Marnie woke early as usual and laid in bed thinking. As much as she wanted to see the sights in New Orleans, she felt an obligation to this woman's husband and child. Rolling over to face Callen, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her, kissing her head.

"You really need to learn to sleep in, Marn." He moaned.

Marnie tossed her leg over his hip and kissed his chest. "I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind."

Callen cradled her head in his hand while he moved his arm under it. "I know you do and I have to admit I do too. It's hard to be on the sidelines for a case like this. Or any case for that matter."

"I know it's the opposite direction of our plans for the day, but do you think we should detour to the office? We were more involved in talking about us and the wedding than we were about the case last night."

"Are you sure this is what you want to do? This is our honeymoon." He asked already knowing the answer.

"This is what we do, G. I know how it's bothering me by not being involved in this case, it must be killing you. With all of our minds at work, we can wrap this in a couple days. It's only Wednesday, we leave Saturday and Hetty knows about this case. Maybe we can ask for a couple more days."

"If we ask for more days, she may just send the entire team out to help. Do you really want everyone honing in on our honeymoon?" He asked pulling her up higher in the bed before he started kissing her neck.

If Marnie were a cat, she would've purred as his lips gently grazed her skin, passion pulsed from head to toe. Two hours later, Callen laid back with Marnie's head on his chest. Their fingers laced together and laid across his stomach. With his free hand, he reached for his phone on the nightstand and brought it to his chest. Marnie let go of his hand and moved a little so he could sit the phone on his chest. She watched his fingers fly over the touch screen.

"Okay, so we can grab breakfast and head to the office then go to an Ash Wednesday mass this evening." He offered.

Marnie smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Do we want to call Pride and as if they'd like us to bring breakfast?"

"No, we'll just pick something up and surprise them." Callen smiled. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Marnie nodded and sat up on her elbow. "I have to for the baby she left behind. I would want someone to do it for me if I was the one tumbling around that paddle wheel."

Callen pulled her down and kissed her. "I love you so much."

She gave him a wicked grin. "Round two in the shower?" She winked.

Callen groaned at the thought. "We're going to have to space this out a little more." He laughed.

"Oh I can wait a little while. We may have to come back to the room at lunch." She grinned.

Pride was not surprised when Callen and Marnie strolled through the door. In fact, he had a feeling they'd forgo their plans and pay them a visit. Even stopped off at the bakery for breakfast before heading in. He was however surprised that they had done the same thing. There were enough confections sitting on the table to feed all of the party-goers no Bourbon Street who were already out remedying their hangovers from the night before. Brody gave Marnie an ear-to-ear grin when she walked in, commenting that she knew they wouldn't be able to stay away. Chris sauntered in and stopped when he saw Marnie in the long airy dress and short cropped dark blue sweater. He merely nodded and headed to the coffee pot.

"Well good morning to you too Mr. Alabama." She said playfully.

Chris dropped his head as he stirred his coffee and turned with a wide smile. "Good morning Mrs. Southern California." He said and looked to Callen, nodding. "Mr. Southern California, to what do we own the honor."

"Callen and Marnie have offered their services for a couple days." Pride told him.

Chris nodded and smiled. "Your help is much appreciated."

Brody sat back and watched Chris, in the few months she'd been assigned to the New Orleans office, she'd never seen him act like this. Yes, he'd been withdrawn and crabby before, but this was something new. Like a lightbulb came on, she instantly grinned and giggled. Everyone looked at her expecting her to share what was so amusing.

"I'm sorry, I just remembered a joke I heard yesterday." She apologized.

"I always love a good joke, after all I did marry him." Marnie joked and poked Callen in the side.

Instantly Callen grabbed her around the waist and bit at her neck. Between the laughter, he managed to speak. "Really?"

Just the reaction she was hoping for Brody though as she shot a look at Chris. He watched them with a pained look in his eyes. Marnie pushed her way out of his grasp and stuck her tongue out at him. "It should be the other way around, you're the one who married a joke." She said with a straight face.

Instantly Callen dropped his chin to his chest. "What have I told you about that?" He asked reaching for her hand. Before he could pull her to his side, she had a beautiful smile cross her face and he knew she was joking. "I never want to hear something like that come out of your mouth again, you're brilliant. Jason gave you and the kids such a complex."

After a little more socializing, they got to work. It was slow going, Pride sent Brody and LeSalle back out to talk to the husband for the simple fact that the information he'd passed to them the first time seemed a little sketchy. Callen, Marnie and Pride stood around waiting, carrying on a casual conversation until they returned. Pride could tell that while Marnie and Callen wanted to be there to help with the case, their hearts just weren't in it. After assuring them that they had it covered, he sent them on their way so long as they promised to meet them at the bar that night so they could discuss whatever Brody and LaSalle learned.

