Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the reviews once again. Sorry, I can't comment on any of you guy's reviews this time. I have to go study for my exams this week and really only have a limited time. Sucks. The joys of high school. w00t! Anyways, hope you guys like this chapter as well. It's still some more fluff.

And also, about Chris' father, don't worry about... we'll get to him when we get to him ;-). haha. I'll just keep you guys guessing for a while... but I'm pretty sure I will be revealing who it is in a couple of chapters from now.

Ok, enjoy!

Chapter 5

Thursday

Vaughn's Office

Vaughn had been sitting at his desk when Dixon walked in and took a seat across from his desk.

"Thanks anyways." Vaughn hung up the phone and let out a sigh. Cradling his head in his hands, he looked up when he heard someone enter his office. Vaughn started to stand up, but Dixon motioned for him to sit.

"Problems, Vaughn?"

"More than you know."

"What's the problem?" Dixon asked. Ever since Vaughn had come back to work in that office again, things had been going very smoothly. And when he found out that things between Sydney and Vaughn were going very well, he was thrilled.

"I don't want to bother you sir. It's just some trouble getting some tickets."

"Don't tell me you want tickets for that latest American Idol winner," he snickered.

"No!" chuckled Vaughn. "Well Chris, Syd's son, wants to go to the circus that's in town this week, but she can't get tickets and I've tried all week. What's so great about a bunch of clowns and smelly monkeys anyways?" Vaughn then realized that he had just said that in front of Dixon. "I'm sorry Dixon, but it's just that this is really important to Chris and I want to make him happy."

"It's alright, Vaughn. So, you want to get on his good side by taking him to circus?"

"No sir. I mean, yes I want to take him to the circus, but not to get on his good side. I want to take him there because he really wants to go and I sense that he's probably had a lot of disappointments in his life."

"Where have you tried?" queried Dixon.

"Everywhere. I've called Ticket Master, the stadium, even some of my old contacts that know some scalpers. But, everyone is sold out."

"What would you say if I told you I could get you four tickets?"

"Dixon?" he asked, not understanding what Dixon was saying.

"I bought four tickets for my children and their children. But, none of them could make it. I was going to place an ad in the paper, but how would you like to have them?"

"Thank you very much Dixon. How much do I owe you?" Vaughn asked as Dixon pulled out the tickets from his wallet.

"Nothing at all. Think of it as your welcome home present from me. I also know how much you want to make Syd and Chris happy. Chris is a great kid, but if you upset him in any way, I'll have you know that Jack isn't the only one that's going to come after you." Dixon smiled and continued, "Have a good time."

Vaughn wasn't sure if he should be scared that this was his second threat about him hurting Sydney and Chris or if he should be happy that they had people that looked after them. He decided to go with the latter and picked up the phone to call Sydney.

Same Time

The Teacher's Lounge at Sydney's School

Sydney was chatting with some of her fellow teachers in the teacher's lounge when her cell phone began to vibrate. "Excuse me," she said as she excused herself from the conversation.

"Bristow," she said.

"Don't make plans for Saturday," her caller said.

She responded, "And why would I do that?"

"Because…" he trailed off. "I just happen to have four tickets to that circus your son seems to be interested in."

"Vaughn, where and how did you get four tickets to the circus?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, Dixon had tickets that were supposed to be for his children and grandchildren, but they couldn't make it, so he gave them to me."

"He gave them to you," she stated.

"Yep, he said it was some kind of welcome home gift. Jeez, I should go away more often. I'm starting to like all these welcome home gifts that I'm getting," he teased. "First, the limo from Weiss and now these tickets from Dixon."

"Vaughn," she scolded, "Don't you dare joke about something like that. I'm never going to let you go away for a long time now that you're back."

"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you. I wouldn't think about leaving at all," he told her as a matter of fact. "Now, we have an extra ticket to the circus. Who should we take with us?"

"I was thinking about Francie and Will's older child, Bobby. He's really close to Chris' age and their both really good friends. I'm sure Francie and Will won't mind. What do you think?"

"I think I better show up on time on Saturday."

"You better," she mocked. "Why don't you call Will and ask him if Bobby would like to go."

"Ok," he replied. "So, what are you up to right now?"

"Right now I'm getting stared at by all the teachers in the lounge," she whispered as quietly as she could into the cell phone.

"And why is that, Ms. Bristow?" he said, knowing full well the answer.

"I think it has something to do with me blushing while I'm talking to you," she answered back as she grinned.

"Hmm, I thought as much."

Sydney and Vaughn talked on the phone for the next twenty minutes, talking about the random things from the weather to the King's scoring league. They would have gone on for another hour when one of the teachers tapped her on her shoulder, reminding her that the bell would soon ring.

"Hey Vaughn, I have to go for now though, the lunch period is almost over and I have to hurry back to class. I'll talk to you later though. Bye."

"Alright, talk to you later too. Bye."

As soon as Sydney pressed the off button, she looked up and saw that she had at least five pairs of eyes trained on her. "What?" she asked with an impish grin.

Kristi, one of the teachers there that was also her friend, spoke up, "Syd, you were on your cell phone for more than half of the lunch period. You have got to tell us who that was on the phone!"

Suddenly, all of the female teachers started bombarding her with questions. "Who is he? What's his name? Where did you meet him? How long have you known him? Is he cute?" they all asked. The questions just kept on coming until Sydney put her hands up to silence them.

She started to shy away to the door while telling her inquisitive colleagues, "Like you guys said, the bell's about to ring. So, sorry. I guess I'll tell you guys about him later."

All the girls became content with that answer while the men in the room groaned inwardly. Even in her late thirties, she could still attract men and attract them she did. More than half of the male teachers of the high school had asked her out at least once, but she had turned them all down.

Sydney kept on grinning mischievously until she had reached the door and said, "Talk to you guys later." And with that, she pulled the door shut behind her.

Ooh... a purple button! I wonder what it does...? You know you guys are wondering too... Now all you have to do is just click it!

Click it!

Click the purple review button!

haha, I wonder if that was enough of a hint... ).