Nikki paced around her living room trying to figure out what she was going to do next. The news that Anton Mercer was looking for her after all these years had come at quite a shock.

"Mommy, I'm home!" Abby yelled as she came running into the apartment.

"Hey sweetie, how was school?" Nikki asked regaining her composure so that he daughter wouldn't suspect that anything was wrong.

"Uncle Bruno took me and Maria to get ice cream," Abby answered.

"That was very nice of him, I'm sorry I couldn't be there to pick you up but mommy had to sort out some things," Nikki told her.

"Mommy, can I go play at Maria's we already asked her mom and she said that it was ok," Abby told her.

"Sure, sweetie, if your sure Maria's mother doesn't mind," Nikki replied.

"Don't worry, I talked to Angela myself and she said that it was fine," Bruno told her.

"Can I go now Mommy, please?" Abby questioned.

"Alright but only if Uncle Bruno will take you," Nikki said.

"It would be my pleasure," Bruno said taking Abby's hand as she hurried him out of the apartment.

"Are you alright?" Bruno asked minutes later after he returned from taking Abby next door.

"I'm not sure," Nikki admitted.

"If your worried about this Mercer person then don't, I'm not going to let him hurt you or Abby, it is my job after all," Bruno told her.

"But that's just it Bruno, I am worried, why after all these years is he looking for me now," Nikki said.

"Do you really want to find out?" Bruno questioned.

"Yes, I've spent the last three years of my life in fear and I refuse to do it any longer," Nikki declared.

"What do you have in mind?" Bruno asked.

"If Anton wants to find me then I say let him," Nikki replied.

"You told me this guy was literally a monster why would you want him to find you especially when it puts Abby in danger as well," Bruno said.

"That's why I've decided to send her away," Nikki revealed.

"You can't be serious," Bruno questioned.

"I want you to take Abby away from here," Nikki told him.

"Alright, we could send her to Carlotta's for a couple of days," Bruno suggested.

"No, if I'm going to send my daughter away, then I want you with her," Nikki replied.

"But if I go whose going to protect you?" Bruno asked.

"I can protect myself, the first time Anton attacked me I was pregnant and I couldn't really fight him back, I had to think about my unborn child but I'm not pregnant this time and if I have to I can protect myself," Nikki informed him.

"I still don't like this, why not let me get Abby somewhere safe and then I'll come back," Bruno said.

"No you must stay with Abby, she loves and trusts you, if anything were to happen to me at least I'd know that she was safe and with someone who'll take care of her," Nikki replied.

"Nikki listen to yourself, your daughter already lost her father, why are you so willing to put yourself at risk," Bruno said.

"You're not going to talk me out of this so you might as well stop trying, I'm going to go pack some things for Abby, I want you to contact Rex and tell him it's ok if Anton finds me," Nikki said.

Hours later, Nikki sat in her daughter's room and finished packing her things. Abby had stayed over at Maria's for dinner.

"Mommy, I'm back!" Abby yelled.

"I'm in your room," Nikki answered.

"Are we going somewhere?" Abby asked seeing the luggage.

"Um, yeah sweetie, Uncle Bruno is going to take you on a little trip," Nikki told her.

"You're not coming with us?" Abby asked frowning.

"Mommy really wishes that she could but I have to stay here and take care of something," Nikki replied.

"But I don't want to go, I wanna stay here with you," Abby pouted.

"Oh Abby, you and Uncle Bruno are going to have a great time," Nikki tried to reassure her.

"No, I won't go and you can't make me," Abby yelled stomping her feet.

"Abigail Nicole Oliver, you stop that right now you know I wouldn't send you away if I didn't have to but Mommy really needs for you to do this ok, can you be a big, brave girl for Mommy," Nikki said reaching out and pulling her daughter into a hug.

"How long do I have to stay gone?" Abby asked after Nikki released her.

"Mommy's not really sure but we can talk on the phone everyday and you and Uncle Bruno are going to have so much fun that you won't even miss me," Nikki told her.

"Did you pack my picture of my daddy?" Abby asked referring to the picture of Tommy that was always on her nightstand next to her bed.

"Of course I did sweetie, remember what I told you, your daddy is in heaven and he's always watching over you," Nikki replied.

"I wish he could be here with us," Abby said.

"I know baby, I miss your daddy so much and if he were here I know he'd be so proud of how brave your being," Nikki told her.

"Would daddy have liked me?" Abby asked and it broke Nikki's heart to hear the question.

"He would have loved you so much, never doubt that, I know it's hard to understand but if would have lived long enough to see you I know that he would love you, you're a lot like him," Nikki replied..

"Will you tell me the story of how you met?" Abby asked even though she'd heard the story dozens of times.

"It was a long time ago when Mommy was in school and I was the new girl and I was walking around the campus and then your Daddy came running and literally knocked me off my feet," Nikki started the story.

"How did she take it?" Bruno asked after Nikki had tucked Abby into to bed.

"She wasn't happy but I think she'll be ok as long as she has you," Nikki told him.

"I still don't like the idea of leaving you here alone unprotected," Bruno replied.

"We're not going to get into to this anymore, your most important job is protecting Abby," Nikki told him.

The next morning, Nikki got up early and prepared to say goodbye to her daughter.

"Please Mommy, come with us," Abby begged.

"Oh sweetie, if I could I would," Nikki said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I love you," Abby said as she hugged her mother tightly.

"I love you too and I promise before you know it, you'll be back home with me," Nikki told her.

"I'll take good care of her, you just make sure you take care of you," Bruno said also giving Nikki a hug.

"She's my life," Nikki said watching as he put Abby into the car.

"I know, I'll protect her with my own," Bruno said as he got in the driver's seat.

"I love you!" Nikki yelled as she watched the car pull away.