Callen woke the next morning at about 6:30 to Sara, stirring a bit, in his arms.

Callen slowly untangled himself from Sara and the sheets, while trying not to wake her.

He made his way down stairs. All the grand kids between ages 1 and 6 were watching a cartoon in the living room and all the men, excluding Charles, were in the kitchen drinking coffee and Nick was giving Cody his bottle.

"Mornin' George," Luke greeted.

"Morning," Callen replied, pouring himself some coffee, "so is this where you give me the 'if you hurt her' speech?" he joked.

"Possibly," Christopher smiled, "but she's a big girl and I know she'll give it to you much worse then any of us if you hurt her."

"I have not doubt about that," Callen replied, taking a sip of his drink.

"No doubt about what?" Sara asked, coming into the kitchen and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Nothing," Luke replied.

"You know," Christopher said, "I've been woundering when you're going to make an honest woman out of my sister."

Sara choked on her coffee, "we've only been dating six months. And don't you go all 'Mary and I' on me. Y'all had been best friends for years."

"Does all of your family have short dating time periods?" Callen asked.

"Pretty much," Nick replied.

"Sara's the only who's dating someone for over a year and not married them," Tom said.

"I was only 25," Sara said.

"Lori and I were 23," Luke said.

"Y'all were also crazy mature," Sara said, "I decided I wanted a career and Andrew wanted a family. I wasn't ready."

"I was kidding, Sara," Christopher said.

"But everybody wants the know when I'm going to settle down, right?" Sara said.

"Krispy Kremes?" Charles asked, bursting into the adults awkward silence, "it always makes me feel good when everyone stopped talking as I walk in."

"I need some air," Sara said, making her way out into the deck.

Callen followed after her. He found her leaning against the railing, looking out at the pond, 150 feet away.

"Hey," Callen said, leaning against the railing right beside her, "you ok?"

"No," Sara said, "they always bring Andrew up and my being single."

"If you don't mind me asking, why is the topic of him so touchy?"

Sara sighed, "it was a long time ago. We both moved on. He got married. I've had a couple relationships since then and. I can't believe I'm thinking of telling you this."

"Tell me what?"

Sara glanced around to make sure nobody was outside, "we have a kid together."

Callen went wide eyed and Sara explained.

"My family doesn't know," she started, "by the time I was showing enough to notice, I moved and was able to keep visitors away until the baby was born. Andrew and I had already broken up when I found out I was pregnant. My best friend was the only one who knew before she let it slip to Andrew and by that time it was to late for him to do anything."

"What happened to the baby?"

"She was adopted by a family in Texas," Sara replied.

"Wow... I mean... I never would have expected..." Callen stammered.

"The family sends me pictures once or twice a month. She's 8 now"

"Have you met her?"

"No," Sara shook her head "and I don't plan to. I'd mess her up and possibly put her in danger."

"I doubt you'd mess her up."

"Thanks, but I probably still would," Sara said, before leaving and going inside. Callen waited a few minutes before following her.

::

Sara came down thy stairs later that day, after taking a shower.

"Mmm...waffles and bacon," Sara smiled, hugging her mother from behind.

"Tradition," her mom smiled, mixing the waffle batter. There were 5 waffle irons heating up and that batch was probably at least quadrupled, "now get off of me. Your hair is getting my shirt all wet."

"Hey Mary Beth," Sara called, "can I take Eric off your hands for a while?"

"Sure," she replied, handing her six month old over.

"Who's a big boy!" Sara's said, in a high pitch voice, taking Eric over to the living room. Callen came and joined the two.

"Hey buddy," he smiled, Eric smile back, "this is Eric, right?"

"Yep," Sara smiled.

"I know a guy named Eric, but he's a nerd or a geek. I get confused about the difference."

"I'm pretty sure Eric's some of both but this little guy will probably be a jock like his parents," Sara said.

"I never have appreciate being called a jock," Mary Beth said, walking into the room, "it's time for his nap."

"Ok," Sara said, kissing Eric's cheek, "goodnight baby."

"Goodnight buddy," Callen said, as Sara handed the baby over to her sister-in-law.

"Dinner will be ready in a half hour," Fay called, outside, where most of the grandkids and a few of the men were.

"So early? Callen asked, "it's only 4 now."

"It's a tradition. We have waffels, eggs, bacon, sausage and eat around 4 or 4:30. The we get our pajamas on, watch a Christmas movie, and then watch old home videos until everyone falls asleep," Sara explained.

"Sounds nice. My Christmas tradition is sitting at home with a couple cold beers."

"That's pitiful," Sara said.

