Nikita walks slowly to Madeline's office in the early morning. The halls are quiet and the only sound heard is the softy sounds of Anna.

"Anna-bow-anna!" Nikita giggles as she enters Madeline's office and goes the Anna who is swinging in the chair. Anna smiles and giggles with Nikita.

Operations stands behind Madeline. Nikita stands up and looks at the two.

"Against our better judgement, we have decide that you will go to the retreat." Madeline says. Nikita smiles and nods her head, finally looking right at Operations who looks disappointed.

"Will I be going with Mylo and Julie?" Nikita asks.

"Yes. They leave in three days." Madeline says softly. "I hope you tell Michael today."

"Sure." Nikita says looking away. She thinks a second and smiles.

"Thanks, Madeline." Nikita says and she hugs Madeline and walks away.

Madeline looks at Operations who has his hands extended.

"You really didn't expect her to hug you?" Madeline asks sarcastically, and Operations pulls his hands in.

"Michael is going to be impossible for three months." Operations says sitting down.

"I'll be watching both very carefully." Madeline says with a slight smile.

"Good. I want to see everything." Operations says with a smile. He stands up and hugs Madeline.

"Hey, don't worry. They need to learn to be apart... and they will have a wonderful reunion.. I guarentee that!" Madeline says and Operations kisses her.

************

Nikita slowly slides into the office and slides in next to Michael. She slowly kisses his neck as she hugs his chest.

"Mmm..... 'kita.. what do you..mmm.. want?" Michael says breathlessly as he twists in the chair.

"I'm going on a trip." Nikita mutters as she runs her hands up his shirt.

"Mmm... I like that... ahh... where?" Michael says struggling to maintain control as Nikita unbuttons his shirt.

"How about here?... mmm..." Nikita teases Michael as she runs one of her hands down to his waist and starts tugging.

"Ohhh.. 'kita...mmm... how long... oh that feels so good...mmm..." Michael moans as Nikita runs kisses down his chest.

"Mmmm.. three...months.." Nikita mutters as her hands below make contact with flesh.

"Oh yes.. mmmm.. Nikita... I need you... ahhh..." Michael moans, not registering what she had said right away.

Michael quickly pushes Nikita off of him and sits up straight, with fire in his eyes.

"THREE MONTHS!" Michael yells as he struggles to keep his urge from jumping Nikita right there.

"I took a position at the retreat for three months.. I'll be working with the couples." Nikita says softly, as she starts to run the tip of her finger over the surface of his bare chest.

"NO." Michael says as he throws Nikita's finger off of his chest.

"Michael, I just want to enjoy these days before I leave..." Nikita says as she unbuttons one button on her blouse.

Michael takes a sharp breath in.

"Three days?... For three months! Nikita.. Section married us for a reason..." Michael angerily says as he straightens his clothing.

"BUT WE AREN'T" Nikita says angerily.

"Why are you leaving me?" Michael asks with red rushing into his face. Nikita stares at him, and finally lets go.

"Because you've done crap... let Rita die in your damn arms.. went through the motions... you haven't changed at all through all of this.. I feel like a damn ping pong ball that has been beaten back and forth.. and I just need some time away... It's not because I don't love you... I'm doing this because I love you.... SO I can come back a better Nikita... better to suit you... so I can love with all of me and feel ready for the years to come... Damn you, Michael.. I just want to go!" Nikita screams and exits with her shirt half way open.

"Sugar.. better button up!" Walter says with a wide smile at the free display of Nikita's charms.

************

The apartment is black as Nikita enters. She doesn't turn on a light and she goes to lay down on the couch.

(Dream)

Nikita wakes up to a sound of the door opening... Nikita pulls a gun as an old man enters. "Nikita...it's me..." Michael's voice comes from the old man. "No it's not!" Nikita yells out as she sits up from the couch. "You left me for three months.. and that was years ago...wife..." the man says as he struggles to sit down.

(Nikita wakes up, screaming and looks at the door)

"NO!" Nikita screams as she turns away from the door. Michael walks in and turns the lights on.

