CHAPTER 19
7 MONTHS LATER
Rory sits on the sand with Aidan between her legs as they play in the sand. Seeing Aidan's eyes widen and he starts shrieking happily Rory looks up to see Sark walking towards them his pant legs rolled up and his shirt unbuttoned. Rory grins scrambling to her feet as he reaches them, "Julian"
Sark grins pulling her close he kisses her, "I have missed you."
"I missed you." Rory murmurs
"Ehh" Aidan whines
"Oh" Rory picks Aidan up "Hey"
Aidan grins
Sark takes the baby who pats at his face, "I missed you too." He chuckles
"He's been fussy these days. He's gotten so used to Daddy giving him his night bottles that he fussed when I tried." Rory smiles seeing Sark kiss his son's head, "It's been a long two days."
"I know but I had no choice."
"I know." Rory looks at Aidan, "He pulled himself up last night."
"That's great." Sark lifts his son in the air, "Pretty soon you'll be walking huh?"
"He's getting so big."
"Hard to believe he's nine months already." Sark muses thoughtfully
"What happened on this trip?"
"Let's sit." Sark suggests and once their settled on the beach blanket he speaks, "I handed Jack the final evidence."
"And?"
"He talked them into discussing my pardon... but with my own condition that I go into semi-retirement. The whole agreement is complicated. The end is that we can return to the States."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Wow" Rory says stunned "What about"
"They haven't said anything about my work yet... Jack wanted too but with Sydney planning to marry Vaughn..."
"So when can we go?"
"The house is ready for us. We are going to have to go to LA for a few weeks so I can do final meetings and sign paperwork."
Rory nods
"You can go to back to Stars Hollow while I"
"No"
"No what?"
"We're going to stay with you." Rory says firmly.
"Wouldn't you rather go to Stars Hollow to see Lorelai?"
"Yes but I don't want to go back to how it was... being apart for weeks at a time."
"I guess we could call Lorelai and see if she wants to come out to LA while we're there."
Rory nods
"Rory I'm going to have to work for them."
"Then we'll just have to figure out how to avoid being apart for too long." Rory shrugs "There will be no more anniversaries apart... and no being gone on Aidy's birthday." She says firmly.
Sark kisses her head, "We'll figure everything out."
Rory nods looking at Aidan who is sitting on Sark's lap looking around talking. She lifts Aidan off Sark's lap "We get to go home Aidy. What do you think about that?"
Aidan grins patting at her face
Rory laughs
Sark watches as the two with a smile, 'Home is with Rory and Aidan.'
"What do you think about that Aidy? Go home?"
Aidan giggles clapping
"You are so going to get pinched cheeks from Miss Patty." Rory laughs. "He is going to be passed around a lot."
"Eh they'll get sick of him."
Rory glares at Sark "Hey"
"I'm kidding."
"You better be... he's all you." Rory smiles at the curly blond boy with bright blue eyes. "Yep he's a mini-you."
Sark chuckles, "Come on lets go inside."
Rory nods standing as Sark grabs the bag of toys and the beach blanket. "So how else did your trip go?"
"Long. I was so bloody bored."
"You know what going back means"
"What?"
Rory looks at the grinning, diaper clad baby, "He's going to have to get used to clothes."
Sark looks at his son smiling faintly, "That he will." He agrees
"That will be interesting. Do you realize that other than his pajamas and the times we go to town, Aidy spends about 90 of his time just in his diaper? I mean we rarely put him in clothes."
"Well it is warm here" Sark points out "why make him hot?"
"I know." Rory sighs. "Its just going to be interesting... I mean he does fine in his sleepers but when we put him in clothes... he cries and removes his shoes and socks."
"Don't all babies dislike shoes and socks?"
"All the ones I've babysat do but they handle being dressed."
"And Aidan isn't used to be dressed."
Rory nods "Aidy you are just going to have to get used to being dressed like normal babies."
Once they enter the house, "And you won't have to get used to normal clothes again?" Sark smirks looking Rory
"Complaining?"
Sark sets the diaper bag and blanket down wiping his bare feet off on the blanket, "Definitely not darling but you spend almost as much time in your bikinis as Aidy spends in his diaper."
"I do not"
"You might pull on skirts or my shirts but it's true."
Rory shakes her head as she walks into the kitchen, "It's weird... before you I never would have worn anything like this. If people were around I probably wouldn't now." She turns on the sink sticking Aidan's feet under the water causing the boy to kick happily.
Sark wets a dishcloth and begins cleaning the sand out from between his son's fingers pulling Aidan's hand away from his mouth.
"Here" Rory hands him the baby.
Sark watches as Rory pulls herself up to the counter sticking her feet under the water as he dries Aidan's feet with a towel. "Is that fact so bad?"
"No I just never thought I'd become"
"Comfortable with your body?"
"I've always been comfortable with myself" Rory protests "just not with others seeing it." She takes the offered towel and dries her feet. She sits on the counter watching Sark stand there with Aidan on his hip. She sighs. "I'm sweaty. Can you give Aidy his bottle?"
"Sure."
Rory hops off the counter kissing Aidan's cheek.
"Eh" Aidan reaches for her.
"Daddy will give you your bottle." She runs her fingers through Aidan's curls before walking out of the kitchen.
