Thank you all so much for your great feedback.
SuperSpy: I really love the quote too- hence why i used it. And it was definately green- I watched the episode specifically for the quote for this chapter.
Lil Aussie Alias Chick: How great was Welcome to Liberty Village? Santa Barbara- omg! Anyway, we've got a double episode coming up this week- cannot wait!
dandan2300: I used to have the figurines (my brother and I were, still are, hug fans), but they have seemed to have disappeared. It's awesome you still have yours- the Turtles are the best.
Chameleonb: The quote was ripped straight from the episode 4, season 3, A Missing Link.
On Wednesday Sydney accompanied Vaughn to the local animal shelter so he could finally pick the dog that he had been so desperately yearning for.
"Do you have any idea on what breed you want?" Sydney asked, looking at the dogs.
"Nope. But I'm sure I'll know when I've found the right one." Vaughn answered happily, and he was right. A few minutes later he found his dog.
"This is the one,' he pointed to a bulldog.
"He's 7 months old. You don't mind a puppy, do you?" The animal shelter worker asked as he opened the enclosure.
"No, that's fine." Vaughn answered, bending down to the dog's level. "Does he have a name?"
"No, he was only brought here yesterday, so we haven't had a chance to give him one yet."
Sydney crouched beside Vaughn. "What are you going to call him?"
Vaughn looked thoughtfully into the dog's face, as he scratched him behind the ears. After about a minute his eyes lit up and he turned and smiled at Sydney.
"Well?" she prompted.
"Sydney," Vaughn turned back to the dog. "I'd like you to meet Donovan."
Vaughn wasn't actually able to bring Donovan home until Friday. The vet at the animal shelter needed to check over him and make sure that his vaccinations were up to date. As a result, for the rest of Wednesday and all of Thursday, Vaughn was behaving like a child on Christmas Eve.
After leaving the animal shelter on Wednesday Vaughn had driven himself and Sydney straight to the pet store. About an hour later they finally headed back to his place- the boot of his car filled with a kennel, bowls, food and dozens of toys. It was like he was preparing for the arrival of a new child.
Sydney had to admit, though, that his excitement was infectious and she was right by his side on Friday to pick Donovan up from the shelter.
Vaughn's day got even better when Juliette showed up that afternoonwith a surprise- a pool table.
"Michael and Eric were the only ones who used it," she explained to Sydney as Vaughn jumped on the phone to Weiss. "It's been sitting around at home collecting dust ever since Michael moved out. Now he has the space, it might as well be somewhere where it'll be used."
"Ok, get over here soon." Vaughn placed the phone shut and walked across to Juliette. "You're the best, maman!" He pulld her into a tight hug.
Sydney couldn't help but laugh. She had the feeling Vaughn wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.
Sydney woke up late and alone Saturday morning. Padding barefoot out of Vaughn's bedroom she saw that he was out in the yard with Donovan.
"Ah, so she decides to surface." Vaughn said, spotting Sydney and running across.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"I didn't have the heart, you looked to peaceful. Besides, I had Donovan to keep me company."
At this, Sydney couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't the mass of females who always seemed to be checking Vaughn out that she had to worry about. No, it looked as if her only competition for Vaughn's affections was going to be a 7-month-old bulldog.
"I have to go to work," she said when her laughter had subsided.
"What time will you be back here?"
Sydney shrugged. "I'm going home after- Francie wants us to come to the housewarming together."
"OK then, well, I'll see you when I see you next."
"Fran, are you ok? Do you need some help or something?" Sydney stood outside their bathroom. Francie had been in there for about half an hour, and hadn't called for Sydney's assistance once.
Sydney jumped back as the door opened and Francie walked out. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Sydney felt that something was off. After all Francie had only tried on three outfits before deciding on what to wear.
"Yes." Francie replied testily, grabbing her bag form the kitchen counter. "I was trying to decide on what lip gloss to wear."
"It took you that long to decide on what lip gloss to wear?" Sydney said as they headed to the door.
"You know me Syd. I chose my clothes quickly, so I needed something to obsess over."
"True."
"And even after that, we're still going to be early." Francie said, getting into her car. "So what the hell are you complaining about?"
Sydney looked at Francie, a little shocked at her words. "I wasn't complaining Fran. I was just worried about you."
"Yeah, well as I said before, I am fine," she replied, turning the ignition. "So can we please drop it?"
"Ok." Sydney sat back in her seat. She hadn't seen Francie in a mood like this since Charlie. She needed to have a little chat with Will and find out what he had done.
"Syd!" Vaughn's face was shocked as she and Francie walked into his house. "Francie?"
