"Mia?" Nikita called out again as she touched the woodwork that surrounded the bathroom door. Slowly she peered in and looked at her daughter kneeling in front of the toilet. Nikita swallowed and gasped in the same motion.

"Mia? What's wrong?" Nikita questioned with a quivering voice, worried about her eldest daughter's health. She looked terrible as she turned and faced her mother.

"No..." Mia managed to say as she tried to move away from her mother. She clasped her hand across her stomach, feeling the stomach still churning.

"Mia.. you are sick? What's going on? Tell me. I can help..." Nikita rushed out, moving slightly into the bathroom, but it was not a place for two people to be in comfortably

"I want John..." Mia cried out and Nikita nodded her head. She had always wanted Michael when she was sick.

"I know, Mia.. but he is in Hong Kong... Tell me what is going on, Mia..." Nikita spoke out and she turned and looked to her mother.

"Mom... I think I'm pregnant..." Mia whispered out and Nikita's eyes opened up wide as she grabbed for the wall.

"WHAT?" Nikita almost yelled and Mia turned and looked at her mother. She didn't think, she knew that she was pregnant and lying wasn't going to help her mother.

"I'm pregnant with John's baby, Mom."

Nikita leaned forward as her face lost all color. Mia looked at her mother, with her face looking similarly. Mia felt the tears rolling down her face, as she was scared of what she had said and what was going to happen, not only to her, and the baby that she now was carrying, but what was going to happen to John.

"What?" Nikita trembled out again as she placed a hand out to the wall and leaned against it, unsure what was happening. She couldn't mutter anything else as her mind was whirling with what was going on in the bathroom around her. It was difficult to even think that Mia was pregnant and the worry that went along with that. Mia was her little girl and Nikita started to gasp for air, as everything was beyond her control.

"I know your upset, mom.... I didn't what it to be true...I really didn't.... but that last night... I couldn't let him just go... You know Mom.... I had to be with him and we weren't thinking.... But I was praying I wasn't..... and then I prayed that I was...." Mia started to try to explain as she moved away as her mother started to slide down the wall and Mia swallowed.

Her mother was to be on bed rest. She wasn't supposed to be stressed and she wasn't supposed to do anything. Mia felt guilty and worried, along with other emotions she couldn't even separate at that time. She leaned down and touched her mother's hair as Nikita dropped her arms to around her stomach.

"Ahhh.... Noo...... ahhh... NO! NO! NO!" Nikita screamed out loudly and Mia looked at her mother, feeling the rivers of tears were continuing down her face quickly that was showing no signs of stopping.

"Mom... please.... I need your help.... I want this baby......" Mia tried to explain as she pushed at her mother's hair, but not looking down at the face, unable to see the horror on that face, knowing that she was hurting her mother. Mia had grown up knowing that her mother wanted so many things for her and how much she didn't want Mia trapped by Section One. However, Mia wanted that now.

She wanted to be with John.

Yet, Mia didn't realize that things weren't quite right yet.

"No...." Nikita gasped and then groaned with pain. That long groan, something that distinctively told Mia that this wasn't an emotional scream, chilled Mia and stopped all hints of morning sickness that she had. She bent down and looked at her mother.

Mia caught her mother's upper body when she swayed forward, still moaning in pain and Mia looked around before looking firmly into her mother's eyes. The tears were coursing out of Nikita's eyes and Mia tried to swallow, but found it impossible.

"Mia... I'll help you..." Nikita gasped to say, although in pain, was looking out for her daughter. Nikita lifted her head and looked into Mia's eyes, not knowing what the look on Mia's face was or who it was for. Everything was splitting and doubling in images.

"Mom... what is it?" Mia softly questioned as Nikita closed her eyes and then blinked them in rapid succession. Nikita looked down to the floor and then back up to Mia.

"I'll get John back.... I swear Mia..." Nikita whispered out as Mia noticed the chapped lips on her mother's face. It was a stark contrast to the extreme lines of perspiration that coated her mother's face. Mia heard another grunt and felt her mother's body push closer towards her body.

"Mom... you're scaring me now.... Tell me what is going on...." Mia ordered as she looked down, trying to figure out what was going on. Everything was going so quickly and so rapidly that Mia could barely remember how this entire conversation started.

"Get your father..." Nikita moaned out through clenched teeth. Mia looked around and then at her mother.

"I'm not leaving you like this, Mom.... Tell me what is going on!" Mia hollered and Nikita looked down and rolled her eyes to the side, moaning as Mia struggled to keep her from hitting the floor.

"My water broke, Mia.... The baby.... My baby...." Nikita cried out and Mia looked at her mother and swallowed. She started to move Nikita quickly and looked down and saw the truth and proof on the floor.

"OH MY GOD! MOM!" Mia screamed as she settled her mother down.

"Get your father!" Nikita implored Mia, as she barely was able to stand up. She looked at her mother and felt the bottom of her stomach fall out. She knew instantly how bad this was and how she had played a role in what happened.

"I didn't want this to happen, Mom..... I had to tell someone... OH GOD!" Mia cried out as she placed a trembling hand to her face, realizing in her mind that her announcement may have started a series of events that could risk the baby's life but also her own mother's life.

"Mia.... Go!" Nikita screamed out, as her daughter's reaction wasn't reassuring her what was going to happen. If anything, until she saw Mia standing above her, she was confident that all would be fine. Now, looking up at Mia, seeing the stark fear and trepidation that was tattooed to her face, scared Nikita deeper than any announcement that Mia could give her.

The pain was intense, not like anything that Nikita had experienced with any of the prior births. She felt that her back, stomach, and chest were on fire. The pain waved over and over again, and fear filled her body. She didn't know if this meant that the baby was coming now and she was worried that it meant that the baby was dead.

"Please Mia..... I need Michael..." Nikita cried out, as she barely was able to lift a hand to her own face to cover it. Mia slowly nodded her head, noting how rare it was for her mother to call her father Michael in front of her.

"Oh god..." Mia whispered as she finally moved out of the bathroom. She turned and saw the hallway and there were no concerns about her own health and her own baby, growing inside of her. This was about her mother and the pain that she was in.

"DAD!!!"

*

Aubrey sat carefully outside with his father. They were building a crib for the baby, from scratch, something that Nikita did not know about. Slowly, the father and son had been working on pieces of the wood for weeks, a project that Michael wanted to have done a few weeks ago, but things just didn't work out correctly.

Michael heard some noise, but knew that more than likely it was just Nikita upset about the restrictions she had to live with right now. He paused for a second; trying to make out the muffled words, but being outside made it impossible. In ways, Michael was counting his blessings that he was outside, as he would be able to hear every single word if he were inside the house.

"Why is this piece smaller, dad?" Aubrey questioned and Michael turned his head back to the project when the storming down the stairs started. He looked and blinked his eyes. He didn't want to turn away from his son, but something made his head jerk once more.

"DAD!" Mia's voice rang clearly and Michael stood up and opened the back door, pushing away the project.

"Mia?" Michael called out as his daughter turned the corner. He looked at her state and started to move towards her. There was something terribly wrong and that was when he started to hear the groans from upstairs.

"Something is wrong, dad...." Mia started to explain and she watched the color drain from his face. He looked to the stairs and Mia started to nod her head.

"Her water broke, dad..... she is in a lot of pain..... What is going on?" Mia questioned as she tried to steady herself, wringing her hands out in front of her. Michael looked at Mia and immediately pushed past her, not giving a second to even say anything to Mia. He didn't even bark out orders to call into headquarters.

