Callen drove down the street and took a right onto Conifer drive and then a right onto Walker street. They then took another right onto Orangethorpe Avenue and got on the ramp for the Artesia freeway. At the intersection they stayed on the left lane towards Riverside and the road changed into the Riverside freeway. They continued to follow Riverside and stayed on the left arch at the intersection. They took the exit towards San Diego and Indio. They were now on the Moreno Valley Freeway and then the Escondido freeway. They took the road towards Indio. They followed the Moreno Valley Freeway until they came on the ten. They followed this road until they came at the exit for Palm Springs, they were now on the one eleven. Once they were actually in Palm Springs the road changed into the one one eighteen. They stayed on this road until they came at West El Camino Way, here they took a right. Their vacation home was the second on the left, right at the intersection between West El Camino Way and South Mesa Drive. The owner of the vacation home was already waiting for them there. Callen parked the car on the driveway before they got out. The house looked nice from the front. The yard was sandy with big palm trees in it, a stoned path and some grass.

"Mr. Walinsky, Ms. Taylor?" The owner greeted them.

"Yes, that's us," Callen replied. They shook hands.

"Here are the keys to the house. There's a folder inside with some information about the neighborhood and stuff you can do here. The rules are also in that folder. My number is also in there in case you have any questions. I hope you enjoy your stay here and I will see you in two weeks. Let me know how late you want to check-out, you can check-out until 10am."

"Alright, thank you."

The owner handed the keys to Callen. Callen went to grab their suitcases from the car and brought them inside. They entered into the hallway which was white. To the right was the living area. Two white chairs stood against the front wall with a blue corner couch across from them. In the corner was a fireplace with a TV above it. Behind the couch stood a squared dining table with four seats. To the left of the dining area was a kitchen. The kitchen was brown with a white granite countertop. The kitchen was in a short of U shape with a breakfast bar. The kitchen had a coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave, oven, refrigerator, stove and toaster. Through the windows in the kitchen was a bar, outside underneath the covered patio. They also had a white with blue glass dining table and a white chair with blue cushions and in the same style a seating area. On the right side of the garden they also had a seating area with a fire pit. On the left side of the garden was a swimming pool with hot tub and some lounge beds. One bedroom was on the front of the house, left of the front door, with a secluded patio out front and adjoining bathroom. The master bedroom was at the back of the house, next to the kitchen. The bedroom had a king sized bed, two nightstands, two stools at the end of the bed, a table, a fan above the bed and a TV. Adjoining was a bathroom with double vanity, a closed off toilet and a separate shower and bed. The house had a washing machine and dryer, air conditioning, free wi-fi and ironing facilities. The kitchen was stocked with kitchenware and cleaning products. In the bathroom they had towels, free toiletries, a hairdryer and in the bedroom were linens on the beds. The house looked really nice. They put their stuff away and changed into the swimsuits. Joelle wore a purple black dotted tankini top with black shorts while Callen wore a pair of blue and red plaid swim shorts. The house didn't come with a parasol so Callen and Joelle had taken their own. Callen set it up outside over the lounge beds. It was just after noon so they had lunch first before going outside. After rubbing themselves with sunscreen they lay down on the beds.

"This is nice," Callen admitted as they lay there.

"Yes it is. It's a beautiful house."

"Yeah it is. It's nice to just relax and unwind."

"Yeah it is."

"You sure this vacation is not too much for you?"

"No, it's fine G. Don't worry."

"Okay good."

They just relaxed around the house and took the occasional dip in the pool. Around 6pm they took a shower and dressed themselves for dinner. Joelle dressed herself in a short black dress with multi colored butterflies and black sandals. Callen was dressed in a short pair of jeans and a blue button down shirt with short sleeves. They got in the car and drove to Las Casuelas Terrazza. Joelle took albondigas soup as starter while Callen had quesadilla tradicional. As main course they both had hamburgesa Americana. As dessert Joelle ordered chocolate fudge brownie and Callen had the house special sorbet. Dinner was really delicious. Callen payed for dinner before they went back to the house.

