Julie hands the bellboy a tip and walks him out of the room. She looks down the hall and stares as she watches Nikita kiss Michael quickly on the cheek and walk down the hall. She walks with urgency and ducks down the stairs, and doesn't wait for the elevator.

"I don't understand that." Julie mutters as she shuts the door. Mylo walks over and pulls her up into his arms.

"I don't care... they gave us an extra night before the offical mission starts." Mylo says as he starts to kiss her neck. Julie frowns and pulls away from Mylo.

"Maybe this is a test..." Julie ponders outloud as she moves around the room. Mylo leans against the dresser and looks at Julie. "I just saw Nikita walk down the hall.. they always make the *most* of their free time." Julie tells Mylo.

"You don't know that." Birkoff chimes in through the com unit. Mylo shakes his head with agreement and moves back to Julie, but she easily side-steps him.

"I do know that... it's easy to tell..." Julie starts to argue with Birkoff. Mylo slides down on the bed and drops his head, knowing that Julie and Birkoff could fight all night about this.

"Julie, believe me.. I have to listen to all of this.. they don't always." Birkoff says firmly.

"Well, then 99.8% of the time." Julie says with a laugh as she opens her bag, that Madeline had packed.

"I just wish you gave credit to Michael's and Nikita's relationship." Birkoff says with a snap of his gum.

"And what do you mean by that?" Julie fires back as if Birkoff was in the room. Mylo stands up and places his hands around her waist.

"He means that their relationship is not all sex." Mylo says into her ear as he slides the com unit off.

"Oh.. and ours is nothing about sex." Julie kids Mylo as she turns to face him. She smiles as she runs her hands through his hair.

"Birkoff.. why don't you give us two hours..." Mylo mutters as he runs his hands under Julie's shirt.

"No problem.. I hate listening to that stuff..." Birkoff says and he breaks the link. Mylo takes the two com units and places them on the nightstand.

Nikita walks the street slowly with her hands shoved in the pockets. This mission has her worried. She wish she could only worry about the mission at hand, but of course, Madeline wanted to test Mylo and Julie again. Nikita looks up at the night sky as she walks down the busy street and she hears the tiny beep on her beeper. She shakes her hair out and turns the com unit on with the gentle movement.

"Nikita.. they have asked for two hours." Birkoff says. Nikita ducks her head and looks around her.

"Then the conversation gets monitored.. they can't break the link after that." Nikita says and then she shakes her hair out again.

"I don't understand.. if the mission doesn't start until tomorrow morning..." Birkoff starts to say and Nikita clicks her tongue to the top of her mouth.

"There are always tests." Nikita says and she is about to break the link.

"Nikita.. it is cold out.. why don't you come back?" Michael's voice rings out.

"In a little bit." Nikita says and she quickly breaks the link.

The stars twinkle above. Nikita thinks back to a time were the night sky meant death, but she discovered that even in the night.. the stars each have their own color. Some are more red than others, while some are ice blue. Nikita looks up at the stars, but can't concentrate on their colors... this night, they seem to be just flecks of white.

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

Julie rolls to Mylo and kisses his cheek lightly as he slides the com unit on. Julie frowns but then smiles.

"Wouldn't it be a riot if Michael and Nikita had to listen to us!" Julie blurts out as she rolls back on her back.

"Oh, so they can hear what you really think of them!" Mylo reacts in shock.

"I think they know that I think they are bad excuse for a couple.. and that I haven't learned anything new while being under them!" Julie says as she chuckles again.

Birkoff sits back at his computer and shakes his head as he wires the conversation over to Nikita, and then to Madeline.

"What about when Rita and Rick died... didn't you instantly realize what becoming a couple in Section meant?" Mylo asks softly as he grabs her hand and rubs to her leg.

"I already suspected that.. and I didn't think before I could live without you.. so it wasn't that big of a lesson." Julie says with a slight shrug of her shoulders. Mylo rubs her knuckles lightly, wishing Julie would move on to other topics.

