Part II

It had been two weeks. Every day he would try and find her. He would go with false hope to the tree in the park, or he would go and talk to her at her grave whenever he missed her. He spent more time there than at home. Some days he would lose track of time and wake up in the morning. He wouldn't care about the dirt on his clothing or that his expensive clothing now had wrinkles in it. He didn't have anyone to impress now.

He was slowly getting back to his normal life. He had contacted Irina to go back to work a few days ago. He told her to give him some more time, and she agreed. She had been taking some time off as well since her daughter's death. Irina had been the only one to figure out what was going on between Sydney and Julian. She was always brilliant.

It was thanksgiving weekend and the streets of Los Angeles were lined with parents and their children waiting for the parade. The air smelled of chocolate and peppermint. Julian was sitting under the tree waiting for Sydney once again when he heard screams and cheers and a rumble of applause when Father Christmas came down the street on his float. He heard the joy in the children's voices and smiled. He had dreamed of a day where he and Sydney would take their child to see the Thanksgiving parade. He frowned when he realized that would never happen.

He went to the house and figured that today was the day he should finally go back into their bedroom. He had not entered it since he found out about her. He opened the door and her scent enveloped him. He had missed it so much. He saw her perfume sitting on the dresser and her bathrobe on the chair next to the bed, nothing had been touched. Everything was still where she had left it.

There was a photograph of them on her bedside table. She was smiling at the camera and he was holding her from behind, his face was nuzzling her neck and you could tell that they were happy. He picked up the photograph and opened the back, reading her inscription; I'll never forget that day. It was the best of my life. I love you. – Sydney.

It was taken on the day of the one year anniversary of their first date, in Paris. It was seven months ago now.

Another week went by, another week without Sydney. Julian thought that he was doing better. He was returning to work next week, and he was looking forward to something that wasn't just sitting around and waiting for death.

He decided that this was going to be the last day of waiting by the tree for Sydney to come for him. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he would do it. He would say goodbye to her and go to Moscow.

He sat below the tree's branches and they swayed in the wind. He heard a song coming from the speakers from a cafe on the corner.

You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you want

The lyrics of this song were true to him, right now they made him miss her more. Because she wasn't here by his side.

The song sung to him and he leaned against the tree. He listened to it as he drifted off to sleep, not worrying about anything in the world because he had Sydney in his dreams.

Oh when you're cold
I'll be there
Hold you tight to me

When you're on the outside baby and you can't get in
I will show you you're so much better than you know
When you're lost and you're alone and you cant get back again
I will find you darling and i will bring you home

And if you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
And in no time
You'll be fine

The woman walked to the tree slowly from the other end of the park and sat down next to the sleeping man. She smiled when he mumbled something incoherent in his sleep. When he shivered she took her blanket out of her bag and placed it over him.

She listened to the lyrics of the song and thought that they were perfect for them. It was their song. "I'm right here, my Julian, my love" she whispered softly to him, and she was sure that his lips curved slightly into a smile. She softly sang along with the song as she drifted off to sleep with her head on his shoulder.

You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think id leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you wrong
Ha ah ah ah ah ah
And if only you could see into me

Oh when you're cold
I'll be there
Hold you tight to me
When you're low
I'll be there
By your side baby

Oh when you're cold
I'll be there
Hold you tight to me
Oh when you're low
I'll be there
By your side baby

He woke up feeling a pressure on his shoulder, and he felt very warm. He looked down and saw that there was a blanket over him. He sat there for a few minutes thinking about why someone would do something like that, care that much about a stranger in a park when he felt the pressure on his shoulder again. He turned his head slightly and saw a mass of brown hair.

He lightly shook the person, and they mumbled incoherently. Just like Sydney used to, he thought. "Excuse me, sorry to wake you, but you fell asleep on my shoulder."

The woman turned and faced him with a sleepy smile on her face and he finally saw who she was…

"Good afternoon Julian" she said.

"Sydney?" he whispered disbelievingly. "It can't be you. You're not real."

She had tears in her eyes when she leaned forward and kissed him softly, "I am real Julian, I'm really here."

