For both Mark and Sydney, the night had been fraught with unrest. Neither had been able to account for the sudden shift in their room. There was something, someone with them yet neither could place what was happening. Resolved that it was them overacting, they retired to bed. They awoke the next morning feeling lighter and settled without cause, as if they’d shed a layer of guilt or apprehension. Neither spook of this revelation with the other yet it was there.


Sr. and Mark returned their rental truck while Helen and Sydney busied themselves around the house...more or less distracting themselves from Sydney’s departure. Sydney played the piano with Elisa resting close beside her one last time while Helen cleared the lunch dishes. It had all happened so fast, this change in Sydney. She was still Sydney only an unmasked sated version thereof. Moreover, she reveled in her new found abilities; her fear of failure stripped away and she found her capacity towards others open.


She was no longer alone. And it wasn’t simply Mark’s family. Aside from their vested interest, her inner circle had proven themselves trustworthy. They’d gone to bat for her and risked a horrible backlash if their efforts would have failed. Maybe they’d seen a glimpse of this new Sydney all along.


The clock mounted about the fireplace chimed one o’clock.


Helen walked to the front door. “Mark should be getting back here soon,” she turned to Sydney. “Jane should be pulling up any second and you’ll be leaving me.”


Sydney closed the piano top. “You’ll be coming to see me?”


“Sure I will!”


“I’m giving you two weeks and then you have to come,” Sydney said, only half jokingly.


Helen laughed. “Is that enough time for you and Mark to settle in?”


“Oh that’s more than enough,” she peeked up. “That’s why we have assistants. They settle in for us.”


“Be nice to your assistants, even the one you told me about this morning,” Helen thought for a second. “You know the one that turned her back on you. #4…no it was #2.”


Sydney smiled. “It was #3.”


“Whatever, why can’t you just call them by their names like Mark?”


“Because I don’t know their names.” Sydney laughed. “I’m serious, I don’t. I’ll ask her right before I put my foot in her ass.”


“Well that would be the right thing to do,” Helen covered her mouth as no to wake Elisa then turned to see Sr. and Jane pulling in the yard behind one another. She turned to Sydney, “Well this is it. You’re leaving me.”


Sydney walked to the door and peered out. “I guess so.”


“Hey babe,” Coming into the house, Mark greeted Sydney with a kiss. “I’m gonna load the van. Is everything packed?” he called from the hallway.


“Yeah, it’s all waiting at the door,”


Jane followed Sr. inside. Sr. stopped and looked Sydney up and down. “You know, you still one annoying little woman, you know that?”


Sydney almost came unglued. “And you’re still stubborn.”


He hugged Sydney so close she began to openly cry until she trembled. Jane and Helen gave them space. He whispered comforting words to her and she knowledge them with a simple nod of the head buried in his chest. There was a connection between them that no one else was privy to. It as if they had their own language and way of dealing with one another. No one understood it, no one asked questions.


“Alright people let’s go,” Mark came bursting into the room, bags on hand. “I have one more trip to make and we’re all set.”


“I’ll help you,” Jane sprung into action, going to their room to retrieve the last of the bags and followed Mark outside. Once packed, Sr. Helen and Elisa walk Sydney out to the van.


“Do you want her to ride with you guys?” Helen asked, holding up Elisa over her shoulder, who was obviously none to happy to be woken up for this farewell.


“No, let her sleep,” Sydney brushed her wispy blonde hair into place. “I’ll see her in a couple of weeks.”


“Whoa,” Mark blurted out with surprise. “Two weeks?”


Sydney turned to him matter-of-factly. “Yeah, two weeks. Everyone is flying out to see us.”


He smiled at his father. “I just can’t just rid of you, can I?”


“Not anymore,” Sr. gave Mark a hug that was filled with more than just love; it was filled with respect. “Take care of her.”


“I will,”


“Goodbye, Mark.” Helen hugged him as though this was the last time she’d see him. “I love you,” she whispered repeatedly.


He allowed reciprocated and realized that the last time she told one of her sons goodbye, she’d never seen him again. “Goodbye, I love you and we’ll see you soon.”


“Be good,”


“I will. Take care of Markie for me and be sure he’s on the plane with you guys.”


“Goodbye Sydney,” Helen hugged her tightly. “Remember to be nice,”


“I’ll try,” Sydney rolled her eyes playfully. “I’ll call you when we get home.”


Jane clapped her hands. “Alright let’s roll.”





The ride to the airport was quiet for the most part. Jane and Sydney gave Mark his space to reflect with their endless chatter. He, on the other hand, stared out of the window deep in thought, neither willing nor able to share his thoughts. Neither women felt it appropriate to engage him in conversation.


Once at the airport, Jane pulled to the curb and they unloaded the bags. “I’ll say my goodbyes here.” Jane said brightly.


“What, you’re not going to wait with us?” Sydney’s eyes widened.


“Nah, it’s no need to make this a long goodbye. I think we’ve had enough of those already.” She smiled.