WHILE LATER
Walking into the living room Rory smiles seeing Sark stand at the window with Aidan in his arms, "Hey how's he doing?"
Sark looks over his shoulder and smiles, "Dozing."
Rory joins him her arms going around his waist, "It's kind of sad to leave here."
Sark smiles at her then looks at Aidan, "Mmm we could come back someday for vacation... I'm sure I can talk them into that."
"Don't start talking things yet... let's wait until everything settles." Rory touches the baby's foot, "What about the little issue of Aidan's birth certificate?"
"Jack's taking care of it. The CIA has numerous doctors on payroll. They will backfile his birth certificate stating he was born in the states. All I need is to send Jack Aidan's immunization records and such. They should be able to make up a birth certificate and paperwork so we can take Aidan back to the States."
Rory sighs dropping her head back against the couch cushion, "You know when we go back my Grandmother is going to push a wedding and the whole party. They are going to make a huge deal out of everything."
Sark sits beside her, "Would that be so bad?"
"No." Rory rests her head on his shoulder looking at Aidan who is dozing. "I just know they are going to get on my case about missing out on the biggest events of my life... considering they can't do anything about reliving Aidy's birth... they'll want to relive a wedding."
"If you want too we could."
"I know. I just know they'll stress it." Rory kisses Aidan's head "I can't wait for Mom to meet Aidan."
"I know."
EARLY AFTERNOON
Seeing Sark sitting on the couch reading Rory grabs his book.
"Wh" Sark is stopped mid-word as Rory drops on his lap
"Aidy's asleep and I want attention."
"You want attention huh?"
Rory nods "Once we get back to Stars Hollow you'll have to share me even more than now."
"True. I guess I'm going to have to learn how to share." He grins. "I'll tell you a secret"
"What?"
"I was never quite good at sharing." He says softly
"Oh really?"
"I am a dreadfully possessive person when it comes to what's mine."
"And yet you did say you weren't into monogamy."
"Things change." Sark smoothes her hair back
"Better have." Rory warns
Sark chuckles
"What?"
"Everyone would be quite surprised"
"Over what?"
"You managed to tame the big bad Mr. Sark."
"Oh he's not so bad... after all what big bad would change diapers and give a baby a bottle?"
"Hmm not many."
"So not so bad." Rory kisses him.
LATER
Sark strokes Rory's back as they lie on the floor, "Well this won't be happening quite as often."
"Why do you say that?" Rory asks without moving her head from his shoulder.
"You know your Mum and Lane are going to show up when they want."
"True." Rory lifts her head looking at Sark, "There is a good thing about going back?"
"What's that?"
"We'll be able to go out on actual dates without Aidy."
"True." Sark sighs
Rory rests her head on his shoulder, "Its going to be... interesting when we go back."
"A lot of questions."
"Mmm. A lot of accusations"
"Probably towards me."
"I'll get the equal amount." Rory sighs as she absently strokes his stomach.
"What is it love?"
"Just thinking"
"About?"
"Everything that has happened."
"A lot has happened these last two years." Sark sighs
"I don't regret anything." Rory murmurs
"You don't?"
"Nope." Rory shifts straddling his lap and leans down kissing him lightly.
As Sark hears the sound of the baby over the monitor, he reluctantly breaks the heated kiss, "Baby's awake."
Rory lifts her head listening to the sound of Aidan happily babbling, "He's fine." She leans down kissing him again.
EVENING
Rory smiles seeing Sark holding onto Aidan as the little boy stands "I wonder when he'll start standing on his own" she muses
"I'm betting soon."
"And what makes you say that?"
Sark shrugs "Just think he will." As Aidan starts to lose his balance, Sark picks the boy up lifting him over his head getting a shriek of laughter.
"Drop him and I swear to god I will never sleep with you again."
"I'm not going to drop him." Sark assures "Am I going to drop you Aidan?" He grins at the laughing boy.
Rory laughs at the sight of Sark being the relaxed attentive father, 'Is he going to change when we go back? Is the pressure of his family going to make him revert to his old behavior? What's going to happen when we go back?'
Sark notices Rory's thoughtful expression, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing"
"Rory" Sark sits beside her Aidan on his lap, "talk" he orders gently.
"I like this. I like seeing you relaxed. I don't want you to change."
Sark looks at her surprised, "What makes you think I'm going the change?"
"You do... whenever we're around people you... shut down."
"I do not"
"You do. You get tense and become someone different."
"If I do it's not exactly on purpose. I have to be careful about the people around us. I never know who could be around... good or bad." Sark looks at Aidan who is sucking on his fingers, "I have a lot to lose by letting my guard down. I can't lose you and Aidy." He says softly. "I know no matter the fact I become a clean man... I'm still going to be hunted by someone. One day someone could find out where I am and I could be forced to kill someone to protect you and Aidy. The idea of someone harming you because I let my guard down isn't something I could handle."
"So you're saying get used to it"
"Pretty much." Sark admits. "I know its hard to understand but I'm two different people Rory. For years all I was was to everyone was Sark and then you came into my life Rory and turned my well ordered yet chaotic life into something completely different from what I've ever had. My life has gone from a little boy who had only one parent who showed love and the other one showed disgust to a boy who was turned into someone with no emotion who had strings to whoever held the strings." He sighs. "Sydney once called me a puppy who obeyed his master... as much as I hated to admit it she was right. I obeyed my masters until I could no longer." He looks at Aidan running his hand over the little boy's head, "I don't want that part of me out again but it will be... its part of me."
