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"Carrie!" Sydney couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice when she opened the door Wednesday evening. "What are you doing here?"

"Marshall and I are going out tonight and I just thought I'd bring you these." Carrie handed over a thick booklet. "It's all the lighting and music cues."

"Do I have to know all these?" Sydney asked.

"Oh, not by heart." Carrie said breezily. "But it would help if you were familiar with them."

Sydney flipped through the booklet. It was a copy of the script with about a thousand little notes scribbled over it.

"Ok, I gotta go." Carrie announced. "See you at rehearsals."

"Yeah, see you." Sydney muttered, still flicking through the script. She made a mental note to refuse when Carries asked her for help with the production next year.

"What's wrong?" Vaughn asked when she walked back inside the house.

"It's Carrie. She's getting worse. If she wants to let herself get consumed by this production, then fine. But she needs to realize that I do have a life!"

Vaughn laughed as he opened the back door to let Donovan inside. "Just not cut out for the theatre, hey?"

"Not like you, hey?" Sydney shot back. "You know I think they need some help with the choreography. I could suggest you. After all, you have danced in Little Shop before, haven't you?"

"Oh, volunteer me all the you want Bristow." Vaughn grinned. "Cause you know that I would only be a hindrance and imagine what that would do to Carrie?"

Friday night, New Years Eve, Sydney, Vaughn, Weiss, Will and Craig had all booked a table at Deep Inside for dinner. The plan was to kick off the evening there and then head over to Phase One, where Ainsley was working, to bring in the New Year.

Walking into the restaurant, Sydney was elated to see just how crowded it was. Francie had been open for business barely two weeks, yet the restaurant really seemed to be taking off.

"Hey guys!" Francie greeted the group brightly. "I've got the best table reserved for you lot. Come on." She led then to the table and once they had settled down, headed straight back off. "I'm run off my feet tonight," she said, apologetically. "But if I get the chance, I'll join you for a drink."

Sydney smiled as Francie walked off. "I still can't believe how calm she is when here. It's kind of disorientating."

Weiss laughed. "Hey, I have an idea."

The other eyed him warily.

"Let's play the whole horrible customer roles and see how long it takes for her to snap!"

"Weiss!" Sydney shoved him lightly.

"What? I was joking!" he protested. He looked at their dubious faces. "Oh please, do you really think that I would be stupid enough to take Francie on?" He paused, going over what he had just said. "Ok, on second thoughts, don't answer that question."

Will shook his head, laughing. "Can you believe that it's almost another year over? I'm going to be old and grey soon, if time keeps passing this fast."

"Yeah," Weiss snorted. "Old, grey and still living with Craig."

Sydney couldn't help letting out a short laugh. She looked over at Vaughn and knew straight away that he was fighting back his own laughter.

Weiss was continuing. "I can just imagine you as the two old bachelors, living together and fighting over who took the last of the laxatives."

Sydney quickly brought up her menu, covering her face. The image that Weiss was creating- she was about to lose it completely.

"Watch it Weiss," Craig said, warningly.

"Don't worry about him." Will said. "Eric can say whatever he wants about us. We are not the ones who own a Barbie doll."

"Ok." Vaughn threw up his hands. "Enough." He would have said more but was overcome by a fit of laughter. The entire conversation that had just taken place was completely ludicrous. The other must have thought this as well, because soon Sydney, Weiss, Will and Craig's bodies were racked with laughter, too.

"Oh," Sydney wiped the tears that had formed in her eyes. "We are supposed to be intelligent adults and here we are fighting over laxatives and Barbies."

Weiss was shaking his head, sheepishly. "Ah, not some of my best work, I admit."

They all had a fantastic time at Deep Inside. The food was incredible and there was a real relaxed and warm ambiance to the place. At one point Francie even managed to spare a few minutes and actually sit down with them for a drink.

"Ok guys," she said, after pouring everybody champagne. "It's New Years Eve and this is the only celebrating that I am going to get to do, so how's about a toast?"

"Ok," Vaughn agreed, holding up his glass. "Here's to Danielle vacating our house tomorrow."

Sydney nodded. "And here's to the day that I have been waiting for." She looked at Vaughn and winked. "The closing night of The Little Shop of Horrors."

"Oh! I know." Weiss jumped in. "Here is to laxatives, Barbie dolls and everlasting platonic friendships between males."

Sydney, Vaughn, Will and Craig all cracked up, leaving Francie looking extremely perplexed.

"I am not even going to bother asking where that came from or what the hell it means."

"Well Francie," Weiss said, "do you have a better idea for a toast?"

Francie paused, mulling over her thoughts. "Hmm, how about to things finally going right. For all of us." She smiled. "For a change."

"Sounds good to me," Sydney held up her glass. "To things going right."

The others raised their glasses. "To things going right."

"You know," Weiss piped up. "We probably shouldn't have toasted to that. We've just probably jinxed ourselves."

"Thanks Eric." Francie rolled her eyes.

"Ok," Vaughn said. "I think it's time that we headed off."

