When The Rain Falls

CHAPTER 7

It was an experience, alright. After four weeks, they had developed a routine. Callen's schedule would adjust slightly, Amelia would make amends to her cafe schedule, and life flowed accordingly. Ainsley and Fiona adapted well. The first thing he noticed was Amelia had formed a tight bond with them. They did as she asked with minimal kickback, and her help with their studies allowed him more than a few hours of sleep. Dinner was always made, or breakfast sometimes, and she was clean. Mercifully clean. She was always cleaning up after herself, or the girls, and tidying up whenever she could. If he arrived home, she'd set a plate in front of him and run out the door to her Cafe job, and come back to his house well after he and the girls had gone to sleep.

And she never wore make-up until she had to go.

Nor her contacts.

Just those cute thick-rimmed glasses.

Or dyed her hair because there weren't enough hours in the day, apparently. While she already had roots, now the color had faded, yet become more vibrant, more clear, against her original near black hair color.

It was comforting, with an overwhelming feeling of being content. And he enjoyed it far more than he was able to comprehend.

One night as he ate his late dinner, which she kept warm on the stove for him, she surprised him by sitting across from him and began devouring hers while reading a book on her phone. She wasn't dressed. Still in leggings, a large t-shirt that did nothing to hide her curves, and those damn glasses. He stared at her, curiously.

Feeling his eyes, she looked up from her food and blinked. "Yeah?"

"Er. What are you doing here?" He asked.

Blinking, Amelia looked at him, confused. "Am... am I not allowed to eat at the table?"

He shook his head in disbelief that she would think that at all. "No, no. It's not that. Don't you have to go to Jules this evening?"

Relief poured into her face and she laughed. "No, Jules gave me two weeks off. The new girl asked for more hours, so he split the shift, and said he didn't need me to come in unless I wanted to. I won't go back until a week from Wednesday. And frankly, I'm glad."

Callen looked concerned. "Are you feeling well?"

"Oh, I'm great. I'm just tired. No idea how you did all this as a single dad. I'm practically half your age and I feel beat down." Amelia gave him a sly grin.

"Half my age? Twelve years is hardly- Never mind. Amelia, look. I hate to ask this-"

"Sorry Callen, I will not wear anything red and slinky."

He closed his eyes and hung his head. "Never going to let that one go, are you." Callen stared at her. "Amelia, you never did tell me why it made you so uncomfortable.”

"And I never will." She smiled. "Favor. Now."

"We'll come back to that conversation we need to have. However," Callen cleared his throat."An old friend of Arya and mine would like to visit. Is there any way I can convince you to make dinner for us all tomorrow?" He took another bite of his own plate. "Nothing insanely fancy, just enough for an extra person."

Amelia nodded. "Sure. Any restrictions?"

"None that I can think of. Barring my girls' preferences, of course."

"Oh yeah." Amelia said around another forkful. "Stop getting eggplant. And tomatoes."

Callen frowned. "Why?"

"Fiona's allergic. Makes her throat itch but she freaking loves those things." Amelia went back to her phone. "It’s nothing big for now. Probably mild allergy to nightshade. She may grow out of it, but keep them out of the house. She eats those small ones like grapes."

"Now hold on. She eats spaghetti sauce with no issues."

"Mm. Cooked tomatoes have different properties. They change chemically. But still. Don't feed her them."

Callen set his fork down. "Is that why her throat is always sore? I thought she just liked cough drops."

"Oh, yeah. That too."

He laughed softly. "The girls. They're not giving you too much of a headache, are they?"

Amelia shook her head. "No, they're great. A lot of homework these schools give them though. Why is Ainsley doing calculus?"

"She's my smart one. Looks like me. Boys are still gross, thank God." He smiled. "Fiona, looks just like her mum. Another heart attack is in the making for me. Likes the girly things, as I'm sure you could tell."

"Oh yes. The fact her room looks like a unicorn threw up on it tells me that." Amelia pushed her plate away and leaned back in her chair. "Callen, how do you do this?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"Raise two girls. On your own. Keep the house up. Arya's useless when it comes to raising them. But you seem to be able to do it, and work a full-time job." Amelia smiled. "And they love you more than life itself."

