SYDNEY'S POV

I leap up. 'Why?' He looks panicked, and there's an edge of desperation to both his movements and his speech.

'Kendall knows you're here! I dont know how, but he does!' He's hurridly moving around; freaked.

I try to reassure him, but it's hard. A slow feeling of dread is building in the pit of my stomach, and i dont like it. 'Calm down'

He whirls around. 'Dont tell me to calm down! Do you know what they'll do if they find you here?' His tone softens, but there's an edge to his voice. 'They'll take you away. Throw you in jail. Then all of this would be meaningless'

The thought seems merciful to me. No more lies, no more deceit, no more murdering for the sake of staying alive. I like it. 'Would that be so terrible?'

It's a whisper when i say it, and he looks at me, uncomprehendingly. 'Are you serious?'

I move away, to the bathroom to gather my things, and he's followed me, angry, i guess at my weakness. I cant help it. If he'd seen the things i've seen over the last year, he'd be willing to give up his freedom as well. Cant he see this? 'I just mean, this would all be over. The cloak and dagger routine, being hunted. It would be a better ending to all this than anything else i could devise.'

He grabs me and spins me towards him. 'And what about me? First of all, i'm looking at 5 years in jail for harboring a fugitive. Secondly, I'd have to watch you rot, and i love you too much to let that happen, especially for something that was my fault to begin with.' He backs off, shock coursing through him at his words.

Christ, does he really blame himself for all of this? I'd walk to the end of the earth for him, and i dont regret anything i did for him. 'It wasnt' Is that the reason he followed me all over the world?

He looks like he's going to collapse. 'Yes it was. If i hadnt been stupid enough to go with you, then i wouldnt have got caught, and you wouldnt have screwed up protocol to save me'

It's burning. The confrontation i knew would come. 'You think i regret saving you? God Vaughn, i loved you then and i love you now. And, even knowing all that's happened, i would have done it exactly the same, only i'd have told you that i loved you before we ever left LA. That was the only mistake i ever made.' And it was. I'm ashamed that i never told him that i loved him back then. Because i did.

I gather my things. 'I dont want you to go to jail for me. I couldnt stand it. So i'm going to go. And maybe i'll see you again soon, ok?'

I plead slightly, searching for confirmation. He looks tired, and defeated. Once again our happiness is clutched away by what we feel is right. Or, more precisely, what the US government dictates is right. He walks to his room, me behind, quickly clothing myself. 'Vaughn? I'm not leaving here without an answer'

He's at his wardrobe, pulling on a pair of jeans and a shirt. I'm still wearing his, but i've managed to locate my pants. He turns, holding a gun. 'No.' Sirens can be heard clearly. 'We're not losing this again. I love you, and i need you here with me' He grabs a backpack, and quickly shoves clothes into it. 'I'm coming with you'

PART 7

SYDNEY'S POV

Did he really just say... yeah, he did! Some part of me is screaming that he loves me and he wants to be with me. The other part is shocked, disorientated and tired. I can't bring him into this life. I love him, and i want to be with *him*, like he wants to be with me, but he's the only thing in my life that's kept me alive, kept me going. The shining light seperate from the darkness. 'You cant come with me. I wont let you'

He zips up his bag. 'No. I know that. But i'm leaving. And if it happens to be with you - all the better.'

I finish dressing, his shirt wafting his scent to my nostrils. I cross to him, hurling him backwards, into a wall. 'What about the CIA? What about your life here?'

He throws me off and heads to the door. The sirens are distinctly closer and we're both uneasy. He turns back, bursting out 'Fuck the CIA. I dont want to live a life without you in it. Dont make me! I'm tired of being told i cant be in love with you by everyone in my life who doesnt understand how much i love you. I've seen how people look at me; they wonder how i could feel this way. They're idiots. They never felt the things i felt. Most of all, i'm tired of *dreaming* of a life with you.' He breaks off. 'I want to live the dream. With you'

He walks out. I wait a moment, and dazily follow him. I want to live the dream as well. He brandishes his keys as we exit the building, and his car alarm chirps. Against my better judgement, i get in the passengers side, and we speed off. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel, and he keeps taking deep breaths. He's trying to steady himself. For about fifteen minutes, not a word is spoken. I hate the silence. Always have. It knaws away at any reserve of strength we have left.

