Sorry I've taken so long to update.

Here's the next part.

Zara sat in the back again watching the two of them. They had become much more at ease with each other than they were earlier. They seemed to have forgotten about her. Zara shuddered slightly as she thought of that woman.

Somewhere in the journey to the rink and without verbally confirming it Sydney and Vaughn had come to a decision. They had to tell Zara that Lauren was Vaughn's wife. They shared a look and stopped on the side of the road next to a long beach.

Vaughn looked at Zara in the mirror "Zara we have to tell you something or rather I do this…it's my fault no blame goes to Syd on this" Vaughn was stalling somewhat.

"Okay" said Zara "Just say it"

"Zara…Lauren….Lauren is….my wife" he turned to look out of the window "I…married her when I thought Sydney was dead. She, they, took advantage of me. I was so broken. I was, am really, a mission and it makes me…" he gave up and hit the steering wheel "I thought she loved me. I tried to love her back but it never worked though."

Zara looked at him, just looked at him. Her face was stoic and there was no expression in her eyes. She opened the door and got out of the car. This was done in one quick movement they watched as she walked out to the edge of the road and sat down with her knees up.

The two looked at each other. Sydney half smiled at Vaughn and touched his hand gently giving him a look which said 'I'll go and talk to her' then got out of the car. She turned back as she passed his window he wound it down. She leant in

"Come over when I wave. Ok?" she said and he nodded.

"Thanks Syd" he said and Sydney smiled at him. Vaughn rested his head on the steering wheel as she walked away and hit the dashboard with some force. He kept his head down for some minutes trying to calm himself down.

Sydney sat down next to Zara. She didn't look up. She was looking down at her feet with her eyes closed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she said quietly.

"We were trying to find the right moment I think. Although, there isn't one is there?" she said with a small smile and Zara shook her head.

"Michael must hate me" said Zara.

"No" said Sydney quickly "He doesn't hate you at all" Sydney put a hand on the girls shoulder making Zara look up at her "He's angry with himself more than anything. He was a mission really she never loved him and he was, is, married to her. Vaughn doesn't take things like that lightly, he means what he says" she said "Or at least he convinces himself that he does and it is for the best"

"I know…sort of" said Zara "We thought we were specially chosen to go to one of the best schools in the world and for the first few months that's what it was. We knew something was up though apart from being taught how to load guns we were only allowed to see our families twice a year and only for a day. At Christmas and at Easter. I only saw my parents for 9 days in three years." She put her head on her knees "I hate them" she said shakily crying "For what they did to me and my family and all of us I've lost everyone. Even Edek and we promised each other that wouldn't leave the other with them." She sighed "It wasn't his fault though" she said.

"You've been through things no one should have to go through Zara" said Sydney "And you're only 14. I would have had a nervous breakdown by now and it's alright to mourn for Edek it hasn't been very long. My…best friend was killed over two years ago and I'm still not over it"

"I don't know how to mourn. I never could. When something happened we were put on missions for the sake of it to drive emotions out of our heads. It's hard to be emotional when you're running from several gunmen and fighting for your life."

"When did you last cry?"

"What before today?" she thought about it for a second then shook her head "I can't remember actually crying for periods of time I remember having to hide it a lot. I think I blocked it out" She stared out to sea "I want to go home" she whispered and the wind nearly carried her words away "That's all I've ever wanted to go home, to school, argue with my brothers and play with my sister. Be safe. I just want to be a kid who only worries about getting homework in on time and friends. I can't make friends easily Syd" she said "I can't trust anyone especially kids my age they don't know when not to tell something or not. I'm scared of them and knowing it just makes it harder."

Sydney sat in silence looking at the child next to her. One thought was going round her head 'What can you say to that?' she turned round and saw Vaughn looking at them she waved him over and he got out of the car. He sat down on the other side of Zara he saw her face then put an arm around her shoulders.

"Zara…" he said and she looked up at him he tried to speak then just smiled. She nodded her head in understanding then to both the adults surprise laid her head on Vaughn's shoulder. He looked over her head at Sydney who just shrugged. They sat like that for a long time until Sydney noticed that Zara had fallen asleep again.

"Vaughn" she said quietly "You seem to be a good pillow"

He looked down and smiled and watched as Sydney moved some hair of the girl's face. "I seem to be" Sydney yawned "You want to try it out too" She looked at him and he looked at her with love in his gaze she just smiled. Vaughn lifted Zara gently seemingly surprised at her weight and put her on his lap one arm keeping her in place and with the other he touched Sydney's hand.

She looked up at him almost scared to move closer but she couldn't help it she did. She rested her head on his shoulder as his arm wrapped around her finding one of her hands on her lap and gripping it tightly.

They sat there for a long time Sydney tired but not falling asleep she was listening to everything around her with her eyes closed. Vaughn was watching the two of them, he knew Sydney wasn't asleep but he didn't want to speak and break the moment between them he was holding her and that was all he wanted. She opened her eyes and looked up at him before looking at her watch.

"How long?" he whispered.

"Two and a half" she said "Still want to go skating?"

"I don't know" he looked down at Zara who was barely moving "You think she would want to?" he asked and Sydney smiled.

"I think so" she reached up and brushed some stray hairs off the young girls face "She can always sleep in the car"

"True" said Vaughn. He paused and looked at her "Lets go then" he said and took his arm from around her to pick Zara up more securely. With that movement she woke up and jumped out of his arms startled. She seemed to shake herself then smiled at them.

"Sorry" she said "Where are we going?"

"Skating if that's ok with you?" said Vaughn looking at her. She nodded. "Can you skate?" he asked.

"I spent three years in Russia when I was small and I'm a quarter Russian" she said "Of course I can skate it's basically a compulsory sport"

"Ok, ok" said Sydney "Lets go then" They all got into the car and Zara stayed awake for the journey his time. They got to the rink fairly quickly and Zara annoyed the two of them by being able to skate in some ways better than them and she picked up hockey really quickly. As well as finding some Chinese tourists to annoy or talk to. Whatever she had said made them swarm over and talk to Sydney and Vaughn at great length in broken English. Sydney shot daggers at Zara who was trying not to laugh. She herded them into a group after that and they all went away.

"What did you say to them?" asked Sydney skating up behind her gracefully then was caught by Vaughn as she didn't stop.

"That you were my parents" she said "It was them that started talking to me" she said "I don't know why they found you so fascinating" she said looking at them with innocent eyes.

"Alright" said Vaughn narrowing his eyes at her. He glanced at his watch "We should get going we only have 45 minutes"

"Ok" said Sydney. They skated off Vaughn holding her around the waist to make sure she didn't fall over. Zara decided to ignore it when they were still holding each other fairly close as they walked to the car.

TBC

Hope you like. I'll update quicker next time.