Again thank you for your reviews.
A note to my fellow Aussie Alias fans- can you believe that channel 7 has changed their programming and Alias will not be starting on the 28th July as said. I am completely livid! How long are we going to have to wait now:(
"There's one!" Sydney exclaimed, pointing to an empty carpark. Quick as a flash Francie pulled her car into the space. It was the Friday following Sydney's dinner with Jack and the two of them had been circling the carpark at the local shopping centre for about ten minutes. Christmas was only ten days and it appeared that everyone, including Sydney and Francie, were starting to panic slightly about their Christmas shopping.
"Ok." Francie said, getting out of her car. "Ready to shop?"
"Yup, let's go." They walked inside and Sydney couldn't help but smile. She loved shopping at Christmas time- the decorations, the carols playing over the loudspeakers and kids getting their picture taken with Santa- everything that contributed to the magical atmosphere that Christmas created.
"So, do you know what you're getting everyone?" Francie asked.
"Not really. The only present I'm sure of is for Vaughn- the one I spoke to you about."
"So, then we're flying blind, hey. Looks like we may be here all day." Francie looked a little daunted at the prospect.
"Oh, come on, Fran. How long has it been since our last shopping trip? Today will make up for that. It'll be fun- I promise."
"Alright then. Where to first?"
"You're asking me?" Will looked blankly at Vaughn. The two of them and Weiss were seated in a booth, having lunch at Joey's pizza.
"Well, you're one of her best friends." Vaughn had been asking Will for help with Sydney's Christmas present. He had already decided on one part of the gift, but wanted to get her something else. Will, however, was not being much help.
"And you're her boyfriend." Will pointed out, taking a bite of pizza.
"So, you're telling me that after six years of friendship you can't help me pick a present for Syd." Vaughn said.
"Look, when it comes to buying gifts, I don't tend to do very well." Will admitted.
"Me too." Weiss put in. "Hey, maybe Syd would like a yo-yo."
"No." Will said in a mock-serious tone. "I'm pretty sure she already has one of those."
"Shut up." Vaughn screwed his serviette into a ball and threw it at Will's head.
"Look, Mike," Weiss started. "Just go with your instincts. Syd'll love whatever you get her."
"Yeah." Will agreed. "As long as she knows you've put some thought in. It's the little things that mean a lot to her."
"Well, I guess that helps." Vaughn relented.
"Now." Weiss stretched his hands out in front of him. "I don't know about you two, but since the present talk is over, I think that we should go another pizza."
"I'm stuffed." Francie announced later that afternoon. "I think it's time that we stopped for re-fueling."
"Here, here." Sydney agreed. Both girls were laden down with shopping bags and Sydney was quite proud of herself, having completed most of her Christmas shopping.
"So what do you feel like to eat?" Francie asked.
"Something yummy and completely unhealthy." Sydney answered and Francie grinned at her.
"Nice to know we're on the same page, Brisotw." The two of them headed towards the food court, chatting animatedly. Their conversation, however, was soon interrupted.
"Sydney? Sydney Bristow?"
Sydney turned around and almost dropped her shopping bags in surprise.
"Ainsley! Oh my god!." She walked over to the petite, red-headed girl. "I can't believe this."
"Tell me about it." Ainsley laughed. "How have you been?"
"Yeah, good. What about you? What are you doing here?" Suddenly Sydney noticed that Francie was standing next to her and looking quite awkward. "Oh sorry! Ainsley, this is Francie Calfo. Fran, this is Ainsley McPhee. We lived next door to each other when we were kids."
"Until my family moved when I was twelve." Ainsley put in. "Nice to meet you, Francie."
"You too." Francie smiled.
"So," Sydney turned to Ainsley. "What are you doing here?"
"You remember Campbell?"
"Your brother. Yeah, why?"
"Well, he moved back here to open a club downtown." Ainsley started.
"Campbell's opening a club? Wasn't he talking about doing that at the age of 15?"
"Yeah, and now he's actually making it happen." Ainsley said proudly. "Anyway, I wasn't doing anything and Cam needed help. So he hired me and here I am."
"So it's permanent?" Sydney asked.
"Yeah, I'm here for good."
"That's great!" Sydney exclaimed. "Hey, we were about to get something to eat. You wanna join us?"
"I would love to."
The three of them made their way to the crowded food court, and after purchasing their meals, navigated their way to one of the few empty tables. They fell into a lively conversation, with Sydney and Ainsley talking as if it hadn't been nearly ten years since they had last seen each other.
"Hey, do you have any plans for New Year's?" Francie asked as they rose from the table.
"No, not yet. Why?"
"A friend of our is having a party." Sydney answered. "You should come."
"Oh, I don't think so. If I'm not invited..."
"Don't worry about that." Francie assured her.
"Yeah, Weiss won't mind at all." Sydney agreed. "He hasn't finalized any plans yet. Just give me your number and I'll call you with all the details."
"Are you sure?" Ainsley asked uncertainly. "I'd hate to impose."
"You won't be imposing." Francie said. "And I promise you will have a great time."
Ainsley looked at Sydney who was nodding in agreement. "Ok then, I'll come." She relented with a big smile that was returned by Sydney and Francie. "I'm going to have to run. Cam needs me at the bar. I'll wait for your call, Syd."
"Ok. I'll see you Ainsley."
"She's nice." Francie commented to Sydney after Ainsley had walked off. "I like her."
"Yeah." Sydney picked up her shopping bags. "You ready?"
Francie grabbed her bags as well, with a grim look on her face. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"So have you got your plans for the party all sorted?" Sydney asked Weiss as they settled down at Vaughn's table. It was a week after the shopping trip and the three of them had gotten together for a night of poker.
"Yeah...well as sorted as I'll ever be." Weiss replied as Vaughn placed some beer and pretzels on the table. "Why do you ask?"
"I kinda invited someone." Sydney said, shuffling the pack of cards in her hand. "Is that ok?"
"Is she female?" Weiss inquired.
"Yes."
"No problem."
"What if they had been male?" Vaughn asked, sitting down.
"Then Syd and me would have to have a long chat."
"Unbelievable." Sydney muttered and was about to start dealing when her mobile rang. She handed the cards to Vaughn and then got up to answer it.
"Hello."
"Sydney, it's your father."
"Hey dad. What's up?"
"It about Christmas Day."
"What about it?" Sydney felt the ever familar sinking feeling in her stomach. She knew exactly what Jack was about to say.
"I'm not going to be able to make it to the Vaughn's."
"Why?" Sydney demanded. The sinking feeling was replaced with a hot anger rising up within her. After all the progress she and her father had made, was he really going to let her down so soon?
"I saw Arvin today and thought it would be for the best if I spent the day with him. I don't think he should be alone on Christmas."
When Sydney heard her father's explanation she felt her anger subside. She could understand Jack's need to keep Arvin company. "Ok dad. I understand."
"Would it be possible for you and Michael to drop by the house Christmas morning? I would still like to see you."
"Of course. We can exchange our gifts then."
"Fine. I'll see you then Sydney."
"See you then."