Michael just moved.

"Nikita?" Michael bellowed out as he took the stairs three at a time. The sobs and the groans of pain were getting louder and he headed instantaneously towards the bathroom. He saw his wife's feet first and then the mess that had been occurring.

"Michael..." Nikita gasped out as she lifted her head and looked at her husband. He bent down on his knees and looked to Nikita. From the way she was, the state of constant pain that she was exhibiting, he was not going to be able to get her to Section by himself. He needed the assistance and he pulled out the cell phone. He wrapped his hand into his wife's hair and swallowed as she groaned in more pain, showing no cycles of a lack of pain.

The orders were barked quickly, Austin said that he would be heading with the medical van to the house. He didn't like the sounds of it, but Michael didn't need Austin to say that to him. It was expressed in the tone and the sharpness that Austin replied dryly that they would be there immediately.

"Michael.... I'm losing it, aren't I?" Nikita questioned with her heavy eyes, drenched with more tears to flow down her face. Michael stroked at her face and shook his head. He looked at her and kissed the top of Nikita's head, even as she screamed with the pain that racked her body continuously.

"No, Nikita.... The baby will be fine... ok?" Michael stated as he looked around the room. It was so sudden for all of this to happen, while things were going so good. He was a man that needed answers to why things happened and fate wasn't something that Michael was beating on here. Something told him that something more was happening in this situation.

"Nikita... did you fall? Did you hear something? Did something cause this?" Michael softly questioned as he tried to wrap his arms around his wife, worried about the pain that continued and worried that the baby would be out too soon, before Austin got there with his medical team.

The fact was it was early for the baby. It could be saved, but it would be difficult and immediate medical attention would be needed. None of that needed to be explained to Michael and he was sure that Nikita was aware of that also.

Nikita lifted her head, as she looked over her husband's shoulder. Mia stood there with the tears running down her face. Nikita groaned as she tried to make a decision, but everything was starting to get hazy. She never wanted to lie to Michael, but she had to protect her daughter. Nikita dropped her head and tried to lick her lips slowly.

"No.... nothing... it just happened while I was standing here..." Nikita groaned out and Michael nodded his head. He rubbed at Nikita's arms, seeing how hard she was already struggling. He didn't like the looks of this at all.

"I'm scared, Michael..." Nikita moaned out as she started to sob in conjunction with the groans. It was a weird affect and Michael trembled as he looked around the room, trying to find out what was bothering him. He got on his knees to reach for a towel to place behind Nikita's head, when he found the towel bowl.

"Nikita, did you get sick?" Michael questioned and Nikita looked right behind Michael's shoulder. She saw her daughter's face pale. Nikita dropped her head as the pain was intruding into her head and her thoughts. The darkness was threatening to take her over for reasons didn't understand.

"Yes..." Nikita lied as she looked towards Michael, but was more directly looking at Mia. Michael lightly dropped the lid and flushed the contents as he looked at Nikita. He didn't like it when Nikita lied, but everything was complicated and he didn't expect the answers now.

"Your burning up... you need to calm down..." Michael softly stated, trying to do anything to make the time pass easier. He reached up for a wash cloth and damped it. It was as he was turning around to reach for Nikita's head that he saw Mia.

"Mia... call Walter... or someone.... Please..." Michael stated and Mia blinked her eyes. She was frozen as she was studying her mother. It went beyond anything that she had expected. The guilt was swarming the younger lady and awe was forming. What her mother did for her was the nicest thing that one could do right now.

"Michael.... It won't stop..." Nikita moaned out as she tried to hold her head, trying to force the head back into place. Michael reached out and sighed, as he didn't think the cloth was going to make much of a difference. He groaned and turned back towards Mia.

"Mia.... Get some ice first.... And make sure to get Aubrey to the front door to have it opened when they get here, ok?" Michael ordered his daughter without directly connecting with her eyes. She nodded her head simply and ran, almost feeling that if she ran away, that everything would be better.

"Nikita.... Tell me what you are feeling..." Michael stated, trying to get the information he wanted. Nikita looked at him and tried to reach her hand to touch his face. She was missing badly until Michael grabbed it and kissed it lightly, but never leaving go of the hand.

"It's constant pain.... Not like labor pains... just a lot of pain..... never ending..." Nikita whispered out as she started to sway her head from side to side. Michael attempted to move closer towards her. The purpose was just to support her neck, as it seemed to be limp and useless at this point.

"Is that all, Nikita?" Michael slowly questioned; hoping that something could stop this. He prayed that what was on the floor wasn't evidence that Nikita broke her water. He hoped just for one more week, just a few more days for his child to grow within Nikita.

Any other time but now.

"It feels like my body is going to explode, Michael.... This isn't like labor..." Nikita moaned out and Michael nodded his head. He was starting to get that feeling from just watching Nikita and hearing Nikita's screams. He chewed on his bottom lip, not wanting to feed to the worries that Nikita already had. However, with his silence, he effectively made Nikita worried more than she should have been.

"You think this is bad.... No.. .you know this is bad..." Nikita started to ramble. It wasn't a good thing to be doing. Yes, it stopped the screaming, but it was working Nikita's emotions further than Michael wanted her to do.

"Nikita..."

"Oh god... Austin is worried.... I'm being bad again, aren't I?" Nikita questioned and Michael reached out as he started to shake his head no. It was always difficult to deal with Nikita when she started these bad thoughts again. It was hard to work with her to think about other things and she honestly believed that she was bad because of things that she had no control over.

Before Michael could respond, her head rolled forward and Michael swallowed. He held her head as she blinked her eyes several times.

"Were you about to pass out, Nikita?" Michael questioned and Nikita numbly nodded her head. She didn't even feel like she was part of her body. It was as if all the pain was hers, but that the arms and legs weren't hers. Everything was acting against her.

"Here..." Mia whispered as she stepped forward with the ice. Michael grabbed it hastily and looked at Nikita. He rubbed Nikita's forehead as Nikita stopped doing almost everything.

"Nikita... what is it?" Michael questioned, not liking the drastic change that just occurred. Nikita looked at him and swallowed. She steadied her eyes on Michael's green eyes.

"I don't know, Michael.... I don't know..." Nikita complained and Michael nodded his head. He didn't know how he could have asked Nikita something like that. It was out of bounds, it wasn't going to make her feel any better.

"It's ok.... My Nikita.... Austin will be here soon... he'll know.... He'll know..." Michael softly responded, knowing that she needed the reassurance, even if he was alarmed to the very last cell in his body.

*

The pain had seemed to lessen, to give slack to Nikita, to allow her to breath and calm down, somewhat. It didn't have a death grip on her stomach, body, and head. It still threatened to come back with a stronger intensity; it threatened to consume her again.

It wouldn't allow her to relax.

She was worried, as was Michael. Things weren't supposed to occur like this.

Michael turned his head, as he continued to stroke Nikita's face and looked out the hallway. He heard the brakes outside and knew that the arrival of help had occurred. It was not reassuring however. Michael wasn't sure if he would be reassured until he could hold his arm around his wife and their baby. Nothing about this pregnancy had been ideal. When he first believed the worries would be about the possibility of the cancer reoccurring, he was dead wrong. Instead it had been about bed rest and chicken pox.

