Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and review.
Lil Aussie Alias Chick: Oh, I have plenty excuses for not updating- stuff like uni, work etc etc:P But since I love you guys so much, I try and update as quick as possible.
Chameleonb: I love to read you guys reviews- how could any fanfic author not? It is one of the most rewarding things, to read how much you are enjoying the fic.
passportone: Thank you for your comments, glad you are enjoying the fic.
As for what is going on with Francie, I'm not going to tell you:P However, I will say dandan2300 that it is definitely not evil Francie!
"Will, just slow down for a sec." Sydney said. She and Vaughn had only just exited his bedroom, leaving the sleeping Donovan curled up on his bed, when a visibly upset Will bombarded them.
"I just asked her what was wrong and everything just kind of blew up." Will rubbed his eyes, looking extremely tired. "I've never seen her like this, Sydney."
"I know. Where is she now?"
"She said she wanted to be alone and went home. Maybe I should follow her."
"No, not with the mood she's in. It's would be better to just leave her alone." Sydney said. "I'll call home soon to make sure that she got there. I know it's hard, but I think you should wait until she has calmed down before you try and speak to her."
"I'm really worried, Syd."
"So am I. But let's just give the situation a little time and then we can decide where to go from there, ok."
"Ok." Will sighed. "I'm going to go home anyway. I'm sorry Mike, but I'm just not in the mood for a party."
"Hey, that's ok." Vaughn replied. "Don't stress too much. Things have a way of sorting themselves out."
"I know." Will answered and then gave Sydney a hug. "I'll speak to you tomorrow."
"Yeah, I'm sure we'll be laughing about this then." Sydney reassured, not really believing what she was saying. She could tell by the look on Will's face that he didn't either.
"Vaughn, I don't care what you say, but I'm crashing here tonight." Weiss announced, throwing himself onto the couch. The last partygoer had left a few minutes earlier and Vaughn, Sydney and Weiss were well and truly ready for bed.
"That's fine." Vaughn turned to Sydney. "You staying, too?"
"Actually, I think I'll go home tonight."
"Is that a good idea? I mean, after what you said to Will…"
"I know. But I feel I should be there. Not to try and make Francie talk, but just be there for her. Who knows, tomorrow she may be fine."
"What's wrong with Francie?" Weiss asked from the couch. Sydney and Vaughn looked at him incredulously. Once again it seemed that Eric Weiss was living in his own little world.
"Hey, before you go, Syd," Vaughn started. "Did you want to plan something for Thursday?"
"Why? What's Thursday?"
"God Sydney, you dunderhead." Weiss laughed.
"Go to sleep Weiss." Vaughn said. "Thursday is Valentine's Day, Syd."
"Oh yeah, it is." Sydney smiled. "Yeah, let's do something."
"You have anything in mind?"
"Actually I do. I will call you at a later date with a time and dress code." Sydney placed a light kiss on his cheek.
"Hey, you never answered my question before." Weiss piped up. "What's wrong with Francie?"
"I'll leave that one to you," Sydney whispered to Vaughn. "Bye Houdini!"
"She's not as angry as last night, but she still hasn't spoken a word." Sydney spoke quietly to Will on the phone extension in her room. If Francie caught wind that they were talking about her, the aftermath would not be pretty.
"What the hell are we going to do Syd?" Will asked, desperately.
"Tread very carefully and hope that Francie is able to pull herself out of this funk, because I don't think she is going to accept any help from us."
They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. When Sydney walked out of her bedroom she saw Francie sitting at the kitchen bench, nursing an orange juice.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"Will."
"What did he want? Francie's tone was suspicious.
"He wanted my opinion on whether he should get you something for Valentine's."
"Valentine's? That day is just a load of crock created by greeting card companies and florists."
"Francie, you've always loved Valentine's Day."
"Yeah, well things change." Francie stood up abruptly. "I'm having a shower."
Sydney stared after her, feeling completely helpless.
By Monday Francie still wasn't acting herself and Sydney was in some desperate need of therapy- the retail kind. She called Ainsley, who needed no convincing and half an hour later the two of them were at the local shopping centre.
"So what exactly do you need to make you feel better?" Ainsley asked. "Clothes, shoes, bags, CD's?"
"How about a 'Spill All' pill for Francie?"
"I heard the manufacturer had to stop producing those. The people who took them just couldn't shut up." Ainsley joked. "Perhaps you should look at a new CD."
Sydney laughed. It was no wonder that Ainsley and Weiss got on so well; the two of them shared the same sense of humour.
"Come on," Ainsley dragged her into the nearest music store. "Buy some happy music to play at home. Maybe it'll rub off."
"I don't think so." Sydney muttered. But she still started flipping through the CDs in front of her. It had been a while since she'd added to her collection.
"Are you getting Michael a present for Valentine's?" Ainsley asked a few minutes later.
"Nah. We decided to forgo the whole gift thing. What about you and Weiss?"
"He's dropped a few hints on what he wants."
"Hints?"
"Yeah. Along the lines of 'I don't want anything but chocolate'." Ainsley replied, a grin on her face. "I'm going to buy him a teddy bear, just to see his reaction."
"Oh, if you can, please get a picture." Sydney laughed as she headed towards the counter with her selections.
"Hey, are you and Michael busy Friday night?" Ainsley asked as they headed out of the music store.
"I don't think so. Why?"
