Operations pressed the buttons to gain entry into Madeline's office. She was tending her bonsai trees and did not turn. Operations waited for the door to close to move closer to Madeline.

"You needed to speak with me." Operations says slowly, as Madeline's back to him was not an unusual site. There had been stress between the two lately.

"I will be going away for a few days." Madeline says without turning towards Operations.

"Madeline, why?" Operations says and Madeline turns and walks to her desk.

"Because I have something to deal with, Paul." Madeline says and he walks to the desk with her.

"Madeline." Operations says as he sits down. Madeline opens a small drawer and pulls something out.

"I will be getting an abortion tomorrow." Madeline says as she drops the positive pregnancy test in front of him. She turns her head away, not wanting to discuss this any further.

"I won't let you." Operations says as he stands up. Madeline blinks and stares at him. Things were more than stressed between the two. She had thought about the decision now for two weeks. She couldn't stall much longer.

"It has no future here and will only be destroyed by us." Madeline says and Operations turns to her and stares.

"You will be assigned to some mission tomorrow. You will be gone for a year. That will give you time to find the child a home." Operations says and Madeline shakes her head.

"It is not fair to the child, Paul." Madeline says and Operations shakes his head.

"I have made my decision. Anything done other than that will be considered as direct violation of orders." Operations says and walks out.

=====================

Nikita walks into the office and looks behind her. She rolls her eyes as Michael's black figure slaunters into the office. Nikita stares straight ahead. There has been much tension between the two fine operatives. No one wants to admit it, but it was due to Madeline's absence. Nikita was missing her weekly teas with Madeline and Michael, well, he didn't have Madeline ordering Nikita to sleep with him.

"I have a situations that I need you two to handle." Operations says as he turns to Michael and Nikita. They had not done a mission together in two months. Nikita looks to Michael and then to Operations. She does not say a word. "I chose you two because you have proven in the past to be discreet." Operations says and Nikita stares at him. He knows he could trust Michael, and Nikita, through everything was relatively quiet about his son.

"As you know, Madeline has been in a cabin for seven months. Last week, I lost contact with her. I need to reestablish contact. You leave immediately." Operations says as he drops the piece of paper and walks away.

Nikita looks into the woods and sees the half fallen in cabin. She turns back to Michael as she drops her pack down. Operations had been specific with his instructions and Nikita looked at Michael.

"This can't be the place." Nikita says and Michael pulls out the compass and map. He looks up and to the cabin.

"Exactly the right spot." Michael says as he hands Nikita the comm unit. Nikita takes a long breath and turns the comm unit to recieve only. Nikita walks to the door and looks into the windows. They are boarded up. She looks back over her shoulder and at Michael as she raises her hand to knock.

The knock echoes into the woods, and there seems to be no answer. Nikita looks back at Michael as the door opens a crack.

"Madeline?" Nikita asks softly as she looks into the crack. Nikita hears some coughing and then the door opens. Nikita walks tentatively in, not seeing the body. Nikita stops and looks around the door. Madeline's back is to her.

"Madeline... you look awful.." Nikita comments and Madeline steps back and she sees the stomach. "And pregnant." Nikita says with a rush of air leaving her lungs.

"And in labor." Madeline says as another cough shakes her body. Nikita rushes and helps Madeline down. "I need you to deliver it, Nikita... I'm too sick." Madeline says and Nikita steps back.

"NIKITA!" Michael hisses.

"Madeline... I can't..." Nikita says as she reaches for her unit. Madeline shakes her head.

"Who is with you?" Madeline asks.

"Michael." Nikita says and Madeline, even in her state of pain and sickness raises an eyebrow. She had read the reports. The two were not working well together.

"You have to do this Nikita." Madeline says as she groans in pain.

"Madeline.. you don't understand... I CAN'T!" Nikita says as she moves further away and looks at Madeline. Madeline closes her eyes and starts to scream. Nikita looks at her. She didn't gain much weight and Nikita closed he reyes.

"Nikita..." Madeline panted out and she looked at Madeline. "I need your help..." Madeline says and Nikita shakes her head.

"This would hurt Michael, Nikita..." Madeline says and Nikita pulls at the comm unit.

"Michael... get in here." Nikita says and she turns her head from Madeline. The door opens and Michael stops as he sees Madeline screaming in the pain of the contraction.

"How many months?" Michael asks Nikita and she shrugs her shoulders.

"I'm full term." Madeline hisses out as she stares at Nikita. She can barely think, but knows that Michael won't be able to do this himself.

"Operation's child." Michael says softly and no other words are muttered.

"AAAAAHHH!!!!" Madeline screams and Michael looks to Nikita.

"Nikita.. the baby is small. I'm going to need your help over here." Michael says and he looks at Nikita.

"I can't... I can't." Nikita says as she opens up the door. Michael looks to Madeline and turns back to Madeline. Madeline shakes her head.

"Go to her." Madeline says and Michael shakes his head no. "I need her for this child, Michael.... You can't deliver it yourself..." Madeline says as she begins to cough again. Michael sighs and looks to the door.

"Nikita.. I need you in there." Michael hisses as he opens the door. Nikita shakes her head.

"Michael.. I can't." Nikita says and Michael moves towards her.