They relaxed on the couch for a while. Joelle went to sleep around 10pm. Callen stayed up a little longer before going to bed. He smiled when he walked into the bedroom. He looked at Joelle lying on the bed. She was curled up with her pregnancy pillow. Callen smiled at her. She looked so beautiful. Callen couldn't believe his life right now. He had a beautiful woman here who he loved more than anything. He was engaged to her and she was carrying his little boy. He never thought he would have that but he did have it now and he was very happy with it. Callen stripped out of his clothes and crawled into the bed with her. She was lying with her back towards his side. Callen crawled up to her and wrapped his arm around her. He gave her a soft kiss on her cheek as Joelle snuggled closer to him. It didn't take long for Callen to fall asleep. He woke up around 8am the next morning. Joelle was still asleep in his arms. Callen gave her a soft kiss on her cheek before he got out. Quietly he grabbed some clothes and left the bedroom. He went to the other bathroom to get dressed. Callen wrote a note and left it on the kitchen counter. Quietly he left the house and went to get some groceries. There was a Walmart about ten minutes from the house so he went there. As he walked through the store he couldn't help but walk past the baby department. He bought a pack of three bodysuits, one grey camo, one white with dinosaurs on it and one grey with a dinosaur on it, a pack with two footed pajamas, one light blue and one white with dinosaurs on it, a pack with three bodysuits, one white with trucks, planes and cars on it, one blue with a monkey on it and mommy's sidekick and one blue and black striped, a dark blue pair of shorts with a blue shirt with dark blue stripes on it and a little monkey on the bottom, a pack of Cars underwear, a black, red, grey and white plaid shorts with a grey shirt with Mickey on it, a three pack burpcloths, one white and blue striped, one white blue, green and dark blue striped and one white with dinosaurs on it and a pack with two bibs, one blue with a little turtle on it and I love mommy and one white with turtles on it. He also bought some things to put in the gift basket he was going to make for Joelle. He walked passed the jewelry department and saw a beautiful set lying in the display.

"You have excellent taste sir, it's a beautiful set," the saleswoman spoke as she walked up to him.

"How much is it?"

"It's one hundred and twenty five dollars, you have a necklace, ring and earrings."

"I'll take it. Can you wrap it up like a present?"

"Sure of course. Which size ring do you want?"

Callen told the woman Joelle's ring size. He still remembered it from when he bought the engagement ring. The saleswoman took a set from beneath the display and showed Callen that everything was in it before wrapping it up.

As last Callen went to get groceries for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some snacks. It was just before 9am when Callen walked back into the house. He quietly walked in, in case Joelle was still sleeping. The baby stuff he had bought for Joelle's basket he had left in the car. He had put them in his go-bag for now, which was always in the back of his car. It was still quiet in the main room but her heard the shower running. He quickly put the groceries that needed to go in the fridge away and walked to the bedroom. The shower was still running so Callen stripped out of his clothes before walking into the bathroom.

"Hey honey," Callen spoke as he stepped into the bathroom.

"Hey babe."

Callen opened the shower door and stepped into the shower. He wrapped his arms around Joelle from behind and kissed her neck.

"Good morning," Callen spoke.

"Good morning. What did you get at the store?"

"Just some groceries. How long have you been up?"

"Just a few minutes. I saw the note in the kitchen so I figure I'd take a shower."

"You don't mind that I joined right?"

"No absolutely not."

"Good."

Callen bent his head again and starting kissing her neck again. This man knew exactly what to do to turn her into a puddle in his arms. It was already the case before she got pregnant and now that she was pregnant he didn't have to do much to turn her into jelly.

"Hmmm G," Joelle moaned.

Callen turned her in his arms so he could properly kiss her. His hand moved down her body to the spot Joelle wanted it the most. It didn't take her long before she reached her peak. Her own hand traveled down and found Callen.

"Jo, you don't have to," Callen spoke as Joelle got down.

Before Callen could speak some more she was already pleasuring him. After a while Callen couldn't take it anymore and pulled Joelle up to him. He turned her around and Joelle braced herself against the wall with her hands as Callen moved inside of her. She loved making love to him. He was just such an amazing lover. Joelle had reach her peak three more times before Callen finally joined her on her fourth. Callen turned Joelle around and held her in his arms until her legs were more secure again.

"Thank you for that," Joelle spoke to Callen.

"You're welcome," Callen replied and kissed Joelle.

They finished their shower before getting out. They got dressed and Callen made breakfast for them. They sat at the table outside to eat. After dinner Callen grabbed the bag with baby stuff, the stuff he wasn't going to use for the gift basket, and showed them to Joelle.

"Oh G, these are too cute. Our baby will look great in them."

"I also bought you this." Callen placed the package with the jewelry on the table.

"What's this?" Joelle asked as she eyed the package.

"Just open it."

Joelle unwrapped the package and opened the box. "Oh my, G! This is beautiful."

Inside the box was a set with a necklace, earrings and a rings. They all had a double heart, one silver and one gold, looped into each other with in the hearts two smaller Ruby hearts.

"These are so beautiful Grisha. Thank you. What's the occasion?"

