A/N: A Callen and Anna story. Set after 8x11 after Callen asked Anna over for Christmas dinner. Hope you enjoy it. Please read and review.
I don't own NCISLA or any of the characters.
"So, is this more exciting than, uh sitting at home cooking?" Callen asked Anna at the Christmas party.
"Mm. Experiencing the weather in LA is even better than watching it on my phone."
"Do you have holiday plans?"
"Does a Judge Judy marathon count?"
Callen wasn't sure about how to ask but he wanted Anna to come over for the holidays. "Well, look, I'm, uh, I'm thinking about maybe cooking a meal next week. If you're not busy…."
"Are you asking me to Christmas dinner?" Anna asked, wondering if Callen was really asking her to Christmas.
"This is the first year my father's gonna be in town, so I figured I should do something."
"Mm, I'll make Kholodets."
"Please don't," Callen laughed. "Not necessary."
"You have not lived until you've tried meat Jello."
"Oh boy," Callen spoke as he turned to walked away. "Two words you don't hear together often enough."
Callen and Anna walked into the bullpen. "So you'll come on Christmas Eve?"
"I would love to."
"Great, maybe we can ask Arkady too. You know, together with my father and your father and they know each other so, perhaps it'll be nice."
"It's Christmas so yeah sure."
"I'll see you on the twenty-forth then."
"Yeah see you then."
They enjoyed the rest of the party before going home. They were off from work until the New Year. Now that his father, Anna and Arkady were coming over for the holidays Callen figured he should maybe get some more furniture. He had a dining set with four chairs so that was good but in the living room he hardly had any furniture. With maybe a nice couch they could sit in the living room as well. Callen took some measurements and wrote them down. He would go to the store tomorrow. He had gotten a string of lights from Deeks so Callen went to hang it up outside. He hung it on the edge of the roof above the living room window, over the front door and down the pillar. Callen looked at it once he was done. He had to admit, it did look nice and festive. Maybe he should get some Christmas decorations for inside as well.
The next morning Callen went to Kmart to see if they had some nice furniture. Callen picked out an indigo colored three seater sofa with dark oak paws and a matching armchair. He also picked out an espresso colored coffee table and side table set and an extra side table. The paws were in sort of a x shape with a shelf on the floor to put stuff on. He bought an espresso colored TV corner stand with two open shelves on the sides and two glass doors in the middle. He also bought a fifty inch LED smart TV for on top and a Sony hifi audio system with Bluetooth. He also decided on buying some Christmas stuff. He had gotten a string of lights and he liked how they looked and since he would get people over he decided on buying some more decorations. He bought a twenty-four inch high artificial Christmas tree with warm white LED lights, a box with forty-one shatterproof Christmas balls in it in different sizes in blue, light blue and silver, a box with nine Christmas balls with four matte blue balls and five shiny blue balls, a box with sixteen blue, silver and white snowflakes, a set with five matryoshkas, a navy blue artificial wrath with blue lights, a blue tinsel garland, a candle garden plate with five blue glitter candle holders in different shapes and sizes, a six inch high blue ocean mist candle and a blue pillow with snowflakes on it and a snowman with Santa hat. For outside Callen bought a set of three presents frames, one green with a red ribbon, one red with silver ribbon and one silver with blue ribbon with lights on it.
There also was a Walmart close by so Callen went there too to see if they had some nice decorations as well. Perhaps he still missed something. Callen put the stuff he bought in the trunk. The furniture he could come pick up tomorrow.
He bought a net with hundred fifty Christmas light with multiple colors, a string with three-hundred blinking icicle lights, an artificial pine garland with lights, a twelve inch finial tree topper in aqua with blue decorations, a box with six blue disco balls, Santa matryoshkas, a blue with glitter snowflakes table runner, a set of three blue bottle brush artificial Christmas trees of five, seven and nine inches, a twenty-four inch snowman for outside with lights, an eight inch high and six inch wide clear glass cylinder floral vase, a six inch wide and four inch high clear glass vase and a thirteen inch wide mosaic mirror charger plate.
