Chapter 61: The French Connection

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." – Mark Twain

"There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience." – French Proverb

"Motherhood: All love begins and ends there." – Robert Browning


Francie and Will left the other couple alone after Vaughn had finished eating.

Sydney fussed over Vaughn continuously until he finally said, "Sydney...will you sit down?"

She looked at him rather strangely, "Sure."

"I'm ok..."

"I know, that's what you keep saying..." she said smiling, but then turned serious, "Would you really have gone back?"

He looked to her, seeing the questioning curiosity in her eyes, "If I thought it was in your best interest..."

"Even if it wasn't in yours?"

"I don't ever want to hurt you...especially not because of me...I don't want this, all of this, to hurt you...so even though the thought of going back to the hospital terrifies me, yes, I would have gone back if you wanted me to."

She looked at the resolution in his eyes, "Wow...you must really love me, huh?"

"Yeah...how'd you guess?"

"Mmm...terrifying hospital all for my welfare...pretty much did it..."

He smiled as she leaned down and planted a sweet kiss on his mouth.

"You're supposed to rest today...do you want to sleep for awhile or do you want to watch TV? Movie? What do you want to do? What do you feel like?"

"Uh...I'm not really that tired, I'm rather apprehensive about sleep at the moment anyway...wanna watch a movie?"

"Sure...what do you wanna watch?" She said playing with the buttons on his shirt.

"Mmm...you..."

"That could be interesting. What do you want? A show?"

"Sure...if you're the main attraction..."

She giggled and was about to help him in the area of entertainment when there was a knock on the door.

Vaughn let out a groan, "Oh come on!" he said quietly.

Sydney smiled and went to the door. She opened it and Will was standing on the other side.
"Sorry to disturb you...but there's a phone call..."

Sydney cocked her head to the side, but took the phone from Will's outstretched hand.

"Hello?" she said.

"Syd?"

"Weiss...what's up?" she said looking to Vaughn.

"Uh...can I talk to Vaughn?"

"Sure," she said, "Weiss wants to talk to you," she said handing the phone off.

"Eric?"

"Mike...uh...let's see...how to say this...have you...talked to your mother recently?"

"Oh No!"

"Oh Yeah," Eric chimed.

Sydney sat down on the bed and looked worriedly at Vaughn. 'What?' she mouthed, and he mouthed 'Hang on' back to her.

"Shit!" Vaughn said.

"Yeah, she called the CIA totally distraught apparently, yelling at a bunch of people..."

"I guess I assumed that someone would have at least informed her."

"Yeah, well they didn't, so I think you're in BIG trouble buddy."

"Ok...I better call her...thanks Eric."

"Sure, how are you doing? You want me to come over soon?"

"Yeah, I'd love it. Why don't you call in a day or two...today I've been restricted to the bed so..."

"What too much lovin'?"

Vaughn chuckled, "I'll tell you later, ok? I should call her..."

"Ok, talk to you soon!"

"Yeah, bye Eric."

Sydney looked to Vaughn, "What's up?"

"Nobody bothered to tell my mother that I was taken and I'm all right. She called the CIA totally pissed...I'm in so much trouble."

Sydney smiled, "You want me to leave while you call?"

"No, you can stay," he said smiling. She took her seat next to him on the bed as he dialed his mother's number.

Author's Note: As we all well know, Vaughn's mother is French and from the Alias book that just came out, her name is Amélie Vaughn...anyway, as I would assume (but is confirmed in the book) she speaks to him in French all the time. Now, I had three and a half years of French in high school...and I don't remember shit, so just imagine this conversation is in French...and the physical description of his mom comes from the book as well. Oh, and for the non-French inclined – Michel is Michael in French – I didn't spell it wrong a million times.

It rang once and the familiar sound of his mother's voice filled the telephone receiver, "Hello?" she said.

"Mom?"

"Michel!"

Vaughn moved the phone away from his ear as a string of French expletives emanated from his mother.

"I didn't think you knew all those words Mom," he said when she stopped.

"Where have you been? You're always extremely good about calling me occasionally. I must have left two-dozen messages on your answering machine at home and at least that many at the office. What happened? I call the CIA and they say that you're on medical leave and you don't call! I'm going insane over here! I've been worried sick! What's going on Michel?"

"Mom...I can't really talk about it all on the phone...you know..."

"Michel!"

"I'm ok...really, you don't have to worry; I'm being taken care of."

"Where are you? What hospital are you at? I'm coming there."

"I'm not at the hospital..."

"What do you mean? Where are you then?"

"Sydney's..."

"Sydney's? Why are you not in a hospital Michel?"

"Because I couldn't stay there anymore..."

"Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"You sound...well...you sound like you did when you were little, when you got hurt..."

"Sydney's taking good care of me."

"I want to come and see you...where does Sydney live?"

"Mom..."