"Michael?" Austin's voice rang out from the doorway, and Michael turned his head. The bathroom was just too small for everyone to be standing there with Nikita. Yet, Michael wasn't about to lose his grip on Nikita, as he knew she needed him terribly right now. He moved and stepped towards the shower. He looked at Austin as he placed the bag on the ground and started to assess the situation.

"Nikita... when did the pains start?" Austin questioned and Nikita shook her head and brought a trembling hand to her face. Austin swallowed as he then took the hand and started to feel for her pulse. It was racing, terribly.

"They aren't like labor pains... it was a pain... so bad..." Nikita tried to explain and then jerked her head away. It had been gone and just speaking of the pain frightened Nikita that it may come back.

"Austin... the baby?" Michael questioned and Austin frowned. He looked around before he placed a hand on Nikita's hip.

"Nikita... I have to look... ok?" Austin stated as he looked at her lip, which she was chewing like it was gum. It would soon be bleeding, but that wasn't the concern now. Austin looked at the floor and shook his head. Nothing he was seeing right now was good in his mind, although things never were the way they seemed.

"I'm scared..." Nikita moaned as she rolled her head back and looked at Michael. He reached out and touched her face, hoping that she could take his comfort and he started to pray for miracles.

"It's too early, Michael.... It's too early..." Nikita started to cry as she felt his touch. It was allowing her to say her fears, but it was working her up. She leaned her head back, seeing Michael leaning out towards her and she saw his own tears.

"Nikita... you really aren't dilated.... But something is going on... We need to get you back to Section..." Austin said as he placed Nikita's legs together and leaned back. Nikita nodded her head as Austin leaned to the bag and then looked at Michael.

"I'm going to have my people start an IV line.... And get you onto a stretcher, Nikita.... Michael, can I talk to you?" Austin said as he stood up. Michael looked at Austin, already torn. He did not want to leave Nikita for one second. It was that simple. She needed him.

"Michael?" Austin stated and Michael nodded his head. Austin didn't want to worry Nikita any further and Michael felt a chill run down his body. He wasn't sure if it was good news or bad news, but Austin wasn't telling Nikita. Nothing could be good if Austin was willing to do that.

"I'm going to be right outside, Nikita... not far at all..." Michael informed his wife as he looked at her. Nikita swallowed and looked to the side. She was crying again and Michael stopped.

"Michael... you keep me safe.... Don't leave..." Nikita cried out and Michael bent down on his knees as Austin sighed. It was clear that Austin wanted to be back inside of Section immediately. However, to dismiss Nikita's feelings now would be detrimental to anything that Austin wanted to do. Plus, it was love for his wife, knowing that maybe for just a few seconds, Nikita would be fine.

"I'm not leaving.... Austin said that you aren't really dilated... We have to wait and see... I'll be right outside the door..." Michael tried to console Nikita but she turned her head to the side.

"Your mad at me."

"Why would I be mad with you, Nikita?" Michael questioned as he tried to turn Nikita's head to look at him. At first she was fighting his touch, but suddenly crumbled and turned the tear drenched face towards him.

"Because this is happening..." Nikita whispered and Michael started to shake his head immediately. There was no one to blame here. Things always happened for a reason and things didn't always have a rhyme and reason to them either.

"Nikita... this isn't because of you... Don't blame yourself... I'm not." Michael stated as he leaned into Nikita's face. He kissed her cheek and he tasted the salty tears. He leaned back just enough to break his lips from he cheek. The eyelashes fluttered as he looked at his wife's red eyes. He wanted to lament against the fate that was doing this to his wife. He wanted to go and struggle with that fate, knowing that his family and most importantly, his wife had enough bad twists of fate for the life of a hundred people.

Nikita had enough character. She didn't need to be challenged any more.

"Michael?" Austin stated and Michael turned his head and blinked his eyes. He turned to stroke Nikita's face once more, in the end; she nodded her approval for Michael to leave.

The hallway was crowded with the team that was ready to get Nikita onto the stretcher and his children were standing there, Mia with her hands around Danielle, both crying silently.

"It's going to be ok, kids..." Michael whispered and Mia looked at her father and then turned her face. She was so torn with what was going on, and the nightmare she believed herself to be living in continued...

"Michael.... Did anything happen? I didn't see this coming at all," Austin whispered as he pulled the strong man against the wall. Michael swallowed and looked down the hallway, afraid that the children would here this. It wasn't their place to hear this.

"Mia.... Why don't you go downstairs and go on to Section... Walter is there, correct?" Michael stated and Mia nodded her head. In fact, everyone was at Section, probably praying as Mia was. She looked and started to move. She froze and looked at her father. He nodded his head and she clamored down the stairs.

"I don't know, Austin.... She said that nothing happened.... And that she had gotten sick..." Michael stated and Austin shook his head. Nothing was making sense right now and it was just too difficult trying to piece it together now.

"You don't think she was sick?" Austin stated and Michael shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not saying I don't believe her... I think it is something more that she isn't telling me," Michael informed Austin and he nodded his head. He had that feeling period.

"Well... in the IV was some medicine to stop labor.... I can't explain everything right now... but we may be able to stall labor..." Austin said and Michael blinked his eyes. He looked at Austin and then grabbed his arm.

"Stall labor? How can you do that? Her water broke!" Michael screamed and Austin waited for the irate parent to take three deep breaths and to release him from the grip that was surely going to bruise his arm.

"Michael... do you want me to spend this precious time explaining medical jargon that you won't possibly understand, or do you want Nikita to be back inside of medical where I can give her the best treatment that I know of?" Austin snapped, his energy waning so quickly already. Michael looked at him, almost threatening, but then blinked his eyes away.

"I'm just worried..." Michael stated and drifted off. Austin nodded his head as he licked his lips before he stepped backwards.

"You should be."

Austin entered the bathroom where Nikita was moaning again. Michael leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, finding it impossible not to cry now. He had no control. The man who led Section One was losing it in the hallway, unable to bear the events that were occurring and the cries from the woman that he loved.

"Go... go... go..." Austin directed out as they started to move Nikita into the hallway. They had connected more equipment to Nikita and she was fighting it. It wasn't right, it was horrible. Michael couldn't even more, afraid of what was going to come next. For a few seconds Michael was sure if he stayed in the hallway, just fighting to keep his tears and fears from overrunning his body, that everything would be fine, that the labor would just stop and cease.

"Michael... she needs you," Austin stated as he stopped at the stairs, as the operatives from medical were being very careful in taking her downstairs. Michael turned and Austin saw the look on his face. It did more than chill Austin. It made the threat very clear.

Save Nikita and the baby.

Michael placed his hand on the back on his neck, trying to pull himself together. In his mind, he knew that Nikita couldn't see him like this that it would destroy whatever positive thoughts she did have. She needed those positive thoughts. Michael did not want to make the situation any more difficult than it seemed at the moment.

"MICHAEL!" Nikita screamed from outside and that one call broke Michael out of that position, moving him instantly. His children were already heading towards Section and now he was going to Section with his wife. And child.

"I'm here... I'm here..." Michael informed Nikita as he made his way briskly to her side, taking her hand and kissing it. She lifted her head to the side and looked at Michael. He attempted to dry her tears, almost glad to see that the pain that she had been in was slowly drifting away. Austin stepped into the van first and looked at the image.

Austin was scared. This was definitely something that he didn't want to see happen and now there were more complications. He was going to need more equipment, because Section One just didn't have the resources for premature babies. The supplies were limited and he had no choice.

He had to save this baby.

