250 reviews- wow! You guys are fantastic! Thank-you so, so, so much.
dandan2300: I chose not to have Nadia in the story for two reasons. The first is, that because Australia has not yet been shown season 4 and I don't know her character at all, I didn't feel as if I would be able to write her. The second was that I wanted to create a character that was all mine. As for Ainsley's name, I know a little girl with that name and I just liked it.
On New Years Day Vaughn woke with an extremely fuzzy head. The party had gone on till the sun had started to rise- and he, along with Sydney, Will, Weiss and Francie had partied hard right to the end.
When it was over Will and Francie had caught a taxi back to his apartment, but Vaughn and Sydney had opted to crash at Weiss's place. They'd been given seperate couches in the living room, but sometime during the night, Sydney had joined Vaughn on his couch. As their relationship progressed, they were beginning to discover that it was getting difficult to fall asleep without the company of the other.
"Oh god." Vaughn heard Sydney moan.
"You sound like how I feel," he muttered, rubbing his temples. Sydney shifted slightly, and looked up at him. "You look like it too."
"Shut up." Her voice was hoarse, and the punch that landed on his upper arm was weak.
"Good afternoon sunshines." Weiss came bounding down the stairs, looking and sounding completely refreshed. "And how are we feeling today?" He stopped at looked at Sydney and Vaughn. "Ok, no need to answer that. I'm guessing that you guys could go some bacon and eggs?"
He headed into the kitchen and Sydney stared after him in disbelief. "Wow, he really is Houdini."
"Huh?" Vaughn sat up.
"After a night like last, how the hell does he pull up so well?"
"I don't know- that's just Weiss. He always manages to bounce back." Vaughn replied, stretching out his arms. "I, on the other hand, am not so good the morning after. What I need now is a long, hot shower." He climbed over the top of Sydney and off the couch.
"Just don't use all the hot water, Vaughn." Sydney warned. "You're not the only one who needs help to get going the morning after."
"Sweetie, I think you're going to need a little more than a shower." Vaughn joked, deciding that due to Sydney's current state it was safe to do so. She wouldn't be able to hurt him if she tried.
Sydney however sat up straight. "Vaughn, darling," she said, sweetly.
"Yes?"
"I may be incapacitated now, but tomorrow I will be fine. Would you like to repeat what you just said?" she smirked.
"Umm, maybe not." Vaughn replied, wisely. "I think I'll just go and have my shower."
Sydney smiled to herself and laid back on the couch. Screw the shower- what she wanted was sleep.
"Francie I finish work at 5.30. We don't have to be at Phase One until at least 9.00 or 10.00. I'm going to have plenty of time to get ready." Sydney reassured Francie over the phone Saturday afternoon. "Look, my break is almost over, I have to get back to work."
She flipped her phone closed and stood up from the counter at a cafe that was few stores down from the book store. She'd had an half an hour break, and the majority of it was spent on the phone with Francie who was already panicking over tonight. Sydney was just glad that Vaughn had organized for the two of them to go out for dinner beforehand. Will was going to have to deal with Francie's fashion crisis tonight.
As Sydney was walking back to work she noticed a familiar redhead walking in front of her.
"Hey Ainz!" Sydney jogged to catch up to her. "What are you doing? I thought Campbell would have you enslaved at the club, getting ready for tonight."
"He relased me for a very short lunch break." Ainsley replied. "I'm just on my way back."
"Well then I'd better not keep you."
"Yeah, Cam is kinda stressed today." Ainsley smiled. "Hey, everyone is still coming tonight?"
"Yeah."
"No changes to numbers? Nobody extra coming?"
"Uh, no. Just the five of us."
"Ok, good. I'll see you tonight."
"Yeah, see you." Sydney watched Ainsley walk off. Unless her intuiation was completely off, Sydney could have sworn that Ainsley was checking if Weiss would still be going alone.
"Oh, thank god you are here." Sydney came running out of Francie's bedroom, after hearing Vaughn unlock her front door later that night.
"Are you really this glad to see me, or is Francie in fine form?" Vaughn asked, looking towards Francie's room warily.
"She has gone through her wardrobe twice and is on to round three. Let's get out of here now."
Seconds after they had left, Will's head poked out from Francie's room. "Syd, help please."
Seeing the empty room he groaned, before being dragged back inside the bedroom was the crazed person that he called his girlfriend.
"I told Weiss that we would pick him up after dinner." Vaughn said as he and Sydney sat down at a table in Guiseppe's. He was glad that it was just the two of them. It had been a while since they had gone out alone. Lately there had always seemed to be others tagging along.
"This is nice." Sydney's voice echoed his thoughts."You, me, a table and a menu. Unless my eyes are decieving me, this is a proper, bona fide date."
"Until we meet up with our crazy friends in a couple of hours time." Vaughn pointed out.
"Well then," Sydney picked up her menu. "I guess we'd better make the most of it."
They were at the restaurant for about two hours, until Vaughn looked down at his new watch. "I think we should be going. I have an inkling that Weiss will be very anxious to get to this club tonight."
"He does realize that Ainsley will be working, doesn't he?" Sydney asked as they headed towards Vaughn's car.
"I'm not sure. Knowing Weiss he probably plans to sweep Ainsley off her feet in the middle of the dance floor."
