Sydney sat there, looking down at her swollen belly. She was thinking intently. She was thinking of when he proposed.

She whispered to the little life inside of her, "We were 30,000 feet in the air and he just sat me down and asked me. He wanted to tell me just incase he didn't ever again have the chance to."

She leaned her head against the back of the chair that she had been resting in and palmed at the dresser next to her, feeling for the tape recorder. She wrapped her fingers around the device and gently placed it next to her belly.

"I want you to hear your daddy." Sydney said, as she pressed play.

Vaughn's voice began to stream from the tiny speaker.

That sound, that soothing rustle of his masculine voice brought tears to her eyes. Memories flooded her thoughts. Love embraced her heart. But none of that was tangible. She wanted to make new memories, she wanted him to be there next to her.

The emptiness of her apartment did nothing to console her and her thoughts only made her loneliness even harder to bear. And right then,she knew.

She needed to see him. She needed him to be apart of this.

--

Jack Bristow's cell phone rang three times before a deep voice spoke into the receiver. "Hello." he answered.

"Dad, its me. I need your help." Sydney said as soon as she heard him answer on the other end.

Jack and Sydney's relationship had grown considerably over the past few years, it had went from him being almost estranged from his daughter to a more stable and trusting father-daughter bond. But even in those years where Sydney was almost a stranger to him, one thing had always remained unwavering, his devotion to the protection and well being of his daughter. And so, his response to her request was none other than, "Anything you need."

"I need him." As the last word left her lips, she did her best to restrain the tears that welled in her eyes. She just wanted to break down and cry. She wanted to weep into her pillow and be comforted like a tiny child.

Jack knew who she meant. He also knew the danger that went along with granting that request, but he had seen his daughter these past few months becoming more and more withdrawn. And Jack, being Jack did have the capabilities to give her the very thing that she needed to make her whole again. She was asking him and he could not deny her. He could not deny her the happiness that she craved any longer. "Sydney if I make that happen you do understand the risks. The risks not only to yourself, but to your baby as well."

"Dad, I know. What do I need to do to make this happen?" She had already assessed the risks. She just didn't care anymore. Her mind was made up.

"Meet me at the lumber yard just outside of Culver City in one hour." And with a sigh, he closed his cell phone.

--

Two cars stood parked side by side and the glow from the streetlight above illuminated the two figures that stood in an embrace.

"Thank you for this Dad." Sydney said as she took a step back to look her father in the eyes.

Jack looked at his daughter. His eyes trying to convey the words that he had wanted to say for as long as he could remember. He wanted to shout "Sydney, there is no need to thank me, I love you, I love you so much and I would do anything for you, anything." Instead, all he could muster was a half smile and said "Your aircraft is waiting, you'd better go."

Sydney looked back at him for a few more seconds, seemingly understanding the feelings behind the statement that he had just uttered and then she turned and walked toward the small plane waiting to take her to Vaughn.