It only took Trent a few seconds to realize that Nika wasn't listening to him as they sat outside The Ivy eating lunch. He saw her green alluring eyes staring off into the distance. Instead of chastising her, he decided to have some fun.

"So later tonight, Ramon and I are going to a dwarf farm to adopt little people," he said to her.

"That's nice," Nika said oblivious to what he just told her.

"Then when Frank comes back, we're gonna invite him to have a three way with us."

"Good for..WHAT?" She looked him straight in his eyes.

After his chuckling died down he said, "Honey, I'm just playin' with ya. What are ya thinkin' about?"

Her doctor appointment was tomorrow morning and she had yet to tell anyone about it but she couldn't keep it to herself.

"Hello? Ya there, sweetie?"

"Sorry..I um..You have to promise not to tell anyone, ok? Not Bryce or Anna, NO ONE until I say so."

"I cross my big ol' gay heart I won't," he leaned forward clearly interested.

With a little nod she said, "I might be pregnant. I'm over a week late..and I'm never late," telling it to another person didn't lessen the shock she had been feeling.

His face lit up but the unreadable look on her face confused him, "Are we happy or sad? Wait, Frank doesn't know, does he?"

"No..I don't want to tell him until after I find out after my appointment tomorrow."

"Makes sense. So..are we happy or sad?"

She never thought she would get pregnant with a man she was in love with yet, she was and everything in her life was in balance. Still, there was worry within her heart about how Agent 47 would react. Now, with her best friend before her she spoke her mind.

"Happy! I love Frank and he's the only man I've ever wanted to children with," she beamed.

"Fantastic! But..why do you seem worried?"

"Because, I thought we would get to have some time together before having babies and what if he doesn't want it? Everything is just moving so fast for us."

"But does it feel wrong?"

After a moment, she answered, "No. But he likes to plan everything and do it right. And we talked about getting married and having babies but..this wasn't planned."

"So what? Some of life's greatest gifts are unplanned. Let's not forget, he loves everything about you Honey, your love child should be no different," he reached across the table and gripped her hand.

A pleasant smile spread across her face as she placed her other hand on his, "Thank you. I know he does..but I still can't help but worry."

"Just stop. Ok? You two are gonna have a gorgeous bald ass baby," he teased her.

She playfully rolled her eyes, "For the millionth fucking time, he shaves his head you big bitch!"

They laughed before continuing their conversation and lunch.

It turned out the name Agent 18 extracted from Delton's assistant was one of many in a long chain of people who would hopefully lead to The Franchise. However, Agent 18 wasn't deterred by the work he and his allies had before them. Time wasn't an issue and unlike before, they had many resources. Diana and Declan worked diligently providing Agent 18 and his select team of agents with viable leads.

Despite his confidence in his work, there was nothing that could be done to help cope with the distance between him and Nika. He wanted to hear her voice and about her day, touch her and feel the warmth of her spirit surround him. A brief smirk touched his lips when he remembered how different things were between them when they first met. Before her, he never realized what he truly wanted out of life. Now that he did, he was going to do everything in his power to grasp it and never let go.

"Good evening Frank," Agent 18 sat down next to him at the bar and spoke to the bartender, "Merlot."

"Likewise, Miguel," he said before taking sip from his scotch.

Agent 18 thanked the bartender for pouring him a glass, "Anything particular on your mind?"

He blinked, "Perhaps."

After taking a swig from his glass, he savored the rich taste of the Merlot then asked, "I have many skills. Unfortunately, mind reading is not one of them."

A small scoff came from him, "How did you..cope with being away from Isabella?"

With a knowing stare he nodded, "It was very difficult but I sent her gifts with cards. We called each other each week. I knew that even though it was hard it would pay off in the long term for us and our future."

He nodded and glanced down at his scotch, "Karina, she got me this ring," he held up his left hand, "and a tattoo on her heart for me."

"She loves you and wanted to show it because that is what a good woman does. Believe me, I know," he said with a small nod and smile.

"I want to show her my appreciation.." he stared at his friend.

"You don't know what to do."

"I don't," he reluctantly admitted, "the ring that I got her wasn't enough."

"Hey Dad," Karissa said as she kissed his cheek, "Hey Frank," she sat down next to her father.

"Good evening Karissa," Agent 47 responded with a small grin.

"Sweetie, where is Jason?" Agent 18 asked.

"He's catching up on his shows. Martini please," she told the bartender, What are you two talking about?"

"Frank doesn't know what to give Karina since she tattooed herself for him and gave him a ring," her father explained.

Her lips formed into a wide smile, "I have an idea."

They looked at her with curious eyes.

The bar at Gratton's Bar and Grill had a few customers roaming about but to Nika it felt empty. What she had suspected was now confirmed, she was pregnant with her beloved's child and the two people she wanted to confide in weren't there. Trent was in Palm Springs visiting a friend while Agent 47 was overseas working. An unfamiliar voice interrupted her train of thought.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Isabella asked with a smile.

"No, it's just me," Nika looked at the beautiful woman next to her and felt like she had seen her before.

"Good," she held out her hand as she sat down, "I'm Isabella Vasquez, Karissa's mother."

Her mouth opened then turned into warm smile, "I see the resemblance between you and Karissa. It's very nice to finally meet you," she accepted her hand.

"Well her father always jokes that if she got his looks he would have been thrilled."

"Why?" she arched an eyebrow.

She playfully grinned, "Because then boys would stay away from her."

They both chuckled.

"Merlot," Isabella told the bartender, "So, how have you been?"

It donned on her that Isabella was the only woman who could understand her situation, she felt grateful.

"It was years ago, but I remember how hard it was to be away from Miguel, thanks," she told Nika.

