Thank you all so much for your feedback. I love you all so much.
Rachelle- Your Almighty Vampire: I just wanted to take the time to thank you for all those reviews for 'Meeting Their Match', 'All That They Need' and now 'Prophesised'.
"Francie, I'm sorry about Monday," Sydney said as the two of them sat down at one of the tables at Deep Inside Thursday afternoon. "You sounded like you really needed to talk."
"I did…I do." Francie sighed. "Oh Syd, I think I did something really stupid."
"Stupid? Like what?" Sydney asked.
"I like Craig." Francie said out of the blue.
Sydney blinked, surprised by the suddenness of this declaration. "Ok," she said slowly. "You like Craig, that's great. He's an awesome guy. What does that have to do with you doing something stupid?"
"I sorta asked him out the other week."
"You did?"
"Yeah. We've gotten to be such good friends these past few months and lately I started to feel that maybe we could be more than friends. I thought that he felt the same way, but obviously not."
"What happened?"
"He said that he already had plans, but I knew that he was lying. So now, I feel like a twit for imagining things that weren't there." She rested her chin on her hands, her expression dejected. "And to top that off I haven't spoken to him since."
"Has he tried to speak to you?"
"He called once, but I didn't return it." She exhaled exasperatedly. "I don't need this, Syd. This whole men business is going to be driving me mad for eternity-I can just tell. I mean, look at me. I'm a successful business woman and can run a restaurant with ease, but do you think that I could run a love life, or even the illusion of one?" Francie paused, raking a hand through her hair. "I feel like I'm back in bloody high school!"
Sydney smiled. "High school isn't such a bad place to be."
Francie let out a short laugh. "Says she who is happily married." Her expression softened. "Sorry, I shouldn't be taking my problems out on you."
"Hey, what are best friends for?" Sydney replied, good-naturedly. "They're also good for helping with the problems."
"Tell me what to do, Mrs Sydney 'I know how to have a functional relationship' Vaughn."
"You need to break the ice with Craig. Stop the avoidance and talk to him. You said that he is a good friend- do you want to lose that?"
"I suppose not," Francie said grudgingly. "But I don't know if I can just pick up the phone and call him."
"You won't have to."
"Huh?"
"Weiss and Ainsley's reception party on Saturday night. You're both going to be there. It will be the perfect opportunity for you to clear the air."
Francie's face brightened. "Yeah, it will be. Thanks Syd." She shook her head. "I've been stewing over this for like, forever, and ten minutes with you and you make it all better."
"Stop." Sydney grinned. "You're making me blush."
Francie eyed her closely. "And that's not all. There's something else going on with you."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. I can't quite place it. You just look different."
Sydney laughed. "I don't think so. Maybe you are really losing the plot with this whole high school love life freak out."
"Ok, that really hurt." Francie shot back jokingly. "But about this party, what are you planning on wearing?"
Vaughn let out a slow whistle as Sydney walked into the living room Saturday night. The invitation to Weiss and Ainsley's party had asked the guests to come in semi-formal dress- an executive decision made by the two to keep their mother's happy.
So Sydney had dressed for the occasion in a black halter neck dress that fell to mid-calf, paired with strappy black heels, her mother's necklace and, as usual, her charm bracelet.
Hearing Vaughn's whistle, Sydney stopped short and grinned at him, almost self-consciously. "What as that for?"
"Because," Vaughn got up from the couch and moved towards her. "You look sexy as hell," he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Sydney laughed. "Yeah, well enjoy it while you can, because it won't be long before I won't be able to wear stuff like this."
"And why not?"
"Maybe because I won't fit in it," Sydney placed a quick kiss on his lips and stepped back.
"You might not fit in that one," Vaughn pointed at her dress. "But it doesn't mean you can't wear stuff like that."
"Oh right." Sydney grabbed her bag off the kitchen bench. "You're going to expect me to swan about in slinky dresses and high heels while eight months pregnant, hey?"
"I wouldn't expect you to swan," Vaughn said in a mock-serious tone. "Waddle yes, but not swan."
With a laugh, Sydney swatted him with her bag. "Tell you what. When I get fat, I'll wear high heels if you do as well."
"Would you look at the two of them?" Sydney said to Francie. She pointed to Weiss was swinging Ainsley around to the music. "Have you ever seen two people as happy as that?"
"Yeah." Francie grinned. "You and Michael dancing with each other at your wedding reception."
Sydney smiled nostalgically at the thought. "Seems like yesterday." She turned slightly as somebody familiar came near. "Hey Craig."
"Hey Syd…Francie."
"Hey." Francie's reply was quick.
Sydney glanced back and forth between the two of them. "I'm just going to get a drink." She then made a quick exit before either Craig or Francie had the chance to stop her.
"So…" Craig had his hands in his pockets and was rocking back and forth slightly on his heels. "How have you been?"
"Good." Francie replied. "You?"
"Fine."
An awkward silence descended upon the two of them for a few moments until Francie decided that it was now or never. She didn't want to lose Craig's friendship.
