A/N: I told you guys I'd probably give you an epilogue. I thought it would be appropriate for the return of little Syd and little Vaughn…just so we can come full circle…original title, huh? :p It's short…just four pages…but I hope you'll enjoy it.
I just want to thank each and every person that has taken the time to follow this story…and a special thanks for those who've reviewed it! Your encouragement was absolutely wonderful and I can't tell you what it meant to me. It's been quite a ride but I think it's definitely time for this story to come to an end. Besides…I've got to get started on the sequel. Again, thanks for the reviews over the past few months! They were always an incentive for me to write a little bit faster and they never failed to make me smile. Happy Reading!
~Ellie
Epilogue-Full Circle
1978[
"That's it, Michel!" Annette called. "The trick is to keep yourself balanced. Good!"
Annette smiled as she watched her son wobble across the ice without any of the effortless grace she had always seen in her husband. She shook her head. Michael had been skating for several years now, but he had failed to take to the sport in the natural manner that William would have hoped. Not that Michael's clumsiness had ever kept William from dreaming.
"I was a terrible skater until I was almost twelve years old, Annette." He'd always argued. "I just didn't know how to maneuver my body. He'll learn. And he loves the sport. He'll be great."
The smile that came with the memory failed to reach her eyes and she crossed her arms over her chest to battle the shiver that always accompanied the realization that her husband was gone. Though she and Michael had returned to France, Annette had decided to bring her son back to the United States for the holidays so that he could spend time with his father's side of the family. He'd also been thrilled that such a visit would include a trip to the skating rink he'd always used with his father.
Keeping her eyes on her fair-haired son in the crowded rink, Annette was surprised to feel herself give a genuine smile at the sight of a tiny, dark-haired skater gliding with her arms straight in the air as she grasped a dark-haired man's hands. The child was impeccably dressed…likely her mother's pride and joy…in tiny black pants and a red turtleneck. A red-ribbon fluttered from her ponytail tickling her father's wrists and it wasn't until the pair was facing her that she recognized Jack and Sydney Bristow.
"Annette?" Glancing up, she found herself looking in the eyes of Laura Bristow and, for a brief moment, all was well.
* * * * * * * * *
Michael couldn't keep the grin off his face as the cool air rippled through his hair. He was a much better skater now than he had been when he was smaller. Glancing over to where his mother was sitting, he found her to be occupied by a conversation with another woman. Definitely not watching him. Grinning to himself, he spun around and began to scrape his way back, retracing the trail he'd just blazed.
Surely an experienced skater like him could skate backwards.
"Uh-oh! Whoa!"
THUD
"Ouch!" He exclaimed with his eyes screwed tightly shut. When a set of soft sobs and accompanying murmurs were heard, he pried his eyes open to get a glimpse of his obstacle.
"Mr. Bristow? Sydney?"
Jack had lifted a startled Sydney into his arms and her sobs had quickly ceased. He was shocked to see none other than the young Michael Vaughn sitting on the ice looking rather perplexed. Lowering Sydney back to the ice, he spoke to the young boy. "Are you okay, Michael?"
"Yes." He replied sheepishly. "I'm sorry if I hurt Sydney."
He was surprised when the three-year old responded for herself.
"I'm not hurt! You're s'posed to be careful, Mikey!"
Jack smiled. "She's fine. Just startled. Is your mother here?"
Michael nodded and pointed toward the bleachers. "Over there."
Jack followed Michael's gesture and saw his wife already visiting with Annette Vaughn. "I'd like to go say hello." Jack pointed toward a secluded corner of the ice near the bleachers. "Would you mind taking Sydney to the corner over there? I'll be back in just a minute."
Michael shrugged. "Sure. Come on, Sydney" And he took her smaller hand in his and offered her a friendly smile as he guided her across the ice. It had been quite awhile since he'd seen the younger girl and he couldn't help but be surprised at her talkative nature.
"You skate good, Mikey." She grinned up at him before sobering. "I'm scared to fall down."
"Just hold on to my hand, Sydney. I won't let you fall." And Michael tightened his grip on her little hand, determined to stay true to his word.
* * * * * * * * *
Present DayThe day was chilly. Not overcast, but icy-cold with a breeze that stung the eyes and ached in the ears. But neither Sydney Bristow nor Michael Vaughn were aware of the weather conditions as they stood in a small church in Lucosa, California on January 2nd. They had considered New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as potential wedding dates, but they had finally come to the conclusion that they wanted their anniversary to be a celebration of its own with a day of its own.
