"Hey. Guess who has the safehouse all to themselves," Surprising Nikita in the kitchen, Michael wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. She ignored the coffee she was brewing to relax in his warmth and hum in contentment. Everyone had left to do their own things. Birkhoff was grabbing some gear, as well as taking a break from the craziness of the safehouse. Alex was on her way back from Greece, having helped her mother secure a new life. And Sean was talking to his superiors. The couple had the rare chance to be alone and enjoy their time together. There was no way in hell they would take that for granted.
"Really? Well then, what do you have in mind?" Nikita turned in her boyfriend's arms in order to face him. Michael beamed at her, and she smiled just as wide. She placed her hands on his sturdy chest, her fingers playing with the fabric of his shirt. Their bodies so close suggested they had exactly one thing in mind. They usually got that excited whenever they were alone. The two could not wait until they had their own place, far from their interrupting teammates. They deserved the quiet and the opportunity to devour one another in peace. Getting that little house on the beach was their first priority once they had their pardons. They could live out the rest of their days with no problems or worries.
It seemed like bliss. However, the couple hadn't talked about their future in a while. They were floating mission to mission, unsure what was next for them. They had to figure it out. Neither was sure how to start that conversation, however. Things between them had shifted since London. Nikita and Michael still loved one another- that would never change. Their future together was just cloudy, sort of like they were in a holding pattern. A serious and open discussion between them had to break that. Unfortunately, they weren't willing to start. They were fine simply being wrapped in each other's arms, especially as Michael started to place tender kisses along his girlfriend's jaw, cheek, and lips, "We could watch TV, listen to music…"
"Have sex," Nikita pulled Michael even closer to her, brown eyes sparkling in desire. He chuckled and kissed her thoroughly. Hands began to gently roam, slipping under shirts and teasing warm skin. The couple never shied away from public displays of affection. They would kiss, touch, and flirt in front of others without any shame. Being alone in that wide open space was different, however. They could truly explore one another's bodies with heated kisses and caresses. Absolutely no one was going to walk in on them. That freedom was electrifying.
"I always knew you could read my mind," Chuckling, Michael lifted Nikita and sat her on the counter. She curled her impossibly long legs around his hips, trapping her boyfriend as close as possible to her. It wasn't as though having moments like that one were rare. They shared a bed, their hands and lips could be all over each other as much as they wanted. But it was different then because they had won. Putting words to it might jinx it; however, it was true. Enemies on the run, Division leaderless, pardons coming their way. The end of the war was within sight. It was a hope worth celebrating.
"I can read everything about you, Mr. Bishop," Between kisses, Nikita teased. Her eyes raked over Michael, causing both of them to laugh. The seamless way they worked as partners wasn't the only byproduct of spending so much time together. They had been able to read each other like a book long before they admitted their feelings. She caught those smiles he only flashed when she was around. And he had seen her calm whenever he was near. They had a strong effect on one another, even from the very beginning.
No one else had gotten under their skin quite like they had. The couple had always been drawn to one another like moths to a flame. It saved their lives more than once, and not just from bullets or knives. They were so lucky to have each other to celebrate their victory with. They had a whole team made up of their friends. But having each other was special. It drove in the fact that the two had to talk even more, yet it was far too late to stop kissing and touching then. Michael removed Nikita's shirt, his thumbs skimming underneath her breasts. She kissed him passionately. After a moment, he drew back far enough to mutter against his girlfriend's lips, "That's Lieutenant Bishop to you."
"Yes, sir, Sailor, sir," With a mock salute, she tore off his tee. Nikita and Michael were laughing again, the sound of joy filling each press of their lips. Their caresses grew daring, and it wasn't long before soft moans enveloped them. However, the couple was so consumed with one another, that they didn't notice someone coming through the front door. It wasn't as though they were expecting anyone back at the safehouse anytime soon. They weren't going to pay attention to anything else while they believed they had the time and freedom to be together. On the other hand, the person entering didn't think the two would be all over each other like that. If they had, they would've knocked. They really wished they would have knocked.
