Chapter 2: Future's Present

Three years have past since that fateful day, lives have changed and people have moved on but have never forgotten their past hurts. Live continues to move forward as it should. Well thats for normal people... The U.S. Government continue to this day to search for and hunt for Nikita Mears, she has become on of the top most wanted terrorists in the world, number 3 on Interpol's Most Wanted List. No one has heard or seen her in years, not even her friends...

New York, United Nations Building;

Alexandra Udinov-Bishop or just Alexandra Bishop was making her passionate speech in front of world leaders urging them to take a stronger stance on trying to stop slavery. Passionately telling her story as if it would make a greater impact, while watching these strong men in women in power and hoping to show them that they were making a difference in the world by supporting her idea, her cause. Alexandra's husband is standing off to the side coordinating security, the one man in her life who she has shown trust, love, compassion, and above all has given her heart to completely. She has been married for just under 3 years to the perfect man, for her anyway. Her husband has fulfilled his role completely perfectly. He has been her rock and she his, he has given her 2 wonderful children who are her world. If she lost everything today, as long as she had her family she could survive and still feel whole.

Alex finished her closing statements and sat back down after a willful applause, knowing that many of the larger countries would actually do something but the smaller ones with the less than ideal economies would say one thing but continue to allow slavery to be let through. Her eyes wander over to her husband as he diligently works to coordinate security to better protect her. Michael's fingers pressed against his comm unit no doubt speaking to Birkhoff and arguing about something or another as those to usually do. Alexandra's mind wanders back the past three years, her memories going over how close her family has become since the loss of her former mentor. Nikita.

Its been 3 years since she had last heard from her, to this day it is still a hurt that refuses to heal. Nikita had been her friend, her mentor, and an older sister to her. Alex still wonders someday if Nikita would resent her, would hate her or even kill her for taking Michael, for finding solace in his arms and in his bed. She quickly disabuses those thoughts from her mind and immediately focuses on the heated argument brewing between her husband and whoever was on comm with him. She wanders over to him reaching out to grasp his hand and feel his strength flowing into her, leaning in she whispers, "What's going on, whatever you are talking about sounds heated?" She is tempted to turn on her comm as well and just find out for herself, but if the last 3 years has shown her anything, Michael loves her and trusts her. But more importantly he has never lied to her.

Michael stands diligently working in the background as he watches his wife of three years argue with passion that makes him fall in love with her all over again. Michael and the team had taken it upon themselves to use Alex's dream for ending slaves as the front for their illegal activities in the war against the shop and freeing Nikita. Nikita. Now there was a thought that he hadn't thought about in a long time. She had broken his heart, abandoned her friends and more importantly abandoned him. He never thought he would see the day where Nikita would selfishly go out on her own and forget what made them so great because, of a little danger. How could she forget all they had been through and just toss it aside. Well no matter he found love and comfort in the arms of Alex, someone he had never seen or even thought of romantically before. But now he cant help look at her and feel love, for her, for their children, for their cause.

Michael waits patiently before the tirade ends on the other end of the comm, before replying to Alex, "Its nothing, Just Birkhoff and Ryan arguing as usual about the leads Ryan is making about the Shop." Alex smiles contently at the answer knowing there is more to it but wont find out later till they are in a more secure location. She smiles and makes small talk with the representatives trying to sell her idea even more about stronger control on slavery and harsher punishments for those who enforce it.

Unbeknowest to them all someone else was watching the summit meeting at the UN, albeit from tv. Amanda, carefully watching and cataloging every detail, wondering how she could use Michael and Alex's relationship to further her plans against Nikita. Having not heard from her lost student in so long. Amanda's mind is wrought with disastrous plans wanting to impart lesson after lesson in some sick mother-daughter plan. Wanting Nikita to learn as she did, the lessons her own father imparted to her in that basement. Amanda's mind wanders to where everyone's minds are wandering Where is Nikita hiding now.

Nikita was on the run, having been discovered by a local sheriff in the South of France as she ran harder, hearing the dogs chasing her as she wished up on any star in the night's sky that her salvation would come, that this nightmare would and and she would wake up snuggled up against Michael in their bedroom apartment and feeling his love wash over her. Her mind snaps back to the present as she dodges trees running harder and faster, knowing if she dies now, it will all be for naught. Michael, the one thing that makes this all worth it. Knowing that once her name is clear that their future, their engagment will result in marriage, kids, whatever he wants, she will do. Her mind never thinking or letting it fill with doubts that she might have waited too long.

AN: Let me know what you think.