"I know that... it doesn't mean I have to like seeing my husband go from feeling and acting like he truly is to going to a man that is obviously his mask."
"I can't help it"
"I know." Rory rests her head on his shoulder.
"I was buried for so long Rory. Being with you and Aidy has made me feel human... normal." Sark watches as the little boy crawls off his lap.
"I just wish"
"I know... I do as well." He kisses her temple. "I love you Rory... always will."
Rory smiles at him, "I love you too." Rory notices Aidan pulling himself up by holding onto the couch cushion, "Look"
Sark follows her gaze and smiles when he sees his son has pulled himself to his feet.
Aidan grins lifting his hands to pound on the couch he loses his balance.
Sark quickly catches the boy before he can fall back and hit the coffee table. "Be careful. That would have hurt if you hit the table."
Aidan grins clapping happily.
"Last night he fell and just sat there looking stunned then started laughing. It was pretty funny."
"I bet." Sark lifts Aidan so the boy is standing on his thighs. "Pretty soon he'll be walking and running."
"That he will. And something tells me he's going to be a terror once that happens."
"Of course... he takes after me."
"That he does." Rory laughs. "You know what's going to happen when we get back"
"What?"
"Mom's going to refer to Aidy as mini-Julian."
"That she is." Sark agrees
"It's going to be good to be back... despite the drama that is going to occur."
"There will be drama." Sark agrees "In LA and Stars Hollow."
Rory sighs "Too bad we have to deal with all the drama."
"Mmm" Sark lifts Aidan up "But we have too right Aidan?"
Aidan grins grabbing at his Daddy's face.
"Drool fingers." Sark grimaces but laughs allowing the baby to pat at his face.
"So what do we do with everything here?"
"Take clothes and what we really need. Jack said he would take care of a crib and such for Aidan at the house in LA. The house in Stars Hollow is ready. I had everything taken care of with the house. Aidan's room is ready. All we need is to pack up clothes and toys."
Rory nods her eyes on Aidan.
COUPLE DAYS LATER
Sark joins Rory as she stands in the entryway of the nursery with Aidan on her hip, "We'll come back to visit." He takes Aidan from Rory.
"I know. It's just weird to know we're leaving the house we spent the first months of Aidy's life." She takes a deep breath looking at Aidan, "But we're going home." She kisses Aidan's cheek. "Is everything in the car?"
Sark nods "Just missing two vital things."
"And what is that?"
"My family." He slips his arm around her waist "Come on. We need to meet Jack at the airport." He kisses Rory's head as he leads her out of the house. He opens the back passenger door and leans in putting Aidan in his car seat. "Think he's going to cry?"
"Probably, most babies I see on planes cry. I asked Mom about it once... she said something about the inner ear." Rory watches as Sark buckles the baby in the car seat handing him the pacifier and his toy.
"Bottles?"
"Ready. As is a few jars of baby food."
Rory nods buckling her seat belt as Sark closes the door and moves around to the driver's side, "So Jack is flying back with us?"
Sark nods "He thought it best so he and I could go over paperwork."
Rory looks in the back seat where Aidan is cooing. "He's not going to like being cooped up."
"I know."
HOUR LATER: AIRPORT
"There's more in the car." Sark informs the airport personnel. "Don't forget the car seat." He adds as he takes the diaper bag, Rory's backpack, and his laptop bag from the back seat as Rory lifts Aidan out of his car seat.
"Your other passenger is all ready on board, sir." The pilot informs Sark.
Sark nods
Rory sighs, "Aidy pulled off his shoes and socks."
"When you find the shoes and socks bring them in." Sark instructs.
"Yes sir." The airport personel nods
"Thanks." Rory smiles at the man knowing Sark isn't paying attention to his attitude. She follows Sark up to the jet entering to find Jack Bristow waiting.
"Jack" Sark says coolly as he sets the bags down on the floor.
"Sark" Jack replies just as coolly. He looks at Rory, "Rory"
Rory nods sitting down with a squirming Aidan on her lap.
"Here are the papers." Jack hands Sark an envelope.
Sark sits opening the envelope noting the passport for the baby as well as a birth certificate and immunization card as well as his and Rory's passports. "You managed to get them with little problem?"
"The fact you put my name on the account as well made it easier."
Sark shrugs "I figured it would be needed one day." He hands Rory her real passport.
"The stamps have been taken care of. When anyone looks you both have been in Greece these last two years."
Sark nods "You haven't told them I'm coming back."
"No."
"Well at least one person is going to be happy to see me." Sark says sarcastically.
"If you had informed me of this information sooner I would have discussed it with Sydney."
"Please you know that like everyone else you would have believed Vaughn over me." Sark drops in the seat next to Rory between his father and wife. "You may not approve of Sydney's relationship with Vaughn but he's still the good little agent."
"Despite your attempt to destroy his career."
"Wasn't my orders for Reed to steal his files." Sark argues. "Besides she made her way into his life while I was still in lock up. I didn't corrupt her... she already was when I met her."
"And you just happened to hold the final key to pushing her over the edge."
"She was born into this mess Jack." Sark shrugs taking the squirming baby from Rory. "Besides it was his choice to marry her. If he had thought it through better he would have been suspicious about her."
