"So how is the little mommy-to-be this morning?" Michael said as Nikita awoke.

"Sick. Excuse me." She said as she pushed him out of her way so she could head to the bathroom.

"You know Madeline called and said that we have to come into Section this morning for a briefing for and upcoming mission. I don't like the idea of you going out on a mission with you being pregnant."

"I don't like it either but it is too early to tell them. They can make me have an abortion and I won't do it. Let's give it another month."

"Well, You be extra careful and stay with me."

"I will. I promise."

They headed into Section at about 9:00 a.m. The briefing was scheduled for 9:15. So they got there in plenty of time. Birkoff, Walter, Madeline, Operations and two other operatives were already in there. As soon as Michael and Nikita sat down the briefing began.

"We have just received Intel on the Freedom Fighters. They are recruiting people due to some recent loss of personnel. The word is that they are looking for females. We will be sending in Nikita and Madeline. We will be on the outside. As soon as they are taken to the sight we are to extract them. We only need to know where their substation is. There is to be no failure on this one. I will be going along on this one. We leave in the morning at 6:00 a.m. Dismissed."

The plane left right as scheduled. Operations had left Walter in charge. Nikita laughed to herself. (God help Section) All she could see in her mind was getting back and seeing everyone in Tie Died shirts and bandannas.

"I really don't like the idea of you going on this mission. It's not safe." Operations said.

"You know we have no other choice. Jennifer is away. Tina and Robin are known to them and we canceled Julie and Ann. I will be all right. Don't worry. It will all be over soon and you will not have to worry anymore."

"I don't like the idea of you going in there alone. It's not safe." Michael said.

"I won't be alone. I will be with Madeline."

"I know but I will not even be at sight. I have to go and talk to the contact. So I won't be there if something goes wrong. "

"It will be all right. You'll see."

They reached the hotel at five that evening. Once they were unpacked they went over the plans. They went over them about five times to make sure everyone had it down pat. Michael held Nikita very close that night. As though he was trying to protect her from what was to come. Nikita talked to him about the mission.

"Athens is very beautiful. Have you ever been to Greece before?"

"Yes, A few years ago. I've always thought it was beautiful too, but it can't hold a candle to you." Michael said as he leaned over and kissed her.

The next morning Nikita and Madeline left for the meet and Michael left to talk to the informant.

"We are to get them to take us back to their place. We are going to have to be careful. You know how vicious these people are. All right, let's go."

They went to the Door Man and Madeline said, "Parakalo' fonsakste ena taksi."

"What in the world did you just say?"

Madeline smiled and said, "I just asked him if he would please call us a taxi."

When they got into the taxi the driver asked where they were going. "Pou piyenete?" Destination?

"Caligula, Parakalo. Viazome." Madeline stated. Caligula, Please. We're in a hurry.

As the taxi drove to the meet Michael was arriving to see the informant. Michael walked up to the man and talked to each other for a minute or two before getting down to business.

"Kalimera. Isthe o kirios Kostas?" Good Morning, Are you Mr. Kostas?

"Ne." The man replied. Yes

The man continued to talk to Michael about the meet, telling him that everything was all right. About this time Nikita and Madeline were arriving at Caligula, the club that they were to meet some of the members of the Freedom Fighters.

As soon as they walked in and saw that the only people that were there were them and the members. Madeline turned to Nikita.

"Let's get out of here it is a set up."

But as they turned around two large men stepped in front of them. Nikita was surprised at how fast Madeline got rid of the man in front of her. The one that was in front of Nikita soon hit the floor also. Before they could get out of the door they were grabbed and injected with something that knocked them out.

Meanwhile, with the informant Michael talked to him for a while longer, but he noticed that they whole time he was telling him that there was no problem with the meet he was writing on a piece of paper. As he started to leave he shook hands with Michael and deposited the paper in his hand, on the paper had a few simple words.

(Being taped… Meet a setup…)

Then below that in big letters was one more sentence.

(GET PEOPLE OUT NOW)

Michael knew what this man was risking to tell him this so he played along.

"Efharisto, Herete." Thank you, Good Bye

As soon as he was in the car he called Operations. "Get them out now, it is a setup."

Operations and the two other operatives went into the club to see only three Freedom Fighter members. They begin to shoot and before he knew it the operatives were dead. Operations killed one of the members but did not kill the other, but as the man ran out of bullets he grabbed his knife and took his own life rather than be taken and made to talk.

