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Date Posted: 18:48:56 06/01/09 Mon
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: bas21-toronto12-1242431968.dsl.bell.ca / 74.14.1.224
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 169.
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods, Chapter 168....Thank you..." on 23:28:06 05/18/09 Mon

Chapter 169

“Kita… you came back to the party. Thank you my love.” Michael whispered adoringly as their passionate kiss broke.

“Did you think that I wouldn’t?” a shyly smiling Nikita replied when the kiss broke; as she gazed at him lovingly.

“I wasn’t sure. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t. My God… look at you…you’re beautiful.” Michael said softly.

“If I am Michael, it’s because you make me feel beautiful! I love you so much.” Nikita said.

“No.” Michael replied. “That’s not it. You *are* gorgeous! Let me look at you ma belle!”

Michael stood back one step while continuing to hold onto Nikita’s hands. Nikita blushed as his heated gaze roamed over her possessively and then twirled her slowly before him. When he was finished his perusal, he gently wrapped his arms around her once more.

‘If I hadn’t invited all these people here… I’d be tempted to tell all of them to leave right now. As much as I want this ceremony… for many reasons… I really want to take her upstairs and make love to her.’ Michael thought, shutting his eyes as a blissful groan escaped his lips. Then, after taking a deep breath, he leaned back enough from their embrace so that he could look into his wife’s luminous eyes again.

‘Oh my!’ Nikita thought as she took in the heat in her husband’s eyes. ‘If I thought the look he gave me in our room when I was wearing the red dress was sexy… oh was I wrong! He looks like he wants to eat me alive!’

“Kita… you are très magnifique!” Michael breathed barely above a whisper.

“Michael?” Nikita gasped.

“My love… you are incredibly beautiful.” Michael insisted as he smiled at her and his heated look turned tender. “Are you okay now ma belle? I was so worried about you!”

“I am Michael. Claire didn’t hurt me… she just ruined my dress. That gorgeous red dress! Marie says it will be fine… that the club soda will take the wine out.” Nikita babbled. “I hope she’s right.”

“It doesn’t matter. Only you matter.” Michael replied softly as he leaned forward once more and tenderly kissed her brow.

‘It doesn’t matter?’ Nikita thought, shaking her head in amazement. ‘Even if it hadn’t cost a fortune… it matters. That dress was from him and that made it important!’

Seeing the look of shock on her beautiful face, Michael grinned crookedly and softly added… “It’s a ‘thing’ Kita.. you’re more important to me than any ‘thing’ could ever be. If it can’t be ‘fixed’ it still doesn’t matter. As long as you’re okay that’s all I care about.”

“But Michael! It cost…” a wide-eyed Nikita began, only to be swiftly interrupted.

“It doesn’t matter what it cost Kita.” Michael replied firmly. “Only *you* matter. You are everything to me. Never forget that.”

“Michael, thank you so much for this second incredible dress.” Nikita said shyly as she nodded her understanding, while his hand stroked her skirt gently near her hip.

“Do you like it?” Michael asked quietly. “I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

“Oh Michael… how can you think I wouldn’t? Yes…yes… yes…” she said, leaning towards his face and punctuating each word with a peppering of soft kisses on his ruggedly handsome face, “you silly man… I adore it!”

“Are you sure, ma chérie?” Michael asked quietly as he drank in her affectionate kisses.

“Am I sure I don’t adore this dress… and you? What a question! You bought me a ‘wedding dress’ so that I’d have that memory for the future. Isn’t that what you told Lakeisha?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, but after I ordered it, I was afraid you’d hate it. After all, you said you didn’t want one.” Michael said softly.

“I don’t hate it… I love it. I never said I didn’t want a one either. I said having one wasn’t necessary; and it isn’t. Thank you my love. It’s gorgeous and I love you for being so romantic!” Nikita said quietly.

“Are you sure? After I ordered it I realized that I probably should have asked you to pick it out yourself.” Michael replied quietly.

“No you shouldn’t have.” Nikita replied firmly while looking in his eyes and smiling tenderly.

“Kita?” Michael replied in a surprised voice.

“I probably wouldn’t have agreed to buy one Michael. I know I wouldn’t have bought one this colour.” Nikita replied.

“What do you mean Kita?” a puzzled Michael repeated.