Reluctantly, Marnie and Callen agreed and headed out to an earlier Ash Wednesday service. As they walked back to the hotel they stopped in a few of the shops along the way. They picked up a few things for the kids and some small items for the house. By the time they got back to the hotel, they'd talked so much about the kids that they both really needed to talk to them. The phone rang five times and went to voicemail. Perplexed and worried, Marnie insisted they call a second time. When the called was picked up, they heard noise in the background and a door slamming.

They sat on the bed with the phone on speaker phone waiting for whoever answered to say something. "Callie?" Callen finally said.

"Oh um, hi you guys." She said out of breath.

"It everything alright?" Marnie asked.

Callie laughed and explained that she had to run to the catch the phone. Callen knew what was going on at home and kept his mouth shut, letting Marnie do all of the talking. They talked to all three kids, including Sam and Michelle too. Thirty minutes later, they ended the call and headed downstairs for dinner before meeting Pride and his team at the bar. They could tell when they walked into the bar and the three were all smiles that it had been a productive afternoon.

Once Loretta arrived and everyone had a drink in hand, Pride told them what happened since they'd left. Marnie was pleased to hear they'd made an arrest, but was disturbed to find out it was the victim's husband. When she asked what would happen to the baby, Pride told her that the maternal grandparents were going to assume custody and raise the child. Satisfied, Marnie sat back and leaned into Callen's side. With the case solved, they could spend the rest of their honeymoon however they pleased.

Her mind reeled with possibilities, but in truth all she wanted to do was spend the time in Callen's arms since she knew both would be going back to work when they returned to LA. With that in mind, she suggested they head back to the hotel early. Seeing the look she was giving him, Callen couldn't refuse. The two barely made it into their room before they tore at one another's clothes.

The following morning, when they woke wrapped in one another's arms, they forgot all about whatever it was that they had planned and stayed in the room. Friday afternoon, they set out for the myriad of stores at the waterfront. Finally after not spending much if any money on herself, Callen convinced her to buy herself something. By the time they stopped at one of the seafood restaurants, they had armfuls of shopping bags.

The two stood looking at their suitcases that night trying to figure out how they were going to fit everything they'd bought. Finally at close to midnight, after unfolding and re-folding or rolling everything, they were able to zip their cases. Being that it was their last night in New Orleans, Callen ordered a bottle of champagne and the two sat on the balcony until things got a little too hot and heavy.

They woke late and rushed to get showed, dressed and the toiletries packed into their bags. Marnie made one last walked through the room while Callen rolled the bags into the hallway. With a smile and a kiss, the two headed downstairs to check out. When they stepped off the elevator and over toward the desk to check out, Marnie saw Pride, Brody and LaSalle walk in. She gave them a wave and told them they'd be right there. Hand in hand with smiled on their faces, Callen and Marnie walked over to them.

"I know you guys are running late, but we wanted to thank you for all of your help and tell you how much fun we've had. Hopefully the next time you guys come out, you bring the kids." Pride told them.

"Oh we will." Marnie grinned. "I don't know necessarily if it will be during Mardi Gras, but they'd love it here."

The five walked out together and Pride offered to drop them off at the airport so they didn't have to pay the cab fare. Wanting to talk with them more, Callen and Marnie agreed. Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up at the departures area of the airport and got out. With a quick hand shake and moments to spare, they said goodbye and ran to check in.

Marnie was wide awake during the flight, the two sat hand-in-hand the entire flight and stole a kiss when they thought no one was looking. It was three when they landed in San Diego. Sam, Michelle and the kids stood waiting for them in baggage claim. Marnie knew instantly that something was up when the kids looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. She questioned them on the drive up to LA, but no one said a word.

Sam pulled to the curb outside the house and looked back at the kids. They grinned wildly and pulled the bags from the trunk while Callen unlocked the door. When everyone turned to look at Marnie, she cautiously walked past all of them and into the house. She was in tears when she looked off towards the fireplace and saw her ceramic cats. In the dining room sat the dining room table. She ran her hand across the top of the couch in the living room and smiled through her tears.

She heard scratching and yelping at the back door and ran into the kitchen. Brewster jumped on her as soon as she opened the door. When she returned to the living room with the dog in her arms, she walked up to Callen and leaned into him.

"I can't believe you guys did this."

"This has all been planned since Jason was arrested." Sam told her.

"Everything that we didn't know where to put is in the shed out back. We can go through it whenever you want." Callie told her.

Avery grabbed her hand telling her she needed to see her and Callie's room. After setting the dog down, Marnie let Callie and Avery drag her to their room so she could see it. Callen walked up behind her as she leaned into him. "Thank you." She smiled up at him and kissed him.

"You should see your room." Callie suggested and hugged Avery who was standing on the bed as Marnie and Callen walked up the hall to their room.

Marnie slowly opened the door to find a wrought iron framed canopy bed with delicate red sheers hung from the top rails. Callen looked back at Sam as he pushed Marnie into the room and closed the door behind them. Sam and Michelle collected the kids and headed next door for dinner.