AN: Yes, I had to delete and re-post this because part of it was missing. Please forgive me I have been up nearly 24hrs and honestly shouldn't be posting this until I've proofed it with some sleep.
Dis: I own none of this.
"Nate we need to talk." Kensi knew those words always set off warning alarms in man's head but she couldn't think of any other way to put it.
The point was moot anyhow; Nate kept staring at the television as if she had never opened her mouth. It was funny how he could hear anything, in what seemed like two-hundred feet, at work but sitting here at home he didn't have a clue that his girl friend was try to get his attention.
"Alright, have it your way Bucko." Swift as a cobra strike Kensi had grabbed the remote control and shut the t.v. off. As she expected Nate's attention immediately switched to her.
"I was watching that." He stated as if he expected that to somehow change what she had done.
"Nate, your mother will be here in morning, and we're expected at my mom's by ten." Kensi could feel her blood pressure rising. She could tell just by looking at Nate that he was avoiding the inevitable conflict that was in front of them.
"What are we going to do?" She asked. The arrival of Nate's mom hadn't been in the plans. He had spoken to her on the phone a couple of weeks ago and explained that he already had plans for the Holidays and wouldn't be home. Nate had been grateful for the excuse not to go home for the holidays, or worse have his mother come to him for several reasons. The simplest way to put it was that his mother was overbearing.
Nate shrugged and had the sense to dodge when Kensi took a swing at him out of frustration.
"Hey, ok, ok. I talked to your mom last night; she called to make sure of what time we would be arriving, she said to just bring my mother with us. I explained that my mom is like Danny Tanner meets Martha Stewart hocked up on Mr. Clean but your mom seemed perfectly fine with that." His cheeky grin earned him another swat on the arm. Which evidently had been the plan as he took the hit and grabbed for the remote effectively pulling Kensi into his lap.
Neither ever discussed how a fully trained federal agent would always end up pinned down on the couch after a wrestling match for the remote; but it never seemed to fail, Kensi would end up at Nate's mercy breathless on her back. However Nate knew good and well that he was the one defeated (if not willingly so) because even with the remote control in hand he never did get back to whatever program had been interrupted. Indeed the man who had invented TiVo had to have a great love life as well.
Christmas morning arrived and Nate was giddy, but not for the same reason many children around the world were. Putting his secret, yet very much, girlfriend and mother in a truck together worried him a little, but even more niggling was the fact that this was only his second time spending any time with Kensi's family and this time he would be meeting the whole family plus bringing his mother along. His mother, who always made habit of embarrassing him with baby stories, nagging about what she believed to be his lack of love life and what she felt to be his shortcomings,. The last would usually end in a hysteric tirade about how she prayed he wouldn't end up like his (nonexistent) father. Of course half a bottle of wine or a few glasses of eggnog were usually ingested before this display of hysterics.
Nate couldn't help but wonder how she would get on with Kensi's mom who was a widowed cougar of sorts. Or was it barracuda that Kensi had used? Either way her mom had the habit of dating men about Kensi's age, usually owning a uniform, who needed saving of some sort. Kensi didn't seem too distressed by the knowledge, after all her mom had been a marine wife for nearly twenty years before her father's death. He really liked her mom; it was about the only time he could get one up on Kensi when it came to wit and sarcasm. It was fun to watch Kensi blush for a change.
When his mom arrived the truck was already loaded, luggage in the bed, gifts on the back passenger side of the Dakota. Kensi had offered to ride in back with the gifts so that Nate could catch up with his mom, but she insisted that the kids ride up front together. He wasn't to amazed when the two women talked the whole way about holidays past, baking goods, shopping habits and many other things that were considered 'feminine'. It was a side of Kensi that he had rapidly gotten use to, along with the concept that she was just as human as he and had many of the same bodily functions. Yes, his girlfriend was defiantly equal parts, tomboy, federal agent and lady. He had learned that she could easily burp the alphabet backwards the same day he learned not to slaughter her more than twice in a row in Halo without being ready for the violent temper tantrum that would follow (evidently no federal agent liked being out gunned by a psychologist as Sam had much the same reaction at last year's Christmas party.) he had also learned quickly that she loved hearing how good she looked in something, as well as out of it, and not just seeing it said with his eyes and grin. Thinking over these things made him smile and gave him inner warmth with the thought that no matter what came of today he would be just fine with Kensi by his side.
