Once again thank-you for your reviews- glad I finally won you over irionelissa.
I wish there was another way that I could show my gratitude for the reviews- I really am truly thankful for them.
On Tuesday Sydney got a call from Will, asking her to meet him for lunch, saying he needed to talk. Sydney knew exactly what this conversation would be about.
"So have you spoken to Francie since the party?" Sydney asked as she sat down opposite Will at one of the cafe's on their university campus.
"What, no hello?"
"Hello Will." Sydney said. "Have you spoken to Francie?"
"No." he replied sheepishly.
"Why the hell not?"
"I don't know...Hey have you given Francie this talk because she hasn't exactly made an attempt to talk either." Will pointed out.
"Stop trying to take the heat off yourself. You called and asked to talk to me. Now why haven't you called her?"
"Because I'm not sure if I'm ready to hear what she has to say."
"Huh?" Sydney was surprised at Will's answer. What was he getting at?
"I really like her Syd and to me it wasn't weird at all."
"So then tell her that."
"But what if she doesn't want anything to come out of it?" Poor Will looked so dejected at the mere possibility that Francie could reject him.
"Well then you guys would have to work through it. You guys are amazing friends, and I'm sure that you're relationship could survive whatever you decide." Sydney said, reaching across the table and grabbing Will's hand in an attempt to comfort him. "Just don't alienate Francie because you're too scared to find out what she's thinking."
"You make it sound so easy." Will sighed, leaning back in his chair. "And you and Vaughn make it look so easy."
"Will, this failure to communicate that you and Francie seem to be suffering from, well me and Vaughn had the same problem." Sydney said. "If we hadn't have finally spoken and cleared the air, we wouldn't even be speaking today."
"What are you talking about?"
"Vaughn thought that you and I were together."
"Are you serious!' Will burst out.
"Yeah, and he thought I was playing him and I thought he was an arsehole for ignoring me."
"I had no idea."
"No idea? Were you completely oblivious to the fact that we were trying to kill each other on the basketball court."
"I thought it was just some kind of weird sexual tension."
"Very observant Will." Sydney said, shaking her head, thinking back to that fateful afternoon.
"So anyway, back to my problem. What should I do about Francie?" he asked, desperately.
"Call and ask her out tonight. Go somewhere you can talk, and don't come home until you have everything sorted out."
"But Syd-"
"No buts!" Sydney cut off. "Just call her. It will all be fine."
"Did he call her?" Vaughn asked Sydney as he let them into his apartment. After lunch with Will, Sydney had gone to meet Vaughn when he finished work and the two of them had spent the afternoon wandering around town, doing a little shopping, but mainly just enjoying each other's company.
"Yeah, they're going to that small cafe downtown- Guiseppe's. Hopefully they'll get it all sorted out."
"What do you think will happen?"
"Who knows. I just hope they tell each other the truth, because otherwise I'll be dealing with a pining Francie and pining Will for the next few months."
"Oh well it will keep you enterained at least." Vaughn, said planting a kiss on Sydney's cheek. "I'm going to go have a shower and then do you want to order in something for dinner?"
"Sounds good." Sydney smiled, looking up at Vaughn's green eyes. Suddenly overcome, she grabbed Vaughn's shirt and pulled him in for a long, lingering kiss. Vaughn's arms snaked around her back, pulling her in tight.
Breaking away slightly, Vaughn rested his forehead against Sydney's. "What was that for?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"No." Vaughn replied, pressing his lips into hers. Engrossed in their kiss they shuffled towards the couch, falling onto it. Manouvering himself on top of Sydney, Vaughn traced a path of kisses down her neck. She put her hands under his shirt, running her fingers down his back. Vaughn stopped kissing Sydney and pulled back slightly, looking directly in Sydney' eyes.
"Syd." She placed a hand on Vaughn's cheek and he went to continue, but was interrupted by a loud growl from his stomach. Sydney burst into laughter as Vaughn sat up, his face bright red.
