A/N: Densimber day 25.

For the first time in a couple years, Kensi and Deeks were hosting everyone for Christmas again. Nell and Eric had flown in for the month and would be arriving soon, Sam and Callen had found time in their schedules, and even Admiral Kilbride had deigned to accept their invitation. The dining area, living room, and front room were completely filled, broken to little groups either chatting or eating.

Kensi and Deeks made their way around, greeting everyone and making sure there was enough food.

Fatima, Rountree, and Rosa sat on the couch, entertaining Sophia and Caleb. Or maybe it was the other way around, Deeks decided as he watched Fatima flip Caleb and break into laughter at his squeals of delight.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming," Deeks said, giving them each a hug.

"Thanks for having us." Fatima reached before her, pulling out a small gift box. "That's for tomorrow when you don't feel like cooking."

"Thank you." Accepting the gift, Kensi turned to Rountree. "Is Summer ok? I thought you said she was coming."

"She's ok," Rountree assured them. "Not happy, but fine. She's on call and got asked to sub in for another who's sick."

"Yeah, I remember those days," Deeks said with a grimace. "Well, there's lots of food in the kitchen, water and pop in the white cooler, and adult beverages in the blue one." Deeks lowered his voice to a whisper. "There's also mixed drinks in the top cabinet over the refrigerator, but don't let Arkady see."

"Gotcha."

"Yeah, last year was not good," Rosa said, shaking her head.

"What happened?" Rountree wondered with a hint of trepidation in his eyes.

"We had to retrieve Arkady from the neighbors after he had a little too much Christmas cheer and decided to regale them with stories of his past."

"Fortunately it was an older couple who found him very entertaining," Kensi explained.

"Well, at least he seems occupied for now," Fatima pointed out, nodding to where Arkady held court with Colonel Hanna and Roberta. Whatever tall tale he was telling had both of them cracking up.

"For now."

The doorbell rang and Deeks heard Nell's voice a moment later.

"Eric and Nell are here!" Rosa said excitedly, rushing up to go greet them. Deeks tilted his head to see the top of a boingy elf hat that could only belong to Nell and Eric's signature holiday top hat.

"Well, I guess we've been replaced as the welcoming committee," Deeks joked.

"Up." Caleb started to climb Deeks' leg, and he picked him up, propping him up on his hip, then Sophia when she immediately reached for him too.

"Are you hungry?" Kensi asked.

"Cookie?" Sophia said hopefully.

"Mm, maybe after some cheese and crackers."

"Alright, we're going to get these guys some dinner. Or at the very least, some snacks. You want anything?" Deeks gestured to Fatima and Rountree.

"Eh, I already ate like ten Christmas cookies," Rountree revealed with a grimace.

"I told you to pace yourself," Fatima reminded him.

"I know." He sighed. "But they're so good."

"Ok, we'll back in a little bit," Deeks said, hefting the twins higher. "Sheesh, you guys are killing my back."

After Caleb and Sophia ate a well-rounded dinner of cucumbers, crackers, and cookies, they ended up chatting with Anna, Eric, and Nell.

"It's great being back at work," Kensi was explaining to Nell and Anna. "But I also really miss these guys." She nodded to Sophia and Caleb, currently building a tower with Sam.

"That has to be so hard," Nell said. "I'm so happy for you two though. Well, five."

"Thanks. Every day is crazy, but it's an amazing kind of crazy."

"Ooh, speaking of crazy, remind me to get your gifts before we leave," Eric said.

"That's a concerning segue," Deeks observed, pursing his lips. "Do I wanna know?"

"Probably not," Eric told him happily.

"I would be very scared," Anna told Deeks in an undertone. "And what is my husband doing?"

A few feet away, Callen had interrupted the block building by presenting Sam with a large white box.

"Come on, Sam," he cajoled.

"I'm not putting that on," Sam insisted, leaning away from Callen as he tried to make him take the box. He picked Caleb up, using him as a sort of human shield.

"There are children present. We need a Santa." Callen pointed to the twins as evidence, pulling out a white beard and hat.

"Yeah, well it's not going to be me. I bet it wouldn't the suit wouldn't even fit me."

"It stretches."

"Grisha Callen, leave him alone," Anna interceded.

"Ooh, you just got full first-named," Deeks teased.

"Martin Atticus, tell Sam he needs to participate," Callen said. "It wouldn't be Christmas without Santa."

"Tanta?" Sophia asked, looking around excitedly.

"See?" Callen gestured to her as evidence. "You wouldn't want to disappoint your little niece."

"You're shameless." Sam said, shaking his head. "Ask Deeks."

"Sorry, the twins would see through that in a second."

"Enough with bickering. Good lord, it's like I'm back in the office," Kilbride grumbled, getting off of his chair with a grimace. "I'll do it."

"You're going to be Santa?" Deeks repeated, fighting back a grin.

"It wouldn't be the first time," Kilbride responded with as much dignity as he could.

"I did not see that coming," Kensi murmured.

"Ooh, and Eric and I can be elves," Nell added excitedly. "We brought our costumes just in case."

"I'll get them out of the car," Eric said, hurrying off. Kilbride didn't look too pleased by this update and grumbled something about needing another drink as he grabbed the box from Callen.

"I'll be right back," Kensi told Deeks.

"Where are you going?"

"To get my phone. This moment needs to be recorded for posterity."

Merry Christmas to us," he sang, sitting down beside Caleb and Sophia. "Hey, don't worry if Santa seems a little extra grumpy this year. He's a big old softy deep down."