"Yes... and I don't want to worry..."

"You have to worry about your family... You don't have the time to worry about yourself... Nikita.. how long?"

"John... please..." Nikita whispered and John didn't move his head. He just stared at Nikita.

"Since when me and Michael were on vacation..." Nikita admitted and turned her back. John blinked his eyes. That was almost ten weeks ago. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it. Nikita pulled at the panel and turned her head slightly.

"I'll work on the profile, John.... I'll have something in the morning..." Nikita dismissed John quickly. He dropped his head and moved away from Nikita. He knew when Nikita didn't want to be bothered any longer and now was one of those times.

Ten weeks, John thought over and over again in his head as he moved out of the office.

Something was wrong... very very wrong.

*

Nikita sat at Birkoff's station, late into the night. She stared at the screen in front of her, feeling and believing that she just couldn't see the mission profile that she sought out. Nikita believed that it could happen in this window and that she was failing as her job as profiler.

In fact, other than those times that Michael was around her and touching her, Nikita didn't know how she felt. She was sick of using the word to describe the feeling as being different. Yet, it was the only way that she could describe it. It wasn't fine and it wasn't wrong. It was just different and the fact was it was driving Nikita crazy.

She had exited her office when Birkoff left to be with Mary, who was almost done with her fifth month of pregnancy and already driving Birkoff crazy. Nikita earlier in the day told Birkoff that he was going to have a son, because Mary was doing everything opposite of her first pregnancy. Mary was now going through the stage of craving pizza at all times of day. When Mary was pregnant with baby Josephine, she couldn't even walk past a pizza place without getting sick to her stomach.

Nikita had hoped that switching to another location, away from her office that she would have been able to focus on the profile and actually work on it. Instead, Nikita has sat at Birkoff's desk for hours, staring at the location and the man. There were no weakness exposed that Nikita could exploit and anything that she has arrived at as a profile has had higher fatality numbers than the profile John had.

"Damn!" Nikita hissed as she slammed her fists down at the computer and dropped her head. She had a headache and she felt like crap. She wanted to sleep, but had said that she was going to have a profile for John to use in the morning. She didn't want to lose this window, but it was happening and happening quickly.

"Goodnight, Nikita..." an operative spoke as he walked down the hallway. Nikita watched him move from one end to the other end. Slowly Nikita swung her head from side to side, telling herself not to give up now, that there had to be an answer. She was torturing herself.

But this was Lee Hung.

No one in her family was truly safe until he was dealt with. Nikita wanted to make sure that the threat of Lee Hung leaves very quickly. Waiting on this might cause several more months of waiting for the next window. It would probably be what was for the best, but Nikita was fighting that now.

She wanted him dead and now.

Nikita looked to the screen once again as she placed her elbows close to the keyboard. Slowly she turned her head to look at the area around her. She was virtually by herself. Birkoff's backup was behind her on another computer as Nikita worked. Nikita leaned her head forward and placed her forehead into her hands and shook her head back and forth.

And finally there were tears.

They had been gone for a while. But they were never gone for long. She didn't understand why. She had been able to maintain her emotions so well for the weeks after returning with Michael. Of late, she has had no control over them; feeling like someone else was pulling the strings on her tears and her sad emotions.

"Hey, sugar... If there is no profile... I'd like to go home to Norma..." Walter spoke as he slowly walked down the hallway. He stopped as Nikita lifted her head and stared at him with her red and drawn eyes. He had to wonder when the last time Nikita slept was. He waited as Nikita pushed the tears off of her face and Walter knew not to mention them at all.

"I am going to work on it all night and will call if I finish it," Nikita spoke out in a hoarse voice. Walter frowned and tilted his head as Nikita slowly turned in the chair to stand up. She was probably heading back to her office and Walter watched.

Nikita gained her feet and immediately started to sway. She grabbed hold of the desk and steadied herself once again. She blinked her eyes and looked around as Walter walked around the desk and grabbed hold of her elbow.

"That isn't necessary," Nikita hissed and Walter tilted his head to the side as if Nikita was crazy. She rolled her eyes and stepped forward and Walter felt the tremendous pressure on his hand, indicating that Nikita was still extremely unsteady on her feet.

"When was the last time you actually had some sleep?" Walter questioned and Nikita rolled her eyes as she stopped trying to move.

"I actually feel asleep at my desk this afternoon, Walter... I'm just going to my office..." Nikita stated and Walter looked around and held onto Nikita firmly still.

"Well, then I'm walking you to your office, sugar," Walter stubbornly stated. Nikita looked at Walter and stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She was sure all of this was just because she was so upset about the lack of a profile.

"Walter..." Nikita warned and she knew that he was going to walk her.

And it comforted her. She wasn't sure if she could do it by herself. It should have scared Nikita that she was feeling this way, but it didn't. She accepted it and went on walking down the hallway; not noticing that Walter probably was supporting most of her body weight.

Walter even reached out to punch the code. He looked as the door opened and shook his head as Nikita pulled away from her arm and reached out for the handle.

"Nikita, are you sure you aren't ready to go home? You know that I drive pass your house..." Walter offered and Walter watched as Nikita shook her head from side to side. Walter was about to protest again, but he knew that it wasn't going to do any good to try. Nikita had made her stubborn mind up.

"Good night, Nikita..." Walter stated and Nikita turned around and started her stairs. Nikita listened to the door closed and looked around her office, finding it swirling more now than her world was swirling before. She leaned down to the little footstool she had for one of the nice chairs she had in the office and suddenly fell down onto it, her face hitting firmly to the material and her arms wrapped around it.

Asleep.

~~

John paced as he waited for Mia to join him on the back porch. He arrived to find Michael home, which was shocking since Nikita was still inside of Section One when he left. Usually Michael never left without Nikita, especially of late.

"What is it John?" Mia whispered as she cracked open the backdoor and looked to her lover. She wanted to reach out and hug and kiss him. Yet, Mia knew that her father was home and that they had to act just like friends right now.

"Mia... I believe you..." John stated out and Mia flickered her eyes from side to side over him. At first she didn't know what John was talking about. Her eyes met his and then stopped and awareness flooded her. Mia pushed the door open and allowed John into the kitchen.

"Mia.. She is tired and she is so odd right now..." John declared and Mia nodded her head, feeling the tears starting to build in her eyes. She rubbed her arms with her hands and she swallowed.

"What can we do? I asked her the other day and she just declared that she feels different, John. I don't know what is going on and what to do!" Mia complained out and John ached to hold to his love. He wanted to dry her tears and he couldn't at this time.

"I gave her a profile and she snapped at me, Mia.... I don't know what is with her and she looks really... Nevermind..." John said as he stopped his words, not able to say them to Mia.

"What does she look like?" Mia demanded.

"Nothing, Mia... I probably shouldn't even have mentioned it... I'm just concerned," John stated as he turned his head away. He felt Mia's hand on his arm and he turned to look at Mia. She needed to know. John knew that Mia deserved to know what he felt and John also knew that his worries couldn't stop at Mia.

Michael needed to know.

"Mia..." John whispered and then dropped his eyes. Mia shuddered and pulled in some air.

"She looks sick." Mia responded and John nodded her head, not daring open his eyes. Mia looked around and pushed her body up onto the countertop, sitting and swaying her legs.

"I think she knows that it's health... but she is afraid that it is cancer, John..." Mia whispered as John opened his eyes and looked at Mia once again. His eyes were almost wet, but not dropping tears. He was frustrated that a smart woman like Nikita was doing this to her body and not getting anything checked out. He was frustrated that his voice meant almost nothing.

