I don't own NCIS Los Angeles! My native language is Dutch and I'm dyslectic so sorry for any mistakes. Thank you for the reviews, alerts and favorites!

A huge happy birthday to secretxlittlexdarling that it may be an awesome one! And for you: a Christmas chapter (because that makes so much sense in April). Have a great day!

Chapter 36

Narah had to smile each time she caught a glimpse of the Christmas tree that was standing in Julia's living room. The lights were bright but warm and the red and gold colors gave it a Christmas feeling. The Christmas songs that were playing helped as well. Julia had asked Narah to sit with her at the dinner table, to plan their Christmas dinner. It had been their first real Christmas as a family of some sort and Julia decided it was the perfect time to celebrate. So they were planning a four-course-menu. Narah loved going through Julia's cookbooks and drool over the delicious looking pictures.

'There is too much to choose from!' Narah exclaimed as she closed another cookbook and took a closer look at her long list of possibilities. Julia smiled.

'It always seems like that in the beginning,' she said. 'But I think we have enough idea to take a closer look at them and match all the courses with each other. So we have to take a look at all the ingredients and see what looks best together.' Narah nodded and started working on her new task, which was harder than it seemed. When she looked up she saw Julia watching her.

'Thank you,' Narah suddenly said and Julia seemed surprised. 'Thank you for taking your time to make this a special Christmas dinner.' Julia put her hand over Narah's hand.

'Of course,' she said. 'I love to plan it with you.' Narah smiled and she turned back to the paper. It took them another fifteen minutes to find all the matching recipes for their Christmas dinner. All that was left was making it on the day itself. Julia had taken dinner for Christmas Eve upon herself, refusing any help from Deeks, Kensi or Narah. And after that hectic days would start as Deeks and Kensi had planned to move in those days, so that Narah could start at her new high school after Christmas Break.

'Oh, Narah, we should get you to Emily,' Julia said, pointing at the clock. 'Otherwise you will be late!'

'Do we have everything?' Kensi asked while Deeks went over their list. They were standing in the middle of the shopping mall, deciding to go for a last minute shopping spree since they had only one more day till Christmas. And they discovered Christmas Eve was definitely not the best day to go shopping.

'I actually believe that we have everything,' Deeks said with a smile, happy to get out of the mall. 'We did get the Christmas napkins your mother asked for and we got the last minute presents, so I think we're good.' Kensi smiled as well and they made their way towards the exit. Both took deep breath when they got outside into the fresh air.

'Next year we will have to plan this better,' Kensi smiled and Deeks nodded.

'Let's get something to drink before we go home,' he said and he pointed at a café. 'It has been a long time since it was just the two of us.' Kensi nodded and he gave her a quick kiss. They were lucky and could even get a seat outside. Dropping their bags next to them, they took a seat and watched hurried people pass by. Deeks took this moment to look at Kensi as well. To just take in her sight.

'I love you,' he said to her as he leaned closer to her. Kensi smiled and she kissed him.

'I love you too,' she replied. Deeks gave her another kiss and pulled away when the waiter came to take their order.

'Happy Christmas Eve!' Emily greeted Narah happily and the girls hugged each other. Ming and Ivan had already arrived and were waiting to greet and hug her as well. Julia quickly said her goodbyes and left the friends alone.

'Mom! We'll be in my room!' Emily yelled to her mother, who was working in the kitchen. 'Could you please bring some drinks later?' Without waiting for her mother's reply, Emily ran upstairs, dragging her friends along.

'And we are together again,' Ivan smiled. 'The Mighty Four.' All of them started to smile but Narah had to fake it. The Mighty Four weren't four for long. Soon it would just be the Mighty Three. Of course it was Ivan who noticed something was off and he gave her a glance.

'I'm fine...I just have something to tell,' Narah said and Ming and Emily's heads turned to her as well. 'As you know we bought a house...and as Ivan already knows...'

'Ivan always knows everything about you,' Emily interrupted, getting a harsh glare from Ming so that Narah could continue.

'As I said...we bought a house in a new neighborhood...and for me to get to our school...it would take about an hour...so Deeks, Kensi and I have been looking at new schools...and after Christmas Break I will start at a new high school...' Emily and Ming looked shocked at her.

'You are leaving us at the start of high school?' Emily managed to say. 'But...it would be the Mighty Four who would survive high school together...no matter what.' Narah slowly nodded. She remembered that promise. But she also didn't want to miss out on her new life, even if that meant giving up her current high school.

'Okay, it will suck,' Ivan said. 'But it's not like we will never see each other ever again! And it's a great opportunity for Narah...I mean she will go to a real high school.'

'Will your personal body guard be there with you twenty four seven as well?' Ming asked and Narah nodded. She glanced out of the window where Agent Gomez' car was parked.

'She never ever leaves me alone,' she sighed. 'She will even be there with Christmas!'

