Disclaimer: None of these guys are mine, but you already knew that.

Classification/Genre: Angsty Will/Sydney romantic fluff (yes, such a thing does exist)

Summary: Will and Syndey find out just how much they need to live on. Set after the season 2 premiere.

Rating: PG

Enough
by Gatekeeper

Will could see it on Sydney's face as soon as she leaned against the doorway.

"That bad, huh?"

"Bad enough."

As he always did, as she always prayed that he would, he set the notebook beside him on the couch and held his arms out. "Come here."

And, as she always did, as he always prayed she would, Sydney went into them, leaning her head against Will's chest as he wrapped his arms around her, doing his best to help her block out the rest of her life. Sydney's own arms moved around his waist as she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation. When had this place, this moment, become her definition of all that was right with the world? And how long was she going to be able to keep it?

Will's voice was soft as he stroked her hair. "Can you tell me about it?"

"My mother," she whispered, snuggling closer against him. She could hear Will's heartbeat through his shirt, steadying her. Strengthening her. "They're going to make me work with her."

"Ah." Will fought to keep the panic out of his voice. She knew all the dangers, the potential heartache, and hearing them repeated back to her was the last thing she needed right now. And he'd promised himself that he'd be everything that she needed. "Did they say why?"

"As long as Rimbaldi is a priority Vaughn says that the CIA is ordering me to use her as a resource. Work with her. Talk to her. Suffer through her trying to twist my head around ..." She cut herself off, squeezing her eyes shut against the emotions. "If you weren't here ..."

"I am here." Will pressed his lips against the top of her head. "And I'm always going to be."

"I know." Without meaning to, her voice caught on the last word. That hadn't been the only thing Vaughn had said ...

She needed this. She needed this so badly. But did she have any right to it? "Vaughn also said that he offered you another position in the witness protection program, and that you didn't take it."

Sydney could feel him stiffen against her. "I told you ..."

"I know you did, and I understand." Now she had to pull away, just enough to be able to look at him. She had to ... "But there are other options, Will. Other things you could do. Other ... places you could go, maybe start over again."

Pain flashed in his eyes. "I thought you wanted me here."

"I do. So much." She turned, taking his face in both her hands. "But I don't have any right to keep you. I destroyed your life, Will - no matter how grateful I've been for the place you've had in my life lately, how important it's been to me, it wasn't worth it." She was dangerously close to crying. "Go find something better than this. Please."

Will pulled away from her, his voice rough. "I like the life I have."

"But why?" Sydney fought to keep her voice even. This was right, what she was doing. It shouldn't be breaking her heart like this. "You were meant to be a journalist, Will. You're great at it, and even more important you love it. You used to get this spark in your eyes when you're working on a story ..."

He turned away, burying his face in his hands, but she forced herself to continue. If she didn't get it all out now, she never would. "The CIA can help you be a journalist again, Will. I'll be all right." Liar. She'd forgotten how to be all right without him. "Go follow what you love."

"I have been," he murmured finally. "Which seems to be the problem."

She leaned forward, not sure what he meant. "What?"

Will lifted his head and ran his hands through his hair, disgusted with himself. This, this was how he was finally going to bring himself to tell her, when there was no other option. When he was going to lose her anyway ... Damn Vaughn. "I have been following what I love, Sydney. You."

Sydney shook her head, eyes wet. "I told you you didn't ..."

"That's not what I meant." Taking a deep breath, he finally turned to look at her, eyes full of everything he was feeling. "I'm in love with you, Sydney. I have been for years."

Her heart stopped. "In love ...?"

"Yes, in love. Dammit, Sydney, don't look at me like that." He stood up abruptly, unable to bear the look on her face. "It's not that hard to believe."

"But ..."

"Please don't finish that sentence. I know I'm not going to like the end of it." He crouched down in front of her, expression bleak. "Don't worry about it, Syd. I'm not asking for anything - I'd figured out there was no chance even before you and Danny got engaged. But that doesn't change the fact that I love you more than anything else in the world, and no matter what happens I'm not going anywhere." He straightened, kissing the top of her head. "I've learned to live on what you give me. It's enough."

Then he was gone.

Damn. Damn damn damn damn damn.

Will pounded a fist against the kitchen counter, angry with himself. He shouldn't have done it, no matter how sorry he was feeling for himself. There had to have been some lie, some excuse, that would have satisfied her, that wouldn't have sent her running screaming as that tragic little episode there in the living room had to have done.

Running ... He leaned against the counter, the heels of his hands pressed against his eyes. He couldn't lose her to this, no matter what he had to do. Lie, deny it, tell her he was drunk or on those drugs he was so famous for ... Anything to avoid the pity he knew was going to be in those beautiful dark eyes ...

"Will, I think you might have been wrong about something."

He turned abruptly at the sound of his name to see Sydney once again standing in the doorway, an entirely different expression on her face.

"Syd ..." His voice failed him, and he spread his hands by way of silent apology. Do what you need to, he was saying. I have no defense.

She moved closer, voice soft. "I've lived most of my life on what I've told myself was enough - enough fulfillment, enough happiness, enough love." She reached up and touched his cheek, emotion shining in her eyes. "But what if we're wrong? What if there's more?"

"Sometimes there isn't." Her eyes held him, hypnotized him, and for a second he almost allowed himself to believe that he wasn't dreaming. That she might actually ...

She smiled softly, her own voice a little thick. "But sometimes there is."

Their lips met, hesitant at first, still unsure of what the cosmos would allow them. But the thrill of the touch, the warming, soul-deep realization that this had been the secret all along was soon impossible to resist and they let each other in, tongues enjoying the access that the hearts had been granted long ago.

Her hands slid around his neck as his moved around her back, pulling themselves closer as they drank each other in, savoring the sensations. The warm, sweet taste of her lips, the rasp of his stubble against her suddenly hyper-sensitive skin ... This, this was enough ...

Finally they had to break for air, foreheads touching and unwilling to leave the circle of the other's arms. Both were shaking slightly.

Sydney lifted her eyes, suspiciously wet, to meet his. "The men I fall in love with tend to die, Will," she whispered, a catch in her voice. "If something ever happened to you ..."

"I told you." Will's voice was rough with emotion and promise. "I'm not going anywhere."