I venture simply a statement. 'Welcome to my world' Hard, bitter, and i hate the tone of my voice. I cant protect him anymore; he chose me over everything else. And i've never loved anyone more than at this moment.

He glances at me, the bitter duly noticed, and reverberated back as a soft whisper. 'I couldnt be sorry about this. Not even if i tried. It's been a long time coming' He concentrates on the road.

I soften. Quietly, i let my feelings show. 'Me either'. Deep down, this is my happy ending.

A cell rings, and we're snapped to reality, and he panicks. 'Turn it off! They'll run a trace and we'll be caught' He indicates the glove compartment. I rummage through it, to come to the object in question. I fumble with it, eventually giving up trying to work it, hurling it out the window. We laugh, and it breaks the tension. Funny; i can work the most complex things Marshall could come up with, and a simple cell-phone has me flummoxed.

He stops at a red light. 'We're going to have to split up for now. Meet up later, in another country. We'll never get out of LA if we stay together.' But i want us to! No, dont think that, idiot!! Sometimes i think random thoughts. Like going to jail without Vaughn.

I nod. He pulls up to a park, and i get out. I vaguely recognize the area. Full of families. I could disappear here. Which is the point. I unbuckle my seatbelt, and lean over to kiss him. It's soft, a kiss of goodbye. There's a chance this is the last time we'll ever be together, if the CIA gets us. We know that. In my haze, i pull back. 'You're sure about this? Because you could go back, tell them you never saw me and - '

He smiles, cutting me off by placing a placating finger to my lips, softly, but firmness edges into his voice. 'Yes. I wont lie about how i feel anymore. I cant' His hands are shaking, but we both try to stay cool and not show how scared we are.

I kiss his finger, and move away. It's reassuring now that i dont know what i'm doing. Ruining his life and all that stuff. I step out of the car, turning back. 'Meet me at *our* hotel. 5pm, London time. Two weeks from now.' In case he changes his mind. Or if i do. He knows which hotel i mean, but he winks. 'Which one would that be?'

I play back, even now. 'You know.' I wiggle my eyebrow and turn away. I hear him laugh behind me.

'Syd?' I turn back. 'I'll see you in two weeks.'

I close the door and he pulls off. Tears flow. Happiness and sadness, and an impending feeling of dread. It *will* work out, right? Or am i risking the life of the only man i ever loved for my own selfish needs? Guess we'll find out...

PART 8

ONE WEEK LATER - LOS ANGELES VAUGHN'S POV

I wake up in a hotel room full of empty take-out containers and an empty stomach. One week from today and we'll be together. Wonder what she's doing right now? Missing me like i miss her?

I keep thinking about the CIA, mostly Weiss. He's my best friend, and i wish he was here to laugh at me for being such an idiot. When i wasnt home enough, Weiss was the one who volunteered to look after Donovan, my dog. My little condo on the 4th floor, messy, piled paper.

And now? I'm in a messed up room at the Chateau Marmont. They dont ask questions here. When i booked in, i muttered vauguely about a girl. The bellman on that day had nodded sympathetically. If only he knew.

It's wierd, disappearing from everything i knew and cared about. But i'd do anything to be with Sydney. I'd been consumed with her since day one, my desires being mistaken by some mask of casual concern i'd conviced myself with. Safety, concern. I told myself i couldnt be in love with her. That my CIA training and the rules between Handler and Asset would be enough to keep me from her. I'd worked all this time, not for concern for the things she was compromising by now being here, but for my own need to be with her.

