A/N: A sequel to Just Breathe. Becky is still working at the hospital as a doctor during the pandemic. Story about how their family handled the pandemic. Hope you enjoy it. I don't own any of the characters of NCISLA. I just own my OC's.
It had been about nine years ago since Callen and Rebecca became parents to the twins Maddison 'Maddie' and Cassidy 'Cassie'. They had also gotten a little boy in the meantime. He was now six years old. His name was Oliver 'Ollie' and he was the spitting image of his dad. He looked so much like Callen when he was younger with his blond hair and bright blue eyes. After Ollie was born they had moved to another house where the twins each had their own bedroom as well. They now lived in Sherman Oaks, Fulton Avenue to be exact. It was a two story house with a driveway and garage. When you came in the stairs leading up to the first floor where right in front with a big open space up to the roof. In front on the left side of the door was a sitting area with a big couch, a few chairs, small tables and a big TV above the fireplace. Behind the sitting area was a play room for the kids. On the right side was the garage. At the back of the house was a big open kitchen with an island and dining area and pantry. Downstairs they also had a toilet. Through the double doors at the back of the house you could go into the spacious backyard. The part right behind the house was covered like a porch and tiled. The rest of the backyard had grass and several plants and bushes. On the grass stood a big playset for the kids with a swing and a slide. They had a big tree in the back so Callen and Sam had built a treehouse there for the kids. The kids loved it up there. The master bedroom was above the garage with adjoining bathroom. The bedroom had a big queen-sized bed, two nightstands, a dresser and a walk-in closet. The master bathroom featured a walk-in shower and separate tub, a toilet and a double vanity. The other bedrooms were a bit smaller and had a closet build into the wall. There was another bathroom which had a tub and shower in one, a toilet and a vanity. The twins each had a bedroom at the left of the house and Ollie slept in the room across from his parents. Maddie and Cassie each had a single bed with nightstand, a small desk with chair and a bookcase in their room as well as a few toys which included a big doll house that Callen and Sam had made together for the twins sixth birthday. It was about three feet high with three floors and several rooms. The beds of the girls were both princess themed with a canopy over it. Ollie's room also featured a single bed, which was in the shape of a car, a nightstand, a small desk and bookcase. Around his room lay several toys. For his sixth birthday Callen had built him, together with Sam, the front of a pirate ship. The pirate ship stood against the wall and with a small step you could get on it and there was a rudder. They all really enjoyed living here. There was a school nearby which the kids attended and also room for the kids to play safely outside in a park.
The house they now lived it was about a thirty minute drive for Callen to work so he could take several different routes from and to work. Becky still worked at the hospital. She was still working in the ER as a trauma surgeon. But lately a lot at the hospital changed. On top of the normal cases they got they now also had to deal with a global pandemic. The pandemic had officially broke about a week ago and every day they saw more and more people coming into the hospital with covid symptoms. First they thought it was just a flu pandemic or something but it was now more serious. People everywhere were starting to work from home if possible and a lot of places had extra health and safety rules that the government had implanted. The doctors also had to wear extra protection. Always a sterile gown, gloves and a hazmat like oxygen mask. They were just handed their own masks when the chief stepped into the attendings' lounge for a morning brief.
"Good morning everyone," Chief Weaver addressed the attendings. "I know the last couple of weeks haven't been easy and they only suspect it's gonna get worse which means more patients with covid symptoms. Other not necessary procedures are being halted for the time being. Even if it's not your area of expertise, probably everyone will be dealing with covid patients and help out where needed. I know some of you are concerned about this pandemic and worried about your home front. I get that, we are in direct contact with covid patients and you don't want to infect your loved ones. So together with the board we have arranged a place where you can stay for the time being. With the hotel next door we arranged several rooms become available for our staff should they wish it. Now since there are only a select amount of rooms available it will only be for those who live with others in their home. If you are interested in this please let me know as soon as possible so I can book you in for 'Club Med' as we call it. Be safe everyone and think of the hygiene precautions. And if there's anything on your mind, my door is always open."
The chief left and everyone got started on their day. Becky had been thinking about renting a hotel room or something. She didn't want to possibly infect Callen or the kids or that they perhaps would infect her. At home she kept as much distance to Callen and the kids as she could and she wore a mouth mask. She hadn't slept in her own bed for a while now and as long as this pandemic was going on she probably wouldn't. She put it to the back of her mind for now and would discuss it with Callen when she got home.
..
Just past 6pm Becky arrived back at home.
"Hey guys," Becky greeted as she walked into the house after putting her mouth mask on.
