Rachel knocked on the door of Alex's office. She slowly poked her head around the door frame. Alex was sitting at her desk on the phone. She spoke authoritatively to someone on the other end of the line. Her words switching from Russian, to English and then back again before she ended the call. The heiress stood from her leather chair and walked over to the blinds closing them. Her long brunette curls fell perfectly down her shoulder's.
Rachel gazed at her adoringly."You wanted to see me?"
Alex wiggled her finger. "Come here, Beautiful." A faint warmness entered the younger woman's heart from her sweet words.
Alexandra's strong callous hands gripped at the sides of her neck as she leaned in capturing her mouth. Rachel felt herself melt away under Alex's warm velvety lips. The brunette's tongue slid across her lips finding entrance. Rachel felt her muscles clench on contact. As often as she tried to maintain her cool around Alex, she always melted under her touch.
"Happy birthday, Rachel," Alex smiled, tugging a small gift wrapped box from her pocket.
"Alex, I wasn't expecting you to remember."
"Of course I remembered."
"Thank you," she whispered, hugging Alex tightly.
"Don't just stand there. It's not going to open itself."
Rachel ripped through the elegant blue paper. A small velvety black box revealed. Tears pooled in her light blue eyes as she opened it. Rachel was surprised that Alex had the time to remember her birthday. The thought itself made the contents irrelevant to her.
"It's beautiful, Alex. You didn't have to do this." Rachel ran her finger over the silver charm bracelet in her hand.
"See the little dancer? That's so you will always remember your passion. The silver butterfly signifies transformation. A chance at a new life...and the heart inside a heart, I..well...I think that's self explanatory."
Alex wrapped the bracelet around Rachel's wrist as she kissed her again. "I'm taking you to dinner. I made reservations for eight."
"What should I wear?"
"I already took care of that. You will find it in the box on your bed." Alex's warm blue eyes spoke volumes, she thought, the way they seemed to look at her with all the gentleness and affection.
"You think of everything," Rachel smiled up at her.
They kissed unaware that Amanda stood in the doorway lurking. Alexandra no longer sought to hide their budding romance around Amanda. As far as she was concerned; It was none of Amanda's business. She was her equal and her private life wouldn't be infringed upon by Division.
Amanda cleared her throat and stepped forward. "Alex, Sean is waiting for you in operations to review his last mission."
"Amanda, you have unfortunate timing."
Alex returned her gaze to Rachel. "I'll see you tonight," she beamed, brushing her fingers under the younger woman's chin.
"Okay." When Rachel lost sight of the older woman, she turned, catching Amanda's steady glare.
"She is all hearts and flowers these days. It's like a whole new Alex...That girl has always reminded me of one of those Russian dolls. You open one version of her, only to find there's another hidden inside."
Rachel stiffened. "That seems to go hand and hand with a life filled with trauma."
"That almost came across as defensive, Rachel." Amanda stood with her hands on her hips; a stern look crossing her face.
"I should be clear, Rachel. We frown on relationships here at Division."
"She's your partner here at Division right, Amanda? Surely, the head of Zetrov is capable of deciding who she wants to be with." Rachel swallowed hard; her fingers twirling through her hair. She stared defiantly into Amanda's eyes.
"Do not think that you're anyone special to Alexandra. You are just a momentary distraction, and frankly...you're beneath her," Amanda smirked, turning on her heel and walking away.
Alex sat across from Amanda. Her blue eyes as empty as the sky their color invoked.
"Alex?" The click, click, click of snapping fingers flashed in front of her eyes. "Alexandra?"
The voice speared her like a harpoon, her words a rope dragging Alexandra back.
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know."
She had only closed her eyes a moment, and when she opened them a whole epic had unfolded. The typhoon of emotions had passed away. Where? When? She couldn't say. The emptiness left in it's wake made her feel powerful. Is this feeling without feeling? Thought without thought? Where was her mind?
"You are relaxed, Alex."
"Relaxed, yes."
She traced her finger over her father's watch; tapping at the face with her nail. Missing time. Damn watch.
"Good... Drink your tea."
Alex mindlessly sipped at her tea; finishing it all under The Inquisitors' watchful gaze.
"Sit up straight, Alex."
She felt heavy from the shifting of her own weight; her blue eyes blinking rapidly. The feeling of being outside herself began to ease. She held her head up and squared her shoulders.
"Good girl."
Nikita recognized his cologne as he came into the room. His fingers slid up and over her shoulders. Trusting Michael, craving a loving touch, she melted back against him. To his surprise she was responding to him.
His lips brushed her temple. "I want you, Nikita. Do you want this?" He asked quietly. His thumb circled a knot as his lips traveled slowly down the column of her throat.
Nikita tilted her head allowing better access to her vulnerable throat. His fingers circled lower, the front of the shoulders, along her collarbone. She moaned as his teeth lightly scraped the very sensitive flesh over her pulse before soothing with a kiss.
She arched at the feel of fingers along the sides of her breasts, her nipples. Her head lay back against his shoulder as his thumbs first brushed then led the charge to tug and massage.
"Michael, I don't want to give you false hope. It wouldn't be fair to you or to Alex," she whispered.
"It's okay, Nikita. I know it doesn't change anything right now. I'm going to bring Alex home to you...to all of us. She's family. I promise you."
She stood to turn and kiss him. Her fingers finding his, and gripping tightly, before she turn again to lead him toward the bed.
Rachel closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall. She opened it at the smell of a well cooked... twinkie? She smiled as she stood and accepted her deep fried twinkie from her date. "Oh Alex, you really know how to treat a date."
Alex chuckled. "Nothing but the best. Dinner, a show or seven and I will even walk you to your door after."
"And are you expecting a kiss good night?"
Alex wiggled her eyebrows. "At the very least."
Rachel laughed and raised her dinner on a stick. "You are going to have to do better than this heart attack waiting to happen, Slick."
The other woman leaned in. "There's funnel cake for dessert." She laughed and held out a hand. Fingers locked, they walked from one music stage to another. Rachel was surprised when Alex whisked her away for the Women's music festival. It was a rare occasion, she thought, when Alex would relax and indulge in anything remotely fun.
Dinner was swiftly eaten as they danced first to Celtic Rock, then to folk and the sounds of the 60's. Rachel laughed out of breath. "No more," she moaned leaning into Alex.
Giggling the other woman wrapped an arm around her. "You can't tell me you're already done in."
"Totally the wrong shoes for dancing more than an hour," she confessed.
Alex helped her back to one of the picnic benches and nearly upended her trying to get her shoe off. A slightly panicked Rachel pushed up but immediately went limp as skillful fingers massaged the bottom of her foot. Rachel groaned. "Look at that. Date's not even over and you already got my feet in the air."
"Haven't had the funnel cake yet," Alex quipped back. She smiled at the relaxation in every line of the other woman."We need to do this more often."
"Foot rubs, absolutely."
"Days out that don't involve Division actually."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Alex."
"Well, you make me feel that way, Rachel." Alex's fingers circled her aching forehead.
"Another one of your headaches?"
"I'm fine, Rach. No worries. Now give me that foot."
Rachel groaned at a particularly good foot manipulation. "I want more notice for dancing so I can wear the right shoes."
"Done."
"Damn Alex, you have a future in foot massage. Do that to the other foot, you definitely get something better than a good night kiss." Rachel chuckled as she continued to work.
"Magic fingers, babe." Alex winked and grabbed for the other foot.