A/N: Hey guys, so sorry about the wait. My grandpa passed away on Friday, and I wasn't that inspired to write for awhile. But here it is, and gives in to some requests. ;) Responses are on the LJ, like always! (der...;))

"So what was all of that about, anyway?" Michael asked as he and Sydney began to work on the living room. It was two hours later, and he had finally gotten the nerve to ask about her parents.

She looked up at him, stopping the digging through the couch to find whatever could be found. "My parents are divorced. Right after I was born, my mom had an affair with this guy named Arvin Sloane, he and my dad were...are still friends, met at the CIA a long time ago. My dad found out about the affair six years later, and had the divorce. And Nadia, she's Arvin's daughter, so we're only half-sisters. Even though I hate Arvin Sloane to death because of what he did to my parents, I love my sister that much more. I don't think I could've lived an only child."

He stood there, a few seconds to let everything register. After the thinking he still couldn't muster anything else but an 'Oh.'

"Just, don't tell anyone, okay? Will, Eric, Francie, they know, but that's it."

He nodded. "So where does your dad work?"

"He exports plane parts, and that's all he tells me," She said, beginning to dig through the couch cushions before getting frustrated and throwing them off. "He's usually gone for about a week at a time, and he told me Thursday he was going to be gone. That's why I was shocked when he came to the front door."

"I would be, too," He said, helping her take off the couch cushions, and then throwing away the food that was under. "How long does it take those four to clean the basement and backyard?"

"Trust me, forever. I know outside looked like hell when I woke up, and the basement probably does too. You know maybe I should ask my mom if I can just be sick tomorrow."

"Hah, good luck trying. I called my mom and she gave me an earful, even after I told her I was helping to clean up all day," He answered with a grin, as they both put the cushions back on the couch.

"Your mom, you know...I have never heard you talking about your family. Or hey, even about your house."

"Well," He shifted his feet. "It's because I'm always over here! Plus, my family is nuts. I got two sisters, twins. They're twelve, and drive me up the wall."

"I bet," Sydney said with a smirk. "What about your mom?"

"She's awesome. I love her so much, she was so strong after my dad died," He paused, going into his thoughts before he gulped and continued. "She cooks everything, and loves the crafts. She's like super mom, I guess, but you have to be when there are twins involved."

"I have got to meet your sisters!"

"They want to meet you," He said without thinking, then hit himself on the forehead for letting his mouth go.

"They do?" She grinned, now wanting to bug him about it. She stopped picking up cans and sat down on the sofa, looking up at him. "You talk about me, huh?"

He turned red out of embarrassment, letting out a nervous laugh. "Maybe a few things, here and there."

"A few things?" She teased, crossing her arms over her chest.

He nodded, and then turned away from her to pick up more trash. "Come on, I really want to be done by midnight."

"Oh you are so not getting past me by changing the subject, Vaughn," She warned with a smile playing across her face. "But, I guess once is fine."

xxxxxxx

The warning bell rang in the morning at school for the students to get into their classes. Both Sydney and Vaughn walked into the classroom, each looking like hell. Mr. Dixon looked up from his papers and let out a short laugh.

"Sydney, think you can watch my kids tonight?"

"Sure," She drawled out, then sat down in her seat and slammed her head on the desk, falling asleep. Vaughn followed suit, but this time putting his arms on the desk so he wouldn't get a headache like Sydney probably would.

All six sat at the lunch table, looking at their food like it was from another planet, except for Weiss, who was happily eating away. All of them were still tired from the long day they had before, finishing right before the clock struck midnight.

"Do you think mom's happy with the house?" Nadia asked while picking at her food, then sliding it over to Eric, who accepted happily.

"She better be. All fricking day we spent cleaning up the house. I think I will freak out if there's a speck of dust somewhere," Sydney answered while taking a drink of her soda.

"She did look pretty shocked when she saw the place," Will added in, and then looked at his shoulder where Francie had fallen asleep on.

"Well you guys are lucky; I got to look over Dixon's kids tonight," Sydney said and sighed, just wanting to sleep until tomorrow.

"Have fun with that, then," Nadia said, earning a glare from her sister.

Sydney and Michael sat in French 4, their last class of the day. Not even interested in what the teacher was saying, they began to talk to each other.

"So Syd, you're going to be babysitting tonight?" He asked while writing down in his planner.

"Uh huh, why'd you ask?"

"Well, since hockey practice was cancelled for tonight, mind if I tag along?"

"Sure, but I get most of the money," She said with a smirk.

He pouted, and let out a laugh afterwards. "Oh, fine."

xxxxxxx

"You're not scared, are you?" Sydney asked as she and Michael stepped outside of her house, going over to her car to head over to Dixon's house to watch the kids.

"Me? Scared? Nah, it's just that he's my history teacher, I don't know him as well as you, and that right now after with your dad yesterday I'm pretty freaked out," Michael answered as he opened the passenger side to her car. "Now, let me ask again, why can't we take my truck?"

"Because, as I already said, I'm driving, and you said that I can't drive your truck," She said while starting up the car.

"You could've given me directions!" He said, throwing his hands up in mock defeat as they started their way to the Dixon house.

"Oh, stop complaining," She said with a smirk.

"Fine," He looked out the window as they came to a stop at a streetlight, and then turned to her. "So where are the Dixon's going?"

"Why, you thinking you're gonna get some?" She teased, and saw his jaw drop, and his face turn red. 'Sydney Bristow-2, Michael Vaughn-0,' She thought and grinned.

"Ha, um, uh," He stuttered, swallowing down a lump that went at his throat.

"It's okay Vaughn," She patted his shoulder before placing her hand back on the steering wheel.

"Thanks," He grumbled, resting his head on the window. "Make me feel even better about going to look over my History teacher's kids."

