Chapter 19

Kimberly slowly began to wake and heard the voices of two men talking. Her head was spinning and her vision was blurred as she finally managed to open her eyes. Following the sound of the voices, Kimberly turned her head to the left and saw Walter standing off to the side of the room with another man she did not recognize. For that matter, the room she was in was foreign to her and panic quickly washed over her. She tried to sit up but a wave of nausea rolled over her. Noticing her movement, Walter walked over and sat next to her on the bed.

"Easy Sugar. Don't try and get up too fast, it'll make things worse."

"Where are we? Where is Michael? Where is Sully? What happened to me? Why do I feel like I was run over by a truck?"

Walter smiled, took her left hand in his and said, "Sully is fine, he's at home. Michael is fine and playing in the next room. Some things have happened Sugar that we need to talk about."

Kimberly looked at the other man who was now approaching and said, "Who are you and where are we?"

Julien stood next to the bed but made no move to sit down. With his hands clasped behind him he said, "I'm sorry for having to take such drastic steps my dear, but you and your son were no longer safe on the outside."

"On the outside of what?" Kimberly spat out in an irritated voice.

"Walter, someone better tell me what the hell is going on here and fast!!"

Walter looked up at Julien, and then to Kimberly. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled loudly as he began to speak.

"Kim, we know a little about your past. This man is a very good friend of mine, and we are guests in his home. Julien has made arrangements for your care, as well as Michael's, and you both will be safe here."

"WHERE IS HERE???????" Kim shouted at the two men.

Julien touched Walter's shoulder and gave him a small nod. Walter rose from the bed and said, "I'll go and get Michael and bring him to see you. Julien will tell you what we know so far Sugar."

Still holding her hand he said, "It's going to be okay Sugar. I promised you answers, and we'll get them."

Kimberly sat up on the bed as Walter turned and left the room. Julien reached over to the night table and handed Kimberly a glass of water. She gave him a questioning look, and he gave her a half smile and said, "It's just water, nothing else."

Kimberly took a sip. "So who am I? And you still have not told me where here is yet."

Julien nodded and said, "You are at my home about thirty kilometers outside Paris. I had you and your son brought here to ensure your safety."

"Why?" she inquired.

"After the attempt on your life, it became too risky to leave you out in the open. I made the decision to have you and Michael brought here where I could ensure your safety."

"Why?" she inquired again.

"A doctor will be by shortly to evaluate your injuries, and then we shall have dinner. Our discussions can continue after you've spent some time with your son, and he has retired for the night."

Feeling as if she was dangling from a string over an abyss, she reached out and grabbed the older man's wrist and fretfully asked, "Please, why?"

Julien gave her his best reassuring smile and said, "You have nothing to fear from me. I only have the best intentions for you and your child in my heart. The answers will come Kimberly. Just give me a little time; you won't be sorry with the results."

Walter walking into the room carrying Michael interrupted any response or questions she wanted to convey to him. Kim swung her legs over the side of the bed and slowly stood up. Walter walked over to Kim, while Michael was already trying to wiggle out of his arms to get to his mother. Kim embraced him and held him close to her heart as she silently wept. She wept out of relief at seeing and holding her son, from fear of what had happened and, more importantly, what would happen to them in the immediate future.

Walter and Julien turned and left the room to allow mother and son some privacy. After closing the door, Walter turned to his old friend and said, "How long will you let this play out? Michael has to be out of his mind with worry by now. You can't sacrifice his sanity just to hide these two from Wolfe."

Julien took a deep breath and touched Walter's shoulder and said, "You know it's not that simple Walter. I can't afford any mistakes for all their sakes. In time, Michael will seek me out and ask for my help. I cannot approach him and you are well aware of the reasons why."

Walter said, "There's nothing to stop me from telling him. I can get to him and get him away from prying eyes. I've done it before."

Julien smiled and said, "Not this time old friend. Michael will forgive me when he knows the whole truth," and Julien turned to walk away.

Walter whispered to the departing figure, "I hope for your sake you're right my friend."

Chapter 20

Birkoff was frantic. The back trace revealed nothing. He had called her cell phone and her home phone time and time again and there was still no answer. He felt fear on so many levels and sighed in frustration. The thought of walking into Michael's office with nothing to offer terrified him. No answers, no theories, no intel, nothing. But his biggest fear was that something horrific had happened to Nikita and her son and a conversation he had with Walter replayed in his head.

"He seems the same. His expressions never change, he looks like, well, like Michael, nothing seems different about him."

"Only on the outside kid, only on the outside."

Birkoff felt as though Nikita was his big sister and loved her but knew that his love for Nikita was pale in comparison to the love Michael had for her. It was killing him that they may have lost her again and couldn't imagine the pain Michael must be suffering. He couldn't put it off any longer and began to walk to the Perch to give Michael no news.

When Birkoff entered, Michael turned to face his young friend. The look of despair on his face, told Michael that he had been unsuccessful in his efforts.

"Michael......I....."

"It's alright Birkoff. That'll be all for now." Michael calmly stated.

Birkoff dropped his shoulders and turned and left the Perch.

Michael darkened the windows and closed his eyes. He needed help. He couldn't do this alone. He was unwilling to let fate run its course in this matter. He reached for his cell phone and silently prayed that his request would not be denied. He was about to break a vow that he had made over fifteen years ago. This person was the only other soul besides Nikita that he truly trusted and hoped would be able to help him.

Dialing the phone, he sighed as he waited for someone to answer. Finally a voice said, "Hello."

Michael said, "It's me."

Julien smiled as he expected Michael to have called sooner.

"Yes, I'm listening."

"I need to see you. I'm in need of your assistance."

"We had an agreement. If I remember correctly, it was you who imposed certain restrictions regarding contact between us."

Michael sighed knowing his father was right and desperately wishing that he had not been so bull headed to impose such a stipulation. With his fear rising each and every moment without contact or information about Nikita, he now felt he had nothing to lose.

He answered solemnly, "I was wrong."

Julien smiled and replied, "No you weren't, but there are extenuating circumstances that could not have been seen back then. My house tomorrow. I'll make the arrangements."

Michael breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Thank you."

Julien heard the despair in his son's voice and said, "Tomorrow then" and disconnected the call.

Chapter 21

Kimberly walked into the dining room with Michael in her arms. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and Michael seemed to be in a clingy mood. Walter and Julien approached Kimberly, and she slowly took a step backwards. Walter reached out and placed his hand on Julien's arm to stop his movement.

Kimberly slowly walked along the opposite side of the table from where the two men were standing and took a seat.

Walter and Julien moved to take their seats across from Kimberly and her son.

Walter sighed for he could see the fear in her eyes and wished he could get through to her. Always having had a special relationship with his Sugar, he knew deep down that when she learned of her past and who she really was, she was going to need a friend. Someone to help her understand and process what she was hearing. Walter knew some of what Julien had planned reveal, but Julien really didn't 'know' this woman and was unaware of her temper. This last thought made Walter smile. He loved her temper, loved her sense of humor, loved everything about this woman. He chuckled and thought, 'Nope, Julien my old friend, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.'

Dinner was a quiet affair. Kimberly had tried to put Michael in a high chair that Julien had provided, but the child would have none of that. She fed him sitting on her lap while occasionally feeding herself. Kimberly took this time to evaluate her 'host', for lack of a better word. His hair was auburn with patches of gray throughout. He had a long face, a prominent nose and bright piercing green eyes. She focused on his eyes for several minutes. Earlier in her room, she had sworn that his eyes were gray, almost silver in color, but now they were definitely green. She looked down at her son whose eyes shone in a beautiful shade of green. His auburn hair was not that different from the man sitting across from her.

'The resemblances are uncanny,' she thought. Now looking back and forth between the two, her curiosity was growing.

After dinner, Kimberly took Michael up to her room as she had insisted that he sleep where she could watch him. She was uncomfortable being in a strange place with strange people, and she could tell her son felt the same.

After getting him changed and rocking him until he fell asleep, she laid him down in the crib that a servant had rolled in earlier. She stayed and watched him sleep for a while as her mind raced with questions. Once she was sure that her son was sound asleep, she quietly left. There was a maid waiting outside her door and Kimberly jumped when she turned and saw the older woman standing there.