"If she is afraid it is cancer she should be getting checked... Not running from it!" John exclaimed and Mia dropped her head. That was the same argument that floated in her head.

"Nikita isn't into finding out. She is into denial... and not telling things..." Michael's voice echoed into the kitchen. John turned and looked at Michael as he walked into the kitchen. He surveyed the scene with his eyes and he was sure that Michael knew that there was more going on between the two, but that it wasn't a concern now.

Michael started to move towards John and then moved to Mia. He reached out and kissed Mia's forehead softly as he stroked her back out of compassion and need. When he pulled away, Michael allowed a heavy sigh out that echoed the feelings in John and Mia.

"She is still in Section about the Lee Hung profile..." Michael stated and then drifted off. John's body straightened up and looked to Michael.

"I tried to figure it out Michael and I had the best profile I could get, but Nikita turned it down..." John started to explain quickly, almost worried that Michael was trying to blame him for what was happening until Michael pressed a hand onto John's shoulder.

"I know, John. I would have turned it down too... What Nikita doesn't realize is that we are going to lose this window and we should just accept it," Michael assessed and Mia looked between the two men, discussing things as if this was Section. Mia had an objection. A major one, her mother was more than Section Nikita and she was more important than what they spoke of.

"EXCUSE ME!" Mia shouted, aghast that she was going to have to point this all out. Mia waited as both men looked towards her. "Don't talk about this! Do something for my mother!"

"You're right... I'll bring her home..." Michael said as he turned and left the kitchen. Mia looked out the hallway as she heard the front door slam. She looked to John as he inched closer to Mia. She almost felt guilty for sending her father after her mother. But then, she didn't feel guilty.

"Oh, Mia.... Don't worry..." John whispered out as he held Mia to his shoulder. She cried lightly on his shoulder and then swallowed.

"I'm worried..."

"I'm here... I'm here..." John whispered back and closed his eyes slightly. He looked around and picked Mia up into his arms. He turned off the kitchen light and started up stairs. Mia needed some TLC.

~~

Michael walked down the hallway, forever stuck with the impression with the almost empty Section One. There were only a few operatives around in the hallways, but it should be that way, it was almost four o'clock in the morning and things were not even close to being ready for mission. Then Michael remembered that there were no missions planned for the next day.

He looked to the floor as he walked. He didn't know what he was going to find in Nikita's office, but a Nikita that was stubborn and working on a profile. He knew that getting Nikita to come home was going to be difficult, since Nikita was stubborn and obsessed on getting Lee Hung.

He waited at the door and sighed. He was ready to forcefully remove Nikita if he had too from the computer. It wasn't an option that Michael wanted to do, but knew that Nikita needed to be at home and sleeping. He didn't want to waste time in fighting; it would be futile and only take away time that Nikita could be sleeping in.

The door slid open and what Michael found was not what he had expected. He saw Nikita sprawled out on the footstool and his heart began to race. He leapt down the stairs and reached out for Nikita.

Instantly, it was clear that Nikita was just sleeping. She shook her head and blinked her eyes. Michael waited as Nikita moved slowly. He bent down on his knees and looked into Nikita's eyes.

"I have to finish the profile..." Nikita stuttered out as she looked towards her desk. Michael noted the turned off computer and sighed lightly.

"There won't be a mission, Nikita... We'll have to wait till the next time..." Michael softly stated, hoping that she would just accept his words. Nikita looked at him and rubbed her hand over her face, trying to hide the rather large yawn she had.

"But I thought we could get him this time... Michael.. how long are we..." Nikita started to rattle off until Michael placed a finger over her lips.

"Nikita... you are tired... Let's wait until we can get Lee Hung cleanly..." Michael spoke and Nikita closed her eyes. It was going against everything her mind was telling her, but what Michael said, that she was tired, was so true.

"But..." Nikita said and Michael narrowed his eyes.

"You feel asleep on the footstool, Nikita... You are tired... Let me take you home and put you in a soft bed... and let me hold you and let us dream together, Nikita..." Michael stated as he started to stand back up. He reached his hands down to Nikita, offering to help her up. When Nikita took his hands, Michael felt a pang in his heart, that there was still something more going on here, that his Nikita never took hands if she was just tired.

"That sounds nice, Michael..." Nikita said as her eyes fluttered, indicating how tired she was. She was about to fall back to sleep on her feet. Michael saw that and started to laugh as he swept her up from her feet, trying to make Nikita feel like he wasn't doing this because he was extremely concerned.

"Ok... Prince Charming... Home." Nikita announced with a smile on her face. Michael nodded his head and started to move quickly. He hoped that bed was all that Nikita needed.

*

Nikita slowly opened her heavy eyes, even though her first impression was to close them ago and ignore the real world around her. Her entire body felt so heavy as her eyes looked around the room that Michael continued to keep dark by pulling the shades down and the curtains tightly down. Nikita did not dare to move, knowing that moving would bring Michael's attention.

She felt bad.

The tears started to fall almost as soon as Nikita registered in her mind the fact that she felt bad. If she wanted to move, she was sure that it would only cause her more pain than what she was ready to deal with. Yet, with not moving, she allowed her mind to race with the possibilities and the ideas of what was going on, none of which were good and positive.

Slowly, she pulled her legs up, but not slowly enough that Michael didn't notice. He shifted in the bed and wrapped his arms around Nikita again. She had shifted during the whole night of sleep, which ended up being about four hours so far, not often. Yet, the last time she moved, she moved away from Michael, seeking the corner of the bed. Now she was trying to wrap up into a ball.

Nikita closed her eyes as she felt Michael's hand on her. She didn't want to upset Michael and she didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want his touch right now. If anything, it made Nikita face what was going on, which was something that Nikita wanted to deny for as long as she could. There was nothing wrong, Nikita told her mind over and over again, and it only caused the familiar churning in her stomach happen.

"Please..." Nikita hissed as she rolled slightly away from Michael, pulling his hands away from her body. Suddenly she even felt sicker and more pain, and it was all because she pulled away from Michael. Nikita closed her eyes and couldn't stop herself from the heavy and very audible sob. She looked away and swallowed.

"Nikita... what's going on?" Michael questioned as he stared up to the ceiling. He was trying to count numbers, trying not to turn and force Nikita to look at him. He didn't have to see or hear the tears to know that they were there. He waited for long moments and thought that Nikita had drifted back to sleep.

"Why won't you let me in, Nikita? I'm your husband... and I'm so scared..." Michael whispered as he turned to look at Nikita's back. Her hand moved off of her side and Michael swallowed as he heard a sob.

"Because I'm too scared to let you in, Michael..." Nikita trembled out with a breaking voice. Michael shifted and finally sat up in bed. Nikita didn't even turn to look at him. He reached out and touched her hair.

"There has to be something we can do Nikita... We can't hide from whatever this is that is doing this..." Michael spoke out and Nikita rolled more and more, closer to the edge.

Nikita felt the world spinning again and the surge from her stomach. She waited and shook her head, fighting the natural process her stomach wanted to do. She fought to find the edge of the bed, hoping if anything, if she had to retch, that she didn't destroy something.

"Nikita?" Michael called out as he saw her behavior. Suddenly Nikita grabbed her hands tightly to her pillow and gave up to the urge, as it was too strong. She closed her eyes and got a whiff of the smell that came back to her. There wasn't much food in her stomach, but now this worried her more.

"Oh god..." Michael cried out softly as he sprung to his feet. He didn't try to move Nikita once he saw that her eyes were open. He reached out for the garbage can and placed it so that if Nikita had to throw up again that she would hopefully hit the garbage can.