“You bought me a ‘wedding dress’ Michael.” Nikita replied; stressing the descriptive words softly. “We’re already married.”

Michael smiled slightly, but didn’t reply. He adored her simplistic viewpoint.

“That’s not important though.” His bride continued sincerely. “What *is* important is the thought behind it. You bought me this dress because you love me.”

Michael’s smile deepened. “I do.”

“No one has ever loved me like you do.” Nikita continued sincerely. “It’s beautiful…”

“You’re welcome. It *is* a beautiful garment and it makes you look even more beautiful than the red one did.” Michael complimented sincerely while he grinned at her flustered face.

“Thank you.” a slightly blushing Nikita replied softly as she remembered the long and loud wolf whistle she’d received earlier from the man holding her.

“As beautiful as it is though ma belle, it could never be as beautiful as you are.” Michael continued seriously as he gazed at his shyly blushing wife in admiration and tenderly brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles.

Then he looked at the items she was carrying in her hands.

“And these things… where did they come from?” he asked curiously.

“The bible is on loan from Lakeisha… it was her mother’s.” Nikita replied quietly.

“I see. And the flowers?” Michael inquired, nodding his acceptance of her words. ‘I didn’t think to order her a bouquet. Who did this?’

“The flowers came from the waiter who came to Lakeisha’s room.” Nikita replied.

“I’m sorry?” Michael replied, not knowing what had transpired in her absence.

“Marie ordered a several bottles of club soda be brought up to Lakeisha’s room. She thought if we soaked my dress in it, the wine might come out.” Nikita explained.

“And this waiter… he said these flowers were from the staff?” Michael inquired as he processed these facts. “Why would they do that?”

“I’m not really sure, but he did say something about the staff wanting to welcome me as the wife of the new owner of this hotel.” Nikita replied with a slight smirk.

‘Or perhaps they upset about what happened to her too. After all, she’s a stranger here… perhaps they were attempting to make her feel better about the Quebecois after what Claire did?’ Michael thought. ‘That would ‘fit’ with what I know of the middle-class’ mindset. They may *say* they hate the English… but that’s a generalization of a group… a reaction to past injustices. Who could help be upset to hear that a lovely young bride was attacked for no reason? An action of that sort certainly doesn’t make any of us look *civilized* or Christian! I’m sure what happened was telegraphed instantly throughout the staff ‘grapevine’.’

“You bought this entire hotel?” Nikita inquired; shrugging off his inquiry about the gift she’d received from the hotel staff as her curiousity overcame her. “Why Michael?”

“It was a good investment.” Michael mumbled as his intense look dropped from her own; not sure of how else to respond to her inquiry at the moment. ‘I can’t lie to her…and I will tell her why later… but I don’t want to discuss it right now either.’

“Is that the only reason?” Nikita inquired curiously; tilting her head slightly to watch his handsome face with her curious morning glory gaze.

“No.” Michael replied, “but I’d rather discuss that another time. It’s a long story.”

‘I’m going to have to find out who did this for her and thank them.’ Michael thought shaking his head in wonder. ‘My staff is displaying more class than the so-called high class people here tonight. Samuelle… why are you so surprised? Haven’t you found that your employees are generally decent people? Why wouldn’t they do something like this for Kita? It’s amazing though… people who have little have generous natures… while people who have too much are just the opposite.’

“All right.” Nikita replied. ‘Why would he do that? What isn’t he telling me? I *will* ask him later..’

“Did the waiter bring these flowers to you made up into this bouquet?” Michael probed further.

“No, they were in a vase. Marie made them into this bouquet.” Nikita admitted quietly. “Do you like it?”

“It’s delightful. That was very kind of her.” Michael said with a faint smile as he took in the artful arrangement Chuck’s sister had created for his wife.

“Michael?” Nikita said quietly; garnering his attention once more.

“Yes, my love?” he replied; focusing on her beautiful face once again.

“Before we do this… this ceremony…. I have to confess something.” She said softly.

“What?” Michael asked, puzzled by this turn in their conversation.

“You called those women childish earlier… and I guess you were right.” She began. “Unfortunately, I was just as childish when I ran out of here. I’m sorry Michael.”

“You have nothing to feel sorry for Kita.” Michael said firmly. “Given all that happened earlier, it’s only natural that you’d be upset.”

“No… I wasn’t upset because of what Claire did. Not really.” she said quietly.

