Thank you all so much for your feedback. I just wanted to clarify a few things on the Syd and Vaughn front. Yes, it will be an aspect of the story, but give it some time, guys! After all, she is a married woman...having her jump into the arms of a man she has just met wouldn't be entirely realistic would it? But that being said, I promise that it will happen.

Disclaimer: The title of this chapter comes from the song 'Landslide' by The Smashing Pumpkins

Can I Handle The Seasons Of My Life?

Sydney nodded as they stopped at the front entrance. "Um…" she paused, unsure of what to say. "I feel like saying thank you, but given the situation, it just doesn't seem right."

Vaughn chuckled. "I understand."

Sydney smiled. "How about just bye?"

Vaughn nodded. "Good bye, Sydney," he said, opening the door. "I hope that we'll be hearing from you soon."

On that note Sydney stepped outside. It was time to go home. Time to start moving on. Time to talk to Danny…about everything.

The apartment was empty when Sydney got home, and she knew that Danny had not stayed there the night before as the bed was made. He, in all their time together, had never made a bed. Sydney suspected that he'd never made one in his entire life.

After having a bath and dressing, Sydney headed out to the living room and was contemplating calling Danny when the front door opened and he walked in.

"Oh," he stopped short. "You're back." Sydney nodded as he got a slightly suspicious look on his face. "Already? Where did you go?"

"Danny, could you sit down please?" Sydney asked. "We have to talk."

"Sydney, I don't know if I really want to talk to you at the moment," he replied. "Perhaps we should do this tomorrow."

"Danny, sit." Sydney's tone was pleading. "There is something I need to tell you." She could see that he was hesitating. "Please."

Finally, Danny relented and sat himself down on a nearby armchair. He looked at Sydney. "Go ahead."

"It's about my job."

Danny's expression hardened. "What about it?"

Sydney drew in a deep breath. "I don't work for a bank."

Danny slumped back into his seat as he watched the ten pins fall. "Ok, what is your secret?"

Sydney turned and smiled. "What are you talking about?"

"Uh, how about the fact that in every frame you've either scored a strike or a spare." He laughed. "You are seriously injuring my male ego here."

"And is that such a bad thing?" Sydney teased.

"Yes! This is our first date. I'm supposed to be impressing you here."

Sydney went to reply, but stopped, distracted by something across the other side of the alley.

"Why do you build me up, buttercup? Baby, just to let me down and mess me around."

"What…" she trailed off laughing. "What is he doing?"

"I think he's singing," Danny deadpanned.

"I need you, I need you, more than anyone darling. You know that I have from the start. So build me, buttercup, don't break my heart."

"You call that singing?" Sydney asked with a grin, cringing slightly. "Who is he trying to impress?"

"I went to the door, I can't take anymore. It's not you, you let me down again."

"Hey," Danny's eyes lit up mischievously. "Maybe I should do a rendition or two. Impress you so that that you would agree to a second date."

"How about you promise never to do anything like that," Sydney suggested. "Then I'll agree to a second date."

Danny nodded. "Sounds like a deal," he grinned.

"Why do you build me up, build me up, buttercup? Baby, just to let me down and mess me around. And then worst of all, you never call baby when you say you will. But I love you still. I need you, more than anyone darling; you know that I have from the start. So build me up, buttercup, don't break my heart."

Danny's face was locked in a stony expression. Sydney had registered no changes since she had concluded her tale.

"Danny," she whispered. "Please say something."

He could only shake his head as he stood up and started to pace.

"Danny," Sydney started. "I—"

"So you say that what you just told me is the truth? That you never worked for a bank, that you thought you were working for the CIA when in fact you were working for an enemy of this country."

Sydney nodded. "I know that it seem fantastical, but…"

"Oh, I believe you, Sydney." Danny said, stopping his steps.

"You do?"

"Yes. There is no way that anybody would fabricate a story like that." He paused, running a hand through his hair. "But then again, you've been fabricating stories since day one, haven't you?"

