Happy Easter
Mac and Kensi walked thru the shop filling their cart. It was two weeks to Easter and they were having a huge family dinner at the beach house. The kids of course were going to have their first Easter egg hunt on the beach.
"Ok so how do we do this?" asked Mac. "We don't want one kid getting all the eggs. Or should I say Nell getting all the eggs."
Kensi laughed. "Good point." They looked at the baskets and Kensi spotted some colored buckets. "These are great there are like 8 colors. We get matching eggs and you can only collect the color of your bucket."
"Perfect."
They found matching plastic eggs and made sure to get the same number in each color. Next came fancy baskets for the kids Easter candy. Kensi found an Iron Man one for Donny and a chick for Lilly. Mac picked a pink flower one for Anna and a butterfly one for Clara.
"Just think next year you'll be buying three."
Mac looked down at her swollen belly. "I can't wait till this one is out."
Kensi laughed. The baby loved to kick and had been keeping Mac up most nights the past month.
"Two more months to go, I cannot wait."
They found candy as well as some small stuffed animals and toys. Mac didn't like giving the girls too much candy. Kensi had learned not to let candy around Donny as he was just like her and would eat every last drop till he got sick.
Kensi started laughing when Mac stuck a pair of pink bunny ears on her head.
"Please tell me you're getting those for the girls?"
"I was thinking Nell."
"You don't have to encourage her. I'm afraid she'll come in that bunny outfit from Halloween."
"Ok we need to figure out what we are putting in the eggs."
They searched and found some small toys and wrapped candy that would fit."
"Looks like we're done." Said Kensi.
"Don't forget that Saturday we're painting eggs."
"You mean dying eggs?" said Kensi.
"No mom decided that we are making traditional Romanian Easter eggs. You paint them not dye them."
"Ok."
"Plus we have to bake Pasca."
"What is that?"
"It's a traditional bread."
"So are we having ham or is your mom only making Romanian foods?"
"We're having lamb."
Kensi just looked at her.
"Ok I'll ask mom to put on a small ham too."
Kensi shook her head. "I don't mind but Deeks has his heart set on ham."
"Kensi you have to remember my mom is still getting back into American traditions. Her mind on Roma traditions."
They finished their shopping and headed home. Kensi dropped Mac off and helped her carry her bags into the house.
"Hi aunt Kensi." Said Anna.
"Hey squirt."
"Can Donny come over and play today?"
"He's off with is dad today so maybe tomorrow."
"Ok."
"I'll call you later."
"Thanks Kensi." Mac put the bags in the bedroom and shut the door. "Anna where's your dad and sister?"
"Out back." Anna went back to her book so Mac went to find her husband.
Callen had put a swing set up and was pushing Clara on the swing.
"Momma." Yelled Clara.
"Hey bug having fun with daddy?"
"Swing." Clara said giggling as Callen pushed her.
"You and Kensi get everything?"
"Yep."
Mac leaned in to get a kiss and laughed when the baby kicked again hard. "Your son has been kicking me all day."
Callen put his hand on her belly and smiled. "He's just excited is all."
"I'll be excited when he decides to come out."
Callen knelt down and kissed her belly. "Ok Christopher give your mom a break ok." Callen got kicked in the nose and laughed.
DEEKS HOUSE.
"Kensi did you get jelly beans?"
"Yes Deeks."
"And peeps?"
"Yes Deeks."
"And chocolate eggs?"
"Deeks just look in the bags already."
Kensi was on the couch holding a sleeping Lilly. Deeks had taken the kids to the zoo today and Donny had passed out the moment they walked in the door.
"Oh giant Peep."
"Yes that is for you. Eat it now if you want."
Deeks ripped the package open and shoved half the peep into his mouth. And he complained about her and Twinkies.
"So did you get the egg thing figured out."
"Yep, matching eggs and buckets."
"Oh great idea."
"And we're having lamb for dinner."
"We are having what?" Deeks eyes got huge.
"Sara is making a traditional Romanian Easter dinner."
"No ham?"
"Mac is asking her to make one too."
"We're having crescent rolls too right?"
"Deeks call Sara and ask her. Maybe you can make some more American things to bring.
"I can do that." Deeks said all happy.
He ran off to call Sara to go over the menu. Kensi shook her head and laughed. Her husband was crazy. Lilly yawned and snuggled closer to her mom making Kensi smile.
The next Saturday everyone was gathered around the huge dining room table at the beach house. Sara had newspaper over it. There were several dishes full of paint and a lot of tiny brushes.
"Ok everyone grab a seat and an egg." Said Sara.
The eggs were blown out so they were just shells. Eric had the little kids in the kitchen dying traditional American Easter eggs. Sara showed them how to paint the eggs telling them they could paint them any way they wanted.
