Authors note:

It really warms my heart to know that this story and all the stories from its universe has touched so many people. When I started the story it was for a good friend who had the idea and I had the words to make it real. It has become so much more now. So thank you to all my readers for making this story part of your lives. I plan on continuing it as long as you'll continue to read it.

Also to help you follow the kids ages here they are at this point in the story.

Anna is 6 almost 7

Clara is 16 months

Donny is 2 and a half

Lilly is seven months

Jenny Talia's daughter is 18 months.

And Nell is close to delivery.

A few days after Mac and Callen had their talk she stopped taking the pill. Callen didn't say anything. They didn't go telling everyone they were planning on having another kid. They just figured if and when it happened it happened.

A month later Kensi had a good idea something was up when Mac passed up a beer one team night. She raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

"You know you not drinking is a red flag." Said Callen on their way to pick up the kids."

"I honestly didn't feel like drinking tonight. I'm tired enough as it is and the beer would have made it worse."

"You feeling ok?"

"No not really." Mac looked out the window. "Maybe I caught that bug that is going around."

"I hope not. I don't like the idea of taking care of the girls myself and having to look after you too."

"You don't like fact you'll have to cook."

"That too."

"Don't worry If I get sick we'll let the girls stay with mom."

"That would work."

They pulled up to the beach house and got out of the car. Mac yawned and leaned against the car.

"Why don't we just sleep here tonight?"

Mac and Callen both kept clothes here so they could stay whenever they wanted to and not worry about getting ready for work in the morning.

"Do I need to carry you to bed?"

"No I'm good."

Callen wasn't so sure. He put his arm around his wife and helped her into the house. Sara met them.

"Oh my what's wrong?"

"She's not feeling well."

Sara went into mother mode and led MacKenna over to a chair. She put her hand against her forehead.

"You're burring up."

"I'm getting a bit dizzy too."

"Callen I think you may want to take her to the ER."

"No mom I'll be fine. Just give me something to bring down the temp and let me sleep it off."

Sara shook her head and went to get some pills. She came back and stuck smoothing in her daughters ear to check her temp.

"102." Sara shook her head. "You young lady are going to the ER.

Mac got up and almost knocked Callen over trying to get to the bathroom. She puked and lay there on the bathroom floor.

"Ok that is it I'll let Victor know and then get the car. You get her up and outside."

Callen got a wet cloth and cleaned Mac up. He had seen her sick with the flu and with several bad colds but he had never seen her like this. "Ok sweetheart up we go."

"Ok it's really starting to hurt."

Now Callen knew something was really wrong. Even when she got shot MacKenna didn't complain about pain. He picked her up and carried her to the waiting car putting her in the back so he could hold her on the trip. He called Hetty to let her know that they would not be in to work the next day. Hetty said she would meet them at the hospital.

Sara parked the car while Callen carried his wife inside the ER. A doctor they both knew was working.

"Agent Callen what's wrong?" Dr. Tina Shea came right over.

"I don't know. High fever, pain in her stomach and she's throwing up and dizzy."

She led them back to a treatment room.

"Any chance she's pregnant?"

"Yes." Callen put Mac down on the bed. "I'm not sure. We aren't trying but we aren't using anything either."

"Ok then let's take a look."

"My mother in law is parking the car I'll go find her."

Callen leaned over and gave Mac a kiss. "I'll go find mom and be right back."

Mac only moaned.

An hour later Dr. Shea came out to the waiting room to find Callen. Hetty had shown up and was sitting with them holding Sara's hand.

"How is she?"

"MacKenna is fine." She looked at him with a sad look.

"What is wrong?" demanded Callen.

"MacKenna had a miscarriage."

Callen sat down hard and covered his face with his hands. Sara started to cry.

"How far along was she?"

"Only a few weeks. There was most likely something wrong with the fetus and her body terminated the pregnancy. It happens like this more often than we would like."

"She can still get pregnant can't she?" asked Sara.

"Yes. There is no reason why she shouldn't be able to get pregnant and carry another baby to term."

"Can I see her?"

"Of course, I gave her something for the pain and she's upset."

"We all are." Said Callen quietly.

He walked back to find Mac on her side in a ball crying.

"Hey it's ok."

"I lost our baby."

"We'll have another."

"What if we can't?"

"Then we will adopt our little boy. It will be fine."

Callen moved to the other side of the bed kicked off his shoes and lay down with her. "It will all be just fine angel I promise."

The next morning Deeks, Sam and Kensi were at their desks. Nell and Eric came to join them.

"Hey wonder twins what's up?" asked Deeks.

"No idea. Granger just told us to come down here." Said Eric.

Sam looked over to the two empty desks. Something was up, and he figured it had to be bad.

Granger came over and looked at them. He looked exhausted.

