Ding.

The bell rings and Nikita takes a breath, before she turns around and sees who the contact is. In that moment, she realizes that Friday the 13th is over, and in this moment, it was Valentine's Day. Her sad face drops even lower as she turns around.

Michael closes his eyes trying to push images of Nikita out of his head as he turns around.

"NIKITA!" Michael calls out. The two cross the room in three quick bounding steps and fall into each others arms.

Michael quickly pulls the red hair wig off of Nikita's head and she shakes her blonde hair about.

"Oh, Michael." Nikita says as she lays her head down right under Michael's chin. He strokes her hair lightly and with a tiny kiss, they pull away from each other. Slowly, together they look at the room.

Red heart balloons float about the room, and their reflections stare at them from the shine red mylar. Nikita smiles as she comes across the tape recorder that Madeline had left. Seeing a card hanging off of a balloon, Nikita retrieves it.

"Your day, have fun." The writting says simply. Nikita closes it and places the card down.

"So, this isn't a mission?" Michael asks, still not exactly sure. Nikita runs her hands around his waist.

"The only mission is us." Nikita says as she drinks in his body. Michael reaches up and pushes some hair out of Nikita's face. He takes in the face that had haunted him in this day.

"I've dreamed of this day for so long." Michael says not moving his eyes from Nikita's.

"I thought I was in a nightmare until I turned around." Nikita says as she lightly leans up to kiss Michael.

"I missed you so much that I thought a pregnant woman I saw was you." Michael says with a giggle.

"Long black hair, holding her back?" Nikita asks immediately. Michael nods his head and Nikita smiles brightly.

"Beer belly and bald?" Nikita says as she rubs her fingers through his silky hair.

"Oh god..." Michael moans as Nikita's hands hit the nape of his neck with a light dance.

No more words are said as Michael lightly lays Nikita down on the bed. He kisses her lightly, and turns off the lights.

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

Nikita moves slowly to the table that is set in a room of to the right of the bedroom. She sits down and smells the food.

Michael walks up behind her, wearing only his pajama bottoms. He leans down and rubs her bare shoulders. Michael bends down and kisses each shoulder.

Nikita stares at the image infront of her. Michael's bare chest glistens and ripples of his muscles. Nikita tries not to jump out of her chair and start cleaning those muscles again.

Michael pulls up the silver lids from the dishes that room service had delivered only a few moments ago. Michael smiles at the choice, Madeline had done a good job.

In front of them, both have an omlette and pancakes, smothered with strawberries. Nikita smiles at the strawberries and takes on on her fork and feeds it to Michael.

Michael licks his lips as he tries to control himself. Nikita's black nightgown plunges low, and barely covers what it is suppose to. The straps get lost on her white skin.

Michael takes a strawberry and teases Nikita, not letting her mouth take it all in, touching the lips and then pulling it away.

Nikita leans in, which makes Michael sigh at the sight of Nikita's chest. Nikita aggressively pulls off the strawberry and sits back with a smile.

Both are extremely famished, and soon are feeding themselves, but pushing the strawberries off to the side.

Michael drops his fork, and pulls a strawberry up with his fingers. He looks up at Nikita and giggles.

"What is it?" Nikita asks, breaking the silence between the two of them.

"You have..." Michael says as he touches his corner of his mouth, indicating to Nikita she has some cheese there.

Nikita wipes at the corner, and misses the cheese.

Michael giggles again, and sets the strawberry down. He leans over the table, and cleans the spot himself. Nikita stand up from the table, and walks over and sits on Michael's lap. She feels his excitement, but starts to feed him strawberries.

"Ni-ki-ta...." Michael moans as he pushes the dishes away in a clink and places her sitting body on the table.

"We haven't finished..." Nikita teases with a wink, holding a strawberry in her fingers. Michael leans Nikita down and pulls her nightgown off as he goes. He lines up the five strawberries from her neck and down her stomache.

"I think I like this presentation." Michael moans and he starts to eat the first strawberry.

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

Operations storms into Madeline's office, with Birkoff not far behind, running like an obedient puppy after it's master.

Madeline looks up as Operations watches the door close behind Birkoff.

"You are going to pay for this one." Operations says in an abrasive tone as he turns off Madeline's computer.

"Don't you remember what day it is?" Madeline says in deliverate slow manner. Birkoff blushes and turns away, wishing he did not have to be part of this conversation.

"Do it matter. Section has to protect the lives of the world.. it has no holidays!" Operations continues in a cutthroat manner.

"Nikita didn't bother our vacation when Section headquarters start to malfunction. She let us alone and dealt with the situation. WE can do the same for her and Michael." Madeline says in eloquent speech.

"We need to put those two on this mission today. They were to leave in an hour, and now I hear that they are on separate missions!" Operations lashed out.

