Isobel

Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.

Chapter 11

The team's two weeks had nearly come to an end, with only three days remaining before they were due back at the mission. Isobel noticed Callen had improved in spirit and he surprised her by asking her out on a date. She had laughed at his request, as he seemed nervous for some strange reason.

"Why Callen, are you worried I might say no?" Her smile had brought his out and he relaxed a little.

He was nervous, but not that she wouldn't go out on a date with him. It was due to the fact that he wanted to ask her to marry him. He was worried she would say no to that, as he wondered if it was too soon after her losing Simon. He had even asked all four children would it be okay if he married their mom, and he had been nervous that Georgia and Caitlin would say no. But to his surprise, their faces lit up and they both ran into his arms and hugged him. "Yes." They both answered together. They were excited, so it had been hard to settle them so they wouldn't give the surprise away to Isobel. Jack and Sophie had let their younger sisters hug their dad first, they knew it was more important for them to feel like they belonged. Callen outstretched his arms and included all his children into the family hug. He had chosen to take them out for a surfing lesson, when he brought the subject up. It was the best time to get all four of them out of the house and away from Isobel, so she would have no idea of what he was plotting.

"So is that a yes then?" Callen asked her.

"Yes, Callen. I would love to go on a date tonight with you." She had kissed him passionately on his lips to show him how she felt about him.

Callen was taken by surprise by the strength of passion Isobel had put into that kiss. He groaned, he wanted her right then. But he was being a gentleman. He was going to do this right. After all, they had already started doing this the back to front way by having kids before committing themselves together. He had enjoyed the extra time he had recently with Isobel and the children, and it had helped him make his mind up, that the time was now. To make this family of his, legally his. All five of them.

Callen smiled when they had parted from their kiss. "Wow, Issy, if that's what I get for asking you out on a date, what will I get later?"

He was teasing her, and she knew it. Her eyes sparkled, and she breathed softly in his ear. "Let's get going so you can find out." She had kissed him gently on the edge of his ear after she had spoken and moved her lips softly down his jaw and down his neck.

Callen grabbed Isobel on both her arms to move her away slightly. "We'll never get to go on our date if you continue to seduce me, Issy." It was hard to resist her, but he wanted tonight to go to plan, and be just right. She deserved that after all. But that didn't mean Isobel was going to make it easy on him. He had been patient, to ensure she was fully recovered from her ordeal and injuries, but now he could tell Isobel was ready, as she was having trouble keeping herself off him.

"Hmm! Now that sounds alike a plan," she responded. She looked into Callen's ocean blue eyes and got lost in them. His eyes made her melt. They always had that effect on her. "Okay," she surrendered. "I'll get changed. Isobel turned to walk away, but before she could get far, Callen grabbed her again and pinned her against the wall to kiss her deeply again. He needed to taste her again. To make her his. But he had to be patient. So he withdrew.

"Now whose seducing whom?" she asked him. Her eyes were wide open at the fierceness of Callen's kiss. It had been a very long time since Callen had kissed her like that. Oh how she had missed it. Missed him.

"Dinner is at seven-thirty. We'll leave at seven. Okay?" Callen's voice was raspy from desire and his eyes had deepened as well.

All she could do was nod and found she had to steady herself as she walked away. To watch her, one would have thought she was tipsy, but she hadn't had a drink so far that day. She wondered if she should have a shot of rum before she went out for courage, but she decided against it, as she knew it would only make her hormones become unruly and they would never make it out of the door. When she had entered their bedroom, she was surprised to find a red silk dress with spaghetti straps on the right shoulder, and a long split up the right side of the skirt. Beside it was a box, and when she opened it, it took her breath away. Red lace lingerie. "Callen," she breathed. A tear suddenly escaped her eyes and she felt Callen's arms come around her. He kissed her on her neck and shoulder. Isobel turned around to face him. "It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful, Issy." He had only just managed to get the words out before Isobel captured his lips with hers once again.

"Thank you," she whispered in his ear. She stood back and looked into his eyes. They were now a midnight blue from desire. She touched his cheek with her hand. "We're going to be late, aren't we?"

"Uh huh!" Callen responded before raising her leg up to his waist and lifted her off the floor and carried her over the other side of the bed, careful not to crush her dress. He was finding it hard to resist her. He had watched her reactions. First to the dress, and then to the lingerie. He had smiled, but he noticed she was emotional, which is what had led him across the room to wrap his arms around her. Then he pulled back and withdrew. "I'm sorry, Issy. I need to do this right. Later, I promise."

His sudden withdrawal had surprised her. She opened her eyes wide, wondering what he had meant by his words, I need to do this right.