"Yeah," Sydney agreed. "We need Ainsley to pull this one," she nudged Weiss, "into line, before he gets himself into trouble tonight."

The beauty of knowing the owner of a club was that waiting in line was no longer necessary. And due to the combination of it being New Years Eve and the level of popularity that Phase One had acquired over the years, this was a definite advantage.

Weiss walked straight up to the bouncer, shaking his hand and greeting him like an old friend.

"Hey, thanks for hooking me up with those tickets, Eric. The wife loved em'."

"Ah it was nothing."

"Hey," Sydney stepped forward, remembering something. "Zachary feeling better?"

"Much, yeah. Thanks." He smiled. "You guys had better get in there. I know our Ainz is just itching to see her friends."

They walked towards the door, hearing a shower of protests coming from the long line. "What is up with that?" How come they get to go in?"

Craig turned around. "Secret weapon," he said, pointing at Weiss and winking. "He's sleeping with the second in command."

"Ahem!"

He stopped short. Ainsley was standing just inside the doorway, a bemused smile on her face.

"Craig, Craig, Craig." She shook her head. "I come out here to greet my friends, only to find you flaunting mine and Eric's relationship in such a vulgar manner."

Craig stood agape for a few seconds before pointing at Weiss. "He said that me and Will would be bachelors for ever and living together when our hair was grey and we were old and that we would be fighting over the last of the laxatives," he let out in one breath.

Ainsley let out a snort of laughter. "Ok, next time I go to Deep Inside, remind me not to eat whatever he had."

"Or whatever Weiss had," Vaughn put in. "And Will."

"He's right." Weiss nodded sombrely. "Syd and Vaughn are the only ones behaving tonight."

"Yeah, but would you expect anymore form the boring almost- married couple?" Will asked.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The crowd within Phase One screamed as the DJ started up the music again.

Sydney was almost thrown off her feet when Vaughn threw his arms around her.

"Oomph!" she exclaimed, the breath knocked out of her for a second. "A little excited?" she yelled over the music.

He just smiled and leaned in, pressing his lips into hers. "A bit," he yelled back.

Sydney smiled. "Happy New Year."

"What?" Vaughn cocked his ear. "I can't hear you?"

Sydney just shook her head as if to say never mind and leaned in for another kiss.

Sydney, Vaughn, Weiss, Will and Craig lingered back until the club was empty. As they sat down in one of the booths, Campbell and Ainsley, who had drinks for everyone, soon joined them.

After taking a long mouthful, Weiss sighed and leaned back, his arm around Ainsley. "What a night."

"Yeah, but it's not night anymore." Ainsley pointed out. "You do realize that when we open those doors it will be daylight."

"So, Syd, Mike," Campbell piped up. "I hear congratulations are in order."

"What?" Sydney was clearly surprised. "Has it really been that long since we've spoken?"

"Yup," Campbell sighed. "I really need to get out more." He paused, a smile forming on his lips. "Hey, did Ainsley pass on the message from mum?"

Sydney glanced at Ainsley, who groaned, and then turned back to Campbell. "No."

"Didn't think she would." Campbell laughed.

"Cam, do you have to?" Ainsley asked.

"What did Renee say?" Sydney pressed.

"She said 'Tell Sydney how happy I am for her and that maybe some of her life choices could rub off on Ainsley'," Campbell said, laughing.

"My life choices?"

"Mum thinks that it's about time that Ainz and Eric got hitched," Campbell explained. He turned and pinched Weiss's cheek. "Cos she just adores you, doesn't she?"

"Get off," Weiss pushed him away good- naturedly.

"Come on Eric," Will interjected. "When are you going to make Ainsley's mum one happy lady?"

"Oh god, please do not bring this subject up." Ainsley pleased.

"Agreed." Weiss added.

"Why not?" Craig asked. "Marriage not your thing?"

Both Weiss and Ainsley shook their heads in unison. "It's not that," she said.

"Then what?" Vaughn asked.

Weiss sighed loudly. "It's our mothers."

"What?" Sydney exclaimed.

"We were both blessed with obsessive control freaks for mothers," Ainsley said. "They have been talking about marrying us off since day one. Could you imagine if we actually got engaged? They would spontaneously combust on the spot!" she shuddered.

"And besides," Weiss kissed her on the cheek. "We are completely happy with the way things are…and if we got engaged any time in the near future Sydney would kick our asses for stealing her thunder."

"Ok, I am all packed." Danielle dropped her last suitcase by the couch. "Did you call the taxi?"

Sydney nodded. "Are you sure you don't want us to give you a lift? It wouldn't be a problem."

"No, it is fine." Danielle smiled. "I do not know how I can thank you enough."

"How about with cash?" Vaughn suggested from the kitchen.

Sydney was about to admonish him, but was stopped by Danielle's laughter.

"Here you go. Michael." She reached into her bag and then a tossed a coin in his direction.

"Thanks." He winked at her as he put the coin in his pocket. From outside came the sound of a car horn.

"That'll be the taxi," Sydney said.

"Well, I guess that means that I'm going." Danielle smiled as she gave Sydney a hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Sydney whispered.

And ten minutes later she was gone.