"Hey mom," came the response from the kids who were in the play room.
"Had a good day at school?"
"Yes we did," Maddie, Cassie and Ollie replied.
"Good."
Becky walked into the kitchen where Callen was making dinner.
"Hey honey," Becky greeted her husband.
"Hey honey. How was work?"
"It was okay. More covid patients came in."
"That sucks."
"Yeah, I think it'll be a while before this is over. This is not just some flu pandemic that maybe lasts a month or so."
Once dinner was ready Callen and the kids sat at the table while Becky sat the kitchen island.
"Mommy?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah sweetie?"
"When are you having dinner with us again?"
"I think it'll be a while Cassie."
Callen and Becky tried to explain it to the kids what was going on in the world but it was hard for them to understand some things.
"But you're not sick right?"
"No I'm not. But mommy works in the hospital with sick people and especially now in this pandemic mommy has to be extra careful. Mommy doesn't want to make you guys sick or that you perhaps catch it at school or something and then make mommy sick and then mommy could make other people at the hospital sick."
"When will this be over?"
"Oh I don't know. Is it pretty bad so it can be a while, maybe months."
After dinner Callen helped the kids with their homework as Becky cleaned up after dinner.
Just after 8pm all the kids were up in bed. Becky was just getting some laundry started when Callen came back downstairs. Callen walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"G, what are you doing?"
"Just hugging my wife," Callen replied as he nuzzled his face in her neck.
"Yeah I get that but why?" Becky replied as she got out of Callen's embrace.
"Because I miss you. I know you're around but it's not the same."
"I get that honey and I miss you too but I can't take the risk. You know that, we talked about that."
"Yeah I know," Callen spoke with a sigh. "But that doesn't mean that I like it."
"I know honey, which is why I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh yeah, what?" Callen spoke as they walked back out into the kitchen.
"Our chief today made us an offer that if we wanted we could stay in the hotel next to the hospital. It's for those who have a family at home. So in that case we can't infect the people close to us and they can't infect us."
"So you want to move out of the house?!" Callen reacted slightly annoyed.
"Just for the time being. I just can't live with myself if I would infect you or the kids."
"So you're just gonna leave me along with the kids?!"
"Just until the worst part of the pandemic is over."
"But you said it yourself, it can takes months! I've got my work too."
"Yes I know. But I deal with sick patients every day and we see more and more covid patients coming into the ER. We take precautions at work but I can always get infected or that you guys get infected."
"Fine, just leave. You weren't around much the last few weeks away!" Callen yelled angrily and walked out of the kitchen.
The way Callen said those last few words really stung her. She didn't want to be away from her family but it was what she thought was best for now. She just wished Callen would see her side of it. She knew it would be hard for him with his work and that he could get called away as well. But it wasn't like she wouldn't be available, she would still be here and they could always chat via video call or something. And if Callen really had to go away for work she could perhaps come home for a day or so or someone could watch the kids.
After giving Callen some time to cool off Becky when to find him. She found him upstairs in their bedroom.
"I'm sorry honey, the last thing I want to do is hurt you," Becky told him.
"I'm sorry too honey. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It's just, I love you and I don't wanna be away from you for that long. At least when you're home I can see you every day and talk to you."
"We can still do that. It's not like I'm off in a war zone or anything where I don't have cell service."
"I know, but it won't be the same. And who's gonna help me with the kids?"
"I can still help out remotely. And we've got our nanny Jill. We'll figure it out."
"It's not gonna be easy."
"No it won't. But I'm sure we can make it work. And if there's really an emergency I will be nearby. But for now I really think it's best this way."
"Yeah I get that you're worried about you or us getting infected. I will miss you terribly but if you really think this is best for now than okay. I don't like it but I can see your logic behind it."
"Yeah and hopefully it will be just for a month or two."
"Yeah let's hope so. But I do have one favor to ask you for tonight," Callen spoke with a slight smirk.
"And that is?" Becky had an idea where this would go.
"Sleep here with me tonight."
"G," Becky started but Callen interrupted her.
"Just for tonight. One night can't hurt right. And you get tested every morning at work and I got tested this morning as well and we're both not feeling sick. If we're gonna spend months apart I at least want to make the most of tonight."
"Alright, for just this once. But later tonight, the kids are only just asleep."
"I'll hold you to that."
They went back downstairs and enjoyed a quiet evening in front of the TV. Before going to bed Becky packed her suitcase. She had to talk to the chief but she hoped that she could check in to the hotel tomorrow right after shift. When Becky put her suitcase away she felt two familiar arms wrapping themselves around her.
