Thank you to everyone that read the last 2 chapters and to Aleja21 and Phoenix6 who took the time to review made my day! Welcome to Reelbear and thanks for reviewing I wouldn't have put the summary at the end of chpt 8 but I wanted to put the chapter up before I left, but thanks.

Here is Chapter 8 hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 9

Sydney stood in Sark's house in Galway Ireland, his original home in awe. The house was old but very majestic and Sydney immediately fell in love with it. She noticed too that both Sark and Anna seemed more at home and relaxed here than in the London house. The house itself was situated on a large estate looking over a large lake. According to Anna who had talked non stop on the plane, the estate was run and maintained all year round with a barrage of house keepers and butlers continually cleaning and restoring the house and grounds.

Sark silently watched Sydney take in his home, for reasons he refused to acknowledge, Sydney's reaction to this particular home was important to him. She had settled in to her job and got on brilliantly with Anna and these days it seemed as though she was more like a family member rather than an employee. Anna has never taken to any of her teachers like she had Sydney. He was starting to get concerned as the number of teachers that had quit because Anna had refused to cooperate had steadily increased. Anna was bright it just took the right person to channel her brain onto the task at hand. That had been the main reason he had threatened boarding school.

He could never have sent his daughter away like that, he couldn't understand how anyone could do that to their child. But for some reason it had struck a chord in the mysterious Miss Bristow and that had been what had swayed her to come and teach Anna, that and Anna had a puppy dog look that could melt ice.

When he had first seen Miss Bristow in the markets with Anna it was hard to believe that is was his daughter, they seemed to immediately form a bond and when she had suddenly left both he and Anna had felt an unexpected pang of loss.

Sydney was enjoying her time in Ireland immensely, the pace was so much different to the fast paced London life. Since it was technically Christmas and Sydney didn't have any family to spend it with, well her father if she had actually spoken to him would be away on a business trip and her Aunt Katya was going on a holiday with her society friends, Anna had begged her to come to Ireland with her and even promised to do some school work while she was away. Sark had also backed up Anna expressing his wish for her to accompany them to his home in Ireland to spend Christmas with them.

Anna and Sydney had spent their days helping to decorate the house for Christmas, Sark had spent most of his days tying up lose ends for the holidays and had barely left his office.

Christmas morning came and Sydney found herself been rudely awoken by a very excited Anna.

"Sydney…….Sydney Wake up!" Anna greeted excitedly as she bounced on Sydney's bed.

"mmmm too early" Sydney groaned as she rolled over to check the time. It was only 6am and she really didn't want to get out of bed for at least another hour or 2 or 3.

One afternoon Sark had just left for the office for a few hours, when Anna had come into Sydney's room.

"Merry Christmas Sydney, Santa brought me lots of presents, you must come and look." Anna pulled on Sydney's blankets removing the warm cocoon.

"Ok…ok Anna I'm up why do you go and get your father up and I'll meet you downstairs in a minute."

Anna bounded out of the room and Sydney smirked if she had to be up them so should Sark, Sydney almost laughed out loud at Sark's response to Anna's bouncing on his bed. Sydney threw back the remaining covers and slipped on a pair of sweats and tee and made her way down stairs and towards the Christmas tree where she found Sark nursing a cup of tea, her refused to drink coffee stating it was bad for your health and stained teeth. Anna was bouncing around the tree talking excitedly about the number of presents that 'santa" had brought.

"Morning" Sydney managed through yet another yawn.

"Merry Christmas Miss Bristow, there is coffee in the kitchen"

Sydney nodded her thanks and headed towards the saviour which was coffee.

"Can we open presents now daddy….please…" Anna Sark as Sydney walked back into the room. Sydney stifled her laugh as she saw Anna bring out her puppy dog face including a pouty lip, no one could refuse that look.

Sydney sat on the plush couch with her much needed cup of coffee and watched as Sark helped Anna rip open the numerous number of Christmas presents. Sydney couldn't believe how many there were. Sydney couldn't remember a time when her father was even home for Christmas let alone sitting with her to open her presents. Sydney had always spent Christmas morning alone or with a nanny.

The nanny had always done the Christmas shopping and when she was too old for a nanny her father always gave her a gift certificate or a wad of cash and told to go and buy something for herself. Sydney watched Sark tickle Anna and she screamed and laughed, Sydney wished she could have been loved like that, her father had never told her he loved her, he hardly even spoke to her and when he did they were always awkward conversations which ended abruptly his excuse always that he had to get back to work.

Sydney was snapped out of her daze when Anna pushed a doll in her arms. Sydney recognised it as the one she had been begging Sark for, for the past month. Sydney smiled breaking out of her wistful mood.

"Look Sydney, isn't she beautiful"

"She is lovely Anna, have you named her yet?"

Anna seemed to think about it her face showing her concentration.

"I'll call her Jacqueline but Jackie for short" Anna announced in an authoritative tone or as much authority as a young person can manage.

Anna ran out of the room and Sydney could her telling one of the maids all about Jacqueline.

Sydney finished her coffee and got up to clear away all the wrapping paper that Anna had managed to spread around the room. Sydney noticed that Anna had missed a present. Picking it up carefully, Sydney turned towards Sark who had moved to stand near the couch where she was previously sitting.

"Anna missed one"

"I believe Miss Bristow….that if you look at the tag you will find that, that particular gift is yours."

Sydney gasped and looked down at the medium sized rectangular present. Sinking down into the couch, Sydney carefully read the tag attached.

Dear Sydney

Merry Christmas

Love

Anna and Julian

Sydney carefully unwrapped the present staring at the jewellery box now sitting in her lap, she was speechless. The box was antique silver with what she was sure was real diamonds, rubies and sapphires decorating the outside.

"Sark….." Sydney began but couldn't find the words

"Thank you, it's absolutely stunning, but I can't accept this, it's too much…" Sydney was cut off by Sark

"Sydney think of it as a thank you from both Anna and I for all the work you have done, you are more than an employee Sydney.

Again Sydney was speechless, putting aside their past grievances Sydney gently placed the jewellery box on couch and jumped up wrapped her arms around Sark drawing him into a tight hug. She felt Sark stiffen then relax and bring his arms around her and rested his hands around her waist. Sydney sighed Why did this feel so good?

Sark was shocked Sydney was hugging him, and not just an impersonal one, her body was flush with his, she fit perfectly in his arms her head resting just below his chin, it was like she was made for him. He heard her sigh and Sark wondered if just maybe she wanted to be in his arms as much as he wanted her to be there.

Sydney loosened her grasp on Sark and looked up, her eyes going wide as she realised Sark was looking intently down at her, his blue eyes ablaze with emotion she had never seen before. Locked together a battle of blue fire and blazing brown, they snapped apart as Anna can skipping back into the room. Sydney quickly sank back down into the couch she wasn't sure her shaky legs would support her for much longer.

Anna grabbed hold of Sark's hand and proceeded to drag Sark from the room explaining that she wanted to show him something. Sydney watched them go and breathed a sigh of relief when they had left. She wasn't sure what would have happened if Anna hadn't interrupted, the worst part was Sydney almost wished that Anna hadn't interrupted. Maybe just maybe he wanted something more.