At his puzzled expression, she continued. “Yes, I was shocked that she would toss wine all over me. After all, it was an unbelievably juvenile thing to do…” Nikita replied, seeking to clarify the evening’s previous events, “but that was trivial really.”

“But…” Michael began.

“Don’t you understand my love?” Nikita interjected lovingly; focusing her aegean eyes on his confused face. “If I was upset it was because of their attitudes towards you. I know I couldn’t understand their words, but hostility doesn’t need a common language, does it? They were angry at you.”

“Me?” Michael said in confusion. ‘They were angry at me? They were being rude, yes… but their anger was directed at you my love. It’s just like you to think that way…’

“Yes, you; but they felt *safe* taking their anger out on me.” Nikita said with conviction. “I was a substitute target, if you want to think of me that way.”

“Pardon?” Michael replied, not sure he had heard his wife’s words correctly.

‘No.. I *never* want her to view herself that way! Damn it all… I *do* see the logic in what she’s saying… but what she’s also implying is that she thinks she was targeted because she’s not important! She couldn’t be more wrong… she’s *my* wife… and she has *no* idea how important that makes her. How could she believe anything else?’ he thought in wonder.

“Nikita…no.” Michael objected.

“Yes Michael. I may not understand French, but give me a little credit….I understand basic human nature. They attacked me because it was ‘safe’.” Nikita replied emphatically. “They wouldn’t have had the nerve to attack you directly. That’s just not how people like Claire and Veronique think.”

Michael frowned and shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“Neither of them would feel comfortable attacking you directly… after all… you’re an important man. What would other people think?” Nikita reasoned.

‘True.’ Michael concurred mentally. ‘They wouldn’t attack me… none of them would have the nerve!’

“They would, and did, however, feel comfortable attacking me.” Nikita continued. “After all, I’m an outsider…”

“You’re my wife.” Michael finally interjected. “I don’t give a damn about anything else they *may* have thought Kita. I am certainly not going to let people like Claire attack you and not come to your defense.”

“Ah… but I’m not a Quebecois, am I Michael?” Nikita asked teasingly.

‘And you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth either… *that’s* another thing they had against you chérie!’ “That doesn’t matter.” Michael retorted. “I love you for who you are.”

“I know that. I also know that things like that don’t matter to you Michael… and I know you’ll always defend me. I love you for that. Things like that seem to matter to them though. I’m just telling you how the whole thing seemed to me.” Nikita continued.

“What are you saying Kita?” Michael asked. ‘I told her those two were being insulting… but I really didn’t want to get specific. She didn’t deserve that.’

“They were angry that you had a wife… me.” Nikita replied softly as her now determined eyes watched her husband’s, trying to conclude what his thoughts were. “It probably infuriated that that I’m not French either.”

“You’re right.” Michael concurred reluctantly. “I’m sorry Kita… you didn’t deserve any of that.”

“It doesn’t matter Michael. I tried to explain this to Marie earlier… I’m not important… and as much as I loved it, neither is my red dress!” Nikita said with a sigh as she fixed her serious blue gaze on her husband’s puzzled green orbs.

“Of course you’re important.” Michael objected emphatically as his eyes darkened to a deep stormy green as he angrily remembered the nasty exchange that had taken place earlier. “You’re my wife!”

“I don’t think that’s the real issue here Michael.” A ruefully smiling Nikita replied softly.

“What do you mean?” Michael asked; frowning as he focused on her sweet face.

“Claire was really showing her contempt of you… they both were.” Nikita replied softly.

Me?” Michael replied. “I don’t understand.”

“Michael…” Nikita explained patiently as she tipped her head and gazed into his eyes lovingly. “both of them were showing how little respect they have for you. Their contempt was for your right to make your own decisions about your life. Every person here has that right, but somehow they’ve got the idea that *they* get to dictate to you. It’s ridiculous! You were right about how they thought of you. They’re not your friends, they never have been. After all, their sole focus has been to see what they can get out of you. They saw me as an obstacle to their goals.”

“I know.” Michael replied softly. ‘I *knew*! Damn it… I *knew* something like this might happen! How could I have let this happen? And yet… I need her! If I’d let her go… if I hadn’t asked her to marry me… I’d be miserable now. I can’t live without her!’

