Hey my Columbus day weekend was great. I was so happy to be home again. And know as I promised, Vaughn speaking sexy French.

KATIE: great idea! Do you want it to be an S/V? do you want some specific characters written in it? just review and tell me…ill get working on it right away

Chapter Seven: You're Not Alone

Irina's eyes followed the movement of her son-in-law's hand as it gently caressed her daughter's arm. Somehow that action brought back memories of Jack and the first few years of their marriage. Irina was happy that her daughter had found love. They were in some car, traveling along the French countryside. Vaughn was driving and Sydney was next to him. Irina had taken the seat in the back despite the protest of her daughter. Vaughn's hand had closed the gap between Sydney and himself as he caressed her arm, a familiar gesture for the both of them.

"Where are we headed?" Irina asked, desperate to remain cool. After this trip she would be able to put aside the demons that had haunted her for sixteen years. It was all her fault, if she had just been faster at covering them, Jack wouldn't had died.

"We have to meet up with Sark the château to make the exchange. Supposedly, he will then take us safely to Erica."

Irina was shocked at what Vaughn said. She knew that Erica had been kidnapped and that it was the sect. They never told her that Sark wanted something out of this.

"Are you sure that's wise? Sark is known for double crossing people."

"Mom, it's the best option we have right now. He's in no position to double cross us either. He knows if he does we'll hunt him down and make his life and death the most painful thing he has ever experienced."

Irina wasn't surprised by her daughter's tone. She had felt the same way when it came to Sydney and Nadia. Anyone who hurt them endured her wrath. The only exception was Michael Vaughn. But then again, she had brutally murdered his father. Sometimes, especially when Sydney was so distraught, she tried to justify the murder of Bill Vaughn by telling herself that it was punishment for Michael's future sins against her daughter.

"What does he want in exchange for leading us to Erica?"

"Sydney's wedding ring."

"What an odd request."

"What Sydney and I believe is that there are two reasons he wants the ring. One is that he just wants to gloat and humiliate us by taking her ring. The second option is that there is something important about the ring, some sort of prophecy or the likes."

"Which one do you think it is?"

"Knowing our luck, it's probably the second. It never fails that new prophecies about us are created, Mom."

Irina sat back against the seat and digested this new piece of information. Sark was definitely up to something. They could be walking into a trap. But she had checked their supplies before they left and determined that they could probably handle a trap. After all, the three of them were the best in the business. And her granddaughter was pretty good herself, or so Irina had observed.

"We're here." Vaughn announced. They had pulled up to the foot of a beautiful house.

Irina, Sydney, and Vaughn all exited the car quickly and quietly. Irina checked her concealed gun and watched as the others did the same. They then began to make there way to the house.

When they reached to door, Vaughn took charge. He knocked on the door, ready to come face to face with his brother. He was a little taken back when a woman's voice answered his knock.

"Qui est-il?" ("Who is it?")

"Bonjour, mon épouse et ma belle-mère étaient conduite juste près et noté ce qui un beau la maison que vous avez eue, en fait il nous a rappelés notre maison julienne de cher ami." ("Hello, my wife and my mother-in-law were just driving by and noticed what a lovely house you had, in fact it reminded us of our dear friend Julian's house.")

"Soyez vous ici pour rassembler la fille?" ("Are you here to collect the girl?")

"Est ma fille dedans là ?Laissez-la sortir à nous, nous vous donnera ce que vous voulez." ("Is my daughter in there? Let her come out to us, we'll give you what you want.")

"Il ne soyez pas cela facile, M.. Vaughn." ("It won't be that easy, Mr. Vaughn.")

"Qui est-ce que c'est ?Où Est Sark?" ("Who is this? Where's Sark?")

"Obtenant irritable ne sont pas nous Michael." ("Getting a little testy aren't we Michael?")

"Regardez, la dame, juste me donnent ma fille." ("Look, lady, just give me my daughter.")

"elle savant?" ("Does she know?")

"Qui savant?" ("Does who know?")

"Votre fille savent la première épouse de son père?" ("Does your daughter know about her father's first wife?")

"Oui, mais cela n'a rien à faire avec ce qui continue sait." ("Yes, but that has nothing to do with what's going on know.")

"Dessus le Michael contraire, ceci a tout à faire avec ce qui continue sait." ("On the contrary Michael, this has everything to do with what's going on know.")

Sydney was unable to control herself. They were getting no where.

"Juste ouvrez la porte que vous râlez, je veulent ma fille." ("Just open the door you bitch, I want my daughter.")

"Ampèreheure, votre épouse parle.Et tous le long I ont pensé que son travail devait se tenir là et regardez joli et volez les maris des personnes." ("Ah, your wife does speak. And all along I thought her job was to stand there and look pretty and steal people's husbands.")

"Congé Sydney hors de ceci, juste nous donnent notre fille" ("Leave Sydney out of this, just give us our daughter.")

"Non, Je ne pense pas qui est une bonne idée.Chacun est hanté avec Sydney.Sark est hanté avec Sydney, vous êtes hanté avec Sydney, Danny avez été hanté avec Sydney, Jack avez été hanté avec Sydney, Sloane est hanté avec Sydney, l'engagement étiez hanté avec Sydney... comment peut une fille concurrencer?" ("No, I don't think that's a good idea. Everyone is obsessed with Sydney. Sark is obsessed with Sydney, you're obsessed with Sydney, Danny was obsessed with Sydney, Jack was obsessed with Sydney, Sloane is obsessed with Sydney, the Covenant was obsessed with Sydney…how can a girl compete?")

"Qui l'enfer est ceci?" ("Who the hell is this?")

"Vraiment Michael, vous ne m'identifiez pas?" ("Really Michael, you don't recognize me?) Maybe this will help."

The voice changed from French to accented English. Vaughn and Sydney both stepped back in shock as they recognized the voice that haunted them for a hateful year. Irina looked inquisitively at the couple. She did not recognize the voice. But as the door swung open, Irina breath caught in her throat.

There was Lauren, very much alive.

"Hello honey."

Yes Vaughn speaking French is really sexy. No Lauren is really alive. Next few chapters will explain a lot more.