Sydney's heart skipped a beat. "No, Danny—"

"You've been lying to me since day one." Danny shot back, his voice getting louder. "Our entire relationship, full of lies. Your lies. It's no wonder that things are going sour. It's a little difficult to function when one of us is leading a double life."

"Danny, please let me—"

"Stop!" Danny yelled. "I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses. You lied to me. Obviously when we were exchanging vows only one of us was taking it seriously."

"Danny, that is not true!" Sydney stood abruptly. "I love you."

"And yet you lie." Danny spat out.

"Danny, I was under orders. I was protecting you."

"I don't care, Sydney. I really don't. I have had enough." He looked directly into her eyes. "It's over."

Sydney felt her breath catch in her throat. "What?" her voice was barely audible.

"Us. It's over." Danny replied bluntly. "No more. I will be moving out tonight."

"Danny, we can work through this," Sydney pleaded desperately. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be.

"We might be able to," Danny admitted. "But you see, the thing is, I don't want to. It's over, Sydney. You might as well start accepting it."

After sitting on the couch and staring numbly into space for god knows how long, Sydney found herself in her car, navigating the streets of Los Angeles at random.

Had she been naïve to believe that Danny would forgive her when she had told him the truth? She had been clinging to the hope that this would have been a turning point for them. The devastation she had experienced when the truth of SD-6 had been revealed had ebbed slightly when she realized that she could tell Danny the truth.

She pulled into a car park, fighting back tears. She couldn't blame Danny for being angry, but to walk out? That was the last thing that she had expected.

Taking a deep breath, Sydney climbed out of her car and walked into the nearby building. The foyer was eerily quiet and Sydney could hear every step she took.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

Sydney nodded. "I need to speak with Agent Vaughn."

"Is he expecting you?"

"No."

The receptionist frowned slight. "I'll just see if he is available," she said, picking up her phone. "Your name, please?"

"Sydney Bristow."

"Ugh," Weiss announced his presence in Vaughn's office doorway. "I thought this whole takedown of the Alliance was going to be exciting. Nobody mentioned the paperwork."

Vaughn grinned, looking up from his desk. "When do they ever mention the paperwork?"

"Yeah," Weiss sighed as he sat down. "What are you working on?"

"Just reviewing some operational files from SD-6," Vaughn replied. "They just keep coming."

"Tell me about it." Weiss said. "So, how did all that stuff with Bristow's daughter end up?"

"What do you mean?"

Weiss shrugged. "I don't know. Is she going to come and work here?"

"I'm not sure. I hope so."

"Oh really?" Weiss said with a sly grin. "And why would that be?"

"Because she is an incredible agent." Vaughn retorted.

"So it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that she is a very attractive woman?"

"It would have absolutely nothing to do with that," Vaughn said. "And besides she's married."

Weiss just grinned as the phone on the desk started to ring. Vaughn shot him a glare as he picked it up.

"Vaughn here…what…ok, I'll be right out." He placed the phone back in the receiver and stood up.

"What was that about?" Weiss asked, following suit.

"Sydney Bristow is at the front desk," Vaughn replied. "She wants to speak with me."

Sydney stood when she saw Vaughn walk out into the foyer. "I'm sorry. I haven't pulled you away from anything, have I?"

Vaughn shook his head. "Do you want to come through? We can talk in my office."

"No. I'll only be brief," Sydney replied. "I just wanted to tell you that I will be turning down the CIA's job offer."

Vaughn could not keep the disappointment off his face. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," Sydney said firmly. "I've thought about it. This life of being a spy, it's taken too much from me. I don't want to lose anything else. It's time for me to start over." She paused, collecting herself. "So, if you could pass on that message, I would really appreciate it."

She made to walk out, but Vaughn stopped her.

"Wait," he reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card and handed it to Sydney. "That's my contact details. If you ever change your mind…"

Sydney nodded. "Thank you."

But as she pocketed the card and walked out, she knew that she would have no reason to call him. There was not a chance that she would be altering her decision.

She was out. For good.