Thank you, thank you, thank you. The response to this fic has been fantastic. You guys are all fantastic!
irionelissa: Baby and Johnny are from the movie Dirty Dancing. If you remember from Meeting Their Match, Sydney had a 'slight' obssession for it.
Vaughn needed help. The plan was all formulated in his mind, but actually executing it was another story. And so, here he was seated in a small café down town, waiting for the two people who could both possibly help him or spill the beans spectacularly.
When Ainsley and Francie walked in, there were definite expressions of curious anticipation written all over their faces. Vaughn groaned inwardly. They were going to grill him to the bone- he just knew it.
"Ok, so what are you planning?" Francie demanded as she and Ainsley sat down at the table.
"What, no hello?" Vaughn asked.
Francie just stared at him. "Michael you asked us here, because you need our help. Now, you be nice and let us in on the big secret, or we just might have to tell Syd-"
"No!" Vaughn jumped in. "You can't tell Syd."
"Ok then." Ainsley clasped her hands together. "It's a surprise for Syd."
"Kind of."
"How can it be kind of?" Francie asked. "Just what is it you need us to do?"
"Well," Vaughn avoided both their eye contact. "Do either of you know how to dance?"
"Well, yeah," Ainsley replied. "You've seen us when we go out. We may not be the greatest, but we've cut up a few rugs in our time."
Vaughn went to reply but was cut off by Francie who turned to Ainsley. "Cut up a rug?" she scoffed. "What would ever possess you to say that? Cut up a few rugs- you make us sound as if we are eighty years old!"
Ainsley shrugged. "It just came out ok. Give me a break," she replied with a grin.
Sensing that the little interaction between them was over, Vaughn spoke up. "I wasn't talking about that sort of dancing. I was thinking about real dancing. You know, guy leading girl, a few spins, maybe a dip every so often."
Ainsley and Francie stared at him blankly for a second, as if trying to determine whether he was joking. But seeing the serious and somewhat earnest look on his face, Francie spoke up.
"Um, I'm afraid I can't help you with that."
"I can," Ainsley put in. "Mum made me and Campbell take lessons when we were younger."
"You can teach me?" Vaughn asked.
"Sure," Ainsley replied, a sly grin forming on her face, "but you have to tell us why first."
Vaughn cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable. "Pardon?"
"You heard me Michael." Ainsley shot back, and Francie nodded, looking gleeful. "Why do you want to learn how to dance?"
"It has to have something to do with your party, Ainz." Francie thought out loud. "It's the only thing I can think of." She turned to Vaughn. "You are going to tell us what is going on. Now."
"Well, I, uh…I just thought that I would surprise Syd. Given our costumes, I thought that she would like it if we could actually really dance together."
"Ahh." Ainsley sighed. "That's sweet."
Francie, however, was scrutinizing Vaughn through narrowed eyes. She'd known him for three years and something was telling her that he was hiding something. He hated Dirty Dancing- this surprise wasn't as simple as he was making it out to be.
She suddenly gasped out loud, causing Vaughn and Ainsley to jump. "Oh my god! You are so holding out on us, Michael!"
"What are you talking about?" he asked, praying that his mobile would ring, or that the waiter would approach their table, or for something, anything to cause a distraction. No such luck.
"You're going to ask Sydney to marry you, aren't you?" Francie demanded, leaning across the table. Ainsley's head snapped up to Vaughn as he felt himself blush. He'd known the two of them would have been suspicious, but to guess exactly what he was planning, so soon, well, what were the chances?
Realizing there was no escape, Vaughn relented. "How did you know?"
"Oh, come on Michael, it was kind of obvious." Francie grinned. "You hate Dirty Dancing and you just agree straight away- with no arguments! And now you're asking for dance lessons. Even Eric would catch on."
"You cannot tell Weiss what I am planning. He'll never let me hear the end of it. I'm just going to let him think that I haven't decided how to do it."
"Wait." Ainsley interjected. "Eric knows that you are planning to propose?"
"Yeah, I told him before Syd and I went to Fleury, that I was going to get my Grandmère's ring."
"I can't believe he didn't tell me!" Ainsley burst out. "I'll be damned- he really can keep a secret."
"Yeah, well you two had better be able to keep a secret too." Vaughn said seriously. "I don't want Syd to catch wind that something is going on, ok?"
