A/N

Apologies for such a long delay. Life has been complicated and winter colds and stuff have kept bugging us. No pun intended.

Thank you for sticking with this. I'll make no promises about the next chapter except this– I will get there as soon as life and the bunnies allow, in that order.

Disclaimer in chapter 1

Chapter 10

Saturday 22nd January – approximately 1pm

Callen woke to something fluffy tickling his nose and a quiet little giggle as he swatted at it. His eyes opened to see Tabby smiling at him.

"Morning G," she whispered and snuggled into him, her head beneath his chin.

Callen dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Morning to you and to Rusty here," he said and gave the stuffed cat, that had been responsible for the fluffy tickle, a little pat.

He glanced across the top of Tabby's head and saw that Ally was sleeping peacefully. Tabby saw the direction he was looking in and rolled over a little to look at her mother. She turned back to Callen.

"She's tired," Tabby whispered.

"But you're not," Callen added quietly.

Tabby shook her head in agreement. "Do you think I'd wake her if I got up?"

"No, I don't think so. Not if she's really tired." Callen guessed Ally would be. "How about we go and see who else is up and then I'll come back in here and wait for her to wake up?"
Tabby nodded eagerly.

The three of them, Rusty included, slipped quietly out of bed and the room. Callen partly closed the door and put his hand on Tabby's shoulder before she could run off to see who was up. Tabby looked up at him. He knelt in front of her, pulled her in for a big hug and whispered in her ear.

":Happy Birthday, Tabby."

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "It will be… now. Thank you."

She gave him a big squeeze back and then, hand in hand, they made their way to the lounge room.

Sam, Hetty and Derek were already up.

Derek stood and came over to them with a big smile on his face. "Happy Birthday Monkey," he said and picked Tabby up and spun her around. Callen moved to Hetty and Sam.

"Morning G. Sleep well?" Sam asked with a touch of mischief to his tone.

Callen rolled his eyes. "For once, yes I did." He turned to Hetty. "How are you this morning Hetty?"

"Much better. How's Alyssa?"

"Still asleep. I'm heading back in there now to make sure she's not alone when she wakes up. I take it you will be fine with Tabby?"

"Of course," Hetty assured him and he turned and made his way back to the bedroom.

As Callen settled down on the bed Ally rolled over and opened her eyes.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," he replied softly. "Meant to be here when you woke up."

"You were," Ally replied. "I just wasn't quite ready to let Tabby know I was awake."

Callen moved close and pulled her into his arms. "You all right?"

"I am now, but I had a bad dream and had just woken up from it a little before you two started talking."

Callen frowned. "I didn't notice anything."

Ally smiled. "It wasn't nightmare bad, just bad memories playing over. I just needed a little time to clear my head before seeing Tabby."

"You ready now?" he asked.

Ally smiled and shook her head. "Not quite."

She moved and kissed him.

When they eventually parted Callen smiled, cleared his throat and said,"I could get used to that?"

"Used to what?" Ally asked as she moved off the bed and turned to him.

"A good morning kiss like that."

She smiled cheekily, something he hadn't seen in so long. "Maybe that's my plan, even if it's not morning," she said. "Now, where's my birthday girl?"

Callen got off the bed and met her by the door. "In the lounge room, probably with Sam completely wrapped around her little finger… again."

He opened the door and, hand in hand, they made their way to join the others. Kensi had joined them by now and they found the TV on with Tabby curled up in between Derek and Sam watching Beauty and The Beast

Ally's hand slipped from his and she moved over to Tabby who jumped up quickly and ran into her arms.

Callen watched with a smile and a touch of pride. After all, he had definitely played a part in these two girls being together now.

Hetty stepped in beside him and said in a low voice, "Has Alyssa mentioned anything about today? What she would like to do for Tabby?"

Callen shook his head. "No. Not yet."

After breakfast Ally steered Callen to one side while Sam, Derek and Kensi were playing a card game with Tabby – not poker though, even though she'd asked. Nate was watching quietly but didn't seem inclined to join in. Callen wondered how much pain he was in?

"I need a favour," Ally said softly.

"Anything," Callen replied, turning his attention fully to her rather than watching Sam get beaten at a game of snap by a seven-year old.

"Tabby's presents are at home and it's still a crime scene. Tobias can get you in and get approval for taking them out of them. Would you mind going and getting them for me?"

"Of course. Anything else you need?" he asked.

Ally smiled. "Yeah. The presents are in the suitcases I had packed for our trip. If you could just grab all the cases, that will cover clothes for a couple of days until we can get back in. Tobias thinks tomorrow, but I won't want to take Tabby back there just yet."

Callen nodded. He hadn't been back to the house, but if someone had been shot and killed he could easily imagine the clean up necessarily from the blood alone.

"Just point me in the right direction."

