"I just moved in when sweet Nikita was six months pregnant. She was always in and out, I was sure she was going to drop over from exhaustion." The woman explained as she slowly stopped in the middle of the stairs. Michael was down three stairs and nodded his head as the woman carefully held the key in her hand and turned back to her. Michael looked at the woman and realized that he wasn't familiar to her since she had moved into the apartment after his departure.

"Then, when the baby arrived! A it was like we had just discovered music again!" The woman exclaimed and started to climb the stairs again. She entered the hallway and quickly scurried her feet to the door and pushed it wide open from Michael.

"Do you want me to bring the keys in? Does she need some chicken soup?" The woman asked as Michael made the way to the doorway. Michael looked at the apartment inside and was warmed with the presence of it. There were a variety of toys on the floor. Michael turned and smiled to the woman.

"Thank you for your help. I will take care of it now." Michael said and the elderly woman nodded her head and hurried on her way. Michael watched her start down the stairs before fully entering the apartment. Michael carefully stepped over the large yellow school bus and set Nikita carefully down on the couch. He stepped back and picked up the bus off of the floor and held it in his hands as he retraced his steps back to reclaim the keys.

Michael shut the door and held the train in front of his face for several moments as he walked back to the kitchen counter and placed it down. Michael looked over to the couch and saw Nikita asleep like an angel. Michael was struck by the similarities between mother and daughter. Michael dropped his head and worked his way through the maze of toys to side on the very edge of the couch.

It must have been even more difficult for Nikita than he had imagined. Michael was constantly remembering personal tidbits of information he had gathered about Nikita through the years, in a way of assessing how she made it through these four years he had been gone. Nikita did not know a loving mother, and from everything that Michael saw and knew, Nikita was the essence of a loving mother. She didn't have anyone to consult about her feelings about raising her daughter while she was pregnant. Michael stopped and looked to the wall and saw a picture of Nikita and George on the wall.

Michael stood up and walked to the wall. It was a simple snapshot, but Nikita was definitely pregnant in it. Michael rubbed his chin slightly and then turned back to Nikita. Maybe Nikita did have the support she needed to get through the pregnancy, but it wasn't the kind of support that Michael could have given her. George may have cared about Nikita and the baby, but Michael would have showed what he had always felt. Love.

Michael crossed back to the couch and shook out the heavy wool blanket. He gently placed it over Nikita's legs and then tucked it up by her chin. Michael touched her cheek softly as her pure beauty even during sleep entranced him.

"You are a beautiful mother, Nikita." Michael whispered and he turned his hand over and ran his knuckles across her cheek.

"You are a beautiful woman." Michael said, making the statement more personal to his heart. He stopped and leaned down. He moved his head closer and kissed Nikita's cheek softly.

"God, Nikita. I love you." Michael barely whispered. He stood up and started to move around the apartment, never moving far from the radiance that Nikita seemed to give off.

*

There was activity below that had Operations attention. He leaned forward towards the glass as he saw the level five operative that had messed up this current, vital mission. Operations puffed at the cigar and moved it away slowly.

"That cigar will take ten years off your life." Michael said as Operations turned around to see Michael standing, very healthy, behind him. Operations tilted his head to the side and snubbed the cigar out.

"It is no concern of yours Michael." Operations said sharply as he studied Michael. Michael moved carefully forward and glanced out the glass window before bringing his attention back to Operations.

"Missing Nikita, I see." Michael commented and Operations' eyes narrow with the comment. Operations moved closer and touched Michael's shoulder softly, but not in a kind manner.

"Stop the father crap, Michael. Mia will be taken care of soon enough." Operations said with an evil smile. Operations lost that smile as Michael instead of backing up moved closer to Operations.

"She will be cared for. I am taking her home today to Nikita." Michael said without a blink of nervousness, or a fluctuation of his voice to hint at fear. Operations stared at him and smiled evilly again.

"Mia will never go home to Nikita, or you, Michael. We have found her home." Operations said and moved back to his desk, believing that this discussion was over. Michael waited for him to hover over the desk that had recently been added to the room, for Michael to move to the window.

"Name a mission of Nikita's that has failed since Mia." Michael challenged, but there would be no response. Michael looked down at the numerous stretchers that were rolling in causalities of the latest mission.

"Name all the missions that had less than a twenty-five percent successful egress that have been successful with surviving team members." Michael said with more power behind each word. Michael turned and looked at Operations.

"Or name the five missions that were planned to kill the entire team, and that Nikita successful achieved end game, and marched every single operative back into Section One." Michael said as he moved one step with every other word. He now stood beside Operations, looking at the older man's gray hair that had badly been colored.