Jack watches his son interact with the little boy.
Noticing his father is watching him Sark remains quiet as he stands Aidan up on his thighs, 'This is going to be one tense trip.' He thinks as he watches Aidan laugh happily. 'What the bloody hell was I thinking in Jack going back with us?' He asks himself relieved when his father turns his attention towards his laptop.
COUPLE HOURS LATER
Rory looks up from her book and smiles seeing Sark talking with Jack as he bounces Aidan on his knee. "Want me to take him?"
Sark looks over at Rory, "He's fine. Drooling but fine."
"Alright." Rory turns back to her book. "Did you change him?" She asks as an after thought
"You really are into your book not to realize I had."
"Huh"
"Go back to your book." Sark says amused as he turns his attention back to Jack and their conversation.
EVENING
Rory looks up from writing in her journal and smiles seeing Sark and Jack working in silence at the table. She looks at Aidan who is sleeping in his car seat. She looks back at her journal, 'Well so far this trip has been uneventful. Jack and Julian have behaved and haven't done much sniping. Though I know Julian wants too... I think he doesn't want to do it around us.
Going back home... well not home yet but close enough. It is going to be a tense few days. Julian's behavior is going to go from calm and relaxed to calm and cold. I'm just going to have to let him be like that until he's ready to let that side go.'
"I'm surprised Aidan adjusted as fast as he did to the altitude." Jack remarks in Russian
Sark looks at Aidan who is sleeping in the car seat, "At least we don't have to listen to him cry the whole flight."
"You've adjusted to this quite well." Jack remarks
Sark looks at his father puzzled, "To what?"
"Living a normal life."
Sark shrugs "I had no choice." He looks at Rory and Aidan, "Rory's pregnancy made me realize I had to... grow up, for lack of a better word."
"You managed to stay out of trouble since the incident in Germany. What caused that?" Jack watches as Sark tightens his jaw his fist clenching.
"Brousard tracked us down in Germany. He tried to rape Rory... so I killed him." Sark shrugs "I lost a business associate but" he looks at Rory, "I did what I had to do. No one messes with my family." He finishes coldly.
Jack nods
10 HOURS LATER: LAX
"3 hours?" Sark asks
Jack nods watching as Sark gets into the car.
Sark winces hearing Aidan's loud cries, "Still?"
"He'll calm down." Rory looks in the back seat, "When do you have to go in?"
"In three hours."
Rory reaches out resting her hand on his thigh, "You aren't looking forward to it are you?"
"I am... but I'm not. I know this is going to destroy Sydney's life to find out the truth about him."
"You wish you didn't have to tell her."
Sark shrugs "I have told many lies over the years but I have never outright lied to Sydney. I have hedged but never outright lied." Sark brings her hand to his lips. "All will be fine."
"I know." Rory smiles at him. She looks in the back seat as she hears the baby's cries lessen, "Finally."
"Well at least this means he will sleep."
"God its going to take forever to get him to adjust to time zone." Rory groans
"He will."
"You get to deal with him at midnight."
Sark chuckles "Don't I now?"
Rory smiles at Sark, "I got to hand it to you most Dads would roll over and pull the pillow over their heads."
Sark shrugs "I'm not like most people."
"No you aren't... and that's what I love about you." Rory rests her head on his shoulder.
"Oh it is? What else do you love about me?"
"Hmm. That's a big question."
"You know what I love about you?"
"What?"
"That you don't expect me to be what everyone else sees. That you still gave me a chance even after finding out the truth about me." Sark kisses her head when he stops at the light.
"I love you." Rory shrugs "I wasn't going to see you how everyone else did because you had never shown me a bad side."
"What about when"
"You were protecting us. If you had done it just because it would have been different."
"I never wanted you to see that Rory."
"I know. Now stop talking about that... its depressing."
Sark chuckles "Alright. What would you like to talk about?"
"Aidy did pretty well on his first flight."
"That he did." Sark agrees. "I guess our boy will be good with traveling."
"Mmm"
HOUR LATER
Sark sets the bags down, "They should be bringing the boxes soon."
Rory nods "Ugh I need a shower."
"I will give Aidan his bottle. Go shower."
"Alright." Rory kisses Aidan's cheek before handing him over to Sark.
Sark looks at Aidan who is sniffling, "Lets get you fed huh?" He grabs the diaper bag with his free hand as he heads back to the kitchen.
HOUR AND A HALF LATER
Rory looks up from playing with Aidan as Sark walks into the living room with his suit jacket over his arm his untied tie around his neck. "Ahh, the work wear." She tucks her hair behind her ear as she stands.
Sark tosses his jacket over the arm of the couch. "I have no idea how long this will take." He says as he starts tying his tie. "Are you two going to be alright here alone?" He asks concerned.
"We'll be fine."
"The kitchen was stocked so you shouldn't have any problem finding food. If you want to order something there's still some cash in my desk." He reaches for his suit jacket pulling it on.
Rory kisses him, "Don't worry about us." She straightens his tie. "You behave." She warns
"I'm always good."
"Right, then why is it when I was here over the summer, you came home with a busted lip twice?"
"Sydney and I had a difference of opinion." Sark says sheepishly.
"And what was the bruise on your cheek?"
"I had an argument with Vaughn. I hit him back though." Sark argues
Rory rolls her eyes "And that worked out so well."
