Beneath her bare feet, Nika felt the plush carpet as she put on red sweat pants and tied her robe shut. She then went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. As she brushed her hair, she imagined how awkward the morning might be for Agent 47. Everyone else would be exchanging gifts while he would simply watch. Fortunately, she had yet to place her presents under the tree.
He opened the door for her and quickly stepped back when she entered.
"Sign these cards." she handed him four Christmas cards and a pen.
"Why?" He looked at her.
"There are for Madison, Mai and Robert and Elaine.." She saw the strange expression on his face, "Trust me."
Without speaking, he signed the cards.
"Thank you. And now come help me bring down their presents."
"Ok.."
"Oh and one more thing," she smiled and took his hand, "Merry Christmas."
He was moved by her words and gesture, "Merry Christmas, Nika."
The soft look he gave her brought warmth to her heart but there was no time to dwell on it, "We have to get ready before everyone wakes up."
Pieces of torn wrapping paper and opened boxes almost covered the living room floor. At Mai's request, 'N SYNC's Christmas album played as her, Madison and Nika opened their presents. Robert recorded video of the festivities with his camcorder and Elaine removed a fresh batch of cookies from the oven. Agent 47 sat on the couch next to Nika quietly taking in his surroundings.
"This is from Frank and me," Nika handed Elaine an envelope when she joined them in the living room.
"You two didn't have to." Elaine graciously told them as she opened the envelope. Her face beamed with delight, "A vacation in Hawaii!"
"Robert told me you two always wanted to go.." Nika smiled and embraced her. "You both do so much here; it's the least we can do."
With wet eyes, Elaine held Nika's face, "Thank you so much, Karina," she kissed her cheek.
Agent 47 saw Elaine heading for him with open arms. A bit of panic came to him when he realized she was about to do. He knew that he couldn't avoid it; it would have been rude, awkward and might provoke the old overdramatic Nika to appear. Pushing his hesitation aside, he stood up and accepted her hug.
"Thank you Frank, I'm sorry..I didn't get you anything," Elaine said as she held him.
Hugging Elaine didn't feel as strange as he initially believed. Although he felt more connected to Nika whenever they embraced, Elaine's hug gave him a sense of comfort and security. She rubbed his back twice and he imagined what it was like to be hugged by his mother, if he had one.
"It's fine." he told her. "Karina is right, you and Robert deserve it."
"You two are so kind to us," she withdrew from him.
"Thanks," Robert gave Nika a hug with his free arm and then shook Agent 47's hand. "We really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he said to Robert.
Nika knew he wasn't comfortable embracing someone who wasn't her but was touched by how he did so anyway.
Suddenly, Madison and Mai excitedly yelled, "iPods!" They held Nika's gifts in the air and danced before charging towards Nika and Agent 47.
Laughing, Nika hugged the girls and accepted their gratitude.
"Thanks Karina," Mai said.
"Thank you.." Madison gazed up at her. "Mom."
Her green eyes began welling up. It was the first time Madison had referred to Nika as her mother, "You're very welcome," her voice caught in her throat. She brushed her red hair.
Agent 47 prepared himself by hardening his abdomen and planting his feet when the girls enthusiastically latched onto him.
"Thank you sooo much Frank!" Mai happily told him.
"I love it! It's my favorite color too, blue!" Madison told him.
"You're welcome, girls," he politely told them and briefly stroked both their heads. They felt so fragile against him yet he found their affection to be endearing.
A satisfied sigh came from Nika as she watched her hitman be tender with her daughters.
When the girls let go of him to continue opening their presents, he sat down on the couch and watched everyone. Being surrounded by individuals who loved and cared for one another including him, was a new feeling for Agent 47. There was a sense of love and togetherness amongst everyone. It was the opposite of the cold isolation that he grew up with. At that instant he grasped what was happening, he was now a part of a family and he liked it.
With their hands clasped, Nika and Agent 47 walked Tiska and Lena around the neighborhood.
