Nikita felt her daughter stiffen in her arms. She knew Pj was livid, who wouldn't be. The shock of Owen's- Sam's- betrayal made everyone turn to acidity and call for blood. Whereas she, Michael, and their team had some time to process the information after Ryan ran to them and told them about Sam and their contact told them of the deal, their daughter hadn't. She was violently thrown for a loop in the middle of a mission. Thrown twice really, considering the massive surprise that were her parents. She appeared strained, shaken up, and willing to do anything to fix it all. It was ironic that Nikita had to ensure the latter didn't happen. The queen of recklessness had to get everything under control. That was going to be a challenge with her daughter.
Pj tore away from Nikita and Michael, green eyes simmering in rage. Her mother attempted to chase after her, talk to her and calm her down; she couldn't just rush in. But she fought against her, throwing her cap back on and grabbing her weapons (and harshly throwing her parents their things). Fury fueled her every movement. She even barked into her coms, louder than she probably should've given where they were, "Little Bit! Who's the closest to my location?"
Ignoring the fact that Pj was calling for her team to assist her instead of her parents, Nikita took hold of her arm. Although the grip was tight enough that she couldn't move, she made certain she wasn't hurting her. She brushed a soothing thumb over her defined bicep and gently pulled her closer. It stung Nikita to see Pj taller than her. She wasn't the little girl she could pick up and carry around anymore; she was nearly as tall as Michael. But she swallowed that down to focus on protecting her from danger, "Piper. You need to stop and think…"
"No," Pj seethed, ripping her arm away. For a split second, Nikita thought she was talking to a nineteen year old Alex all over again. The sheer stubbornness and unwillingness to yield was striking. But then she thought of Michael. Pj's expression was beyond grave and serious, there was no use in fighting against her. Michael still tried. He moved to settle her and calm her. It suddenly reminded Nikita of herself. How many times had her husband talked her off the ledge, soothing her with soft words. And how many times had it actually worked. Their daughter was just as ready for action as before. It was obvious then to see the young woman she had become. She had learned from the many people around her, and shaped herself around it. She was fierce and strong, in all aspects of the word. Nikita was so unbelievably proud.
However, that was not the life she had wanted for her daughter. Pj shouldn't have followed in her parents' footsteps. She should've had better- more. Instead, she was just like Michael and Nikita. Despite everything about her daughter filling her heart with so much joy, she couldn't stomach the fact that she was running a mission as dangerous as that one. They had separated from their kids to keep them from that life, as far away from danger as possible. Sadly, it was all for nothing. Michael's normally gruff voice lightened with the stress of it all, "You're not rushing off on your own."
"Why not? You did," The words were definitely meant to hurt. Pj was not one one to pull her punches. She forcefully crossed her arms and leveled a harsh gaze. Nikita and Michael shared a glance. They didn't have anything to defend themselves with, not that they wanted to. The two were aware of their mistakes. Yet they would continue to do anything to protect their daughter. If that included changing their plans all of a sudden, then they would. After all, they were always stellar at improvising out in the field.
"And that's a mistake we'll be paying for for the rest of our lives. Now. Who's with you, what was your plan, and how can we make a new one on the fly?" They had the time to hash all of that out. They had jammed communications and demolished the Shop's getaway vehicles with explosives; their enemies were trapped at the junkyard with them for a long while. Nikita suggested the idea without room for disagreement. Pj would work with her and Michael, no questions asked. Her husband backed her play by reflecting their daughter's glare back at her. It only took her a second of consideration, before she nodded. There was the Pj Nikita and Michael had known, mischievous green eyes sparkling and determined smirk growing.
