Just One Kiss
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Chapters 1-10 // Chapters 11 - 20 // Chapters 21-25 + Epilogue
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Chapter 21
Sydney woke up with her head resting on the pillow beside Michael’s and her arm draped over his chest. She felt him stroking her arm and hand softly and knew he was awake. “Hey.” She sighed.
“Morning.” He smiled.
She reached her hand over and intertwined it with his. “You know what I love?” She asked quietly.
“Hmm?”
“This.” She said as she wiggled her left ring finger, referring to the ring on it.
“I love it too.” He sighed.
“It makes me feel really good.... does that sound stupid?” She asked.
“No.” He smiled. “It makes me feel good too.”
“Good. OH!! Nooo.” She groaned as she bolted from the bed and disappeared out of the bedroom.
“What?” Michael asked as he sat up. Sydney returned a moment later with a handful of crinkled papers and sat on the bed next to him. “What the hell is this?” He asked.
“My notes... for my next article. I completely forgot about writing it!” She groaned.
“Ok wow just so many things...,” he sighed.
“What?” She laughed.
“Well first I don’t know how you even understand your own writing.” He said as he picked up a paper and tried to decipher the words. “Second, when is this article due?”
“Tuesday at two,” she said.
“I forgot you had to leave,” he said sadly.
“I know.” She sighed. “Even worse I have to buy another ticket...”
“What?” He asked, sounding really concerned.
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
“Sydney,” he said.
“Alright fine.” She groaned. “I only have a hundred dollars in my bank account and the ticket cost eighty nine dollars so I had to charge it on my emergency card.” She cringed.
“Why do you only have a hundred dollars in your bank account?” He asked.
She shrugged. “Rent... food.... student loans... Plus I haven’t been able to pick up any freelance pieces because I was so busy finishing the novel and finding an editor which now appears to be a waste of time...,” She sighed. He just shook his head and looked away; that broke her heart.
“Michael,” she said quietly. “You don’t like me living up there do you?”
“No, I don’t.” He said. “Who told you?”
“Alice, actually,” she said.
He nodded slowly. “Well I don’t like it Syd.”
“I’m beginning to think that I don’t like it either.” She sighed. He looked over at her. “It’s just... when I’m there its fine. It’s fun... I guess. I mean it’s fast paced and so different than here. When I was there, I hadn’t been back here in so long... and I guess I just forgot what it’s like. I missed you when I was there. Coming here... I realize what I’ve been missing. Your mom.... she’s just so great and I miss talking to her I miss... I just miss having that person who’s just... a mom and telling you that you’re too thin and you need to eat!” She laughed.
“Mostly though I realized how great it is to have you around, even if we were fighting half the time. And now... with us... I’m gonna miss you too much.” She sighed.
He reached his arm around her and kissed her head softly. “So what are you saying Syd?”
“I’m saying... maybe I wanna move back here.” She sighed. “I mean.... I hate that job I’ve got and I can write anywhere right?”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “Syd you can do anything you want. You’ve got a degree in English and you can do whatever you want!”
“Except I’m poor.” She laughed.
“Aww well if you move you can live here and I won’t charge you any rent.” He smiled.
“Okay.” She laughed. “Ohh I wish I could move tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” He said as he rubbed her back.
“But I’m going to start the whole moving thing. I really am,” she said.
“I’m glad,” he said as he kissed her head.
“But for now I have to do this.” She grimaced. “Or I won’t have enough money to move.”
“I can loan you some money if you...”
“No.” She interrupted him. “I’ll be ok.” She sighed. He looked weary. “I will! I’ll just skip a meal... or two a day.”
“Syyyd.” He groaned.
“Kidding.” She smiled. “Now lemme write this.”
“Okay.” He sighed as he lay back down on the bed and rubbed her back while she gathered her notes and began to write.
~*~
“Finished.” She groaned an hour later. “I’m gonna be so glad when I never have to think about this stuff again.”
“Yes,” he said.
“So when are you going back?” He asked.
“Ummm well... it could go back tonight but there’s really no point in it since I have nothing to do first thing tomorrow so I’ll just go back tomorrow morning with all the commuters.” she said.
“Okay good. So we have the whole day.” He smiled.
“Yep. What do ya wanna do?” She smiled. He shrugged. “Okay well I’m gonna go take a shower while you figure it out ok?”
“Kay.” He smiled. She kissed his forehead before slipping out of bed and walking to the bathroom.