"Oh, God. Again?" Sean immediately turned his back upon seeing his sister and her boyfriend make out in the kitchen. It wasn't as awful as walking in on them rolling around in a bed in only their underwear, but interrupting Nikita and Michael continued to be extremely awkward. They definitely didn't appreciate it. Nikita was about to tell her brother off, when she noticed the person who had followed him into the room. Shock flooded her system. She knew she should've done something about the bra Michael just unclasped, yet she couldn't help but shriek. The sound forced her boyfriend to whip around and see what was the matter. As soon as he saw Senator Madeline Pierce staring at the two with wide eyes, he stepped in front of his girlfriend in a vain attempt to hide her exposed chest. Except, it was too late.
"What are you doing here?" Although Nikita was hurriedly pulling her clothes back on and handing him his, Michael didn't think he could move. He could feel himself blushing hotly in embarrassment. It was almost like he was a teenager again. He just got caught feeling up his girlfriend by her mom. Her brother was in the room too. But he was only Sean. The Seal was more like a friend and teammate than just Nikita's brother. Regardless, Michael couldn't stop spluttering and staring at Madeline. He couldn't shake the mortification.
"Mom and I were talking about the energy device and the pardons, and I thought we should be talking about this as a team," Slowly turning around, Sean explained what could've possibly possessed him to bring Madeline to the safe house. It was a pretty lame excuse. It also wasn't the full truth. But he didn't get to expand further on it. Michael and Nikita gaped at him as if he were insane. Discussing their pardons with the Senator could've been a phone call. He didn't have to interrupt them, or cause his mother to walk in on them. He created an awful situation with his rashness. No one was going to forgive him for that anytime soon.
"So you brought her here?" Nikita was already tearing his head off. She hopped off the counter, shock twisting into lividity. The motion at least spurred Michael into redressing. Yet her focus was entirely on her brother. She purposefully ignored Madeline by acting like she wasn't there. That was incredibly rude of her, but she couldn't help it. Not only did it let her shove aside her embarrassment, she also didn't have to dwell on the other emotions that resurfaced at seeing her adopted mother again. There was still so much pain gripping her heart, anger as well. And something else she hated to think about- the urge to simply hug her and go back home.
The latter was never going to be an option, which only made Nikita's fury worsen. She glared daggers at Sean, conveying how stupid she thought he was with just a look. Her brother understood the sentiment, instantly. Except he wasn't going to back down. The two of them managed to discuss their problems and move forward. It wasn't how it used to be between them, but they were able to forge an even stronger bond. Why couldn't Madeline and Nikita do that as well. The team was getting their pardons, meaning his sister could come home. She and their mother shouldn't be so distant anymore. They had to reconnect, "We were able to talk it out."
"Sean, maybe I should go," Finally able to speak, Madeline interrupted. She read the expression on Nikita's face easily, and knew it was time to go. There was no getting through to her when she was that pissed or determined. Even Michael wouldn't have been able to talk her down. Though, he was still trying to awkwardly catch up to the situation. He was trapped in the family drama with no way out. He wouldn't leave his girlfriend to handle it on her own, anyway. He just didn't know what else to do. Sean did, however. He silently pleaded with his sister to give it a chance. If not for her, then she could at least do it for him, Jill, and Sandy. She might've not wanted anything to do with her adopted mother, but her siblings were still so very important.
"Are you fucking… Fine. Fine. But you owe me," Nikita bitterly told her brother. Sean tried not to show his excitement at the possibility that she and their mother were going to reconnect. He flashed Michael a small grin, though, one the agent couldn't help but scoff and return. Silence fell over the kitchen as the rogue tried to figure out what to do next. She and Madeline could have it out in front of everybody. But that wouldn't do anyone any good. Sighing, Nikita glanced at the coffee she had abandoned brewing. Maybe she could finish it and they could have a private, civilized conversation. She had to fight to contain her eye roll, "Would you like some coffee?"