"Hey"
Rory kisses him gently "You better go."
Sark walks over picking Aidan up
Rory smiles seeing Sark talk quietly to Aidan. 'God I love that sight.' "Here"
Sark hands Aidan over "Keys?"
"You left them on the kitchen counter." Rory says shifting Aidan in her arms so the little boy is facing away from her.
Sark grabs his keys stopping long enough to kiss his family before hurrying out the door.
Rory shakes her head, 'He is a whirlwind.' She chuckles kissing Aidan's head. "Come on kiddo lets get some of this stuff unpacked."
HALF HOUR LATER
Jack shakes his head when he sees Sark pull into the parking lot. "You managed to make it here on time." He states once his son is out of the car.
"I'm always on time." Sark smirks as he locks the car.
"Everything settled at the house?"
"For the most part it is." Sark answers as they start walking. As they reach the first round of security his phone rings. Removing it he flips it open, "Yes?"
"Do you know where Aidy's pacifier is? I can't find it in the diaper bag and I don't know which box the others are in."
"I believe I put it in my pocket when I was taking him out of the car seat."
"Which pocket?" Rory asks
Sark removes his gun handing it over for inspection, "I'm not sure. I believe I took everything out of my pockets and put it on the dresser. It might be there."
"Alright, I'll check there."
"Anything else?" Sark asks taking his gun back returning it to his back holster.
"No. Have fun."
"Something tells me this won't be."
"I love you."
"Same." Sark hangs up as they reach the office area.
"Sark welcome back." Dixon says
"Not like I wanted to come back."
"Everyone is ready if you want to get this done." Dixon says
"In a minute." Sark looks at Jack "I need to talk to you first."
Jack nods "We will be a moment." He leads Sark into his office closing the door. "What is it?"
"There is something I declined to tell you"
"Julian" Jack sighs "this could"
"It's about Sydney's time with the Covenant."
Jack nods allowing Sark to continue
"When I was looking into the actions around the time I was shot..."
WHILE LATER
Jack sighs, "Why didn't you say anything before?"
"She's marrying him."
"This news might change that." Jack states "Tell them everything Sark... and I mean everything. If you don't and they find out... you will find yourself in that cell, if I find out you kept anything else... I will put you in there myself."
Sark nods
"Let's get this over with." Jack stands. As they walk out of Jack's office they are joined by Dixon, "When are they to return from the mission?"
"They boarded the plane a few minutes ago."
"Good. Do you know where Walker is?" Jack asks
"I thought he was dead." Dixon says
"Do you think anyone around here stays dead?" Sark smirks
"Sark, don't be a brat." Jack says annoyed.
"Yes I know where he is." Sark says equally annoyed. "Must you call me a brat?"
"If you don't want me to call you one then don't act like one." Jack replies coolly as they enter the conference room where Kendall and two other people are waiting a man and a woman.
"You're late." Kendall states
"What we're on a timetable?" Sark grumbles
Jack glares at Sark
"Mr. Sark welcome back." Kendall states. "Its been what four years?"
"Give or take." Sark says coolly as he sits with Jack beside him.
"Now we have read your file." The woman states, "You completed an entire investigation on your own."
"I wasn't entirely on my own. I did the research others did the footwork." Sark shrugs
"And why is that? You have never been known to hand work off to others." Kendall states
Sark looks at the other man, "Is that your business?"
"Yes" Kendall snaps
"Fine. I didn't do the fieldwork because that would have meant being gone for weeks at a time and leaving my wife on her own for weeks wasn't an option."
"And why is that?" Kendall asks
"Not that it is your business but she was pregnant at the time." Sark says coolly. "Anyway not long before I stopped doing fieldwork, I had received an encrypted email from an old server... how Reed used to contact me."
"Former Agent Lauren Reed?" Kendall clarifies
Sark nods "My last fieldwork was to see if it was her. She never showed up. I asked around town and discovered that she had been seen in town... with a child."
"WHAT!" Dixon exclaims
"What I thought as well." Sark says dryly. "I also discovered someone else had been asking questions."
"And who was that?" Kendall asks
"Agent Michael Vaughn."
Dixon looks at Jack, "Did you know this?"
"I didn't tell him until earlier. I wanted to be entirely sure before telling anyone."
"What happened next?"
"In her communiqué Reed mentioned a church... I went there and found a priest who gave me a letter."
"Do you still have it?" Kendall questions
"Yes." Sark reaches into his pocket tossing the letter on the table, "It describes her disappearance. Agent Vaughn did shoot her but a Covenant member found her and took her into hiding. She had a difference of opinion with them and ran... while pregnant."
"And who is the father?"
"Ahh that is the interesting part... I was curious why Agent Vaughn would send his own child into foster care."
"The child was put into foster care?" Dixon says surprised
Sark nods "It appears as though Agent Vaughn showed up after Reed's disappearance... or should I say her murder. I did some checking and an unidentified female was found in the water... with three gun shots... perfect CIA shots a few weeks later."
"And the child? Why would Vaughn put his own child in foster care?"
"Well he does have serious issues with Reed... but that's not the reason"
"What was the reason?" Kendall demands
"He wasn't the father... and neither am I." Sark adds. "The child is too young for either of us to be the father."
"So who is the father?" The woman asks speaking for the first time.