Callen set his fork down, and stared at his plate. "They're me world. I became theirs when Arya left. She stopped physically coming to see them when Fiona was a bit over a year old."

Amelia gave him a side eye. "A little over a year? How old was she when Arya when she left?"

"One year. To the day." He shrugged. "I was an officer for two years at the time. Got a call from her telling me she was going. Called me mum and asked her to get to the house and watch the girls 'til I got home."

He felt a warm hand cover his own. He looked down, and Amelia had grasped his fingers. "That's f****d up Callen. Want me to beat her ass?"

And he laughed. Laughed. Hard. The first time he had been able to for five years. "No, no. It's fine Amelia. We just haven't come to terms in the case of the divorce. She wants to sell the house and split it. I don't, since it's my childrens' future here. Don't know why. Jason is wealthy beyond all means, and she doesn't want the kids. "

"That's so trashy," Amelia sneered. Sensing a need to change the subject, she pulled her hand away and grinned. "Who's the mutual friend, by the way? He cute?

Callen winced. "Ah, his name is Kenny. He decided to give being a cop a try, been training him." He brushed the hair out of his eyes and smirked. "I guess he's attractive by female standards."

"Ooh, so I'll make something special." She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Maybe something Italian."

"Aren't you Italian?"

"Nose gave it away, didn't it?" Amelia laughed. "Yes, yes, my dad was. Mom's a mix mash of something else we never figured out. Lets just say white."

"Huh. Never would have thought it. You have an olive tone to you."

"Ha, not as much as my sister. She's half Hindi, half Italian." She took another bite. “Different moms.”

Callen stared at her, and narrowed his eyes. "You mentioned her before. Daniela, I believe. Is she your only sibling?"

She shook her head. "No. I've got a brother. We don't speak."

"Hm." His gaze never wavered. Instead, became more penetrating. "Your father’s passed on, you have a half sister, and a brother. However, you never speak of your family. Why?"

Amelia looked at him, and he saw a world of wisdom and sadness pass through her eyes. "Some things aren't worth mentioning, Callen." She said, swallowing another bite. “Like why you don’t want the girls to meet Aunt Lilly.”

Nodding, he changed the subject to something more mundane, mentally noting to bring this discussion up later. It was best to let her think she had gotten away with not talking to him, and ease into it later. Sometimes his officer training helped outside the job more than inside.

-----------

"So what are you making?"

"Chicken Parmesan." Amelia slammed a mallet down on the chicken breast, flattening it. "But to be safe I'm making Fiona a white sauce instead. Can't believe the girl is allergic to tomatoes."

"They're totally different when cooked."

"I know, but risk versus reward."

"So, it's been a month." Daniela said, with a hint of jest in her voice. " What's it like living with Officer Hotness?"

"Daniela!"

"What, even you said he's hot. For an old guy." Daniela giggled over the phone. "But he's not that much older. By the way, I totally scoped him out. Didn't find a f*******:. But found his wife."

Amelia let out a soft sigh, opening a bag of parmesean and cracking an egg into a bowl. "I never said he was too old. I never said anything like that. I just said he was older. And why are you looking up Arya?"

"They're still married little sister. If someone's gonna ride up your alley I gotta make sure they're legit." Daniela laughed at Amelia's growl and curse. "Oh stop. You know you'd climb that man. I got a photo of him from Arya's f*******:. He was hot at his wedding."

"Oh, send me that picture," Amelia said. She beat the egg and mixed the breadcrumbs and parmesean. "I mean, he's good looking. He really is. If he wasn't so closed off, he'd have potential. But what can I say?"

Daniela hemmed and hawed. "Are you making Noni's special marinara?"

Amelia scoffed. "Of course I am. I was even able to find fresh oregano. Fresh oregano, in Glasgow. The sauce is simmering now."

"And the pasta?"

"Made it myself." She laughed and shook her head. “I put a pasta roller on the grocery list. He bought four different rolling pins until I went and got it myself. Then he left a blank check in an envelope for the cost of it. He's insane. It was five bucks."