"Does George know about those missions?" Michael questioned and Operations looked over Michael's head and towards the window.

"This is not your Section One, Michael. Continue this path, and you may not walk out of this room." Operations said firmly as he slammed his hand down on the desk for emphasis. The reaction Operations received from Michael was not the reaction that he would have garnered from Michael four years ago. Operations turned and stared at him.

"Funny, but George knew of every mission that Nikita had been on. In fact, he told me of a few this morning that I didn't know about." Michael said and Operations felt what power he might have had over Michael pop in an explosion. Operations had been deflated in the Nikita/Mia issue.

"George does not run Section One. I run Section One." Operations said firmly, hoping to clarify the chain of command to Michael. Michael pulled something out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the center of the desk.

"George from the beginning of Nikita's pregnancy knew of me being Mia's father. He told Nikita, no, promised Nikita, that no one would die. I received the same promise today, SIR." Michael informed Operations. Operations turned his head and walked back to the window.

"Do you want this, Michael?" Operations asked angrily. Michael turned from the desk and looked at Operations. Operations was at a critical place of his power and reign over Section One. He could easily lose it, and Michael could easily take control of Section One. That was not what mattered to Michael any longer. For all the years in Section One, all that Michael focused on was getting Operations' job, and he would sacrifice almost anything. Until Nikita came along, Michael focused on only that. After Nikita, Michael learned what life was again. Now, he was ready to try life again.

"No. I want you to understand that the only thing that changes, is that Mia lives with Nikita." Michael said and Operations turned from the windows and stared at Michael.

"You will be there too." Operations commented and Michael lifted his head.

"I will be a part of my daughter's life. And yes, I will be there for the next several weeks. Mia is still sick and mending." Michael said and Operations shook his head and moved to Michael.

"If this occurs, Nikita has won." Operations said firmly and Michael felt the spray of Operations' words on his face. Michael looked into Operations eyes for an explanation. Michael started to shake his head and then leaned back.

"No, it means life has won." Michael said as he took a full step back from Operations and started to walk to the hallway for the exit.

"Michael, You will not take Mia, home! She is going to live outside Section, and you are going back to Hong Kong!" Operations screamed and Michael stopped and looked to the picture on the table.

"Think about that decision, Sir. Are you ready to live with the consequences? To lose all of your power over everyone else, over one child?" Michael challenged. Operations looked at Michael's firm body stand planted to the ground. Operations wondered what Madeline would think of this video. Operations could almost hear Madeline pronouncing that Michael had finally found the balance that was needed for him to achieve the highest levels of excellence. Operations didn't want that.

"Fine. Take her home. But there will be consequences for Nikita's and yours escapade." Operations said firmly and he turned back to walk to the desk. But that did not make Michael turn and leave. Instead he bounded over to the desk and placed a hand down on top of the picture before Operations could grab.

"Don't ever think that Mia was made on a night of passion. Mia is the only good thing that came out of that hellish 36-hour period of being the human sexual displays at Sanchez's palace. Mia is the only thing that saved Nikita from the personal inferno that she was heading for after that mission. The successful missions would not have happened without Mia. Don't forget that." Michael said and stormed back away from the desk and Operations stared at Michael.

"This is not the end of it, Michael." Operations hollered with a sinister glare. Michael turned and met the glare.

"Who says I have played all my cards? I have cards you don't even know about." Michael said and left Operations, speechless.

*

Michael held Mia carefully in his arms as he opened the door to the apartments. There stood the elderly woman that had helped Michael with Nikita. Mia smiled at the elderly woman.

"Dear Mia. I have missed you." The woman said as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss the smiling child. Mia smiled broadly back as Michael watched carefully on. Michael was under strict orders from the medical personnel about Mia.

"Hello Emma." Mia replied and Emma pushed the flowers she held in her hand towards Mia. Michael gently nudged Mia, and Mia took them with a broad smile that echoed of Nikita's own smile. Michael nodded his head at Emma, grateful for the woman again. Last night, she had left some lasagna outside of the apartment.

"I was going to give them to your mother, but I think you should give them to her." Emma said as she touched the darling little girl's cheek before she walked out. Michael looked at Mia as she turned her head back to Michael. Mia nodded and looked back to Emma.

"Thank you, Emma!" Mia called out the elderly woman nodded her head and shut the door to the apartments on the way out. Michael turned and looked at the stairs and started up them.

"Michael, I want to walk." Mia said. Michael smiled and kissed her forehead softly. It had been at least the fiftieth time that Mia had said the same simple request as Michael carried her from the medical area of Section One and to her home.