"Sydney?"

"Yes, Julian. I'm sorry" she clung to him sobbing, "I'm so sorry that I put you through all of this, I'm so sorry."

"Why?" he whispered. He pulled her closer to him, held her as tightly as he possibly could. "Why did you do that?" he asked.

"So we could get out" she cried, "so we can be together."

He looked at her with questionable look "what do you mean?" he asked her.

"I pretended I was dead, so I could stop them from looking for me. They aren't going to find us Julian, they've stopped looking." Sydney was looking at him with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes again. She noticed that his eyes were full of tears as well.

"I love you Sydney. I couldn't live without you. These past three weeks have been hell."

"You waited though, you waited for me."

"I waited. I came here almost every day. And when I didn't come here, I was talking to you at the cemetery."

"I know" she whispered tearfully, "I've been watching you every day, and it killed me not to come out of the shadows and tell you the truth, but I had to do it" she paused, he thought she was going to continue, but when she didn't he jumped in.

"Is there something else that you didn't tell me Syd?" she looked down at their entangled fingers, and he tilted her head to look into his eyes.

She smiled shyly and wrapped her arms around his neck and nervously whispered into his ear, "I'm pregnant."

He pulled her arms off of his neck and he looked at her disbelievingly. "You're pregnant?" he whispered.

Sydney nodded, frowning.

"Syd…" he drifted off, not knowing what to say, "I love you" she smiled shyly once again and a tear drifted down her cheek, he wiped it away softly with his thumb. He placed both of his hands around her neck and gave her a passionate kiss. "I love you so much, and this child will be loved more than any other in the world."

She smiled brightly and hugged him tightly to her, "So you're happy about this, then?"

"This is the happiest day of my life" he said smiling. It was a bigger smile than he had ever wore in his time of being. Everything was going to be alright. He had the love of his life back, a baby in the making, a family. He had a family.

He took his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at Sydney, "I'm a good actor right?" she looked at him confused, but nodded, "Good."

He dialled a number, "Irina. Yes, it's me. I can't come back. No, nothing's wrong. I just…" he choked up and began to tear, "I can't do that to her. I promised her I wouldn't go back, I just can't do that again."

Sydney was worried about him, she had never seen him like this, just when he was talking to her headstone.

He sniffled, "Thank you for understanding. Yes, I'll do that. Of course I'll tell her." He hung up the phone and smiled at Sydney.

"Your mother wants me to tell you that she misses you and she loves you" he kissed her softly.

"I know" she kissed his cheek. "So what do you say about getting out of here and starting our new life?"

He smiled brightly, "I'd say that's the third best thing I've heard today."

"What was the first?" she asked.

"That you're really alive."

"And the second?"

"That you're pregnant," he kissed her softly again, "We have a lot to make up for, love."

"I know" she whispered, "I know."

They packed the blanket back into her bag and headed off to their new life together. A family of three happy people.

Three Years Later

Sydney sneaked up behind her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Who would have thought that Mr Sark would be helping to get his baby girl dressed in the morning?"

He turned to face her, not close enough though; her pregnant belly was getting in the way of that, "I don't think anyone would believe that. You'd need video or photographic evidence to prove that."

"Did you ever think that you would get married and have kids? Have a family?" he shook his head, "Did you ever think that we would get through three years and not kill each other?" he shook his head again and kissed her lips softly.

"We need to get her changed," Sydney said, "She's going to see her grandparents for the first time today… How do you think they'll react?"

"Well, your mother gave herself up after your death, and now she's back with your father. So that'll be a change… Then add the fact that you're alive? I don't know…" she frowned, "Syd, they'll be so happy to see you. They'll understand completely. And if they don't accept it, well you'll always have me" he smiled at her and she giggled.

"Well, let's get her dressed and then we can go."

A little girl came running up to them and tugged on Julian's pant leg, "Daddy?" she said with her baby girl voice. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and was the cutest little girl you had ever seen. She was wearing nothing but a diaper and her eyes were wide, pleading for his answer to be quick. "Can we go soon?" she asked.

