This is in Sydney's point of view cause it was easier to write this chapter like that. The next chapter will be in Vaughn's POV, and then the story will go back to being in third person. Also, the lyrics I had used are from Natalie Imbruglia's 'Torn'. Google them.

Sydney's POV

I wanted to laugh.

I wanted to scream.

I want to turn around, go back to Claire's, grab Cory, and go back to the States, pretending that it never happened.

I wanted to run after him, catch him, kiss him senseless, take him and Cory back home and live the life that we should've had.

But I couldn't do any of that. I just stood frozen next to the wall, too damn stunned to do anything. After he disappeared, people started to go back to ignoring me and going on with their lives, instead of gawking at a troubled couple that was seeing each other for the first time in six years, seven months, and twelve days. God, did it seem to be an eternity since that night.

It suddenly occurred to me that he might still be nearby and be watching me and my reaction. And I didn't want to give him the luxury of knowing how his confession had affected me. I wanted him to toss and turn in bed late at night, unable to sleep because he was worrying about whether or not I despised his very being at the moment.

So, I pushed off the wall and continued walking the in direction I originally was going in. Very soon after, I ran across a bread vendor and desperately bought a roll to munch on while I thought over my predicament.

The stupid message my mother had sent to me through him was crumpled and dropped on the ground. I no longer wanted to know what she meant by that nor did I care anymore. I never wanted to speak to her again.

Everything could have been forgotten about if I hadn't remembered Eric's instructions.

"Hello?" I answered my cell phone just after the plane had taken off.

"Sydney? Oh, good, I caught you. Listen, I need you to do something."

I thought that he had meant another analysis thing for the CIA and that would mean having to cancel the trip, which was something I absolutely refused to do. "Do I have too?"

"It's not analysis, Syd. It's something more important."

His tone scared me. "What's wrong?"

"After what happened in the park, and with the incident in Cory's room, the CIA has reason to believe that Vaughn might actually be stalking you and Cory." Eric said, quickly.

"Do they want me to cancel the trip?" I asked, noticing Cory's head pop up hearing my words.

"No...no...no, just the opposite. They want you to go through with it. Maybe being in a foreign country will draw him out. And if it does, I want you to contact me immediately so we can close in on his location."

This startled me. Why would the CIA want to capture the son of a bitch, "Why?"

"Sydney, he's a wanted man."

"What? Why? I don't think that leaving would make him a wanted man." I tried to make the sentence as average as possible, but I could see it in Cory's eyes that she knew I was talking about her father.

"While I think it should be a crime for a man to leave his wife, especially if the wife is you," I smiled at his compliment, "Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with his leaving you. Uncle Sam doesn't take too kindly to its agents going rogue."

"Oh," I said, knowing he meant. The CIA wanted me to turn in Vaughn because he abandoned his duty as an officer of the U.S. government. "Look, I got to go."

"Alright. Promise me that you'll call me if he does contact you, Sydney. We don't know what kind of man he might be. I just want you to be safe."

"I will." I promised, fully intending to so at the time.

Now that it actually happened, I wasn't so hell bent on that idea anymore. I know that it was my duty as an American citizen to turn in wanted criminals. But it was Vaughn. He didn't seem any different than the man I first met all those years ago when I first came to the CIA, the real CIA.

I fished my cell phone out of my pocket, and scrolled through the address book until I got to Eric's number. All I would have to do was press the call button, tell him about Vaughn, and then I would never have to deal with him again. It seemed so simple and easy. But then, why couldn't I do it? I wanted to so badly, but my finger wouldn't press the damned button.

Press it, you have too!

But it's Vaughn!

Exactly my problem. It was Vaughn for crying out loud. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that he was a horrible person that abandoned me when I was five and half months pregnant these past six years, I couldn't ever get myself to believe it. I loved him that much. I still do love him that much. But things are really complicated now.

And what about Cory? She deserves to know about her father. She deserves to know that he is back and that he wants to be a part of her life. That he wants to make up for everything he missed during her life so far. Her first steps, her first words, her first haircut, her first trip to the zoo, her first day at nursery school, her first sleepover, the first time she read a book by herself, everything that he had missed so far. He wanted to be there for her first day in second grade, her first day in middle school, her first crush, her first time at camp, her first day in high school, her first boyfriend, her first kiss, her graduation, her going to college, her getting married and having children of her own. He wanted to be there. He never actually voiced the desire but I know that he did. I could see it in his eyes.