"What do you want?" Kim asked.

The woman smiled and said, "I'm here to stay with Master Michael in case he should wake while you are not here."

"I see," Kim replied.

"You are expected in the study Miss. If any problems should arise, I will alert you right away, but I'm sure Master Michael will sleep like an angel." The woman smiled, walked past Kimberly and entered the room.

Kim walked down the grand staircase and made her way to the study, which she had been shown earlier. When she entered, Walter turned and greeted her with a smile.

"Michael all set for the night?" he asked.

"Yes, he's finally asleep. Now why don't you tell me who I am and why I'm here."

Julien motioned towards a leather couch offering her a seat. Walter came over and sat next to her but not too close. He wanted to make sure she had enough space so she wouldn't feel trapped. Julien sat in a chair that was facing the couch and started speaking.

"Kimberly, we have a lot to discuss and I know we cannot get to everything tonight, so I will start from the beginning. First of all, your real name is Nikita not Kimberly. Eight years ago you entered a covert organization designed to safeguard the world from terrorists and factions that wish to inflict harm on the population. You trained for two years and became an operative, an exceptional one I might add. The how and why's are not important right now. For discussion sake, let's just say that you were recruited."

Kim suddenly stood with fire blazing in her eyes. She spoke loudly and in a scornful tone she spat out, "Nikita? Recruited? What kind of covert organization? None of this sounds plausible, more like some twisted tale. You better start telling me what's really going on here and you better start right now!"

Julien turned and looked at Walter; Walter gave him a smile and thought, 'That's my girl!'

Chapter 22

"Please Nikita, sit down. We have many things to discuss and I'd rather try and get through this without constant interruptions. I promise you my dear, the answers are coming," Julien said in an authoritative voice.

Nikita sat down and looked at Walter with tears of frustration in her eyes. Walter's heart sank and he extended a hand to her. His own eyes looking a little misty, she took his hand in hers and nodded.

Julien continued, "As I said, you worked for a covert organization and were stationed in one of our Sections as we call them, Section One. Your methods were unique, but for the most part very effective. I will spare you the exact details of the duties you performed in the five years you were inside Section One. What we need to focus on is your memory loss."

Nikita was sitting on the edge of the sofa and seemed to be listening to what Julien was telling her. 'Good', Julien thought, 'She's trying.

"The last mission you performed went badly; you were missing and presumed dead. We know very little about this mission and what we really need to know, only you can tell us."

Nikita's patience had run out. She snapped at Julien, "I don't know anything. I have no idea what you're talking about and, furthermore, who are you to decide what I do and don't need to know about my life. You promised me answers and I want them. Not just selective answers that you deem necessary, I want to know everything!"

Julien tried to interject, but Nikita cut him off.

"It's apparent that Walter and I know each other. And you," as she stared at Julien, "Do I know you? How can I be sure that one word you've spoken to me is the truth? None of this rings any bells. Are you sure you have the right person? There must be some mistake."

Julien looked to Walter for help. This was going to be harder than he had thought.

Walter turned to face Nikita. "Sugar, it's all true. I know you're confused and frightened, but we are trying to help. If we can figure out what happened to you, we could be that much closer to getting all your memory back and you won't have to live with just fragments. The man who attacked you, was there anything familiar about him? Do you remember anything, even a tiny detail could be important? When I met you in Atlantic City, I promised to help you and that's exactly what I'm gonna do, but we need your help to do this. You have nothing to fear from Julien or myself Sugar, I promise. Can you give us a chance, work with us a little?"

Nikita looked down at her hand clasped in Walter's and sighed as a few tears ran down her cheeks. Walter spoke with a sincerity that comforted Nikita. She had no reason in the world to trust these men, but Walter's plea felt sincere.

In a small voice she asked, "Where was I born?"

Walter smiled and said, "A small town outside Sydney in Australia."

"How old am I?"

"You're 27 years old Sugar."

"Who is the father of my son?"

Neither Julien nor Walter was ready to answer that question just yet. There were too many other issues that needed to be addressed before they ventured into that topic of conversation.

Walter said, "We'll figure it out Sugar. I promise we will."

"I do remember something from the night I was attacked," she said. Julien leaned forward and said "Go on."

"A voice, " she said.

"The attacker's voice, it was familiar?" Julien inquired.

"No, another voice. I've heard it before but this time was different." She answered.

"How so?" Julien questioned.

"Before, the voice was calm and soothing. Always gentle with kind words. This time, the voice was strong and demanding, almost calculating. It told me to look for my opponent's weakness, strike when least expected, stuff like that. I've heard this voice or variations of it for years. That night it was fuzzy, but it was the same voice. It was a voice that had given me those same commands before."

Walter smiled and said, "Why don't we let you get some rest. We have all day tomorrow to get into this, and I suppose Michael will get up pretty early." Nikita nodded as Walter stood and helped her up with the hand he was still holding.

"Come on Sugar, let me take you upstairs."

"No thank you, I know the way."

She turned and faced both men before leaving the room and said, "Good night." Both men bid her a good night and watched her ascend the stairs.

Walter walked over to the small bar in the study and poured two snifters of brandy. He handed one to Julien and said, "We need to go slow with her. Can't push her too far."

Julien took a sip of his drink before voicing his opinion of Nikita at this point. "She's more feisty than I imagined."

Walter chuckled, "That's what makes her special. She's full of piss and vinegar one minute and as quiet and peaceful as a lamb the next."

"Not the type of person I envisioned my son falling in love with I have to admit."

Walter's face turned serious, "We have to tell her about Michael. He's the father of her child; he holds the key to her heart and, more importantly, her soul. Furthermore, we can't keep this from him either. Poor kid has to be out of his mind at this point." There was no way that Walter was going to inform Julien that Michael was also Nikita's husband!!

Julien took another sip of his brandy and said, "Michael phoned earlier, he'll be here tomorrow."

"You didn't tell him over the phone did you???" Walter asked.

"Come on old man, give me a little credit. If I had told him, he would've been here by now. No, I need time to work with her and prepare him. I have made arrangements for two doctors who specialize in this type of trauma to be here in the morning to evaluate her. One suggested that hypnosis might help. We'll see."

"I see no problem with the doctors working with Nikita, but when it comes to your son Julien, your judgment is way off base. Michael isn't the one who needs to be prepared; it is you my friend. Michael feels very strongly for her and his son, and it appears you have seriously underestimated that side of him. That part of Michael has no boundaries, no tolerance for deceit or anything else that adversely affects Nikita. She was and is his life, she is the other half of his soul and they exist for and of each other. He will be fierce and unforgiving, and I don't think you've thought this through Julien." Walter cautioned.

Julien laughed and said, "I think I know my own son well enough to gauge his reactions Walter. I need no reminder of his temperament."

Walter finished his brandy and placed the glass on the table. He patted Julien on the shoulder and said "Whatever you say old friend, but recognize that I have had more contact with Michael over the last fifteen years than you and know him far better at this point in his life, especially where it concerns Nikita. Remember that I warned you when you do not get the reaction and gratitude you expect from your son," and Walter walked out of the room leaving Julien to ponder his last statement.

Chapter 23

Once Kimberly got back to her room, she checked on Michael and told the woman who had been sent to watch him that she was no longer needed. The woman smiled and bid good night. Before she walked out the door, Kimberly said, "Excuse me. I don't think you told me your name."

The woman replied, "Gretchen ma'am."

Kimberly nodded, "Thank you Gretchen," and then the woman left the room.

Kimberly found some bedclothes that had been laid out for her and decided to enjoy a long hot shower. While letting the water wash over her, Kim's thoughts drifted to what she had learned tonight. 'Nikita.....Is my name really Nikita? The man who attacked me, he also called me Nikita. And what about this "operative" crap? A covert agency? Were these people for real? Why does it all feel so real, so familiar?'

Kim finished her shower and put on the nightgown that had been left as she glanced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. For three years she had wondered about her past, and as she leaned in close to touch the mirror she thought, 'At least I now know the name that belongs to the face in the mirror, where I was born and how old I am, even though I still don't remember who or what I was.' She sighed, turned off the light and left the bathroom.