"I meant.. I think they get away with a lot.. they are married.. but yet their not... Do you understand that?" Julie asks as she starts to rub Mylo's hand back.

"I can... It's a piece of paper that Section has.. but they never said the 'I do's'" Mylo says softly.

"Oh come on.. each time they move their bodies against each other they say 'I do'." Julie remarks as she pulls her hand away.

Mylo shakes his head light and stares off towards the bathroom, thinking that Julie talks too much.

"I really think that Nikita is a nutcase.. I mean at the retreat, and other things..." Julie says as she pulls Mylo's head over towards hers.

"Julie.. her body reproduced Loving2000... we all know that caused the fainting.. the mood swings.." Mylo defends Nikita, but Julie shakes her head.

"She just wanted Michael's attention." Julie remarks as she looks at Mylo hard.

"Just wanted Michael's attention! She didn't have to pretend to faint to get Michael's attention.. she has Michael's attention!" Mylo says in a shocked voice.

Birkoff shakes his head, hating the comments being said about Nikita. He doesn't read any activity on Nikita's end and hopes that she and Michael decided to let this assignment to wait till later.

"And what does she see in him!" Julie exclaims loudly and then laughs.

"He is sooo unanimated! You practically have to kill Nikita to get any reaction out of him!"

"Julie.. I think Nikita would disagree with you." Mylo says quietly as he remembers the com units are on.

"They have been so busy with each other that they forgot about us.... Do you think that happened with Rick and Rita? No.. because Nikita was only Nikita... not Nikita..Operation's daughter!" Julie says angerily.

Mylo gets out of bed and closes the bathroom door loudly.

Birkoff shakes his head as he sends the comment out, hoping that if Nikita is listening, that Michael is listening with her.

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

Nikita sits at the small desk and listens at the conversation, writing down some things on a pad of paper.

"To easy...." was the beginning of the list, but Nikita drops the pen as she hears Julie's comment on 'Nikita... Operation's daughter..'.

Nikita sits back in the chair and listens quietly, but Mylo had exited to the bathroom, so the conversation ended.

Nikita looks over at Michael, who is sleeping in the bed so calmly. Nikita patches into the line.

"Birkoff?" Nikita asks quietly, not to wake up Michael.

"Nikita.. let me tape this for you..." Birkoff says quickly, and Nikita can hear that Birkoff is having a hard time listening to the conversation.

"Don't take it to heart, Birkoff.. this is a learning experience." Nikita says calmly, and she hears Birkoff taking a deep breath.

"I was worried you'd take it to heart." Birkoff admits. Nikita stands up and moves to the bathroom.

"I'm not." Nikita lies without effort, to the point, that Nikita doesn't realize that it was a lie. "I'm going to catch some sleep.. it seems that Mylo and Julie won't be talking for a while.. and when they do.. it will be that make up stuff..." Nikita says with a slight smile. Sometimes she loves when she fights with Michael.. just so when they make up.. it is especially powerful!

"Ok.." Birkoff says, and Nikita smiles softly.

Madeline stares at the computer as she listens to the conversation. She takes a deep breath when Julie pulls the Nikita is Operation's daughter line. Madeline pushes the button to Birkoff's desk. She waits as Birkoff makes his way to her office.

"I just talked to Nikita.. she is going to try to get some sleep." Birkoff says as he has a large yawn.

"If Julie starts down the same lines again.. I want you to stop it." Madeline says without looking at the man.

"Why? Nikita just gave me a lecture on how this is a learning experience and not to take it to heart because she isn't." Birkoff says immediately, and again, tries to fight off a yawn.

"She is lying, Birkoff." Madeline says with a small smile as she glances away from her computer.

"I had the emotional program running, Madeline.. she isn't lying." Birkoff counters and raises his voice.

"Birkoff.. that program can't register Michael.. why would it register Nikita?" Madeline says as she finally looks at Birkoff.

"Because Nikita isn't Michael!" Birkoff almost screams.

