It was a quiet day at Section. Only a skeleton crew was on the main floor, not even Birkoff was at the comm center.

A few hours earlier, Nikita had returned from a long surveillance mission that took two weeks. It surprised her that she was glad to be back at this place... 'Section', she thought in surprise. 'I'm glad to be *home.* Well maybe not *home* but to something familiar.

Madeline had given her two days off after such a lengthy mission. Nikita wanted to go home, soak in the tub and sink into her soft bed.

As Nikita made her way out of Section, she stopped by Michael's office to say hello. It had been too long since she last saw him and her heart ached just to see his beautiful face. As she passed by his office, she could see that it was empty. While disappointed, she walked in and took her familiar seat...her chair. Nikita looked at Michael's desk. It was perfectly clear of any work papers, his computer was closed...all that was before her was his desk, his chair. And yet, she could feel his essence all around her. Funny, in an office so bleak and austere, why did she always feel at home here? Was it also comfortable, familiar? Nikita knew that it was because she could feel Michael all around her as she sat there alone in his office, she could smell his masculine scent. She closed her eyes and his image appeared before her. His face so strong, eyes so expressive, lips so soft. She missed him, longed for him. As Nikita opened her eyes, his image quickly disappeared, but the familiar aching remained. Nikita rose from her chair and with one last glance back at his desk, she left Section.

It was bliss walking into her apartment. Even though it had been two weeks and the air was stuffy, Nikita felt relieved. Home...it was home and it was heaven. As she swung open the french doors, the breeze lifted the sheers along with wisps of her blonde hair. A smile crept over Nikita's lips as she closed her eyes to bathe in the warmth of her sanctuary.

Later, after a long bath and a nap, Nikita browsed through her mail, all junk mail, and stopped when her eye caught the announcement on a flyer. It was the Fourth of July. She hadn't realized this. No wonder there were very few people at Section. Section rarely allowed their employees to celebrate *holidays,* but some of them were observed...this and Christmas, Nikita remembered.

"Lakeside Community Fair" the flyer shouted. "Food, Games, Crafts, Music, Fireworks! Come and support your community! Bring your family and friends."

Hmmm, community street fair and fireworks at the lake. That could be fun, Nikita thought. She noticed that it had started earlier that afternoon with fireworks at 9:30. Nikita grabbed her largest backpack and stuffed it with a couple of small quilts, and a throw pillow. She reached for her leather jacket and her car keys. Just as she approached the door knob, she heard three knocks on her door... *his* knocks. Her heart leapt.

"Michael." A warm smile greeted him as she opened the door. Michael's breath caught. No matter how often he looked at her, he was always taken aback by her beauty.

Michael stood before her staring at her intensely. "Hello Nikita." For several moments, they looked deeply at one another, their eyes expressing longing, loneliness, desire, and relief in seeing one another.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yes, umm..there's a street fair at the lake. Fireworks tonight. I was just about to go see..." Nikita handed him the flyer but was lost at looking at him, he was just so handsome. He wore is usual black jeans, but had on a royal blue T-shirt that hugged his muscular body. Shaking her head to come back to reality, she impulsively asked "Would you like to come along?"

Things had been distant between them for a while. Nikita had been assigned her own team more and more often. Michael always kept track of her missions, he, afterall, was in charge of her team and dozens of others. But, as missions continued to be assigned to her, their chance at day to day contact had diminished. Nikita felt a deep loss at this-she really did not want to be a team leader. She longed for the days when it was just she and Michael. She missed their private language, the silent communication, and the closeness they shared, and being together almost everyday.

Michael stalled for a few moments and sighed. "I just wanted to come by and see how you were. I know it was a long mission." He never took his eyes from hers. Nikita felt a pang of disappointment. He did not seem to want to accompany her to the fair, but she did not want to miss the opportunity to be with him even for just a short time.

"Doesn't matter Michael, would you like to get a coffee instead?"

