Thank you all for your feedback.
I LOVE ALIAS AND THE OC: Thanks for your feedback on both this fic and Meeting Their Match. In regards to Alias in Aus, I have no idea when it will be screened. I've alsohaven't downloaded any of the eps.I am just waiting patiently to hear any news (Like all us deprived Aussie Alias fans).
Em-958: About the wedding, I know exactly what chapter it will be in (I've actually already finshed writing the fic). However, I think I'll keep that number to myself and just let the story evolve for all you readers :P (Sorry, but as a writer I gotta keep you on your toes!)
"Sydney, seriously. You have nothing to feel bad about." Francie tried to convince her. "Nothing."
It was late Sunday morning and Sydney had dragged Francie away from the restaurant for a walk along the beach. She was still feeling awful about how she'd been so oblivious to Francie's problems.
"But Fran, even Will knew what was going on." Sydney protested. "If he knew, then I should have had some idea of what was going on."
"Syd, the only reason Will had a clue was because I told him."
Sydney blinked. "What?"
"I've been offloading on Will ever since this restaurant started moving forward." She smiled at Sydney. "While this is the best thing I have ever done, it's also the most difficult. You have showed so much faith in me that I couldn't bear to show you that I was struggling a little. And also you've been so excited about the engagement and wedding, I didn't want to put a dampener on your happiness."
"Francie!" Sydney admonished gently. "You can always come to me, no matter what."
"I know that, Syd."
"So," Sydney bent down to pick up a shell. "How did Will take to you turning to him?"
Francie let out a small laugh. "He's told me that he's buying shares in Kleenex and Cadbury." She paused. "Actually he's been fantastic. I mean, you know just how great a friend he is."
"Well, I think that it's incredible that you two are still so close. You know, after dating and all that."
"True, but Will was my friend before my he was my partner, and it wasn't as if we parted on bad terms."
"It would have been great if you two had made it. I still maintain that you were a good couple."
"No way! If Will and I were still together, we'd be at each other's throats by now." Francie patted Sydney on the arm. "We are friends and that is all we were meant to be."
"Now, we have the ballroom, or the banquet room, each able to accommodate a different number of guests. This here is the banquet room, which you can see is the smaller of the two. Both are equipped with fully stocked bars and shall you elect to have your reception here, we can provide any fully trained staff necessary."
Sydney and Vaughn followed dutifully behind the woman, who's nametag read 'Delia', as she continued the obviously well rehearsed speech. It was Wednesday afternoon and the start of a search for a reception venue. As they continued with this tour, Sydney was experiencing a slightly suffocating feeling.
"Hey Syd," Vaughn murmured. Delia, who was going on about the facility's standard of service, was oblivious to him speaking.
"What?"
"Do you reckon that she could get that pole any further up her ass?"
Before Sydney could stop herself, she snorted with laughter. Eyes wide, she clamped a hand over her mouth as Delia whipped around.
"Is there a problem?"
"Uh, no problem." Sydney coughed a few times. "Just a touch of a cold."
Delia's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, that is everything. Do you have any questions?"
Sydney couldn't look at Vaughn. If she did, she knew that she would crack up. Instead, she just shook her head at Delia, trying to keep her face as straight as possible.
"Um, we don't have any questions at the moment." Vaughn spoke up. "But we'll talk it over when we get home and get back to you."
"Yes, well, we tend to book up very quickly and there are only limited spaces available." Delia replied, her tone condescending. "So try and contact us as soon as possible."
"Will do," Vaughn said, fighting the urge to salute.
It wasn't until they were safely enclosed in Vaughn's car that they allowed themselves to let go.
"Oh my god!" Sydney managed to gasp out through her laughter. "Could you imagine trying to have a good time with Delia"- she pulled a face- "lording over everything?"
"All I can say is thank god we agree on this." Vaughn grinned, starting up the car. "Because if you said you wanted the reception here I would call off the wedding and the engagement right now."
Saturday afternoon Weiss pulled up outside Vaughn's house. Ainsley, Francie and Amy had decided to throw Sydney a surprise bridal shower and, of course, his and Ainsley's place needed to be used to plan it. He'd lasted five minutes before escaping.
Getting out of his car, he spotted Vaughn's next-door neighbour.
"Hey Marshall. How is everything?"
"Not bad…good…I'm not exactly sure." Marshall hesitated. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure."
"Carrie asked me out on a date."
"Really? That's great."
"Yeah, and so we went out. It was great. We got sushi. When we got there the guy behind the counter, like, little sushi, they were like 'Heeeeeeeey!' You know, when we got there, like, they knew us."
"They do that at a lot of sushi places," Weiss replied, wondering where this story was going to lead.
"Really? Oh." Marshall looked a little disappointed by this. "Anyway, it was great. We had a fantastic meal, and…"
"So what's the problem?"
"Well," Marshall started to look a little uncomfortable, "post-fish, when I went to drop her off, this is traditionally, classically the time where I would— or a man would— kiss her. And, well I just started sweating."
"How bad?" Weiss asked, wincing slightly.
"Bad. Weird bad. Freak show bad."
"Did she notice?"
"Did she notice? It was like I had just gotten out of a lap pool."
