AN: So sorry it took so long to get this chapter posted. I had most of this chapter's 'scenes' written by the time I posted the last chapter, but when all of the planned 'scenes' were written the chapter as a whole was unbalanced. Unfortunately, being the last chapter, it was difficult to place the right 'scenes' the keep the flow of the chapter. Again, sorry for the delay, but thanks so much for the continued support!

X

Closure...

For almost a week, the field agents of OSP track leads and follow suspects as the twists and turns of one particular case tries everyone's patience. They just arrive at work one morning, only to find out another suspect had gotten into a car chase with an unknown player two hours earlier, which ended in a collision and shootout, with the living contenders fleeing on foot. Callen and Sam, and Kensi and Deeks head out for the scene, hoping for some information and direction.

The scene isn't hard to find. Roads in all directions are closed. At the closest roadblock, Kensi rolls down her window and flashes her badge. She gets them waved through without much attention or hesitation. If anything, the LAPD officer manning the roadblock is bored and uninterested. She drives down the rest of the street to the scene of the accident and shootout, which is heavily blocked off. Surrounding the police tape is a dozen police cars, plus forensics vehicles. As well as the two vehicles involved in the chase, six others were sucked into the accident. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but the street and surrounding area is a mess.

Kensi parks and makes a face. "I'm kind of glad this isn't our scene."

Deeks chuckles. "That's going to take a long time to clean up."

They exchange a look before stepping out of the SRX. A stern and determined looking officer is already striding up to them. "Excuse me, you can't be here."

They both pull out their badges.

Kensi takes the lead. "NCIS. Agents Blye and Deeks. We just have a few-"

The officer scoffs. "Oh, I see how it is. You think you can just show up and take over? This is our scene."

Kensi and Deeks exchange a glance.

Deeks steps forward, putting his four years of liaising skills to work. "Look, Officer Travers," he says, taking the man's name from his uniform. He's not an officer that Deeks recognizes. "We're not looking to take over. But one of your drivers may intersect with one of our cases, so we're here to see if we can obtain some information. That's all. We're willing to share what we know if LAPD will do the same." He pauses for effect. "Can we work together?"

The officer stares at him for a moment. "I'll have to run it by my superior."

"That'll be fine. Thank you." Deeks knows they can go over the LAPD's heads for access, but he also knows it goes a long way to give the allusion of choice.

The officer directs them to follow him over to the police tape and leaves them while he ducks under to discuss the situation with his superior.

"Is it weird being here?" Kensi asks.

"Hmm?"

She shrugs. "I guess I never thought..." She sighs. "You were one of us for so long. When you finally became an agent, I never considered that you were actually leaving a lot behind."

Deeks stares at the scene before them. Dozens of officers, detectives and crime scene techs mill about, processing the scene in what can only be described as organized and well-practised chaos. He'd been part of that scene once, but never really a part of it. He sighs. "I'm where I belong now, Kens."

"I'm glad." She offers him a smile.

He smiles back. "Me, too."

A plain clothed detective saunters up to them. Deeks recognizes him instantly. He'd never exactly liked the man, but he'd always respected him as a cop. "Blake," he greets.

"Deeks," Blake greets. "Thought that was you when you pulled up." He motions to Kensi without actually acknowledging her personally. "Letting a lady drive you around?"

Deeks can practically feel Kensi bristle beside him. "Letting my partner drive," he responds, "It's called compromise. With all your failed partnerships, I guess it's a foreign concept to you," he attempts a joke, but neither his former co-worker or current partner go along with it. He pauses. "Kens, this is Detective Lawrence Blake. Blake, this is Special Agent Kensi Blye, my partner."

Neither move to shake hands, but that isn't unexpected after Blake's not so welcoming initial comments. He's a few years older than Deeks, and very traditional in his views. He'd always been vocal about his views on women in law enforcement.

Before anything more can be said - or glared - Callen and Sam materialize beside them. They had taken different routes, having disagreed on which way would be fastest.

"If you say I told you so, Deeks, I won't hesitate to smack you," Sam mutters.

Kensi smirks. "Fine, then I'll say it for us. We told you so."

Deeks laughs with his partner as Callen and Sam glare at them both.

"If my partner could navigate, we would have been here first," Sam states.

"You're the one who said you knew where you were going," Callen retorts.

"I said I knew the general path. It was still up to you to figure out the best actual path once we were off the freeway."

"Well, you should have been more clear."

"I shouldn't have to be more clear. You should understand me without me having to explain."

"I disagree."

Deeks turns back to Blake. "These are Agents Callen and Hanna, who have been married for..." He turns to the bickering agents. "How long have you been married, again?"

Sam takes an angry step towards him and he jokingly jumps behind Kensi, using her as cover.

Kensi laughs.

Sam points a finger at the two of them. "Don't think I won't kick both your asses."

Deeks scoffs. "We both know you'll never go for Kensi. And not because she's a woman, but because we all know she can take you." He doesn't acknowledge Blake through this exchange, but he knows the detective is still watching, so Deeks chooses his words with purpose.

"Deeks has a point," Callen points out.

Sam makes a face. "Fine. But that doesn't mean I won't get you back for that."

Deeks smirked. "You do and I'll sic my partner on you."

Kensi laughs again, but nods. "Got your back, partner."

Before Sam could respond, Officer Travers returned with Lieutenant Bates in tow.

