Michael and Alex sat on the couch together, waiting for Nikita, Ryan, Sonya and Birkhoff to return from their run. The two of them talked about the past couple of weeks, and how so much had changed.

"It's scary. The future." Alex said. "A few years ago you could have asked us what we would be doing after we stopped Amanda. And we would have said, sitting on a beach somewhere. Now, we're still here. In a safe house, trying to pick up the pieces."

Michael watched her, listening to each and every word. He knew she was right.

"I know." He said, then paused and waited for her to look at him. When she did, he continued. "But now's the time, to use the pieces we already have and build something new. Build a new path. One that leads far enough way from here to raise this baby in 8 months."

Alex took in what she just heard. Michael had a way with words. She had heard him and Nikita talk before, and he always knew what to say.

Before either of them could say anymore, Nikita and the gang returned from their run. Breathing heavily, they shuffled in the door. Birkhoff sighed.

"Man. Being behind a computer for a living really changes you." He said, chugging water from the bottle he held. Nikita smiled and threw her shoes off. She turned to face Michael and Alex, and noticed their serious expressions. Ryan, Sonya and Birkhoff continued talking.

"You were way behind Seymour." Sonya joked. "You gotta get out more. Even Ryan was ahead of you."

Ryan gave a small laugh.

"Hey! Compare to Nikita we were all turtles!" The three of them laughed together. Alex looked away, and Michael stood up.

"I don't know about you guys, but I hear the shower calling." Birkhoff said as he walked to the bathroom. Ryan and Sonya headed to their rooms to change clothes, leaving Nikita, Michael, and Alex alone. Michael saw Nikita concerned face and walked to her. He placed his hand on her arm and looked back at Alex.

"Hey, she okay?" Nikita asked. Michael nodded and led Nikita away from the living room into the kitchen.

"Yeah. We were just talking." Nikita waited for Michael to explain, and when he didn't she asked him to explain.

"About what?"

The future. She's terrified about this baby. She had another dream about Amanda."

Nikita glanced at her and bit her lip. Michael smiled at her uneasy expression to reassure her.

"Nikita. Alex is fine." He told her. Nikita brought her eyes to Michaels, and smiled back at him. He gently kissed her on the cheek, and whispered I love you in her ear.

Alex had snuck out later that day. When everyone else gathered around the TV, she told them she was resting in her room. But Alex had left the house, to walk downtown. It was something she hadn't done since she was given her own place while working as an agent.

As she walked up and down the streets, she passed a jewelry shop. A watch sat as a display in the window. A watch that looked very familiar to her father's watch. Alex couldn't seem to ignore it, and found herself in the shop.
"Excuse me." She said to the shop owner. "Could I see that watch in the window?"
The jeweler nodded and fetched her the watch.

"Very special item." She said. "Everyone wants to see it, but the price always changes their minds."

Suddenly, the door burst opened, followed by three men wearing ski masks. One shot a gun at the ceiling, causing the customers to scream. Alex spun around, then quickly crouched onto the floor, pulling the store owner down with her.

"Stay down!" She cried to her. Two of the men began to break the glass counters and piled thousands of dollars worth of jewelry into bags. Alex's first thought was to take them. She had handled men twice her size before, and she knew she could do it again. But knowing that she was not only reponsible for herself anymore, she decided it wasn't a good idea.

"Nobody make a sound, and no one gets hurt!" The man with the gun yelled. Alex assumed he was the one in charge. Alex stood up slowly, grabbing his attention. He pointed his gun at her, and Alex brought her hands up.

"Calm down." She told him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.

"Shut up!" He screamed. He dragged her to the other side of the store and threw her to the ground. Alex grunted and rubbed her arm.

"Stay there!" The man ordered. He turned to his partners and yelled at them to work faster. Outside in the distance, sirens roared. "Shit!" He muttered. Rushing to the windows, he closed the blinds and locked the door.

"You're too late." Alex said. Once again, the gun pointed right at her, but she never flinched.

"Oh yeah? Well, let's see how well the cops do when we hold all of you as hostages." The guy said. Alex raised her eyesbrows, as the other two men turned around with full bags.

"You never said anything about that!" One cried.

"You know we don't do that!" The other added. The man in charge laughed.

"Forget what I said! We've got hostages to worry about."

Alex suddenly got a sick feeling in her stomach. Usually she was cool in these situations, but it was the first time she had a baby to think about, not to mention her own.

At home, Nikita noticed Alex had been in her room for along time. She glanced in the direction of her room. Michael caught her.

"She's resting." He said. Nikita stood up from the couch.

"I'm just gonna check." She said as she walked to Alex's room. Nikita knocked the door, once, twice. When Alex didn't answer, she turned the knob. "Alex?" She called. As soon as Nikita saw the empty room, she gasped. "Michael!" She cried. Everyone ran over and peered in the room.

"Where is she?" Sonya asked.

"No one heard her leave?" Ryan asked calmly.

"Why wouldn't she tell us she was leaving?" Sonya asked again. Nikita looked at Michael with worried eyes.

" Alex is a big girl. She's probably fine. But let's call her." He suggested. Nikita rushed to get her phone and called.

"No answer. Michael what if something happened. She can't defend herself at this point."

Michael nodded.

"Alright. Let's go find Alex."