"I'm gonna miss you," Callen spoke as he nuzzled his face in her neck.
"I'm gonna miss you too."
Callen turned Becky around in his arms and kissed her. He picked her up and walked over to the bed with her. He gently lay her down on the bed before he proceeded in undressing her. They had some fun in the bed before going to sleep.
The next morning before going work Callen and Becky sat down with the kids to tell them about Becky leaving.
"So kids, mommy is gonna go away for a while," Becky told Maddie, Cassie and Ollie.
"Where are you going mommy? Like on vacation?" Maddie asked.
"No, not on vacation. You know what mommy and daddy told you about what is going on in the world right now."
"Yeah," Cassie replied. "A lot of people are getting sick."
"Yes they are and mommy works in the hospital so she is helping to make the sick people better. But these people are really sick so mommy has to be really careful. That's also why mommy is not having dinner at the table and such things. But now the hospital has offered that I can stay in an hotel so mommy doesn't have to worry about making you sick."
"But will you be alright mommy? I don't want you to get sick," Maddie said.
"Mommy will be alright. And hopefully mommy will be home soon again. Mommy will miss you all. So you be good to daddy and Jill. But mommy will call you too and you can always call mommy too. I will be close by."
"Mommy leaving?" Ollie asked.
"Yes mommy is leaving for now. But mommy will be back, so be a good boy to daddy okay."
"Okay mommy."
Becky said goodbye to her family before going to work. It was hard to leave her family but it was what she needed to do right now. When she arrived at work she went to Chief Weaver's office.
"You got a second chief?" Becky asked.
"Yeah of course, what's up?"
"I would like to take you up on the offer to stay in club med."
"Alright yeah sure, no problem. I will book you in and you will receive the information on your phone so you can go there directly after shift."
"Thank you."
Becky left the office and went to work. When her shift was over she grabbed her suitcase and went to the hotel. The hotel was also connected to the hospital so via a covered walkway she could access the hotel. The entire floor was reserved for the hospital. The hospital had that arrangement with the hotel. Normally this floor was also used to accommodate family members of people that were in the hospital. But since the hospital hardly allowed any visitors this floor was now completely reserved for staff. The door at the end of the walkway was locked so not just anyone could go in there. Becky used the QR-code she had gotten on her phone to open the door. She looked at the mail to which room she had and walked in that direction. The hotel room was quite nice. She had a bathroom with vanity, toilet and bath and shower in on. The main room had a couch, table, TV, desk and a double bed. She also had a small kitchenette with microwave/oven, fridge, kettle and coffee machine. It wasn't anything like home but she could spend here a while. She unpacked her suitcase before warming up the food she had bought in the hospital. She needed to supply the stock in her room but she would do that later.
….
Just a week after Becky had gone to the hotel almost everything closed. All none essential stores had to close, as well as public buildings where people could gather like cinemas and museums. And they were closing the schools as well, meaning the kids had to be homeschooled now. That was gonna be a challenge. Their teachers had brought over some books they could use and also a schedule for the zoom classes. After dinner Callen told the kids what was going on.
"Alright kids. You'll all be home from school now. The government has closed the schools now too cus of the pandemic but that doesn't mean you don't have to do schoolwork anymore. You will still have class just not at school anymore. Your teacher will explain the lessons to you over a video call, like the ones we have when we call mommy. So you'll need to listen to your teacher and still do your work. Jill will be here too if you have any question so she can help you. Now I've put your own boxes here on the kitchen counter. It has your name on it. So every day after school you can put your books in here and then grab them again the next day. It won't be the same as going to school but you still have to do your work okay."
"Okay daddy," the kids replied.
..
After her shift Becky video called Callen, it was already past the kids' bedtime so they were in bed already.
"Hey honey," Callen greeted his wife.
"Hey honey. How's everything at home?"
"Good."
"Is everything settled for the kids to work from home?"
"Yeah everything is settled. The teacher brought over some of their books and we got a schedule for when to check into zoom classes. Jill is coming early over tomorrow so I can explain it all to her. But I'm sure it will be fine. I explained to the kids what was going on and told them that they need to do their school work not at home and listen to their teacher and Jill."
"Okay that's good. I'm really sorry I'm not around now but if I'm off work I will always be available for homework or anything should the kids need help."
"I know, but it's not the same as having you here."
"I know honey and I'm sorry you have to do this on your own. But even if I'm not around I'm still here if you or the kids need me."