Callen paid for everything and went home. When everything was inside he started decorating the house. He put the Christmas tree together and he would put it on the side table he had bought. He put some different blue Christmas ornaments in the tree, the garland and the tree topper. The other decorations he put in the vases and some on the charger plate with the candle. He would place the charger plate on the coffee table. He put one of the vases on the dinner table on top of the table runner and the other on the dresser in the dining room. The candle garden plate Callen placed on the dresser in the dining room as well. The matryoshkas Callen placed on the fireplace mantle with the artificial pine garland with lights. The three bottle brush Christmas trees Callen would put on the other side table. Callen hung the wreath on the outside of the front door and went to decorate the outside. He hung the blinking icicle lights on the rest of the front of the house, put the snowman and presents in the yard and he put the net over the bushes that were in the front yard.
He really liked how it looked from the outside. It was nice and festive. He never cared much about Christmas but it did look kinda nice to see the house all decorated. Once he done he called Sam.
"Hey G," Sam answered the phone.
"Hey Sam, are you busy tomorrow?"
"No, not really? Why? What's up?"
"Well I've bought some stuff for the house and I was wondering if you could maybe help we tomorrow with carrying it."
"Yeah sure. What did you buy? Did you finally buy some furniture?"
"Yeah I did. My dad is coming over for Christmas Eve so I figured I should at least have some furniture."
"That's nice. Yeah sure I'll help you."
"Great, I will come you up around 9am, is that okay?"
"Yeah sure that's fine, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Sam."
The next morning Callen went to pick Sam up first before driving to the store. Callen and Sam loaded the stuff into the trailer and went back to Callen's place where they brought everything into the house. They put the couch immediately left of the front door with the two side tables next to it, one on either side, the TV table in the corner right of the fireplace, the coffee table in front of the couch and the arm chair next to the coffee table.
"Thanks Sam," Callen said once everything was in its place.
"No problem. The house looks really nice with all the decorations. Glad to see you're finally getting in the holiday spirit."
"I figured it was about time."
"You're damn right about that."
"Thanks for helping Sam and enjoy your holidays."
"You're welcome and you too. Hope everyone doesn't die on your Christmas cooking."
"Hey I can cook just fine, I just never do it."
"Yeah right."
"I can cook Sam, honestly."
"Yeah sure."
"Whatever, I'll see you in the new year."
"Yeah see you too."
They gave each other a bro hug before Sam left. Callen went to put the Christmas decorations in the right place. He put the decorated Christmas tree on the side table left of the fireplace and put the decorated charger plate on the coffee table. Next Callen went to hook up the TV and stereo set. He put the TV on top of the TV stand and the stereo set he put inside the cupboard. He had already arranged for the TV so after he had hooked up the TV he went to install it.
…
The day of Christmas Eve Callen went to the store to get the groceries he needed for dinner. He was going to make Russian steaks. He had written the ingredients he needed down on a piece of paper. He needed four entrecote steaks, two hundred grams of mushrooms, one red paprika, one hundred grams of butter, one medium sized union, one garlic, fifty grams of flour, paprika powder, seventy grams of tomato paste, four deciliter of bouillon, vodka, thyme, one deciliter cream and parsley. He picked some seasoned potatoes with it and some haricot verts and bacon. As dessert he was going to make Pavlova. Here for he needed six eggs, two hundred and fifty grams of sugar, vanilla essence, vinegar, corn flour, two hundred milliliters of whipped cream and some fruit for on top. Callen also bought some wine, sodas and small cookies.
It was pretty busy at the store so it took Callen a while. Once home he put everything away. Around 3pm the doorbell rang. Wondering who it already was Callen went to open the door.
"Hey Anna," Callen spoke surprised.
"Hey Grisha."
"You're here early." They had agreed to be there around 5pm.
"Yeah I figured I'd come early so I could help you in the kitchen."
"Thanks, but that's not necessary. Come on in. You look beautiful by the way."
"Thank you. Figured I'd wear something festive for Christmas."
Anna wore a wine-colored red dress with a layer of glittery lace with pattern over it. The shoulders, arms and a bit on the bottom were just lace. The dress came just above the knee. Anna finished the dress with a pair of skin colored tights and red pumps.
"You really didn't need to come here so early to help."
"We both know you're not the greatest cook."
"I can cook just fine, I just never feel like it when I come home from work."