"Ok." Both Francie and Ainsley said.
"Good." Vaughn grinned. "Now, when can we start these lessons, Ainz?"
"I'll see you this afternoon, ok?" Vaughn said before kissing Sydney on the lips.
"Ok." Sydney smiled back and the two of them headed to their separate cars. It was the first day of the school year and given that both of them loved their jobs, they were actually looking forward to going back to work.
When Sydney got to Ken Olin High she headed straight to the office that she shared with another of the English teachers, Marcus Dixon. He was already there, seated at his desk, his planner opened in front of him.
"Hey Syd. How was your break?"
"Fantastic. Vaughn and I went to Fleury, to visit his family again. You?"
"Oh you know trying to keep two kids occupied everyday. It's more relaxing being back here."
Sydney grinned. "Let me hear you say that in a couple of weeks time."
Vaughn too headed towards his office. It was empty when he got there and he was grateful. It would give him a chance to enjoy the peace before classes started in an hour.
Sitting at his desk, Vaughn glanced at a photo of Sydney and him and couldn't help but smile. Keely Adams, the other French teacher he shared an office with, often joked that Sydney was the most hated woman at Abrams College.
Unbeknownst to Vaughn, she was completely right. The news that Vaughn wasn't single had spread like wildfire towards the end of his first week there. One of his students had seen the photo of him and Sydney, and wasted no time in relaying the news to her fellow peers.
Now, whenever one of Vaughn's students spotted him with Sydney, whether it be at the supermarket, or the video store etc, it was immediately passed along the Abrams College grapevine. It had been thoroughly discussed and the general consensus was that Sydney seemed 'horrible' and was 'so not deserving of Mr Vaughn'.
Vaughn was still staring at the photo when Keely walked in with Lydia Benton, one of the music teachers.
"Oh god!" Keely declared. "He's pining already."
"Come on. Michael. You've gotta keep focused, or those darling little misses will eat you alive." Lydia joked.
Vaughn grinned and tore his eyes away from Sydney's face. Eighteen days till Ainsley's party.
Vaughn was the first one to get home that afternoon. After opening the glass doors and letting Donovan in, he changed into trackies and a t-shirt and then headed to the freezer, to see what there was for dinner.
Before he could make a decision, the phone rang.
"Hello."
"Mike?"
"Yeah.
"Hey, it's Craig."
"Oh hey. How are you?"
"I've been better."
"What happened?"
"Zoë and I are finished, mate. We broke up yesterday."
"No way. Why?"
"Nothing specific- we just didn't think it was productive to stay in a relationship that consisted of arguing 24/7."
"Fair enough."
"But, I do have some good news." Craig continued.
"Well, anything would sound good after what you just told me." Vaughn couldn't help saying.
"True." Craig allowed himself a small chuckle.
"So what is it?"
"I'm moving back."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm sick of this place, and it's not as if anything is really keeping here. It's been on my mind for a while, and now, everything that's happened with Zoë just sealed it for me."
"This is great…well not about you and Zoë, but moving back. Weiss'll be stoked." Vaughn paused. "So when do you think you'll be moving?"
"I don't know yet. I'll have to find a place first."
"Well, if you need any help…"
"I know, don't hesitate to ask." Vaughn could hear the smile on Craig's face. "So how is everyone else?"
"Good. Weiss and Ainsley are still going strong. You should listen to a few of his shows- how he gets away with some of that stuff is beyond me."
"I've heard. He sent me some tapes. They had all the guys at the station wetting themselves."
"I'll make sure to pass that on."
"You do that. How's Sydney?"
"She's…well, she's Sydney." Vaughn replied and Craig could hear the different tone of Vaughn's voice.
"Things that good?"
"And better."
A few minutes later Vaughn hung up the phone and headed out to the backyard. He was still sitting out on the patio when Sydney got home.
"How was your day?" she asked, sitting down next to him.
Vaughn simply smiled, put his arm around shoulders and pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Now was that a 'I had a good day' kiss, or a 'thank god you're home' kiss?" Sydney asked playfully.
"Umm, a 'thank god you're home' kiss." Vaughn replied.
"Good answer."
"Yeah, I thought so too." Vaughn murmured as their lips connected, not for the last time that night.