It was an unsaid order. Not given by Nikita and not given by Michael. It was given by himself. He had seen Michael and Nikita go through too much and now that he had seen Nikita while she was pregnant, he was sure that Michael was right. Losing this child, as Austin had suggested, would have killed Nikita. Now, if she lost it, Austin was sure that Nikita would chose to go along with it.

*

It was easy to separate from Danielle and Aubrey for Mia. She saw Aubrey hook an arm around the shoulder of Danielle and led her to the family quarters deep inside of Section One. It was a touching moment, if anyone would have noticed it. Mia was too beside herself to think about the tenderness that Aubrey was showing Danielle.

The hallways seemed deserted and Mia wasn't quite sure why. It may have been her imagination at first, but then she remembered about her mother. The tears started to form immediately and her bottom lip started to tremble. She thought about what was occurring and swallowed once more. She saw the connection and she was scared to the edge of sanity how she caused this to happen.

Mia stopped deep into a corner and leaned her head against the wall. She felt like she was coming and going. She felt as if two people had taken her arms, pulled them apart and then snapped them back, like a rubber band.

She felt so alone.

Her thoughts went to John and how much she needed him right now. She dropped one hand to her stomach and the gesture alone made the tears flow harder and the pain to triple. Mia wanted John to know so badly, but with everything in her house and inside of Section went through the monitors at Section One. She just wanted for him to know, but knew, in turn, that John wouldn't be able to come for her.

Her father.

Mia didn't know what was going to happen. She remembered Madeline telling Mia that mothers in labor said crazy things. She was afraid of what her mother may say and what her father would do. It would kill her father to know right now, and Mia realized that her father would blame her for this happening to her mother and the baby.

And it was her fault.

The crying just got harder as she continued to think about the possibilities and what could be happening. It just got more complicated and twisted with each thought that Mia produced and nothing was stopping her worries and fears. The wall steadied her body as everything crashed around her.

>From afar, Walter spotted the young lady and stopped. He had been running around Section One, not able to take the wait for Nikita to arrive in. Birkoff had mentioned that Mia had drove rest of the family over and had arrived. Walter was upset that it wasn't Nikita, but he was able to stop and think. He knew what Michael and Nikita would want him to do.

Worry about the kids.

Now he saw Mia and his heart stopped. Things had been so complicated in the young woman's life. Since John left, she wasn't quite the same woman that she had been. Walter had talked a great deal about it with Nikita, who had the same feeling, but Nikita couldn't do anything about the situation. Now Walter saw Mia and his heart went out to her, knowing that any other time she would have had John there to hold her.

"Mia..." Walter whispered as he walked closer to her body, to see her small trembles grow larger and larger until she turned around. The tears were pooled on her cheeks and Walter looked from eye to eye, never one able to take tears too well. "I know you are scared."

"It's more than that..." Mia moaned as she looked at Walter. She knew how much her mother trusted him and she was about to trust him. She needed someone and he was standing in front of her.

"I don't understand, Mia... but I'm here for you... ok?" Walter questioned and Mia slipped into his open arms, holding her own arms around him, allowing her tears to fall against his colorful shirt, holding onto Walter so she wouldn't fall.

"Oh... Mia... I know that you are scared...."

"It's more..."

"I'm scared too..."

"No... Walter... it's more..."

Walter pulled away and took Mia by the shoulders. Her words felt like they were warning signals hitting his heart full on. Her tone of voice told Walter to stand up straight and to take notice, that something more was occurring.

"Mia... I know that fate is harsh sometimes... you know that you had nothing to do with this..." Walter started, trying to guess at what was bothering the young woman. She felt like she was a mass of overheated wires while he had hugged her and now, there was something else that Walter couldn't identify.

"I have to talk to you, Walter.... Now..." Mia whispered out and Walter dropped his hands as panic filled his body. The words simply did it. That easily.

"I'm here, Mia.... Talk all you need..." Walter stated back, searching her eyes for a hint. The only thing that came back was that Mia was scared and Walter got a feeling that she felt as if she was under attack.

"Somewhere safe, Walter.... Where no one can find out what we are talking about..." Mia stated back as she started to pace around in small circles. Walter started at her, wondering what she was talking about and why she was talking about it.

"Mia..." Walter whispered out and then stopped, as she didn't. It was draining all of his energy and finally he started to pull her.

"Mia.... My office.... We can talk there..." Walter stated as he started to walk briskly, feeling that there was no time to waste. All of the thoughts about Nikita and the baby were gone. He no longer thought about that. Of course he was aware of the situation, but Mia was too distracted and distraught to be just worried about her mother.

"Walter.... I hope you can understand." Mia stated with a cool voice, one that indicated that she was preparing herself for his reaction. Walter blinked his eyes, as he had always been there for Mia. He had no idea of what could cause Mia to question what his reaction would be other than supportive.

"Come on..." Walter said as he dropped Mia's hand, as more operatives were coming in view. He walked over and pulled the gate up and grabbed a few scrambling devices. He looked around as Mia jogged down the hallway, with her hands and palms pressed into her eyes. Walter quickly pushed the gate down and ran after Mia, as she pressed herself against the wall and resumed crying.

"Mia?" Walter questioned and Mia turned around and looked at the older man, almost afraid to do what she wanted to and to protect herself. She needed to tell someone else now, and she couldn't think of a better person.

"I caused my mom to start labor..." Mia whispered out as she tried to drop her hands. The motion wasn't going to occur and she looked off to the side.

"Mia... your mother was having a hard pregnancy... you didn't cause anything to happen..." Walter tried to reassure Mia quickly. She started to shake her head back and forth. An attempt was made to inform Walter, but she could only flap her mouth up and down, with no voice forthcoming.

"Mia... we have no control over these things..."

"But I caused it..."

"How? I don't see how you have anything to do with this! Fate is not always nice." Walter pointed out as he moved to the side and rubbed his hands together. Mia was not acting like the young woman he knew, but he waited, knowing that stress did funny things to a person.

"I told her something..."

"How can telling your mother stomach cause her water to break, Mia? Do you here how ridiculous that sounds?" Walter attempted to point out again. He didn't like crazy talk and right now, Mia was doing her ration of crazy talk for the next year and a half.

"It isn't Walter.... It was bad...."

"Bad?"

"I caused this Walter..... and I don't know what to do..." Mia whimpered and Walter crossed the two steps to hold her again. He felt her fragile frame jerk with the tears. He rubbed her back softly, noting how much like Nikita Mia truly was. It was almost like holding Nikita in his arms.

"Why don't you tell me?" Walter offered and Mia lifted her head from his chest. Again, the only look in her eyes was worry. Nothing was backing off and nothing Walter ventured to ease the worry was working.

"Walter... I told my mom... that I was..." Mia turned her back and covered her face with her hands. Walter's mouth dropped solemnly, ready to fight to find out what was going on, to find out what was causing Mia to believe that she was the cause of Nikita's medical emergency.

"You told her what, Mia?" Walter questioned, but there was no response.

There was no response for five minutes, even after Birkoff ran down the hallway announcing that Nikita had arrived.

There was no response for ten minutes and Walter reached out and touched Mia's shoulders once more, hoping to bring her to answer the question. He knew that she needed to answer the question.

"You told her what, Mia?"

"I'm pregnant, Walter.... I'm pregnant..." Mia cried out as she turned abruptly and bolted herself into the older man's arms. Walter wrapped his arms around her back immediately and hugged her tightly to his body. He was holding her because she was about to fall apart.

