Author: Hmm…What is Pat Benetar up to these days?

Summary: Sydney said if she'd been the one left behind she would have waited for him. This is what her life could have been if Vaughn had been the one to disappear.

Disclaimer: Same thing!

Author's Note: Wow! Again with the great reviews! They make me feel so happy and willing to update!So I'm looking for a beta, someone who can help me out with this story and possibly some others. If anyone is interested please let me know.

Chapter 3

"So what do you have planned for tonight?" Mike asked, handing Eric a beer and settling onto the couch. The last few nights had been dedicated to re-introducing Mike to all the things he'd missed in two years. This meant Eric forced him to sit through endless hours of television and movies. Eric was proud to announce that remakes of comic books into films had really taken off. Last night he'd been subjected some atrocity called 'Daredevil,' he'd never actually heard of the comic book and the appeal of a blind lawyer superhero was lost on him. Plus there was no chemistry between the main characters; no way did he believe a shlub like Ben Affleck could land a goddess like Elektra.

When Eric had announced excitedly that the sequel would be released soon Mike had sneered. "They're both dead! What kind of sequel would that make?"

"She's a super-hot superhero! She comes back from the dead!" Eric had chided.

"Yeah right!" Mike had laughed

Eric looked at him questioningly. "How can you, 'Mr. I-Need-To-Catch-Up-On-Pop-Culture-Because-I-Recently-Came-Back-From-The Dead' doubt the merits of such a plot?"

"I wasn't actually dead!" he'd insisted.

"Technicalities!"

"Well if my life now is an example of post-post-mortem living; that movie is going to suck!" that had shut Weiss up.

Mike waited almost nervously for Weiss to tell him what was up tonight.

"Well see that's the thing," Eric finally replied with a bit of a grimace. "I'm going out tonight."

"OK, so I'm flying solo," Mike said relieved.

"Yeah, not exactly."

"Meaning what 'exactly'?" his nerves were quickly returning.

"Well, you see; there might be a small gathering at Sydney's place," Weiss hedged.

"And?" Mike asked knowing there was more to the story.

"And it seems that you two needed to talk, so I insisted that she come over here-"

"You did what?" Vaughn asked.

"I thought you wanted to talk to her," Weiss said a little confused.

"Past tense," Mike insisted. "She doesn't want to talk to me, and the longer I take to think about it the less I want to know about her and Billy," he said the last word as if it left a foul taste in his mouth.

Weiss' usual jovial grin had faded and Mike could see pain in his eyes. "Mike, you don't mean that man, let Sydney come and explain things. Trust me once you've heard her side of things you won't be so quick to dismiss Billy."

Across the hall, Sydney was having similar reservations about the upcoming conversation. "What am I supposed to say to him, Fran?" Sydney pleaded.

"I don't know babe, but you've got to do it soon before someone gets hurt," Francie replied.

The two women were in Sydney's bedroom, while Will and Billy started movie night in the living room. Francie had insisted that a conversation like this needed a serious outfit, but mainly she knew that Sydney needed some girl time before facing Michael.

"How did my life get so complicated? I feel like I've been living in a soap opera for way too long. Vaughn used to be my whole world; he saved me from myself after Danny died. But now there's Billy and, I just never thought I could love two people so much."

"I know, and it's hard. But the important thing is that you love them both. And I know you; you would do anything to save someone you love from hurting. Keeping the truth from Michael is only going to hurt him in the long run."

Sydney gave watery smile. "OK, next topic!" she said forcefully. "Do I change into jeans or just stay in this?" she was more than ready for this particular heart felt talk to come to an end.

"Definitely the jeans," Francie replied knowingly. "You want to stay low-key, try and keep the pressure off."

Once they were finished getting Sydney ready, she and Francie headed back to where the 'men folk'—as they insisted on being called—were hanging out.

"So gentlemen, and I use that term very loosely, how does Sydney look?" Francie asked leading Sydney towards the couches.

"Perfect," Will said smiling.

"Pretty," Billy added happily.

"If I said 'hot,' would that be the wrong answer?" Weiss, who had just walked in the door, asked.

"Yes!" they all said glaring playfully.

"OK, so I'll have to go with Billy on this one; pretty," Weiss said sheepishly.