"Mi.." Nikita started to say and then closed her eyes. She had been fighting this urge for a couple weeks and now that she had given in, that was the end of her fight. Her body was gaining control and Nikita was losing control.

"Ok... don't worry..." Michael whispered as the second purge of her stomach occurred. Michael swallowed and rubbed at Nikita's head as she gasped for air afterwards, showing that she was very dizzy from the excursion of the act of retching. That used to happen to Mia when she was young, she'd pass out whenever she threw up and now Michael was worried that Nikita was going to do the same thing.

"Nikita... do you know what's going on?" Michael softly inquired, as Nikita seemed to be no threat to throw up again, but was a threat as she started to work herself up about what was going on. Nikita shook her head back and forth and swallowed again. Her stomach was churning again.

"I think I'm dying, Michael..." Nikita moaned out as she closed her eyes. Closing her eyes though did no good and Nikita gasped as she felt the bed that she was sitting on start to move. She opened her eyes and found it hard to focus on Michael.

"Nikita... we are going to see Austin... Now..." Michael said and he looked to Nikita. She was trying to move and was in a panic, as she just couldn't get her body to move, as she wanted it too. Her cries were getting harsher and every once in a while she would mutter that she was dying.

"Nikita.... Stay right here.... I'm going to get stuff ready... We are going to see Austin... NOW..." Michael stated as his eyes were wide open at the behavior he was seeing from Nikita. He stepped out of his bedroom and walked across the hallway.

"Mia? Mia?" Michael called out as he opened the door. He saw the rush of activities and the closing closet door. Michael blinked his eyes and looked at Mia as she looked at her father. She knew that although she was with John and basically caught, that something bad was going on.

"What, dad?" Mia questioned, trying to sound calm. Michael looked around and looked at Mia.

"Get your clothes... and get John dress... And get to the car..." Michael ordered and Mia swallowed as John pushed the closet door back open. He looked to Michael and swallowed.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Mia questioned again, feeling the panic start to set into her system. Michael rubbed his hand through his hair, ignoring John as he looked over his shoulder.

"You or John are going to drive me and your mother to Section..." Michael announced and turned out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Mia looked to John and leapt up from the bed. John stared as she started to pull on clothing and then she stared at him.

"What are you waiting for? Do you think I'm calm enough to drive them?" Mia hissed and flew out of the door and into the hallway.

Michael had retreated back into the bedroom and found Nikita trying to wipe her own mouth. Michael reached out with the towel and assisted Nikita with the task. She rolled her head back and Michael touched her skin. She wasn't hot or feverish and that bothered Michael.

Finally he was able to pull himself from Nikita as he heard Mia running down the stairs and opening the door. Michael pulled on some sweat pants and the light white t-shirt he was wearing to bed was good enough. He pulled his shoes on and turned towards Nikita.

He had dressed her in a nightgown when he had arrived home with her and the option was to dress her now. She rolled her eyes and looked at Michael. Both of them froze there as Nikita felt the tears running down her face.

"I think I'm dying, Michael... oh god..." Nikita sobbed painfully out and the decision was made. Michael pulled the sheets and the comforter from the bed along with Nikita and started to walk with her. He didn't want to waste anytime.

It was clear that Mia and John had thought of the same things. The door was wide open and the backseat to the car was ready for them to go. Michael moved quickly as Mia shut up the house and left. Aubrey was left at home with Danielle as Mia had rushed to tell him what was going on.

"Do we have a plastic bag?" Michael questioned as Nikita's cheeks started to turn green and he knew what would come soon. Mia reached around and finally pulled one out. Michael moved and turned his eyes as the little bit of liquid came up and Nikita moaned.

"Michael... I don't want to die there..." Nikita argued and Michael swallowed.

"You aren't going to die, Nikita... You are sick..."

"I want to die at home, Michael... Why are you taking me away?" Nikita questioned with a voice filled with more tears than what ran down her face. Michael rubbed at them and then snapped his head. He grabbed the phone and tossed it to the front seat.

"Call Austin... have him ready..." Michael ordered to Mia and she trembled. She looked to the phone as John pulled to the light. He looked both ways and broke the law, going right through the light. Mia was still having probably holding the phone and John snatched it out of Mia's hands and started to dial with one hand.

"Michael..." Nikita gasped and Mia started to feel her bottom lip tremble. Michael shook his head, telling Nikita and Mia that he wasn't going to accept Nikita's words. Mia reached for her purse and pulled out some chapstick.

The movement and the reasoning were beyond both Michael and Mia. Mia saw that her mother's lips were dry and handed her father the chapstick. Michael stared for several seconds before he moved to apply it.

"Michael..." Nikita sobbed out and closed her eyes. Michael held her and rocked as the car continued to move. He didn't want to give into Nikita's words but he heard his daughter crying.

"She is sick, Mia... She is sick... that's all..." Michael spoke out and Mia tried to nod her head. John chattered on as he drove and she looked over her shoulder.

Her mother was lost in the blankets and Mia swallowed. She couldn't believe this was happening.

*

Michael held the covered up Nikita deeply and snuggly into his arms as he waited for the elevator to stop and open. Mia and John stood off in the corner, waiting for the same thing. Everyone was looking as Nikita as her head thrashed from side to side.

"Michael..." Nikita moaned out as the elevator continued to fall downward, but not at a rate of speed that Michael wanted. It was way too slow and drawn out. He tried to smile at Nikita, but it was clear that she wasn't even going to respond to him.

"What is it Nikita?" Michael questioned as he shifted her weight in his arms and looked at her carefully. She seemed to be getting closer and closer to him. He didn't understand why as the doors opened and revealed the hallway.

"I can't hear your heart..." Nikita moaned out as she swallowed again. There was nothing much left in her stomach, and Michael waited. He didn't want to move if Nikita's stomach decided to try to purge again. She stopped, but continued to push her head into the blankets and trying to get closer to Michael's chest.

"What?" Michael questioned and John pulled behind Michael. In one move, the heavy blanket that Nikita's head was in, that separated her head from Michael's chest was pulled away. Nikita sighed in relief as she heard that heart beat.

"Michael... I'm dying..." Nikita moaned again and Michael shook his head as he felt the tears rolling out of his eyes. The words were too much for him to take, but he started to walk, albeit slowly. He barely had the emotional strength to do this all, but his wife needed him now and he was not going to give up on that.

"What's going on? Nikita?" Madeline questioned as she appeared in the hallway, disheveled as if someone woke her up from her slumber. She wasn't even in her traditional clothing; she was in sweats and a flannel. Michael continued to move as Madeline grabbed hold of Mia.

The words were hushed as Mia began to explain all that she knew, which wasn't much. Madeline gasped as Mia explained the words that her mother kept repeating.

"John... get those doors..." Michael hissed lightly, even though the man had already moved to do so. Michael waited as he looked at the doors, wondering if the path was going to be clear into medical. It was something that he really didn't want the operatives to see.

"Michael..." Nikita gasped out, but the voice was much clearer than it had been in a long while. Michael stopped as the doors began to part. He looked down at Nikita as she looked up at him.

"Thank you..." Nikita stated and Michael could only blink his eyes. Then the mass confusion started, because as Michael had suspected, the word got around quickly to the people that he didn't really want in on this yet.

"Michael?" Operations questioned as he held Walter back, which was a difficult job to do. Michael looked to Walter and although he wanted to comfort the older man, he continued.

"Nikita is going to be fine, Walter.... I think she is dehydrated..." Madeline said as she moved to the man. Michael continued to move as Madeline tended to Walter, although Norma was missing. In fact, Michael didn't even register that Norma was missing as the doors to medical opened and instead of finding a waiting Austin, he found a pacing Birkoff.