I stared at the phone a couple seconds more before pressing the button and raising the phone to my ear. "Eric?" I asked, tears choking my voice, "He's here." I couldn't bear to say anymore, so I hung up the phone immediately after, and shoved it back into my pocket. Tears that had wanted to be released for a long time, slipped out and down my cheeks. I didn't pay any attention to them as I broke down and leaned against a nearby wall.

I had just betrayed my husband, the love of my life. I had taken that small glimmer of hope that we could actually have a normal life with our daughter and smashed it. I don't know why I did it. There were reasons, plenty of them. But I ignored what my heart said and called Eric and turned into Michael.

Michael?

Oh God, I said Michael. I haven't said Michael in reference to him since the night he left. I forced myself to call him Vaughn or Agent Vaughn or Daddy when I was talking to Cory, but not once did I call him Michael. That name became like a plague to me. Every man that I met with the name Michael, I would avoid at all costs, even in my classes. Sometimes I would suggest that the student be moved to another class but when that couldn't be done; I would avoid that student like he carried a deadly virus. Probably why so many of my best students were named Michael. I'd see the name on a paper, give it an A, and shove it under the pile to be forgotten about.

And now I've said Michael while talking about him.

My tears overtook my body, causing racking sobs as I clung to that wall desperately. I don't think if I was clinging to the wall, I would have collapsed on the ground, not that anyone passing would have noticed. They all seemed intent on their own lives instead of noticing a crying woman that had just screwed up the last bit of hope she had for a normal life. I don't blame them.

Then it occurred to me. Maybe I can fix it. True, I can't call Eric back and tell him that I made a mistake. The CIA will come and check things out nonetheless. But then, I can just take Vaughn out of the area. I can take him and Cory and the three of us can leave and go wherever the wind takes us. I won't care, just as long as I have him and our daughter with me.

Frantically I pushed off the wall, dropping the long forgotten roll of bread in my hand in the process and looked around. I couldn't spot him immediately and I couldn't sense if he was around. I used to be able to but I suppose that too much time has passed.

I abandoned trying to sense his presence and cried out, "Vaughn!"

A/N: Before you all decide to go medieval upon the ass of the writer, which would be me, I just want to add that I have something up my sleeve that is going to take a few chapters to reveal itself. So no, Vaughn is not getting off that easily. I do love me angst at times and I love a good S/V fight.

Rach5- Thank you! I have an idea of how Cory and Claire are going to react but you'll just have to wait and see.

Scary-girly- I never really figured out the 'truth takes time' and i dont think that they ever explain it. i just liked that scene cause it's cool. :) and i've never stalked anyone before, but i know how to do it. and everything i learned has been from watching alias. lol!

Heidi- Well, definitely the slap from his mother but beyond that, i can't say much. it's a secret.

Olivia- you dont sound like a loser, maybe if you started waving around a big neon sign and like stood outside my house you would be. on second thought, that would just be really creepy and illegal. so yeah. you're not a loser.

chooky- okay, so there wont be a convenant reference for a while and the DVDs are awesome! i got them and i cant stop watching. the blooper reel, is especailly good this year. seriously though, he's not getting off that easily. really, he's not.

hannahbannah- i hate school too, it is EVIL and will rot in hell for it's sins. lol! i'm better now, sorta.

rainluver- yes he is that darn cute and i say again, he's not out of the doghouse yet and wont be for a long time. cause i'm evil. hehehehe...not really but ya know.

victoria-king- thank you!

Agent Flamingo- I can say for sure that the irina is going to come back, but that's another part of the plot that has yet to reveal itself because i like keeping everyone guessing. lol! and you're right, it does take someone special to be a daddy.

Sammiespy- yay! of course he's still in love with her! it's vaughn for pete's sake! he's loved her since before he even met her. and now i'm reminded of that one song. can't think of the name right now, get back to me on that. lol!

Grouchy- can you explain to me how he is evil again? cause i really like the comments but i'm a little confused about them. please dont be offended by me.

Charmed-angel4- you're right, i should write a fic about bob, that would be funny and if i do, i'll let you know first. okay, so how are not liking vaughn? i wanna know so i can make you like him again.

neptunestar- i hate when they're not together too. it makes me sad.

i love vaughn and syd- thank you!

Silvertounge- he will have a more in depth explanation. be patient. patience is a virtue, or so i've been told.

Ren201- you and a lot of people are undecided about vaughn. i'm kind of undecided about him. hope this chapter helped make up your mind about him.