"Put her on the phone Michel," Amélie said forcefully, in the mommy voice that Vaughn knew all too well.

"She wants to talk to you," Vaughn said holding out the phone.

"She wants to talk to me?" Sydney said in disbelief, but Vaughn just nodded.

"Hello?"

"Sydney...this is Michael's mother, Amélie Vaughn. I understand that my son is staying at your house. I'd like to come and see my injured only son who doesn't call his mother when he is badly hurt. Perhaps you could give me directions?"

"Uh, sure..." Sydney said, giving Vaughn's mother directions to her house. Vaughn was shaking his head and groaning while Sydney was telling his mother how to get to him.

"Thank you Sydney...I hope it won't be an inconvenience that I'm coming on such short notice, but if my son would have picked up the phone, I would have come earlier."

"No, it's no trouble, I'm sorry neither one of us had the decency to call you. I'm very sorry...I should have called when Vau–, Michael couldn't have...I'm truly sorry. I can only imagine how worried you must have been."

"Yes, thank you. I'll see you in a few hours then. It was nice to finally talk to you Sydney, Michael speaks of you often."

"He does? Well...thank you...I'll be glad to finally meet you."

"Yes, me as well."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye Sydney, say the same to my son for me."

"I will," Sydney said hanging up.

"I am a dead man," Vaughn said when Sydney looked at him.

"Your mom sounds really nice Vaughn."

"She's gonna kill me Syd. I can't believe I forgot to call her."

"Well, you've had a lot on your mind, Vaughn."

"I know...but I forgot to call my own mother to tell her I was alright!"

"I'm sure she'll understand Vaughn..."

He let out a groan, "When is she coming?"

"From her tone, I'd guess she was leaving like after she put the phone down..."

"Great...kill me now..."

"Easy there...I'm sure it'll be fine...so you talk about me?"

"What?"

"Your mom said you talk about me..."

"Well, yeah...I talked to her about you like the day after I met you..."

"Really?" Sydney asked sincerely.

"Yes, really..."

"Does she know about us?"

"Yes...and if she didn't, she sure would after today!"

Sydney smiled, "I'll be right back, I should tell Will and Francie that she's stopping by so they can be on their best behavior."

"Ok."

Sydney rushed out to the living room where Will and Francie were sitting, watching TV. A thought occurred to her, "Guys...I came out here to tell you that Vaughn's mother is going to be stopping by...why aren't you guys at work? It's Tuesday..."

"We took the day off..." Francie stated.

"Oh guys, I'm sorry..."

"No...it's ok...we both could use a day or two or three..." she replied.

"I bet you didn't sleep a lot last night and then early this morning, god, I'm sorry guys."

"Look, we've already had this conversation once today, let's not have it again...it's fine," Francie reasoned, "Michael's mother is coming over?"

"Yeah...we totally forgot to tell her that he was hurt, it just totally slipped our minds, everyone's it seems. So, she's on her way now, she'll be here in a few hours. Do you think you could...pick up slightly."

Will smiled, "Trying to make a good impression on the mother-in-law?"

She gave him a look, "Well, that's going to be difficult with you here, but yes," she shot back.
Will smiled again, thankful that they seemed to be back to friendly banter.

"We'll pick up..." Francie said getting off the couch and dragging Will along with her to help.

The doorbell rang a few hours later and Sydney went to the door to answer it. She took a deep breath. This was it...Vaughn's mom lay on the other side of this door. She built up her courage and pulled open the door.

Sydney smiled at the woman on her doorstep. Amélie Vaughn was a very beautiful woman, slight, she couldn't have been more than a hundred pounds, with straight white hair and vivid cerulean eyes that stood out from her tanned face. She smiled back at Sydney.

"You must be the lovely woman who has stolen my son's heart," Amélie said with a distinct French accent.

Sydney blushed, dimples blazing, "And you must be the lovely woman who allowed me to have him...please come in Mrs. Vaughn."

"Nonsense, please call me Amélie."

"Of course."

Will and Francie were standing back farther, unsure if they should stay or wait until later for introductions.

Sydney cleared that up right away, "Amélie, I'd like you to meet my roommate, Francie Calfo, and her boyfriend, Will Tippin. Francie, Will, this is Vau–, Michael's mother, Amélie."

"Very nice to meet you," Will said shaking Amélie's hand gently.

"Welcome," Francie added.

Amélie turned serious for a minute and looked at Sydney, "Will you tell me exactly what happened to my son? How badly is he injured?"

Sydney really couldn't start explaining in front of Francie, "Maybe it'd be better if we let him tell you?"

Amélie looked at her strangely for a minute but then seemed to catch on, "Of course, where is Michel?"

Sydney smiled at the way Vaughn's mother referred to him, it seemed to endearing. "He's in here, follow me."

Sydney and Amélie excused themselves politely and moved off to the bedroom.