Hours- nearly a whole day- went by in a blur. Shifting the focus of their fight wasn't simple. There were steps the team had to take, orders to follow, new goals to figure out. Notifying the Division agents that weren't in the bunker about what had occurred was step one. Solving how to successfully shutdown a black ops unit of the government was step two. Maybe because of their exhaustion, the rogues had difficulties with the latter. They couldn't create a solid action plan, not without arguing at least. They needed a break. It was perfectly alright that they took one. They didn't always have to be on the go. They could settle and breathe.
Rest was well deserved. The rogues had been running and gunning for far too long. They had to sleep, and allow their victory to wash over them. With all the new things they had to do, it was easy to forget that they had won their war. Everything would end soon. That meant they could pull away from Division and focus on themselves for a change. The team eventually shuffled back to their safehouse, showered off dirt and grime, discussed getting their own apartments as they moved forward (or finally staying at the apartment they already had), and fell fast asleep. A true victory celebration would have to come later. First, they could just relax.
Despite his injured leg and head wound (or maybe because of that one), Sean didn't need much sleep. He had crashed at the safehouse with the others, wanting to stay around everyone. Alex had done the same thing; though, she hurriedly took up space in the extra room, leaving him to the couch. After a nap, he wandered around the livingroom and answered calls and texts he had missed during the hectic events. One text caused him to go search for Nikita; she had to see it too. The door to hers and Michael's room was cracked open. He had learned to never enter their bedroom if the door was closed. But if it was slightly open, it was the perfect invitation.
Neither Michael nor Nikita stirred as Sean entered. The two were past dead asleep. Their heads rested on the same pillow, foreheads touching. Whereas she was stretched out across the mattress, he was curled into her side with his arm wrapped protectively around her abdomen. The couple appeared to have fallen asleep while they were talking. For some reason, the Seal felt more intrusive walking in on that than if they were making out. It was an intimate and tender moment he shouldn't have interrupted. When he tried to back out of the room, however, his sister caught him. Her voice was grouchy and slurred as she muttered, "Get out of my room."
Her eyes were still closed when Sean looked back. Nikita had moved closer to Michael, resting her hand on his arm that was draped over her. So, she wasn't as asleep as her brother had thought. Either she was dozing in and out, or he had done something to wake her. He'd go with the latter; the door had creaked as he nudged the small crack further open. Since that was the case, he should leave and let her sleep in peace. He turned to do just that, but an instinct grabbed hold of him hard- one he couldn't shake free, "Come on, sleepy head. It's time to wake up."
"Fuck off," Instantly, Nikita mumbled. Sean just chuckled. He reached to tug at her foot and drag her down the mattress, but she kicked harshly at him the second he touched her. In an attempt to ensure her brother left her alone, she curled tightly into Michael. Her boyfriend was no doubt jostled awake by her movements. He shifted next to her, settling into a comfortable position for the both of them. Yet, his eyes stayed closed and his body remained laxed. Whatever was going on, he'd prefer to stay out of it. Hopefully, he'd drift back to sleep soon.
With Sean's intent to torture his sister, however, that wouldn't be possible. He dared to kneel on the edge of the bed in order to grab her again. Nikita was even faster in her retaliation that time. She bolted upright, grabbed a pillow she wasn't using, and forcefully smacked her brother with it. In the time it took him to recover, she laid back down and curled into an even tighter ball. Her brother simply shrugged, undeterred. He tickled the bottom of her barefoot, and she flailed. No one was safe as she thrashed and shrieked. Michael soon had enough. He stilled Nikita and shoved Sean. When that didn't work, he cursed, "What the hell are you two doing?"
"Why don't you finally go ask Alex out, and leave me alone," Nikita snapped, throwing another pillow at her brother. Sean stumbled off of the mattress as he tried to avoid it. Fortunately, he was able to catch himself on one foot and hop until he was steady. She didn't wait to see if he was alright. She flopped on her stomach, pulled a pillow over her head, and tried to fall back asleep. It was of no use with Michael sitting up and taking away her source of warmth and comfort, though. She groaned and sat upright as well.