Michael and Sean quickly found an excuse to leave Madeline and Nikita alone. They could make themselves scarce for a few hours. The two women were left awkward and silent as they prepared their drinks. Thoughts drifted back to when they first talked in the Senator's office. That had gone so disastrously bad. The current discussion had the chance to not fare any better. It was already off on a horrible foot. What was there to even say to start it all. As the adopted mother and daughter moved to sit apart from one another in chairs, Madeline guessed she had a question she could ask. It would at least get the ball rolling, "Do you want to know everything?"
"Always," Bluntly, Nikita admitted. She deserved to know the truth. The stories she was told as a child and the lies Percy and Amanda told her wouldn't cut it anymore. She needed to know what happened to her. She had to know why she was adopted, only to have been given up years later. Why did Madeline have to keep covering her up. Why couldn't she have lived her life like a normal person. The back of her mind rationalized that if she hadn't been adopted by the Pierces, she would've been tossed into foster care where her life could've been far worse. But she didn't want to be rational. She wanted to let the hurt consume her.
Madeline had to pause for a moment before she could begin. It seemed so fast from discovering Nikita and Michael together, to sitting down and drinking coffee. Yet she owed her daughter an explanation. She had to swallow back any sense of hesitancy, and just tear the bandaid off. It all started when she and her children's father, Paul Mason, married in a rush. She was expecting twins, and with both of their careers on the line, marriage was the best option. They had strong feelings for one another, but they weren't exactly committed. That wasn't an excuse for the infidelity that occurred, just an explanation.
Paul Mason and his unit in the Army had a translator named Anh Pham while they were stationed in Vietnam on a special assignment. It wasn't long after Jill and Sandy were born, and he felt like the world slipped out from under his feet. He ended up growing incredibly close to Anh, and the two struck up a relationship. It was the reason he pushed so hard for his unit to help her immigrate to America when she ran into trouble. That was when she discovered she was the other woman, however. She broke it off with Paul Mason and disappeared. His assignment ended and he went back home, pretending it never happened.
Except it had happened, as well as Madeline's own infidelity. After that, the two decided to attempt marriage counseling. They had to make their relationship work. Not just for their careers, but also for their family. The two were making progress when months later, a hospital called. Anh had listed Paul Mason as her emergency contact. She has been pregnant, and there had been complications. Although the baby survived, she did not. Based on the fact that the baby was premature, there was no doubt that she was his. He had fathered another daughter, that time outside of his marriage.
Adoption was the first option. A nice family could raise her. No one would have to know about any of the infidelities the couple had. Their relationship was healing, and they had a future ahead of them together. Paul Mason was considering letting his daughter go. But then she cried. She was so little, and she had no mother to hold her. Madeline picked her up to soothe her, and that was it. The couple would take her home, no further debate about it. They would create a cover story later. But they were going to take her home and raise her with so much love.
Nikita listened to the story with rapt attention. She didn't even interrupt when Madeline got to the part where Percy knew she had witnessed the assassination of a senator and threatened to have her cleaned. She was going to hear the explanation for why her adopted mother let her be recruited, "I know I should've fought harder. But I didn't know what else to do. I thought it was the only way to save you. I only wanted to protect you. I'm sorry, Nikita. I am really sorry. You don't have to forgive me. I just want you to have peace for once in your life."
She understood Madeline. She didn't think she ever could, but hearing the truth and knowing who Percy was as a person helped to change her mind. Maybe she was thinking about Michael and Max a little bit, as well. Her boyfriend gave up his son to keep him safe. Granted, it wasn't to a corrupt assassination program. Yet he still left him to protect him. Nikita continued to feel hurt by her adopted mother's actions, but she understood them. Nothing was fixed between the two. There was a lot to do before there could be forgiveness. Yet it wasn't all lost. There had been so much love in her life, after all, "I can get there. And maybe we can get there together."