Birkoff stands behind Operations, smiling. For once, Birkoff knew more than Operations did.

"Well, if we can't brief can I go home?" Birkoff chirps in. Operations turns quickly at Birkoff and stares at him.

"WELL?" Birkoff asks again expressing is sour mood of being dragged into Section on a day he was promised off.

"Let me check if you can." Operations says angerily. He slams the door and Birkoff starts to laugh. He looks at Madeline's frown.

"I'm sorry, Madeline." Birkoff says softly, remembering that Madeline has sacrificed her own pleasure of the day for Michael and Nikita.

"It's ok." Madeline says with a slight smile. "I hope this doesn't ruin plans with Melissa."

"It didn't. She went out to do some shopping either way." Birkoff says. The door opens again, and Operations nods Birkoff out of the room.

"Go home. Take roses." Operations says. Madeline starts to pace around her desk.

"Now, about this..." Operations starts to say and Madeline looks away from him.

"I don't want to speak about this." Madeline says in short curt words.

"Madeline, you knew I needed them on this mission." Operations says firmly.

"The mission can wait till tomorrow." Madeline says as she looks at a dress, which she had wished to wear that night.

"I don't particularly care for you right now... Telling Birkoff to take flowers to Melissa, but then you were going to send Nikita on a mission." Madeline says as she fingers the dress longingly.

"But Nikita is an operative.. a cold op at that!" Operations says ignorantly.

"I use to be a cold op... maybe I should be again." Madeline says dropping the material. Operations looks at her as she turns to him.

"Get out." Madeline says clearly. Operations stands still. "I said, GET OUT!"

Operations bows his head and leaves quietly.

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

"Merci beaucoup" Nikita says, trying to mimic Michael's french accent as she sticks her head around the wall. Her body is in the bathroom as she stares at Michael.

Michael sits up in the bed, which ripples his stomache muscles even more. He immediately starts to laugh.

"It's so cute to hear you try to speak french..." Michael giggles. Nikita stares at him and drops her head in a slight flush.

"And the way you flush when you totally mess a word up." Michael continues to laugh.

"s'il vous plait" Nikita says, hoping to stop Michael's giggles as she starts to get upset. She had spent most of her free time trying to learn some French, but now Michael was laughing at her.

Yet, saying please in french, caused Michael to laugh more loudly.

"Please!" Michael laughs out. "S'il vous plait" Michael says quickly and continues to laugh. Nikita pulls out of the bathroom, her hair covering her chest.

"Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!" Nikita screams out angerily and retreats to the bathroom.

Michael immediately stands up and goes to the bathroom door. He knocks softly, and gets annoyed with Nikita not answering.

"What did you mean by that? The more things change, the more they stay the same!" Michael calls out.

"Exactly what it means.... if you understood it to start with!" Nikita hollers out.

"Yes, you changed by leaving headquarters, but our love stayed the same." Michael says softly. The door opens a crack, and Michael enters.

He smooths Nikita's hair and turns on the shower water.

"Ma chere..." Michael says as he takes Nikita's hand and pulls her into the shower. He holds her head under the soothing stream of water. Michael leans down and kisses Nikita's mouth and finally she wraps her hands around his neck. Their bodies lean against the shower's wall, and the steam fills the room.

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

Michael takes Nikita's hand and leads her to the couch. She is wearing a white terry cloth bathrobe, and so is Michael.

Her hair is dried and Michael sits down next to her on the couch.

They take deep breathes, taking in the sensation of being close together again. Michael looks into Nikita's eyes, and they communicate. Nikita smiles at Michael, and Michael back. Nikita happily sighs and snuggles her head into Michael's chest.

"Vous etes une rose dan mon jardin..." Michael says softly. Nikita raises her head from Michael's chest.

"We already went through this.. I don't know French." Nikita says almost sadly. Michael puts his fingertips on her chin and lifts her face to look at his eyes.

"Vous etes une rose dan mon jardin..." Michael says slowly again. Nikita closes her eyes. "You know this..." Michael encourages Nikita.

"You...are...are a rose? a rose?" Nikita stumbles through her limited French knowledge.

"You are a rose in my garden." Michael finally says in English.

"Ton sourire fasse moi fondre du similaire beurrer" Michael continues in slow French.

"Smile... butter?" Nikita says confused and turning red with his words.

"Je aime la voie vous rougir qu' vous ne comprenez pas moi..." Michael says and smiles.

Nikita stares at him.

"Your smile makes me melt like butter... Ha ha" Michael translate the first sentence and Niktia hangs her head down with a slight laugh.

"And the je aime?" Nikita asks.

"I love the way you flush when you don't understand me." Michael says with a pronounce laugh. Nikita smiles and snuggles against Michael. Michael lifts her up.

