A/N – Bonus chapter!

So a few of you, or maybe more, were interested in knowing a little more about Faith, so I've spliced together someone Callen's memories about her and added a little Callen/Sam bonding! I still plan on doing the New Year chapter, with the aim of having it fully polished and posted on New Year's Eve (OZ timezone)

Hope you all enjoy this chapter – it is quite long.

Once again, thanks so much for the awesome reviews and support on this story. It all helps to make this whole FF writing caper an absolute joy to do.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

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Chapter 9 – Faith

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Callen knocked on the door, a six-pack in his hand. He was nervous but determined.

The door opened.

"G?" Sam looked at him quizzically. "Everything okay, man?"

Callen held up the beer and said, "Need to talk."

Because he did. Tomorrow, New Year's Eve, he was going to see Faith's family and he wasn't sure he was ready. Sam was his best friend and if anyone could help him get ready for it, Sam was the man for the job.

Sam stepped back and ushered him in, closing the door firmly behind him. They walked into the living room and Callen sat down.

"Be right back," Sam said. He left and Callen heard the murmur of voices from the kitchen, catching a word here and there. It was obvious that Sam was sorting things out with his wife so that they could chat uninterrupted. It was late enough that the kids were in bed, deliberate on Callen's part. Sam came back in with some nuts and chips and sat down across from Callen.

"So, you want to talk."

"Yeah."

Callen reached for a beer and opened it, taking a swig before settling back on the couch.

"About?" Sam prompted as he did the same.

Callen took a deep breath.

"You always said I needed a good girl," Callen said.

"Yeah, you do," Sam agreed. "This about Alyssa?"

Callen looked at Sam, curious. "What about Alyssa?"

Sam shrugged. "You just seemed interested yesterday and you stayed to clean up. Not something I'd have expected from you, G."

Callen tilted his head in acknowledgement. "I stayed for more than that. I spent Christmas with them."

Sam cocked an eyebrow at that, clearly interested and shocked. "So, you're serious about her?"

Callen smiled. "There's potential there for something with Alyssa and Tabby. I want to see where it goes."

"So you're ready to take on a kid as well a woman?" Sam asked.

Callen could see the concern in Sam's eyes, not just for him but for Tabby and Alyssa. Sam had a really soft spot for kids and hated seeing them hurt in any way. Callen held back a chuckle at the memory of his dream and Sam being an Elf for Sammy. That was definitely one thing he wouldn't be telling Sam, because it was right up there on the top of his list of things to make happen from that future!

"Not just them, but Hetty too," Callen admitted. He'd been over everything in his mind the last few days. What it would mean, how it would work, what he willing to give up to have them in his life. Was he willing to have Hetty permanently attached to his family? Scary as that thought was, his answer had been yes. He'd found answers to some of his questions, others would need to wait until things progressed with them, like how it would work. He still wanted it, to make it work with them and that feeling hadn't changed, even with the time he spent without them. If anything, it had gotten stronger. He missed them and yet he hadn't really spent a lot of time with them in the grand scheme of things, but it didn't seem to matter. He still missed them.

"So if this isn't about Alyssa, who is it about?" Sam asked.

Callen took another drink and threw back a small handful of nuts.

"Her name was Faith." He reached into his pocket and withdrew her photo, leaning forward to pass it to Sam across the small coffee table.

"We were together almost three years. She died on the 1st of December, five years ago."

Sam looked at the photo and then at him. "That's why you don't do Christmas."

Callen nodded. "Christmas was a really big thing for Faith. It was her season and she made it so much fun. It was also a big thing with her family."

"Family?" Sam repeated with a lift of one eyebrow.

Again Callen nodded. "I lied when I said I didn't have a family. Her family were mine too. They accepted me as part of theirs and I loved being a part of it."

Callen paused for a moment.

"I'm seeing them tomorrow for the first time in five years. I called Faith's mother on Christmas Eve. Again, first time in five years."

"You haven't seen or spoken to them in that long?"

"I couldn't." Callen shook his head, fighting back on the pressure in his chest. "It was too hard. Family was so entwined in Faith's and my life and not having her there with me … It was too much. I left San Diego on Christmas Day, and didn't go back."

"G, I'm sorry," Sam said sincerely.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to go seeing them tomorrow. I thought, maybe, if I told you about Faith, it might make it a little easier."

"You know you can talk to me anytime, G."

Callen nodded. "So how long before I get kicked out?" he asked jokingly trying to lighten that heavy pressure he was feeling settling on him; the pressure that usually came with him clamming up and shutting down those memories.

"As long as you don't snore, won't kick you out," Sam teased back though Callen knew he was serious. Callen knew he was always welcome here, no matter what the time and for as long as he needed.

The moment of silence between the two of them stretched out and Sam broke it.

"Why don't you tell me how you met Faith?" Sam suggested, giving Callen a place to start.

Callen smiled.

"I'd just moved to San Diego and was spending Sundays in the park, just enjoying watching everyone. It had been a while since I'd had a job where I could relax a little. I was working normal NCIS down there, nothing really dangerous compared to everything I'd done before and since. I saw this dark haired girl there….

Flashback

Callen had watched the family for three weeks. A curly, dark haired woman, slightly on the short side, with a light tinkling laugh and bright smile; a man taller than her with dark brown hair; a little dark haired girl around two, who loved to chase balls and the large fluffy Labrador puppy that always came with them. He'd sit on a bench and watch them from behind his sunglasses with a newspaper in his hand, so he wouldn't come across as some stalker. It was nice, watching something normal. It gave him a little time to forget some of the horrors of his past. They seemed happy and playful and they always spent a couple of hours in the morning playing around, delightful squeals and laughter coming from both the females, a deeper chuckle from the male and the number of times the dog pounced on them was more than Callen could count. It seemed like the dog was just a puppy still learning to behave. But never once did he hear a cross voice from either of the adults, even when the puppy knocked them over (which happened multiple times each day) or pounced after rolling in mud, making them all just as muddy.

Callen had to admit to himself that he found the woman extremely attractive, especially when she happened to be facing toward him when she smiled and laughed. The smile lit up her face and her eyes sparkled. He wasn't sure what colour they were, he'd never been close enough to tell, but he knew they would be beautiful.

It was the fourth week that he'd been watching them and they had brought a Frisbee to the park to play with the dog. After a wild throw by the man, it got stuck in a tree. They'd moved over, looked up and had decided for the woman to climb up to get it. Their voices carried far enough on the gentle breeze that he'd been able to learn the man's name was Max and the dog's name was Goldie. Just as the woman made it up to the first lot of branches, with the help of Max, the dog took off, promptly followed by the child. Max ran after them quickly but they were moving fast and Callen was on his feet moving to the tree before he even realised what he was doing.

"Need a hand?" he asked looking up into the most gorgeous grey eyes he'd ever seen.

She looked down at him from where she was perched on the branch. She hadn't moved.

"No. Just waiting for my brother to come back, then I'll get that," she pointed at the Frisbee, "and be down in no time."

So Max was her brother. That certainly changed things. He didn't need to feel so guilty for the dreams he'd been having about her for the last couple of weeks.