"Oh my god...." Walter finally whispered into his hair, blinking his eyes, knowing the reasons now for Mia's behavior.

"I don't know what to do... and I had to tell someone.... And when I told my mom... her water broke..." Mia explained out with a struggle against the hiccups that were consuming her cries of consternation. Walter continued to hold her and looked up the ceiling, praying for strength.

Now it all was understood even more. Walter didn't have to ask who the father was and he didn't need to ask about how far along she was. Those things just were given. He understood that Mia telling her mother was a major step and that Nikita must have been scared out of her mind. Not because Mia was pregnant, but because of what Michael was going to do to John.

"Have you been seen by a doctor, Mia?" Walter whispered out, not even giving any credit to Mia's worries that her announcement caused Nikita's condition. It may seem that way, but it was not connected.

"No... I don't know what to do, Walter! I don't know where to go! Whenever I've been sick I've come here... but dad will find out..." Mia exploded with worries and twisted fear. He pulled at Mia's thin hands as she attempted to wring them to shreds.

"I'll get you to see someone, Mia.... Ok?"

"I don't think that is going to work... someone will find out..."

"You need my help, Mia..." Walter stated and Mia finally nodded her head in agreement. He pressed a tender kiss to Mia's head and softly sighed.

"Does John know?" Walter questioned and Mia started to bawl her eyes out again. He rubbed her back lightly and listened to the sounds that were coming out of Mia's voice. They were gradually lessening with intensity, but Walter knew the fear that Mia must have been living with.

"Does John know, Mia?" Walter questioned once more, although he was sure from the reaction the answer to the question. The answer was also clear by the fact that nothing else had been occurring and John hadn't found a way back to headquarters.

"I want to tell him... but I don't know where there is a safe phone..." Mia finally stated as she strove to look at Walter. Yet the effort was wasted as she started to cry heavily once again, seeing Walter's face looking at her with empathy.

"It's ok, Mia... It's ok..." Walter spoke confidentially towards the young woman. She nodded her head into his chest and Walter blinked his eyes. There was never anything easy for Nikita or those in Nikita's family. Fate liked to crush all good things in that family, but for Mia to think that this was a bad thing was so wrong. It was a gift to be given to her. A gift John helped to create out of love.

A love that Walter knew and accepted.

A love that equaled the love that Michael had for Nikita.

"I feel so lost..." Mia confided and Walter gasped. He hated those words. He held her softly and tightly in that same moment, holding together what was threatening to fall away from her, knowing that somehow, in that moment, he became Michael, Nikita, and John, just because they were occupied with other things.

"Look Mia... I'm here for you..." Walter softly said as he started to shift his body weight around. He turned and saw the bench and sat down, bringing Mia down along with him. He held her to his body, like he once did when she was a little child.

"Mia... Your mother would want me to help you... and I'm going to do that..." Walter started to say and he stopped. He knew that Mia was going to protest, but with one stern look, she stopped her words before they tumbled out of her lips. "You matter, Mia... and I'll hold you here until you can stand up and know that I'm going to be right by your side through this until your mother can be there or John can be."

"Walter... what do I do first?" Mia finally questioned, looking for a solution, a way of planning. It was a start and Walter nodded his head with the acknowledgement of the first step to somewhere.

"First we check on your mother... see what is happening..." Walter stated and Mia winced. It was clear that Mia didn't expect good news on that front.

"Walter..." Mia tried to protest and he placed his fingers on her lips. He didn't want to hear the bad stuff. He needed to give Mia a plan, as a plan would give her hope and hope bred strength.

"Then... if she is stable... I'm going to get you out of here and get you check by a doctor..."

"Walter..."

"No protests... the first few months are critical Mia... You need to be checked... the sooner the better," Walter informed Mia, but she nodded her head. She had already understood that.

"I wanted to do that Walter... but with Section... I never know where I can go..." Mia admitted as she held her hand to her face, her little finger bouncing as she continued to cry, but now the tears were more silent and slowly falling.

"I'll worry about that... and while we are out... We'll call John."

"NO!"

"Mia... he needs to know."

"My dad will find out."

"He is going to find out sooner or later... but John needs to know Mia," Walter said and she hugged Walter tightly. He was sure that John would be shocked and worried, but that John wouldn't be upset about this.

"Walter... just hold me..." Mia whispered and Walter nodded his head. It was what he was doing and he had no plans of stopping yet.

"Mia... things will get better... I promise..."

"I hope so."

*

It was a brave man that separated the husband from the wife who was in a crisis. Especially when it dealt with her life and their unborn child's life.

That was what Austin did.

Michael at first was more than upset, and from leaving her side, Nikita was upset also. He stared at the closed door, wondering what was going on in the room without him and he leaned his head back and finally moaned. His own pain came to the surface and he allowed the pressure out of his chest.

"Michael..." Madeline's voice drifted from where she entered. She observed the man lift his head from where he was leaning against the wall, trying to hold himself together and trying to stop the mutiny of bad thoughts that stormed his mind.

"There is no news, Madeline..." Michael hoarsely stated, as everyone that stopped by had come for just that information, no one waiting long. It had to be Michael's state of just staring at the wall that drove them all away, but Michael didn't know that.

"I'm concerned about you... tell me what you are thinking." Madeline quickly stated as she positioned her body close to Michael. He looked over his shoulder for a second at Madeline and then stared at the door.

"I don't have the time." Michael commented and Madeline sighed. She folded her hands and looked in the direction that Michael was looking in.

"They would have you in there if the birth was occurring, Michael," Madeline stated, sensing part of Michael's worries. He looked at her and then dropped his head.

"We haven't even talked about names.... All that time she has been on bed rest... and we haven't chosen a name..." Michael commented bitterly and Madeline nodded her head, knowing that this was only the beginning of the emotions that Michael had forced himself to hide.

"Michael... a name isn't that important... I wouldn't worry about it until Austin tells you something more..." Madeline offered the advice tenderly, knowing the edge that Michael now stood on, his emotions tilting from side to side.

"I don't know what happened... what is happening?" Michael started to complain and then question. Madeline reached out and touched Michael's arm.

"I don't know either, Michael... but you told me when you and Nikita were going to go through with this pregnancy it was based off of faith... don't lose that faith now."

"It so damn hard to hold onto it."

"Why? Why is it hard to hold onto it now?" Madeline calmly inquired, knowing that Michael just needed to talk about the events and the dueling emotions.

"Look what it has done for us! She may be having the baby! She may be losing the baby, Madeline! Do you call that right! I had faith that we would get through this and it has been thrown back into my face!" Michael hollered and then settled his head against the wall, allowing the tears to flow once again.

Madeline waited many minutes before reaching out for Michael, giving his body time to allow the emotions to be real. "None of that is faith Michael... Faith is knowing that it will be fine... no matter how many things occur until the outcome is good."

"Don't talk to me about faith, Madeline. It's gone!" Michael slowly whispered and Madeline swallowed. She reached out for his hand, but he pulled away and stood up. He nervously rubbed and pushed at his hair as he looked at the door.

In fact, Michael placed himself right in front of the door, sure that if it opened that he would be able to see in. He shifted his weight from side to side and Madeline could only shake her head. She wanted to help Michael, but it was partly because she wasn't able to see Nikita herself. Since that time that she realized who Nikita was to her, she worried about Nikita so much more.

Madeline had even broken down in Leanor's room when she explained why the baby shower was going to be called off in three days. Madeline blinked her eyes and stood up, biting the bullet; knowing that Michael had to stop this behavior, as it would do no one any good.

