The early rays of daybreak woke her from her slumber, causing her to grimace and turn her head away from it. Pain from her stiff neck effectively chased sleep away as she reached up to rub it. Her wrist sparkled in the sunlight, stopping her. "The hell...?" She brought her wrist closer to her face. A bracelet made of multi-colored opaque beads adorned it, with a single silver heart shaped charm dangling freely. A soft sigh caught her attention and she became aware of the strong scent of lavender and weight on her chest. She looked down and smiled contently.

She'd fallen asleep while watching a movie with Sophia, something she hadn't done since Sophia's last birthday. Her smile died. Sophia's next birthday was in less than two weeks. Had she really spent so little time with her? She thought that she gave Sophia as much time as her profession would allow, but had she really? She looked down at the sleeping face nestled over hear heart, seeing dried tears on her cheeks. 'Oh, yeah...' When Nikita had happily announced her intent to stay in Stilwater for the next two weeks, Sophia had immediately gone to her room and started throwing clothes in her suitcase. She loved her grandparents dearly, but never passed up a chance to stay with Nikita when she was in town and not working.

However, Gat was in the picture. She didn't know where that lunatic was and she damn sure didn't want Sophia to have some sort of mental breakdown just because her favorite Saint of all time was actually still alive. If they were to ever meet, Sophia first needed to adjust to the idea. Nikita absently smoothed down Sophia's mussed ink black hair, comforted by the familiar silky texture. In the darkest corner of her mind, she had to admit to herself that she was terrified of the idea of Gat and Sophia in the same room. Sophia idolized the man with a passion that bordered on obsession, and because she was who she was, Nikita had no right to stop her from doing so. But what if Gat brushed her off? Thoughts of causing bodily harm to him came to mind, easily quelling some of her fears and anxiety. No, she couldn't make him play nice with Sophia, but she had no qualms about castrating his ass should her hurt her feelings.

And there was a bullet with his name on it should he be unfortunate enough to break his number one fan's heart.

The more she gave it thought, the more she realized that she shouldn't change anything just because he'd dropped back into her life. Sophia was the constant; Gat was barely a variable.

Confident she'd be back to pick up Sophia and take her back to her condo, she slid out from under her and placed a couch pillow under her head. She allowed her fingers to lightly trace the matching bracelet on Sophia's wrist before pressing her lips lightly over the dried tear trail on her cheek. "I'll be back soon, baby." 'I promise,' she added firmly in her head.

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

The sounds of the TV greeted her, making her pause. She hadn't left the TV on. Johnny had left before she had, and she'd locked the door when she left. She quickly checked her watch as she bent down and pulled up pants leg, quietly sliding a thin black hilt and blade dagger out of its sheath attached to her calf. She preferred guns, but she never took one near Sophia, instead choosing to arm herself with small weapons. To her, it didn't really matter what the hell she had to use - if she wanted someone dead, they ended up that way, whether by gun, knife, grenade, or in a few cases, fork.

She advanced carefully, knowing full well that if anyone but him was in the condo, they were aware she was in the apartment, and were probably waiting for her to turn the corner. Yes, this meant that she could have been walking into a trap, into a bullet no doubt, but the fucker wouldn't get away with invading her space. She'd already had to deal with the guilt of upsetting Sophia with the idea that someone else was in her home instead of her. She was barely able to handle Gat being around. No, she'd draw the line at home invasion, and she'd draw it across their throat, even if it meant taking a few bullets.

She pressed herself up against the wall and used the blade of the dagger to see around the corner. In the dark metal, she could see a figure sitting calmly on the couch, waiting for her. 'Arrogant bastard!'

Nikita turned the corner and, with a precise flick of her wrist, let the dagger fly from her fingertips. The second she released it, she wished she hadn't.

"What the fuck?!" He had caught the dagger with his hand, keeping it from lodging in his unprotected throat. He had fallen over and caught himself on his elbow, glaring at her. "I fucked up your room and destroyed your phone, yeah, I know. But do you really gotta try to kill me over it?"

"Fuck, sorry." She rounded the coffee table and reached for his wrist. He jerked back, still holding the blade firmly in his closed fist. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She'd never hear the end of this. With a huff, she disappeared into the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit she kept under the sink. "I have to bandage your hand."

"Right. You just wanna finish the job." He held up his other hand. "I'm good."

"Damn it, Gat." She sat down on the black suede sofa beside him and yanked his fist into her lap. "Stop being so fucking difficult." She pried his fist open and hissed as blood began to pool in his palm around the embedded blade. "Ugh, this is too deep to let heal on its own."