Callen could see her frowning. "It's okay, Issy. We both need to focus and get ready for our date, remember?"

"Um...yes. Our date." She studied him for a moment. He was definitely up to something. It was so unlike Callen to pull back like that, and not just once, but three times. Isobel stood and shoved him out the door and locked it behind her. "You're up to something, Cal, I know you are," she talked to herself. So with that in mind, she showered, curled her hair, put her makeup on, before putting the lingerie and dress on. She chose diamond drop earrings her father had given her when they had first arrived in Los Angeles. "To make up for the ones you lost in Russia," he had told her. She looked at her other jewellery. "Hmm." Isobel looked in the mirror as she held up her choice of necklaces. "Definitely this one." It was a silver dragonfly, with ornate detail that had captured her interest in the jewellers two years ago. Every time she wore this necklace, someone, whether a friend or a stranger on the streets, would stop and admire its detail. Once she had clasped her necklace on, something caught her attention. An antique silver bangle with delicate detail around it. She didn't remember seeing this one before, but it didn't look too unfamiliar. Thinking about it, she realised it must have been one of her mother's. She studied the detail and tried it on. "Perfect fit." She said louder than she anticipated. "Last but not least, shoes. Now which shoes am I going to wear with this dress?" She studied her shoes collection and found what she was needing. Matching red shoes. But she had never seen these shoes before. "Callen. You sneaky thing." She smiled and unlocked the door to find him. It was already seven.

When Isobel descended the stairs, everyone in the house became silent. Alexander looked at his daughter with pride. He knew how beautiful she was, and he was smiling like a doting father as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Hetty entered the parlour and when she saw her daughter, she stopped. She looked at Alexander and she could see his smile spread across his face. She also smiled, and found tears had escaped her eyes, falling freely down her face. Hetty felt a hand settle on her shoulder and turned to see her senior agent smiling at her. "Thank you, Hetty. For bringing my family back to me." He hugged her and continued to walk over to Isobel and her father. Jack, Sophie, Georgia and Caitlin were so awestruck over how beautiful their mom looked, they were frozen on the spot. They watched their dad walk towards her and kiss her hand. He presented her with a beautiful bunch of red roses.

"Enjoy your date," Alex said to them. He turned towards Callen. "I trust you with keeping her safe." He smiled and noticed Callen was very nervous. They all knew what this date was for. Everyone, except for Isobel.

"I will, thank you, Alex." Callen turned to their children and smiled, placing his thumbs up to them and led Isobel out to the car. "Bye."

"Have fun." They all called out to them. Giggles had now erupted from the excitement of what was going to happen tonight. They were going to be a real family. Just thinking of a wedding got the girls all excited.

The drive to the restaurant was a short one from Hetty's house, so Callen knew he had time on the beach for a brief stop before going to Piccolo. The restaurant itself was steps from Venice beach anyway.

"Why are we all dressed up for the beach?" Isobel asked him.

"Take off your shoes." She noticed Callen was doing the same. He grabbed her hand and led her to the water's edge.

"Cal, what are you doing?"

As she turned around she noticed Callen was down on one knee. Oh my goodness, she thought. That's what he's up to. Isobel suddenly became nervous. But not as nervous as Callen was down on one knee.

"Issy. I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. You stole my heart that day, and although I haven't seen you for a long time, a day hasn't passed, that I have not thought about you, or dreamed of you. You have given me a family, one I never thought I would ever have. When I found you again, you were badly hurt. It hurt me here." He pointed to his heart. "To see you treated that way. I want to protect you, Issy. To continue to love you as your husband. To be a good father, not only to our children, but to Georgia and Caitlin as well. I want us to be a real family. Isobel, will you give me the honour of being my wife?"

Isobel shook with emotion, her eyes glistened with tears. A shiver ran up and down her body. She always loved Callen. From that moment they met in Russia, all those years ago, through the birth of their children, her marriage to Simon and to that moment on the beach. "Yes."

Callen stood up beside her and kissed her lips and hugged her. She said yes, he thought over again in his mind. He stared into her green eyes. "I love you, Issy. You bring the sunshine into my day. You warm my soul by being in it with me." Callen pulled a ring out if his pocket. He took her left hand and gently placed it on her ring finger. "Perfect fit." He smiled.

Isobel looked at the ring Callen had chosen for her. Platinum with the most beautiful diamond sticking out from it, held by white gold hands that enveloped around the sides of the diamond. "Wow, Cal, it's beautiful." Now it was Isobel's turn to kiss Callen. But gentle this time. Soft and warm. She teased Callen's lips and all his senses with the gentlest touch of her lips on him. He moaned and she smiled. When he looked at her, her eyes were wide open watching him. She loved seeing the reaction she had on him. Finally after fourteen years, he was going to be hers, and she, his.