~*~
“Michael, you wouldn’t happen to have a hair dyer would you?” She called from the bathroom twenty minutes later.
“Uh yeah I think I do... is it in the bottom drawer?”
“Is it?” She asked.
“Yeah uh – whoa.” He paused when he pushed open the bathroom door and found Sydney standing in jean shorts and a bra.
“What?” She asked.
“You’re not wearing a shirt.” He said plainly.
“Yeah.” She laughed. “If I wear my shirt when I dry my hair it gets all wet and hair-ish. Does this bother you?”
“No...,” he said. “I just haven’t seen you without a shirt on.”
“Uh huh.” She laughed.
“Here is your hair dryer.” He said as he handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She took it and went to plug it in but notice he was still standing there staring at her. “Like what you see?”
“Maybe I do.” He smiled before leaving the bathroom.
~*~
“You know one good thing about moving here?” She smiled.
“Umm living together?” He smiled.
“Yes, but more specifically you’re suuuuch a good cook.” She grinned as she carried their plates to the sink to wash them.
“Why thank you.” He smiled.
“Dude what the hell happened!” Someone called as the front door banged open.
“Come on in Eric.” Michael laughed.
“I’m gone for a week – one week!” Eric shouted as he came into the kitchen. “And you go insane. Hey Sydney.”
“Hi Eric.” Sydney laughed.
“I’m never going away again. You’re not safe to leave alone.” He sighed. “How could you want to marry that... that ... girl!” Eric asked.
“Uh, aren’t you the one that told him to go out with her or something?” Sydney asked.
Eric turned to Michael. “You told her that?” Michael shrugged. “You two are weird... besides I just thought he could have some fun with her, you know she’s a college chick.” Eric smirked.
Michael winced; Sydney grimaced. “I think I’m going to throw up.” She groaned.
“What? Did I cross a sharing line?” Eric asked. Sydney rolled her eyes. “Wait holy shit – why is Sydney wearing an engagement ring?!” Eric gasped.
“Eric...,” Michael began.
“You didn’t!” Eric gasped. “You got engaged to two women in under a week!? YOU FREAK!”
Sydney laughed. “Michael and I aren’t engaged.”
“Oh then who are you engaged to?” Eric asked.
“No one,” she said. “This is a promise ring,” she said.
“Who are you promised to?” Eric asked.
“Michael,” she said.
Eric was silent for a moment and he just stared at them both before whimpering. “I’m so confused.”
“Sit down Eric we’ll explain everything to you.” Michael sighed.
“Good, but do you have any food left? All this confusion is making me hungry.”
Chapter 22
“Ok Syd I gotta go to work but I’ll call you tonight ok?” he said as they were saying their goodbyes Monday morning.
“Okay,” she said as she hugged him tight and kissed him gently.
“Wait there’s one more thing,” he said as he handed her a few twenty’s from his pocket.
“What’s this?” She asked.
“For your train ticket... I mean, it’s my dumb fault you had to come all the way down here,” he said.
“Michael, I can’t...”
“Yes, you can. It’s my way of saying thank you,” he said. She hesitated. “I’m making you take this whether you like it or not.”
“Alright.” She sighed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you,” he said and then with one last kiss he left her.
Half an hour later Amelia came to take Sydney to the train station. “Don’t stay away for seven years this time alright?” She smiled when she dropped Sydney off.
Sydney laughed. “I won’t; I promise I’ll be back much sooner.”
“Good.” Amelia smiled.
On the train ride back Sydney was indescribably happier. Even the fact that she would most likely have to find a new editor didn’t even bother her. She was content with the fact that now that she had Michael, everything was going to be perfect.
She went straight back to her apartment to drop of her bag and pick up her briefcase so she could type her article and have it in long before the deadline for once. “Syd! Hey!” Francie smiled at her.
“Hey Fran how was your weekend?”
“Eh ,alright. I had a crappy date on Friday. How was yours? Did you stop Michael’s wedding?” Francie asked.
“Yep,” Sydney smiled as she walked in the kitchen and grabbed a cup of coffee.
“Looks like you got something else in the process,” Francie said as she nodded towards Sydney’s left hand.
“Oh,” Sydney laughed as she looked down at the ring. “I’m not engaged but... it’s just a promise ring.” She sighed, suddenly rethinking her decision to wear the ring on that finger.
“Ohh, Francie sighed. “But is it to Michael?”
“Yeah.” Sydney giggled.
“I knew it!” Francie squealed. “I knew you two would get together!”
“Why?” Sydney laughed.
