Sunday morning came with an easy quietness. Callen had woken up earlier than Nell, as usual, but instead of going about his normal routine, he had lingered in the kitchen, making coffee and scrolling through his phone, only half paying attention to the news.

When Nell finally woke, still looking half-asleep but cozy in her sweats, he found himself watching her longer than he probably should.

They had fallen into a comfortable routine—one that was starting to feel dangerously normal.

And that was exactly why he felt weird when he said, "Sam wants me to come hang out for a while today."

Nell glanced at him over her coffee mug, expression unreadable for a second.

"You should go," she said easily, taking a sip.

Callen hesitated. He wanted to go, sure, but he also wasn't sure he wanted to leave. He'd gotten used to spending time with Nell like this, their strange but easy rhythm.

"I don't want to just leave you here," he said, even though they both knew it was a weak excuse.

Nell rolled her eyes playfully. "Callen, I'm not a kid. I can entertain myself for a few hours. And I don't want you skipping your usual plans just because I'm here."

He studied her, trying to gauge if she really meant it or if she was just saying it.

She arched a brow. "Go. Have fun. I'll still be here when you get back."

For some reason, that reassurance made it easier to agree.

"Alright," he said finally, grabbing his keys. "But if you burn down my kitchen while I'm gone—"

"I'm making tea, not starting a grease fire," she deadpanned, shooing him toward the door.

Callen huffed a small laugh as he left.

xxx

A couple of hours later, Callen found himself sitting on Sam's deck, sipping a beer as his partner gave him a look.

It was the kind of look that meant Sam knew something was up.

"So," Sam said, leaning back in his chair. "How's it going with Nell?"

Callen took a sip of his beer before answering. "Fine."

Sam wasn't buying it. "You've been living with her for what? A week now?"

Callen sighed. "Not quite, and it's temporary."

"Uh-huh."

Callen knew that tone.

Sam was digging.

"She's easy to live with," Callen admitted, staring out at the yard. "Not a lot of people are."

Sam smirked. "Didn't think anyone was, where you're concerned."

Callen rolled his eyes.

Sam watched him for a beat before adding, "You like having her around."

It wasn't a question.

Callen didn't answer right away.

After a pause, he simply said, "It's different."

Sam caught that too.

His smirk widened. "Different how?"

Callen just shook his head and took another drink, letting the silence stretch.

But Sam wasn't fooled.

His partner had been watching him for years. He knew Callen better than anyone. And now, watching the way Callen's expression shifted at the mere thought of Nell, the way he hesitated, the way he avoided answering directly—

Yeah.

Sam knew exactly what was happening.

And it was about damn time.

xxx

Nell wasn't the least bit surprised when Kensi called her Sunday afternoon with an invitation for coffee.

In fact, she had been expecting it.

She knew exactly what this was about.

Kensi wanted gossip.

Still, she agreed, mostly because she liked spending time with Kensi—but also because a part of her wanted to talk about this past week. Maybe Kensi could help her make sense of the strange shift she'd been feeling lately.

When she arrived at the café, Kensi was already waiting with two coffees in front of her.

Nell slid into the seat across from her. "I see you've already ordered for me."

Kensi grinned. "Of course. I know your order by now."

Nell eyed her suspiciously. "So, are we actually catching up, or is this just a thinly veiled attempt to get me to spill about my temporary living situation?"

Kensi just took a sip of her drink, looking far too smug. "Can't it be both?"

Nell huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "I knew this was coming."

"Come on, Nell," Kensi prodded, leaning forward with a conspiratorial smile. "You've been staying at Callen's for over a week. And not just crashing there—living there. What's that even like?"

Nell hesitated.

How was she even supposed to describe it?

"It's… different," she said finally, echoing Callen's own words to Sam earlier.

Kensi's eyes sparkled with interest. "Different how?"

Nell played with the sleeve of her coffee cup, thinking.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I guess I expected it to be awkward. Or weird. But it's not. We just… fell into this really easy routine. I thought I'd feel like a guest, but it doesn't really feel that way."

Kensi smirked. "You sound like you're enjoying it."

Nell scoffed. "Well, yeah. It's nice having company, and Callen's actually been—" She stopped herself before she could say sweet. "—thoughtful."

Kensi raised an eyebrow. "Thoughtful?"

Nell hesitated again.

She hadn't meant to say that.

But now that the word was out there, she couldn't deny it.

Callen had been thoughtful.

The way he made sure she was comfortable. The way he listened to her. The way he let her cook in his kitchen, read with him late at night, wake him up in the middle of the night when she had a bad dream and not once made her feel like she was intruding.

The way she felt comfortable around him in a way she wasn't sure she'd ever felt with anyone else.

And suddenly, Nell felt an odd weight settle in her chest.

Kensi was watching her closely now, as if sensing the shift in her thoughts.

Nell frowned, staring at her coffee.

"I think…" she started, then shook her head. "I don't know. I think I might be enjoying it more than I should."

Kensi tilted her head. "Define should."

Nell let out a frustrated breath. "I mean—I don't know. I never thought about Callen that way before."

Kensi gave her a knowing look. "Are you sure about that?"

Nell opened her mouth to respond, but then she thought back.

To the times she always felt safe with Callen watching her back in the field.

To the way she had admired his intelligence and leadership from the start.

To the way he always made sure she was okay.

To the way she felt disappointed when she realized this week was supposed to be the last of her staying with him.

Her stomach flipped.

Kensi smirked. "Oh my God. You like him."

"I do not," Nell said quickly, but even to her own ears, it sounded weak.

Kensi's grin widened. "You totally do. You just didn't realize it until now."

Nell swallowed.

Had she really been that blind to her own feelings?

Because now that Kensi had said it, she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Couldn't stop thinking about him.

And that was definitely a problem.