A/N: The italics are Sydney's dream. And in case you haven't read any of my other stories, this () means that time has lapsed or a change in location or both.
After their little mishap in the park, Sydney brought Cory home, fed her dinner and put her to bed early with promises that she and Uncle Eric could play on the swings another time.
Now Sydney sat on the sofa in the living room, sipping at a glass of wine. The thought that Vaughn could come at any time and take Cory away still played on her mind and refused to die. At first, she told herself that Vaughn wouldn't do something like that, it just wasn't how he was. But then, she remembered that abandoning his pregnant wife wasn't like the Vaughn she knew either.
With a small sigh, she set the glass down on the end table and lay down on the couch. She had no intention of falling asleep but somehow she did."Are you sure?" Sydney asked, eagerly.
The doctor smiled briefly and nodded, "Yes, Mrs. Vaughn, I'm sure, you're going to have a baby."
Sydney squealed and gave the doctor a quick hug, "Thank you so much you are the best man ever with the exception of my husband of course."
"I hear that a lot."
"This time I mean it, you are going to get an award or something." Sydney stopped herself from saying any more and making any more of a complete fool of herself. "Thank you, again. I have to go, like now." Sydney fled the doctor's office, silently chastising herself for acting like such a complete moron. Ah, who cared, she was going to have a baby! And with Vaughn. A baby with Vaughn, something she had never thought that she would ever get to say.
Traffic was not kind to her and she had to wait an entire hour just to make the normally fifteen minute drive home. Finally when traffic cleared, Sydney slammed down on the gas and sped home.
"Vaughn! I mean Michael!" One thing Sydney had yet to learn after a year of marriage was to call Vaughn, Michael instead of Vaughn all the time.
"Yes, Bristow, I mean Sydney." Vaughn answered playfully from the kitchen. Normally Sydney would have reminded him that her name was Sydney Vaughn and not Sydney Bristow anymore but she had just found out that she was going to have a baby. A baby! With Vaughn!
"Guess what?" She asked, excitedly, and bounding into the kitchen.
He kissed her on the forehead before answering, "I don't know. Are you joining the circus? The red bozo hair thing works for you."
She laughed and playfully hit him on the arm, "No, I'm not joining the circus, Michael or should I say, Daddy."
"Daddy?" Vaughn questioned, momentarily confused. Then it dawned on him. "Daddy?" This time it was more serious. She nodded. "Really?"
"Yes," She cried, laughing, "You're going to be a daddy and I'm going to be a mommy."
"Oh, Syd," Vaughn breathed, taking her in his arms and twirling her around.
Sydney laughed, then whispered in his ear, "I don't think this can be good for the baby."
He promptly set her down and his hand went immediately to her stomach, "Are you okay? Is the baby okay?"
She smiled at him, "Yes, I just wanted an excuse to kiss you." She pressed her lips lightly to his and when she pulled back, he was staring at her. "What?"
A small smile crept up on his lips. "We're going to have a baby." He said, softly.
"We're going to have a baby." She repeated.
"We're going to have a baby." He said, this time with more enthusiasm.
"We're going to have a baby!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
()
"Come on, Michael, you have to come. It's just lunch with my dad."
Vaughn snorted in an attempt not to laugh, "No, Syd, for you it's just lunch with your dad. For me, it's lunch with Jack Bristow, the man that will kill me when you tell him that you're pregnant."
Sydney smiled, a smile that meant that she was up to something, "Dad won't kill you because I'm pregnant. I promise."
"Why do I even have to go?" Vaughn complained, "He's your father and you're the one who needs to eat not me."
"Well, he's your father-in-law and you'll have to face him eventually and it's better to have me there to play mediator. Besides if you aren't at that restaurant, I won't eat a bite."
Vaughn stared at her, "You're evil, you know that? Threatening me with our unborn child."
"Does that mean you're coming?"
"How about this, I go with you and you go sit at the same table with Jack and I go and sit all the way across the restaurant at another table with thirty armed CIA guards."
"Umm, no," Sydney shook her head, "Either you're at the table with me and Dad and there are no armed CIA guards or I don't eat and when our baby is born underweight, we can blame you."
Vaughn let out his breath slowly and nodded, "Alright, I'll go but only because I love you and that poor baby that you're carrying."
Sydney gave him an impish grin and kissed him on the cheek, "And if you're a good boy, I'll buy you an ice cream cone on the way home."
"Can I get chocolate chip cookie dough?" Vaughn asked, hopefully.
"Yes, my little Michael, but only if you behave yourself."
"I will, scout's honor."
Sydney grinned, "That's my good little boy scout."
Vaughn frowned momentarily, "Don't call me that."
()
Sunlight streamed in through the window above Sydney and Vaughn's bed as Sydney slowly opened her eyes, and smiled noticing that Vaughn was watching her. "How long have you been watching me?"
