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Date Posted: 10:18:12 12/23/01 Sun
Author: Antje, reposting for Leigh
Subject: Holiday Chapter 35
In reply to: Antje, reposting for Leigh ;-) 's message, "Holiday (continuing)" on 10:16:36 12/23/01 Sun

Special thanks to Searcher/Andie for that night on the isle when we stayed up late and talked about the direction of this
story:)







Chapter 35:

It was daylight when Nikita woke. She yawned, stretched lazily and then lay still, not wanting to move from bed. The smell
of fresh coffee wafted in through the open door. She could hear Michael moving about in the kitchen. A smile lifted the
corner of her mouth. He was such an early riser; she’d learned that the last time he had stayed over.

Section was closed for the day and she didn’t need to be anywhere until later that afternoon. She had a whole day practically
to spend with Michael. Pushing back the covers, she scrambled out of bed and traipsed toward the living room. On her way
she noticed that Michael had picked up their discarded clothes from the night before and draped them over a chair. Nikita
picked up his shirt and slipped it on. The arms were a little long, a problem she solved by pushing them up around her
elbows, but it was warm and smelt of him.

She found Michael sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. He looked up and greeted her as she
entered. “Good morning.”

He moved his paper and pulled her down to sit on his lap. “Morning,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. She gave
him a slow kiss. Michael’s hand slipped in under her shirt to rest at her hip.

“I tried to wake you,” he said, “but you were too tired.”

“Not tired, babe, just happy and relaxed.”

Michael’s brows quirked upwards and his smile widened slightly. “Relaxed?”

“Thanks to you,” she said with a saucy smile.

His fingers traced a light circle against her skin. His gaze slid down to her lips. “I’m glad I could help.”

After a few more minutes of talk and gentle playing, Nikita got up to make breakfast and they planned their day.

Later on, Nikita called her parents to see how their night at the Mayor’s ball had been. She still hadn’t told them that she was
seeing Michael though she knew she would have to sooner or later. Her parents had really liked Stephen. They liked Michael
too – they just didn’t know that he was the new man in her life.

After she hung up, Nikita went over to where Michael was seated in the living room. She came up from behind and peeked
over his shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

He was holding a photo of her, Birkoff and her parents in his hand. Michael turned and smiled at her. “At this picture. How
old were you?”

She paused a moment to think. It was the summer they had gone to Greece. “I was sixteen,” she answered.

Michael returned to studying the photo. “I was trying to decide who you look more like, your father or mother.” Nikita didn’t
say anything and Michael continued. “Birkoff has your mother’s coloring. And you’ve your father’s blue eyes, but your
hair…?”

“Are you complaining?” Nikita teased, and Michael laughed softly.

“Never.”

Nikita sat down next to Michael. She slipped one arm through his and leaned her chin lightly upon his shoulder. “Actually,”
she said, her voice becoming serious, “I don’t look like either of my parents.” There was a pause as Michael sensed she had
more to say. Several seconds passed and then she said quietly, “I’m adopted.”

He turned to look at her, surprise registering in his green eyes. Nikita didn’t meet his gaze but stared instead at the family
photo. She shrugged, but Michael felt tension in her smile. His voice was gently inquiring. “I didn’t know that.”

Nikita shrugged again and then shifted to lay her cheek against his shoulder. “Not very many people do,” she said to him.
“Birkoff doesn’t even know.”

This surprised Michael even further. “Did your parents tell you?” he asked.

Nikita hesitated. She hadn’t planned on revealing this part of her life to Michael – she’d never confessed it to any of the other
men she had dated. In fact, she’d only told this to one other person and that was Carla. She felt Michael reach for her hand.
His fingers covered hers and his thumb caressed over her knuckles.

“They said they had planned to at first,” she began slowly. “But the years slipped by one after another and after a while they
thought that there was no need to. But when I was thirteen I ---“ Nikita paused. When she spoke again, her voice seemed to
come from somewhere far away. “I went to my father’s office. He wasn’t there, so I sat down to wait for him. It wasn’t long
before I heard him come in. He was talking to one of his lawyers, I remember he was very angry and he didn’t see me sitting
there. He was talking about some woman and how there was no way in hell he was going to give me back to her.”

Nikita stopped, her eyes watering as the emotions of that afternoon washed over her. Michael gathered her close and held
her. He kissed her brow and then gently wiped her tears, all the while saying nothing.

“I’m sorry,” Nikita said, sniffling and feeling silly. Her voice was husky. “It was such a long time ago and it’s not even
important anymore…”

Michael touched the back of his fingers to her cheek. She was still avoiding his gaze so he took her hand and lifted it up his
lips. He kissed each of her fingers then turned her hand over and pressed his mouth to her palm. His caress was soothing and
Nikita was finally able to look into his eyes. “It still hurts, doesn’t it?” he asked quietly.

She smiled weakly and nodded once, unable to say any more. Michael brought her once more into his arms and he held her
for a long time.

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