“Because you’re just so freakin’ perfect for each other. I wish I could get a guy like that.” She groaned.
Sydney laughed. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Francie sighed. “So what are you doing now?”
“Well right now I have to type up my article and then I have to try to smooth things over with my editor but... I think I might be moving.” She said.
“Moving to a different place or moving back to farm country?” Francie asked.
“Farm country.” Sydney laughed.
“Ohh that’s sweet though. You’re gonna move back with Michael and have a bunch of pretty little babies right?” Francie smiled.
“Not quiet.” Sydney laughed. “Michael and I have only been together for three days.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like you just met the guy,” Francie said.
“Yeah that’s true.” Sydney sighed. “Alright well I’m gonna get writing.”
“Sure Syd, talk to ya later.”
~*~
After typing up the article she had written at Michael’s Sydney decided it would be best if she called her editor and got the rejection over with.
“Hi, this is Sydney Bristow calling for Amanda Shillwater,” she said nervously.
“One second Miss. Bristow.” The receptionist said. Then a moment later Amanda’s over cheerful voice came onto the line. “Sydney?”
“Yeah, hi. I’m so sorry about Friday... I was having a crisis.” She sighed truthfully.
“Well we all have those. When are you available to come down and talk about your piece?” Amanda asked.
“Anytime, when is best for you?” Sydney asked.
“How about four? This afternoon?”
“Perfect,” Sydney said. “I’ll see you then.”
“Great Sydney, ciao,” Amanda said.
“Great, rejection in person. That’s so much worse.” Sydney groaned when she hung up the phone.
~*~
“Sydney I’m so glad you could come down!” Amanda grinned as she pulled Sydney into her office. “So, let’s get down to it shall we? Sydney, I absolutely loved this,” Amanda said as she held up Sydney’s manuscript.
Sydney, who was completely prepared for rejection, was stunned. “What?” She gasped.
“I loved it. It was completely heartfelt and emotional. I cried at the end. I never cry at anything! It was just so real!” Amanda exclaimed.
“Wow, thank you so much,” Sydney said.
“Well here it is. I’ve made a few minor notes. Just some little things that I’d suggest changing or rewording or something. Once you finish that we can talk about publishing.” Amanda smiled.
“For real? I mean, really?” Sydney laughed.
“Absolutely Sydney. I’m glad to have you on board and I hope that this won’t be your one and only piece,” Amanda said.
“Thank you so much!” Sydney said, almost crying from joy.
“You’re welcome.” Amanda smiled. “And I’d like to have those corrections as soon as possible.”
“Of course! Of course! Yes.” Sydney grinned.
~*~
Sydney could hardly sit still when waiting for Michael to call. She just paced around her apartment which was empty since her roommates were out. When it finally rang she jumped.
“Hey beautiful.” Michael answered.
“OH MY GOD I’M GETTING PUBLISHED!” She screamed into the phone.
“What?” Michael laughed.
“They want to publish my book!! They’re going to publish it Michael!”
“Oh my god Syd that’s awesome! I am so, so proud of you,” he said.
“I know!! This is just like... the best thing EVER!” She laughed.
“I know,” he said.
“Ohh, but my dad’s gonna kill me... ah, who cares I don’t talk to him anyway and he might not even read it and if he does read it he probably won’t get that its about him and yet I still don’t care!!” she said in one long breath.
“Okay then.” He laughed, not quit sure what she said. “But it was fantastic Syd.”
“I only let you read part of it.” She laughed.
“Yes but what I read, I loved,” he said.
“Good. So how was your day?”
“Clearly not even close to being as good as yours,” he said. “But it was alright... I had to explain to everyone that I didn’t actually get married.”
“Ah, yeah,” She said.
“Yeah oh well though. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” She sighed. “I guess I’m gonna go... I should eat something...”
“You haven’t eaten?” He asked.
“No, I was too excited.” She laughed.
“Go eat, Syd.”
“Alright, I will. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter 23
After spending the week practically locked in her tiny bedroom with her laptop computer, Sydney had finally finished her manuscript for the second time and she dropped it off at the editors at 4 on Friday only moments before her cell rang.
“Hello?” She answered.
“Where are you and what are you doing?” Michael asked.
“I’m just coming out of my editors and about to go get my mail why?” She laughed.
“Can you get to Penn Station by six?” He asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you are coming home for the weekend. There will be a ticket there waiting for you,” he said.
“Michael...,” she began to protest.