He hesitated. His eyes traveled to her sensuous lips and then back to her eyes. Community street fair, he thought...it sounded so *normal* and *uncomfortable* like there would be lots of families, normal people, and lots of them. He just wanted to spend some time alone with her here in her home, where he felt moderately comfortable. But, as he looked into the deep blue sea that were her eyes, he knew that no matter where she wanted to go, he would follow.

"I'll go with you...to the fireworks."

"Oh, good." Nikita happily gasped. She was thrilled that he did not turn away to leave her by herself.

"You know, Michael, I really don't know what to expect there..."

"Then we'll find out together" he spoke gently. He held his hand out to her and pulled her from the doorway. He closed and locked the apartment door and hand in hand, they walked quietly to his car.

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

The lake was not far from the city. It was one of those master-planned communities where the lake was man-made, but was incredibly beautiful. It was surrounded by lush green hillsides filled with a variety of trees, plants and flowers. Lots of expensive houses dotted the hillside, yet there were tracts of houses lined up on perfectly manicured streets where children rode their big wheels on the sidewalks. Almost every house had a basketball hoop and kids played street hockey on their roller blades in the cul de sac. It wasn't anything like where she grew up.

The lake was huge. Many small sailboats cruised the lake leisurely. Nikita though it seem like a place from a fairy tale. She had driven the community a couple of times before, envious of those that lived there. It seemed so safe, a perfect place to raise kids, have a life. The last time she drove through one of the neighborhoods, she was surprised to see that a few of the neighbors had pulled their gas barbeques from their backyards and were having what looked like a party. All the kids were running wild in the street playing hid 'n go seek, and the neighbors were drinking beer and wine, flipping hamburgers. They were laughing, talking...they were friends.

Friends. Nikita had no friends. Except Michael sometimes. And there was Birkoff and Walter. But Nikita longed to have a friend--someone she could talk to like the friendship she had once with Carla. Sadly, Nikita knew she would never have lots of friends, either causal or close. She would never have a family. She would never have a *real* home like these people had. This constant reminder pierced her heart over and over.

Michael pulled her from her thoughts. "Looks busy, shall we park here and walk the rest of the way?"

"Okay...I know a place up the hill a little ways from the street that will be a great place to see the fireworks. We can walk there."

Michael carried the backpack and Nikita carried their coats. It was about 7:00 pm and the evening was getting cooler. As they approached the blocked off street, Michael could see Nikita's face light up. The street was teeming with people, kids, dogs, bicycles. There were lots of families smiling, laughing.

The community had blocked off an entire street that faced the lake below. A variety of booths and displays had been set up on either side of the street-everything from souvenirs to food to crafts. Many of the booths were sponsored by the local schools and scout troops. They were selling cotton candy, hot dogs, ice cream, and soft drinks to raise money for their various clubs.

Michael felt a deep sense of contentment as he walked along with Nikita holding her hand. He loved touching her. He could feel her relax at his touch. Their hands intertwined over and over as they absently, softly stroked their fingers together, walking along taking in all there was to see.

The street fair was a foreign experience for them both-watching families walk along, waving to friends and neighbors. It was so different from their day to day depressing surroundings that they both felt a sense of wonder realizing that this was the *real* world. After watching the joy in the people all around them, Michael felt proud that in a small way, he and Nikita had contributed to their freedom and ability to enjoy their lives without the knowledge that there was so much terror going on in the world around them.

Soon they came upon the local high school band that was performing on a makeshift bandstand. Michael and Nikita looked at each and smiled as they both silently agreed that the band was terrible. But the parents and friends looked on in pride and clapped along with the strains of the guitars and the off beat of the drummer.

The sometimes lovers moved along the street slowly enjoying all the sights and looking at the merchant booths with mild interest. Suddenly, Nikita gasped as a certain booth caught her eye.

"Look Michael, toes rings, I've been wanting some!

"What? Toe what?"

"Toe rings, you know, rings for your toes."

"Why?" He was confused at what he was hearing. Why would anyone want rings for their toes, he thought with amusement.

"They're jewelry Michael; they're S E X Y ...

