Note: Another idea I got from watching a Hallmark movie (this one was a new one, Beverly Hills Wedding) Enjoy!
Evening
'What is perfect love?' Hetty asked.
'Huh?' Granger responded.
'Oh. It's just something the parents of this kid the team talked to today said. They mentioned something about having perfect love.'
'What is that?'
'I asked Mr. Callen that, and he said it has to do with how they always treat each other nicely, almost never fight, those kind of things.'
'Sounds fake to me. I mean, look at us. Some might say we're terrible for each other, even toxic. Yet, we tolerate each other.' Granger said.
'True. We disagree on a lot of things at work, didn't exactly have the most romantic love story, or the easiest. But we respect each other. I think that's what really matters.' Hetty responded.
'Yeah'.
Later, on the couch
Granger could see that Hetty was a bit bothered by the 'perfect love' thing, and how they would possibly rank.
'Still bothered by that thing?'
'A bit. Sometimes when I'm driving to and from work, I see all these lovey dovey couples who appear to be so perfect. And I sometimes wonder if we're that great. I think I know how some would think of our relationship. I know it's silly, but I do sometimes worry about these kind of silly things.' Hetty said.
'It's okay. I sometimes think of how our relationship compares to others as well. Then I think of the nice things about us. Like, you always have whiskey ready at the end of a long day of work…'
'And when I'm down, you try to cheer me up, even if I don't appreciate it. You, somehow put up with everything about me. We both thought we'd be single forever. I guess you can say, our 'love' is, tolerating each other, and taking care of each other, or at least trying to.' Hetty responded.
'And considering the way our lives have been. I think that's pretty reasonable enough.'
'Yes. Also we do try to do nice things for each other.'
'I also like how you're not afraid to tell me how you really feel.' Granger responded.
'Thank you.'
'Given our jobs, and our pasts, I'd say being able to tolerate each other, and wanting to take care of one another, is an acceptable version of 'perfect love', right?' Granger asked.
'I agree.'
'Then that's settled.'