Thanks guys for the reviews. I loved them all. 
Or so I hope... Kiddin'.
Aaaawwww... That's so sweet. Actually, I nearly cried when I first read the lyrics. I'm way too emotional.
Sorry sorry sorry!!!! *hangs head in shame* I'll pm you last time, I promise. And I'm so glad you liked it. After all, you were the one who made me post this in the first place.
Thanks so much to everyone else. Claz, your Evanescence sig rocks.
Anyone who wants PMs about the updates, lemme know.
Or so I hope...
Kiddin'. P.S. I love the song Butterfly Kisses. I sang it for my Dad in front of my church when I was 8 I know a guy sings it, but, it was my Dad's and my song...golly it made him cry
Aaaawwww... That's so sweet. Actually, I nearly cried when I first read the lyrics. I'm way too emotional.
Sorry sorry sorry!!!! *hangs head in shame* I'll pm you last time, I promise. And I'm so glad you liked it. After all, you were the one who made me post this in the first place.
Thanks so much to everyone else. Claz, your Evanescence sig rocks.
Anyone who wants PMs about the updates, lemme know.
Syd_Vaughn4ever
Cadet
Me please!!Love the story!!
ILuvMichael
Cadet
i loved FLCH, and i love this sequel...they're both SO great!
Bondgal2007
Cadet
trish I love this story
Crawstinium
Cadet
i would love pms, if its not too much trouble! thanks
Author's Note: I. Do. Not. Like. This. Chapter. Liv rocks. You all rock. And I'm keeping my promise of posting this weekend.
Hope you enjoy the chapter more than I did.
Read on....
*-*-*
Chapter 3 – A Sudden Rush Of Blood To The Head
Honey, all the movements you're starting to make,
See me crumble and fall on my face,
And I know the mistakes that I've made,
See it all disappear without a trace,
And they call as they beckon you on,
They say start as you need to go on,
Start as you need to go on,
Start as you need to go on
- A Sudden Rush of Blood to The Head, Coldplay
*-*-*
They were waiting for her outside. There was a whole operation team involved, simply because she felt more confident, more comfortable, if she acted like this was any other mission.
She’d go inside, retrieve the books, go back and everything would be fine.
Of course, the books were just an excuse. She had no need for them at the moment, and even if she had, all the information contained on them was vivid inside her head. She had memorized the lists, the names. No, the books would be of no use.
The real reason for going there was something else.
She finally reached her destination, and opened the door.
The room was dark and dusty, as everything else in the building. Her jaw set, she pulled off a knife that was tied to her leg and passed it under the edges of the table. Putting the knife back in place, she gave one big pull at the wooden top of the table, and it came of easily.
She bit her lip as she reached inside the hidden compartment, and retrieved something that looked like a book, with a leather cover and a name imprinted on golden fancy writing.
She skimmed through the pages, all full with her handwriting, italicized, sharp and decided, just like herself.
As her eyes glistened with tears, she hastily closed the journal and took the other volumes outside the compartment. At the bottom, under the last book, was a picture. She hesitated once before pulling it off as well.
It was the picture of her daughter.
She touched the picture lightly with her fingers. The girl was smiling, her brown eyes small in front of the dimple-cheeked smile that took all of her face.
One single tear fell down from her eye.
Her baby had been so pretty. She remembered how taken aback she was when she held that little creature in her arms. It was an overwhelming feeling of completion, to hold her daughter in her arms, to feel like she could protect her from anyone and anything.
That was her daughter, her baby girl, her small miracle.
But she hadn't protected her. And for that, she’d never forgive herself.
Taking a deep breath, she put the picture inside one of the journals.
They were waiting for her. She had to go. She wished she could stay, sit down on the dusty floor and go through her life, relive the past that, she knew, could never come back. But she couldn’t. She had a job to finish.
It was funny how nearly her whole life had been nothing but a job to finish.
