Hey again guys! Thank you so much for all the reviews!
Em-958: Thank you so much for all reviews! I think you're one awesome person too just for all reviews. And as for the guy Syndey was referring to earlier in chapter 1, she was talking about her son, Chris. You'll just have to wait a couple more chapters to see who Chris' dad is ).
Mary Kate113 & Trickster's Queen of War: No... I haven't revealed who Chris' father is yet. But just keep with me for some more chapters. I promise Chris' father will make an appearance sometime during the course of this story ).
And for the rest of you guys reviewing, you guys are awesome! Please keep it up too! I really enjoy reading them!
And now on with the story. Vaughn and Syd's date winkwink!
Chapter 4
Michael Vaughn was standing at the door with a single red rose in one hand and a small package in the other. When Sydney opened the door, his mouth dropped to the floor. He had seen her dressed up before, but this time it was different. She was dressed up only for him. Vaughn couldn't get any words out and it took a friendly shove from Weiss to bring him back to his senses.
"Syd… you look incredibly beautiful tonight," he stuttered. Eric and Will looked at each other and rolled their eyes while Francie sighed.
Sydney giggled and said, "Vaughn, you look very handsome tonight too. What do you have here?" she asked, pointing to the items in his hand.
"It's a rose for you."
"You're not going cheap on me here, are you?" she teased. "I hope that you didn't spend all your money on those beautiful flowers that you sent me today, which I loved very much. Thank you for them."
"You're welcome. But, no, I'm not going cheap on you," he chuckled, "This was the only perfect rose I could find; anything less than perfect would be unacceptable for you."
At that moment, she gave him a hug. She wished that they could stay like that forever, but she remembered that there were other people in the room. "I know that Will is here to baby-sit with Francie, but Eric, what brings you here?"
Weiss replied, "I had to bring Will over here. And besides, how could I not come over and see what a job well done I did on helping Mikey boy get ready for your date."
"You did a great job, Eric," she said while beaming. Off to the side, Vaughn coughed real loudly.
"That will be my cue to leave," sniggered Eric.
Francie spoke up, "Will and I will walk you to your car, Eric."
When Sydney and Vaughn were left alone, he gave her another hug and she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. As she was about to give him another hug, she noticed that he was still carrying a small package in his hands. "What's that?" she asked.
"I was talking to Eric and he told me that Chris was into the toys, Bionicle. So, this is for him," he said while handing her the box.
"Thank you very much, Vaughn. You really didn't have to. But, speaking of Chris let me go say goodbye to him before I leave and give this to him."
Sydney walked down the hall and disappeared into a room. Vaughn followed and peered into the room that was decorated in sci-fi action figures. "Probably Marshall and Eric's influence," he thought.
Sydney entered her son's room and saw that he was playing with one of his action figures on the floor. When Chris saw his mother walk in the door, he jumped up from where he was playing and ran over and hugged her leg. Sydney moved him away from her leg and bent down to talk to him.
"Chris, mommy's leaving now."
"Okay," he sniffled. "Will you be here to tuck me in tonight?"
"Not tonight sweetie. When I get back you'll be asleep, but I promise to make it up to you tomorrow night. Is that alright?"
"Yeah," he said with a small smile.
"How about giving me a hug?" Chris launched his small body into Sydney's waiting arms. Vaughn looked into the room at that time and saw Sydney giving her son a hug. Chris also saw him looking into the room and buried his face into his mother's shoulder.
After a couple of seconds, Chris looked up and pointed at Vaughn, asking, "Mommy, who's that?"
Vaughn stepped into the room and bent down to Chris' level. "I'm Michael and you must be Chris?" Vaughn stuck out his hand and Chris hesitantly shook it.
"I want to thank you for letting me borrow your mommy tonight. How about next weekend we all go somewhere together? That way, I can get to know you better."
Sydney smiled at this, glad to know that Vaughn had already been making plans for next week.
"Okay," he replied, still a little afraid of the larger man.
"By the way, this is for you," Vaughn said, while handing him the package that was in Sydney's hand.
Chris tore the packaging off and got very excited. "Thank you very much Mr. Michael!" He had forgotten about everything else and sat down on the floor playing with his new toy.
Sydney and Vaughn walked out of Chris' room and out of the house. When they got out there, Sydney gasped at what she saw before her.
