Title: A Not So Simple Life

Author: Chickiee-Dee

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Alias or its characters. I don own Tigger, he's my cat, but anyone who wants to pay his vet bill, let me know. :D

Summary: Sequel to The Simple Life. AU. No SD-6 or CIA. Sydney and Vaughn are married. S/V. E/A.

Authors Notes: I'm soooo sorry its been ages since I last updated, I had writers block for this and I didn't want to write a crappy chapter, just for the sake of getting one posted. I will try to have the next chapter posted sooner. Thanks to all u guys who reviewed. I'm tryin my best to update as often as possible and hopefully I'll update Three Little Words soon. Sorry for the wait, I got all of this inspiration for Summer Lovin' and I've also got a couple of ideas for one part fics, hopefully I'll get some time to write them soon as well. Just quickly I want to thank everyone who have reviewed one or all of my fics, it means so much to me that you would take the time review and let me know what you think. All of you reviews mean so much to me, good or bad, and please feel free to criticise me, cos nothing you can say will annoy me, I'm my biggest critic. Also, feel free to email me with any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Enjoy this chapter, and please review.

Chapter 5

Sydney was thirteen weeks pregnant when she felt the baby move for the first time. Lying at home on a Saturday afternoon, she had Madeline on her legs, cuddling close to her chest. Michael was at work preparing for an upcoming case. He couldn't tell Syd much about it, all she knew was it had something to do with murder.

Sydney was barely showing but Michael loved to rest his hands on her stomach every night, which Sydney thought was sweet. Madeline had sort of warmed up to the idea of having a little brother or sister and calmed down to a degree, she didn't scream as loud when Michael tried to pass her off to Sydney.

That particular afternoon, Sydney and Madeline were watching The Wiggles on DVD and Madeline was singing her own versions of the songs, in reality she missed every other word. The last song had just finished and Madeline looked at her mother expectantly "gain?" she asked.

"Again please." Madeline frowned.

"Again please Mummy?"

"Good girl, yes you may watch it again." Maddy smiled.

"Fhanks" Sydney laughed at the little girl,

"Sweetie, its thanks."

"Th-anks" Madeline replied proudly as Sydney kissed her daughters forehead. Syd was just about to start the DVD again when she felt a tiny movement in her stomach. Madeline, who had felt it too, looked at her mother confused "What that?"

"That's your little brother or sister."

"Baby?"

"Yeah, it's the baby." Madeline looked at her Sydney's stomach and kissed it,

"Hi baby" she exclaimed and hugged her mother tighter. Sydney lay there, awestruck, her little baby had just moved. It had survived unharmed.

After Sydney had been released from hospital, five weeks earlier, her morning sickness worsened and the doctors had put her on vitamin supplements as her and the baby were receiving minimal nutrition, since Sydney was throwing up everything she ate. Syd was scheduled for her first ultrasound during the week, but she was worried that since she hadn't felt the baby move, that it had died. Now, feeling the tiny life inside her move, she was assured that her baby was alive and hopefully healthy.

Madeline spent the rest of the afternoon lying on her mother's stomach, cuddling up to the tiny bump that was beginning to form. Michael came home later that evening, exhausted from work. Dumping his briefcase on the ground, he looked over to the couch and found Sydney and Madeline sleeping. Knowing better than to disturb either of them, he ordered Chinese for dinner and sat on an armchair, adjacent to where Sydney and Madeline were lying. He switched the DVD player off and flicked through the channels. Michael settled on watching the news, deciding there was nothing better on. Halfway through the international news, he looked over at Sydney and noticed her shiver slightly. Getting up, he went to the cupboard in the hall and came back carrying a thick blanket, which he laid over the two of them. He leaned down and kissed both their foreheads, causing Sydney to stir in her sleep.

Sydney woke up an hour later, and with Michael's help, they put Madeline into bed, where she slept for the remainder of the night. After Maddy was in bed, Sydney sat down and ate dinner with Michael, sharing the day's news "The baby moved today." He looked at her stunned. "When?"