A hug to Kensi's mom, introductions to several cousins and their large brood later and Nate found himself doing what he did best, standing in a corner with a cup of coffee watching the people around him interact. He had long ago learned that the best way for him to become social adapted to a situation was to stand and watch waiting for someone to approach him. The football game was on across the room, Nate had not a clue who was playing but it never took long for the trashing of football teams to wear off and the subject of the upcoming baseball season to come around.
"Hey Kenz said you're a baseball fanatic." The 'Dale Jr. Wannabe' cousin with too many females in his house tossed at him.
"A little." Before Nate knew it he had been pulled into a small debate about which team was better than which, who shouldn't have been traded up the previous season and which teams stood a fighting chance before season even started.
When he noticed Kensi standing in the door way of the kitchen he wondered how long she had been standing there smirking at him. He leaned against a wall listening to an uncle and a couple more cousins discuss the high school sports team. She had managed to capture his full attention until one of the older kids thumped him in the arm.
"Did your mom really make you wear that tutu for Halloween?" Nate must have looked shell shocked and horrified. "She has it up on facebook in there." The ten or so year old pointed behind Kensi who was now looking concerned by the expression on his face.
A few brisk strides and he was past Kensi and into the kitchen where he found his mom sitting at a little breakfast nook with a laptop giving running commentary and captions to a whole portfolio of pictures of his childhood, adolescence and even some from his college years.
"Mom!" That one word and his shocked exasperated tone said it all. Yet it never seemed to work. Nate wasn't sure which was worse; the look of pity and sympathy that Kensi's mom was giving him, the look of mirth on her cousins' faces or the innocent 'what has you so worked up' expression his own mother's face.
"Oh come on Nathanial, it's not like you're sky-clad in any of these, they consider those to be child pornography these days. Such a sad society we live in." Ms. Getz tisked leaving Nate to shake his head as Kensi squeezed his wrist trying to shift his attention.
"Come on, let's go for a walk. You two don't need to be going rounds before dinner." Kensi tugged on his wrist again and for the sake of the cranberry sauce he allowed himself to be drug into pleasant sixty-five degree San Diego afternoon.
"I think, when we get home, that I will find a way to force Facebook to remove all of those photos. There has to be a law against that, against people like her!"
"Like what? Mothers? You think my mom hasn't done the same?" Kensi asked arching an eyebrow.
"Funny, I didn't see any photos of you being forced to dress as the tooth fairy anywhere." As childish as it was he plopped down under the nearest tree, arms crossed against his chest. The least she could do was pretend to take his side.
"You're right, but my mom hasn't presented the old Christmas videos yet. Every year I have to live through a walk down memory lane and it never fails that the whole house cracks up when I have a solo of the second verse of Silent Night and my voice …. My voice squeaks." Nate looked up into her eyes. She looked as venerable as he felt, the look in her eyes was sincere and nothing like the glint that came to Hetty's eyes when she told one of her grand tales about her adventures with famous (old) men. He tugged her hand gently guiding her into his lap, her back against him, head resting gently under his chin. She settled and sighed closing her eyes.
After a short comfortable silence he asked, "So is that why you go quiet the moment you realize that I've noticed you singing to the radio?" He watched her fidget, entwining and un-entwining their fingers.
"No, you just leave me breathless when you look at me like that." Her confession, however much of a diversion it was, was surprising and tender. Nate shifted her in his lap to easily take possession of her mouth. His conquest of her mouth and other areas was rudely interrupted by a Frisbee clink against the tree above his head.
"Kensi and Nate sitting under a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.-" The little monster didn't get to finish as Kensi viciously hurled the plastic disk back in her direction.
"You won't live to get your first kiss at that rate twerp." The ensuing chase gave way to a game of Frisbee golf which lasted until they were called for dinner.
"So how many do you plan on having?" Mr. Nascar – Jason, bumped his shoulder inclined his head to his middle daughter and asked him.
Nate stopped mid-stride. Children, of his own, the thought while not completely foreign wasn't something at the forefront of his mind. Naturally Nate looked to Kensi only to find her eyes searching him for an answer.
"Uh." Oh great as if praying that his mother wouldn't breach the subject hadn't been tough enough, now he was on the fryer by her family.
"Careful, that's how I got the first two, the other three came after the words 'no more'." Jason teased
Kensi bumped into him going through the door.
"You're not off the hook." She whispered with a wink. He knew she didn't miss the hard swallow he took at that, his heart still not leaving his throat to return to his chest.
