Hello my darlings. I would to thank Petunia3116, LKK (Guest), elsje1967, French fan (Guest) and JackSam for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
I'm really sorry this took so long, I'm afraid life got in the way. But enough of that, I would like to wish you all happy Christmas, and here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.
Callen smiled as he listened to Marty singing in the shower. He liked hearing his voice. But however much he wanted to stand there and listen, he had other things he needed to do before they went to Hetty's.
As such Callen made his way out side and pulled his go bag from the back of his car before making his way back to Marty's apartment. Normally he wouldn't bother, he'd just use whatever was in there. But this time he wasn't going alone. So emptying out the things he didn't need he made space for Marty's stuff. No point in taking two bags after all.
When Deeks came out of the shower wearing only a towel as he rubbed his hair dry, it was to find G's bag packed and ready to go.
"You trying to tell me something?" He asked cheekily, though in truth he really didn't understand why G had his go bag.
"Yeah. That I'm not driving back from Hetty's tonight. So unless you are going to refuse her best whiskey, we'll be staying over." Callen replied simply pulling his mind away from the gorgeous sight in front of him. Oh man, why did Marty have to be so god damn sexy?
"Right. Best get my bag packed as well then." Deeks nodded, moving to grab his own, only to find himself stopped by his boyfriend pulling him into his arms and kissing him passionately and thoroughly.
Pulling away from Deeks lips, yet not letting him go, Callen replied to his words. "No need. I have your stuff too."
"But won't we need separate bags?" Deeks asked with a frown. Okay, sure. He knew Hetty knew about them. But he couldn't see her letting them stay in the same room, sharing a bag would be very awkward in that case.
At that Callen laughed and let go of the man in his arms. Did he really think Hetty would believe for a minute that they weren't going to share a bed? Even if she tried it, he knew she knew he would just sneak into Marty's room when she went to sleep away. Plus they were grown men. Why would she make they sleep in different rooms?
"No." he said grabbing the bag and leaving the room quickly. He knew if he didn't then they would be very late for getting to Hetty's. And if there was one thing she really didn't approve of, it was people being late. So instead of doing what he really wanted to do, which was take Marty back to their bed and not let him get out of it for a very long time, he collected up Monty's bowls and toys, so he would have his stuff at Hetty's as well.
It was half an hour later they pulled up outside a massive house that made Deeks mouth drop. Sure he couldn't imagine Hetty living somewhere pokey, but this, this was something else. Grabbing Monty's lead in one hand, so the dog didn't run off to investigate, he climbed out of the car with Hetty's present held firmly in the other. He then followed G as he made his way to the door and pulled out a key.
"What not picking the lock?" Deeks asked with a cheeky smile. Trying to pull himself out of his awe at where he would be spending Christmas evening, not to mention the nervousness he felt at spending it with Hetty.
"Do you really think Hetty has locks that can be picked?" Callen asked with the raise of his eyebrow, though in truth Hetty had installed these ones after the many times he had done just that to the previous locks in her house.
"What, did she make you test them?" Deeks chuckled betting that she did. He couldn't imagine G not trying to pick them at least. I mean this is the guy who would no doubt still pick the lock to his door, even though he had given him a key that morning.
"It was more a case of making sure he stayed inside the house Mr Deeks. G Callen had a habit of vanishing when he was bored of an evening and everyone else was asleep when he was younger. Now I believe he takes apart electrical equipment or reads. Speaking of which, how is your library coming along?" Hetty said from a doorway just of the impressive hall they had walked into before moving towards the two men and their dog with a smile of greeting on her face.
"It's growing rapidly. Merry Christmas Hetty." Deeks replied with his sunny smile, relaxing as soon as she had spoken. He enjoyed hearing that little titbit about G as a child.
"Be fair Hetty. I stopped when I found your library." Callen argued even as he bent down to place a gentle kiss onto the older woman's cheek in way of greeting.
"And there I was, thinking you stopped when I told you you could bring your boyfriends home." Hetty answered with a twinkle in her eye looking up at her favourite agent, not that she had favourites at all.
At that Deeks couldn't help but chuckle. The embarrassed look on G's face was priceless. But he also didn't want to upset him. Therefore he decided it would probably be best to change the subject. Though later he would very much want to know about these mysterious childhood boyfriends.
"Hetty, this is for you." He said holding out the present.
"I told you there was no need to get me anything Mr Deeks." Hetty replied giving him a small frown, though she was also smiling at the fact he had obviously not listened to either her of his boyfriend. Good, she liked that he stuck to his guns.
"I know, but hey, it's Christmas. And call me Marty." Deeks responded, not really wanted to spend the whole night being called Mr Deeks. It made him feel as if he was at work. And this was not a work related dinner, this was a family meal.
