AN: I seem to always forget to update. But I promise to make more of an effort. I hope you like it. And to answer a question, No, Vaughn and Sydney don't know about the baby at this time…but they will…eventually.
Morning light filtered through the glass doors of the master bedroom. Its sharp rays illuminating the room's slumbering occupants; the elegant antique clock read ten from its resting place beside the large bed.
Irina sighed, blowing warm air onto her companion's chest, not ready to face the day yet unable to rediscover sleep. The baby was performing its morning acrobatics, letting her know it was time to get up and start the day.
Jack had not moved from his position on his back, only drawn her closer to his side. His hands had left her stomach during the night, making their way around her back. Her sigh appeared to have woken him; however he made no effort to move.
"What time is it?" His voice was thick and rough with sleep.
Irina lifted her head from his chest to check the clock on the bedside table beside him. "Ten." She answered before dropping her head back to its previous place.
"We should get up."
"Probably. But I'm comfortable right here." Irina slid herself up Jack's body until their faces were side by side.
"You're not hungry?"
As though wanting to reply, Irina's stomach growled, urging the baby to kick more powerfully. Rolling herself onto her back with a huff, Irina glanced sideways at Jack.
"Apparently I've been vetoed in my decision to stay in bed." Jack's hand found her stomach under the sheets on the bed, already confident to feel the baby's movement with her permission.
"How long has the baby been up and active?" His hand followed the flutters of the baby beneath her skin.
"An hour maybe a little more. Although I received intermittent kicks all night." She smiled at his hand and the expression of concentration on his face. "How are you feeling this morning?" She wondered lightly.
"Better." Jack removed his hand, leaning up on one arm. "I don't see myself interested in eating lamb in the near future but I could definitely go for some breakfast pastries."
"Alright. I'm getting up than. I'll go see what we have." Irina threw back the covers and gingerly exited the bed.
Jack's eyes narrowed in appreciation when the expanse of Irina's long bare legs was exposed to him. Last night, he had been in no condition to contemplate activities that would find her in or out of her underwear but in the new light of morning the options were staggering.
Irina walked to the dresser and pulled on a pair of cotton shorts.
"I'll come with you." Jack hopped out of the bed, his energy almost completely replenished after last night's ordeal.
"Worried I might slip something into your food again?" Jack caught the humour dancing in her eyes as she turned.
"The thought did happen across my mind." He raised his eyebrows to indicate his jest in the matter. He located his shirt in a pile of his cloths on the floor with little enthusiasm.
"I don't suppose you took pity on one of my shirts when throwing my clothing into the pool?" Jack looked quite unlike himself, standing in the middle of an elegant bedroom wearing only his boxers.
Irina retrieved a t-shirt from her drawer, holding it out to him. "Pesky pregnancy emotions wouldn't let me throw that over the balcony." Her mock disgusted earned her a smile from Jack.
"Thank goodness for small favours." Jack missed the quick look of disappointment that crossed Irina's features as the shirt covered his chest.
Both walked down the stairs, more at ease than when they had ascended them the night before. Irina stopped to open the doors in the living room on her way to the kitchen. The fresh sea breeze mingled with the stale air conditioned presence in the house.
"I do believe the majority of people you've worked with in the past twenty years would be floored to see you dressed as you are." Jack indicated her tank top and draw-string shorts. "Do you have an entire wardrobe of cotton draw-string items?"
"The same could be said about the people you work with." Irina eyed him as she got two plates from the cupboard. "I have plenty of items with draw-strings because thanks in large part to you, my waist line will be expanding daily for about three and a half months more."
"Is this when I'm supposed to feel sympathetic?" Jack teased her.
"Keep talking Bristow; I've got access to all the food in the house." A wicked smile lit her lips.
"There was a serious matter I wanted to discuss with you." Jack helped her take the breakfast items out to the pool-side. Irina nodded for him to continue.
"When I arrived four days ago, I walked through the house and into your room without you waking up. I understand that security measures wouldn't be inconspicuous but you're an easy target without any defense." Jack sipped his water.
"Remember when I was pregnant with Sydney? Nothing could rouse me when I slept, the same seems true for this pregnancy but I don't know that any security would make a difference. The only enemy I'm worried about at this time is Sloane and I doubt he would have trouble getting past a security system." Irina smiled as she picked up a bagel. "But thank you for thinking of it."
Two sets of eyes looked to the pool to see Jack's cloths still floating around. "I'll have to get those out of the pool if I'm going to have something to wear today." Jack made a move to stand but was stopped by a gentle hand on his arm.