When they said small, they meant small. Irina wasn't allowed to attend, but Jack and Annette were both present for the big day. Their friends from the CIA were in attendance and Will escorted Francie who was serving as Sydney's Maid of Honor while Weiss was Vaughn's Best Man. There were also a few people from Lucosa who had received invitations to the exclusive event. Mrs. Trenton had even traveled with Sydney's colleague Leanne to attend.
Her dress was simple. A well-fitted sheath of ivory that hung from thin straps and fell to the floor in loose folds. She'd opted out of a veil and had swept her hair away from her face to emphasize her cheekbones as well as the antique earrings she'd worn. The dress had been tailored to her frame and darts had been removed to allow for the slight thickening of her waist. But she was radiant and rosy and gracious and elegant.
And Vaughn had never been happier.
He knew he loved her. Adored her and needed her too. But part of him had been terrified that his mother wouldn't approve of his choices. That his father wouldn't have approved.
He really should have known better. The
moment his mother had arrived, she'd embraced Sydney and treated her like a
daughter.
Vaughn couldn't help but laugh as he saw Sydney's greenish complexion and gave her hand a squeeze as they waited at the foot of an escalator for Annette Vaughn to appear at the top. "It's going to be fine, Syd. She knows who you are. She can't wait to see you."
"She has expectations. I think it would be better if we had never met. Then she couldn't be disappointed."
"She's not going to be disappointed…" Vaughn assured her. "Here she is."
Sydney glanced up to see a dignified woman looking completely unfazed by her long trip. Taking a breath, Sydney watched Annette's slow descent and couldn't help but notice her tailored slacks and her crisp blouse.
"Michel!" Crying his pet name and throwing her arms open, Annette embraced her only son before taking his head between her hands to press a kiss on each of his cheeks.
Sydney couldn't help but smile at the display and was surprised when she suddenly found herself in Annette's arms. She smiled as Annette stood back to take a look at her.
"It's so good to meet you, Mrs. Vaughn."
Annette waved a hand. "Annette. Please call me Annette. It's so good to see you, Sydney. I haven't seen you since you were…well I think you were four or five years old. You were always such a charming child…so smart…and so pretty!" She added with a friendly smile. She raised a hand and lifted Sydney's chin to examine her. "You're gorgeous." She turned to Michael. "Well done, darling."
Sydney blushed as Michael wrapped an arm around her and nodded with a grin.
"Thanks, Maman."
"It's so wonderful to see you two together. You were always so adorable…of course Michael used to pretend he wanted nothing to do with you, Sydney…but that's a man for you, right? Anyway, I think it's safe to say you've certainly changed his mind… Now, about these wedding plans…"
Both Vaughn and Sydney had just grinned as Annette chattered on. Any reservations Sydney had been grasping were suddenly released and she knew.
She and Annette were going to get along just fine.
End Flashback
Annette Vaughn had been thrilled to be reunited with the pretty brunette and was happy to note that Sydney was as beautiful an adult as she was a child. Annette was also ecstatic when she saw just how much Sydney and Michael loved each other. While she'd given up all notions of fate and destiny when William was killed, seeing Sydney with her son so many years after their intertwined childhoods caused her to reconsider her beliefs.
Between Sydney and his mother, the wedding plans had gone off without a hitch. And as he looked around the tiny church at the bits of tulle and full floral arrangements, he saw what a wonderful job they had done. All thoughts of the church were banished from his mind, however, when he saw his bride appear at the back of the church. Standing in a doorway at the other end of the long aisle, she was bathed in the vivid light pouring through the abstract shards of stained glass above. He'd never actually seen anyone glow. It had always seemed like an overzealous characterization…something appropriate for the most formal of prose…the brainchild of a wordsmith.
She was absolutely glowing.
She didn't try to rein in her smile but let it completely loose. Her complexion was rosy, probably a combination of her excitement for the ceremony and her anxiety at being the center of attention. He'd always found it odd that weddings belonged to the bride. It had always seemed unfair. It was a joint union and celebration for a man as much as for a woman. But after seeing her move slowly down the aisle, he knew…the day belonged to her. She belonged to him.
And as he held her hand in his, he remembered the promise he'd made to her at a very tender age on a secluded patch of ice…a promise he'd included in his vows.
"I won't let you fall."