"A little while," He answered.
"How long's a little while?"
"About an hour and a half." He smiled and adjusted the pillow beneath his head before adding, "You talk even more in your sleep now that you're pregnant."
Sydney chuckled, "I think you're making that up. I don't talk in my sleep."
"Yes you do."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do." Sydney would have continued their little game if it wasn't for the sudden wave of nausea that came over her. "Syd?" Vaughn asked, worried.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Sydney cried, throwing back the covers and running into the bathroom.
Moments later, Vaughn heard the sound of Sydney emptying her stomach into the toilet. He quietly got out of the bed and followed her into the bathroom. Without a word, he sat down on the cold tile next to her and gathered her hair in his hand. A few minutes later after the baby was done playing with mommy's stomach, Sydney reached for a towel to wipe her mouth off with before leaning back onto Vaughn's chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, silenting reassuring her that he loved her.
()
"Vaughn?" Sydney asked, quietly. No movement, "Michael?" She asked, trying his first name, and this time a little louder. Vaughn stirred slightly in his sleep but made no move of getting up. "Michael Christopher Vaughn!" She yelled, shaking him.
Vaughn jolted awake and rubbed at his eyes sleepily to make sure that he wasn't imagining Sydney sitting over him, wide awake in the middle of the night. "Sydney, what's wrong?"
"I'm hungry and we don't have any peanut butter or bagels." Sydney whined, though she tried not to. One of her latest food cravings: bagels and peanut butter. At least it was better than the ice cream and green peas she had been demanding earlier in the week. Now that was just plain disgusting.
Vaughn sighed and sat up, fumbling for his keys on the nightstand next to his side of the bed. "Smooth or chunky?" He asked.
She smiled, "Smooth, no chunky, no smooth."
He interrupted her, "How about I get both?"
She kissed him on the cheek, "You're a life saver."
"I know," He answered, patting her small bump. At four months, Sydney was just starting to show. "I love you."
"I love you too but if you don't hurry, I'm going to starve and our baby will be born underweight."
"Are you ever going to stop threatening me with not feeding our baby?"
"Not if you don't come back from the store fast," She answered, handing him his cell phone, "In case I want something else."
He took the phone and gave her a quick peck before grabbing some pants and stumbling out the door.
By the time he got back, which wasn't any later than a half hour at most, Sydney had fallen asleep again. Sighing, Vaughn placed the bag of bagels on the counter with the peanut butter next to them in case Sydney woke up before he did which was almost a given. Then he headed back to their bed, somewhere along the way, tossing off his jeans and settling back into the bed next to Sydney. "I love you," He whispered into her hair, pulling her closer to her him, "And this little one too." He placed his hand over her belly and sighed. "Never doubt that." He wasn't sure that she actually heard him but that didn't really matter to him, just that he said it.
()
"Michael, get the door!" Sydney yelled, from the kitchen after the doorbell rang.
"Yes, dear." Vaughn sighed, reluctantly leaving the football game he was watching to answer the door. "Hey Will, Hey Francie." He said, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"Where is she?" Francie asked excitedly.
"In the kitchen," Vaughn answered as Francie pushed past him and into the kitchen.
"Sydney!" Francie screeched, running to hug her best friend. Sydney was surprised by the sudden appearance of a person and did her best not to topple over and return Francie's hug. Without warning, Francie released Sydney and took a step back to examine her. "Syd, you look wonderful!" She exclaimed, placing a hand on Sydney's now rounder five month belly.
Sydney laughed, "What's up with everyone wanting to touch my stomach?"
"It's a thing that comes with pregnancy deal with it," Francie said firmly, causing Sydney to laugh harder.
Finally Sydney stopped laughing enough to carry on an actual conversation, "So how's the wedding going?"
Francie groaned, "I hate planning for weddings, mine included."
"You didn't seem to mind helping me." Sydney pointed out.
"Yeah well, my best friend was getting married to the love of her life, it had to be special."
"And Will's not the love of your life?" Sydney questioned, turning back to her supper preparations.
Francie shook her head frantically, "No, of course he is. It's just that it's a pain when it's your wedding. It makes me want to run away to Vegas and get married there."
Sydney chuckled, "Me and Michael almost did that six times. We actually got to the Nevada border once before we turned around."
"If Will and I go to Vegas, I want you and Michael to be our witnesses."
"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Fran." Sydney promised.
()
Sydney woke slowly, realizing that her stomach was growling. With a sleepy hand, she reached over towards Vaughn's side of the bed to wake him up so he could go to the store and get her some spaghetti –her latest craving, one that the Vaughn household was currently lacking- but her hand fell on cool sheets. "Michael?" She asked, sitting up, slowly as her sixth month belly weighed her down. "Michael!?" She yelled. Silence greeted her.