Operations looked around and saw Madeline and Nikita's com set and tracker. There was no way to find them now. He got back to the van and called Michael.

"We have a problem Michael. They have been taken and we have no way of finding them. They were stripped of their trackers and their communication equipment."

"Meet me at the hotel." Michael said and then he hung up the phone.

HOTEL

"We have no way of finding them without their trackers." Operations said.

That was when Birkoff spoke up. "Sir, did you see their watches anywhere?" When Ops shook his head Birkoff continued. "Walter has been working on a new tracker. He decided to check it out on this trip. They are undetectable. If we can find the signal we can find the location."

Nikita and Madeline had been taken to a room and tied to chairs where they were facing the other. They wanted them to see the others pain. They would not give any information up so they were beaten. First starting with Nikita, She was hit in the face over and over, but the next thing she knew he hit her very hard in, off all places, her stomach. Nikita lifted up her head only long enough to spit in his face and call him a few short but effective names.

Then he walked to Madeline and said, "So, Are you a smart ass like her?"

"Well I sure am not a dumb ass like you."

That little remark earned her a punch in the face. Nikita could not believe that came from Madeline. She tried to keep eye contact with her but couldn't. She passed out.

HOTEL

"I've got a fix." Birkoff said. He gave them the location and Operations and Michael left on their way to get them. All that kept going through Michael's mind was Nikita. What if they were too late? What about the baby? This made him drive that much faster.

Madeline and Nikita both lay on the floor. "Madeline, are you still with me over there?" Nikita said. For a minute she didn't answer and Nikita thought that she didn't make it through the latest beating. Then she spoke.

"I'm still here."

Nikita had begun to cry.

"Are you hurt that badly?"

"No. Madeline, I'm.... I'm pregnant and he hit me so hard in the stomach. I just don't know what is going to happen."

"Don't worry; our husbands will be here soon."

"Our husbands?" Nikita said.

"Yes. I'm sure Michael and Operations are on their way."

"You and Ops are married?"

"Yes. For nearly twenty years now. "

"What is his name? I have always been curious."

"Paul. His name is Paul. I hated it when I had to start calling him Operations. Just wait, you will too when Michael becomes Operations."

"How are they going to find us?" Nikita said.

"You know the watches that I told you to put on. It has a tracker in it that cannot be detected. Only by a special transmitter will they find it. Birkoff knows about it. Don't worry. They will be here soon."

A few minutes later some men came in the room to get them. Nikita drug herself over to Madeline to keep them away. Madeline was a lot weaker than Nikita. She knew that if they took Madeline in one more time that they would more than likely kill her. She was ready to protect Madeline with her life. Nikita would not move so the men went to lift them both up to take them for more torture, but just as they leaned down two silent shots ripped through the air.

Michael and Operations made it through the building killing everyone that they came in contact with. When they got into the room with Nikita and Madeline they found them in the same position that they were in minutes earlier. With Nikita draped over Madeline's body. They were both unconscious.

Michael gently reached down and picked up Nikita. In the process he saw that she was moaning and holding her stomach. He had had a bad feeling that she was tortured and would probably lose the baby. He had tears in his eyes as he carried her out.

Operations picked up Madeline looking at her face that had been so brutally beaten. He had never seen her look this bad in his life. They had transport meet them outside. Once they were outside they set off the charges that they planted on the way in.

They set off towards Section Three. They were stabilized and flew back to Section One Where they stayed for a couple of weeks. Nikita and Michael were awakened by one of the Doctors. He had some good news.

"We were able to save the baby. You should be able to carry it to full term, but you must stay in bed. The only time I want you out of bed is to go to the bathroom. I do not want you out for any other reason and…" He turned to Michael. "...I hope you know how to cook, daddy."

"He can probably cook better than me." Nikita said.

As the doctor walked out of the room Michael got up to hold Nikita in his arms. They talked for a minute about what Madeline and Operations was going to think, but they didn't have to wonder long.

Operations wheeled Madeline in. She was in a wheelchair and absolutely hated it. She was fighting him like Nikita fought Michael. It was a very funny sight to behold.

"Congratulations Nikita. I heard that the baby was going to make it." She smiled.

"Did you also hear the only way it would? I would have to be in bed for the rest of the four months. I can't even get up. Michael will have to stay with me. What are we going to do?"