After checking one last time on Michael, she climbed into bed. She lay awake for a long time as her mind raced. 'That voice' she thought. 'I understood every word he said. Where did I learn to fight like that? It all seemed so natural at the time, like I had done it before' and with that thought she sat straight up in bed.

It had felt like she had done it before and there was more. She could remember moves and all the weak areas of the body to strike at to disable someone quickly.

"Oh my god", she said aloud. "Who the hell am I?"

She collapsed back against her pillows and exhaled. Michael whimpered in his sleep, and she looked over towards his crib. "Michael" she whispered. When she asked about her son's father, Julien and Walter did not answer but deftly evaded the question. 'They must know who it is but why wouldn't they tell me? Why would they hide the answer from me?''

She rolled onto her side so she was facing the crib and watched her son until sleep overtook her.

At Section

Michael entered his private quarters around 2 AM. He sighed and sat on his bed as his mind raced with thoughts of the day's events. They had two missions go live and had achieved complete containment with minimal casualties on both. Oversight would be pleased with the results.

He changed into a pair of sweat pants and slipped into bed. Staring at the ceiling, his thoughts turned to Nikita and his son. Not knowing what had happened to them or where they were had been in the forefront of his mind all day. Now in the privacy of his quarters, he let his emotions slip a little. He couldn't lose Nikita, not again. If he were to lose his wife and his son, a son he'd never held or had the joy to play and cuddle with, there would be nothing left for him. He would gladly join them in the afterlife for there would be nothing to keep him here on earth.

As he was contemplating his visit to his father's home later that the day, he thought back to the cryptic comment his father had made ".... but there are extenuating circumstances that could not have been seen back then." What circumstances had his father been referring to Michael pondered. Was there more going on here than he was aware of? Just what exactly were those extenuating circumstances? More importantly, what did his father have to do with this, if anything?

Trying hard to keep himself from letting his emotions escalate, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine a life with Nikita and Michael. 'She named him Michael' he thought, with a sad smile on his face. He focused on images of his true love and the son that was born from their love, as sleep finally claimed him.

Chapter 24

Nikita was up and dressed and playing with Michael when Walter knocked on her door. She told him to come in, and he smiled at her and asked, "How are you feeling this morning Sugar?"

She gave him a sad smile. "The same Walter. I need answers, and I can't wait for you two to spell things out for me; just tell me what I need to know...please?"

Walter crouched down on the floor next to them and Michael leaned over and reached into Walter's shirt pocket looking for a cookie. Walter smiled and said, "Sorry big guy, no cookies in there for you," and thought to himself that he would have to remember to put a cookie in there for his little friend.

Walter stood up and said, "Breakfast is served, and the doctors will be here shortly to evaluate you again."

Nikita tried to interrupt but Walter held up a hand and said, "We have the whole day to talk about anything you want Sugar but let's feed this little monster first, okay?"

Nikita nodded as Walter picked up Michael and carried him out of the room with her following.

Breakfast was spent mostly watching Michael observe all the people moving about. He was fascinated by the constant flow of people bringing new things into the room and placing them on the table. Nikita was desperately trying to get him to eat, but Michael didn't seem to be interested. Nikita looked to Julien, who had been lovingly admiring his grandson and tersely said, "Would it be too much trouble if your servants stayed out of the room for more than five minutes at a time? He won't eat with them constantly coming and going."

Julien smiled, motioned for his butler and whispered something into his ear. The butler left the room and, after a few minutes with no traffic, Michael began to eat. Julien's heart soared as he watched his grandson. He had thought long and hard about the conversation he had with Walter last night and it disturbed him. He hadn't gauged Michael's reaction in the manner Walter described. Surely Michael would be upset at first, but Julien was certain that his son would be grateful for his father's actions in bringing his family here and keeping them safe. 'No, Walter had to be mistaken' he thought.

After breakfast, Nikita cleaned Michael, who seemed to wear more food than he ate, and brought him back to her room to be with Gretchen, as the doctors had arrived and were waiting for her in the study. The three doctors examined her physically, and then ran tests to determine the extent of her memory loss. Nikita had no problems with her long-term memory but her short-term memory only went back five years and the first two were composed of flashbacks. They discussed options with Julien, and they all agreed that they wanted to try hypnosis.

The day was slowly turning into evening, and Nikita was feeling frustrated for she had not been able to speak to Julien and Walter in private. Once the doctors had finally left, she hoped that they would be able to pick up where they left off the previous evening. She opened her mouth to speak just as the butler came in and whispered in Julien's ear. Julien smiled and nodded to the man.

He then stood up and said, "If you would excuse me, I have some business to attend to. I shouldn't be long."

He smiled at Walter and left the room. Nikita stood up. "What the hell is going on here? I've been kidnapped, dragged halfway around the world and promised answers that I'm not getting. Walter, I can't take this anymore; answers or not, I'm done. We're leaving."

Walter stood up, grabbed her shoulders and said, "Hold on there kiddo. We're just getting started, you need to have some patience and give us a chance. It's only been one day."

Nikita shrugged his hands off her and said, "No Walter, I've been waiting THREE YEARS! It may only be only one day to you, but I'm sorry, I don't see it that way," and she pushed her way past him and jogged up the stairs to her room.

"This is not good", Walter spoke to an empty room.

Chapter 25

Walter went in search of Julien. He found the butler and asked him where Julien had gone.

"Into his private office for a meeting sir," was the butler's reply.

Walter started to walk in that direction but was stopped by a bodyguard and told that Mr. Samuelle was not to be disturbed. Frustrated, Walter turned around to face the butler and asked, "Well, when will Mr. Samuelle be free?"

The butler replied, "When his meeting concludes," and then turned and walked away.

"Damn it Julien. Hell of a time to have a meeting."

Walter ran his hand over his head and looked up at the ceiling. He wondered if Nikita meant what she said, that she was leaving. Walter had to do something to keep her from leaving, not that the guards would let her leave anyway, but he didn't want to frighten her any more than she already was. He headed up to her room to plead his case one more time.

Julien entered his office and found his son standing by the desk with his hands clasped in front of him. Julien smiled and closed the doors behind him.

"Hello Michel, you look well," Julien said as he approached his son and kissed both of his cheeks.

"Thank you Papa. It's been a long time."

"Yes it has. So tell me, what's so important that you are asking for and need my help?"

"Nikita is missing."

"And you thought I could help in some way Michel, is that why you're here?"

Michael paused before speaking. His father did not question that Nikita was missing, which meant he knew she was alive.

"Papa, what do you know? What happened to her and my son? Please don't keep anything from me, I must know where they are."

Julien smiled. He was proud that he was able to help his son. Yes, Walter was indeed wrong.

"Yes Michel, they are safe. I've taken care of everything."

Michael closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. But as quickly as peace had washed over him at hearing they were safe, his anger was steadily and quickly reaching epic proportion.

"How long have you known?" Michael asked his father.

"I sent a team to shadow her three years ago. The mission she was sent on was not a mission sanctioned by the Agency, it was of a personal nature for Paul."

Michael's blood was boiling. His father knew the pain he had suffered every day since he lost Nikita and didn't see fit to tell him that she was alive. Instead, his father let him suffer indescribable agony for three long years. He took a few steps forward and calmly asked the only question he could at the moment, "Why?"

Julien, a trifle stunned by his son's frigid demeanor replied, "I tried to protect her and by letting everyone assume she was dead, I did just that Michel."

Again, Michael asked, "Why?"

"She's a good operative, her numbers were high, Paul was using her and..."

Michael didn't let him finish. With one forceful swipe of his arm, he cleared all that was on the desk, as they both watched everything slam to the floor.

"Why didn't you tell me? You let me suffer intentionally, why? You kept me from the one person I've ever truly loved all my life and our son. I have a son Papa, and I wasn't there for his birth. Merde, I've never even held him. You deprived me of that right when you chose to remain silent for three years."

Julien could see the anger and anguish in his son's eyes and felt pain in his heart. He had to make Michael see that what he had done had been out of love and not a manipulation from the Agency.