"Granger what's going on?" asked Deeks who was really worried now.

"Last night MacKenna had a miscarriage."

He was met with silence.

"Hetty will be back tomorrow. I'm not sure when Callen or MacKenna will be back."

Nell started to cry and wrapped her arms around her belly. Eric pulled her close and held her. Kensi kept taking deep breaths trying to calm her racing heart.

Deeks and Sam had no idea what to say. As parents this was always a fear, losing a child."

"What should we do?" asked Deeks quietly.

"Right now do your jobs. They'll let us know if they need anything." He let out a deep breath. "There really isn't anything we can do other than that."

Eric helped Nell upstairs and the others tried to go back to work.

THE BEACH HOUSE.

"Grandpa what's wrong?" asked Anna coming into the kitchen that morning. "Where's momma and daddy?"

"Come her Anna."

Anna went over to Victor and he picked her up. "Baby your momma got very sick last night and had to go to the hospital."

"Is she dead?" asked Anna starting to cry.

"No baby she'd going to be fine." Victor held her tightly and let her cry. "They will be home later today but you and Clara will be staying here with me this weekend so that your momma can get better ok?"

"Can we call her later so I can say hi?"

"Of course we can baby."

They sat there for a long time till they heard Clara crying. Victor put the tv on and let her watch cartoons. He was glad it was a Saturday and Anna could stay home. He found Clara standing up in her crib. He changed her and put her in a little shorts and a tee shirt and took her down stairs. He put Clara in her play pen and went to make breakfast for the girls.

Sara came in soon after they were seated eating pancakes. Victor stood and went to Sara to hug her.

"How's our girl?"

"Upset. Callen took her home. Hetty walked in then and gave both the girls kisses and took a seat at the table.

"Grandma Hetty how is momma?"

"She's fine little one. Her and your daddy are home and she's resting."

"When can we go home too?"

"Soon little one." Anna sniffled a little but finished her pancakes.

Clara sat in her high chair and smeared the pancakes all over the tray giggling. This made Hetty smile and she decided to feed the little one so she got something into her belly instead of just all over her face.

CALLEN'S HOUSE.

Callen helped Mac into the house and to the couch. They were told they could start trying for another baby at any time. Callen made her some tea and brought it to her on the couch.

"Drink this."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not knowing I was pregnant. I should have known."

"MacKenna you were like three weeks. There is no way you could have known yet.

"Maybe I'm too old to try for another baby."

"You're not too old."

Callen watched as she drank her tea. "You want something to eat?"

"Some toast would be good."

"Ok I'll make you some and some more tea."

Callen went into the kitchen. He made her breakfast and took it in to her. After she ate he made her take a shower and get into bed. Mac lay on her side and cried. Finally she fell asleep.

Around noon Callen's phone rang.

"How's our girl doing?" asked Sara.

"She's sleeping."

"No she's awake. Let me talk to my mom."

Callen smiled and handed her the phone. "Hi mom I'm ok. Just very tired."

"Anna wants to talk to you."

"Ok put her on."

"Momma I miss you."

"I miss you too baby."

"Are you going to be sick long?"

"No baby I'll see you very soon ok. Now be good for grandma and grandpa and look after your baby sister."

"I love you momma."

"I love you too Anna."

Callen talked to Anna for a minuet then got back on with Sara. They would keep the girls for the weekend and bring them home Monday after school.

"I miss the girls."

"So do I but I want some time for just us." Callen led her back to bed and pulled her down with him. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Callen."

The rest of the weekend went fast and Monday found them both back at work. No one knew what to say so they just didn't say anything. Nell took it the hardest. She was two months away from giving birth and did her best to stay away from Mac.

"Eric I'm going to be a constant reminder to her now."

"Nell she knows you love her. Mac is not going to hold anything against you."

By the end of the day Nell finally got the nerve to go see Mac. She took one look at her and started crying then hugged her and refused to let go.

"Um Eric a little help here." Said Mac not sure what was going on.

"Yeah sorry about that." Eric pulled Nell away. "She thinks you hate her now."

"Nell why would I think that?"

Nell pointed to her belly and started to cry again.

"Nell it's ok. You did nothing wrong."

"I'm sorry about everything."

"It just wasn't meant to be."

Nell hugged her again and finally let Eric take her home. Sam was next to give her a hug then Kensi and Deeks.

"You need anything just let us know." Said Kensi.

"Guys I'm good." Mac smiled. "It's not what I wanted but there is nothing I can do to change it now."

As soon as they were in the car Callen looked at her. "Ok it's going to take 45 minutes to get home. Cry now because we will have two little girls who will need their mommy when we get home."

"I'm not going to cry."

Callen just looked at her.

"Ok I want to cry but I'm not going to." Mac reached over and took his hand. "We will get thru this and my crying all the time will not help."