By the time gifts had been opened, which was traditionally done about eight pm in the Blye house hold, Kensi was half dead in Nate's arms curled up on one end of the couch. The better part of the evening had been spent sharing stories of the past year, eating way to much food and saving one and other from too much embarrassment.
That went out the door when room assignments were given. Kensi had fully expected to have her old room, with Nate. However what she found was that she had her old room to herself. That Nate would be bunking with none other than his mother. She quickly pulled her mom aside to figure out what gave.
"Look Hun, that was my plan. You know full well that I know you are a grown woman and can handle yourself and your virtue, however your boyfriend's mother seemed more than affronted that I would possible risk tarnishing your good name by rooming you with a young man whom you are not wed to."
Kensi was ready to blow a gasket. She didn't have to say anything for Nate to know that his mother had been the cause for the change in rooming.
"Mother you didn't!" Nate hissed standing next to her.
"I didn't what?" Her fake 'innocent' annoyed him more than her honestly clueless one.
"Kensi and I will be sharing a room. You knew this before coming with us. I will not be treated like a small child." Nate could feel his temper rising with each word he spoke. He had avoided too much contact with her all day because of this, because she had the tendency to try and control, manipulate and dictate his life to him. He wouldn't stand by and let it happen in front of Kensi's family. He loved his mom, and wanted to give her due respect but times like this he lost all respect for her.
The resulting argument didn't settle down until Kensi stepped in. Nate paced the room once everything was said and done. He knew the drive home would be a very somber one. Kensi had backed him, his mom had fussed and fumed that he had made her feel less than welcome the time. Kensi's mom had finally sent everyone to bed but Kensi stayed up to take a shower. Nate hadn't intended to but he over heard a conversation between Kensi and her mother.
"Are you sure you want to face that every Holiday?" her mom asked slightly with a concerned voice.
"Mom, I'm keeping Nate as long as he'll have me. You know honestly I was surprised our family behaved as well as they did." Nate could hear the suspicion in her voice.
"Your Uncle Jehct and Jason deiced that your father would have approved of him." there was a small pause. "And I agree. I haven't seen you this happy and relaxed since your father died. Go on, get to bed."
Once Kensi finally entered the room, her hair still wrapped in a towel Nate made her take a seat on the edge of the bed. She hadn't said anything all night about it, but he knew that she had noticed that there had been a gift missing from under the tree. He had told her had the trip to Lake Tahoe had been part of her Christmas present too. She hadn't complained after all the repairs to Hetty's Jag had set him back a little too. Still he could tell that the simple silver chain she had unwrapped had left her slightly disappointed. He loved that about her, despite her impulsive nature she seemed to know when to watch and wait.
Now that he had his chance, all words failed him. All except ones that he had heard her say just a bit ago.
"So you really do think I'm worth keeping?" He asked. A soft smile on his face as she realized where the words were repeated from.
"Yes. I'll even take your mother if it means having you." She teased.
"Then here, you're going to need this." He tossed her a box wrapped in silver with a blue ribbon tying it shut.
"Nate is this?" Kensi looked at the intricately designed ring inside of the box.
"It is a Celtic promise ring. Gra geal mo chroi: it means 'Love of My Heart.' I know with your line of work you can't wear a ring giving away such information, which is what the chain is for."
After the last month Nate was getting use to the sort of silence that followed his little speech. Kensi wasn't one to cry and once again he had her on the verge of tears.
After a passionate acceptance of her gift Nate made Kensi promise not to leave the room. After what Sam and G had put him through just because they thought he had made Kensi cry he didn't want to even imagine what her family would do to him.
It had defiantly been a Merry Christmas.
AN: Yeah, so that isn't an official proposal, it's just his way of stating that he 'really really' wants to keep her. Errmm... so write me if you wanna see the ring. Thanks for all of the subscriptions, favorites and reviews! (especially the reviews!)
To answer the question of an unregistered reviewer. No, I've never been to CA (never made it west of the Kansas border) but the online tour guide for the NW shore of Lake Tahoe is beautiful.
Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'm not sure if I'll get in another chapter before Tuesday's episode. This chapter got away from me a bit. Nate's mom, while I have a clear image of her in my head, well thinking antics she would pull was kind of hard to write out.
That reminds me. seems to be having some major latency issues with their alerts system. So please make sure you haven't missed any chapters!