And now she will be. I climb out of the bed, and pull on my clothes from yesterday, discarded at my feet. I need to pick up my laundry. I'm booked on a flight in three days, and the only money i have is an ATM card. I use that, and the CIA'll have me in no time at all. Therefore, cleaning, not buying. In my bag is a recently procured passport. 'Greg Walker'. I sound like a pretentious snob. Better get used to it though; the only person who i'll still be Vaughn to is her. Which is appropriate.

I walk to the bathroom, stopping to check my reflection. A 48 hour stubble and a pair of tired green eyes. I like it. Sydney loved my eyes; i remember her staring into them last time. I reach to turn on the shower, but the door knocks. Groaning, i walk to open it. Room service? With my balanced government approved breakfast. Some things never change. I laugh at that.

I open the door... to find armed men waiting for me...

LONDON - SAME TIME (WELL 8 HOURS AHEAD) - DINNER TIME

SYDNEY'S POV

I snap back to focus from my little daydream as the waiter takes my order for dinner. Wonder where he is. What he's doing? Is he thinking about me, i wonder? I order a salad. I cant seem to eat very much at the moment. Damn time difference i guess. It's 5pm. One week exactly!

I'd forgotten that i could be this happy or excited. All on your own, you forget love, and how great life can be when someone loves you as much as you love them. I had a dream that he didnt come, and it scared the hell out of me. I havent really factored into account what i'll do if he doesnt come. I have a few suggestions in my mind, but none really figured out. I have a gun at home. It wouldnt take much to push me to use it on myself. I couldnt do this without Vaughn.

My salad is lain before me, and i pick at it. A few wisps of ham are woven in, and i eat them, savoring the taste of good food. I usually order food at 3am. LA timing. Maybe i'm sick, or consumed with concern. I want to talk to my Dad, but some part of me says no.

Screw it, it'll be the last time i do it for a while; it'll be too dangerous in the beginning. Lead the CIA to Vaughn and me. I stand to go to the bathroom, pausing at the payphone just outside. This is going to cost me a fortune. For a one minute call. Untracable.

I drop in a pound coin and dial the number. It's what, 10/11 am there? He never could sleep anyway. The phone is answered 'Bristow?'

'Dad, it's me?'

'Sydney? I thought-' I dont have time for this, and i cut him off.

'Look, i'm sorry about LA, and-'

'You saw him, didnt you?' The tone is stating, flat. He aint asking a question. Darn it, he always knows these things. I glance down. 45 seconds.

'Yes, i did. And i dont feel comfortable discussing it with you.'

He cuts me off. 'Kendall has him. Took him in a few moments ago.'

No, no, please god, no! 'Wh-what!? How did -'

'I'm going to try and help him Sydney, but i dont know where he's being held. You're my daughter, and, well, he loves you. More than he really should' 10 seconds. I'm welling up. Not enough time... my Vaughn... Dad.

'Yes. Please help him! Please God.' 5 seconds. 'I love you Dad'

'I-' I cut the phone off. I knew it. I fucking *knew* it. Everytime we get a chance, some tiny way to alter our situation, Kendall and his boys happily rob us of it.

I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms, hard enough to draw blood. If they hurt him... if they lock him away, i'll kill them all. I'll fly back to LA and i'll kill them myself. I have nothing to live for that they havent taken from me.

We havent done anything wrong, and i hate them. I hate them so much that it's consuming me, and i'm burning under this rage. They did this, not him. I'll tell myself that. Not me, and certainly not Vaughn. They wont get to hurt him. If Weiss and my Father fail, he'll be gone forever.

It shouldnt be like that. Not for Vaughn. My Vaughn...

PART 9

**

VAUGHN'S POV. 2 DAYS LATER.

I'm just sitting, mutely, in some dingy little cell, nursing a mass of bruises. I didnt go quietly, and the Special Ops guys, my old workmates, showed me exactly how wrong i was to them. It's been maybe 2 days since i've been in here. I havent said a word to anyone. When they push threats down my throat, i just block them out. I think of Sydney.