"Kissing her then avoiding her? That's a bad move, trust me," Yawning, Michael warned. He half expected an agreeing tease from Nikita, but she was too busy rubbing the sleep from her eyes and glaring at her brother. Sean, on the other hand, was blushing and stuttering too much to accurately respond. He fumbled through an excuse against both of the couple's statements. Neither even remotely bought it. The two shared a knowing glance. Before they could start to tease the hapless Seal, however, Alex sleepily stumbled into the room. She had been woken and summoned by the commotion. The first person she sought answers and solace from was Sean.
"Sean and Alex kissing in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage," Nikita couldn't help but start to sing drowsily. She needed to taunt her brother and best friend, despite her exhaustion. The end of her song was staggered and broken as Alex beat her- as best she could with one arm in a cast- with a pillow from the floor. But she didn't stop trying to nudge the two closer together. Sean hid his reddening blush by digging his phone out of his pocket. The action (plus the jingle) helped remind him why he went to bother his sister in the first place. He sighed in relief at the ability to change the subject.
"Oh. That's what I was going to tell you," Alex and Nikita stilled at Sean's words. The two women, and Michael, were confused at what he could be suddenly talking about. The lull in the conversation as he scrolled through something on his phone didn't help. Eventually, he found what he was looking for, and he handed the cell to his sister. Displayed proudly on the screen was a picture of their newborn niece. Nikita gasped at the sight. Sean beamed, "Jill had her baby. Her name's Alexis. But I think they're just gonna call her Lexi."
"She's so cute. Is Jill doing okay?" Unable to take her eyes off the picture of her new family member, Nikita couldn't think of what else to say. She was definitely more awake than she had been a minute ago. Her mind was just running a mile a minute. There were a thousand things she wanted to ask and comment on. There were a million things she was thinking and feeling. She did her best to hide them, or sort through them (she wasn't sure which), as she showed Alex and Michael the picture. Their echoing 'awes' somewhat helped her to relax.
"Yeah. Sandy, her girlfriend, and I are gonna head over later and help out. Mostly with Riley. I don't think he's too excited about a baby in the house," Taking back his phone, Sean scrolled again until he found another photo. That one was of his and Nikita's nephew looking concerned and wary of his new baby sister in his dad's arms. Part of that could be explained as his lack of understanding- he was barely four. But that wasn't why Michael and Alex laughed so hard upon seeing the photo. Riley wore the same expression Nikita and Sean sometimes threw at each other. Pierce siblings, no matter the age, were always trouble.
The siblings in the room, however, barely made eye contact as Sean was handed back his cell. Nikita should've been among the group to help Jill. She didn't have her mother as a support system anymore. After her first child was born, Madeline had made a huge impact with her assistance. Sure, Jill still had a mother-in-law. But after giving birth again, who she needed was her mom. Tragically, that had been robbed from her. So, her siblings were bound and determined to be by her side. Well, her siblings that were legally alive. Nikita couldn't go see her. At least, as Alex offered, she could find a way to help, "If there's anything we can do, just tell us."
"We can make some freezer meals, or buy clothes and diapers," Michael agreed. He indicated they should leave the bedroom and have that conversation in a wider space. Whereas Sean and Alex immediately followed the idea, Nikita lagged behind. Her boyfriend placed a supportive hand on the small of her back, and grinned softly. He understood her conflicting emotions. She wanted to be happy for Jill, and be excited about her niece. But the guilt over her choice to stay in Division for a little while longer ate away at her. It was a good decision, though. Real happiness could come from it.
"Yeah. We can be like secret aunts and uncles. Kinda like secret Santa, but better," Mostly hyping herself up, Nikita suggested. She let Michael's support wash over her as she joined Sean and Alex in the other room. Not being with her family was only a minor setback. She could continue to help where she could. Also, she could still be with her brother. They could talk, and he could keep her in the loop like he had been doing. It wouldn't be long before she had her pardon and she could truly go home. Everything would be alright soon; it had to be.