"Better," Francie smiled at him.

"So you ready to go talk to Vaughn?" Will asked.

"I'm nervous, but Francie assures me everything will be fine," Sydney smiled weakly.

"She's right. I've known Mike for a long time and he's never loved anyone the way he loves you," Eric said reaching up to rub her shoulder.

"Besides, it's you. One look in those big brown eyes and any guy would forget any reason to be angry. Michael doesn't stand a chance," Francie added.

"I hope so," Sydney said on a sigh. "But just for the record, this Mike, Michael, Vaughn business is getting annoying. Can't we settle on one name for the guy?"

"I've known him longest!" Weiss insisted immediately.

"Yeah and I knew him best!" Sydney replied.

"How do you know?" he shot back.

"'Cause I'm pretty sure Vaughn doesn't swing that way!" Will pointed out.

Weiss flushed a deep shade of red and ducked his head in defeat. "Fine! Whatever! Just go!"

Sydney grinned triumphantly and ducked down to kiss Billy's cheek. "Love you, babe."

"Love you too," he grinned.

The knock on Eric's door shook Vaughn out of a deep reverie. He hadn't moved since Eric had left him on the couch to head over to Sydney's. He wasn't sure how long ago that had been, but he did know that the brood was stirring the anger deep within. Twenty-six months! He'd been gone twenty-six months and already she had moved on. And not just moved on, but gotten married! In a way he was grateful; he'd planned on proposing to Sydney in Santa Barbra just before he disappeared. Obviously she hadn't felt as strongly for him as he had for her. Because he knew if the roles were reversed; if he thought Sydney was dead, he wouldn't have been able to look at another woman for the rest of his life!

"Hi," came Sydney's voice from the entrance. She'd obviously let herself in. For some reason the key in her hand incensed him even more. First she'd moved on, then she'd become his maman's new best friend. And now it seemed that she was a huge part of Eric's life as well. Wasn't her new husband enough? Did she really need all his friends and family in her life too?

"Hello," he replied coolly.

"So, I figured we should talk," she said approaching him gingerly. "There are some things I think I should explain."

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," venom dripped from every word.

"Please, let me explain," she begged.

"Explain? What is there to explain?" he demanded angrily.

"Why don't you calm down and we can talk?"

"No. You don't get to pretend to be worried about me! Save that for your husband!" he spat back.

"I am worried, I do care about you. And I'm not married," she practically whispered.

"What's that then?" he asked confused, gesturing angrily towards her ring finger.

"I work at a catholic high school, Vaughn. There are a lot of people who wouldn't approve of my situation," she said gently fingering the gold bands.

"So Billy just lives with you?" he asked trying to understand.

She nodded.

"And you love him?" he asked.

"With all my heart," she replied honestly.

He knew he shouldn't ask the next question, but part of him needed to know how much she'd loved him. How long she'd grieved when he'd disappeared. "How long have you known him?"

"Twenty months and fifteen days," she answered automatically.

Six months! She'd met someone else after only six months! "How long have you been living together?"

"Most of that time," she replied. She wanted so badly to tell him everything, but not like this, not while he was so angry. It shouldn't be a retort to some comment he made.

The anger he'd felt just minutes before came rushing back tenfold. Six months! Six freaking months! She'd moved in with a guy she'd barely known when he'd been gone for just six months!

"Did you even look for me? You say you knew I wasn't dead? But did you care that I was still alive?" he question angrily.

"Of course I did Vaughn. For the first three months I didn't do anything but look for you, but then—"

"Three months?" he cut her off furiously. He'd loved her more than life itself, and she'd looked for him for three months. "God, Syd you must have really loved me! You looked for three whole months? How could I have ever doubted your feelings for me?" he spat sarcastically.

"Losing you Vaughn, losing you nearly killed me! You meant the world to me, and then suddenly you were gone! You can't know how hard that was!" there was a note of pleading in her tone.

"You know what Syd, I don't think I can know how you felt. I thought I mattered. But three months? After everything you've seen you gave up after three months?"

"I was ordered to stop searching for you," she tried to explain.

"When did that ever stop you before?" he couldn't believe that she'd given up on him. The whole time he'd known her she'd been ignoring protocol and regulations, hell even breaking federal laws if she needed to, just to ensure that she got her way. But when it came to finding him she'd given up. She'd listened to Kendall or Dixon or whoever gave the order and she'd stopped.

