I just want to thank you all so much for your feedback on the last chapter. I was really heartened by what some of you wrote, and am just happy that I was able to create something that you appreciate so much. Thank you again for letting me know what you thought.
I LOVE ALIAS: Yes, I do have a name for the sequel, and I will be nice and tell you (unlike before I posted this fic, when I decided to mean and not reveal it anyone :P) The title of the next fic will be 'Steady As They Go'.
Em-96: I chose the Aretha Franklin song for two reasons. The first being that the lyircs were so perfect for the story, and second being that it was actually used in an episode of Alias (2.20: Countdown- when Syd and Vaughn are sitting on the park bench eating ice cream and she apologises for not telling him the truth about Dixon).
Now, I only hope that you approve of the song I chose for their reception as much...
Vaughn picked up Sydney's hand, which was shaking slightly, much like his own. "Sydney, with this ring, I thee wed."
The celebrant then handed Sydney a ring. "Now Sydney…Michael, with this ring, I thee wed."
"Vaughn…" she paused as he let out a small chuckle. "Vaughn, with this ring, I thee wed."
The celebrant smiled. "I take great pleasure in now pronouncing you husband and wife. And now what you've been waiting for Michael, you may now kiss the bride."
Their lips were pressed together before the sentence was even completed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the bridal party…Amy Tippin and Will Tippin, Ainsley McPhee and Craig Blair, the maid of honour and best man, Francine Calfo and Eric Weiss."
They all walked into the reception room, taking their seats at the head table.
"And now for the first time, introducing Mr and Mrs Michael and Sydney Vaughn."
Sydney felt a small jolt at that. Mr and Mrs. Sydney Vaughn. Michael and Sydney Vaughn. She knew, at that point, that she would never tire of hearing that.
Sydney and Vaughn had asked that the meal be served as soon as possible, so that the rest of the night would be free for the guests (and themselves) to party and enjoy themselves.
Yet, as all their guests began to eat, both Sydney and Vaughn found themselves unable to, falling into their own private conversation instead. It was the first time that day that they had the opportunity to talk, and there was no way they were passing that up. Weiss was quite pleased with this, happily tucking into both their meals.
Juliette, too, was distracted from her meal. She found that her eyes were wandering over to Vaughn and Sydney, watching them as they whispered into each other's ears, the smiles never leaving their faces and the contact between them never breaking.
She turned to Jack, who was seated next to her. "Would you look at the two of them?" she smiled, nodding her head in their direction.
Jack looked up, a nostalgic expression on his face. Juliette knew exactly what he was thinking…because she was thinking almost the same thing.
"Thinking about your wife?" she said, softly.
Jack looked at her for a second before nodding shortly. "I just wish that she could have been here today."
"Oh, but she is." Juliette smiled at Jack's wary expression. "Don't worry, I haven't been talking to Trish." She took a mouthful of wine as Jack allowed himself a small smile. "I just like to think that Bill looks down on us from time to time, to celebrate the milestone's of Michael's life along with us. I imagine that Sydney's mother does the same thing."
"It must be comforting to think that way," Jack replied, looking over as he heard Sydney's laughter. It never failed to amaze him just how much his daughter resembled her mother.
"It is," Juliette said. "Maybe you should try it sometime."
As the last of the dessert plates were taken away, Francie stood, tentatively tapping her glass. "Hi…I've decided that I will kick off the speeches tonight, because who knows how long this one," she looked at Weiss with a smile, "will prattle on for. So, first things first. Sydney and Michael, congratulations. I am so happy for you…" Francie trailed off, sniffing as her bottom lip began to tremble. "Oh, I promised myself that I wasn't going to cry and now look at me…Oh!" she sniffed again, bringing her hands up to her eyes.
"Here," Sydney, Will, Ainsley and Amy spoke in unison, all of them producing a tissue from somewhere and offering it to Francie.
As the room filled with laughter, Francie took a tissue from Sydney. "Thanks." Dabbing her eyes, she took a deep breath and continued. "Ok, now I first encountered Syd during a training session for our school's softball team. I'd seen her wandering about the school, but never really took any notice until that day when she decided to dress up in the catcher's gear and parade around the pitch."