"Why don't you just get it now and come down?" Callen asked.

She rolled her eyes as if the answer was obvious. "Because if the branch breaks I would like to know that Max is there to catch me."

"I'll catch you if you fall."

"I don't know you," she stated.

"That is true," Callen said seriously, "but it doesn't change the fact that I won't let you hit the ground."

"How can I trust you?" she asked as she tilted her head a little to study him.

"Faith," Callen said with a grin.

Unexpectedly she laughed.

"So, have some and trust me," he added

She smiled again. "What's your name?" she asked.

"G Callen."

"Well then G Callen. I think I can manage that, but understand that you will be in trouble if I hit the ground," she warned seriously.

"Understood."

So whilst she moved out further onto the branch, which creaked slightly as she did, Callen made sure he stayed right below, ready to catch her.

She plucked the Frisbee off the branch and moved back toward the trunk before she looked down at him.

"Any chance you could help me down? It's a little far to jump," she said, a sparkle flickering in her eyes.

Callen raised an eyebrow at her comment. It wasn't really that far, but he was willing.

Callen moved closer and reached up as she sat down on the branch and dangled her legs, her feet dropping just below his shoulders. She dropped the Frisbee to the ground and lent down to reach for him. As she did, she slid off the branch and he caught her, her hands grabbing onto his shoulders as his arms went around her and held her tight against him, their faces level with each other. Her feet didn't touch the ground.

She looked at him and smiled, a slight blush rising on her cheeks.

"Thank you. You can put me down now."

"Not yet," Callen said. "First, what's your name? It's only fair since you know mine."

She grinned at him. "But you know mine."

Callen frowned and she giggled.

"No I don't."

She bit her bottom lip with her teeth. "You do."

He waited, looking into her eyes as he did. They were filled with laughter and happiness and teasing and something else and in that moment he knew her. Knew everything about her, at least in terms of the kind of person she was. It was as if he had seen into her soul and found a caring, compassionate, fun and loving woman.

She giggled softly and then told him, "My name's Faith. Thank you for rescuing me, but I do need to go now."

Callen heard her name being called and the barking of a dog and he set her back on her feet. She moved away from him, picked up the Frisbee and started walking toward the voices, but paused and turned back to him.

"Nice to meet you, G Callen. Finally. You took your time coming to say hi." She grinned then and skipped lightly away to her family, leaving him slightly dumbstruck wondering if she knew that he had been watching them for a few weeks. As well as wondering when he would see her again.

End of Flashback

Sam chuckled. "So she'd been watching you too?"

Callen smiled. "Yeah. Apparently I was a little too relaxed and was a bit obvious in my surveillance."

"Not such a bad thing, since she was obviously interested."

Callen grabbed a handful of chips and his beer and sat back again.

"That she was," Callen agreed.

"When did you see her next? The next Sunday?"

Callen shook his head. "No, before that. Thursday. I was out at the shops, heading to the bank when I passed this jewellers shop. I caught sight of this dark haired woman in the window, taking something out of the display. It was just a brief glimpse but it reminded me of her and before I knew it, I was opening the door and walking into the shop…"

Flashback

The bell jingled as Callen opened and closed the door. He had no idea what he was going to say to her. That was assuming it was actually Faith. She'd been on his mind more since the weekend when he'd finally met her.

Callen shook his head. This was crazy, she wouldn't be here. He was about to turn around when he heard her voice. He looked over to find her talking to a customer and wrapping up the watch she'd pulled out of the window.

Callen stepped over behind a display case and discretely, he hoped, watched her. She seemed really happy and obviously enjoyed her work. When Faith was finished and the customer left, he moved over to her.

"Well, hello," Faith said brightly.

"Hi," Callen replied.

"What can I help you with?"

Her eyes were sparkling and quite distracting.

"I'm looking for something for this girl," Callen said, his words not going through his mind first.

"A girl?" Faith raised her eyebrows curiously. "Well, a jewellery shop is a pretty good place to start. What exactly do you want this gift to say?"

Callen tilted his head and studied her for a moment. He had a feeling she was teasing him and knew that she was the girl he was talking about. He felt light inside, a lightness he hadn't felt in a while. It was fun. So he kept going.

"Hopefully something that is going to help convince her to go out on a date with me."

"Really? Have you asked her?"

"Not yet. I want to make sure her answer is yes. Not sure if I'll get a second chance if she says no."

Faith nodded seriously, but the twinkle in her eyes and the twitch of her lips gave her away.

"What do you know about this mystery girl that might help us find something?" Faith asked as she rested her forearms on the bench and lent closer to him.

Callen did the same, bringing him closer to her and the rest of the shop seemed to disappear.

"She's cute, loves kids and dogs; family seems important. Her eyes sparkle when she's happy, which seems to be most of the time. She's quite mischievous as well as caring and compassionate. I can't get her smile out of her head and she reminds me of a little pixie."

Callen remembered seeing her up in the tree and how small and slender she was and that thought had instantly come across his mind and he couldn't help but think of her since as his little pixie. Slightly possessive of him considering he'd only really met her once.

"A pixie? Interesting. I don't know too many pixies. But if your description is right, are you sure you want to ask her out?"

Callen frowned, confused at where she was taking this.

"What do you mean?" he asked seriously this time.

Faith smiled softly. "Family is important to pixies and from what you've told me about her, I doubt she'd be interested in a fling. She'd want something serious, or at least with the potential to be serious."

Callen looked at her for a moment. "You think I'm just interested in a fling or getting her into bed?"

"I don't know you. You'd have to tell me."

Callen wondered if that was what she thought of him. "You think this pixie is just looking for someone to get married to and take care of her?"

"No." She shook her head. "Marriage isn't necessary. It's the commitment of being there for her. I do have it on good authority that, whilst pixies are flighty and bubbly little things, they do crave that security of knowing that someone is interested in them for more than their body and don't plan on running at the first sign of trouble or a prettier pixie."

"Didn't think you knew many pixies?"

She just shrugged and waited for him to say something else.

"If I was interested in more than a fling, do you think she'd be interested? Or would she run at the first sign of trouble or someone 'prettier'?"

Faith grinned. "I'm sure she would be interested and I doubt there is someone 'prettier'."

They looked at each other; eyes locked for a brief moment before they both laughed at her description.

Faith leaned slightly closer. "I think I know the pixie you're talking about and she has a thing for blue eyes that sparkle, mischievous smiles and," her gaze ran quickly over what she could see of the rest of his body, "strong muscles."

"Just as long as he isn't after her body," Callen confirmed, glad that the counter was between them, because as she'd lent closer her shirt had fallen open slightly, he'd breathed in her scent and desire had slammed through him hard at the combination between that and her words.

Faith straightened up a little, laughter in her eyes. "He can be after her body all he wants, just as long as it's more than that."

"How exactly do you know this pixie so well?"

Faith grinned and lent forward again, lifting a hand and beckoning him closer. He complied until they were only about six inches apart.

"I'll let you in on a little secret. I am one." Her voice was a low whisper, holding so much mischief. His reaction this time to being so close, was his heart. It jumped, sped up and thudded hard in his chest. He was sure she should be able to hear it.