She went to the desk and opened the drawer where she remembered keeping the books. She put them inside her bag, along with the journals.
Yes, they were waiting for her. But what was she waiting for?
*-*-*
A few weeks later…
Ailish had been raised for independence. They both knew that. It was something they couldn’t help; it was in her blood, in her essence. Sydney knew that they had done their best to mold that independence into something healthy, to teach their daughter how to discern the right from the wrong, and to make the right choices.
She could only hope they had done a good job.
She held her daughter in a goodbye hug, secretly wishing she could hold her there forever.
“I’ll miss you too, mom.” Ailish said, and Sydney laughed. No other words were needed.
It was very reluctantly that she let go, allowing Vaughn to have his turn. Mentally taunting herself for making such a big deal out of a school trip, she picked Melanie up in her arms, ridiculously relieved that she had a few years before Melanie decided to go to Germany and rip her heart apart.
Soon, Ailish boarded and they were left to stare at the spot she had previously occupied.
“We look like she’s going to the death corridor.”
“I know.”
“She deserves going to Germany. And there will be the trip to New York in December. And more and more trips after that. We should get used to it.”
“I know.” Vaughn smiled briefly at her, and took her hand on his. “I know.” He repeated, and Sydney knew he did.
They walked away from the airport, with the undeniable feeling that there was a missing piece of the picture.
*-*-*
She looked outside the window to the darkening sky outside. The other agents were seated at the back of the plane, complying with the strict orders of not bothering her. She had enough privacy to look through the journals if she so wished, but something seemed to be stopping her from doing so.
She pulled a volume out of the bag, just to put it back in a second later. She tried to sleep, to no avail. Nothing new on that, she couldn’t sleep well now. She needed pills, and she didn’t have any with her.
There was a time when she managed to sleep whenever she wanted, wherever she wanted. This time was long past, and now sleep was nearly a luxury, an indulgence. She had long stopped dreaming. But her sleep was anything but sound or resting. There was always a feeling, a gut sensation that disturbed her and woke her up in the middle of the night.
It took over all her body, and there was nothing she could do but to wait for the next morning. Then she’d spend the day waiting for the next night. And spent that night waiting for the next day. She had been going like that for quite a while now, and though it wasn’t a perfect system, it was working.
She was alive. And that was what mattered. Right?
The question from a few hours before continued playing over and over inside her mind.
What was she waiting for?
She closed her eyes, and pulled out one of the journals, feeling the leather cover with the tip of her fingers.
And then she knew it.
She was waiting for a chance.
*-*-*
Sydney sagged on the couch, pulling Vaughn with her. He had taken the day off work and she was thankful for it. The house was already silent enough as it was, Melanie at school and Ailish on her way to another continent. Without him there, she was positive the silence would’ve driven her mad.
But now, wrapped up in his arms, it actually didn’t bother her that much. It was unusual, yes, but not as nearly disturbing as she though it would be.
He kissed the top of her head, and started playing with her hair. She snuggled closer to him, burying her face on his chest.
“I love you.” She mumbled against him. “You know that, right?”
“Considering we’ve been sharing a bed for the last ten years, I kind of suspected it.” Vaughn. He felt rather than heard Sydney’s laugh roaming through his body. “I love you too, though I’m sure you know that, so there’s really not point saying it.”
“I like to hear it.”
“I’m glad, because I don’t intend to stop saying it anytime soon.”
“Good.” She smiled, and silence descended upon them again.
After a while Sydney look up, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and tugged at his tie.
“Do you realize,” She said slowly. “That this is the first time in months we are alone in the house for more than half an hour?”
“Yes, the thought did cross my mind.”
“We still have three ours to fill before Melanie comes home.”
“Somehow, I don’t think we’ll have problems with that.” Vaughn said, his smile matching hers.
“I completely agree.” She muttered, pulling herself up to him.
They kissed, slow and long, and were soon filling up the hours with a most entertaining activity.