And as she strutted off ahead of him to the booth where she could buy toe rings, he look after her, admiring the curve of her bottom in tight blue jeans quite certain that there was not a stitch of silk underneath them; appreciating the white T-shirt hugging her ribs; delighting in the red ribbon laced through the French braid that trailed down her back; thinking all the while, 'my love, SEXY is *not* an area where you need improvement.'

Michael walked over to the booth. Nikita was already seated in front of a kindly, middle-aged lady. She had a free spirit look to her, red hair loosely pulled back in a pony tail. She wore a flowing tye-dye skirt with a green T-shirt and hoop earrings. Nikita quickly removed her hiking boot and her white sock from her left foot. There revealed a beautiful creamy foot with glittery bright blue toe nail polish. The merchant replied, "you have beautiful feet, my dear, what kind of rings would you like.

"How much?" Nikita asked.

"One for $8, two for $15, three for $20".

"I'd like one of the silver plain band, one of the gold plain band, and one of the silver braid."

The red-headed merchant noticed Michael standing behind Nikita watching carefully. He had placed his hands on Nikita's shoulders, softly massaging the smooth skin of her neck with his thumbs. The merchant thought she had never seen such a beautiful couple, both so different yet so alike. They complemented one another perfectly-they seem like a matching set, one could not exist without the other. It was clear to her that there was a fierce magnetic connection between the two-she could feel the vibrations between them radiate around her.

The merchant placed the rings on Nikita's second toe, using Windex to make the rings slide on smoothly and then carefully, tenderly, wiped the liquid away with a soft terry cloth towel. Nikita smiled at the result.

"What do you think Michael? Do you like them?"

Michael crouched down next to Nikita. He gently reached his hand out to touch the rings on Nikita's toe and felt her soft skin. The touch of his fingers sent a bolt of electricity through her body. He slowly twisted the rings around her toe and then ran his fingertips over the top of her foot. 'Not the kind of rings I had dreamed of buying her one day,' he thought comically to himself. A small smile crept upon his lips, and his only comment was "mmmmm." They were, indeed, very sexy.

Michael pulled a $20 bill out of his pocket and handed it to the kindly merchant, he rose up, kissed Nikita on the forehead and whispered "I'll be over at that booth across the way".

Nikita smiled as she watched Michael cross the busy promenade to the coin booth. His touch and gentleness had aroused her immediately creating bolts of sheer electricity that coursed through her body. It never took much but sometimes, his touch was just too much and it sent her nerve endings reeling.

"My, you two are so in love." The merchant's soft voice startled Nikita out of her trance. "Not often do I see such a connection between two people-it's beautiful. You are very lucky my dear, he is yours forever."

Nikita smiled a brilliant smile in appreciation to the merchant, but sadly thought, 'if that could only be true.' Nikita replaced her sock and shoe and wandered across the way to join Michael.

Michael was studying the collectible coins on display. There were hundreds of coins carefully wrapped in thick plastic enclosed by white cardboard. Hundreds of them. Michael appeared to be fascinated by them.

"Michael, do you collect coins?" Nikita had stepped up next to him, her arm brushing his.

"Not really, but they are interesting, I think. Coins have evolved over the years...some no longer exist because society's needs changed, some because they were just a bad idea like this 'Betsy Ross' coin. People couldn't tell if it was a quarter or a dollar." A few moments quietly passed and Nikita could see Michael contemplating the coins in some other distant way.

"My grandfather collected coins...I wonder whatever became of his collection..."

Nikita was stunned that he was sharing this information with her. Only once before had he talked about his family with her and she hardly knew how to respond now.

"Perhaps your sister has the collection, Michael" she said with encouragement and as gently and sympathetically as she could.

"Perhaps." And with that he turned, took Nikita's hand and pulled her from the booth. She knew then, there would be no more talk about his family tonight.

They walked together silently, comfortably, through the throngs of people that were beginning to arrive for the fireworks display. Michael continued to hold Nikita's hand, lacing and unlacing his fingers with hers, stroking and massaging them.