"Mia, when we get you home." Michael said softly and Mia nodded her head up and down quickly. Michael against kissed her forehead, which made Mia squeal lightly with laughter. Michael looked ahead as he traveled up the stairs.

"Mommie will be there, right?" Mia asked Michael and he smiled. Now this question was the most populous question during the entire trip. Michael had explained to Mia over and over again that Nikita was a bit sad about Mia being sick. Mia would frown lightly and then smile. She would giggle and look at Michael.

"But I'm better. Me make Mommie happy." Mia had proclaimed every single time. Michael had never seen a joy some simple and so pure. The more time he spent with Mia, the more he was amazed at her character and being. At times, all he saw was Nikita, and other times, it scared him to the bone when he saw himself in her.

"Mia... when I open the door, I want you to take those flowers and run to your Mommie. Ok?" Michael asked with a cheerful voice as he approached the door. Mia nodded her head up and down eagerly and Michael set her down on the floor, to retrieve the keys and open the door.

"MOMMIE!!! MOMMIE!!! MOMMIE!!! MOMMIE!!!" Mia screamed as the door was only a few inches opened as she sprinted towards the couch that Nikita sat on. Nikita looked at her little bundle of joy running to her with her arms outstretched and flowers in the one hand. Nikita reached down and pulled her daughter up into her arms.

"Mia... Oh, Mia.. I have missed you." Nikita sobbed as she tightly, yet gingerly held Mia into a hug, which Mia returned. Michael closed the door and placed the keys on the kitchen countertop.

"I love you, Mommie!" Mia proclaimed and Michael watched the tears fall out of Nikita's eyes like a waterfall just being born. Michael stood back and allowed the moment between mother and daughter. Michael watched on the site and looked around. This was his family. This was his life. Michael had to hold back his own emotions to the actions.

"How are you feeling?" Nikita concernedly asked as she placed Mia on her knee and looked at her daughter. Mia laughed as Nikita's hand grazed against her stomach.

"Fine, mommie. Michael said I can have some candy!" Mia said and Nikita looked up at Michael and raised an eyebrow.

"I said after dinner." Michael said firmly and Mia turned and flashed a brilliant smile that had to be inherited from Nikita. Nikita looks at Michael and he watches the happy face slowly turn serious.

"Mia, do you know who Michael is?" Nikita asked as she pushed Mia's hair back softly. Mia turned her head around over her shoulder and smiled.

"He gave me. That thing." Mia said, pointing to herself. Nikita nodded her head and kissed Mia's head. Michael shook his head, not understanding exactly where Nikita was heading with this.

"And he visited me." Mia said with a little giggle and Nikita looked up at Michael. She had identified that little giggle as Michael's. She had rarely heard it, but it was like the giggles that had occurred when Michael's memory was lost. Nikita blinked her eyes and looked back at Mia.

Michael stood back and smiled. Nikita had been moping around her apartment for days, and refused to walk back into Section, fearing that they would immediately cancel her. Nikita had barely said any civil words during the entire time in the apartment with Michael, and Michael did not push it. He knew that she had to be sorting through a variety of emotions and concerns. He allowed her space, but he also knew the quicker he could get their daughter back into Nikita's hands, the better off mother and daughter would be.

"Remember when we talked about Bobby Ryan on the sixth floor?" Nikita questioned Mia and she nodded her head.

"He has the pink doll I want." Mia commented and Nikita forced out a smile, but it was hard and long. Nikita turned her head away from Mia and then looked at Michael before returning her loving gaze.

"Well, do you remember what I told you about the man in that apartment?" Nikita asked slowly with a raised eyebrow. Mia moved her lips to the center in thought and rolled her head around and then smiled at Nikita.

"That's his daddie!" Mia exclaimed and Nikita nodded her head and again forced out a smile. She felt as if her stomach was going to explode. She needed to tell Mia tonight. She deserved to Mia that Michael was her father. Nikita worried about this moment the entire time she spent in the apartment with Michael, although the subject was never brought up. Nikita looked at Michael as he started to wring his hands together. He knew what Nikita was doing, and she wasn't sure if he agreed.

"And remember what I told you about your daddie?" Nikita asked with a serious face and Mia slowly nodded her head up and down with a frown on her face, like she was a child that Santa Claus had skipped over.

"That my daddie was far away and that he would love me very much." Mia responded carefully and Nikita nodded her head and pulled Mia in for a long and tight hug. Nikita looked up at Michael with tears in her eyes and he shook his head no. Nikita nodded her head yes and pulled back from Mia.

