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 two days 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.

AnnaSun-thanks for reviewing :D

Ren201-I can't believe that you think this is brilliant, although I like it too, I have some trouble writing it, I don't know why, its just hard. Thanks for reviewing :D

Miss47-I think Madeline's cute too, I wish I had a little sister to annoy, but sadly I don't. and I don't like McCabe either, she's kinda based on the old principal at my school I hated him and in this place the teachers that the other staff don't like always leave quickly, no matter how good they are. I sorta wanted to convey that idea in the last chapter, cos the kids like Sydney as a teacher, they adore her, but cos McCabe didn't like her, she made it a living hell for Sydney and that's why she left. Also, an MRI is a big magnet thingy and when I had one, I was strapped to a bed for almost two hours, and you can't move, its so uncomfortable. I hated it so much.

Ari-yeah Syd was demanding but, in her hormone riddled brain, she thought that it was only fair that she be granted time off to care for Vaughn, especially since he was so injured, and plus she needs to look after Madeline and herself too. And see above response for a reason why Sydney left. If I had that kind of workplace I'd leave too, and also she is entitled to sick leave or something like that, which she saved up.

Luv24Alias-thanks for reviewing and I think Syd might be unemployed for a while, I mean she is pregnant and she does need to look after Michael while he recovers. But I promise she will find a better job. :D

Elizabeth-thanks for reviewing :D

And here's the chapter…

Chapter 14

Sydney dropped Madeline back at Daycare a little while later, before going back to the hospital to see Michael. When she got there, he was just waking up, and he smiled happily when he saw her enter the room. "Hey," he said, his voice crackly.

"Hey baby," she replied as she sat down next to him. He looked at her closely for a few moments, surveying her eyes, which were still a bit puffy and red. "Whats wrong?"

"Nothing sweetie, nothing to worry about."

"That's bull Syd and you know it."

"I don't want you to worry, you need to concentrate on getting better."

"Sydney, please tell me, you've obviously been crying." She looked into his eyes and saw the underlying concern there, "I don't have a job anymore."

"What do you mean you don't have a job anymore?"

"I quit. McCabe wouldn't give me time off to look after you, so I quit."

"Syd, honey, you needed that job, its not like I can work at the moment. I appreciate you doing that for me, but we need the money."

"We'll get by. I just couldn't stay in that job any longer. I didn't deserve to be treated the way she treated me. So I left. This isn't just about you being hurt, I don't want to be treated like crap. I'm a human being and I deserve some respect."
"Sssh Syd, I know you do," he wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes, "You shouldn't get upset. You're right she was a bitch, and she doesn't deserve to have teachers as good as you and Angela there." He reached up to pull her down for a kiss. "I love you Sydney Vaughn. Don't forget that."

"I love you too Michael Vaughn, and I can't wait to get you home, so I can show you how much."

"I think you'll be waiting a while."

"I'd wait for you forever," she stated, weaving her fingers with his, careful not to disturb the IV line that was still in his hand. It was Sydney's turn to wipe away the tears as they began to slide down his cheeks. "Me too," he whispered quietly. They lapsed into a comfortable silence, knowing that the love they felt for each other was all they would need. After a while Michael spoke up, "Syd, you should go home and get some rest."

"I'm not going home tonight, I just want to be here with you, so I know that you're ok."

"I'll be fine, Syd you're pregnant and you need to look after yourself."

"I want to stay here with you, I'll sleep better if I'm near you."
"If I let you stay, you have to promise me that you'll go home to bed tomorrow."

"I promise," she whispered, as she leaned over to kiss him gently. Sydney settled herself on next to him on the bed, and rested her head in the crook of his neck. His breathing levelled out quickly and he drifted off to sleep, while Sydney lay awake for a while longer, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath.

The next morning a nurse came into the room, and found Michael awake, watching Sydney sleeping peacefully. "Good morning Mr Vaughn," she whispered as she checked his vitals, writing her observations down on the chart, which hung at the end of the bed. She left the room quietly, and Michael continued to watch Sydney, as she sighed contentedly in her sleep. She began to stir a few minutes later, lifting her head up from where it was resting, and running her hand through her messy hair. "Morning beautiful," he said, kissing her cheek and rubbing her round belly affectionately, "Morning squirt."

"Hey," Sydney replied, her voice crackly, "I'm not hurting you, am I?"

"No, I'm fine." Another nurse came into the room carrying a tray with some food on it. Sydney climbed off the bed and sat in the chair, so the tray could be placed on the table and slid in front of Michael. "Mmmm, looks totally edible," Sydney said, scanning the contents of the tray. The nurse left Michael and Sydney alone, and she began to push the food around the plate. She managed to get a spoonful of eggs and slowly bought it up to his mouth. She continued to feed him the plastic-y food until it was all gone. There was also a sandwich on the tray for her. She quickly ate it and slid the table off to one side so she could sit back on the bed with him.

Doctor Jenkins came in a little later, "Good morning Mr and Mrs Vaughn."

"Morning." Sydney smiled warmly at him as he came in and stood opposite Sydney.

"We're planning to transfer you to another ward later today."

"Will I be able to see my daughter?"

"Of course. I'm making the final arrangements now, there should be an orderly coming in later to move you."

"Ok. Thank you." Dr Jenkins left the room with a quick nod. Michael and Sydney sat there in silence for a while until she finally spoke. "I'll bring Madeline in tomorrow."

"That'd be so great. I miss her so much. And you're going to go home and sleep tonight because I want you to get some rest."

"I think I will. I'll get Madeline from Eric and Angela later too, she must being driving them insane."

"Nah, Madeline wouldn't drive anyone insane, she'd drive them to their graves."

"Glad to know that you've spent some time with her."

"She's so much like you Syd."

"No, not really."

"Are you kidding, she's like a mirror image, except she's got my eyes. That's the only way I know she's mine."

"Are you accusing me of having an affair?" Sydney asked, feigning anger.

"Of course not, but I was at the supermarket with her and someone asked me where her parents were."
"As if."

"Seriously, I was really offended."

"What'd ya say?"

"I told them that she was my daughter." She buried her head in his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head. "I love you."

"I love you too Syd." Sydney drifted off again, resting one hand on her stomach. Michael laid his hand on hers and pressed soft kisses into her hair periodically until he fell asleep as well.

A/N: Ok, that's it, I'll try and update again soon. Advance warning, while I am hoping to get some writing done over the holidays, as of October 4th there will be no updates for about 4 weeks because I have heaps of revision to do, and exams start on October 29th. LOL Alyce :D