Deeks feels himself sober at the sight of his former boss. Bates had been supportive when Deeks had advised of his decision to give up his liaison position and become an agent the previous year, but he hadn't seen the man since. He wonders now if it's a good idea that he's here, trying to mix his new life with his old.

"Deeks," Bates greets, ducking under the police tape so they are on the same side. Travers follows suit. Detective Blake remains where he is.

"Bates," Deeks greets, shaking his hand.

"It's good to see you, kid. When Travers said Agents Deeks and Blye were here, I had to come see for myself. What can we do for NCIS today? Come to steal more of my detectives?"

"I don't think we stole him so much as got stuck with him," Sam counters, revenge for Deeks's earlier comments, no doubt.

"Kind of a 'you break it, you buy it' policy," Callen says, backing up his partner.

"Ran out the warranty," Kensi piles on, "Couldn't send him back."

"Okay, feeling the love today..." Deeks shakes his head.

Bates laughs. "Oh, yeah, Deeks. You definitely found your home." He looks to the young officer next to him. "Officer Travers, did you know Agent Deeks, here, was one of us?"

Travers shook his head. "No, sir."

Bates nods. "He was a damn good detective. The kind of cop you should aspire to become."

Deeks swallows hard at the unexpected compliment. He had expected to leave his LAPD life behind and not be remembered as anything. This was a surprise; a good kind of surprise.

"So," Bates moves on, "What can we do for NCIS?"

Deeks takes the lead for his team, explaining the connection to their case.

Bates nods and welcomes them into the crime scene. As they step under the tape, Detective Blake is still standing on the other side.

"Don't you have work to be doing?" Bates barks at him, which sends him scurrying off to check in with the crime scene techs. He shakes his head. "Good cop, but far too interested in everyone else's business."

Deeks nods, but says nothing.

With a gentler tone, Bates sends Officer Travers off to work as well. He allows NCIS full access to the crime scene, unescorted, which Deeks knows is only because it's his team. But he also knows no one on the team will take advantage of the offer. Callen and Sam take Kensi to review the ballistics of the shootout. Deeks remains with Bates.

"You happy with your choice, kid?"

Deeks nods. "No regrets."

"You found a home with NCIS. I was just surprised it took you so long to make it permanent."

Deeks takes a breath as he watches his team introduce themselves to the crime scene techs. There's a brief discussion and some pointing to indicate direction of shots. Deeks recognizes some of the techs. His old life and his new life, colliding. And yet, no implosion.

"I had to figure some things out," he says eventually.

Bates nods. "Officially, I'm angry at NCIS for stealing one of my best detectives. But off the record, I'm proud of you, Deeks."

Deeks blows out a breath and meets his former boss's eyes. "Thanks."

Bates raises an eyebrow. "You ever figure things out with that partner of yours?"

"Anyone ever tell you that you ask a lot of questions?"

Bates's eyes narrow, his history as an interrogator being put to good use. "That wasn't a no."

Deeks allows himself a smile. "No. That wasn't a no."

X

5 Years...

They arrive at work together. When they'd first pushed past the line of partners and become more than partners, they hadn't been hiding their personal relationship, but they hadn't taken any chances making it obvious, either. But some time after they hit the six month mark they stopped being so subtle. They started discussing plans at work where there could be prying ears, they shared stories of things they did together outside of work, and they drove into work in the same car.

So, on the morning of their fifth anniversary as partners, they arrive together.

Kensi laughs when she finds her desk covered in items that are all related to the number 5 - pencils, pens, a notepad, a little figure in the shape of a number 5 with eyes, arms and legs, a water bottle, a cupcake with a number 5 candle and a cell phone case with 5s all over it. (She found out later Deeks had bought it all ahead of time and left it with Eric and Nell to set up for her surprise).

She eats her cupcake and re-configures her desk to accommodate the new items.

Callen arrives first.

"What's all this?" Callen asks, eyeing the new additions to her desk.

"Just things," she says, running her fingers over her new things. The over-reminder of the number five has reminded her how important a role he's played in her life and for how long. Deeks glances worriedly at her from his desk. She offers him a smile, reassuring that she is okay, and turns back to Callen. "It's our five year anniversary as partners," she tells him.

Callen's eyes widen in surprise and he glances between them. "Wow, that's... How is that possible? I remember you two still griping at each other when Sam and I hit five years?"

Deeks shrugs. "We still gripe at each other now."

Kensi laughs, but shrugs as well. "We were getting close to two years when you guys hit five years. And we weren't that bad." She exchanges a look with her partner. "Trust was a big deal. For both of us." She could still recall with great detail how envious she was of Callen and Sam's partnership that day. Not that she hadn't been happy with her partner by that point, but she had recognized the deeper layer of trust and history they had that Kensi and Deeks just didn't yet.

But they did now.

And Kensi wouldn't give up her partnership for the world.

Sam wandered into the room with a, "Good morning."

"Did you know today marks a special anniversary?" Callen asks his partner.

Sam pauses as he's setting his bag down beside his desk, his expression immediately apprehensive; typical husband afraid he had missed an important date in his own marriage. He quickly runs through all the important dates in his mind before shaking his head and looking up expectantly.

"Kensi and Deeks," Callen supplies. "Five years as partners."

Sam holds up his hands in surprise. "No way. No way you've been partners that long." He looks at Deeks. "No way you've been with us that long."

They spend the next five minutes debating dates and timeframes, until Hetty breaks up the debate to offer her own congratulations. And then Eric is whistling them up to OPs.