"Or you can come home with me," Sean muttered. He didn't have the same hope as his sister. Their mother had offered pardons before, and it had all slipped through their fingers. She even tried to have him close Division, yet look where that led them. What if something worse occurred while the team stepped in and tried to save everybody. Percy was dead, sure. But Amanda was still out there. They had enemies at every turn. There was a high chance of nothing going in their favor. He wouldn't be able to sit around as the people he cared about got hurt.
However, no one else in the room seemed to have the same sentiment as him. The former rogues believed they could continue saving the day and securing their freedom. Nikita held onto that belief the tightest. Without it, there was a chance she would never go home. Maybe that would've been alright with her when she thought she didn't deserve to be happy. But since she had learned to love herself again, she knew home with all of her loved ones was where she belonged. If she had to keep fighting for that, then so be it, "Sean. I'm a dead criminal. I can't expose our family to that, especially when there's kids involved."
"I know. I know. Just wishful thinking," Sighing, Sean had to force himself to drop the subject. It wasn't worth it to get into it then. They should pay more attention to the happy things, like victory in their war and the addition of a new family member. The team shouldn't allow their stress and anxiety to rule them anymore. That might have given them an edge as they fought- something to keep them alert and careful. Yet they were changing their goals then, which meant they had to change their mindset. It was alright to be positive every once and a while.
"I'll be home soon," Nikita promised both herself and her brother. She refused to let the cleanup duty drag on for too long. Her fight with Division was years of pain and torture. Ending the threat of the black ops group and providing a chance to the former agents shouldn't take as long. Everyone should have their happily ever afters within the year. At least in the meantime, Alex and Sean could resume their old identities. They weren't as beholden to Division as the others were. Which gave Nikita an idea, "Besides, for the moment, Alex can go as my proxy."
"You want Alexandra Udinov to meet your sisters?" Wondering what Nikita was suggesting, Alex cautiously asked. She got why Nikita was waiting to go home; that wasn't the problem. What confused her was why Jill and Sandy should meet Alexandra Udinov. They had to have known Sean had been her bodyguard in Russia. He could be seen in the background of the paparazzi photographs of her. Why would an heiress then be brought along to meet them months after the fact. It was odd. And it could reveal far too many secrets if they weren't careful.
"No. Just you, Alex. I did say you were my sister too. Also, Sean told Jill and Sandy about the awesome woman that's been helping him on his 'special assignment'. You know, the girl he has a huge crush on," Nikita smiled. The first part of her explanation was genuine. The former rogue wanted her team to meet her sisters, especially Michael and Alex. Since her boyfriend was in the same boat as her, her best friend had to be the first to meet them. The second part of Nikita's statement was only meant to poke fun at her brother, however. She hadn't let go of the fact that the two had kissed, and they still hadn't done anything about it.
"Come on, let's leave them alone. You would want some privacy too if we were trying to kiss again," As Sean floundered once more and Alex blushed, Michael built off of his girlfriend's taunt. Nikita flashed her brother and best friend a smirk, before taking her boyfriend's hand in hers. She dragged him back to their room, intending to not only leave the others alone like he said but also actually kiss him like he suggested. He willingly followed after her. Once the couple was out of sight, their soft giggles filled the safehouse. The door to their room was soon slammed shut, leaving Alex and Sean stock-still in the livingroom.
Awkwardness struck them first. The two refused to make eye contact. Blushes bloomed across cheeks, feet shuffled, and hands fidgeted. Sean made a halfhearted comment about mean sisters that Alex could only softly chuckle along with. More tense silence filled the air, making the two feel more and more ridiculous. They shouldn't be awkward or weird or even nervous around each other. After kissing and surviving a battle against Roan together, they could do anything. They already knew one another's emotions. They just had to take the plunge, "So. Uh. You want to grab lunch, and bring some takeout to Jill and her husband?"
"It's a date," After Sean eventually asked, Alex instantly agreed. She smiled brilliantly, and he returned the expression with unbridled excitement. He grabbed her uninjured hand in his, squeezing tightly. The two weren't as giggly or as sure of themselves as the other couple. But the young woman and the Seal could take the steps forward together. They wouldn't be left alone in their uncertainty or awkwardness. As long as they talked, that was. For the meantime, though, they could walk out of the safehouse hand in hand, towards something bright. They deserved it.