AUTHOR'S NOTE: This series I'm close to wrapping up, as well. I COULD end it with this chapter, but I won't. I'll try to work in two or three more chapters before wrapping everything up. Like with Owen and Nikita, I've thought about writing another series with Sean and Alex living normal lives. Any feedback on that idea is appreciated.

Also, there is a bit of a surprise (or shocker, for some people maybe) regarding Alex and Michael. Since I used to ship Malex, I wanted to do something for them, no matter how brief it was.

In the meantime, check out Safe & Sound, another Sean&Alex AU series inspired by the book and movie, Safe Haven :)


Alex was torn between feeling bitter, angry, relieved, and happy. She was bitter and angry over Nikita leaving. Relieved that Nikita was okay. Happy that she was here. But she was also angry that she was here and wanting to explain herself. A part of Alex wanted to tell her to go the hell away, that she didn't want to hear any of her excuses. She'd just missed her so much, though. She considered Nikita family. She couldn't just turn her away. If their roles were reversed, Nikita would be understanding and wise, let her in to explain herself and make amends.

So that's what Alex did. Stepping to the side, Alex gestured for Nikita to come inside. Sean stepped out a moment later to grab a drink and Nikita invited him to sit down, too. It was a bit awkward, the three of them out here after all this time. Alex stared ahead, running her tongue over her teeth as Nikita spoke. She hanged on her every word, her eyebrows knitting in hurt a few times, in sadness. She set her jaw when she felt it quivering, tears wanting to spill down her cheeks.

What affected her the most was, I will apologize for abandoning you, Alex. Everyone you've ever loved has left you. How many times had she thought that exact thing? That everyone she had ever cared about, everyone who had ever cared about her – that they all left her in the end. Her father was killed by the woman sitting next to her. Thom, Nathan. Her mother had left but on Alex's insistence that she'd be safer far away from all this. Sean and Nikita had left her, too, but now here they were. They both came back. It was the ones who stayed, the ones who returned to you that cared the most.

Sean hadn't expected an apology and almost told Nikita he didn't want one, but he was curious about what she wanted to apologize for, what she'd say. "I'm sorry for not making you feel more welcome among us – made you feel like a part of the family you really were," Nikita said to him. "It's come to my attention that I neglected you as well. I'm sorry, Sean. And – and I'm sorry about your mother." At the mention of his mother, Sean looked down and took a deep breath. "She died because of me. A lot of people have died because of me. I never wanted that. I never wanted any of them, even your mother, to die for me. I'm so, so sorry. You deserved better, too."

He wouldn't deny it, he'd blamed Nikita for his mother's death, but he had also blamed himself for not being able to stop it, react faster. Everything he had said to Alex months ago about leaving Division had been partially influenced by those events, among others. He just had not wanted to see Alex risk her life for Nikita. To think Nikita's life was more important than her own. No one was truly worth dying for. Any bitter feelings he had held towards Nikita slowly faded and he smiled slightly at her. "Thank you," Sean finally said. "It means a lot, Niki."

After apologizing to Sean, Nikita looked back at Alex and found Alex gazing right back at her. "You've been the biggest influence in my life," Alex finally said. "Everything I've ever done for you I did without hesitation, without question. It's not easy for me to forgive you. You have no idea how much it hurt when you walked out on me, on us. I wish I could hate you, say that I don't and never will forgive you; but after everything we've been through -... I'll always forgive you Nikita, stupidly or not. You're like a sister to me." Alex pressed her lips together and looked down, wrapping one arm around herself and lifting her other hand to wipe the tears spilling down her cheeks. She sniffed and cleared her throat, getting control of herself. She hated breaking down in front of others. The only people she'd ever been comfortable showing her vulnerable side around were Sean and Nikita. Only they had seen her cry.

She looked down at Nikita's hand over her own. She didn't reach out at first, instead just gazed at the colored hand. Ever so slowly, Alex reached out and gingerly placed her fingertips on the back of her hand, and then she gripped it. Feeling a tear stream down her face, Alex leaned in and threw her arms around Nikita, hugging her tightly.

Hearing Nikita whisper, "We're family, and we always will be," made her choke up again, and she held onto Nikita more urgently, fisting some of her jacket in her hand. They'd gone from partners, to friends, to sisters. There was no one else in the world she treasured more than Nikita. If it weren't for her, Alex wouldn't be here. She wouldn't be the woman she is right now. She'd probably be rotting somewhere unpleasant if Nikita hadn't saved her life as a child, and then saved her again and got her cleaned up. She owed her so much. Even if people said she didn't, she felt she did in some way.

Remembering Michael, Alex reluctantly pulled away and looked Nikita in the eyes. Taking a deep breath, Alex slid her hands down Nikita's arms and then held her hand between both of her own. "Nikita, there's something you need to know. About Michael." Alex hesitated, glancing quickly at Sean before back at Nikita, whose head was tilted slightly to the side, her eyebrows furrowed. "He's dead, Nikita. Michael's dead." Alex studied her warily, expecting her to be grief stricken, shocked, something. She was just stunned, Alex realized. In disbelief. She couldn't blame her. It was hard to think that Michael's dead. It seemed wrong, somehow.