"Birkoff... Nikita is hitting that critical time in Section.. that I am hoping to avoid... for the sake of Michael." Madeline informs lightly as she continues to look at Birkoff.

"This is about Michael?" Birkoff asks confused.

"Birkoff.. just don't let Julie to continue down such a harsh line.. I'm looking for constructive critism.. not damaging..." Madeline says and turns back to the computer.

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

Nikita sits at the same desk, dressed in the business suit for today's mission. Michael is walking in and out of the bathroom as Nikita listens to the happenings in the room next door.

"No reason to hurry, Mylo.. you know how lax Nikita is." Julie says with a laugh as Mylo runs out of the bathroom while pulling up his pants.

"This is the beginning of the mission.. don't you think you should at least get into jeans?" Mylo says softly as he pulls his shirt down.

"Why? Nikita runs around in those microminiskirts all the time! I'm wearing more here than Nikita does in a normal day!" Julie says with a loud pitch squeal.

Nikita starts to pull her hair up in a tight bun and slides a pair of white glasses on. Michael walks out of the bathroom with his black pants on and a towel around his shoulders.

"I didn't expect you up so soon." Michael says gently as he bends down and kisses Nikita's neck. Nikita pulls her neck away.

"We need to go over the mission with Julie and Mylo soon." Nikita says as she continues to listen to the conversation.

"And Michael.... I never met a person so incapable to have an emotional life.. he is either all emotion or none at all!" Julie laughs as Mylo throws her clothes at her.

"I think Michael and Nikita have done incredible in their relationship.. and we should be grateful, because if it wasn't for them, we'd be trying to sneak around still." Mylo fires back as he slams his hand on the desk.

"They should break up and leave the rest of us alone. Nikita is a whining b***h and Michael.. he is a good piece of meat being put to bad use." Julie says loudly.

"Julie.. I wish you wouldn't speak like that." Birkoff patches into the conversation.

"Oh, Birkoff, you are just taking this the wrong way because you dated Nikita's look alike half sister!" Julie fires back and Mylo throws off the comm unit.

"Julie.. you haven't lived Nikita's life... how would you like to find out the man who took your life away was your father?" Birkoff fires back upset about her comment about Melissa.

"I would have handled it better... I wouldn't have ran away from the chance of marrying Michael... she just thinks with her heart.... no thought at all. All reaction.. no thinking... She is the most stupid of all the operatives I know!" Julie screams angerily as she pound the bed.

Nikita stands up from the desk and smooths her outfit. She turns and hands Michael his shirt.

"I am going to go gather Julie and Mylo." Nikita says as she pulls the comm unit out from her ear and places it inside the desk.

"It's still early, Nikita." Michael says as he turns an looks at the clock.

"We said 8:30 and now it is 8:32... they are late." Nikita says as she moves out of the room.

Nikita swiftly moves down the hall and knocks at the door.

"It's probably Michael." Mylo says as she hears shuffling in the room. Mylo opens the door and shock registers in his eyes.

"Nikita!" Mylo says loudly and Nikita pushes her way into the room. She shuts the door and looks at the half dressed Julie.

"You do realize that you are late." Nikita says as she stares at Julie as the girl starts to turn red.

"Michael always comes to get us." Julie mumbles as she pulls her top on. Nikita looks at Mylo and then back at Julie.

"That will change." Nikita says firmly as she moves to the door. "You have three minutes to be in our room." Nikita says and she walks down the hall, and back into her room. Without a word to Michael, she slides the comm unit back on.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE HER... I swear.. she has a split personality.. there has to be three of her.. no four.. maybe five!" Julie fumes as she combs her hair hard.

"Oh.. and you are just one!" Mylo says rolling his eyes.

"She came in here like her father would.. why can't she be the flake we all complain about.. why the change.. I tell you why... Michael let her be the dominator last night!" Julie says as she drops the brush.

Nikita drops the comm unit back into the desk. Michael moves over to her.

"You are quiet this morning." Michael says as he rubs her shoulders.