“Nope. There is no way we’re spending this weekend apart. I waited twenty eight years to have you Sydney Bristow and I will not settle for just three amazing days.” He said.
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. “Well when you put it like that...,” she sighed.
“Excellent, I’ll see you in a few hours.”
~*~
When she got off the train at seven thirty, there he was, standing there waiting for her, big goofy grin and all. To top it off, he had flowers. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You, Michael Vaughn are the perfect man,” she said as she walked over to him and kissed him.
“Well thank you but I doubt that’s true,” he said.
“To me, you’re perfect.” She smiled.
“So are you,” he said. “Come on, let’s go get some dinner.”
“Great I’m starving.” She sighed. “In fact I could eat this.” She said as she smelled the rose he had given her.
“I think it would taste bad.” He laughed.
“Yes,” she said.
“Do you mind if we go to my parent’s for dinner? Mom said she’s making lasagna to bribe you.” He smiled.
“Your mom’s lasagna? Ohh I can’t turn that down,” she said.
“She’ll be thrilled.” He laughed.
~*~
“So, Sydney tell us about your book! Michael tells us you’ve got a publisher interested,” Amelia said.
“Well not quite. My editor loved it and I finished up all the corrections she wanted done to it. I just turned it back in this afternoon so if she likes it then we take it to a publisher.” She smiled.
“That’s fantastic,” Bill said. “We’re very proud of you Syddie.”
“Thanks.” She smiled.
“So, when do we get to read it?” Amelia asked.
“Um when it’s published?” Sydney offered.
“Sydney Anne!” Amelia scolded.
“I’m kidding.” She laughed. “I’ve got a copy with me but it’s on a disk. You’d have to put it on a computer.”
“Bill can do that for me.” Amelia smiled. “Then he can print it out.”
“Well, it’s kinda long,” Sydney said.
“That’s alright.” Amelia smiled. “At least tell us a little bit of what it’s about.”
“Well... it’s a lot about me and my dad, sort of. A girl who lost her mother at a young age and her father doesn’t love her all that much...,” she said. Amelia just nodded. “My editor says it’s good because it’s real and she’s right it is.”
“So do you have any real inspiration for your next novel?” Michael asked.
“Next!” Sydney laughed. “This one isn’t even published yet.”
“Ah, well think to the future Sydney.” He smiled.
“Well as a matter of fact I think I might,” she said. “You.”
Bill and Amelia laughed at the look on Michael’s face. “Me?!” He gasped. She laughed and nodded. “What about me?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She smiled.
“Why do I have a feeling that this book is going to mock me?” Michael grumbled.
“Because it will probably,” Amelia smiled. Sydney laughed and nodded.
“Why do I put up with you people...,” Michael grumbled as he turned back to his plate of food.
~*~
“So what is this idea about me?” Michael asked when they walked into his apartment.
“Well, it’s not really about you so much as it is about us.” She smiled.
“Oh yea?” He asked.
“Yeah but I’m still thinking it through,” she said.
“Alright. So what’s up now?”
“So tired.” She whined.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” she groaned as she fell limp against him.
“My goodness it’s barely eight thirty. You’re not much of a night owl are you?” He laughed.
“Night owl? What are you twelve?” She laughed.
“Alright come on owly I’m putting you to bed,” he said as he lifted her up and carried her to the bed.
“Mm comfy.” She sighed as she snuggled up to a pillow.
“Uh huh. You know I was gonna go up there this weekend,” he said.
“Where? New York?”
“Yeah. But then I decided there was no way I was sleeping on the floor with the roaches.” He smirked.
“Ha. Ha,” she said in an unamused way.
“There are roaches and you know it,” he said.
“Yeah.” She grumbled. “But I’m not sure what’s worse: the roaches or Amaratta.”
Michael laughed. “What’d she do?”
“Her new thing is photographing nudes.” Sydney groaned.
“Oh no,” Michael groaned.
“Did I mention they were fat nudes? Hanging everywhere.”
“Oh god,” He cringed.
“Yeah it was very pleasant.” She shuddered. “Even worse she asked me to volunteer to be a subject.”
“She didn’t!” He gasped.
“Oh, but she did,” Sydney groaned.
“That’s awful... wait did you say yes?” He asked. Sydney smacked him weakly with one of her hands.
“No, you idiot. That’s disgusting. She’s going to put them in some gallery and I don’t want my ass available to see for all of the city.” She groaned.
He laughed. “Good, I don’t want them seeing your ass either, especially not before me.” He smiled.
