The usual disclaimers apply, as does the summary. THIS HAS SPOILERS FOR LIBERTY VILLAGE! It takes place right after the end. Hence the title. If you haven't seen the ep, it should still make sense though.
A/N: This chapter is much more S/V centric. But don't worry. More of everyone else to come!

Chapter 2 - Dinner in Paris

"So do you want to have dinner with me in Paris?"

"Absolutely" Sydney smiled.

"Are we really going to do this?" Vaughn gave an unsure grin.

"I'm game if you're game."

"Okay."

"Okay"

"We have to tell the pilot." Vaughn, ever practical, pointed out.

"We are going to be so dead when we get back." Sydney checked her watch. "It's seven o'clock in Paris. I think we're above Greece. We could have an eight o'clock dinner if we tell the pilot right now." She smiled and held out her fist. "Rock, paper scissors?"

"Loser tells the pilot. Winner calls for reservations." Vaughn grinned.

"Deal. 1, 2, 3! Dammit!"

"Rock over scissors! Alright Miss. Spontaneous, go tell the pilot about the change of plans."

"Oh come on, best two out of three?"

"Uh-uh," Vaughn laughed. "Get up there. I'll call for reservations."

"Fine. But you're going to pay," Sydney gave him a quick kiss, and then got up to leave. "and you won't enjoy it!" she called back over her shoulder.

Vaughn only smiled. Then he picked up his cell phone, and dialed a number. " Allo, je voudrais réservations pour vingt heure? Vaughn. Bien, merci. Au revoir."

Sydney came back, a big smile on her face. "I can't believe we're going to do this. We are going to be in so much sh. My dad is going to murder you."

Vaughn turned slightly green. "I hadn't thought about that." Then he looked at Sydney. "It'll be worth it though." He got up. " I'm just going to the washroom. We'll probably need a change of clothes too. Is there anything in the bags we have?"

"I'll look." As she got up Vaughn pulled her into a deep kiss. Sydney responded in kind.

She sighed when they broke apart. "Damn, you're good at that."

Vaughn looked down at her and smiled. "You're not bad yourself. I'll be right back."

"Okay. I'll get looking for clothes." She turned her back and grabbed a flashlight out of a bag. She spent several minutes searching through the backpacks on board. She knew her father had sent a change of clothes for when they landed at LAX. Finally finding them, she got changed. When she turned around, she saw Vaughn coming out of the cockpit.

"Hey," he smiled. "We're about a half an hour from Paris. What did you find?"

"Cords and a turtleneck for me." She tossed him a bundle. "Black jeans and sweater for you. Not exactly fancy, but better than what you're wearing now." She sat down on one of the many crates.

"True enough." Vaughn stripped down to his boxers and socks. "So, we have a half an hour, and nothing to do." He raised an eyebrow as he pulled on the jeans. "Any suggestions."

Sydney leaned back, admiring the view. "I have a few ideas."

"Yeah?" He tugged on the sweater. "Like what?" He sat on the crate beside her, wrapping an arm around her neck.

"I don't know." Sydney murmured as she leaned in for a kiss. "This is nice." She sighed as he slid her onto his lap.

"You know, the pilot's not going anywhere. I mean, he had to take the plane of autopilot. We're not going to get much company from him." Vaughn brushed his mouth over hers.

"That's too bad." She sighed as his lips found the line of her jaw. "We'd better hurry up though. We're going to have to get dressed again."

When they landed, Sydney was confused. "Are we at a private airport? This doesn't look like Paris."

Vaughn smiled broadly. "It's not. It's Nice."

"Vaughn . . ." She looked at him in wonder. "You are the sweetest man I have ever met."

He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. "Sweetness requires inspiration. Let's go call a cab." He wrapped an arm around her waist.

"You're amazing, you know that? The aforementioned punishment? Forget it. I can't possibly punish you now."
Vaughn grinned. "That was the idea." They found a payphone. Vaughn dialed and said something in garbled French. "They'll be here in ten minutes. Let's go wait."

Sydney looked up at him. "Vaughn?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

"No one's ever going to call us boring again."

When they finally arrived back in L.A., they were three hours late. The worst part was, Jack had been waiting. And he had been worried. When he heard the reason why they were late, he was no longer worried. He was furious. Which did not bode well for Vaughn.

"You mean, that I spent THREE HOURS worrying in this goddamn hellhole so you-" He jabbed a finger in Vaughn's direction "could go on a date WITH MY DAUGHTER! Do you have any idea what could have happened!"

"Actually, Dad, no, I don't really know what could have happened. We weren't taking any security risks. Our flight wasn't scheduled, so there was no way we could have been found. And it was fun. Do you know how little fun I have had in the past three years? I apologize for making you worry. I didn't realize you would be waiting. I would have called if I had known."

Sydney's comment about fun had apparently mollified Jack to some degree. He looked at Sydney, and then at Vaughn. "Fine. But this is a warning. Since you have begun working at APO, your slates have been wiped clean of your previous disregard for protocol. Your current relationship is also being overlooked, as it does not hinder your work to any great degree. However, if you ever pull a stunt like rerouting a plane again, I will make you unhappy." He glared at Vaughn as he said this. "I will also not cover up for you. If anyone asks why your plane was late, you detoured over Canada because a storm in the Atlantic."

Both agents nodded in unison.

"Good job in Russia. Debrief is at eight o'clock tomorrow." He glared at Sydney and Vaughn once more. "If you're going to pull stunts like this, I don't want to find out. That will be all. Goodnight." Jack turned on his heel and left, trenchcoat swishing behind him.

"That could have gone worse. He didn't kill you." Sydney smiled at Vaughn. They began walking to the door.

"I think I just had a heart attack. Twice. Did he just condone doing this again?"

"I think so. But we have to be sneaky. Very sneaky. So that he doesn't know. Only suspects. I think he might actually approve of you."

Vaughn smiled. "Not yet. But he's getting there."

"Maybe you should come home with me."

"I'd like that."

Hope that was OK! Please R&R.