"Are you making Poppops noodles?" Daniela asked.

"Is there any other type?"

"Store bought."

"Like I said, is there any other type?"

"Ha!" Her sisters' laugh echoed, and made Amelia want to see her. So bad. "Amelia, I wanted to ask. Have you heard from Marcello?"

Amelia dropped the flattened chicken breasts, now covered in egg, parmesean, and breadcrumbs into a pan of oil, slowly frying them. "f**k him Daniela. "

"He's our brother, Amelia." Daniela's voice became serious. "He had to do the same as us."

“No, he did this to us. He ransacked the f*****g house within hours of the funeral. We don't even know where he is now, him or Lauren." Plopping the chicken onto a greased baking sheet, Amelia began to spoon sauce on each one, grabbing a fresh ball of mozzarella. "He took off because of what he did. He's part of the reason we had to do what we had to do."

"There's a reason I'm in Italy, Amelia.” She took a deep breath. "I think he’s here.”

Amelia stopped for a moment. “And you’re trying to find him. You know that’s suicide, right?”

“I'll let you figure out what you want," Daniela stated simply. “And let me figure out what’s going on here. I’m safe, you know that. I’ve done this a lot more than you have little sister. I know what I’m doing.”

“What you’re doing is basically defacing any progress we made to escape.” Amelia took a deep breath, and looked out the window. “Oh, I just saw Callen pull up with the kids.”

"Oh really.” Daniela cleared her throat. "Then back on the important subject. Have you sucked his d**k yet?"

------

Callen had come home early, and his house smelled delicious. The rich aroma of home-made marina, chicken, and the sounds of laughter from his kitchen made his heart skip a beat. This was never possible with Arya. She preferred precooked meals, warming things up to taking the time to cook anything, always claiming exhaustion with their children. To come home to a sweet laugh and the sound of a beautiful woman enjoying herself in his household, was like a beautiful foreign film to him. He didn't understand it, it confused him, but he loved it regardless.

Shaking his head, he walked to the kitchen, and overheard her on the phone. He stood back slightly, letting her have some privacy until his name was said. Looking at a side table, he pretended to busy himself with the mail that had come in. Including a registered letter. An amendment to Arya's divorce request

"He's handsome. I won't deny that Daniela. But no. Nothing happened, and nothing will."

"Not even a little drunken fun? The hell kind of water does Scotland have? I'll send you some fancy ass wines from here. I'll even stomp the grapes myself."

"Ew. Gross. No." That laugh again. "There's nothing between us Daniela. He'd have zero interest in someone like me anyway. His kids are his life, and that's beautiful. I want it kept that way as much as possible."

"So... if you're not sleeping with him, can I get a chance?"

"No!" Amelia cried out. "Absolutely not!"

"Oh," this Daniela had a knowing voice. "I see, you wanna do him. Eventually. No Tunnel Sisters. Gotcha."

He almost laughed out loud, but caught himself in time. How embarrassing it would be if she knew he had heard her entire conversation regarding him. He opted not to speak up. Instead, he opened up an envelope with no return address listed and frowned. It was sealed with a wax imprint, labeled with a capital M. Behind him Amelia continued to talk.

"No. And damn it, Daniela, stop insinuating. He's just a friend. A good friend. I really care about him and the girls. The last thing he would want from me is anything more. Besides, you know I'm-"

Callen cursed loudly. Amelia rushed Daniela off her phone, and came running out of the kitchen. Her golden eyes wide, she looked at him, then down at his fist. He held a letter in his hand, crumbled in a hard grip, his jaw firm and tense. Carefully she walked towards him, and gently took the letter from his enclosed fist. He didnt move while she opened his fingers and flattened the thick card stock, looking down at the filigree writing written in gold, reading the wrinkled words.

"We cordially invite you to the engagement party of one Arya Elsabeth Gladstone Fraser and one Jason Anthony Maccone- Oh no. Callen," Amelia looked up at him, her bottom lip trembling. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

Callen gave her a glance. "Kenny will be here soon. Is dinner ready?"