"Nikita?" Michael asks as he looks at her damp hair.

"Oh, good." Nikita sighs out in relief. Michael drops the keys and walks to her.

"We have to talk... I've done a lot of thinking." Michael says sitting down.

"I won't go." Nikita says looking at Michael. Michael half smiles and then frowns.

"But you want too. We can handle anything.. and three months.. will seem long... but you have to promise we have Valentine's day in four weeks together." Michael says softly as he rub Nikita's face softly.

"I wouldn't miss Valentine's Day." Nikita says with a smile and she hugs Michael. "You talked to Madeline, didn't you?"

"Yes. I think she is upset at you... for trying to just slip it into me... that was cold!" Michael says as he continues to caress her shoulders and start to move down her chest.

"You didn't think so at that time!" Nikita says with a smile as Michael pushes away the blouse, and rubbing his hands across the white silk skin.

"And you gave Walter a great view." Michael says as he leans and kisses her neck.

"Have to give the old guy a peak or two every once in a while." Nikita smiles as Michael runs his mouth futher down as he has now opened the entire blouse.

"Remember.. this is mine." Michael mutters as he makes Nikita wiggle.

************

Nikita looks around the office and sighs. She stares at the couch that had just arrived earlier that day. right now, the cushions face the wall opposite the door, and if you stretch out on your back, you are totally hidden.

"Nikita... we have some time before your going away party." Michael says as he shuts the office door. "Is everything packed?"

"Yes. So we have the whole night to be with each other." Nikita smiles as she sits on the couch. Michael sits down extremely close to her.

"Mmm, I'd like to start now." Michael says as he slides his fingers over Nikita's mouth. She sticks her tongue out and wets them.

"Me too." Nikita winks. Michael starts to slowly undress her, letting her sink into the soft cushions of the couch.

"Mmmm..." Nikita moans as he looks down at her soft body. "Join me."

Michael slowly takes his shirt off and Nikita helps pull his pants all the way off.

-------------------------------------------------

Birkoff opens Michael and Nikita's door and only sees a piece of flesh bouncing up and down from behind the black couch. Birkoff shuts the door softly. He smiles as he hears the muffled screams that they are trying to cover with their hands and kisses.

-------------------------------------------------

"You are an animal!" Nikita says as she runs a brush through her matted hair.

"I know." Michael says huskily. There is a short knock at the door. Michael looks down and notices that neither of them locked it and then opens it.

"Party is up and swinging... I tried earlier..but..." Birkoff says with a blushing red face. Michael turns red and pats Birkoff's shoulder.

"Sorry," Michael says and shuts to door, and starts to laugh.

************

Michael opens the apartment door and the two slowly walk in. Nikita smiles as she closes the door.

"I never knew you liked lamb, Nikita?" Michael says with a bright smile.

"I may surprize you... I knew you did." Nikita says with a smile. Michael walks to a dresser drawer that has never been opened. Nikita watches as he pulls out a box.

"Nikita, I want to paint you tonight." Michael says softly as he sets the box of paints on the bed. Nikita looks at him, and twists a piece of hair around her finger.

"But there is no canvas." Nikita says with a evil grin on her face.

"I said I wanted to paint you." Michael says as he slides her blouse off again. Michael reaches into the box and puts some blue paint on his fingers and starts to rub it on her forehead.

"Why is my forehead blue?" Nikita asks slowly as she enjoys the soft rubbing of Michael's fingertips.

"Because you are sad when you think too much." Michael says softly and he places some orange paint on his fingers. He starts to outline Nikita's mouth.

"Ah.. Michael?" Nikita says with a few giggles. Michael continues is movements, sending goosebumps down Nikita's back. "Why is my mouth orange?"

"It's hot like lava but yet sweet and tangy like an orange." Michael says as he pulls his hand away and kisses Nikita's lips softly. He pulls away and there is some orange paint on his face now.

"And my arms? What would they be?" Nikita asks as she touches his face gently. Michael takes two bottles in his hands and starts to sqeeze the paint right out on Nikita's arms.

