Chapter Sixteen
Thursday – Two days later
"Syd! Come on, she'll be here in an hour!" Weiss screamed from outside her door. Julian and Sydney were still inside their room, getting dressed after first-thing in the morning love making…
They emerged from the room with dishevelled hair and flushed cheeks, but they were wearing clothes and otherwise looked acceptable.
"Do NOT tell me what happened in there" both Sydney and Sark exchanged a goofy grin and a laugh as they looked back at Weiss "God, you guys are like two love-sick teenagers."
Sark put his arm around Sydney's shoulders and pulled her close to him, and she sighed, "we are aren't we?" she said.
"So Eric, this girl of yours, what does she do?" Sark asked.
"She works for the CIA, she was hired a few months before Sydney left. She's an analyst. So I don't have to worry about her getting shot at every time she goes on a business trip. Oh and by the way, she's SO excited to meet you Syd. And she won't tell a soul about you Sark. I mean Julian" he corrected quickly, "Sorry man, it's gonna take some time."
"I get it" Sark answered.
Sark took Sydney's arm and they walked to the car. He opened the door for her and kissed her hand, she giggled and rolled her eyes.
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The plane had landed, Weiss, Sydney and Sark were in the arrivals area of the airport waiting for Jennifer. Weiss was moving from side to side because he was so happy and excited to see his girlfriend for the first time in three days. They haven't spent much time apart in their relationship Sydney thought, neither have Julian and I.
Jennifer came through the door and Weiss ran up to her, she met him halfway with a big smile and a passionate kiss. "I missed you" Sydney overheard. She smiled. Sark must have heard this too, or maybe it was just from the public display of affection, because he pulled Sydney to him and kissed her forehead and held her to his chest.
She smiled and sighed against his chest. Weiss walked to them holding Jen's hand, "Syd, this is Jen, Jen this is Syd. And this is Sydney's boyfriend Julian. He's the one you can't say a word about."
"I get it" she said. She looked at Sydney and smiled, "Eric has told me so much about you. Mostly about either you and Vaughn, or your famous nights with Tequila" she laughed.
Sydney blushed and Weiss laughed, "There were a lot of those weren't there Syd?" Weiss asked.
Sark looked at Sydney with a goofy grin, "Nothing happened that I should worry about, right love?"
She kissed him softly, "Nothing at all" she turned to Jen, "Well, I can imagine that you're wiped out from the flight, so why don't we go home?"
"Sounds good," Jen replied, "So where do you live?"
"Well, I live in New York right now, but I'm staying at Julian's. He has a place outside Paris, and if you're anything like me, you'll love it. It's incredible."
They got Jen's bags from the baggage check and headed back to the car. Sark got into the driver's side and said "Fasten your seatbelts" and they were off.
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"Wow!" Jen said when the house came into view, "This is incredible. I've always dreamed of living in a place like this."
"Well, you haven't even seen the back yet. There are lilies and roses everywhere in the garden," said Sydney, beaming with excitement.
"Syd, why don't you show Jennifer around the place, while Eric and I take her bags to their room" Sark said.
"OK!" both girls replied, kissing their boyfriends on their cheeks.
When both girls were out of earshot, the boys began to plan the next night. "Eric, I just realized that Sydney has been here for almost five weeks, and we've been together for almost four. I can't believe she's stayed with me that long."
"I can't either. I'm still shocked she hasn't tried to kill you a few times."
"Yeah. So about tomorrow night… we've got everything planned right?"
"I think so. I rented my tux yesterday, I need to pick it up tomorrow morning, which I can do when the ladies are getting ready… Can I borrow a car for that?"
"I have to go into town as well, to pick up something for Sydney that I had ordered. So I'll go with you."
"Sure. And you made the reservations right?"
"Of course. They're for 7:30. And then we take them dancing."
"Sydney hasn't mentioned her birthday once yet has she?"
"No, nothing to me. How old is she this year?"
"She's turning 29. Do you think she's forgotten? Or do you think she just wants to keep it low-key?"
"I don't know, but there must be something behind it. It's not like her to forget the date. I think I'll talk to her about it."
"Ok. So do you think that we should keep this as a surprise?"
"I think we should keep the anniversary part secret, but I think we should tell Sydney about her birthday. I think something's wrong, and I don't want her to go through anything alone."
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As the boys were talking about their plans and their girls, Sydney and Jen were outside in the backyard talking about the boys.
"Julian is amazing. He's helped me through a really hard time. I really care about him."
"I can see he cares about you. There's something in his eyes. Pure affection."
"Well, the same could be said for Eric, he's so happy with you."
"I'm so in love with him. He's the perfect man. He's smart and cute and funny… just everything I need. Plus, when I'm having a bad day, I can call him up and we just talk."
"I miss that about him. He's really my best friend in the world. I'm so happy for you guys" they sat in the sun for a few minutes, just listening to the trees in the wind, "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Yeah sure."
"I don't want you to tell the guys alright?"
"Of course, I won't tell a soul."
"Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm turning 29."
"Oh, why don't you want them to know?"
"Because they'll make a big deal out of it, and I don't want that. I just want it to be like any other day" she paused, "I was engaged once. His name was Danny. I loved him more than anything, and one day he proposed. It was a week after my birthday. I hate my birthday now, more than any other day. Because a few days after that, he was killed. By Arvin Sloane."