"Do you think you could give me her number then?" Callen asked. "So I can call and ask her out?"

Faith eyes locked with his, even as she shook her head. "She's a little bit shy, so you'll have to give me your number and I'll pass it on."

"Shy?" Callen raised an eyebrow at that and tried to fight back a smile to remain somewhat serious. "I wouldn't have described her that way. How do I know you will give it to her?"

Mock shock went across her face. "What? You doubt the word of a pixie?" She tsk'ed and shook her head.

"I'm just asking," Callen said innocently.

"I will give this particular pixie your number. I'll even make sure she calls."

"When would that be?"

Faith raised her eyebrows and couldn't keep the serious expression as her smile burst through it. "Tonight; I'll make sure she calls you tonight."

"Can I trust you?" Callen teased.

Faith placed her hand on her heart and a solemn look came over her face. "I promise. You have my word as a pixie."

"Then, my little pixie friend, may I have your phone?" Callen asked.

She seemed to consider that for a moment before she pulled out her phone and handed it to him.

Callen grinned as he took it and dialled his own number. Her eyes went wide as he pulled out his ringing phone and quickly programmed in her number.

She reached out and grabbed her phone back. "Why G Callen, that was sneaky!" Her eyes narrowed at him a little, still sparkling though. "Are you sure you aren't just a little bit pixie?"

"No one's every accused me of that before," Callen replied honestly as he pocketed his phone and straightened up.

"Hmm, looks like I might need to investigate some more before I hand you over."

"Investigate all you like, perhaps have dinner with me Friday first," Callen suggested.

Her face fell slightly and he frowned.

"I can't. I have a family thing this weekend." Although he could see she was disappointed, and so was he, she seemed like she was looking forward to this weekend with her family. It didn't surprise him.

Callen pushed the frown off his face as he rethought. "How about lunch sometime next week? Call me and let me know when you are up for it."

Faith smiled and it lit up her face again. "I can do that. Now, unless you are going to buy something, my break is over and I need to get back to work before I get in trouble with the boss."

Callen straightened up. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were on a break."

"That's all right. I had fun. So… did you still want to buy something for your little pixie?" she asked.

Callen shook his head. "I think I'll just follow your advice and ask her. That is, if I pass your test and you give her my number."

"Fair enough. I'll see you next week then."

Callen stepped away. "Until next week, my little pixie friend," with a smile and a little nod. He moved to the door and looked back at her one last time before he opened it and left the shop, the jingling of the bells ringing in his ears as he closed the door. He didn't think he would be able to hear bells without thinking of her.

End flashback.

Sam was watching him with an incredulous look on his face. "You had a conversation about Pixies?"

Callen chuckled. "Believe me, I was as shocked as you after I walked out of the shop and thought about it."

"But it worked, obviously." Sam shook his head in disbelief.

"Faith was a fun, crazy girl and her niece, Becca, was going through a pixie and fairy phase and Faith was always playing at being a pixie with her."

"So did you have lunch with her?"

Callen shook his head. "Things didn't quite go according to plan."

Flashback

Callen pulled up at the crime scene and was shocked to find it was the shop where Faith worked. He hurried out of his car, ducked under the tape and went inside, his partner struggling to keep up.

Callen looked around and saw the carnage. Broken glass from the shattered windows and display cabinets everywhere, jewellery and gifts scattered over the floor; some broken, others just lying where they shouldn't be, not to mention the dead sailor on the floor with multiple bullets in him. Callen continued to look around and saw the bullets buried in the wall behind the counter. He couldn't even estimate how many there were. His focus went from the crime scene to trying to find her as he turned to the police officer standing near the counter.

"Is the owner here yet?" Callen asked, hoping to find out that Faith hadn't been working this morning.

"She's in back," he replied, pointing to a door behind the counter.

Callen moved quickly and stepped through to a small office. There was another police officer there with two women. After a quick glance at the young brown haired girl who looked no more than eighteen he turned to the other woman. A dark haired one with her back to him.

"Hi. I'm Agent Callen, I'm looking for the own-" He stopped as she turned around.

Faith.

"Hi. That would be me," she said quietly.

Callen stepped forward and crouched down beside where she was sitting.

"Are you okay?" he asked her gently.

She shook her head and tears filled her eyes. Callen ran his eyes over her quickly, assessing whether she'd been injured or not. Relief flooded through him when he saw there was none.

"Can you tell me what happened?" He wanted nothing more than to take her away from here to somewhere safe where she could be happy but he had a job to do.

Faith looked up at him. "We were opening up early and he came in looking for a ring. I'd sent Paula back here to get something and was getting a tray of rings out when the front window shattered. It made me drop the rings and I bent down to get them when the rest of the bullets came through. By the time they stopped and I stood up he was…" She choked back a sob. Callen moved to put his arm around her and she leant into him.

"You should go home."

Faith nodded. "I will soon. Max is on his way to get some boards to put up over the windows. I'll go after that's done."

Callen reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Are you sure you're not hurt?" She looked so pale and the sparkle in her eyes was completely gone.

"Why?"

Callen frowned. "Why what?"

"Why would someone do that?"

"I don't know. But it's my job to find who did it. I'm with NCIS. He was Navy."

Faith nodded. "I know."

Callen must have looked curious.

"I knew him a little. He was a friend of one of my brothers. I open early a couple of times a month so those Navy guys who want to buy something get some time to shop. Tim's friends complained that they never really had the time to buy presents for their girlfriends. He suggested I open early, even volunteered to put up flyers around the base."

"You get enough business to warrant it?"

She smiled slightly. "Enough. It's just me and Paula on those mornings. Gives me a chance to do some training with her when we don't have a lot of people in the shop."

Callen could see she was starting to calm down as she talked about other things.

"Tim's your brother?"

Faith nodded. "My younger brother."

"I'll need his number. If he knew the victim he may know who might have done this," Callen said gently.

Faith nodded. "His number's in my phone." She passed it to him with a shaky hand.

"Faith!" a male voice called just before someone joined them. Callen turned around to see Max walk in. He stood up and stepped back, giving Max room to get to Faith. He left, after he had retrieved the phone number and handed back her phone. Callen joined his partner in the main part of the shop dealing with the scene and trying to figure out what was evidence that might help, which was a little hard finding amongst all that glass. When they'd finished he went back into her office.

Faith was still sitting there, a cup of tea now in her hands. Paula was gone and Max was busy covering up the windows. Callen sat down in the chair across from her.

"We're done here for now. We might need to talk to you again."

"Anytime. You've got my number." She tried for a smile, but the day had obviously been distressing for her, even though it was only ten thirty, and it didn't light up her eyes.

She set the cup down and Callen reached for her hands, taking them in his.

"Have you got someone to take you home?" he asked.

"My car's here."

"I don't think you should drive." He could feel her hands still shaking. "What if I take you home?"

"Definitely part pixie," she teased.

Callen raised his eyebrows at her words.

She smiled, a little bigger than before. "Making the most of any opportunity."

He could tell she was just teasing, that it seemed to be helping her a little.

