"Let me work with this for four hours." Birkoff said and Operations nodded his head and moved back to the window to wait.

"Michael..." Nikita asked out in a soft voice after an hour of holding her arms around Michael. She spoke a little about Lancing, and to Michael it was a beginning. He listened to the time Lancing tied her up in the bathroom for two days. Michael shut his eyes as Nikita went through the details, even down to the words that he had yelled at her.

"Yes, Nikita." Michael responded softly as he felt a tingling in his legs that indicated that they had fallen asleep in their current position. Yet, Michael would not move if Nikita did not want to. He watched Nikita pick up her head from Michael's chest and looked at him.

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed." Nikita said and Michael nodded his head. Although it was still early evening, the day of emotional stress had worn both of their very beings. Michael nodded his head and shifted his weight on the couch and picked Nikita up in his arms. She clung to his very being has Michael carried her lovingly up the stairs. He turned and pushed the door open to Nikita's room. He started to move forward when Nikita reached her hand to his face.

"Together." Nikita said weakly, expressing the wish that she would not be alone this night. Michael nodded his head and turned out of the room and to the room that Nikita had cried the one night away. Michael settled Nikita down on the bed and then moved towards the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Nikita called out as she allowed a long yawn to pull her lips apart and to swallow her entire face up. Michael stopped and smiled at the gesture. She was going to get a good night's sleep, Michael thought to himself.

"To get your nightgown." Michael said and Nikita shook her head no. Michael watched as she reached her hand out and pointed to the dresser and to the white T-shirt of Michael's that Nikita had worn. Michael moved forward and handed Nikita the shirt.

It took only a few moments until both were comfortable and underneath the warm blankets. Michael moved his body close to Nikita's and tightly wrapped his strong body around her back and held on tightly, allowing Nikita to physically know that he was there for her this night.

"Sir, I am not sure about this." Birkoff said as he looked away from the screen. He had traced it, which Birkoff found amazingly too easy. Birkoff handed the location over to Operations. He held the location and then crumbled the paper up.

"We imploded that building four weeks ago!" Operations hollered and Birkoff swallowed. He knew that information and he looked down at the screen and to the hand that pulled Stephen's head up. He had seen that hand before, but he was having a hard time identifying it.

"Get Madeline back in here." Operations ordered as he looked at the young man. Birkoff nodded his head and exited the office to seek out Madeline.

Madeline lifted the phone up sometime later. She was dreading the phone call because she did not want to hear that Michael had failed. She stared at Stephen who was stretching as she dialed the number to Michael's cell phone.

"Michael." Madeline said sharply as he picked up the other end. Madeline listened to some noise and then sighed.

"Yes." Michael replied and Madeline closed her eyes.

"How is Nikita?" Madeline asked, but again, Michael was pulled away from her question from some noise in the background.

"Nikita, I will be right back. Yes, I know you are cold." Michael whispered as he attempted to hide his voice from the cell phone. Madeline smiled as she stood up. George knowingly smiled and reached for the keys and the slight bit of equipment they had brought with themselves together to leave.

"Michael... nevermind." Madeline said and hung up before the operative could respond.

Michael folded the phone and sat it down on the dresser. As Michael moved towards the bed, he knew that this mission would soon be aborted. He wasn't sure if he believed that it was entirely set up. Michael was sure that Harry Meena was no more harmful than a Dalmatian puppy.

Michael pulled the covers up and slipped back into bed with Nikita. He rubbed her back before he started to move closer. It was with the last moment, that Nikita turned around to face Michael. Michael looked down to Nikita's soft blue eyes and kissed each of them softly. Nikita smiled contently, finding a peace in the horror that she had been living in, and dropped her head down to Michael's shoulder to drift back to sleep.

*

There was one thing that Operations almost hated more than the fact that Michael and Nikita had a child. That was when he couldn't find Madeline, no matter how hard he tried to find her. He slammed his hand against the wall outside of her office. He moved quickly down the hallways, as operatives moved about him. Birkoff had gotten a few missions to go off as planned in order to look like Section One was working.