"Ok." She threw her hands up. "This is stupid."
"What is?"
"Us, acting like strangers. It's ridiculous. We are great friends. Why aren't we talking?"
"I thought you didn't want to." Craig said. "You didn't return my call."
"Oh yeah. Sorry about that." Francie looked at him sheepishly. "I was still feeling pretty foolish then."
"Feeling foolish about what?"
Francie eyed him. "I think you know why, and how about we never mention it again."
"I was kind of hoping we would." Craig said quietly.
Francie's head cocked to the side. "What?"
"Well, I was just wondering if maybe you'd like to catch a movie sometime." Craig said. "With me."
"With you?" Francie repeated.
"Yeah…but only if you want to." Craig added.
"Of course I'd want to." Francie smiled.
Silence fell upon the party when the music suddenly stopped and Weiss stood up in front of everybody, with Ainsley by his side.
"Hi. Ainz and I would firstly like to thank all of you for coming here tonight and celebrating with us. Even though you couldn't be with us when we actually tied the knot, it's awesome to be surrounded by all those we love at our 'reception'.
And while we didn't get married in a conventional way, Ainz and I thought that we'd have some conventional aspects to tonight. We got the cake, we've had a dance and now we'd like a speech from our best man and matron of honour."
The guests all eyed each other, curiously. Who was Weiss talking about?
"So," he continued. "Where are Vaughn and Syd?"
Sydney grabbed Vaughn's arm. "What is he doing?" she hissed.
"I have no idea."
"Come on." Ainsley was calling out. "Syd, Mike, get your butts over here."
With Sydney still gripping Vaughn's arm, the two of them made their way over.
"Weiss, what is going on?" Vaughn demanded.
"If Ainz and I had gone about this the way our mums wanted, you two would have been doing this anyway," Weiss said with a grin. "What's the big deal?"
"How about getting a chance to actually write a speech?" Sydney shot back.
"Wing it," Weiss smiled, holding up to glasses of champagne. "Here." Vaughn took one, but Sydney refused.
"I've got this," she said, holding up her soft drink.
"Who makes a toast with that?" Weiss asked disdainfully as he took it from her hands and gave her the champagne. "And since when do you pass up bubbly?"
Sydney shrugged and looked at Vaughn. "You can go first."
"Oh, you're so thou—" Vaughn was cut off as both Weiss and Ainsley pushed him forward. "Uh, hi. Uh, ok. I have absolutely no idea what to say, so if this makes no sense or is completely boring, blame Weiss and Ainz for throwing me head first into this situation.
I've known Weiss a long time and as much as we all joke about him being some kind of an idiot, the truth is there is not a more genuine guy on this planet. You've been a great mate, there for the good times and there for the bad. There to tell me to pull my head in and just…always there.
Ainsley, I haven't known you as long, but what I do know is how you changed Weiss's life. The two of you are as crazy as one another and that is what makes you perfect for one another." He turned to Sydney. "You want to continue this?"
"I don't think I have a choice," Sydney stepped forward. "Well, what can I say? Ainz, our friendship took a bit of a break over the years and I am so thankful that you became a part of my life again. You're offbeat, almost kooky and somehow manage to see the humour of every situation. Weiss, on the other hand, tends to be the humour of every situation so, as Vaughn said, you guys are made for one another.
Um, I think I'll wrap this up for now. Could everybody please raise their glasses in a belated to toast to our bride and groom To Eric and Ainsley."
"To Eric and Ainsley," the room chorused. Sydney rose her glass to her lips, but did not take a mouthful, and instead placed it discreetly, or so she thought, on the coffee table.
As the music started again, she turned to Vaughn. "I cannot believe they did that to us."
Vaughn laughed. "I know."
"I'm going to get a drink."
"I'll come to." Vaughn wrapped his arm around her shoulder as the two of them headed towards the kitchen.
"Sydney, what are you doing?" Weiss demanded, coming up to the kitchen bench as few seconds later.
"I'm having a drink," she replied.
"But soft drink?" Weiss screwed up his nose. "It's a party. And don't think I didn't see you not drink that champagne for mine and Ainz's toast. Our toast. I am shattered." He grinned at her and Vaughn. "But I happen to have a bottle of tequila, so get ready to make it up to me."
"Thanks, but I fine with this." Sydney held up her cup.
"Syd, come on."
"No Weiss. I'm not drinking tonight." She looked up at Vaughn, her expression clearly saying 'help'.
"Not drinking. Since when?" Weiss laughed as Sydney rose her cup to her lips. "What are you- pregnant or something?"
As if against her control, Sydney choked on the mouthful of drink she'd just taken. Vaughn, too, jerked suddenly as those words came out of Weiss's mouth.
Weiss's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Oh my god!" he bellowed out, with perfect Weiss timing. As a song came to an end, the guests all looked in the direction of his loud voice and as a result, heard what he was about to say next.
"You're pregnant!"