"I know. Luckily it's not that busy at work at the moment. So far criminals are taking it easy during the pandemic."
"Let's hope it stays that way."
"Yeah hopefully and hopefully it's over soon so you can be home."
"Yeah hopefully. Tell the kids I said hi and I will call you guys later."
"I will. You take care of yourself too alright, don't work too hard."
"I will and you be safe."
"I will. I love you Bec."
"I love you too G. Goodnight honey."
"Goodnight sweetie."
The next morning Jill was at the house early.
"Hey Jill, thanks for coming early."
"Yeah no problem."
"So as of today the kids will be at home from school. You can use the dining table. I've got a laptop and an iPad here which you can use for the zoom calls. The girls have the same teacher so you can use one for them and the other for Ollie. I've put the kids' books and such at the kitchen counter. They all have their own box so they can grab it from there and put it back. I've already gone over that with them yesterday. So they understand how it works."
"I'm sure we'll be fine."
"The class schedule is up on the memo board in the kitchen so you can see when the kids need to have a zoom call with their teacher. On the schedule are also the email address and phone number from the teachers should you need to contact them."
"Alright got it."
"Good luck and if there's anything you can always call me or Becky."
"Thanks, but I'm sure we be fine."
Callen went to work and after breakfast Jill got the kids situated for school. Jill logged into the zoom link so they could follow the classes. She got Cassie and Maddie each a headphone so they could hear their teacher and she would listen to Ollie's teacher so she could understand what he needed to do. After the teacher was done explaining the kids went to work. Ollie was busy with some art, he needed to fold a piece of paper in different directions. He was making tulips in different colors. Jill had gotten an example picture and the teacher had told them how to do it. Jill had written the steps down and was now instructing Ollie how to do. With the first flower she helped Ollie and she second one she let him try by himself.
"How it's going here girls?" Jill asked as she walked up to Cassie and Maddie.
"Good, we're doing math," Maddie replied.
"I just don't understand this question," Cassie said and pointed in her book.
"Oh yes I skipped that one too, I didn't understand it either," Maddie added.
Jill looked at the question so she could help Cassie. "Alright, you have to calculate how much money Tim has got left after doing groceries. So we first see what he bought. It says here that Tim has bought two oranges, each orange costs twentyfive cents. So two oranges would be…."
"Fifty cents," Cassie said.
"That's right. So we're gonna count that all together in the end so write fifty cents on your paper." The girls wrote it down. "Okay so next he bought three milk bottles, one milk bottle is one dollar and fifty cents, so how much are three bottles?"
The girls started calculating. "That's four dollars and fifty cents," Maddie answered.
"That's right." They wrote down four dollars and fifty cents. "Now at last he bought half a cheese. A whole cheese costs eleven dollars. So half a cheese would be….."
"Five dollars and fifty cents," Cassie answered after a few seconds.
"That's correct." The girls wrote that down as well. "So now we have to count those numbers together. So fifty cents plus four dollars and fifty cents plus five dollars and fifty cents. How much is that all together, just write it down on your paper so the other one has time to calculate it too." A little later both girls had written their answers down. "So how we have the total of what everything costs. Now we just have to calculate how much change he got. He gave the cashier twenty dollars. So to get the answer we have to do twenty dollars minus the answer you just written."
"Ah okay, now I get it," Cassie replied.
"Yes me too," Maddie added.
"Good."
Jill went back to help Ollie with his project.
….
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. It was now the beginning of August. The end of the pandemic didn't seem to come anytime soon. Becky was still in the hotel. She tried to be there as much as she could for Callen and the kids but it was not the same as actually physically being there. But through zoom and facetime and such she could still see and talk to Callen and the kids. Luckily Callen hadn't been sent on a long undercover mission. But it was hard for him alone with the kids. Jill and Becky's family helped out a lot so Callen was glad about that. Becky tried to not talk to the kids about everything that happened at the hospital, she didn't want to scare them. But they did have some questions sometimes so Callen and Becky answered them as best as they could.
"Hey honey," Callen said as he picked up the phone and saw it was Becky.
"Hey honey."
"You just finished?" Callen asked, it was 10pm now.
"Yeah just got off. It was a hard day."
"Lost a patient?"
"Yeah, first patient of the day I lost. He got into a car accident. I tried to operate on him but his injuries were too severe. He was only twenty-one."
"Yeah that totally sucks, way too young."