"We are going to let you go to be on your own to have the baby. You will have to come back, but let's get you out and then work from there as time goes by, All right." She said with a smile.

Right about that time they heard a loud noise coming out of the back room. When they turned around they saw the doctor with an ultra sound Machine.

"Let's check on that baby, Shall we?"

He ran it over her stomach and all of a sudden you could see a tiny little heart beating. It was the best thing that Nikita had ever seen. A few weeks earlier she had told Michael that she could never be any happier. She learned one thing. "Never say Never." Everyone sat watching the ultrasound video. Michael held Nikita's hand and Ops held onto Madeline. They too had a child together that they were forced to put up for adoption, but they still saw her almost everyday. She just did not know it. They were going to find a way for Michael and Nikita to keep this baby.

The months passed slowly. Nikita would stand and look in the mirror for ten minutes at a time. She would just look at her stomach, Amazed by the wonder of it all. Michael would lay there at night after she would go to sleep and just lay his hand on her stomach.

One day when Nikita was about six months and she was sitting on the couch with her legs up on Michael's lap. She was quite comfortable laying there watching TV and eating an ice cream sandwich, when Michael leaned down. He shifted his upper body so that he would not knock her feet off him. He laid his head down on her stomach. He sat there feeling the kicks to his cheek. He began to speak French very softly to her stomach and then kissed it. This simple gesture made Nikita cry. She was so happy to have Michael in her life forever.

Michael was always coming home with little things that he saw that he wanted to buy for Nikita or the baby. He bought the baby a shirt that said, "if you think I am cute look at my mommy.' Nikita really liked that one.

They had been living at the cabin for about three months now and they loved it. Walter called Michael to see how everything was doing. Michael still kept his cell phone with him for just that reason. Walter asked if Michael would meet him so that they could talk. He said he had something to give him. Michael told Nikita where he was going and that he would be back soon. Not to worry.

Walter met him in the park. Michael looked so good. He had never seen him so happy. He had a couple of things for him. First thing he did was hand Michael an itty bitty teeny weenie bandanna. Michael chuckled at this. The next thing was a little teddy bear but the year on it was '93' . Michael lifted up and looked up with Walter with his eyes full of unshed tears.

"This was for Christian. Wasn't it?"

Walter looked him in the eyes and nodded his head. "I got it right before he died. I never had a chance to give it to him. I wanted you to have it."

They talked like what seemed forever. They talked about everything. They even talked about Operations and Madeline.

"I have something else for you. It is from Madeline and Operation. It is a baby book and a couple outfits." He whispered in his ear. "I made sure it didn't have any trackers."

They both shared a good laugh on this one. They were still talking when Michael's phone started ringing. When he picked it up he could hear Nikita. She was in screaming in pain. Michael did not even say good-bye to Walter. He just got up and ran. Walter knew that something was wrong by the way he left. So he didn't say a thing but he did know one thing he was going to find out soon.

As Michael flew down the road at 90 mph on a 50 mph road, he was very thankful that he did not run into any cops. He wouldn't have stopped for them anyway. His mind was only on Nikita and the baby. He made it there in record time. When he got in the cabin Nikita was sitting straight up in the bed. Her hair was slick with sweat and she looked like she was possessed.

"What the hell took you so long?" Nikita said in a voice far deeper than he had ever heard from her before. He really was wondering if she was possessed.

Michael sure was not expecting that one. He walked over to her. She grabbed him and pulled him to her. "You could have gotten here a little bit faster. Yeah, you were all for making this baby, but you want to leave when it comes time for it to get here into the world. Should have known guys never stick around. Well you damn sure aren't leaving now. I will kill you if you walk one step towards that door. Where's my gun?" Nikita started searching the bedside table for her firearm. Michael was actually dumbfounded. All he had done was come in the front door.

After the contraction was over she suddenly became sweet. "I'm sorry Michael, but we are ready to start I believe."

Michael got set up and had Nikita ready to deliver the baby. It would not have been the first one that he had ever delivered, but he was still nervous as hell. Nikita was in a lot of pain. Michael noticed that the baby was not crowning and she was bleeding far more than she was supposed to. He thought for a second and grabbed her and some blankets and put her in the car and headed towards Section. She screamed off and on all the way there. She was in so much pain.

About ten minutes from Section Michael called Madeline and told her that something was wrong. Right about that time she heard Nikita scream.