"Just about. Just gotta plate it." Amelia stepped in front of him, and reached for his hands. "Callen, are you okay?"

He swallowed hard. "Is dinner ready Amelia?"

She let his hands fall from hers. "I'll... I'll go plate it now."

"Thanks."

Amelia took a breath. "Can I do anything to help Callen?"

"No. I don't need you." He stepped past her and began walking towards the back bedrooms. "I need to see me girls."

Amelia watched him walk away. Slowly she turned back to the kitchen, and stirred the special garlic sauce she made for Fiona. She felt cold and rejected, and she didn't know why.

----

Carefully, Amelia began setting the plates on the table. Even as appetizing as she made the meal, she didn’t feel hungry in the least. Callen had yet to appear from his room, and the girls were giggling around. Ainsley grabbed the bowl of pasta and placed it on the table. Fiona was climbing into a chair. Amelia watched them both, and gazed at how Ainsley doted on her younger sister. It was then the doorbell rang, and Amelia said to them both "I'll get it. Ainsley would you mind grabbing the plate of vegetables and setting them down too?"

Ainsley nodded and went back into the kitchen. Amelia all but ran to the front of the door, shouting towards the back room to Callen that his friend had arrived. Opening the door, she was struck silent. A tall, slim man, with golden hair and deep green eyes grinned back at her, still in his officers' uniform. His hands were on his hips, and his cheeks dimpled kindly. "Hi," he said sweetly, his voice deep. "I'm Kenny. Is Callen around?"

Amelia swallowed, and nodded, stepping aside. Kenny walked past her and turned, still smiling. "And you must be Amelia. It may have been a bit since I seen Fiona and Ainsley, but I doubt they grew this much this fast."

Amelia giggled, unable to take the smile off her face. "No, you're right. I'm Amelia. Please, go have a seat, I'll grab Callen."

Kenny nodded, his smile of straight white teeth never leaving his face as Amelia turned towards Callens' bedroom. Two young girls came running past her, towards Kenny, shrieking with joy as the other man hugged them close. As Amelia got closer to Callens' room, she knocked three times and opened the door.

He stood in the middle of his room, his shirt and vest already gone, staring at the crumbled invite. She took notice of his back. Of how the lines formed muscles, how his sinew indented, and she held her breath. His profile was firm, stoic, as he looked down at the paper in his hand in front of his dresser, where a large mirror sat. His next day uniform hung on a hanger above it. In the reflection she saw his well toned chest, abs, and shoulders that seemed broader with out his shirt, and muscular arms that looked so much bigger unclothed. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until he turned to her. With eyes like ice and a face of stone, he watched as she came into his room and stood in front of him.

"Callen," Amelia said softly, taking the invite from his hands. They fell at his sides listlessly, and only enhanced his narrowed waist. She set it on his dresser, and turned back to him, carefully extending her arms and wrapping them around his shoulders in a tight, warm hug.

His large hands circled her back and did the same, while he buried his face in her neck, and plum-scented hair. Pulling away slightly, he looked down into her soulful, doe like eyes, and bent his face closer to hers, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. She reacted in kind, kissing him back before he carefully pulled away. Pressing his forehead against hers, he sighed.

"That was interesting," Amelia said softly.

Callen only replied by kissing her again, with a bit more urgency, and expressed disappointment when she pulled away.

"We... we should go." Amelia whispered. "Kenny is here."

"Right." He whispered back. "Go on then. I'll be out in a minute."

"Take your time Callen."

"I will."

-----

Kenny was his complete opposite.

While both were tall, Callen had dark, almost coal-black hair to Kenny's glittering blond, Kenny's pointed elf-like chin compared to his broad chiseled jawline, Kenny's constant smile and dimpled cheeks compared to his scowl. Kenny's dark moss-colored, deep set eyes compared to his sea glass blue. Kenny was what one would consider approachable, good looking, handsome in a Good Ol' Boy way, while Callen was as well, but in a way that would incite whispers and grins from brave women instead of offers.

