Going again had to take some time to get off of the ground first, however. Nikita explained to Sean and Alex that the team would clean up Division, reign in all three hundred agents, and stop any threats that appear. Hopefully, it wouldn't take long. But no matter the time they put in, pardons and a new life would be open to everyone. The Seal and the young woman didn't need to be concerned with a new life. They never had one stolen by Division. They could start a new life immediately. But there were some things that it'd be nice to be pardoned from. And, they couldn't leave their team behind. They either all had a future, or none of them did.
As much as Nikita appreciated Sean's and Alex's support, she wanted to give them more time to think it over. Continuing to fight wasn't an easy decision, and she didn't want to force the two into a situation they didn't need to be involved in. Besides, there was a lot to do before they could officially start their cleanup and shutdown. Division agents around the world needed to be notified of what was occurring. Funding needed to be secured. And plans needed to be arranged with the government. The war was over, but the cleanup was just as difficult and tedious.
Ryan had a good head on his shoulders, at least. He had ideas in mind to get the team started and sustain them throughout the transition. Nikita trusted him to get them going on the right track, especially since she had other things overtaking her attention. First, she and Michael had to get out of that safehouse with Ryan and Birkhoff. There was no need to stay in hiding together; they could have actual apartments and homes and privacy. And second, she had to marry her fiancé. Nothing could stand in the way of them finally starting their happily ever after.
Except, maybe their identities. Michael and Nikita continued to not have real identities. They could get by on their fakes for a quick elopement if they finagled it right. Then, they could transfer the certificate to their real names once they had their pardons. Regardless of how it all worked out, the couple couldn't pull off the big wedding their friends wanted- despite their planning and excitement. That was perfectly fine with Nikita and Michael. As long as they were married, who cared how it happened. They could find the time off in a few days, rush down to the courthouse, and be married once and for all.
With everything that had been going on inside Division, the engaged couple didn't tell their team of their wedding plans until after the fact. Needless to say, their friends were not happy. They were thrilled Michael and Nikita were married; they just wished they had been involved. A further explanation of why they had only eloped and a reception to celebrate the bright future ahead of them soon calmed hurt feelings, however. The former rogues shouldn't allow things to get in the way of their happiness anymore. They had fought for vengeance, and had gained it. Their happiness should be fought for as well.
Which was why Nikita insisted she and Michael should've been able to get away for their honeymoon. The two weren't needed at the moment. Ryan could spare them for a week or so as he continued to set up their operations. Also, although the married couple bought an apartment, their new home wasn't ready for them yet. Did Ryan really want to stay at the safehouse with newlyweds. The last point helped him to agree. Nikita and Michael could have a short honeymoon- a fact Alex was both in awe and jealous of, "Three days in paradise with the man you love. That sounds like heaven."
Flopping onto the stripped bed, Alex sighed dreamily. She was supposed to be helping Nikita pack her belongings in the safehouse. If everything was packed immediately, then the second she and her husband returned from their trip they could move into their new apartment. The young woman had far more fantastic ideas in mind, however. Nikita rolled her eyes. She harshly shoved her friend off of the shirt she had been trying to fold. Her responding yelp as she was struck in the side was ignored, "You know, you can have a vacation too."
"Not when Sean's busy with the Seals. I mean, it's not like we can use our honeymoon as an excuse to escape," Alex muttered, rubbing her sore ribs with her good hand. Thanks to her fight with Roan, her right arm had to remain in a cast for another couple of weeks. Her injury, as well as Sean's concussion and stab wound, were only one reason why they couldn't go on a vacation, though. The other was the Navy Seals. Since Sean's name popped up on a Marine report of what happened at Division, he had to explain his involvement to his commanding officers. Fortunately, the President backed his statement. Unfortunately, Alex hardly saw him.