'Mentioning Christmas...' Emily said enthusiastically and she reached in a drawer, grabbing three presents. 'Our annual Christmas celebration...because that is why we are here of course!' Ivan, Ming and Narah grabbed their presents as well, putting them on the bed. As they unwrapped their presents, talking and laughing, Narah was happy to be with her friends. And she realized how much she would miss not spending every day with them.

When Narah came back home, she immediately saw Deeks and she saw Julia in the kitchen but she didn't see Kensi. She looked at Deeks who shook his head very faintly.

'Give her some time,' he told her. 'She will join us soon.' Narah nodded understanding and walked towards the kitchen, only to be stopped by Julia.

'Not yet,' she smiled. 'You will get to see dinner, when we will eat dinner.' Narah chuckled.

'But I can smell the pancakes,' she said and Julia raised her eyebrows. Narah threw her hands up. 'Alright, I will go...sit on the couch.' Deeks smiled at her and gestured her to sit next to him. So she did.

'Tell me: how was Christmas with your friends?' he asked.

'It was great!' Narah said enthusiastically. 'We exchanged presents and they got me great things!' She grabbed the big plastic bag that was standing next to the couch and showed Deeks her present with a big smile on her face. 'They actually worked perfectly together, without me noticing.' Deeks looked closely at the big photo collage that her friends had made. He loved seeing the pictures of little Narah. He never had seen much of them. Narah started to point enthusiastically at all the pictures and telling the stories behind it. She only stopped when Kensi walked down the stairs. She watch her closely as she walked inside and Kensi gave her a little reassuring smile, telling that she was okay. She sat down next to Deeks, who gave her a quick kiss.

'Okay ladies and gentleman,' Julia smiled while she walked into the living room. 'Dinner will be served, so if you could join me at the table.'

Their bellies were completely filled with delicious pancakes and they had plumped down on the couch. Julia had put on some Christmas movie. Half way through the movie Narah had fallen asleep, her head resting on Kensi's lap and her legs over Deeks' lap. Deeks and Kensi were holding hands and they were perfectly content sitting like that.

'You should get her to bed,' Julia whispered. Kensi looked down at the girl, who was sleeping so peacefully and she didn't want to wake her up.

'We can sit like this a little longer,' she replied and Julia smiled. She stood up and gave Deeks and Kensi both a kiss on their cheeks.

'I will see you tomorrow morning to unwrap the Christmas presents,' she said and she walked upstairs. Deeks stroked Kensi's hair, getting her attention. He smiled at her and she gave him a kiss.

'Seems like we're a happy family,' he whispered.

'We are a happy family,' Kensi corrected and then Agent Finley decided to walk into the living room. He seemed embarrassed and was about to walk again when Deeks stopped him.

'Is there something, agent Finley?' he asked. Agent Finley shook his head.

'I just wanted to see that everything seemed calm outside,' he reported. 'That the criminals were probably celebrating Christmas Eve as well. Just so you know before you go to sleep...'

'Thank you,' Kensi said and agent Finley gave her a quick nod before hurrying off.

'He is a little strange,' Deeks said and Kensi laughed.

'Well, apparently he is the best,' she replied. 'Since Hetty sent him.'

'Oh I would never doubt Hetty's judgment,' Deeks smiled. Narah stirred and looked up with sleepy eyes.

'I don't think that would be wise either,' she said sleepily and the three of them laughed.

'Merry Christmas,' Narah whispered in Deeks' ear and he slowly woke up. He groaned when he saw the time and Narah laughed. She moved over to Kensi, who was sleeping on the couch in the guest bedroom and did the same. Kensi groaned even more annoyed when she woke up and Narah had a hard time not bursting into laughter.

'Aren't only young children supposed to wake up early on Christmas morning?' Kensi mumbled.

'No, all children,' Narah laughed. 'Can you get up? Julia has coffee ready...and the rest of breakfast...but it seems like you two need coffee.'

'That's what happens when you wake us up at seven a.m.,' Deeks said but he made movement towards getting out of bed, giving a little wince when muscles didn't seem to like the plan. Narah grabbed his hands and pulled him up.

'You're starting to become an old man,' she joked and Kensi started to laugh.

'Don't you start,' Deeks replied. 'You have been sleeping on a couch for a week! You will feel it even more.' To prove the contrary Kensi got off the couch without out any problems and held her arms up.

'Nope, Deeks, you're just getting old,' she told him. She then took a few steps closer and gave him a kiss. 'Merry Christmas.'

'Merry Christmas,' he smiled and he kissed her again. Narah gave a little cough, just to make sure they weren't forgetting her and she immediately got pulled into a hug.

'Merry Christmas,' she said as she put her arms around both Deeks and Kensi.

Julia had been busy in the morning, even though it was still early, and had put all the presents underneath the Christmas tree. She had also hung up and filled their stockings. Narah absolutely acted like a young child, storming to the stockings right away.

'They even have our names on them!' she exclaimed enthusiastically as she held up her own. Deeks, Julia and Kensi watched her with big smiles on their faces. For Narah this would be her very first real Christmas and they had tried their best to make it a Christmas she would remember for the rest of her life. Deeks quickly took a few pictures of Narah, in her pajamas, holding her stocking.