The gates near my cell move into life. Probably Kendall again. This time, i'll just tell him to fuck off. I have nothing else to loose. I'm going to jail whether i tell them anything or not. They expect me to tell them where Syd is. I dont even know how they knew she was with me, but they did.

Footsteps stop. I look up. Jack Bristow. He glances at me, a mixture of pity and disdain. Of all the people to send to me... the CIA actually knows what they're doing. The guy who knows i slept with his daughter. Who knows i love his daughter. Who knows i might not be able to lie if he asks me flat out where she is.

'Mr Vaughn' I see the 'Agent' prefix has been dropped. Figures.

'Agent Bristow'

He just studies me, hard, but the expression alters slightly. 'Do you love my daughter?'

Simple, direct. Just like her. 'Yes' Simple like the truth.

'Enough to lose your career and your life here? If you told them about her, they'd let you go'

I rise and move towards the front of my cell. 'I had no career before Sydney. She got me promoted, and she gave my life some semblance of meaning. And my life?' I laugh bitterly. 'It disappeared the day she left. If i told them about her, they'd arrest her. I'd never forgive myself if i was the reason she was in pain.'

A smile tugs his features. Admiration maybe? Inappropriate whatever it is. 'She loves you. She always has. And she'll come back here to set you free. You know that.'

'And could you live and serve them, knowing how they hate her. Would you let me live if i were the reason she was in prison?' Of course he wouldnt. I wouldnt let myself live like that. 'Could you betray someone you love?'

He turns, and makes to go. 'I know all i need to about the two of you. All will be resolved in time.' He leaves.

SYDNEY'S POV. 2 DAYS LATER.

Twiddling your thumbs isnt any fun. Eleven days and a dozen nights. 3 days until our supposed meet. I trust my Father, and i trust Vaughn, but this may be something not even the great Jack Bristow can solve for me.

I used to believe my dad could do anything. As i grew up, i guess i blamed him for my mother's 'death'. Destroyed by disillusionment, i sought comfort in him, and he wasnt there to give it to me. Now i know better, and i wish i had appreciated him more as i child. Now i only dispise my own lies - the ones i live now, rather than the ones enforced on me by a protective father and an abortive Russian mother.

I awaken every night bathed in a cold sweat, dreaming of Vaughn. In pain. And i'm dying inside every day that we arent together. I'll wait, at 5pm. Then i'm going home. No matter what. If he rots, i might as well do the same. That's how it is; when you love someone so much that you cant live without them.

Pain, passion, love. They seem to follow me wherever i go. I cant escape it. Vaughn makes me forget pain. But, the other two are alive in me whenever we're together.

God, i miss him so much. My Vaughn. Just sounds right when i say it aloud to myself. Just feels right over my tongue.

I think i'm going to cry. I dont want to fight it anymore. I want to feel like the old Sydney Bristow. She cried, and she could be helpless. Hell, she could be blind as hell, but at least she could be happy. A luxury i seldom afford myself now. But i deserve it. We both do. I've worked hard my entire life. Jeez, i'm 27 years old, and the man i cant live without is on the other side of the world, and he cant live without me either. It isnt wishful thinking, he said as much to me.

What was it he said? 'Living the dream' ? Well, knock me into the sleep i can never awaken from. I'd never give up. I *want* the dream. And what i want, i get.

No matter the cost.

VAUGHN, SAME TIME, LA

The sirens flashing behind us cut a silhouette against the back seat of the car, yet they cease to be a problem. Jack, he's a damn good spy. I'm hunched down in the back seat, Weiss and Jack up front. I feel sick, but i dont think the Agent's milling around know where i am.

Sydney, i'm coming, i promise. If i die trying, it's irrelevant. I tried to stop Jack from taking me away; he's up Shit Creek for what he's done. Weiss; i think he's just along for the ride.

