So recently I realized that Nell and Callen might be one of my favorite pairs ever, they're just so adorable! And that discovery led to this.. thing. A quick warning I'm not very good at fluff so if this sucks, I apologize in advance. But negative thoughts aside here you go! I'm excited to hear what you think so please feel free to review.

I own nothing.

Dancing Away With My Heart

Callen had been watching her out of the corner of his eye all night, catching glimpses of her through the crowd of nicely dressed people. He analyzed every move she made, from the way she raised her wine glass to her lips, to the way she smoothed her hands over the silky green fabric of her evening gown as it clung to every curve on her petite body. She looked up from her wine glass, and their eyes locked together for a fraction of a second before she dropped her gaze to the floor.

She cleared her throat and turned her attention back to Eric, who was chatting animatedly to the small group they were in. She smiled and nodded as they spoke and laughed but she couldn't seem to focus on anything they said. Her mind wandered back to Callen, tucked away in the corner of the bar with a glass of scotch in his hand. He saw her looking and offered a smile, watching her cheeks flush a light pink that seemed to light up her pixie like features. Callen tipped his head back and finished his drink in one smooth movement, letting the fiery liquid slide down his throat before he slammed the glass on the counter and pushed himself to his feet.

She saw him coming, and maybe that's what started the butterflies in her stomach. Or maybe it was the way his tongue ran over his lips while his eyes ran over every inch of her body. Either way she couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped her lips when he appeared suddenly behind her and his hand rested on the small of her back, his voice low and husky in her ear.

"Enjoying the evening?" he asked casually. Nell tipped her head back and met his brilliant blue eyes, noting the hint of mischief and the smirk spreading across his face. She stepped back, putting distance between them and coyly replied, "It's alright. But it could be better."

Callen let out a soft chuckle and roughly rubbed a hand over his mouth. He gave one look at Eric and the rest of the group before shaking his head and laughing. Nell shrugged her shoulders casually and drained the last of her wine.

"It's better than sitting alone at the bar all night." she told him, watching his eyes narrow and a disgruntled sigh escape his lips.

"You know I don't like these charity events. Hetty's just lucky she's so intimidating." He shot back, folding his arms over his broad chest as he leaned against the table. Callen's eyes followed Nell's to the crowded dance floor, watching the women in their flowing gowns and the men in sharp tuxes move effortlessly, dipping and twirling. Taking in a breath Callen gently grabbed Nell by the hand and walked her onto the dance floor as the song came to an end. He watched hazel eyes widened and her mouth form a small o as she gasped.

"What are you doing G?" He smirked and placed a hand on the small of her back while the other tangled with her fingers, lingering in mid air. He pulled her body against his as the music filled the room and he took the first step. Recovering quickly she fell into a rhythm and let him lead, following his movements in fluid motions. She barely noticed the other couples that moved and spun around them, she was too lost in his blue eyes.

"I didn't know you could dance." she teased when she finally found her voice, letting one leg wrap around his waist as they turned before letting it drag slowly down his body while his hand glided across her waist. Callen rolled his eyes and spun her almost effortlessly around the room before her body came crashing back into his and he stopped her with a hand against her hip.

"Working with Hetty makes you do things you wouldn't normally do." he answered simply. Nell smiled and nodded as she let out a whimsical laugh.

"I'm guessing that also explains why you're here." Wrapping an arm around her waist Callen carefully dipped her towards the floor, his lips brushing her ear.

"You would be guessing right." The music stopped suddenly and all the others began leaving the floor and the two of them wrapped in each others embrace. Slowly he brought her back to her feet and their faces were mere inches from each other. Their breath mingled together, the smell of alcohol swirling around them.

"Well," Nell said with am impish smile, cutting through the tension that hung around them like a cloud, "Maybe I should ask Hetty for a few lessons." Callen forced a smile of his own and walked off the floor with Nell's hand clutched in his own.

They ended up outside on the balcony, alone with only the sound of the ocean to keep them company. Nell was leaning against the railing, watching the moon reflect off of the water when she felt him press against her. His body as warm but she couldn't suppress the shiver that ran down her back as the wind whipped past them. Callen seemed to sense her discomfort and shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

She looked up and saw him watching something in the distance and took the opportunity to study him, noting the way his forehead crinkled as he thought. Something about him had always interested her, like he was a code she couldn't crack no matter how hard she tried, and lord knows she did. She asked him out for coffee, more than once, but was turned down each time.

When they found themselves alone she tried to make small talk, only receiving short gruff responses before he would mumble something about a case and hurry off. Eventually she had begun to forget and only spoke to him when he offered a hello or asked her for a favor. But one day it changed, she had found Callen on the couch before leaving OPS one night, twitching and crying out in his sleep and she assumed he was having a nightmare.

She had woken him and the fear in his eyes caught her off guard, because to her Callen was afraid of nothing, and if he was he was not the kind to show it. But that night, she was face to face with a man who looked like Callen and spoke like him, but ultimately showed the reaction of someone completely different. So she asked and for once, he answered. They spent hours there, talking and sometimes laughing, she told him about her childhood and in return he would tell her stories about the early days between he and Sam. That's how things were between them after that, Nell was his vent, his rock when he needed someone to hold him up.

And she'd be lying if she said she didn't want more than that, because she did. She imagined what it would be like, if they were more than friends and as much as she wanted it she realized it wouldn't be a real relationship. Because Callen wasn't a normal man and he had a thing about a relationship not lasting any longer than six weeks. So she let it go and she continued being his friend and she didn't mind.

So she's not entirely sure why tonight feels different, maybe because she didn't have to fight for his attention, he came to her after all. She looked up at him again and noticed he was smiling at her. She felt her cheeks flush but couldn't bring herself to pull away as Callen's lips gently brushed against hers. He tasted like bourbon and candy and it made her smile.

So she pulled him towards her for a more passionate kiss and let her arms wrap around his neck. She was pressed against the railing, with Callen's hands resting on either side of her waist. When it ended Callen partially drew back, leaving a few inches between them as he smiled, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

That night Nell decided she didn't care about having a real relationship, or anything that resembled one anyways. Because Callen was all she needed and for now, having him here was plenty.