A Promise Kept - LA to OZ
A/N - For those who are interested in finding out more about Callen and Emma, here is part two. It's not written the same as the original story, so will be easier to read (and write). Thanks to NotARedhead for some great advice on potential places for these two to go in L.A. Thanks to those from the previous installment who wanted more. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer - Anything you recognise from TV isn't mine, just having fun.
Chapter 1
Emma stepped out of the cab and walked towards the apartment building. She smiled. It was New Years Eve and she was in L.A. She didn't know what Callen had planned but was looking forward to finding out. Mainly, she was just looking forward to seeing him again. To see if things were still like that had been in Washington a few days ago. She walked up to his door and knocked.
Callen opened the door and smiled. "Hi." It had only been three days, but he had missed her.
"Hello." Emma returned his smile with one of her own, as she walked through the door and put her bag down inside.
Emma looked around at his small apartment. "I think I'm under dressed." She had already noted the suit Callen was wearing. She certainly hadn't packed anything that would match. She also took in the table setting, candles, nice glasses, dimmed lights. Emma turned back to him, a sparkle in her eyes. He was full of surprises and looked even better in a suit than he had prom night.
Callen slipped his arms around her after he had pushed the door closed and locked it.
"There's a dress on the bed if you want to change." He pulled her close. "You don't have to though."
Emma could already feel her body start to heat at his touch, pleased to know that things were still the same. She was tempted to ask him to help her get changed, though she didn't.
"But you've gone to so much trouble. I won't be long," Emma said as she kissed him quickly and tried to pull away.
"Uh uh." Callen held her to him easily, noting that she didn't really try and get away. "That's no way to say hello," he teased.
"But I have said hello," Emma replied cheekily. "What else do you want?" She wound her arms around his neck and heat flared in both their eyes as they knew what was going to happen later.
"Much more than that." Callen's his gaze dropped to her lips briefly, before he kissed her. She responded in a similar fashion to their previous kisses, losing track of everything but the feel of him.
Reluctantly, Callen pulled back. "Much better."
Emma shook her head slightly, trying to remember what it was she was going to do. He was way too distracting.
"I'd better go get changed so we can get started. Which way?"
Callen let her go and pointed her in the direction of the bedroom. He watched her as she picked up her bag and walked away, resisting the urge to follow. He didn't move until she closed the bedroom door, then he went back to the kitchen.
Emma couldn't believe the gorgeous dress that was on the bed. Not just a dress though; shoes and jewellery too. The whole package. As she changed, she wondered how he had managed to pick the right size dress and shoes; wondered where he had got them from. Emma looked in the mirror, not quite believing it was really her she saw. The dress was gorgeous; a beautiful, soft and flowy deep red dress, that revealed a little more of her back than she would have chosen, but it looked perfect. It had been a long time since she had worn anything so beautiful.
Emma walked back out of the bedroom to find Callen in the kitchen.
Callen turned and looked at her, narrowly stopping his mouth from dropping open. Instead, he smiled and said "Wow!" It was all he could think of saying. Now that the dress was on, it reminded him of her prom dress, only more grown up to match the woman who was wearing it.
"Thank you. Where did you get all this from?" Emma slowly spun around to let him see it all. He must remember to thank Hetty for her choice, especially considering the dress left a good deal of her back accessible. That bit wasn't like the prom dress. And he certainly wouldn't be admitting to Hetty that it was his favourite part.
"Hetty, " Callen admitted. "My boss. She has an extensive wardrobe at her disposal." He'd gone to Hetty to get some ideas. It had been too late to book a place to take Emma to dinner and Hetty had suggested cooking for her. She had even planned the menu for him. Hetty was the only one who knew what was happening tonight. She had asked a bit about Emma and then smiled, a knowing Hetty smile, and said she would bring some things over. She had arrived earlier today with more than just the clothes for both of them. The table setting, the decorations, the clothes, even some music. He wasn't quite sure why but, for some reason, Hetty seemed to want this to go as well as he did.
"Hetty? Hetty Lange?" Emma wondering if it could possibly be the same person. There weren't too many people out there with that name.
Her question made him curious. "Yeah. You know her?" Emma nodded.
"Met her a long time ago. I think Dad worked with her a few times," Emma replied.
It didn't really surprise Callen, given who her father was, that Emma may have met Hetty. It did surprise him that Hetty hadn't mentioned that she had met Emma. It could explain though, how Hetty had known which dress would look so good on her.