"Mia... Michael is your daddie." Nikita said and Mia's eyes lit up like the time Nikita took her to the mall to meet Santa Claus. There was nothing but joy in Mia's eyes as she turned on Nikita's knee to stare at her father.

"You are my daddie?" Mia questioned loudly and Michael nodded his head. Mia jumped off of Nikita's knee as Michael extended his hands for Mia to leap into them. Michael hugged Mia as a father finally. Nikita started to cry, and then held back her own tears. It was a moment that was too many years too late. She had been shellfish in her decision not to tell Michael, and that was eating her apart. She needed to make things right, and this was only the beginning.

"Oh Mia.. I love you." Michael said happily as he spun Mia around in the air and the little girl giggled in his arms. Now to Nikita, Mia looked every bit her father. Whenever Mia would get upset, instead of putting on a pouting face, she would blankly stare at Nikita, just like her father. Whenever Mia would play with other children, she would fiercely protect her own toys. Nikita nodded her head as her heart overflowed with happiness for Mia. She would now know the extraordinary man that was her father. Nikita was sure Michael would make a great father.

*

Michael stepped down from the bedroom and looked at the couch, that Nikita had slide down onto. Michael looked at Nikita and felt a general concern for her. He had believed that with Mia back home, that she would withdraw from the silent shell she had created in the aftermath off all that had occurred. That had not happened, but Michael put the feeling off on expecting too much in one day.

"I was going to go to bed, Nikita." Michael said and Nikita turned her gaze from the television to Michael. The room was now darkened, and the bluish hue from the television light flickered over Michael's face moved as the show continued.

"Take the bed. I'll sleep down here. I am not tired." Nikita commented quickly and Michael nodded his head. He leaned over and brushed his hand against Nikita's face. Nikita forced out a smile and watched Michael retreat to the bedroom.

It was not long later, that Nikita turned her head as she heard the tiny pattering feet of Mia's running into the bedroom that Michael slept in. Nikita waited to see Mia trudge back to her room, but that event never occurred.

After the evening news, Nikita stood up and retrieved something off of the top cabinet in the kitchen. She held the piece of paper tightly and then moved back to the couch. She looked around and then pulled the small black duffel bag out. She quickly checked the contents. She checked the gun and then looked to the bedroom. The presence of the gun in the bag underneath the couch was one of the reasons why Nikita had not moved all night, unless Mia was in her arms. But then, Mia had spent most of the time in Michael's arms.

Nikita turned and slowly moved to the bedroom. She stopped on the threshold and gazed into the sight. It was like a picture. Michael was flat on his back, and Mia was curled up with her head on his shoulder. His arm had protective wrapped around his daughter and the blue blanket had stayed tucked underneath both of their chins.

Nikita tentatively stepped into the bedroom, to the side that Mia was on. Nikita pushed back some of the blonde hair and smiles. Nikita had dreams of it slowly turning dark brown on her, so that Mia would look more like her father. Nikita was sure it would happen some day. Nikita leaned down and kissed Mia on the cheek. Nikita tucked the blanket tighter into Mia and allowed her hand to skim the surface of Mia's body as she turn to look at Michael.

Nikita pulled her hand up and placed the piece of paper on the dresser where Michael had placed his cell phone. Nikita stopped and touched the cell phone barely with one finger as she turned to look at Michael. She had the urge to curl into bed with her daughter, and the man that she loved with all of her heart, and the only man she could love. Nikita moved to his side and stood there for several solid minutes.

Nikita reminded herself of the reasons for her decisions. She had taken so much from Michael already. She had hid the knowledge of his daughter, who she never expected Michael to care so much about. She had forced Michael to play hardball with Operations to spare both her and Mia's life. Nikita did not want to take anything more from the man she loved. He deserved more than what she could ever give to him. Now he had their daughter. Nikita was sure that all would be fine for Mia.

"I love you, Michael. Always have, always will." Nikita stated as she rubbed her hand softly against his neck and pulled away as tears were on the warpath to her eyes. She wiped the renegade tears away and stole out of the room quickly before either would awake.

Nikita placed a list of food allergies on the refrigerator and set the parenting books out on the countertop. Nikita opened the refrigerator and checked that there would be enough milk to last Michael and Mia through breakfast tomorrow. Nikita turned and closed the door once she had seen the full carton of milk. Nikita looked back to the bedroom and sighed softly.