"No occasion, just cus I love you."

"I love you too," Joelle smiled at him. Callen leaned closer to her and gave her a kiss. "Thank you for this G, they are really beautiful."

"You're welcome. You deserve it. You're an amazing women for carrying our little boy inside of you. I try to be here as much as I can but you are carrying him. It's a pretty amazing thing you women do."

"I do have to admit it's not always easy but it's so wonderful. I love carrying our little boy and I'm glad you're here with me. You really are sweet to me and you support me. You're gonna be an amazing dad, I just know it."

"I hope so."

"You will be honey. You are so sweet already for me and the little baby. I can see that you love him already. We'll be just fine. You're gonna be a great dad."

"I'll do my best."

"That's all I need."

After breakfast they went to take a stroll through the Moorten botanical garden. It was just behind their house. It was close by so they walked there. It was a beautiful garden. They were close to the desert so there were some Cacti as well. They walked around for a while before going back to the house. They changed into their swimsuits and lay by the pool. It was really nice do just be here and relax. It was nice to relax after all the chasing bad guys Callen did. It was nice for Joelle too. Callen knew it wasn't always easy for her to be pregnant. Luckily she wasn't nauseous much, she was however easily tired and had sore feet. Callen often rubbed her feet in the evening when they sat on the couch.

A few days later they went on a jeep tour. The tour would take about three hours. They went early in the day so it wasn't that hot yet. It was beautiful to ride through the landscapes here in the area of Palm Springs. They had a guide that was driving the car so they could sit in the back of the car and enjoy the ride. They took a tour that didn't have such a wobbly road because that wouldn't be good for Joelle and the baby. They took some pictures during the drive. The guide even stopped the car at a few points and took pictures of Callen and Joelle.

"That was very nice," Joelle stated as they walked back into the house.

"Yeah it was. Wasn't it too much for you?"

"No it was fine."

"Okay good."

They had some lunch and changed into their swimsuits. They enjoyed the rest of the day at the pool with the occasional dip in the pool. They had a hot tub too but since Joelle was pregnant she couldn't go in there anymore. They had taken a floater chair with them as well for in the pool. Joelle sat in the chair as Callen swam around the pool.

"You enjoying yourself here?" Callen asked as he stood next to the chair.

"Yeah it's nice and comfortable."

"Okay good. And our little boy?" Callen asked as he rubbed her stomach.

"Our little boy is quiet today. He's relaxing too."

"Good."

They stayed outside for the rest of the afternoon before they got in the tub together. Callen got in first and then helped Joelle in. Joelle sat against his chest with her back while Callen had his arms around her and his hands rested on her stomach. Joelle relaxed in Callen's arms.

"It's nice being here. It's not that far from LA but we're still on vacation and we can relax," Joelle said.

"Yeah it is nice. Yeah it's nice to wind down. I don't get that much of free time during the year."

"Yeah and you make pretty long days sometimes."

"Yeah sometimes we do but someone has to protect this country."

"Yeah true, but I do miss you at home when you're late."

"I know honey me too and I will miss it too once our little boy is here."

"Just promise me you won't be away when I go into labor."

"I promise honey, I'll be there. I don't want to miss it."

"But you don't know what cases you'll get."

"I know but I promise you I'll be there. If we have to go overseas and you're close to your due date I just won't go. I don't wanna miss our little boy being born."

"Good, cus I need you there."

"I'll be there honey, I promise."

"Good."

They sat there for a while just relaxing in the tub. Joelle was sure if she stayed any longer like this she would fall asleep. They stayed in the tub for about an hour before going out. Callen went to prepare dinner as Joelle relaxed on the couch. They watched a movie on the TV. Once the movie had ended Joelle crawled onto Callen's lap. She planted her legs on either side of him and kissed him as Callen wrapped his arms around her.

"Wanna go to bed honey?" Joelle asked seductively.

"Of course."

Joelle got up and walked to the bedroom as Callen went to shut down the lights and close the doors. As Callen walked to the bedroom he found a trail of Joelle's clothes. When he got in the bedroom Joelle was lying naked on the bed. Callen walked to the bed and started undressing himself but Joelle stopped him. Joelle pushed him down on the bed and climbed on top of him. Callen loved this side of her and he was always more than willing to make love to her. But after the baby was born they would have to go a more than a few weeks without making love. But they probably wouldn't have much time for that anyway with a newborn baby around the house.

After making love they lay tangled up in each other's arms and they fell asleep.

They had been here in Palm Spring for about a week now. It was Monday today and they went to the grocery store together. As they walked through the store they suddenly heard gunfire.