Again, I want to express my graditude for all your great feedback (Glad you approved of the pressies, too)
irionelissa: In the show, I don't think Vaughn specifically says which side of the family aunt Trish is from, he just mentions her name, and I just decided to have her from his father's side.
Lil Aussie Alias Chick: Well according to TV Week Alias is definately starting on the 11th- which means only 9 sleeps!
"What about this one?" Francie held up a white singlet, patterned with silver sequins.
"Probably too much." Sydney replied. "And who cares about the top- did you not hear what I just said?"
"I heard you- you and Michael gave each other the same present." Francie put the top against her body as she looked in the mirror. "Do you really think it's too much?"
"It's a party at Weiss's, Fran. Somehow I don't think that the dress code will be anything but extremely casual." Sydney was extremely disappointed at Francie's reaction about the apartment keys. "I thought that you would be a tad more excited about the identical gifts."
"Oh come on, Syd. Look at you two- it's not exactly a surprise that you got each other the same gifts." Francie tossed the singlet on her bed. "Besides, I already knew."
"What!"
"Michael asked me if you would beok with the gift."
"He did?"
"Yeah. I tell you now, I almost laughed in his face. The day before you asked me if it was ok if you gave him our key and then he is asking me the same thing in reverse!"
"And you managed to keep this secret from me and Vaughn?"
"Well, I quashed my need to tell someone by spilling the beans to Will and Eric."
"And let me guess, you guys have being having a good old giggle behind mine and Vaughn's backs ever since."
"Oh totally." Francie grinned. "Come on, I think it's time that we got to the after Chrissie sales."
"Why?"
"Because we have a party to go to in a few days time and have nothing to wear."
"It's just at Weiss's, I'm sure that we can find some-"
"I said, we have nothing to wear." Francie said, determinedly. "Now, let's go shopping."
With a laugh Sydney got up and followed Francie out of the bedroom.
Vaughn looked at his watch impatiently. He had offered Sydney and Francie a lift to Weiss's house- something he was now regretting.
"Syd! How much longer?" he called. Sydney's head poked out from Francie's room, an apologetic expression on her face.
"Not long. Francie is making a few minor adjustments." Her head disappeared.
Vaughn groaned, his hands rubbing his eyes. He now knew why Will had been so eager to work an extra shift on New Years Eve- the rate Francie was going she wouldn't have an outfit picked until next year.. He went to sit down on the couch, but was stopped by a knock on the door.
"Michael, can you get that?" Francie yelled.
"Only if you hurry the hell up." Vaughn yelled back, as he headed towards the door. Opening it he saw a petite redhead standing on the doorstep.
"Hi." Vaughn smiled, guessing that she was the friend of Syd's- the one she had invited to the party.
"Uh, hi. Is this Sydney's place?"
"Yeah, come in. I'm Michael, Sydney's boyfriend." Vaughn stepped aside to let her walk inside.
"Michael? I thought Sydney said her boyfriend's name was Vaughn?" As soon as she said this, she clamped her hand over her mouth, and looked at Vaughn with wide eyes. "I didn't just get someone into trouble, did I?"
Vaughn looked at her with a poker face. "No, you didn't. Vaughn is her other boyfriend."
"What?" she looked at him, stunned.
"Yeah. I have her Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. He's got her Monday, Wednesday, Friday and we alternate Saturday's."
"Um…well…You're ok with that?"
Vaughn looked at the poor girl's face and couldn't keep the act going any longer. He started laughing, feeling a little guilty for what he had done. But the opportunity had been too good to pass up.
"I'm sorry. I'm just joking."
"Oh." Relief crossed her face. "So who is Vaughn?"
"Me." She looked at him blankly, so he held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Michael Vaughn."
She accepted his hand, laughing slightly. "Ohh, now I get it. I'm Ainsley, by the way."
"Yeah, I figured that. Sydney won't be long- she's just helping Francie through a fashion crisis."
"Ok." Ainsley glanced around the apartment before turning back to Vaughn. "So why does Sydney call you Vaughn? Doesn't that seem strange that your girlfriend addresses you by your surname?"
"I don't know." Vaughn admitted. He'd never really thought about it before. "I guess I'll have to ask her one of these days."
"Hey guys!" Weiss greeted Vaughn with a thump on the arm, and Sydney and Francie with big bear hugs. He was about to throw his arms around Ainsley, but stopped short. "I don't know you."
"Weiss, this is Ainsley McPhee. Ainsley- Eric Weiss." Sydney introduced.
"Hi." Ainsley smiled brightly at Weiss.
"Hi, and now that we have been properly introduced, how's about a little sugar?" Weiss asked with a cheeky grin.
"Sugar?"
"That's Weiss talk for 'Can I have a hug?'" Sydney informed Ainsley and then turned to Weiss. "Let's save the sugar until you two are better acquainted, hey?"
"I was just being friendly." Weiss protested, as Sydney turned to Ainsley. She thought it best to escape before Weiss scared her off for good.
"Come on, Ainz." Sydney grabbed her hand. "Let's go get a drink."
"I know what your thinking." Vaughn said to Weiss as Sydney and Ainsley walked off.
"No you don't."
"Eric." Francie joined in. "She an attractive, single female. Even I know what you're thinking."
"She's single?" Weiss's face lit up, but he quickly shook his head. "Wait- stop. I was not thinking that."
Vaughn and Francie looked at him with knowing smiles on their faces. Eric Weiss was about as transparent as cling wrap.
"Michael Vaughn, I ought to give you a slap!" Sydney marched up to him about twenty minutes later, on the crowded patio outside.
"What have I done?" Vaughn asked, flabbergasted.
