Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Petunia3116, raspberry dreams and elsje1967 for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.

So, this is a long chapter as I'm moving next week and I'm not sure when I will be able to update next. Also this is my interpretation of Roberta Deeks, I hope you like it. I like to think after all she had been through she has a backbone as well as being ditsy.

Anyway enough from me enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS: LA.

Callen left Marty to sleep on the couch, though he did make sure that he placed a glass of water near him in case he was thirsty when he woke. With that done he returned to the kitchen to find his side filled with fresh vegetables and meat. He couldn't help how his mind suddenly went back to when he was 14 and he had lived here with the Rostoff family. The counter had always looked like that before Alina mom's started making dinner. He had always been surprised that she managed to turn so much stuff into a meal. He had been so used to eating whatever he could find while trying to keep out of everyone's way, usually whatever came out of tin, in the other foster homes he had been in. To see his counter once more full and his kitchen being comrade by another woman, he liked it. But before he could slip to far into the distant past Roberta spoke.

"Don't just stand there G Callen, come and help."

"You tell me what to do, I'm all yours." Callen replied moving into the kitchen, though he didn't try to get involved. He had no idea what to do. She was the boss in here, he would take her orders.

"You know you should never say that to a Deeks." Roberta responded with a twinkle in her eyes and a sly smile on her lips. She was wondering how G would take her brand of humour. Wondered if he would get flustered or embarrassed by what she was implying. Trying to get the measure of the man who, from what she could tell, was rather reserved and controlled.

"I don't know, I'm happy to do whatever Marty tells me to, so I'm okay with it." Callen answered with a smirk. He understood what she was trying to do, but he had spent too much time with Marty to let that phase him.

"Very well. How are your knife skills?" Roberta asked changing the conversation realising that as he was in a serious relationship with her son, he no doubt was immune to that particular form of Deeks interrogation.

That caused Callen to raise his eyebrow. Because his immediate thought was to answer extremely good, but he doubted she meant that question in the way most people he had ever met had asked him it. Therefore he opted for a more conserved response of "umm, in what respect?"

"Chopping the veg, of course." Roberta replied giving him a look as if to say obviously. What else would you use a knife for? Then she remembered who she was speaking to and decided that she really didn't want to know the answer to that question.

"Well I'm sure it's not so different to how I usually use one." Callen responded with a shrug moving to grab one of the knives from the knife block Sam had given him a couple of Christmases ago. Who knew he would ever use it for anything other than practise at throwing unweighted knives? Go figure?

"I don't want to know. I've seen spy movies." Roberta breezed, deciding that she might as well face this head on. Martin had told her that his boyfriend was a spy, or something like that. She had to say, it was rather exciting, if you didn't think too much about the danger aspect at any rate.

"I'm not a spy. I'm a federal agent." Callen sighed he was going to have to talk to Marty about calling him superspy to his mom. He didn't want her thinking he was some action hero from the movies. Because he seriously wasn't. He just did his job, helping to protect the country.

"One who specialises in undercover and keeps it a secret. Sounds like a spy to me. Now dice the onion nice and small, will you?" Roberta answered turning to deal with the meat.

"Yes, ma'am." Callen replied pulling a chopping board and said vegetable towards him. He had no real idea of how to do as requested, but surely he could work it out. It would be easy, right?

Deeks woke after his nap, having no idea how long he had slept for, though from the smells coming from the kitchen, it was long enough for his mom to get started on the lasagne. Smiling at that memory of the better parts of his childhood he lay there with his eyes closed letting the sound of the two voices in the kitchen wash over him. He couldn't work out what they were saying, but he didn't need to. He could tell from the tone of both voices that they were getting on just fine. He could even hear laughter as they talked, and it was both of them. Not just his mom going on and on, but G was answering her in that voice he kept for those he called family. Deeks liked it, he like this. Having them both here. It seemed he had been worrying about nothing, having them together. They were getting on fine. He was just relaxing back, thinking he might sleep some more when he felt someone drawing near him, yet he heard no sounds of footsteps. Well only one person that could be.

"Hey, G. My mom driven you out of the kitchen?" He asked opening his eyes to smile up at the man he loved.

"No, she just suggested I come and sit with you. Seems she doesn't feel I have very good skills with a knife." Callen replied in a hurt tone, though his eyes were shining. And Deeks couldn't help but chuckle at that. Though as soon as he did he winced. Laughing still caused him pain from the damn wounds.