At his words the frown disappeared and Hetty smiled up at him as she took the gift, before turning to look at the last remaining guest she had yet to greet.
"Of course, Marty. Now are you going to let Monty go? He is free to roam as he wishes." She said giving the dog a scratch behind the ears though not letting him off his lead. He was Mr Deeks, no Marty's, dog. He would be the one to decide to do that.
"Thanks Hetty." Deeks replied unlatching the lead and staring into Monty's eyes as if telling him to behave without words. Hetty found it rather entertaining to watch what seemed to her to be a silent conversation between the dog and his master. Turning to look up at Callen, she found that he to was watching, though the look in his eyes could be described as nothing short of the deepest affection for the ones in front of him. It was nice to see that look unguarded for once, to see that when he was not at work, her boy did let himself show the truth of his feelings for his man.
"Let us go into the den. Callen take your bag upstairs. I have put fresh linen on your bed. And then when you come down we can have pre-dinner drinks." Hetty said deciding to move the conversation from the hallway. There was no need to stand there, and she was hostess. Time to move the party where they could all be more comfortable.
"Yes Hetty." Callen replied moving towards the stairs without another word.
"Wow. You have him well trained." Deeks muttered as he watched G go without a comment. If he had said something like that to him, no doubt he would have got a smart-assed reply, but then, he wasn't Hetty. He doubted anyone would question her, especially someone who had lived with her for so longer and claimed she was like a mother to him.
"But of course I do." Hetty responded with a conspiratorial smirk as she moved towards the door she had just come out of.
"Hey." Callen growled trying to sound affronted but not really meaning it. He liked that Marty and Hetty got on so well, that his lover wasn't being intimidated by their little, yet fierce and scary, boss.
"Shh, Mr Callen and hurry. I wish to open my present from Marty… and you apparently. I'm sure we discussed forging people's signatures before Mr Deeks." Hetty answered as she checked the tag on the present while making her way into the other room, Marty on her heels.
Callen was tempted to listen to what it was Hetty had to say, but decided against it. He didn't want to take too long after all. Though as he walked up the stairs he did realise that he wasn't surprised that Marty had written his name on the present as well, but he was wondering when he had written his name on something for Hetty before. He couldn't think of anything it could be.
Pushing that thought from his mind he made his way quickly along the corridor, absently noting all the points of entry and exit as he did so, before he entered the room he had spent three years of his life living in. Walking in, he smiled. Because even though it hadn't been his for so long, Hetty still said it was, and he still thought of it that way as well, even if the décor was different now that it had been then. It was still the closet thing he had ever had to his own room.
As he returned to the den he could hear Marty and Hetty discussing something, so he stopped outside the door to try and find out what, wondering if Hetty was telling Marty more embarrassing things from his childhood. Hmm, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. He really didn't want Marty knowing some of the things he had gotten up to, especially when he first came here and was a little… unruly.
Inside the room Hetty and Deeks had been having a nice normal conversation as they waited for Callen's return. But suddenly Hetty held up her hand to stop Deeks in mid flow. When he became silent she spoke in a voice was no louder than her usual tone.
"Mr Callen, are you going to slink outside the door all evening, or are you coming to join us?"
"Just making sure you weren't spilling my secrets." Callen replied moving through the doorway and sliding onto the couch beside Marty. He then proceeded the wrap his arm around the younger man without even realising he was doing it. It was such a natural thing for him to do. To sit on a couch with the man he loved pulled close to him, his fingers playing gently with the ends of Marty's hair.
"Do not worry, I will not share any of them." Hetty responded smiling deeply at the image in front of her. At how Deeks leaned into Callen as soon as he had sat down, and at how neither of them felt any awkwardness nor worry about being so close to each other in her presence and in her home.
"I know you won't Hetty. So you going to open your present?" Callen asked smiling back at the woman he cared for so deeply.
"I am indeed." Hetty answered before turning the package in her hand and carefully opening the wrapping. She wanted to make sure she could keep the tag. Her first Christmas present from Callen's new family.
Once she had the present undone, she reached inside to pull out the frame it contained, the paper falling away as her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. It was the most perfect photo of the two men on her couch, an image of them so relaxed and happy, so very much in love, it made her heart constrict and her breath to leave her temporally. It was without doubt one of the most beautiful photos she had ever seen.
Her eyes then strayed to the frame and a smile spread across her face. It wasn't that bad, it would actually go with the décor in her house nicely. Yes, she could live with it, which was a good thing. She did not want to hurt Marty's feelings by replacing it, and she knew it had been the younger man who had chosen the frame. She doubted Callen would have put the photo in anything other than a cheap wooden thing. That is if he put it in anything.
"Do you like it?" Deeks asked pulling Hetty from her mind with his words. Turning to the men she smiled widely at the younger one.