"We have a mission to think about." Nikita says with an even voice. Michael looks into the mirror at Nikita's reflection.

"Usually we lay in bed and talk about our wedding... who should do what... laugh about have a retro wedding... smile with the thoughts of getting married at the falls..." Michaels says slowly, but Nikita pulls away and moves towards the door.

"Michael, we have the mission, and Julie and Mylo are here." Nikita says before they knock at the door.

Birkoff jumps as the red button flashes into his face. He closes his eyes and runs off to Madeline's office, knowing Madeline didn't like what she heard.

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

Nikita walks up to the desk in the very modern office and smiles at the young woman who is polishing her nails.

"Hello.. I'm Ms. Nash.. I have a meeting with Mr. Hovan." Nikita says smoothly as she looks around the small room.

"And this meeting is about?" the woman says rudely.

"My clientele want to stop the expansion of the European Economic Community, and we believe that Mr. Hovan can help us." Nikita says as she stares at the woman. At this point, Julie walks into the room.

"Ms. Nash... " Julie says slowly as she walks up close to Nikita.

"Yes?" Nikita turns and flashes a huge smile.

"Julie.. you moved too fast!" Birkoff screams into the comm unit.

"I believe you have something of mine." Julie says firmly and Nikita starts to laugh.

"He wanted to be mine!" Nikita continues to laugh, which causes Mr. Hovan exit his office.

"Ladies.. may I ask what is going on?" Mr. Hovan asks as he looks at Nikita, and then at Julie.

"Continue with plan.. you lucked out!" Birkoff mutters.

"May we use your office to settle an issue here." Julie says as she pulls her gun out, and presses it against Nikita.

"Whatever you please... I hope this doesn't bother our business Ms. Nash." Mr. Hovan says as he pushes his door wide open to the two.

"Actually you can come with us." Julie says with a bright smile. The woman jumps up and yells, "I QUIT!" Mr. Hovan enters the room and closes the door.

"I want my man back!" Julie says angerily.

"I can call him in.. but he can't get through security." Nikita says with a half smile and shaking her head.

"I will call security and get him through." Mr. Hovan says with a bright smile.

"Then you might as well get the man she took from me in also.. we can make an even exchange." Nikita says with a bright smile.

"You two women are worse than some men I know!" Mr. Hovan says with a bright smile. He picks up a phone and calls security and reads the two names to them. The two woman in return, pull out cell phones and call perspective partners.

"I think you'd enjoy this.. we always miss each other.. and her man... well he is a bit weak." Nikita says with a huge grin, which causes a reaction to Mr. Hovan that Nikita immediately notices.

The door opens and Michael and Mylo enter. They immediately close the door. Nikita walks around behind Mr. Hovan and runs her hands through his hair, and he is moaning that before he can realize what is going on, he is bound to the chair.

"What are you doing?" Mr. Hovan yells as Michael types on his computer.

"Oh, this won't hurt you a bit!" Julie says with a loud hiss, but Nikita pulls her off to a corner.

"You entered too soon!" Nikita says harshly.

"Well, you entered too soon this morning, and I didn't get mad!" Julie fires back.

"That is no way comparable to how close you came to destroying this misson." Nikita says firmly.

"GIRLS... finish the mission." Birkoff hisses, and then yawns.

"Michael only has a few minutes of downloading, Birkoff, and we are out of here." Nikita says as she turns to look at the three men around the desk.

"I don't know what has happened to you!" Julie fires back once Nikita looks at her.

"Maybe you should think what is most important here..... life in Section can be made to be much worse than what you have had.. what you have had is like a twinkie compared to dog poop!" Nikita says as she turns to the desk.

"We're out of here!" Mylo says as Michael hands him the disk.

"AND WHAT HAPPENS TO ME???" Mr. Hovan asks loudly. Nikita pushes Michael out of the way and Julie whispers to Mylo that this is when Nikita tries to save Mr. Hovan's life.

"You die... you know too much and have done too many illegal things. You will die when this entire office explodes." Nikita says as she gins into his face.