Before they head up, Sam claps Deeks on the shoulder and gives Kensi a quick hug and gives them his heartfelt congratulations. "You two drove me crazy-"

"Us. You drove both of us crazy," Callen cuts in as they make their way up the stairs.

Sam chuckles. "You drove us both crazy at first. But we're glad you figured things out. You're great partners."

Kensi exchanges a smile with Deeks as they follow the senior partners up the stairs. Deeks even reaches out to squeeze her hand, allowing that line between partners and more-than-partners to be crossed momentarily. They're usually really good about avoiding those lines at work, but she figures on their five year anniversary, they can make an exception.

The case is relatively straight forward. Afterwards, the team goes out for drinks to celebrate their anniversary. It's really nice and casual, and after an hour, Kensi and Deeks relax, and the walls they keep up at work begin to fall. She leans into him and he drapes his arm across her shoulders. At one point, they exchange beers to try the others, and then exchange back, which Kensi knows doesn't escape the notice of their co-workers. But at this point it's no secret they're in a relationship as well as a partnership. And their performance in the field hasn't so much as faltered.

One by one, the rest of the team bids off. Eventually, Kensi and Deeks are left alone.

"Home?" She asks. These days 'home' means either of their places, as long as they are together. They don't spend nights alone anymore.

"Soon. Will you come for a walk with me first?"

"Let me guess... The beach?"

"You know me so well."

"Five years," she reminds.

The restaurant is only two blocks from the beach, so they walk down, hands slinging comfortably between them. They'd parked the car at a lot by the beach when they'd arrived hours earlier, so they leave their shoes in the car now, choosing to wander barefoot along the beach now. The sun is just starting to dip down, and the beach is surprisingly vacant of people even with the low light.

They wander down the beach together in comfortable silence until Kensi sighs. The sunset is giving off brilliant colours over the water and the breeze is a nice relief to the warm air of the day. "This was a nice idea."

"Going for a walk or being partners?"

She rolls her eyes. "The walk. Still undecided on the partners issue," she jokes.

He laughs. "Ouch."

She bumps his hip. "So, five years."

"Five years."

"Did you think we'd make it this far?"

"Nope. I thought if anything you'd kill me long before we got halfway here."

"Be serious."

"Oh, I am being serious. There were a few times where I actually thought you were plotting my murder."

She laughs. "I may have considered it a few times. I am a forensics expert too, you know. I could have hid the body and all forensic clues."

"I know. And Callen and Sam would have helped cover it up."

"Sam, maybe. Callen, definitely."

Deeks laughs, but then sobers. "I don't know when I started to believe we'd make it here, Kens. But I'm infinitely glad we did. And I'm glad we're more than partners." He stops them.

Kensi steps into him, her hands snaking their way up his chest to his shoulders. "Me too, Deeks." She hesitates for a moment before telling him, but it's one of those perfect moment and it's their anniversary, so she kind of can't not tell him. "You're kind of the best thing that ever happened to me," she whispers.

He kisses her. It's a soul deep kiss that seems to go on forever. And when it does eventually end, he doesn't take any more space than he has to. He presses his forehead to hers. His lips are only inches from hers when he whispers, "You're the best thing that happened to me, too, Kens. The very best thing."

She closes her eyes and allows him to sway the two of them side to side ever so slightly. Their fronts are pressed together and his arms are wrapped so securely around her middle. For a moment she seriously considers staying her just like this forever.

"I love you, Kensi Blye," he murmurs into the shared air between them.

She knows. She knows because she feels his love and she sees his love and she senses his love in everything he does for her. And it's the most amazing thing; simply to be loved. He loves her by choice. He chooses to love her. He chooses to spend his time with her, both at work and at home. There's no ulterior motives, no unreasonable expectations, no lies or deceptions. And she gets to love him back, just as fiercely.

"I love you, too," she breathes.

She feels him swallow and his chest hitches against hers.

"Tell me we'll do this in five years," she implores, before he can say anything further.

He pulls back just far enough to meet her eyes. "What?"

She smiles up at him. "In five years, on our ten year anniversary as partners, we'll go out to celebrate, and then walk on the beach together and watch the sunset, together." She presses herself against him for emphasis.

He stares at her for a long moment with an expression she cannot decipher. And then, without warning, he laughs.

Kensi blinks and furrows her brow. "Deeks?"

He's still laughing. He swipes at his eyes, as if expecting tears from his laughter.

"Care to share? Not really seeing the humour?"

He manages to rein in his laughter in order to kiss her again, this time short and sweet. "Yes," he says when he pulls away. "Let's do exactly this five years from today on our tenth anniversary as partners."

"And that's funny because..."

"Because you stole the words right out of my mouth." He shakes his head, humour lighting up his eyes. "Even after five years, you can still surprise me, partner."

She smiles at that, but then frowns. "Okay, well, good to know we're on the same page, but still not seeing how that's funny."

He takes a breath. "You stole my thunder a bit there, Kensalina. That was how I was going to start."

She narrows her eyes. "Start what?"

He grins. "The fact that you are completely oblivious is completely adorable."

She glares at him, but his grin doesn't falter.

"Can we pretend like you didn't steal my thunder?" He presses on without waiting for her answer. "Let's pretend I asked you to commit to us being here in five years, okay?"

"Okay," she says cautiously.

"Where do you see us in five years?"

"Is that a trick question?" She asks, incredulously. "Right here on the beach, celebrating our tenth anniversary as partners."