"Hey, I've got your pain meds. Come on sit up." Callen continued, seeing the wince and moving immediately to help the man he loved so he could take the pills that would ease the discomfort. Callen remembered all too well how much it hurt getting shot in the chest.

"Thanks." Deeks replied taking the pills and glass of water and swallowing both before relaxing back against the couch. Though as he did so he realised that he was not in the best position, but he wasn't sure he could be bothered to move himself into something that was more comfortable. What he really needed was a pillow or something to lean against. And as if he had read his mind Callen moved, shifting the younger man so he could sit because him, before then pulling him back against him allowing Deeks to use his body as the support he needed to sit upright.

Once he was settled once more, Deeks turned his face towards the man he loved and smiled his appreciation at once more being about to snuggle up on the couch together. And though it wasn't quite how they usually did it, it was close enough.

With that they both sat in silence, Callen running his hand gently through Deeks' hair as they listened to the sounds coming from the kitchen. Everything was right for now. They were back where they should be, together, and that was all that mattered. They were finally able to be as close as they wanted to be to each other, and that alone shut out all other thoughts from their minds.

Dinner was an enjoyable affair, even if Deeks did laugh at the rather large chunks of onion. It was nice and it was relaxed. It was what a family meal should be and Deeks couldn't get over the fact he was having this with both his mom and G in his new home. He had had similar evenings with Hetty, but as much as he loved her, she wasn't his mom. To have this, it felt different, in a good way. It made him realise he really should have arranged this long before now. It shouldn't have taken him getting shot for his mom and G to meet. And hot on the heels of that thought was another. He didn't want to wait anymore to introduce G to Kip. He wanted his friend to know the man he loved, and if his mom hasn't scared the older man off, he doubted Kip could say anything that would do so. Therefore he put his mind to thinking about how he could make that happen.

He came up with an idea which he decided to broach once they were all settled in the living room, the TV playing in the back ground as they chatted, or his mom chatted anyway.

"Hey G, I was thinking. Why don't we have a party to celebrate moving in together?" Deeks said into a moment of quiet.

"Another party? Really? Wasn't New Year enough?" Callen replied with a put upon sigh, though they both knew he would agree.

"Oh come on, that was months ago. Please." Deeks begged making his best puppy dog eyes knowing G could never say no to him.

"Okay. Why don't I ask Sam to bring round his grill and we can have a barbeque?" Callen suggested catching onto the idea, and finding he liked it. Having their family around, the team could meet Roberta, and she could met Hetty. Yeah it would be good.

"Perfect." Deeks agreed smiling to himself as he planned the others he was going to be inviting. And hey at least with his mom there, Kip would have someone else who knew he to talk to.

"Oh yes, I would like to meet the people you both work with. Will that Kensi girl come? I like the sound of her." Roberta asked, wanting to meet those who were in her son's life. She had not thought she would get to meet anyone other than G on this visit, though she had hoped. And she knew Kensi was her son's partner. She wanted to know who it was that had her son's back at work, other than the man who loved him.

"Of course she will mom, she's my partner." Deeks replied without hesitation. He knew Kensi would come, just as he knew Sam and his family and Hetty would as well. They were all family, and he knew they would all want to meet his mom, though whether that was a good idea he wasn't sure. But hey he was sure G wouldn't let them say a bad word about the woman within their hearing, so that was fine.

"Yeah, she's the one who keeps you in line." Callen agreed cheekily earning himself a gentle elbow in the ribs.

"Hey." Deeks grumbled, but there was no real heat in it. He knew what Callen meant, Kensi keep his head on, just as Sam did the same for him. That was the role of a partner after all.

With that it was agreed that they would have the barbeque that weekend, and all three of them had something to look forward to as they made their way to bed, with Roberta going into the spare room which now held Deeks' old bed, while the two men went to what was now their room and their bed. They were finally able to sleep in each other's arms once more, and they couldn't have been happier about it.

