I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS THE NCIS:LA CHARACTERS, ONLY MY OWN.
The kids hurried through breakfast and ran to get dressed. They all came running out with their jackets, cloves, scarves and hats on waiting for Callen as he slowly walked to the closet for his jacket. Marnie laughed as the kids yelled and pushed him towards the door. Callen laughed the entire time, loving every minute of it. After putting his jacket on he ran over to Marnie at the table, kissed her and told her they'd be back in about an hour. She waited a few minutes before she headed in to shower and get dressed. When she walked out of the bathroom, her parents were seated at the table enjoying a cup of coffee.
"I take it Callen took the kids out to play in the snow?" Nick asked.
Marnie smiled. "Yeah he did."
"We had quite a few nasty messages from Karen overnight, did she call you too?"
Marnie laughed and told them about the conversation they had while she poured herself another cup of coffee. All her parents could do was shake their heads. After all, Karen and Paul had made plans not to be at home for Christmas. Were they supposed to stay at home to tend to their animals or wait on the kids hand and foot? Marnie was right had they been invited on this trip, everything would've been done there way. After Marnie sat across from her Mom, Annette asked what Callen had planned for the day. Marnie told her that they were going to be taking the kids to Macy's to see Santa. Annette pulled herself up from the table and slowly walked towards the bedroom to shower and get dressed.
Marnie ordered hot chocolate fifteen minutes before Callen and the kids would be back. Roger was just leaving as they walked up the hall from the elevator. All three kids shivered as they unzipped their jackets and pulled off their hats. Callen unzipped his jacket and greeted Roger with a smile. Marnie was in the midst of pouring three cups of hot chocolate and a cup of coffee when they walked in. All three of the kids ran in the suite telling their mother all about the snow as she grabbed their jackets and headed for the closet.
Callen walked in and stole a kiss as she walked past. "Man it is so cold out there." He said with a smile.
Marnie gave him an odd look. "Of course it is, it's snowing."
Callen followed Marnie to the closet and pushed her in, pulling the door behind him. Quickly, he shoved his cold hands up the back of Marnie's sweater. She yelped and tried to push him off, but stopped when he pressed his lips to hers. Callen pushed her against the back wall and held her tight.
"You ready to go see Santa?" He asked with a devious grin.
"Oh, that's what you call him?" She laughed looking down at the growing bulge in his pants.
Callen stopped and gave her a perplexed look. "What?" He asked and thought about what she'd said. When he'd repeated it several times in his head, he began laughing. "No, good grief Marnie."
She gave him a shy smile. "I'm joking. I know what you meant." She laughed as she kicked the door open to find her father standing there smiling at them. "Hey Dad." Marnie giggled nervously.
"Marnie, Callen." He nodded. "Would you like your Mom and me to take the kids out for a while so you can have some time to yourselves?"
"No Dad." Marnie said turning as red as the sweater she wore. "Callen was just showing me how cold his hands were."
Nick chuckled. "Really, that's what they call it now-a-days. Back in my day they called it making out. Although I do tend to forget that's how you two met." Marnie ducked her head as she slid the kid's coats on hangers. Embarrassed, she slipped past Callen and her father and went to the dining room to check on the kids.
After a quick lunch, they bundled themselves up and headed out into the snow to the van Callen had asked for to take them to Macy's. Marnie was the first to climb out of the van at the department store. She was helping the kids out of the van, Callen looked at her and smiled. Her jacket zipped all the way up with her red scarf wrapped around her neck. Little flakes of snow drifted down and stuck to her hair. He'd never seen her look more beautiful as he reached over and brushed the snow from her hair.
Marnie looked up at him with a warm smile. "You had some snow in your hair." He told her.
She took his hand, leaned over Avery and kissed him softly. "Well, thank you."
"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" He asked as Avery looked up them.
Avery giggled and took both of their hands, pulling them towards the entrance. The store was packed full of people. Signs hung from the ceiling, arrows directing customers to various departments. As soon as Avery saw the sign for Santa, she drug them behind her. The line was long and Avery stopped at the end of it. Nick, Annette and the older two kids followed behind. Callen turned around and suggested Nick and Annette find someplace to sit down and that he'd have one of the kids come get them when they got closer to the man himself.
Avery was excited and antsy. Shuffling from foot to foot, she complained about how long it was taking and how bad her feet hurt her. Finally, Callen picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. She squealed for joy as they stepped closer and closer to Santa. Finally two hours later, they were five groups back. Marnie handed Callie her phone and asked if she could call Nick and Annette to find out where they were. Within ten minutes, they were next in line. Nick and Annette walked up the exit just as the previous family exited.
Santa waved at Avery and within seconds, she had twisted her way off Callen's shoulder and ran to him. Marnie noticed his beard was real and pointed it out to Callen. "Well hello Avery, how are you today?" Santa said with a gently, yet firm voice.
Avery's eyes went wide as she looked back at Marnie and Callen. "Did you do this?" Marnie whispered to Callen.
"Hello Santa." Avery said suddenly shy as she took baby steps towards him. Callen shook his head.
"Did you enjoy playing in the snow this morning?" Santa asked her.
Avery nodded hesitantly. "I did. We don't get snow where we live."
"Yes, that right." Santa said with a smile. "In your part of Southern California it doesn't snow."
Marnie grasped Callen's hand and looked at him before looking at her parent's. "Where are Callie and Alec?" Marnie pulled Callie by the sleeve and pushed her forward. Callie had Alec by the arm and the two stood there dumbfounded. Avery looked back at her brother and sister before she pointed. "Would you like to sit on my lap?"
Slowly Avery nodded and took the steps one at a time, staring intently at Santa the entire time. After looking at Callen and Marnie, he carefully lifted Avery onto his lap. "How do you know my name?"
"I know everything about you, Avery. You forget, I'm Santa Claus." He chuckled jovially. "Now please tell me, Avery what would you like for Christmas? I have just a few days to get it ready for you."
Timidly, Avery looked at her mother and Callen before she put her hand to his ear and whispered to him. As she spoke, he nodded and laughed a few times. With her last request, he sat back thoughtfully and looked at Marnie and Callen. "You do know that may be harder than it sounds, Avery?"
"I know, but Mommy deserves it. I know it's a lot to ask for." She told him with a sad smile.
"I will see what I can do, but please don't be upset if it doesn't happen by Christmas morning. Things like that take time and while I have all the magic in the world to help me, that might be too much even for me." He told her.
Avery nodded and slid off his lap. "Even if it doesn't happen, keep him in our lives. He's good to Mommy and really does like us."
Santa nodded as he gazed at Callen. "Yes, he's a good man." He said as he looked back at Avery. "I will do everything I can. Now, I've got a lot of other children to see before I have to head home and get started on all of their orders. You be a good girl and Merry Christmas."
Avery looked at the three candy canes he held out for her and smiled before she snatched them out of his hand and ran to her brother and sister. "Bye Santa." She waved.
Callen and Marnie started walking towards the exit when Santa called Callen over. Marnie gave them an odd smile before she took Avery's hand and walked away. Callen knelt beside Santa and pulled a small box from his pocket. "Could this have anything to do with what she asked for?" Callen smiled.
The man smiled. "Yes, that has everything to do with part of what she asked for." He said and patted Callen's arm. "Christmas morning by chance?"
"No, the following night at a benefit gala." Callen said.
"Ah, best of luck." Santa said as Callen stood and walked away.
Callen found everyone waiting at the end of the labyrinth exit. Again, Marnie gave him an odd look as he walked up to them and kissed her cheek. "What was that all about?" She asked.
"Nothing." Callen smiled and whisked them towards the door and the surprise he'd promised them.