"Yeah, and just now I lost another patient. I treated his wife about five years ago in the ED. They were so sweet together. I remember them well and they remembered me too. He's eighty-seven now and he got covid. It was pretty bad and he had to be admitted to the ICU. We just couldn't save him and cus he was in the covid wing his wife couldn't be there with him. So I sat with him with his wife on the video chat via the tablet when he died."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. That's awful."
"Yeah they have been together since they were twenty and now she couldn't even be there to hold his hand when he died. Hospital policies don't allow it for patient's family to be there. It's so not fair."
"No it's not. This whole pandemic sucks."
"Yeah it totally does. How are the kids doing?" Becky decided to change the subject.
"They are doing well, they miss you, but they are doing fine. Enjoying the vacation. We have planned to go camping in the tree house this weekend."
"Oh that sounds lovely. I wish I could join you guys."
"Me too. I hope this pandemic will be over soon so you can come home."
"Me too. But it doesn't look that way. They are busy with a vaccine but they are not close yet. Probably the end of this year or beginning of next year it will be done."
"So you'll probably be gone until then?"
"Probably yeah. I wish it was different but it's still too risky."
"I know. It just sucks."
"That it does. I'm gonna go get some sleep, got an early shift tomorrow."
"Alright. Goodnight honey. I love you."
"I love you too. Goodnight G. Have fun this weekend."
"We will."
"Bye honey."
"Bye sweetie."
Becky hung up the phone and went to sleep. It was hard to stay away from Callen and their kids but she couldn't risk them getting sick or her getting sick and infecting the patients.
….
That Friday evening Callen carried all their stuff up to the tree house after dinner. Callen put out the air matrasses for them to sleep on and put the sleeping bags and pillows on it. Once it was all set up they sat on the floor pillows around the table to play a board game. First Cassie could pick a game, she picked Monopoly junior.
"Alright Maddie, you can be the bank. Cassie you can read the cards when someone gets on that spot and Ollie you can hand out the place cards," Callen instructed the kids.
They all picked out a color and Maddie gave them the starter cash. As the youngest Ollie could start. He rolled the dice and moved his pawn.
About half an hour into the game Cassie had managed to buy the most expansive place and she got a hotel on it as well. It was Callen's turned to roll the dice and he moved his pawn the number of steps and he ended up right on Cassie's hotel.
"Yes! Pay daddy!" Cassie yelled as she victoriously threw her arms up, this was the first time someone came to her hotel.
"How much do I need to pay?"
Cassie looked at her card and look at the price of her place with a hotel on it. "That will be one hundred."
Callen looked at his cash. He counted the bills and he just had enough. He only had two monopoly dollars left.
"Daddy does have much left," Maddie stated.
"Nope, so someone come to daddy's place."
The next three turns no one came onto Callen's place and when it was Callen's turn he came to one of Ollie's places.
"That will be fifteen dollars daddy," Ollie said.
"Oh oh, daddy doesn't have enough anymore so daddy is done playing."
Callen handed Ollie his cash and the kids continued to play the game. A little later the game was over and Cassie had managed to win. They cleaned up the game and now it was time for Ollie's game. He had picked cars memory. Callen put the cards down on the table and it was Maddie's turn now to start. Callen knew how he could get pairs easily but he tried to let the kids get the most pairs.
There were only about eight pairs left when it was Ollie's turn. Ollie managed to get pair after pair.
"Hey leave some for us Ollie," Callen joked.
Ollie smiled as he happily continued to turn the right cards. Ollie managed to get them all except for the last two. But Ollie had more than enough pairs to win the game.
As last they played Maddie's game. Maddie had picked Who am I? They had to hold a card on their forehead and through yes and no question they had to guess who or what they were. To make it easier to hold up the cards they each grabbed a headband and put in on their heads, next they blindly grabbed a card and put it in their headband so the others could see what they had. It was Maddie's turn to start, as long as you get the answer yes on your questions you can keep asking, if you get no the turn goes to the next person.
"Am I a person?" Maddie asked.
"No," Cassie answered.
Next it was Callen's turn. "Am I an animal?"
"No," Maddie replied.
"Am I a person?" Cassie asked.
"Yes," Ollie said.
"But not a real person," Callen added.
"So I'm a cartoon figure?"
"Yes."
"Am I a princess?"
"No," Maddie answered.
"Am I person?" Ollie asked.
"No," Callen answered.
It was Maddie's turn again. After a few turns Maddie knew she was an animal which featured in his or her own movie. Callen knew he was a thing that you could see outside but it wasn't something with weather or something to play with. Cassie knew she was a cartoon figure that was evil. Ollie had figured out he was something you could eat and that it was green.
