A/N Thank you to all who have favorited, followed, read and or reviewed this story, this is the last chapter...but one day there may be another in this 'verse.

Disclaimer I don't own.

Chapter 23

Callen sat on the bed in his room; there were a few books and the album he had been given when he arrived at Eric's house on the desk that looked out over the beach and the ocean, a few case reports had snuck on there too over the last week or so, thanks to Eric.

He could see now, how coming to Eric's had been a good idea, who knew that the younger man was so family orientated, while his children had their own interests and did their own thing, Summer her surfing and friends from UCLA, Todd, his love of the TV series Supernatural and all things in that genre; Eric insisted that once a week they get together for a meal and family night, which usually involved a barbeque on the patio and chatting, playing music, and a lot of laughs until the sun went down, when Todd would get his telescope and he and Eric would look at the stars that the darkened view of the sky afforded them.

The first week Callen had tried to stay out of the way, until Eric had come up to his room and threatened to drag him to dinner insisting that he was 'family' and a family dinner means all of the family was present. Callen had walked down to the dining room and had felt hungry as the smell of barbecued steak wafted up his nose. After two beers a jacket potato and a steak, Callen was laughing with the family at Todd's exploits with a girl at school.

He looked around the room, knowing that his time here was nearly at an end, but he didn't want to leave. He loved the family atmosphere, he loved watching Eric, father his children and more than anything he loved being the protective uncle on the few times he had picked both children up from school or university.

Todd had grinned from ear to ear as Callen had pulled up in the Impala, he was wearing the aqua blue shirt that Summer had insisted made his eyes pop and had sent a smoldering smirk in the direction of Todd's teacher who had come out to see the car Todd insisted he owned. She slightly melted at the sight of Callen leaning against the car, Todd had told him all about how the teacher had picked on him saying he wasn't old enough to own a car and he in turn had told Callen and the next day, here he was. Todd sauntered over to the car, "Uncle G!" he said smiling.

"That her?" Callen asked.

Todd looked over at his teacher and smiled, "Miss. Lissaman?" Callen called.

She smoothed down her skirt and walked over, "Mr. Beale?" she asked.

Callen laughed, looking her up and down, tall brunette and a slight South African accent, just his type. His grin grew wider, "No, I'm Todd's uncle, Callen."

"Callen…?"

"Just Callen, I hear you accused him of lying yesterday."

She looked flustered, "Not as such, he was telling the other children he owned a 1967 Chevy Impala, mint condition. Now while I can see you have such a car, there is no way he could afford one or be old enough to own his own car." She said getting on her high horse.

Callen leaned in and got the ownership papers out of the glove box, "You might want to read these. Todd does own this car; he's lent it to me until he gets his driver's license."

She read it as Todd showed a few of his classmates his car, some of the girls came over to look, some fans of the TV show and recognizing the car, a few just crushing on his uncle.

Half an hour later, the two of them were cruising up the PCH both with phone numbers of girls in their pocket. Todd's of girls in his class and Callen with the number of Todd's teacher. They cranked up the stereo and let the warm ocean breeze clear out the cobwebs.

Pulling up into a car park overlooking the ocean Callen got a couple of sodas out of the car and he and Todd sat on the hood of the car staring out to sea.

"How you doing now, uncle G?" Todd asked.

"Better." Callen admitted looking over at the kid he had come to care for greatly. "You?" he asked.

"I have some bad days," Todd admitted not looking at him, then he turned, "But my good days are more and I love being a part of my family."

Callen nodded in agreement, "I can see why." He said thinking how much he enjoyed being a part of the family also.

Todd leaned putting his head on Callen's shoulder and took a sip of his drink, "You looking forward to going back to work next week?"

"I miss it," Callen admitted, he was apprehensive about going back considering the last time he was there, but also he was relieved, he missed the job immensely.

Todd sat up and hugged his knees, "I'm gonna miss you." He said softly, it was so quiet Callen almost didn't catch it over the sound of the waves.

"Na you won't." Callen smirked, "I'm gonna be around so often you'll be wishing I wasn't there."

Todd laughed, "Never happen. I mean I love my dad and my sister 'n all, but, I can talk about stuff with you, stuff that you only understand."

"Right back at ya short stuff, I know I don't have…I don't think I have any blood family left, but you are and will always be my nephew, you know that?" Callen asked and relaxed as Todd nodded, "When I go home, I'm gonna need your help, I have a few spare rooms, I was thinking…maybe…if you want, you could have a room at my house, and come and stay, sometimes?"

Todd grinned, "Really? I'd love to Uncle G." Todd jumped off the car, "We are going to be late…Dad's gonna ream us out something rotten."

Callen laughed, "Ok sprout, let's head back…"

Eric looked up as Callen and his son walked in. "You're late," Eric said raising an eyebrow at his son.

"It's my fault, I picked him up from school and we went for a drive."

Eric tried unsuccessfully to hide a smirk, "Yeah I had a call from his school, apparently you made quite an impression on Todd's teacher."

"I did?" Callen tried to hide the little bit of hope that blossomed there, she was nice he had to admit, even if she was tough, but she wasn't in law enforcement and maybe…just maybe…one date wouldn't hurt.

