An AU for early season 3. Although I love how Michael and Nikita got married (it's very them), what if they got to have a 'traditional' wedding with their entire family present.

"Hey, Nerd. Can I ask you something?" Nikita had to shout over Birkhoff's turntables. She finally understood what Michael was joking about when he mentioned the nerd DJing their wedding. Birkhoff had really committed to his new music making hobby. Nikita would have to ask him about it later- maybe listen to whatever he was messing with. But then wasn't the time. She had far more important things to worry about.

"What?" Birkhoff shouted back. Rolling her eyes, Nikita yanked the cord out of the turntable. She wasn't going to play the shouting game. Birkhoff couldn't argue with that; though, he could grumble as he fixed whatever potential damage her stunt had caused.

Nikita used his fiddling as an opportunity to settle her nerves. She was actually nervous about asking Birkhoff something; she couldn't stop fidgeting with her engagement ring. It wasn't like she was going to discuss something bad. It was just serious. She was afraid he'd have a negative reaction. So, she waited until he looked at her to make certain her meaning wasn't misconstrued, "Well, I know you're dead-set on being Michael's best man. But Sean's gonna be standing up with him as well, and…"

"Oh, no. Mikey's not replacing me with a dumb Seal," Despite her efforts, Nikita's words were misunderstood anyway. Birkhoff was ready to go off on a rant about why he deserved to be Michael's best man over everybody else. He had known the engaged couple the longest. He was there for their highs and lows. He was also Michael's best friend. When the agent was brooding, the hacker was there to cheer him up. When Michael was being an idiot about his feelings, Birkhoff was there to give him a wake up call. And when it was time to hang out and relax, they did so together. How could Birkhoff not be the best man after that.

"No, Birkhoff. I just wanted to know if you would walk me down the aisle instead," Stopping him before he could rant himself into a hole, Nikita finally blurted what was on her mind. She had been thinking about that for a while. Although she wasn't much for tradition or doing anything like anyone else, she knew Michael wanted some sort of traditional wedding. He didn't pressure her about it, but of course she'd do something he wanted. That meant someone had to walk her down the aisle. She didn't have a father to do it- not that she wanted any father figure to be involved in her special day. Yet, she did have other family members.

Birkhoff blinked. He definitely wasn't expecting that. Michael and Nikita hadn't said anything about their wedding; they hardly said anything about their engagement. Birkhoff was surprised Nikita wanted something so traditional, and that she wanted him to be a part of it, "Seriously?"

Shrugging, Nikita kept twirling the ring on her finger. She had flipped between asking either Alex or Birkhoff to walk her down the aisle. Both were as important to her as Michael was. However, she eventually decided to ask Birkhoff. He was the better choice. Yes, Alex was Nikita's sister. But Birkhoff was hers and Michael's brother, "You're kinda the closest family both Michael and I have."

"Yeah. Yeah of course," Pulling her into a tight embrace, Birkhoff wholeheartedly agreed. Of course he'd walk Nikita down the aisle. She didn't have to doubt herself in asking him. Nothing could stop him from being with her on her special day. He just had to get a suit in time (he'd actually dress up for that event), "When are you guys getting hitched?"

"Uh. Tomorrow," Sheepishly, Nikita admitted.

Somehow, it was both Alex's and Michael's idea. Nikita was content waiting to get married until after they dealt with all of Division's dirty agents. That'd give them plenty of time to plan for their happily ever afters. She believed her fiancé thought the same. They had more or less agreed to it when he had first proposed. Except, when Alex made a leading comment about the wedding, Michael turned towards Nikita with the brightest and most excited green eyes. She had to say 'yes' to whatever he suggested.

Alex's comment wasn't anything special. She just nudged Nikita harshly as she told her that the dress she wore when they went to get her ring resized would be a perfect simple wedding dress. Although Nikita rolled her eyes, Michael became excited about the idea. What if the two had a quick simple wedding- just them and their friends. Alex jumped at the thought. She was ready to share more ideas that Michael built off of. Not long later, it was decided that as soon as Nikita got her ring back from being resized, she and Michael were going to get married.

The team didn't have any active operations at the moment. They could take a day off to hold a wedding. It didn't matter that it'd be rushed and hectic. The team did best with those kinds of plans. They could clean up the barn and decorate it with lights, flowers, and streamers. They could gather in their nicest clothes and best appearances. And Nikita and Michael could be married by their whole family.