Confused, Sydney slipped out of the bed and wandered, well waddled, around the apartment in search of Vaughn. No one was there. She picked up the cordless phone from the counter and dialed his cell number. His cell started ringing from the dining room table. Curious, she wandered over to it and answered the phone to make sure was actually his. "Hello?" She tested. The cell phone in her hand echoed, "hello?"
Thoroughly confused now, Sydney set down his cell phone and hung up the cordless phone in her hand. She then checked by the front door for his running shoes in case he went for a run. No, the shoes were still there were he had left them earlier that morning.
"Michael...Vaughn?" She wondered again, "Where are you?" Nothing but the silence of the apartment answered her.
Beginning to panic, Sydney waddled as fast as she could back to the bedroom and flung open his closet door. She let a small shriek before sinking to the floor. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. His clothes were still there. He hadn't packed the two suitcases he owned with his clothes and left in the middle of the night. There was just no way that his closet could be almost empty. Maybe he had a mission. Yeah, that's it, a mission.
Remembering the phone in her hand, Sydney frantically dialed Dixon's number. "Dixon, did you send Michael on a mission?" She didn't have time for pleasantries, she needed to know now.
"No, Syd, why? What's going on? Sydney?"
Sydney didn't answer. Instead, she clicked off the phone and threw it across the room where it shattered against the wall before bursting out into tears. It couldn't be true. It couldn't be possible that Vaughn had left her. He wouldn't do that. He loved her. He said so every day. He looked at her with so much love and adoration. He loved their baby. He talked to her stomach almost every night when he wasn't on a mission. He would tell it stories or sing to it or make it promises for the future.
"Why?!" She screamed to the empty apartment, "All I want is why!"
Sydney woke with a start, unsure of what woke her. It couldn't have been the dream. She'd had it before.
Then she heard why she had been awakened from her sleep. Cory's frantic call, "Mommy!"
Sydney leapt off the couch and ran down the hall to her daughter's room. A thousand things running through her mind. A thousand possibilities of why Cory was screaming for her. And the one at the top of the list was Vaughn was attempting to take Cory. This only made Sydney run faster.
A/N: Holy crap! Excuse my language, but I have never gotton that many reviews for one chapter before. Thank you guys so much! I'm so happy that you guys like my story enough to give me that many reviews! I am hereby dedicating the remainder of this story to those of you who reviewed. I love you guys! I really, really, do!
Maddy- Thanks. Vaughn does seem kinda stupid at the moment doesn't he? ::shrugs:: maybe he is maybe his isn't. Anyway, you were my first reviewer for this and for that I want to doubly thank you.
me- Really? You really think that this is the best Alias fic ever? That's sweet. I don't know what else to say but sweet. I guess you could say I was speechless.
Rach5- I can say this, there will be some butt kicking when Vaughn shows up. I'm not saying any more than that. Oh, and thanks.
anonymous- Thanks, I will.
Kniki- I thought it was a good twist on that plot, too. Thanks.
Heidi- Thanks and you will soon enough.
kay10197- Potential is good. I don't think anyone said my fic's had potential before. Thanks.
Sydney Bristow- Thanks and you'll find out soon.
Julia- Thanks, it's all in a day's work, coming up with stories that no one else does. I like doing stuff like that.
alexis- There is, just wait. He might turn out to be a jerk, he might not. Hard to say. That's my failing attempt at being cryptic.
neptunestar- Thanks. I like your stories. So the fact that you would review mine, is really cool. Okay, enough of me sounding like an idiot.
x-elektra-natchios-x- Thanks, I like your name by the way. That's like one of my favorite movies.
olivia- Thanks, and I will write more.
Eyghon- Is that a sarcastic comment, the "long" thing? I can't tell if it is. I have a hard time telling sarcasm from sincerity even though I'm like the queen of sarcasm, crown and everything.
KMB- Hope, there was enough background in this chapter for ya. There will be more, I just wanted to have the basics down.
Hannah- Thanks and I will.
jenny- He does, just wait. Or at least, I think it's a good reason. It could be crap in everyone else's mind.
Willow Black- Thanks. I like that word "yay". I saw Robin hood: men in tights and never let the "yay" or "nay" thing die. Have you seen that movie?
morrisseylover- Thanks. Glad you love it.
Charmed-angel4- I think this chapter answers you question as to if Vaughn knew that she was pregnant. I really made him sound like a jerk didn't I? Oh well, there is a reason. Anyway, thanks for the review. I remember you reviewing my other stories like A Charming Alias. It's like I have a follower or something. Very cool.
sara- hehe, I get yelled out for being at the computer too much. But usually I just sit here, staring at the computer screen and force everyone else in my family to go use the old, slow computer that doesn't work all that great. hehe, I am so mean to my family.