"This afternoon, Maddy and I were watching The Wiggles and it just… moved. Maddy was so excited, she kissed my stomach and started talking to the baby."

"This is the same Maddy that didn't want a little brother or sister?"

"Yeah, it surprised me too."

"Wow. It feels more real now, you know, that's a little life inside you babe." Sydney smiled, "I know, I thought that it would be different the second time around, but it's still just as amazing."

"Defiantly" he said as he pulled her into a tight hug. She rested her head on his shoulder and after a moment, lifted it away, to place a gentle kiss on his lips, "I love you."

"I love you too Syd." They went to bed early that night, content just to sleep in each others arms, knowing that the other was there if they were needed.

Michael had Sunday off and they spent it at his parent's house. Madeline spent much of the afternoon terrorising William and Bridgette's cat. The poor thing, by the time they left, it must have wished it didn't have nine lives. The cat, called Tigger because of its stripy appearance, wasn't used to young children and Madeline lived to pull its tail and ears. Showing its disapproval, Tigger bit her before running outside, in an attempt to hide from the little girl. Tigger didn't make it very far and was carried back inside a few moments later by Madeline. In an effort to give the poor cat time to getaway, Michael picked his daughter up and kept her on his lap, which she was not at all pleased about. Deciding that Tigger had had adequate time to getaway, Michael put his daughter down and several minutes later, she came back crying because she couldn't find the cat. When they bought her home that evening, she was fast asleep and Sydney put her into bed,

before settling on the couch to watch TV with her husband.

Monday dawned and Sydney and Michael both returned to work, leaving Madeline to the poor people at the day care centre to worry about. Michael dropped her off on his way to work and she immediately ran over to the toys and began to play. Sydney meanwhile, was back at St Mary's with Arnold following her around. It was his second last week there and Sydney had decided that the time until he left wouldn't pass fast enough. Michael thought it was hilarious, that she had this guy following her around like a puppy dog. He wasn't intimidated in the slightest because Sydney couldn't stand him. "I can't wait till he leaves," she grumbled on a regular basis, Michael just laughed in response. This particular day though, Sydney got sick of him following her around, so she just snapped and started to yell at him. She felt kind of bad afterwards because he looked so hurt.

"Arnold would you please stop following me around. I'm married, I have a kid and another one on the way, I'm not interested in you in the slightest and even if I was single, I still wouldn't be." His face fell,

"Bu-But, you wouldn't be interested?" he asked, the hurt evident in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, no."

"Wh-Why?"

"You're not my type, look I'm really flattered that you like me, I am, but I'm married and I love my husband."

"Its my glasses isn't it?"

"Its not the glasses."
"You don't like me cos I wear glasses" he said again, "Ex-Excuse me" he finished before running off down the hall.

"Way to go Syd," Angela stated as she came up behind Sydney "I think you destroyed him."

"Great, what's McCabe going to think now?"

"Syd you know that women's had it in for you since you got pregnant with Maddy, she's just jealous cos your marriage is so great and hers is shit."

"I guess, I better get ready for class. See ya Ange."

"See ya."

Sydney got in a bit of trouble for that. Principal McCabe found Arnold crying in the hall and when she found out it was because of Sydney, she went right off. Sydney had spent a good two hours arguing with the women, who didn't want to listen to a thing Sydney had to say. In the end Sydney had the book thrown at her and was told that if she ever 'tried anything like that again, she's have no job.' Needless to say she was quite rightly pissed off that night when she got home, taking it out on her books, slamming them loudly on the table before yelling "Fuck that woman pisses me off!" When Michael heard her yell, he came rushing out, carrying Maddy in his arms. She told him she'd explain everything after Madeline was in bed. Later evening Sydney practically tore Michael's clothes off him and they passionately made love before Sydney fell asleep, Michael's arms wrapped tightly around her tiny body.

A/N: What did you think? Was it good or bad? Please review and let me know. Until next time… LOL Alyce :D