| Subject: Chapter 38 part 2 |
Author:
Kate
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Date Posted: 06:23:32 04/06/01 Fri
In reply to:
Kate
's message, "Things My Mother Taught Me" on 09:29:32 04/03/01 Tue
Nikita drifted back to sleep. When she woke up, she was in a hospital room. She turned her head; Sara was still in the bed next to her, and she was asleep. In the chair next to Sara was a huge blond man, also asleep and snoring lightly.
"So beautiful," said a woman, and Nikita glanced toward the soft voice.
Elena. It had to be. She was holding Sara's baby and smiling down at it. Next to her was Michael, wearing an almost identical expression on his face. "Doesn't he remind you of Adam?" Elena said, glancing up at Michael.
"Yes," Michael said softly. Michael reached out and touched a finger to the baby's cheek. "A little bigger than Adam was, though."
Elena laughed softly. "Adam made up for it later on. He got his height from you. And his handsome looks."
"Well, I don't know about that."
Elena continued to hold the baby, smiling down at it, then she said to Michael, "Feels strange, doesn't it? Being grandparents? I don't feel old enough to be a grandmother."
"You aren't," Michael assured her.
Elena's lips twitched. "You have to say that. I'm your son's mother. It's in your good interest to keep me happy."
No! Nikita wanted to shriek. It's not! Michael --
"I don't see what I've got to do with it anymore," Michael said mildly. "From all accounts, you're the happiest woman in London."
Elena chuckled. "Who told you that?"
"Your whole damn family. Except your daughter. I've not met her yet. But I expect I probably will," Michael said, sounding resigned.
Elena adjusted the baby, then said slowly, "I have to tell you, Michael, I was not at all pleased to hear you were alive."
"I'm sorry that --"
"I didn't mind about Section. Sam explained it all to me, and I ... well, maybe I don't understand it, but I can accept it. But what I absolutely could not accept," Elena said firmly, "Was for you to come back and tear my family apart."
"I would never --"
"You'd better not." Elena's previous softness was gone and she gave Michael a hard look. "I don't mind sharing my grandchild with you. And I don't mind that my sons have helped Nikita. But if you ever even think of --"
"I won't," Michael said hastily. "I promise."
"Huh." Elena's eyes narrowed, but she accepted his words. "I don't know why I should believe you. After all, you let me think you were dead."
"I explained about that, I couldn't --"
"I know, I know, you couldn't help it. Still." A little grudgingly, Elena said, "We did appreciate the money. It came in handy. Ian wants to pay you back."
"I don't want Ian's money," Michael said. "He doesn't owe me anything. If anything, I owe him."
"Whatever for?"
"Never mind," Michael sighed, then said reluctantly, "I suppose you are wondering about Nikita."
Nikita could have sworn his eyes darted to her; the room was shadowed, but she lowered her eyelids a fraction.
"Well," Elena said, adjusting the baby's blanket. "I guess I did. For about three seconds."
"What do you mean?"
"Michael, it was obvious there was something between you 30 years ago. At the time, I thought it was just ... you know, a close family relationship, like a special cousin. Then I fell in love with Ian."
"What does Ian have to do with it?"
"We have the same kind of bond you and Nikita had. I daresay you still have it."
Michael's eyes narrowed. "My relationship with Nikita doesn't ... bother you?" he asked skeptically.
"I suppose it would be too much to ask whether, while you and I were married, you and she ..."
Michael was silent, and Elena shrugged slightly.
"It doesn't matter, Michael. If I had been in your place and Ian had been there, I wouldn't have been able to stay away from him, either."
"You're being awfully magnanimous about this,"Michael said cautiously.
"I can afford to be magnanimous," Elena pointed out. "Our marriage has been over for 30 years. And I'm happy now. You're a possessive man, Michael, but you must understand I will never leave Ian," she said certainly.
"I would never ask you to," Michael said quickly. "Ever."
"Good."
The baby opened his eyes sleepily, and the two grandparents peered at him. "He does look like Adam," Michael said, sounding surprised.
"I thought we already agreed on that," Elena said.
"We did. But I was really just being polite."
"Ah. That's what you were being. I wondered." Elena jiggled the baby, who yawned and closed his eyes again. "Speaking of polite: I met Milla earlier in the waiting room. You've done a nice job raising her, Michael."
"Thank you. Sam and Andy have turned out well." Michael paused, then said truthfully, "In fact, I wonder what would have become of Andy had you not raised him."
"We all wonder that occasionally," Elena said cheerfully. "But the truth is, I had good material to work with. Here." She handed the baby to Michael. "Support his head."
"I remember," Michael said, sounding slightly irritated.
"Well, it's been 32 years. You can forget a lot in 32 years. I'm going to wake my husband and make him take me to the hotel."
"Do that. You're more than welcome to stay at the Lucia."
"Mmm. I'll ask Ian. I do have to tell you, though, he wasn't too keen on coming on this trip. He wanted to see the baby but when he heard you were part of it ..."
"I have my own family," Michael shrugged, snuggling the baby closer. "I don't need his, too."
Elena considered him, then nodded. "Thank you, Michael." She leaned up and brushed a kiss across his cheek. Michael jerked back and she raised her eyebrows.
"It's Nikita. She wasn't too ... keen ... on you visiting, either."
Elena shook her head. "Take some advice, Michael: Make an honest woman out of her."
"She is honest."
"You know what I mean."
Michael's eyes narrowed. "I thought you were leaving."
"I am." She leaned over and shook Ian. "Ian? Sweetheart? Come on, darling, let's go to the hotel."
Ian snorted and came awake with a grunt. "I'm not asleep."
"Of course not. But it's getting late and I'm getting tired. And we need to call Indira."
"Oh. Right. Come on, then." Ian rose to his impressive height -- like Andy, he towered over Michael -- and he touched Sara's hand. "Sleep tight, princess," he said softly. Then he nodded to Michael, putting a possessive arm around Elena. "Thanks for taking care of Sara," he said.
"Not a problem," Michael said. Then he held out the baby. "Do you want to tell your grandson goodnight?"
Ian took the baby, who suddenly looked so much smaller in his huge hands. "G'night, Sport," Ian crooned. "See you in the morning."
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