"Hey. We won, remember. Bad guys on the run. The day is saved," Michael sat next to Nikita, taking her hand in his. She had been curled up against the wall as she stared out the window. It was difficult to read her thoughts. Her attention remained on the waves crashing against the shore. The whole team had been quiet on the trip back from Russia. They were trying to catch up on their rest, too exhausted to consider what their next move should've been. She had been silent, however, obviously weighed down by something. Her fiancé didn't want to mention it until they were alone. He also wanted to give her a second to breathe. She seemed to have appreciated it. A small grin etched its way across her lips, and she squeezed his hand.
"I know. I'm just surprised at myself. I didn't think I could do it," It wasn't the best explanation for her thoughts, but Nikita was still trying to gather them. A lot had happened on their recent op- that was more of an understatement than a fact. Yes the team was victorious, yet so many emotions were left raw and out in the open. It was a great thing the team had the chance to settle. They didn't have to rush off on another mission to save the world. They could sort everything out. With all their complicated emotions, they needed that the most.
"Do what? Sass Amanda like that? Because I'm not surprised. In fact, I'm so proud of you," Nudging his fiancée, Michael decided to tease. They were serious enough as it was. Why couldn't they be light for just a moment. Nikita chuckled. She had been far more upset than sassy. But she'd rather explore those comments than the ones born of pain. Both were real, except only one was truly impactful. She fought hard to not let the hurt completely wash over her. There were better things to focus on, especially when her team was alive and well and so very strong.
"No. I let her live," Nikita didn't need to explain herself there. She had had the chance to kill Amanda, yet she didn't take it. She wasn't going to stoop to her enemies' level. She wasn't just the mindless killer they had made her. Not shooting the bitch proved as much. At least, to the rogue it proved she was better than Division. She could hold her head high, knowing that she saved people. A part of her screamed that she had made the wrong choice- making a statement about her strength and the goodness in her heart was only going to bite her in the ass later. But she shut that anxiety up by smiling softly and laying her head on Michael's shoulder. She could use his comfort for a moment.
"That's not surprising either," Gently, Michael placed a kiss on her temple. He'd never be surprised by Nikita's strength and heart. It was part of the reason he was initially drawn to her. That, and her ability to make a sarcastic statement out of anything. He didn't comment on either, however. She knew how much she meant to him, and all the awe he saw in her. Then wasn't the time to get into it. They could simply be, together. He rested his head atop hers and stared out at the ocean with her. Maybe when it warmed, the couple could walk the beach, hand in hand laughing and talking over their own little things. It'd be nice to have peaceful dates like that again. The ones they squeezed in between missions were great. But they'd be so much more enjoyable if the two didn't have to look over their shoulder for any danger.
Nikita could've dozed off right then and there. The quiet of the safehouse, the lull of the waves, and the warmth of her fiancé was comforting and peaceful enough for her to simply fall asleep. She wasn't quite certain if she did or not. She and Michael sat tucked into the corner for a long while. Both could've fallen asleep as their thoughts slowed and eventually stilled. Whether they did or not didn't matter once Alex entered the room. She startled them back to reality as she hung up the phone giggling. No doubt it was Sean on the other end being debriefed of the mission and told to return home. But that was something to tease her for later- when the engaged couple could get their sleep muddled thoughts in order. For the moment, Nikita was just going to cheer, "Let's give it up for Miss. Udinov."
"Thank you. Thank you. I owe it all to me, myself, and I," Although Alex put on a smug appearance, bowing and pretending like she had won an award, she was beaming at the praise. The whole team was proud of her for what she had managed to pull off. She saved her mother, got revenge for her father, returned a multi-billion dollar company to good hands, and helped run Ari and Amanda out of their positions of power. Not too bad for a young woman who was thrown into the spylife less than a year ago. She had learned fast and worked hard. She deserved every ounce of praise she could get. Fortunately, she had found a team that loved to celebrate.
"What about me?" Unfortunately, that team was also made up of assholes. Birkhoff snarked playfully as he joined the others. He collapsed in a chair next to Nikita and Michael, stretching out his legs to kick at the rogue. She smacked at his ankle hard, and he drew back with a wince. Alex could only laugh at their antics. The young woman might've thought those two were frightening and intimidating when she first met them in that alley. Yet in reality, they were two goofs with bleeding hearts. She really wasn't the best at first impressions. She had thought Sean was a jerk when they first met, after all. But really, he was the greatest person in her life.
"No. Fuck you," Nikita and Alex managed to taunt at the same time. Their matching glares, however, melted as Michael laughed and Birkhoff huffed. Ever since their first mission in Russia together- when they went to find the black box Ari had only to discover Katya was alive- the women have been on the same wavelength. They could claim they were like sisters if they had known each other longer. Yet they did spend a lot of time talking and sparring as the rogue taught the young woman how to be a spy. And they had bonded over similar past traumas. The two had become friends fast. They might even say they were approaching best friend status.
"I don't like that they're similar, Mikey," Whining, Birkhoff threw a pillow at Nikita. She pushed it away before it hit her, causing it to sail right into Alex as she sat on the floor next to her. The two giggled, though. Together, they tossed it back at the nerd and got it to hit him square in the jaw. While he groaned his acceptance of defeat, the women high-fived. Michael chuckled. They sure could bounce from dozing off to little antics in zero seconds flat. That kind of craziness wasn't anything to be annoyed by, however. One simply had to jump into the fun.