Vaughn turned towards Sydney with a smirk. "What?"
"It was a dare." Sydney grinned.
"Anyway, if anybody had told me that day that in the years to come I would be standing beside that crazy softball girl as her maid of honour, I probably would have laughed in their face." Francie continued. "But after that day, I soon learned that Sydney Bristow could not be defined by that catcher's gear incident, and that she was, in fact, the best friend that everybody wishes they had.
Syd, Will and I love you so much. You have been there for us through some of the hardest times of our lives, and for all the great times. You too, Michael. Since Sydney brought you into our life, I am lucky to say that I have found another wonderful friend.
It is only fitting that two such incredible people find true love with each other. So again, congratulations Syd and Michael. You deserve only happiness for the many years to come, and I hope that I can share some of those moments with you."
Francie blew Sydney a kiss before sitting down. When the applause had died down, Weiss stood up, causing Vaughn to groan and bury his face in his hands.
"Vaughn," Sydney put a hand on his shoulder. "He's not going to bring up the he-she. I made him swear on his Little Mermaid Barbie doll."
Vaughn perked up, slightly, after hearing this.
"Ok, ok, ok." Weiss announced he raised his hands. "Now, I have been best friends with this guy since the first day of school, when he marched up to me and asked me to be his friend. You heard me right. His exact words were 'Will you be my friend?'—"
"I think it was the other way around," Vaughn interjected with a laugh.
"Yeah, whatever. I'm giving this speech, so what I say goes." Weiss shot back. "Anyway, I like to think that I've been there for all the important and significant moments of his life. Like when his dad took us to our first hockey match. Like in the sixth grade when he got dumped for the first time. They had only been 'going out' for two days, yet he was still crushed. I was there for his first hangover…granted I was the one who got him drunk in the first place. Oh yeah, Jules, I guess it's confession time. It was us who took your peach schnapps."
Juliette laughed. "How dim do you think I am Eric?"
Weiss shrugged. "So, I was there for those moments, and I was there when he met Sydney. I tell you now. I knew that he was goner even before they met. You see, when I went into her bookstore and she suggested Alice in Wonderland, saying that she had a copy, I knew it was destiny. Because, for those of you who don't know, Vaughn here has a little thing for Alice- if you know what I mean."
"Oh god." Vaughn buried his face in his hand, as the guests around them began laughing.
"Now, Syd. I haven't known you as long, but you are still a friend I will cherish forever. I may joke about your relationship and call you boring and saying that you make us feel sick, but any idiot can see that the two of you are made for each other…and let's face it; do you see a bigger idiot in the room than me?
So, could everybody please raise their glasses in a toast to the bride and groom?" Weiss turned to them, holding up his own glass. "I love you guys. To Sydney and Vaughn."
"To Sydney and Vaughn," the room chorused.
As Weiss sat down, he turned to Vaughn. "And you were worrying about what…"
Vaughn laughed as he leaned across and gave Weiss a brotherly hug. "Oh please, it kills you that Syd made sure you couldn't mention the he-she."
Weiss let out a chuckle. "Yeah, but I figured mentioning your Alice fascination in front of your mum and Jack was enough of a consolation."
At that point the singer of the band stepped up to the microphone. "Ok folks, before we let our hair down and the into the real festivities of the evening, could we first invite Sydney and Michael to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife…and from what the best man has told me, this should be quite a show. That is if our own Johnny Castle has been keeping up with his lessons."
Vaughn could only laugh as he and Sydney positioned themselves on the dance floor. He had come to realize that Weiss would never let him live down the proposal.
Sydney smiled and leaned in to kiss him. "Love you."
"Love you, too." Vaughn replied as the first strands of music began playing.
I don't get many things right the first timeIn fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am, I am
I am the luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house
On the street where you live
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am, I am
I am the luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man
Who lived into his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am, I am
I am the luckiest.
As the song came to an end, Vaughn pulled Sydney in even closer and their lips connected in a slow and lingering kiss. They were oblivious to the fact that they were in the middle of a room filled with their family and friends. Oblivious to the eyes watching them. Oblivious to everything but the feel of one and another's touch.