Deeks huffs out a sigh and leans forward, pressing his forehead against the top of her shoulder and resting for a moment.

"Am I missing something?" She demands.

He presses a kiss to her clavicle and stands upright again. "Let's also pretend you aren't quite so literal. In general, in life, where do you see us in five years?"

A deeper understanding of this conversation washes over her. Her first instinct, still deeply ingrained in her makeup, is to run and avoid. But it's been over a year since she set out to change, and the new Kensi quickly takes over and reminds herself she can safely have this conversation. She's stronger now. And her heart is safe in his hands. "On the beach," she offers quietly.

Deeks's expression falls, but he nods, accepting what she can give him.

She smiles and nudges him. "Living on the beach, together," she clarifies.

He perks up. "Really?"

"Well, maybe more like close to the beach. Unless we win the lottery. But, yeah."

"Living together."

"Yes," she says confidently. "Not that we need to wait five years for that..."

He closes his eyes for a moment, savouring her words. "No, I guess we don't."

"I take it you're on board with this?"

His chest heaves as he draws a breath. It presses against hers and she smiles and holds him tighter. "Oh, yeah. I'm most definitely on board. But there's one more thing."

"Which is?"

He meets her eyes evenly. "I want to ask you a question."

From the look in his eyes and the tone of their conversation, she knows there's only one question it can possibly be.

"And it's about something we've never talked about. And I know that you've...been asked this question before."

She shifts in his arms, but doesn't break contact with his eyes. His arms tighten around her, holding her close.

"And because of what happened last time, you may not want to go down that road again."

"Deeks..."

He offers her a soft smile. "And I want you to know that I get it, Kens. I know you. And I understand you." He gives her a moment to process that. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to fall asleep next to you and wake up beside you and call you my partner every day for the rest of my life. That is what is important to me. I don't need to ask the question."

She's trembling in his arms when he finishes, but not from nerves or hesitation.

Anticipation.

He's not wrong. For a long time, she didn't think she would ever want that again. Her past made her gun shy. But things are so much different now. "Deeks, I want you to ask the question."

And then she's not sure which one of them is shaking more as he pulls away from her and reaches into his pocket. He reveals a diamond ring. No fancy box or velvet bag. Just a ring.

She stares at it in shock for a moment, wondering how he could possibly have gotten it past her.

He smirks. "Told you that you were completely oblivious. Adorable."

They stare at each other for several seconds, savouring the moment before the moment. And then Deeks drops down to one knee. She tries to tug him back up, but he shakes his head. "Nope. We're only doing this once, Kens. So, we're doing it right."

He reaches for her hands with one hand and holds the ring up with the other.

Kensi grips onto his hand with both of hers. She can feel her heart pounding against her chest.

Deeks squeezes her hands and asks with a simple, "Marry me?"

She answers with an equally simple, "Yes," and drops to her own knees so they are on the same level. He's determined to follow protocol, so she allows him to slide the ring onto her left ring finger and kiss her before she throws her arms around his neck.

X

I know you better than you think...

Kensi sighs as she pads her way around her apartment, following a familiar path. If she keeps this up, she's going to wear a track in the floors. She pauses in the center of her kitchen and begins spinning her engagement ring around her finger. The weight of the ring is a welcome comfort in such a trying time.

Kensi doesn't want to move. But Kensi had told her...fiancé...that she would. She had actually suggested it.

They had put together a five year plan for their beach front or near-the-beach home. It involved saving for a hefty down payment. And that meant paying for two apartments now was a waste of money. She had told him it was no big deal for her to move in with him.

No. Big. Deal.

She was eating her words now. Because it was a huge freaking deal. She did not want to move. Her things were here. She was comfortable here. There was more room here. She liked it here. Not that Deeks's place wasn't nice. Not that she wasn't comfortable when she was there. And he would be there. She could make it home.

She looks around. But this was home now.

She hears the door open, signalling Deeks's arrival. He had had some errands and was then going to pick up Monty and dinner.

She steps out of the kitchen. Monty catches sight of her and hurries over.

"Hi, Monty," she greets, patting his head.

The dog wags his tail and then moves past her to the kitchen to check on the food bowl he knows is kept there.

"Chinese," Deeks states, holding up the takeout bag.

"Sounds perfect."

He cocks his head. "You okay?"

"Fine."

He put the bag down on the coffee table with a sigh. "You get any work down?" He had pushed her to start organizing her things, deciding what was coming and if there was anything she wanted to get rid of. There were three completely empty totes in the bedroom that were evidence to her complete lack of any progress.

"Can we not talk about this now?"

To her surprise, he smiles. "Finally, a different response."

"Excuse me?"

"You've been lying to me for two weeks now."

"I have not."

"Really? How do you really feel about moving in with me?"

She stammers for a moment. "I want to live with you," she says honestly.

He offers her a warm smile. "I know that. But how do you feel about moving into my apartment?"

"I..." She hesitates. It was one thing to go along with what she had offered and tell herself she was okay. It was another to lie to his face when he was calling her on it. "I'm willing to do it. For you. For us."

He steps into her, his hands finding her hips. "But you don't want to, Kens."

She grips at his forearms. "But it's the smarter choice."

He presses a kiss to her forehead. "Our places cost about the same. The only reason you thought my place was better was for Monty. And he's happy anywhere as long as there's food."

"So, you're saying...you'd be willing to move in here?"

"More than willing. As long as Monty can come."

Kensi feels a surge of relief wash over her. She blinks hard against the sudden stinging in her eyes. "I'd really like that, Deeks. I'd really like both of you here."