When they passed by the girl scout troop that was selling snow cones, Michael looked over to Nikita, quietly asking her if she wanted one. With her nod, he bought two. The young girls operating the booth were shy but charmed by this beautiful man smiling at them and requesting rainbow cones in his soft French accent. The result was not much of a rainbow on the cone, but a mixture of colors that made them appear almost black. Michael smiled at the girls anyway, paid them for the cones, and sweetly said "Merci." Nikita watched as the little girls giggled and whispered to one another as he turned toward her. 'He doesn't even know he's doing it,' she noted with a small smile and a shake of her head. Michael had the same effect on every female; he melted them without even knowing it.

Michael and Nikita took a seat on the curb of the street eating their snow cones and enjoying people-watching. It was interesting to see all the families with their children, dogs, bikes. It all seem so *normal* and easy.

Nikita leaned into his shoulder and softly said, "This is fun, Michael."

"Yes," he agreed, surprising himself.

"It's starting to get busy, maybe we should find the place to watch the fireworks, hmmm?" Michael nodded his agreement, rose up and reached out his hand to pull Nikita from the curb.

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

They made their way up the grassy hillside that overlooked the lake. The fireworks were to be set off from a barge in the middle of the lake and so they climbed up high enough to assure an unobstructed view. Their space backed up to a large boulder that served as a perfect backrest for them. Beyond the boulder, tall pine trees reached for the sky.

Nikita took the pillow and two small quilts from the backpack and spread one quilt down for them to sit on. They settled down, sitting side by side, backs against the large rock which was still warm from the afternoon sun.

Soon, many families and others joined them on the hillside claiming their spots. They came with coolers filled with drinks and other snacks which was shared with their friends and neighbors that had gathered there. Clearly, this whole fireworks thing was an annual ritual that brought a great deal of community spirit to the people that lived there. It was one giant party.

Michael and Nikita had climbed high enough on the hill to be a good distance away from most of those that had joined them there. This worked for Michael, as he was still feeling slightly uncomfortable being so close to so many people. His Section-trained instincts did not allow him to relax with the *possible* scenarios that surrounded them. Nikita noticed that he was constantly looking around, watching, protecting, preparing.

Nikita laced her arm through his and laid her chin on his shoulder so she could whisper in his ear.

"Michael, relax...there's no threat here."

With those soothing words, Michael let go a breath and wrapped his arm around Nikita's shoulders. He drew her in closer to him and kissed her temple.

"Seems natural to do." He kissed her again and inhaled her soft scent. Her calm voice always soothed him. Unlike anyone else he had ever known, she was capable of making him relax, forget who he was, where he was. Suddenly, in his mind there was no one around, except for Nikita.

"Nikita" he breathed in her ear. He reached over and lifted her chin so that he could look deeply into her beautiful, loving eyes.

"I missed you."

As he spoke these words, he was met with a glorious, sexy smile. And he melted. She slowly closed the small gap between them and touched his lips with a tender, soft kiss. As she massaged her lips to his, his mouth parted slightly, urging her to touch his tongue. Softly tongues entwined, licking and tasting as their kiss deepened. Michael felt his arousal grow at her passionate kiss and knew he had to pull away else he would not be able to stop.

As they pulled apart, their eyes locked on one another, and each let out a deep breath. The heat between them was practically nuclear. Their mutual fire had exploded. The night before them held the promise that they would tame the flames they both felt so deeply. But not yet.

As nightfall moved over the sky, the air became cooler and Michael felt Nikita shiver.

"Cold?" he whispered, helping her with her jacket.

"A little."

Michael leaned over and pulled open the second quilt Nikita had so wisely brought with her.

"Come sit in front of me" he spoke quietly. She moved her body between his open, bent legs and he drew her back in close to his chest, snuggling her into his warm body. Michael pulled the quilt over Nikita insulating her completely from the cool night air.

Underneath the quilt, Michael circled her shoulders with his strong arms wrapping them tightly around her. He nuzzled his cheek into her shoulder, nibbled her earlobe, and took in her sweet scent.

