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. A quick word about my smut challenge fic, the results of the challenge were posted a little while ago and my fic earned an honourable mention. I still have the link for it if anyone wants to read it, just let me know. I'll respond to everyone next chapter…
Chapter 17The next morning, Michael was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The nurse had been and helped him with his 'breakfast', and then quickly left him alone to his thoughts. A different nurse came in to check his vitals, recording her observations on the board at the end of his bed before moving onto the next patient. Hearing what sounded like a squeaky wheel coming into the room, Michael looked over at the door to see Angela and Eric coming in, little Sam asleep in his pram. Eric spotted Michael and waved. Moments later the pair stopped next to his bed, Angela sitting the large bouquet of flowers in the vase next to his head. "Hey Michael," she said, planting a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Hey Ange, thanks for the flowers." Angela stepped back and Eric approached Michael, giving him a 'manly' hug. "Hey Mike, long time no see."
"Tell me about it. How are you guys?"
"We're good," Angela answered for the both of them, "I miss seeing Syd at work though."
"Thanks for taking Maddy for us, we really appreciate it."
"That's cool, she's welcome anytime. Where is she anyway?" Eric asked.
"Syd hasn't come in yet. I mean they were here yesterday, but I haven't seen them this morning. Sydney was really tired yesterday, said Madeline and Squirt kept her up all night."
"Poor thing. Must be so hard on her, and on you, 'cause you can't be there to help," Angela said.
"Yeah, I wish I could help. She's pregnant, she needs to be resting, not trying to look after Madeline on her own. Anyway, how's work Eric?"
"Alright, I've been so busy, Peter and I are working on a big case at the moment, so there's a lot of overtime."
"What happened with my case?"
"They had to assign someone else, I think Douglas was gonna handle it. I haven't heard much, it's still going I think."
"Yeah, it would be, there's a lot of witnesses to call. They estimated that it'd go for a couple of months at least."
"Figures, it was an important case wasn't it?"
"I think so. I don't know how I ended up with it though."
The three continued their discussion and later that morning Sydney came in, pushing Madeline in her pram. Michael saw her approaching and a large smile spread across his face. Sydney smiled back, stopping Madeline's pram next to Sam's and lifting the little girl onto the bed. She immediately snuggled into Michael's side and jammed her little thumb into her mouth. "Hey baby," Sydney said to Michael, giving him a quick kiss.
"Hey beautiful, hey Squirt," he said, rubbing Sydney's rounding belly.
"Hey guys," Syd said to Angela and Eric, giving them both a quick hug. "Madeline say hi to Uncle Eric and Aunty Angela."
"Hi," the little girl said quietly, not wanting to move too much.
"Hey Maddy," they both replied, watching as she burrowed herself into Michael's side, somewhat conscious of his injuries. Sydney smiled at her husband and their daughter before turning to their friends, "So Ange, how's work?"
"Sucks Syd. My contract comes up for renewal at the end of this year, I'm thinking of looking for somewhere else because they all drive me nuts."
"I didn't want to leave, I just couldn't deal with her anymore. She's so disrespectful and she acts like she owns the world," Sydney said referring her bad tempered former boss.
"Don't I know it. What are you gonna do now?"
"I'm taking time off to look after Michael and to have this
baby."
"You're taking the next school year off aren't you?"
"Definitely. I don't want to go back too early. I mean I took that much time off with Madeline, so I'm gonna do that with this baby too. Money's gonna be a bit tight for a while, but we'll survive. I could be living in a cardboard box in the gutter, but as long as I had my family with me, I'd be happy." Michael picked up her hand and kissed it gently,
"I love you Syd," he told her out of the blue.
"I love you too." Angela and Eric watched the two of them interacting for a minute until Eric tugged on his wife's hand, she turned to face him. "I love you Angela."
"I love you too baby." They kissed quickly and Eric whispered something in Angela's ear and she nodded. "We've got something to tell you guys." Sydney and Michael looked over at them, waiting to see what they had to say. "We're having another baby," Eric told them, "Angela's three months pregnant. She's due this summer," he told them proudly.
"That's so great," Sydney said, getting up to hug her friends. She kissed Eric's cheek and hugged Angela tightly, "Why didn't you tell me, I would've gotten someone else to look after Madeline."
"It's fine, I didn't mind."
"Congratulations guys," Michael said from his position on the bed. he reached up to shake Eric's hand, and pulled Angela down for a hug once Sydney had relinquished her from her grip.
A nurse came in to check Michael's vitals and she once again
recorded her observations before leaving. A few minutes later, Michael's lunch
tray came in. Sydney broke up the food for him and slid the table over the bed
so he was able to reach his food easily. "You gonna be right with that?" she
asked him.
"Yeah I'll be fine. You have to eat something too."
"I'll go down to the Cafeteria. You guys want anything?" she asked Eric and Angela.
"I'll come down with you," Angela offered.
"Ok," Sydney agreed, standing up, "Are the kids right with you?" she asked the men, looking at Madeline and Sam, who were both fast asleep. "I think we can handle them Syd and I'll take a sandwich," Eric said. The two women headed out the door, leaving Eric and Michael alone with their respective children. "That food looks like shit Mike," Eric commented, looking at the cardboard-like articles that the hospital called food, "You think Cedars would have better food."
"Why?" Michael asked.
"Isn't it supposed to be a better hospital?"
"I guess but why would the food be any better? All hospitals are the same in my experience."
"Guess you're right."
Angela and Sydney arrived down at the Cafeteria a few minutes later and after surveying the food items that were available, they elected to get sandwiches, as they were what Sydney deemed 'safe to consume without killing yourself.' Angela laughed at Sydney's view of hospital food but bought a sandwich each for her and Eric. When they arrived back in Michael's room after buying their food, the men were discussing sports, while the two children slept soundly.
Eric and Angela left shortly after lunch, promising to visit again later in the week. Sydney left not long after, wanting to get home and clean up Madeline before her parents arrived for dinner. Madeline woke up as they were leaving and attempted to latch herself onto her father. "Maddy, you have to go with Mummy," Michael told her firmly and the toddler reluctantly let go of her father, and allowed Sydney to strap her into the pram. Once Madeline was settled Sydney turned her attention to Michael so she could give him a goodbye kiss. "I love you," she whispered as they parted.
"I love you too," he said, resting his forehead on hers. He kissed her one more time before she stood up and prepared to leave. Michael rubbed her stomach one last time, "Night Squirt," he told it, and Sydney kissed his forehead,
"Night baby."
"Night." Sydney finally left, taking a reluctant Madeline with her. Michael watched them leave and once again began to stare at the ceiling.
A/N: I'm leaving it there. What did you think??? I might have one more update before Christmas, but I'm not sure, really depends on work. So if I don't Merry Early Christmas!! And until next time… :lol: Alyce :D