Hey, sorry it's taken me a little longer than usual to update, but I'm up to my eyesballs with uni assignments at the moment. Believe me I'd rather be updating my fic, but somehow I don't think my mother would appreciate me flunking classes for Alias- she just doesn't understand my obssesion. But anyway thank-you for your reviews and thank-you for being patient.
MistyX: Thanks for the compliments on Vaughn's character. I actually haven't seen any of season 4 yet, so it's good to know that I'm on track.
"So what time is he coming around?" Francie asked Sydney. It was Wednesday morning and the two were eating breakfast before leaving for uni.
"Around two."
"Well I've got classes all day and then a big function at work which won't finish to real late."
"Yeah I knew that, you wrote it on the calendar."
"I know." Francie replied. "I was just reminding you that I won't be, you know, interrupting you and Michael."
"Francie, we're just going to watch some movies. You make it sound as if we'll be running around the apartment naked."
"Well everybody can see that's what you guys want to be doing."
"Francie!"
"Well, you do like him, don't you?"
"Yeah, so."
"Well then tonight is the perfect oppurtunity for you-or him- to make your move." Francie said. "Now don't even try to tell me that thought hasn't crossed your mind."
"Well maybe once or twice..."
"Yeah, one or two thousand times. For god's sake Sydney, he's goregeous. The thought has even crossed my mind!"
"Well just as long as they stay in your mind. "Sydney grinned, getting up and grabbing her bag. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Uh huh. I've have a booking with you first thing. I want all the deatails of tonight."
"We'll see. Bye Fran."
"Bye Syd."
"So what is the first movie on the agenda?" Vaughn asked, settling himself down on Sydney's couch?
"One of my personal favourites," Sydney grinned, holding up the DVD. "Da da da dah!"
"Wha- oh no. Anything but Dirty Dancing. We watched Patrick Swayze the other day."
"I promise after we watch this, the next movie will be one where at least three members of the cast get maimed."
"Fine. But next time we do one of these movie nights, it'll be at my place. No Patrick Swayze in sight."
Sydney smiled as she put the movie into the DVD player. Vaughn had said next time. Nice to know that he was planning ahead.
Three movies later they decided it was time for a break- more specifically dinner.
"Pizza ok?" Sydney asked, grabbing the phone.
"Do you even have to ask?" After placing an order the two of them went to wait out on the porch. After about 5 hours of sitting in front of the TV screen, they were in desperate need of some fresh air to clear their fuzzy heads.
"Where's Francie?" Vaughn asked, suddenly realizing he hadn't caught sight of Sydney's roomate all day.
"She had classes and she's working at some function tonight. She won't be back till late."
"Probably a good thing. I don't need two females telling me that Bridget Jones is better than True Lies. One is enough."
"One more word out of you Mr Vaughn and the next movie we watch will have Hugh Grant in a starring role."
"Ok, ok. I surrender."
After dinner they say down for some more movies. Halfway during the film Sydney stretched out on the couch, settling her feet in Vaughn's lap. He looked down at them, and then up at Sydney who was engrossed with the film. As much as Vaughn loved having her feet in his lap, it was just too tempting. Even knowing that Sydney would beat him up for what he was about to do, Vaughn couldn't help himself.
Seconds after his fingers touched the soles of her feet Sydney sat bolt upright.
"Michael Vaughn!"
"What?" he asked, feining innocence.
"Do you have a death wish?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Yeah, well maybe this will refresh your memory." With that she picked up a cushion and whacked him across the head. Hard.
"Oh, you are asking for it Bristow." Vaughn said, standing up and Sydney followed suit.
"I'd like to see you try,' she retorted, taking another swing. However Vaughn was too quick for her this time. As Sydney swung Vaughn ducked and while she was slightly off balance, he took the oppurtunity to tackle her into the couch and dig his fingers into her ribs.
Sydney tried desperately to fight back, but was overcome with laughter.
"Give up?"
"Never!" she gasped. Digging in harder, Vaughn asked again.
