A/N: Okay. I know. I've been more than absent. Feel free to rage at me in reviews. I deserve it. It's been a chocablock term so many things are piling up ... I'm in a very depressing mood to be honest. But you don't want to hear my complaining.

Here is a Christmas Day early morning...with lots of Nikita fluff..

P.S. I found out my favourite ever teacher, my music teacher is leaving next term so I'm in quite an angsty mood. Just saying. In case there's a point where this is a sad chapter.

DISCLAIMER. Uh... haha...yeah, I wish. If I did own Nikita, the amazing Mikita filled episode that shall be 2x19 would already be here.

Curled up in bed, the covers tucked up to her chin, Nikita smiled to herself as Michael wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his chest. Nikita could feel the scruff of his stubble against her cheek. His body was warm and comforting. Although the attack in the mall had been barely anything, the shocking reality that everything really wasn't completely over had shaken her a bit. She wouldn't let that on to Michael but inside, her stomach was flipping and a familiar, aching feeling of fear had replaced the sense of security inside her.

'You're quiet,' Michael noticed, lightly kissing her forehead.

'I'm just tired,' lied Nikita.

'Get some sleep,' ordered Michael. 'Tomorrow's Christmas...you've got to be able to keep your eyes open.'

'Michael?' Nikita asked quietly.

'Mm?'

'I'm scared.'

Michael stiffened slightly before propping himself up with his elbow. 'I know,' he admitted. He trailed feather light fingers over her left arm before carefully tucking loose hair away from her face and behind her ear.

'I am too,' he said finally. 'This mission –' He scoffed at his own words. '– God, it's not even a mission. The useless fight will be over before we know it. This is going to be the last we'll ever have to deal with any of this. I promise you.'

'You can't promise that,' muttered Nikita.

'I'm not promising that nothing about Division and Oversight will ever come up again,' said Michael. 'I'm promising that it will not ruin our lives like it used to.'

Nikita let out a deep sigh, burying her face in the crook of Michael's neck and snuggling closer to him before allowing her eyes to flutter to a close as she drifted to sleep.

She woke with a start, not really knowing why but her eyes shot open, greeted by pitch blackness. Nikita gently prodded Michael in the chest and his hold on her loosened so she could lean over to see the clock.

13:07

Nikita let out an excited squeal, reverting back to the Division days Nikita, who would suddenly turn cheery the moment she found out it was Christmas.

'Michael!' she whispered excitedly. 'Wake up! It's Christmas!' She swung her legs out of bed, shivering for a moment. She grabbed one of Michael's sweatshirts that was slung over a chair and she pulled it on, only to be stopped from leaving the bed by Michael's arm wrapped around her stomach.

'Mrgh...no,' he mumbled. 'Stay in bed. It's cold...and it's...' He opened one groggy eye. 'Oh my God, Nik, it's one in the morning!'

'Exactly!' Nikita smiled. 'It's Christmas! Get up!'

'No...' Michael muttered, pulling the covers over his head and kicking her hip with his knee.

'Don't get sulky,' chastised Nikita. 'I'll be opening presents!'

Michael didn't reply and Nikita assumed he had gone back to sleep so she slunk out of the room, making her way to the living room, quickly starting the fire and dropping to her knees by the tree.

'Wait!' Michael shouted suddenly, skidding into the room. 'Don't open them yet...' He was breathless and his teeth were chattering, lips trembling. Nikita sat up straight, her eyebrows creasing. 'Why?' she asked. 'Are you okay? You look freezing!'

'I am!' Michael said with a scowl. 'Shove over, the fire's burning...'

Confused, Nikita shifted over the carpet to be joined by Michael beside her, who leaned against one of the armchairs, pulling Nikita into his arms.

'So...why can't I open the presents?' questioned Nikita softly, her voice becoming slightly thick with sleep again.

'Because I have something I want you to open with me here.'

'Michael. You've already made me the happiest woman alive.' Nikita wiggled her left hand's fingers. 'Remember? What else could you possibly give me that I would want?'

Michael kissed her exposed shoulder lightly. 'I called Birkhoff and Ryan. They did some digging for me.' He nodded towards a flat-ish, brown paper envelope under the tree. Nikita bent forwards, tossing it back towards Michael. 'What is it?' she pried.

