Once again, thank you all so much for your reviews.
"Will, you should come out with us." Sydney pleaded to him over the phone. "Weiss will be singing- that's bound to take your mind off everything."
She was seated on Vaughn's couch, the phone nestled between her shoulder and cheek as she tried to zip up her boots. Unfortunately today Donovan had decided that all he wanted was Sydney's undivided attention and was now jumping all over her in an attempt to get it.
"I don't think so. I wouldn't be very good company." Will paused. "Are you ok, Syd? You sound like you're panting."
"I'm fine. It's just Donovan. He hasn't left my side all day."
"Sounds like someone has a little crush."
"Yeah, Vaughn said I should be flattered." Sydney finally got her boots zipped and was actually able to hold the phone in her hand. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"I'm sure." Sydney could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "Syd, it's been nearly a week since the party and she hasn't spoken to me once."
"I know…Donovan-no!" The puppy was up and attempting to lick her face. "I'm going to try and talk to Francie this week."
"I don't think it's going to work, Syd. This has got to be huge. Since when does Francie internalise her emotions?"
"Exactly, Will. She doesn't, which means that she is going to crack sooner or later."
"I guess."
"Please come out tonight Will. Vaughn and I can pick you up. I really think you need this."
Will hesitated. He'd been moping around for a week, stressing over the Francie situation. Perhaps Sydney was right- a night out would probably do him the world of good. Besides, an opportunity to see Weiss sing in public was too good to pass up.
"Ok," he relented. "Can you give me 15 minutes?"
"That's fine. Should be just enough time to break a bulldog's heart."
"No." Sydney said flatly. They had only just arrived at The Box and already Weiss was pestering them all to get up and sing. Vaughn and Will were shaking their heads along with Sydney.
"What about you, Ainz?" Weiss asked.
"Maybe after a few drinks." Ainsley smiled. In truth she couldn't wait to get up and she had an inkling that Sydney felt the same way.
"What about you Mike?" Weiss said to Vaughn as the five of them sat around a small table.
"There is nothing you can say or do that will get me up there."
"But Vaughn," Sydney said, a teasing smile in her eyes. "I thought that you would want to give a rendition of 'Little Shop of Horrors'"
"Tell me Syd. Does Ainsley know the real reason why we're together?" Vaughn shot back, his finger grazing the silver orb on her bracelet.
"Ok, ok. I'll shut up." Sydney replied quickly. Ainsley watched the interaction curiously. She'd have to get the full details off Weiss later on.
"Looks like you're on your own." Vaughn turned to Weiss.
"I don't think so." Weiss knew exactly how he was going to get Vaughn up on that stage.
"Really?" Vaughn grinned.
"Yeah." Weiss leaned in to whisper to Vaughn. Sydney strained to hear what was being said. As Vaughn's faced dropped she caught wind of words such as 'club' and 'he-she'.
"That's not fair." Vaughn replied through gritted teeth. Sydney realized that there was only one way to save Vaughn from this.
"Oh Vaughn, don't worry. I already know about that." Both his and Weiss's heads snapped to her direction.
"What?" Vaughn exclaimed.
"Syd!" Weiss hissed at the same time.
"Yeah, Weiss told me ages ago what happened the first time you went to a club."
"You told her?" Vaughn glared at Weiss.
"Told her what?" Ainsley asked, while Will looked on with extreme interest.
"That Vaughn tried to pick up a woman who was actually a man." Sydney explained.
"Syd!" Vaughn's eyes were wide, but as he turned back to Weiss, they narrowed. "You."
"Oh shit. I'm going to the bar. Do you guys want a drink? A drink sounds good. Beer? Yeah beer. Beers all around." Weiss jumped up and dashed away.
"Do you know what you've just done?" Vaughn asked Sydney in a low voice. He wasn't angry, just mortified.
"Yup." Sydney grinned.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because I just destroyed Weiss's only source of blackmail against you." She looked at Vaughn's face, the expression suddenly happier and then turned to Will and Ainsley who were doubled over in laughter. "And look at that. We brought a smile to William's face."
Well I'm back in black Yes I'm back in black hooo yeah
Ohh yeah Yes I am Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah Back in now
Well I'm back, I'm back Back, I'm back Back, I'm back Back,
I'm back Back, I'm back Back Back in black
Yes I'm back in black Out of the sight
The crowd let out a loud applause as Weiss finished and headed back to their table. The performance had been typical Weiss- loud, large and mostly out of tune, but somehow he managed to have everybody in the club absolutely loving him.
Earlier Ainsley had got up and sang 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun', much to Will's chagrin. He'd ended up holding his beer over Weiss's head, threatening to tip it over, if he called out "Strip!" once more.
Weiss had just sat down when Sydney surprised them all by standing up. "I'm going up."
