Sydney Bristow roamed the streets of London on her first day of a well deserved holiday. A young freelance language teacher, she travelled throughout Europe teaching the children of rich families the different languages of the world. Sydney's dream of teaching had come true, but she had always imagined teaching English at her mother school at UCLA, but after her death and her fathers' subsequent removal from her life, her dream changed.
Taking a holiday has been a well needed thing Sydney thought as she remembered the last family she was working for. The husband a wealthy business man and an alcoholic had regularly hit on her and tried to touch her. Last night he had crossed the line and she had been forced to take action in the form of a well over due slap.
He had responded and Sydney was now nursing a bruised cheek. She wasn't happy that he had hit her, but she smirked at the revenge his wife was inflicting on him, the first blow was the obscenely large check she had written Sydney to cover any damage and the rest of her fees for the year. Sydney wasn't exactly happy to have to now search for a new posting this late in the year, but she was sure she could take some time out and stroll the markets around London and spend the sleazes money happily.
Money was something Sydney had always had to work for, not that she minded she just had to be sensible, living in different countries and not having a stable income didn't provide security. The fact that her father was probably wealthy back in LA didn't sway her to return to the states, she was happy living her life as a freelancer moving throughout Europe as she saw fit. Her father if she could call him that had effectively cut himself out of her life at the tender age of 6 when her mother had died of cancer. Jack Bristow was devastated and as many had reminded her Sydney was a young replica of Laura Bristow and Jack had felt that it was just too painful to watch his young daughter grow up without a mother. Sydney had lost both parents that day and although Jack Bristow was still alive somewhere Sydney considered herself an orphan.
Sydney continued to stroll through the markets stopping at a quaint little stall selling brightly coloured jewellery. Picking out a silver chain drop necklace a sparkling emerald stone, Sydney admired the brightly coloured stone and for a moment pondered what it would be like to be able to purchase such an exquisite necklace with little thought to the cost and exactly how many hours she would have to work to afford it. Putting the necklace back with sorrow, she decided that she really couldn't afford it, as much as it was perfect, eating for the next few weeks and finding a place to stay were much more important than a necklace. Taking one last look at the necklace Sydney continued on, this time in search of a café for some lunch.
She didn't make it far before she felt a something or rather someone crash into her legs with force. Finding herself sitting on the group staring at a young girl about the age of 6 with light blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, looking at her intently. Sydney broke out into a smile in amusement of the situation, the girl broke out into laughter and Sydney soon followed. Their laughter soon died down to giggles as the girls picked themselves of the ground. The girl suddenly spoke up her polished British accent startling Sydney.
"Sorry" the girl looked down embarrassed.
Sydney smiled encouragingly "I'm sorry to I wasn't watching where I was going"
The little girl looked up into Sydney's eyes relief evident in her blue eyes.
"I'm Sydney" Sydney broke the stare looking for the girls parents
"Anastasia Marie Sark but every one just calls me Anna" the girl smirked a trait Sydney was sure she got of one of her parents and seemed almost comical on the girls' young features.
"Pleased to meet you Anna, are your parents around?" Sydney was sure Annas parents would be looking for her.
Anna was looked down timidly before answering in a quiet voice.
"I ran away from my dad, he wants me to go to boarding school"
Sydney was shocked the girl didn't look old enough to be sent away from her parents and frankly how could a parent send their child away to boarding school and only see they child in the holidays.
Noticing the girls distress Sydney changed the subject "come on I'm sure your hungry I'll buy you lunch" Sydney held out her hand for the Anna to take and was surprised when she took her hand with no complaints.
Sitting down at a local café Sydney asked what Anna wanted when the waitress arrived to take their orders Anna spoke up with an air of confidence that Sydney had never seen before in such a young person.
"A chocolate milkshake and a grilled cheese sandwich please"
"Make that two thanks" Sydney smiled at the waitress as she left and then turned to Anna to see the girl smiling at her.
"How old are you Anna?" Sydney thought she would spend the time getting to know her young companion.
"I'm 6, I'll be 7 next year" she proudly announced.
"How old are you Miss Sydney" Sydney laughed at the girls question but answered it anyway.
"You know its not usually polite to ask a woman her age, but I'm 24."
"My dad is 26" Anna spoke up and Sydney saw the change in the girl's demeanour at the mention of her father.
"What about your mother?"
"I never met my mummy" Anna mumbled looking down at the table.
"Have you ever read Alice in Wonderland?" Sydney asked Anna attempting to lighten the conversation.
Anna looked up excitedly "It's my favourite book, my dad reads it to me all the time, he always says I need to find a new favourite because he is sick of Alice falling down the rabbit hole." Sydney laughs at the girls enthusiasm.
"Did you know that its my favourite book? My mother used to read it to me ever night before I went to sleep." Sydney smiled recalling a time when she would snuggle up in the blankets listening to the sound of her mothers voice tell the story of Alice and her adventure down the rabbit hole.
The waitress returned bringing with her two chocolate milkshakes and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Anna ate her lunch with enthusiasm, Sydney picked at her lunch while sipping on her milkshake. The fact that no one was looking for Anna concerned her, that and the fact that she had let a stranger buy her lunch.
Sydney watched as Anna finished her milkshake a rude sucking noise evidence she had reached the bottom. Sydney laughed at the girl's look of disappointment.
"Come on, lets get out of here" Sydney suggested while gathering her bag up and putting the money down on the table for lunch.
Anna quickly took hold of Sydney's free hand and they headed back towards the market. Oblivious to another set of eyes watching the pair as they shopped.