"Michel, please listen to me," Julien pleaded.

With fire in his eyes and in a tone so cold and deadly Michael said, "The only thing I want to hear from you is their location, nothing else, not now!"

This wasn't going as Julien had anticipated. Walter was right and he was so very wrong. This weighed heavily upon his heart realizing that an old friend knew his son far better than he did. How could he have been so wrong?

He was about to answer Michael when the doors to his office flew open and Nikita, with her son in her arms, stormed inside with two guards behind trying to detain her from getting further into the room. She looked at Julien and said, "Why am I not allowed to leave? You promised me answers and then walked away. I'm taking my son and we're leaving. I'll take my chances on my own from now on."

Michael's heart was racing wildly hearing the sound of the voice, her voice, behind him. He took a calming breath, and then slowly turned around to face the woman he loved. God she was beautiful in all her fury. A guard reached out to touch her arm, and Michael swiftly pulled his Glock out from inside his jacket, and aimed it at him. The guard looked to Julien, and Julien nodded that it was all right and the guards left.

Julien came around the desk, touched Nikita's shoulder and said, "Please, do not be afraid. I told you before that you have nothing to fear from me. The guards are here for our protection, not to harm you or Michael."

Nikita's eyes were locked with Julien's as she listened to him try to calm her down, but Michael's eyes were locked with his son's. His flesh and blood. He was in awe of the cherub in his mother's arms and took a step closer to his child. He held his hand out and his son slowly reached for and then grasped one of Michael's fingers.

The surge of love that ran through his body was overpowering. A small smile crept across his face, as his son held tightly to one finger. Young Michael also began to smile at his father, as his bright green eyes widened while he slightly giggled.

This brought Nikita's attention back to her son and away from Julien. She finally took a long look at the stranger and inhaled sharply. He, too, had auburn hair and his eyes were the same piercing green as her son's. The stranger looked up from the child and directly into Nikita's eyes and she was taken aback by the tenderness she saw in those eyes.

She looked deeper into those eyes and swore she saw something else -love? 'Why would this stranger look at me with love in his eyes?' Then it hit her!!

Chapter 26

After staring at each other for several minutes, the stranger spoke in a soft welcoming voice, "Hello."

Nikita all but melted hearing the low sensual voice. It was the voice she heard that night at the bar giving her direction and strength and the distorted voice that had been in her dreams. Her eyes widened with this revelation, and she looked to Julien as he cleared his throat and said, "Nikita, this is my son, Michael."

'Michael' she thought.

She looked between father and son, and then at her son still holding onto Michael's finger. "I know you," she said looking directly into Michael's eyes.

"Yes" he replied.

"I know you very well," she said, it sounding more like a question than a statement.

"Yes," he replied again.

"You are my baby's father", she stated in a shaky voice, but the look in her eyes told Michael she knew exactly who he was to her.

"Yes, I am." Michael stated proudly as his eyes flashed between hers and their son's.

Julien interrupted the moment and said, "Why don't we sit down; we have a lot to talk about."

Michael, never taking his eyes off Nikita, said, "That isn't necessary Papa. Nikita and I need to speak alone."

Julien said, "It's late, maybe I should take the child and put him down for the night?"

Nikita broke eye contact with Michael and replied, "No. I will put him to bed."

Michael looked to his left, and then back at Nikita and asked, "Would it be alright if I joined you?"

Nikita swallowed, his voice, that voice, it had comforted her as well as frightened her for the past three years. To now have a face to put to the voice was comforting to her -- and what a beautiful face it was. So tender, so open and loving, yet guarded and serious. She nodded her head in reply, and Michael held out an arm to her as they walked out of the room together.

Julien spoke from behind, "Get some rest Nikita and remember the doctors will be back at 9:00 a.m. to start hypnosis."

Neither Michael nor Nikita acknowledged Julien's comments, as they walked in unison out of the room, and Julien was taken aback somewhat by the bond that shone brightly from the two of them. His old friend had been right; he had totally misjudged his son. Michael was a practical man and would normally listen to reason, but Julien now feared that he had made a grave and monumental mistake by not informing his son what he had known from the very beginning - Nikita was alive and had borne Michael's son.

Michael followed a step behind Nikita as they climbed the stairs heading for her room. Michael's eyes were fixed on his son, who was peeking over his mother's shoulder at him. They entered her bedroom, which ironically was his bedroom, and a wave of serenity rushed through Michael's body. Nikita stopped as she approached the bed and turned to face him.

"Would you like to hold him while I get his bath ready?"

Michael felt eager to hold his child and replied, "I would love to."

Nikita passed her son, their son, into the loving arms of his father and smiled as father and son gazed upon each other. She rubbed her child's back and said, "I'll just be a minute sweetie."

Michael looked over at the woman he loved, as she walked into the bathroom to draw the bath. Michael then turned back to his son and said, "Hi."

This innocent being that he was holding tilted his head to the side and said, "Hi", in return.

Michael smiled, "We should get you ready for your bath. Do you like to have a bath?"

The child didn't reply but reached out and grabbed his father's nose with his tiny fingers. Michael's heart filled with joy and he chuckled. Michael moved and sat down on the bed and began to remove his son's shoes and socks. The boy watched and giggled as his socks were removed.

Nikita quietly stood in the doorway watching father and son interact. 'Father and son' she smiled at the thought. Two of the biggest questions she had concerning her past now had an answer, and his name was Michael. Who she was and what she did felt pale in comparison to the sight before her and the feelings it invoked.

She slowly walked over to the bed, as her son looked up at her, smiled and said "Mommy", and extended his hands upward.

She leaned down, picked him up and kissed his cheek.

"Would you like to join us?" she asked Michael.

"Would I be too much of a distraction for him?"

Nikita smiled as she thought, 'A distraction for him, maybe. A distraction for me, definitely.'

"Once he's in the tub, I think he'll be fine," she replied.

"In that case, I'd love to. Thank you."

The 'family' walked into the bathroom, and Michael stood off to the side and watched Nikita bathe their son. Michael found tremendous joy in his son's giggles and playfulness, as Nikita washed him thoroughly. When she finished, she dried him off and carried their son out to the bed. After putting on his pajamas, she placed a kiss on his cheek and told him good night. She turned to face Michael and said, "Would you like to say good night?"

Michael reached out to tuck a few stray curls behind his son's ear and in a soft voice said, "Good night little one."

The sweet little boy gave his father a small smile and then Nikita laid him down in the crib. She brought the blankets up over him, kissed her fingers and pressed them to his lips. She turned to Michael and said, "He should fall asleep quickly. He had a full day. If you wouldn't mind waiting until then, I think we should talk."

Michael suppressed a sigh for she was giving him another gift, the gift of watching his son fall asleep with her by his side. Taking a few steps closer to where Nikita stood by the crib he quietly said, "Thank you. I'd like that."

Chapter 27

After Michael had finally fallen asleep, his parents slipped quietly out of the room. Nikita rubbed her hands together nervously and asked, "Is there a quiet place that we can talk?"

Michael nodded, extended his hand to her and together went down the stairs and outside into the garden. They walked in silence until they arrived at a stone bench. Michael motioned for her to sit, and then sat down next to her.

"You must have so many questions; where would you like to begin?" he asked.

Nikita looked down at her clasped hands, and then over to his face and said, "I don't know. I don't know where to begin. Before I got here my entire adult life consisted of three years. I guess anywhere would be fine."

Michael looked at her and replied, "I'm not sure where to begin either. We met eight years ago when you came into Section. I was your trainer."

"When did we become friends?" Nikita asked.

Michael sighed; it was an honest question but cut right into his heart. All the manipulations, lies and deceit weighed heavily upon his heart.

"I couldn't give you a specific time or day that we became friends. Our relationship was more of teacher/student for the first couple of years."

"But we were friends right? And our friendship led to other things, our marriage for instance?" she asked, and held her breath waiting for his answer.

Nikita turned sideways to face him and said, "I feel like I am part of you. I felt it from the first moment I saw you. It's as if I know things about you but I don't know how or why. I've heard a voice in my dreams these past years and that voice belongs to you. Sometimes you would talk to me as if I was a child, chastise me, berate me, and other times your voice would comfort me, soothe me. I don't know if you can understand this, but I'm relieved to know you're real", as she reached over and placed her hand on top of his.