"No, just wanting to make sure you are all right." Callen grinned then. "If I was making the most of the opportunity, then I'd be taking your car with me after dropping you home, giving me an excuse to bring it back and hopefully manage to convince you to let me cook you dinner."

"As long as you can cook, I'm fine with that," she answered surprising him.

"So you're saying yes to a date."

"You haven't asked me for a date yet."

"Have dinner with me tonight. Let me cook for you." Callen was completely serious and his heart leapt a little in his chest at her answer.

"I'd like that."

End of flashback.

"You cooked for her?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Callen replied.

"Didn't know you could cook."

"You never asked, and I can't cook like your wife can, which is why I don't offer."

Sam stood up. "You hungry?" he asked as he moved to the kitchen.

Callen grinned and followed. "You want me to prove I can cook."

"No G. I'm hungry," Sam said. "We've been talking for a while and the nuts and chips aren't quite enough. I'm a growing boy you know."

Whilst Callen and Sam were pulling together some scrambled eggs on toast with cheese, Callen thought back to that night with Faith. Their first date.

Flashback

Callen awkwardly knocked on her door, his arms filled with the makings of Lasagna, one of his specialities.

Faith opened the door and smiled at him. She was looking better tonight, the colour was back in her cheeks and whilst the sparkle wasn't quite there in her eyes, Callen was determined to bring it back before he left tonight.

Faith stepped back to allow him to enter and closed the door, locking it after him. Callen moved to the kitchen and put his things down on the bench. He turned to look at her as she followed him.

"Hope you're hungry," he said.

She shrugged. "A little … Have you found anything?" Faith asked.

Callen stopped what he was doing and focused on her as he answered.

"Not yet. But we will," he assured her.

"I'm sure you will." It was an automatic response; she didn't know him well enough to know that.

"Faith," he said as he stepped closer and reached out to touch her cheek. "You know you're safe right? Whoever it was, wasn't after you." That much they had a least figured out. The sailor definitely had a few enemies out there.

She moved into his touch slightly. "I know. I just… I hate guns, always have. Never had a personal reason to before now. I'm just a little nervous, I guess."

Callen moved a little closer.

"Faith, I have a gun. I keep it with me because of my job." Callen didn't want her to see it without warning her. He saw her pale slightly and he continued, "I'm going to put it on the table by the door with my jacket. It won't be on me, but it is here. If you want me to, I'll go."

Callen mentally crossed his fingers as he made the offer. When she shook her head quickly, he let out the breath he hadn't realised he'd also been holding.

"No, I want you to stay. Thank you for telling me though."

Callen nodded and went to take care of putting his gun away.

When he returned to the kitchen she looked at him a little curiously. "Isn't this kind of thing not allowed?" she asked.

"Not allowed?" Callen repeated.

"Fraternising with a suspect or witness?"

Callen smiled. "You're not a suspect and not that much of a witness since you didn't see anything. And if anyone at the office has a problem with me having dinner with a beautiful woman, then that's their problem."

Faith smiled and this time it did reach her eyes. "So I've progressed from a pixie to a woman. Is that a good thing?"

"You're both."

Callen turned back to the bench and his ingredients.

"Would you like some help?" Faith offered.

"I'm supposed to be cooking for you." Faith shrugged and Callen wondered if she was as okay as she tried to make out. "Why don't you go sit and relax, read or something."

"Because it feels wrong to do something like that when you're in my kitchen."

"You haven't tried yet," Callen replied. Sensing her continued reluctance, he smiled. "You could always get things for me, since I don't know my way around."

The idea seemed to make her happy. As Callen set the items out properly on the bench he asked, "So how exactly do you get in trouble with the boss when you are the boss?"

Faith looked over at him with a slightly mischievous smile. "Can't tell you everything about me upfront. A girl needs some mystery."

"I just never would have suspected a Pixie to be a business owner," he teased gently.

There was a part of him that really wished she hadn't been the owner, because then she probably wouldn't have been the one to be there today.

"I did tell you that we weren't all flighty. We can be serious you know."

Callen looked over to her. "I have seen the serious side of you today. But I have to admit, I'd much rather the bubbly happy side. Think I might be able to find it tonight?"

"I think you have a very good chance," she said softly as she handed him a baking dish for the lasagna.

For the next half hour they worked side by side putting the lasagna together, making the garlic butter for the bread and throwing together a salad. Once it was in the oven, Callen steered her back to the living area and put on a DVD he'd brought with him.

Faith watched as he worked his way around her entertainment system, figuring it out quite quickly.

"You didn't need me in the kitchen did you? You could have easily found your way around."

"You wanted to be there," Callen stated simply.

He sat down next to her, not too close though to make her uncomfortable. As the menu came up on the screen Faith looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

"The Importance of Being Earnest?" she asked. "You brought a chick flick to watch?"

"I brought something that I hoped would make you happy. Have you seen it?"

Faith smiled and nodded. "Yeah, and I like it, which is why it happens to be in my DVD collection." Her brow furrowed a little as she glanced at her collection and then back to him. "But you knew that didn't you? You checked things out when you were here today."

Faith giggled at the look on his face for having been caught out. Callen smiled and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Wasn't gonna take the risk. I might only have one chance at this." He held her gaze with his as he spoke.

"So I was the pixie?" she teased.

"You know you were."

"Press play G," Faith ordered gently as she settled on the couch, moving slightly closer to him as she did.

End of flashback.

Callen and Sam moved to the table with their dinner and ate.

"What did you cook her?" Sam asked.

"Lasagna and Garlic Bread," Callen replied between mouthfuls.

"Did she like it?"

"Yeah." Callen grinned. "Italian was her favourite, which I figured out when I took her home and saw the recipe books on her bookshelf. Luckily I could cook that easily."

They finished off their food and moved back to the couch.

"How long did it take you to win her over?"

A soft smile spread over Callen's face that Sam had never seen. He hoped he would see more of it on his friend's face, because it was one of happiness and contentment.

"Not as long as I thought. As far as I knew it took a few weeks, but according to Faith, I'd succeeded when I'd gone into the shop that day and discussed Pixies with her!"

Sam relaxed back on the couch. "How did the night of you cooking for her end? You kiss her?"

Callen shook his head and Sam lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. "You didn't?"

"No, not that night."

Flashback

The credits rolled and Callen looked over to find Faith looking at him. He wasn't entirely sure how long she'd been watching him. Faith smiled and his heart leapt. It was doing that quite often when she smiled at him.

"You're not what I was expecting" she said to him.

"What were you expecting?"

Faith looked thoughtful for a few moments before she answered. "I'm not really sure. But you talk pixie, you cook a brilliant lasagna and you watch chick flicks and haven't even made a move on me yet. You haven't take advantage of anything."

Callen turned his body to face hers on the couch. "Maybe I don't want to take advantage. Maybe I'm interested in more than that."

She smiled. "I hope so, because I know I am." Faith lent in a little closer to him.

"I like you G Callen. I wasn't trying to scare you off with that talk about commitment. It's just who am I and if you didn't want that, then you weren't the guy for me."

Callen moved a little closer, tempted to kiss her but he wasn't going to do that, not tonight anyway. "So there's a chance I might be the guy for you?" he asked softly.