"Oh yeah. Some honeymoon. We had to beg for just three days off," Rolling her eyes again, Nikita tossed a pair of sandals into her mission bag. She didn't have an actual suitcase to pack with. Nor did she have a swimsuit for the beach she and Michael were running away to. Yet she'd just have to figure that out later. If she desperately wanted a honeymoon with her husband, then they had to leave immediately. Not only was that part of the stipulation, but also who knew what could spring up that would throw them off their plans.
"Birkhoff said you threatened Ryan," Alex recalled, completely negating her friend's claim. She remembered Nikita and Ryan arguing in a secluded office after she announced her marriage. It hadn't lasted long. Nikita soon walked away with a triumphant smirk. When the young woman asked about it, though, all she was told was that the former rogue had threatened the former agent. The hacker laughed as he stated it, so she shrugged it off. It wasn't until she heard about the honeymoon that she put two and two together.
"Same thing," Shrugging, Nikita dug through her small selection of clothes to find something to wear on her honeymoon. Shopping was another thing she had to tackle since Division was being shutdown. Alex at least said she'd go with her, so that'd be fun. Money also wouldn't have to be an issue. Being back on a government salary after enjoying a rogue's definitely changed things. Yet she could make it work. The whole team was making things work where they could, refusing to sacrifice anymore. That meant visiting families could be a priority again, "Didn't you say you were gonna visit your mom? You can't use that as an excuse?"
Sighing in exasperation that time, Alex moved to finish helping Nikita pack. She could easily visit her mother in Greece (Katya had decided to stay in Corfu, even though Zetrov was finally in good hands) but she wanted Sean to go with her. Her mother should meet him as her loving boyfriend who was learning Russian, and not just her awkward friend who only stared whenever Russian was spoken to him. Scheduling was simply a bitch to deal with, and there would be no reprieve for a while, "Yeah, if Sean and I were married. Husband and wife have more special privileges than boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Just boyfriend and girlfriend for now," Nikita couldn't help but tease. She had no idea what Sean and Alex were thinking for their future. Maybe they were content just being partners in all things. They didn't need to get married to have that continue to be a possibility. Wherever their relationship went, however, it was fun watching Alex blush a deep red. She and Sean were always easy to mess with when it came to their feelings for one another. It was so innocent and sweet at times, almost like schoolyard crushes.
"Alright, Mrs. Newlywed… wait, what is Michael's real last name?" Although Alex attempted to draw attention away from herself, she stumbled on her own taunt. Realization suddenly struck that she didn't know Michael's last name; at least, not the one he didn't have on his fake ID. She felt like she did, or at least a vague bit of it. To be honest, though, she wasn't entirely sure of what Nikita's and Ryan's last names were either- hell, she didn't even know Birkhoff's first name. Some teammate she was. But Nikita only laughed at her question. It honestly wasn't as big of a deal as she was making it. They were rogue spies after all.
"Who said he's not taking mine?" Winking, Nikita let Alex off the hook. She'd tell her their names, and how they closely tied to their aliases later. There were probably other facts about themselves and the team that they had to share anyway. In the meantime, they could focus on packing. The weapons had gone to Division, but there were still clothes, bedding, toiletries, and the random things that had accumulated to deal with. As tedious as packing was, it was nice that nothing had been blown up. Their belongings could actually have a long shelf life.
"Whatever. What I was saying was that I want to enjoy dating without a war, or fighting, or excessive drama. I've seen how we are as friends in times of peace, now I want to know how we are as a couple," Alex eventually explained her stance on hers and Sean's relationship. She used packing as an excuse to not look directly at Nikita. It wasn't as though she was ashamed of her view. She just didn't want it known how awkward she felt explaining herself. After all, she didn't really share that much with Sean. She should've told him her thoughts, but she didn't want to accidentally say the wrong thing. That was a problem of theirs.
Nodding, Nikita didn't say anything for a moment. Partially because she was thinking about what toiletries she needed to bring with her, but mostly it was to give Alex a second to settle. She understood what the young woman was trying to say. Relationships were always affected the most by war. Seeing how you worked as a couple outside of all that drama was important. What kinds of people were they during peace, when they had only seen each other during war. Though, Sean and Alex had known one another before Division; at least, they knew a part, "And him knowing exactly who you are now doesn't add some fear and doubt?"