'Shall we go to the presents?' Julia asked and the four of them moved towards the Christmas tree and all the presents. It was clear that this would be a year for Narah that she would get spoiled. But no one minded. The teenager deserved a special Christmas for once. Besides, Julia had decided to spoil every one of them with many presents. After unwrapping several presents, Kensi got up and walked out of the room. Deeks, Julia and Narah shared some glances.

'Where did she go?' Narah was the one who asked the question they were all thinking. 'Is she okay? Should we...' Kensi already came walking back into the room, holding a present in her hands.

'I almost forgot this one,' she said and she handed it to Narah. 'It's not from me...and if I tell you who gave it to you, you might not want it...but I think it's worth opening it.' Narah stared at the presents in her hands and only one name came to her mind: Alice. And indeed she was wondering if she wanted to open it. She glanced up at Deeks, Kensi and Julia, who were all waiting for her to open it. Looking at them, she put the present beside her.

'I will open it later,' she said and Kensi gave her a nod.

'How did a present from Alice end up in the hands of our daughter?' Deeks asked Kensi later that day when Narah and Julia were in the kitchen preparing their family Christmas dinner.

'She had sent it to my place,' Kensi answered him. 'She knew it from that one time she visited Narah...and I picked it up there when I was packing the last few things there. There was a note with it, asking me to give this to Narah. That it might be important and meaningful for Narah to have...I didn't think it would do any harm to give her the present.' Deeks put his arms around her and gave her a kiss.

'It won't,' he said. 'But you could have told me that Alice sent it to you.'

'Oh, with everything going on, it might have slipped my mind,' Kensi said. She took a deep breath when she saw Deeks' raised eyebrows. 'I might have been a little worried that you would not approve of Alice giving Narah a present...on Christmas...' Deeks pulled her closer.

'We can't deny Alice,' he said. 'She is Narah's mother, even if Narah wants nothing to do with her...and she gave us...well, you the choice to give it to Narah. Plus, if it could be meaningful to Narah, why would I not approve of it?' Kensi leaned more into him and kissed him.

'You're a good guy,' she said in a soft tone. 'I am lucky to have you...I love you.' Deeks kissed her back.

'I love you too,' he replied. 'Are you okay? You seem a little down.' Kensi sighed.

'Nothing to worry about today,' she told him and Deeks gave her a nod.

Narah had snuck off into the garden after finishing most of the preparations for dinner. In her hands was Alice's Christmas present. She wanted to be on her own when she opened it so that she could show all the emotions she wanted. Alice wouldn't send this without a reason. Not when it was Christmas. She noticed her hands were shaking and she felt a knot in her stomach. Maybe she didn't want to do this on her own. Turning back to the house, she saw Deeks and Kensi on the couch, cuddling and talking, and Julia standing in the kitchen. Then she took out her phone and dialed the most familiar number. She smiled when she heard Ivan's voice through the phone.

'Merry Christmas, sister.'

'Merry Christmas, brother.'

'Tell me, Narah, why are you calling me on Christmas Day when you should be celebrating it with your new family? Did it turn out that they are not the holiday people?' Narah glanced at the present in her hand. 'Narah? Everything okay?'

'Alice sent me a present...and with it a letter...'

'So, what did it say? Are you okay? Should I come over?'

'I haven't read it yet.' It stayed silent on the other side of the line but Narah knew Ivan had not hung up on her. He never hung up on her.

'Open it. I will be right here when you read it.' Narah sat down in the grass, putting the present beside her. She looked at the letter, wondering what would be written inside. Wondering if it was something she wanted to read. She put the phone on speaker and put it beside her, on top of the present. With shaking hands she opened the envelope.

'Dear Narah,' she started to read out loud, her voice shaking. 'Merry Christmas to you. I hope you can celebrate on this day. That it's a day of joy. I had this gift for many years. Always keeping it to myself. But when I saw you...you were this beautiful girl. In you I see your father...I could no longer keep it. Seven years ago I made the mistake of walking away from you. A mistake I cannot take back. You are happy now. I could see that. But I have to give you this. Your father would have wanted that you got it in the end. I accept that you no longer want to see me. It's your happiness I care about. I might have never shown it, but I love you, Narah. I hope you keep growing into this amazing woman I know you can be. You're only the best of your father and I. Love, your mother.' She read the letter in silence one more. Soaking up the words that were written on the little piece of paper. Putting the letter on her lap she took the present in her hands. It was a small box. She took off the ribbon and she opened it. Seeing the contents she gasped.

'What is it, Narah?' Ivan's voice remembered her she was not sitting here alone. She tried to find the words to tell him what her mother had given her. Carefully she reached inside the small box and pulled out the ring. A necklace was attached to it. She let her thumb glide over the smooth surface of the ring, until she reached the engraving. Tears formed in her eyes when she saw it. She remembered the ring, she remembered the finger it belonged to and she remembered what the meaning was of the ring. Slowly she closed her eyes as she held the ring close to her heart and just cried. Our Precious.

TBC.