Owen still hadn't answered any of their communications, however. The team constantly tried to contact him, yet he never responded. He just had to miss out on the wedding. Everyone else was in attendance. Sean was another one of Michael's best men. He stood next to him at the makeshift altar, leaving enough space for Birkhoff to stand once he walked down the aisle. Sonya and Alex stood on the other side, waiting to support Nikita. Sonya had been surprised when she was asked to be a second maid of honor. She wasn't as close to Nikita as Alex was. However, she was just as much a part of the team; she was just as important.

As was Ryan, but he had an entirely different role for the wedding. It was possible to obtain an officiant's license from the internet. He simply had to take a course. After that, he was legally able to marry Michael and Nikita. The fact that they didn't have their real identities yet made it a bit tricky- a reason the engaged couple had originally agreed to wait to marry. But they'd just have to cross that bridge when they came to it. Immediately starting their forevers together was more important.

In just a few days, everything was ready for a small family wedding. Formal wear and appropriate licenses were obtained, decorations were hung, and a haphazard reception afterwards with food and drinks was planned. Everyone was in place at the makeshift altar. All they were waiting on was for Nikita to be walked around the corner of the barn. That would've been soon, but Alex had to help with some last minute touches, "So. Here's something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."

Gently, Alex helped Nikita with the traditional items. They were counting 'something old' as the dress she was wearing. Although Nikita had only worn it once while shopping with Alex, they were stretching the definition enough for their rushed plans to work.

The 'something new' was a pair of diamond earrings Alex had bought Nikita to celebrate her engagement. The jewelry matched her ring, everything glittering and shimmering in a beautiful shade of blue.

'Something borrowed' was a necklace Nikita had given Alex. It was a small and simple piece of jewelry the former rogue bought for the young woman's birthday when she was training her to infiltrate Division. Alex had held onto it all those years, even when the two were fighting. It was her connection to her best friend and sister. Nikita should have it with her for the day.

For the 'something blue' Nikita joked that the dark bruise on her shoulder from chasing after Liza should count. Alex instantly negated that idea. Instead, she took a blue ribbon, which was wrapped around one of the small bouquet of flowers that was bought that morning, and tied it onto Nikita's wrist. With that, she was perfect. She was ready to marry Michael.

"You sure Ryan got his officiant's license? Even though Michael and I don't have our real identities, we can still be legally married?" At least, Nikita hoped she was ready. She knew Ryan was working on it, and she trusted him to have gotten it. But she really didn't want anything to go wrong. The team's plans always had a wrench thrown in them. She couldn't let anything ruin her wedding. It had to be absolutely perfect. She and Michael deserved at least that much.

"When you guys get your lives back, you'll still be married," Squeezing her best friend's defined biceps, Alex beamed reassuringly. Nikita's brilliant smile illuminated her entire being. She practically buzzed in excitement. Laughter bubbled out of both women. They hugged one another tightly, swaying and bouncing in pure joy.

Awkwardly tugging at the sleeves of his suit and repeatedly adjusting his tie, Birkhoff approached the giggling women. It was about time they got the show on the road. The sun was beginning to set, and Michael, no doubt, was about to burst in anticipation. They shouldn't wait any longer, "You ready?"

"God, you're gorgeous," Alex couldn't help herself. She knew it was time to go, but she just had to pull Nikita in for another hug and place a kiss on her cheek. She was so damn happy for her best friend. And the excited smile that ignited Nikita's features made her the most beautiful woman in the world. Alex had to celebrate that warmth with her. She wanted to keep enjoying that happiness. But Birkhoff began to shove her out the door. She swatted him off of her, "Okay. Okay. I'll see you up there."

Hurriedly, Alex rushed to her spot at the altar. She nodded at the others, her smile never dimming. They were about to witness magic- a fact she just had to lean across and whisper to Michael, "You're going to die when you see her."

"Look at him all nervous, acting like he's never done this before," Sean smirked, clapping Michael on his back. He had been fidgeting with his tuxedo jacket since he reached the altar. He swayed from foot to foot, trying to catch a glimpse of Nikita around the corner as he waited for her. He wasn't anxiously nervous or anything like that. He was simply so excited he couldn't stay still. He was so ecstatic, he didn't know what to do with himself.

