Hey, thank you all so much for your positive feedback. It's great that you all welcomed the return of this fic, because I'm pretty glad to be returning as well.

Late Tuesday morning Sydney opened the front door to be greeted by a smiling Juliette.

"Hey," Sydney smiled back as Juliette pulled her into a hug.

"Ah Sydney. How have you been?" Juliette asked, as they separated and headed into the living room.

"Je vais très bien, merci." Sydney replied, with a self-satisfied grin.

Juliette raised her eyebrows slightly. "I'm impressed. Who's been drilling you- my maman, or my sisters? Or my brother?"

"It was Felise."

"Of course." Juliette replied as they sat down on the couch. "Did you have a good time?"

"It was fantastic. It was a shame you couldn't come, though."

"I know, but with work and everything." Juliette shrugged. "Next time, though."

"Definitely." Sydney went to stand. "Would you like a coffee?"

"No, I'm fine." Juliette motioned for her to sit back down. "Is Michael home?"

Before Sydney could answer, Vaughn appeared out of the small hallway, a grin on his face. "Maman!" He walked over and embraced her, then planted a kiss on the top of Sydney's head before sitting down on one of the armchairs. "How are you?"

"Je vais très bien, merci." Juliette replied, looking over at Sydney, her eyes twinkling.

Vaughn caught the look. "I take it Syd has been showing off."

"Of course I have." Sydney said, proudly.

"And so she should." Juliette added.

Sydney grinned and then stood up. "Juliette, I'm sorry, but I have to go. There's just so much I need to get done before school goes back next week."

"That's fine." Juliette waited until Sydney had left before turning to Vaughn. "So…my maman called me yesterday."

"Oh really?" Vaughn answered, an innocent expression playing on his face. "And what did she have to say?"

Juliette poked him in the upper arm. "Don't you dare try and play games with me, Michael Vaughn! She told me that you got the ring. Is this true?"

Vaughn couldn't help but blush slightly as he nodded. "Yes, maman, I have the ring."

Juliette's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, Michael, I am so happy for you."

"Whoa, whoa, maman." Vaughn held up his hand. "It's only a ring. I haven't even decided when, where, or how I'm going to ask."

Juliette chuckled. "You are so much like your father. Always planning and analysing things."

"Hey, you can't blame me for wanting this to be perfect, can you?" Vaughn asked. "I'm planning on asking this question only once in my life."

"I know." Juliette smiled as she leaned across and kissed the top of Vaughn's head. "Just don't wait too long, ok? I don't know how long I can keep this a secret."

Sydney was strolling down an aisle at the local supermarket, a list of errands running through her mind. There was the grocery shopping she was doing now, the garden was looking neglected after a month away, she wanted to drop by and see Amy and the baby, she needed some new clothes for work, she hadn't gotten any classes planned…the list went on and on. While nothing on it was urgent, Sydney liked to feel organised before the school year started.

"Sydney."

She looked up ahead and spotted her father standing a few feet away. "Dad! Hey, how are you?"

"I'm fine. When did you get back?"

"Yesterday. I was going to pop by and see you this afternoon."

"I wouldn't have been there. I've got a business trip."

"Well, I guess it's a good thing we ran into each other then."

"Hmm. How is Michael?"

"Great."

"And his family?"

"They're fantastic, dad. You should come across and meet them next time."

"Uh, I don't think so, but thank-you for the offer."

"Oh ok." Sydney paused. "Did you get up to anything while I was gone?"

"No. Just work."

"You need to get out more, dad."

"Maybe." A shadow of a smile crossed his face. "Look, I'd better be going. Plane to catch."

"Ok then. Let's have dinner when you get back, ok?"

"Sure."

The next day Sydney was outside, immersed in weeding her garden. The flowers in it had all been grown from the seeds in Emily's seed box. Sydney had never been a huge fan of gardening, but she shared a special affinity with this one. Whenever she'd had a bad day at work, or an argument with Vaughn etc, she would head out and start tending. It had the same effect as heading down to the basketball court or taking in a round with her punching bag.

Vaughn, who had just returned from a jog with Donovan, came out into the back yard and seeing Sydney kneeling over her flowers, couldn't resist going over and wrapping his arms around her.

"Yuck! You're all sweaty."

"You love it." Vaughn squeezed her tightly one last time before letting go. "Did you go and see Amy?"

