For now, Joelle and Callen are no longer dating but she'll make an appearance again soon.
Don't own anything.
Emma left the Deans' office on Friday morning with a smile. He will make all the arrangements for her and after the Christmas break… Emma will be in the last year. Callen was waiting for her for at the coffee shop on campus and then they were heading to get the last few gifts before Christmas. The tree took up most of Callen's living room and they loved it. It was decorated in green, red and gold. Emma had two ordainments made for Callen… one said Clara and one said Amy with their picture in the middle. Callen had to wipe a few tears away and help her put it on the tree. The last thing to make its way on the tree was a star that Hetty gave them one day after work. Callen's house looked all dolled up and the boys made fun of him but he didn't mind, he loved that Emma was having fun and this might be her last Christmas where they could all be together as a family before she left for Virginia.
"And that is that. Finally!" Emma said as she walked to the car with Callen.
"We still have wrapping to do." Callen laughed as he placed the last bag in the truck.
"Can't we just throw it in gift bags and be done with it?" Emma whined.
"Nope, we need it all wrapped up and bows on top of each one."
"Fine but I want ice cream afterwards."
"After your dinner, little miss."
As they stopped, Callen told Emma to head on in and he'll carry all the bags in. Emma noticed a box waiting by the front door. Picking it up, she unlocked the door and walked in. Placing the box on the dining room table, she went to wash her hands before she walked back to the dining room. Callen walked into the house and saw her looking down at a box.
"What's that, Em?"
"It's for you, from Joelle. I thought you guys were over." Emma said as she handed him the note.
"We are." Opening the note, Callen scanned it before he moved to the box. "And this isn't for me." He said as she took out the white jewelry box with butterflies on it. "It's for you."
"It's beautiful." Emma said as she looked at the box.
"Well, that was nice for her."
"It was… so what does she want?" Emma said. She was still skeptical about Joelle so her sending Emma a gift was weird.
"Emma-Grace!"
"What!? I told you there's something about her I don't like."
"I know but you still need to send her a text to say thank you."
"Okay, I'll send her one tomorrow morning after Santa visits." Emma said as she walked into the kitchen to start dinner. "Remember we're doing matching PJs." She yelled from the kitchen.
While Emma cooked dinner, Callen sorted out all the gifts. There was no way he was going to attempt to wrap a gift… Emma had her way and she was good with that. While she was distracted, he slipped into his bedroom and made sure her gift was ready. It took a lot of planning with all parties involved and he hoped she liked it.
"Dinner's ready!" Emma yelled.
"Coming." Callen yelled back.
While eating, they talked about Emma's application for the FBI. They knew she wasn't 18 yet but while she waited, the BAU told her they could take her and train her. That made her happy as she used what she studied for and that's how she can use her education till she's ready to be an agent. Kensi told her that if she wanted, she could pull some strings and get her into sniper school. Callen wasn't so sure about that one but they always told Emma that if that's what she wanted, they would help her and respect her wishes. Callen cleaned up while Emma went to take a shower. Living with Emma was interesting but he loved having her around and he's going to miss her when she moves. He was having a hard time with this but Julia was freaking out… another one of her babies leaving the nest. So, Julia decided that when Emma moved out, she was moving to a smaller place and promised Emma that she would always have a place to stay when she was in town and wanted a break from the boys. Emma loved Julia so he knew how hard this would be for them but they both knew this day was coming and Julia was happy for Emma.
"Okay, I'm ready for my ice cream." Emma said as she sat on the couch.
"Are you sure you're my kid?" Callen laughed as he handed her the bowl.
"The verdict is still out on that one." Emma giggled.
"Hey, I'll take all those gifts back."
"I would like to see you try, Agent Callen."
"Want me to brush the hornets' nest?" Callen said as he picked up the hairbrush.
"Yes, please." Emma said got up and sat on the floor. "I might need to cut it soon."
"You still have time before you leave but not too short."
Emma just shook her head yes. "Did I tell you Brian and Travis bought a house in Quantico." Emma said when she placed her empty bowl on the coffee table.
"That's a long way from Alabama."
"I know but Brian's training is there and Travis wanted to be close. And he can work from home anyway so that helps."
"Well that sounds like they've got stuff sorted out." Callen said with a small smile as he finished the last braid – Michelle and Julia had to teach him how to do it and he had to say he liked doing it, "Let me go grab my shower and then we can do one gift before bed."
"Sweet, I like it. Have to take pictures to show the boys." Emma laughed.
"And now I wished I had baby pictures of you." Callen laughed as he walked to take his shower.
When she heard Callen's door close, she made a beeline for her room and bent down to grab Callen's gift from under her bed. Nell and Hetty helped her out with it because she didn't know what to get him but she got it and it made her happy that she could get him something that they both wished they had. Walking passed her chest of drawers, she stopped and opened the draw and grabbed the envelope before high tailing it back to the living room. Placing the box under the tree, she sat back down and sent a quick text to Brian to tell him she'll phone him tomorrow on their way to Sam's. Emma was finishing her text when she saw Callen walk in with a small box and his Christmas PJs. She knew he didn't celebrate the holidays but he was going with it just for her, and she loved it.
"You ready for this?" Callen said with a smile.
"Are you ready, old man." Emma giggled as she sat in front of the tree. "Picture time."
Callen just laughed… she hated pictures but took a lot of them to make up for their lost time. Her room was full of photos of every team member, girls at the centre, Julia and her, Brian and her and of course lots of pictures of them together. Deeks gave her a selfie stick as a joke but it was a joke on him because she used it a lot. After a few snaps, Emma was happy with the pictures and placed her phone on the table. Grabbing the envelope, she handed it to Callen and he handed her the box.