"Listen with your heart, with your eyes.. you will know." Michael says as he touches her face.

"Vous etes le raison pour quoi je prends chaque halleine" Michael says softly.

"Vous etes..." Nikita says softly back. She takes a breathe and shakes her head no.

"You are the reason why I take each breathe." Michael whispers into her ear. "Mon coeur, mon amour, ma espirt"

Nikita smiles in understandment. "My heart, my love, my soul." Nikita says with a happy smile.

Michael nods his head and smiles.

"Le temps est nos seul adversaire" Michael says as he turns is body to Nikita.

"Time?" Nikita questions, trying hard to understand.

"Time is our only enemy." Michael quietly says. Nikita glances away.

Michael gets down on a knee and pulls out his Valentine's gift to Nikita.

Silence echoes in the room as Nikita struggles to breath.

"Est ce-que vous me marierez?" Niktia says along with Michael. Tears spring from her eyes as Michael slides the ring on her fingers.

No words have to be said. Their eyes understand all, and they stay still, letting their eyes do the talking.

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

Nikita slides down onto the hardwood floor and takes Michael's head in her hands. With one smooth movement, she passionately kisses him. Michael wraps his hands in her blonde hair and pulls her closer to his body, trying to enhale her entire mouth. Michael moves one of his hands from Nikita's blonde hair and runs in around the nape of her neck. Nikita breaks the kiss, gasping for air and moaning with pleasure from Michael's fingertips. He dances the tips of his fingers around to the front of Nikita' body, rubbing the fingers up to outline her lips.

Nikita gently sucks in Michael's thumb. Michael's mouth opens slightly with pleasure of feeling the warmth surround his thumb. Nikita's tongue swirls around. She withdrawls on the thumb, bites on the tip and brings it back into her mouth. Michael moves his other hand from her hair and reaches for the belt of the robe Nikita wears. Undoing the belt, he slides his hand underneath the terry cloth material and starts to circle Nikita's belly button with the fingertips. He moves slowly, and Nikita releases his thumb from her mouth. Michael runs the wet thumb across her face and down her neck. He slowly pulls the collar of the robe away from her body, revealing the white flesh beneath. Michael stares at the deep red color of the wide areola. He circles his hands around the edge of the color softly, as Nikita aches towards his hands more. She licks her lips as Michael slowly circles closer and closer to her erect nipples.

"Au naturel..." Michael breathlessly say sas he drops his head down to the valley between Nikita's breasts. His fingertips lightly squeeze Nikita's harden nipples as Michael slowly laps his tongue from the bottom of her neck to her belly button. Nikita sways her body with the movement of Michael's tongue. Finally, he moves to her right breast, and licks the areola lightly. Finally he begins to nibble at Nikita's nipple. She moans in delight. Nikita unties Michael's robe and runs her hands across his chest. His nibbling increases as she lets her fingertips run over his nipple. Then he jumps in passion as the cold metal of Nikita's ring runs over the nipple. He pulls away from her chest and stares at the picture. Her hair flung around in a glowing halo, and her mouth glistening with a slight wetness. Nikita moves in and begins to lick Michael in the same manner. Slowly, from the base of his neck down to his belly button. She slowly moves, moving the tongue in tiny circles as she goes down.

"'Kita..." Michael moans as he wraps his hands in her hair, trying to direct her. Her hands flutter down to the hardness below. Michael moans in immense pleasure with the contact. Nikita moves her mouth to one of his nipples and gently sucks. Michael grunts as Nikita's hand establishes a slow up and down movement. Michael looks into her eyes as she stares up at his face as she licks his nipple like a cat with a milk.

Michael takes his hands and places them on Nikita's shoulders. Smoothly, he pushes her back, and lays her on the hardwood floor. He quickly pulls two pillows from the couch above. He places on under her head, and one in the small of her back. Her body twists in a hynotic dance, calling for him to pay attention to it properly. Michael leans in for a kiss. The tongues meet and tango as Michael's hands start to walk up her muscular legs slowly. He stops his hands at the knees and tickles the skin behind it. Nikita opens her legs and invites Michael in. His hands slowly walk up the tender skin in the inside of the thigh. "Oh, Michael... oh..." Nikita moans as he gets closer to the mons veneris. He moves to sucking her ear lightly with kisses, and then inserting his tongue in the folds of her ear. Nikita grabs hold of Michael's back, and runs her hands quickly down to his buttocks. She squeezes the tight muscles lightly and Michael moves from her ear.

Groaning, Michael lightly licks his way down on Nikita. He enters her warmth with his tongue and slowly laps at the button. Nikita's legs twitch with pleasure as she wraps her hands in his silky hair, trying to bring him in closer. She helps to put Michael in a rhythemic motion. Michael inhales the scent as he nuzzles in deeper. Nikita rocks her head back as she is close to the edge. Michael immediately stops and runs back to her mouth. He spreads her legs and slowly rubs his hardness against the warmth and wetness of Nikita. Nikita squeezes hard into Michael's buttocks.

