anything for him if he'd ask and she'd been confident he'd be there too. But not anymore.

When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears, when you scream I'd fight away all of your fears, and I've held your hand through all of these years, but you still have~~~

She felt familiar warmth as the tears bathed her cheeks. She glanced at the only picture of Michael she still had and finished the sentence.

"All of me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good afternoon, Mr. Vaughn," the waitress greeted Michael as she pulled a menu from the podium.

"I wish it were," Michael grimaced but smiled to assure the waitress she'd done nothing wrong. He'd come in before and he'd figured out the girl either needed the money or was afraid of the boss. But then his thoughts drifted off.

"What am I doing here/" Michael thought to himself. "All you're going to do is get upset."

He'd spent half an hour listening to Kendall review the severe penalties of not complying with Bristow's restraint order. To his dismay, it turned out Jack hadn't been fibbing. Michael could certainly be fired from the CIA if he didn't listen. And he'd been sure things couldn't get worse.

Will Tippin had proved him wrong.

Michael groaned as he replayed the conversation. He'd had with Sydney and his mutual friend. He'd sounded so apologetic and serious that he'd almost bought the conversation. But of course he already knew Will had lied to him so what was there to say? It had taken his consideration for his Will's feelings to not just ridicule him on the phone. Maybe he wanted to scream at Will and make a fool of himself in public. He'd lost his girl, pretty much lost his job and didn't have a life. What mattered anymore?

But there had to be a reason why he'd cut work to come see him and Michael was much more than to tell Will they weren't friends because he'd lied ot him.

And Will's urgency bothered him a lot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Phone flashback)

"Mike, it's Will. Listen, sorry to call you at work, but I really need to talk to you."

"If it's about Jane, I can't help you. I bolted my marriage, remember? At least for the time being till I decide what I'm going to do."

"It's not, it's about Syd."

"Syd? Did you tell her I love her?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"No, that's not important right now, can you cut work? There's something you need to know."

"Hmm," Michael thought. "Will was going to come clean? This should be interesting."

"Mike, you there?"

"Will, I'm working like you said, can't you tell me over the phone?"

"No Mike, this is one of those conversations you don't' have over the phone."

That comment grabbed Michael. Will was seriously freaked out about something. Michael wondered if Will had stumbled upon something or was involved with something dangerous. Or maybe it was Syd? She was hurt enough to go against the CIA but why would Will turn her in?

"Okay, I got it. Where do you want me to come?"

"House of Java, I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Uh, I might take longer than that," Michael replied and what Will said next sent chills down his spine.

"I'll wait until you come, Michael."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So here he was, trying to prepare himself for the worst, if only he knew what that was!

"Um sir, how many in your party?"

Michael broke away form his disturbing thoughts and looked at her. "No menu, I'm actually here to meet someone."

"It's okay," he told her soothingly, not wanting her to be alarmed. "The name is Will Tippin. Is he here?"

"I promise I'll get you that info in one second," she swore and looked frantically about her podium wringing her hands in frustration, clearly disappointed in herself.

Michael felt bad for her but he couldn't wait any longer. He stepped up to the podium and glanced at what looked like a guest list.

"Hey, I got it," Michael informed her. "Thanks for your help, why don't' you help the next people in line?"

"Oh Mr. Vaughn! I'm so sorry, you won't tell the manager will you?" she squealed, self-consciously trying to flatten her hair which was already a gorgeous silhouette.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he assured her.

"Oh thank you, Mr. Vaughn!" she squealed and then went forward to met the next party.

Michael went forward and scanned the room when he was standing in a position where he could see all twenty-six booths.

Michael frowned when he saw Will. He seemed to be conversing with himself and his amount of nervousness was even more daunting now that he could see his friend.

He cordially approached the table then pulled out a seat and sat down without invitation.

"I see your amount of nervousness hasn't depleted."

"Michael," Will said gravelly. "I'm relieved you could make it. Would you like to have a beverage?"

"No," he replied flatly. "I want to know what you want with me."

Will seemed shocked by Michael's anger but continued nontheless. "it's about Syd. She's ~~~she's~~~"

"Going on the mission I begged her not to take on?" Michael finished and he was sure he'd never see Will so tongue-tied as he did at that moment. "What I don't understand is why you waited till today. We just talked yesterday. You've known for more than a day, I presume."

"Who told you?" was what Michael expected his friend to ask him but he didn't.

"I have known it, I've known for weeks, and I would have told you but Syd made me promise her I won't say anything.