He smirks. "Good, because I gave notice at my place a week ago."

"You...what?"

"I would never have made you leave this place, Kens."

She smacks him in the shoulder. "You let me keep thinking I was moving for a week?"

"Nine days, actually."

She smacks him again.

He laughs. "You really know how to drag something out. I had to step up my game. You didn't think it was odd that I asked you to think about getting rid of some of your things? Don't worry, Kens, I know I'm marrying a hoarder."

"You really... That was just to..."

"To push you into having this conversation." He nods. "And that's why I brought over the totes, told you to start packing, printed you the change of address form at work, all of it."

She releases a laughing breath and buries her face in his shoulder. "You're an ass."

He wraps his arms around her. "Love you, too, Kens."

"You're really willing to do this for me?"

"Absolutely," he tells her. "Well, under one condition."

"What's that?"

"I get to bring my cat pillow."

X

I challenge you to a duel...

Kensi watches in a combination of humour and fascination as her partner shows some surprisingly impressive moves against his four foot opponent in the foam-sword battle going on in the backyard.

Being that his opponent was both several decades his junior and the birthday girl, he would clearly let her win this battle, but both participants were showing a surprising amount of skill. Although Kensi decides she probably shouldn't be surprised the daughter of Sam and Michelle Hanna already has some impressive fighting skills even at her young age.

She takes one particular swipe at Deeks, which he pretends not to be able to block.

"Owe! My arm!" He makes a show of screeching. "She cut off my arm!"

His opponent shows no mercy and - while giggling - goes in for the kill.

Kensi laughs as Deeks allows himself to be taken down.

"She's got some skills," Kensi says to the girl's mother.

Michelle is also laughing at her daughter's enthusiasm. "I don't know where she gets it from," she says dryly.

They both laugh.

Kensi shrugs. "Blame it on her father." She motions towards Sam, where he is standing across the backyard with Callen, the two dressed in costume; robes and foam swords. Sam sees her motions towards him and sends her a suspicious look.

They laugh again.

"Do you think you'll have another agent in the family?" She asks Michelle.

Michelle takes a breath and turns her attention back towards her daughter. Now that that fight has been won, she is offering her 'dead' opponent a hand off the ground. Deeks takes the proffered hand and gets up. He gives the girl a high five and then together they make their way to get sno-cones.

"I'd be so proud of her, Kensi, if that's what she wanted to do with her life," Michelle eventually tells her. She turns her attention from her daughter to Kensi. "It's also my biggest fear."

Kensi nods. "I guess I get that."

"It's hard enough watching Sam walk out that door every day, knowing what he does, knowing there's a chance he won't make it home. But she's my little girl..."

"I can't imagine what that would be like."

Michelle offers her a smile. "You will one day." She motions across the backyard where Deeks is helping her daughter choose a syrup flavour for her sno-cone. "Assuming you two are planning on having kids?"

"I, uh, yeah. We are. One day. Yes." She isn't sure why she is stammering.

Michelle smiles knowingly. "Trust me, Kensi. One day comes so much faster than you know. And then before you know it, they're having middle earth-sword fight themed birthday parties."

Kensi shrugs. "At least it's not Harry Potter for a fourth year in a row?"

Michelle laughs. "That is true."

Kensi smiles, but her thoughts are on Michelle's words. Deeks had been calling her future offspring mutant ninja assassins since long before they were together. She could suddenly picture herself and Deeks watching their child at gymnastics or horseback riding or martial arts class during the week, and herself watching Deeks teach them how to surf on the weekend. She'd take them camping in the summer to pass on all the things her dad had taught her. Deeks would complain, off course, but would secretly love the family time. They'd huddle together at night in their tent; the three of them. Or the four of them. Or five...

They'd never talked numbers.

"Mommy!" The birthday girl's excited voice interrupts her thoughts. "I beat Uncle Marty. Did you see me?"

"I saw, sweetie," Michelle said. "Very good form. Maybe you can take on Aunt Kensi when you're done with your sno-cone?"

Kensi raises an eyebrow at the young girl. "Are you sure you want to try, kid? I'm no light weight like Uncle Marty."

"I challenge you to a duel, Aunt Kensi!" She declares. "But not until I'm done my sno-cone."

"I may need to challenge you to a duel, too, Aunt Kensi." Deeks says, appearing beside her. "Prove I'm no light weight."

"She owned you out there, Deeks."

He rolls his eyes. "Just for that, I'm not sharing my sno-cone."

"It's not nice not to share, Uncle Marty."

Kensi laughs. "Thank you, sweetie." She held her hand out to Deeks. He makes a face, but passes her the sno-cone. She takes a bite and passes it back to him. "It's good." She droppes her voice to a whisper. "But what this tells me is when we have kids, you won't be able to say no to them?"

"If they're mini versions of you? Absolutely not."

She rolls her eyes.

He huffs. "Are you telling me if they look like me you'll be able to say no to them?"

"I say no to you all the time."

He raises an eyebrow.

She sighs. "We're really going to be screwed, aren't we?"

"Probably. But it's us, so our kids will be awesome, so it won't matter."

X

The mark of a good team...

Kensi stares dully down at her right arm, appearing several times its normal size because of the tensor bandage secured around the multiple ice packs. She wiggles her fingers and finds herself glad they actually move on her command. She tries the same on her left hand and again is glad when her fingers move. Her left arm wasn't nearly as badly bruised as her right, but it still hurts. Everything hurts. Multiple soft tissue injuries. That's what the doctor said. No fractures. Kensi's not actually sure how everything can hurt this much and nothing be broken, but apparently it's possible.