"Story of my life," Callen shrugged.

"Well, I am going to make it my goal that your Christmas is never spent that way again," Sara grinned.

"How? You just gonna act like we're married next year. For some reason I don't feel like that'll work," Callen grinned, talking quieter so nobody could hear him but Sara.

"I'll figure something out," Sara smirked, going up to her room.

"Hey George," Fay called, "would you mind helping me?"

"Not at all," Callen smiled, "I don't know how much of a help I'll be though."

"That's ok, all I need you to do is put the batter in the irons and take the waffles out every three minutes. Think you can handle that?"

"I think I can," he smiled cheesy. Fay laughed at him.

"Sara's a really good cook, but I'm sure you already know that," Fay said.

"Yep," Callen said. And he did know. Sara had made them dinner the night before they'd left for North Carolina.

Callen and Fay chatted as they prepared the meal and set it up, buffet style.

Dinner was ready at exactly 4:30. Supper was loud a chaotic, just like every other one, but very enjoyable. Callen even joined in on the chaos. Lots of stories and laughs were shared throughout the meal

Sara smiled at him at one point and that sent his mind into over drive.

He was having non platonic feelings for her. They made him confused but comforted at the same time. Her smile warmed his heart her laugh made him want to smile and laugh too. He also felt he could trust her more than just in the field. He felt he could trust her with his heart and feelings.

He definitely needed to figure this out. It was happening to fast for him to even comprehend. It hadn't been 36 hours since they stepped off that plane and his world went crazy.

"Earth to G," Sara said, waving her hand in front of his face.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"You were really zoned out," Sara said, buttering her roll, "like deep deep in though. Like 4 paragraphs deep."

"What are you talking about?" Callen asked, "how can you be paragraphs in though?"

"Cris, Tom, and I came up with it a long time ago," Sara explained, "its like a scale for how deep. It only goes up to 5 and you were at least a 4."

"That makes absolutely no sense," Callen said.

"Whatever mr. rain-on-my-parade."

"Ok, y'all have 10 minutes to go put on pajamas and meet down here," Charles said, at the end of the meal, "Sara, it's your turn to choose the movie. What do you want to..."

"The Christmas Card," Sara said, cutting him off.

"Why do I even bother asking?"

Everyone put their dishes in the sink and went to change.

Callen and Sara were the first ones back down stairs. There was a big bowl of popcorn and a few tubs of ice cream on the table.

"Get what you want now because if you wait, it might be gone later," Sara warned, grabbing a bowl.

After she finished her ice cream, Sara tucked right up beside Callen, with Callen's arms around her, and a bowl of popcorn for the both of them.

"This is so cliché," Callen whispered.

"And romantic," Sara replied, "besides put of these types of Christmas movies it on the more original side."

After the movie, they started the him videos. The crowd thinned out as the night went on. Britney and Sara were the only ones left after 11:30 and the home videos served more as a background to their conversation.

"So you think you and George will be getting married in the future?" Britney asked.

"You too?" Sara groaned.

"Well, to did being him home. That's the first guy in 10 years."

"It's not like a bring everyone I'm dating home for Christmas. That kind of screams commitment when you do," Sara said.

"All the same," Britney replied, "its nice to see you with someone again."

"Thanks Britt," Sara smiled.

"ahh... I guess we should be getting to bed, it's 1."

"I guess so," Sara agreed, "I love you big sis."

"Right back at ya lil' sis."

They hugged goodnight and headed to their rooms.

Sara closed her bedroom door, quietly so as not to wake up Callen.

"Finally," Callen said, making Sara jump.

"You scarred me. I thought you were asleep."

"Nope, couldn't get to sleep with out you," Callen admitted, dopily. Sara doin it strange he would say something like that. In fact he sounded strange.

"You ok, G?" She asked, concerned.

"Just fine, Dandy in fact."

"Where's G Callen and what did you do with him?" Sara said.

"Right here, silly. I just took some sleepy syrup. It's not working though,"Sara tried, unccessfuly, to keep the giggles in, "stop laughing and come cuddle."

"Ok, G," Sara smiled, getting into the bed, "goodnight," she said, still laughing a bit, kissing his cheek and cuddling up right to him so that they were spooning.

"Goodnight Sara," Callen said, his arm falling over her waist, "Sara?"

"Yes, G?"

"I think... I think I may... be fall... falling for...yo..." was all Callen got out before he fell sleep with Sara in his arms.

"Met too, G. Me too."

A/N

I told y'all in the summary things were on the fast track to a hallmark movie. Hope you enjoyed!