"What?" Will asked, as Vaughn choked on the mouthful of beer he'd just taken. Ainsley and Weiss, on the other hand, were clapping and cheering as she walked up to the small stage.
As soon as Sydney got on the stage she began to regret her decision. She only sung alone, in the shower or when she was cleaning the apartment and had the music pumped up, and now here she was in front of crowd of people. She'd chosen a song that was a favourite of both her mother and Emily. She'd heard it many, many times and it was the only song she felt comfortable singing.
As the music started she took a deep breath and brought the microphone to her lips.
You made me leave my happy homeYou took my love and now you're gone
Since I fell for you
Love brings so much misery and pain
I guess I'll never be the same
Since I fell for you
It's too bad
It's so sad
I'm in love with you
You love me
Then you snub me
But what can I do?
I'm still in love with you
Ohhhh
I guess I'll never see the lights
I get the blues 'bout every night
Since I fell for you
Since I fell for you.
Sydney couldn't believe it when the crowd started to applaud when she finished, and when she got back to the table the expression on Vaughn, Will, Weiss and Ainsley's faces were that of shock.
"What?" she asked, nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she sat down.
"Wow." Weiss answered.
"Yeah, wow." Ainsley added.
"How is it that I've known you for about 6 years and have no idea that you can sing?" Will asked.
"Because I didn't think I could." Sydney was getting a little embarrassed by this reaction. "Was it alright?"
"Syd, it was great." Vaughn leaned across to kiss her.
Sydney grinned. "So are you going to get up there?" she asked Vaughn and Will.
"I think it's time for another round." Will stood very quickly. "You wanna help, Mike?"
"Definitely." Vaughn jumped up. Sydney may have a lot of persuasive powers, but there was no way he was getting up behind that microphone.
"Hey Fran, I'm making some lunch. Do you want some?" Sydney called out Monday afternoon. After getting no reply she headed towards Francie's room. Peeking inside she saw Francie curled up asleep on her bed.
Walking softly across the room, Sydney pulled a blanket over Francie and picked up the textbook near her arm. Sydney figured she must have been catching up on some reading before classes went back next Monday.
Before exiting the room Sydney took one glance at the sleeping form of her best friend and felt a gnawing sensation inside.
"Oh Francie," she whispered. "When are you going to tell us what is bothering you?"
On Wednesday Sydney pulled up outside her apartment after finishing a shift at work and was surprised to see Will's blue Jeep. Had he and Francie finally worked things out? Sydney got her answer when she got out of her own car and saw Will's dejected form sitting in his own.
"Will." Sydney tapped on his window and he wound it down. "What's going on?"
"I just came to say hello. Not to pressure her to talk, but just to check in. Tell Francie I missed her."
"And?"
"She told me to go away, that she wasn't in the mood for company."
Sydney looked at the tired and worn face of her once happy best friend and something snapped. "Right. That's enough."
"What?" Will looked at her confused.
"I don't know about you, but I have had enough of Francie making us worry and stress this past week and a half. It's time she opened up and put us all out of our misery."
"Syd, what can you do? You can't force her to talk."
"I know. But it's time that Francie faced a little tough love." Sydney said determinedly. "You go home. I'll let you know if I succeed or not."
After Will drove off Sydney strode into the apartment. Francie wasn't in the kitchen or living area, so Sydney went straight to her bedroom. Sure enough Francie was sitting cross-legged on her bed, a business textbook open in front of her.
"We have to talk." Sydney stood at the end of Francie's bed, looking straight at her.
"No. I am not going through this again. Will just tried to pull the same thing fifteen minutes ago."
"Yes we are. Will and I aren't trying to pull anything. We are worried about you and the way you've been behaving lately."
"And just how have I been behaving Sydney?" Francie asked, snapping the textbook shut. "Please, enlighten me."
"You know exactly how you've been acting. Moody, snippy and being downright rude to Will, when all he and I have been trying to do is help you."
"I don't need help!" Francie yelled, crossing her arms. "Nothing is wrong."
"Bull! Just stop it, Francie, because whatever is affecting you is affecting everyone else. I hate having to speak to you like this, but it's the only way you'll listen." Sydney could hear her voice getting slightly hysterical, so she paused. After taking a deep breath, she continued. "You are making our lives miserable, Fran. Believe it or not, we love you and when we see you hurting, it hurts us as well. So please, quit this act and tell me what the damn problem is."
Sydney stared at Francie's angry face and was completely shocked when she suddenly burst into tears.
"Oh, god. Francie." Quick as a flash Sydney was by Francie's side. "Please, please, talk to me."
Francie wiped her eyes and drew in a ragged breath before speaking.
"I'm pregnant, Syd."
A/N: So now we know what the problem is- though it probably wasn't much of a surprise. Most of you had already guessed correctly:P