There'd been an explosion. She'd been cut off from the team. She'd been overpowered and captured and held for three hours before her team had found her. The bastards who held her had been ruthless and unorganized and took their frustration out on her. She'd been tied and beaten, and thankfully nothing more.

Her hospital room door opens and her partner walks in, appearing weary and pained himself. His eyes had been equal parts desperate and controlled when he, Callen and Sam had stormed the warehouse where she'd been held. He'd rushed to cover her, but hadn't been able to get her untied from the chair before the ensuing firefight. Without hesitation, he'd pushed the chair over and lain overtop her for cover until Callen and Sam had called out an all clear. Then he'd cut her away from the chair and whisked her out of the building to the waiting ambulance. His voice had been calm and steady through the whole thing, telling her he was there and they'd all be fine. She could remember because she hadn't known what to say back to him.

We're here. I'm here. It's almost over.

His eyes find hers immediately. "Hey," he says softly, setting the tray of drinks he's carrying down. "How long have you been awake?"

She tries to wet her lips, but her tongue is just as dry. "Not long," she manages to croak.

He disappears from sight, and then reappears with a cup of water and a long straw. "Small sips," he cautions. "It's going to hurt like a bitch if you start coughing."

She takes several small sips before laying her head back. "That's so much better."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck."

He chuckles. "I've seen you get hit by a truck. It barely fazed you."

She releases a laughing breath. "You know what I mean."

"Do you want more pain meds?"

"They make me so tired."

"That's not a bad thing. Sleeping is probably the best thing you can be doing right now." He reaches his hand to hers and squeezes it gently.

She meets his eyes and for a moment she is back in the warehouse.

I've got you. It's over. I'm getting you out.

"Maybe in a bit," she answers. "I want to be awake for a little while." She pauses for a breath. "Callen and Sam?"

"Handling the paperwork. They'll be back soon, though."

She nods. "Can I have some more water?"

"Actually, I bought you some juice, if you want? Found some fancy strawberry-pineapple kind downstairs. Also, got you apple. Or we can stick with water?"

Kensi feels her heart swell at how thoughtful he is. "Fancy juice, please."

Deeks opens the bottle and inserts a long straw. Then he helps her find a comfortable height for the back of her bed. He passes the bottle into her less injured left hand. "You good?"

She tests the strength of her hand and nods. "I think so." She takes a sip and sighs. "This is really good. Thanks, partner."

He drops into the seat next to her bed. "Any time. Do you need anything else?"

"I want to go home."

He chuckles. "Somehow, I feel like I should have expected that..."

"Are they releasing me?"

"The doctor hasn't been back in yet."

"I want to go home," she repeats.

"If it's safe for you to go home, I will take you home," he agrees.

"Thank you." She focuses on drinking her juice and gets about halfway through the bottle before she can't drink anymore. Deeks takes the bottle from her and places it on the table for later. Then he turns back to her and gently takes her hand.

"How are you, really?"

Are you okay? You sure?

She tries to offer him a smile. "Tired and sore," she answers honestly. Words are much easier now.

"I'm sorry we couldn't get to you sooner."

"No," she shakes her head and squeezes his hand as best she can. "The important thing is you got to me. You saved me. I'll heal. We'll move past this."

Let's get you out of here.

He swallows hard and nods. This is far from their first close call, but she's certain the hours of not knowing where she was or if she was okay did a number on his nerves. She remembers vividly what it felt like when it was him missing in action. "I love you," he tells her.

"And I love you," she tells him back. "You're what I held onto when I was there."

He bends forward and presses his lips to her hand. "I remember what that's like." He sits up again. Before he can say more, the door opens and Hetty appears.

"Ms. Blye, how are you feeling?" Hetty announces herself.

"I'll be okay, Hetty," Kensi answers.

Hetty nods, accepting Kensi's forward dated answer. "And you, Mr. Deeks?"

"I'll be okay, too, Hetty," Deeks responds, still holding Kensi's hand.

Kensi smiles and squeezes his hand. After the day she's had, she appreciates that he won't be intimidated away from her by their boss.

"We were all quite concerned for you today, Kensi," Hetty says, switching to her first name. "And we're all very relieved you are safe."

"Me, too," she says. "But I knew my team would get to me."

Hetty smiles at that. "The mark of a truly great team is the amount of faith the team has in its individual members and each of its members has in the team."

"Then we have a pretty kick ass team," Deeks says.

"True that, Mr. Deeks."

Kensi laughs and then immediately stops, her bruised ribs protesting the movement.

"Is it time for more pain medication?" Hetty asks.

"It makes me tired," Kensi said.

"She wants to wait a bit," Deeks added, indicating they had already had this conversation.

Hetty nods, but again addressed Kensi. "Sleep may be the best thing for you right now, Ms. Blye."

Deeks chuckles.

Hetty offers him a wry smile. "Already covered that one too, eh?"

He nods.

"I'll sleep when I'm home."

"Are you being released?"

"Yes."

Deeks releases a laughing breath. "We're not sure yet. Doctor hasn't been back yet."

"I'm going home," Kensi insists.

"If it's safe," Deeks adds, to which Kensi makes a face.

Hetty smiles. "Well, Ms. Blye, it sounds like you've definitely got a keeper here."