"A very good chance," she replied, just as softly.

Callen pulled back. "Then I guess I'd better go."

Faith looked a little confused as he stood up. He reached out to her and pulled her up to him, his arms circling around her. Not to make a move but to just give her a hug, not matter how tempting taking it further was. He let go and stepped back.

"I'd better go before you have me doing something that might ruin that."

"Like?"

"Like take advantage and kiss you."

"What if I wanted you to?" she asked stepping closer. Callen backed away and moved to the door to get his jacket and gun, being discrete and keeping the gun well hidden.

Callen turned back and she was close, though not as close as she could be.

"Next time."

"Is that a promise?" Faith asked.

Callen reached out, stroked her cheek and smiled. "You have my word as a possible pixie, if you still want me to, I'll kiss you next time."

"And that would be when?"

"Whenever you want. Just call and let me know when and where."

End of flashback

"How long before she called?" Sam asked.

Callen chuckled. "Before I even made it to my car."

"Thought you'd been driving hers?"

Callen nodded. "I was, but I'd organised with my partner to get my car to her place."

"So?" Sam prompted.

"We made plans for Friday night. She had somewhere she wanted to take me."

"Where was that?"

"She took me to Coronado Beach. She made up a picnic, had her brother, Tim, go down early and stake out one of the fire-pits for us. We ate, watched the stars come out, took a walk on the beach, just in the water's edge and then laid back on a blanket she'd brought and talked. It was eleven before I kissed her. We'd been there for hours."

Flashback

Faith's hand reached for his and Callen linked their fingers together as they talked. It was about five minutes later when she surprised him.

"You know I still want you to kiss me," she said.

Callen rolled over to his side, keeping hold of her hand as he did.

"You do, do you?" he asked, looking at and getting caught up with the way the moon reflected off her hair and in her eyes.

"Yeah. Assuming you're interested in more than my body," she added with a grin.

Callen moved his head a little closer, "Just as long as I am allowed to be very interested in your body as well as you."

"If that's the case, then it would be perfect."

"It is the case," Callen agreed. He looked into her eyes. "You're a very interesting and very beautiful pixie, Faith Everett. How could I not be interested in you?"

"It's happened before. Guy only likes what he sees, not what's underneath. I'm not that kind of girl."

"Lucky me," Callen added as he moved closer and ran his fingers down her cheek and over her lips. "So, my dearest Pixie, may I kiss you now?"

"Yes," she whispered and he closed the distance between their lips and caught hers in what had originally been planned as a soft, gentle kiss. But when her tongue flicked out across his bottom lip, it felt like someone had ramped up his hormones and he deepened the kiss. Her arms slipped around his neck and pulled him down closer as she kissed him deeply too.

Callen pulled back and looked down at her. She looked up at him.

"Wow," she said softly.

"Wow," he repeated.

"Some kiss," she added.

"Maybe we should try it again," Callen suggested, his eyes drifting to her lips, "see if it was just a fluke."

Faith grinned. "I'm all for that," she said as she pulled him back down and initiated the next kiss.

End of flashback

Callen reached for his second beer and opened it.

"You were with her for three years?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"You didn't marry her?"

"No. Was planning on it. Supposed to have asked her that Christmas but she died."

Callen looked away from Sam as the pain washed over him, though he had to admit, it wasn't as strong as it usually was.

"G," Sam said, pulling Callen's attention back to him. "She must have been some girl to have you willing to do that."

"You don't think I'm the marrying kind?" Callen asked, not entirely sure anymore if that was the impression he wanted to give anyone.

"Not so much that, but more that, up until tonight, you're not one to share yourself much. Marriage is about the biggest thing you can do when it comes to sharing."

Callen nodded. "I wasn't, not for a while. She knew that, but I promised her I was there for her, would always be and that was enough. She never pushed."

Flashback.

After dinner, they moved to the couch and Faith settled herself on his lap. He started to pull her in for a kiss, but she held back.

"What is it?" Callen asked. He focused on her and realised she seemed nervous. She took a moment before she cupped his face in her hands and held his gaze.

"I want you to meet my family. It's my mum's birthday this weekend. I always go and stay the night before and help out Dad with the party. I'm going down Friday night after work, the party is Saturday afternoon. I won't be back until Sunday."

Callen felt the fluttering of nerves. He knew how important her family was to her, though in the two months they'd been dating, since the night at the beach and their first kiss, he hadn't actually seen any of them. He'd met Max that time at the shop, and Tim in the course of that investigation but never as the guy she'd been dating.

"I was hoping you'd come with me."

"To the party?" Callen asked, not entirely sure what she was asking.

Faith shook her head. "For the weekend."

Callen tensed and she felt it.

"G, I…" She bit her lip and looked into his eyes. "I'm in love with G Callen. Completely, utterly and crazy in love with you. I … I'm not expecting-"

Callen placed his hand over her mouth.

"You're in love with me?" he asked for confirmation. She nodded. "You love me," he repeated, knowing he sounded like he was saying something that was impossible.

"Yes. I love you." Faith said it with such conviction that he couldn't do anything other than believe her. But he found it hard to comprehend that someone could love him. Someone with his demons, his nightmares, his lack of family or knowledge of what it was like to be part of a family.

"You are a caring and wonderful man G. You are fun to be around and you take care of me like no one outside of my family ever has. You make me smile and laugh and I feel completely safe with you. I can I only hope I do something similar for you."

Callen realised she had no idea how deep his feelings for her were. He could hear the doubt in her voice. He reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek; he hadn't even noticed when it fell because he was that preoccupied with the fact that she loved him. He didn't even remember when someone had told him that before.

"You do, Faith. That and so much more. Don't ever doubt that."

Faith smiled. "So, will you come with me?" she asked.

Callen was stunned when she didn't push anymore about how he felt for her. It wasn't that he thought she was pushy, but he knew how she felt about commitment and this was a perfect opportunity for her to question his intentions. He realised he wanted her to, or at least he wanted to make it clear to her what his were.

"You are the most amazing creature I've met," Callen said. "You are so happy and bright and bubbly. You care so much about those around you and I've never heard an angry or mad word cross your lips, not even when you were being pounced on by a muddy puppy."

Faith caught her lip with her teeth again, still clearly nervous, though he saw her eyes sparkle at the memory of Goldie in the park that time before he'd even met her. Callen brushed his thumb over her lip to release it and continued. "I never thought that someone could love me. No one has said that to me, not that I can remember, at least not seriously. I don't-"

Faith cut him off this time with a finger to his lips. "I'm not looking for a declaration from you G. I just wanted you to know."

Callen shook his head and continued. "I know. The thought that you love me, that you want me for real. Having someone like you, it's something I've only ever dreamed of and the reality is so much better than that dream. I don't know how you did it, but you've made me want to be better, to want to stick around, to be here for you. I promise you that Faith, I will always be here for you. Because I've fallen in love with you too."

Callen watched as the happiness spread on her face, replacing the nervousness, as the tears shined in her eyes and as her cheek turned a definitely becoming shade of pink. She moved and kissed him, pulling back to whisper once again how she felt about him.