Callen was determined to paint his a very traditional way and had been studying designs on the computer for a month. Mac also tried to make hers more traditional to make her mom happy. Anna who had painted them before was busy working on hers and helping Deeks who was sitting next to her. Hetty of course was a pro and was giving directions to Kensi and Nell.
Sara was at the head of the table watching her family. "You ok mom?"
"I'm just so happy to have everyone here is all."
Mac put her hand over on her mom's hand and smiled at her.
By dinner time they had several eggs finished. It may not be the traditional way of doing them but everyone had fun.
Kensi almost fell over when she spotted Donny who was now multi colored. She was about to scream at Eric till she saw he was even worse. Nell was shocked.
"Eric you said you knew how to dye eggs."
"I do." Eric laughed. "We may have gotten carried away."
Clara was just as colorful. She carried over a red egg and gave it to Callen.
"Thanks bug."
"Pretty." Said Clara pointing to the egg.
"I think we need to get these kids clean." Said Mac. They sent Eric to the upstairs bathroom and took Donny and Clara to the down stairs one. Callen and Deeks helped clean up the mess in the kitchen while Sara and Nell got the dining room. They had dinner out by the time everyone was clean.
"Remind me why we had kids?" asked Kensi as she scrubbed Donny.
"Because we both went off our birth control."
They laughed and Mac groaned as the baby kicked her again. "I swear Callen is getting snipped after this."
"Oh my goodness. Please let me be there when you tell him."
"You and Deeks thinking about having another one?"
"Oh no way, two is enough."
Donny tried to pull away as Kensi scrubbed at some blue on his face. Clara was too busy smacking at the water to care if she was getting scrubbed clean or not. By the time they had the kids clean Mac and Kensi were both soaked.
"Come on I have something upstairs you can wear till your stuff is dry." Said Mac.
They handed the kids off to the guys and went upstairs to change. They passed Eric on the way who still had blue and green in his hair.
"I am so so sorry."
"It's ok Eric." Said Kensi.
"Please don't kill me."
"Just look at it this way you now know what not to do with your kid."
"Good point."
Once everyone was seated they ate dinner. Sara and Deeks talked about what they were both making for Easter dinner. Kensi's mom had been invited to dinner as well and was happy to accept.
"I talked to Talia yesterday and she and Sabatino are going to do their best to show up for dinner." Said Kensi. "Talia is in the middle of a bad case and isn't sure if she will get time off."
"I do hope they can come." Said Sara.
"Mom you do realize that will put us at over 20 people for dinner."
Sara beamed. "You know how much I love a full house."
"Are the boys both going to be home for Easter?" asked Hetty.
"With luck." Answered Victor. "Sara wants the entire family together that day."
"I just thought of something." Everyone looked at Hetty. "The people in this room were responsible for taking down the Comescu family in Romania are the same people who now have rebuilt that same family here in Los Angeles."
Everyone was very quiet for a moment. Callen looked over at his father in law. "Hetty is right. I can't count the number of your family I've killed."
"This is true son but you must remember those who have died were tainted by true evil." Victor looked around the table. "The family seated at this table are the light of this family, those who make this family good and true." He raised his glass to Callen. "I am honored to call each of you my family."
Mac started crying. "Sorry hormones." Callen wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her belly. Nell and Kensi wiped their own tears and Deeks had to take a drink of his beer to keep from choking up.
"I can honestly say I'm very happy to be part of this family." Said Eric. "Even if we are dysfunctional at times."
This made everyone laugh.
Deeks cleared his throat. "Ok just so everyone knows. I will be cooking American food for our Easter dinner."
"Crescent rolls?" Asked Callen.
"Of course."
Mac and Kensi exchanged looks and shook their heads.
"And I am making a traditional lamb as well as a ham for Marty."
They talked about the dinner for a while then cleared the table. Deeks and Kensi took the kids home soon after followed by Eric and Nell and little Jake.
Mac was busy getting the girls ready to head home when Victor took Callen aside.
"I just wanted to know that I am proud to have each one of you as part of my family." Victor smiled at Callen. "It's time that the Comescu name stood for something good."
Callen smiled back at him. "We're proud to be part of the family also." Callen looked over at his wife. "Deeks and I never knew what it was like to have a real family, neither did MacKenna. This is more than any of us could have hoped for."
EASTER MORNING.
"Mommy the Easter bunny came." Yelled Donny from the living room. Kensi and Deeks laughed and got out of bed to go see.
"You go keep him from eating everything and I'll get Lilly." Said Kensi.
The baskets were on the dining room table along with two baskets for the dogs.
Deeks pulled out two dog toys and gave them to the pups.
"We have to wait on your mom and sister ok?"
"Can I look at mine?" asked Donny climbing up onto a chair.
"Ok but don't touch."
Kensi came in a few minutes later with Lilly. Deeks brought the two baskets over to the couch and let Donny at his. He pulled out a stuffed blue bunny and several toy cars. He got one chocolate bunny a small bag of jelly beans and a pack of peeps. There would have been more but Deeks had found the stash after Kensi had hidden it.