"It never did before, but there were other reasons."

"And I don't think I want to hear them! I thought I would. I thought I'd want to know what had happened, but you know what? I don't care! I don't care!" he shouted.

"Please, Vaughn, just listen. There is something I need to tell you," she'd never seen him this angry and hurt, and it scared her.

"This is over. This conversation. This argument. This, whatever it was that was once between us. It's over!"

Sydney desperately wanted to tell him the truth, she wanted him to know everything, to understand. But she didn't want to yell at him. That wasn't how she wanted to tell him.

"Please, just calm down," she pleaded.

"No. Get. Out." he stated calmly, but she could see the fury burning just beneath the surface.

"Now!' he nearly screamed when he saw her hesitate.

"Back so soon?" Eric asked as Sydney walked into her apartment.

"Yeah," she answered quietly.

"Uh oh, he didn't take it well?" Francie asked seeing her friend's tear streak face.

"I didn't tell him," she said curling up next to Billy on the couch.

"Sydney, you promised you'd talk to him," Will admonished lightly.

"I tired. I really tried, but he didn't want to hear anything I had to say," she told them.

"It'll be OK," Billy promised, reaching up to stroke her cheek.

"I know babe, I know," she said looking into his eyes and smiling. He could always make her smile.

"So should Tippin and I go over and kick some ass?" Weiss asked seriously.

"'Tippin'? Since when do you call him 'Tippin'?" Francie asked in disbelief.

"Well, if we're going on an ass kicking mission I feel we should get code names and handles and stuff. I know Will isn't field rated, but I thought he could be my partner," Weiss informed them all a little hesitantly.

"What's my mission?" Billy demanded.

"To stay here and protect the women folk," Weiss replied.

"Sir, yes sir!" Billy said jumping to attention.

They all laughed.

"At ease soldier! Thanks for the thought Weiss, but I think Vaughn could use a friend right now," Sydney smiled.

"Are you sure? 'Cause I've been waiting a long time to have a good reason to take a go at him. I've always wondered if I could take him."

"I would pay good money to see those two fight," Will interrupted.

"Brains and brawn vs. Heart and flab!" Francie mused.

"Hey! I resent that! I'm not flabby am I Syd?" Weiss inquired.

"Cuddly," Sydney assured. "Some women like that in a guy."

"I think she's making a move on me," Weiss whispered to Will, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Francie groaned.

"She's not," Billy smiled snuggling back into her embrace.

"I'm not," she agreed. "Now go home, Weiss. And be nice," Sydney warned.

Weiss did as told and said quick goodbyes to everyone then headed back to his own apartment.

"I thought I told you to talk to her," Weiss said as he walked in to see Mike sprawled on the couch.

"You did. I tried. It didn't work," Mike stated briefly.

"And that's OK with you? You don't care what she has to say? No matter how important it might be?" Weiss asked.

"What happened to you being my friend?" Mike asked.

"I am your friend. That's why I think you should talk to Sydney. Let her tell you what happened without biting her head off," Weiss was surprised by Mike's childish tone.

"Whatever," Mike shrugged.

"Fine if you want to lose the best woman who's ever come into your life, that's your problem," Weiss said rising to leave.

"I've already lost her," Mike whispered to his friend's retreating form.

"Not yet. But you will."

"She doesn't need me. She has Billy. And I don't think I can just be her friend. I love her too much for that," he said sadly.

"Doesn't stop me," Weiss said before leaving.

A/N: Sorry about Jerk!Vaughn in this chapter, but the way he acted at the end of third season showed that he isn't always such a nice guy, and I wanted to get that out of the way before he finally lets Sydney tell him what he needs to hear.

Just a quick note on the Vaughn, Mike, Michael thing; I know it might be a little confusing, but I think that the different names have a lot to do with who he is around certain people. Mike is Weiss' college buddy, a bit of a player but a really nice guy. Vaughn is the agent loyal to his country and completely in love with Sydney. And Michael is his mother's little boy and Sydney's boyfriend from the bank. I have a million different nicknames and can honestly say that to every person who calls me by some strange derivation of my name I am someone completely different.