Sorry for being gone for so long. It took me a while to get back into the groove of things but I'm back. Just a short chapter for now but I'll go back to longer once after this one.
Enjoy!
Usually, Callen was good at getting the baby to calm down before she woke Emma up but tonight the little girl wasn't having it. Emma got out of bed and put on her robe before making her way to this little girl's room.
"Want me to try?" Emma said as she rubbed her eyes.
"I don't know what's gotten into her." Callen said as he handed the little girl over to her sister.
"It's her teeth. She's been gumming at my fingers all day."
"She's only five months old."
"Some baby's teeth early. I think Laura put a few washcloths in the freezer to help with the swelling." Emma said as she walked towards the kitchen. Opening the freezer, she took one out and placed it in Maeve's mouth. It didn't take long before the baby settled.
"You have the magic touch." Callen said from the doorway.
"No, I just know my sister." Emma said as she looked down at the baby.
"Can't believe you're graduating today." Callen said as he started making a cup of coffee and then popping a tea pod in the Keurig for Emma.
"I know and then next weekend I'm off to Virginia." Emma said as she pulled a chair out and sat down. She kept a little pat on the baby's bum to get her back to sleep.
"The real world awaits." Callen said as he made her tea.
"You mean the big bad world awaits." Emma said sarcastically.
"I know it's overwhelming but you can do this. Everyone has to start somewhere and now it's time to show the world who Emma-Grace is." Callen said as he placed her cup in front of her and kissed her head.
"I know I can do it, I'm just having a hard time leaving everyone."
"We'll be here when you come home. And we can always have Hetty pull some strings to ensure you get placed close by once you're done with FLETC." He said with a wink.
"She needs to save some of those for you guys, since you guys like getting into trouble so much." Emma said with a giggle.
"We don't get into trouble, trouble finds us."
"Whatever old man. I'm going to put her down and start getting ready for the day." Emma said as she got up.
Callen just looked at her as she walked away. He couldn't believe that she was heading to Virginia already. He was getting used to having her and Maeve under the same roof but now it will just be him and Maeve. Callen got up and started getting a bottle ready for Sam's arrival. He was on babysitting duty and then the team would come over later for a BBQ celebration since Emma could only invite two people to the ceremony. He was rolling up his sleeves when he heard a knock on the door before it opened.
"Hey, you guys almost ready?" Sam said as he walked in.
"Emma is almost ready and I'm letting Maeve sleep as long as she can." Callen said as he poured them coffee.
"Her teeth again?" Sam said as he sat down with his coffee.
"I can't believe she's teething." Callen said as he joined him at the table.
"Aiden didn't get his first one till he was about seven months but Kam got her first one when she was about Mae's age. It just shows that she's reaching the milestones and that she's healthy."
"I know but still… I wish she would stay small forever." Just then they heard a little cry from the baby's room.
"I'll get her!" Emma yelled down the hall.
"How's Emma doing?" Sam asked in a whisper.
"She's not saying much but I think she realizes that this time next week, she's starting a new life on the other side of the country."
"It will take her a bit to get used to not seeing all of us every day but she can do this. We've prepared her for this and now she needs to find her own way, without our help. She knows we're here for her but this is her time." Sam said before he saw Emma coming towards them.
"Hi Uncle Sam." Emma said as she hugged him and handing him the baby.
"You look beautiful babe." Sam said as he hugged her back, "and you look pretty too." He said as he kissed the baby on her head while she put her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you. Hetty helped but I'm still not sure about the heels." Emma said as she made her tea.
"It's just for a few hours, then you can change them for your Converse." Callen said as he placed his mug in the dishwasher. "Sam, I made her bottle for you. Laura started her on some puree baby food, they're in the fridge and it just needs to be warmed up. She usually goes down around 12 for her nap, make sure her white noise machine is on or else she wouldn't fall asleep." Callen said.