"Yeah sure."
"Have you ever made Pavlova?"
"Yes."
"Great, you can help me with that."
"We better get started than cus it needs to be in the oven for about two hours."
"It's a good thing you came early then," Callen smiled at her.
Callen and Anna went to the kitchen and they grabbed the necessary stuff. Callen pre-heated the oven at three hundred degrees. Anna went to separate the eggs. They only needed the egg-whites. Callen had cleaned a mixing bowl and Anna put the egg-whites in it. Once the egg-whites were in Callen beat the egg-whites for about five to eight minutes until they were done. Callen kept on stirring as Anna added the sugar bit by bit. After that she added the vanilla essence and the vinegar as Callen kept on stirring. As last she added the corn flour and Callen stirred until it was one solid mass. Once it was done Callen put in on the baking paper he had already cut out and put it in the oven. He turned the oven down to two hundred and eighty degrees and put the timer on two hours.
"Doesn't look bad so far," Callen admitted.
"No, not bad at all. What about the rest of dinner?"
"It's not that complicated. I don't need to start it just yet."
"Well we have some time then."
"Yeah. I'm gonna go get changed first. Do you want something to drink?"
"Nah, I'll wait till you get back."
"Alright, I won't be long, make yourself at home."
Callen went to take a quick shower and dressed himself in a pair of dress jeans with a light blue shirt and a dark blue jacket. When Callen walked back into the living room Anna was watching some TV. Anna looked up when she saw Callen standing there. He looked so very handsome standing there. She felt herself and Callen really growing together ever since they had shared that undercover kiss. She liked working with him, they made a good team. She liked working with NCIS. She and Callen were sorta alike. She could relate to him and they both had a Russian background. He was really nice and he had this mysterious personality about him and he was so gorgeous. Anna loved his blue eyes, they were so beautiful to stare into. Was she falling in love with Callen?
"You look very handsome," Anna spoke after a minute or so.
"Thank you. Do you want some wine?"
"Sure."
Callen poured them both a glass of red wine and returned to the couch.
"Have you heard anything more from the ATF?"
"No not really. Arkady is still being a speed bump."
"If you need someone to put in a good word for you just let me know."
"Thanks but I'm sure it'll be fine."
A little later Callen's dad showed up and shortly after that Arkady. They chatted a bit in the living room before Callen went into the kitchen to finish up dinner. A little later Anna joined him and they fixed dinner together. Callen made the meat and sauce and Anna made the potatoes and haricots verts.
Just past 6pm they sat down to eat. The dinner was really delicious, everyone was having a great time. It was nice to have his father there. This was a very nice Christmas. Callen had spent some Christmases with Sam and his family but it was nice to spend it with his own family.
It was just after 11pm when everyone left. Anna was the last one to leave.
"How about you come spend New Year's Eve with me?" Anna suggested.
"I'd like that."
"Great, I'll see you then. Thank you for dinner."
"Yeah see you then."
Callen cleaned up and went to turn down the lights for the night when he noticed a present lying with his Christmas tree with a note attached to it. Callen grabbed the note and read it.
'My son, I'm sorry for everything you went through. I really like to be part of your live again. Here's a little something to make up for the past years. Open it on Christmas morning.'
His dad had left him a Christmas present! He had a Christmas present from his father! He was curious to see what was in it but like the card said he would wait until tomorrow morning. He had gotten some Christmas present in his life but he couldn't remember getting any from his father. He couldn't remember if he ever had presents when he was young and he was still with Amy, his mother and his father. But now he had a real Christmas present from his father. This meant the world to Callen. He was glad that after all these years he had an opportunity to get to know his father. He had spent some time already with his father and slowly he was getting some answers about his past, his past with Amy and his parents.
