P/N: Sorry that the update took so long. I was away on vacation and had to make up a lot of work. I will have a special 3 chapter update to make up for the delay.

Chapter 64: The Showdown (ok, it's short – because I'm evil and had to make a cliffhanger)

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." – Johann von Goethe

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." – Ingrid Bergman

"Our lives are not in the lap of the gods, but in the lap of our cooks." – Lin Yutang


Sydney went to the door and her father smiled nervously on the other side.

"Hello Sydney," he said entering and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi dad," she motioned for him to follow her into the living room.

"Hello!" he called to Francie and will who said unitarily, "Hi Jack!"

He smiled at Vaughn, "Are you feeling better Vau–, Michael?"

Vaughn smiled, "Yeah…thanks…"

Jack turned to Amélie, "Well…hello Amélie…it's been a very long time…you look wonderful. How have you been?"

Amélie smiled, accepting Jack's outstretched hand, "I'm well, thank you…and yourself?"

"I can't complain," he said smiling.

Sydney sat down next to Vaughn. "Please, sit down," she said sweetly.

Amélie and Jack sat down next to each other in chairs adjacent to the couch.

Will and Francie emerged from the kitchen, "Hey! Dinner should be ready in about 15 minutes," Francie notified everyone.

"Excellent," Jack said. He turned to Vaughn, "So – do you think I'll get my rematch tonight?"

Vaughn smiled, "Yeah, I think that can be arranged."

Amélie turned to Jack, "Rematch?"

"Well…it turns out that your son is quite the adept strategist. I myself am quite well versed in game theory, but Michael and I tied the last game of Othello that we played. I'm much looking forward to testing his wits again tonight."

"I see, well Michael has always been an excellent thinker on his feet…"

Sydney smiled down at Vaughn who was watching their parents carry on a conversation.

She leaned down and whispered in his ear, "This seems to be going quite well – I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop…"

Vaughn smiled and pulled her over to kiss him.

They only stopped when they realized that the talking had ceased.

They turned to see that their parents as well as their friends were watching them in amusement.

Will looked mischievously, "Yeah, you know…that's all those two do…"

Sydney threw him a disapproving glance and he smiled evilly back.

Jack finally saved them from any further embarrassment, "So…what delight have you created for us tonight Francie?"

Francie beamed, "Well…Will and I decided to go with chicken cordon bleu, which will be served tonight with our house specialty: the lightly seasoned potato puff, and Will's wonderful vegetable medley," she smiled the smile of a trained hostess, "and for dessert, we've prepared another house specialty: our world famous cheesecake with raspberry and blackberry sauce."

Everyone clapped.

"Thank you…thank you…I hope you enjoy your meal," Francie said taking a bow.

Francie and Will made a large production of brining in the meal, serving everyone like they would if they had been dining at Francie's restaurant. Once everyone had their plates, the eating began.

Dinner conversation remained light, Jack and Amélie exchanged stories about their children's childhoods, much to the dismay of whichever child they were discussing.

Francie had cut Vaughn's dinner again, which he smiled at her for, but he let Sydney help him eat. She was proud of him though, he was allowing her to help him, even in front of their parents, and she didn't sense any animosity from him about the subject.

After the delightful cheesecake dessert, everyone waited until Will and Francie came back from cleaning up.

Then the games began.

Jack took great pleasure in setting up the board and he moved his chair closer to the couch again. Sydney had moved to sit behind Vaughn on the couch after dinner, and neither made any indication that she should move, so that's where she stayed through the game. Everyone else moved closer in anticipation, hovering near the couch.

The room grew silent as the two players began, locked in concentration.

Jack made his move, turning several of Vaughn's white pieces to his black. On Vaughn's next turn, however, he took back pieces to white.

Everyone sat breathless as the last few squares were filled with either a white or a black game piece.

No one said anything as Jack counted the pieces…

Waiting…

Breathless…

No sound was uttered from anyone in the room…

Glances were exchanged…

Sydney tightened her grip on Vaughn…

It seemed hours were passing by…

Will couldn't take it any more, straining to count for himself, "Oh come on! Who won!" he said loudly, making everyone jump.

"Sorry, but come on the suspense is killing me…"

Jack smiled…