Michael looked into her eyes. How he loved her, how he cherished everything about her. Oh, how he had missed her. He turned his hand and held onto hers.

"Part of me is desperate for you to remember me, to remember us, what we felt towards each other. But there is a part of me that is apprehensive. Things weren't always easy for us. We've both made mistakes that we had to live with, but our love, our feelings were always real. I need you to know that."

She nodded as she gazed into his beautiful green eyes and asked, "Did you truly love me?"

He grasped her hand a little tighter and said, "Yes."

"And now?"

In a voice filled with love and honesty he answered, "Yes."

"Because we are married? Because of our child? The child we have together?" she asked, still hesitant to accept him at his word.

Michael firmly shook his head from side to side and replied, "No. My love for you has never swayed. Not back then, not while you were gone, and not now."

Nikita's eyes filled with tears. "Tell me. Tell me about us. I need to know if all I feel is real."

Michael began to draw small circles with his fingers on the palm of her hand and said, "What you feel is real. Trust what's in your heart Kita."

She smiled and Michael asked, "What is it?"

She said, "You called me Kita. I guess I have to get used to that name. When Julien told me my true name, it didn't feel real, didn't feel right. But hearing you call me Kita, well...it made me want to smile."

Michael gave her a small grin and said, "I'm glad."

Still smiling, she replied, "Me too."

Chapter 28

Michael and Nikita sat on the stone bench surrounded by the scent of blooming flowers for hours. They mostly discussed their son, his birth and the mannerisms and skills he had so far developed. Nikita and Michael were reconnecting and bonding and neither of them wanted this night to end. They had decided it was best to discuss things that Nikita knew and/or remembered, and they stayed away from topics that might possibly sway her limited memory of people or situations. Michael also explained to Nikita that for the time being it would be better not to mention the fact that they were married. Nikita was a bit sad to have to hide this now newly found piece of her life but agreed when she realized that Michael would never have asked if it were not vitally important.

A guard strolling the perimeter drew their attention and the magic of the moment seemed to vanish. Nikita sighed and Michael rose and offered her his hand.

"It's getting late and the doctors will be here early in the morning. Perhaps it's best that you get some rest now."

Nikita took his hand and rose to her feet. At her full height, she held her breath as she was nose to nose with Michael. She shuddered as his gaze danced between her eyes and her mouth. She leaned in toward his face until her lips gently rubbed against his. Still holding her hand, Michael brought his other hand up and rested it on her cheek. Nikita leaned forward and kissed him again, this time not pulling away and allowing the kiss to deepen.

Michael's head was spinning. God how he needed her, wanted her, but he needed all of her. The body he now held in his arms was that of his beloved, but the essence that was Nikita was not fully there - not yet. As much as his body rebelled against his mind, with tremendous effort he pulled back from the kiss.

"Kita... you need your rest." he said while stroking her cheek with the back of his hand.

They stared into each other's eyes for a long minute, and then Nikita's lips curled up into a small smile.

"After a kiss like that, sleep is the last thing I want to do tonight Michael."

Michael returned her smile. "Yes, I imagine it will be difficult for either of us to sleep tonight", as he slid his hands down her arms to her wrists and then clasped one of her hands.

"Come. I'll walk you to your room."

The pair strolled quietly back into the house and up the stairs to Nikita's room. Before entering, Nikita turned to him and asked, "Will you be here in the morning when the doctors come?"

Michael looked into her eyes and asked, "Would you like me to be?"

She gave him a shy smile and said, "Yes. I would like that a lot. I don't know who I can trust, what's real and what's not, but having you there will help me."

"Then I'll stay," he answered in a whisper.

She smiled and said, "Thank you" and reached to open the door. Nikita looked back at him, "Would you like to come in and check on Michael before you go?"

As much as he wanted to, he thought better of it. If Michael followed her into the room, he knew he'd never leave. He didn't want to leave now; being this close to her brought him both pain and joy at the same time.

"I better not, I wouldn't want to wake him. I'll come for you in the morning before breakfast if that's alright." he said as his heart was screaming not to leave her yet.

Nikita smiled and said, "Good night Michael."

Michael brought her hand to his mouth, kissed her palm and said, "Good night Nikita."

He slowly dropped her hand and then turned and walked away.

Nikita entered her room and, after dismissing Gretchen, changed into her nightclothes and crawled into bed. She lay awake for hours thinking about Michael and the talk they had in the garden. She did feel a connection with this beautiful man, her husband, and not just a physical one. She felt connected to him on so many levels and wished it were already morning for a chance to see him again.

When Michael left Nikita's room, he went in search of his father. The joy and love he had felt in the past few hours he spent with Nikita was rapidly dissolving, as his resentment was once again emerging. His father had a lot to answer for, and Michael quickened his pace as his anger steadily intensified.

Arriving at his father's office door, he burst in and purposely walked right up to his father's desk. Julien turned in his chair and saw the fury radiating from his son's eyes.

"Start talking and leave nothing out...I'm warning you."

Julien heard the intense bitterness in Michael's words and saw the hatred for him reflected in his son's eyes. Julien now realized he truly didn't know Michael at all.

Chapter 29

"A little over three years ago, we intercepted a communiqu‚ from Wolfe sent to a man named Ingo Fidlen. After obtaining the profile and learning that Nikita would be in play alone, I decided it was time to take action. I sent a small team to watch over her and keep her safe. Michel, you have to believe this was my main concern. Wolfe had been operating outside the Agency for years, building his own network, accumulating munitions, money and power. I needed to keep Nikita safe and unharmed, but I had to allow the scenario to play out. I couldn't let Wolfe know that we were on to him."

Michael unfazed by his father's plea for understanding, coldly replied, "Continue."

Julien sighed and did as his son asked. "Nothing went according to the Sims we ran and things happened too quickly for us to respond in time. Nikita was ambushed, tortured and disposed of, or so they thought. Stephen had agreed to a mutually beneficial partnership with Wolfe, and Ingo had taken Nikita up a cliff intending to dispose of her body. On my orders, the team shadowed their every move and reported their findings to me. When I was informed of what was about to happen to her, I instructed the team to interfere only slightly and give Nikita a chance to escape."

Michael turned away from his father's gaze and Julien spoke in a meek tone, "It was the only chance I could give her Michel."

Michael brought his gaze back to his father's, and said in a voice laced with anger, "I'm not interested in your opinions or interpretations; I want the truth, nothing else and I want it now!"

Julien rose to his feet completely baffled at his son's behavior. "How could you think so little of me? Haven't I been a good father and provider? When did you stop trusting me at my word? When did you begin to think of your own father as callous and cruel?"

"Trust is something you earn, it is not something that you're entitled to just because you were the one who happened to give me life. You were only there for me when it did not interfere with the Sections and your duties, and you were never there when it really mattered. It has taken a long time for me to see this clearly, and your actions and deceptions regarding the woman I love and our child have finally proven the full extent of your cruelty. I thank God Maman is not here to see you for the loathsome individual you truly are" Michael replied angrily.

Now glaring at his father, Michael clenched his jaw and said, "Enough history, let us get back to things that are relevant and far more important - Nikita and our son."

Turning to face his own son and with a hint of anger in his voice, Julien continued.

"The team created a small distraction, which Nikita used to roll away and tumble off the cliff. Ingo looked down the cliff, seemed sure that she could never have survived such a fall and left. It was daybreak, and the shadow team was making their way to where Nikita was lying on the beach, when they saw a man approach her body. Patrick Sullivan got help for her, cared for her and took her under his wing."

Julien sighed, "I'm sure you have figured out the rest."

Michael stood and faced his father. "And my child? My son? When did you learn that she was pregnant?"

"A member of the team followed them to the hospital and when all her tests were done, he scanned and sent me a copy of the results. I found out minutes after she herself had been told."

"Why? Why didn't you tell me? I could have gone to her, cared for her. I could've protected her,not you!!!"