"I love you, G. Will you stay tonight?"

Callen looked into her eyes and realised this was the logical next step, the physical side of the relationship that they'd been dancing around for so long. They both knew they wanted the other. Callen knew he'd never wanted someone anywhere near as much as he wanted Faith. But it was also different to what he'd felt before. It wasn't just about the physical act. He wanted to show her how much she meant to him, wanted it to be something special, not just about sex. So, even though his body was reacting to her words and her body and begging him to say yes, to take what was so willingly being offered and to give her just as much as she would give him, he shook his head.

"Not tonight," Callen replied.

Faith looked at him curiously. "Any particular reason?"

"Because I want to keep this night about this, about you telling me you love me, me telling you. It's a special night."

"And you think staying would spoil that?" She frowned, still confused but trying to understand.

"No, not spoil." Callen grinned. "But since I've been looking forward to being with you for so long, I figure that I'll remember that more than anything else and I really don't want to have this memory clouded by anything else, no matter how great those clouds will be."

Faith grinned back. "You have a lot of confidence about that don't you?"

"About what it is going to be like between us?"

"Yeah."

"Course I do. I have since we first kissed and given how spectacular that was, I know that the rest will be too."

Faith stroked his face and slipped her hand behind his head, lowered her lips to brush across his and then pulled back to look at him again.

"I repeat, G Callen, you are a wonderful man."

Callen carefully moved her off his lap and stood up. "Definitely a man, and one who really needs to go before his good intentions fly out the window."

"Not going to stay for the movie?" Faith asked, obviously disappointed that he was leaving early.

"Not sure I can trust myself around you right now," Callen admitted.

"What if I promise to behave?" she asked.

"Your word as a pixie?" Callen teased.

Her look turned serious. "My word as the woman who loves you with her whole heart. Nothing will happen tonight."

Callen reached out and cupped her face and kissed her as she had just kissed him.

"I'll stay for a movie… and I'll come with you this weekend."

End of flashback.

"What happened when you met her family?" Sam asked.

Callen looked at Sam and glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. He thought for a moment and realised that talking about Faith felt good. He hadn't talked about her for so long. It was therapeutic. Wouldn't Nate love to hear him admit that.

"I was nervous like I'd never been before. I knew about them. Faith had talked about them often, but I'd never gone with her to her family gatherings. She'd offered for me to join them, but I always managed to have something on, or work."

Callen lent back and looked at the ceiling, one with no cracks or peeling paint.

"She drove. She said she didn't want me to take us in the opposite direction…."

Flashback

Callen reached out his hand for the keys as they walked to her car. It wasn't a demanding thing; he just knew she preferred not to drive if she had a choice. He frowned slightly when she didn't put the keys in his hands as she usually did and he turned to face her.

"Sorry, I'm driving today," she said as she walked around and opened the door for him.

"Why? You don't like driving." Callen stood there as he waited for her answer.

"I don't want to risk you heading in the opposite direction. You're nervous G." Faith stepped up close to him and slipped her arms around his neck, raising up on her toes so she was closer to his height. "You don't have to be. I'll be there with you all the time and you've already met Max and Tim."

"I've met them on an investigation, not as your boyfriend."

Faith grinned. "Can I let you in on another secret?" she asked mischievously.

"What?" Callen tightened his arms around her as she lent close to his ear.

"It's a first for them too. I haven't taken a boyfriend home before."

Callen's eyes went wide at the implications. He knew she'd dated, knew there hadn't been anyone who'd stuck around long enough and that after a while, she'd held back, made her intentions clear, as she had done with him and that most of the guys had run a mile, faster than a Ferrari on an empty straight street after she had. He hadn't expected though to find out she'd never taken anyone home before.

"Why not?" His nerves disappeared as curiosity got the better of him.

"Simple. They weren't you and I've never loved anyone like I do you."

"Because they didn't stick around?"

Faith shrugged. "Maybe if they had of, it might have developed into something more but they didn't. With you it was almost instant." She stopped there and her cheeks flushed.

"Something you haven't told me?"

Faith turned her head away slightly, her cheeks flushing even more.

"Faith," Callen said gently, encouraging her to look back to him.

"I fell in love with you when you came into the shop that first time." She shrugged, as if she was trying to make it out to be no big deal.

"Why?" Callen asked.

"You spoke pixie. Takes a really special guy to be willing to have that kind of conversation, especially with a girl he doesn't know."

Callen smiled. "But I already knew you." He moved his hand and gently brushed a finger over her eyes. "Here, that day I caught you in the park. I could see exactly what kind of woman you were then, just by looking in your eyes. It was like I could see right into your soul."

They were both quiet for a moment as they looked into each other's eyes, he saw her in them, just as he had that day, only this time he could see the love for him in them as well.

"I don't deserve you, Faith." He could hear the sadness in his tone. "You're way too good for me."

"No, G. I'm perfect for you, just as you are for me," she said, her voice filled with love and care for him.

"How do you know that?" Callen asked.

"Because if we weren't, then we wouldn't be about to get in the car and go to see my family. They are extremely important to me and I don't share them with just anyone."

.

.

.

Callen stepped out of the car when they arrived at Faith's parents' home. It was a two storey, old fashioned place that, if it were at all possible, radiated laughter. As odd as that thought was, given the kind of woman Faith was, it didn't surprise him because he couldn't imagine her growing up somewhere that wasn't filled with laughter.

Faith looked over at him from the other side of the car as she too got out. She smiled at him.

"I promise G, they don't bite. And Goldie's not going to be here either so no muddy paws to worry about."

When he didn't move, Faith came around and took his hand in hers, gently tugging him away from the car and up the path. Halfway up she stopped and stood in front of him, looking up at him earnestly.

"G," she said softly, "I know you are nervous. I wish you weren't. They are going to love you."

"Yeah," he said disbelief in his voice. "You really think I'm going to get that lucky?" She loved him and that was unbelievable in itself, not that he was going to turn his back on it or anything. He'd grab it with both hands and hold onto her for as long as she was willing to have him.

"Yes," she stated, just as confidently and firmly as she had when she'd reiterated that she loved him the other night.

Callen pulled his gaze from the house and back down to her. She smiled at him and his heart did that funny little leap that it always did when she looked at him like that. He hoped it would never stop because it reminded him just how much he loved her too.

She stood up on her toes and kissed him, not just a brush but a real, deep and passionate kiss. His arms went around her and before he knew it, he forgot where they were, forgot to breathe. He just wanted more of her. She pulled back and grinned.

"Much better. Come on," Faith said and moved away, grabbed his hand and quickly dragged him the rest of the way to the front door before his mind could get over the kiss and its effect on him.

The door opened and there stood her father, James. Callen swallowed nervously as Faith introduced them. Her father seemed a nice guy, shook his hand and allowed them in. There was no stern warnings or evil eyes or suspicious looks that suggested her father knew what Callen had just been thinking about before the door opened.

The next thing Callen knew though, he was being whisked away by Max as Faith was taken to the living room by her father. He looked back at her and saw the shock on her face but neither of them could do anything about it.