Alex embraced Kara a little too tightly. It was awkward, the position brought about from breaking a hold. Yet neither mother nor daughter really cared. They were in each other's arms again after nearly a decade apart, nothing was going to ruin that moment. Including Alex's intrusive thoughts of her own past. She had been ripped away from her family at thirteen, just like her children. Also like her children, she was kept away for far too long. The decision to leave Kara, Oliver, and James had almost torn her to shreds. She knew it was for their protection, yet the cost was too great. She was determined then to not let them go ever again. She held her daughter even closer, oh so willing to give her the reunion she never had with her own mother, "Oh, Kara. My angel."
Kara squeezed her mother hard. Her curled blonde hair fell in front of her face, covering the tears in her blue eyes. She let herself cry, however. Alex did as well. Both were overcome with emotion. They were conflicted feelings, yet it wasn't the hurt they had felt throughout the years. It was a sense of relief. And it was such powerful love that it was almost too much. Alex eventually pulled away just enough to look at her daughter. She had grown into a perfect young woman, she knew that immediately. She was also extremely proud of her, especially when Kara's thoughts turned towards the others, "Jamie and Ollie! And Dad!"
"We're here," Sean ran up to them, James and Oliver right on his heels. While Alex instantly grabbed her sons, Sean pulled his daughter into a strong embrace. They whispered loving words to their children, not sure how they could contain their excitement. Their family was back together again. It probably wasn't the best time, with the Shop still out there and an active mission to complete. But they were embracing and laughing like everything was alright once more. It took Sean and Alex a moment to remember just exactly what was occurring. They were so caught up with one another, they almost forgot what they were doing- almost. The two and their team were running an op. So were their kids, apparently, and they didn't seem to have been alone, "Are the others here too?"
"Except Felicity. She's on coms. Is everyone with you too?" Alex and Sean wanted to smile and giggle. Years later, and the triplets continued to echo one another as they talked, building off of each other's sentence with their own. However, the situation was far too serious for that. They weren't all together, and Kara, Oliver, and James needed to know that. The three took the news of Owen's betrayal fairly well. They were livid of course, but they weren't rushing off recklessly as their parents had done. Alex felt a surge of pride and love at the fact that her children had grown to become better than her. That was all she could've asked for, and it came true. They might have still been in danger, yet they were awesome and indestructible. And they were going to be together as a family from then on.
"Alright. Listen up jackasses. We're combining efforts. Fletch and the Birkhoffs are our eyes in the sky. Pierces are team B. Ovechkins are joining the Mears-Bishops for team A," Pj's commanding voice through the coms startled everyone and brought them harshly back to reality. She was left on coms as Nikita was busy confirming details with Ryan back at their temporary ops center, and Michael was overwhelmed with reuniting with his son. Neither Michael nor Max thought they would ever reunite. Yet there father and son were, holding each other with the intention to never let go again. Later, the whole family would sit down and talk about everything. They had to. But for the moment, Pj laid out the rash and insane battle plan. She spoke quickly and efficiently, leaving no room for questions about the play, "Any objections?"
"A lot. But you're never gonna listen to me," James chuckled. Alex noticed the bright spark in her son's hazel eyes, and the even brighter smile on his lips. She glanced at her husband, but Sean was just as confused. On the other hand, Kara and Oliver rolled their blue eyes; that appeared to be something they were annoyingly used to. It stung to realize she didn't know every single thing about her children anymore. But that was something Alex could fix- once they all saved the world and brought each other home for good.
Pj smirked. Nikita noticed the bright glint in her daughter's green eyes, and the crooked smile on her lips. She glanced at her husband, but Michael was just as confused. On the other hand, Max rolled his dark eyes; that appeared to be something he was annoyingly used to. Pj nudged her brother playfully for his reaction, making him try to nudge back before she bounced away. The sight of the two so comfortable in their sibling roles lifted their parents' hearts. It was something they had never imagined would happen. They thought the two would have been separated forever, a curse of their parents' enemies. But they were together and genuinely cared for one another. It was a miracle to Nikita, Michael, and Cassandra. Pj brought them all back to the situation at hand, however, a quip as her final say in the matter, "Attaboy. Okay, everybody. Ready. Spaghetti. Go."