Chapter Ten

One Week Later

"Sark! I need your help!" Sydney yelled.

"I'm coming!" she heard his reply come from somewhere in the house.

Over the past week, Sark and Sydney's 'relationship' had progressed slowly, but both of them were fine with that. Sark spent a lot of his free time in his study, trying to figure out what was going on. Trying to find out who was after them. So far, no one had come attacked them for a while.

Their nights were spent together in Sydney's bed, just sleeping next to each other. Their time together was filled with sweet words, small caresses and little kisses. Over the past week, they had eaten every meal together and Sark had even began calling her love.

Sydney couldn't help but blush when she saw him run into the room. He was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants that were hanging at his waist, and nothing else.

"What's wrong Syd?" he asked, coming to her, concerned.

"Nothing, I just woke up, and you promised me that you would help me walk this morning. Do you remember?"

Over the past week, Sydney had been begging him to let her try and get back to walking. It was around the time that she should be starting with her physical therapy. Sark had been hesitant to let her start, but she made him promise to let her do it today.

"Yes, I remember. But Syd?" he caressed her face, "do you really think you're ready now?"

"I've been killing myself over this for the past two weeks. Just help me out of this chair and help me walk around!" I whine and playfully hit his chest.

"Fine" he huffs.

He pulls her arms up and puts his arms around her waist and pulled her up. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm just fine. It's just a little weird."

"No pain?"

"No pain."

They walked around inside and outside the house for the next hour, just talking. Sark kept his arm around her shoulders. There were no awkward or uncomfortable moments for Sydney, there was no pain. It was perfect. The sun was shining and it was the perfect day. Nice and warm, but not too warm.

"I think we should go inside love. You need to relax" he pulled her head to his lips and laid a kiss on her hair.

"What if I don't want to?" I say flirtatiously.

"Well then I'll just have to carry you" he said. He then lifted her into his arms. He carried her all the way back to the house and into the bedroom.

Sitting her back into her wheelchair, Sydney sighed. "I hate this thing. Do you think we could just get me a cane? I promise that I'd actually use it."

"I know you would love, we can go into Paris tomorrow and get one for you. Would you be ok with that?"

"Yeah" they just sat together for a while, holding the other's hand. "Sark?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry that we missed your event when I was in the hospital."

"Don't worry about it. I'm just happy that you're alright."

"Yeah, but no matter what you had thought that I felt about it, I was actually looking forward to it. You know how I love to dress up and go to those kinds of things. I just love running from bullets and guards with guns in four-inch heels" she laughed.

"But it wouldn't be right if I wasn't the one with the gun, would it?"

"No, I guess not." Sark smiled.

"Syd? How long do you want to stay here? Are you planning on going back to New York soon?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" feigning hurt.

"Not at all!" he said quickly. "I was just wondering if we should go out and get you some more clothes. I mean, you only have enough for the next few days. You don't have enough to wear for –"

"Sark, if you want to buy me clothes all you have to do is say so."

"Fine, I want to buy you things. Not clothes necessarily, but things. I like spoiling you."

"Well, I like being spoiled by you" she said, placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I got a call this morning, before you woke up. And since you mentioned that previous event, I can happily say that you can look forward to another one in two weeks. If you feel up to it, that is."

"What? Are you talking about an occasion that could involve me dancing in a fabulous gown?"

"I think it is. But I'll only bring you if you can walk properly by then."

"Well, what are we waiting for! I'm getting out of this chair and walking some more!" she stands slowly and moves to the door. Sark remains on the bed, just watching her, smiling. "Oh, and to answer your question, I'm not sure how long. But I know that I want to stay for a while. Just to see what's really going on between us."

"There really is something going on here, is there?"

"I think so" she replied, smiling a large smile.

The Next Day

"Sydney, are you ready?" Sark called from the living room.

Sydney came into the room wearing a dress with colourful polka-dots. She looked gorgeous. If he hadn't said that he would take their relationship slow, he would have taken her into the bedroom and show her what he thought of her.

"You look exquisite" he said, taking her hand and placing a feather light kiss on her palm.

"So I take it, that it was worth the thirty second wait?"

"Of course love."

She takes his arm, "shall we?"

"Yes, lets"

Paris – Five Hours Later

"Sark! Come on! You've bought me WAY too much clothing!" Sydney and Sark were carrying the last of her bags to the car. They had been shopping for over four hours.

"Sydney, I told you that I would buy you new clothing, and that's what I'm doing."

"Fine, but I need a couple of hours alone now, because this dress that I'm going to get… well let's just say that I don't want you to see it before the actual night. Because I am going to look drop… dead… gorgeous" she finished with a passionate kiss.

"Alright. But I need to make sure that you're alright. Because I couldn't live with myself if you're in pain, or if you get worse."

"Julian, I'm feeling fine. Really. I have enough strength for the rest of the day."

"Just making sure love. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Sydney exits the store carrying a large bag, which Sark can only guess is filled with the most beautiful gown that he will ever see.

He crosses the street and takes the bag from her, pulling her to him for a passionate kiss.

"We seem to be doing this a lot today."

"What?"

"Kissing. We've been doing that a lot today. All over Paris. At every high class Parisian clothing store."

"Well, that's because I can't keep my hands off of you."

Sydney blushed furiously. "We should get back home, it's starting to get dark."

"I like hearing you say that, you know?" at Sydney's confused look, he added, "you calling it home." Sark smiled. "I can't say how happy you're making me Sydney."

"Well, I can't believe how much you've changed. Less than a month ago, I was trying to kill you. I hated you. But now, I can't help but feel happy with you. And now, all I want to do is kiss you."

"Feel free to do that any time you'd like. Honestly, I love the feeling of your lips on mine."

"Let's get home" Sydney took his free hand in hers, and they walked to the car.

One Week Later

"Sydney, I've got it!" Sark called from his study.

Sydney ran to the room, as quickly as possible.

"You've got it? What did you find?"

"I know who was after us!"