"Michel, I did what could be done at the time. I made her disappear. I made arrangements for a cadaver to be put in her place once she had been released. I had the hospital records of her presence destroyed and replaced with phony ones. If Ingo went looking for her, he would find that she had died and report that information back to Wolfe."

"You should have told me." Michael spat at his father.

"And what good would it have done Michel? Tell me? Would you have charged in like a night in shining armor, inadvertently leading Wolfe to her location so he could finish the job? Son, you're not thinking clearly. What was done was the best for all....."

Michael's patience was gone and he was through listening. He grabbed his father by the lapels of his jacket and violently pushed him against the wall. With fire in his eyes and a voice laced with anger, disgust and pure venom, he spoke through gritted teeth, "You are the one not thinking clearly. You made these decisions and they were wrong, morally wrong!! The woman and child sleeping upstairs deserved far better than what you gave them. I will never absolve you for your actions, for what you've done to them and to me, your son. I don't know who you are, perhaps I never did" and he quickly let go of his father and stepped back.

Julien was distraught. He was a proud man and all he felt now were shame and remorse for the pain he had inflicted upon his son. Pain caused by him and his decisions. He straightened his jacket and attempted to gather whatever courage he had left to make a final plea. He knew exactly what Michael was capable of but never did he think the day would come when that brutality would be turned on him and, right now as he stood there facing his son, he was terrified.

"Michel, our means are ruthless but the ends are just. I made certain they were watched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Security was always close by, and it was never my intention for things to happen as they did. I know the pain you've been hiding inside my son, and I would give anything if I could have spared you that pain."

Michael turned to look at his father and with his cold blank mask firmly in place, he mercilessly said, "You say you know the pain I have being living with, that you would have spared me that pain if you had been able. However, you did have it within your power to release me from the hell I was living in and instead YOU consciously chose to let me suffer all these years. I have no forgiveness for you; furthermore you have lost any right to ask for it" and with that Michael turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

Chapter 30

Michael made his way to his room for the night and found himself unable to relax. The betrayal by his father was something that had truly shocked him. Julien Samuelle had never been a nurturing loving type of parent, but he was a staunch believer in morality, duty and honor. Removing his jacket and tossing it on a chair next to the fireplace, he sighed, as he gazed into the flames that illuminated the room and focused on the different hues the flames projected. He was broken out of his reverie by the ringing of his cell phone. He removed the phone from his jacket pocket and answered, "Yes."

"Michael, enjoying your downtime?" Paul Wolfe inquired.

"Thank you, I am. Did you need to speak to me about something Paul?"

Paul snickered, "Yes. I need you here at Oversight tomorrow. All the Section heads will be here for a meeting, but I'd like you to come a little early. I have some other matters to discuss with you."

Michael began to walk around the room and asked, "Is this about The Brigade?"

"No, it's of a different nature that I need to discuss with you in person. I'll see you then," and the call was disconnected.

Michael pinched the bridge of his nose, and then quickly made another call.

"Yeah," Walter bellowed, as he answered the phone that had woken him from a deep sleep.

"I need you to bring Mowen and Mentz to my location tomorrow morning. I will brief them once they arrive."

Curiosity piqued, Walter asked, "Why Michael, there is plenty of security already there."

"I'll see you in the morning," was all Michael said before disconnecting the call.

Walter shook his head and assumed that Michael had learned of Julien's involvement and, as he predicted, was none too happy about it. In fact, knowing Michael as well as he did, Walter would lay odds that the term 'deadly calm' more likely described his emotional attitude, and Michael in that state was at his most dangerous. He rolled over and lay in bed for a little while until he fell back into a restless sleep.

Paul Wolfe sat behind his desk staring at his computer screen. He knew Nikita was alive and was sure Michael had somehow gotten to her. Now he needed to get to Michael. If the revelations of what transpired three years ago were to ever see the light of day, Wolfe would be suspect and all the steps he had taken over the years to achieve his goals would be exposed; he would be ruined.

No, Michael could not be allowed to bring Nikita back with or without her full faculties. Wolfe just couldn't take that chance.

Chapter 31

Michael stood outside Nikita's bedroom door listening to the sounds of mother and child together. Knowing today would be difficult for her and that she wanted him there with her, gave him the strength to knock.

"Come in", she yelled from the other side.

Michael walked in and felt the stress of the previous night fade away at the sight of his son laughing and playing with his mother on the floor.

"Good morning", he quietly said.

Nikita looked up, smiled and further eased his stress as she said, "Good morning to you. Care to join us?"

Michael walked over to them while unbuttoning his jacket and, once seated on the bed above them, gave Nikita a tender look.

Michael watched his son playing with some blocks and smiled as the child looked up to meet his gaze. Such adoring eyes that held such innocence.

"Are you ready for today?" he asked Nikita while keeping his eyes on his son.

"I guess so. It can't be any worse than not knowing. Maybe I'll finally get some answers."

She turned to face him and said, "Thank you for staying with me Michael. It means a lot to me."

He extended a hand down to caress her cheek and said, "Me too."

The feel of his fingers on her cheek felt comforting. She pressed her cheek into his caress and smiled up at him. Their tender moment was broken when Michael crawled over to his mother's lap and threw his arms around her neck. Michael withdrew his hand from Nikita's cheek, placed it under his son's chin and softly laughed when their little boy tried to grab his father's nose. Nikita looked affectionately at father and son and asked, "Would you mind keeping him amused while I get changed?"

Michael nodded, "I'd like that. Thank you."

Nikita stood and then leaned down to pass Michael to his father. While she was leaning down towards him, their hands brushed as they exchanged their child. Nikita left her hand on Michael's for a few seconds, and then smiled as she withdrew her hand and walked into the bathroom to change.

Michael looked at his son in his lap and said, "Did you have a good night's sleep little one?"

The child stared into his father's eyes and did not reply, instead reaching inside Michael's jacket searching for a pocket. Michael smiled and said, "What are you looking for?"

"Teet" replied the toddler.

With a bemused look, Michael asked, "What's a teet?"

His son kept searching his father's chest looking for the shirt pocket that would have a treat for him. Not finding one, he leaned back and, looking up with a sad face, once again said, "Teet."

Michael said, "I'm sorry little one, I don't know what a teet is."

Nikita had walked out of the bathroom and heard Michael's last comment. "He wants a treat. Every morning when Sully would come over, he would have a treat in his shirt pocket for Michael."

Looking lovingly at his son Michael said, "I'll have to remember that from now on."

Nikita walked over and sat next to him, and Michael crawled over his father and onto his mother's lap. She kissed the top of his head and said, "What will happen to Sully, Michael? If that man came there looking for me, is Sully in danger because he knows me?"

Michael looked into her eyes. 'She may not remember, but deep down she hasn't changed. She still worries for those she cares about', he thought.

"Some of our people stayed behind to monitor him. I can find out if you'd like."

She smiled and said, "Would you? I would appreciate it Michael."

His eyes adoringly caressed her face until there was a knock at the door. Gretchen came into the room and said, "They are waiting for you downstairs Miss. I'll take Master Michael down for his breakfast now if it's alright."

Michael looked to Gretchen and smiled. She had been his nanny as a child and he knew that his son would be fine in her care. He looked back to Nikita and said, "Are you ready?"

She exhaled a deep breath, looked down at her son then to her husband and said, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be I guess."

Michael rose from the bed and offered her his hand. Once standing, he gently rubbed his other hand over his son's back and said, "Be good little one."

Nikita kissed her son's cheek and then passed him over to Gretchen who left with the child in her arms. Nikita turned to Michael as he reached for her hand, gave it a gentle squeeze and said to her, "It'll be fine. I'll be close if you need me."

Nikita smiled and nodded her head, "Okay, let's do it", and the two left the room together hand in hand.

Chapter 32

Nikita sat in a big leather chair with Michael standing by her side as the doctors explained what they wanted to try. Hypnosis seemed to be first on the agenda followed by additional memory tests. Julien quietly stood behind the doctors as his eyes locked with his son's. Neither man seemed willing to look away and each stared at the other with intensity.

Michael was first to break eye contact when Nikita rose and stood before him. She looked into his eyes with curiosity. His face softened as he reached a hand up to caress her cheek and said, "I'll be right here the whole time. I promise."