"Birkoff.... Break into her computer." Operations ordered as he rounded the corner. Birkoff lifted his head and stared at Operations. Birkoff never felt comfortable being placed in positions as this. He had done his research in the past six hours that Operations had stormed about Section One, pounding on every door looking for Madeline.

The hand that Birkoff saw pulling Stephen's hand up, was that of Madeline's. Birkoff was sure of it, and knew that somehow someone was playing games with each other. Birkoff wasn't sure why, but he wished that it had something to do with the reason why Michael and Nikita were off playing house.

"What are you waiting for?" Operations demanded and Birkoff swallowed as he stood up. Birkoff looked up to the glass observation deck and then back to Operations. Operations frowned and then looked up to where Birkoff had just glanced. Operations felt his last calm nerve struggle to maintain composure as he saw George looking out over Section One. This was not a time not to know where Madeline is.

"He wants to speak with you." Birkoff said softly and Operations moved over to Birkoff and stared at him. Birkoff sat down and looked at the computer in front of him.

"And what is it going to look like when George asks where Madeline is and I can't answer him! Break into her computer!" Operations ordered and Birkoff nodded his head. Operations watched as Birkoff worked as quickly as he could.

"She has gone to check on some intelligence." Birkoff replied after a few minutes and was given a patent look on Operations' face that screamed "TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW".

"It's about Stephen and Mary Foo." Birkoff replied and Operations closed his eyes and looked at Birkoff. He looked back up at the observation deck and then back to Birkoff. George was pacing now and Operations nodded his head.

"Get in touch with her. I want her back here." Operations ordered and moved to make is way up to the fuming George upstairs.

"George, sorry. Some technical difficulties." Operations said calmly as he entered the observation deck. He moved to the little desk and pulled out some cigars and offered one to George. George shook his head no and watched as Operations lit his up.

"Have you heard anything back from Michael and Nikita?" George asked and Operations blinked. George was only lightly amused to see the shocked and misinformed Operations trying to cover up his lack of knowledge. George would have to remember that even Operations was not immune to family feelings.

"No. But that hasn't been an importance." Operations said and then stopped as the mission profile clicked inside his head. "We don't expect to hear anything for the next few weeks." Operations clarified, hoping that he sounded like the mission did matter, although Operations had no even read the reports from Michael.

"Well, I know that it has been a hassle on Section One, but I have some new intelligence and I wanted to come and personally apologize." George said as he placed the disk down on the desk. Operations did not like the little speech and flipped the disk into the computer.

"We were guessing about Harry Meena and we guessed wrong. He isn't into biological weapons, he is into cloning, which is not a danger to us currently." George said and Operations sat down in his chair, basking in glory that he had not felt in a long time, but Operations also knew that Birkoff or Madeline could easily speak of what Operations' mind had been on in the passing days.

"So I can bring Michael and Nikita back. I am shocked by that move of yours George." Operations stated and George leaned forward and looked at Operations.

"I am not going to harm Michael and Nikita because of Mia. But I don't want to see another one running around. Understand?" George questioned and Operations nodded his head. George turned and left the office. The door closed when Madeline turned the corner with a soft smile on her face. George had to be careful as cameras were always around Section One. He nodded hello and walked down the hallway and out of Section One.

Operations was surprised when the door slide back open so quickly and was even more surprised to see Madeline walking towards him. He stood up and pushed the cigar out, as he did not want to hear the lecture from Madeline again.

"Michael and Nikita's mission is being aborted." Operations stated with a smug smile on his face. Madeline nodded her head and sat down and placed a disk on the desk.

"What is this?" Operations demanded as he picked up the disk into his hand. He flipped it over and stared back at Madeline's eyes. She looked directly at Operations and smiled.

"We have some additional intelligence about Mary Foo." Madeline said and Operations shook his head.

"Mary Foo is Ling Pu Chu." Operations stated and Madeline looked at the disk and then up to Operations' eyes. Operations pushed the disk into the computer quickly and looked at an Alp mountain resort.

"That is Mary Foo, as Section Eight reported today that they found Ling Pu Chu floating in water in Hong Kong." Madeline said and Operations looked in horror at Madeline.

