Gets angry at Microsoft Word for correcting my spelling of Larson. I spelt it right you stupid paperclip. Ok. This is the last chapter you are going to get for a month due to the fact that I'm going home for the holidays and I won't have enough time to update this. Same goes for my other fic, For One So Small.
There are those who shield their hearts, those who quit before they start. Who've frozen up the part of them that feels. - Jonathan Larson
And it's not a cry you can hear at night, it's not somebody who's seen the light, it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah. –Rufus Wainwright
"Daddy?"
Eagle stepped back as green eyes that mirrored his own searched deep into his soul inquisitively. He dropped the full syringe which rolled under the bed.
"Daddy?"
The little voice questioned again, so innocent and young yet already filled with so much pain.
"Yes Isabelle it's me."
And he felt no pain, no sadness. All he felt was a little bundle of warmth that flew into his arms. And he felt truly warm for the first time in six years. In his arms was his daughter.
"Oh daddy, I knew it was you. You look just like the picture that mommy gave me. I'm so happy that you stopped being an angel. Wait. Do you have to go back to being an angel? Oh please daddy, don't. I know I said I only wanted you back for one day but I don't want to be the only person without a daddy again. Please stay daddy."
Vaughn wrapped his arms tightly around the crying bundle on his lap. He was transfixed by this little girl who looked so much like Sydney but had his eyes. She was their love personified.
"It's okay sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
And that was all the reassurance she needed. He wiped the tears from her face as she beamed her grin, complete with dimples.
"Oh daddy. Mommy's going to be so happy!"
She turned to wake up her mother, but Vaughn pulled her back, unsure of how to explain to her what he had done, why he had done it.
"Sweetie, mommy's fast asleep. I had to give her some medicine to make sure she wouldn't wake up."
"Why daddy?"
"Because they are bad men after you and mommy. I have to take you somewhere safe."
"Am I suppose to be sleeping too?"
"It's okay that you're not. But Isabelle I need you to go to your room and put on slippers and grab a blanket so you won't get cold when we go outside."
"What about clothes and toys? Won't I need them if we are going away?"
Vaughn smiled. Always be prepared, the boy scout motto.
"No. There are lots of clothes and toys for you at the new house we are going to."
"Okay, daddy."
Vaughn was left alone with an unconscious Sydney as Isabelle ran from the room. He turned to face her, feeling his heartbreaking. He had been gone for so long, he had missed so much. Sydney hadn't changed, she was still overwhelming beautiful. He drew the comforter around her body and lifted her form into his arms. She was lighter than he remembered, but he had missed out on that rapid weight gain six years ago. He would had loved to be there, to hold her as her stomach grew full of their baby, their Isabelle. But he hadn't been there for her. He had failed her. He had caused her so much pain, so many lonely nights.
"I'm ready daddy!"
And somehow the little girl—his little girl's voice warmed up the part of him that had gone numb years before when he had to leave Sydney. And it was at the very moment that Vaughn understood Irina's feelings so many years ago when she came back to Sydney. Like Irina, he had numbed himself to help forget the pain of not being with Sydney, much as Irina numbed herself from the pain of not being with Jack. But hearing Isabelle's voice brought those walls tumbling down again. He could only imagine that Sydney's voice had the same effect on Irina 12 years ago (A/N: my math might be off, don't harp on it) in Taipei.
Vaughn let himself be led from the room by his daughter. He told her to stay quiet and asked her to hold on to the bottom of his shirt. When he felt a small hand grasp the hem, he led the way out of the house into the waiting van. Knocking on the side four times in a code caused the side door to slide open. Isabelle bounded in the van first, showing no signs of fear or exhaustion. She did step back in surprise when a pair of somewhat familiar eyes examined her from the front seat.
"Hi I'm Isabelle Bristow-Vaughn. Who are you?"
"I thought the plan was to tranquilizer both of them." Irina said sternly to Vaughn as he laid Sydney down on one of the seats and sat next to her.
"Plans change."
"Excuse me ma'am. What is your name and how do you know my daddy?" Isabelle interrupted.
Vaughn pulled Isabelle to the other side of him and buckled her in.
"That's Irina. She's mommy's mommy, your grandmother."
"Oh. Grandpa Jacky's wife?"
"Jacky?" Vaughn asked, hardly believing that Jack Bristow let anyone call him that.
"Uh-Huh."
Irina smiled and started the van, driving away from the house. Vaughn wrapped an arm around Sydney's sleeping form and Isabelle's shoulders.
"Aren't you tired, sweetie?"
"A little daddy."
"Maybe you should try to sleep."
"Do you promise you'll be here when I wake up?"
"I promise sweetie."
"correct. Bonne nuit Papa."("Okay. Goodnight Daddy.")
"Votre Français est cher très bon." ("Your French is very good dear.")
"Maman l'a enseigné à moi, elle a dit que vous étiez français et cela vous voudriez que je le sache." ("Mommy taught it to me, she said you were French and that you would want me to know it.")
"Elle avait raison." ("She was right.")
"papa d''Nite." ("'Nite daddy.")
"Bonne nuit Isabelle." ("Goodnight Isabelle.")
Don't worry. There will be more eventually. Look on the brightside, at least I didn't leave you with a cliff hanger. And y'all thought I would really kill off Vaughn. Please….