"So, what are we eating?" Emma asked, as she moved to join him in the kitchen,
"Out. Hetty will have my head if you go in the kitchen." Callen turned around to walk her backwards out of the kitchen. Emma was so close and he smelt so good to her. She couldn't resist and slipped her arms around his neck, his slipping easily around her waist.
"Really? Why is that? The dress?" Emma asked, looking at his mouth and moving her head slightly closer to his. She wasn't really that hungry at the moment, at least not for food. He looked really good and she felt very different wearing such a beautiful dress.
Callen shook his head slightly to get him mind back on track. "Because I told Hetty I would be cooking for you." She was very distracting and he really should be back in the kitchen. Should, but didn't want to be.
"But if I'm not in the kitchen I won't be with you." Emma attempted to put on a sad smile whilst fluttering her eyelashes. She didn't quite succeed but she was still moving her head closer, ever so slowly, to his.
"Cheeky." Callen smiled at her expression and waited to see where she would take this. He was sure the dinner could do without him for a few more minutes.
"Yep," Emma agreed, as she closed the small distance left and kissed him.
"Can I get you anything?" Callen asked, when they pulled apart for some air. He stepped back away from temptation.
"Depends. What are you offering?" Emma looked him over with a smile that made it very clear what she was wanting.
"Later. What about a drink?" Callen hoped she would behave as he didn't want to have to explain to Hetty why the dinner had been ruined. He knew she would want to know how her recipes had worked out. She'd said as much earlier today.
Emma noticed the wine already on the bench. "Sure. Wine thanks."
Callen poured them both a glass and handed one to her, her fingers brushing his as she took the glass. This time he saw her reaction and smiled.
"Cheers," Emma said, smiling at him.
"Cheers." They touched their glasses and watched each other as they took a sip. A bell went off in the kitchen.
"Back to work then." Emma put on that sad face again, a bit more successfully this time.
Callen smiled at her. "Go. Pick some music."
Emma walked over to the stereo and flicked through the music, smiling as she picked one and put it on. She chose a particular song to start and, after pressing play, she walked closer to the kitchen so she could see him. The song started and a slow smile spread across his face as he realised what she had chosen. Callen looked over at her and smiled.
"Prom." Callen wondered if it was coincidence or if she had deliberately chosen this song. The look on her face suggested the later.
"You remembered," Emma smiled. For some reason it pleased her that he had. It had been so long ago now she wasn't sure he would.
"First dance." Callen turned back to the food, remembering the first time they'd danced together. He was tempted to dance with her now and would have if the food hadn't been ready.
Emma watched him as he served the food onto their plates. "You know you really don't seem like the type to cook."
"I am a man of many talents," Callen replied. More than most, considering his line of work.
"I don't doubt that. For some reason just didn't think cooking was one of them." Emma continued to watch him. He seemed to know what he was doing. She was enjoying this bit of domesticity. She couldn't remember the last time a guy went to so much trouble for her.
Callen picked up the plates and turned to her. "Guess you are about to find out."
Emma followed him over to the table and, after he put the plates down, he held her seat out for her. Emma sat down and as he moved away, he let his fingers run gently over her back. Callen couldn't resist a smile as she shivered at his touch.
"This is really good," Emma complimented him, after taking a bite.
Callen tried not to smile. "You sound surprised." He took a bite as well. It was actually quite good. Another thing to thank Hetty for, making him look good in the kitchen.
Emma looked up at him, with a tilt to her head. "Considering it is you, I probably shouldn't be. I'd be surprised if I could cook something like this."
"Don't cook much?" Callen asked.
"Not much point. Tend to get fed at work most of the time," Emma replied. It was a perk of the job she enjoyed. It has certainly broadened her horizons regarding different foods.
After they finished eating, Callen took the plates back to the kitchen. He came back out and changed the music to something nice and slow, then moved back to her.
Callen held out his hand to her. "May I have this dance?"
"Wow. Fancy clothes, fancy dinner, now dancing. I am impressed." Emma took his hand and they moved away from the table.
"Good." Callen pulled her into his arms. The dancing wasn't exactly dancing. They didn't do much more than stand and sway to the music, as he held her close. The closeness and his hand on her back, made her body heat and her heart start to race. Emma was sure he could hear it.