Kensi rolls her eyes as Deeks beams at the compliment. Hetty had said nothing when she and Deeks had officially become more than partners, but Kensi had known the woman had been watching carefully and would have been obligated to separate them in the field if they couldn't handle the dual relationships. When they had announced their engagement, Hetty had surprised them with a heartfelt congratulations and hadn't batted an eye when Deeks had handed in a change of address form.

"I know," she mutters.

Hetty takes a seat and the three of them chat for a while. Things will never be quite what they once were with Hetty, but they've made their peace and moved on. If they've learned anything from the previous year, it's that Hetty is distinctly human.

Kensi feels her eyelids getting heavy and eventually close.

Deeks squeezes her hand, so very attentive. "Do you want me to put the back of the bed down?" He asks quietly.

"Mmm, no," she mumbles back. "M'good here."

He squeezes her hand again and his other hand runs ever so gently up her less bruised forearm. "Okay."

She doesn't exactly sleep, but she dozes. Her awareness comes and goes for some unknown period of time. Sometimes she's aware of Hetty and Deeks speaking to each other, sometimes not. Still, she knows Deeks is there beside her. It's what allows her to relax and rest.

When she wakes for good, the pain is sharper, but her mind is clearer. Deeks is still beside her. His hand is still gently clutching hers. She doesn't open her eyes for several minutes, enjoying the sensation of having him close. Every minute or so he runs his free hand up her forearm and back to her hand. Though, she's not sure if he's comforting her or himself. Probably both.

There are more voices now, she realizes. Callen and Sam have joined them. She takes a breath.

Deeks rubs his thumb sideways across her palm. He knows she's awake.

She opens her eyes. Callen and Sam have joined Hetty in sitting to the right side of her hospital bed. Deeks still remains in his vigil to her left.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Deeks greets. He releases her hand and reaches to the bedside table for her bottle of juice.

She takes the bottle gratefully. "How long was I out?" She manages to rasp before taking several small sips of juice.

Deeks glances at the clock on the wall. "A little over an hour."

"How are you feeling, Kens?" Callen asks.

Kensi sets the bottle down on the mattress beside her, still gripped tightly in her hand so it doesn't spill. She turns her attention to the other side of the room. "Okay. The meds are making me tired."

"We're really glad you're okay," Sam says.

"Me, too." Other than concerned glances thrown in her directions and yells to Deeks to confirm her status, she hadn't had any contact with Callen or Sam since her rescue. "Thank you, both, for getting me out."

"Just doing for you what you've done for us," Callen says.

"A hundred times," Sam adds.

"And knowing them, will probably do a hundred more times," Deeks jokes.

Kensi smiles, but resists the urge to laugh, not wanting to aggravate her ribs.

"Hey, we've saved your asses more times than you've saved ours," Callen says.

"We beg to differ," Deeks argues.

"We saved your asses in the dessert when you were pinned down with those marines," Sam says.

"We pulled you two out of a submarine filled with explosives," Deeks counters. "Seriously. Who gets locked in a submarine?"

"Kensi and the lasers." Callen says.

"Doesn't count. We got ourselves out of that one," Deeks argues.

"We saved your sorry ass from Lasik when you were stupid enough to go in alone," Sam counters.

Deeks makes a face, but has no argument. He hadn't been part of the team yet. Kensi squeezes his hand in support. "We saved Callen from the Romanians," he says.

"Which time?" Kensi jokes.

"Oh, touché."

Callen, like Deeks before, makes a face, but has no argument.

Before anyone could bring up another save, there was a knock at the door and then the door opens and the doctor walks in.

"Agent Blye," he greets, "You're looking better than the last time I was in."

"Great. That means I get to go home, right?"

The doctor falters a bit, not having expected such a strong response from his patient. "How about we start with an exam, see how you're doing."

"As long as we end with you releasing me." She ignores the chuckle she hears come from Deeks at her comment.

The doctor looks to Deeks for support. "Agent..."

"Deeks," Deeks supplies.

"Right. Agent Deeks. You're the partner, right? You were here earlier."

"Sure am. And I've agreed to take her home only if it is safe to do so."

"If I do release you, you will need someone with you at home for twenty four to forty eight hours for both support and in case something goes wrong."

Deeks smirks. "Good thing I'm the fiancé too, huh?"

X

Loss and gain...

Kensi wakes with a start. Despite the fact that she had been out cold only a moment ago, she awakes to the startling and heart wrenching realization that she is now alone. Refusing to open her eyes, she reaches out across the bed in hopes she is somehow wrong, but her hand only find empty sheets.

Cold, empty sheets. He's been gone for some time. Not just the minute or two it takes to use the bathroom or run to the kitchen for a glass of water. Several minutes. Hours, maybe.

She opens her eyes and sits up, clutching the sheets to her chest as her heart pounds. The curtains aren't completely closed, allowing some moonlight into the room. It reflects off her engagement ring and catches her attention.

Her breathing hitches and for a moment she has to close her eyes again, determined not the believe this is happening again.

When she opens her eyes, the room is still dark. The space in the bed next to her is still empty. The engagement ring is still the only thing she is wearing; is the only thing she is left with.

Blinking back tears, she draws a shaky breath. She needs to know for sure.

She gets out of bed and pulls on pajama pants and his sweatshirt. Her phone tells her it's just shy of three in the morning on Christmas Day.

He wouldn't do this to her. Especially not on Christmas Day. He knows what this would do to her.

