Wow- I've hit 150 reviews. This is incredible. Thank-you everyone for your immense support and encouragment.
dandan2300: To be honest I have no idea what Vaughn made. I'll let you decide ;)
Scary-Girly: I have never specifically said what Jack does for a job. I wanted to keep that aspect about him ambiguous. However in regards to Sydney's mum killing Vaughn's dad, I'd have to say that it didn't happen. If it had, I'm sure that Jack's reaction to him would have been much more severe.
"Who was that Syd?" Francie asked, coming into the living room on Saturday morning. Sydney had just gotten off the phone with Arvin Sloane, who had asked her to speak at Emily's funeral service.
"When is the funeral?" Francie asked, settling down on the couch, after Sydney had explained.
"Monday." Sydney replied, sighing. "Which totally sucks for Vaughn." She looked towards her room, where he was still sleeping.
"Why?"
"His birthday is Tuesday and he insists on coming to the service with me. I can't imagine that going to a funeral the day before your birthday can put you in a very celebratory mood."
"Sydney." The two girls looked up as Vaughn came out of the bedroom. "Don't worry about my birthday."
"I want to worry about it." Sydney replied as Vaughn bent down over her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You deserve something really special."
"Sydney, all I need for my birthday is to spend it with my girl, a couch, good movie and some take-out." He stretched up, yawning. "I'm going to have shower- I want no more talk about my birthday, ok?"
Sydney nodded as he walked towards the bathroom, and then she turned to Francie. "I have to do something for him. To show him how much I love having him in my life."
"You're right, but I think you need to get through Monday before planning anything." Francie answered. She was right. However after Monday, Sydney was going to plan something that Vaughn would never forget.
"You ready Syd?" Vaughn asked, coming up behind her as she stood in front of the mirror. She took a second to admire how handsome he looked in a suit before answering.
"No, not really. I'm not sure if I can do this Vaughn," she said, looking at him through the mirror. He bent down slightly, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder.
"You can do this Syd."
"Can I? I don't think I'm ready to accept this Vaughn. Even now I'm still expecting Emily to call me for just a chat. But when we get to that cemetary, the reality is going hit meand I'm not sure if I can handle that."
"Sydney." Vaughn straightened up and turned her around. "Yes, today will be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. But I'm going to be there and so will Francie, Will and your dad. You've got all the support you need to get you through this."
"Vaughn, that was...I mean, you are...I can't...Oh, come here, you spunk." Sydney threw her arms around him.
"Spunk?" he mumbled in her ear.
"Well, in case you couldn't tell, I was at a loss for words."
"Hey, I wasn't complaining." Vaughn verified as they broke apart.
"I love you so much. Thank-you for everything."
"You're welcome," he whispered as he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Hey, you guys." Will's head popped around the door. "You ready to go?"
Sydney looked up at Vaughn's reassuring face and then turned to Will.
"Yes. We're ready."
"When Arvin asked me to speak here today, there was no way I could refuse. The way that Emily was taken from us- so suddenly and so unexpectedly- did not allow for us, the people who loved her so dearly, to say good-bye. So, me being here today is not only for me tohave the oppurtunity to speak to you about Emily, itis also my way of saying good-bye to a person who was so special in so many ways.
If someone asked me how I knew Emily I would say that she was a friend, but in truth Emily was much, muchmore than a friend to me. She was a confidant, a source of support and in many ways the mother I so desperately yearned for. A person who wasthere for me on every step of the way.
It was Emily who taught me to braid my hair, Emily who accompanied me to the dreaded mother/daughter day my school held when I was in the sixth grade. It was Emily whotook me shopping for my formal dresses and who was always there with a block of chocolate whenever I got my heart broken. It was also Emily who showed me Dirty Dancing for the first time- a rite of passage for any girl.
Every single one of us here today are the luckiest people on earth. We have all had some sort of contact with one of the most caring, loving, gentle, funny- I could stand here all day listing all of Emily's good traits. I can just see her looking down and shaking her head at me. She used to say that I put her on a pedstal and that she would never truly measure up to my expectations.
But, Emily, you could not have been more wrong, and everybody here would agree. That is what makes today so hard. How do you say good-bye to a person like Emily?
You do it simply and lovingly- the way that Emily led her life. So good-bye Emily. I never told you this enough, but I love you. And I, and everybody else here will miss you until we get to meet again."
It wasn't until Sydney had finished talking and was back standing next to Vaughn that she allowed the tears to fall.
"Thank-you Sydney." Arvin said, coming up to her at the wake. "Emily would have loved what you said."
"Well thank-you for asking me to speak. It gave me a chance to say good-bye since..."
Arvin nodded sadly and walked off. Sydney let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't hugged her. She felt slightly guilty of these feelings, given the circumstances of the day, but still the thought of Arvin touching her made her skin crawl.
"How you going Syd?" Francie asked as she and Will walked up to Sydney.
"Better than I thought I would be." Sydney replied, taking the drink that Will was offering her.
"Where's Vaughn?" he asked. Sydney shrugged, gazing around the Sloane's living room. When her eyes fell upon Vaughn she did a double take and a tiny giggle escaped her mouth.
"What is it?" Francie inquired. Sydney pointed to where Vaughn and Jack Bristow stood, looking like they were in conversation.
"Well, I'll be..." Will said. Sydney couldn't believe it either. While neither Vaughn nor Jack looked exactly thrilled to be in the vicinity of one and other, at least they were speaking to each other.
"Sydney is it just me, or does Jack being interested in you life give you the heebies?" Will aked, still staring at the two of them.
"Not exactly the 'heebies', but it is kind of strange." Sydney replied. "Though hopefully, after awhile we can get used to it."
"You think?" Francie asked, disbelievingly. Her bewildered expression mirrored Will's.
"Oh yeah." Sydney smiled. "And since you two are my best friends, he'll be getting interested in you next."
The looks on Will and Francie's faces was one of the few bright spots for Sydney on that awful day.