"Birkoff?" Michael questioned as Nikita turned her head away from Michael's chest. She could hear the worry in Michael's voice. It was a different worry than what Michael had for Nikita. He held her tightly as Mia and John moved into the room for the bed.

"Mary started to have labor pains.... When I told her...." Birkoff said and then looked to Nikita. He saw her and moved to touch her face. "Oh, Nikita..."

"She is going to be fine, Birkoff.... Take care of your wife..." Michael commanded as he saw Mia and John with the bed. Austin had looked up from Mary's room and started to move towards the hallway to see Nikita.

"Don't.... I want you to hold me.... It felt better..." Nikita moaned as Michael settled her down on the bed. He started to pull away the sheets and to settle her on the bed. Austin nodded to move Nikita back into the room as he grabbed an IV bag and line.

"Ok... you are dehydrated... I'm going to give you something...." Austin stated and Michael swallowed and looked at him as he looked at Nikita's arm.

"She was throwing up a lot..." Michael stated and Austin pulled at the chart of Nikita's and swallowed. There was no easy way with Nikita.

"Nikita... I'm only giving you fluids... I would have to give you some medicines... but I have to know what is going on..." Austin said and Nikita barely paid attention. She rolled her head to reach for Michael.

"Michael... it won't stop spinning.. I want to see you when I go..." Nikita whispered and Michael gasped as he held Nikita's hand tightly. Austin looked at Michael and licked his lips.

"I'm going to ask you to leave, Michael..." Austin spoke out and Nikita turned her head. It showed that her entire body still felt as if it was still standing up. Her upper body swayed even as it was against the bed.

"No..." Nikita hissed and Michael looked up at Austin.

"Nikita... you need to rest... and I need to do tests..." Austin stated and Nikita held onto Michael's hand.

"If you take him... kill me now..." Nikita hissed back and Austin shook his head. He looked to Michael as he sighed, as there was no answer to what was happening. He cleaned Nikita's arm and slipped the IV into her without Nikita even noticing.

"Nikita... when did you last eat?" Austin questioned as he pulled out his stethoscope and placed it on her chest. Nikita blinked her eyes a few times and looked towards Michael. He waited and waited, figuring out that Nikita was waiting for Austin to be finished with listening to her chest.

"You have to calm down, Nikita.... When did you last eat?" Austin questioned again and Nikita raised and curled her eyebrows, obviously unsure of when she last ate.

"I had some crackers..." Nikita whispered as she looked to Michael. Austin looked at Nikita and pulled at another needle.

"Nikita... I'm going to draw some blood... and I'm going to ask Michael to help you to the bathroom... We need a urine sample... Let's rule out the simple things like UTI... ear infection... flu...." Austin stated and Nikita pulled away, curling towards Michael.

"It isn't that." Nikita stated firmly. Her eyes were for the first time, focused on Austin and he waited. He moved slightly from side to side and Nikita's eyes continued to follow his eyes. He rubbed at Nikita's arm and swallowed.

"Then what is wrong, Nikita?" Austin questioned and Nikita shrugged her shoulders and found the mass of tears flowing again. Austin pulled up the chart and swallowed.

"Ok... We'll do some other tests.... Run an EEG... EKG... see if we can get you into our imagining shell.. see if that thing can pick anything up... so we don't run unneeded tests..." Austin stated and Michael stood up and touched Austin's arm.

"Is that thing safe?" Michael questioned, as he didn't know that medical had started to use it fully.

"I am taking Mary there right now... It doesn't harm a fetus... so I say that it is the safest imaging piece of technology we have..." Austin said as he pulled the vials with the blood and started to move. He moved around the corner and then came back in with the cup.

"Help her..." Austin said as he looked to Michael and Michael nodded his head.

~~

Several hours had passed and Nikita had slept for two of them. It was a relief for Michael and he had walked about medical. That hadn't calmed his worries. Austin has pulled a lot of work in the past hours, but Mary had responded to some light treatments and Austin was sure that her baby would be fine and the rest of her pregnancy would be fine with a restriction from stress.

Nikita qualified as stress.

Michael didn't care leave Nikita alone and Mia had walked in to give Michael that time. The times that were unbearable were when the tests were being done and Michael couldn't be near her. Michael listened to Nikita wail that she was dying and that she wanted her husband for a half-hour. She was definitely not a model patient.

Now, Nikita's eyes were open and she was calmed. It might have been the sleep and it might have been the fact that most of the liquids that she had lost when she was throwing up have been replaced. She looked marginally better and Michael was to a point, relieved with that progress.

"Why is it taking so long, Michael?" Nikita questioned and Michael shrugged his shoulders as he stood up from the chair he was slumping in. He looked at Nikita and touched her forehead, which in turn, caused Nikita to turn her head all the way to touch Michael.

"Things take time... and he has been worried about Mary too..." Michael whispered. He had explained about Mary to Nikita pretty early on, once Austin had given him some more information.

"What if it is really bad?" Nikita questioned and Michael settled his body down on her bed and rubbed her head as she moved towards him.

"We'll deal with it, Nikita... At least we are thinking better things now..." Michael stated and Nikita started to turn lightly red. Everyone had been trying for a long time to stop Nikita's sobs about dying. They stopped as suddenly as they had started and no one, not even Nikita, knew why.

"Can I come in?" Leanor questioned from the doorway. Michael blinked his eyes and Leanor stepped in some. Michael had kept Madeline out because she did not take well to Nikita's cries. Not many things bothered Madeline to the point of tears, but after hearing Nikita, she was bawling with the rest of them.

"I heard you weren't feeling too well.." Leanor stated as she smiled at Nikita. Nikita couldn't even lift her lips. There was a tray of food that Michael and Austin had unsuccessfully gotten Nikita to eat from, as she claimed her stomach was still upset. Michael had asked for some medicine to calm Nikita's stomach so she could eat the food. None of that occurred as Austin stated that he didn't know what was going on with Nikita yet.

"I don't know what is going on, Leanor..." Nikita admitted and Leanor nodded her head as she sat on the other end of the bed, touching Nikita's head lightly and looking at Michael. Leanor pondered over the statement and looked to Nikita.

"You have felt that way a long time, Nikita.. Why have you waited?" Leanor questioned and Michael slowly paled to a white. Leanor looked at Nikita and realized that she hadn't spoke to Michael about what she was feeling.

"Because... I thought it would go away... because Michael heals me... but it's different..." Nikita cried out and Leanor swallowed and nodded her head. That was all that she could do.

Personally, Leanor was getting sick of the word different. It didn't describe enough for her and all her attempts at narrowing down the feeling that Nikita was having proved to be impossible. For a long time she had decided that it was a personal and emotional feeling. Now, as she looked at Nikita, it seemed as if the different was a reflection to her personally health.

Michael, also, was getting sick of the use of different. It should have been describe things over than emotions. Although he hadn't been the person who heard Nikita use it most often, most of those close to his family had complained about the use of it to him. Now, after spending the time with Nikita inside of medical, he understood how something seemed to be getting lumped into this feeling.

"Nikita... you use to know exactly what was going on... You were always able to describe what was going on..." Michael stated out, hoping that maybe she would just think harder about what was going on. Nikita looked to Michael and shrugged her shoulders.

"It doesn't feel like it is my body sometimes, Michael.... I feel like I'm half in it and half out of it..." Nikita tried to explain and Michael only could nod his head. Nothing more was explained by Nikita in Michael's eyes, but Leanor saw some progress.

"Have you ever felt this way before?" Leanor questioned and Nikita shook her head. It only gave Leanor another dead end. She was about to try another question and another approach when Austin knocked at the door.