"Sydney, that's horrible. Of course I wont' tell anyone about your birthday. Are you sure you don't want to talk to Julian about it though? I'm sure he would understand."
"I don't want him to know. I'm turning 29, and I haven't done anything that I'm supposed to do in life. All I've done has been work. I saved the world every day, I went to work every single day for so long, and now I want a real life. I'm never going to get out, either. I'm stuck in this world forever" she smiled bitterly, "I'm never going to live a normal life, with a husband and children. Not when there are people out there who want to take it away from me."
"Sydney, just be patient, you'll have everything one day. You'll have the life you dream about."
Sydney looked at Jen and smiled, "thank you" she said seriously.
"Not a problem," Jen replied.
They walked back inside a few minutes later, where they saw the boys in the living room reading books. Sark looked up and saw Sydney, he noticed the serious look on her face, "Is everything alright?" he asked, concern was now taking over.
"Everything's fine" Sydney replied, "I'm just going to go take a little nap."
"That sounds like a good idea. I think I'm going to take one too, I feel a little jet-lagged." Jen said.
"Well, I'll come tuck you in then, love." Sark said. Sydney nodded and walked to the room, Sark behind her.
When they got to the room Sydney got undressed and Sark watched her. He was trying to figure out what was going on in her head, but couldn't think of anything. "What's going on Sydney?" he asked.
"Nothing." She answered quickly.
"I know something's going on."
"I'm just tired, I want to get some sleep."
"Syd, please talk to me" he pleaded. She just continued to get into more comfortable clothing.
"Fine Syd, I know something's going on with you, but I'll leave you alone with your inner demons. If you're just going to shut me out, then what's the point of all this?" he turned to leave when he heard her begin to sob.
"It's been almost five years" she whispered shakily.
"What?" he turned in disbelief.
"Danny" and finally he understood, "he died a week after my 24th birthday. I'm turning 29 tomorrow" she sobbed. He walked to her and enveloped her in his arms. "I'm sorry" she whispered when her sobbing subsided.
"Sydney, I understand. You were engaged to the man and then he was suddenly taken from you, I can't imaging how hard that must be for you. You're so strong. You've been able to make yourself happy without him. I bet that right now he is watching over you and he's happy that you're able to move on. That you've found happiness with others."
She smiled at him with tears in her eyes, "Thank you" she said shortly.
"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep if you want me to."
She nodded and hugged him tightly before getting under the covers, and soon falling asleep.
Once Sark was sure she was asleep he got up and left the room. He entered the living room to see Weiss sitting on the sofa with Jennifer in his lap. She was asleep and he was nodding off. Sark coughed and Weiss' head jerked up and he stared at him wide-eyed. Weiss saw the serious look on Sark's face and silently took Jen to the bedroom and returned a few minutes later.
"What happened with Sydney?" Weiss asked when he sat across from Sark on the sofa.
"We have to keep tomorrow night focused on you and Jennifer. Sydney explained to me why she hasn't mentioned her birthday" he looked up from his hands at Weiss, "it's because of Danny."
Weiss exhaled slowly, "What about him?"
"He was killed about a week after her 24th birthday. It's going to be 5 years since she lost him."
"I get it. Jen will love the extra attention. And we won't mention her birthday much. Do you think that would work? Because I know how much Sydney loves dancing, I wouldn't want her to miss this night."
"I wouldn't either" he paused and stood up, "I'm just going to go for a walk. Could you tell Sydney that I'll be back soon?"
Weiss shook his head "yeah, of course. Just come back soon."
Sark nodded and left the house quietly.
Half an hour later Sydney had woken up and found Weiss watching television in the living room. "Hey, where's Julian?" she asked.
"Walking. He told me to tell you that he'd be back soon."
"Ok. What time is it?"
"After one I think…" he looked at the clock, "yeah, it's 1:25"
"I'm going to make something for lunch. Want anything?"
"Yeah, sure. Just make enough for Jen and Julian, because they'll probably want some when they're back or up…"
She smiled and nodded, "Oh course."
Twenty minutes later Jen was in the kitchen helping Sydney with their meal. She was slicing limes when Sark walked into the room. He walked straight to Sydney and put him arms around her front. She smiled and he kissed the top of her head and let go. He moved beside her and asked if there was anything he could do to help. "Someone's cheery right now" Sydney said with laughter in her voice.
"Can you blame me?" he smiled and began chopping some carrots after Sydney pointed at them and handed him a knife, "I've got a beautiful woman in my kitchen who is currently cooking for me."
"Oh, Julian, why can't all men be like you?" Jennifer said as Weiss walked into the room.
"Why can't all men be like who?" Weiss asked.
"Why can't all men be like Julian. He's just so perfect and he can compliment a women perfectly." Jennifer said.
Weiss came up behind her and turned her to him, "you look so gorgeous today. I've missed you more than I can possibly say."
She smiled, gave him a quick kiss and went back to work. Ten minutes later they were gathered around the dining room table eating their meal.
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It's an evening of dinner and dancing at the hottest Paris nightclub. Everyone enjoyed the night. Sydney didn't even feel like it was her birthday, Julian made her forget… and she loved him for that. Jennifer and Weiss had a wonderful time. They celebrated the anniversary of their first date in a night of happiness and music.
When they got home, the two couples went to their rooms and spent their nights in bliss.
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A/N: I understand that was a bad and sappy ending, but I just wanted to get to the next part of the story.