It was 3 in the morning that Roberta woke frowning. She wasn't sure what had woken her, and she was just about to drift off once more when she heard a sound which had her wide awake and sitting up. Someone was moving around in the house. At first she thought it was one of the boys going to the bathroom but as she continued to listen she realised the sound was coming from the living room. So after a debate with herself she climbed out of her bed. She knew she should go and wake G, if there was an intruder surely he would be the best to deal with while her son was injured. But she also thought that surely one of them would have heard the noise already. Which made her think it was one of them. What she didn't know was why they were in the livingroom and not sleeping. She was determined to go and find out. Therefore tying her robe tightly she made her way quietly through the dark house.

When she got to the living room there was no lights on, only the moon shone through the window giving her enough light to see the silhouette of the man standing by the bookcase. For a second she froze, wondering if she had made a terrible mistake, but then the man turned and she saw his profile in the weak light. It was enough to alleviate her fear enough to flick the switch which brighten the room, enjoying how her actions caused the man to turn at a stunning speed to face her, alarm and defensiveness in his posture.

"What are you doing up, G?" She asked when all he did was blink at her. She wasn't sure why but the idea that she had caught him unawares made her smile.

Callen had fallen asleep soon after Marty had, relaxed into slumber by the sound of his even breathing and the heavy weight of him lying on his chest. The knowledge that Marty was back where he belonged, back where he needed him to be, in his arms. It was better than any sleeping agents. But then he had woken a few hours later. This wasn't unusual, he never slept much, therefore carefully moving out from under the younger man he man his way to the livingroom to grab a book. Falling back into the habit he had become so used to since they had gotten together. But as he stood staring at the volumes, trying to decide which to read, he found his mind had other ideas. Because for the first time since he had asked Marty to move in with him, he finally had the time to consider what had happened. To remember how it had been his fault that Marty had been shot in the first place, remember that the man he loved could have died, all because of his connection with him. He hated this. One part of him, the part that tried to always keep people at arm's length was asking him what the hell he was doing. Telling him to run now and never look back, because if he didn't he could get Marty hurt even more. That was the part he had listened to most of his life, but when he had asked Marty move in with him it had been the other side. The side which he had tried to deny and refuse, the side which begged him to allow someone in, that had won. Now in the dark of the night, when it was far too late, his fears were getting the better of him. Screaming at him to go. To leave Marty and mom in this house, to go somewhere that no one would ever find him. He had to physically stop himself from obeying that instinctive response. That need to flee. He was in the midst of this internal battle when the lights flickered on, and as he mind was already in the fight or flight mode he turned at speed, ready to defend himself, only to be confronted by Marty's mom. He didn't know what to say, his mind was still too full to take in this new development, so instead he stood there blinking at her until she spoke.

"What are you doing up, G?"

"I don't sleep much, just came to get a book." He replied forcing his body to relax and an easy smile to appear on his lips as if he hadn't just been raging a war with himself.

"Why?" Roberta asked not intrusively, but with a genuine wonder. She could see that G was still tense, even if he was smiling. He reminded her terribly of how Martin used to look when he was younger, when they had lived with his father. Tense yet trying to ease her worry with a smile. It was a look that she had once ignored in the favour of peace, but not anymore. This man had demons, and she was going to do everything she could to help him deal with them. She had failed her son, but she would not fail the man he loved.

"Never have, really." Callen responded with a shrug, not wanting to go into how or why he had become such a light sleeper. Not wanting to go into the nights where he would sleep with one eye open for trouble. Not wanting to go into the nightmares that plague him.

"Well as we're both up, why don't I make us some cocoa?" Roberta suggested, wanting to give G a chance to talk, and even if he didn't want to do that, she hoped she could help him relax enough to get some more sleep.

"There's no need-" Callen started to say, already planning on making quick exit back to bed, but before he could continue he was interrupted.

"Hush now. I want some, and it's just as easy to make two cups as it is to make one. Don't you agree?" Came the simple question thrown over Roberta's shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen.

"I guess so." Callen agreed, not seeing a way he could get out of this without offending Marty's mom. But he could do this, right?

It didn't take long before they were sat at the table steaming drinks in hand. Neither spoke for a while, Roberta wanting to give G a chance to relax before she tried to find out what it was that kept the boy up at night. But she knew she would have to speak soon, or he would make a break for it the minute his drink was done. So taking a deep breath and placing a friendly smile on her lips she spoke.

"Tell me about you family, G."

"I don't have one." Callen replied simply. He knew what she was asking, and it wasn't about the team, which was the closest thing he had to family.

