Sydney awoke to hear the kettle boiling in the kitchen. She had been moved to her old bedroom and she sat up remembering her childhood. They had moved house after her mother died. Her father had claimed it held too many memories. She now knew just how true this was. Memories of how that woman had deceived them.

She heard a knock at her door. It was Constance with a cup of tea. She remembered how her mother had bought her tea on a Sunday morning. They had always used that time to chat and bond. It seemed somewhat empty now, drinking tea in bed on a Sunday yet considering how she was feeling, it held some comfort.

"Thanks Connie." She said as the tea was handed to her. "How are you feeling?" she asked as she sat next to her on the bed. "I'm ok. The shock has worn off now and I'm starting to accept it." She wandered if her dad had done as she asked and told Constance. "er... you... do know?" she asked cautiously. Constance was glad she hadn't asked if Jack told her? "Yes I know. I went to see Weiss last night. We've been good friends for a while and I know when he's upset. Sydney he's really worried about you. I called and told him you were staying here but you might want to ring later and let him know you're alright." She motioned towards the phone. "Thanks, I will." Sydney looked at the woman her father loved so much and wondered how she felt about him. "How do you feel about my father?" she came straight out with her burning question.

Constance stared at Sydney not knowing what to say. "Did she have to ask the one thing I've been trying to figure out for the past month?" "I thought I loved him." She finally came out with the one thing she knew was true. "And you didn't?" Sydney asked worried about her father. She knew her father loved her and had seen him at a jewellers a few days ago. She was sure that he was going to ask her to marry him. "He's a very private person and I cant help thinking that if he cant even let me into his life then how am I supposed to let him into my heart. The other day I asked him about the one huge thing that I have to know about. Laura... or Irina. I need to know if he thinks of me the same way. If he loves me like he loved her. He doesn't trust me I can tell. He's looked at my records three times since we first started seeing each other. He's even checked out the details on there. He went to my college to check that I actually went there. He thinks I don't know but I do. They contacted me while he was there asking what they wanted me to tell him. I just told them to tell the absolute truth about everything. I sometimes think I should have told them to pretend they don't know who I am just to see what lengths he would have gone to." She sighed. "How can I stay with a man who would belay such little trust in me?" she said as she looked up at the daughter of the man she wished she knew. "Wow. I had no idea mom had effected him like that." Sydney gasped.

Jack, who had been listening from outside the door, looked down at the photo in his hand. No one knew but he kept it in his wallet. It was of Constance and him back on one of their first dates. She looked so happy. They were at the beach. She had made him a picnic. Unfortunately the rain had decided that it wasn't to go as planned. They had been taking pictures with a throwaway camera that they bought when they had run into a shop for shelter. They were both soaking wet and laughing. The film was mostly ruined but this picture had come out perfect, from the waves on the background to the little droplets of rain on her cheeks.

He smiled thinking of that day. That was the first time they had actually made love since Sark. That monster had seriously hurt her. Jack had made sure he was gentle as he entered her. His soft strokes and gentle hands had made Constance feel loved. He remembered how she winced as he entered her. He had asked her if she was ok. She had wanted him to continue. He thrust slowly and constantly as she lay there as still as possible taking slow short breaths with every stroke. He made the terrifying nightmares disappear as he came inside her, shaking above the silent woman. She put her hands in his and waited until he was finished. Jack made sure he pulled out slowly. He stroked every inch of her body to make sure she was ok and they lay together while he listened to her breathing grow heavy as she slept.

Jack shook the memory from his head and knocked on the door. Constance was in mid sentence and stopped as he walked in. "Don't stop on my accord. What were you talking about? Would it be me by any chance?" he looked down at Constance and Sydney sitting there with cups of tea. It reminded him of Laura and how she and his daughter had little meetings on Sunday mornings to which he was banned. It was their mother and daughter time. He now realised why it had been so important to her. She knew she would not have many. Sydney was only six so they could not have talked about serious things but it had seemed private all the same.

"Yes we were talking about you dad." Sydney saw no reason to lie. He had probably been listening any way. "Constance. Can I have a word with you?" he beckoned he towards the door. "Yeah sure. I'll leave you to get dressed anyway." She followed him into the hallway. "What's wrong jack?" she asked. "Do you love me?" obviously the absence of subtlety was a family trait. "Why are you asking me?" she already knew the answer. "Just answer me. Is it really that hard." "It's like me asking you if you trust me. It should be an easy one but its not is it jack?" tears welled up in her eyes. "There was once a time when I loved you no question about it. But now, now I'm not so sure. I know I love being with you and spending time near you but," she paused and tried to slow her breathing which was choking back tears. "But now, I'm just not so sure. It seems as if the closer we've become, the less you've wanted to talk. You spend more time questioning me on protocol and work than we actually spend on each other. It's been so long since you asked me how I actually am. I mean, yesterday was the first time you've been spontaneous and loving in a long time. I was happy to have you back. What changed? Yesterday, what made you want me all of a sudden?" "I suddenly realised what I'd been doing to you. Making you feel like I didn't trust you." He paused. "Acting like I didn't trust you. What the KGB did to me all those years ago made me cautious and distrusting. I couldn't help wonder why a beautiful, intelligent, funny, kind woman like you would want me, an old, bitter man with only work on his mind." "Jack, I want you because I... I do love you. I wasn't sure but I know that deep down I do. I cant live without you and if you weren't bitter and work obsessed, I don't think it'd be the same." She sniffed as he handed her a tissue. "Thanks." Jack looked at the woman he had driven away with his harsh tendencies that were always present with the people he loved. "This isn't exactly the best time to ask you this but I think it's the one chance I have to let you know how much I trust and care for you." He got down onto one knee and pulled out a small, black, velvet box. "Constance Abigail Waters, the woman I adore, will you marry me?" Constance's eyes widened as the shock of the situation hit her. It was then that she knew she had gotten through the hard exterior of Jack Bristow. Emotions flooded through her and she knew that she really did love him. She had all along. It had just taken her a long time to realise how much. "Oh god Jack I..." she wiped her eyes. "Yes. Yes I will." She knelt down and grabbed him planting a soft kiss on his lips. They rose as he reciprocated.

Sydney heard the noise and came out of her room just in time to see her father placing a beautiful ring on her left hand. "Oh my... congratulations" she ran over and hugged them both knowing that she had been right all along and Connie really did love her father.