"Former Covenant associate, Simon Walker."
"I thought Simon Walker was dead." The third man states
"No one in this business seems to stay dead these days." Sark says dryly.
"Simon Walker is alive." Dixon shakes his head.
"He no longer works for the Covenant." Sark assures "With their downfall he managed to find new employment."
"With you" Dixon states
"It was purely for the purpose of this investigation." Sark answers. "He managed to find out information I needed."
"And what was that?" Kendall inquires
"Reed wasn't the mother of that child... she was a surrogate."
"A surrogate..." Dixon looks at Jack "is..."
Jack nods "Apparently the child Reed carried for nine months is Sydney's."
"According to the letter when Reed found out she ran, for both of their sakes."
"You have yet to tell Sydney." Kendall states
"I will when they return."
"So Mr. Sark..." the woman frowns "who did try to kill you?"
"Agent Vaughn solicited the attempt."
"Do you have proof?"
Sark nods removing a disk he drops it on the desk, "The man's confession."
"Is he alive?" The woman asks
"As far as I know."
"What else happened?"
COUPLE HOURS LATER
Sark sits in Jack's chair staring at the ceiling as they take a break.
"Get out of my chair." Jack says annoyed as he enters his office.
"Are they ready to get this done?" Sark demands as he stands. "I'm bored and I need to get back."
"We'll know when their ready."
Sark leans against the desk picking up a file he absently flips through it. "Did you tell Irina I was coming back?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"We have agreed to disagree on your choices." Jack replies. "You do realize taking over Lazarey's businesses is going to mean even more monitoring."
Sark shrugs "I need something to do, if I'm not occupied who knows the trouble I could get into. Besides I promised Rory that I'm done. At least this way you can monitor my actions more than you could if I started my own business."
"And what would you do for your own business?" Jack asks
"I would probably go for something like security. Hell I could go back to college and get a law degree."
"Please spare us all with that." Jack states
"If I did do that I could take over Gilmores business when he retires for good. I would be a decent lawyer. Plus I like to argue and get my way."
"You get that from your mother." Jack says dryly.
"Lawyers are even too slimy for me." Sark muses "Business is more my style."
"Is Rory returning to school?"
Sark shrugs "Probably. We haven't discussed that. They should allow her to reenroll... its not like she left in the middle of the term."
"She would have been done if you hadn't dragged her off."
"I didn't drag her. Besides she knew she could leave at any time."
At that moment Jack's phone beeps and he picks it up, "Yes? We'll be right there." He hangs up.
Sark sets the file down, "Are they ready to finish this?"
"Yes." Jack stands and they walk out of his office just as Sydney, Nadia, Weiss, and Vaughn walk into the office area.
Sydney's eyes widen when she sees Sark, "What are you doing back?"
"That is such a welcoming for your little brother." Sark teases
Sydney glares at him "Not funny."
"Did you lose your sense of humor while I was gone?" Sark asks amused
"Shut up you"
"Sydney" Jack warns
"What are you doing back?" Nadia asks
"What is no one in this family happy to see me?" Sark grumbles
Nadia rolls her eyes
"Why are you back?" Weiss asks suspiciously.
"Final debrief." Jack answers
"What! Don't tell me you are still letting him get his pardon!" Vaughn says angrily.
"He finished his business with us Agent Vaughn." Jack says calmly.
"Unlike some of us I keep my promises."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Vaughn demands
"Take it how you want." Sark shrugs heading into the conference room.
"Sydney we need to talk." Jack says firmly.
"Alright." Sydney says puzzled as she follows her father into his office.
Nadia looks between the conference room and her Dad's office, "OK that was weird."
"Even for your family." Weiss says dryly only to get smacked on the stomach by Nadia as she walks passed him.
"What?" Weiss demands "You know I'm right... your family is weird."
Sydney regards her Dad, "Why is he back? And why is he getting a pardon?"
"Sark was doing his own investigation into his own attempted murder, Rory's stalking... and your two years with the Covenant." Jack begins
"Why?"
"Originally it was just who tried to kill him and stalked Rory... but he found something out that had to do with the Covenant."
"What?"
"Sydney... Simon Walker is alive."
Sydney swallows "When... how?"
Jack sits on the edge of his desk, "We both know no one dies forever around here."
Sydney sighs, "And Sark told us this why?"
Jack takes a deep breath, "Because the man who tried to kill him was hired by Vaughn."
"WHAT!" Sydney yells
"The evidence is all here." Jack hands his daughter a file. "Vaughn paid someone to stalk Rory... in what Sark believes was an attempt for him to realize she would be better off without him."
"Maybe he's wrong." Sydney argues
"Sydney that's not all. We believe that Vaughn discovered some other information... something I don't think he really knew." Jack hands his daughter a picture. "Vaughn discovered Reed was alive... and had a child."
Sydney looks at the picture of a dark haired toddler, "I take it Reed had an affair with someone other than Sark."
"No... Reed was a surrogate."
Sydney pales "You mean..." Sydney sits next to her Dad staring at the picture
"According to a DNA test Sark had done... the girl whom Reed named Hope... is yours. We're assuming Vaughn had no idea Reed was used as a surrogate."
Sydney stares at the picture, "Why would..."