"Finish breakfast first. The cloths aren't going anywhere."
Promptly at seven o'clock, Jack knocked on Irina's bedroom door. They had spent most of the day just being together. Neither spoke much for fear of loosing topics of conversation that evening. The apprehension was palatable in both of them, only growing stronger as the day wore on.
Jack had taken time away from Irina to prepare the date they would be embarking on. He was determined to make it greater than their first date thirty years before. Tonight he wore a pair of grey dress pants and a black golf shirt, more than ready to impress her.
"Irina, are you ready to go?"
"Yes Jack, I'm just putting on-" She opened the door, taking in her 'date's' attire. "Well, don't you look handsome." She leaned lightly on the door with a sly smile.
Jack didn't hear her compliment right away as his brain had zeroed in on her. Her hair was down and soft around her face; her body was covered in a light weight, red skirt that fell to just above her knees and a black and red top. Her stomach was tightly encased in the material, making the expansion visible.
"Stunning." Was the only word Jack could utter.
"An improvement from beautiful. And it only took thirty years." Irina tilted her head slightly. "Alright, I'm ready."
"Your shirt doesn't have any sleeves." Jack acknowledged.
"I know Jack." Irina wondered where he was going with his observation.
"You should take a sweater."
"Jack, it's July in Greece. What could I possibly need a sweater for?" A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Jack, where are we going?"
"Trust me?" Jack implored with his gaze.
Irina weighed his words carefully, aware of all the implications. "You know I will." She whispered. "Just let me get my sweater." She called as she walked to her closet.
MAINLAND – GREECE
Irina had been shocked when they had boarded the private plane that had brought Jack to the island and head toward the mainland. She knew her best efforts to get Jack to reveal their destination would go unrewarded, leaving her to enjoy the scenery. Not quite half an hour later, the plane touched down at a small airstrip.
"Where are we?" Irina took Jack's hand as he helped her out of the plane.
"About ten minutes outside of Sparta." Jack directed her to a waiting car. They both got in as Jack drove them to their date location.
After ten minutes more and plenty of uphill driving, the couple arrived at a niche in a mountain.
"What is this place?" Irina asked as she and Jack got out of the car and walked to the building.
"It used to be a mill. They have since turned it into a restaurant. One of the only ones in the mountains. I wanted you to bring a sweater because it gets cool up here at night."
Jack spoke to the owner as they approached the entrance. "Reservation for Jonathan." He said in Greek. The owner took them out to the side where numerous tables were set up.
"Jonathan, creative." The sarcasm was evident.
"No need to get fancy, merely cautious." He retorted.
"Is it wrong that I'm delighted to see grass? I haven't seen any on the terrain for a long time." Irina looked around the grounds.
"Isn't that why you had some installed in your roof?" Jack grinned with closed lips.
"Yes, but it's nothing like this." She breathed. The old mill was still running and a stream of mountain water rain behind them. "This is amazing Jack. I don't know how you pulled all this off so quickly." She smiled.
"I had the proper incentive." Jack smiled back. "However, dinner can't run too late because we need to get back to the island."
'Tell me something about yourself I don't know." Irina leaned toward conspiratorially.
"After you were gone, I learned I have an addictive personality." Jack was caught between wanting the evening to be enjoyable and the harsh truth she wanted. "I was desperately addicted to you but when you left I had to fill that void. Unfortunately I didn't do it with anything constructive." Jack dropped his head.
"Alcohol." Irina filled in.
"No, not just alcohol. It was part of it but I also worked too hard and didn't sleep enough. It made for a destructive combination."
"I tried to uncover any piece of information on Sydney and you that I could over the years. I have a tape of her graduation. Actually I have a few; I wore the first two out." Irina's cheeky smile relaxed the tense atmosphere.
"She's amazing. She brings new light to the nature over nurture debate. We both had very little to do with her childhood and yet I admit that she is exactly like us in so many ways."
"She hates me doesn't she?" Irina dropped her eyes and played with her fork.
"She acts as though she does." Jack saw the hurt flash in her eyes. "I don't believe it for a second. She pretends to hate you because she thinks that is what is required of her when in reality she loves you unconditionally." Jack reached across the table to still her hands' nervous fiddling.
"Were you always this sweet Jack?" Irina held his hand tightly.
"I don't believe anyone in L.A. would agree with your comment." Their laughter at his reply broke through the remaining unease about their 'date'. Too soon it was ten and Jack announced they should head back to the airstrip.
