Chapter XI:
Afterward
Four Years Later
"GRANDPA!"
Isabelle ran as fast as her little legs could take her across the living room to the front foyer where Jack Bristow walked in one early afternoon. He came down and scooped her up into his arms and kissed her. Vaughn came into the living.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Still getting older," said Jack as he put Isabelle down.
Sydney entered the living room.
"Smells good," said Jack.
She smiled. "Thanks. I got the biggest turkey I could find." Jack came over and kissed her on the cheek. Sydney returned to the kitchen while calling, "Isabelle go wash up, more people will be coming soon."
"I am washed up," Isabelle protested.
"You wore that yesterday," Vaughn said to his daughter.
"So? It doesn't mean it's smelly," Isabelle said.
"Yes but I'm sure Aunt Nadia and Uncle Weiss want you as fresh as a daisy," said Vaughn. "Besides the twins will be dressed up nice."
"Well they won't be as dressed up as nice as me," she said as she ran off to her room.
"She's becoming as stubborn as her mother," said Jack.
"I've noticed," said Vaughn.
"Heard that," said Sydney. Vaughn and Jack walked into the kitchen.
"So Nadia and Weiss are coming by?" asked Jack.
"Yeah," answered Sydney. "Nadia's bringing the desserts."
About thirty minutes after Jack's arrival, Nadia and Weiss walked through the door. Weiss carried the twins who were two years younger than Isabelle. Nadia carried the desserts, wrapped, in her hands. Weiss placed the twins down and they ran off to find Isabelle.
"Hey Jack," greeted Weiss. The two shook hands.
"How are you?" asked Nadia, kissing Jack on the cheek after greeting Vaughn.
"I'm doing well," he answered.
Nadia brought the desserts into the kitchen and greeted her sister.
"Michael, could you set the table?" asked Sydney.
"Yup," answered Vaughn.
"Here, I'll help," said Weiss as he followed Vaughn into the dinning room.
Jack made his way to the couch and sat down. He watched the children run outside and play in the sand. He smiled as they played games and looked at seashells. And to think that four years ago he was diving out of airplanes and firing a gun. Now, he was sitting watching his beautiful grandchild. The thought of having Irina with him came into his mind but he quickly pushed it out. He hadn't seen her since Isabelle was born and he didn't want to. Or did he?
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," called Jack. He lifted himself from the couch and made his way to the door. He opened it and there stood Marshall with Carrie. Next to Carrie was a child, a bit older than Isabelle holding Carrie's hand.
"Jack," said Marshall. He hugged him warmly. "How have you been? You've met Mitchell, right?"
"Not formally," said Jack. He greeted Mitchell with a smile. He turned to Carrie. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine," said Carrie.
"Come in," said Jack stepping aside. Mitchell ran in and saw the kids on the beach. He ran full speed and collided with the glass door.
"Mitchell, be careful," said Marshall. "Are you alright?" Marshall was about to run over to him but Carrie stopped him.
"He's fine," she assured him. Mitchell got up and opened the door and walked outside where the kids were laughing hysterically.
Sydney exited from the kitchen.
"Hey you guys!" she said with a bright smile. "I'm glad you could make it!" She hugged them.
"Smells good," said Marshall as he made his way into the kitchen and greeted Nadia, Vaughn, and Weiss.
"How have you been?" asked Sydney. "Where's Mitchell?"
"He just went outside," said Carrie.
"I wonder if he and Isabelle will remember each other," said Sydney.
"He has a pretty good memory, unlike his father," informed Carrie. Sydney smiled. "Is Rachel coming?"
"She can't," replied Sydney disappointedly. "She's seeing her family and her job as a banker runs a tight schedule."
"Sounds familiar," said Jack.
"Who else is coming?" asked Carrie.
"Just Will," answered Sydney.
"How's he doing?" she asked.
"Pretty good last time I talked to him. He has a girlfriend who he's going to propose to on Christmas. She can't come though."
"Does he still work on construction?" asked Carrie.
"I'm pretty sure, yeah," answered Sydney.
"Food's almost ready," called Nadia. The door bell rang. Sydney went to it and opened it. Will stood there. He hadn't changed very much.
"Hey," said Sydney. She hugged him warmly.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Wonderful," she answered, releasing the hug. "How about yourself?" She stepped aside and let Will in. She shut the door behind him.
"Not too bad," he answered.
The others greeted Will and soon dinner was ready and set on the table. Sydney called the kids in. They all took their seats at the large table in the dinning room and began serving one another their appetizing Thanksgiving dinner.
The kids had finished their dinner and ran off to play. The adults sat at the table and talked about the past, the present, and the future.
"Do you remember that time, Jack," began Marshall, "you had me take out a man's eye with a spork?" Marshall began laughing.
"I unfortunately do," answered Jack.
"I remember how slimy and..."
"Marshall not at the table," said Carrie.
Eventually Sydney stood up to take the plates to the kitchen.
"Let me help," said Nadia.
"I've got it, you stay," assured Sydney. She took the plates to the kitchen by herself. She carried them to the sink and while briefly washing them she gazed at the ocean outside. This had to be one of the best days she could ever ask for. Everyone she loved and cared about was here and everyone was happy. Everyone was safe.
Sydney turned back down to the plates and scrubbed a bit more.
"Sydney, hurry it up!" called Will. "I'm telling them the story when I first found out you were an agent."
"You should have seen his face!" called back Sydney. "I'll be there in a minute." She turned back to the dishes but as she did so something caught her eye. It was outside. She looked up and saw a person standing on the beach.
It was Irina. She stared at Sydney as her eyes widened in disbelief. She left the sink and walked to the slider door but when she got there and looked out onto the beach Irina had disappeared. Sydney stared out for a while and decided she was hallucinating.
Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around and was ready to attack but saw Vaughn standing there. He jumped back a bit.
Sydney sighed. "You scared me."
"Is everything okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah,"answered Sydney.
"You sure?" he asked.
"Positive," she replied.
"Come back to the dinning room," he said.
"I will, I just have a couple more dishes."
She returned to the kitchen and continued with the dishes. She glanced frequently out the window and couldn't push aside what she thought she saw. She finished up the dishes when Isabelle ran into the kitchen.
"Mommy," she said.
"Yes honey?" Sydney said.
"Grandma's outside."
-The End-
Author's Endnote: So this is the end of Family Reunion. I'm glad to see that so many liked it and I'd like to thank everyone who managed to write a review for it. It made me feel a lot better about myself as a writer.
I actually just finished a chapter for my next Alias fic. It is not a sequel and I'm about eighty percent sure that there won't be a sequel to Family Reunion. There is still a chance though. The next story will follow Isabelle and Jack, Sydney's children, as adults as they learn secrets about their family that they never knew. I don't want to give too much away so I won't say anything else.
For anyone who watches Law and Order: SVU and/or Prison Break, I also have a plot idea for each therefore, I will be attempting to write all three simultaneously or at least two at a time. My first priority is probably my next Alias fic.
Once again, thank you everyone and I hope to read your reviews again when my second Alias fic is up. Have a great and safe summer!