"I know. It must be weird for you to see someone actually make a move on the girl they like," Michael tried to distract himself by taunting Sean, yet his eyes never left the barn opening. The words also tripped and stumbled off his tongue with all his jittered energy. His focus couldn't be torn away from Nikita, even when Sonya and Ryan laughed at Alex's and Sean's awkward expressions. Michael was just so ready for his fiancée to enter the barn.

Once she did, he instantly realized Alex was right. Watching Nikita in a white dress walk towards him down the aisle with the most beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, dazzling, amazing smile on her lips was going to kill Michael. But if he did die, he'd have been sent right back to that moment. Because that moment with Nikita was heaven. Her golden brown eyes never left his lovestruck green. Her whole attention- her whole heart- was directed at Michael, even as she clung to Birkhoff's arm. He wanted to rush right to her, sweep her up in his arms, and kiss her senseless. But he knew he couldn't, not yet at least. He still had to wait.

Fortunately, the barn wasn't that big. The almost married couple didn't have to wait long to be in one another's arms. Birkhoff squeezed Nikita's arm and kissed her cheek before handing her over to Michael. She hummed softly at the affection. Yet once she was in her future husband's arms, everyone else disappeared. She splayed her hands across his sturdy chest, while he held her waist and cradled her cheek. She had never seen more love in his gaze than at that moment. She moved as close to him as she could when he breathed, "You're so beautiful."

"You're not so bad yourself, Sailor," It was an old tease Nikita always said with a smirk. Yet as Michael swept his thumb along her cheek, his future wife ducked her head and blushed. He chuckled at her reaction, bringing his forehead down to brush hers. Their noses bumped, and their lips ghosted over one another.

Clearing his throat, Ryan forced the two to separate. Stifled giggles floated between their friends. They shared bright smiles and happy gazes. They were certainly in for a show. After all, Nikita and Michael never stopped touching each other or staring into one another's eyes. It was as though they weren't even listening to Ryan's speech about how he knew the two were soulmates. They were in their own bubble, only coming up for air when addressed, "Michael Bishop, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I can't wait another moment," There was more to Ryan's line- something about sickness and health and whatever- but Michael didn't care. There were times when traditions weren't important. Then was one of those times. He just wanted to be married to Nikita.

Ryan just smiled. It was obvious that the couple would agree to love and to hold one another until death did them part. He didn't have to go through the whole speech. But he'd give that to Michael and Nikita; he could give them some normalcy, "And Nikita…"

"Yes. A million times yes," She didn't even attempt a joke. That was the most serious Nikita had ever been. She couldn't be misunderstood or misconstrued in any way. She had to be married to the love of her life and finally be home.

"Then, by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you: husband and wife. You may kiss…" Ryan wasn't given a chance to finish that line either. At the word 'kiss', Michael and Nikita surged together. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed with every ounce of passion they had. The married couple's love was palpable. It was so strong that the barn almost seemed warmer and brighter. They were surrounded by pure, unadulterated happiness. Despite the fact that their mission to end Division continued, Nikita and Michael could begin living happily ever after. They had one another in their lives forever.

Lips bursting in grins, Alex, Birkhoff, Ryan, Sean, and Sonya couldn't be annoyed by the couple's public display of affection. They'd let them have it that time. In fact, the friends clapped and cheered for Michael and Nikita. The two finally tied the knot. Laughter broke the married couple apart from their kiss. They're family was ridiculous. But they were so glad they were there with them. Embraces and smiles could be passed around, the joy continuing until the sun disappeared from the sky. Then, Alex called for everyone to follow her, "Now to my kickass apartment for the best damn party you've ever had."

Cheers rang throughout the barn again as the family followed to the reception. They wouldn't stop celebrating the wedding for a long time. Even when the world crashed back into them with another mission, they'd ride the high that they could obtain their happiness and freedom. Michael would certainly enjoy that. While the others left, he pulled his wife back to him. He kissed her gently, tenderly, and lovingly. All the words trapped in his heart were expressed in the affection, "I love you."

"I love you too," Nikita returned the burning kiss. Michael picked her up in his arms and spun her around. Giggling cheerfully, she tried to keep kissing her husband. They laughed too much to allow that to happen. But their foreheads still fused together as he set her down. Their hands held one another, and they basked in their love- smiling like idiots. Until their family called for them. Hand in hand, they raced after to begin living forever together.