“Well, we’ll see you later,” Sydney hugged her, followed by Mark.


“Thanks for everything,” he grinned.


“You bet, Jane’s dimples deepened. “Now I’ll gotta go before I get towed. Love you guys!”


“Love you to,” They both called to her as she pulled away.


Mark sighed and turned to Sydney. “Well dear, it’s just you and me again.”


“Yeah it is,” she replied smiling up at Mark and helped push the luggage cart into the airport.
 



                                      ******




Stepping out of the terminal hand and hand, Mark and Sydney and were immediately met Charles and #1 standing with two baggage carts.


What immediately struck #1 as bizarre was the faint smile on Sydney’s face. From outward appearances Sydney was herself: hair pulled back in a tight chignon, makeup done to perfection, a black contoured knee-length dress with matching wrap, and heels. She was “on” yet she was…smiling. #1 shot Charles a sideway look of confusion.


“Well well well, our Mistress has returned,” Charles murmured under his breath. “She looks well rested.”


“Don’t get too comfortable. You know how her moods can shift,” #1 said through her teeth and turned her attention to Sydney. “Welcomed home, Mistress. How was your flight?”


As custom, Sydney and Mark greeted Charles first. Mark with a handshake, Sydney with a polite nod.


Sydney turned to #1 with a puzzled expression that quickly transformed into a small grin. “Thank you. It’s good to be home,” There was something different about #1. She was taller. No, shorter. Maybe she’d changed her hair. Had she had hair before? Sydney thought herself. Her #1 was no longer the blurred object that whirled around her attending to her every need. She had taken on shape. Sydney had never noticed how beautiful she was. She stood with all the confident as someone in Sydney’s service yet there was a twinge of vulnerability, maybe even sadness.


Mark took the cart from #1 and began walking to claim there baggage with Charles.


Once he and Charles were out of earshot, Sydney took a seat on a bench. #1 stood beside her motionless. “Sit.”


#1 almost jumped out of her skin. “Excuse me?” They were never allowed to sit in her presence.


Sydney turned to her. “Come and sit with me,”


#1 eased beside her, smoothing out her skirt, crossed her legs at the ankles and folded her hand in her lap.


Sydney tilted her head and studied her for a moment. She hadn’t noticed how much #1 resembled a chocolate covered Geisha doll minus the conspicuous tsunagi-dango hair-combs. “You have been through a lot these last few days. How are you?” Sydney asked.


“Mistress, it is nothing I would do over again,” #1 kept her eyes glued to her lap.


Sydney slowly turned #1’s face to hers and began to worry. The look staring back at her was the same sadness and resolve she’d seen in Cece. As though she could break down and cry just as easily as she could burst into laughter. Sydney stood to meet Mark and Charles. They walked to the car. #1 took the front with Charles. Sydney and Mark took the back.


They conversed about the events of the past week and further plans before briefing into silence. Charles covertly took Natalie’s hand. Sydney snuggled Mark’s arms while he checked his BlackBerry. He showed Sydney and email from one of his Doms saying their plans were on track…”no surprises”.


Sydney pecked Mark’s lips and sighed.


Mark knew what this meant. He wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. She wasn’t in the mood for a quickie. No, this is was going to be a sleep-inducing fuck. “Charles, are you going to the ball?”


“Yes, I’d planned on attending but…we’ll see,” Charles answered Mark through the rearview mirror. “You guys going?”


Mark drew a long breath. “Yeah, I think all of us should attend—if for nothing else than appearances. If we don’t it may seem as though we’ve gone into hiding.”


“You’re right. I’ll drag Lee along for good luck,” Charles said, exchanging grins with Mark. “Mistress, have you chosen your attendants?”


#1’s heart leaped in her chest. She couldn’t believe he’d ask such a question in her presence.


“Yes, I’m taking #2 and 4 this year,” Sydney answered and studied #1s reaction before closing her eyes to sleep.


There was none. Only Charles saw the dejected look on her face, the life sucked out of her. He would have given anything to offer her some measure of comfort.


Mark caught a glimpse of Charles as his jaw twitched. He knew there was something between them but he wasn’t exactly sure what it was until he saw #1 brush away tear with the back of her hand. “Are you alright?” Mark asked sincerely.


“Yes, Sir,” she answered. “I’m tired. I’ll be fine. I just some sleep. Thank you for asking,” She straightened herself.


“Are you sure? You’re both perfectly welcomed to stay the night. I have plenty of room,”


“Thank you, Sir. But now that Mistress is back safely, I think I want to be alone. I don’t want to convenience you,”


Charles came to her rescue. “I think what she means is it’s been a long week and she needs rest. I’ll be sure she gets home safely.”


“My door is always open. Come anytime you’d like,”


“Keep your paws off of my sub,” Sydney teased, her eyes still closed. “You don’t see me courting Greta.”


Everyone giggled. Even Natalie chuckled through her disappointment. She had never seen this lighthearted side of Sydney.


“Stay away from my girls,”