Sydney woke with a start; she wasn't sure why. She sat up and crossed her arms across herself stroking the ribbed fabric of Vaughn's blue sweater. She had discovered it discarded behind the cream coloured chair in the corner of her room- she found it comforting, its soft material and familiar scent making her feel as if he were lying next to her. She frowned, it was considerably darker than when she closed her eyes; the caramel shade of the light had shifted to a moody grey.

Her eyes flashed in the direction of a small orange flicker and she quickly and inquisitively stepped out of bed following its curious trail. She called his name quietly searching for him as she stepped through her home. She gasped as he saw what he had left for her on the wooden kitchen counter; before her sat two white church candles and a gathering of pink roses next to an unassuming black gift box. It was relatively large and she ran her fingers over its cool ridged surface, lifting the cover slowly and with anticipation. Placing the lid on the surface she gasped once more as she saw what Vaughn had bought for her. There lying shyly in the tissue paper was a black dress- she smiled reaching over towards a long stemmed glass of red wine he had also left for her taking an elegant sip. Sydney placed the glass back where she found it and picked up the note off the dress- it simply read 'For Sydney'. She unfolded the piece card, her eyes dancing over the words he had written in his distinctive handwriting: 'I hope you like it. I love you. Vaughn x'. She pulled it from the box by its straps stepping back to admire it as it tumbled from its folded presentation.

She couldn't help admire his taste. It was really was one of the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, running a close second to the very man who'd bought it for her. She held it close to her chest allowing its gentle material to stroke her skin. She noticed another note placed under one of the candles; she stepped forwards to read it.

She inhaled sharply as she walked into her bathroom revealing the same pink roses basking in the warmth of candlelight. She didn't count, but there must have been at least a hundred candles in the room, all of different sizes but every one of them white. They surrounded a bath nearly full to the brim, where more petals drifted, skimming the surface of the hot water elegantly. Her smile was uncontrollable, her eyes drinking in the beauty of the moment in sheer adulation of his actions. What made it so special was the fact she knew he hadn't done this in a bid for forgiveness or through some sort of romantic obligation, but because he wanted to, because in his eyes, she always came first. He could always read her she mused, he always knew exactly what she desired or needed. He was always her guardian angel, and he would always love her. She didn't want to cry, to ruin the purity of his actions but she couldn't feel anything else but the sting of her eyes and she began to weep quietly. At that moment she had never loved him more.

An hour or so later Vaughn continued to pace Eric's living room. His eyes flitted from the clock on Weiss's mantle to the wooden path he had been walking back and forth for ten minutes.

"Vaughn will you calm down, you're beginning to make me nervous. And I think you're starting to create a rut in my floor."

"Sorry man. I'm just nervous"

"What do you have to be nervous about? You've been openly in love with her for five years, well maybe not at first when you were her handler...or during the whole marriage thing beacause then you were secretly in love with her, but still. Mike listen- she's in love with you, after all this time and after everything that's happened, she's still in love with you! You love her right?"

"Of course!"

"And does she know this?"

"Yes" he said shyly

Then what are you worried about? You've got the rest of your lives together. You're going to have the best evening of your lives whatever happens, so there's no need to freak out." He pause for a second allowing his friend to process his words "How long until you have to pick her up?"

"Couple of minutes"

"Right, well that leaves me with just enough time for one more pep talk" Eric took his best friend by the shoulders looking at him with serious eyes. Vaughn sighed. "Don't screw this up man" Vaughn laughed

"Thanks! What happened to 'it doesn't matter what happens she loves you'?" he asked incredulously as his friend moved towards his kitchen

"Its still relevant of course" Eric said loudly from inside his fridge "but this is your first proper serious date and itwill ultimately set the tone for any other dinner you take her on. Rememeber, she's never seen the oh-so-charming-at-dinner-social-butterfly-Vaughn thatI have."

"That's sweet Eric, but you know you're not really my type right?" Eric took a swig of beer his eyes squinting in his sarcastic 'oh you're so funny' face

"Would you just leave already?" and with that, he did

sorry for the short chapter- i've made up for it my posting two together! please review and also if you do please let me know what rating you want/think the fic shout be

disclaimer- dont own alias