“And they’re hypocrites. They came here claiming to be *your friends*… but all they wanted to do was to attack me.” Nikita reasoned. “If they were *really* your *friends*, they never would have acted the way they did!”

“You’re right; I should have never invited them Kita.” Michael retorted remorsefully. Then, just as quickly as he’d fallen into despair his resolve hardened. “However, if it was going to happen ma belle, I’m glad it happened in plain sight of everyone.”

“Why’s that Michael?” Nikita replied curiously.

“To put the rest of them on notice.” Michael replied firmly. “You deserve to be treated better. You’re my wife, damn it!”

“Just because I’m your wife” Nikita finally conceded quietly, “doesn’t mean I *deserve* things Michael.”

“I disagree.” Michael replied softy. “You deserve to be treated with respect if nothing else. These witches are going to learn that too… and I don’t care what it takes.”

“Michael! I know you love me… but the point I’m trying to make is that both of them were lashing out at you because you married me and rejected them.” Nikita argued.

“I don’t understand.” Michael replied.

“It’s really very simple. Claire may have been envious of me Michael, I do see that. After all, I have *you*.” Nikita granted shyly with a small reticent smile. “However, you were right about them. Neither of them care about you as a person. If they did, they would have had more respect for you earlier.”

“I know. They wanted to drive you out of my life with their rudeness so that they could latch onto me again.” Michael groused.

‘And I suppose the fact that you’re a absolutely gorgeous man doesn’t enter into this? Yeah, right!’ Nikita thought with a loving smile. ‘He hasn’t thought of *that*! I can’t believe someone as attractive as he is could be so modest!’

“How are they going to do that Michael?” Nikita queried softly. “You’re *my* husband… and I’m *not* letting you go! I love you too much to let some jealous ex-girlfriend’s bad manners drive me away.”

“I’m glad.” Michael whispered as he leaned his forehead gently against his bride’s. “I feel the same way.”

“I’m not worried about her or any of the rest of them either.” Nikita proclaimed softly. “It’s obvious that they don’t even know you, my love. If they’d ever bothered to get to know the *real* Michael… the man *I* love, it wouldn’t have mattered to them if you are rich or not. I know it doesn’t matter to me.”

“That’s you ma chérie.” Michael quietly rebutted as he smiled tenderly at her beautiful face. “You’re entirely different from any of them. You look at someone’s heart, not their wallet.”

“I’m glad they didn’t Michael.” Nikita replied with a soft smile that threatened to make Michael’s hormones go into overdrive.

‘Mon Dieu! I can’t believe how much I love this woman!’ Michael thought as he absorbed the vision before him. “Why Kita?”

“Why? Because their loss is my gain.” Nikita replied with a sweet smile that made Michael’s heart melt anew with love for the gorgeous woman in his arms. “Neither of them are worth worrying about. Let’s just forget any of this happened and enjoy our evening. Okay?”

“Kita…” Michael whispered, overwhelmed by her selflessness. ‘She was attacked because of me and now she’s saying that it wasn’t important… that *she’s* not important! Mon Dieu! She’s different from any other woman I’ve ever known. Most women I’ve known would be demanding retribution by now.. but not her.’

“No, Michael. If you think about it, you’ll see it’s the best thing we could do.” She continued firmly, gently touching his lips with her index finger as she gazed lovingly into his green-grey eyes. “However, I still need to say something about my own behaviour….”

“Kita…”

“Shhh… Please my love, let me finish.” She continued when he began to protest.

“Chérie … no.” Michael protested softly.

“Yes. I have to say this, or it will bother me until I do.” Nikita stated firmly; watching his handsome face closely for permission to continue.

Michael grimaced slightly and reluctantly nodded his assent. He had a pretty fair idea of what she was about to say, and while he knew she meant this, he was sure he’d disagree.

“When I ran out of here earlier, I made things worse. I’m so sorry my love. I didn’t mean to upset you further just because I’m was a selfish child.” Nikita confessed.

“What?” No!” Michael said in a shocked whisper.

“I *was* selfish Michael. I didn’t think about your feelings or how upset you’d get when I ran out of here…all I was focused on was my appearance. I’m so shallow. You’re my husband… I shouldn’t have deserted you!”