"Bring her in we will be ready in five minutes."

Birkoff and Walter both heard Nikita screaming as she was brought in. They came running, but jumped out of the way when they saw her coming through the doors. She was taken straight on to Medlab. Everyone was behind her. Michael was holding her hand and never let go as they put her into the stirrups. After only a few minutes the doctor jumped up.

"She's hemorrhaging. We've got to get this baby out now."

Michael was sent outside.

A few minutes later another doctor came out to talk to him. "You have a choice. We can either save Nikita or the baby. We don't have enough personnel to save them both."

Michael stood up. "You better find a way to save them both or you are all dead. I will kill you. Now get in there and save Nikita now."

Michael did not realize that the doctor took that as the decision and he set off to save Nikita and not the baby, but that had not been what Michael meant. He wanted them both to live.

About an hour later he heard a nurse say that they were saving Nikita and that they could not do anything for the baby. Michael walked over to them and said, "I told him, both of them. You get back in there now and tell him to save them both."

The nurses were scared to death. But one of them managed to talk. "The surgery is over. He's gone."

Michael sat down on the chair just stared at the wall. He could not believe that he had another child die. Then he thought about Nikita. This will kill her and it is all his fault. At least he believed that.

The next thing he knew one of the young nurses came and got Michael. She did not say a word to him just led him to a room. When he got to the door he saw Nikita. She looked so peaceful. How could he tell her what had happened?

She turned to look at him and smiled. He slowly walked over there and took her hand. He was just about to tell her what happened when she spoke up. "It's a girl." She pulled back the cover for Michael to see a very small baby wrapped in a pink blanket. Michael let a single tear run out of his eye and kissed her. Everything was going to be all right.

About a month after the baby was born Michael and Nikita met up with Operations, Madeline, Walter and Birkoff. They had called them to meet them at the park. As they sat down everybody had sad looks on their faces. This did not make Nikita feel any better, but then they handed her a present. Michael and Nikita looked at it for a minute and then to each other before opening it. It was a beautiful photo album.

Nikita remembered a lot of the pictures in there like the picture of her and Michael right as they were about to go meet Bauer. They had a picture of Rudy. The guy that they decided to let live. It was of him and his sister and they looked great. They saw Birkoff sitting at his desk with a mouth full of Oreo cookies. Walter with one of the tie dyed shirts and matching bandannas. As they went toward the back they saw a small picture of Madeline and Operations standing together with a child in their arms.

They were about Michael and Nikita's age. As they got to the next to the last page they saw the note.

"You have always there when we needed you.

Madeline wrote = "You were willing to give your life to protect me when we were held. You will always have our protection if you need it.

Operations wrote = "You saved my son and you saved my wife and my life when Petrosian tried to take it. I thank you.

Birkoff wrote = "You have saved my life numerous times but there is one night that I know for sure that I would have died if it were not for you Even though you did hold a gun to my head too. We love you… I love you.

Walter wrote = "You have made life in Section tolerable again. You shined so bright that we will all feel your presence there. We love you.

Then right at the end of the page it said," Oh yeah, Michael. We love you too. Ha, ha, ha. Then below that it said.

"We have decided to grant the three of you one great wish. And since we know what you want your wish has come true."

When they turned the next page there was another piece of paper that said.

"YOU ARE FREE BUT NEVER FORGET YOUR FAMILY."

Nikita looked up from this and said, "Are you serious. Are you really letting us go?"

"Yes. As far as Section knows you have been canceled. They will never know any different because the only people that know the truth are here right now."

After Nikita kissed everyone good-bye and told them she loved them and Michael bid them good-bye also. Nikita walked up to Madeline and asked her one thing.

"Why?"

"Let's just say that we may not have our own child with us but we can find our happiness through you, through the life of your family. Just take care of yourself. If you ever do need help, we will be here for you, Always. All of us."

So Nikita, Michael and Michelle left the park to go home to their cabin, never to have to return to Section again.

THE END

(A. N. I hope that you liked the story. Please read and review it. Let me know what you think.....)

Well, Yes, I know that Operations would never be like that, but hey, this is from my warped mind and I wanted them free. So, I made a happy ending. Don't you just love happy endings?

Thanks to Athena, Angel-Chickie, Dhiana and Sierra Windfire, Thank you for all of your inspirational words, your kind reviews. Thanks for the motivation. I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this story finished. I hope that you enjoyed the ending.