"What do you mean?" Roberta asked frowning. Surely everyone had a family. Someone to care about them, look after them, worry about them. How could G say he had no one?

"I was raised in care." Callen explained. He was pretty sure that sentence said it all.

And Roberta hearing it had to agree. She had had her own association with the foster care system, though it was no doubt later that G was in it. But she wanted to make sure he knew she understood. Therefore speaking calmly she responded to his words.

"I remember when Martin had to go into care. It was only for a few weeks after the incident with his father, but still, I remember how he looked when he returned to me."

"He never told me he was in care." Callen replied with a frown, wondering why, after all they had told each other, Marty had never mentioned that fact.

"It wasn't for long. How many homes did you live in?" Roberta asked changing the subject away from her son. She knew he didn't like to think about that time, but she wasn't going to be the one to explain it to G. Surely if he had been raised in the system he would understand why Martin hadn't spoken of it with him. Not to mention that he had also being going through the aftermath of shooting his father. No, it really wasn't a time that either of them liked to remember.

"37, from the age of 5 until I was 15." Callen replied dropping the subject of Marty and care. If he wanted answers he would ask the man himself rather than his mom.

"What happened then? Did you get your own place?" Roberta asked, knowing that around that age children usually left the system. Though that seemed crazy in her mind.

"No. Hetty took me in." Callen responded smiling as he did so a she remembered once more the little woman coming up to him and manging to stop him ending up in prison for escaping juvie. He would never be able to thank her enough for that one he was sure.

"Hetty? Isn't she your boss?" Roberta asked remembering the name from one of her many conversations with Martin. He had been phoning her a lot more regularly now that she knew he had a boyfriend. And he had been sharing more about his new life as the NCIS liaison.

"The one and the same, yeah." Callen nodded with a chuckle.

"Then I definitely want to meet her." Roberta stated, from the look on his face she could see that this Hetty woman was important to him. And from what he had said about his childhood she would guess she was the closest thing he had ever had to a mom. Therefore she was, in her mind, her son's mother-in-law. Definitely someone she needed to get to know. She was family.

"I'm pretty sure she feels the same about you." Callen agreed knowing that Hetty would be well aware that Roberta was here. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if she dropped in over the next few days, on the pretence of seeing how Marty was, so she could met her. Hetty did like to know everyone who was in the lives of those she cared about after all.

"Because she is in charge of my son at work, or because I am the mom of the man you are in a relationship with?" Roberta asked with a same cheeky grin her son regularly had on his face when he pushed the boundaries of a conversation and knew it, but didn't care two hoots about doing so.

"Probably both." Callen replied. Nothing but the truth after all.

Another silence settled after that. Just the two of them drinking their cocoa as they thought over what had been said. But Roberta had one question she really wanted answering. She had not felt able to ask it before now, not knowing G well enough to do so. But she felt after their previous conversations, and the ones they had had that day, she could now. And she wanted to do it without Martin there to interrupt. She knew her son, he would try and keep the truth from her if it would cause her pain. She didn't want that. She wanted the facts. Therefore taking a deep breath she asked simply "what happened, G? How did my son get shot?"

Her words caused Callen to freeze as he tried to think of a suitable answer. But all his mind could come up with was the truth, even if he knew that with those words he could ruin everything he had. He had to tell her, he couldn't lie. Therefore turning to look her in the eyes he spoke with deep sincerity.

"It was my fault. I'm so sorry."

"How?" Roberta asked. She wasn't going to rage at him until she had the facts. Though the idea that it was G's fault had not crossed her mind. Though it would explain why it was him and not her son who had called her.

"I was targeted. They couldn't get to me, so they went through Marty." Callen replied in an even tone. Waiting for her to shout, or scream, or forbid him to have anything to do with her son. He was the reason he had been hurt, surely there was no way she would accept that right? I mean how could she? She was his mom. She loved him. He was the reason Marty had almost died, he didn't deserve anything. He deserved for her to try and kill him, hell he would even stand still while she did it. Hell he would even go and get her his gun if she asked for it so she could shot him in return for the pain he had put Marty through.

At his words Roberta made herself stop and think. Her first instinct as a mother was to scream at him to be more careful, but she knew that was nothing more than a gut reaction. She needed to be calm, because she didn't want her son to lose the man he loved because of his misplaced guilt. Therefore she asked one question in an even tone. Displaying only curiousness for the answer and nothing more.