"I do indeed Marty, I do indeed."
Callen hearing the emotion in her voice and the sincerity in her eyes knew she wasn't just saying it to please either of them. She meant it. Good. He was glad she liked her present, even if he didn't have anything to do with. He was glad for Marty.
"Mr Callen, can you pour the pre-dinner drinks for us? You know where I keep the good stuff. Marty, maybe you can help me find a place for my new picture." Hetty continued turning to both the men, enjoying how Callen jumped up at her words, though whether it because she had spoken, or because he wasn't going to waste a chance at getting the good whiskey, she wasn't quite sure. No doubt the latter held more truth.
It didn't take long for the drinks to be poured, or for Deeks to place the picture in pride of place on Hetty's shelves to her exacting standards. So it was only a few minutes later that they were all sat once more, drink in hand toasting Christmas, and for the first time Callen understood some of the magic of the holiday. Sitting there in Hetty's front room with Marty next to him and Monty at their feet, he felt like he was, for the first time in his live, celebrating Christmas the way it should be celebrated. With his family.
The evening continued with an easy flow of conversation and enough food being served that it would have no doubt fed the whole team, if not all of the staff from OSP, not just those there. Though Deeks and Callen made sure to do there best to eat as much of it as they could, and there best was pretty good. Hetty had to say, she was impressed with the dent they made in the meal she had lovingly prepared for them both.
It ended the way these night always seemed to in Hetty and Callen's mind, though to Deeks it was new. But he was happy to sit there, draping himself in a relaxed manner across his boyfriends back, whispering unhelpful suggestions into his ear as he and Hetty pitted their skills against each other on the chessboard. Of course to the surprise of no one, Hetty won easily. Even if Callen did roll his eyes at the smug smile she gave him at the predicted outcome.
With the end of the game, they sat for a little longer, mostly in silence, just enjoying each other's company, until that was that Deeks actually feel asleep on Callen's shoulder, his head falling forwards slightly and surprising himself awake with a "hu?"
"I think we should go to bed. Come on Marty." Callen answered smiling at the sleepy look on his lovers face and the relaxed attitude he had in Hetty's home.
"Okay, night Hetty." Deeks nodded in agreement before standing and swaying, though whether it was from tiredness or the amount of alcohol he had consumed that night, he wasn't sure. Hetty sure did pour big sized drinks, he knew that much.
"Goodnight Marty, Callen." Hetty responded smiling as Callen automatically reached out for the younger man, ready to catch him if he fell, there to steady him in any way he needed it.
"Night Hetty, and thanks." Callen replied with a smile as he guided Marty from the room. He knew Hetty would understand what it was he was thanking her for, and it wasn't just the evening where she had made Marty seem so welcome. He meant thanks for everything she had done for him, from the day she came and took him away from the police, to now.
"There is no need to thank me Mr Callen." Hetty responded quietly so it would only reach his ears. She knew and understood what he was saying with the one word, but he did not need to. And sitting there finishing her drink as she heard the two men make their way upstairs she smiled. Her boy was happy, he had found someone to love who loved him back. She just hoped nothing ever came between them. They were prefect for each other in every way she could think of and see.
Looking at the photo of them together her smile grew. Because she knew exactly who had taken it. There was no way Callen would pose like that, so it had to have been taken when he wasn't paying attention, not an easy thing to do she might add. But she knew it had been Kensi taking the photo, there was no way Callen would ever look at Marty that way in front of his partner.
So everyone now knew. Good, they had enough secrets between them as it was. She understood their need to keep some of them, a need to keep the past away from the lives they lived now. She was just glad that that her boys no longer had to hide what they truly meant to each other. No longer had to hide the love that shone in their eyes when they rested upon each other. Oh yes, things were definitely looking up.
With that thought she slowly stood and made her way around her house making sure everything was locked and secured, even if she knew Callen had done the same thing a couple of hours ago. You can never be too careful.
Once sure it was safe, she turned out the downstairs lights and made her way to her room. As she passed the door to Callen's, she couldn't stop herself from sneaking a look. To make sure he was sleeping peacefully as she had done for so many years in the past. Looking in she could see by the light of the moon that the two men were naked in the bed together, though luckily their bottom half's were covered. Marty lay across Callen's chest, his head resting over his heart, while Callen had his arms wrapped tight around the younger man's body. It was such an honest position, one that showed her how much they really did care for one another even when they slept. And while she couldn't see Marty's face, she could see the relaxed smile on Callen's. That was something she had never expected. G Callen smiling in his sleep. It was enough for her to wonder just what miracle or path of fate it was that had brought her boys together.
But as she closed the door she realised she didn't really need to know. All that mattered was that it had happened, and she really could have asked for nothing more for Christmas than to know her boy finally understood what it felt to be loved.