“Mmm hmm.” She sighed.
A few minutes later she had fallen asleep. Michael put his arm around her and then turned on a baseball game but kept the sound off.
~*~
“Mm what time is it?” Sydney mumbled sleepily.
“Ten thirty.” Michael told her as he switched off the TV and began to pull the covers back on his bed.
“We’re such losers, going to bed at ten thirty on a Friday.” She laughed.
“Hey, speak for yourself loser, you fell asleep at eight thirty.” He winked.
“Yeah, yeah,” She rolled her eyes as she slid off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.
A few minutes later she returned and saw Michael pulling his shirt off over his head and tossing it into the laundry. She caught a glimpse of his bare back as he was reaching for another shirt and her heart practically did a flip flop in her chest. Slowly, she walked over to him, her heart was racing a thousand miles a minute but she just had to know and she couldn’t wait any longer.
“Michael,” she said quietly.
“Hmm?” He asked as he turned around, his shirt now in his hands. She walked up to him, pushed the shirt away and pulled him down into a passionate kiss. “Syd...,” he said questioningly when he pulled out of their embrace. “Are you...”
She smiled. “It’s you and me Michael; it’s always been you and me.”
Chapter 24
“So...,” Michael sighed the next morning when he and Sydney finally awoke. She giggled and snuggled closer to him. “How glad are you that last night didn’t suck?”
She laughed. “Just as glad as you. Maybe more.”
“More mm?” He smiled.
“Oh yeah; you rock.” She grinned.
“Good to know.” He laughed. “So, I don’t know about you, but I had no plans except not moving from this bed until... never.”
“Sounds good to me,” she sighed. “Except we might get hungry if we never move.”
“That is true.” He sighed.
“You know what does suck though?” she said sadly.
“What?”
“That leaving is going to be sooo much harder now and I can’t even come back every weekend. Sucks.” She pouted with her bottom lip stuck out.
“That does suck,” he said. “But hopefully you won’t be living in the city for long, right?”
“Yeah... let’s see... this is the 20th right? That gives me eleven days before I have to pay the next month’s rent which I’m not really keen on paying...,” she said.
“So, you’re moving in eleven days?” He asked. “What about two weeks notice at your job?”
“Well first, they don’t even care about two weeks notice and second, I quit after I turned in my article on Monday.” She told him.
“Really?” He asked.
“Yeah... because at that point not only did I think my book was getting rejected but I figured that either way I wasn’t going to live in the city any more. It’s just not worth being poor. Plus you’re kinda like an added bonus.” She grinned.
“Thanks.” He laughed.
“So anyway, hopefully I can get most of the stuff with the editor and publisher squared away so I don’t have to keep meeting with them. And then.... I guess I need a job here,” she said.
He nodded. “We can look at the Classified ads in tomorrow’s paper.”
“Okay,” she said. “This is exciting. I can’t wait to live here all the time.”
“I can’t wait for you to live here either.” He smiled.
~*~
Later that afternoon, when Sydney and Michael had finally dragged themselves out of bed, Michael ran to the store for some groceries and Sydney was sitting out on the lawn in front of the apartment reading a book and enjoying the grass that she never got to see living among the concrete.
“Sydney? What are you doing?” Amelia asked as she approached.
“Getting re-in touch with nature.” She smiled. Amelia laughed. “Okay not really. What’s up?”
“Well I made a pie and brought you guys some,” Amelia said.
“Ohh, pie excellent! Thank you,” Sydney said as she got up off the ground and let Amelia into their apartment.
“You’re welcome. Are you alright Sydney? You seem... I’m not sure. Different somehow,” Amelia said.
“I’m fine, great actually. I’m just... going through a life shift I guess. Everything’s changing and it’s making me a little nuts,” she sighed. “But in a good way... if that makes sense.”
Amelia nodded. “You and Michael.”
“Well no, it’s not even that. I mean yeah... that’s changed but that feels right. But I’m moving and-”
“Wait, you’re moving?” Amelia asked.
Sydney nodded. “I’m moving back here... in eleven days.”
“Oh, Sydney that’s wonderful. It will be so nice to have you here permanently.” Amelia said, hugging her tightly. “Are you going to get your own place or...”
“No, I’ll stay here,” she said, blushing slightly. Amelia just nodded. “But it’s that and this publishing thing... I don’t know why but I’m so nervous about it. I guess... I mean it’s what I’ve wanted for so long, it’s hard to believe it’s real.”