She nodded and then moved to lie on the couch. Twenty minutes later, she was relaxed and hypnotized and the questioning began.

The first doctor asked, "Nikita, I want you to go back to the first full memory you have."

A drowsy Nikita replied, "Waking up in the hospital."

The doctor said "Good. Now I want you to think one step behind that. What do you remember before waking up in the hospital?"

"Pain. I hurt" she replied meekly.

"It's only a memory Nikita, there is no pain. Can you tell me what you see?"

"Stephen.......I'm tied to a chair and he's hitting me."

"Stay with it Nikita, what happened next?"

"Ingo.....he...........he kicked me in the stomach. OH GOD", she began to cry.

The doctor tried to soothe her and asked what was happening now?

"The baby. Have to protect the baby. Michael, where are you?????" she said in a voice full of panic.

"Nikita, tell me about the baby," the doctor inquired after receiving a deadly glare from Michael.

"I'm pregnant, oh God, I can't lose this baby. I have to get out of here," as she started to sit up, but the doctor braced her and gently laid her back down.

"Your safe Nikita, your child is fine. You did a good job keeping him safe. Do you remember his birth?"

Nikita's movements stilled and her breathing slowed down as she replied, "Yes."

"Do you remember who you are?"

"Yes", she replied.

"Tell me your name."

"Nikita Wirth Samuelle," she replied with a smile.

Julien's eyes grew wide and he looked to his son. Samuelle????? He tapped the doctor on the shoulder and encouraged him to continue.

"Nikita, why the name Samuelle?" the doctor asked.

"Because that's my husband's name," she replied, and all eyes in the room turned to Michael.

Chapter 33

Once all had absorbed the shock of Nikita's statement, the doctor turned back to her and began the questioning once again.

"I want you to go back a little further Nikita. I want you to tell me what went wrong with your meeting."

Nikita flinched a little and held her eyes tightly shut. "Something's not right" He's not supposed to be here."

"Who Nikita, who's not supposed to be there?" the doctor inquired.

"Ingo. Oh my God, it's a set up!" she shrieked.

"What happened next Nikita?" the doctor inquired.

"Ingo and Stephen are talking. Operations sent Ingo with an offer. I'm trapped. I...I...can't get out." and her body convulsed as if it had been struck.

"I can't stop them. It's too much. I'm not strong enough," as she continued to fight the phantoms in her mind.

Michael watched Nikita raise her arms defensively and heard her soft cries as she relived the pain that was inflicted on her. He reached out to the doctor, gripped his shoulder and firmly said, "That's enough. Bring her out - now!"

The doctor nodded and spoke to Nikita in a calming voice that she slowly responded to. A few minutes later, they successfully brought her out of her hypnotic state and, as her eyes opened, she frantically searched for Michael. Michael crouched down in front of the couch, took one of her hands in his and slowly brought it to his lips.

"Are you okay?" he gently asked her.

Tearfully, she nodded that she was. Michael helped her to a sitting position and sat down next to her. With one arm wrapped around her back, he squeezed her tightly to let her know that he was with her and she would be all right.

Julien was pacing the room and motioned for the doctors to leave. Once the room was essentially cleared he stood in front of his son and his wife and said, "Marriage?? As your father, don't you think I was entitled to know that you had married?"

Michael blatantly ignored his father, and while keeping his eyes locked with Nikita's asked her, "Do you need anything?"

Taking note of Michael's clenched jaw and the anger he was restraining, Nikita said, "I want to see our son."

Michael nodded, rose to his feet and helped her to stand. As the couple began to leave the room, Julien shouted, "Michel, I want answers and I want them now!"

Michael turned and looked at his father with eyes as cold as ice that sent shivers down Julien's spine. He would not give his father the satisfaction of answering his question. As he had told him last night, his father had forfeited any and all rights to ask him for anything ever again. Michael then proceeded to escort Nikita out of the room and away from an exasperated Julien.

Chapter 34

Michael looked up from playing with his toys when his mother entered the room, and he quickly ran over to her. Nikita scooped him up and held him close to her chest as she rained small kisses on his cheek. Michael, standing behind his wife and child, smiled at his son who was peeking over his mother's shoulder. Gretchen walked over to the family and smiled, "I believe it's time for Master Michael's nap."

Nikita looked at the older woman and nodded. She kissed Michael on his forehead before handing him over to Gretchen and telling him it was time for his nap. The child rested his head on Gretchen's shoulder and began to yawn, as Michael wrapped an arm around Nikita's waist and said, "Sleep little one. Mommy will be here when you wake up."

Michael looked curiously at his father, and then laid his head back down on Gretchen's shoulder. Michael and Nikita then turned and left the room to allow Gretchen to lull their son to sleep.

Outside the door, Michael drew Nikita into his body, kissed her cheek and said, "We need to talk."

Nikita responded, "I know. Could we just stay like this a minute longer?"

Michael smiled and leaned back from Nikita taking her hand in his. "Follow me," he said in his softly accented sexy voice.

Nikita followed Michael down the hall and into his room. He closed the door and drew her into his arms relishing the feel of her body once again so close to his. They stayed locked in their embrace for a few minutes, and when Michael leaned back he saw tears inching down his wife's cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumbs and gently asked, "Are you alright?"

Nikita shook her head from side to side and now crying she said, "I feel like I'm falling. I see flashes of people and places and it's overwhelming. Oh, Michael. How could I have forgotten you? Forgotten our love? So much time has passed. I need to know and I need to hear it from you, please tell me you still love me. Please tell me we still have a chance."

Michael's eyes were radiant with love as he cupped her face, dried her tears and said, "I told you last night that my love for you never faltered. You are my heart and my soul, my wife, the mother of my child, and I cannot and will not live without you ever again."

Nikita leaned into Michael as their lips brushed once, twice, and then all thoughts vanished as the kiss deepened. Michael and Nikita knew there was much they had to discuss, but their hearts and bodies had taken control and the lovers began to recapture that which had been lost to them for far too long.

They swayed against each other, touching, feeling and reclaiming each other's body. Nikita reached inside Michael's jacket, pushing it off his strong shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. Michael had slipped his hands underneath the back of her shirt and was caressing her smooth silky skin.

When the backs of Nikita's legs bumped into the bed, she looked up and gazed into her husband's eyes. With an intense look of desire she whispered against his lips, "Michael, I need you."

Michael shuttered his eyes for a moment. 'How he loved this woman; how he missed this woman. How he needed this woman.' No words were necessary. Their love had and would always transcend anyone and anything. Nikita desperately wanted to be one with her husband; Michael passionately desired his wife.

Chapter 35

Michael gently sat Nikita on the edge of the bed and knelt before her. He removed her boots and socks and caressed her feet with his hands never taking his eyes off hers. Michael slowly rose to his feet, removed his own shoes and socks, and then reached for his wife's hands. Once Nikita was standing in front of him, Michael brought her hands to his lips, gently kissed them and released them.

Knowing that time was against them, Michael reached for the bottom of her shirt and slid his fingers underneath. He slowly and sensuously lifted the shirt up and over her head and gazed down at her chest. With a sigh, he reached out and ran his fingers up and down the sides of her breasts. Nikita closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip for her skin was on fire from his gentle touch. As his hands gently caressed her chest, Nikita reached over and tugged at his shirt, sliding it out of his trousers. Once her hands connected with his warm skin, Michael inhaled sharply. As her hands pushed his shirt upward, he removed his hands from her body and allowed her to finish her task.

Seeing his firm muscular chest sent Nikita reeling. Her hands reached out to his broad shoulders and slowly began to caress them. Michael stood there in awe of the woman he loved. He reveled in the pleasure her touch sent throughout his body, as her hands circled his chest and moved down toward his abdomen and rested on his belt.

Michael allowed her to unbuckle and remove his belt, and then unbutton and unzip his trousers. With a small push his pants slid down and pooled at his feet. The urgency to recapture his love being almost unbearable at this point, Michael stepped out of his pants and proceeded to caress his wife in the same manner she had been doing to him. Running his hands down her shoulders, caressing her breasts then lower to her slightly curved tummy, at last his hands rested upon the waistband of her jeans.

