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"Ok dad. Well how about we just meet at the theatre…OK, well the show starts at 8, so about 7.30…Fine, I'll see you then." Sydney flipped her mobile shut and then turned to Francie and Ainsley who were seated next to her on the sand. It was late Saturday afternoon and they, along with Vaughn, Weiss and Will had been at the beach for a few hours.
"I cannot believe that you are getting your father to go and see Alice in Wonderland." Francie said, admiration in her voice.
"I know." Sydney grinned. "He didn't sound exactly thrilled, but hey, since he bought the tickets, how could he refuse?"
"Here you go ladies." Vaughn, Weiss and Will walked up to them, handing over the ice creams they been sent to get.
"Thank-you." Sydney gleefully took the coffee ice cream from Vaughn. "I so could not be bothered getting it myself. The bookstore was crazy this morning."
"Please do not mention work Sydney." Francie pleaded, a grimace on her face. "It reminds me that it a few hours that's what I'll be doing."
"Me too," Ainsley piped up, looking at her watch. "In fact I have to go soon. Cam will need help setting up for tonight."
"How is the club going?" Vaughn asked, quickly taking a bite of Sydney's ice cream as she looked towards Ainsley, waiting for her answer.
"Good. It was a little slow the first week, but the crowds have been building up since."
"That's great." Sydney said. "We'll have to get back there soon."
"Anytime guys. I'm sure I could even wrangle drinks on the house for you- except this one." Ainsley nudged Weiss who was occupied with his own ice cream cone. "He'd put us out of business."
Hearing everyone's snickers, Weiss looked up. "Huh?" he glanced at Ainsley. "What did you say?"
"Nothing to worry about Eric. Just go back to your ice cream."
Weiss looked at all of them, trying to figure out if the joke had been on him. Their faces gave nothing away so, shrugging his shoulders, he continued to eat his ice cream.
"Hey Mike," Will spoke up. "When are you moving into your new place."
"Next Saturday."
"So soon?" Francie asked.
"Yeah, the place is vacant and I don't see the point in hanging around at my place at the moment. The sooner the move is over, the better."
"Come on Vaughn." Sydney put in. "Tell them the real reason why you're so eager to move."
"What real reason?" Vaughn grinned, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "There is no real reason."
Sydney grinned back and then turned to the group. "He wants to get to the new place so he can get a dog," she explained. "The backyard was the deciding factor for him."
"A dog? Great, now Alan will have a mate." Weiss said.
"Well, I have to actually move in before I can get a dog. Which means that I will be requiring your services this time next week."
"Services?" Francie asked, knowing all to well that she wasn't going to like the answer.
"We're going to help Vaughn move in," Sydney answered, laughing at the expression on Francie's face. "It'll be fun."
"You think?"
"Well even if it's not, after helping Vaughn move he will be in your debt." Weiss interjected. "Be in all of our debt."
"Oh yeah." Francie's face suddenly brightened, as Vaughn's suddenly fell.
"Do you need any help with anything else?" Sydney asked, getting up from Vaughn's living room floor and brushing her hands off on her pants. It was Thursday and she'd spent the past couple of days helping Vaughn pack up his apartment.
"Nah, most of it is done." Vaughn walked out from the kitchen, his hand running through his messy hair. "Besides if you don't get going soon you're going to be late meeting your dad."
"Oh god, that completely slipped my mind." Sydney looked at her watch. She had about an hour and a half to get home, showered, dressed and then head to the theatre. It was times like this that she was so grateful that she didn't suffer from a Francie Fashion Complex. "I gotta go."
"Have fun." Vaughn came across the room to give her a kiss.
"I'll come back here after, ok." Sydney said. "Tell you all about it."
"You better!" Vaughn called as she walked out the front door.
"Thank you dad." Sydney said as she and Jack walked out of the theatre that night. "That was great."
"Not exactly my cup of tea, but I'm glad you enjoyed."
"Thank you for actually coming, too."
"I have to say I was surprised when you asked me." Jack said. "I figured you would have invited Michael."
"I didn't think it would be a good idea to bring him. Would've given him too many ideas."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing." Sydney smiled.
"So, do you want to grab a coffee before calling it a night?" Jack asked, pointing to a café across the street.
"Sure."
They crossed the street and entered the near empty café, and sat a table by the window. After placing their order with the waiter Jack turned to Sydney.
"So how are things?"
"Uh, things are great." Sydney smiled to herself. Small talk definitely wasn't one of her father's strong points.
"Good." Sydney noticed that he was twisting his serviette in his hands. What was going on? Why was he nervous- and since when did he ever let his emotions show?
"Dad, are you ok?"
"I'm fine." He answered very quickly- proof to Sydney that he was lying.
"Dad." Sydney raised her eyebrows at him.
"Well, there was something I wanted to discuss with you."
"What?"
"I've been seeing someone Sydney." The waiter chose that exact moment to bring their coffees across. As he placed them on the table Sydney stared at he father, incredulously.
"You've been seeing someone?" she asked when the waiter had retreated.
"Yes."
"Who? And for how long?"
"Her name is Judith and we met a little under a month ago."
Sydney continued to stare at him, unsure of how she felt about this news. To begin, she could hardly believe that Jack Bristow, Mr Passive and Unemotional, was dating someone.
"Uh, how did you meet?"
"At work." Jack took a mouthful of coffee. "I'm sorry if this has upset you, but I didn't think it a wise decision to keep it from you."
"I'm not upset dad. I'm just a little…stunned." She gave him a small smile. "No offence, but you're not the easiest guy to get to know. How did she do it?"
Jack let out a small chuckle. "She saw through the façade." He looked at Sydney. "I would really like for you to meet her."
"Sure." Sydney put her coffee mug to her lips, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that her father had a girlfriend.
"A girlfriend?" Vaughn cracked up. "Yeah right Syd- that's a good one."
"I'm serious, Vaughn." Sydney flopped down next to him on the couch. "My dad is seeing someone."
"But you're dad…he's a…how can he?"
"I know. My father- Mr 'I don't let anyone in including my own daughter'- has a girlfriend."
"So what do you think about all this?"
"I'm not sure. I'm happy for him, but then I also feel really hurt and jealous." She looked up at Vaughn's eyes. "It took me fifteen years to make a connection with my father. It took this Judith only four weeks to do that."
"Syd, there is no way that you're father cares more for this woman than he does for you. You are his daughter after all."
"I know." Sydney sighed and then slid down, resting her head on Vaughn's lap. While she wanted to be happy for Jack, Sydney couldn't help it. She viewed this Judith as a threat and did not want this newcomer to the scene jeopardizing the realtionship she'd built up with her father.
"Syd?" Vaughn's voice broke through her thoughts. "Are you ok?"
Sydney shook her head, and as Vaughn stroked the top of her head, she couldn't help but dread the moment when she had to meet Judith.