"Well, after being a witness to his dancing abilities, I can only hope that Ainsley will be run off her feet tonight." Sydney said as Vaughn started the car. "For both their sakes."
Phase One looked incredible, with the interior all sleek and modern. Sydney couldn't believe that Campbell had actually designed this. The last time she'd seen him, he was Ainsley's annoying older brother, and now he was the owner of what looked like could be an extremely successful business.
"Do you guys want a drink?" Weiss asked.
"Since when are you so generous?" Vaughn asked, incredulous.
"Since I am a good friend."
"Or maybe since a certain redhead is working behind the bar?" Sydney said, a slight smirk on her face.
"Really?" Weiss widened his eyes and tried to look surprised. "I hadn't noticed."
"Nice try." Vaughn patted him on the back.
"Houdini, I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you're in with a chance tonight." Sydney said as they headed towards the bar.
"Why? Did Ainsley say something?" Weiss's face fell. "Damn, I should have known she wouldn't be interested." He looked shattered.
"Hey, I didn't say she wasn't interested." Sydney consoled him. "It's just that she is going to be really busy tonight. Ainsley will barely have time to speak to us, let alone have time for you to work your magic."
"Oh." Weiss's face brightened after hearing this.They stopped at the bar and Sydney tried to get Ainsley's attention.
"Hey, you're here!" Ainlsey exclaimed, coming over to them "What'll it be?"
"This place is amazing, Ainz." Sydney said after they had been given their drinks.
"I know. Who would have thought that Cam was capable of this?"
"Where is he?" Sydney asked, glancing around. "I wanted to say hi."
"He's all over the place. You're bound to run into him sooner or later." She went to serve another customer, but stopped. "Oh, Syd, one thing."
"What?"
"Could you have Francie near the bar at about midnight?"
"Sure, but why?"
"No specific details, but Cam and I have organized a little birthday surprise.Just have her here,ok."
"Ok." Sydney replied as Ainsley walked off. She looked at the guys and uopn seeing Weiss's face, she slapped on the arm. "Weiss!"
"What!" he exclaimed.
"You are totally checking out Ainsley's arse."
"I wasn't-" Sydney raised her eyebrows at him. "Ok, maybe I was. But only in a non-perverted, admiring way. The way Vaughn looks at your arse."
"Hey!" Vaughn jumped in. "Are you trying to get me into trouble?"
"If it takes the heat of me, then yes."
"Stop it." Sydney stepped in. "Now Weiss is you can tear your eyes from Ainsley, I think that it's time that we hit the dance floor."
"Am I not in trouble?" Vaughn asked, surprised.
"No."
"May I ask why?"
Sydney leaned up to his ear. "If I got mad at you, then that would make me a hypocrite." She pulled back and looked at Vaughn, a cheeky grin playing on her lips, and he could not resist kissing them.
Will and Francie arrived at Phase One about an hour after the others. Will looked like he'd just ran a marathon and Francie looked fantastic in the outfit that she had finally chosen. Sydney burst into giggles when she realized that it was one of the first outfits that Francie had tried on.
The five of them kept themselves occupied on the dancefloor, occasionally going to the bar for drinks- Weiss more than anybody. Francie, in particular, was having a great time dancing away and was none to pleased when Sydney dragged her off the dance floor.
"Come on Syd, I love this song,' she protested.
"No, we need a drink." Sydney said. The three guys followed them to the bar. When they reached it Sydney looked for Ainsley. Spotting her a few metres away, Sydney waved and motioned towards Francie.
"Sydney!" Francie crossed her arms. "I am the birthday girl, and I want to dance!"
"Sorry Francie," Sydney shrugged. "But you were the birthday girl on Thursday, and right now I am pulling rank."
"Watch this." Will nudged both Vaughn and Weiss. "A power play between Sydney and Fran is something you don't want to miss."
"But-" Francie stopped when the music was suddenly cut off. "Damn! I love that song."
"Sorry about that everybody." The attention of everybody in the club turned to where the DJ was situated. Campbell was standing up there, a micorphone in his hand, and Ainsley by his side. "I just wanted to take a moment to officially welcome you to the opening of Phase One.
Anybody here who knows me will be aware that this has been a dream of mine for a long time- except that when I was younger the plan was to build the club around a hockey rink, so you could watch games while partying."
"Sounds good to me," Vaughn commented as a small titter went through the crowd.
"Anyway, thank-you all for being here and sharing this special night with me. I hope to see all of you here another time."
The crowd started to applaud, but Campbell stopped them. "One last thing before I shut up and leave you alone. Now it was brought to my attention that someone is here to celebrate her birthday. So, as well as celebrating Phase One's 'birth day', could everybody please join in singing 'Happy Birthday' to Francie." He pointed to right where Francie was standing at the bar.
As the crowd began to sing, Francie stood open- mouthed and looking mortified. For somebody who normally loved the spotlight, Francie looked as if she wanted the floor to swallow her up. Sydney, Will, Vaughn and Weiss struggled to sing through their laughter.
"Don't you ever let that happen again!" she gasped when the singing had finished and the DJ started up the music again.
"Oh, come on, Fran. You loved it." Sydney replied.
"Maybe." Francie grinned.
"Alright guys, our time here is running out!" Weiss announced, as they headed back to the dance floor. So let's make the most of it!"