*-*-*
And I'm keeping my promise of posting this weekend. Hope you enjoy the chapter more than I did.
Read on....
*-*-*
Chapter 3 – A Sudden Rush Of Blood To The Head
Honey, all the movements you're starting to make,
See me crumble and fall on my face,
And I know the mistakes that I've made,
See it all disappear without a trace,
And they call as they beckon you on,
They say start as you need to go on,
Start as you need to go on,
Start as you need to go on
- A Sudden Rush of Blood to The Head, Coldplay
*-*-*
They were waiting for her outside. There was a whole operation team involved, simply because she felt more confident, more comfortable, if she acted like this was any other mission.
She’d go inside, retrieve the books, go back and everything would be fine.
Of course, the books were just an excuse. She had no need for them at the moment, and even if she had, all the information contained on them was vivid inside her head. She had memorized the lists, the names. No, the books would be of no use.
The real reason for going there was something else.
She finally reached her destination, and opened the door.
The room was dark and dusty, as everything else in the building. Her jaw set, she pulled off a knife that was tied to her leg and passed it under the edges of the table. Putting the knife back in place, she gave one big pull at the wooden top of the table, and it came of easily.
She bit her lip as she reached inside the hidden compartment, and retrieved something that looked like a book, with a leather cover and a name imprinted on golden fancy writing.
She skimmed through the pages, all full with her handwriting, italicized, sharp and decided, just like herself.
As her eyes glistened with tears, she hastily closed the journal and took the other volumes outside the compartment. At the bottom, under the last book, was a picture. She hesitated once before pulling it off as well.
It was the picture of her daughter.
She touched the picture lightly with her fingers. The girl was smiling, her brown eyes small in front of the dimple-cheeked smile that took all of her face.
One single tear fell down from her eye.
Her baby had been so pretty. She remembered how taken aback she was when she held that little creature in her arms. It was an overwhelming feeling of completion, to hold her daughter in her arms, to feel like she could protect her from anyone and anything.
That was her daughter, her baby girl, her small miracle.
But she hadn't protected her. And for that, she’d never forgive herself.
Taking a deep breath, she put the picture inside one of the journals.
They were waiting for her. She had to go. She wished she could stay, sit down on the dusty floor and go through her life, relive the past that, she knew, could never come back. But she couldn’t. She had a job to finish.
It was funny how nearly her whole life had been nothing but a job to finish.
She went to the desk and opened the drawer where she remembered keeping the books. She put them inside her bag, along with the journals.
Yes, they were waiting for her. But what was she waiting for?
*-*-*
A few weeks later…
Ailish had been raised for independence. They both knew that. It was something they couldn’t help; it was in her blood, in her essence. Sydney knew that they had done their best to mold that independence into something healthy, to teach their daughter how to discern the right from the wrong, and to make the right choices.
She could only hope they had done a good job.
She held her daughter in a goodbye hug, secretly wishing she could hold her there forever.
“I’ll miss you too, mom.” Ailish said, and Sydney laughed. No other words were needed.
It was very reluctantly that she let go, allowing Vaughn to have his turn. Mentally taunting herself for making such a big deal out of a school trip, she picked Melanie up in her arms, ridiculously relieved that she had a few years before Melanie decided to go to Germany and rip her heart apart.
Soon, Ailish boarded and they were left to stare at the spot she had previously occupied.
“We look like she’s going to the death corridor.”
“I know.”
“She deserves going to Germany. And there will be the trip to New York in December. And more and more trips after that. We should get used to it.”
“I know.” Vaughn smiled briefly at her, and took her hand on his. “I know.” He repeated, and Sydney knew he did.
They walked away from the airport, with the undeniable feeling that there was a missing piece of the picture.
*-*-*
She looked outside the window to the darkening sky outside. The other agents were seated at the back of the plane, complying with the strict orders of not bothering her. She had enough privacy to look through the journals if she so wished, but something seemed to be stopping her from doing so.