"Michael... This is Nikita we are thinking about. When has she failed?"

"Not very often, Madeline..." Michael commented and Madeline nodded her head and licked her lips.

"Why would she fail now?" Madeline questioned and Michael dropped his head. He lifted it as he stepped away from the door.

"That is putting too much onto her, Madeline... I got us into this situation and I haven't been able to do anything but take up food to Nikita!" Michael spouted out and Madeline smiled and nodded her head. These were the emotions that Madeline had been waiting for since Nikita started bed rest. She had been trying and trying to get them out, but now, here they were.

"That support is enough, Michael..."

"It's never enough... We put so much pressure on Nikita... that she knows what she must do... I must not do anything..."

"You must be there for Nikita."

"I wasn't there for a long time, Madeline," Michael spoke and dropped his head. Madeline nodded her head and was shocked as Michael leaned into her shoulder. She hugged him in that position as Austin slipped out of the room and looked at Michael and dropped his head.

"Michael... we've been able to stall labor," Austin stated as he cleared his throat. Michael pulled away from Madeline and blinked his eyes.

"That still doesn't sound good," Michael hissed out and Austin nodded his head.

"Right now, it is medically ok... but some of the fluid is gone... and there will be a time where we will have to allow labor to precede," Austin informed Michael and he closed his eyes.

"Have you told Nikita?" Michael questioned as he grabbed for Madeline's hand, showing that he needed help holding onto his sanity and strength.

"No... she was resting when I just left the room... The more rest she can get, the better it will be," Austin continued and Michael nodded his head, feeling a headache building. "Of course you can go in and see her now."

"How long can we hold off labor?"

"It's a fine line Michael. It could be only a few hours, or it could be a week or two..."

"So the baby is going to be premature," Michael flatly stated and Austin dropped his head as he felt Michael's harsh stare.

"Yes, Michael... and realistically, if we can hold of labor for two days, to give Nikita strength, I would be saying it was a miracle," Austin informed Michael and he leaned back and closed his eyes. So many things needed to be discussed with Nikita.

"Are either of them in danger?"

"It's a high risk pregnancy, Michael... anything can happen," Austin neutrally responded and Michael looked to Madeline and Madeline stepped closer to Austin.

"He can go in... is Nikita sedated?" Madeline questioned and Austin shook his head back and forth.

"She was calling for you, Michael. I'm sure as soon as you go in, she'll know that it's you," Austin said as he opened the door and slid back into the room, going to check on Nikita, as she was going to be monitored almost every ten minutes in order to stave off complications. If possible.

"Michael... you are getting your time now... talk to Nikita some..." Madeline said and Michael swallowed.

"Do you know how early this baby is?"

"Yes, but Austin is an excellent doctor and we just got the state of the art equipment, Michael. He will do everything," Madeline stated and Michael tried to nod his head. She frowned and sighed once again. "I know it doesn't make you feel any better."

"I feel like I'm on a circus ride Madeline that Mia used to drag me on. That my world is spinning and spinning around and I'm not sure where I'm going to stop," Michael stated and Madeline nodded her head and folded her hands into Michael's hands.

"But wasn't that the best part about the ride, Michael... Never knowing what was going to come and how it was going to end?"

~~

Michael moved into the room and saw the various monitors that were hooking onto Nikita and one that was charting the baby. He rubbed at the stomach and then looked at Nikita as her eyes fluttered open.

"How are you feeling?" Michael barely whispered. Nikita looked to Michael and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Been better," Nikita tried to joke dryly. She looked at him and dropped her eyes. "Bad?"

"Ah.. counts on... yeah, it may be bad," Michael finally admitted after he considered lying to Nikita and telling her lies again.

"How bad?" Nikita whispered and Michael pulled at a stool and looked at Nikita. She had lost a lot of color and she looked like someone had just pulled her out of some white paint.

"The baby is probably going to be here sooner than we thought..." Michael stated as he nodded his head, hoping that he didn't sound too ominous.

"Oh god... that's early, Michael..."

"I know... but Austin is a good doctor," Michael stated, trying to sound confident. He rubbed at Nikita's hands and looked around the room.

"We have so much to talk about..." Michael commented and Nikita nodded her head and yawned. "You're tired... I should let you rest..."

"I can rest later Michael... we have to think of.. think of...names..." Nikita stated as her voice cracked as the tears that had dried from her face reappeared. They were reflected onto Michael's face and he closed his eyes and swallowed once more.

"Let me just be with you for a while, Nikita... just let me hold you..."

*

The room was cold and Mia rocked back and forth on the examination table. She rubbed at her hair and closed her eyes, worries rushing her body that she wasn't sure she would be able to continue dealing with.

The receptionist had been rude to Walter when he entered with Mia. Her words hurt Mia, as she insinuated that Walter caused this situation. Walter only blinked his eyes and said that they had an appointment and that he was an old friend of the doctor. The receptionist snorted and remarked that she should probably call the police and report him.

Walter looked to Mia and frowned. He had hoped to make this experience easy on her, but just the fact that it couldn't be done inside of Section complicated things. He reached out and touched her shaking shoulders. "I promised you... everything is going to be fine."

Mia nodded her head and dropped her head. Her eyes were flickering with so many emotions that Walter didn't know what was next. She was concerned about herself, but the concern didn't even match the concern that she had for her mother. And although Walter tried to no end to stop her negative thoughts, Mia still believed her announcement to her mother caused the early labor. That guilt might never go away.

"Are we sure that my mom is fine?" Mia questioned again and Walter pressed his lips together tightly. He had a small conversation with Madeline, just stating that he had to go somewhere with Mia. He was sure that Madeline suspected that something else was going on, but she didn't push for more information. She went over Walter a few signals that she would beep him with, of course 911 meant that Nikita was in labor and going to have the baby.

"Well... she was stable, Mia," Walter stated and Mia nodded her head. She was shivering and the waiting was just making everything more complicated. Walter also realized that Mia was starting to doubt him, starting to believe that Walter really didn't have the connections that he claimed that he did.

The door opened and an older woman entered the room and smiled at Mia before looking over her shoulder and seeing Walter. She smiled at him and made sure the door closed.

"I did everything that you asked for Walter. I hope I get an explanation," The doctor stated with a soft smile staying on her face, but the eyes told the story. Walter touched Mia's shoulder and squeezed it softly, indicating that he hadn't lied.

"Thank you, Kira. It's a complicated situation... Mia... this is Kira... I've known her since I knew your mother..." Walter stated with a soft smile.

"Hi," Mia whispered as she dropped her head before jerking it towards Walter. "Why since you knew my mother?"

"Well... I had to be prepared if something happened to your mother and she didn't have the resources to protect herself... When Michael was away and you were on the way, Nikita went to George... but I had Kira on the side just in case," Walter explained with a tender smile. Mia nodded her head and Kira smiled broadly.

"You are Nikita's child? I have hear so much about Nikita and you... You are so grown up..." Kira commented with a smile and Walter winked at her. Mia swallowed.

"I know you are trying to make me feel comfortable but that isn't going to happen..." Mia stated and Kira moved towards the young woman. She placed a hand out onto Mia's knee.

"Because you are pregnant? It should be a great thing, in any situation," Kira stated and Mia looked towards Walter and started to cry again. Walter sighed and held his arms out for the young woman. Mia wrapped her arms around Walter as Kira stepped back, looking sternly at Walter. It was clear that she wanted to know what was going on.