Max led them into the kitchen and grabbed two beers out of the fridge.

"So … You're Faith's boyfriend?"

"Yeah. Thanks," Callen added when Max handed him one of the beers.

"Scared yet?"

"Of?"

"The family," Max added before taking a drink.

Callen realised this could potentially be a bonding moment here with Faith's brother and knowing how she cared about him, he gathered up his courage.

"Not scared. Terrified," he admitted.

Max grinned. "Glad to hear it. Hurt her, I promise you, it won't just be me you'll have to worry about. Between Dad, Tim and Joey we'll find you … and hurt you."

Max was the oldest, then came Joey, then Faith with Tim being the youngest.

"I don't doubt that," Callen admitted.

Max stepped over closer to Callen and unconsciously he stepped back a little. Max chuckled. "Welcome to the family, G," he said as he patted him on the back and directed him out to the living room, where Faith was waiting.

She looked over at him nervously and mouthed, "Are you okay?"

Callen winked at her to reassure her that he was fine.

.

.

.

Later that night, after he'd met the rest of the family and they were in their room, Faith asked him more directly what happened.

"G, please tell me Max hasn't scared you off."

Callen smiled. She was seriously worried about this. He stepped up close and pulled her into his arms.

"If Max had scared me off, do you really think I'd be in here with you?"

Faith's mother, Martha, had put them in the same room. Faith's old room, with just the one bed. Neither of them had complained or said anything when she'd directed Callen there with their luggage.

Faith slipped her arms around him and rested her ear against his chest. He smiled at that. She did it often. Claimed she liked listening to the sound of his heart beating.

"If you don't want to be in here…" she trailed off.

"I do want to be in here with you. Just don't get any ideas, little pixie. Our first time together isn't going to be with the threat of any of your family walking in on us."

Faith giggled. "There is a lock on the door you know."

"I noticed."

She looked up at him. "Not enough though?"

"I want you all to myself. It'll happen soon enough. I can wait," Callen admitted softly to her, before he lowered his head. "Though it's not going to stop me kissing you."

"Good," she whispered as she moved to brush her lips over hers. "That would be very disappointing for me if I didn't get to kiss you all weekend."

"Can't have that now," Callen added just before he kissed her.

End of flashback.

"You had a good weekend meeting the family I take it," Sam said.

Callen smiled. "Yeah. I met them all, including two year old Becca. She was so cute and adorable and wanting me to be a fairy for her."

Callen shook his head at the memory, remembering how easily Becca had managed to convince him to be a fairy, though with Faith's help, he had at least been allowed to be a male fairy. Becca had looked up at him with eyes so like Faith's, not in colour though, just in the sparkle and he was hers. Anything she wanted him to do he would. He'd ended up being the favourite to read her stories whenever they stayed and, whilst he was pleased when she'd moved out of the pixie/fairy stage, he wasn't quite sure whether that was easier than being the horse/dog/cow or whatever animal it was she wanted to ride, at least until she was four when she seemed to be more happy to play games with him that didn't always involve him being a prop!

"You? A Fairy? Complete with wings and a skirt?" Sam remarked and then laughed out loud at the look on Callen's face that told Sam he was right.

"I want to see photos of that," Sam added. Callen shook his head and made a mental note to always have a camera handy anytime Sam was around kids, especially when he eventually had his own.

"Don't have any." It was close to the truth. He didn't though he knew Martha did.

Sam looked over at him seriously this time. "So they were like family to you?"

"Yeah, Sam. They were. I got on really well with them all, loved them too and they did me. When Faith died," Callen ran his hands through his short hair. "I couldn't do it Sam. I couldn't handle being around them. Especially Becca. She looked so much like Faith and had the same bubbly personality. I just couldn't. I was scared I'd go off at them and I didn't want to do that. Didn't want to hurt them anymore than they already were."

Callen thought for a moment before continuing, "I think I felt like I didn't deserve them, like it was my fault that Faith wasn't around anymore."

"How did she die G?"

Callen looked at Sam. "Heart attack. It was quick."

"Then it wasn't your fault."

"I know that Sam, but I'd promised her I'd always take care of her and I felt like I'd failed."

"Tell me about Christmas with her," Sam prompted. It was obvious he was trying to move the conversation away from sad times.

Callen smiled and remembered his first Christmas with her. He'd moved in with her after they'd been together for four months. Things had progressed before that, but they'd taken each step slowly, making sure they were both ready for what came next. He wasn't big on Christmas but he already knew she loved it. The first day of December that first Christmas was one he'd never forget. It was his first exposure to just how Christmasy she was.

Flashback

It was 6am when the alarm went off. At least Callen thought it was the alarm. The sound was wrong though. Why was his alarm sounding like 'Jingle Bells'?

He frowned and reached over to turn it off, but it wasn't his alarm. That was when he heard the giggle from the other side of the bed and rolled over to look at Faith.

She was sitting up, in a nightdress that wasn't what she'd gone to sleep in and sitting on her side of the bed.

"What's going on?" Callen asked sleepily.

"Time to wake up. I've got a challenge for you," Faith replied brightly.

"What kind of challenge?"

She smiled and lent across to kiss him, which he made the most of and tumbled her on top of him, his arms stopping her getting away.

"Good morning," Callen said when he stopped kissing her.

"Good morning," she whispered, her cheeks a delicate pink and she didn't try and pull away. He knew that pink, it was slightly different to her embarrassed pink. He was tempted to roll her over and continue, but he remembered she seemed so excited about something.

"The challenge," he prompted.

She smiled cheekily. "You'll have to get up for it."

"I gathered that much. Do I get to come back to bed later?"

Faith raised her eyebrows suggestively. "Depends on how quickly you can fulfil the challenge. Take too long and I'll have to get ready for work and we won't have the time."

Callen got out of bed quickly and looked over at her. "Better tell me then."

Faith moved to the door of their bedroom and as he caught up with her, she took his hand and led him to the living room.

"Somewhere, in this room is one thing related to Christmas. You need to find it."

"Something related to Christmas?" Callen repeated it.

"Yep," Faith nodded. "It's day one of the Twelve Days of Christmas."

Callen frowned, slightly confused. "Aren't they supposed to end on Christmas Day?" he asked.

"Not my version. Come on G. Don't want to keep a girl waiting for what you promised do you?"

Callen quickly pulled her into his arms. "Don't want to keep you waiting," he specified. She was the only girl he was interested in.

She grinned happily. "Then it's time to start looking."

Reluctantly Callen let her go and looked around the room, reasonably confident he would find whatever it was she'd hidden.

After five minutes, when he hadn't found anything new, or out of place, he turned and looked at her. "Hint?"

Faith smiled. "You can't see anything in this room related to Christmas?" she asked.

Callen shook her head, still looking at her.

"Are you sure?" Faith queried.

"Yes, I'm…." Callen's eyes narrowed as he looked at her more carefully. "You cheeky little pixie." He stepped over to her and ran his fingers down her arms. Her nightdress; it was red and white and had snowflakes and mistletoe on it.

"Actually it's elf around this time of year."

Callen looked curious and Faith explained.