"He believed someone else was the father... so he put her in a foster home in Australia. When Sark found out about her he sent her to a friend of his in Italy. He thought it was an easier way to hide her in case Vaughn tried looking for her."
"How long have you known?"
"Sark didn't inform me of this bit of information until today. He didn't want to corrupt the end result of his investigation. He told me who he assumed it was but he wasn't entirely sure until last week."
"Where is she?"
"She is on her way here with Simon. Simon has agreed to switch sides... he will be joining the CIA."
"WHAT!"
"We need someone to replace Sark."
"He's really leaving for good?"
"For the most part." Jack replies
"And how sure is Sark of this?"
"He was given a letter Reed had left him. She confessed to everything. According to the letter she was going to tell you about the girl... after the Covenant situation was fully dealt with."
"Right." Sydney snorts. "She probably would have waited until she was older and had her twisted up in her little drama." Sydney looks towards the window where Vaughn is talking with Weiss and Nadia. "Even assuming that Reed slept with someone else... how could he be so cruel?"
"Sydney... it has been confirmed that Vaughn was in town before she died."
"How did she die?"
"Textbook CIA shooting."
Sydney pales "When?"
"About a year ago."
"Why would Sark wait so long to tell us?"
"He didn't know about the girl until three months later and it took him a few weeks of paperwork and tracking down numerous children through the system."
"So why leave her in foster care?"
"When he received the results he contacted Walker who took her out of the foster system and they sent her to Italy to live with an associate of your Mothers."
"Does she know?"
"No. Sark didn't tell the associate who the child is. He told the associate that Walker just needed someone to keep an eye on his daughter. Apparently Walker has gone to see her a few times."
"She's what a year old?"
"15 months."
Sydney sighs, "So what now?"
"That is up to you and Walker. But Vaughn... Sydney he is going to be in a lot of trouble. He tried killing Sark"
"We all have"
"He gave Rory government files. He killed Reed. He's lied about his comings and goings."
"Like all of us have." Sydney points out and sighs. "So what is going to happen to him?"
"They are still trying to decide."
"End possibility?"
"Easiest he will lose his job... most likely... he will find himself in Sark's former cell. Who knows what else he's done."
"So who am I supposed to believe Dad? Sark or Vaughn?"
"As long as we've known Sark he's never lied to us. Kept things but never outright lied to either of us. He's lied to everyone else around here but us."
"I know but to choose between a guy who may be my brother but has tried killing me and my friends and a guy who has never willingly lied to me?"
"Sydney, you know how I feel about him"
"You don't think he's good enough for me."
"To say the least."
"And why Weiss?"
"He's never tried to lie to me." Jack shrugs "He's never hurt either you or Nadia. Vaughn has hurt you... and I'm not just talking about his marriage to Reed."
"Alice"
Jack nods
Sydney rests her head on her Dad's shoulder her eyes on the picture, "What am I supposed to do?"
Jack kisses Sydney's head, "It's your choice Sydney. But I have a feeling from what Sark has told me... Simon is not going to allow Vaughn anywhere near the girl."
"I guess I should go talk to Vaughn."
"Probably a good idea." Jack watches as Sydney walks out of his office. 'I wish this didn't have to happen but it did.' He watches as Sydney approaches Vaughn. 'He's not good enough for this family.'
SAME TIME: HOUSE
Rory smiles at Aidan as the little boy splashes around in the bathtub, "Hey kiddo no getting Mommy wet." She kisses his head. "Look Aidy. See the duck" she pushes the rubber ducky towards her son laughing as he pushes it under the water.
"Ooh" Aidan watches as the duck bobs back up. He claps shrieking with laughter before doing it again.
"Like that?"
Aidan grins looking up then back at the duck.
Rory watches him for a while then sighs "Come on shortie... bath time is over." She reaches in pulling the stop up she lifts Aidan out of the tub setting him on a towel before grabbing another and wrapping him up. "All clean."
Aidan squirms reaching for his duck grunting.
"Here you go." She hands him the duck as she dries him off. "Now Mommy's soaked. Next time I'm leaving Daddy to do this." She kisses Aidan's nose as she stands walking out of the bathroom with the boy in her arms. She sighs hearing her phone ring as she enters the nursery pulling it out she flips it open, "Hi" she greets
"How is everything?" Sark asks
"Let me see... Aidan just finished his bath."
"Soaked?"
"Of course. You know how he loves his bath." Rory sets Aidan on the changing table. "Just about ready to get him dressed for bed. We'll play for a while then he's going down." She shoulders the phone as she proceeds to dry Aidan. "How is everything there?"
"I'm just taking a break. I'm just sitting here waiting for them to finish arguing."
"How did your sisters take the fact your back?"
"They aren't around. They should be back soon."
"Are you ready to deal with them?"
"No but it has to be done."
"How bad is the meeting?"
"Strangers now know more about our marriage than either of our families."
"Ouch."
"Ehh" Aidan whines
"I know Aidy." Rory rubs his stomach. "I'm almost done."
"I'm so bloody bored." Sark groans
"I bet." Rory laughs as she diapers the baby. "So how did they take the news?"
"Surprised."
Rory carefully maneuvers Aidan into his pajama bottoms, "So any idea when you'll be home?"
"No... could be hours."
"Alright."
"I better go. Jack is on his way back to his office and I'm about to get yelled at."
"What for?"
"I'm sitting in his chair and my feet are on his desk."