With a slight nod and then sip from her water, she replied, "I know that he's doing this for us but it doesn't make me miss him any less."

Her dark empathetic eyes focused on Nika, "I know exactly how you feel but believe me, it'll be worth it."

"How did you cope with it?"

"I thought about our life together and how beautiful it would be." She placed a hand on her shoulder, "We're two-of-a-kind, Karina. We fell in love with killers."

The truth that she spoke resonated with Nika, "Who happened to be good men."

With knowing eyes, she agreed and asked, "How far long are you?"

She blinked and felt her eyes widen.

"You're drinking water and when I walked in I saw it in your eyes..it's how I looked after I found out I was pregnant with our son, Marcelo," her gaze fell to the glass of Merlot.

Nika remembered Agent 47 telling her about the death of Karissa's brother and she immediately felt for her new friend, "How did you feel?"

Her started to Nika's, "Scared because Miguel was overseas and we hadn't talked about having a family. I wasn't sure if he could even settle down for us to be one. I wanted to keep the baby but I wanted to find out his feelings first."

She leaned closer, "What did he say?"

"When I told him, he was stunned at first then ecstatic," she chuckled remembering the joy she heard in her husband's voice.

"Really?"

Nodding she said, "Miguel said that he couldn't wait to have the chance to experience what he never had, a father and a childhood. I imagine that Frank feels the same way since Karissa has told me how good he is with your daughters," she took a sip from her glass.

"I hope so..it's a lot for him to take in," she shrugged.

Her delicate hand lovingly gripped her forearm, "I know how you're feeling right now and there is lot to learn but unlike many women in your position you're with a good man who loves you. And you blessed with support system made of family and friends. Everything is going to work out as long as try your best to make sure it does. I know you will because it takes a hell of woman to love the men that we've chosen to be with."

Isabella's reassuring words and smile eased most of her worries. She felt blessed to have made a new friend who understood her, "Thank you..I really needed to hear that," she hugged her.

"You're welcome, and if you ever need to talk," she reached into her purse and handed her a business card, "call me."

"I will, thanks..Would you like to have dinner with me?"

"I'd be delighted to," she smiled.

Once his mobile phone started ringing, Nika spit out her tooth paste, wiped her mouth and ran to the bedroom to answer it.

"Good evening Nika, how are you?" He loosened his tie as he moved around the hotel suite.

She decided to start off with pleasant small talk before telling him the news, "Everything is going well. The girls are doing great in school and they miss you. The vineyard is good and I'm helping Trent plan his cousin's wedding."

"That good to know," he waited a beat, "I miss you and the girls too."

Her pillow lips curled into a smile.

A delightful silence passed between them.

"There's uh..there's also something I have to tell you.."

"What?" The slight hesitation in her voice concerned him.

After taking a big breath she said, "I went to the doctor this week..I'm six weeks pregnant."

For the first time in his life he felt his heart stop. He knew that he shouldn't have been surprised, he didn't use a condom and they didn't discuss what form contraception they should use. Hearing that his beloved was carrying his child made him numb with shock.

She became concerned when he didn't immediately respond, "Frank? Are you ok?"

He pushed the words out of his mouth, "I'm….it's my fault. I should have been prepared, it's my fault. I'm sorry, Nika."

Her heart went out to him when she heard the worry in his voice, "I'm not upset, ok? I was on the pill," she waited a beat before speaking again. "Don't be sorry, I'm not."

His eyebrows creased upon hearing her last statement, "You were on the pill..you didn't want this to happen."

She sighed, "I didn't plan for this, there is a difference between wanting and planning. Tell me how you feel, please?"

His training didn't prepare for this so he imagined what he would want to hear and know if he were Nika, "I won't pressure you into making a decision, Nika. It's your body."

The thoughtfulness in his words touched her soul and made her grin, "Thank you…I still want to know what you think, don't be afraid."

Seconds passed before he responded with unbridled honesty, "I am."

His honest admission was strangely comforting, the man she met months ago wouldn't have dared to be so candid, "It's ok, I am too."

"It's not. A good father isn't," he shook his head.

"Everyone gets scared. Even though we are..I know that we will be good parents, especially you!" She assured him.

"Really?"

"Yes, you are so great with the girls, especially Mai who..can be annoying. I mean, I love her but you are just so patient with her. Somehow you don't put her in the trunk of your car."

He smirked, "You were good practice," his lips pulled into a full smile when he heard her laugh.

"See? We're going to be fine because we have a good home and we both know how to love. I see it in your eyes when you're with the girls and I feel it every time you touch me."

Her tone helped quell most of his doubts, "We're really doing this."

"Yes…daddy," she giggled.

His smile grew larger, he liked having that role added onto his life, "Have you told the girls yet?"

"No, I wanted you to tell you first."

"We should tell them now..together."

Smiling she answered, "I'll get them," she called for Madison and Mai using the intercom. She placed him on speaker phone when they entered the room.

"Hi Frank!" Madison and Mai said in unison.

"Good evening girls," he enjoyed hearing their young cheerful voices, "Karina and I have something to tell you two."

They looked at their mother with eager eyes.

"You're going to be big sisters!" Nika happily told them as she placed a hand on her stomach.

With wide wondrous eyes and open mouths, the girls giddily squealed as they hugged their mother.

"This is terrific!" Madison beamed, "I'm gonna have a baby brother or sister that I can hold and play with!"

"I'm not the baby anymore and neither are Tiska and Lena yay!" Mai then bent down and spoke to Nika's stomach, "I'm your big sister, Mai. I'm the Chinese one!"

The laughter that came from Nika and their daughters caused him to chuckle. He wanted nothing more than to be with them and share in their joy.