Sark gave Kaylee's hand a small squeeze and walked out of their bedroom. He had no idea what Irina would do or say to him when he got downstairs. All he knew was that he wasn't look forward to it one bit. Irina Derevko was a great boss to have, but she was not the person you wanted to make mad.

"Sark," she said simply. She motioned for him to take a seat next to her on the coach.

"Irina." He sat down and waited for her to start scolding.

"I have to leave the country in a few hours."

"Really? Where are you off to?" he asked.

"Miami. I've been neglecting my first-born child. I think it's time that her and I had a little visit. You know, to catch up."

"Irina, what are you playing at?" Sark asked.

"It's all part of the plan. Sydney is getting too comfortable in her life since she took down the Alliance. Someone has to shake it up. And I don't think you have the same effect on her that you used to, dear Sark." Irina paused to smirk at Sark. "However, I do think you have an effect on my other daughter."

"I was wondering how long it would take you to get down to the point."

"Oh, this isn't the point, Sark. Far from it in fact. Maybe someday I'll tell you the real point." Irina stood up and began putting her jacket on.

"You're leaving," Sark said. It was more of a statement than a question.

"I told you I have to go to Miami. Dear, dear Sark. I love you like a son, you know that. You're the only person in this world besides my daughter that I trust with my life."

"That's quite a compliment," Sark said. He stood up and helped Irina into her jacket.

"No. What's the real compliment is the fact that I trust you with my daughter. She means more to me than my own life. Don't hurt her, Sark. Or I might have to kill you." Irina smiled at Sark's relieved face. He finally believed that she wasn't going to yell at him.

"You wouldn't. As they say, good help is so hard to find. I'm irreplaceable."

"It's nice to see you back to your old self," Irina said as she opened the front door. "Keep Kaylee occupied. Don't leave this house until I get back. It's very important that you stay here. The CIA has found the location of this house and is monitoring it right now. They think Kaylee's going to pull some stunt. I need you to make sure that she doesn't. Keep her occupied."

"Won't you tell me anything about this grand plan you've come up with?" Sark asked as she turned to leave.

"I'll tell you this. The prophecy is not what it seems. Not at all."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Kaylee listened to the conversation her mother had with Sark from the top step. It was a habit she had picked up from years of leaving with a mother who had unlimited secrets. She couldn't believe that her mother was forcing her to stay cooped up in this cottage. It was true she loved it with all of her heart, but she hated being caged in.

Hearing the door slam behind her mother, she walked down the stairs to have a talk with Sark. "We're not staying here," she said simply.

"Oh, yes we are," Sark replied. "Your mother needs to know you're safe while she conducts her business. It's my job to insure that."

"So now you're my babysitter and my bodyguard?" Kaylee smirked.

Sark wrapped his arms around her waist. "Is that all you want me to be?" he asked slyly as she walked over to the window.

She became preoccupied with something that was going on outside so it took her a few moments to answer, which she did rather casually. "No. I also want you to be my travel companion." She turned to look at him and put on puppy dogs eyes and pouted her lips. This was a look she had perfected over the years. It was foolproof. "Please."

"Oh, don't use that routine on me. I've gone through heavy training to learn to keep my emotions in check. A little pouting isn't going to change everything."

Kaylee made her eyes well up a little and walked over to him. She lightly kissed his neck and nipped a little. "Please," she whispered again.

"I said no," Sark said as he fought to keep control.

She unbuttoned his shirt and slowly started trailing kisses all over his chest. Her hand reached down to undo his zipper. "Please."

"Do you think you really have that much control over me?" he managed to spit out. He was proud that he kept his voice at a controlled level without any huskiness.

She smiled at him as his shirt hit the floor. "Please, Andrew."

He realized that no matter what he did she was going to be too stubborn to take no as an answer. "I do know a place that we can have a little privacy in," Sark admitted. "But you can't let anyone, and I mean anyone, know we're leaving. Especially your mother."

"Promise," Kaylee said with a smile. "What should I pack?"

"Nothing. You're going to need a passport."

Kaylee looked over at Sark who was standing in the middle of the room, half-undressed with slightly messed up hair. "We don't have to leave right away," she suggested.

He smiled at her. "No, not right away."