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When Vaughn woke the next morning Sydney was still curled up in a deep slumber. Not wanting to wake her, he quietly made his way out to the kitchen to look for something to make for breakfast. Before he could do that though, he was greeted by a grinning Francie.
"Good morning Michael!" she said in a sing-song voice, as she sat at the kitchen bench."Did you have a good night?"
"Not exactly," he answered, but Francie wasn't listening.
"Now when I got home last night and saw you car in the driveway, I thought 'God how many movies have they watched by now?' But when I got inside and saw no sign of you, I thought 'Stupid Francie, they're not watching movies!'"
"Francie, yes I stayed here, but not for the reason you're thinking." Francie stopped smiling at this point, hearing the seriousness in Vaughn's voice.
"What happened?"
"Do you know Emily Sloane?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Syd got a call from her father last night. Emily has been diagnosed with cancer."
"Oh my god!" Francie's hand flew to her mouth. "How did Syd take it?"
"Not great, which is entirely understandable. She spent most of the night in tears. I stayed because she didn't want to be alone."
"Is she awake?"
"No I left her asleep. After last night, she needs it." Vaughn said. "Now are you up for breakfast?"
"Can you cook?"
"I make great French toast."
"Sounds good." Francie sat watching Vaughn potter around the kitchen. "Look at you, Michael, making yourself all at home."
"You're getting a homemade meal- cut out the smart comments."
"Or you'll do what?"
"He'll probably attempt to take you on, but what Vaughn doesn't realize is that I learnt some of my best moves from you."
Both Vaughn and Francie's heads snapped up when they heard Sydney's voice. Francie jumped up and enveloped her best friend in a hug.
"Oh Syd, sweetie. How are you?"
"Better. I think I kinda overreacted last." Sydney answered as she and Francie settled themselves down at the bench.
"Sydney!"Francie admonished."You just found out Emily has cancer. Unless you went running down the street, naked, pulling your hair out and screaming, whatever you did was not an overreaction!"
Vaughn nodded, looking Sydney in the eyes. "You didn't overeact."
"Thank-you Vaughn." Both Vaughn and Francie knew she wasn't only referring to the comment he just made.
"You're welcome."
"So what are you making?" Sydney asked.
"French toast. "Francie informed her. "Apparently he makes 'great' French toast."
"Maybe because he's French," Sydney joked.
"French? What, no way!"
"Born and bred." Vaughn laughed.
"Go on, say it." Francie urged.
"Say what?" Vaughn asked, warily.
"That line from Lady Marmalade- say it!" The look on Vaughn's face was pure gold and Sydney dissolved into laughter.
"Maybe later Francie," he said, turning back to the stove.
Vaughn and Francie spent the rest of the day with Sydney. They said they had nothing else planned, but Sydney knew they were there to keep her spirits up and she was glad of it. Though perhaps what made her the happiest was the way that Francie and Vaughn were getting along. It was nice to see that Vaughn was fitting so easily into her life.
"Dad! What are you doing here?" It was Saturday and after Sydney answered a knock on her door she was stunned to see Jack Bristow on the otherside.
"I just spoke with Arvin."
"How is Emily?"
"She is starting treatment today. The good news is that the odds are on her side. The cancer was caught early, so the doctor's are hoping for successful treatment."
"Oh thank god." Sydney slumped against the door frame. "Thank you for letting me know."
"I wanted to tell you as soon as possible. You sounded quite upset Wednesday."
"I was."
"Well, I have to drop into the office. Catch up on some paperwork."
"Oh, ok. See you dad."
"Good-bye Sydney."
On Sunday Sydney had to work. Her boss, Merridy, had her stacking books on a display at theback of the store. Sydney loved jobs like these, it gave her a chance to browse as she did them.
She was so engrossed with her task that she failed to notice that Vaughn had come up behind her.
"What do you recommend?" he asked. Sydney jumped at the sound of his voice and dropped the book she was holding.
"Vaughn!"
"Sorry," he smiled, bending down to retrieve the dropped book. "Here you go."
"Thanks. So what book were you after?"
"I'm not here for a book. I came to see you."
"Really? Why?"