"You just don't like that two women are bullying you now, Nerd," Rather than help the hacker, Michael smirked. He and Birkhoff only knew one another for a little bit longer than Alex and Nikita, but the men had grown just as close to one another as the women had. There was something about fighting a war that made people so close. The nerd and analyst were able to strike up a balance of taunting and working as partners while they ran a mission from the safehouse and the rogue agents kicked ass. They might not have shared a history within Division, but they still worked incredibly well together. It was to the point that the two knew exactly what to say to either support each other, or annoy them.
Birkhoff's only response was to call for Ryan. He was upstairs on the phone with Senator Pierce, discussing their operation to grab the stolen energy device. He also mentioned the team's pardons. Michael had already laid out their terms of the agreement, and that had lived up to the deal. It was up to the Senator to put it all into action. Hopefully, that was soon. They all needed their freedom. After the victory they achieved, it was the only step left for them. No more pain should've been in their future. Until then, however, Ryan could add onto the torment of Birkhoff, "You're on your own. I'm not getting between you and Nikita again. I learned that lesson."
"Coward!" Nikita called as Michael and Alex laughed. Although he rolled his eyes, Birkhoff couldn't help but chuckle along with them. That wasn't the first time the rogue picked on the nerd, and it wouldn't be the last. Though, Ryan was through trying to stop their shenanigans. He had been burned attempting to end one of her pranks back in Division. He was duped just as much as the hacker, leaving him to strive to stay out of it from then forward. The young woman and the analyst weren't as cautious, though. They were going to see the hilarity through to the very end.
"Your girlfriend's mean. You should dump her," Once the laughter died down, Birkhoff told Michael. All he got were eye rolls and a glare in reply, but he was satisfied with himself. The joke was only meant to piss the engaged couple off- his words didn't hold any weight at all. Although it was awkward at first to reunite with Nikita and work alongside the man she had tricked and left Division for (her fiancé was a huge part of her life that her friend didn't even know about) he was glad they were together. They brought a sort of happiness and joy to the team. They also brought hope that he could have that kind of relationship someday. Though, he would never admit to thinking something so cheesy.
"Too late. He promised forever," The engagement ring on Nikita's finger added emphasis to her words. Michael wasn't going anywhere; he was stuck with her and her team forever. He was more than okay with that. Her friends and crusade had become his as well. They were on the same path in life, and he would never leave his love behind. A tender kiss shared between the couple expressed as much. It was a chaste affection, yet it earned them teasing groans from Alex and Birkhoff. Their friends didn't need to be so close to their PDA. The complaints only spurred the two on, however. They kissed again, and a pillow flew in their direction.
"You haven't even said your vows yet," Alex voiced, mostly to make the engaged couple stop. The statement worked. Nikita and Michael separated, their thoughts running wild. They still had to get married. They didn't forget about that; it was just hard to believe that because they didn't have a signed piece of paper their relationship wasn't there yet. The two were already committed to each other, the rest of their lives together planned and looked forward to. All they really needed was a marriage certificate. And, well, for the war to end. At least the latter was coming true.
"We should plan that," Despite being engaged for two years, Michael and Nikita had never attempted to plan for their wedding. The house on the beach they were going to buy, and the dog they might adopt were thought of and prepared for. They even put some thought to possible future jobs they might have. But their wedding remained a mystery. It was just one of the many things to do when they finally got their happily ever after. Alex was quick to supply her ideas for how the ceremony and reception should happen. She even began to ramble about using a part of the massive amounts of money she had inherited to pay for some things. She seemed far more excited than the future bride. But what young woman wouldn't at the possibility of a big party like that.
"I'm best man!" Birkhoff soon drowned out Alex with his own assumption about the wedding. Michael just shrugged, trying to continue teasing the nerd. But he took that gesture and ran with it. He and the young woman were growing more and more excited about planning a wedding. Maybe because it was a joyous mission they could put all their energy in, instead of a life or death one. Except, they weren't going to dwell too much on that. With pardons and freedom on the horizon, they should only allow the light things to surround them.
Sharing a loving glance, Michael and Nikita beamed. Who were they to stop their friends from doing something that brought brilliant smiles to their faces. Besides, what they had so far was better than what they could come up with- especially when Alex shut down any of Birkhoff's more insane ideas. It just seemed so ridiculous and bright and hopeful to spend their time on. Their future really had only good things in store for them. Though, as the nerd got too into a potential best man speech, the rogue had to knock him off his pedestal, "You don't want to be my maid of honor?"
"No. That's my job," Finally ending his phone call and joining his team, Ryan echoed Alex. Although the agent was joking, the young woman was completely serious. It was her money going into the wedding, after all (her gift to the happy couple). She deserved to support Nikita on her perfect day. Also, if Birkhoff got to be so steadfast in his role as best man, then she didn't have to give up her maid of honor title. Neither Nikita nor Michael said a word. They didn't agree or disagree with anything the others were discussing. The couple simply let them dissolve into chaos over their wedding.
"Small ceremony with the family?" Michael eventually whispered against Nikita's ear. She watched as Ryan, Alex, and Birkhoff began to shout and argue, each one committed to making the wedding ceremony perfect. She could only smile and nod. It didn't matter if they got married at a courthouse or on a private beach. As long as she was happy with her fiancé, then it was perfect. And in that moment, her happiness included their crazy hodgepodge family. They fought together, and they were going to live together for the rest of their days.