Amelia nodded again. “It’s going to be wonderful I know it.”
“Thanks.” Sydney smiled. “I hope so.”
“Syd- oh hey Mom, what are you doing?” Michael asked when he came in bearing groceries.
“I was just leaving. I brought you both some pie though,” Amelia said as she made her way to the door.
“Oh thanks Mom.” Michael said. After his mother left he walked over and kissed Sydney hello.
“So, what’d ya bring?” She asked as she tried to look into the bags he was carrying.
“Umm pasta, bread, fruit....”
“Carbs,” she laughed. “Very smart.”
“See, I’m not just a pretty face.” He smiled. She laughed.
~*~
After a wonderful weekend, Sydney and Michael parted ways on Monday morning once again. When she returned she informed Francie and Amaretta that she would be moving out so they needed to find someone new to share the apartment. Amaretta seemed unphased by the news but Francie was rather upset and told Sydney that she would miss her.
Sydney found that she actually didn’t have that much stuff to pack up considering that she had extremely limited amounts of space in the apartment. Besides her clothes there were only two other boxes of things she had there, which wasn’t much at all.
Monday afternoon she received a call from her editor and scheduled a meeting for the next day.
“Everything looks perfect Sydney. Congratulations, you’re finished.” Amanda smiled.
“Thank you so much.” Sydney sighed.
“Now we’ll get started right away on the publishing process, it shouldn’t take too long at all. We’ve got some papers for you to sign and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Great.” Sydney smiled. “I just have one tiny concern.”
“What’s that?” Amanda smiled.
“Well... I’m going to be moving out of the city so I won’t be so easily available for meetings like this,” she said, cringing slightly.
“Oh that’s alright. Most of the stuff we’ll have to do after this could be done over the phone or if something needs to be signed we can fax it.”
“Great.” Sydney smiled.
“Where are you moving to, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Oh just back to my home town in northern Pennsylvania.” She smiled.
“Oh I don’t think I could take that.” Amanda laughed. “But I was born for the city life.”
“Yeah...,” Sydney sighed.
“Well let’s get these papers signed then, shall we?”
~*~
The next nine days passed painfully slow for Sydney especially since the only contact she had with Michael was via the phone. But before she knew it, it was July 31 and Bill and Michael were driving up to get her things. Michael flat out refused to drive in New York City traffic and Sydney didn’t argue. Michael wasn’t the best driver in tight situations and they both feared that he would get them killed by pissing off an angry driver with a gun in the glove box. But, Bill was used to it since he was the one that brought Sydney and Michael to and from NYU for four years when Sydney’s own father had been conveniently out of town during the all important move in and out days.
When they pulled up, Sydney was waiting outside her apartment. When Michael got out of the car she leapt into his arms. “I missed you.” He sighed.
“I missed you too but I got a five thousand dollar check!” She grinned.
“What?” He laughed.
“Yeah it’s an advance from the publisher.” She grinned.
“Awesome,” he said as he kissed her.
“I know!” She giggled. “Thank you so much for coming,” she said to Bill.
“My pleasure Syddie. It’s worth it to have you back home.” He smiled. Then the three of them took the elevator up to her apartment and began to collect her things. Michael and Bill each took a box while Sydney brought down an armful of clothes on hangers. Two more trips later and they were finished; all her belongings in the back of Bill’s SUV.
“Ready to go Syd?” Michael asked as he saw Sydney taking one last look up at her old apartment.
“Yep. Let’s go.” She smiled.
Chapter 25
It had been almost three months since Sydney had moved in with Michael and they were both happier than they had ever been in their entire lives. Though adjusting to living together had caused a few fights at first, they were now perfectly happy together and wondered how they had ever managed to stay apart for so long.
Sydney’s book was well on its way to being published and in the mean time she had taken a job at the Huntsville Gazette, the newspaper that circulated nightly around their town.
“Syd it’s here.” Michael called as he walked into the apartment carrying a large envelope.
“What is?”
“The book cover sketch.” He told her.
“Ohh lemme see!” she said excitedly as she bounded over to him. Michael set the rest of the mail down on the kitchen table before ripping the envelope open and pulling out the sketch. “Ohhhh I love it.” She smiled as she saw the pink loopy writing of the books title Daddy’s Girl and then underneath a drawing of a picture frame with broken glass in it.