It astonished and impressed Nika to see how many emotional strides Agent 47 had made since she last saw him in Turkey. Granted, he was still somewhat reserved but had become more open than when she first met him. She now felt comfortable enough to ask him more personal questions.
"The place where you grew up," she broke the easy silence that had accompanied them, "when did you leave?"
He didn't want to talk about his upbringing but Nika had told him about her past. It was only fair that he tell her about his. "When I was eighteen," he said. "That's when we're sent on our first assignment."
"When is your birthday?"
"I..I don't know the exact month and day. They only told us our ages at the beginning of each new year."
She felt for him, at least she knew her birthday and what it was like to be loved as a child, "What is the year then?"
"1972."
"Thirty-five, you look a little bit younger."
"When is yours?"
"April 4, 1980, just a few days after April Fool's Day," she told him.
He made sure to remember it, "Not hard to forget."
She glanced down at the sidewalk then asked, "After you finish an assignment...do you ever have trouble sleeping?"
Her question made him think, "Only if it runs late which is rare."
"Your instructors, did they ever tell you why you had to kill?"
With a slight bob of his head he answered, "It was what we were chosen and taught to do. Our marks deserved to die because of what they've done or they're witnesses."
The latter applied to her and she knew it, "Do you still believe the last part?"
He pondered what his response should be, "It depends on the situation and…the people involved." His eyes traveled up and down her body.
She nodded acknowledging the sacrifice he made for her. Then she changed the conversation to a less serious topic. "I really like Karissa."
"Me too," he agreed.
"She's sweet, funny and smart..very beautiful." She gauged his reaction and saw his eyebrows furrow. "What, you don't think so?"
One of his men's magazine articles was about how women like asking their men "test" questions and if handled properly, a fight would not follow.
"Is this a trick?"
"What do you mean?" she innocently asked.
"You're trying to ask me if I'm attracted to her," he said with knowing eyes.
She hated how right he was but pressed on, "Are you?"
He took a moment to choose his words, "She is pretty but she is only a friend and married. Nothing else." His thumb reassuringly stroked her hand.
Suppressing the grin at pulled at her lips, she then asked him, "Good..but what was it about her that made you…Not want to put her into the trunk of your car?" she giggled.
He shook his head and joked, "I only save that privilege for you."
She laughed, "You just made a joke, I like it. Seriously though..what was it about her?"
"She was respectful of me," he shared with her. "When I came into the store, she kept her distance but was still helpful. And she's not greedy."
"What makes you think that?"
"I tried to pay her double for the blanket and the DVD; she didn't want to accept it."
"I see," then she asked her next question, "Why did you choose the blanket for me?"
A trace of annoyance was in his voice, "I wrote it in the note."
"I know..but..the color of blanket was same as the dress I wore when we together."
"I know."
She hid her joy at finding out that she had been right and spoke again, "Was that the only reason?"
His eyes went to Lena then returned to her, "It's soft."
"It's cashmere, it's supposed to be.." she was puzzled.
After a few seconds passed he stated, "Like your skin."
His words stopped her and caused her heart to skip a beat. Hearing him say that he remembered the touch of her skin astounded her. He didn't strike her as the sentimental type. Then again, she was slowly learning new things about him. As she did, she discovered the many layers to him that he had always hidden. This newfound knowledge made her face a decision she had been reluctant to confront. Even though it was a risk, she trusted her instincts and followed them.
He watched her let of go of his hand and cup the side of his neck. She stood on her toes and brought her soft lips to his cheek. The hairs on back of his neck and arms stood on end. His eyes closed and he enjoyed the lovely sensation of her soft supple lips on him as his free hand held her hip. When she lowered her heels to the ground he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes to see her smiling face.
"Thank you," she let go of his neck, took his hand off her hip and held it. The mixture of shock and quiet mirth on his face made her lips form into a triumphant smile. She had broken down one of the last walls he had placed between them. It was a small victory that she gladly accepted.