One big big hello to those who are going to read this piece of work!

Notes:

-This is the first time that I write a fanfic and, obviously, I am not a professional writer
-English is not my first language so if I have any grammar mistake or you think a sentence is written wrong please tell me. Be patient and please don't kill me
-I am not a big fan of NCIS: Los Angeles but I have been watching different episodes and I like the story. I do not know everything about the show so many of the things I will invented them but I'll try that the story corresponds with the main plot. So this can be an alternative-real universe if you want to say so, I really don't care very much
-I do not owe NCIS: L.A. or any of its characters. They all belong to the CBS and it's producers, I just borrow the characters for entertainment purposes
-There will be sentences in different languages that are written using a translator, sorry if they are bad written
-This will be a romance between two men so if you don't like it do not, I repat it, DO NOT continue reading
-The Dancing Duck Pub is a figment of my imagination, any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental

-The chapter you are reading right now is just a prologue. The real story starts in the next chapter. The reason is that I prefere to develop my own character with his past and things like that. It's not just someone who appears out of nowhere.

Headquarters of the NCIS in Los Angeles (United States).

-"Hetty Lange"
-"Hetty, it's me Robert" the voice of a young man sounded in the phone
-"Mr. McNamara, what a surprise! How is everything going?" she said with a big smile in her face. She wasn't expecting the call of the young man.
-"You know. A little bit of music, a little bit of studying, a little bit of that. And you?" he said.
-"A little bit of this, a little bit of that" she answered. Robert laughed.
-"So, I call to ask you a thing" he said.
-"Tell me" she said.
-"Well, I'm finishing my doctoral dissertation" he started.
-"About Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hürrem, I know" Hetty interrupted.
-"Exactly" Robert said. "I have to read it within two months and I want to ask you if you could come to watch me and"
-"And?" she asked.
-"I want to spend some time with you in Los Angeles" he said abruptly

Hetty was unprepared to the task Robert was asking. She was silent for a few seconds thinking about what to say to the young man. She would love Robbie to come to L.A. but her work in the NCIS will complicate their relation. Hetty got back to the real world with the voice of her protégé.

-"Hetty? Are you still on the phone?" he asked.
-"Sorry Mr. McNamara" she said "I would love to see your dissertation, when is it?"
-"Within two months. On the 20th of June" he said
-"Okay. But I have to think about the other task you asked" Hetty said sadly
-"It's okay, it was a stupid question" Robert said
-"No it wasn't. You never ask stupid questions" Hetty said. "I want to spend time with you, really. But my work is"

She was interrupted by NCIS Director Leon Vance. "I need to speak to you right now"

-"Give me one minute" Hetty said "Mr. McNamara, we will have this conversation again"
-"Promise?" Robert asked
-"Promise" Hetty answered and unhang her cell phone with a sad face
-"Who's Mr. McNamara?" Vance asked to the lady.
-"Someone that is important to me" Hetty said decisively.
-"You know you can trust me" Vance said
-"I could told you more about Mr. McNamara but I do not want to put him in danger again" Hetty said triyng to end the conversation and gave an aggressive look to Vance so he could understand the message.
-"Alright. So, there is some kind of nutcase sending letters to the police about a terrorist attack in L.A."

Meanwhile in Durham (England).

Robbie take off the phone and get out of his room. He went down the stairs and reach the kitchen where his father was cooking dinner. Robert's father, called Graham, was a tall strong man about 50 years old and with blond short hair. Unlike Robbie, he had no facial hair. He worked as a lawyer and he like to cook and to fish.

-"How was it?" his father asked him
-"More or less, I think" Robbie said doubtfully
-"Why? Did something go wrong?" the father said leaving everything he was doing
-"Well, she is going to come to my dissertation" Robbie said
-"That's fantastic" he said with a big smile in the face though it disappear quickly "There is always a but"
-"I don't know if I could go to L.A." Robbie said with tears in his eyes
-"It's alright honey" his father said trying to comfort his son "There will be more opportunities. I'm sure Hetty will love you to be there with her"
-"You think?" the young man asked.
-"Absolutely. Hey, why don't you try these special rabbit soup that I am cooking?" the man said.
Robbie tasted it "This is really good. You're a great chef dad." he said
-"I don't know why are you surprise" the father asked ironically.

Both of them started to laugh and started to prepare to eat. They finished quickly, tidy up and started to prepare to go out to the Dancing Duck Pub.