"I have to speak to Michael and Nikita..." Austin spoke and Leanor stood up. Nikita's eyes were filling with tears and Leanor shook her head. She wiped the tears away and kissed Nikita's forehead.

"Different doesn't always mean that it is bad, Nikita... Remember that," Leanor whispered into her ear before she pulled away. Nikita looked at Leanor as she disappeared and Austin waited for the door to close. Austin held in his hands the chart and looked from Michael to Nikita and back again.

"Some good news... it isn't the flu.. it isn't an UTI, it isn't an ear infection... and it isn't your heart..." Austin spoke and then paused. He shook his head and looked to Michael and Nikita.

"It's cancer, isn't it?" Nikita spoke and started to cry. Again, it was the thing that Nikita always expected to come back to haunt her.

"Nikita... what is wrong is very... a treatable..." Austin spoke and Michael smiled and looked at Nikita.

"See that is good... right?" Michael questioned and Nikita was barely able to look at Austin. She held onto Michael's hand, squeezing tighter and tighter.

"What is it?" Nikita questioned.

Austin stood up and looked to the window. Michael never liked when doctors did things like this, but it was clear that Austin was thinking about what he had to say. He was looking outside and then turned back to smile at Nikita.

"You are pregnant, Nikita."

*

"What?" Michael questioned as he leaned forward. He hadn't even looked to Nikita. He was stunned and staring at Austin.

"Nikita is pregnant," Austin stated again firmly. He didn't believe it himself as he had only run the test by accident. He would still be searching for the problem had he not accidentally ran the test. Yet, once he got one positive, he ran the test over and over again, until all of them came out positive. Over and over again.

"No..." Nikita finally spoke out and Austin nodded his head, but he couldn't break into too much of a smile.

"You are pregnant, Nikita... When was your last period?" Austin questioned and Nikita looked to Michael, both with glazed eyes and tears on them.

"That was over twelve weeks ago, Austin... I thought I was starting menopause.... Because the chemo had made my periods so erratic, I didn't think about it..." Nikita rambled on and Michael rubbed at Nikita's head. He was worried about her again, she was positively stunned.

"Are you sure?" Michael questioned and Austin sighed and nodded his head.

But to Austin this wasn't good news. He didn't want Michael and Nikita to get too happy about the announcement. He looked as Nikita's face suddenly broke away from the shock and revealed the deep happiness and joy she now had.

"Oh my god... I'm going to have a baby!" Nikita said as she threw her arms around Michael. Michael was giggling, finding everything good about what was happening. Nothing was bad. This was what Leanor thought would help Nikita and give back her life to her. And it was happening.

"Yes... We're going to be parents again..." Michael whispered out to Nikita's cheek as he rubbed his hand to Nikita's stomach. Now things were starting to make some sense to Michael. Nikita giggled as she tried to wipe her tears of happiness off of her face.

"How far along?" Nikita questioned Austin and he sighed. They were too happy and he started to feel the dread fill up within him. He didn't want to talk about what he had too. It was wrong, but he knew that he had too and soon.

"You are probably about ten weeks... but..." Austin said and Nikita leaned back in the bed and laughed deeply as she looked at Michael. Michael leaned over and kissed her lips, tenderly at first and then passionately.

"Ten weeks! Almost to the second trimester... and we've missed it!" Nikita exclaimed as she looked down to her stomach. Now things about feeling different were making sense. The feelings of not being one with her body were true; she had been sharing her body and never even knew.

"So this throwing up and sour stomach was morning sickness?" Michael questioned Austin, as he didn't pull his eyes off of Nikita. Their hands were together tightly, holding one another.

"Yes... but we have..." Austin said and stopped as Nikita and Michael started to giggle together. Nikita sighed heavily and touched Michael's nose with her lips.

"Oh my... We caused Mary to go into labor pains... and it was all because I was pregnant...." Nikita gasped out and Michael snorted. He was sure that when the time came to tell everyone that Mary would be as embarrassed as Michael and Nikita.

"And I thought I was dying, Michael... How stupid was I?" Nikita questioned and Michael stopped smiling and pulled his hand to her head. He touched her forehead softly and swallowed.

"You are never stupid, Nikita... Never..." Michael spoke out and Nikita nodded her head. She couldn't believe her luck. Hours ago she was sure that she was going to die, that the cancer had come back and that she would only have days to live, maybe only hours. Now she was pregnant and had been pregnant.

"The mood swings?" Nikita questioned Austin.

"Because you were pregnant."

"The dizziness and headaches?"

"Because you were eating properly and you were pregnant."

"The crying at the hat and the rudeness?"

"Nikita... you can't blame the rudeness on the baby!" Michael exclaimed as Austin stood up. He looked around and pulled on some gloves. He turned to look at Michael and Nikita.

"Wait... if I'm ten weeks... We can hear the baby, right Austin?" Nikita questioned and then she stopped. She looked at Austin as his eyes looked at Nikita with a hint of sadness.

"We have to discuss this Nikita... This pregnancy is not a miracle and it is detrimental to your own health..." Austin stated out firmly. Instantly Nikita grabbed Michael and wrapped her hands around Michael.

"What do you mean?" Nikita hissed and Austin dropped his head.

"For the sake of your health, as we have discussed before.... A pregnancy can bring back the cancer and I feel that any delay in doing what is right is going to increase the chances of the cancer coming back..." Austin stated and Nikita's eyes narrowed as she turned and pushed her head into Michael. Michael only stared and shook his head.

"You are suggesting what I think you are..." Michael warned out and Austin swallowed. He looked into the eyes of the man that could cancel him without a blink of an eye.

"I would not be a doctor if I told you want was best for Nikita... What is best for Nikita and her continuing health is that we terminate this pregnancy now," Austin spoke out in clear words. Both Michael and Nikita turned and glared at him.

"NO!" Nikita hissed as she clenched her fists closer to Michael. Michael looked to her and knew that if he allowed Austin his way that he would never have his wife.

"Nikita.... We've discussed this..." Austin stated and Nikita shook her head from side to side again.

"No... you told me... but what I'm telling you is that this baby is a miracle.... That I have been given a gift from God... to make up for the past... I'm not allowing you to take this baby, Austin..." Nikita stated out as the tears rolled down her face. Austin blinked his eyes.

"I will support my wife in her decision Austin.... The pregnancy may make her sick again.... But losing this child... that would kill her in just a few hours," Michael clearly spoke and Austin nodded his head and moved towards Nikita.

"You understand the risks?" Austin questioned and Nikita nodded her head and Austin licked his lips.

"We'll take extra precautions on exams and stay on top of anything..." Austin stated and Nikita smiled and reached for him.

"I don't think we'll have problems," Nikita stated and Austin stepped back and looked at Nikita. Michael started to laugh, as it was ironic the turn of events.

"Nikita... you came in her seriously ill still... You were dehydrated and throwing up.... This isn't going to be a walk in the park..." Austin stated and Nikita smiled lightly.

"But I didn't know I was pregnant, Austin... Now I know why I feel different..." Nikita softly mentioned as she reached down to touch her stomach. That different feeling was transforming, and Nikita suddenly felt magical.

"Do you have to examine me? Can we hear the baby? I need to get vitamins..." Nikita rattled off to Austin and he started to move immediately. He was relieved to find all the equipment in the room that Nikita was in, as he didn't want to tip off the rest of medical about Nikita's pregnancy. "Michael... what are we going to tell the kids? They are going to think I'm too old for this..... Do you know how old we are going to be when this one is an adult?"