Dipping his fingers inside her pants and moving them from her tummy to her hips, he leaned in and brushed his mouth against hers. Nikita moaned as Michael moved his plush lips down her throat to her collarbone, as his fingers lightly squeezed her hips. Michael continued his assault leaving a trail of wet kisses down her chest and stomach, and then kneeling before her began to divest her of her pants.

Once Nikita's jeans were removed, Michael caressed her calves and thighs as his hands made their way to the one thing keeping him from his wife completely -- a white lace thong. Caressing her intimately, he slowly eased the thong down and, as she stepped out of it, he tossed it aside. Once again caressing her legs and taking in the beauty of her nudity, Michael lifted her right leg and brought it to rest on his shoulder.

With her core now open to him, he looked at Nikita with a fire burning passion that she heatedly returned, and then dipped his head to her center and began a sensual assault that sent her head spinning and her heart racing. Slipping one hand under her elevated thigh, he held onto her firm buttocks and drew her even deeper into his mouth. Nikita entwined her hands through his hair and fought to keep her balance as her leg weakened with each powerful thrust of Michael's talented tongue.

Michael let his tongue explore that which it had missed and yearned for so desperately these past three desolate years. He lapped, suckled and nibbled at her core and basked in the magnificence of her essence as she erupted in a powerful orgasm. Satisfied with his accomplishment, Michael slowly removed Nikita's leg from his shoulder and rose to his feet. Nikita's eyes were ablaze and her breathing was labored, as small eruptions continued to course through her body. Michael brought one hand up to cup her face and tenderly wiped a stray tear from her cheek. Nikita placed her hands on Michael's strong shoulders and leaned in to brush her lips against his. At first, the kisses were small and light, but when Nikita slid her hands down Michael's back, grabbed his firm ass and pulled his body to hers, the kisses grew desperate.

Michael reached down and lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He slowly moved them both over to the bed and laid her down beneath him never breaking their kisses or taking his impassioned eyes from his wife's. They explored one another, eager to touch every part of the other's body. When Nikita snaked her hand between them and firmly grabbed his arousal, a shudder wracked Michael's body; it had been too long and what little control he had left was fading fast. The feel of her hand wrapped so intimately around his hard flesh was his undoing.

"Kita........" he moaned.

"Yes Michael. Now my love, please", she responded in a husky voice, and then their lips met and nothing else existed but two souls soon to be one.

His eyes caressed her face and confirming the longing and desire in her eyes, he slowly began to push inside. The fullness of his hard flesh made Nikita moan. She gripped his shoulders tighter and with intensity held his gaze. Not being able to or wanting to wait any longer, Michael thrust his entire length inside his wife as moans escaped from each of them.

Michael began to move, plunging in and out with unbridled passion. The need to reclaim what was his made him wild and relentless. Just the feel of him deep inside her was almost enough to send Nikita spiraling into her second orgasm and, after a few more deep penetrating thrusts, that's exactly what happened. Michael wanted to still himself, wanted to feel her pulsing around him, but it felt too good to stop. Instead, he quickened his pace while lifting her right leg over his shoulder.

This intense contact with her core shook Nikita to the bone. Her moans and gasps grew with each hard thrust. With one leg wrapped around Michael's hip and the other draped over his shoulder, Nikita reached for and caressed his cheeks while slowly moving her hands down his neck to his chest where she began to pinch his nipples. Michael moaned as she pulled and pinched his nipples, which sent him into a deeper primal state.

"Kitaaaa" he moaned, as his thrusts grew even fiercer.

"Michael...yes." she cried.

Thrashing her head on the pillow from side to side as she moaned in pure rapture, she begged her husband for more and he gave it to her. With all his love, all his heart and soul, he drove into her with everything he had and was rewarded when he felt her third climax begin.

"Not enough" he whispered in her ear. "Come for me again."

As she again rode the waves of ecstasy, Nikita cried out "No!!"

Nikita cupped her husband's face with her hands, looked deeply into his eyes and said. "Not without you. Never again without you."

The look on Nikita's face as she made her passionate plea, shattered the control Michael had, up till now, been able to maintain. Yes, he would grant her wish but he would take her with him. He slid her leg from his shoulder and flipped her over onto her stomach. Raising her hips level with his and with no warning, he slammed into her as he leaned over and suckled on her shoulder and neck. Their groans and cries of love permeated the room, and Michael slowly brought Nikita's back up against his chest. His thrusts continued long and hard as he cupped her breast with one hand and reached down to her golden curls with the other. Nikita's arms were above her head, as she clasped his head and held his mouth to hers.

His fingers were stroking her with the same intensity as his thrusts when he felt the beginnings of her final orgasm. He quickly withdrew, turned her onto her back and then almost brutally plunged back inside, which sent Nikita spiraling into a state of euphoria. After several more powerful strokes, Michael's mouth covered hers as he finally allowed himself to join her in ecstasy. Swallowing each other's cries and caressing each other's bodies, two souls again become one.

Chapter 36

Feeling replete both physically and spiritually, Michael pushed Nikita's hair back over her shoulder as they lay in bed facing each other. His hand slowly slid up and down her arm caressing her with such love and tenderness that she couldn't stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. Smiling through her tears she said, "I love you."

Michael replied in a whisper, "I love you too."

Nikita reached out and rested her hand on Michael's cheek, "I remember."

"What do you remember?"

"What our love felt like. What making love to you felt like."

"But you don't remember everything." Michael stated.

"I remember you and what we mean to each other and nothing is more important to me than that - that and our son."

Michael turned his face into her hand, kissed her palm and closed his eyes. How truly lonely he had been. How desperately he loved this woman who completed him and gave him the most important reason to live. He opened his eyes and looked at his wife. "You need to remember everything Nikita, not just things about me. We need to find out everything that happened so we can move on from here. Wolfe will come after us...after you when he finds out you're still alive, and we need to prepare for that."

Nikita considered his words knowing that this ordeal was far from being over. Michael had told her what she had revealed under hypnosis, had explained who the 'players' were, so she was not completely in the dark as she had been before. She moved closer to her husband and nestled into his arms, resting her head under his chin and said, "Where do we start?"

Michael kissed the top of her head. "I have a meeting at Oversight today. Wolfe asked me to come early to discuss some other matters with him. I'll try and determine if he knows anything. I've called Walter and he'll be here soon with my own protection for you and Michael."

"Aren't we safe here?" Nikita asked curiously.

"I'm not taking any chances Nikita. My men will be with you and Michael around the clock. You are both too precious for me to leave things to chance."

"When do you leave?" Nikita asked in a soft voice.

Sighing at the pain of having to leave his wife even for a short time, Michael took her hand, brought it to his lips, kissed it and said, "I should leave now."

Nikita closed her eyes but couldn't stop her tears from falling.

"No my love. Please don't cry. This won't be like all the times we've parted in the past. I have to leave now so we can be together always. I'll call you every night, and Mowen will know how to reach me if you need me."

Michael brushed his lips across hers, and then kissed her with all the love he held in his heart. After a few long minutes, he leaned back and said, "I'll always be with you. Nothing will ever keep us apart again. I missed you so much and need to make up all that lost time with you and our son."

Nikita's tears flowed steadily as she caressed his face. "Our son. Michael, I wish you could have been there when he was born."

Michael brought his fingers to Nikita's lips and said, "I'll be there for the birth of our next child Nikita" and gave her a small grin that warmed her heart.

"Next child?" she asked playfully.

Michael kissed her sweetly and said, "Maybe several."

Nikita grinned, "Well then, you better hurry and come back to me because I'm going to hold you to that promise."

Michael kissed her again, left the bed and went to get dressed. Nikita lay on the bed a minute longer, then got up and went to gather her clothes. Once both were pleased with their appearances, Michael drew his wife into his arms and held her tightly, each of them knowing how difficult it was for him to leave.

Leaning back from the embrace in a last attempt to reassure her of his love, Michael reached up and ran his thumb over her eyebrow while grasping her hand with his other. He nodded to her, and then led her out of the room.