"Ainsley told me what you said to her." She stood with her hands on her hips. "My two boyfriends, Michael and Vaughn."
"Oh, come on. It was funny." Vaughn defended himself.
"You think?"
"Would you have passed up an opportunity like that?"
Francie walked up then, after seeing Sydney's body language. "What have you done Michael?"
"Francie, have you met my girlfriends, Sydney and Bristow?" Vaughn asked, and Sydney couldn't help but laugh.
Francie looked at the two of them as if they were insane. "I have no idea what goes on in your little world," she said, shaking her head. "Hey Michael, did you tell Sydney about Eric's little crush?"
"What?" Sydney exclaimed. "Who?"
"Look for yourself." Vaughn pointed to where Weiss was introducing Ainsley to a group of his friends.
"Ainsley? But he doesn't even know her."
"Yes, but he wants to." Francie grinned.
"Intimately." Vaughn couldn't help adding, and he and Francie snorted in laughter. "But of course he is denying it."
"I didn't think that she would be his type." Sydney mused, but at the same time thinking that they would make a pretty good pair.
"What did you think was Weiss's type?" Vaughn asked, as they headed over to Weiss and Ainsley.
"Well after the Halloween party, I'd say blonde and well-endowed."
"Weiss doesn't really have a type. He just likes females full stop." Vaughn informed her, speaking quickly as they got to Weiss.
"Hey Mike, Ainsley here is a hockey fan." Weiss said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, my brother plays, so I really didn't have a choice. Ever since I was little, I've been dragged to all of his games."
"Well, we'll have to introduce Campbell to Vaughn." Sydney put it. "He is what you would call 'obsessed' with the game."
"What about Saturday night? It's the opening of the club and it would be great if you could come."
"Oh." Sydney's face fell. "Francie's birthday is Thursday and we were going out to celebrate Saturday night."
"Well, come to Phase One. I'm sure Campbell can organise something special."
Vaughn, Sydney and Weiss all looked at Francie who shrugged. "Hey, I don't care where we go, just as long as we have a damn good time."
"Great." Ainsley smiled. "I'll tell Campbell I've got six more for the guest list."
"Six?" Vaughn shook his head. "There'll only be five."
"Hang on, you, Sydney, Francie and Will, Eric and-" Ainsley looked at Weiss. "You'll be bringing someone, won't you?"
"Uh, no. Mr Houdini here will be all on his lonesome." Weiss said, pulling a sad, puppy dog face.
"OK, then, five more for the guest list." Ainsley grabbed Sydney and Francie's hands. "Come on, let's dance!"
A couple of hours later Vaughn and Weiss were standing around, talking to some friends from uni while Sydney, Francie and Ainsley tore up the dance floor.
"Hey guys." Both Vaughn and Weiss felt a thump on their backs. The timing was not so good for Weiss who had just taken a mouthful of beer, the thump causing him to choke on the liquid.
"Thanks Will," he spluttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Sorry." Will grinned. Vaughn looked at him with a stern face. "What?"
"You owe me- big time." Vaughn said, pointing a finger to Will's chest.
"Why?"
"Why?" Vaughn repeated. "Next time we go out as a group, you can sit around for an hour while your girlfriend tries to decide on an outfit."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Will asked. "Why do you think I volunteered to work a shift on New Years Eve?"
"WILL!" All three guys looked to see Francie and Sydney waving from the dance floor.
"Who's the redhead?" Will asked, waving back.
"Ainsley." Weiss answered.
"An old friend of Syd's." Vaughn explained. "And the love of Weiss's life." He added, getting the finger from Weiss as a response.
"What?" Will was confused.
"Never mind." Vaughn said and then turned to Weiss. "So, shall we go join them?"
"Oh, I suppose." Weiss said, nonchalantly. They didn't get a chance to discuss it any further. Both Sydney and Francie had walked up and grabbed their hands, and were now dragging them back to the dance floor.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The huge mass of people at the party had converged around the TV Weiss as placed out on the deck to watch the countdown to the New Year. As everybody cheered Sydney threw her hands around Vaughn's neck as he pressed his lips onto hers for a long and hard kiss. They were oblivious to everyone else, who were yelling and cheering. It was as if, in the middle of this mayhem, they had created their own little world that nobody could disturb. Nobody, that was, except Eric Weiss.
"Happy New Year guys!" he yelled, wrapping his arms around both Sydney and Vaughn.
"Happy New Year, Houdini." Sydney replied. She looked over his shoulder and saw Will, Francie and Ainsley heading their way. "Hey, look who's coming."
He turned. "Oh god, she is so hot."
Sydney looked at Vaughn. "I thought you said he was denying it?"
"Well, he was sober before." Vaughn replied, placing a hand on Weiss's shoulder. "Weiss, it's New Years, you've got a perfect excuse to make a move."
"You're right." Weiss straightened up, as Ainsley got closer. "I'm going in."
After they had all wished each other a Happy New Year, Vaughn and Sydney watched Weiss closely. His plans, however, did not go as hoped.
"Hey guys, I'm going to have to call it a night." Ainsley announced.
"What? Why?" Sydney asked, seeing Weiss' face fall.
"Cam needs me at the club tomorrow. There is still so much to do before Saturday. I'm going to need plenty of sleep. But I will see you guys there, right."
"Yeah, of course." Sydney gave her a hug. "See ya."
When Ainsley had gone Sydney and Vaughn looked at Weiss. Sydney had never seen anyone look so despondant.
"Oh, Houdini don't, look so glum." Sydney put her arm around his shoulder. "Come on the night is still young, and there will be other oppurtunties."
Weiss perked up slightly as Sydney dragged him out onto the dancefloor. He couldn't wait until Saturday night.