"Nikita..." Michael tried to slow her as Austin started to work quickly and quietly. Nikita was so pulled into the worries of having the baby now that her morning sickness magically washed away and she was chatting with Michael. Austin had no problems getting Nikita prepared for the examination.

"But Michael.... I mean... I'm so old.... And poor Danielle...."

"She gets to be a big sister, Nikita... that's going to help her..."

"What if she thinks we are replacing her?"

"She isn't going to think that.... We have enough love for everyone..."

"But Michael..."

"If you are quiet.... You might be able to hear the heartbeat, Nikita..." Austin stated out as he looked at Michael and Nikita. Nikita instantly stopped talking and swallowed. She held her breath as the beating started to come through.

"Oh, Michael..." Nikita gasped out softly as the tears rolled down her face.

"Nikita... I love you..." Michael returned in a gasp of his own. He kissed the side of Nikita's head and swallowed again. The sound was so sweet.

"Michael... take me and our new baby home...." Nikita whispered after she had ordered Austin to make a tape of the baby's heartbeat and he had done so. For five minutes Michael and Nikita sat there, listening to the heartbeat.

Nikita once believed that Mia was a miracle. She was something that Nikita didn't know she had. When Nikita first heard Mia's heartbeat, she fell in love with her daughter, but she was also heartbroken. When Nikita first heard Aubrey, she was excited, because she was giving Michael back what he had missed with Mia. Now, this was different.

This was magic.

This was love.

*

Mia sat in the kitchen, rubbing the dishtowel in her hands. She rubbed it continuously since she had completed drying the last dish and placing it back in the cupboard. In the day that had occurred, with the rushing of her mother to medical inside of Section One, Mia had taken over the duties of the house. She had dinner on the table when her father carried Nikita into the living room and closed all doors, not giving any information about what was going on.

Mia made sure that Aubrey and Danielle continued to eat as she walked to the living room. She knocked and got nothing for some time. Slowly, Michael cracked open the door and told Mia that everyone would be over after dinner and that all matters will be discussed at that time.

Now, the towel was continuing to be rubbed by Mia, as she waited to see who everyone was. It worried her that everyone had to come over, and it didn't appear to be good news in Mia's eyes. She blinked and then jumped when the back door opened.

"Walter!" Mia exclaimed as she ran over and hugged the older man. Walter rubbed her back and moved towards the middle of the kitchen, allowing Norma to walk in with Birkoff. Mia was not surprised to see Mary missing, since Nikita's condition had thrown her the first time. Birkoff looked around and swallowed. He had left Mary with three operatives, two of which were watching baby Josephine.

"Do you know anything?" Walter questioned and Mia shook her head as the tears started to form. It had been that kind of occurrence whenever she thought about what happened this morning. Norma reached out to touch Mia's arm as she moved closer.

"Was she really crying that she was dying?" Norma inquired and Mia's lip started to tremble. Mia tried to chew on it to stop the trembling, but nothing was stopping her and the chewing only caused more pain. Walter turned and hugged her once again, knowing that Mia had been through a lot on this day.

"Mia? Mia?" Madeline called out as she opened the backdoor and started into the mess of people. Mia stood up and looked to Madeline. Soon Mia found that Walter had relinquished his hug and allowed Madeline to take over. Mia knew that Madeline had been having a bad day about the entire events that were occurring.

"I can't stand not waiting..." Walter stated as he looked down to the ground. He held tightly to Norma's hand and swallowed. It was terrible waiting, knowing that Michael and Nikita knew something that they didn't. It didn't feel like this was good news coming.

"Wow... look at all the people!" Danielle happily exclaimed as she walked down the stairs. She was a little girl who really didn't grasp what was going on or the mood in the kitchen. She saw people and assumed that it was because there were good things going on. Walter gasped and turned away.

Danielle did not look at all like Nikita, but she reminded everyone of Nikita, or maybe of what Nikita would have been or could have been given the right circumstances that Nikita was now providing. Everyone in the kitchen started to worry about Danielle and how much she was going to hurt when all of this was finally revealed.

The door opened and Operations looked around. Everyone was standing around and wringing their hands. He had tried his hand at powering the information out of the Austin, but the man had magically disappeared before Operations could have found him. He also neglected to file a medical report or report any test results that he had found. He looked around the kitchen, wondering how much longer they all were going to be left in the dark.

"Mia.... Did you get a look at your mother?" Norma questioned, as she tried to piece the puzzle together, but was getting no where. Everything she heard sounded like something else and the more she heard, the more complicated and complex and severe her ideas became. She didn't want anything bad to happen to Nikita as she had seen Nikita when her health was at the worse. Seeing anyone like that was terrible, but with Nikita, it was so much more than terrible.

"My dad carried her into the living room and closed the rolling door. That's all I saw, Norma," Mia replied as she barely noticed the back door open once again. She was turning around in a circle when John grabbed her elbow.

"How are you doing?" John whispered and Mia looked to him and sighed. Her heart that was on the verge of bursting was slowly down with just his presence. He made her strong and Mia didn't understand all of the complexities of why, but that didn't matter.

"John... I just want some answers..." Mia stated and he nodded his head. He was about to speak when the door from the living room opened and Michael appeared in the hallway. The man who led Section One didn't say a word as he walked back into the living room, everyone started to move and Aubrey came down the stairs and Leanor walked in the back door.

Everyone entered the living room and looked at Nikita as the blanket was around her body and she was leaning against Michael. It was a dramatic improvement from the way she appeared in the morning, but that did not give anyone the answers that they wanted. Michael kissed the side of Nikita's head and Walter swallowed.

"Come on, Michael... You're going to give me a heart attack..." Walter hissed and Michael blinked his eyes. He slowly moved his eyes away from Walter and to hand of Nikita's that patted at her leg nervously. Michael pulled his hand up and wrapped his fingers around hers and closed his eyes.

"Walter... this isn't about you..." Michael warned as he lifted his eyes. He searched the room, making note of who was here and who wasn't here. Mary was the only missing person, and Michael understood that. He looked to the hallway and swallowed.

Austin was supposed to drop by later and check on Nikita after he checked on Mary. It was complex schedule for Austin currently, with the lives of two babies in his hands. He was already feeling the strain and part of the reason why Michael and Nikita were in the living room themselves, making plans to lessen his work burden.

The other time that Michael and Nikita spent was for each other. The creation of life had to be celebrated privately, by just holding each other and marveling in what their love had created without them even knowing. The rejoicing was simple as Michael held Nikita like he was holding her now and pressing kisses to her face and neck. Now she was a temple of motherhood and Michael planned on taking care of her and all the problems that would occur during this pregnancy, even if it was hourly runs to the store for Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

"I know you all are concerned about Nikita..." Michael started out and then he stopped. It almost felt like a dramatic pause for everyone that was listening, but it was time for Michael to look at Nikita. He didn't want to share this yet with everyone, but Nikita insisted that she was going to need support and that it would just be easier than allowing rumors to circulate around.

"So?" Birkoff piped up, seeing that no one else was going to ask. He couldn't stand the silence. Nikita was an important person in his life. There weren't many people in the world that Birkoff felt so strongly about and all day all he could image when his thoughts weren't on Mary and their unborn baby, was the image of rocking Nikita.

"Unlike what Nikita was chanting this morning... she is not dying..." Michael announced and there was a collective sigh of relief. Michael dropped his head and waited for everyone to look at each other and for their eyes to focus on them again.

"There is a but, right?" Operations questioned and Michael nodded his head. He looked to Nikita and pulled her hand up to his mouth. Everyone watched the small exchanges with Michael and Nikita and found them enchanted, but also startled by the movements.