"What?" Francie asked. Sydney tried desperately to get Vaughn's attention, to motion for him to shut up. She wasn't quick enough.
"You guys are the first here- well apart from Weiss. I'm just a little surprised."
"Why are you surprised Michael?" Francie demanded. Vaughn's eyes widened as he saw her expression and finally noticed Sydney's frantic gestures.
"Uh, no reason." He rubbed the back of his neck. Francie sighed and strode off to the backyard. Vaughn raised his eyebrows at Sydney. "What has Will done?"
"I don't know." Sydney answered. "But, judging Francie's mood, I wouldn't want to be him in a million years."
About two hours later Sydney saw Will walk out to the backyard. Immeadiately she headed straight over to him and dragged him back inside.
"Syd, what is up? OW!" He jerked his arm away. "How about you just rip it out of the socket next time?"
"We need to talk."
"Why didn't you just say that, instead if trying to cause bodily harm? What's the problem?"
"I was hoping you could tell me." Sydney went into detail about Francie's behaviour that night. Unfortunately Will's blank expression offered no explanation.
"What are you talking about Syd? I haven't done anything." He stopped suddenly, the look on his face transforming from blank to indignant. "Hey! How come you automatically assume that it's me who has done something wrong?"
"I'm sorry Will. It's just that Francie is in a really foul mood- I mean a Charlie foul mood. I just assumed that you guys had a fight."
"I saw her last night and she seemed fine. A little quiet, but fine."
"Maybe, she's just stressing because uni goes back soon." Sydney mused aloud, at the same time thinking that it was more serious that uni-related stress. "Or perhaps she had a crappy day at work."
"Syd," Will put a hand on her shoulder. "If something is wrong, Francie will tell us. But I'm sure it's nothing."
"Go and try to speak to her, Will." Sydney said. "You'll see, it's not nothing."
A little while later Sydney was manoeuvring around the people scattered throughout the house and backyard looking for Vaughn. Spotting Weiss she walked up to him.
"Hey," he smiled.
"Hey, have you seen Vaughn?"
"Is that all I am to you- a conduit to Vaughn? Do you ever see him and say 'Hey, where's Weiss?'"
Sydney poked her tongue out at him and pushed him lightly.
"Oh, so I'm also you're punching bag?"
"Well, you have multiple uses."
"Like what?" he asked, gleefully.
"Where's your other half?" Sydney asked, changing the subject. The conversation was heading into dangerous territory.
"Uh, hello? She works at a nightclub and it's Saturday night. Where do you think she is?"
"How are things going between you?"
"Good." Weiss grinned. "Really good."
"That's great." Sydney smiled back at him. "It's about time that Houdini got himself a little sugar."
"Damn right."
"Now, where is Vaughn?"
Weiss laughed. "I saw him go into his bedroom a bit before. My guess is he's still in there."
Weiss was right. When Sydney entered his room, she saw Vaughn sitting up on his bed, with Donovan curled up beside him.
"What are you doing?" Sydney asked, closing the door behind her.
"I think the people and music were scaring Donovan so I brought him in here." Vaughn explained.
"Well, well, well. Look who's become an overprotective daddy."
Instead of biting back, Vaughn just grinned and ruffled Donovan behind the ears.
Meanwhile Will and Francie were locking horns in Vaughn's miniscule laundry.
"Will, nothing is wrong!" Francie yelled.
"Don't give me that crap, Fran. Something is up- everybody here has noticed."
"So what?"
"Why won't you let me help you?"
"And what exactly are you supposed to help me with?"
"I don't know yet, because you won't tell me what the damn problem is!"
"I don't have a problem."
"So, then why are you snapping and biting at everyone? Huh?"
"I am not."
"Yes you are Francie and you know it." Will paused and attempted to lower his voice. "Please. I can't help you if you don't speak to me."
"Don't you dare speak to me with that patronizing tone, William Tippin. I am not a child."
"I wasn't implying that." Will replied, exasperated.
"I'm going home."
"Well then let me take you. We can talk back at your apartment."
"I don't want to talk- there is nothing to talk about."
"But-"
"No!" Francie held up her hands. "I'm going home alone. Do not follow me. I need some space tonight."
"Francie," Will grabbed her hand. "I don't want us to fight like this."
"Yeah, well you should have thought about that before telling me that I had a problem. Now please let go so I can leave."
Will watched Francie storm off, a sick feeling in his stomach. Sydney was right- it wasn't nothing. Whatever was going on with Francie was huge. He left the laundry, the argument replaying in his mind. He needed to speak with Sydney- right now.