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"You know," Vaughn said. "We could have really done with Emilie cheering us on last night."
Sydney looked at him. "Vaughn, you guys won last night."
"Yeah, but we could have won by a lot more."
Sydney just laughed. It was early Wednesday evening and the two of them had decided to take Donovan out for a walk before dinner. They had ended up at a nearby park, with Vaughn controlling Donovan by his leash and Sydney wearing the baby carrier that was keeping Emilie secured.
"How about Em and I come along next week?" Sydney suggested as she gently ran a hand over her daughter's downy head. "It' probably about time."
"Sounds good to me," Vaughn said, tugging slightly on Donovan's leash as the dog got distracted by a passing Rottweiler. "Don't even go there, Donny. It's asking for trouble."
"Ah, let the poor dog have some fun," Sydney smiled. "He just wanted to play."
"Do you know how much you sound like Weiss?" Vaughn asked, a smirk on his face. Sydney just pulled a face and gave him a shove. "Uh, uh, uh," he said. "No violence around the baby. I don't think Emilie would like to see her mother becoming a mad, crazy—"
"I think that she would understand completely," Sydney cut him off with a grin. "And if you want me to bring her with me to your hockey game next week, I suggest you think very carefully before speaking."
"You know," Vaughn said in a mock serious tone. "I don't think it's very helpful for our relationship to be using threats. Or using our daughter as a pawn of those threats."
Sydney cracked up and Vaughn tried extremely hard to keep a straight face.
"Sydney, I am trying to be serious here," he protested through her laughter.
"Yeah, right," Sydney scoffed. "You are about two seconds off laugh—" She cut off as Vaughn started to chuckle. "See! I told you—"
"Sydney?"
They both stopped and turned around to see who was calling out. A few steps behind them was Noah.
"Noah, hi." Sydney tried hard not to smirk. The last time she had heard of him was when Danielle had dumped him. She still wished that she could have been there to see his face. "How are you?"
"I'm ok," he replied. "You?"
"I'm good." She looked at Vaughn. "You remember Vaughn?"
"Uh, yeah." He cleared his throat. "Hey."
Vaughn nodded shortly. "Hi."
"So…" Sydney wasn't sure where to take the conversation. "How are things?"
"Things are fine. I'm actually getting ready to move."
"Where to?" Sydney asked.
"London," Noah replied. "A job offer I couldn't refuse. I figured it would be for the best time to just start over."
"Oh," Sydney gave him a small smile. "Well, good luck."
"Thanks," Noah's eyes fell upon Emilie. "I guess I should give you two my congratulations…girl?" he asked, noting her pink jumpsuit.
Sydney nodded. "Emilie," she said, looking down as Emilie started to fuss. "Hey Boo…ssh…ssh…"
"When was she born?"
"New Years Day," Vaughn replied, glancing at Sydney. He knew that it was only a matter of minutes; seconds even, before Emilie's fusses would transpire into full-blown tears.
Sydney was well aware of this too. "Look Noah, I'm sorry. We've got to go."
"Hey, that's ok," Noah replied. "I guess I won't be seeing you again, so…bye."
Sydney looked up at him. "Yeah. Good bye Noah."
"Ok then," Nat looked up at Will, who was stretched out on her couch, with a wicked glint in her eye. "George Clooney and Katharine Hepburn." She was lying on her stomach on the living room floor, the daily newspaper opened up in front of her.
Will paused for a few moments. "Ok, George Clooney starred in Batman and Robin with Uma Thurman, who was in Pulp Fiction with John Travolta. Now he starred in Look Who's Talking alongside Bruce Willis's vocal talents. Brucey boy made Bandits with Cate Blanchett, who in turn went on to star in The Aviator in her Oscar winning role of Katharine Hepburn." He finished, looking extremely please with himself.
"Damn!" Nat said good-naturedly as she hit the floor with her hand. "I thought I had you. How on Earth did you come up with that in such a short time?"
Will shrugged. "My brain is a sponge for trivial information," he said with a grin.
Nat let out a laugh. "Trivial isn't the word I would use."
"Oh yeah?" Will propped himself up on his elbows. "And what would you call it?"
"I can't say," Nat said, flipping a page of the paper, her feet swinging in the air.
"And why not?"
"Because a lady should never use that sort of language," she replied lightly.
Will let out a snort of laughter. "So what was that I heard coming out of your mouth when we were watching the basketball the other week?"
"That was another spectator."
"We were at home, watching it on the TV." Will shot back.
Nat looked up at him, a sheepish smile on her face. "Godzilla then?"
"Oh don't even try and blame it on your innocent dog!"
"That dog is anything but innocent. Did I ever tell you about the—"
"And now you are trying to change the subject."