"Ok... long story made short.... I'm pregnant," Nikita stated and there was another period of silence. Suddenly there was a surge of laughter and joy. Walter ran towards the couch and pulled Nikita out of Michael's arms.

In fact, no one seemed upset by the news. Danielle was jumping up and down, announcing that she was going to be a big sister. Nikita was pleased to see Danielle that way. Mia and Aubrey weren't complaining and they were showing their age, smiling about the announcement, showing that their parent's growing love had been passed down into their personalities.

"But this is extremely risky!" Madeline finally announced loudly and everyone stopped and turned to look at Michael and Nikita.

"Yes... but I'm willing..." Nikita stated and then stopped as she turned to look into Michael's eyes. "We're willing... to do this... this is a miracle..."

"A miracle that could kill you, Nikita!" Madeline firmly stated and Michael looked to Nikita as the tears started to flow. She didn't need fights. She needed support and that reason alone was the force that caused Michael and Nikita to announce this pregnancy.

"Nikita.... Anything you need.... It's been a while since you had a little one running around... I might have to give you hints..." Birkoff said as he moved to the couch and hugged Nikita as Michael stood up. Nikita held onto him tightly and then allowed Birkoff go. He needed to get back to his own family and Nikita wanted him to do that.

Norma saw that Nikita didn't want to be alone and so she moved to Nikita. She was concerned about Nikita's announcement, but she learned things about Nikita over the years that she had known her. Expect the impossible.

"I don't care, Michael! I think this is extremely crazy and ridiculous! Her health comes first and not some notion of expanding your family because she thinks it's a miracle!" Madeline shouted and suddenly everyone turned to look at Madeline.

"Madeline... it is... You should know... what this means..." Nikita stated softly and Mia grabbed Danielle and started to pull her out of the living room. In fact, almost everyone had the same feeling and the room was soon less dense for Nikita to look at Madeline sternly and with tears rolling down her face.

"Nikita... the risks.... The cancer is more than likely going to come back... the hormonal changes... Do you want to die and leave Mia, Aubrey, Danielle and a baby that shouldn't be, without a mother?" Madeline hissed and Michael moved towards Nikita as she gasped.

"Madeline... do you think the solution would be to terminate the pregnancy?" Leanor firmly debated back. Madeline turned to face Leanor and swallowed.

"It's what is best for her health..." Madeline spat out as Nikita turned and placed her head deep into Michael's shoulder, already breaking Austin's rules, no extreme emotions.

"Her health, maybe.... But what is best for Nikita, Madeline?" Leanor firmly questioned, knowing that she was right.

"Leanor... what is the use of having a baby that is going to end your life?"

"You didn't answer my question, Madeline... You avoided it..."

"No... it doesn't need an answer..."

"Nikita... Don't listen to her... You got to listen to your heart..." Leanor whispered as she turned and saw the pain that their fighting was placing Nikita in. She wanted support and probably most likely, she wanted Madeline's support as Nikita dealt with her most often.

"I couldn't get rid of it, Leanor... we weren't trying... it just happened... and it is so beautiful... I know it is right..." Nikita stated as she started to move. Michael reached out for Nikita's hand but Nikita was going to stand up. She looked around and pushed at the tape recorder.

Madeline blinked her eyes as she heard the soft beating. Nikita looked to Michael and looked down to her stomach.

"I once heard a baby's heartbeat in me... and I lost that... I'm not going to give up on this baby... kill it... before I try to fight for it.... I have to do this..." Nikita spoke out slowly as her shoulders started to slump forward and her face was littered with tears. Michael stood up and took Nikita in his arms.

"If you will excuse us... We're going to bed.... You two can discuss this issue all you want... but our decision remains..." Michael said as he scooped Nikita again in his arms. He was going to take everything that Austin said to the extreme. If Madeline weren't going to accept this and help out, then he would remove Nikita from that situation.

Madeline blinked her eyes as she listened to the heartbeat as it continued. She blinked her eyes and looked to the couch. Leanor was standing silently nearby; knowing that everything was complicated.

"It's so beautiful..." Madeline whispered as she started towards the window in the living room. Leanor sighed and rubbed her hands together.

"Madeline... it is a complicated call to make... but they made their decision... the only decision that would allow Nikita to continue... She couldn't kill this baby... she would have been killing herself..." Leanor stated and Madeline looked to her hands and swallowed.

"I think about her children, Leanor... am I wrong?" Madeline stated and Leanor shrugged her shoulders.

"But who is the concern.... The children or Nikita?" Leanor questioned and moved out of the living room. Madeline turned and listened to the tape some more.

It was a beautiful sound.

~~

Madeline slowly opened the master bedroom door as she held the tape in her hand. She heard Nikita softly crying and Michael was sitting and stroking her hair. His eyes shot a warning as Madeline appeared from the hallway.

"This might help you sleep..." Madeline said as she handed the tape to Michael. He moved and placed it into the player. Nikita swallowed and looked at Madeline.

"You've been so much to me, Madeline... please don't leave me now that I need you again..." Nikita stated and Madeline smiled and leaned down. She touched Nikita's forehead and then placed a kiss on it.

"I'm going to be here for you Nikita... I was wrong... and I can't wait to see this baby... It already proves to sound beautiful," Madeline stated and she moved out of the room. Nikita looked to Michael and closed her eyes.

It was only the end of one day. The end of one day into a pregnancy that was a miracle and was going to be a challenge for everyday that followed until the baby was in its parents arms, if luck made that happen.

*

"Did you drink all the water, Nikita?" Austin questioned as he walked into the room. Nikita was rubbing her head lightly and Michael stood back behind her. Only a couple weeks had passed and now Nikita was getting nervous. She was waiting for her ultrasound and it brought a sick feeling to her stomach. She was afraid that something wrong would be found.

"Of course... Don't want to harm the baby..." Nikita carefully stated as she rubbed her hands together and then forced them to her head again. Austin slowly smiled as he looked to Michael.

"Do you have a headache, Nikita?" Austin questioned and she shrugged her shoulders lightly. She started to move as she knew that she couldn't sit as she was all day or there would be no ultrasound.

"Nikita?" Austin stated and she lifted her head and looked at the doctor. He sighed as he moved to the equipment and started to flick the switches all on. Michael rubbed at Nikita's shoulders and shook his head once again.

"Nikita... you have to tell him..." Michael stated as he kissed the top of Nikita's head. He knew that she was scared and that somehow that if she didn't tell Austin, she didn't make things real and happening.

"Austin... the morning sickness doesn't seem to be letting up... it's probably getting worse..." Michael stated, realizing that Nikita was going to stay totally quiet about what was going on. She even turned with almost red eyes to stare at him. Michael rubbed at her shoulders as Austin turned towards Nikita and looked at her.

"How often, Nikita?"

"Oh.. not that much..."

"Austin... for hours during the morning... and I would say that the time keeps getting longer and longer... well into the afternoon now," Michael informed Austin and Nikita shook her head. She was lightly crying and swallowing.

"Michael... it isn't that bad..." Nikita stated and Austin looked at Nikita and touched her knees lightly.

"Nikita... morning sickness is natural and I hope that you are replacing whatever you are losing," Austin stated and both parents nodded their heads. Michael had been staying with Nikita almost constantly as she continued with the morning sickness.

"Yeah... after I stop, I start drinking all kinds of water... and usually by three in the afternoon I can eat," Nikita informed and Austin stopped and looked at Nikita. Usually the morning sickness tapered off at this time in the pregnancy, but Austin wasn't going to worry about this.

"I know this is going to sound weird Nikita, but instead of water... I want you to drink Gatorade..." Austin stated and Nikita blinked her eyes. Slowly she indicated that she would use that idea and Austin turned back to the machine and looked around.