Kenny got the offers, the smiles, the giggles and he got all that from Amelia right now. Callen stared at them as Amelia carried on a fluid conversation with Kenny while cutting up food for Fiona. Ainsley watched as well, her eyes glancing up from her phone, giving an appreciative nod before going back to her phone. The entire time, Callen didn't speak. He let Kenny carry on conversation, joke with his daughters, and flirt absolutely shamelessly with Amelia.

They kept talking. And laughing. And he didn't like it.

A small foot kicked him lightly under the table. He turned to Ainsley, who was giving him a side-eye look. He recognized in his preteen's face an unused eyeroll, and he half wondered if she would give herself an aneurysm if she held it in too long. Furiously, she texted something and it hit his phone with a buzz on the table. He grabbed it and pulled up the message, staring at it coldly.

Ask her before he does.

To which he responded:

Ask her what?

Another buzz.

Out. On a date. Cuz he's about to.

Callen put his phone down and gave Ainsley a stare, softly shaking his head. Ainsley did an eyeroll and went back to her phone, shaking her head in detestment.

Callen stared at his daughter, relieved she finally let the eyeroll out so there would be no emergency visit to the hospital, and both simultaneously hated but loved her initiative. Maybe she had a point.

Amelia was perfect for his family. Perfect. She got on great with the kids, great with him. Especially now that they had more time together to discover each other's flaws. Jules had relayed to him with a wink that Amelia was more than welcome back, but she wasn't needed as badly as he originally did require her. And while that may change, the new girl was a single mum who needed as much money as she could get her hands on. His own mum wasn't due back for another three weeks.

Maybe after the engagement party he could talk to her about it being a permanent situation? Raise her weekly rate, of course. It wasn't like he couldn't afford to keep her exceptionally long term. He still had a good portion of his lawyer's money left, and they lived fine on his officer's salary. He could even afford to keep her just using that. Give his mum a break?

He felt an internal light bulb flick on in his head. The engagement party. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea? Ask Amelia to the event. It wouldn't be the date Ainsley would have preferred, but it would be a start. Maybe see how she reacted in a formal setting. Maybe see what she would do to that damn hair. Maybe see if she had a different pair of glasses for occasions.

Callen looked up as Amelia laughed, and was putting more food on Fiona's plate. Kenny was gently nudging her. "Well? What do you think? Grand idea ay?"

"Well, Callen was supposed to go, and I think the girls too..." she turned and faced him, eyes the shade of bark and smiling. "Callen, are you going to the engagement party for Arya?"

Callen swallowed a bite he held in his mouth for far too long. "Ah, I was thinking of it. Yes. Kids may want to go."

Ainsley rolled her eyes. "Sure we do."

"The kids may want to go," he said sternly. Fiona looked at him, blinked, and went back to eating with her hands.

Amelia laughed and handed her a small fork, and she started using it. "Anyways, Callen, Kenny asked me to go to the engagement party as his date. So I wanted to know are you going?"

Callen stared at her. Kenny asked her? He glanced at Ainsley, who shook her head at him. "Wait. Kenny, let me be clear. You just asked my children's caretaker to my ex-wife's engagement party?"

"Of course!" Kenny seemed oblivious to the daggers Callen stared him down with. Or immune. "She's lovely, absolutely lovely. I think we would make a smashing grand entrance to boot. I figured you'd not want to go so-"

"You figured wrong. I'm going."

Kenny blinked in surprise. "Well, old man, I didn't believe you'd want to. But if that's the case, the girls can go as well, and Amelia can have a night off with your eyes on them."

Amelia stayed quiet, looking down at her plate. Callen tried catching her eyes, but she didn't move. Kenny took another bite. "Well, I know Callen is off for the next two weeks. Leaving me hanging. So Amelia, what say you and I go out on Friday? We can go shopping for whatever we can get to wear and get to know each other in a much more intimate setting?"

Callen watched her closely. She didn't even look his way when she gave Kenny that same beautiful, brilliant f*****g smile and said "Kenny, I think that would be amazing. Pick me up at five?"

Callen ignored the foot slamming into his leg and the blazing eyes of his daughter.