"Yes, Sasha, sweetie, we can go just as soon as you get dressed" he laughed, picking her up and whispering something into her ear that Sydney didn't catch.

He put Sasha down again and she ran to her mother, hugging her legs desperately, "Momma, everything is going to be ok."

Sydney teared up and bent down as close to her daughter's level as she possibly could, with her swollen belly, and kissed her nose, "Thank you sweetheart. Now, why don't you go with daddy and get dressed. Then we can go."

She took her dad's hand and walked out of the room. They re-entered a few minutes later with Sasha wearing an adorable pink dress, which was way too frilly for anyone who wasn't two years old.

"Can you wait here for a minute? I just want to go up by myself first," she told Julian, "I want them to see me first."

"Of course love, we'll wait right here" he kissed her hand as she left the car.

She walked slowly and carefully up the stairs to the front door, one hand on the railing the other on her belly. She got to the door and looked back at the car. She nervously knocked on the door and waited.

Her father opened the door and when she saw him she burst into tears and hugged him tightly. He was now crying too.

Sasha watched from the car and was confused to see her mother this nervous. When she saw her mother begin to cry and hug this man she opened the door before Julian could do anything and ran to comfort her mother. She hugged her mom's legs and cried out to her "don't cry momma, don't be sad."

Sydney smiled and let go of her father, picking up her daughter. She waved to Julian to come to her and she smiled at her father, "dad, this is my daughter, Sasha."

He smiled at her in disbelief, "So, Sydney, you have a daughter and," he looked at her belly, "another on the way?" she nodded, "Am I to assume that there is a husband that goes along with these two?" she nodded again.

Julian came up behind the two women and took Sasha out of Sydney's arms, "Hello Mr Bristow" he said.

"What the hell is he doing here Sydney? And why is he carrying your daughter?" Jack asked.

"Dad, can we come in please? I'll explain everything once we get inside."

They got into his house and went to the living room. Sydney took a couple of dolls out of a bag that Julian had been carrying and placed them in front of Sasha on the carpet. She then sat next to Julian on the sofa, Jack was seated across from them.

"So, where's mom? I heard that she was living with you now," Sydney asked.

"She's out getting some groceries, she'll be back soon. Sydney, what is going on? I thought you had died! Why did you do this!" he asked furiously.

Sydney looked at him, Julian grasped her hand lovingly. "Three years ago, before I disappeared, Julian and I had been seeing each other for about a year and a half. I was in love with him, and I wanted to be with him, but that wasn't going to happen with all the people out there who were searching for me. One day, I found out that I was pregnant with Sasha, and I knew that I needed to do something. So I left. I faked my death and left everything behind."

"But you didn't leave everything behind… you're back with him" Jack said hesitantly.

"I came back three weeks later and found Julian. I loved him dad, and I wasn't going to take his child away from him. A couple of days later we were married," she smiled nostalgically. "We've been living in Toronto for a while now. It's a nice city, a safe neighbourhood."

"Why did you come back now, Sydney?"

"Because I want my children to know their grandparents. And I wanted you to know that I'm alive, and happy" she squeezed Julian's hand, "And I wanted you to know that you have grandchildren."

"So, he makes you happy?" he nodded in Julian's direction.

She nodded, "Yeah, he makes me very happy."

"Well, then I guess I can accept that," he got up and crossed to Sydney and hugged her again. "I'm so happy that you're back Sydney."

"Dad, you can't tell anyone else that I'm alive. I don't want people looking for us again. I don't want my family to be put in danger."

"Sydney you can trust me" he let go of her, hearing a key in the lock, he went to the door and helped Irina bring in the groceries.

Sasha walked over to her parents and started showing them different things about her dolls and Irina spoke from the hallway, "Jack, what's going on? Why does it sound like there's a toddler in the living room?" Sydney saw her mother freeze when she saw her, "Sydney?" she whispered.

"Hi mom" she said.

"Julian? Sydney Anne Bristow, what is going on!" her mother demanded.

"Mom, I'm not Sydney Bristow anymore, I'm Sydney Lazarey. We're married," she leaned forward pulling Sasha into her lap, "And this is Sasha. She's our daughter."