"Dinner. We have reservations," Callen finally said.

"Do we have to?" She asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Yes," he answered. "Or I'll never be able to make another booking there ever again." He smiled and she returned it.

"Okay, we can't have that happening."

Callen led Isobel back to the car to put their shoes on and led her on foot to Piccolo.

The food was amazing and he had remembered she loved Italian food. The restaurant was quaint, quiet and romantic. The staff worked smoothly and effectively. "Thanks, Cal, I love this place. I can see why you wanted to bring me here."

Callen smiled. Isobel's cheeks were rosy from the red wine she had drunk. He had one glass, remembering he was to drive to their hotel. Another surprise for Isobel. He had managed to pack a bag each for their night's stay at the Redbury Hotel. After he had paid the check, Callen led Isobel back to the car. He leaned her against the car and tasted her. She tasted so good, especially after Italian food and a good red wine. She knew where this was leading, she just had no idea where. It had been over fourteen years since anything like this had happened between then and she was nervous. But so ready for it. She needed him to love her, to block out what had happened to her a year ago. Wow, was it really a year ago? Realising this, she broke apart. Callen tried to continue to kiss her, but he realised she was not responding.

"What's up, Issy?" he asked her with concern now in his eyes?

"What's the date?"

Callen frowned, he knew where this was heading. "What does it matter, Issy?"

"It's a year, isn't it? Since you found me in Prague."

"Yes." He knew he couldn't lie to her.

Isobel went to move away from Callen to think things through. How did she not notice? She had missed the anniversary of Simon's death.

"Issy, please, what's wrong?"

As she turned to face him, he saw the grief that had suddenly struck her face. "I forgot. I forgot about the anniversary of his death."

"Please, Issy, don't do this to yourself. You nearly died yourself. You weren't expected to remember the date."

"You did though, didn't you?" She shook her head in anger at herself. "How can you want to marry me if I can't remember the anniversary of my last husband's death?"

"Actually, I didn't." His answer surprised her.

"You didn't?"

"No. Too much else going on with dealing with our last case. I'm sorry, Issy, I didn't remember." He gently held her in his arms. "Of course I want to marry you, Issy. You are my light, my sun, my purpose."

She looked back up at him. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Definitely. Now I have another surprise for you. A good one, I promise."

Isobel tilted her head to the side and looked at him. "Yes, I knew you were up to something, earlier. But I thought it was just the proposal. Okay, you have me stumped."

Callen smiled. "You're going to love this one. I know I am."

Callen opened the car door for her. "Get in." He said as he walked around to the driver's side of the car. He drove for about half an hour into the city of Los Angeles. "Now close your eyes."

"How long for?" she asked.

"Not too long."

She did as he asked. She smiled, realising that Callen had managed to soothe her quickly again. He was good for her, real good. And she was glad. Four minutes later, they pulled up beside the Redbury Hotel.

"You can open your eyes now, Issy."

Isobel opened her eyes and looked at the red building next to them. "Wow, Cal, it's beautiful."

"Look at the words on the top of the building."

Callen pointed to where they were. "Home is where the heart is."

Isobel looked at Callen. "Why Callen, I never knew you were such a romantic. Does Sam know this about you?"

Callen laughed. "Only for you, Issy. Only for you. And no. Sam doesn't know, so there's no need to be telling him either."

Now it was Isobel's turn to laugh. "You're too funny, Cal. Seriously! But you know Sam is going to ask how you proposed to me, you know. And how can I not tell Kensi when she asks?"

"Is nothing sacred anymore? I'm doomed."

Isobel laughed again. "Not to mention that the whole evening has a common theme of love, romance and my favourite colour of red."

Callen leaned over to kiss Isobel, when the bus boy opened her door. "Welcome to the Redbury Hotel."

Callen gave him his keys and tip and led Issy inside. Once they had collected their key from reception, they entered the elevator and found themselves alone and wanting. Callen turned towards Isobel and moved her backwards against the wall of the elevator. He gently smothered her with kisses and pressed his hips against hers. This time it was Isobel's turn to moan. The elevator stopped and they exited onto their floor. They were in one of the Hollywood Deluxe Flats. The whole hotel was decorated beautifully with red and gold, with antiques which continued on the love theme.

Callen had hardly shut the door to their suite, when the bus boy came knocking with their bags and a bottle of champaign he had requested. After tipping him, and they knew they weren't going to be disturbed, he continued what they had started in the elevator.