Nat sat up. "I would never do such a thing."
Will laughed. "Come here," he said, reaching out a hand and pulling Nat up into the couch. "Have I ever told you that I love you?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
A brief look of surprise crossed Nat's face. "No, actually, you haven't."
"Well, I do." Will said. "You're amazing, Nat. I count myself extremely lucky that you decided to attack with that football."
Nat let out a small laugh. "You're going to be reminding me about that forever, aren't you?"
"I'm planning on it."
Nat laughed, but sobered when she realized the enormity of his words. "I'm glad that I smashed you face in that day," she said. "You know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I love you too."
Sydney felt that she had only been asleep for a minute or so when she was wrenched form her slumber by a loud cry coming through the baby monitor. Through her bleary eyes, she glanced at the clock and groaned. It was a little after 2am and she had lost count of the number of times Emilie had woken. Not one of their best nights.
Vaughn shifted beside her. "Do you want me to go?" he mumbled.
"I got it," Sydney yawned as she stumbled out of bed and fished around for her dressing gown. "Boo is definitely a Vaughn" she muttered, walking out of the bedroom.
Vaughn chuckled to himself as he put his head back down on the pillow and closed his eyes.
He dozed lightly until Sydney returned and crawled back into bed.
"I tell you what," she said as she snuggled down under the covers. "This daughter of our is lucky that we happen to like her."
"Is that so?" Vaughn said, wrapping his arm around Sydney and pulling her closer to him.
"Yup." She yawned, closing her eyes. "Incredibly lucky," she murmured, as sleep began to take over.
With his own eyes feeling heavy, Vaughn pressed his lips onto the top of Sydney's head. "I think that we might be the lucky ones," he whispered.
"Ainsley, I think it's my turn now," Francie said. "You've had her for ages!"
"Just another minute," Ainsley stalled.
"Ainsley!"
"What?"
Sydney laughed, glancing at the empty pusher beside her and then turned to Nat. "I have no idea why I even brought this thing along," she grinned. The second she and Vaughn had arrived at the rink, Francie and Ainsley had pounced and the game of Pass The Emilie had started.
Nat grinned back. "I know exactly what you mean…" she trailed off, a small smile on her face. "What do you think my chances of a cuddle are?"
"With these two? Zero to one," Sydney replied wryly.
"Ainsley hand over that baby." Francie demanded. "Or I'll—"
"Or you'll what?" Sydney cut her off and then looked between the two of them. "Am I going to have to confiscate the baby?" she asked in what her friends called the 'teacher' voice.
Ainsley let out a snort of laughter. "No, Mrs Vaughn."
"Yeah, we'll be good Mrs Vaughn," Francie added in a childlike voice.
Ainsley looked down at Emilie. "Did you hear that voice Mummy was using? Well, get used to it, kid, because you are going to her that every single time you ever do anything wrong. Guaranteed." She smiled. "Like when you haven't cleaned your room, or if you get home late, or if you prang your parents car…"
"Right," Sydney said, "hand the baby over to Francie, now, before you give her anymore ideas."
"Thank you," Francie held out her hands, a smug look on her face.
Ainsley grudgingly handed Emilie over. "This isn't over, Calfo."
Sydney hid her smile as she turned back to Nat. "You sure that you want to get involved in this?"
Nat smiled. "Probably not." She paused. "You know, I swear you guys get more and more insane every day."
Sydney nodded. "Yeah. That tends to be the way with us," she grinned. "How long before you're running scared?"
"I'm not gonna," Nat replied. "Because the way I see it, I'm just as crazy as you lot. I fit right in."
"You know what," Sydney laughed. "I think you might be right."
Later that night both Sydney and Vaughn were in Emilie's room, having just put her to bed.
"She's spent," Vaughn commented, looking down at Emilie's sleeping form.
"Well, its been a been a big day for her," Sydney replied. "Her first hockey game, enduring the wrath of Francie and Ainsley. I'd be exhausted as well."
Vaughn smiled as he wrapped his arm around Sydney's shoulders. "Can you believe that she is a month old tomorrow?"
"I know," Sydney smiled. "It seems that New Years was only yesterday. It's like we blinked and all of a sudden our baby is a month old."
Vaughn chuckled slightly. "Another blink and before we know it, we'll be celebrating Em's first birthday." He sighed contentedly. "Maman told me that time would fly, but I never believed it…"
"Until you experienced it for yourself," Sydney finished for him.
"Hmm," he pressed his lips onto the top of her head. "I guess we should get used to time flying by, hey?"
"Yeah," Sydney looked up at him. "I guess we will."
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A/N: Only one more chapter to go...