Nikita ran through what she knew would happen. Walter would visit often and make sure that Mia was growing up to be a fine young woman. Nikita knew that Walter would be the perfect person to counteract any of Michael's toughness, but Nikita did not seem to worry about that. Michael had cared shown his love for Mia in the time since her surgery. Nikita hated herself for not being able to walk into Mia's room. Nikita had to run, and that was something that Michael would never do to Mia.

The bag was carefully picked up and Nikita opened her door silently. Nikita slide her hand into her pants pocket and placed her own key on the countertop. She did not want to see anything that would remind her of this night. Nikita blew a kiss towards the bedroom for the people she loved and closed the door on the way out. She felt her heart break, but swore to herself that she was doing this because she loved them. She swiftly walked down the hallway, not looking back. She would not look back.

*

"Daddie."

"Daddie." Mia said loudly as she shook at Michael's arm. He turned to his side and rubbed his hand through his hair and looked at Mia. Mia leaned back and frowned.

"Mommie isn't here and I am hungry." Mia said and Michael blinked his eyes and looked off towards the living room, wondering where Nikita had gone. Michael slid out of bed as the cell phone on the dresser began to ring. Michael touched Mia's head softly and looked down.

"Why don't you go and watch some cartoons?" Michael asked and Mia shook her head no back and forth quickly. Michael sat down in the chair next to the dresser and pulled her up onto his lap.

"Hello?" Michael questioned as he held the phone up to his ear. Mia smiled at Michael and he smiled back.

"Michael, Nikita is gone." Madeline said and Michael looked at Mia and then stared off to the wall.

"Mia said she had gone out." Michael said slowly, but as the words tumbled out of his mouth, he stopped.

"I mean gone. She is on a mission for The Agency." Madeline said and Michael looked at Mia and then almost pulled the phone out to stare at it. This had to be a joke. Nikita wouldn't just up and leave like this.

"Which one?" Michael questioned, as he had seen some of The Agency's missions. Some of them were quite easily done, if someone took two brain cells together to work on it. Michael pushed back Mia's hair and forced out a smile. She had caught onto Michael's frown.

"The Lancing Ferris mission." Madeline pronounced, and Michael felt as if someone had just chopped his head off and that his heart had been pulled through his feet. He knew about the Lancing Ferris mission, as both Section One and The Agency had been working on it together. In fact, what had been currently offered to volunteers, was a mission profile that had been produced by a cooperation between the two organizations.

"It has a 17.8 percent chance of retrieval of the operative." Michael hissed out, as he looked at Mia and kissed her forehead. Instinctively, Mia grabbed to Michael's shoulder and dropped her head.

"Yesterday it was reevaluated and dropped to a 9.76 percent chance." Madeline said and Michael closed his eyes as terror ran through his body. He opened his eyes and started to shake his head.

"Why would George allow her to do this?" Michael questioned and there was a pause on the other end and Michael felt the other shoe fell on him.

"He didn't. He only know found out." Michael said, answering his own question. He looked at Mia and then held her even tighter.

"We are working on an extraction plan currently, Michael, but anything we do to quickly may expose Nikita. Are you going to be fine with Mia?" Madeline asked and Michael looked down to Mia who was now looking up at Michael with tearful eyes. He looked back to the dresser and saw the note addressed to him.

"We'll be fine." Michael responded as he hung up the phone and blindly placed it on the dresser. He took Mia and placed her directly in the middle of his lap. Mia frown and her eyes were blurred with tears.

"I miss Mommie." Mia pronounced and Michael nodded his head.

"Mia, your Mommie has gone on a long trip." Michael said and Mia nodded her head.

"She will be back for the Snowman Festival?" Mia asked quickly. Michael shook his head as he thought of the event two weeks from now.

"No, Mia. I don't know when she is coming back.. But you have me." Michael said quickly and Mia started to cry. Michael held her to his shoulder.

"Your Mommie would want you to be strong, Mia... just like her." Michael said, but her tears continued. Michael felt his own questions overwhelming him. He touched the handwritten note and unfolded it.

"Some time together for what I neglected to give you. Luv, Nikita." It read simply and Michael held his eyes tightly shut. Michael kissed the top of Mia's head and bit his own lip briefly.

"Your mommie will be back, Mia..." Michael said softly as he began to rock the crying girl. Michael lifted his head up towards the ceiling and allowed the tears to flow out of his eyes and down his throat.

There was no explanation why Nikita would do this. The letter did not explain enough. Michael had just started to build a relationship with Mia, and she took off. Michael failed to understand what had occurred.

"Nikita will be back..." Michael muttered softly as he dropped his head down and cried with his daughter as they both felt the void of Nikita's presence.

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