“Kita… no .... don’t say that! You’re the least shallow person I’ve ever met in my life! You’re being too hard on yourself. You said yourself that what happened earlier shocked you, remember? You’re trying to rationalize and apologize for something you had no control over.” Michael admonished sincerely. “I won’t accept that. The truth is that I should be apologizing to you… for inviting those two in the first place. It was a big mistake.”

“You did what you thought you had to do Michael.” Nikita said quietly. “I understand that.”

‘She’s not blaming me for what happened!’ Michael realized in wonder as his eyes scanned her treasured features lovingly. ‘She’s not angry with me for inviting those witches either! Incredible! Most women I’ve known would have been furious if something like this had happened to them!’

“I don’t deserve you, Kita.” Michael whispered adoringly, “but Mon Dieu, I love you.”

Nikita smiled slightly and continued with her explanation.

“All I could think about up in Keisha’s room was that now the vow renewal ceremony you wanted wouldn’t happen. I had no idea you’d left this gorgeous dress with her and all I could think of was how hurt you’d be.” Nikita said softly.

‘How hurt I’d be?’ a speechless Michael thought, amazed once again by her noble attitude. “Kita … no.” he whispered; overcome by her amazing lack of selfishness. ‘How does she do that? She was humiliated because of Claire… and me… and she constantly overlooks things like that. All she worries about is me… never about herself. Most beautiful women are selfish and self-centered. Not her. She’s unbelievable! She always manages to focus on others.’

“Michael… yes.” Nikita said quietly. “I *need* to say this my love.

“What hurt me most was how you’d been treated.” Michael interrupted firmly.

“And then Keisha pulled this incredible dress out of her closet.” Nikita continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I’d just finished telling her and Marie how I didn’t need to be ‘Cinderella’ too! You remembered, didn’t you… that I said I didn’t need a wedding gown?”

‘Cinderella?’ Michael thought as his mouth quirked up slightly in amusement. “I did. Kita…is that why you didn’t want a white wedding my love… because you thought it wouldn’t be real?”

“No Michael.” Nikita said seriously. “It would have been *real*… no matter what either of us wore. Our love is real… and that’s what’s important. I meant what I said before. A white dress and all the fuss that goes with ‘a white wedding’ was never my focus. As much as I love this dress… all I’ve ever wanted was a good man who would love me. You are what I want.”

‘Amazing! I can offer her anything she might want in the way of *things*, but all she wants is someone who loves her.’ Michael realized in wonder. ‘ Who wouldn’t love her? Damn it… that’s what’s so infuriating about how she was treated. She’s a *lady*! Those witches have no idea what real class is if they can’t see that!’

“Kita… my love for you is the most real thing in my life!” Michael declared emphatically.

“Shhh.. Michael. I know that.” Nikita whispered lovingly as she gently caressed his face. “I feel the same way about you.”

“You may not have *needed* a wedding gown my love, but I think inside you *wanted* one.” Michael replied just as seriously. “However, that’s not why I bought this dress for you.”

“What do you mean Michael?” Nikita asked quizzically, eager to learn the reasoning behind his gift.

“Oh Kita…. you’re so modest that you think if you demand the things most women expect that I’ll think less of you.” Michael replied quietly.

“That’s not true…” Nikita began quietly.

“Yes, I think it is. It doesn’t matter though. It’s never going to happen, I promise you.” Michael vowed. Before she could protest further, Michael put his index finger on his wife’s lush pink lips to hush her protests. “No… you deserve this my love. Besides, years from now, if you don’t have ‘wedding pictures’ to show our children, how will you feel then?”

“I..” Nikita began.

“You’ll feel cheated.” Michael whispered lovingly, but emphatically; swiftly cutting off her protests as he continued to caress her soft lips.

Nikita’s heart skipped a beat as he continued his caress while looking lovingly from her eyes to where he was gently stroking her lips.

“I know you’d never say so, but I also know you’ll feel that way on some level. No one is going to treat you that way mon ange. I won’t allow it.” Michael explained.

“I love you so much Michael!” an overwhelmed Nikita proclaimed softly.

‘I can’t believe how thoughtful he is!’ Nikita thought as she took in all the gorgeous man holding her had to say. ‘I’m so glad I met him!’

“Chérie … I adore you.” Michael whispered, as he leaned his forehead gently against hers once more. “No one has ever loved me like you do. Come… Father Philippe is waiting. I want to marry you all over again!”
~~~~~~~

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