Heck, i'm going down in flames. It's kinda nice that they dont mind going down with me. Weiss looks back at me. 'You ok, buddy?'

I laugh. 'Well, given that i've eaten nothing in like 5 days, and i'm escaping the custody of the US Government, i feel surprisingly good.'

Jack makes a sharp left turn and screeches to a halt. 'Out'

I look up. 'Me?'

'No. Him' He indicates Weiss. 'Go somewhere safe, i'll call when Vaughn's on a plane. If you see where he's going, the CIA will try to get you to talk'

He shudders, but smiles. It's too bright, too false, but we all gotta be cool about this. 'Ok. Uh, bye Mike. Nice to know ya. Tell her 'hey''

He slams the door and Jack pulls off. I'm coming Syd, i swear to you...

PART 10

DAY 14 - 4.58PM - LONDON

SYD'S POV

Here i am, at the hotel with so many memories. The place where i told Vaughn i loved him. The place we broke up. Perfect for such a day then.

The sun is actually shining. It seems strange that at this time of the year it should be so warm in London. There's a strange sensation building in me; somewhere between excitement and dread.

What if he's not coming? What if my Dad couldnt fix things so that we could be together? What if he did get free but decided i'm not worth it? I mean, he's seen the files, he's been on the site where i've committed the crimes i have. A million what-ifs are runing through my head, teasing the emotional and rational sides of my brain. None of which i want to consider.

What exactly will i do if he doesnt come? I've made all these grand announcements to remove myself from the fact that i'd die if he didnt, if i figured out that i, infact, do *not* have all the solutions i tell myself i do. Why else would i feel like a lost child without him?

God, what if he'd been turned? Even unintentionally? That he'll betray me somehow? Ok, i have got to stop thinking like this. I'll go nuts if i do. I've always hated my doubting side.

I glance at my watch. 4.59pm. I seat myself on the front steps of the hotel. Airplanes soar overhead, casting shadows on me. Makes me feel small and insignificant. But i'm not. If he loves me, i can never be small.

A couple walks by, entwined in each other. 5pm. My heart sinks. But i dont move. I'll give min, and myself, three more minutes. Traffic is bad around the airport, right?

Keep hoping, keep hoping. Block out the images of what could possibly have happened to him. I rise to my feet and enter the hotel. Time to pack. But it'll feel kind of strange when i have nowhere to go.

A hand grasps mine, and pulls me over. I allow myself a smile, and i'm bursting with some inner happiness i've denied myself. Noone else feels like that. I turn, and he smiles at me, with a heart melting look on his face. 'You didnt think i was coming, did you?'

I pull him towards me, kissing him. All the pain inside, that was amplified, melts away, and there's only us.

VAUGHN'S POV

It was a crappy flight, stuck in coach with an over-chatty old woman for company. But this, this exact moment, makes up for it. The entire flight i berated myself, wondering if i'd done the right thing. Thinking maybe that she wouldnt be there. That i'd be alone.

But no. Never. All the anger, the failing, and the stress of us being apart; it's all, finally, inconsequential.

I pull away, and she breathes heavily, flushed. 'I had my doubts. Didnt you?'

'Well, yeah. But i had blind faith.' I raise my eyebrows, mocking my statement, teasingly. 'But you're here. With me. What else matters?'

She ducks her head, shyly. 'Nothing.' As an afterthought, she adds. 'But-'

I shush her. I dont want to think. Not now. 'Can we just not think about this right now? Just enjoy that fact that we're here? Together. Alive'

'Living the dream?' It's so quiet i barely here it.

I take her hand, and we walk. 'Yes'

THE END

A/N - Ok, if that sucked, i'm very sorry. I initially planned an angsty ending, but, well, certain events made me want a happy ending to my little tale. And no more!! Any further sequel would just be Syd and Vaughn all happy and fugitivy. And we wouldnt want that, would we?

The Third and final part - Neptune Back To Alias Fic