Lilly had gotten a small chocolate bunny two stuffed ones and a pink ball with kittens on it. She stood at the coffee table and threw one of the bunnies at her brothers head.
"Just like her mom."
"Not funny Deeks."
"Ok I need to start cooking. We need to be at Sara's by four." Deeks jumped up and headed for the kitchen.
NELL AND ERICS HOUSE.
Nell woke up and checked on Jake before heading into the living room. She stopped dead when she saw the giant basket on the table. Inside it was filled with candy, Oreos and a brand new tablet.
"Happy Easter."
"You got me the tablet I wanted."
"Yep." Eric beamed. "I figured we could use your old one for Jake and put fund baby games on it."
"It's perfect."
"Well Jake is still too little to understand Easter, so I spoiled you this year instead."
"How did I get so lucky?"
"Hetty."
They both laughed. Hetty really did enjoy playing match maker.
CALLEN'S HOUSE.
They stood back and watched as Clara and Anna checked out their baskets. Anna took the time to unwrap a chocolate egg for her sister before picking one for herself.
"Only one candy girls, we need to eat breakfast."
"Ok momma."
"It still amazes me how well Anna has adjusted." Said Mac walking into the kitchen.
"She is amazing."
They ate then gathered the girls up to head to Sara's. Mac had promised to help cook and Anna wanted to help too. Callen would watch tv with Victor and keep an eye on Clara.
Mac had opted not to dress the girls up. They would want to play in the sand and get dirty so there was no point in fancy dresses. It was close to ten when they pulled up into the drive way.
By noon Eric and Nell had showed up so Nell could help. The guys were all on the couch watching a movie.
"Why is it the men never help?" asked Nell.
"Trust me you don't want Callen cooking."
"Or Victor, he burns everything."
"You guys need some more help?" asked Talia.
"Hey you made it." Said Mac giving her a hug.
"Wouldn't miss it for anything."
"Ok were is Miss Katie?" asked Sara.
"Living room."
Sara left the girls to go see the baby.
Talia looked at Mac. "Wow you have gotten huge."
"Tell me about it."
"So how long now?"
"Two months."
"Well maybe you'll pop early like last time."
"I can only hope."
They talked about the kids while they cooked. Deeks and Kensi showed up around two with food. Kensi joined the guys while Deeks helped cook and get everything ready. Hetty walked in with Granger soon after followed by Sam and his family.
"Sam what are you doing here?"
"Michelle's mom got sick so we decided to crash your dinner."
"I'll go help in the kitchen." Said Michelle carrying a few bottles of wine.
"Michele your plans fall thru?" asked Deeks giving the woman a hug.
"Yeah mom got sick so we decided to join you."
"Oh wonderful." Said Sara. "Anna help me put out a few more plates. They had moved a small table into the dining room for the kids to eat at. Anna added a place for Cam to sit next to her. The girls were close in age and had become best friends.
By four they were loading the food onto the table. There was a mix of Romanian and American foods. They fixed the older kids plates then passed the food around for the adults.
By the time they were done eating everyone was stuffed. They cleaned up then took the kids out to the beach for their egg hunt.
"Good thing we got extra baskets and eggs." Said Kensi. With this family no one knew when they would all be together or not.
Micha and Vlad had been in charge of setting up the eggs. The beach looked funny with little colored eggs everywhere.
"Ok here are the rules." Said Kensi as she pulled out the baskets. "You can only collect the color egg that matches your basket." Kensi handed Donny and Anna their baskets first then Cam got one. Nell of course took one smiling like one of the kids. Talia grabbed a basket too. Deeks took one for Lilly and Callen took one for Clara.
"Five bucks says Nell cheats and steals eggs." Said Granger from the deck next to Hetty.
"Ok everyone go have fun." With that everyone ran out onto the sand. Callen and Deeks let the girls pick up their own eggs but pointed out which ones to take. Mac sat down on a beach chair next to Kensi and her mom.
"You ok Mac?" asked Kensi.
"Yeah I think I just ate too much."
Sara and Kensi both looked a bit concerned but didn't say anything.
It took almost an hour to find all the eggs. Lilly toddled up to Kensi holding onto her dads hand with an egg in the other. "Momma." Said Lilly handing Kensi the egg. Kensi opened it and smiled.
"Yes chocolate."
By night fall the kids were all asleep as well as several of the adults. Sara packed up food for everyone to take home. Soon the house was quiet except for Callen and Mac who were still sacked out on the couch.
Mac was sound asleep with her head on Callen's lap.
"She wasn't feeling well after dinner." Said Sara quietly.
"We were planning on staying here tonight hopefully I can get her to stay home tomorrow then."
Sara smiled at them. "I'll take good care of her."
The rest of the evening was quiet one. Sara spent it watching her daughter sleep.