"It didn't with you and Michael? I mean, how long were you guys together before you were engaged, before you were married?" Instantly, Alex fired back. Nikita was right. Sean knowing every part of her changed things. Yes, it changed things for the better- they could know and love one another with their whole hearts. But she couldn't help but feel a small pang of fear knowing that he was aware of her darkest secrets. No one could deny that her dark past didn't affect the way they thought about her, and she hated that. She hated that the way Sean saw her changed, even if he loved her immensely.
"Touché," Nikita mumbled. Hers and Michael's relationship had progressed slowly since the very beginning. Division, Gogol, and Oversight were causes of that. The danger of their enemies forced them to take their time. However, their war wasn't entirely to blame. The more he discovered about her past (whether it was her time in foster care, as a runaway, or in Division), the more she wanted to pull away. Michael had said that was because she hated herself, which was why he was teaching her to love herself. Maybe he was right. But Nikita didn't really think so. The problem lied with how much she hated the way people regarded her.
"I just want to get away with him first," Alex simplified, picturing something better for herself. The idea ripped both her and Nikita out of their thoughts. They had spent enough time in the pain of their pasts. Then was the time for moving forward. Their demons had been defeated, after all. Only pardons and a real life awaited them. Nikita flashed Alex a small smile. Silently, the two women resumed their packing for a second. They let the weight of their comments and morose thoughts lift from their shoulders.
"That's a good idea. After I get back, I'll see if I can get Kendrick to convince the Seals to let Sean have more time off," Soon, Nikita agreed to Alex's hopeful idea. Her honeymoon with Michael was a mixture of celebrating their new marriage and escaping the effects of their war. The rest of her team should have the same chance to relax and breathe before diving into more. Sean also deserved to catch a break from the Navy after all he had done. A vacation with his girlfriend was probably the best reward he'd receive.
"Yes! Thank you," Bouncing excitedly on her toes and laughing brightly, Alex wrapped Nikita in a tight embrace. The former rogue laughed as well, squeezing her friend just as tightly. The two hugged and jumped for just a moment longer, allowing themselves to be silly and blissfully happy for a second. It was a by-product of destroying Division that the team had hoped for, but they never expected the relief to be so strong. Despite being aware that there were still things to do, they could envision a future ahead. It was bright and clear.
Those thoughts could get them though the torture of being the ones to clean up Division. Talking about future plans certainly helped Nikita and Alex finish packing. The young woman mostly rambled about a potential vacation with her boyfriend, while her friend supplied jokes here and there. Eventually, the former rogue stared at her half-packed bag, needing to decide on a few more items. Picking at some of the clothes left on the bed, she asked, "You think five pairs of underwear for a three day trip is enough?"
"I'd pack one more. You're gonna be on a beach and having lots of sex," Giggling, Alex suggested. Nikita had to giggle along with her as she threw in an extra pair. A slight blush began to creep across the new bride's features, but it wasn't the same as the young woman's deep red from earlier. This was born from pure excitement. The fact that she married the person she loved most hit her in waves. At times, joy would crash into her forcefully, nearly knocking her off her feet. She didn't think she had ever been that happy in her entire life. She couldn't stop smiling.
"Hey. Jet's fueled up. You ready to go?" Michael knocked on the doorframe, interrupting the giggles. Smiles didn't fade at the sight of him, however. In fact, Nikita beamed even brighter. She shoved the rest of her clothes in her bag or in a box, and hurried to grab her husband's outstretched hand. Alex's eyes rolled, yet her cheerful grin betrayed her feign annoyance. She was excited for the couple. They deserved the sunshine paradise they were running into. Out of everyone on the team, they had worked the hardest- and the longest- for that outcome.
"With you? Always," Waving goodbye to Alex, Nikita let Michael whisk her out of the safehouse. Smiles illuminated both their features.