#densi-mber

“I’m not leaving. You can scream, you can throw things, you can push me away, but I love you and I’m not leaving.”

Today’s prompt comes via the following prompt list:

A House Full of Love and Craziness

Since Deeks and Kensi had been together, navigating Christmas became an interesting exercise depending on who wanted to attend. This year, they had a full crowd. In addition to Callen and Anna, Julia, and Roberta, Arkady had come along for the ride. Oh, and Steven, who quickly seemed to be entering some kind of in-law territory, had arrived around eleven with a pie and spent the day helping cook.

So far, the day had gone smoothly enough. For once, the moms had been content to let Rosa, Kensi, and Deeks handle most of the cooking, which meant there had been limited arguing or hurt feelings.

While they waited for a few dishes to finish cooking, they’d gathered in the living room. Not one to miss an opportunity with such a full audience, Arkady was regaling them with various stories about his many exploits. Caleb and Sophia sat on Deeks’ lap, hanging onto Arkady’s every word. Anna sat next to Callen, trying to convince a wriggling Rebecca to finish her bottle.

“It is true,” Arkady insisted when Rosa questioned the reality of his latest story. “I once was almost king of a country.”

“Is the same time you stole a bunch of jewels?” Rosa followed up with a cheeky smile. She shared a chair with Steven. At this point, he seemed used to the general chaos and questionable stories.

“I did not steal. It was a misunderstanding.”

“I seem to remember you stayed at the palace and got kicked out for flirting with multiple members of the royal family,” Callen commented.

Arkady raised his hands in the air, unbothered as always. “Can I help that I am charming?”

“Charming is not the word I would choose,” Deeks muttered, earning a chuckled from Callen and a poorly hidden smile out of Anna.

“You are supposed to be kind on Christmas,” Arkady told them, now wagging his finger.

“Sorry, you’re right,” Deeks apologized. He snuggled the twins closer. “Though I seem to remember most Christmas stories involving babies, angels, and Santa.”

“And Rudolph too!” Caleb added, never one to miss out on an opportunity to mention his current favorite.

“I like long Gwinch,” Sophia said.

“I do too,” Anna told her, earning a delighted grin.

Kensi cleared her throat loudly. “Maybe we’ve had enough about stolen monarchies and treasures for today.”

Exactly. Anyone else have heartwarming, thematically appropriate—” Deeks paused to glare at Arkady. “—stories?”

“Oh, I have a great story about last year,” Roberta said.

“Here we go,” Deeks muttered.

“So, last year Ary and I decided to go camping. Well, we took a camper van cause he can’t sleep on the ground.”

“It is old injury,” Arkady explained, dramatically touching his back.

“Anyway, we get to the place and start looking around. Ary wanted to find a nice romantic spot. Suddenly, we come across this big sign that says “only nudists beyond this point”.”

“Mama.” Deeks squeezed the bridge of his nose and he heard Kensi made a strangled noise. When he looked up, Rosa’s shoulders were shaking with silent laugher and Steven’s cheeks flushed a bright red.

“No, it wasn’t anything like that. Get your mind out of the gutter,” Roberta said, rolling her eyes.

“Mom, I don’t think nudists are quite what we were thinking of.”

“No, let’s see how this plays out,” Callen disagreed.

“Thank you. Obviously, we had to go investigate. I mean, how often do you run across a nudist colony? Long story short, they welcomed us with open arms—which was a little awkward at first for obvious reasons.” Roberta chuckled, nudging Julia, who looked greatly amused.

“My Roberta is generous and warm with everyone,” Arkady declared, pulling Roberta into his side. “She is especially generous and giving to me. So giving.”

“Ok, I think that’s enough of story time for Christmas,” Deeks intervened hastily.

“Mom, Roberta, do you want to help me and Rosa check the food?” Kensi added, expertly distracting one of the two troublemakers. “Arkady, I think we have some vodka in the liquor cabinet. Could you make everyone—of legal age—a drink?”

“Easy. I have just the thing,” Arkady said, puffing out his chest. “It is an old family recipe.”

“Everything is an old family recipe,” Anna joked good-naturedly.

Deeks caught Kensi before she could go into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around her briefly.

“I don’t seem to remember us having any vodka.”

“Mm, then finding some will keep Arkady busy until dinner’s ready,” she said with a smug little smile.

“God, I love your brain so much,” Deeks told her, dipping his head for a quick kiss before hurrying off to make sure the twins weren’t getting into anything.

Half an hour later, they all sat around the table. Arkady had not in fact materialized any vodka, but had concocted a palatable mixed drink, none of the food had burned, and Roberta had refrained from sharing more indecent stories.

“Crazy as they are, this is pretty great isn’t it?” he murmured to Kensi.

They looked around the table. Julia was deep in conversation with Rosa and Steven, Roberta and Arkady were busily sneaking the twins cookies, the Callen-Kolcheck family looked happier than Deeks could ever remember seeing them.

Christmas Day with Densi and all the extended family.