"Then who has Stephen?" Operations asked and Madeline looked to the computer screen. Operations looked as his son ran out of the resort and picked up Mary Foo into his arms. He placed Mary Foo at a bench and got down on one knee.

"Then who was the man in the video?" Operations demanded. Madeline blinked her eyes and looked at Operations.

"He was a Red Cell operative who they made look like Stephen. They know of your son, and the less contact you have with him, the better off he is to continue his life." Madeline stated as she watched Operations look at the computer screen as Mary Foo launched her body off of the bench to kiss his son, in the happiness of knowing true love.

*

Madeline had found some comfort as the limo moved quickly down the road. She had spent the day bringing up to speed all the missions that had been pushed onto the back burner when Operations decided that Stephen was more important. She worked diligently as Operations spent most of the day trying to prove how the mess was not due to Stephen.

"Madeline." The soft voice of Mia floated up from beside her. Madeline dropped out of her own thoughts and then back to the present situation. Mia looked up at Madeline with a soft smile on her face that was like Nikita's. Madeline smiled as she looked at the young girl.

"What is it Mia?" Madeline asked. Mia swung her head back and forth and giggled lightly.

"I am going home." Mia said and Madeline smiled as the limo slowed its rate of speed. Madeline looked to Mia and then to the world outside.

"Shortly, Mia. We have to pick someone up from the airport first, and then I will take you to your mommie and your daddie." Madeline explained for the forth time on this ride. Mia frowned and grabbed Madeline's hand.

"Is it dark outside?" Mia asked and Madeline lift an eyebrow at the question. It seemed odd and Madeline picked up the huge white teddy bear she had given to Mia and handed it to the young girl.

"Yes, of course. It is almost bedtime." Madeline said and Mia hugged the bear tightly and frowned. Madeline looked at the huge blue eyes fill with tears.

"Then my mommie not be there." Mia said as the tears fell over her face. Madeline reached out and pushed the tears away with her fingertips. She had only seen Mia cry a few times and only once before was Madeline all alone with Mia when it occurred. Both times it happened to be over Nikita. Madeline had never seen a child love her mother so much.

"Mia, I talked to your mommie. She will be there." Madeline said and she could see the doubt on Mia's face as she hugged the teddy bear.

"Ma'am, Stephen and Mary are coming." Charles said and Madeline smiled and opened the door. She looked across the darken sidewalk at the happy couple walking towards the limo. Stephen noticed Madeline and led Mary over to the limo. Madeline stepped into the limo and Mia immediately clung to her as the strangers entered the limo.

"I see that it was a good trip." Madeline said and Stephen nodded his head happily. He looked at the little girl and looked to Madeline.

"Is that Nikita's daughter?" Stephen asked and Madeline nodded her head as Mia smiled at Stephen. She looked to Madeline and then back to Stephen.

"Is my mommie with you?" Mia asked with her glistening blue eyes shimmering with the tears that were still there to fall. Stephen shook his head as Madeline pulled the girl tightly against the seat as the limo pulled away.

"No, she isn't. You look like her. I bet you that you smile like her." Stephen said, sensing the little girl's sadness. Mia beamed at Stephen and he pointed towards the shining smile.

"That is her smile. You have your mother's smile." Stephen said and Madeline mouthed the words 'thank you', as Mia took her mind off of the fact her mother wasn't here holding her. It made the trip to the apartment quicker.

~~

Madeline held Mia's hand until she stepped up the very last step. It was pointless to hold the girl back as she sprinted to her apartment door and banged on it with screams. Madeline smiled as Michael opened the door and she watched Mia leap into her father's arms.

"DADDIE!" Mia screamed with delight as Michael showered his daughter with kisses. Madeline picked up the large teddy bear she had given to Mia as she walked into the apartment. Madeline almost froze, as she did not see Nikita. Madeline could not bear to listen to Mia's cries again.

"Where is Mommie?" Mia asked with a deeply serious voice that made Michael laugh nervously, as it curiously sounded exactly like himself. Michael placed Mia down on the couch as the bathroom door opened and Nikita beamed.