"Somebody a little hungry, hey?" she said, giving him a slight poke. "Go and have your shower, so we can get you something to eat."
"Ok, but promise me something."
"What?"
Vaughn leaned into Sydney's ear. "That we can continue this later." he whispered.
"I think that can be arranged." she murmured back. With a grin Vaughn jumped off the couch and headed towards his bathroom.
Sydney settled herself on the couch with a magazine and after about 10 minutes of reading there was a knock on the door. After opening it Sydney saw an older woman standing on the doorstep. She had the same colour eyes as Vaughn, and Sydney realized that she justmay be Vaughn's mother.
"Hi." Sydney said.
"Oh, hello,' the woman replied, looking surprised at Sydney's presence. "Is Michael home?" She spoke with a French accent- it had to be Vaughn's mother.
"Yeah, come in. He's actually in the shower at the moment." Sydney answered, stepping aside to let her in.
"I don't mean to be forward, but who are you?" the woman asked as they headed into the living area.
"Oh sorry! How rude of me. I'm Sydney."
"Sydney." Her eyes widened slightly as a look of recognition crossed her face. "I have heard alot about you. I'm Juliette, Michael's mother."
"Yeah, I kind of guessed you were."
"The accent?"
"Actually it was your eyes. They're the same as Vaughn's."
"Ah yes. He resembles his father so much, but his eyes let people know that he is my son." Juliette smiled. "I'm glad to finally meet you. You have made Michael very happy."
"Well, he makes me happy. You have an awesome son, I'm lucky he found me."
"Well he believes he is lucky that you found him. He would probably kill me for telling you this, but for the past month all I have heard about is you. How great you are, how you understand him, that you two are on the same wavelength." Sydney blushed at what Juliette was saying, unsure of how to respond. "Ah. I am sorry, I have embarrassed you."
"Not really. It's nice to hear that Vaughn feels that way." Sydney replied. "It makes-"
"Who are you talking to Syd?" Vaughn's voice interrupted their conversation seconds before he walked out of his bathroom. He stopped short when he saw who it was. "Maman!"
Juliette stood and walked over to Vaughn to give him a hug. Sydney smiled at the scene before her. It was comforting to watch the way that Vaughn and Juliette interacted with each other.
"When did you get here?" Vaughn asked as they headed back to the couch.
"About 5 minutes ago." Juliette answered. "Sydney and I have been talking."
"About what?"
"Don't worry," Sydney interjected. "No embarrassing childhood stories were told...yet."
"And they are not going to be, hey maman."
"I can promise nothing." Juliette said with a smile and a wink in Sydney's direction.
"Hey, we were just going to order in some dinner. Do you want to stay?" Vaughn asked.
"Oh, I don't want to impose."
"You won't be imposing Mrs. Vaughn."
"Sydney, please call me Juliette."
"Ok, you won't be imposing Juliette. In fact I'll drive into town and pick something up. Give you two a little face time." Sydney offered. "Then over dinner we can get to those childhood stories."
After they decided on Chinese for dinner, Sydney left and Juliette turned to Vaughn. "I like her."
"How could you not? I told you she was amazing."
"It is such a relief to see you with such a genuine smile on your face again. There was a time that I thought that Lauren had destroyed your ability to smile for good."
"Maman, do we have to talk about her."
"Just let your maman speak. I see you happy, happier than when you were with Lauren and even happier than you were before Lauren. Eric sees it too- he told me."
"Since when do you andWeiss speak without me?"
"Every now and then. He's a good friend Vaughn, he's been worried about you for these past months- but not anymore." Juliette answered. "Anyway Sydney seems wonderful. I just wanted to ask if you were sure about her, before things get too serious. I can't bear to see you hurt again."
"Maman, I have never been more sure about anything in my life."
"And how can you be so sure?"
Vaughn didn't say anything, he simply help up his wrist that was displaying his watch.
"Ahhh." Juliette smiled wistfully. "I guess I should expect Sydney to be around for a long time then."
"That's what I'm counting on, maman." Vaughn answered. "A very long time indeed."