“Me too.” He smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. It was perfect. In fact, everything in her life at that moment was perfect and there was only room for improvement. She looked up at Michael and saw him smiling down at the book cover as he admired it. She smiled too as she fingered the ring that was still on her left hand. It wasn’t planned; it wasn’t traditional and it was random but sometimes that’s what love was. But when it’s that perfect it shouldn’t just be ignored it should be grabbed and held onto and never let go.
“Michael?”
“Hmm?”
“Will you marry me?” She asked. Michael dropped the book cover back down onto the table and gaped at her. “I know, I know it’s random but... it’s just everything is so perfect and I love you. I love you so much Michael and you’re my best friend you always have been, you always will be and now you’re just so much more and I know this is forever because it’s... well it’s us! And why aren’t you saying anything?” She asked nervously.
“Sorry,” he said quickly. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s wrong in my life that two women have proposed to me.”
“Well maybe it’s because you’re just so damn loveable that we don’t want to wait around for you to propose.” She laughed.
He smiled and placed his hands on her hips, pulling her close to him. “I’d love to marry you Sydney.” She beamed as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“I love you so much.” She sighed.
“I love you too,” he said as he kissed her once more. “And you already have the ring on... I feel so worthless,” he sighed.
“Noo, you’re not worthless.” She smiled. “You’re very, very, very valuable to me.”
“Am I?” He smiled.
“Yep and you’re going to prove it to me right now.” She grinned as she leapt up into his arms.
~*~
“We should tell my parents and celebrate,” Michael said as he traced small circles across her arms.
“Yeah ok,” she sighed. “In a few minutes.”
“Okay.” He laughed. “And... I also think that you should tell your father.”
“Michael...,” she groaned.
“Syd, I know but he is your father.” He told her.
“But... you know as well as I do that your dad was a thousand times more of a father to me than he was.” She sighed. “I mean... my dad was never in town long enough to care. He didn’t even go to my graduations or my... anything!! He probably won’t even want to come to our wedding. He can just read about it in the paper,” she said bitterly.
“Sydney.” He sighed.
“Yeah... I know...,” she sighed. “Let’s just not ruin this perfect moment ok?”
“Okay,” he said as he snuggled closer to her.
~*~
“Sydney, Michael, this is a surprise.” Amelia smiled when they both showed up on her doorstep later that evening.
“Well, we had some things to tell you and we didn’t want to wait.” Sydney smiled as she and Michael went inside.
“Oh?” Amelia asked curiously.
“What is it then?” Bill asked.
“Well...,” Sydney said as she looked over at Michael and smiled.
“We’re engaged,” he said.
Amelia squealed and pulled Sydney into a tight hug. “Ohh this is wonderful! I’m so, so, so, so, so thrilled for you two!”
“Thanks Mom.” Michael laughed. Amelia hugged Sydney for another few minutes before hugging her son. “And Sydney wanted to show you her book cover.”
“Oh let me see!” Amelia said. Sydney pulled the cover out of the manila envelope and held it out to Amelia. “Oh I love it! It’s wonderful. Do you see Bill?”
“It’s perfect Syddie.” He smiled.
“Thanks guys.” Sydney smiled.
“Oh this is exciting!! We have another wedding to plan now. A real one.” Amelia smiled.
“Yeah this won’t be in six days I promise.” She smiled, glancing pointedly at Michael.
“Ha. Ha,” he said dryly. “Never gonna live that down am I?”
“Nope,” Bill, Amelia and Sydney said in unison.
“Just great,” Michael sighed as he flopped down on the couch in his parent’s family room.
Amelia hugged Sydney again as they walked to the couch themselves. “I think,” Amelia began. “You should have a tiara when you get married and you should wear a strapless gown, it would look so nice on you.”
“Have you been thinking about this?” Sydney smiled.
“Maybe a little.” Amelia shrugged. Bill made a suspicious cough that sounded like a laugh. “Okay more than a little.”
Sydney smiled. “Well when I do look at dresses you have to come with me, ok?”
“Okay!” Amelia giggled in a girlish way.
Sydney giggled too. “You’re the best Amelia.”
“No,” Amelia said. “You’re family now, call me Mom,” she said.
Sydney was so touched she didn’t even think she could speak. “Oh, I don’t...”
“I insist,” Amelia said. “Please.”
“Okay.... Mom,” Sydney smiled as a tear fell down her cheek. Amelia wiped it away before pulling Sydney into another hug. Then the two of them looked and saw Bill and Michael staring at them.
“If you two even think about laughing at us...,” Amelia threatened.
“Noooo,” Bill and Michael said together. “It’s perfect.” Bill added before he and Michael joined them in the hug.