"Mia!" Nikita called out and Mia shot across the room like a rocket on the fourth of July. Nikita held onto her daughter softly as Mia took all the kisses Michael had placed on her, and gave them to Nikita. Michael wrapped his arm around Nikita and helped Nikita to the center of the room to look at Madeline.

Madeline was amazed with the picture. They were a little family, and one that Madeline knew should not be tampered with, but she also knew Section One. Tough times were going to be ahead for this couple, now that George had Nikita emotional stable. Madeline had seen the under hand dealings George had completed in order to restore Nikita and in the process almost exposed Section One to the world. He had plans for either or Nikita.

"I'm dropping Stephen off and then heading into Section. Would you like a ride?" Madeline asked Nikita, knowing that it was possible that Nikita still couldn't stay in the apartment. She was rewarded when Nikita shook her head no and then kissed Mia's head.

"I'm staying here, with my daughter." Nikita said and Madeline knowingly smiled and headed out of the apartment. She was not going to infringe on the few days of normal activities that Michael and Nikita could have with their daughter. Madeline was sure that it would still be a few weeks until Nikita reemerged as the Nikita that had commanded control and dominance in the Section One hallways, although that had not been affected this time.

Madeline hurried down the stairs, determined to get back to Section One quickly to prepare for the plans that were bound to come. Madeline never wanted to see Mia crying again and the only way she could do that was by protecting her parents.

*

Michael looked at the figure slumbering next to him in the bed as the legs underneath the blankets stretched out during her slumber. Michael looked at the long lines and the look at peace that had finally crossed Nikita's face. He saw all the muscles in her face slack and loose the tension that she had been carrying by herself, as she knew for right now, that she wasn't alone.

Michael reached out with his hand, needed to brush the smooth surface, to make sure it was real. He had remembered times in Hong Kong when he dreamed of waking up and finding Nikita in his arms. He would reach out to touch her face, and be brought out of the dream to realize that he was hauntingly alone. With the graze of his fingertips across the plane of her cheek, Michael realized that it was real.

It also brought the blue eyes to open up and look directly into his eyes. Michael ran his fingers up and tried to flutter her eyes to the closed sleeping position he had awoke them from. When his hand ran away, he found the eyes still open and the soft smile that crossed Nikita's face.

"Go back to sleep." Michael whispered softly as he tried to move his hand again, but Nikita caught the hand with her own. She leaned down and kissed the palm before setting it back down on the bed. Nikita smiled and looked into the green eyes that had her attention. How she had waited for a moment to just look at them for no other reason than to look at them.

"Mia is awake." Nikita whispered and Michael turned his head but did not hear anything. He turned his head back and shook it lightly. No more did Michael's head settle back down on the side, continuing to look at Nikita, when the two feet were heard hitting the floor. Nikita smiled broadly as she turned her head towards the door.

In tottered Mia with the giant teddy bear Madeline had given her. The white bear was almost as tall as Mia and she had not dropped it from her hands since she arrived back. She walked over to Nikita's side of the bed and tapped her shoulder.

"Mommie, can I sleep with you?" Mia asked and Nikita looked over her shoulder at Michael, who had lifted his head up to look at the sleepy-eyed Mia trying to fight a yawn.

"Just me?" Nikita asked softly and Mia looked up at Michael and then to her mother. She licked her lips and it looked as if the little girl was going to fall back to sleep while on her feet.

"I never slept with both of you." Mia said and Nikita smiled and pulled the little girl up onto the bed. She looked at the bear in Mia's hand and tossed it towards her feet.

"Mr. Bear is going to sleep down there." Nikita stated as she rolled over and placed Mia between her and Michael. She snuggled down near Nikita's chest and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Nikita leaned down and kissed her head softly.

"Sleep good, Mia." Nikita whispered.

"Sleep good, Mommie, and Daddie." Mia said with a voice that indicated the half sleep state she had easily found. Nikita leaned down and smiled as her eyes easily closed and drifted back to sleep. Michael shifted his body and draped his arm up and over Nikita's pillow as she stroked her little girl's blonde hair back from her face.