"Can I fly?" Maddie asked.
"Yes," Callen answered.
"Am I an elephant?"
"Yes."
"Am I Dumbo they flying elephant?" Maddie asked hopeful.
"Yes you are."
"YES!"
"Well done Maddie." Now it was Callen's turn again. "Can you eat me?" Callen asked.
Maddie, Cassie and Ollie started laughing. "No, eww," Maddie replied.
"Am I a witch?" Cassie asked.
"No," Callen replied.
"Am I a vegetable?" Ollie asked.
"Yes." Cassie answered.
"Am I a cucumber?"
"No."
"Am I some sort of plant or tree?" Callen asked.
"No. You are totally wrong daddy," Maddie laughed.
Callen seriously had no idea what he could be.
"Am I the evil stepmother from Cinderella?" Cassie asked.
"Yes you are," Maddie replied.
"YES!"
Now only Callen and Ollie had to guess theirs.
"Am I broccoli?" Ollie asked.
"Yes you are," Callen answered.
"YES!"
"Now just you daddy," Maddie stated.
"I am something that you can see outside but I'm not something you can eat or play with or something to do with weather or plants," Callen summed up the hints he had gotten so far.
"Can you find me on the grass?"
"Yes," Cassie replied.
"Am I a bug?"
"No," Ollie said.
"What am I?" Callen asked. "I have no idea."
"Keep guessing daddy," Cassie said.
"Am I brown?"
"Yes, mostly."
"Am I dog poo?"
"Yes daddy!" Cassie answered and the kids all started laughing. "That was a funny one daddy."
"Haha yeah but a hard one. Alright, now it's time for bed."
"Do we have to daddy?" Maddie whined.
"Yes, it's already almost ten, so it's bedtime."
They all went down the treehouse and went into the house to get ready for bed before climbing back into the treehouse. The doorway and the windows were open but there were curtains in front of it so Callen closed the curtains and put the nightlight on in the corner. Cassie and Maddie shared one air matrass and Ollie and Callen shared the other. They all crawled into their sleeping bags.
"Goodnight everyone," Callen said.
"Goodnight daddy," the kids replied.
It didn't take long for the kids to fall asleep. Callen quietly took a picture of them lying in the treehouse and sent it to Becky.
The next morning Callen woke up when the kids jumped onto him.
"Daddy wake up!" Cassie yelled. "It's morning."
"Good morning," Callen replied.
"Good morning daddy," they all replied.
"Alright, it's wrestle time!"
They all played 'wrestle' on the air matrass before going down. They went into the house to get dressed and had breakfast. The Saturday they spent out in the garden, enjoying the nice weather and splashing in the pool. For dinner Callen fired up the grill and afterwards they roasted marshmallows above the firepit. Callen texted Becky to see if she was free, when she reply she was off of work Callen video called her.
"Hey guys," Becky greeted her family.
"Hey mommy," the kids greeted.
"Oooh marshmallows, looks yummy. Did you enjoy the night in the treehouse?"
"Yes we did!" Cassie replied.
"We played some games," Maddie added.
"And today we played in the swimming pool," Ollie added.
"Sounds nice."
"I wish you were here mommy," Cassie said.
"Yeah I know me too. I hope it'll be soon."
They chatted for a while longer as they enjoyed their marshmallow.
…..
It was now the beginning of December. They had gotten to the point where US citizens in the medical field could get their covid vaccine. Finally there was some light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully Becky could be home for Christmas, so she could celebrate Christmas with her family. Becky had gotten her first dose already and in a few weeks she would get her second, that was on the twenty second. So if everything went alright she could be home for Christmas. It had been a busy year at the hospital. On top of the covid patients they still had their regular patients and trauma cases. So every day was busy at the hospital and a lot of people had died. Everyone was up to their last breath but because the demand for so high in medical care no one really had gotten a good amount of vacation time.
..
Callen and the kids were busy putting the Christmas decorations up. They had a fake tree so Callen first put the tree up and put the lights in before the kids could start decorating it. While the kids were decorating the tree Callen went to put up some lights outside. When he came back inside the kids had finished decorating the tree. Callen put some more decorations on the higher branches before he lifted Ollie up to put the tree topper on it.
"Daddy, will mommy be home for Christmas?" Maddie asked.
"I don't know yet, but hopefully she will be."
"I hope mommy will be home. It won't be Christmas without her," Cassie added.
"Yeah it won't be the same without her, but even if she's not here we'll have a nice Christmas."