Robbie was the lead singer of the successful music group International Project. With five albums and several nº1 hits they were famous in many European countries such as United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, FRY Macedonia, etc. The members of the band were Robbie (accordion, keyboards and vocal), Karolina (violin and vocal), Stefanie (bass guitar and vocal), Didrik (drums, percussion and vocal) and Nikos (guitar, bouzouki and vocal). They are from different countries but they all grew up in Durham where they met. They combine their studies with their international career. Since they started, they play in the Dancing Duck two Saturdays per month.

Robbie and his father arrived at the pub at 20:30, just in time. The band members were waiting for them.

-"I'm so sorry to be late" Robbie apologize
-"It's okay ma petite." Stefanie said
-"No! It's not okay. Next time we will start without you" Karolina shouted"
-"Jesus, calm down woman. Robbie wasn't too late" Nikos told Karolina
-"But we have rules. We have a timetable and we have to fulfil it" Karolina said angrily.
-"Enough you two" Didrik ended. "Robert could you please come earlier next time?
-"Yes I will" Robbie said
-"Fantastic" Didrik said "Everyone is ready?"
-"Yes" the rest of the band said
-"So, lets rock" Didrik shout.

They go to the stage and start the concert. It lasted an hour and a half. Then they sit down in their table talking about things while they drink.

-"So, is your grandmother finally coming Robbie?" Stefanie asked to the lead singer
-"First of all, she isn't my grandmother although she is part of my family" Robbie answered. "And secondly, yes she is coming"
-"Applauses" Karol said and do
-"You never talk about her" Didrik said
-"Why do I have?" Robbie asked
-"Because we are curious about this lady" Stefanie said. "We know she exist because of your dissertation"
-"What do you want to know" Robbie asked to the group
-"What's her name?" Didrik asked
-"Hetty" Robbie said
-"My grandmother's best friend is called Hetty too" Karolina said
-"Congratulations Karol" Nikos said ironically. Because of that Karolina slap him in the shoulder
-"Ouch" Nikos complain and laugh.
-"Enough, guys." Didrik said trying to separate them. "So, Robert. What does she do?"
-"She is a police in L.A." Robbie said but the other members didn't believe him. "Kind of. Sort of. I really don't know exactly"
-"Ooookaaay" Stefanie said "When did your relationship started?"
-"Don't remember" Robbie answered
-"God, you don't know anything" Nikos said laughing. Robbie slap him. "Come on, stop slapping me"
-"Stop saying stupid things" Robbie said angrily. "She called my father frequently asking about me. Also, she has come to Durham in special moments like Christmas, birthdays… Well, not always but she is like family to me. She protects me. You would like her."
-"But, aren't you curious about why she protects you?" Karol asked intrigued
-"Not really. I grow up and she was there so I didn't really care" Robbie answered
-"Well, you have homework for tomorrow" Nikos said and everyone laughed.

They continue talking about studies, politics, gossips and stuff like that till midnight when everyone left. Karolina take Robbie home because his father left the pub before them. He arrived, opened the door slowly trying not to wake up his father and go to his room. He jumped to the bed, lay on his back and started thinking about Hetty. The conversation in the pub leave him thoughtful. He knew anything about the american lady. Who was Hetty? Why did she 'protect' him? Why him? From whom? He would investigate about her tomorrow because he was starting to fall asleep.

...

Durham, England. Two months later.

Robbie was sleeping when he was awakened abruptly by the doorbell. "What time is it?" he asked and looked to the clock in the nightstand. I was 8 a.m. of a Saturday. "What the fuck" he said. The bell rang again. "Dad?" he shouted but then he realised "Oh, yeah, he went fishing with Mr. Taylor" The bell rang. "I'm coming" he said while he gets off the bed and run stairs down still in his Mickey Mouse pyjama. The rings continues. When he reached the door he look out through the peephole. No one was there. "Stupid kids" he said. He left to the kitchen when the bell rang again. Robbie quickly opened the door and shouted: "ENOUGH"

He enter in a state of shock when he looked down to the small old woman waiting there.

