Standard disclaimer applies…

I'm sorry for the long wait. Life got in the way but I'm back! I hope all you great reviewers are still around and enjoy this chapter.

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That night – Walter's above the coffee shop

Michael paced.

His earlier conversation with Walter had left him frustrated and a little insecure about the evening if he admitted it. It wouldn't change his intentions…but it wasn't exactly how he'd pictured the set up of this moment. And he'd imagined this moment so many times that it was hard to reconcile the difference between the two images.

Nikita was involved with someone…someone at Section. Not someone. Sinclair.

He let out the breath he'd been holding.

Sinclair. It was a pompous name.

It helped a little that Walter didn't really like the man. It didn't help that he held the position next to Nikita's. The position that allowed him to be close to her constantly, allowed him to work his way into her life, her schedule and worst possibility, her emotions. He held the exact position that Michael wanted, though preferably outside of Section.

There could be no compromise at this point in their lives. This was an all or nothing moment. Sinclair, not the terrorists, not Section, was the enemy he most needed to worry about right now.

And it was a dangerous position to be in because the man had the power and resources to destroy everything Michael had worked so hard for the last 13 years. He had the capability to put Adam at risk.

Had he known about Sinclair prior to having Walter ask Nikita to come would he still have made the request?

Returning to pacing with his hands behind his back, he knew the answer. Of course he would have. He still believed, believed in the words he and Nikita had exchanged so long ago.

And he wanted to believe that she did too, Sinclair or no Sinclair.

He checked his watch again, just a little after 9 o'clock. Nikita should be here soon.

His hand ran subconsciously through his hair, tucking a stray strand behind one ear. They were both older now and he wondered how he would look to Nikita with the gray at his temples and a few more worry lines. He was thankful that he had kept up his Section workouts. His body was older but it didn't really look it and he still had the strength to lift Nikita up against a wall and take her mouth the way he wanted to.

How many nights had he laid in bed dreaming of that exact thing?

Thinking back to the day when he'd seen her in the city, he wasn't surprised by how little she seemed to have changed. Still heart-wrenchingly beautiful…still lithe and graceful…still able to make him strain against his pants without ever trying.

The nervousness he felt was quickly being replaced by excitement since Walter had gone down a few minutes earlier to wait for her in the shop.

He still loved her. All this time that had passed…he hoped she still felt the same.

Below – In the shop

"Hi Walter!" Nikita exclaimed brightly as she came through the door. She was happy to see that he was in one piece and that all her worrying on the way over was for nothing.

Walter handed her a cup of her favorite, soy latte with extra foam.

"Hey Sugar, thanks for coming."

"So what's the occasion Walter? Why all the secrecy?" She asked, still wondering what had driven him to actions that were snapshots from the distant past. Their conversation earlier had brought back the memories of when he'd been hiding communiqué for she and Michael…god, it seemed like a lifetime ago. Just one of the warm memories that still made her smile.

"Just thought we'd catch up on old times. It's been awhile." He responded, turning away for a minute so she wouldn't catch the tiny grin that he couldn't hold off his face.

"Are you going soft on me?" This was what she loved about Walter.

"HA! Have I ever been anything but?" He laughed. "Let's go upstairs." He told her, not wanting to keep Michael waiting any longer.

"I'm fine down here." She replied, taking a sip of her latte.

"Well I'm not! These old bones need my soft chair. Come on." He took her coffee cup from her and let her head up in front of him. He didn't want her spilling a perfectly good latte all over that white jacket she was wearing when she caught sight of Michael.

"Whatever you say Walter."

Nikita was surprised to find that the door was already open. Usually she had to wait for Walter to disengage his Section worthy security system.

She stepped through the door, teasing him.

"Getting a little lax on me Wal…"

Her voice stopped.

It couldn't be. It wasn't possible. Was it?

She put her hand out to steady herself on the wall. Michael

"Hello Nikita."