Michael could not get her close enough. She could feel the hardness of his arousal against the small of her back. Under the cover of the blanket, his hands slowly and tenderly massaged her stomach, ribs and soon her breasts. Nikita felt liquid heat bolt through her body in response to his touch and his soft kisses. She placed the palms of her hands on top of his and followed them as they moved across her body. Their cheeks gently stroked together and she felt the soft stubble of his whiskers tickle her sensitive skin. They reveled in how good this felt, touching, soothing, comforting each other.

Suddenly, Nikita was startled at the crackling explosions in the sky. Michael smiled into her neck. And he held her close as the fireworks light up the night. After a few minutes, Michael looked at the side of Nikita's face and could see the brilliant colors reflected on her porcelain skin. He could see the innocence and childlike joy she took in watching the colorful fire light up the darkness. And it was amusingly ironic to him as he realized that *she* was the colorful fire that light up *his* darkness.

Michael watched lovingly as Nikita smiled and softly giggled when the crowd reacted to each crack in the sky. She was never so beautiful as when she felt joy, he thought. He loved this about her. And her joy wrapped warmly around his tired mind and soul, easing his darkness away.

All too quickly, it was over and the clear night sky was filled with smoke that slowly moved toward the hillsides opposite them. Michael and Nikita decided to stay and watch the crowds disperse. They marveled at how quickly the families packed up and left the hillside. The street below was swollen with humanity as the crowds patiently walked toward their homes and cars. All around the lake, there was a steady stream of headlights making their way back to the city.

Soon, Michael and Nikita found themselves alone on the quiet hillside. Michael laid down on the quilt pulling the pillow under his head and drew Nikita to his side.

"Let's look at the stars" he whispered. Nikita snuggled in tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt the strong, steady beating of his heart and waves of contentment washed over her. Michael's arms wrapped around her as he pulled her hips to his and nudged her legs apart to slip his muscular thigh between them.

Quietly they laid tangled together watching the stars sparkle in the sky. Michael never felt so comfortable. He was warm and safe holding the woman he loved wishing upon the stars. Her body was melded closely to his and he felt happy, satisfied. Michael didn't remember much about the love of a family and comfort of a home. It had been taken away from him too many times in his life. It was easier to forget those sensations. But when held Nikita in his arms, it felt like home.

"Michael" her lips whispered into his warm neck.

"Hmmm"

"Look at me" she softly pleaded. He felt the need in her voice. He knew she had something important to say. They shifted their bodies so that they lay on their sides facing each other only a breath apart. Their lips nearly touched. Their eyes searched the other's.

"I've realized something today," she breathed into his lips. Michael was distracted by the electricity sparking from her eyes and it shot through him.

"Michael." She beseeched, needing his attention.

"Yes." He closed his eyes for a moment so that he could concentrate on her words and not her lips, her body, or her softness.

"Everyone here tonight has a home, a family" she said seriously.

"I'll never have a home or a family" she whispered sadly. "I wish we could always do simple family things like eat snow cones and watch fireworks." Nikita's eyes filled with tears. Tears of regret, tears for a life she would never know.

Michael was propelled back to reality by her startling words. Suddenly the cloud that he was floating on since he knocked on her door earlier in the day was falling...rapidly.

He softly kissed her trembling lips and pulled her near to him, close to his heart, holding her fiercely. Several minutes passed while he stroked her hair and her back. He so desperately wanted to give her comfort. He knew he could never give her the things she needed or dreamed about. But he knew he loved her.

"Nikita, my love...find home in me, as I have found in you."

"Oh, Michael..." she whimpered. Her heart melted at these sweet, meaningful words. They comforted and soothed her.

"Let's try to be each other's home...family...when we can, yes?" Michael lifted her chin and searched her beautiful eyes. He felt a surge of relief when she give him a brilliant, loving smile.

As he gently kissed away her tears, he whispered "Je'taime, Nikita. Tu es mon coeur, mon ame."

Nikita's spirit soared. She loved this man with all her heart, no matter what. At that very moment, she realized without question that Michael was her home, the only family she would ever have. She knew she was lucky to have that much. It would be enough.

The End