She chuckled, turning the steering wheel to make a turn into the neighborhood. "It's not like he's going to hire somebody to kill you if you do a thing wrong."

"Yeah, when I see somebody following me around, let me be the one to hit you upside the head."

"Gladly, but you should ask Will if you even want to try. He knows how it feels when he says that to me."

He gulped, his eyes widening as he looked at her. "Do I even want to know?"

"Nope."

They arrived at the Dixon residence five minutes later, and Mr. and Mrs. Dixon greeted them both at the door.

"I hope you don't mind, I brought along my friend-"

"Michael!" Mr. Dixon smiled, shaking his hand. "It's all good. This is my wife, Diane."

"Nice to meet you," Michael said with a smile, nodding his head at her.

"You too, and from what I heard, you're a pretty good student in Marcus's class," She said, smiling back at him.

"I try to be," Michael said with a fake grin.

"Well, we're off now, thank you guys," Mr. Dixon said as they headed off down the driveway. Once they were out of sight, Sydney punched Michael in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" He asked, rubbing his arm.

"That's for sucking up to him," She said with a smirk as they walked inside. "Let's see, where are Steven and Robin..."

"In here!" Steven yelled from the living room. Both Sydney and Michael walked into the living room, seeing Robin sitting at the computer desk, talking with her friends over the internet, and Steven watching a Dodgers game.

"Oh, what's the score?" Michael asked as he took a seat, immediately being warped by the game.

"Dodgers are winning, 4-1," Steven informed. "Who are you?"

"He's my friend, Michael Vaughn," Sydney said as she began to walk into the kitchen. "You three want anything?"

"Soda!" Steven, Robin, and Michael yelled as she reached the kitchen, laughing as she got three Mountain Dews and went back into the living room, tossing them each one.

"So what time do you think your parents will be home?" Sydney asked as she sat down on the loveseat.

"I think dad said around 11 or so, I know he told us they'd be late," Robin said as she continued to type on the keyboard at a rapid speed.

"Fun, you guys want to go to the Pier in a bit?"

"Yeah!" Steven and Robin answered immediately.

"Let's go," Sydney said with a grin, as she got up, watching Robin turn off the computer and rush to get her shoes on, while Steven turned off the game, getting up and putting on his shoes. They grabbed their sodas and headed outside, Sydney making sure she had a key and locked up the house, then went to where everyone was waiting in her car.

"The Pier? Why'd you decide here?" Michael asked Sydney once they were at the Pier, watching Steven and Robin play at the games.

"Because, this is the easiest way to get them tired and wanting to go to bed early," She said with a smile as she watched the two.

"Hey Vaughn! I bet I can beat you at basketball!" Steven yelled from his spot next to games.

"You wish!" Michael yelled back and laughed, and walked over to the free throw booth. "Prepare for a lesson," He said, handing over the money and taking the basketball.

He made all three of his shots, and then looked over at Steven. "Have fun, kiddo."

"You're in for an awakening, man," Steven said as he paid for his three shots, making each one easily, having Vaughn to look on in amazement.

"I'm happy I didn't bet on this one," Michael said through gritted teeth, then went back to Sydney, who was watching, amused with the situation. "What?"

"I could've told you that he's good at basketball," She said, crossing her arms over her chest and smiling at him.

"I like to learn first hand," He said, equally returning a smile and just looking at her. "Since those two are preoccupied, you want to get some ice cream?"

"Ice cream?" Her smile grew as her face brightened. "I'll watch over Steven and Robin, go get me a coffee ice cream, please."

"Alright," He said, laughing to himself and shaking his head over her decision, then walking away to an ice cream stand.

"Hope you don't mind," Michael said as he came back a few minutes later, two Ben & Jerry's little ice cream pints in his hands. "I got these."

"Hello! Ben & Jerry's! You're the best!" She grinned, taking the coffee ice cream when he offered it to her, the spoon with it. "You got strawberry?"

"Yeah," He said, looking down at his ice cream pint. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," She smirked, taking a spoonful of her coffee ice cream and sighing in delight.

xxxxxxx

Marcus and Diane Dixon came into an eerie quiet house; the only noise that was emitting sound was the television on in the house. Looking at each other, they approached the living room to see all four asleep. Steven and Robin were at Sydney's sides, while Michael lay out on the floor, his head resting on a pillow that was on Sydney's feet.

"Sydney," Marcus said quietly as he stepped towards her, giving her a gentle shake on the shoulder to wake her up.

"Yeah?" She asked, slowly coming out of her sleep. Looking up to see who it was, she could only laugh. "Hey Dixon."

"Tired?"

"A bit, we went to the pier, always does it," She whispered, and lifted her feet, effectively waking Michael up and causing him to lift his body into a sitting position.

"Hey Mr. Dixon," He mumbled out as he leaned against the coffee table for support, immediately feeling his back stiffen at the movement.

"Hey Michael. You two should probably head home, it's already eleven," He said, getting out his wallet to hand Sydney the money.

Sydney's eyes bugged out when she heard the time, getting off of the couch quickly, nearly falling back when her muscles worked slower than expected.

The two teenagers made it out to her car after saying goodbye to Diane and Marcus, both sighing when they got into the comfortable seats.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to do this again," She said, slowly starting up the car and driving out into the street.

"Do what?" He asked with a grin, seeing how far he could push her limits.

She glared at him when the car stopped at an intersection. "You know what I'm saying."

"I do?" His look of innocence might've gotten other people to believe him, but not Sydney.

"Never mind," She said, looking at the light, waiting as patiently as she could for it to turn green.

Michael could only grin, but then his face turned serious when he looked away from her.

He wanted to ask her, soon. This time he wouldn't be so stupid and wait so long.