She pulled a volume out of the bag, just to put it back in a second later. She tried to sleep, to no avail. Nothing new on that, she couldn’t sleep well now. She needed pills, and she didn’t have any with her.
There was a time when she managed to sleep whenever she wanted, wherever she wanted. This time was long past, and now sleep was nearly a luxury, an indulgence. She had long stopped dreaming. But her sleep was anything but sound or resting. There was always a feeling, a gut sensation that disturbed her and woke her up in the middle of the night.
It took over all her body, and there was nothing she could do but to wait for the next morning. Then she’d spend the day waiting for the next night. And spent that night waiting for the next day. She had been going like that for quite a while now, and though it wasn’t a perfect system, it was working.
She was alive. And that was what mattered. Right?
The question from a few hours before continued playing over and over inside her mind.
What was she waiting for?
She closed her eyes, and pulled out one of the journals, feeling the leather cover with the tip of her fingers.
And then she knew it.
She was waiting for a chance.
*-*-*
Sydney sagged on the couch, pulling Vaughn with her. He had taken the day off work and she was thankful for it. The house was already silent enough as it was, Melanie at school and Ailish on her way to another continent. Without him there, she was positive the silence would’ve driven her mad.
But now, wrapped up in his arms, it actually didn’t bother her that much. It was unusual, yes, but not as nearly disturbing as she though it would be.
He kissed the top of her head, and started playing with her hair. She snuggled closer to him, burying her face on his chest.
“I love you.” She mumbled against him. “You know that, right?”
“Considering we’ve been sharing a bed for the last ten years, I kind of suspected it.” Vaughn. He felt rather than heard Sydney’s laugh roaming through his body. “I love you too, though I’m sure you know that, so there’s really not point saying it.”
“I like to hear it.”
“I’m glad, because I don’t intend to stop saying it anytime soon.”
“Good.” She smiled, and silence descended upon them again.
After a while Sydney look up, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and tugged at his tie.
“Do you realize,” She said slowly. “That this is the first time in months we are alone in the house for more than half an hour?”
“Yes, the thought did cross my mind.”
“We still have three ours to fill before Melanie comes home.”
“Somehow, I don’t think we’ll have problems with that.” Vaughn said, his smile matching hers.
“I completely agree.” She muttered, pulling herself up to him.
They kissed, slow and long, and were soon filling up the hours with a most entertaining activity.
*-*-*
Evil Temptress
Cadet
I :blink: at you, my dear friend.
NHAA!! She has a journal! ^__^ (ok... i think now everyone knows who we are talking about.. right?) Anyway..
^___^
Needless to say.. I LOVED THIS QUOTE! And what my mind did with the hint... heeehee
Short, but great! Can't wait for more!!
totally4alias10
Cadet
GREAT CHAPTER!!
--Anna
--Anna
Aliasscape
Cadet
This chapter is mysterious and foreboding. Makes me really want to know what's about happen and worried about it all at the same time.
Good job.
Makes me really want to know what's about happen and worried about it all at the same time. Good job.
Aliasfan23
Cadet
Great Chap! Thanks for the PM! I was a little confused though, who was it getting the books?
Crawstinium
Cadet
This was greatttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo i'm so happy, another chapter! i didn't realize when i read the last chapter who "she" was your writing is just amazing
your writing is just amazing Hmmmmmm, ponders........ I'm thinking bout this one, hmmmmmmmm nope, still wondering bout what Amber posted, u got me on this one Trish, more thinking is required to work out whats going on with the journals!
Very good chap, u got me guessing! ^_^ **wanders off to ponder some more**
Very good chap, u got me guessing! ^_^ **wanders off to ponder some more**
ILuvMichael
Cadet
I love this new chapter...i hope you write more soon, please!
Syd_Vaughn4ever
Cadet
Amber you got me thinking!!!!! Wow...really got me stumped!!! MORE!!!