Rory laughs, "I love you."
"I love you too." Sark hangs up.
Rory closes her phone. "Your Daddy is strange."
CIA
"Vaughn get in here." Dixon yells from the conference room door.
"What did you do this time?" Weiss asks
Vaughn shrugs as he walks into the conference room just as Sark walks out.
"Sit" Kendall orders as Jack enters as well.
Sydney looks at Sark, "Why did you keep this from me?"
"Because I don't trust him." Sark shrugs
"How is Rory?" Nadia asks. "Or is she still where you were?"
"She's at the house with Aidan."
"Aidan?" Nadia asks surprised.
"Our son."
"WHAT!" Sydney, Nadia, and Weiss exclaim together.
"Wow when did that happen?" Weiss asks
"Eight months ago." Sark answers
"And you didn't say anything!" Nadia says annoyed.
Sark shrugs
"And why is it you sent Hope to your friend?" Sydney demands "Or more importantly why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"Who is Hope?" Nadia asks
"Apparently she's my daughter."
"OK just when I thought the Bristows couldn't confuse me anymore" Weiss mutters
Sydney glances towards the conference room where Vaughn is. "It's a long story."
"Does Mike know?" Weiss asks
"He's the one who found out before I did." Sark shrugs "Take it up with him why you didn't find out."
"Well from what Dad told me he had no idea the truth. He just assumed she slept with someone else."
Sark snorts "Please Sydney I figured it out looking at her. How is it he didn't? Her hair color matches Si's but she is definitely your daughter. I've probably seen one picture of you as a child and I figured it out."
"You have a daughter and you have a son" Nadia shakes her head "Just when I think I get you two figured out you surprise me."
"Does Rory know?" Sydney demands
"No. I knew what she would say so I didn't tell her. I will tell her later."
"So are you out for good?" Weiss asks
Sark shrugs "For the most part."
"I never thought I would see you retire." Weiss muses
"I've been in too long."
"Out of all of us you leave first." Sydney shakes her head.
"Things change." Sark shrugs
HOUR LATER
Michael Vaughn looks up as the cell door enters and Sydney enters. "Here to chew me out like everyone else?"
Sydney stares at him, "You tried to kill Sark."
"So" Vaughn shrugs "You have as well."
"He was working for us."
"He's going to betray everyone."
"You had someone stalk his wife!"
Vaughn remains quiet
"And what about Lauren?"
"I received a call from an old friend from Australia who saw her in town. I went there and she was there. I saw the girl... and I knew she wasn't mine or Sark's."
"She wasn't even Reed's." Sydney says sadly.
Vaughn looks up, "Sydney"
"How is it Sark could figure out with one look that she's mine and you couldn't?"
Vaughn clenches his fist
Sydney's eyes narrow, "You knew! What did she admit it before you killed her?"
"We all know what the prophecy is."
"So what! You knew she was mine and you didn't care. What was the problem Michael? The fact she wasn't yours? I had no say in who her father is."
"Well you did sleep with him."
Sydney flinches then walks out of the cell. 'He claims to love me yet he kept my daughter a secret. He put her into foster care.' She notices her Dad, "He knew" she whispers "he knew and his jealousy over the fact kept her from me."
"He's not worth it Sydney." Jack rests his hands on her shoulders. "Move on."
Sydney nods
"Sark doesn't know when Walker will show up. Walker took care of the transportation on his own."
Sydney nods "He's probably really angry over me stabbing him." She muses
"He will be working with us Sydney. You two will need to work this out."
"Si's pretty calm." Sydney muses
"Why don't you go home and get some rest. We will talk later."
Sydney nods 'Go home and crawl into bed and cry.'
LATE THAT NIGHT: HOUSE
Sark enters the master bedroom and smiles seeing Rory in bed reading as Aidan lies beside her with a bottle. "Darling"
Rory smiles "Hey."
"I thought Aidy was going to bed."
"I tried but" Rory shrugs "he wasn't ready. He cried for twenty minutes. He's finally settled down after playing for a while."
Sark nods removing his suit jacket, "Darling there's something we need to talk about."
"Alright." Rory sets her book on the nightstand. "What is it?"
"I kept something from you."
"What did you keep from me?"
Sark proceeds to tell Rory all about his admission earlier that day.
LATER
Sark looks at Rory who is silent. "Rory?"
"You should have brought her back with you. You didn't have to leave her with foster parents."
"I know but I knew Simon might want to see her and having him come to Greece... would have brought people out of the woodwork." He looks at Aidan who is asleep beside Rory, "Are you mad?"
"A little. But mostly because you kept Sydney from her daughter."
"I know but I had to make sure they had enough to keep Vaughn out of their lives. If I didn't and Vaughn was allowed near her... Reed wanted me to keep her safe."
"Alright... I will let you get away with this one" Rory sighs "but don't keep things from me again."
"I won't." Sark looks at Aidan, "How bad was he?"
"Not bad. He explored as much as he could. He tried to get out of his clothes a few times."
"I bet."
"Overall he was pretty good until I wanted him to go to bed."
"Well he's asleep now."
"I just hope it's not a nap only. I'm tired."
Sark kisses her head then reaches over picking Aidan up. "I will put him to bed."
"Thanks." Watching Sark walk out of the bedroom Rory sighs 'Things are changing.'