HAPPILY EVER AFTER …FINALLY
PART 3

Walter, looking as spry as ever, followed the child in. Seeing the expression on Michael’s face, he realized that Nikita had not had the time to come clean. ‘Oh man! The shit’s hit the fan!’ he mumbled to himself and then moved forward to interrupt, “Michael, it’s good to see you again!”

He was totally ignored as Michael’s attention was on the child. To say he was stunned was an understatement. This beautiful little girl that looked just like Nikita had called him, Daddy.

Meanwhile the little girl had turned to her mother, “Mommy, he’s my Daddy, isn’t he? He looks just like his pictures!”

“Yes, my darling, this is your Daddy,” she responded to the little girl quietly but to Michael it sounded as if she had screamed the words. ‘He … They had a daughter? Why was he never told this?’

Michael felt a rage he had never felt before. Nikita seeing the anger in his green eyes suggested to Walter, “Walter, why don’t you take Michelle for her bath?”

“No Mommy! I want to stay and talk to Daddy! Why can’t he help me start my bath?” she demanded.

“I’ll be glad to help you,” Michael spoke up.

Nikita looked at him in surprise. When their eyes met, she could only gulp. He was so angry with her but she knew he would never harm their daughter.

Michelle went over to her father and took his hand. You can start the water for me – not too hot so I won’t get burned. I bet you can do it just right, can’t you Daddy?” Michelle was saying as she led Michael out of the room.

“Sugar, I’m sorry. I thought I had given you enough time to explain the situation..”

Nikita stared at Walter in surprise. “You KNEW he was coming today?” she asked him incredulously.

Walter looked ashamed but continued, “He has been keeping up with you through me but I never mentioned Michelle because I felt you should be the one to tell him. I told you it was a mistake…” he trailed off at the accusing look that was being almost burned into him by her stare.

“You were in touch with him and you never bothered to tell me?” she demanded.

“Well … yeah .. Do you think he would have left you without some way to know what was going on and that you were safe. You know how much he loves you!”

Nikita blinked back tears. “I’ve ruined it haven’t I? Because I didn’t tell him, I’ve probably lost the man I’ll love forever!” she ended in tears.

Walter walked over to her and hugged her. “He’s gonna be mad and he’s got a right to be, Sugar. I told you that he should have been informed of her existence but that is neither here nor there. He loves you and once he calms down, I am sure he will forgive you. Right now, let him have his anger. He is gonna be furious with me too because I didn’t tell him and I deserve his anger.”

“Walter, you know why I didn’t tell him!,” Nikita cried in his arms.

Walter glanced up to see Michael standing there. His anger had dissipated somewhat but he knew they had some talking to do. Meeting Michael’s eyes, he nodded and Michael nodded back. They would talk later.

Walter stepped away from Nikita so that she could see Michael. She had tears running down her face. “Michael?” she asked questioningly.

“We will discuss this after the child has gone to bed,” he said sternly.

“Hello! What right have you to speak to her that way?” In all the excitement, everyone had forgotten that Helmut had arrived with Michelle and Walter. He had had a front row seat to the whole situation and was not going to let Michael speak to Nikita like that!

Michael turned his gaze on Helmut. “What are YOU doing here?” he asked in a quiet but deadly voice.

“I’m Nikita’s Second-in-Command,” he replied proudly.

“I don’t care who you are. This is not any of your concern. Please leave,” Michael replied without a hint of kindness.

“Well as this is not your home, I will only leave if Nikita asks me to go!” Helmut said defiantly.

“Helmut … it would be best if you left.” Nikita said before he could continue.

Helmut looked at Nikita with such love in his eyes, Michael felt another burst of rage, this time a jealous rage.

“Are you sure?” Helmut asked Nikita, who never noticed the love and worship in his eyes.

“Get out!” Michael answered for her, his voice all the more deadly for it’s quietness.

Nikita walked over to Helmut and gave him a gentle shove in the direction of the door. “Go. Would you mind watching over things for a day or so?”