The kids went to play as Callen put some more decorations around the house and cleaned up the boxes. He really hoped they would be able to celebrate Christmas as a family. It had been a hard year for all of time. Becky was still around and they could talk to her over the phone but it wasn't the same as having her at home.
…
The twenty second Becky went to get her second dose of the vaccine. If everything went right she would be home on Christmas eve.
….
On the day of Christmas Eve Callen took the kids to the mall to shop for dinner. Callen would make them a nice dinner that they could enjoy. The kids loaded the groceries into their carts before they stood in line to pay.
Once they got home Callen got the dinner table ready for baking cookies. He put some flower on the table and gave the kids each a piece of dough and a rolling pin.
"Okay. Now use your rolling pin to roll out the dough so you have a nice thin, large piece," Callen instructed them.
Maddie, Cassie and Ollie each took their rolling pin and started flattening out the dough. When they each had a nice piece they picked out a few shapes that Callen had put on the table so they could cut out the dough. They each got their own oven plate to put their cookies on. Callen took a few pictures as the kids were busy with their dough so Becky could enjoy it as well.
"My plate is full daddy," Maddie spoke.
"Alright well done, these look beautiful. Now you can decorate them with frosting and such."
After Maddie, Ollie and Cassie finished their cookies as well. Once the frosting was on Callen took the plates and put them in the oven to bake. The kids washed their hands before they went to play as Callen cleaned up the dining table.
When the cookies were down Callen put them in their own cookie jar and they each could have one cookie.
For the rest of the day they just relaxed around the house and played some games until it was time for dinner. After dinner the kids went into bath before going to bed.
"Do you think Santa will bring mommy back for Christmas?" Cassie asked.
"I hope so. You wrote to Santa so I'm sure he will do his very best to bring mommy back home," Callen answered. "So hopefully tomorrow when you wake up mommy will be here. But no matter what there will be lots of presents underneath the tree. But only if you go to sleep now."
"Goodnight daddy."
"Goodnight Cassie." Callen gave her a goodnight kiss before he left the room and went to tuck Ollie and Maddie in.
….
Becky hadn't told anyone that she would be home on Christmas eve, she wanted to surprise everyone. She had to work Christmas eve until 10pm so when she would arrive at home the kids would already be asleep. So it would be a nice Christmas present in the morning for the kids.
After her shift ended she collected her stuff from the hotel room and loaded them into the car. Hopefully she could surprise Callen but with him being a special agent it was hard, she had to be really quiet. She parked her car on the street and tried to stay in the shadows as she walked up to the house. The curtains were closed but she still saw there was light on downstairs, meaning Callen was still awake. The side window of their bedroom was slightly open so Becky climbed onto the fence to their backyard after looking that no one was around to see her. Via the fence she hoisted herself up onto the roof of the garage. She quietly pushed the window up and slid through the window. Once she was inside she quietly shot the window. She put one of the nightlights on so she had a bit of light. Quietly she stripped out of her clothes and changed into something a bit more sexy. Now it was just the matter of getting Callen upstairs. Becky opened the window again and closed it with a loud thud, hoping Callen would've heard that.
..
Callen was just watching TV before going to bed. Christmas eve had not been the same without Becky there. He wished she would've been here. Hopefully she would come home soon. Callen missed her terribly, it had been way too long since he had held or kissed his wife. He had just turned off the TV and was locking up for the night to go to bed when he heard a loud thud upstairs. He quickly went to coat closet and opened the hidden safe there. He grabbed his gun and quietly walked upstairs. He scanned the hallway but didn't see anyone. The doors to the kids' bedrooms were still closed but the door to his bedroom was slightly open and he saw a dim light coming through the crack. Quietly he walked up to the door and peeked in through the crack. He didn't see anything so he slightly opened the door further and he saw someone lying on the bed. He looked twice to make sure he saw it right. It was Becky! His wife was back! He opened the door further and stepped into the room.
Becky saw the door open and her husband stepped into the room.
"Hey honey," Becky said.
Callen stood there perplexed in the doorway with the gun in his hand, which was now lowered. Not only was his wife back and lying on their bed but she was also dressed in a sexy red lingerie dress with white furry ends and a Christmas hat. Becky stood up from the bed and walked over to Callen.
"You're not gonna need that for me," Becky spoke and took the gun out of Callen's hand and placed it on the dresser.
"You're really back? You're really here?"
Becky stepped even closer to Callen and kissed him softly and quickly. "Yes I'm back. I'm back at home, no more staying in the hotel."
"Good, cus I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, it's been too long."