'Open it.'

Nikita's face held a wide smile and she ripped the envelope open, snatching the papers inside it. She blinked to be able to read the words on it, her stomach suddenly clenching at the first words she saw.

Her mother's name.

'Michael...' Nikita croaked, her chest suddenly becoming tight.

'It's not in a very Christmas-y spirit,' said Michael ruefully, 'but I knew that now that you had heard what happened to her, you wanted some answers. This is as much as I could get but I was hoping it was enough for you, Steven and Cameron to work out a bit of what happened...'

Nikita grabbed his face, kissing him fiercely, simply melting into his arms. 'You're too good to me...' she murmured against his lips. 'Thank you. So much.'

'It's my job to spoil you completely,' insisted Michael, taking her face in his hands. 'You deserve it, Nikita. After everything you've been through and lived through...' He cleared his throat. '...everything you've sacrificed for this war against Division. You've done more than any of us to win. You should have a better life and I'm going to do everything to give that to you.'

Nikita ran her thumb over the coarse outlines of his cheek. 'It's Christmas,' she reminded softly. Michael kissed the top of her nose, his heart fluttering at her giggle.

'I know,' he assured. 'So. What present do you want to open, next?'

–(*)–

After opening a few more presents, the couple retired to bed to Michael's relief. He pulled the covers over their shoulders, pulling Nikita close to him and resting his chin in the crook of her neck.

'We're only gonna get like, three hours sleep,' pointed out Nikita.

'Sleep is sleep, now be quiet,' Michael said, closing his eyes and letting out a sleepy, whistling breath that made Nikita smile. She, however, couldn't sleep. Wide awake, her heart was pounding in her chest as she gazed up at the building shadows that were floating around on the ceiling. Michael's warmth beside her was comforting and she could feel his cool breath peppering her shoulders every couple of seconds. His arm was protectively slung around her stomach and she was blanketed in their heavy duvets that kept her safe from the icy sharp, cold night air. Nikita let her eyes wander around the room and they paused upon a photograph on the bedside table. Nikita and Michael were in the middle...Michael in a t-shirt and jeans, Nikita in a pretty, summer dress. Michael's arms were wrapped around her, a handsome smile gracing his features. Alex is beside Nikita, the two girls' hands clasped as they beamed. Sean had his arm around Alex's waist, his now lengthened hair falling over his forehead slightly. Birkhoff was beside Michael, smirking as he grinned at Michael and Nikita. Owen and Ryan were there too, photo bombing, laughing with water guns in their hands. Birkhoff had invited them all to one of his mansions during the first summer after the takedown.

It had been amazing.

Nikita let out a small laugh as she surveyed the picture.

'Nik...what is it?' Michael mumbled...still not fully asleep.

'Nothing,' said Nikita.

'Well, you just woke me up...' Michael growled huffily, opening one eye and kissing her shoulder lightly. 'Are we inviting anyone over for Christmas dinner tonight?'

Nikita shrugged. 'I don't know...it's our first Christmas after Division. But I think all of us deserve something resembling normalcy...'

'Well, you're forgetting that Birkhoff's invited everyone to his mansion.'

Nikita wrinkled her nose. 'Who's everyone?'

Michael laughed at her cautious face, rubbing his ankles against Nikita's...which were still icy. 'Everyone clarifies as you, me, Alex, Sean, Owen, Ryan, Cassandra, Max, my family...and he texted me before after dinner saying that Steven and Cameron were welcome to show up, too.'

'Yeah – well Birkhoff certainly has the room to host everyone!' smirked Nikita. Michael didn't answer. 'Did you ever think we'd get here?' he asked. Nikita rolled her eyes. 'We're having too many emotional conversations today.' But her eyes became slightly serious and she leaned over, giving him a soft, lingering kiss. 'Yes,' she said. 'I knew we were going to get here. Because too many things...like the life we're leading now...were waiting for us.'

'And you talk to me about emotional...' teased Michael, just as a cheer erupted from out on the street and someone from down the road shouted 'Merry Christmas New York!'

)**(

A/N: Repetitive. Yeah. Boring. I think so. Not really my best work. Most definitely not.

Feel free, like I said, to rage for not being present lately. I. AM. SO. SORRY.

Please review! The rest of Christmas day is on its way! :D