"You realize that this is Madeline's and Operations' child!" Michael says and Nikita turns.

"Michael... Don't make me explain." Nikita says and Michael folds his hands in front of him as Madeline screams out in pain.

"That baby can die, Nikita... It is very small." Michael says and Nikita turns her head away. "Michael.. I was ten.. and my mom started to scream like that..." Nikita says and Michael looks at her. He didn't like the sounds of that. "I didn't know she was pregnant. You sure couldn't tell... and suddenly there was this purplish black baby with the cord wrapped around it's neck in my hands." Nikita says and she turns away. "I can't, Michael." Nikita says and Michael stares at her.

"Nikita... Madeline isn't your mother." Michael says firmly as the screams are heard again. Nikita looks to Michael and then to the door.

"I'll get the blankets." Nikita says as she drops her head.

Michael moves quickly inside. He didn't care if Nikita took his statement as an order. He needed her help. All other problems would have to wait.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Madeline screams out as she pushes. Nikita stands off to her side, with her head turned. Madeline holds Nikita's hand tightly.

"Take a break." Michael calls out and he looks to Nikita. The situation was more than uncomfortable.

"Ok.. PUSH, MADELINE!!!" Michael calls out and Madeline starts to push. "The head.. it's coming, Madeline.... come on..." Michael says and Madeline starts to scream again.

"Nikita... get down here... IT'S A GIRL!" Michael calls out and Nikita rushes to the end.

"It's not crying." Madeline says and Nikita runs to the end to see the small blue like baby. Tears spring from her eyes as she wraps the child in the blanket and runs to the table. Nikita clears the airway as Michael stands up.

"WHY ISN'T IT CRYING!" Madeline screams as panic takes over her body. Tears start to form.

Nikita presses lightly with her index finger and gently puffs into the small lungs. Michael watches as Nikita works, and quickly, a joyous sound is heard, the baby cries! Nikita looks at Michael as she wraps it up and heads to Madeline. Madeline looks down at the child and holds it lightly.

"Michael... it needs medical attention." Nikita says as she steps away from Madeline.

"Because it is small." Michael says and Nikita looks at him.

"Who is going to tell Operations?" Nikita asks as her body starts to tremble. Michael steps forward and holds her lightly as the reality of what she just did washes over her body.

****************************

Operations exits the office and walks down the hallway. There had been a lot of things happening, and he had just recieved a call from Nikita in Medlab. He moved towards the area when Nikita stopped him.

"Everything is going to be fine, sir." Nikita says and he stares at her.

"What are you talking about?" Operations says and Nikita looks up.

"Your daughter." Nikita says and Operations stares at Nikita and opens up the office and walks in.

"What do you mean by my daughter?" Operations says and Nikita nods her head. Michael must have not told him. She will have to deal with him later.

"Madeline gave birth to a girl today. She is a little on the small side, but will be fine." Nikita says and Operations stares at Nikita.

"A girl. How is Madeline?" Operations says and Nikita smiles lightly.

"Why don't you go ask her?" Nikita asks and Operations stares at Nikita. This was not the plan. He turns and heads to Medlab.

*******

"What happened?" Operations asks as he waits for Madeline's coughing to cease before entering the room.

"The mid-wife left three months ago. And I got sick." Madeline says and Operations nods his head. "We have to keep her." Madeline says and Operations looks to the wall.

Madeline waits, almost ready to hear that he was sending her away. "Then we must name her." Operations says and Madeline nods her head. "How about Josephine?" Operations asks and Madeline nods her head. She had loved the name.

*******

"You didn't tell him. You left it to me." Nikita says as she walks to Michael, who is looking into the room that the baby is in.

"I couldn't do it, Nikita." Michael says and Nikita turns him around.

"I thought I couldn't help that baby, Michael.. but I did." Nikita says with tears running down her face. Michael stares at her and lifts his head.

"Nikita." Michael says but Nikita walks quickly away. He turns and looks at the baby as the name is placed on her wrist. Michael closes his eyes and turns.

*******

"You shouldn't be working." Operations says the next day as Madeline had the lap top on her lap. Madeline smiles and looks back to the screen.

"I am interested in what will occur with them." Madeline says as she is looking into Michael's office.

"They haven't been working well together." Operations says and Madeline nods her head.

"I read the reports. What happened yesterday, that was different." Madeline says and Operations walks away as she continues to watch.

*******

"You wanted to see me, Michael." Nikita says coldly as she enters the office. Michael presses the numbers on the pad as Nikita sits down.

"Did you hear what they named the child?" Michael asks and Nikita nods her head.

"We will have to change your codename." Michael says and Nikita shakes her head.

"No." Nikita says and Michael stares at her.

"We must." Michael says and Nikita stands up.

"Michael, you can get me to change everything... the way I live... the way I kill.. the way I do things... but I won't change my name and I won't change my heart." Nikita says as she turns. Michael bounds up and grabs her against the wall.

"I don't want to change your heart. Let me heal it." Michael says as he lightly brushes his lips against her, until Nikita presses forward.

*******

"Look, Josephine... .looks like the problem is solved." Madeline says as she shuts the computer down and kisses her daughter softly.

The End.....