Ever since Nikita had left, her and Michael had grown close again. It'd almost been like it had in the beginning for them, when she first arrived in Division. They'd gone out on missions together, scouts, and Michael had looked over her and protected her like he used to do. It'd been nice talking to him again, bonding. She always felt like Michael had never forgiven her for shooting Nikita, for turning on her. The way he'd ignored her sometimes, overlooked her existence now and then had made it hard for her since he'd influenced her just like Nikita. Perhaps he'd influenced her too much. Something had happened between them, something she'd never tell Nikita or Sean. Something she'd always keep to herself.

He'd been withdrawn and a bit surly, the depression at losing Nikita taking over him. Alex had gotten sick of seeing him in such a bad place. She stumbled across him one night, not knowing he was in the loft. She'd thought she was alone since the others had gone out, but Michael had been there. She'd heard him crying. She had sat beside him on the cold floor, not saying anything, simply holding his hand. Without knowing why, she had leaned over and kissed him. Not passionately or eagerly, not the way she kissed Sean. She had done it gently, lovingly. It'd been a kiss of comfort, of solace. It had seemed to help. For a little while.

Shaking herself out of that memory, Alex snapped back to reality and realized Nikita was saying she had better go. Launching herself off the couch, she hurried over to Nikita and took her hands in hers, pleading for her to stay a while longer. "Please stay," she begged, not wanting to part with her yet. She knew that after this, she'd probably never see her again. Never see any of the others again.

When Nikita hugged her, Alex clung to her like a child. She wasn't ready to say goodbye. She didn't want to. "It's time, Alex. You know it is. It's time for us to go our separate ways and live. You're going to be just fine, Alex," she continued, hugging Alex again. She turned her head, placing her lips close to Alex's ear. "You have a good man who loves you. Don't forget that."

That did make Alex smile, even more when she remembered what Sean had asked her before Nikita had interrupted them. "I know," she whispered back, smiling sadly. Pulling away, Alex studied Nikita and drank in the sight of her. She wished she had a picture of her, just so she could remember her if her memory ever failed her. Closing her eyes, Alex let out a soft sigh as Nikita kissed her forehead. She leaned into the kiss, squeezing her eyes shut to hold back the tears.

Alex spun around as Nikita left, taking a few steps forward at the bittersweet smile on Nikita's face. There was a dull ache in her heart for Nikita, missing her already. She couldn't even laugh at what Nikita said to Sean about kicking his ass if he didn't take good care of her. Any other day she would've rolled her eyes and acted unamused, but been amused on the inside.

"I love you, too," Alex said, her voice low. She wasn't sure if Nikita heard her or not, but she didn't go after her to make sure. She was frozen to the spot, unable to believe this was it. They were all going their separate ways and living their own lives Division and Amanda free. She told herself she'd see Nikita again, or at least that they would write to each other now and then. They weren't completely cutting each other out of their lives.

"Hey," Sean said, bringing Alex back to life. He slipped his arms around her and hugged her against his chest, kissing the top of her head. Alex closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Sean's back, pressing her cheek against his chest and melting against him.

She found comfort in his arms, momentarily forgetting how sad she'd been feeling only a few minutes ago. She thought back to his proposal, realizing she hadn't given him an answer. As she realized that, several thoughts buzzed around in her mind. They were free to do whatever they wanted. They didn't have to stay here in the city. Her and Sean were free to leave, free to be themselves and actually live. They were finally out of Division. It was never going to come back for them.

"Yes," Alex said, pulling away from Sean and looking up at him. She smiled when he looked at her confused. She even laughed a little. "What you asked me earlier?" she reminded him, arching an eyebrow at him. "If you still mean it, my answer is yes."

Alex smiled more broadly than she ever had before and so had Sean. He grabbed the side of her face in his excitement and crushed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply. "God I love you," he whispered, running his hand over her hair before picking her up, holding her in his arms. He carried her back into the bedroom, setting her down on the bed and then grabbing the box the ring was in. He took it out, holding it gingerly between his index finger and thumb. Alex extended her left hand and Sean took it, slipping the ring on her ring finger.

Taking a deep breath, Alex brought her hand to her face and gazed at the ring, biting down on her bottom lip. It was beautiful, foreign looking, and she guessed he'd discovered it over in Fallujah. Never had she imagined she'd be engaged. She'd never considered marriage because finding the right person was so hard, harder than most people thought. She was finally here, though. A ring on her finger, a handsome fiance. A handsome fiance she loved more than anything. A handsome fiance who comforted her and made her feel special.

Dropping her hand and looking at Sean, Alex reached out and placed her hand on the side of his face, pressing her lips against his. She gently encouraged his lips to part using her tongue and, grabbing a fistful of fabric of his sweatshirt, she pulled him up onto the bed with her. She lay down on her side, not breaking the kiss with Sean as she did so. Sean slipped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. He pulled away from kissing her, running his hand down the side of her face and then tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He was glad to see her so happy, his heart unable to tolerate it when she was in pain or sadness, though seeing her that way only added to his love for her. "So," he started, cupping the the side of her jaw and brushing his thumb along her jawline. "You feel like running away with me?" he asked, grinning at her.

Sean played with her hair, loving how curly it was. He just loved her hair, period. He loved running his fingers through it, playing with it, twisting it around his fingers. Alex loved it even more when he played with her hair. It always gave her a warm sensation, a fluttering in her stomach and around her heart. "I think I'm okay with that," she said, smiling and laughing. Alex reached up and cupped the back of his neck, leaning up to kiss him. "No more talking," she whispered, and rolled them over, covering his mouth with hers and kissing him. She wanted to celebrate.