"Okay," Weiss said seriously. "You need help."
"Yeah," Marshall nodded. "With the ladies."
Vaughn looked out his front window, stifling his laughter. He'd only caught the last part of the conversation, but Weiss giving dating advice? This was classic. As Weiss went on, Vaughn couldn't help but think it sounded as ifhe was reciting something from a woman's magazine. Actually, it wouldn't surprise him at all if Weiss had been studying Ainsley's stash. He'd have to ask him about it.
Marshall nodded, taking it what Weiss was saying. Some of it was sounding really good.
"Well, thanks for that." Marshall said. "And, uh, between you and me, you're mentality is much higher than fifteen. Eighteen at least."
"Hi," Sydney approached the front desk at the next venue she and Vaughn were inspecting. "Michael Vaughn and Sydney Bristow. We have a booking for a tour."
The girl behind the desk smiled. "Oh yes. Now the woman who usually tours the wedding packages is running late. But if you would like to go and wait in our function room," she gestured to a door on her left, "she should be here in about ten minutes."
"Thank you."
Inside the function room, Sydney knew that she liked this place better than the first. But…
"It's kind of…blah." Vaughn's voice broke through, mirroring her thoughts.
"Yeah. Though I was thinking more along the lines of sterile."
"Hmm." Vaughn glanced around the room. The stark white walls, polished wooden floors. It was nice. But it was as if there was no personality.
"So, are we saying no to this place, too?" Sydney asked.
"I think so." Vaughn grabbed Sydney's hand as the two of them headed towards the window. It looked out onto the street. "But, I think we should stay for the tour. It's only polite."
They didn't have to wait for long.
"OK, I am here. I am so sorry that I am late. It has just been one of those mornings."
It was a voice that Vaughn would know anywhere. Turning around, he struggled to keep a straight face. What were the chances?
"Don't worry," he said, hearing a sharp intake of breath come from Sydney when she saw who was standing there. "We haven't been waiting long."
The woman's head snapped up from the clipboard she was holding. "Michael?"
"Hello Lauren."
She blinked regaining her composure. "You're the one looking at our wedding packages?"
"Yes."
"You're getting married?" She couldn't keep the shock off her face. Vaughn smiled slightly. He knew exactly how much she hated giving herself away.
"Yes, I am." He put his arm around Sydney's shoulders. "You remember Sydney, don't you?"
"Uh, vaguely." Lauren said, attempting to sound nonchalant. She failed miserably. Taking a deep breath she launched into a description of what the facility had to offer.
Vaughn, Sydney could see, was having a great time. Lauren was obviously incredibly uncomfortable and was playing that for all it was worth. Even though they had already decided against the place, he still asked dozens of questions, inquiring about the facilities, what role Lauren would play in the organization etc.
Sydney was permanently biting her lip, fighting the urge to laugh. Finally, it was over.
"Hmm," Vaughn looked at Sydney and then turned back to Lauren. "This place just isn't 'us'."
"Yeah," Sydney agreed. "It is lovely, but just not what we are looking for."
"Well." Lauren's eyes flashed, obviously angry that she had been forced trough this experience for absolutely nothing. "Maybe you can contact us for your next wedding. Perhaps your tastes will have changed by then."
"Nah," Vaughn shook his head. "Unlike some, we don't feel the need for continuous change. We've found what we need. Thanks Lauren," Vaughn picked up Sydney's hand, "but no thanks. See ya."
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Sydney muttered to herself as she hurried to open the front door Wednesday afternoon. She could hear the phone ringing obnoxiously inside. Finally, getting the door open, she ran inside.
"Hello?"
"Oh, thank god you're there!"
"Amy?"
"Yeah, Syd, it's me." She sounded breathless.
"What's the matter?"
"I need to ask you a really huge favour. And I mean, really huge."
"Ok, then." By this point Sydney was bursting with curiosity.
"Troy and I have this convention thing to go to this weekend. It's been planned for ages; even before I found out I was pregnant. Anyway, mum and dad had promised to look after Dillon, but dad went and broke his leg on Sunday and now mum has come down with this monster flu! There's no way they can look after him. And apparently Will is busy and- and-" Amy paused, taking a deep breath. "I guess, what I'm asking is whether you and Michael would be willing to look after Dillon for us."
"For how long?" Sydney asked.
"Saturday morning to Sunday night." Amy replied. "I know this is a huge ask. I mean I'm already fretting about leaving him…but I just can't miss this weekend…and I trust you and Michael. But if you can't do this, it's fine."
Sydney thought for a second. "Look Amy, it's fine with me, but I'll have to check with Vaughn first."
"Oh, thank you." Amy sighed with relief.
"I'll call you back tonight, ok."
Vaughn shrugged. "Fine with me. It's only a weekend."
Danielle looked between Sydney and Vaughn. "There is no way I am sharing a house with a baby. I'm staying somewhere else this weekend." With that, she stalked off to her room.
Sydney grinned at Vaughn as she picked up the phone to dial Amy' number. "Well, Daddy-O, you get rid of one dependent for the weekend and gain another."
Vaughn grinned. "Something tells me that Dillon is going to be a lot easier to live with than Danielle."