The festivities went late into the night, and everybody was having a fantastic time. After getting through the formalities and doing the rounds of greeting all their guests, Sydney and Vaughn were finally able to relax and let their hair down.
A little worn out, Vaughn went to his seat for a drink, his eyes never leaving Sydney, who was in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by her friends. Feeling his gaze, she looked up. With a smile, she blew him a kiss and then turned back to Ainsley.
"So," Vaughn looked as Craig sat down beside him. "How does it feel to be a married man?"
Vaughn shrugged. "To be honest, it hasn't really sunk in. I mean, look at Syd." He gestured towards her. "How incredible she is. Am I really supposed to believe that I get to spend the rest of my life with her? That she wanted to share her life with me?"
Craig laughed. "Yeah. Just what does she see in you?" He picked up his beer and took a mouthful. "So what are your plans for tonight…I mean where are you staying?" Craig added quickly after seeing Vaughn's taken aback expression.
Vaughn chuckled. "We're staying at a hotel near the airport. Our flight is pretty early tomorrow morning, so we figured it would be easier that way."
"Yeah, well I expect a 'Greetings from Phuket' postcard." Craig said. "So you can rub your exotic honeymoon while we all stay here, slaving away at our jobs."
"I'll send two." Vaughn replied. "Really put some salt in the wounds."
Craig was going to retort, but stopped, distracted by something. "Oh, no he isn't," he muttered with a grin.
"What?" Vaughn followed Craig's gaze and saw what was going on. "Oh no, he isn't."
Somehow, and how exactly was beyond everybody else, Weiss was managed to get the singer from the band to relinquish his microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, "Weiss said. "As Harry here takes a well deserved water break, I will be taking over the entertainment duties." He grinned. "So what better way than to start off with one of my personal favourites?"
Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one.
When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?
Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run.
Gun it comin' off the line Sharona
Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch
of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona...
As Weiss continued singing in his usual Weiss fashion, Vaughn laughed and did the only thing he could- got up and joined Sydney on the dance floor.
"You ready?" Sydney called out to the group behind her. She and Vaughn were about to leave, when Francie, demanding that she toss her bouquet, stopped her.
Weiss, watching the group of woman (which included Ainsley) elbowing and pushing each other, sidled up to Vaughn and nudged him in the side. "Where's the mud when you need it?" he murmured.
"Here it comes!" Sydney tossed the bouquetover her head and then whipped around, just in time to see it fall into Ainsley's hands.
Vaughn, with a grin, turned to Weiss. "Is your mum still here? Cos if not, I'd love to be the one to tell her."
After they had said their good-byes to almost everyone, Sydney and Vaughn found themselves standing in front of Juliette and Jack. Stepping forward, Sydney wrapped her arms around Jack in a tight hug.
"I love you, dad."
"I love you too, sweetheart," Jack murmured back. When they separated, he offered his hand to Vaughn. "Just to let you know, Michael, one thing has changed. I'm not close to happy, I am happy. Do right by my daughter and it will stay that way."
Vaughn smiled. "It could never be any other way." He turned to Juliette, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Love you, maman. See you when we get back."
Juliette nodded. "You two have a fantastic time."
Hand in hand, Sydney and Vaughn walked out to their waiting car which had been thoughtfully decorated with streamers and shaving cream by Weiss, Ainsley, Will, Francie, Craig and Amy.
As they drove off, Sydney wrapped her hand around Vaughn's. Her husband. It was so hard to comprehend.
"Can you believe that it's over?" Vaughn asked.
"To me, it hasn't even happened yet." Sydney laughed. "We're married. How weird is that?"
"I know," Vaughn agreed. "But I have a feeling that we'll be getting used to it pretty soon. Husband and wife. Has a pretty cool ring to it, don't you think?"
Sydney smiled, pressing her lips into his hand.
A/N: One more chap to go...
Disclaimer: I do not own the songs 'The Luckiest' by Ben Folds or 'My Sharona' by The Knack.