"Then why are you telling me now! Will, man, how could you do this to me! I thought you told me I could trust you! I already have Sydney double-crossing me behind my back. I never thought you would do the same thing to me!"

"Mike, you know I would have told you if I hadn't promised Syd and believe me I've been trying desperately to convince her to change her mind," Will protested, his hands shaking so much he could no longer hold his mug.

"No, I don't believe you! Why should I! I don't believe this, you've been lying to my face! You know how much I love Syd! Why couldn't you consider my feelings man!" Michael roared, causing heads to turn and upset a baby.

"Mike, listen to me, and lower your voice, you're going to get us kicked out," Will hushed him.

"DON'T' TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Michael bellowed. "I thought we were friends," his voice cracked as he mouthed the words. "What is this? Are you hot for Syd? Do you not want me to reunite with her?"

That hit Will hard. If Michael was going to be this way, he could give it back to him ten-fold.

"Do you really want me to be honest with you because if you want I'll tell you living with Syd has been an experience. That's what you want to hear right?"

"N~no."

"Honestly, I don't think you have any right to tell Sydney that you love her, nonetheless dream of living with her again. After what you did, you're lucky I even told you that much," Will growled, slamming his cup down.

"There's more?" Michael whispered and then almost went into an obsessive rage when Will turned his head away. "Will, what is it? What do you know!"

"I'm not your friend according to you," Will spit back and raised his hand. "Check please."

"All right, but one more time you open your mouth without thinking and I leave," Will stated firmly.

Michael nodded, but was still very tense.

"Good, now tell me, what do you know?"

"I received an anonymous e-mail from anonymous~~~and in it I received a copy of Sydney's mission orders. It's the Project Christmas one that I begged her not to go on."

"Oh, so Sydney wasn't the one who told you," Will murmured, catching Michael off guard. "I'm sorry, I was waiting just in case Sydney changed her mind. I knew you'd want to have heard it from her. I never wanted you to find out this way."

"That's~~~I realize that's not your fault. I shouldn't have said what I did. I just can't believe she was going to do this to me."

"There's more, Vaughn and I'm warning you, you're going to have to be positive. What I need to do is let me get it all out and then you can say what you want to say," Will told him.

"I'll try."

Will took a relaxing breath and then raised his eyes so they were at eye level with Michael.

"What I'm about to tell you is something only Kendall and I know, and now~~~you."

A cold sensation twinged Michael's spine.

"Sydney is going on the mission, yes, but there's something you don't know," Will whined, his heart aching as he let out each work. "She's not coming back."

Michael blinked hard and looked at will out of the corner of his emerald eyes. "What did you say? I thought I heard you say she's not coming back."

"That's right, Michael."

"But that's impossible! Why the hell would she do that? I mean~~~she just got back."

"I know. I persuaded her against going but you know Syd, she's been so hurt the only person she trusts is herself."

"Yeah, but you told her how I feel about her, why wouldn't she come to talk to me?" Michael demanded, crumpling up his napkin.

Will watched Michael and bit his lip. This wasn't going to be easy. "Michael, she didn't tell you because she's trying to get away from you."

Will expected Michael to register that but he looked more confused if that was even possible. "Uh, Mike?"

"Me? Why would she want to get away from me? She doesn't love me?" Michael moaned, looking upset with himself.

"No, she's going away because she does. She doesn't want to intrude in your life anymore and she is tired of hoping you are going to ever return her feelings."

"But I told you I love her!" Michael insisted though he felt too weak to defend his case. "You've got to be lying!"

"Why would I lie about this? I am just learning to be happy again having Sydney back!" Will reasoned, an amazing task considering how much heart break he was going through.

"I don't know Will, but~~~she wouldn't do this to me! She can't!" Michael complained, rubbing his head and his face that was turning redder, twisting with pain. "She can't!"

"Michael, I'm not lying, and I'm telling you this as the risk of losing everything I have with Sydney," Will concluded and reached over to grab Michael on the shoulder. "So make me proud, do something about it."

"I~I w~want to. I don't know what to do though, Will. I have less than twenty-four hours to convince her that I'm for real. How can I be sure that will work when it hasn't' worked for the last three weeks?"

"I know I should have told you sooner but it wasn't my news to tell. I told myself I'd give her till today. It was my plan all along to tell you."

"What is her plan?" Michael asked quietly.