"Are you pregnant, Sydney?" Sydney laughed.

"So you find out I'm alive, that I have a daughter, that I'm married to your ex-employee, and all you can say is 'Are you pregnant?'. Well, I am pregnant, five months."

"Oh my god" she breathed, "My baby is alive" she ran to Sydney and hugged her.

Sydney gasped, this was the most emotion her mother had ever shown her.

"Hi mom," she gasped.

"So, what is going on?" her mother demanded.

"I faked my death. Julian and I had secretly been seeing each other and I fell in love with him. I wanted to be with him, but I couldn't do it when there were all those people out there looking for me. There were just too many things trying to keep us apart. When I found out I was pregnant with Sasha," she played with her daughter's hair, "I knew it had to be done."

"I can't believe this Sydney…"

"I'm sorry for putting you through that mom," she looked at her father, "You too dad."

"I'm just happy that you're back, and safe."

Julian took Sasha out of Sydney's lap and sat on the floor playing with her toys with her. "Mom, I really love him. He's an amazing man."

"He loves you, too Sydney. I've seen the way he looks at you," she watched the father and daughter playing on the carpet, "When you died, I could tell that he was dying inside. I didn't know why, but I knew something was wrong. He was crushed Sydney."

"I know, but it had to be done. I found him again."

"Are you staying here for a while?"

"Yeah, for the weekend," she looked down at Julian, "Would you take care of her for a minute Julian?"

He nodded and smiled, "Of course, love."

"Thanks. Mom," she looked at her mother, "Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?"

"Sure, honey."

They walked into the living room and Sydney leaned against the counter. "You can't tell anyone that we're here."

"I know sweetheart."

"Okay."

Sydney sighed, "Sydney, what is it?" her mother asked, she could sense that there was something bothering Sydney.

"I went to the doctor's before we left and found out something about my pregnancy, and I don't know how everyone will react."

Her face was pale, "Sydney, is something wrong? Is there something wrong with the baby?" she moved to her daughter's side and held her arm.

"No, nothing's wrong. It's just that… well… I'm having… twins," she whispered.

Irina took a step back from Sydney and smiled, "Oh my god! Sweetheart that's fantastic!" she hugged her, "So that's why you're so big!" she said.

"Thanks," Sydney said sarcastically, "Mom, I want to tell everyone else at dinner tonight, alright?"

"Yes, of course darling."

"It's Thanksgiving… are you planning on doing the big dinner?"

"Well, we weren't, but we can, if you'd like."

"Sasha has never experienced it before, I think it might be nice to do. Do you think we could get everything we need?"

"Of course. You know me, I can get whatever I want Sydney."

Sydney laughed, "You're my mother."

They returned from the packed grocery store almost three hours later and were in the kitchen the moment they got back. Julian was helping with the preparations right now, while Sasha was asleep in the bedroom.

He walked up behind Sydney and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love you so much Sydney," he whispered. Sydney turned and kissed him, "I can't wait until we get to meet this little guy."

"What makes you so sure it's a guy?" she said. She went back to cutting carrots and saw her mother in the corner of her eye smiling. Jack was beside Irina tearing at the loaf of bread. Everyone was helping out.

"I just have a feeling."

"Well, I don't know. I have a feeling that it might be another girl."

Irina put the turkey in the oven and they went back to the living room with their drinks. Sydney was drinking cranberry juice in a wine glass, so it looked like red wine. Julian was happy drinking his Chateau Petrus. It was his favourite wine. They always had a bottle back in Toronto. "Mom, dad… we want you guys to come visit us sometimes. Is that ok?"

"We would be so happy to!" her mother exclaimed, "Of course, we'll go through other channels so it can't be traced to you."

Sydney smiled, "Thanks."

They heard Sasha's cries from down the hall. Julian and Sydney got up and went to check on their daughter. She was still asleep, but obviously having a nightmare. They lightly shook her to wake her from the bad dream. "Sasha, sweetie, please wake up," Julian whispered. She sat up in the big bed and began to sob when she saw her parents.