SWITZERLAND
Nane Annan had been preoccupied with the well-fare of her children to notice Sydney's confusion at her familiarity. She had her suspicious as to whom Nane was referring to when the word she had passed her lips.
Kofi Annan was to meet his wife and children at their home once it was deemed safe by the CIA. The reunion was bittersweet, tainted with the lost of innocence of all involved, the UN had once more been dealt a crippling blow of ineffectiveness.
"I knew I shouldn't have doubted her. She said she would make sure you and the children got home safe, but I couldn't help but wonder at her optimism." Kofi held tight to his wife in relief.
"I can't remember a time she has ever failed to complete a task you asked of her. Wait until you see who she sent to find us." Nane pulled her husband to the other side of the room where Sydney and Dixon stood patiently.
"With a face like that, I can only assume you're Sydney." The Secretary General shook Sydney's hand warmly. "Your mother has spoken of you often."
"You know my mother?" Despite having assumed her mother was who Mrs. Annan had spoken of, she had not expected her ideas to be realized.
"We've known your mother for quite some time now. She was not able to execute the mission to save my wife and children; she did tell me she would be sure the only other person she trusted to do the job would be there." The large man's smile grew friendlier.
"How do you know my mother? With your position in the UN, contact with a woman like Irina Derevko could be dangerous." Sydney glanced sideways at Dixon.
"It is not our place Sydney, to explain your mother's behaviours and choices." Nane looked sympathetically at the young woman.
"Do you know where Derevko is now?" Dixon interjected, knowing the attempt was futile.
"I'm afraid I don't have that information. I've spoken to her once but otherwise it would seem she has vanished." Kofi raised his dark eyebrows at Dixon.
"We have a plane to catch. It has been an honor meeting both of you." Dixon shook both their hands.
"A pleasure for us as well Mr. Dixon. Thank you for everything you've done. I hope we can meet again under better circumstances." Mr. Annan said.
"Sydney!" Nane Annan called to the younger woman before she could exit the building. "I would wait to pass judgment on your mother until you've seen her again and have given her an opportunity to explain."
Sydney regarded the fair woman for a moment before nodding her head and following Dixon out of the building.
"Syd, you alright?" Dixon glanced at her.
"Just when I think I've got my mother figure out, she unveils another layer of herself. I don't know if I'll ever understand her Dixon. I don't know if she'll let me.
VILLA – SYROS
"I don't remember the last time I had fun like that." Irina said as they walked to her bedroom doorway. "It's interesting to know Sydney's propensity at finding herself in stinky situations is not a result of poor training but her own character. I still can't get over how she talked herself out of being thrown in jail at fifteen."
"Yes, her life seems the epitome of wrong place, wrong time." Jack looked down at their hands, joined together between them.
"I had a wonderful time tonight Jack. Thank you for taking me out." They stopped outside her open doorway.
"We have twenty years of memories to make; I don't want to miss any opportunities." Jack swept his free hand across her stomach, pleased when she took at step closer to him.
"Then don't miss this one." Irina whispered.
Jack used his grasp on their joined hands to pull her closer to him and placed his lips gently over hers. It was the first time their lips had made contact since they had reached their understanding of last night. Their lips pressed against each other with subtle force. Jack's tongue soothed Irina's lips, until they yielded to his entrance. His free hand moved to cup the side of her head, steady against his passion.
"Goodnight." He said when they finally pulled away. Irina's eyes were dark and dangerous against the light of the hallway. As he took a step in the direction of his own room he felt a tug on his hand.
Irina released her hold on his hand in favour of winding her arm around his neck to pull him into her room. Her door shut behind them, effectively blocking Jack's exit. Their tongues took turns running the length of one another in the darkness.
"The baby wants you to stay with me tonight." Irina's throaty words were laboured, as they kissed again.
"Well, what the baby wants, the baby gets." Jack's lips trailed a warm path down her neck. Irina's hand threaded through Jack's hair, dragging his head back to hers for another searing kiss. When they pulled away, Jack rested his forehead on Irina's.
"Jack, are we ready for this?" Her question would have seemed odd if it were directed at anyone else.
"No, probably not." He admitted reluctantly.
"Hold me tonight?" Her eyes connected with his.
"Is that what the baby wants?" Jack grinned at her timid question.
"No, it's what I want." She leaned in again to capture his lips.
"Your mattress is more comfortable anyway."
"Then let's get comfortable." Her bright smile helped to lead him to bed.
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