"She's going to do the mission, that was her bargaining chip to get her the transfer, but that's not all. She asked Kendall to do away with her name "Sydney Bristow," and give her a different Alias and go down as Confirmed Dead. She was planning to leave and make it like the three months she'd come back wouldn't have meant anything."

Michael just listened for a moment and then let out a low chuckle though Will couldn't understand what could possibly be funny about the present situation. Will assumed Michael was still in denial.

"Mike?"

"I expected you to say something more than just about the mission, you sounded too urgent to see me, but this? Doesn't she know I almost died of pain of losing her? How can she do this to me? I guess it's punishment for not waiting for her, only I think I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't someone else to care about, or at least pretend to!" Michael murmured and chugged his glass of water. "Um Will, I need a moment, I~~~"

Will nodded and Michael got up and escaped the restaurant and leaned against the balcony.

"Just kill me!" Michael prayed, tears streaming his cheeks. "But then that's against one of your commandments huh?" he groaned. "Then guide me, tell me what to do, because I'm out of options."

He lifted his chin and let the setting sun bask on his face and highlight his profile, even though it wasn't something worth looking at.

"Sydney, I'm here, why couldn't you talk to me?"

"Because you made that impossible," sang his conscience.

"Oh Sydney, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Michael grimaced, feeling pain as he never did before because last time he'd been helpless, he hadn't known but this time, he'd been presented with the news. He had the chance to prevent it, only he was still reeling from the shock he didn't know where to start.

But he knew he had to do something, if not he would end up staring at Sydney's grave, wondering where she could be this time.

A soft voice rose in the background and surrounded his ears. It was the second verse of "My Immortal," the song he'd learned as he'd made the funeral arrangements.

He drifted back to that morbid day on the mellifluous melody of the bone chilling song.

(flashback)

He found himself standing by a tree, crying his eyes out.

"Michael, the Bristows want a word with you," Weiss informed him and squeezed his friend's shoulder when he didn't respond. "Michael, they want to pay their respects."

Michael could careless what the Bristows wanted. He didn't care to hear what a self-absorbed father and danger to humanity mother could possibly say. But he felt he would regret it later so thanked Eric and walked over to Jack Bristow and Irena Derevko who really looked as though this loss had been a painful as it was to him. They both wore the funeral suit of black. Michael was sure he'd never see so much humanity in Sydney's mother before and it pained him. Jack was holding his feelings in but he couldn't he was doing a good job.

"Mr. Bristow, Ms. Derevko," he broke in politely.

"Don't call me Ms. Derevko. After all I am~~~I mean, was Sydney's mother," She protested, her voice cracking painfully.

"Vaughn, we wanted to thank you for taking care of the arrangements. The stone is very beautiful," Jack mumbled, wiping his sweaty palm on the side of his pants before reaching to Michael's hand. "I'm sure Sydney is happy."

"She'd be happier if she were in my arms, waking up next to me in our Santa Barbara suite," Michael thought angrily but instead he replied, "I did my best. I though I should take care of them because I would have if she were my wife."

"And you were so close," Jack mourned, bowing his head.

"Yeah~~~I was," Michael agreed, finding it hard to keep a strong face.

"We also wanted to thank you for loving our daughter as she deserved to be loved. We are very ashamed we couldn't prove the comfort you have," Irena added taking Michael's hand. "She loved you so much, Michael."

"I know, Ms. Derevko, but thank you."

Irena shook her head and then broke down onto the floor. Jack bent down to comfort his ex-wife and stayed with her until a paramedic showed up and gave her something to calm her down. Michael watched Sydney's mother leave and was surprised when Jack re-approached him.

"Agent Vaughn."

"Mr. Bristow, I thought we should refrain from using our CIA names," Michael protested, looking around, making sure nobody had overheard. As he predicted, people were too into grieving to notice much else.

"Michael, I know this is hard, especially since we don't' have a body and so we only have an attempt at closure, but I am glad to see you have gained a level head," Agent Bristow said with relief. "We will continue looking but I hope you understand that we shouldn't expect too much."

"I am aware of that, Jack."

"Good. I~I think I'm going to accompany Irena to the hospital and make sure she's all right."

"You do that. I want to be alone anyway."

Jack nodded, left a rose on the headstone and then turned away.

After an appearance of Jessica, his friend at the time and a few more handshakes later, Michael was finally alone.

He neared the stone he'd been avoiding ever since he'd purchased it.

It was a beautiful headstone made of pink marble that reminded him of Sydney's cheeks always a healthy glow. The glint of the quartz pieces were just like the light that always danced within Sydney's amber eyes. The silver plate was engraved with the inscription: "Sydney Bristow, Loving daughter, cherished friend, to be Mrs. Michael Vaughn."

