Okay, here's the second chapter. Thanks to my beta for being a stud…and thanks to all of you who reviewed!

-Between Friends-

Vaughn looked at the clock beside his bed. 3:43am. Rolling onto his side, his gaze fell upon Lauren. She was sleeping soundly, laying there looking exactly as she always did. A profound feeling of emptiness tugged at the pit of his stomach. Lately, things had changed between them, and he couldn't really put a finger on why. He found himself avoiding her at work, and spending more nights at the office instead of at home with Lauren. She, too, was keeping odd hours. She was constantly running off alone on errands and trips to see her mother and numerous ailing relatives. Whenever he would offer to accompany her, she'd politely refuse. It seemed that there was a part of her life she just didn't want him involved in. He had briefly considered the possibility that she was having an affair, but soon discarded the notion as paranoid. Vaughn looked over and contemplated her for a minute, watching the way the moonlight made her features more stark. The hint of a smile spreading across her giant lips told him that she was sleeping peacefully. As petty as it was, those lips were really starting to irritate the hell out of him. Sometimes he had nightmares that her pasty white face turned into a pair of giant pouty lips that suctioned onto his neck, draining him of his soul. He shuddered at the thought.

Tonight, though, he wasn't awake because of his nightmare; he was awake because of his reality. He could not stop thinking about what Ella had said to him. She was right. He knew she was right. He could have the kind of happiness that his little sister had found. What's more, he was convinced that he could be happier than she was. He could be happier than anyone had a right to be. This flicker of hope, however, was quickly snuffed by the overpowering shadow of his constant demon: fear. He was afraid. Michael Vaughn, SuperSpy, was scared out of his mind. He knew exactly how to achieve this elusive happiness. What scared him was what it would take to get it. What scared him was that maybe Sydney wouldn't take him back. What terrified him was the thought of losing her again.

When he had thought he lost her… the pain was indescribable. It was the most catastrophic emotion that could possibly be experienced and it overwhelmed him with its suffocating intensity. It was the fear of that pain that continued to shakle Vaughn to his current status. Even if he could figure out a way to leave Lauren, and even if he could manage to get Sydney back, could he subject himself to the possibility of losing her again? Would he survive? It wasn't something he dared to think about. Raking a hand across his face, Vaughn tried in vain to shake the thoughts racing through his mind and go back to sleep.

""

Sydney woke up and looked at the clock. It was only quarter-passed six. She rolled over, buried her head in her pillow and tried to fall asleep again. It was Sunday and she didn't have to work, so that meant that she didn't have to get out of bed. She looked at the clock again. Three minutes had passed. Deciding that her efforts were futile, Sydney reluctantly hauled herself out of bed and stretched to ease the stiffness from her joints. As she headed toward the kitchen, she silently laughed at the melodious sound of Eric snoring on the couch. She secretly smiled to herself, loving the fact that he was there. As much as she hated to admit weakness, she absolutely could not stand being alone.

Eric awoke twenty minutes later to the sweet smell of someone else cooking breakfast. That, he decided, was one of the best smells in the world. He sat up and stretched.

"Morning, Sleepyhead," Sydney cooed.

"Hey Syd. Sorry I didn't make it home last night," he said with false resignation as he shuffled into the kitchen, poked a finger into the mixing bowl, and stuck it into his mouth.

"Don't be silly. I wouldn't have wanted to subject you to the thirty second walk." She grinned and handed him a cup of coffee.

"It's more taxing than you think," Weiss replied before changing the subject. "What's cookin?" he inquired as he gratefully sipped his coffee.

"Pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. You in?"

"Are you kidding me? I live for this kind of stuff." His mouth hung open and his stomach rumbled as if to prove his point. "Bring it on."

After breakfast, Weiss headed home and Sydney headed to the shower. In her quest to avoid spending the day by herself, she had scheduled the entire afternoon with Eric. It wasn't that should couldn't handle being alone, or that she didn't have anything she could do. But for some reason the idea of spending the day entirely without companionship was not in the least bit enticing.

""

Vaughn was sitting in the living room watching baseball when Lauren emerged from the bedroom.

"I thought you didn't like baseball," she commented as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"I don't."

"Good. Then you won't mind turning off the television and coming to sit with me."

He searched his mind for an excuse, any excuse, that would get him out of spending what he knew would turn into 'quality time' with his wife. "Uh, actually, I was just on my way out."

"Oh, really? I didn't know you had plans. Where are you going?"

His mind raced. This was stupid. He shouldn't be making up reasons to get out of the house. He should be spending time with his wife on this perfectly beautiful Sunday morning. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Vaughn sifted through possible responses – church? No. Running? No. Eric? Bingo.

"I'm heading over to Eric's," he responded, after what he hoped wasn't too long of a pause.

"Oh, alright. I suppose I will see you for dinner, then," she said with mock hurt, which he chose to ignore.

"Sure. I'll see you later." And with that Vaughn grabbed his keys and phone, gave Lauren a quick peck on the cheek and headed out the door. He got into the car and started to drive as he punched the familiar number into his cell. Weiss picked up after the second ring.

"Hey there, Crybaby. Did you need some tissue?"

Vaughn rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Eric. It was my sister's wedding. Anyone with a soul would have done the same."

"You keep telling yourself that," he retorted. "What can I do ya for?"

"Actually," Vaughn began, "I was wondering if you wanted to do some manly stuff today. I need to get out of the house."

"Manly stuff? Like what? Hit our women over the head with clubs and drag them around the cave by their hair?"

"Eric, you don't have a woman."

"Hey, what are you saying?" he accused before continuing. "Wait! Yes, I do. I have a woman right here with me and boy is she a looker. Ooff. Hey, keep your elbows to yourself, you beast!"

Vaughn strained to hear the muted conversation.

"Beast? I thought I was a 'looker'!"

"Quit your whining and say something womanly," Eric pleaded. "Apparently I require proof that I can garner companionship of the female variety."

"Womanly?" Sydney replied. "What do you mean womanly?"

"I don't know. Talk about something only women would talk about."

After a few seconds and a lot of grumbling, Sydney came on the phone and began to speak. "So, two days ago I had the worst menstrual cramps I've had for years. Luckily, I had stocked up on my Super Absorbent tampons." Vaughn could picture her smirking and Weiss starting to sweat as she continued. "Let me tell you, absorbency makes all the difference in the world when you're…"

Weiss finally cut her off, "Okay, okay. I regret it, I regret it." He got back on the phone and took a deep breath to shake off Sydney's statements before asking Vaughn, "What were we talking about?"

Vaughn thought about it but couldn't come up with anything. "You got me," he finally admitted.

They sat in silence for a moment before Vaughn braved the topic that had truly captured his attention. He feigned indifference, "So, you're with Syd, huh?"

"Yup. We're on our way to the park to hit a few balls."

Vaughn faltered for a moment. Sure, it would be awkward, but it seemed like the only solution. There was no way he was going to go back home. He took a deep breath and tried to act casual as he popped the question, "You guys need an outfielder?"

"Always."

Vaughn thanked whatever power had allowed that answer to be in the affirmative and steered his car toward the ball field.

Weiss set down his phone before shooting Sydney a beseeching look. "Don't hate me, please? You know how much I hate shagging balls!"

Sydney looked at him a groaned. "You invited him to play."

Weiss' guilty face gave her all the answer she needed. She sighed as they pulled up to the park. She could have sworn she heard an audible flush as she visualized her day going straight down the toilet. Crap. She usually spent the weekend building up her walls, securing the moorings that sought to control her inevitable drift toward him. Without the benefit of that protective veneer firmly in place, Sydney didn't know if she could handle the consequences.