Callen put the note back on the present and shut the lights off before going to the bedroom. Callen couldn't really sleep that night, not that he slept much anyway, he kept thinking about what was in the present. He managed to sleep a little when he woke up the next morning at 7am. In his comfy clothes he walked to the living room and grabbed the present from underneath the tree. He sat down on the couch and just stared at the present for a minute before finally opening it. He tore the paper off of the present and it revealed some kind of book and a picture frame on top of it. Callen picked up the picture frame. Inside was a picture of him, Amy, Clara and Nikita. It was a family picture they had taken when they were all still together. Callen was around three in the picture. Callen felt his eyes getting watery as he looked at the picture. It was the first family picture he had, he did have the video but his mother wasn't in that one. This was a truly beautiful picture. Callen would treasure it forever. Callen put the picture frame on the coffee table and looked at the book. Inside were pictures of him, from when he was a baby till the age of four. Next to the pictures was some handwritten text. Callen looked at a picture of him lying on his mother's chest. It looked like he was just born moments before. He read the text next to the picture.
'Our little baby boy is finally here. Grisha Alexandrovich Nikolaev Callen. Born March 11 1970, weighing 7.1 pounds and 19.5 inches tall.'
Callen felt the tears run over his cheeks but he didn't care right now. He finally had some real family pictures with his parents and sister. The next picture was his dad holding him and after that Amy holding him. He flipped through the pages. It was so nice to see pictures of him as a little boy and see him with his family. Callen wiped his eyes and face. He was so glad to have this book. This was really the best Christmas present ever!
…..
Today was New Year's Eve. Callen was going over to Anna's place tonight. He had really enjoyed spending Christmas with her and their fathers but he was looking forward to just spending New Year's Eve with her. He really liked Anna. She was a sweet woman and she understood him, his past. And he didn't have to lie to her about what he does for a living and she understands what the job is like. He enjoyed working with her at NCIS in Kensi's absence. Ever since they had shared that undercover kiss Callen was wondering about his feelings for her. Sure that kiss was undercover but he had felt something at that moment and by the look in Anna's eyes back then she did too. Lately he began to see her differently. He had spent quite some time with her outside of work and he liked it. Was he falling in love with Anna?
Around 8.30pm he showed up at Anna's place.
"Hey Grisha," Anna spoke as she opened the door. "Come on in."
"Hey Anna."
Anna had made them some snacks and they enjoyed the evening on the couch in front of the TV just chatting. Just before midnight Anna went to heat up the sort of Russian fritters she had made as Callen got the champagne. He poured them both a glass of champagne. They both had a glass in their hand as they counted down with the clock on TV.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!" They both said.
"Happy New Year Anna."
"Happy New Year Grisha."
They clinked their glasses and drank a sip. They ate the fritters and watched the fireworks.
"Wow, did you see that one? That was beautiful," Anna remarked.
"Yeah they are some pretty fireworks."
They turned to each other and they both looked into each other's eyes, neither one of them moving. Anna was the first one to move after what seemed like an eternity. She moved closer to Callen. When Callen didn't back away Anna got closer until their lips were almost touching. She put her hand behind Callen's head and pulled him to her. She kissed him deeply and she felt Callen kiss her back. Callen wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer. They were so engrossed in the kiss that they almost didn't notice that they were moving towards the bedroom until they fell down on the bed. They momentarily stopped kissing each other and they looked into each other's eyes. They both had the same look in their eyes. They both wanted this right now. Maybe this was the start of something really beautiful. They both felt the sexual tension between them and their feelings were getting stronger and stronger.
After looking into each other's eyes for a while Callen moved his lips back down to Anna's and they proceeded in taking each other's clothes off. It felt so good. They both couldn't get enough of each other. There was no awkwardness whatsoever, just two people enjoying being together.
Callen had enjoyed having sex with Joelle but with Anna it was totally different. It felt better, way better. It felt so right. Anna left marks all over Callen's back but he didn't mind, he was having way too much fun. They were both so passionate. It was really intense and perfect. They had fun all over the bed. Exhausted they collapsed down next to each other around 3am.
"Wow," Anna uttered once she had regained some breath.
"Wow sums it up perfectly."
Anna gave Callen one more kiss before she snuggled against him. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep.
Callen was up early the next morning and he noticed he wasn't home. Then he remembered where he was and what had happened the night before. He looked next to him and saw Anna lying there, still naked after last night and so was he. He really did have sex with Anna last night. Had that been the right decision? He really liked Anna but was this the right moment for them? Callen quietly slipped out of the bed and grabbed his clothes before going home.
There will be a second chapter after this week's episode. I first wanna see how that Callanna moment turns out.