"Kira... Nikita is pregnant too... and by coincidence, when Mia mentioned that she was pregnant... her water broke..." Walter whispered out and Kira stepped back with her hand over her mouth. Walter swallowed and kissed the top of Mia's head. "They have delayed labor... but of course... it makes everything hard."

There was silence in the room, as Kira didn't speak. She looked to Walter and then placed a hand to Mia's back, slowly circling around on her back.

"Must be hard without your mother... But I'm going to make sure everything is fine, Mia..." Kira finally spoke softly, bringing an end to Mia's tears as she looked at the woman that rubbed her back. Mia barely nodded her head up and down. Kira smiled and looked to the folder.

"How far along do you think you are?" Kira questioned as she moved towards Mia's feet. Mia looked over her shoulders, seeing how Walter was moving. He had stepped backwards, but he caught Mia's glance.

"I can leave Mia..." Walter offered and was relieved when she shook her head no. He pushed against the wall and swallowed, not sure if he really wanted to be in the room himself.

"I'm two months...no.. it would be nine weeks," Mia stated and Kira nodded her head. She looked at the drawn face and patted her legs. The concern was all over Mia's face and Kira knew that to do everything as quickly as possible would be for the best.

"Let me do the exam really fast... and then we'll chit chat, ok?" Kira questioned in a friendly voice. It didn't break Mia's firm face and she barely nodded her head up and down.

Walter stared at the corner as Kira worked now. He closed his eyes, as the two women were silent and he rubbed his hands together, trying to do anything but image what was going on.

"You are very healthy, Mia... I know that nine weeks is a little early... but I'm going to see if we can get a heartbeat..." Kira stated as she stood up from the end of Mia's feet. Mia opened her mouth with a gasp and Kira smiled. Now the young woman looked happy, as she should be.

"Walter... you can turn around... I brought that phone you asked for," Kira said as she pulled the cell phone out of her pocket. Walter smiled and started to dial numbers, setting up a phone call that needed to be done over a month ago. Kira started to move around the office as Mia watched everyone.

"Hello... John... I've got someone here who needs to talk to you..." Walter said and Mia's eyes opened up wide. She started to shake her head no and Walter reached out and handed her the phone.

"John?"

"Mia! I heard about your mom! What is going on?"

"Oh John...." Mia cried out as the tears started to roll down her face. Kira was about to try to find the heartbeat and Walter nodded his head.

"Mia? What's wrong?"

"I have to tell you something... and I don't want you to be upset..."

"Upset? How could I be mad with you? I love you Mia!"

"John...." Mia cried out as her voice cracked. Walter held onto her shoulders as she jumped a little as Kira applied the gel to her stomach.

"Mia? Please tell me what is wrong?"

"That night... we were together..." Mia started to explain and Kira's eyes flashed, finding the heartbeat so quickly. She turned to amplify the sound.

"There it is," Kira announced as the beating arrived over the speaker and Mia's eyes flooded with tears.

"Oh my god!" Mia exclaimed as Walter's eyes filled with tears.

"Mia? What is going on!" John hollered, not understanding anything.

"John... listen..." Mia said as she turned the phone and pointed it towards the speaker. She tried to wipe her tears away with her other hand and Kira reached out to help her slightly. The sound and the rhythm amazed her. It took sometime to turn the phone back to her.

"Did you hear?" Mia questioned.

"Mia... was that our baby?" John whispered in a cracking voice, his tears audible over the phone line.

'Yes, John... I'm pregnant... You left me with something so you can come back to us..." Mia cried out as she drifted her fingers towards the speaker. She looked towards her flat stomach and shrugged her shoulders as she looked up at Walter.

"Mia! That's great! I love you so much!" John responded immediately, all the words that Mia needed to hear, but the words she thought she wouldn't hear.

"I wanted to tell you so long ago.... But...." Mia drifted off as Kira turned the machine off and patted Walter's arm. He nodded his head and mouthed a thank you to Kira. She started to assemble a package of vitamins for Mia and information.

"Mia.... This is so great..."

"But you aren't here, John! What are we going to do?"

"I don't want you to worry about that. You worry about our baby."

"Are you sure.... I want you here!" Mia declared and John chuckled over the line.

"You worry about the baby... and I'll worry about getting back for you... Who knows?" John questioned, trying to make plans already.

"Walter... and my mom."

"Your dad?"

"He doesn't know." Mia replied quickly and she smiled as she looked to Walter.

"I have to go, John... I love you..." Mia quickly stated as she held onto the phone with a death grip.

"I love you too, Mia... and take care of our baby..." John stated and Mia handed the phone over to Walter. He spoke briefly and then hugged Mia. Kira smiled and stated that she had another book of information she needed to get and that she would be back.

"Thank you, Walter."

*

It had been a long day, and Michael was drifting from sleep and awake, when something caught his attention. The soft stroking of fingers through the hair, slowly, but steadily. Even before he tried to open his eyes, to identify the source of the touch, his heart knew the touch. It didn't matter if he was in a room that wasn't his own and wasn't one that was normally shared by the two, he knew it to be Nikita's touch.

Michael gently opened his eyes and saw Nikita's face as she stared tiredly into his eyes. He tilted his head softly and then smiled into Nikita's eyes.

"Morning," Nikita softly stated as she tried to struggle against a yawn. Michael waited for Nikita to give into the urge and then lightly pulled his head up off of her chest. He looked down and touched his fingers to her face, pushing some stray hairs away.

"How are you feeling?" Michael questioned immediately, wanting to know if there had been any change. He was supposed to watch Nikita sleep and it wasn't supposed to be the other way around. It had happened that way and he started to wonder what else had happened while he was sleeping.

"I feel tense... like something isn't right," Nikita informed Michael and he sat up straight, looking immediately down to her stomach. He wanted to touch it, to make the connection with his child, but he waited before touching.

"Did you tell Austin?" Michael questioned and Nikita nodded her head. It was with that nod that Michael lightly placed his hand on the stomach. He frowned when there was no kicking and now bouncing towards his hand.

"The baby hasn't been very active..." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head. He didn't know if that was good or bad. He made a note to talk to Austin about it, in case Nikita didn't speak to him about it already. One never knew with Nikita.

"It needs to rest too, my Nikita," Michael stated, hoping that she wasn't worrying about it. It was something that Austin said wouldn't help the situation. Nikita barely nodded her head and Michael took her hand and tenderly kissed it.

Maybe it was a move to get Nikita's attention away from what was going on. Maybe it was a way to show Nikita how much he loved her for doing this all for them and their child. Michael didn't know why, but he held that hand, and kissed it again. And again. And again.

"Michael... there is so much yet to be done..." Nikita delicately said, knowing that when they last attempted to speak about those things, they both broke down. The stress was making it hard for either of them to focus on things that seemed so minor at this point in time.

"You know, Nikita... it would be a lot easier to know if it is a boy or girl... I'm sure Austin could tell us..." Michael stated and Nikita shook her head back and forth, true to her convictions. Michael smiled and allowed her decision to prevail. It wasn't that Michael actually thought for a second that Nikita would allow Michael to pull out the sex of their child out of Austin.

"We just have to think about it, Michael... and be open to ideas..." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head and Nikita sighed as she leaned deep into her pillow. She looked so tired and Michael chewed on his lip a bit before touching his fingers to her eyes.

"How much sleep did you get?"