"Yes it has. So it's safe for you to back here again?"
"Yes, now just shut up and kiss me."
"Gladly," Callen smirked at her before he crashed his lips down on hers.
Becky kicked the door close and locked it. Becky wrapped her arms around Callen's neck and deepened the kiss. Callen's hands moved down and grabbed her hips to lift her up. Becky automatically wrapped her legs around his waist as Callen walked them over to the bed. Callen gently lay Becky down on the bed. It felt so good to kiss her again and to roam his hands over her body. He had missed her terribly. It had been way too long. He didn't know how much he had longed for her until the second he kissed her. He couldn't get enough of her and he didn't know where to touch or kiss her first. He wanted to take his time loving her. But being so long apart had him more aroused than ever before. And the outfit she wore only turned him on even more.
Becky moved her hands down his back and grabbed the hem of his shirt before pulling it up over his head, momentarily stopping their kissing so she could take it off. Callen's lips quickly crashed down on her again before moving down to her neck.
"G honey," Becky moaned.
"I've missed you so much," Callen whispered in her ear.
"I've missed you too."
Becky moved her hands in between them and undid the button and fly of Callen's pants before pushing it down his legs, pushing it further down with her feet as Callen wiggled out of them. Callen moved the straps of her lingerie dress down before kissing down her chest. He pressed into her as he started pleasuring her. Becky could hardly take it anymore. It had been way too long since she felt his touch and kisses. She couldn't wait anymore so she pushed Callen off of her and onto his back. She quickly removed his boxers and threw them across the room before straddling his lap. The lingerie dress she was wearing was pooled around her hip but she didn't want to wait one more second so she moved down onto Callen.
"Oh god," Becky moaned as he filled her.
"Damn, I almost forgot how good this feels," Callen replied in a moan.
Becky kissed her husband briefly before sitting up and starting her movements.
About two hours later they lay tangled up together in the bed. Callen was lying on his back and Becky was lying in his arms with her head on his chest and their legs were intertwined. Becky's lingerie dress had found it's way to the floor as well.
"Wow," Callen said after a while.
"Wow is right. That was really good." Callen pulled her even closer to him and kissed her head. "I'm never letting you go."
"That's good cus it feels nice in your arms," Becky replied as she snuggled closer to him.
"I'm so glad that you're back. Nine months really is too long."
"Yes it is. Luckily the end of the pandemic is sorta getting in sight with the vaccine now available. But it'll be a while until everyone is vaccinated."
"Yeah it will be. I'm just glad to have you home again. The house hasn't been the same without you."
"I'm glad to be back again. I can't wait to see the kids again tomorrow."
"They are gonna be so happy to see you. They had asked Santa to bring you back for Christmas."
"That's sweet. I'm glad I'm home for the holidays."
"Speaking of which, how exactly did you get in here?"
"I climbed the fence and climbed onto the room and slid inside through the window. I was very quiet until I got changed and everything and then I deliberately closed the window loudly again so you would hear it. I knew you would come and see what was going on."
"I can't believe you snuck in. You could've just come through the front door."
"Yeah but this was way more fun."
"It definitely was."
They dressed themselves in their pajamas and unlocked the door before going to bed, lying in the same position again.
"Goodnight honey," Callen said.
"Goodnight honey and merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Callen gave her a soft kiss before they drifted off to sleep.
The next morning the door to the bedroom flew open just after 8am.
"Daddy! Daddy! Santa came!" Maddie yelled as she ran into the room followed by Cassie and Ollie.
The kids jumped onto the bed and then noticed their mom.
"MOMMY!" All three kids yelled.
"Hey my sweeties." All three jumped up to Becky and flew into her arms. "Mommy is so happy to see you again." Becky kissed them and hugged them tightly. "Mommy missed you."
"Missed you too mommy," Cassie, Maddie and Ollie replied.
"Are you back for good now?" Cassie asked.
"Yes, no more sleeping at the hotel. Mommy is back home."
The family enjoyed some time in the bed before the kids got too impatient to open the presents so they went downstairs. They sat in the living room around the tree and started opening their presents. They kids all loved what they had gotten, they had gotten a lot of toys. Callen and Becky sat on the couch as they watched the kids play with their new toys.
"This is perfect, right here, right now," Becky stated as she crawled against Callen.
"Yes it is."
Callen gave Becky a soft kiss before they snuggled together. Life was great again. Sure the pandemic wasn't over yet but at least Becky was home with her family again, their family was complete again.
Thank you for reading and reviewing. Hope you enjoyed it.