"You do know I've raised two kids, right?" Sam said while rolling his eyes. Emma just shook her head and kissed the baby as she went to get her shoes on.
"I know, just making sure you know where everything is. Laura placed some washcloths in the freezer if her teeth bother her." Callen said as he went for his jacket.
"Can you just focus on your other daughter and leave me to care for my goddaughter."
"She's in good hands, Callen. Bye Uncle Sam. See you later little bug." Emma said as she walked out of the house.
Callen shook his head, kissed the baby, and slapped Sam on the back before following Emma out of the house.
Callen couldn't be prouder as he saw Emma walking across the stage. She made it and was well on her way to finally having the future she was always mend to have. The students split up and went looking for their families as soon as the ceremony ended. Emma handed Julia her camera and she was all too happy to take as many photos as the group wanted. Emma took some of her friends and their families, the group asked her as they knew Emma loved taking pictures of families. Callen could see that Emma was soaking up as much time with her friends as she could. When they got back the following Saturday afternoon, they were all splitting up and starting their own lives, but he also knew they would stay in touch. After all the pictures were done and the congratulations were over, the group said their goodbyes and started to make their way back to the cars. Julia followed Callen and Emma to his house where the group was waiting for them to get home. Kensi and Nell decorated the house as much as they could and then the boys got the outside set up. Sam was changing Maeve's diaper when he heard the front door open and Callen yelling that they were home. Fixing the little girl's dress, Sam grabbed her stuffed bunny and picked her up so she could see her sister. Kensi had Emma in a tight hug when Sam came into view. Callen took the baby from Sam and she just laid her head on her daddy's shoulder.
"Did you have a nice time with Uncle Sam?" Callen said as he rubbed her back.
"She ate like a champ and then went down." Sam said as he finally got to give Emma her hug. "Congregations Emma-Grace! I'm so proud of you." Sam said in the teenager's ears.
"Thank Uncle Sam." Emma said and he could hear she was holding back tears.
The rest of the evening went by way too fast and Emma wished she had more time with her family before she headed to Virginia but knew that she needed to do this. Her family gave her all the tools to survive the big world and now she needs to prove to them that their time wasn't for nothing. When everyone left, Callen started to clean up a bit while Emma went to put the baby to bed. He could hear Emma reading to the baby who probably didn't understand a word but he was happy to have both his girls under his roof. Making sure everything was locked and the alarm set, he made his way down the hall to the baby's room and he stopped in the doorway. Maeve was out cold in her big sisters arms and Emma was staring at the baby while she was lost in her own world. The team noticed that the more time passed and she was getting closer to leaving home, she spent a lot of time in her own mind.
"I can see the wheels turning in your head from here. What's on your mind?"
"Just thinking how much I will miss doing this with her." Emma said wait a sad smile.
"I know but she's going to be here when you come home to visit and she will need her big sister for life. You're going to show her how strong you are and that she's safe with you. Like you did with Kensi, Nell and Julia." Callen said as he kneeled in front of the rocking chair.
"I know and that's the only thing making going away better."
"You'll see. She's going to look at what you do with your life and she's going want to be just like her big sister." Callen said as he took the baby and placed her in her crib.
"Let's hope I don't screw up and she hates me for it." Emma said as she still sat in the chair.
"Not a chance. We will never let you screw up and remember we're here for you all the way. Just trust yourself and do your best. Nobody's perfect and we make mistakes and we learn from them." Callen said as he grabbed her hands and pulled her up for a hug.
"Thanks for everything, Callen. If you didn't find me when you did, I would probably be dead or running from Olga." Emma said as she hugged him.
"I'm glad we found you and I wouldn't have it any other way. You and Maeve are my life and you're the reason I come home at the end of the day." Callen said with a hug, "Now, bed for you. I don't think you'll get much sleep this week with what the gang has planned."
"I have to agree with you on that one." Emma said with one last hug, "Night daddy."
"Night my sweet Emma-Grace."