"I just thought it would be fun if you came out with Eric and me." Ainsley paused. "I was going to ask Will and Francie, but…"
"Let's just monitor that situation and see how it is closer to Friday." Sydney said, somewhat grimly. "But I'll say yes for Vaughn and me. I'll have to check with him, but it should be fine."
"Great. Eric thought we could go to The Box."
"The Box? That karaoke place?" Sydney stopped short.
"Yeah, why do you look so scared?"
"Have you ever heard Weiss sing?"
"No, but he said he was entertaining." Ainsley replied as they wandered into a bookstore.
"Well, entertaining is one way to describe it."
"Oh Syd- it'll be fun."
"Well just don't expect me to get up."
"You won't be able to resist." Ainsley grinned.
"I don't think so…Oh my god!" Sydney made a beeline for something.
"What?" Ainsley asked, coming up behind her.
"This." Sydney held up the item. "It's perfect for Vaughn."
"That? Really?" Ainsley said, disbelievingly. "I thought you said you weren't getting each other presents."
"That was before I saw this. How can I not get it?"
"Hey Donovan." Sydney crouched down to pet the excited puppy. "Where's your daddy?" It was Thursday- Valentine's Day and Sydney had just let herself into Vaughn's house, ready to take them out for their date.
"He's right here." Vaughn answered, walking out of the small hall that led to his bedroom. "So are you going to tell me where we're going or continue with the silent torture?"
"What? Like you did to me on out first date?"
"Hey!" Vaughn was indignant. "You wanted it to be a surprise. You told me-"
"That's ok." Sydney held up her hands, a sly grin playing on her lips. "I understand that, unlike me, you are unable to withstand the rigours of torture."
"One more word out of you and I tell Weiss that you are extremely ticklish."
"Admit you're weaker than me or I'll tell Weiss you quoted Dirty Dancing." Sydney shot back. Vaughn stared back at her, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Looks like we've hit stalemate."
"It does." Sydney raised her eyebrows. "So what do we do now?"
"How about we just get in your car and drive. Stick to the original plan."
"Sounds good, but one thing first."
"I know just what you're thinking. Bristow." Vaughn grinned as he strode towards her and wrapped his arms around her. "Am I on the right page?"
"I think you are." Sydney replied, before pulling him down so their lips could meet.
"Alright. What are we doing?" Vaughn asked as soon as Sydney had stopped her car.
Sydney grinned at him. "I've entered us into a pool competition."
"What?"
"I entered us as a team. I mean we've only ever played against each other- imagine what we could do together."
"You're serious." Vaughn was a little stunned. He'd thought for sure that Sydney would have had a big romantic evening planned.
"Yeah. And what better way for us to spend Valentine's Day? After all, it's kinda where we started out- over a pool table." Sydney looked at Vaughn closely. "If you don't want to do this we can go somewhere else."
"No." Vaughn shook his head. "This is perfect."
"You think?"
"I cannot think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day with you."
"I can, but that comes later on." Sydney winked and Vaughn laughed, before pressing his lips into hers.
"Come on Bristow, let's go kick some ass."
Sydney and Vaughn won the competition easily, and it was, for both of them, the best Valentine's Day ever. Sydney in particular couldn't wait to get back to Vaughn's so she could give him the present she'd brought.
It was late by the time they got back to the house, but neither was ready for bed.
"Do you want to put on a movie?" Vaughn suggested, opening the back door to let Donovan inside. "I just have to go get something."
"Ok," Sydney agreed as he left the room. But instead of perusing through Vaughn's movies, she went to her bag to retrieve Vaughn's gift.
"Now Syd," she heard Vaughn's voice calling as he headed back to the living room. "Please don't get mad at me. I know we agreed, but I couldn't help myself." He entered the lounge and Sydney could see a wrapped gift in his hands.
"That's alright- I couldn't help myself either." Sydney replied, holding up his present.
"Oh god. This is classic." Vaughn shook his head and he went and sat on the couch.
"I know." Sydney smiled, sitting next to him.
"Here," Vaughn handed her gift over. "Open yours first."
Sydney ripped open the paper, revealing a tiny charm.
"It's for your bracelet." Vaughn explained and Sydney's hand automatically went to her wrist. She'd worn the charm bracelet Vaughn had given her everyday since Christmas. At work customers often questioned the eclectic mix of charms and she loved explaining the story behind each one- well except for the 'snot bubble'.
The one in her hand now was a key.
"I take it this one is documenting our identical Chrissie gifts?" she asked with a smile.
"Got it in one."
"Thank-you," Sydney leant across to kiss him on the cheek. "Your turn now."
When Vaughn had unwrapped his present, he burst into laughter. Sydney had given him a picture storybook of Alice in Wonderland.
"You like it?"
"I love it."
"Good." Sydney smiled. "Though I think Ainsley was a bit confused by my choice of gift."
"You didn't explain?"
"Nah, I figured Weiss would have more fun telling her."
Vaughn laughed as he wrapped Sydney in his arms. "I love you, Syd."
"And I love you." She gently kissed his lips.
"Now, what was it your were talking about before, when you said you knew a better way to spend Valentine's?" Vaughn asked with a sly grin. Sydney stood up and held her hand out to him.
"Would you like me to show you the way?" she asked, pulling him up off the couch and pressing her lips into his once again.
"If you insist." Vaughn whispered into her ear. Sydney let a tinlking of laughter as she kisssed him once more before leading him down the hallway and to the bedroom.