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"Ok, only half a can with the dry stuff." Vaughn instructed Weiss on Friday. "I don't want to come home to a fat dog."
"Vaughn, I know." Weiss replied, slightly exasperated. "You've told me about a hundred times."
"I'm just making sure." Vaughn said as he put his and Sydney's bags in the back seat of his car.
"You know, if I were you," Weiss started, winking at Sydney, "I'd be more worried about me having some huge party while I stay here this weekend, not if I'm going to overfeed your dog."
"Nah, I've already spoken to Ainsley- she's going to make sure you stay out of trouble." Vaughn grinned as Weiss gave him the finger. "I've left the number of our hotel on the fridge. If you do anything stupid that is potentially hazardous to either Donovan or the house, I want you to call."
"Vaughn!" Weiss exclaimed. "I know! Now go and get the hell out of here!"
Sydney walked into the bright and sunny hotel room, Vaughn closely following. She dropped her bag to the floor and then turned to face Vaughn with a large smile.
"This is perfect," she said, throwing her arms around him. "A fantastic idea."
"Well, I can't take any credit for coming up with the idea." Vaughn replied. "I only planned it."
"Who suggested it?"
"You."
"Me?" Sydney laughed. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't you remember? The hockey rink, when you said you needed a holiday."
"Oh yeah," Sydney said slowly, thinking back to that day. She planted a quick kiss on Vaughn's cheek and then headed to the glass sliding doors that opened out onto a small balcony. Stepping outside, Sydney lifted her up to the warm sun.
Seconds later Vaughn's arms circled around her waist and she felt his head settle on her shoulder. For a few minutes they stood there in silence, just enjoying the view, until Sydney turned herself around and placed her lips on Vaughn's. Oblivious to the fact that anybody walking down the street below would be able to see, they lost themselves in the long, slow and soft kiss.
Finally, their lungs screaming for air, the pulled apart.
"So what do you want to do first?" Vaughn asked, his voice low and slightly breathless as he twisted a strand of Sydney's hair around his finger.
"Oh, I have something in mind." Sydney replied as she slipped her hands up the back of Vaughn's shirt and running her fingers up and down his back.
Vaughn grinned cheekily. "But what about your giraffe? I thought you'd be dying to see her."
"I've all of tomorrow or Sunday to see her." Sydney replied, as she lightly pushed Vaughn back into the room.
"Ok then, so what did you have in mind exactly?" Vaughn asked, still grinning. "Because, I think I'm gonna need you to elaborate."
Sydney, who had just shut the sliding doors and curtains, turned to Vaughn, a twinkle in her eye. Walking up to him, she pounced, pushing him onto the bed and then pinning him down.
"Is this clear enough for you, Mr Vaughn?" she murmured into his ear, before trailing a line of kisses down his neck.
"Um yeah," Vaughn cleared his throat. "I think it is."
"That doesn't look promising." Vaughn commented to Sydney as he glanced up at the sky. It was late Saturday morning and the two of them were strolling through the zoo, Sydney completely happy as the giraffe enclosure had been their first stop.
When they had left the hotel about an hour ago, it had been a beautiful day, but as the morning had progrssed, so had the black clouds that were creeping threateningly across the sky.
Sydney's eyes followed Vaughn's upwards as a deep rumble filled the air. She turned to Vaughn, a grin on her face.
"What are you smiling about?" he asked.
"I love thunderstorms." Sydney declared, lacing her fingers through his. Seconds later the skies opened up and the zoo was filled with a flurry of activity as people dashed for cover from the steady rain.
Sydney and Vaughn were both laughing by the time they'd reached shelter under a nearby gazebo. Sydney, pulling her wet clothes away from her body, glanced at Vaughn. He was looking mightly fine with rain dripping from his face and hair and his wet t-shirt clinging to his chest.
"What?" Vaughn asked, wiping his face with his hand.
"Nothing," Sydney smiled. "I just love you."
Vaughn grinned back. "Ditto."
"Oh, I love it when you quote chick flicks!" Sydney laughed. "It means so much that you're willing to provide me with such ammunition."
"Careful Syd," Vaughn warned in a teasing tone. "Weiss doesn't yet know that you are ticklish. That information could easily slip out one of these days."
Sydney poked her tongue out as she pulled Vaughn in for a long kiss. When they broke apart Vaughn's eyes looked softly into Sydney's as he brushed away some stray strands of her hair.
"So what do you want to do now?" he asked. "All of our plans invlove being outside and this rain doesn't look to be letting up."
"Maybe we should just head back to the hotel."
"You want to spend our break holed up in a hotel room?"
"I can think of worse places to be," Sydney winked. "Besides, if it doesn't stop raining today, we'll still have tomorrow."
Vaughn grinned and grabbed her hand as the two of them headed back to the hotel
The rain didn't let up, continuing it's heavy downpour through the rest of Saturday and when Vaughn opened his eyes Sunday morning he was dismayed when he heard the sound of rain pounding against the roof.
Sydney, who was in his arms, stirred and yawned before opening her eyes. "What's the matter?" she asked when she caught sight of Vaughn's long face.
"It's still raining," he sighed. "This weekend is turning out to be a bit of a bust."
"No, it hasn't," Sydney assured him. "So what if we've been stuck inside- I've had a great time. I've been with you the whole weekend, and I got to see my giraffe. I couldn't ask for anything more."
Vaughn smiled slightly as he leant in and pressed his lips against Sydney's forehead. "So that's your idead of an ideal getaway. Pouring rain and a giraffe with a crooked neck?"
"Wel, maybe not ideal." Sydney grinned. "But it still has been pretty great. Plus, this rain gives us an excuse to come back sooner rather than later."
"I like the way you think, Little Miss Snot Bubble."
"Vaughn!" Sydney slapped him lightly on the chest. "Why does it always come back to the snot bubble?"
"Because you love me making fun of you." Vaughn whispered in her ear.
"Oh really? And why is that?"
"Because it makes you feel less guilty when you pick on me."
"What?" Sydney gasped, trying unsuccessfully to feign indignation. "I do not pick on you!"
"Ha!" Vaughn scoffed. He then proceeded to talk in a high, falsetto voice. "I swear you are gonna get it...So that's why you and Weiss are able to stay friends. You haven't matured past 12...That's because your weak...Let me rephrase that for your male brain...You two sound like an old married couple..."
Sydney was cracking up. "I wouldn't say those things."
Vaughn's fingers hovered dangerously above her ribs. "So now you're a liar as well as a tease."
"Don't." Sydney said warningly as his fingers grazed her ribs. Even that slightest touch made her squirm.
"You know what you have to do." Vaughn laughed. "Surrender Bristow, or your ribs will receive a lashing."
Sydney's eyes narrowed- but only for a second. As the smile on her face grew wider, her eyes softened and she gently ran a finger along Vaughn's chin dimple. "Ok, yes. I do pick on you- but only because you love it, too."
"Oh, do I?"
"Yeah, because it makes you feel less guil-" Sydney was cut off by a grinning Vaughn clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Shut up Bristow," he said, bringing his lips down to hers.
The sun did eventually decide to shine that weekend- when Sydney and Vaughn stepped outside to leave. After throwing their bags onto the backseat of Vaughn's car, Sydney turned to him.
"Thank you so much for this."
"You're welcome," Vaughn replied. He wrapped his arms around her and for a minute they just stood there, enjoying the warmth of each other's touch.
"Come on Syd," Vaughn said, pressing his lips onto the top of her head. "Let's go home."
A/N: Two more chapters to go...