Helmut smiled at Nikita again, causing Michael to grit his teeth, “I’ll be glad too. Are you sure you’ll be ok?” he asked her.

Nikita tried to smile, “I’ll be fine. Talk to you later, ok?”

Helmut smiled at her, gave Michael a frown and walked out the door.

Watching Helmut walk out the door, Michael then turned his gaze on Walter.

Raising his hands in self-defense, he said, “OK, I’m going. Just listen to her and you talk to him, Nikita!” he demanded as he walked out the door.

Just then Michelle came in dripping wet with a towel wrapped around her. “Mommy? Why didn’t you come to dry me off? Daddy, would you come too?” she requested.

Nikita glanced at Michael. ‘Please?’ her expression begged.

This only seemed to anger Michael more. “Of course, I’ll come, Michelle. We have a lot to learn about each other, don’t we?” he asked as he turned her around and headed her back to the bathroom.

Nikita felt very uncomfortable in the tight confines of the bathroom. She knew he would be angry and she would have to face it but she wondered if she could now that the time had come. When he looked at her, she could feel his absolute rage at her.

Michelle was telling her father about the photo album she had of him and her mother. Michael looked at Nikita and she blushed. “I’ve always intended for her to know you, Michael,” she said quietly.

“Daddy are you coming to live with us? Mommy has missed you so much!” she went on not noticing the exchange between the two adults.

“Well I certainly plan to be around to see you grow up, little one. Your mommy and I have to discuss where I’ll live.”

“Mommy he can share your bed, can’t he? It’s big enough for the two of you!”

Nikita was speechless at this remark so Michael said, “We will discuss that after you go to bed. Don’t you think it’s time you headed off to bed now?”

“But Daddy! I want to stay up and talk to you! she cried and then ruined it with a big yawn. Sheepishly she looked at her father and said, “Ok, I am tired but you will be here in the morning won’t you Daddy? I have to go to school but we can have breakfast together. Mommy makes great pancakes!” “Yes little one, I will be here to have breakfast with you. Now did you brush your teeth?”

Michelle’s little mouth formed an ‘O’. “I forgot! “ She moved over to the sink, grabbed her toothbrush and applied toothpaste to it.

Michael watched as the little girl thoroughly brushed her teeth. She was such a beautiful child who would grow up one day to be as beautiful, if not more beautiful, as her mother. She was definitely Nikita’s child.

Michelle finished brushing her teeth and rinsed out her mouth. Turning, she took one parent’s hand in each of hers and led them to her bedroom. When Michael pulled back the covers, Michelle gave him a small frown that grabbed his heart at her resemblance to Nikita and said, “I have to say my prayers first, Daddy!”

Michael took the rebuke in stride and said, “Of course! What was I thinking?”

Michelle knelt down beside her bed. “Daddy you and Mommy can sit on my bed. Mommy always listens to my prayers.”

Once satisfied her parents were seated and ready to go, Michelle placed her hands together, knelt her head and began to pray out loud, “Thank you God for caring for me and Mommy and Daddy today. Thank you for bringing Daddy home from his long mission to be with us, especially Mommy ‘cause I know she has missed him terribly. She doesn’t know that I’ve heard her cry at night when she missed him so bad. Thank you for making my Mommy happy again. Please bless Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa Walter, Uncle Helmut and all my friends. Amen!”

Michael had looked at Nikita during Michelle’s prayer and saw the guilt she carried on her shoulders for so long. It lessened his anger a little. He was not quite ready to let her off so easily though.

Michelle finished up her prayers and waited for her parents to get up so she could hop into her bed. Once she was settled in, she called her Mommy over for a good night kiss. She then called over her Daddy and gave him a big hug and smoochy kiss that clutched his heart. She was such a wonderful child!

“Goodnight, little one.” Michael said. He walked out the door so that Nikita could turn off the light and shut the door.

Michael walked off to the living room with Nikita reluctantly following. Turning to her, he said sharply, “How dare you try to pass that child off as mine!”

(c) 2000 vthomas@carolina.rr.com