"Just to see how you were, and if you'd heard anything about Emily."
"I'm doing pretty good. She started treatment yesterday and her odds are looking good because the cancer was detected early."
"That's great." Vaughn said, sincerely. "Must be a load of your mind."
"A little. She still has cancer, good odds or bad. But at least now there is hope." she smiled. "You know what the strangest thing about this is?" Vaugh shook his head. "In a small way it has brought my father and I a little closer. He came and saw me yesterday, and we actually spoke."
"Well that causes for a celebration."
"Do you have anything specific in mind?"
"Yeah, actually I do. It's another reason I came to see you." Vaughn said. "Weiss and I were planning on watching the basketball game tonight, but he's had to go to some family function. I have a heap of junk food and nobody to share it with."
"So you immeadiately associate me with junk food?"
"No, after last week, I associate you with a good game of basketball."
"Nice answer. What time is tip-off?"
"8.00"
"See you at 7.30."
"Syd, can you grab me a bowl from that cupboard." It was later that night and Sydney and Vaughn were in the kitchen, getting their food for during the game.
"Here you go." Sydney handed over the bowl and gazed around her surroundings. Every wall was covered with photographs. "What's with all the photos?"
"Those are my Walls of Fame."
"Walls of Fame?"
"Yeah. Everybody I care about are on my walls. I don't see the point in hiding them away in albums."
"Who are they?" Sydney asked, pointing to a picture of two young boys.
"You don't recognize them?"
"Would I ask if I did?"
"Good point. That's Weiss and me."
Sydney looked up at him, surprised. "How long have you known each other?"
"Since the first day of school."
"And you guys are still best mates? That is incredible."
"Not really. It's easy to stay friends with a guy like Weiss. I know it sounds cliched, but he would give you the shirt off his back."
"Yeah, while making some obscene stripping joke while doing it."
"Very true." Vaughn laughed, as his mobile phone started ringing in his bedroom."I gotta get that. Can you put this stuff in the lounge?"
"Sure." Vaughn dashed off and seconds later there was a knock on the door. Unsure of whether Vaughn had heard it, Sydney answered it herself. On the otherside was a slim blonde.
"Hi." Sydney smiled.
"Who are you?" the blonde asked, looking at Sydney with disdain.
"Uh, Sydney. I'm a friend of Vaughn's."
"Vaughn? I take it you mean Michael. I never really understood the whole last name thing."
"Ok..." Sydney trailed off, having no idea how to respond to this woman.
"Is he here?"
"He's actually on the phone at the moment."
"Ok, well I just need to come in and grab something of mine."
"Oh, no you don't , Lauren." Vaughn said, coming up behind Sydney. "I told you to stay away."
"I want my CD's."
"I don't have them." Sydney could see the tension in Vaughn's forehead. "Now go."
"Why are you so eager for me to leave?" Lauren asked. "Did I interrupt something?"
Vaughn looked as if he was going to completely blow, so Sydney stepped in. "You didn't interrupt anything. We were just waiting for a basketball game to start."
"Well then, give me my belongings and you can watch your stupid game."
"Uh, you would have moved place not long ago, right?" Sydney asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well when I moved so many things were lost. It just happens. Your CD's could be anywhere from a box under your bed to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean."
Upon hearing this Vaughn burst into laughter.
"What is so funny Michael?"
"Nothing," he answered, still laughing. "Goodbye Lauren." With that he closed the door on Lauren's extremely angry face.
"You, Miss Bristow are fantastic."
"Well you helped me the other night, I thought I should return the favour."
"Come on, let's go watch the game."
"Five months! It's been nearly five months and she is still ruining my life!" Vaughn vented to Weiss.
"How did Lauren showing up screw up your evening? You said she was there only a few minutes."
"Lauren's mere presence has the ability to ruin a perfect day."
"Very true. So once again, nothing happened between you."
"Well I didn't want her to think I was only retaliating against Lauren."
"Dude, you think too much."
"No, I just don't want to ruin this. Syd is special."
"Yeah I know. So when are you going to quit stalling and do something about it?"
"I don't know, Weiss. I really don't know."