"Not much... It's hard to explain..." Nikita confirmed as she lifted her hand as if to rub her hair, but it quickly flew to her stomach. Nothing registered on the monitors, but it still concerned Michael as he placed his hand onto Nikita's hand.

"Try... and then I'll try to help with a name..." Michael allowed to be said with a small smile crossing his face and brightening up the wife that was in some state of pain and lost of control. It was a pleasure to see the smile echo back from Nikita's face.

"I'll try..."

"That's all I ever ask for, Nikita."

There was some silence as Nikita took her hand and grazed Michael's cheek. The connection was only through a little patch of skin, but it was so much more than that. She looked to the empty side of the bed and beseeched Michael to settle up on it with her. It did not take much for Michael to rush to appease her appeal for his body to be next to hers.

"It's like I'm waiting for the bad stuff to happen..." Nikita settled with an insubstantial voice. Michael shifted and wrapped an arm around her body. He lightly kissed her throat and closed his eyes as he stayed there. He hated when Nikita felt that way. The years hadn't changed that state of mind that the bad was still going to come. It was something that Michael often blamed on her childhood, but now he blamed himself, noting that he didn't help Nikita overcome the need to look for the bad.

"If it comes, we'll fight it, Nikita. The bad never wins." Michael stated firmly and Nikita nodded her head as she felt the skin of his lips rubbing against her neck. She felt so sheltered in that movement and so loved that she believed Michael's words.

Fight was something that Nikita could do.

She hadn't been able to do things in a long time. It incapacitated her not to be able to strike out against the things that were occurring to her. The simple statement meant so much to Nikita, because Michael gave her something that she could do. It empowered her. It was a way that Nikita hadn't been in a long time.

"Well... I guess I can start this fight off by trying to pick names..." Nikita joked and Michael nodded his head. He liked that suggestion and it sounded like a viable thing to be doing. He nuzzled his head in closer towards Nikita and sighed softly.

"I'll be happy with anything you decide, sweetheart," Michael softly breathed out. Nikita turned and tugged Michael's chin away from her neck.

"Anything?"

"Mmm... don't make me regret that..." Michael sighed and Nikita smiled benevolently. She allowed her fingers to drop down his chin as she allowed the air to escape her chest in a heavy sigh. Michael blinked his eyes and reached for those fingers, and again, kissed each fingertip and then the palm.

"I think I always liked the name Hans." Nikita stated with a straight face glaring towards Michael. He raised an eyebrow and watched as Nikita's face crumbled. She laughed merrily into his neck and face before pulling away abruptly.

"What is it?" Michael questioned out of concern. He moved away from Nikita and looked at her, as if she was going to shatter into pieces if he stayed too close to her.

"I never have good things for names, Michael..."

"You named Mia..."

"After you... Tell me a story... about someone who was brave... tell me of someone who I could name our baby if it is a boy after..." Nikita stated with a voice that was breaking even more. It wasn't the way Michael wanted this to be. He remembered how it was choosing a name for Aubrey was.

"No, Nikita... tell me about someone you knew... There has to be someone good," Michael replied quickly and swiftly. He rubbed her hand between his hands and waited silently.

"Walter?" Nikita questioned and for a second it sounded like a joke. Michael blinked his eyes and knew that Nikita was not joking at all.

"Nikita," Michael stated, and it was a warning, telling her to try again. Nikita rolled her eyes lightly, finding the humor that seemed to have been gone for months. Here they were, as they should always be. Together as one. There wasn't a separation of one being Michael and one being Nikita. They were Michael and Nikita, facing what was going to come, facing what might scare both of them. Yet, no matter all of that, they were together.

"You really think that there is someone in my past that is worthy of using as our child's name?" Nikita questioned honestly, showing how little worth that she placed on her childhood. Michael smiled and nodded his head as he walked his fingers across Nikita's cheekbone, loving every feature on her, knowing how special she was, and how every day he thanked god that he had her still.

"I think there may have been a teacher... or an adult... or just a name that you liked... But you just don't want to admit it..." Michael cautiously assessed and Nikita dropped her head. That movement indicated that Michael was unequivocally accurate in that assessment. She blinked her eyes as she attempted to speak and tell the story and then backed off. Michael just waited, moving his fingers on her cheek and smiled as Nikita nodded her head.

"There was a man who tried to help me while I was on the streets... he ran the one shelter..."

"One of the shelters that you stayed in?"

"No... I never stayed in his shelter... especially in the beginning... I was afraid of being sent back home... but he watched out for me..."

"Sounds like a nice man, Nikita."

"He was... He stopped me the one night from going into a park... that night... some girl was killed and it could have been me..."

"His name?"

"I don't think I ever found it out..."

"That's a shame."

"I'm sure it was some French name, Michael... all of this happened in Paris..." Nikita commented as she rolled her head lightly, closer to Michael. Michael sighed and nodded his head. He loved Nikita's subtle way of asking him to give her some names.

"The name doesn't need to be French, Nikita... There is your background too..."

"I don't know my heritage, Michael... I like yours."

Michael stopped as he felt the tears rolling out of his eyes. It was an overtly romantic gesture, but Nikita's words meant so much to him. He looked at Nikita and kissed her nose.

"Please, Nikita... try..." Michael responded, knowing that he was begging in a way for Nikita to give an answer. He looked at Nikita as she looked at her fingers and licked her lips.

"I used to like the name Remy."

"Remy is a really nice name, Nikita..." Michael said as he nodded his head. It was more than a nice name. It was a name that was almost as strong as Nikita. Although it meant nothing to Nikita's past and didn't connect her to the child in a way of heritage, Nikita would be giving the child her heart and soul, and that was more important.

Nikita rolled her head to the side with a slight moan, but nothing that Michael jumped up with. He looked at Nikita as she licked her lips.

"Can you get me some water?" Nikita questioned and Michael simply started to stand. He was willing to do anything for Nikita at this point, as long as it wasn't wild. It was different from when Nikita was pregnant with Aubrey. She had wild eating habits, cravings for things that were half way around the world and she would be snappy until she got them. Michael once had a hard time explaining to Madeline and Operations why an operative had to come into headquarters from New Orleans with Cajun food.

Michael turned to the tray and was pouring the glass of water, that soon dropped everywhere as the scream echoed in the room and the monitors blared from hell and back again.

"OH MY GOD!" Nikita screamed as it looked like she was being pulled up with strings. The doors flew open as Nikita panted for air, finding it hard to breathe and Austin flew in. Michael held onto the cup as he turned to see Nikita.

"MICHAEL!!!" Nikita screamed and Austin looked to Nikita and looked at the monitors.

"This baby is coming now!" Austin announced and Nikita started to cry. Michael finally settled the glass back down, not caring about the wet state of his pants and moved towards his wife. She was in constant pain again, something that Austin didn't have to comment about being wrong or different.

The room was in a panic. Nikita was in a panic. Michael was in a panic. The baby was in a panic.

~~

"So you need to take those... to make sure that your blood has the right nutrients for the baby," Kira explained as she closed the booklet. She was taking her time with Mia, knowing how much that she meant to Walter. She also knew that Mia's mother was going to have her hands full and unable to do all of this with Mia.

"It seems like so much to do." Mia announced as the beeping occurred from Walter's body. Mia turned abruptly and looked at Walter as he pulled the beeper out.

911

"Mia... we got to go!" Walter hollered and Mia jumped.

"No!" Mia exclaimed and Walter nodded his head. Mia bit her lips and looked towards Walter.