"Mommy, daddy, stay with Sasha. Don't go." She mumbled.

"Sweetie, we aren't going anywhere. We're right here. It was just a bad dream," they comforted her. Julian picked her up and they took her back to the living room, where Jack and Irina were still sitting.

Jack looked up at them, "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Just a nightmare," Sydney said.

Julian looked down at his daughter in his arms, she was sucking her thumb and her cheeks were tear-stained, "Do you want to sit with grandma and grandpa?" he asked sweetly.

She nodded against his shoulder. He placed her over her grandparent's laps. Half an hour later, she was asleep. Neither person moved in case they woke her. She looked so adorable when she was asleep. Her hair was in pigtails and she was sucking her thumb. You could never resist her charm.

A few hours later, they were gathered around the dining room table, which was covered in various Thanksgiving dishes. Sasha was mesmerized by the sight. She couldn't stop smiling and trying to reach out of her high-chair for the mashed potatoes in front of her.

"Mom, there aren't any nuts in this are there?" Sydney asked, "Because, Sasha's allergic to nuts. I don't want to take her to the hospital tonight."

"No, there are no nuts."

"Well, why don't we go around the table and say what we're thankful for?" Jack suggested.

Irina went first, "I'm thankful to have my daughter back in my life, and for my grandchildren."

"I'm thankful for the exact same things. And that I have finally taken some time off from work," Jack said.

"It's about time," Irina mumbled and everyone laughed.

"I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter, the amazing love of my life next to me, this family that we've created and our future child," Julian said. He lifted Sydney's hand and kissed her palm. Sydney smiled and kissed him. Sasha, in between her parents squealed at their show of affection.

"Mommy, daddy, kissing," she said happily. Everyone at the table giggled at her sweetness.

"Well, I'm thankful for everything that has happened recently. I'm thankful for my husband, who I could never live without, my parents who I love so much, and… my three children," Sydney said.

"Two," Julian coughed under his breath.

"Three," Sydney corrected.

"Two," Julian said again, "Sydney we have one daughter and one child on the way."

"No. We have one daughter and two on the way," she said smiling.

Julian was shocked. He just stared at her for a moment and then broke out in the biggest smile she'd seen only a few times. "Two?" he whispered, "Twins?"

"Yes, twins. Are you happy about that?" she asked rhetorically.

He nodded and then embraced her tightly, "I love you Sydney," he said, kissing her intensely. Jack was at the other end of the table, watching this unravel before him.

"Twins?" he asked.

Sydney nodded, "Yes. I found out a couple of days ago."

He turned to Irina, "You don't seem so surprised about this…"

"I told her this morning before we went shopping. I wanted to have this special dinner and tell you."

Her mother walked over to Sydney and hugged her, "I'm so happy for you Sydney."

"Thanks. You guys have to come and visit us when they're born, alright?"

Her father was now joining in on the group hug, "We wouldn't miss it for the world."

They were interrupted by Sasha's cries in between them, Irina picked her up and held her against her chest. Sasha pulled lightly at a piece of her hair.

Their happy moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. Jack got up and went to the door, "Jack, I need to talk to you," they heard from the foyer.

"What is it Mr Vaughn?" he asked. Sydney immediately tensed. She looked to her mother frantically, who was trying to keep Sasha quiet. Julian squeezed her hand.

"I think Sydney's alive," Vaughn stated.

"What makes you think that?" Jack asked.

"At the agency, we were looking into Sark's disappearance again, and we saw some airport footage of a woman matching her description in Vancouver. We only saw her face, but I swear it was her! She's alive Jack! I'm going to find her!"

"Mr Vaughn, you gave up on my daughter six years ago, she's not coming back to you again."

Suddenly, Sasha began to cry loudly. Sydney took her daughter from her mother's arms and tried to soothe her cries.

"What was that?" Vaughn asked.

"Nothing," Jack tried to cover it up.

"That wasn't nothing, Jack."

Sydney walked out from the dining room and Vaughn gasped when he saw her. "Hello Michael," she said softly.