Chapter 3

Jackson and Hetty talked till late into the night. Callen kept looking over towards the kitchen as voices were raised and then lowered.

Every time Callen got up to go into the kitchen, Nell would stop him and pull him back to the sofa.

"Let them talk." She said quietly, she stretched, walked into their bedroom and sat down on the bed.

Callen knelt behind her rubbing her shoulders and working out her knots, "I don't like it Nell, they are talking about us. I should be in there."

"Do you trust Hetty, Nico?" she asked.

"Yeah….but….I don't want to make a mistake and have Grandpa hate me." Callen sank back onto his heels and Nell turned as much as she could.

"He won't hate you." She said upset at the look of hurt in his eyes.

"He will, I know I'm not what he wanted, you weren't there when we met…I just….oh it's stupid…" Callen snapped and stood up walking out into the kitchen.

Jack and Hetty were finishing their drink as Callen stormed in.

"Look grandpa, I love you, but if you can't accept that I am with Nell and we are having a baby and you don't want me to be your grandson anymore that's fine. You can forget you ever met me. I've been alone before and I can do it again." He snapped defensively.

Jackson stood up and walked over to him going to put his hand on Callen's shoulder but stopping as he flinched.

"Nicolai, I am NEVER going to not want to be your Grandfather, I am proud to have you in the family, it was a bit of a shock that's all. I had hoped you'd have let us in on the fact you were going to be a father long before this."

Callen slumped in the chair next to Hetty who put a comforting hand on his arm, Jackson noticing that Hetty could get past his defenses easier that his own grandfather.

"I just forgot…I mean, I didn't forget I was going to be a father…but having to tell you guys, I've never had anyone to tell before, I told Hetty…but I tell her everything, she's…She's like a mother to me, she's been in my life for years, Then I realized I hadn't said anything and she was 6 months by then and we were moving in here together, it just didn't seem like the right time…I…I didn't mean to disappoint you sir." Callen said, he looked up unshed tears in his eyes and Jackson enveloped him in a hug as Nell walked in.

"You didn't disappoint me; you just surprised me is all." He said he turned and looked at Nell, "Miss?"

"Nell…" she said

Jackson smiled, "Welcome to the family." He hugged her and Nell smiled at Callen. "Come, sit, two beautiful ladies at the table are always more welcome than one." He said.

"Grandpa!" Callen exclaimed as Hetty and Nell laughed.

Jackson raised an eyebrow and looked at his grandson, "Son, are you honestly going to tell me neither of these women are beautiful?"

"I…." Callen looked at the look coming from both women, "No, sir." He smirked sitting next to Nell.

"So Nell, How did you meet my grandson?" Jackson asked.

Hetty yawned, "Seeing as I already know this story and I have to be in work tomorrow I should be leaving," she said walking to the door with Callen, " To keep the rest of your team in the loop, have you given any more thought to what I said Nico?" she asked,

"I still want to tell my dad first," Callen replied as he walked her to the door.

Hetty nodded, "Very well I will adhere to your wishes," she replied

"You are still coming for Christmas dinner?" He asked worried.

"I will see you in a few days." She told him.

He nodded and closed the door.

Callen walked back into the kitchen as his grandpa and Nell got to know each other, suddenly Nell yelped and rubbed her side.

Callen instantly worried moved to her side, "You ok?" he asked, Jackson moved over to her as well.

Nell smiled, "Yeah, just a little push from Junior, I guess he or she is tired."

Jackson smiled, "You don't know what you're having?" he asked.

Callen shook his head, "We wanted to do this right, you know like traditional, we have no idea." He admitted, "Come on babe, you need to get some sleep." He said to Nell and went to get Jackson's bag.

Nell gave Jackson a kiss on the cheek and went into the room she and Callen shared.

"We put you in the guest room next to the nursery grandpa, is that ok?" Callen asked.

Jackson nodded, "If you're sure it's not too much trouble." He said he grabbed a door handle, "This one?" He said turning the handle.

Callen smiled, "Er…nope, not unless you're the baby."

Jackson stopped and stared at the room, something about it seemed familiar. Then it hit him, the colors, they were the same light blue and light cherry wood that Leroy had in his room at Jackson's house the same room Callen had stayed in, there were pictures of Gibbs' Team, Callen's team in LA, Nell's parents. On one wall was a picture of Callen, Leroy, Clara, Shannon, Kelly and A young Leroy holding a small blonde haired girl. "You've used the same colors that are in your father's old room."

Callen smiled, "I wanted something of my family history and the only family history I know is…well that weekend when I first met you." He said.

Jackson looked sad, "I am sorry you missed out on so much son, maybe we can fix that while I'm here." He said turning and going into the room Callen was standing at and putting his bag down on the bed. "I can't give you back the time you lost but maybe I can help you learn more about your family, well the Gibbs side anyway." He offered.

Callen looked hopeful. "Really, I would like that Grandpa; I don't want junior growing up knowing nothing about his or herself."

Jackson smiled, "Somehow I think that isn't going to be a problem, that pretty boss lady of yours told me that your girl is a computer whiz."

Callen smiled at the 'your girl' remark. He looked towards their room where he knew Nell would already be sitting on the bed resting, waiting for him to come in and rub her feet and ankles.

"I think to be honest, I'm more her guy." He said quietly so she couldn't overhear.

Jackson looked at his grandson, he had gotten to know him well during the time he had spent recuperating with his son in D.C. and he had never seen his face so full of love.

"You do love her don't you; I thought you said she was dating…Eric? The other tech guy at your place." Jackson had remembered Callen saying something about it when he was there.

Callen nodded, "I thought she was, I thought she was so out of my league, then on the way home on the plane, I was talking to this blonde girl and…" Callen blushed at the memory, "Nell had been in D.C working on the directors computers and she was on the same flight, I kinda liked the blonde girl but she started getting clingy, Nell saw my distress walked up, she sat in my lap and told me, in front of the blond that her parents were up front asleep with the baby and did I want to join the mile high club, then she introduced herself as my wife….the blonde moved and Nell took her seat." He recalled smiling at the memory.

"And did you?" Jackson asked.

"Huh? Did we what?" he asked confused.

"Join the mile high club?"

Callen's slight blush deepened at the memory. "er…..yeah…we did."

"I've heard about it, it's something you get for flying right? Is it a certificate?" Jackson asked not noticing that Callen's face was getting redder.

"Something like that Grandpa." He said, "You should get to sleep, I still have to sort out Dad's room tomorrow and I need to pick him up from the airport. Are you coming?" he asked.

"You're taking your girl with you to meet him right?" Jackson asked.

Callen nodded, "Yeah Nell's coming."

"Then son, there is no way I'm going to miss this." Jackson grinned as he closed the door, chuckling at his grandson's groan.