In front of them was a white stretch limo. Sydney looked at him quizzically and Vaughn shook his head, saying, "Not me."
As they proceeded down the driveway, they saw Francie, Will, and Eric standing in front of the limo. "Thank you guys so much!" both Sydney and Vaughn exclaimed.
"Think of it as your welcome home present Vaughn," Eric commented.
Francie squealed in delight, "I'm so happy for you, Syd."
"Well, you guys go and enjoy yourselves tonight. Francie and I will stay here with Chris until you get home Syd. And Eric and Jen will be watching our children, so you guys take all the time you want," said Will.
Sydney and Vaughn stepped into the limo and drove off to their restaurant.
Tratorria Di Amicizia
The limo arrived at the restaurant around 7:45. The driver opened the door and Vaughn stepped out, extending his hand out to Sydney. "Hmm… a gentleman. I like it very much," Sydney teased.
"Sir, the car is yours for the evening. I will be waiting out here after you finish your meal." Vaughn nodded and they both entered the restaurant. The cozy Italian atmosphere was the perfect place for their second, first date.
Sydney noticed the name of the restaurant when she looked at the sign behind the maitre d'. She had realized why Vaughn had chosen this restaurant and it had moved her deeply. With the exception of the last word in the name of the restaurant and their location, it was almost exactly the same as their date at Tratorria Di Nardi's in Italy, ten years ago.
The waiter escorted them to a cozy table in the back. Normally, he would have asked the guests if they would care for a cocktail. However, Vaughn had called ahead and had ordered everything that they would need for that night. The waiter came back with a bottle of sparkling cider and poured two glasses. The two of them raised their glasses and clinked them. This time, no words were spoken; none were needed.
Vaughn looked over at Sydney and thought about how beautiful she really is. She looked back at him a placed her hand over his. "Are you happy?" she asked.
"How could I not be? Syd, I'm glad that after all these years, we found each other again. And I want to thank you for the chance that you've given me."
The waiter came back to the table and asked, "Excuse me sir, but are you ready for your salads?" Vaughn looked at Sydney, she smiled and shrugged.
"Yes, please bring them, thank you."
"Vaughn, we haven't even looked at the menu yet," she looked at him quizzically.
He responded, "Syd, I didn't want to waste time tonight looking over a menu when I could be looking at you. With the assistance of some very helpful friends, I have already ordered."
Sydney blushed and thought to herself, "This is going to be a habit with me whenever I'm around him."
The evening continued and the couple enjoyed their meal together. Just like their dinner the previous week, they talked about everything and nothing. In some ways they were as comfortable as any other time they had dined together before Sydney's disappearance, yet there was something in the air. Guests all around them looked at them and grinned at the evident feelings that Sydney and Vaughn felt for one another.
Sydney looked at her watch and realized it was nearly eleven o'clock. "Vaughn, I don't want this night to end, but I do have to get back home to Chris. You can come over and have some coffee if you like," she offered.
He readily accepted the offer and they headed back to Sydney's house.
When they arrived at the house, they saw that Will and Francie had fallen asleep in front of the TV together. Vaughn quietly woke them up while Sydney went to Chris' room to check in on him.
Will was the first one to awaken and gently shook his wife awake. Francie realized where she was and stood up.
"Thank you guys so much for looking after him," said Sydney.
Francie replied, "It was fun looking after the little guy." She leaned in closer and said, "Tomorrow morning, you're giving me all the details."
Francie and Will said their goodbyes and Sydney started making some coffee for the two of them. "Syd, thank you so much again for tonight."
"It's nothing, Vaughn. If anything, I should be the one saying thanks to you."
They sat in silence for a couple minutes, sipping their coffees and basking in the presence of one another.
It was close to midnight when Vaughn got up from the couch, ready to head on home. While walking Vaughn to his car, he told Sydney, "Don't make plans for next Saturday."
"Why?" she asked him with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Chris likes the circus, right?"
"Yeah…" she trailed off, not knowing where he was going with this.
"Well, what if I told I could get tickets."
"If you told me that, I would say you were crazy. I have been trying for weeks to get tickets to the circus because Chris really wants to go, but I have had no luck so far. If you can get them, then we're definitely going."
"I can. It's a date with the three of us then." he replied smugly.
Once they had reached his car, she pulled his head down and gave him a short tender kiss on the lips. They whispered a quiet goodbye to one another and Vaughn got into his car and drove home.