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Date Posted: 00:19:32 12/24/01 Mon
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Holiday Chapter 38
In reply to: Antje, reposting for Leigh ;-) 's message, "Holiday (continuing)" on 10:16:36 12/23/01 Sun

Chapter 38


“Michael?” Nikita surveyed the room quickly as she opened the door and entered her apartment. There was no sign of him, everything was as she left it that morning. The windows were still closed, the lights off. Disappointed, she shut the door behind her and locked it. She tossed her purse and the files she’d brought home from work onto a table, picked up the remote and tuned it to one of the local news channels. Often she was so caught up with meetings and deadlines at work that she would find herself going for days without ever knowing what was happening in the outside world. She found a local news channel and adjusted the volume.

Her shoes came off next, two and a half-inched heels that she abandoned beside the couch as she shucked off her coat and then reached up to remove her earrings.

The message light on the answering machine blinked off and on. She balanced herself on the armrest of the couch and rewound the tape. There was a message from Carla confirming the time for their dinner date the following night. Chris was volunteering to cook dinner for them and Michael over at his place. Well that was good, Nikita concluded with a rueful smile, because Carla –bless her artistic soul—was a horrible cook. She forwarded to the next message. It was Michael. He was running late but promised he would be at the apartment in time for them to go together to her parents.

Nikita smiled at the serious tone of his voice. Gorgeous as he was, he always seemed a little somber. It was part of his appeal too though, she surmised. You never quite knew what he was thinking, except when his eyes would darken and then Nikita would know exactly what he was thinking. Still smiling, she checked for other messages and then reset the machine.

Her father had changed the time and place for their dinner; instead of them meeting at the house they would be having dinner downtown at 8:30 at one of her parent’s favorite restaurants. That was fine with Nikita; it would save her and Michael the long drive out to her family home, and it would give her time to take a little nap. Thanks to Michael, and an early appointment at work that morning, she hadn’t been able to get much sleep the night before. In her room, Nikita quickly slipped out of her blouse and skirt, set the alarm on her clock, and then climbed into bed and pulled the covers up over her with a sigh.

That was where Michael found her twenty minutes later. Sitting carefully down on the edge of the bed, he bent forward and brushed his lips against her cheek. She stirred a second later, blue eyes flicking open half-way. Seeing him, she took a deep breath and stretched. Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around him. Michael stroked his hand down the middle of her back as she closed her eyes and lay her head on his shoulder.

“I thought we were going to your parents?”

As if on cue, the alarm clock went off. Nikita made a grumbling sound as Michael moved her and reached over to turn it off.

“There’s a change in where we’re meeting,” she informed him, stifling a yawn. “We’ve got time for a shower. Want to join me?”

“It’ll take too long if I join you.” Standing, he helped her up and then pushed her gently toward the door. “Go on. I’ll use the other bathroom.”

At eight o’clock they were both nearly dressed. Michael sat at the bed’s edge lacing his shoes while Nikita checked her appearance in the mirror. Her gown was long and simple, it’s only accessory the sapphire bracelet and earrings Michael had given her for Christmas.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, coming to stand behind her. His eyes met hers in the mirror as he held her coat up for her. “I’ve already called a cab. Shall we go?”

Paul and Madeline were already seated when they arrived at the restaurant. Nikita leaned down to kiss her mother on the cheek as Paul rose and shook Michael’s hand. If Michael was nervous he didn’t show it. Paul subtly grilled him over the course of the evening on his family background and history. Michael answered all of his questions except when Paul asked about his intentions were Nikita was concerned. Nikita slanted Michael a look, a smile tugging at her lips. It was a topic the two of them had discussed just the night before.

“Nikita and I aren’t sure yet what direction our relationship will take,” he answered honestly. Meeting her gaze he continued. “We care for each other very much.”

Paul cleared his throat and turned to look at Madeline briefly. She gave a slight imperceptible nod, her dark eyes showing her approval. Paul shifted his attention back to Michael. “I suppose with technology the way it is today, it’ll be somewhat easier to carry on a long distance relationship if that’s what you two plan on doing. I remember in my day when I was courting Nikita’s mother, she was living in Virginia – that’s only a stone’s throw away compared to Paris – but at that time I thought she might as well have been living on the moon.”

Madeline smiled fondly at the memories her husband’s words conjured up. “You wrote me the most beautiful letters. That surprised me because when we were in college I could barely get two sentences out of you.”

“Yes, well…” Paul quickly intervened before Madeline could go on. “As I was saying, it won’t be easy carrying on a relationship when the two people involved live so far apart. I’m not saying that it can’t be done, mind you.” Here he paused and stared at Michael directly. “I hope you two know what you’re in for.”

Nikita reached over and placed her hand on Michael’s lap. Her fingers laced with his as she looked into his eyes. “I think we’ve already had a prelude of what it’ll be like but, as Michael said, we want to give it a try.”

Later, as the band began to play, Michael asked Nikita to dance. As they walked hand in hand out onto the dance floor, Paul shook his head, amazement in his eyes. Madeline leaned over, a smile on her face as she looped her arm through his. “I think,” she whispered, “we’re looking at our future son-in-law.”

Paul made a sound that came out as a grunt. “Don’t get your hopes up yet. That’s what we thought with Stephen too, remember?”

“No, that’s what you thought,” Madeline gently corrected. “I knew from the first time I saw them together that that relationship was one-sided.”

“Now how could you tell that with just one look?” Paul asked, and Madeline smiled and nudged him, directing him with her eyes to where their daughter and Michael stood embraced upon the dance floor.

“You can see it in her eyes,” Madeline answered. “Nikita never looked like that at Stephen. That’s how I know.”

As Paul studied his daughter’s face, he realized reluctantly that Madeline was right. There was a happiness in Nikita’s eyes that was hard to ignore. And when Michael tightened his hold on her, Nikita leaned in and kissed him long and slow. Turning back to his wife, Paul said, “I think you may have a point there.”

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