Okay. All of my readers are going to have a major decision at the end of this chapter. I highly suggest you review…

Sorry. A line was accidentatly deleted so I went in and fixed it! sorry for all the confusion.

When your face is salty wet, and you're drowning in regret. Don't forget, love heals- Jonathan Larson.

She tied you to a kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah.- Rufus Wainwright.

"Sydney…"

Breathe. In. Out. Don't look at her eyes. Don't let her see your pain. Don't see her pain. If you can't see it, it doesn't exist. Say something you idiot! Don't just stand there. Talk to her. He ran his hands through his hair and tried again.

"Sydney."

Okay. Now add something to that Sydney. Don't just leave her hanging! Maybe you should look up.

Bad idea.

Her eyes, God her eyes. He was getting lost them. They were so full of hurt, he did that to her, he caused that pain. Two steps, he was two steps away. He could take those two steps and try to erase the pain. He could take her into his arms, acting as though the past six years hadn't happened. They could pretend.

But pretending was what they did in the early days of their relationship, pretending each other didn't exist, pretending that their relationship was purely professional. He couldn't do that again. Pretending never made any of the problems go away.

"What do you want Vaughn?"

What did he want? She should know what he wanted. He wanted her, he always did.

"Sydney, I want to apologize."

Mistake. Her eyes flashed. He knew that all too well. She was pissed.

"For what? Lying to me? Pretending to be dead for six years? Missing your daughter grow up?"

God she was so beautiful when she was angry. They always had the most magnificent fights. Both of them had terrible tempers, it was always like titans clashing.

"Did it ever occur to you how hard it was for me? Every single day I was constantly reminded of the danger I put you and my daughter in. Every single day I had to live with the knowledge of how much pain I was causing you. But I made a decision. The only way for you to be safe was for me to die."

That did nothing to quell either his or her anger. She was still furious, still stubborn as all hell.

"So what do you want to do Vaughn? Kiss and make up? Hop back into bed?"

Umm yeah.

"Sydney, don't."

"Don't what? I'm going to speak my mind; you of all people should know that. We cannot pick up where we left off."

Why couldn't they? He had no problem with that. Bury the past and let the future live.

"So what? Are we just going to take it slow again."

Okay. That came out a little more sarcastic then he meant it to, and she definitely picked up on that tone. Great, now she's more ticked off than before.

"Well seeing as the last time we tried that we ended up back in bed in less than twenty-four hours."

Touché, Ms. Bristow.

"Oh and I suppose that was all my fault too?"

"Don't you dare patronize me Vaughn—"

"Mommy?"

Busted. He pulled his eyes away from Sydney's face and looked at their daughter. She seemed so sad, as if walking in on their fight had destroyed a dream. He wanted nothing more to scoop her up in his arms and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Isabelle probably wanted nothing more than a normal family, a father and a mother.

"Are you and Daddy fighting?"

She was so innocent. Vaughn realized that all this pain he and Sydney were causing each other reflected doubly in Isabelle.

"Daddy and I were just having a loud conversation honey."

"I thought you would be happy that Daddy was back."

Me too kiddo.

"I am happy Isabelle, it's just that me and Daddy have a lot of things we have to work out. We have a lot of things we still have to forgive."

"Does that mean you don't love Daddy anymore?"

That one came out of left field. Even Sydney was staring at her daughter in shock. It wasn't that they didn't love each other anymore, it was just that they were stubborn. Both of them were.

"Isabelle why would you think that?"

"Because when you love someone you forgive them Mommy!"

"Who told you that?"

"Grandpa Jacky."

Jack. That was interesting. Maybe he finally decided to forgive Irina. Maybe he already had a long time ago, he did love her after all.

"Honey, why don't you go back inside. Mommy and I need to talk."

"'K Daddy. But promise me you won't fight anymore?"

Could he really promise that? Would he ever be able to tuck his daughter in at night and tell her that everything was going to be okay? He looked up at Sydney, surprised to see tears forming in her eyes.

"Sydney what is it?"

"I forgive you."

Three words, two steps and she was in his arms. She had forgiven him, she had forgiven herself. For the first time in six years they stood as a couple. The breeze brushed past them as he tightened his grip. Six years and his dream and his dream had finally come true. She was standing with him, wrapped in his embrace.

Sydney shyly brought her head up. Her tears were still lightly flowing down her cheeks and he brought one hand up to wipe them away. Hesitantly, he tilted her chin up and brought his lips close to hers slowly. His eyes asked permission and seeing no objection, gently pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was tender and sweet, full of love, passion, and hope, healing them both of the past six years.

Okay readers. You have a big decision to make. I can either end the story here. Or go on. Review and tell me what you want and I shall do what ever the majority asks for.