"Ok but if you want to cry you can."

"I love you."

"I know." Callen smiled over at her then started the drive home.

They walked into the house smelling food. Sara had cooked dinner.

"Momma." Anna ran to her. Mac got down and opened her arms.

"There's my big girl."

"I missed you so much momma."

"I missed you too baby."

"Mama, mama." Clara came walking over to her from where she was playing. Mac scooped her up.

"How's my little bug."

"Hi mama." Clara giggled and gave Mac kisses. This was her new thing she loved to blow kisses.

"There you two are. Dinner will be ready in a few go get washed up."

"Mom you didn't have to cook for us."

"I didn't Anna did."

Callen looked down at his daughter. "I made sgettie."

"You did." Callen looked at Sara. "With meatballs?"

"No daddy with meat sauce."

"It's easier to start with that." Said Sara.

"Sgettie." Said Clara. Now that she was talking Clara was picking up new words almost every day.

They all sat down to dinner. Sara stayed so that she could clean up the kitchen for Mac.

"Wow Anna this is really good."

"We made the sauce from scratch didn't we Anna?"

"Yes Bunica." Anna was all smiles.

"Anna wanted to make sure you had a good meal to come home too." Sara fed Clara bites of the pasta. "We also did a few loads of laundry and cleaned the girls rooms."

"Mom you didn't have to do that."

"It's what mothers are for." Sara smiled at Mac. "I want to do these things for you."

Even after all this time Mac still was taken aback by things her parents did. "You're the best mom."

Sara got up and kissed her daughter on the top of the head then started to clear the dishes.

"I think this one needs a bath." Said Callen. Clara was coved with sauce.

"Clara is a messy baby." Said Anna with a frown. Anna was always cleaning up after her little sister. She did not like messes.

Callen picked Clara up and held her out away from his shirt. "Your sister is right you are a messy baby."

"No." said Clara then she giggled. No was still her favorite word when she talked to her dad.

They heard Callen arguing with Clara from the bathroom. "Clara stop splashing me."

"No."

"Let me wash your hair."

"No."

Sara and Mac laughed. Then they really laughed as a very naked wet Clara came running into the kitchen.

"I give up." Said Callen who was soaking wet himself.

Mac picked up her daughter and headed back to the bathroom. Ten minutes later Clara was clean and dry and in her jammies.

"Hi Daddy." Said Clara as she put her arms up to be held.

"Little bug." Callen picked her up and snuggled her into his chest. She snuggled down and sucked onto her thumb. "wuv daddy." Said Clara.

Callen looked down at her and then up at Mac. This was the first time Clara had said anything like that.

"I love you too little bug." Callen held his little girl close to his body and rocked her. It didn't take long for Clara to fall asleep. Callen carried her to bed then came back to spend some time with Anna.

Sara headed home and would be back in the morning to pick up the girls. "If you need anything done tomorrow make me a note."

"Really mom I'm good."

"I know I just want to take care of my baby girl."

Mac went to the couch and snuggled up with Callen and Anna. They sat there in the quiet for about an hour before Anna started to drift off. They put her to bed and went back to the couch.

"Let's try again." Said Mac.

"Are you sure?"

"I want my little boy."

Callen held his wife tightly. "If you change your mind we don't have to try again. We can just adopt."

"No I want to try, I want to give you a son."

"Ok we start trying again next month."

"Callen I'm not going on the pill again. We are not using anything go it?"

"Yes dear."

Callen knew that when his wife got this way it was best to just go along with it. If not he ended up on the couch for a week. Then there was that one time he went against her and ended up sleeping on Deeks couch for a week. They all had keys to each others homes so after that fight Callen had simply let himself in. He still remembered waking up to Kensi standing over him wearing one of Deeks LAPD tee shirts.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't listen to my wife what do you think."

"Stupid Callen really stupid."

"I know that."

Deeks had walked in then. "You didn't listen to her did you?"

"No I didn't."

"Callen when your wife tell you to pick up your toys you pick them up."

"It would have been fine but she stepped on a sharp piece of metal and cut her foot."

"Bet she's never going to buy you another erector set again."

Callen groaned and covered his face. Mac hadn't talked to him for two days and had limped for a week from the cut on her foot that had ended up needing stitches. He also got the cold shoulder from Hetty.

Now he knew better. Mac was normally laid back but if you pissed her off all hell would break out.

"You know Halloween is coming up next month. I need to talk to mom and find out what they did in Romania. I'd like to do something that will be familiar for Anna."

"That would be a good idea. Our idea of Halloween may scare her." Callen kissed the top of her head. "I want to stick with the bug theme for Clara."

"Sure babe whatever you want."

CHAPTER NOTES.

Next chapter will be the lead up to Halloween (you can read that story in my holidays special.) as well as a more in depth telling of Nell having her baby.