Those last words did it. He sank to the grass wet from the morning dew on his knees and just stared. How could this have happened? Why, he was just about to make a promise so they'd be happy forever, only fate had gotten in the way and taken her from him before he could get her to Santa Barbara.

He shivered as a cold breeze whipped through the quiet cemetery. It was as if he were feeling Sydney's presence. As if she were trying to reach out to him with warmth yet she was so confused and scared she had no more comfort to give.

He reached into his right pocket and retrieved the tickets, Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Round tip. He had planned to bury them with her.

He crunched them and let it flow away on the wind.

He then with another heavy sigh, groped into his other pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box that usually contained jewelry.

And it did. Contained inside was a diamond ring, a ring enclosed with all his hopes, dreams and promises of happiness. Glancing at it now, he was sure the gem couldn't be a diamond, it looked so dull and ugly.

What was he supposed to do with it now?

He couldn't give it to anyone else, that ring had been meant for his soul mate and nobody could ever be that.

You used to captivate me~~

By your resonating light~~~

But now I'm bound by the life you've left behind~~~

And he sure was. He was so stuck in his life with Sydney had had no idea how to go forward. Sydney had been his light at the end of the tunnel, now he had no sense of direction.

"Your face it haunts, my once pleasant dreams," he sang as he held the framed picture of Sydney in his hands, re-burning the image that was already a part of his soul. "Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me," he continued, reminiscing the moment he'd had his first conversation with Sydney who was no longer there.

And then he just sat there, thinking of the words that proceeded in the verse. And they struck home. His wounds wouldn't seem to heal, and the pain was too real to bear, and loving Sydney and remembering how content he'd felt was something time couldn't erase.

Then Michael felt himself shift into the future, standing by another freshly made grave, he stared in wonder at the inscription.

"Sydney A. Bristow. Loving daughter, cherished friend, 1975-2010"

"W~what?" Michael gasped, his stomach lurching as he assigned meaning to those words. "How can that be?"

"She died in action, Vaughn," answered the heartbroken voice of Sydney's father who looked incredibly aged as a result of the mourning. "But of course you know that."

"What? How can that be? I was just at Sydney's first funeral, but then she came back and now~~~"

"Now she's really gone! And it's all on you! After all she went through for you, searching for an answer and when it forced her into betraying us, you shot her~~~I didn't think you had it in you. You killed her Vaughn. You killed my daughter, the woman you convinced me that you loved!"

"I killed her? But I wouldn't, this has got to be a mistake."

Then to Michael's surprise, Jack lifted a gun and pointed it at him. "Another word of you denying what you did and I will shoot you. I'm sure my daughter will thank me for that."

Michael was too pained and nothing he said was audible even though he was sure he was screaming.

"Michael~~~"

Michael turned to the voice and saw Jessica. Upon seeing her, he grabbed her violently and shook her.

"Jess, tell me what the hell is going on!"

"Mike, please, not in front of the kids," she pleaded and Michael's eyes moved down to an adorable little girl with dark curls and sparkling green eyes and then to another older young man with light brown hair and eyes like melted chocolate.

"I'm sorry."

"Look Michael, I hate to do this to you now but it's obvious you never wanted me. You say you let Sydney go but you haven't and I don't want our kids subject to anymore of your nightmares and anger, so I'm returning this."

Jessica placed a ring in within in his palm.

"I'm leaving for Victorice first thing tomorrow morning with the kids," Jessica informed him and then left without a good bye, his children trailing behind her.

So he wasn't divorced, okay, and he had kids. So this had to be in the future.

And Sydney was dead.

"Agent Vaughn."

Vaughn didn't respond. He was approached by a familiar looking man, Weiss, only he sounded without feeling and mechanical.

"Eric?"

"Director Weiss," Eric corrected him. "The CIA offers their apologies for your pain but thanks for doing your job as hard as it was, we knew you would be able to overlook your past and see her for what she was~~~a traitor. I'd like to thank~~~"

"Don't thank me, Weiss," Vaughn pleaded, staring at Sydney's grave and laid down the flowers he realized were in his hand. "If I had a chance to do it again, I wouldn't have."

Weiss' expression hardened in a way Michael had never seen. "I'm sorry you feel that way. But since you do, I suppose you'd want this."

He pulled out an envelope that had probably been opened beforehand and handed it to Vaughn. "If you're ever tired of being a teacher, our door is open."

