A/N: This story takes place after the end of 'The Telling'. (could you have guessed, based on the title?) and deals about when Sydney goes back to L.A.

* * *

"Vaughn," Sydney breathed, her deep brown eyes filling with tears, "you're married?"

"Sydney, I-"

"No. I don't want to hear it." She cut him off, looking down at her lap. If she didn't look down at her lap, she would have to look at Vaughn. Knowing that he had given up on her in the two years she was gone, that he had married another woman... she couldn't stand it.

"Well, there's a car waiting outside. I'm supposed to escort you back to L.A."

"Okay," she said quietly. She could have protested, could have demanded he tell her everything that had happened in the past two years, but she didn't want to argue. She didn't want to do anything. Vaughn is married, Vaughn is married, filled her thoughts. She dully looked at him, her heart aching at the fact that another woman saw his face every morning, kissed him when he came home from work every night...

"How about we go now?" Vaughn suggested gently, seeing she was in no state to think, or do, anything on her own.

"Yeah."

* * * * * *

They contrived not to talk much on the plane, however, Sydney did find out that Will would be waiting for them at home, and that her father was busy and would be back in a few days. Vaughn didn't know anything more than that, because he had quit the CIA and gone to be a real estate agent. Sydney slept most of the flight.

When they reached LA, Sydney stared morosely out the open plane door through the deluge pouring onto the runway. Vaughn led her out to a waiting car. It was black, she noticed. Black car, grey sky, pouring down rain. It fit her mood rather well.

Will was inside. As soon as he saw her, he wrapped his arms around her. "Oh goodness, Syd, it's really you!" he exclaimed with heartfelt relief. "I decided I couldn't believe it till I saw you, but... wow. I'm so glad you're back."

"Thanks, Will," she said, smiling for the first time since she had seen Vaughn was married. "Me too." Her hand itched, and she looked down as she scratched it. And saw a wedding band on Will's finger.

"Who?" she asked simply, lifting his hand up. His smile got wider.

"Her name's Lynette. She's really sweet. You'll like her," he said with assurance. "I met her while I was at the hospital recovering from what Allison did to me. She was one of the nurses."

"I look forward to meeting her." Sydney spoke with determination.

"So, has Vaughn told you about his wife yet?" Will asked. Sydney turned away to hide her sudden tears, but was met with Vaughn, who was sitting next to her, instead. She turned back to Will. He saw her expression.

"I'm sorry Sydney. I shouldn't have said that," Will mumbled.

* * * * * *

As she Will, and Vaughn entered the CIA building where she had spent so much time in the past, she recognized no one. And no one recognized her, nor did anyone greet her. Will led them all directly to the briefing room. She looked through the window first, and saw something that caught her attention.

"Hey, Will, is that a wedding ring on Kendall's finger?" she whispered.

"Yup, sure is. He and Barnett got married about six months ago. It was a surprise to everyone."

They walked into the briefing room. Sydney was nearly knocked over by the rush for a group hug. Everyone was hugging her, touching her, exclaiming over the fact that she really was there. Finally everyone got semi- organized to talk to her. Her father wasn't there, she noticed.

After she talked to everybody, including Marshall, who had his arm around Carrie (they apparently had gotten married a few months after she left) she walked over to Kendall.

"Where is my father?" she demanded. She would have asked a bit politer, but she had had a rough day and just wanted to know where he was. "He's alright, isn't he?" A sudden note of fear sounded in her voice.

"He's fine. He's, um... well..." Kendall lacked words for the first time since she had known him.

"What he's trying to say," began Dixon, "is that your father and your mother renewed their vows and are now on their second honeymoon."

In a marvelous display, Sydney displayed all the emotions expected of her - shock, astonishment, disbelief, consternation, pain, anxiety - in a few masterful seconds. She looked a bit like a bogglefish with heartburn. "My father- Mom- they, well... well."

The rest of the briefing went by in a blur. Sydney answered all questions asked of her, mostly they were along the lines of, "Do you remember anything you've done for the past two years?"

* * * * * *

After the meeting, Vaughn disappeared. Sydney didn't notice. Instead, she turned to Will as he asked her, "I sold your house after you went away. I didn't like the memories. So, would you like to stay at my house for a while? Lynette and I have a spare bedroom you could use."

"Sure, Will. Thanks."

* * * * * *

When she and Will got to his house, he showed her the bedroom she could use. Lynette wasn't home yet, and he was going to go change clothes.

"Will, I'm going to go for a walk, okay?" she said. He saw the look in her eyes and nodded.

"That's a good idea. Just be back soon."

She left.

* * * * * *

Sydney found herself in a park, absently watching all the children playing as she sat on a bench. Her mind flitted over all she had learned in the past forty-eight hours.

Everybody was married, it seemed. Her mother and father were married again, Marshall and Carrie had gotten married. Vaughn was married to who knows what her name was, and Kendall and Barnett had gotten together. It was a strange world. Even Will was married.

Her heart ached for someone to love. She wanted to be married, too. She longed to love someone the way she had loved Vaughn two years previous. All she felt about him now was deadness.

"Nobody is available who would want to marry me anyway," she whispered to herself, choking back tears.

She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't notice someone sit down on her right, then say her name. She did, however, notice the person when he took her hand and held it. The first thing she noticed, because of her train of thought, was that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. She turned to look into the man's eyes. She was startled by the blue intensity of them.

"I'm available, Sydney," Sark said softly.

"Finally," Sydney groused. "Someone who ISN'T married."

* * * To be continued? I don't think so, unless I get a lot of people begging me to. * * *

A/N: Sorry, Caspian for stealing your line (the one after Dixon tells Sydney where her parents are) You can have the bogglefish in my closet. I think Bob needs a friend, don't you? For everyone who doesn't know what I'm babbling about, go to the Artemis Fowl section and read "Artemis Fowl: The Ivory Files" by Nyghtvision. It's hilarious.

Sark is mine. Alias isn't. And JJ steals fanfiction ideas, I'm certain, so you might just see this in the fall.