"Yeah." Sydney stood up, brushing her hands off on her pants. "I've never seen her so happy, Vaughn. And Dillon is gorgeous."

"Not like a plucked chicken?"

"No, not."

"Well, I'm going to have to see little Zepherelli before I reserve judgement." Vaughn grinned, pulling Sydney in for a long kiss.

"Hmm," Sydney sighed as they broke apart. "What was that for?"

"Just because I love you."

"You know what? After nearly three years, I still never get sick of hearing that."

"Well then, how about you return the favour?"

With a smile, Sydney gently touched Vaughn's chin dimple. "I love you," she said and leaned up towards him for another kiss.

"Ok, I'm going to have a shower." Vaughn said, stepping back.

"Good, you stink."

"Oh thanks." Vaughn exclaimed, indignantly. "You weren't complaining a few seconds ago."

Sydney simply smiled and then knelt back down. "Oh, before you go. Francie's coming by later on. I told her we'd give her a lift to Weiss and Ainz's tonight."

Vaughn turned back, a pained expression on his face. "She'll be coming dressed and all ready to go, right? We won't have to wait, will we?"

"Ok, so what is your big news?"

It was late that afternoon and after Sydney and Francie had done all the hugging and exclamations of "You look fantastic!" the two of them had settled down on the couch.

"Well, I broke up with Tom."

"No, I already know that. Ainsley wasted no time in getting me informed on that. I want to know what your other news is."

Francie all of a sudden looked embarrassed. "My other news?"

"Yes, your other news." Sydney stared at her expectantly. "Well?"

"I've decided to open a restaurant."

"What?"

"It's always been a plan of mine- I mean how many times have I mentioned it to you? Now feels like the right time. I know I'm young, but I'm going to do it, Syd. I am going to do this."

"Francie, I think it's great." Sydney said, sincerely.

"Really?"

"Of course." Sydney insisted. "I'd tell you if I thought that you were making a huge mistake."

"Oh thank god." Francie let out a sigh of relief. "I was so scared that if I told anybody my plans, they would laugh in my face."

"Oh, we wouldn't do that." Sydney replied in a mock-serious tone. "Behind your back, maybe, but never in your face."

"Shut up." Francie laughed as she picked up a cushion and smacked Sydney across the face. Sydney didn't hesitate in retaliating.

When Vaughn came out of the bedroom about ten minutes later, the two of them were still engaged in an all-out cushion fight.

"Oh, you're here!" Ainsley's excited face greeted them. "Come in, quick."

"Where's the fire?" Vaughn asked as he, Sydney and Francie followed Ainsley down the hallway.

"There is no fire, but I just had an epiphany." Ainsley replied when they had reached the living room.

Vaughn glanced at Weiss who just shrugged and then continued his conversation with Will on the other side of the room.

"So are you going to enlighten us on this epiphany?" Sydney asked, sitting on the couch, with Vaughn placing himself beside her.

"I'm going to throw a costume party for my birthday. A movie themed costume party." She looked at the group expectantly. "Well, what do you think?"

"I love it!" Francie exclaimed. "A little close to Halloween, so a costume party for that will be out of the question, but I really like your idea. Now a movie theme- would that be to come dressed as an actual movie, or a character?"

"Characters definitely." Ainsley replied. "Dressing as a movie is just a little to abstract for me."

"When are you going to have it?" Francie asked.

"Well, the 20th of September is a Monday, so I can't have it on my actual birthday. I was thinking the 18th."

Vaughn, Weiss and Will were all exchanging knowing looks. They all had a feeling that the planning of this party would be consuming Ainsley and Francie for the next month.

"Oh!" Sydney's loud voice made Vaughn jump. He looked at her and felt a sinking sensation when he saw the expression on her face. "Vaughn…"

"What?" he asked, warily.

"We could go as Baby and Johnny!" She grabbed his hand. "Please, it wouldn't be an embarrassing costume, and you would look great…"

Sydney's voice faded to a buzz as Vaughn suddenly experienced his own epiphany. It would be a small price to pay, but…

"Ok," he said.

Sydney stopped short and looked at him, completely dumbfounded. She had thought she was going to have needed to do a whole lot of convincing before Vaughn agreed to her costume idea.

Weiss, on the other side of the room, exclaimed "What?" and Ainsley, Francie and Will were staring at him, their mouths slightly opened. But Vaughn ignored them all.

He knew how he was going to propose to Sydney.