"My initial's . F. L. E. Turn them around you get ELF."

"So my pixie has turned into an elf just for Christmas?" Callen asked as he pulled her closer to him.

"Depends whether you prefer me as a pixie or as an elf," she said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"That will depend on whether I found what I was looking for on you. If I did, then perhaps I like the ideas the elf is coming up with." Callen brushed his lips over her cheek and felt her smile.

"If you're talking about what I'm wearing then yes, you've solved today's challenge."

Her voice was a touch breathless as he made his way down her neck.

"And you plan on doing this every day."

"Sounds good," she whispered.

Callen lifted his head. "I was meaning the challenge."

Faith grinned, the pink still showing on her cheeks. "I was meaning both."

With that Callen picked her up and took her back to bed, thinking that Christmas was definitely going to be more enjoyable with her in his life.

End of flashback.

"She hid things every day?"

Callen nodded. "It was something she used to do when she lived at home with her family. When I moved in with her, apparently she got all excited about finally being able to do it again."

"So what did she hide?" Sam asked curiously.

Callen wasn't about to answer that question properly. Some of the things she'd hidden that year had been on the intimate side, just between the two of them.

"It changed each year, but it always matched up number-wise with the song. And then we'd go to her parents on Christmas Eve, the whole family would be there. We'd decorate the tree that night, and wrap presents after the little kids were in bed. The tree would always be over flowing with presents. But you know what Sam, none of the presents were just fillers. Every single one of them had been thought out and chosen carefully. They were an amazingly close family who knew each other well."

"And they accepted you into it?"

"Yeah, from that very first day."

"And now you are going back to see them."

Callen nodded. He wasn't so nervous now he'd talked to Sam.

"G, if you want company, even just for the drive down, I'll come with you."

Callen looked over at his partner, his friend … his brother. "Thanks Sam. One day, I'll take you to meet them, but I think I need to do this on my own."

Sam nodded his understanding. "Just call if you need me though and I'll come."

Callen looked at the clock again. It was two am. He had no idea how the time had gone so quickly. Sam glanced over at it too.

"If you've got to drive tomorrow, you should get some sleep," Sam advised, "unless you want to talk some more."

"No, sleep will be good. Thanks Sam. For listening."

"Anytime G. Thanks for trusting me."

Callen nodded as he kicked off his shoes and settled on the couch. Sam threw a blanket at him that he picked up as he walked past one of the chairs on his way to his bedroom.

Comfortably settled on a couch he'd spent so much time on before, Callen thought about the coming day.

He knew it wouldn't be easy seeing them, but he needed to. He wanted to. They'd been one of only two families he'd felt accepted into, aside from his mismatched crazy team that is. The Rostoff's were the first, then the Everett family. Martha and James were like the parents he'd never had, Faith's brothers were the rascally brothers that sometimes he wasn't sure he wanted, though that was usually only when he was at the wrong end of some of their pranks. There had been one day when Faith had almost put a stop to that after one particular incident that had come close to him being injured. It was the first and only time he'd heard her yell at anyone. They'd been kicking the ball playing football and Joey had floored him hard with a tackle, taking the wind out of him as they'd crashed to the ground. If that had been all that had happened, Faith would have been fine, except when she'd come over to check on him, she'd noticed the sharp rock that was only an inch from his head and she'd flipped out. Callen had got up and pulled her away from Joey, fearing she was actually considering doing him physical harm, which was more than likely going to end up with her being hurt more than Joey.

Flashback

"Faith," Callen said, pulling her away from her brother.

"How could you be so irresponsible?" she yelled.

Callen quickly pulled her around to face him. Her face was white, except her cheeks that were blazing most definitely with anger.

He could see in her eyes she was scared.

"Faith, come with me," Callen said firmly.

"But-"

"Come with me," he repeated.

She followed as he pulled her over to a tree, far enough away to give them some privacy.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"You could have been hurt," she said, her voice shaking a little.

"It was an accident. Joey wasn't trying to hurt me."

"He should have checked the field before playing," she said.

"We did. All of us," Callen replied and saw her shoulders drop slightly as the anger went out of her a little.

"Come on Faith. What's this really about? You've been acting odd all day today."

"Odd?" She looked at him, her facial expressions telling him he was pushing it with that comment. "You think I've been acting odd? Just because I told my brother off?"

"No," Callen shook his head. "Because I've never heard you raise your voice like that, not in the year and a half we've been together. That and you haven't been yourself since you woke up this morning. You've been quiet." Faith looked away from him and he realised he was right, that it wasn't just him reading too much into things. She usually woke up all bubbly and excited when there was a day planned with her family. This morning she was very different.

Callen turned her head back to him and looked in her eyes again, hoping this time he could really see what was wrong. It was then he saw it. She was still scared. Callen frowned as he tried to figure out what from.

"What's worrying you?" he asked when he couldn't come up with anything. "Faith please, tell me."

"You," she whispered softly.

"What about me?"

"You could have been hurt," she replied.

"It was just an accident," Callen repeated. Faith shook her head.

"Not today. Thursday."

Thursday? Callen thought for a moment and suddenly realisation dawned on him. He'd slipped up; told her a little more about an investigation than he had meant to. He knew how much she disliked guns and because, even now, she still shuddered at the memory of that day at her shop, he'd avoid mentioning anything about them. He and his partner had gone to pick up a suspect, who'd decided it was better to shoot at them then be taken in for questioning. His partner had caught a bullet graze on his leg. Callen had been late and he'd called to tell her that he was just taking Lawrence home because he couldn't drive. He hadn't wanted Faith to worry about him being late. She'd asked what happened and it was then that he'd told her the truth. She hadn't said anything about it and he'd even forgotten he'd mentioned it.

"Why didn't you say something?" Callen asked, as he pulled her into his arms. He felt her shudder a little and choke back a sob.

"Because … Because I didn't want to know how close you were. But I can't stop thinking about it. What if it had been you instead? What if it hadn't just been a graze?"

Callen tilted her head up to look at him.

"I have too much to live for. I'm not going to let anything happen to me," he assured her.

"Accidents happen G. I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered as she buried her head in his chest.

"You won't have to find out. You're stuck with me."

"Forever?"

"Forever," he promised.

Faith lifted her head on her own this time and looked up at him. "Can we go home now?"

Callen frowned. She usually hated leaving family get togethers early.

She smiled softly. "I need you. Need it to be just you and me. Please."

End of flashback.

Callen hadn't realised when he'd made that promise just how accurate it would end up being. Because he was with her forever; her forever.

He wasn't sure how he felt about what happened when someone died. There was a part of him that hoped whatever came was just a feeling, like the happiest parts of your life without the sad bits. Another part hoped you had the chance to watch over those you cared about; maybe even keep them safe somehow. Then there was the part of him that didn't believe there was anything out there. That what you had here, what you made of your life now, was what counted. He'd promised Faith he would always be there for her and he'd kept that promise. She'd made him into a better man, one who finally knew what family really meant. Now, maybe he'd get another chance to use that. To be there for others as he'd been there for her and she'd been there for him. A chance at a family of his own making.

With that thought settling comfortably in his mind, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~o