Nikita slowly leaned down after a few minutes and kissed her head again and then slowly brought her eyes back up to meet Michael's. Nikita smiled and pulled her head back up to her own pillow. Michael softly started to absentmindedly stroke Nikita's own hair. Nikita turned her head downward to view her daughter.

"When she was little, I would watch her for hours when she slept with me. I would stay up all night looking down to her head and pushing her hair back." Nikita whispered out as she remembered the numerous sleepless nights she had spent. Nikita felt the tears gripping at her face and she moved her head slightly.

"Looking at her, brought peace to my soul. I knew I had done something right." Nikita whispered out and Michael looked onto her face, as it now was dotted with three glistening tears. Michael moved his hand down from her head to touch her ear softly. He gently rubbed it and Nikita smiled.

"I somehow thought that I was making up for not telling you by staying up until the dawn, protecting our daughter, like I knew you would." Nikita admitted in a whisper that Michael barely caught it. The meaning touched his soul and he looked down to his daughter and saw the peaceful smile cross her face. Michael moved closer to his daughter and his love and moved his hand down to touch the cheek and to smear the three offending tears.

"Nikita..." Michael said softly and Nikita looked into his green eyes, finding nothing but adoration for her in those eyes. He rubbed her cheek until it was dry and until he could think of the words to express his own feelings and his own actions. He licked his dry lips and looked at Nikita's blue eyes unwavering from his face.

"Last night, I looked at your face and I couldn't stop. I watched you for hours, like I always did. Like I was when you woke up." Michael said softly and Nikita blinked back tears from Michael's own confession of his heart. Michael smiled and bent down and kissed Mia's head as she moved slightly.

"I remember waking up on the boat, and seeing the moonlight highlighting your face with a peace that I never thought I would see again. Somehow the peace I saw on your face tonight was even more, and I don't' want to stop looking." Michael admitted and Nikita swallowed as she reached out and over Mia to take Michael's other hand into hers. The fingers flirted in a dance as they laced together and gently squeezed together.

"Go to sleep. I want to watch." Michael whispered out and Nikita shook her head lightly. She looked into the green eyes and smiled softly, never wanting to move her eyes from his.

"I want to look at you." Nikita whispered her wish back. Their eyes locked and remained locked for several minutes. Michael softly stroked the line of Nikita's tender cheek with the broad tip of his thumb and then smiled. He gently dropped his hand and traced the fingertips over the tender lips of Nikita's.

Minutes pasted as the actions continued. Nikita then kissed Mia's head and then looked up at Michael. She was moving closer to him. She closed her eyes and lightly brushed her lips against Michael's. His hand continued to caress her cheek as Nikita again, brushed her lips against Michael's. He didn't want to rush things with Nikita, but the electricity between the two of them flowed through their lips as Nikita stroke his lips with hers as if lightly strumming a guitar string. Michael responded after the third pass and lightly kissed back and Nikita's lips settled on his.

Michael's hand draped around Nikita's neck softly as he felt their daughter between them, the one that brought them together in a way that Michael was no expecting but one that he now thanked god for. Michael lightly opened his mouth and only tentatively seeked out Nikita's mouth before pulling back to view her eyes.

He had felt the tears of Nikita's touching his own but when he saw them, he ached to kiss them all away, to allow Nikita to know that she deserved his love and so much more. Michael started at her nose and Nikita delicately brought his lips back to hers.

Lightly they separated their lips and stared into the locked eyes. Nikita squeezed Michael's hand and then looked down at Mia. Together, Michael and Nikita closed their eyes to find their dreams all inside the bed for the night.

Madeline smiled, as she looked at the happy family asleep on the bed. She was thankful that Mia had bounded with the bear and that Nikita had not kicked the bear off the bed after Mia drifted back to sleep. Happiness flooded Madeline's small frozen heart as she watched Nikita make the moves to bring her soul back.

Madeline stepped back from the computer and sighed. She didn't feel guilt for spying on Nikita's happiness and now she was glad. She was sure that Nikita would be fine now for some up coming missions. Madeline was almost tempted to send a family photo to Operations, but she was sure that it would only cause more problems. Maybe she finally learned to leave well enough alone. Maybe.

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