In one oeillade moment, Michael stares into Nikita's intense eyes, knows all of her feelings, and slowly, yet powerfully slides within her warmth. Nikita immediately flips her hips up, grinding her pelvis into Michael's. Michael runs his head down to her nipples and sucks one lightly and then moves to another, as he slowly moves, trying to make this moment last.

Their sweat builds and Nikita's fingernails running up and down Michael's back and butt, entise Michael to move quicker. They move in the dance slowly, both groaning more and more with the quicken pace. Both are on the edge. They look into each other's eyes and arch their head back in pleasure as they plunge off the edge.

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

Nikita stares at the bright diamond as she lets the light from the other room hit it. She moves her hand in a slow up and down motion, not moving her eyes from the shining ring.

Michael turns his head, and sees the piece of light reflecting off of the ring, and hitting the ceiling above them. He kiss her neck softly.

Nikita sighs softly and continues to stare at the ring in a hypnotic way, moving her hand almost to the beat of her heart.

"Ni-ki-ta?" Michael asks softly as he places his chin on her bare arm and looks at her motions.

"Uh?" Nikita asks, not pulling away from her constant movement.

"I've never seen you this happy." Michael says softly. He runs one of his hands down the side of her body.

"I never have." Nikita answers and she turns her head up to Michael's. Michael instantly understands that Nikita is telling the truth, and it instantly scares him.

"Never this happy before?" Michael asks, knowing that he had been this happy a few times before Section.

"No.... my best times are with you." Nikita says as she goes back to looking at the ring. Michael kisses her arm lightly.

"Not even when you learned to ride a bike? A christmas?" Michael asks, and then wishes he didn't.

"Michael... nothing was good, at all. I fought for a long time saying that it was better outside of Section, but really... I would say only now have I learned what happy is." Nikita says softly. Michael kisses her arm again.

"Michael, I wish this moment could last forever.. that we could stay here like this for eternity." Nikita say dreamingly.

"Le temps est nos seul adversaire." Michael says softly. He runs his hand down to the hand of the ring. He quickly laces his hand inbetween her fingers and pulls it to Nikita's body.

Each breath matches each other, and each beat of their hearts match. Slowly they drift asleep.

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

Madeline slowly takes the hotel room key out and lets herself in the room, hearing it being all quiet. She sees the table with dishes pushed to one end. She smiles as she slowly walks to the ajar door of the bedroom.

Michael and Nikita sleep as they did when Michael wrapped his arm into Nikita's. Madeline pauses for a moment, wishing she could give them until the morning, but felt that her own life could be in danger if she did that.

Madeline turns on a desk light, and Nikita immediately shields her eyes.

"Madeline?" Nikita asks sleepily. Madeline is about to speak when the a white light reflects into her eyes. She turns her head, and shielding her eyes, looks back. The ring glows in the light.

"Madeline is everything all right?" Michael asks as he slides up from Nikita. Madeline advances over to the bed and tenderly takes Nikita's hand and looks at the ring.

"Michael asked me to marry him." Nikita says with a peaceful smile. Madeline smiles back.

"But you two are already married." Madeline responds.

"Section married us... but to us.. we're not married." Michael responds. Madeline steps back.

"God, I hate doing this to you two when this is such a special night.... but we need to go in for a briefing." Madeline says as she twists her hands tightly.

Nikita pushes her hair out of her face and smiles.

"We had all day." Nikita says softly. She is sitting up and Michael's bare leg rubs against her bare stomache. Nikita blushes.

"We'll be out in a few moments." Michael says. Madeline retreats and closes the door.

Madeline stands, looking at the mess in the hotel room. It doesn't take that big of an imagination what all happened here.

"Ma chere..." Michael says as he opens the bedroom door. Nikita walks out with her hair flowing behind her and wearing a soft sweater and leggings.

"Merci" Nikita says effortlessly. Michael holds her around the shoulders and lovingly places a kiss on her ear.

"Tant mieux" Nikita says in perfect French that Madeline spins around. 'So much the better' is what Nikita had said and Madeline looks at the change between the two. So little words, so much communicated.

Michael moves closer to Nikita and they exit the room.

Madeline walks behind them, knowing that soon Operations will understand what truly occured on Valentine's Day. He will understand that Madeline gave up her role as the Ice Queen of Section, and had become the cupid for Michael and Nikita.

The couple walked shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, moving as one unit. Madeline smiled, realizing that although Operations may hate her for eternity, that all that she had done made Michael and Nikita more likely to survive. In 24 hours they had changed from two souls to one... and that, even Operations could not deny.

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