Ally smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you. There are two suitcases and an overnight bag in my bedroom. That's all." She glanced over at Tabby. "I'll be taking her to the cemetary soon. If you could go whilst we're there, we can get the birthday celebrations going as soon as we get back."

Callen frowned. "Cemetary?"

"Paige. We usually visit in the morning, take flowers, have a little chat and then come home and that's when the birthday stuff kicks in."

Callen nodded. "Of course. Makes sense. You sure you're up for going alone?"

Ally smiled. "Hetty's coming with us. We won't be alone but yeah. We'd be fine if we were. It's all over now. There's no one out there."

Callen stroked her cheek. "Glad you feel safe."

"Definitely."

Callen pulled his eyes away from his two girls … and Hetty… as they left the apartment. He turned to Sam who eyed him a little curiously.

"So," Sam said. "What next?"

Callen moved to the table and reached for the keys to the car. "I'm heading off to get some things Ally needs from the house."

"What about party stuff?" Sam asked.

Callen turned to his partner and frowned. "What party stuff? I'm picking up Tabby's presents from Ally if that's what you mean."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Clearly G you haven't thought this through too much. It's her birthday."

"Yes," Callen nodded. "I know."

"She's a little girl. It's her birthday…"

Callen continued to look confused.

"Oh good grief," Kensi said with a roll of her eyes. "Decorations, cake etc. What do you want us to do?"

"Oh," Callen hadn't thought about that. He glanced at Derek, who looked just as guilty as him for not thinking about it. He'd been too busy being relieved that she was fine to think about anything else. "Um… What should we do?" It had been a long time since he'd had anything to do with a little girl's birthday party.

Sam shook his head. "Go. Get the presents. We'll take care of the rest."

"You sure?" Callen asked.

Sam nodded. "But I get the brownie points with Hetty for it."

"Deal," Callen replied. He had a feeling he probably had a bit of a stash at the moment. He left Sam, Kensi, Nate and Derek to sort out the rest and hurried out. He wasn't entirely sure how long it would take to sort things out with Fornell and he wanted to be back before the girls got back.

An hour and a half later Callen walked into an apartment that was in the process of being transformed with pink ribbons, pink flowers and pink and white balloons. Sam put him and Fornell, who had come back with him to see Tabby, to work with the finishing touches to the living room. Nate was supervising – still seeming a little out of it but not as bad as last night or even this morning. A pile of presents already sat waiting on the table for Tabby to open, where he added the ones he'd just collected, and a cake big enough to feed an army, decorated with butterflies and rainbows with a little cat candle on top waited patiently to be cut. Not to mention the party food in the kitchen.

Callen had no idea how Sam had pulled it off, especially in such a short time frame. Sam wouldn't tell except to say "Experience G. Plus some natural talent."

Tabby loved it. Ally loved it and Hetty thoroughly approved.

It was a bright and happy party, not just because it was Tabby's birthday. It was a celebration of everyone being safe.

It was seven that night when Ally put Tabby to bed. She was sitting among her presents happily, but her eyes were three-quarters of the way to being closed. Derek had left a little earlier to catch a plane home.

"So what do we do now, Hetty?" Callen asked while Ally was tending to the sleepy Tabby.

"I'll be staying with the girls a few more days, until they can get back in the house. You are all free to go home when you are ready. If there's nothing pressing at the office, take a couple of days off. You all deserve it."

"I'm staying," Callen said.

Hetty just nodded.

Ally came back out and sat down next to Callen. She tilted her head back against the couch and let out a tired sigh.

"Maybe you should go to bed too," Callen suggested.

"I will … soon." She looked at him. "I was thinking of taking Tabby skiing for a few days. Give the house time to get sorted. Would you like to join us?"

"I'd love too," Callen replied.

Ally looked over to Hetty. "You too, Hetty. It's been too long since you were out there with us."

"I'd be delighted," Hetty replied. "Would you like me to organise something?"

Ally shook her head. "No, it's okay. Our friend Jackie is away in France this month. She told us to use her place anytime."

"When do we leave?" Callen asked.

"In the morning I think. I don't need to pack, our things are already up there and the sooner Tabby has something else to think about the better."

"She will need to talk, "Nate reminded her gently. "Both of you will."

Ally smiled. "And we will Nate. Most likely to you. I trust you with her. With both of us, but you need time too. I'm not putting it off forever. Just a few days of fun for her. For all of us."

Nate nodded his agreement. "Okay. I'll be there when you are ready."

"Thank you."

A knock on the door came before the conversation could continue. Hetty went to answer it and came back with Conrad, who held a small gift-wrapped present and look very tired and nervous.

Ally stood up.

"Conrad, is everything alright?" she asked.