Eric grinned as he handed him her number, "She said she had already given this to you, but in case you lost it…" he left the rest unsaid as Callen took the number.

"So, you all packed?" Eric asked a few weeks later as Callen prepared to head back to his own place before starting work.

"Mostly, there are a few things…" Callen started not really wanting to admit that he wouldn't get to sleep in this room with its calming view.

"That's ok, if you don't wanna take them, you can leave them here, this is and always will be your room, you are a part of my family Callen, and let's face it if you aren't going to store stuff at your house you need somewhere to put things." Eric grinned, "Besides, when you come over for family night, I'm not letting you drive home."

Callen looked stunned, "G, you are like the big brother I always wanted, not the idiots I had for family, but someone who has my back and cares about my children, I wanted to ask…would you not only be their uncle…but officially be their godfather, if something happens to me I need to know that they are looked after by someone I trust."

Callen sat back on the chair. "Me?!"

"Sure, Bro…I want to legally make you a part of my family, it's not a frivolous question, you'll be responsible for everything, raising Todd, I mean Summer's practically an adult already, but also, you'd have to take control of their trust funds..." Eric shrugged with a small grin, "My father apparently set them up, they kick in when they are 25, plus what I'm adding from the company checks from their shares of the company."

Callen just nodded, he was overwhelmed, but for the first time he was happy.

"Great!" Eric grinned, "I hoped you'd say yes, I kinda already filed the paperwork, you just need to sign."

"What about work, Hetty, the others."

Eric shrugged, "Hetty knows, I had to tell human resources, anyone else, it's up to you. Frankly I don't think they need to know, unless you feel you want to tell them, they know we are close so it shouldn't be a problem"

"And all I was gonna ask was if you'd allow me to give the kids a room each at my house?" Callen said thinking it sounded a bit feeble after that.

"You gonna buy actual furniture?" Eric asked

"Sure, even beds." Callen grinned.

Eric shrugged, "Ok."

Callen laughed. "Fine papa bear, look, you can even make sure everything is up to your standard."

Eric started laughing too, "Yeah two men looking for beds for their kid's bedroom….Can you say GAY!"

Callen punched him in the shoulder as Eric reached for a box to carry to the car for Callen.

Early the next morning Callen woke up, it was too quiet.

He realized as he shifted uncomfortably on his bed roll that he missed the bed he had had at Eric's home. He missed a lot of things the sounds of footsteps outside his room, Summer moaning that Todd had stolen all the hot water and hogged the bathroom, Todd moaning about the same thing only the other way around and Eric keeping the peace, he missed the sound of the ocean, but he was home.

Making a mental note to buy a bed he got up and showered, grabbed a coffee and headed into work.

OSP was as it had always been a hive of busy activity, agents bustling to and fro, Callen dropped his bag by his desk and walked into Hetty's office.

"Mr. Callen, Welcome back." Hetty said with a smile as she looked up and saw Callen.

"Thanks, I've got my evals here; I'm cleared for field work…finally." He said with a grin.

"That's good the team has missed you, do you have the 'other' paperwork for me?" She asked as Callen handed her a manila envelope.

"Eric said you could file this quickly." Callen said.

"I am so pleased that you are allowing this, I think it will be best for you all, you now have a family, Mr. Callen."

Callen ducked his head in a rare moment of shyness. But he was pleased nonetheless.

"Off you go Mr. Callen and I will make sure your paperwork is filed immediately." Hetty promised.

He walked back to his desk as Eric walked in, "Hey bro, did you give Hetty the paperwork?" he asked.

"Yep, its official now," Callen smirked, "There's no getting rid of me."

Eric laughed and headed up to ops as Deeks, Kensi and Sam arrived and welcomed him back.

He leaned back in his desk and looked at his team, he decided, that his relationship with Eric's family would for now stay between them. He had found acceptance and had finally cleared his hurdles, Eric was back at work full time and now earning extra as his dependants were no longer a secret to the team or to Eric.

Over the past month the team as a whole had gelled more, spending time outside of Ops and growing stronger because of it.

Settling back into his role, Callen sat at his desk going through the day's paperwork, as no new cases came in, laughing with the team as Deeks was teased by Kensi, who teased him back in return.

At the end of the day, Callen picked up his bag and made a call.

"You up for a beer?" Sam asked glad his partner was getting back to himself.

Eric laughed as he walked past; Sam raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Callen smiled, a rare genuine smiled, "Thanks Sam, but I have a date."

"You have a date?!" Sam was intrigued.

"Yep, shopping with a pretty little brunette teacher." Callen shrugged, it was he would admit a strange third date, but Sally Lissaman just hit all the right buttons with him.

"You shop? What for?" Sam asked incredulous, as far as he knew his partner lived on take out.

"A bed….furniture, food, usual stuff Sam." Callen smirked knowing how much it riled his partner not to know everything.

Callen walked to the door with his bag.

"Hell no!" Sam muttered under his breath and grabbed his own bag and ran after Callen.

"G? G! You gotta tell me everything!" He called after his partner as the big heavy wooden door closed behind them.