Julie looks at Nikita in shock and again wonders what is going on with her.

"Good day." Nikita says as she opens the office door and Mylo turns on the explosives. Nikita and Michael turn the left and Julie and Mylo to the right. The two couples duck into the opposite staircases, when Nikita pushes the buttons and the office explodes.

Birkoff sits back in his chair, smiling that the mission when smoothly, except for Julie's mistake. He turns in his chair and sees Madeline walking up to Operation's office. Birkoff turns to his computer and hopes that this has nothing to do with all he has had to listen to.

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

Madeline walks into Operations office and he is genuinely surprized to see Madeline. "We need to talk." Madeline says as she sits down. Operations looks Madeline up and down and shakes his head.

"Is this about Anna?" Operations asks through a hoarse voice. Madeline shakes her head no, and thinks for a moment.

"Anna is fine. This is about Nikita, and Michael." Madeline says as she looks away from his face.

"What is it this time?" Operations asks as he follows Madeline's gaze.

"She has hit with what I like to call the Frozen time." Madeline says as she stands and tries to move from Operations view.

"And what are you trying to say?" Operations asks, and then he sips some water.

"Nikita heard some opinions of her.. of her being too emotional... I've already seen her reaction.. and it will adversely react on Michael." Madeline says as she stares at the window.

"What have you done this time?" Operations demands with a strengthen voice.

"I allowed Nikita to listen to Julie's and Mylo's coversations. I thought it would be constructive, yet Julie's bluntness was too strong. Nikita is turning off... becoming cold." Madeline struggles to say.

"I thought you promised me this would not happen to Nikita." Operations says standing up.

"I didn't promise.. I tried to avoid it." Madeline says defensively as she turns to look at Operations.

"So what do we do?" Operations asks with a harsh voice as his fist clenched.

"We prepare for the worst." Madeline says in a haunted voice.

"And what would be the worst?" Operations asks softly as the informations starts to enter him.

"Nikita's detachment causing Michael to go back to his... and if Michael doesn't... I can see severe problem in the future for the two." Madeline says in a metered voice. Operations stares at Madeline and then at a picture of Michale and Nikita.

"I can't believe that it would become that bad. They have a connection." Operations says and Madeline shakes her head no.

"It is going to be more than difficult.... Nikita will be Michael, as he was before.. and Michael, now that he has reopened his life to emotion.. well..." Madeline says as she swallows hard.

"What if we send them off to the Falls again. Will that fix this?" Operations asks as he sits back down.

"No. Nikita would refuse to go.. saying she has wasted enough time with Julie and Mylo and wants to get them full time couple status." Madeline says as she also sits back down.

"What can we do?" Operations asks as he looks down at his hands.

"Pray." Madeline says in a breathless whisper. Operations looks up at her and closes his eyes.

"There has to be something more that we can do." Operations says.

"What... get Nikita kidnapped again... force an emotional breakdown and chance never retrieving her?" Madeline asks angerily.

"What if we place them on emotional charged missions. Ones that would rattle Nikita." Operations asks.

"You are talking as if Nikita is in touch with her feelings. With what I heard from today alone... Nikita didn't even mention the wedding... not once. She has detached from her feelings that quickly." Madeline says and then she grinds her teeth as she waits for Operations' response.

"Do we play our Walter card?" Operations says, swallowing as he says te name of Madeline's current love interest.

"With Michael, yes... to keep Michael's sanity." Madeline says as she stands. "The best thing to do is not to force the issue of her relationship with you. I haven't even placed that into all of this mess."

"Could this have been avoided?" Operations asks.

"I haven't met an operative yet that this hasn't happened to. Michael's was the most severe." Madeline says as she exits his room.

Operations sits down at his desk and wonder if Madeline ever thought about his. And Operations wondered if he ever left his frozen state.

Madeline leans against the window, and knows that Operations is probably wondering about him. Madeline sighs as she thinks that his, although it seemed to be the most severe... was the least of all that she had meet.