He grunted as she lifted the dagger away from his flesh and placed it on a sheet of gauze before setting his hand on a thicker stack. She pulled out a small vile of clear liquid and opened up a package containing a sterilized needle. "Why in the hell do you have all this hospital shit?"

She glared at him out of the corner of her eye and, when she saw that he wasn't being sarcastic, answered truthfully. "I keep a hospital grade first aid kit with me at all times - it comes in handy when you tend to trade bullets with your enemies. This is more effective and less painful than simply digging out bullets with a knife or my fingers. Heals better and has less scarring, too." She injected the needle into the liquid and withdrew enough of it to do what she wanted. "This is lidocaine. It'll numb your hand enough so I can sew it up."

"I don't need that shit."

"Yes, you do." She gave him a pointed look. "I don't need you flinching or I'll have to start over. I'm used to sewing up wounds on other parts of the body that don't move much like arms, legs, and backs. The hand is more complicated for me." She injected the liquid into various points around the gaping wound. "If I know you can't feel much, then I won't be as tempted to torture you."

"I have a high tolerance for pain." He shrugged and leaned closer to her. "But whatever makes you feel better. I wanted to talk with you."

"About what?" She responded absently, used to supplying part of a conversation. She pressed gauze lightly to the wound to soak up the excess blood as she concentrated on threading the needle.

"Us."

"There is no 'us', Johnny. There's you, then there's me. No 'us'."

"You don't believe that."

"I don't believe you believe there's an 'us'." She stabbed the needle into flesh and, when he didn't flinch or make a noise indicating pain, she continued. "Besides, you still have to accept that Aisha - "

"She's dead, I know."

She looked at him, searching his eyes for the truth. He shrugged so she turned back to his hand. "You don't sound bothered by it at all."

"I've seen a lot of people die, most of them by my own hand or because of me. I spent years beating myself up because of her. Then one day I woke the fuck up. Shit happens. Of course, I cared about her and if I could go back and change it, I would. But my mama always told me, 'there's no future if you ignore the present to live in your past.'"

Those words rang true in her heart, making her pause. He was right. She could stay angry with him, but what would that change? When she considered that she now had Sophia, it was stupid to dwell on their past when her present and future were so bright with love and happiness. "Yeah."

"To be honest, I'm not sure I loved Eash. I mean, I really fucking cared about her, but I never once thought about marrying her or having kids."

She stopped again, then just as quickly picked back up her task. "Have you even ever thought about kids?"

There was a brief moment of silence. "I don't know. I mean, when I'd go to the schools and talk to the kids, I couldn't see myself being one of those dads you see on TV. They'd cramp my style." She could hear the grin in his voice.

"Not to mention you're a bullet magnet." Realizing she was nearly done sewing up the gash, she took a deep breath. "Gat, you have to go."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Don't be an ass. You have a place of your own, and I'm sure your gang would love to know you've pulled a Lazarus. You need to go meet up with them."

"They can wait. I've got shit to settle with you first."

She exhaled loudly and quickly wrapped up his hand, shoving it out of her lap. "There isn't anything to settle."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're sexy as hell when you're angry? Your eyes get darker and your voice gets lower, close to that 'fuck me' octave. I like that."

She stood up and marched into the kitchen, dumping the used supplies in the trash compactor. "You should go drink some Imodium."

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

"To try to dry up the excessive bullshit spewing out of your mouth." She placed the kit on the kitchen island and turned to the sink to wash her hands. Before she could turn off the tap, she was spun around and lips crashed onto hers aggressively. Desire ignited within her instantly, setting her skin on fire. The tip of his tongue swept across her lips enticing her to give in to him. The thought of giving in snapped her out of it. She wedged her arms in between their bodies and forced him to step back. "Do not ever do that again."

"That morning when you told me how you felt, I should have done the same. I would have done the same, if I'd known it'd be this long before I saw you again."

"Gat - " He pressed a finger to her lips and leaned in, dropping his normally calm and casual voice to just a sensual whisper.

"Stop and listen to me. The way I feel about you hasn't changed since then. I've always wanted you, period. I can tell you don't believe me, and that's fine for now..." His finger traced her lips, pushing down ever so slightly on her bottom lip to pry them apart. "But, eventually, you're gonna come around. And I don't care what you do with Sophia after that point, as long as you're mine first and foremost."

He let go of her and turned away. "I'm gonna go lay back down for a few more hours. When I get up, we're gonna go down to the Saints Hideout."

"We? Why do I have to go?" She wanted to follow after him, but her legs were jelly. 'Damn him...'

"Who else will explain how I was found better than you? Besides," he stopped and gave her a shit eating grin. "Boss will love to meet you."