Austin had dreams about this ultrasound all night last night. Some of the dreams were good and everything was dandy. Other dreams were bad. Nightmares. Austin blinked as he swallowed. He didn't know what to expect now and he was pausing. He knew if he waited too long that Nikita was going to start to panic and Austin did not want that to happen.

"Ok, Nikita... let's see this baby..." Austin stated as he turned and held the gel that he had warmed slightly. Nikita moved slightly and exposed her stomach and Austin swallowed.

She wasn't showing.

"Will we be able to know the sex now Austin?" Michael questioned and he turned to look at the screen. He found the heartbeat easily and waited a bit.

"It counts on a lot of things, Michael..." Austin stated as he started to push lightly against the stomach some more. Nikita leaned her head back and waited thinking back to the last one she had with Aubrey. It was so many years ago and instantly, her face was littered with glistening tears.

"What is it, Nikita?" Michael questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth.

"I'm too old for this, Michael... Do you know how old we are going to be when this baby gets married?" Nikita inquired and Michael snorted.

"Probably not old enough.... We both love too much... and I have no doubt that Nikita that you will still be as young as you are now in your heart..." Michael softly whispered as he looked at Nikita. He stroked at her hair and looked towards Austin.

"I'm getting the image now..." Austin started to move the screen around. Nikita looked down and swallowed as she saw the black and white images on the screen. Michael held Nikita's hand and placed his head down on her chest.

"Our baby.... I can hear it and I can see it..." Nikita cried out as she reached her hand out. It felt so similar to when she saw Mia and Aubrey the first time as images on the screen. She was already in love with the baby, but this made her fall in love so much deeper.

"Oh, Nikita... wow..." Michael stated into her chest and Nikita laughed slightly and turned to look at Austin for just a few seconds.

"Can we tell the sex?" Nikita asked and Austin shook his head back and forth. He moved the handle around and sighed, as the image wasn't getting better.

"I can't tell for sure Nikita... it's... Nevermind..." Austin said as he pulled the handle up and snapped the equipment down and Nikita sat up immediately, not tenderly moving Michael, but rather pushing him off of her chest.

"It's what, Austin? It is fine, right?" Nikita hissed and Austin stood there and rolled his eyes. It was going to be a long six more months. He wanted to tell Nikita the truth and since he still believed in the code of ethics he was taught a long time ago, he was going to tell Nikita. Yet, there was that part of Austin that screamed at him not to tell Nikita and he knew once the words came out of his mouth that life was not going to be easy.

It wasn't going to be easy for another six months.

"Nikita, I can't tell the sex because the baby is kind of small..." Austin stated and Nikita pulled away from everyone, arching her body into a ball without hesitation.

"I'm making my baby sick...." Nikita screamed as the tears started to tumble down her face.

"Nikita... I didn't..."

"OH my god... it is going to be sick because of me..... How can I do this to a child! A baby!"

"Nikita... The baby..."

"You should just sedate me and pump me with medicines..."

"Nikita, will you listen to yourself," Michael bellowed, trying to stop the constant stream of irrational words from Nikita. She started to shake her head back and forth and cupped her face with her hands.

"Just make this baby lives... I don't matter, really Austin..."

"Nikita... You do matter..."

"No... the baby has to live... I'm making it sick.. I am... Why am I doing this to our baby, Michael? How can you let me do this?" Nikita cried out and finally the words ceased. Yet, Austin's words weren't going to be heard as Nikita cried angrily into Michael's chest like a hurricane pounding into the coast.

"Nikita... please... Listen to Austin..." Michael tried to sooth as he kissed her head and rubbed the surface of her head lightly. Michael closed his eyes as Nikita started to hiccup.

"I swear, Nikita, this isn't bad news... there is one reason, well, two reasons why the baby is small..." Austin spoke out and Nikita lifted her head, showing the paths of the tears. Her face was started to get puffy from the tears.

"The first reason is because baby's grow at a rate that we aren't sure of. All I am comparing the baby off of is other babies; it isn't a factual base process, Nikita... And the second reason... You didn't know until two weeks ago, Nikita... For almost three weeks you thought you were eating for one... and I'm sure that it will start to grow and grow quickly..." Austin spoke out as he had Nikita's attention. He waited, almost sure that Nikita was going to be falling back into tears. Instead, she nodded her head and raised her hands to rub at her face.

"But I'm sure that the amniocentesis will make sure that the baby is ok, right? When can we schedule that?" Nikita quickly rattled off and Austin swallowed once again. Again, he didn't want to get into this conversation right now, but saw that it was going to happen.

"I'm not going to schedule one, Nikita..."

"What? It's routine with pregnancies in my age group, Austin!"

"Nikita... I think that now is not the time to worry about this..."

"Then tell me why we aren't doing this!"

"It's nothing to worry about Nikita..."

"No... WHY AREN'T WE DOING THIS!" Nikita screamed and Austin fluttered his eyes as he willed himself to calm down.

"I don't want to take unnecessary risks, Nikita...."

"RISKS? RISKS? Am I risking the baby?"

"Nikita, I don't want to do anything that might create more risks..." Austin stated and Nikita started to cry again. Michael stepped forward and cupped her head into his chest and waited as the tears continued. Michael even rolled his eyes as the tears continued pass the time that he had expected. Michael had dealt with an emotional Nikita when she was pregnant, but this pregnancy already had proven to have more emotions than what he knew to do with.

"Nikita... he is doing what is best... We have to have faith that the baby is ok. We have faith that you can get through this pregnancy and we can have the faith that the baby will be healthy," Michael animatedly spoke out as he lightly fingered his hands through her blonde hair. When Nikita finally nodded her head, Michael pulled back and dropped his head in order to kiss Nikita.

"Ok.. before I put my foot in my mouth any more... I think that I want to tell you that the baby is perfectly fine, Nikita... and that everything else that we are going to discuss is for prevention of any of the numerous things that could happen, but are most likely not going to happen," Austin firmly stated as he looked at Nikita's eyes. She blinked her eyes, indicating that she understood but Austin waited and rubbed his chapped and dry hands together.

"Nikita, I mean positively. You do understand?" Austin questioned as the cell phone on Michael's waist started to ring. Austin looked up at him with worried eyes and Michael turned away as Nikita continued to nod her head.

Austin was actually stalling, hoping that the news with Michael would be good, that he would be able to stay. Yet, when Michael slammed the phone in half, Austin was aware that Michael would have to be leaving. Austin knew then that he had to be more careful with his words. Next time Austin would plan out what he was going to say and not just do it from his head and heart.

"I've got to go..." Michael stated out as he placed a kiss on Nikita's cheek.

"Lee Hung?"

"Nikita, I don't want you to worry about this," Michael ordered her, but he knew that look. "But yes, it looks like we have a position."

Michael made his escape quickly, basically because Nikita wasn't going to fight him. She wanted to get rid of Lee Hung and do it quickly. If she fought with Michael, Lee Hung might slip out from underneath their fingers. There was a list for who wanted to hurt that man and Nikita was number one.

"We are going to get together once a week Nikita... to monitor everything and most of it will be about nothing..." Austin stated as he looked at Nikita. She was staring at the direction that Michael had left. Finally the blonde hair turned and looked at Austin as she nodded. She was too quiet for what Austin wanted, but it was a change that Austin wasn't going to complain about.

"How much weight do I have to gain?" Nikita simple inquired, but Austin knew it was more than a question. She would do whatever it took to do exactly as Austin asked her to do and he knew that. Michael had warned him that in fact she would probably take every single word literally during this pregnancy.