Next part. So sorry about the wait. This is just a filler of sorts there will be more soon.

As Zara paused in her singing to concentrate on something Vaughn heard another sound, whimpering and crying. He turned to see where it was coming from then had a horrible thought. He was gone so quickly that Zara turned to talk to him and found that he'd gone.

Vaughn went out to the living room to see Sydney trying to escape from the blanket muttering and crying. He couldn't make out any words but he knew he had to help. He bent and gathered her up in his arms before sitting on the sofa and setting her on his lap. She was struggling against him but he just held her tight.

"Syd" he said "It's me it's Michael Syd. Nothing can hurt you there, it isn't real baby. Come back to me here, please Sydney"

She went still suddenly and Vaughn froze holding his breath. He let it out in a sigh of relief as she opened her eyes. He pulled her to him and hugged her tight. She was slightly confused but held onto him gratefully, still shaking slightly.

"You're ok, you're alright. I've got you" he whispered into her hair kissing it lightly as she clung to him.

"Vaughn" she whispered

"I'm here, I'm not letting you go Syd" he whispered loosening his hold on her slightly so he could look into her eyes "I'll never really let you go"

"I know" she whispered in return "I know"

They sat in silence for awhile still holding onto each other. They could hear Zara singing nonsense and Sydney looked at Vaughn with a question in her face. He just shook her head.

"Syd" he said

She looked up, brown locking with green as her eyes pierced right through to his heart. The words died in his throat he couldn't speak it was too difficult. She looked as if she understood and sat up slightly so she was at eye level with him. She let her forehead fall against his and he sighed at the familiar touch. His eyes filled with tears at that simple movement it brought so much comfort to him she couldn't have imagined how he loved that moment.

She saw the tears and put a hand to his face making her look at him and asking a question with her eyes. All he could do was smile shakily at her and tighten his grip around her to show that he wasn't sad. She seemed to understand and he was glad of that. He couldn't have told her why he felt like this.

"Vaughn" she whispered "Shh"

She stroked his face gently. He just smiled at her shakily.

"Shouldn't it be me comforting you?" he asked putting one of his hands to the one on her face. "You're the one who had a nightmare"

"Vaughn" she said closing her eyes and trying to look away

He moved his hand to hold her face instead of her hand and didn't let her.

"Sydney" he whispered "You don't have to tell me yet if you don't want to but let me be here to comfort you. It's about all I can do."

"Vaughn"

Her eyes were blurry with tears and a few started to spill over which he wiped away carefully sorely tempted to just kiss them away but restraining himself.

"It was the same one as before" she whispered "But it was on the end of the one I've had before. Vaughn I'm scared" he hugged her tighter "I hate going to sleep, I barely sleep anymore. I'm so tired even when I do if I have a nightmare it doesn't feel like I've slept at all."

"You're going to sleep tonight" he said and she smiled "Even if I have to get Zara to sing you to sleep or have her talk you to sleep"

"Excuse me" Zara's voice was heard before the girl was seen as she walked out of the kitchen to lean against the door "What's this about me doing something?"

"Nothing Zara" said Sydney "Vaughn just wants me to go to sleep"

"You should" the young girl said "I know with nightmares you don't get much"

"What…?" Sydney gave up and shook her head at the girl.

"Thank the gods they've finally realised not to ask" she said "Come on supper will be ready in ten minutes"

The girl disappeared again and Vaughn shook his head then looked at Sydney. She saw smiling slightly leaning her head on his chest having slipped down again. He leant down and placed a swift kiss on her forehead making her close her eyes and lean into him even more.

They sat still like that simply taking comfort from each other until Zara threatened to throw their suppers away if they didn't get into the kitchen and get.

"Bring it in here" called Vaughn and cringed waiting for an answer

Zara simply walked in carrying three plates expertly. She placed them on the table and then went back out to get three glasses and a jug of water. She didn't even look at them let alone speak.

"Zara?" asked Sydney warily sitting up straight and moving off Vaughn's lap

The girl looked at her, her hazel eyes not really registering anything. Vaughn looked a little scared and then she started to grin.

"What! Oh you little.." Vaughn shouted

He jumped up and chased her around the room and round the rest of the house. Sydney just watched laughing as Zara dodged by climbing up walls and sliding through his legs. He finally caught her as she was jumping off the stairs. He turned her upside down and let her dangle there as she tried to wriggle free. Sydney was by now in almost hysterics as Zara gave up and Vaughn stood there, her feet by his chin and her head around his calves. She had her arms crossed and was looking slightly annoyed.

"Vaughn you do realise that if that girl you are holding could probably kick your ass as well as I could. Right now I'm guessing she's planning how to do it"

Zara caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. She started to tap her finger slowly on her arm. On five she managed to swing herself up far enough to grab onto Vaughn's shoulders. In shock he had let go of her legs and let her to a handstand on his shoulders. She jumped off quickly going to sit opposite Sydney in an armchair.

"Are you going to eat supper or not?" she asked Vaughn passing Sydney hers and picking up one for herself.

He still stood staring at her and it took Sydney tugging on his hand to get him to sit down again. Although he was still being very wary of Zara.

They decided to watch a film after finishing eating. Sydney decided that Zara needed to get up to speed on a lot of movies that she had never seen. They went with The Italian Job and Dirty Dancing even thought Zara had said that she didn't like chick flicks having grown up around boys.

They all sat on the sofa seeing as it was the only chair you could see the TV from. Sydney was leaning on Vaughn and he had an arm round her shoulders while Zara had curled up with her head on the armrest.

"How can you get yourself that small?" Vaughn asked

"Because I'm used to being shoved into small places" she said "We could fit four of us lying on a sofa like this if we had to. Admittedly I was usually lying half on Edek or Jacque as I was the smallest but still"

"Impressive"

She just shrugged and continued to watch the movie. Zara had enjoyed the Italian Job telling Sydney how something could have been done when she couldn't see how. In the second one however she fell asleep about three quarters of the way through. Vaughn was quick to follow and even Sydney was asleep before the credits.

TBC

Hope you like. Please review to tell me what you think.