Epilogue
“Mommy!! Mommy tell us a story!” Five year old Dana begged.
“Ya Mommy stowie,” Three year old Laura echoed.
“You ladies want a story hmm?” Sydney asked as she gathered her two daughters up in her arms and herded them up the stairs to bed. She had already put them to bed twice but for some reason, that evening they weren’t keen on sleeping.
“Ya stowie!” Laura giggled.
“Gramma told us to ask you for one.” Dana smiled.
“Oh yeah? What did Gramma say?” Sydney asked.
“Gramma said to tell us bout you and Daddy.” Dana told her.
“You want to hear the story about me and Daddy?” Sydney asked.
“YEAH!” The girls cheered together.
“Okay well maybe we should get Daddy to come help me tell it hmm?” Sydney smiled.
“I’ll get him!” Dana said as she ducked down and squeezed between her mother’s legs to run back down the stairs. “Daddy! Daddy!”
“Whoa whatcha running for munchkin?” Michael said as he caught his daughter at the bottom of the stairs and picked her up off the ground.
“Daddy come tell us a story,” Dana said. “Pweese.”
“You want a story hmm?” Michael asked as he looked up the stairs to his wife who was standing and holding their other daughter on her hip. She smiled down at him and winked. “Alright I’m commin.” He laughed.
Michael and Sydney took their daughters to their room and tucked them into their respective beds. Laura immediately got out of her bed and climbed into Dana’s. “Laura you can’t stay there.” Sydney laughed.
“Stowie Mommy!” She commanded.
“Alright.” Sydney sighed. “Well your Daddy and I met when we were only 12 years old....”
“And you fell in love?!” Dana asked excited.
“No, not quite,” Sydney said. “Anyway we were best friends all through high school and then we went to college...”
“And you fell in love?!” Dana asked again.
“Hey who’s telling this story anyway?” Sydney laughed as she ticked her daughter’s stomach. Dana just giggled. “We were best friends until we were twenty eight when your Daddy was going to marry someone else because he went temporarily insane,” Sydney said as she smiled at her husband. He rolled his eyes at her.
“But before he got married Mommy and Daddy realized that they loved each other very much and...”
“You got married instead!” Dana interjected once more.
Sydney laughed. “Not at that moment no. We waited another year and then we got married. And then two years later we had Dana Amelia,” Sydney said as she placed a kiss on Dana’s for head; Dana giggled. “And two years after that we had Laura Irina,” she said as she put a kiss on Laura’s forehead.
“Then what happened?” Dana asked.
“Well you know what happened. You were there.” Sydney smiled.
“Boo Mommy that story was too short!” Dana said. “Read us your book again!”
“No, it’s much too late for that tonight and you have to go to bed.”
“No bed!” Laura said.
“Yes bed!” Michael said as he picked up Laura and put her back into her own bed.
“Night ladies, we love you.” Sydney said as she turned off their light and walked out into the hallway where Michael was standing. She put her arms around her husband and kissed him. “Did you see the new book cover?”
“No, where is it?” He asked.
“Downstairs on the counter. I set it out for you to see,” she said.
“Oh well... I guess I didn’t see it. Dana wouldn’t let go of me the whole night.” He laughed.
“I know I saw.” Sydney smiled. “She loves her Daddy.”
“Yeah,” he smiled. “Let’s go look.” He said as he pulled her down the stairs with him. Once in the kitchen he picked up the manila envelope and pulled out the new cover design. The book was in its second round of printing after shooting to the top of the best sellers list so the publisher decided to redesign the cover. “It’s perfect.” Michael smiled as he looked down at it.
The title, You and Me, was scrawled across the top in blue, scripty letters. Beneath it was a drawing of a diamond ring sitting on a wooden table, a ring that was an exact replica of the engagement ring Sydney had with the exception of the fact that the initials inscripted on the ring on the book cover were that of the characters in the book and not their real life counterparts.
“I still can’t believe it’s on the best seller list.” Sydney sighed.
“Yeah I know,” he said.
“But I guess I had good inspiration, did I?” She smiled up at him.
“Of course,” he grinned. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She giggled. “You know... the girls are in bed... we could go to bed early ourselves,” she smiled.
“That sounds like a very good idea,” he said as he leaned down to kiss her. Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up and carried her upstairs. In that moment, Sydney took a second to think about how perfect her life had become because of the family she had created with her husband, the love of her life, the best friend she would ever have. Perfect.
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