Conrad held out the present. "I brought this for Tabitha. I mean it's from all of us. Caroline and Fred and me. It's not much but…" He shrugged and handed over the present.

Ally took it. "Thank you. She's in bed now but I'll give it to her in the morning."

"That's why I came so late. I wasn't sure, after everything, that she, or even you would want to see me."

Ally placed the present on the table and took Conrad's arm, guiding him the couch. He sat down and she sat beside him.

Hetty gave the others a look which had the quickly dispersing to other rooms. Callen remained and sat down right next to Ally. He had no idea what was going on but felt that she might very well need him.

"Conrad," Ally said. "You weren't responsible. You didn't do this."

"I know but… Fiona, she … and she's my wife… was my wife." Conrad ran a hand over his face. "I'm so sorry Alyssa. I had no idea what she was like."

Conrad looked at Ally. Callen saw the tears in the man's eyes. Conrad continued.

"I had no clue that my children were scared of their mother. What kind of father am I to not know or see that? What do I do now?"

Ally took his hands in hers and smiled gently. "What you have to. The past doesn't matter Conrad. What matters now is Caroline and Fred. You have to be the father they need."

"How?" he asked, almost begging.

"I don't know," Ally admitted. "You just have to be."

Conrad nodded slowly. "Like you were for Tabby." He shook his head. "I should have been there for you. Not fighting you." He pulled his hands away from Ally and dropped his head into them. "I was a lousy big brother. If I'd known about Mum's affair, about the reason Dad treated you and Paige differently… Actually I doubt I would have done anything differently. I didn't have the guts to stand up to him. I hate confrontations. I just followed what they expected."

Callen felt Ally tense at the word affair. He glanced at Hetty who looked confused.

"Conrad," Hetty interrupted, "What affair?"

Conrad looked at Hetty. "Mum had an affair. Paige and Ally were the result."

"When did you find this out?" Ally asked quietly.

Conrad turned back to her. "Today. We had a fight over everything. Dad admitted it. Mum didn't deny it. Mum's leaving him too."

Ally sank back against Callen. "What?" she asked.

"Apparently he's been holding it over her for years. She's didn't want to lose us so she stayed."

Hetty nodded. "It makes more sense now on why she accepted my help with schooling for you two," she said to Ally.

"To get us away from him," Ally agreed. She sat back up, took a breath and looked at Conrad.

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is what you are going to do. Do you know?" she asked him gently.

Conrad shrugged. "Not really. The kids and I are staying with friends at the moment. I don't know if we can go back to the house. I think there would be too many reminders for them."

"Maybe a change could be good. Give you all a fresh start," Ally said thoughtfully. Callen wondered what she was thinking.

"I've been offered a job in Chicago. I wasn't going to take it but…" He shrugged.

Ally smiled. "You do what is right for you and the children. Maybe talk to them and see what they think."

Conrad nodded. "I guess you're right." He looked at her. "How did you do it? With Tabby? How, with everything… losing Paige, especially like that, how…?"

"Because I didn't have a choice. Paige wanted me to. Tabby needed me. I had to do it … and I wanted to, no matter how hard it got. She's family. She's mine."

"And we didn't make it easy at all did we?"

Ally shook her head. "No."

"I want to be a better brother, a better uncle. Will you help me?" Conrad asked seriously.

"Yes, but not yet," Ally said. "You work out how to be the father you need to and want to be. There's plenty of time. When you've got that sorted, come find us." She reached over and gave him a tender hug. "We'll be there. We're family."

Conrad returned the hug then stood up. "I'd better get back. Thank you."

Ally nodded and leaned back on the couch.

Hetty stood and walked him out.

Callen looked at Ally. "You okay?" he asked as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek.

Ally shrugged. "I don't know. I never even suspected."

"Neither did I," Hetty added returning to take her seat. "Neither did I."

"Puts a different light on everything doesn't it?" Ally said to Hetty.

"Indeed," Hetty replied thoughtfully.

Ally yawned.

Callen stood up and held out his hand. "I think you need some sleep."

Ally took his hand and let him help her up. "Definitely." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for everything. Tabby had a wonderful day thanks to you."

"And Sam," Callen added. "He was Mr Party Planner today."

"Remind me to thank him again in the morning." Ally looked at Hetty. "Good night Hetty."

"Good night my dear," Hetty said, slightly absently, still lost in her thoughts and wondering why she hadn't seen this detail a long time ago.

"Night Hetty," Callen added.

Callen stopped Ally just outside the bedroom. Tabby was still sleeping in the big bed. "You want me to come in?" he asked, not wanting to assume anything. "Now Derek's gone, there's a spare bed I could sleep in."

Ally shook her head. "I want you to stay with us, if you want to, and don't mind sharing with the two of us."

Callen dropped a kiss on her lips. "I don't mind sharing … for now."