Vaughn nodded but his eyes were on the document he'd held in his hand.

The envelope read: To Michael

He gulped to keep from throwing up and feverishly pulled the letter out and unfolded it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael,

It's been a long time and yet I've still managed to love you and only you. This has however been at my disadvantage because none of the guys stick around for over a month, which is the way it should be since I haven't found another one of you and I will not settle for anything less.

And then I thought maybe if I found out the truth about what happened to me, somehow I would find the means to turn back time. I mean really, who is to tell us today can't be the day you and were going to go to Santa Barbara?

You see, I love you so much I would have done anything for you, for us. But never did I imagine we would be on opposite-sides. Maybe if I'd told you about England none of this would have happened, yet believe me when I say I have no regrets on loving you.

I'm not sure how this will all end so I will like to leave you with these words.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears~~~

When you scream I'd fight away all of your fears~~~

And I've held your hand through all these years

But you still have~~~all of me

You do Michael, you have and always will have all of me.

Love Eternally,

Sydney

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael wept, knowing now that he'd ended her life and that she'd still been in love with him.

"These things aren't supposed to happen to me or you. We're soul mates, Syd," he sobbed, crumpling up the note in his hand.

Then he remembered, this wasn't real. He still had time to prevent this.

(end of flashback)

"Mike~~~Mike"

"Mike, hey man, snap out of it!" Will pleaded, grabbing Michael's shoulder.

"Will."

"You all right man because I wasn't so sure for a moment there," Will told him, tense.

"Yeah~~~yeah I am," Michael replied, half-convincing himself of that very fact. "Where is she staying?"

"Y~you mean, Syd?"

"Yeah."

Will stared nervously, a bit scared of Michael who no longer looked broken. He shoved his hand into his pocket and retrieved a key Sydney had given him earlier that morning. "I was sure you'd want it," Will chuckled as he handed Vaughn the key. "But use it wisely, it's taking a lot of me to give this to you."

"I know, but I need to do this and this time I'm going to make her listen to me, Will. And I'm going to make her admit everything you've said to me," Michael proclaimed, taking the key with renewed determination. "Thank you for this, Will."

"Of course. I really hope you know what you're doing," Will mumbled, taking a step back.

Michael just gave him a partial grin, checked his wrist watch and then left the restaurant.

Oh yeah, he knew what he was doing. He'd make her think twice in the future about lying to him or doing something stupid like she was about to do without consulting him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sydney parked her car in the hotel parking lot and just sat there for a moment, letting Delilah of Classy 99.9 serenade her even though hearing love music was at the bottom of her wish list.

She patted her flat-abdomen and sighed. She'd just been at a farewell dinner that had felt more like a taco party. Jane's Mexican cuisine had been exquisite and a great way to end her life in the U.D. But now she wasn't sure she could keep it down. It had bothered her that Will had come in late and she couldn't help wondering what could have been so important that he couldn't be there for their last dinner together, ever. After all, he'd expressed his want for her not to go all too clearly.

And it hadn't hit her till she'd seen baby Sydney, Jane and Will interacting that her leaving would mean allowing Vaughn to have a family without her and that she would never have what Will and Jane had.

But no, she wasn't going to mope. She was going to make the best of the situation, to be thankful she was even alive.

She pulled herself out of the car and made her way to her hotel building, answering an annoying call from Leighton Cowell who actually believed he was still her handler and a call from Weiss making sure she was ready to embark on her mission.

She finally reached her floor and was unboarding the elevator and it couldn't be a moment too soon. The music that had been playing was the exact same tune that she'd tuned into on her radio earlier that afternoon.

And now the last words of the song wouldn't stray from her mind.

"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone."

She went down the hall and stopped before the door to her room.

"And though you're still with me~~~"

She reached her key to the door but found it opened by itself. She took a deep breath and reached for the automatic she carried in her purse and entered the room.

"I've been alone all along."

She closed the door and watched as a figure rose from the couch. She reached for the light but found she didn't have to. The figure had turned the lamp on and though it wasn'' very bright, she could distinctly identify who the figure was.

"V~Vaughn."

Oh My GOD! What just happened!!!! Vaughn is sitting in Sydney's hotel room and you know what that means? You do! Yes you do! Yes S/V shippers, the time has come, so just take a deep breath, send me a review and then you will know just what is going to happen between Sydney and Vaughn!

Remember more reviews means more writing!!!!

Love you so freaking much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!