"Pink and peach... smooth as silk..." Michael says as he starts to spread the paint down and up her arms. Drips now hit the bedspread. "Ah.. and your fingertips.. purple."

"And why is that?" Nikita asks as Michael touches each finger with a tad of purple.

"That's where you are passionate.. royal with your movements..." Michael says smoothly. Nikita reaches out for a bottle of paint.

"Can I paint you?" Nikita asks.

"Do you know how to?" Michael teases Nikita as he throws his shirt off.

"I'm sure I can figure it out." Nikita says with a wink. Michael smiles and winks back at Nikita.

"And where would you start?" Michael ask. Nikita splats out a puddle of black paint on Michael's shoulders. The cold paint, makes Michael jump.

"Black on your shoulders because you are strong as steel." Nikita says with a slight smile. She continues with the black over to his face. Then she paints the other half white.

"Am I Jeckle and Hyde?" Michael asks as he looks into Nikita electric blue eyes.

"No. More like ying and yang.. perfectly balanced." Nikita says. She bends down and kisses Michael's lips. Nikita pulls away and pours an entire bottle of red paint on his chest.

"Red?" Michael says as he starts touching her shoulders constantly.

"Because that's where you are warm and toasty." Nikita smiles at him. Michael runs his hands through her blonde hair, leaving streaks of paint in it.

"HEY! That's my hair!" Nikita shutters out. Michael continues up.

"It's waterbased." Michael says with a huge smile. He grabs hold of her and rolls her down onto the bed.

"I haven't finished painting you yet!" Nikita jokingly protests.

"Neither have I..." Michael says as he hungerly attacks her neck.

************

Michael stirs with a mixture of paint across his face, hair and chest. He leans up in bed, the blankets covered with a grayish paint mess.

"Kita!" Michael calls out as he stands up and walks to the bathroom. He places a pair of shorts on and a pair of slippers to stop the footprints of paint to continue.

He sees the bags are gone from the side of the door and closes his eyes. He is about to take a shower when he notices painted words on the table.

"Nikita!" Michael almost chuckles as he looks at her words in the paint.

MICHAEL,

MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
DON'T DWELL IN THE DAY YET TO BE,
WHILE THE MOON AND SKY ARE STILL ABOVE
THO' MY BODY IS APART FROM THEE
MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
ARE A BREATH AWAY FROM YOUR SOFT LIPS.

MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
ETERNITY IS NOT THE PASSING OF DAYS,
ACHING TO TOUCH, TO FEEL, TO BE
DREAM OF IT IN YOUR OWN MIND
MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
AND I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU TO SEE.

MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
ETERNITY IS WHEN I KISS YOUR LIPS
MELTING IN TOGETHER TO FORM ONE
AS YOU CRADLE ME WITH YOUR STRENGTH
MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL
ETERNITY IS A KISS.

NIKITA

Michael sighs and knows that although the table is destroyed, that it will never be gone rid of. In the corner sits a bag. He opens it and finds chocolate hugs and kisses. He pulls one out and opens the wrapper. The paper has been changed, and says 'my soul'.

Michael sucks on the sweet chocolate as he slowly trudges off to take a shower.

-------------------------------------------------

Nikita tries not to think of the way she left. She had known, that if Michael was awake, she would have never walked out that door.

No more than her breathing returned to normal and Michael had drifted to sleep, she slipped out of bed and took a shower to wash off the coats of paint.

She was going to leave the poem on the paper she orginally written it one, but once given the opportunity, she painted it on the table.

She pulled up her hair and a ponytail and moved slowly around the table. She walked to the doorway and blew Michael a kiss, and stood there, for a long moment, then slowly exited the apartment, and didn't look back.

-------------------------------------------------

Madeline watches from the darken glass office as Nikita walks like she had ridden a horse for three days straight.

Madeline smiles but then feels sadness.

Nikita starts walking with Mylo and Julie, and they drift out of sight.

Madeline sighs, suddenly feeling lonely.

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