"One… two… open." Emma said before lifting the lid on the box and she froze. In the box were a plane ticket and a note. Quickly taking the note and reading it, she had to wipe the tears away, "How?"
"Brian did most of it. You deserve a break and since you're finishing early, you wouldn't have a break so this will give you time for friends."
"This is so awesome!" Emma said as she hugged him, "But I wouldn't be here for New Year's."
"That's okay. We still have time to spend together before you leave."
"Thank you for this, I love it. Now open your gift." Emma wiggled her butt on the floor.
"How bad is it?" Callen laughed.
"It's the worst gift EVER." Emma giggled back.
Opening the envelope and smiled. This was 100% an Emma gift but he loved it. It was a certificate for a star named Callen.
"Told you it was bad." Emma smiled at him.
"This is amazing Em." Callen said as he hugged her.
"Now every time we look up at the stars, wherever we are, we're always with each other."
"Emma-Grace this was really thoughtful. Now I feel better to let you leave home since the stars will always keep an eye on you."
"Like the trackers in my laptop, phone and bag weren't enough." Emma said with her eyes narrowed at him.
"Just making sure I can track you if you get into trouble." Callen said, "but we can back off if you want to." He added.
"I'm okay with it… for now." Emma said with a wink.
"Okay, little lady bedtime. Santa will be here soon."
"Nope, he's in the New York area so it will take him about an hour before he gets here." Emma said with a giggle, holding her phone up.
"Are you tracking him on your phone?"
"I sure am… have to know where the old man is. And NO eating the cookies!" Emma giggled as he ensured the door was locked and the alarm set.
"Do I look like Kensi?"
"You never know… she might sneak in to eat them before he gets here."
"I will not put it past her." Callen laughed, "Night Emma-Grace."
"Night daddy and thank you for my gift." Emma said as she hugged him again.
As Emma entered her bedroom, she got comfy on her bed and sent one last text. She knew it was crazy to keep on texting him but she couldn't bring herself to stop. He was missing so much but she also knew that's what he signed up for but she was still keeping him up to date about everyone and everything. He would probably think she was a stacker but she was just happy with her life and wanted to share it with him.
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Zach made his way to his apartment on base. He was exhausted and needed a shower but first he needed to check what's happing in the real world. Switching his phone on, he saw he had a few missed calls from friends from school, and a few text messages from his mom and Kensi but the ones that made him smile the most, were the ones from Emma-Grace. She kept him updated on everything he was missing - birthdays, how she was doing at school, what Kensi's been up to, and that his mom was missing him like crazy. She sent him a text saying thank you for the necklace he sent her a couple of months ago, which made him smile even more. There was something about her that he hadn't seen in other girls… she was intelligent, funny and sometimes still a bit shy but she was strong. Hearing all the things she's been through, he wasn't sure someone else would have that strength to survive but she did and she is here now. She was working to make her life better and helping other girls like her, helping them to build new lives and reminding them that they are worth something. Putting his phone down, he got up and went to his bedroom to shower. He was towel drying his hair when he heard his phone vibrate on the coffee table. Picking it up quickly, he saw that it was his mom.
"Hey mama, how are you?" he said with a smile.
"I'm good but you were supposed to call me when you landed." Julia said.
"I know but it was getting late and I didn't want to wake you." Zach tried but he knew his mom knew better.
"Do I have to teach you about time zones again?" Julia laughed.
"No, I can still remember." Zach giggled.
"So, what time does your flight get in tomorrow?" Julia asked and Zach could hear she was busy wrapping something.
"Flight lands at 11:45 and I only have a carry-on. I'll grab a cab and meet you at the house?" Zach said as he picked up a Chinese take-out menu from the drawer.
"I'll pick you up. Sam and Michelle invited us for Christmas dinner so I don't have to cook."
"But you're still making peppermint tart, right?" Zach asked.
"Of course. My kids will kill me if I don't make one. It's in the fridge, so I'll pick you up and then we can head over for dinner. I've already talked to Michelle and she's setting a place for you at the table."
"That sounds good, I can do a good Christmas dinner. Is Emma with you?"
"No, she's with Callen tonight and then after dinner, she's coming home with us before she heads out to Alabama to visit a friend. Why are you asking?" Julia asked and Zach could hear a smile in her voice.
"Just making sure she spends her time between you and Callen, evenly."
"I believe you, of course."
"Whatever… I need to order dinner before I starve to death. I'll see you tomorrow, mama."
"Okay, I'll make sure to make you a few meals that you can take back with you. I love you and I can't wait to see you again."
"Love you too mama." Zach said before he hung up, quickly dialled the restaurant, and placed his order. It would take them around 30 minutes to deliver, so he sat down on the couch and started to read all of Emma's text messages. He couldn't wait to see her and hear all her stories again. If they were lucky, she'd be in Virginia in June, and the base was close enough to F.B.I Headquarters. It will be nice to have a friendly face around and he knew his team would like her. The doorbell brought him out of his daydream, grabbing the money, he opened the door and paid the delivery guy. After dinner, Zach packed his bag and ensured it was at the door so he could grab it and go. Brushing his teeth, he made his way to bed. As he set his alarm for the morning, he saw a text from Emma.
Merry Christmas. I hope you are safe and get to see you soon. – Pixie
What is this girl doing to him? He's only dated two girls but not long enough to get attached – they usually just wanted to have fun but he wasn't raised that way. He was raised old-fashioned and always thought he would marry a girl with the same values: date, get engaged, get married, have few kids, and live in a house with a white-picked fence. Someone who he can talk to about his day and her about hers. Then he met Emma and he wanted that with her… but will Emma want that too? As he was falling asleep, he dreamt about life with Emma.