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

Nikita sits in her office staring at the computer when Madeline walks in, with a pile of cloth in her hands.

"I brought some samples for you to look at for your wedding dress." Madeline says as she sits them on the desk.

"That isn't a priority at this moment." Nikita says as she types quickly and then stops to look at it.

"Oh.. have you and Michael set a date?" Madeline asks as she sits down. Nikita turns her body and pulls a book down from behind her.

"Actually, I'm worried about getting Julie and Mylo on full status and training the next couple, so that if we decide to have a honeymoon, we can have proper one." Nikita says as she opens the book up.

Madeline watches and knows that Nikita had detached, and now it was the long road back. "So did Michael go home?"

"Yes. I forgot to thank you for education I recieved on this mission." Nikita says as she starts to type again.

"It was just suppose to give you some constructive criticism."

Madeline says as she shifts her weight, still seeing a possibility on retreiving Nikita.

"I needed to know what I was doing wrong. Julie will be getting what she needs now." Nikita says as she closes the book.

"And what is that?" Madeline asks.

"I plan to have them ready for full status at the end of the week. They are only short in two tests." Nikita says as she drops the book to the floor.

"Is that what you are typing up now.. the request for full status?"

Madeline asks, and Nikita nods. Madeline looks away from Nikita and shutters within herself.

"I needed to do more.. and I have to reassume my responsibilities."

Nikita says as she looks at Madeline with a smile. "I'm sure you are glad for that."

Madeline smiles and stands up. "I'll leave you."

"Please close my door.. I'll probably be crashing on the couch tonight." Nikita says as she turns back to the computer.

Madeline makes it to Walter's workspace, were, Walter is still working. She turns her back against the door frame and tears run down her face.

"Oh, god.. what did I do!" Madeline cries out as Walter grabs Madeline into a huge bear hug.

"It takes time, Madeline." Walter says as he kisses her hair.

"I never... never wanted this..." Madeline says with huge sobs. "It was bound to happen. Life alone isn't easy... and life in Section... is nothing near easy." Walter says as he kisses her hair again, and closes his eyes and starts to pray for his sugar.

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

Madeline stands in Operations' office as Michael and Nikita bring in Julie and Mylo. Madeline isn't watching Julie and Mylo, or in fact, not even Michael. She is watching Nikita's every move, as she had for the entire week. Nikita had not stepped one foot outside Section the entire week, and worked Julie and Mylo from breakfast to late into the night. She is dressed in a smart black business suit, that made Madeline shutter at how Nikita was dressing like her.

"Julie, Mylo... after reading Nikita's report, I have decided to activate you to the full couple status." Operations announces and Nikita doesn't react, as even Michael cracks a smile.

Madeline stares at Nikita, and pushing back the urges to take her by her arms and shaking her out of it.

"You will be based out of headquarters.. but will be filling in at many of the substations as most of the couples have been overworked."

Operations says. Julie smiles at Mylo and Mylo at Julie. "That is all." Operations says, and they leave.

Operations walks over to Nikita and Michael.

"You did a very good job. I never believed it would occur by the end of the week." Operations says as he looks at Nikita.

"Thank you, sir." Nikita answers without a blink. Michael turns and stares at Nikita. Madeline knows that Michael is screaming inside, and soon will be screaming on the outside.

"I'd like to start the training of another couple as soon as possible." Operations says to the two of them.

"I have already made a list of possible couples." Nikita says with a slight nod of her head. Again, Michael looks at Nikita harshly.

"No reason to dwell on it today. Go home... have a nice dinner.. get some sleep." Operations says, and the two leave.

Madeline walks over to Operations' computer and picks up the two.

"What is with you Nikita?" Michael demands as he holds onto her arm.

"Nothing. I just realized what I have to do, and that I must do it." Nikita says and she continues to walk down the hall.

"Well, maybe tonight we can set a date for our wedding." Michael says with a slight smile.

"I think we should spend our time and effort on selecting the next couple." Nikita says without looking at Michael, she turns down the hall.

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