"Do you give up?"
"No-yes! Yes! I give." Reluctantly Vaughn got up off her. He watched her trying to catch her breath, all red faced with her hair mussed up. She looked beautiful.
Sydney looked up at him, trying unsuccessfully to keep a stern look on her face. Even though what Vaughn had just was classified as torture in her books, she would have done anything to have his hands on her body again.
"Vaughn, that was mean."
"Sydney, you were trying to kill me with a cushion." For once she didn't have a reply. "Do my ears deceive me, or does Sydney Bristow have nothing to say?"
"Not when she is too winded to think of one." Vaughn couldn't help but laugh. She just looked so cute sitting there all pouty, with hair hanging in her face.
"Here Syd," he said, bringing a hand up and brushing her hair behind her ear. "Now I can see your face, let's see a smile."
She tried hard to fight it, but couldn't. With those green eyes staring into hers, Sydney melted. When Vaughn returned her smile, all she wanted to do was kiss him.
"Vaughn."
"Hmmm." Vaughn picked up one of her hands and just held it, while looking into her eyes. If Sydney's instincts were correct, he was thinking the same thing as her.
"I...I, uh-" Sydney was cut off by the worst timed phone call of her life. "I have to get that." she said, getting up off the couch.
"Hello."
"Sydney, it's dad."
"What's wrong?" Sydney was alarmed. Her father never called her at night.
"I just got off the phone with Arvin. It's Emily."
"What about her?" She was now panicking slightly. Her father seemd to be struggling with his words and Jack Bristow never showed emotion.
"Sydney, she's been diagnosed with cancer."
"What?" Sydney's words were barely audible. "How bad?"
"They are not sure at this point in time."
"Oh god."
"Sydney, you need to be strong- for Emily's sake."
"I know dad," she replied, struggling to hold off tears. "Look, I'm going to go now. I have to...I need to..."
"I understand. I'll let you know as soon as I learn anything."
"Bye dad."
After hanging up Sydney stood stunned, trying to comprehend what she had just been told.
"Syd." She turned as she heard Vaughn's voice.
"Excuse me," she whispered, rushing to her bedroom, leaving a bewildered Vaughn standing in the living room.
Vaughn was unsure whether he should go and see if Sydney was OK. Quietly he opened her bedroom door and saw her sitting on her bed staring blankly.
"Sydney." She looked up at him.
"Why?" she asked, breaking down into sobs. Crossing the room, Vaughn sat beside her, wrapping her in his arms. They sat there for about ten minutes, Vaughn rocking Sydney gently as she wept.
"That was my dad." Vaughn looked down at Sydney when she finally spoke. "Do you remember me telling you about Emily Sloane?"
"Yeah."
"She's been diagnosed with cancer."
"Oh Syd. Do they know how bad?"
"No. Why her? Why Emily? She is such a beautiful person- inside and out. What did she ever do to deserve this?"
"Hey, you and I both know all too wellthat bad things happen to good people. They don't deserve it, but sometimes life just feels the need to throw some shit in the fan." Sydney suddenly broke freefrom his arms and looked at him when he said this.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For not giving me that 'It all happens for a reason' crap."
"Anytime." He watched her as she wiped her face with a tissue. Suddenly she froze, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"Oh my god."
"What?"
"The dinner. Emily must have known she'd be getting test results this week. That's why she had us over for dinner. She wanted one last 'normal' get together knowng full well the next time we saw her it could be different...and I left early. Because I didn't want to be around my father, I robbed Emily of that experience."
"Sydney. Don't go beating yourself up. You had no way of knowing. Nobody would." He opened his arms again, securing her in his embrace.
"Vaughn."
"Yeah."
"Could you please stay here tonight. I can't be alone."
"Anything you need Syd." And so Vaughn sat with her, holding her. They sat up most of the night, until finally Sydney, exhausted, closed her eyes. It was only when she had fallen asleep that Vaughn allowed himself to close his own eyes.