"Did you pull the trigger?"

"What?! No. Of course not." Callen stated, eyes widening in alarm at the idea that he could ever pull a gun on Marty, let alone shoot him.

"Then it's not your fault. I have been responsible for enough of Martin's pain in his life, I know when to lay the blame at another's door." Roberta answered in a reasoning voice. One which forced its way into Callen mind whether he wanted it to or not. Made him stop and think, it didn't take a genius to realise what she was talking about, nor more than a few seconds for him to come up with a response to her words.

"What his dad did… that wasn't you fault either."

"No, I just stood by and let it happen. I forced my 11 year old son to shot his own father to save us both. I have learnt to accept that guilt." Roberta answered in a tone which wasn't asking for sympathy or anything like that. No it was just stating the facts as she saw them.

Callen wasn't sure what to say to that. He had never even considered it, but he knew from what he had seen, and been through in his own childhood that Roberta was not completely innocent. Oh sure, there were extenuating circumstances and all that, but still, he couldn't bring himself to say she was blameless, even if he knew Marty would without hesitation.

And Roberta watching him could see the conflict in his eyes. She could see he wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault, but that he agreed with her too. That he had seen enough in his life to know she shared the blame with her ex-husband. That caused a sad smile to appear on her face, because while she liked the idea of someone understanding, she hated that he did. Hated what that told her about his own childhood, what that said about how he was treated and how he looked at similar situations from an outside perspective, yet still as a child. But it made her see what he was saying if a different light. Maybe he was somewhat to blame, in the same way she was. He had allowed someone to find the man he loved and use him to get to him. He was the reason her son had been shot. That thought sent a searing force of protectiveness through her, but she pushed it down. Now was not the time to shout and scream. He was no better or worse than she was, and yet they both love Martin with all their being. All they could hope to do was better. To make sure it never happened again. With that realisation she spoke.

"The only thing you can do is promise yourself that you will never let it happen again. That you will never be the cause of Martin's pain. That's something I have spent the last 20 years striving to do. It helps, not alleviate the guilt, that will never go away, but it helps deal with it. All you can do is love him and do your best."

"I know. I know." Callen sighed staring down at his almost empty cup. This was not the conversation he had expected to be having with Marty's mom when she found out, and he wasn't sure how to deal with it. It was too much, there was too much understanding in her words for him to ignore what she was saying, even if he wanted to.

"But?" Roberta prompted when he said nothing more. She wasn't stupid, she could see it in his posture, and the way he had tensed earlier. He had that 'but' going round and round in his mind. She wanted to remove it.

"I still wonder if he would be better off without me." Callen mumbled not believing he was saying these words, to Marty's mom of all people. But she seemed to understand, and maybe she could help. Oh god he hoped she could help, because he really didn't want to have to deal with Marty if he ever heard about this conversation. He would kill him for sure.

"He wouldn't you know. I know my son. He threw himself into his career. Putting himself in dangerous positions to save the innocent, not caring about his own safety. You make him think twice. You give him someone to come home to, something to want to return to. He needs you, just as much as you need him. Don't ever forget that. I did once, when he was put into care I thought maybe he would be better off. I was wrong. Don't be wrong, G."

With that Roberta got up ending the conversation, though she did reach out to squeeze G's shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen to return her mug, before returning to her room. She could only hope she had helped the tortured young man she had left behind, but she felt she had.

And Callen sitting there could only hear her words going round and round in his head. Marty needed him, he couldn't leave him because he needed him. And Callen knew that he loved Marty enough to stay. Enough to keep fighting the urges inside him that told him to run. For Marty he could do anything, and he would. Because he loved him completely, and while his mom said he was Marty's reason for staying safe, Callen knew Marty was also his. Together they made sure that they came home in one piece. It was then he remembered what Marty had said to him in the hospital. About how they both knew the job, but both worried about the other. Together, they would do what they needed to do together, and then they would come home to each other. It was more than he had ever thought to have in his life, and it definitely something he would fight anything and everything to keep. Even if that thing was his own mind. With that new determination locked in G made his way back to the bookshelf and grabbed his favourite Russian novel before returning to his and Marty's room, inserting himself back under the man he loved as he opened the book and started to read. Relaxing back into the nomadically of it all. Everything was gonna be okay, because they had each other, and they would for as long as they wanted it.