Nikita stood in front of the tree, which barely topped her by only an inch or two, and straightened a small sleigh with a miniture Santa Claus perched atop it. It was Christmas Eve, a time of joy, happy tidings and good cheer, but here everything ran as usual.... It was just another day of the year. She had honestly been surprised to see the see go up, and the multitude of decorations which adorned it.
She looked down at the gaily wrapped present she held in her hand, then glanced up at the lighted window of Micheals office. She had searched for months for just the right gift, and had finally found it. She hoped he liked, hoped he realized the importance of it......
Alone in his office, Michael too held a gift. Lovingly wrapped by his own hand, and chosen with the same careful consideration. He wanted to get her something that would show her what she meant to him, without alerting anyone else to the feelings he had for her. Feelings which filled his soul, and tormented him in the darkest hours of the night.
A quiet knock on his door had him laying the gift to the side, out of sight, as he looked up to see who the intruder was. Nikita stood within the doorway hesitantly.
"Come on in, Nikita......."
"I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all." His eyes glanced to the package she held in her hand.
"I thought I would go ahead and bring this to you........ It's Christmas Eve after all....." She smiled slowly and advanced to his desk, then laid the small package on it, her finger running over the gaily wrapped package softly.
Michael accepted the gift slowly, his long fingers unwrapping the gift carefully, making certain that the paper stayed perfectly intact. When he got to the small jewelers box, he paused, then lifted the lid as though he was hesitant to see what was inside.
Laying on the velvet surface was a gold St. Christophers medallion. The patron saint of travellers immortalized in gold as a protectant, a prayer for the one who wore it. He swallowed tightly as his finger caressed the medallion..... Nikita's prayer for his protection.
"St. Christopher......."(he whispers)
"Merry Christmas Michael."
Slowly he turns and retrieves the gift he had chosen for her. "Merry Christmas Nikita......."
With a surprised smile, and a flare of joy in her eyes, Nikita accepts her gift. She sits on the side of his desk, and unwraps it just as reverently as he had unwrapped his. Just as Michael had confronted a jewelers box, so did Nikita. She opened it slowly, then fought the tears which came to her eyes.
A golden angel, suspended from a chain just as bright, lay before her. The ultimate form of innocence, and truth gifted to her. She shook her head slowly as she fought her tears.
Michael rises from his chair and walks to her. Standing in front of her as she raises her head to meet his eyes he whispers....."Merry Christmas, Nikita". Then he places a kiss at the corner of her lips, knowing he can not trust himself to kiss her as he wished he could.