Title: A Not So Simple Life
Author: Chickiee-Dee
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias or its characters.
Summary: Sequel to The Simple Life. AU. No SD-6 or CIA. Sydney and Vaughn are married. S/V. E/A.
Authors Notes: Thanks for all the reviews. I'll try and update as often as possible, but I've got like five weeks of school this term and then exams in Oct/Nov and I've been really slack on homework and stuff, but I'll write whenever I have the time. Also, I finished my S/V smut challenge fic and its posted at SD-1. If anyone wants to read it, let me know and I'll send you a link. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. I sorta know where this is going, but I'm not sure how long its going to be. I'll respond to everyone next chapter…
Chapter 13Sydney arrived at Madeline's Day-Care centre half an hour later. She found a parking space near the entrance and pulled into it, stepping out of the car and onto the asphalt moments later. Once the car was locked, she pushed the glass door of the day-care centre open and walked into the main hallway. Sydney entered the main room, which was painted in bright colors and had various cartoon characters along the walls. Toys were strewn everywhere and a row of easels lined the far wall. One of the volunteers approached her, "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for my daughter, Madeline Vaughn."
"Madeline," she called the little girl and Maddy came toddling over to the woman.
"Mummy!" Maddy yelled when she saw Sydney standing there.
"Hey Princess," Sydney said, scooping Madeline up and kissing her forehead. "Do you mind if I take her for a couple of hours?"
"Of course not, I'll gather her things for you."
"Thanks," Sydney watched as the woman went into one of the back rooms and came out with Madeline's Wiggles bag in her hand. "I'll bring her back later." The woman nodded and watched as Sydney set Maddy down on her feet, taking her tiny hand as they walked out of the building.
Sydney buckled Madeline into her car seat and drove off towards St Mary's. After spending the better part of an hour navigating through the unusually busy mid-afternoon traffic, they arrived at the large campus. Sydney found a parking space and shut the engine off, grabbing Madeline from her seat, and carrying her daughter towards the large brick building. After a short trek, they arrived at the main entrance and Sydney pushed the large glass door inwards. She went into the main office area and was greeted by one of the receptionists. "Sydney, what are you doing here?"
"Hey Martha, I just came to see Mrs McCabe."
"She's in a meeting right now, but she should be done soon, if you want to wait."
"I will thanks," Sydney put Madeline on the floor, "Maddy heavy, stand there for mummy, ok Princess."
"She's gotten big."
"Yeah, she has."
"How old is she now?"
"She'll be two in May, so she's twenty months."
"When are you due?" Martha asked, motioning to Sydney's rapidly expanding stomach.
"The end of May."
"Hows Michael?"
"Better, he's still in ICU but they're talking about transferring him tomorrow. He'll be in hospital for a few more weeks." The thick wooden door into McCabe's office opened and a young woman stepped out, McCabe following close behind her. Sydney watched as McCabe shook the young woman's hand, and retreated back into her dungeon, as Sydney and Angela called it. Syd offered the young woman a smile, and Martha motioned for Sydney to go and see her bad-tempered boss.
Sydney knocked on the door and entered, Madeline toddling in her wake. McCabe looked up from her paperwork, "Mrs Vaughn what can I do for you?" she asked, as she motioned for Sydney to sit. "I was wanting to take sometime off."
"How long?"
"Well, by the time my husband recovers, we won't have long until the baby is born."
"So what you're saying is you want me to grant you time off on top of your Maternity Leave."
"Yes, if that's possible."
"Why should I?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why should I grant you this time off?"
"Don't you have a heart? My husband almost died, he's still in Intensive Care,
all I'm asking for is a little compassion, and a few extra weeks off."
"I know what you're asking for, but the question is Mrs Vaughn, are your teaching abilities really worth it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is it worth my while to have you on paid leave, and have to pay for another teacher to cover your classes."
"I don't know what your problem is with me, but if you don't want to grant me leave, then you can find yourself another teacher." Sydney stood up, taking Madeline's hand again, and left the office.
Sydney went out to the back staffroom and grabbed a box from under her desk, sitting it on the chair as she began to fill it with her stuff. Sydney dragged Angela's chair over for Madeline to sit on and the little girl was happily sitting there, sucking on a lollipop that Sydney had conveniently stowed in her desk draw. "Hey Syd, what are you doing?" Angela's voice startled her and she stopped in the middle of her packing. "I don't have a job anymore."
"Why?"
"McCabe wouldn't give me time off to look after Michael, she reckoned that it wouldn't be worth her while to have me on paid leave and still have to employ someone to cover my classes while I'm having this baby."
"Syd, I'm sorry, I know how much you love this job," Angela noticed Madeline for the first time, "Hey Maddy, whatya doin here?" The little girl looked at 'Aunty' Angela curiously for a second and replied with a loud, "Mummy," as she pointed at Sydney. Sydney smiled at her daughter and halted her packing to pick up her daughter, kissing her forehead, as Madeline stuck her sticky fingers on Sydney's cheeks. "Yucky Maddy," Sydney told her, struggling to keep the laugher at bay.
A few minutes later Sydney had finished packing her stuff and Angela had carried the box out to Sydney's car, slipping it into the backseat. "See ya later, I'll call you tomorrow," Sydney said, attempting to climb into the drivers seat, after seating Madeline comfortably in her seat. "Where are you going? You have to at least say goodbye to the girls, they adore you Syd." She considered for a moment and stood up, unbuckling a very confused Madeline, and the three of the headed back towards the brick building.
Sydney knocked gently on the classroom door, and was greeted with a loud 'come in,' from the other side. As she turned the knob the door fell open and Sydney stepped into the room, Madeline once again balanced on one hip. "Mrs Vaughn," one of the girls said.
"What are you doing here?" another asked.
"Well, I just wanted to say goodbye to you all."
"Why?"
"I'm not going to be working here anymore."
"Why?"
"I need to look after Mr Vaughn, and because…well, Mrs McCabe made it clear that she doesn't want me here," Sydney explained, tears welling in her eyes, which Madeline rubbed away. The girls all stood up to hug their teacher goodbye. In the commotion Madeline was put on the floor and to her credit, stood back as Sydney's former students crowded around her. "We're going to miss you Mrs Vaughn," one of the girls said, tears spilling from her eyes. As Sydney was crushed in a big group hug, the baby started kicking, as if it was trying to remind Sydney that it was still there. Several girls stepped back and looked at Sydney as she smiled, "Baby's saying goodbye too." Madeline's eyes went wide and she rushed over to her mother and began poking at her stomach, "Hi baby!" she enthused as everyone in the small classroom laughed.
Almost an hour later, Sydney and Madeline finally made it out of the building, and went back to the car. As buckled her daughter in once again, she paused for a moment, to try and stop the tears that were still flowing and drying a track down her face. Sydney took a few moments to compose herself before climbing into the car and driving away from the brick building for the last time.
A/N: What did you think? Was it good, bad or horrible? Review and let me know. Next chapter should be up late next week, cos I'm going away this weekend and won't have time to write. Next chapter of Three Little Words should be done next week too (hopefully) but until then… LOL Alyce :D