-"Good morning Mr. McNamara" Hetty said to him.
-"What, but, I didn't expect you till Monday" Robbie said with his face red as a tomato
-"I change my mind to surprise you" Hetty said. "May I come in?"
-"Yeah, of course. Let me help you with the luggage" And Robbie pick up Hetty's suitcase. Both of them enter to the house.
-"Is your father sleeping?" Hetty asked to Robbie
-"Eh, no, no. He went fishing with a friend. He will come by evening" He said quickly. "So, your room is upstairs but isn't prepared yet."
-"It doesn't matter. I want to surprise both of you". She said laughing
-"Yeah, what a surprise and good morning" Robbie said and hug her.

They went to the kitchen so Robert could have breakfast. They started talking about their lives in Durham and Los Angeles. Robbie was tempted to ask Hetty why she was here but it wasn't the moment. Now, he was happy to have her in his house. When he finished the breakfast Robbie started to prepare her room.

Robbie and his father live in a townhouse in St John's Road. The house was big enough for both of them. It has two floors: in the ground floor there was a big sitting room with chimney, a kitchen with an access to the backyard, a little library and a W.C. without shower; in the first floor there were three bedrooms and a bathroom.

When Robert finish his housework, Hetty and he prepare to have lunch with International Project. Because Robbie didn't expected Hetty he made plans with his friends, he wasn't leaving her alone so he asked her if she could come with them, fortunately she accepted. Robert called Stefanie to pick him up. She was faster and was waiting outside the house.

-"You will love my band" Robbie said to Hetty and they get out of the house. "Stefanie"
-"Robbie" Stefanie said looking at the old lady.
-"And this is Hetty Lange" he introduced to Stefanie. She was surprised because she didn't imagine Hetty like that.
-"My pleasure Miss Lange" Stefanie said very politely
-"The pleasure is mine Miss Stefanie" Hetty said.
-"Awesome" Robert said with a smile "Let's go and meet the others"

They went on Stefanie's car and went to the Dancing Duck to meet the others. On the way Stefanie talked to Robbie in French.

-"Pourquoi avez-vous pas dit que vous apportiez la? (Why didn't you told me that she was coming)" Stefanie asked
-"Je ai pris la même surprise ce matin (I've taken the same surprise this morning)" he said "Je ne étais pas la laisser seule (I wasn't leaving her alone)"
-"Avez-vous lui avez demandé qui est-elle? (Have you asked her who is she?)" she asked
-"Pas encore (Not yet)" he answered quickly.
-"Vous êtes impossible (You are impossible)" she said
-"Mais tu me aimes encore (But you still love me)" Robbie said laughing

They soon reached the pub were the band was waiting. Like always Nikos and Karolina were arguing. Robbie introduced Hetty to his friends, they were surprised. The band went to The Gates Shopping Centre, to the cinema and eat in a curry restaurant. Obviously, the gang asked Hetty lots of questions which were answered very politely. Robbie and his friends returned to their respective homes on 6p.m.

-"So" Robbie started while opening the door "Do you like my friends?
-"They are unique. You are very lucky Mr. McNamara" Hetty said proudly
-"Thank you Hetty" he said "Dad I'm home" Robbie shouted entering the house.
-"I'm coming" Graham shouted from the kitchen. "Fishing was excell… Miss Lange what a surprise" he said giving her a handshake

They went to the kitchen to finish prepare the fish. Graham offer Hetty some tea, she accepted gratefully. Robbie decided to take a shower leaving the adults talking. The three of them have dinner at 8p.m. Dinner was very enjoyable. The last time the three of them were reunited was when Robbie started university.

-"So, gentleman" Hetty said seriously "I arrived early not only to spend more time with you" Robbie and his father stopped eating and listen carefully to the old woman. "I have to give you a big new" she said "Mr. McNamara" looking at Robert "You are invited to L.A. for a year"
-"Yeeeess" Robbie shouted happily. "Sorry, I got carried away"
-"So you don't mind taking care Robbie?" asked Graham
-"I made some calls and he is allowed to stay in my house" Hetty said
-"OMG in your house!" Robbie said "I can't accept that. I prefer staying in a hotel"
-"Unacceptable" she said determined
-"Alright, alright. When am I leaving?" Robbie asked
-"On the 21st of June, with me. Any problems with the date?" Hetty said
-"Not at all" the student said "IP is having a break because Didrik and Karolina haven't finished their studies"

The family finished dinner and went to the living room to watch TV. Meanwhile Robbie was texting to his friends telling them the big new. They continue till 10p.m. Hetty and Graham went to sleep and Robbie stayed watching TV. He couldn't sleep because of the excitement and started making a list of things to take and to do in L.A. He went to sleep at 1:30 a.m.