"You aren't nervous are you?" Callen whispered in her ear, sending a delightful shudder through her.
"Why would I be nervous?"
Emma's head dropped back slightly as Callen ran his lips lightly down the side of her neck and placed a kiss right on the pulse point. "Your heart's racing." He felt the increase in pace as his lips returned to the same spot after he spoke.
"Your breathing's erratic," Callen continued and kissed her, which proceeded to prove his point as she could barely catch her breath once he stopped.
"You consider that to be nervous do you?" An idea formed in Emma's mind.
"What else could it be?" Callen asked, mischief in his eyes. Emma smiled, reflecting the mischief she saw in his eyes with her own. Callen wondered what she was about to do.
"Maybe it's you. I mean, how would you feel if I did this to you?" Emma kissed his throat, the same place he had hers, only she gently ran her tongue over the pulse point first. "Would your heart beat faster? Would your breathing be erratic?" Emma continued before she kissed him. She managed to pull back and look him in the eyes.
"So are you nervous too?" Emma was sure he could see how hard it had been for her to stop. Though, she had been pleased to note that she could make his heart race and breathing erratic just as easily as he had hers.
"No, just you," Callen answered as he gently ran his fingers over the soft skin of her back, making small circles slowly up her spine. Emma struggled to focus on her next words. Callen was enjoying the effect his touch had on her. It was nice to know it hadn't just been a fluke back in Washington.
"Good. So is there dessert in this fancy restaurant?" Emma words were slightly breathless as she asked the question, her eyes drifting closed as his touch continued.
"Yes, but it's not ready yet," Callen lied, smoothly. He had her in his arms and he wasn't going to let her go yet.
Emma opened her eyes to look at him strangely. He had organised everything else so well. "Really?"
"Yeah, forgot to put it in the freezer. Couple of hours to go yet. Should be ready by, say midnight." Callen slid one hand up to the back of her neck, the other continued making it's way over her exposed back. She didn't need to know that he was lying. At least not yet.
"So what are we going to do to fill in the time?" Emma didn't really believe him about the dessert, but was willing to play along, especially if this was heading in the direction she hoped.
"What indeed," Callen ran some light kisses up her neck. He felt her shiver at his touch and smiled. "Cold?" he asked, knowing she wasn't.
"No," Emma breathed as she dropped her head back for him.
"Hot?" Callen moved his attention to the other side of her neck.
"Yep," Emma replied, her breathing shallow.
"Want me to stop?" Emma brought her head back up at his question.
"No," she replied, looking him directly in the eyes, making sure he knew that she wanted this and wasn't just being dragged along.
Callen smiled.
"Good."
Dessert came much later. Probably around midnight. As they sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket eating it, they heard the sound of fireworks and celebration noises from the other apartments in the building.
"Happy New Year," Callen said softly, thinking this was probably the best New Year he'd had in a while.
"Happy New Year," Emma replied, with a smile as she moved over and kissed him. As she pulled away she licked her lips. "Tasty. Thank you for tonight," she continued.
"My pleasure."
Emma smiled at the double meaning in his words.
"You lied to me, you know." Emma settled back into his arms, now she had finished her dessert, enjoying the feel of his bare chest against her back.
"About what?" Callen slipped one arm around her body.
"Dessert," Emma stated simply.
Callen smiled. So she figured that out. He wasn't at all surprised.
"It's just ice cream. It was ready," Emma continued. She smiled and wondered how he would get out of this one. Callen kissed her bare shoulder gently and she closed her eyes, hoping for more. That would be one way to get out of it.
"Don't remember you complaining at the time." Callen knew she hadn't minded at all. He started to run his fingers over her shoulder. Emma smiled at the memories.
Emma was enjoying the feel of his fingers on her shoulder, though missing the kisses they had replaced. His touch slightly distracting and it took her a moment to respond to his comment. "Just wanted you to know you didn't have to lie."
"So I could have just told you what I wanted?" Callen whispered in her ear. He'd have to remember that.
"Yep, still can." Emma stifled a yawn. Callen chuckled.
"Perhaps it's time we went to bed," he suggested, wondering if she was over the jet lag yet.
"What, you mean the place we've just come from?" Emma asked, with a fake shocked tone in her voice.
"Yes, but this time to sleep."
Emma yawned again. "Maybe that would be a good idea."
They moved apart, and before she could get up, Callen scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.