Title: "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"

[Title and title of the first chapter compliments of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths]

Disclaimer: Everything is JJ Abrams's except for Juliana Vaughn who is all mine!

Summary: Syd has two weeks off for the holidays. Vaughn's younger sister Juliana comes to spend time with her loving brother. That sounds really boring, but yeah, its not really...or maybe, I don't know. Read and find out.

Author's Note: I have a feeling this will be a sappy sappy piece. I'll try to refrain from too much sappiness. Clearly, it's a S/V fic. I'm a junkie, please forgive me. I've succumbed to the holiday fic. But hopefully it will grow into something more. It's my first fic ever, so please be nice. I didn't really want to post it but decided, what the hell, i might as well. Haha, that rhymes. I should stop now, and on with the show!

Chapter 1: Good Times For A Change

Good times for a change
See, the luck I've had
Can make a good man
Turn bad

'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want' The Smiths


"So, as of now, we've pretty much got the ball in our court. We have the lastest Rambaldi intel, not SD-6 -- Thanks to you, of course." Sydney smiled warmly at Vaughn's open praise.

"So what's our next move?" Syd asked intently.

"Well, according to your report, SD-6 is slowing down its operations for the next few weeks. Now that coupled with the fact that we have the fact that we have this information that SD-6 doesn't, basically means that we can take our time on this. Since Sloane's given you now until New Year's off, Devlin's decided to follow suit."

"What? Are you sure?" Sydney asked slightly confused, "Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to get ahead of the game, especially since I wouldn't have to deal with Dixon or going around Sloane?"

"Normally, yes," Vaughn said taking a deep breath as he turned to face Syd more directly, "but Devlin and I both agreed you need some time off. Syd, I really want you to relax. The next few weeks, or even months for that matter, are goin gto be a rough go. Clearly, you always give your all, but I really think you'll benefit from some rest and time to come to terms with everything thats been going on lately."

Syd smiled gratefully, nodding her head in agreement.

"Thank you, Vaughn. That really means a lot to me."

Vaughn smiled back to her, holding her gaze for a moment, then quickly turning his attention to the papers he was gathering before him.

"So, what plans do you have for Christmas?" He asked, genuinely interested.

"Oh, nothing much. Christmas Eve I'll probably have dinner with Francie, Will, and Will's sister Amy. But they're all heading out Christmas Day to spend time with their families."

Vaughn thought about asking Syd about Jack...Whether they might be spending time together this holiday season, but decided not to, agreeing with his better judgement. "Oh really? Are their families nearby? It seems like a stretch to spend Christmas Eve in LA if their folks are out of town."

"Well, Will's are down in San Diego and Francie's are maybe a half hour from here."

"So, you're going to be spending Christmas all alone?" Vaughn asked incredulously. Sydney laughed at his apparent shock.

"Vaughn, I'm pretty capable of taking care of myself. I'm a big girl you know."

"No, it's not that...it's just that its Christmas, and...you know..." He said sympathetically.

"Yeah, I know," Syd responded with a hint of sadness, "but like you said, it would be nice to have time to myself; to think about and reflect on everything thats happened to me. Everything has really snowballed as of late, and, as much as I don't want to admit it, I have really hidden myself behind my work."

"Well, " Vaughn started, giving Sydney his full attention, "if you need to talk, or just feel bored even, you know where to reach me."

"I know...Thanks." Syd smiled, appreciating the gesture. Vaughn returned the her smile gladly. "So, what about you? What are your plans?"

"Since my Mom's out of the country and I can't really leave LA right now, I'm basically just staying here....Catching up with some old friends, and my little sister is actually coming into town today."

"Oh, you have a younger sister? I had no clue." Syd said grinning at the thought of a young Vaughn arguing with his little sister.

"Well, you never asked." Vaughn responded flirtatiously. Syd smiled shyly as she felt her cheeks redden. Vaughn grinned as he noted Syd's reaction.

"Well, you never mentioned." Syd shot back.

"Hey, thats not--" Suddenly he checked his watch with a jolt. "Crap. I was supposed to meet up with her 10 minutes ago." Vaughn said as he started to check his voice mail for any messages from the younger Vaughn. "I should probably get out of here before I lose my 'loving brother' title."

Syd laughed, nodding her head in agreement.

"So...I'll see in two weeks?"

"Yeah, of course," Vaughn said suddenly serious. "Rest up, Syd, and have a good vacation."

"I will."

"And Merry Christmas," He added on with a growing smile.

"You too."

Syd smiled to herself as she watched Vaughn make his way out of the warehouse frantically. The idea of Vaughn being an older brother would take a little getting used to. In a wierd and twisted way, Syd was jealous of his younger sister. Wierd and twisted, indeed. She quickly shook off that idea and began wondering what Vaughn's family life might be like.

I definately see Vaughn as the overprotective older brother who doesnt want to see his younger sister get hurt. Always going too far, and always dealing with his sister's protests that he doesn't want to see her happy.

Syd sighed contently, pleased with the image of "loving brother Vaughn" she had built up in her mind.

Or better yet, 'loving brother Mike.'

As Sydney left the warehouse, she began thinking about her relationship with her handler. Since the day she forged an alliance (of necessity of course) with Sark, her relationship with Vaughn hadn't been the same. Things had been pretty strained for awhile, especially with Alice. Even when Vaughn explained the whole misunderstanding, Syd just shot him down...

"Syd, I...I just wanted to tell you..."

"What, Vaughn?" Syd responded impatiently.

"Nothing is going on between me and Alice. Her Dad was sick...really sick actually, and as you know, he passed away. I really felt obligated to be there for her as a friend, nothing more, especially since I know the pain of losing a father."

"Vaughn, why are you explaining this to me?" Syd asked exasperatedly. "You don't have to justify your private life to me. It's not like you were cheating on me...you're my handler, Vaughn, not my boyfriend."

Vaughn stood, stunned by Sydney's cold words. He collected himself quickly as he watched regret wash over Syd's face.

"Vaughn, I'm so so--" Syd started to apologize but was quickly cut off by Vaughn.

"No, Sydney, you're completely right. I don't have to explain anything to you. I don't know what I was thinking. I'll see you when you get back from Madrid." Vaughn left the room swiftly and silently.

Syd slowly felt her defenses fall as she sat in a sobbing heap on the floor of the warehouse.


Syd shook her head, trying to rid herself of those painful memories. She never came out to directly apologize to Vaughn for her hurtful words, because she was too afriad of the implications. That would of course lead to some confession, clearly. And she was completely terrified of what she knew would inevitably happen if they confessed their attraction to each other. Instead, she let her actions reflect her regret. Much was left unsaid between the two, but much was mutually understood, and she now truly believed that their atypical "relationship" had mended itself. The trust and understanding had returned, in time, and there was once again an open channel of communication between the two fo them, which was all Sydney felt she really needed in her life. Someone she could talk to. Someone she didn't have to lie to. Someone who could understand her.

She really was thankful for her upcoming vacation, even though she'd much rather work. She found a strange comfort in disguising herself, hiding all emotions behind the guise of some foreign aristocrat. But now, she more than anyone knew that actually having time to sit and think about her life was desperately needed. It was a rare occasion when she could do so, and she knew she had to take advantage of it.

END CHAPTER 1