Chapter 127: Morning of

"I reached for sleep and drew it round me like a blanket muffling pain and thought together in the merciful dark." – Mary Stewart

"I love you, not only for what you are, But for what I am when I am with you." – Roy Croft

"Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart." – Alphonse Marie de la Martine

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire: In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable." – Bruce Lee


Vaughn woke the next morning feeling a weight on top of him. He smiled instantly, knowing that Sydney hadn't moved during the night. He shifted slightly and smiled again when he felt that they were still connected. He gripped her tightly with his arm and looked down at her. Her head was tilted up to his and her eyes were open, her mouth upturned in a soft, loving smile for him.

"Morning," she said softly.

"Hey…I thought you were still asleep…"

"Nope…woke up a little while ago…"

"Thanks for staying," he said quietly.

"You're welcome…it was my pleasure," she said as she leaned up and kissed him softly.

"What time is it?" he asked.

She craned to look at the clock, "Almost 10:00…"

"Shit, I bet mom's been up for hours…"

"Probably, but I'm sure she understands…"

"Think she suspects?"

"Vaughn, I told you…she all but told me to have sex with you…I'm sure she's well figured it out by now."

He smiled, "Well then…"

She giggled, "You weren't so into being loud last night," she said with a wink.

He smiled, "Are we still gonna take that bath today?" he asked.

She smiled, "You bet…why don't I see if the coast is clear…"

"Ok," he said smirking.

She moved herself off of him and grabbed her robe, covering him up in case Amélie decided to drop in on him unannounced.

She unlocked the door and peeked her head out into the hallway, and then padded out to the kitchen. There was a pot of coffee that was still warming. Sydney looked for signs of Amélie but couldn't seem to find any. She checked the spare room; Amélie's things were in there, but not Amélie. She wasn't in the living room or the bathroom.

Sydney made one last ditch effort, peeking outside on the porch. Amélie sat on a lawn chair; thankfully not the one they had "fun" in, and was talking quietly to Donovan. The dog waged his tail happily at whatever Amélie was telling him, and then ran around the chair.

Sydney smiled, watching Amélie for a few minutes; talking to Donovan in a manner not unlike Vaughn himself talked to the dog. She loved seeing things they did similarly, knowing what traits Vaughn picked up from his mother.

"Hey," she said quietly after a few more minutes, not wanting to startle Amélie.

She turned, "Good morning Sydney…"

Donovan waged his tail happily and trailed over to Sydney, who knelt down and scratched his ears.

"Hey Donovan," Sydney said addressing the dog, who licked her hand appreciatively, "Sorry we haven't been very attentive…I think Will does a pretty good job though, doesn't he? You just wait until Vaughn is feeling better…then we'll play with ya…"

The dog barked softly as if understanding and then trotted happily over to Amélie.

"How is Michael?" Amélie asked softly.

Sydney smiled, "He's better…rough time…but…I think he's ok…for now…he's just really scared…"

Amélie nodded, "Yeah, I could see that…I'm glad you're there for him Sydney…"

Sydney smiled, "I am too…I love being able to help him…because I can't always…"

Amélie looked over at Sydney, "I'm sure you help more than you know," she said with the same raised eyebrow that Vaughn got sometimes.

Sydney smiled, "Are you…did you…"

Amélie grinned and scratched Donovan's ears again, "I may be old Sydney, but I'm still a woman…"

Sydney blushed and had no idea how to respond.

"It's ok Sydney, I don't want details – he is still my son," Amélie said with a mischievous grin.

Sydney grinned back, "No details, check…" she waited a moment, "Did you eat?"

"Earlier yes, before Will and Francie left for work, Francie made breakfast for us."

"That was nice of her…"

"She is a wonderful cook…and they both said to wish you luck today…and call if you needed anything."

Sydney smiled; it was nice to have such caring friends. "Well, I'm gonna make something for Vaughn and me…do you want something too?"

"No, but I'll come in with you, say good morning to Michael…"

They both walked in, Donovan trotting behind, and they separated in the kitchen. Sydney went to make breakfast and Amélie headed off down the hall with Donovan in tow.

The bark alerted Vaughn to their presence, "Hey Donovan!" he said as the dog jumped up on the bed and started to lick his face, "Miss me little guy?" he said.

"I'd say do Michael, his tail hasn't wagged like that all morning…" Amélie said smiling, "Good morning Michael," she said smiling.

"Morning mom," he said back.

"How're you feeling?" she asked.

"Better…did you sleep ok?" he asked.

She smiled, "Yes, I slept well…did you?" she said with a glint in her eyes.

Vaughn's eyes got big, then a small smile crept across his face, "That's just disturbing…"

"I'm not blind…or deaf Michael…"

"Please mom…"

She laughed, "I'm glad she took good care of you…"

"She does…always…"

Amélie smiled, "Good…she's making breakfast for you right now…what are we going to do today?"

"Don't know…" he said, "I think we're gonna take a bath…but other than that…"

She smiled, "Well…maybe we can work in some reading time," she suggested.

"That'd be great mom."

Sydney came in a minute later with one plate heaped with eggs and toast and bacon.

"Ooo…bacon," Vaughn said when he saw it on the plate.

Sydney laughed and looked at Amélie, "Did he like bacon this much when he was little?"

"Yeah, but not as much as ketchup…"

Sydney and Amélie laughed.

Vaughn looked between the two, "You can keep yapping, just hand me the plate with the bacon…feel free to yammer on about how silly I was when I was little, and how silly am I now, just give me the bacon before you do…"

They both laughed harder.

"Come on! Give me the bacon!"

Sydney acquiesced and sat down on the bed, shoving a strip of bacon in his mouth.

"Mmm…fanks…" he said through the mouthful.

Sydney kept up her feeding, adding eggs and toast as well…"

Amélie smiled broadly when she realized that Sydney had only brought one plate this time, both of them just eating off of the same one.

After a few minutes, Amélie asked, "I was discussing with Michael what we were going to do today," she conveniently left out 'before the session,' "I was thinking that maybe we could read for a while…I did that the last time I was here…and I think I only got to page two before he was asleep."

Sydney chuckled.

"I was tired…" Vaughn said defensively.

Sydney moved down to kiss him, "And that's just fine – reading put you to sleep…"

Vaughn smiled at her.

They finished breakfast in a light mood, and Sydney thought that maybe the rest of the time before the session would go well…