His bedside table is clear - he'd taken his phone when he left.

She checks the bathroom, just in case, but he isn't there. The sink is dry and hasn't been used recently. She moves onto the living room. The tree that they had put up and decorated together stands in the corner of the room, dark and still and silent. She'd been so happy to have that one normal thing with him, but now it's just a reminder of what she has apparently lost in the darkness of the night. Again.

She checks the kitchen and the spare room and the front porch and everywhere she can think of, but he's not there. In despair, she calls his name, just in case she has missed him in her search. Silence answers her. She calls his name again, louder. Urgent. Nothing. She calls the dog's name. This time her voice is desperate. Nothing.

He's gone. And he's taken the dog.

Defeated, she stumbles back into the living room and sits on the couch. She puts her head in her hands as she fights the sting of tears. Here she is, middle of the night on Christmas.

Alone.

Again.

And then there's the sound of a key in the lock and the door is opening and she looks up in time to see Deeks and Monty on their way back inside.

"Don't say I never do anything for you," Deeks is whispering to the dog. "I could have let you suffer to morning, you know."

Monty wags his tail in response.

"You're welcome. But no more eggnog before bed, okay?" He yawns. "Now, I have a very comfortable bed and a very beautiful woman to get back to, so if you'll excuse me..."

Deeks pats the dog on his head and goes to walk through the living room when he catches sight of Kensi sitting on the couch. He startles and clutches his hand to his chest. "Jeez, Kens. You scared the hell out of me."

It's all Kensi can do just to stare at him.

"You okay?" He walks up to her and takes the spot next to her on the couch to her right. Monty follows suit, sitting on the floor next to her on the other side, resting his head on her knee. Her boys; always so perfect.

The moment he touches her, it breaks her out of her trance. She manages a nod. "I...yeah. I just...I woke up and you weren't there," her voice cracks a bit, but she manages to not cry.

If Deeks notices, he says nothing. He slings an arm around her back, which she is incredibly grateful for, and leans into her. "Mr. Monty, here, had too much eggnog before bed. Woke me up desperate to be taken out for a pee." With his free hand, he reaches across Kensi's lap to pat the dog on his head.

Kensi follows suit, patting the happy dog, but in doing so, she catches sight of her engagement ring. And then she's crying and she's not quite sure why.

"Oh, Kens," he whispers, wrapping both arms around her.

"I'm sorry," she stammers, swiping at her face. "I don't know why I'm... It's stupid..."

He pulls her hands away from her face. "Let it out, Kens. It's not stupid."

"You don't even know why I'm crying."

He presses a kiss to her temple. "It's Christmas. We're engaged. You woke up alone and panicked." He says it softly, but with gentle understanding.

She closes her eyes and leans into him. Of course he knows. "I'm sorry," she tells him, ashamed.

"Don't be sorry. This isn't your fault."

"You've never given me reason to doubt you. You shouldn't have to deal with these fears."

He pulls away just a little and turns her so he can meet her eyes. "You're right about one thing and you're wrong about one thing. I've never given you reason to doubt me. And I never will. I'm not going anywhere. And I guess only time can prove that to you. But it isn't up to you to deal with those fears alone, Kens. I get to be part of that, too, now. That's part of what I signed up for. Your fears, especially about this, about being left, are real. Because they happened. You have scars from real events. Scars that I believe made you stronger, but real and valid scars. So, you are allowed to be scared. And we are going to work through that, okay?"

It's all she can do to nod and then allow him to pull her into his chest. It's liberating; to be allowed to cry.

She turns as much as she can on the couch and buries her face into the crook of his neck. He holds her tight as she cries quietly for the girl she used to be, who woke up alone eleven years earlier and didn't get the happy ending of her fiancé coming in the door from a late night walk. She cries for the pain and the loss and the years of blaming herself and feeling like she wasn't enough for anyone. She cries in relief that life or luck or fate had brought her together with the man who is holding her now. The man who had slowly become her partner and then her friend and then so much more. The man who is her fiancé and her future. The man who had challenged her to be more, to want more. The man who had proven to her that she was enough. The man who had proven she was worthy of his love. She cries in relief as she feels the final weight of her past lift off her shoulders.

When she pulls away, Deeks meets her eyes and he still looks at her just the same as before. He cocks his head and offers her a soft smile. "You good?"

She sniffs and nods. "I'm good." She returns his smile. "Thank you."

He lifts a hand to gently wipe away the moisture beneath her eyes. Then he leans close and kisses her softly. "I just want you to be happy, Kensi. That's all I want."

She cups his cheeks with both hands and pulls him close for a deeper kiss. "I am happy, Deeks," she tells him. And then, because it's Christmas and because it's true, she tells him, "You make me happy."

His teeth flash as he smiles. He opens his mouth-

"Don't make me regret saying that," she warns.

He chuckles, but closes his mouth. Then he ducks his head and kisses her again. And again.

And again.

Clothes start to come off. Deeks pulls himself away from her for a moment to turn the Christmas Tree lights on. He quickly returns to her and they make love on the couch. After, he pulls a blanket over them both as he holds her on the couch, her back to his chest, as they stare out together at the tree. Their tree.

He rubs the tip of his nose against the back of her shoulder blade and then presses a chaste kiss to the same spot. "I'm sorry I scared you," he whispers.

She presses back into him.

"I should have left a note. Tonight of all nights, I should have left a note."

"You shouldn't have to leave a note because you're taking the dog out for a walk," she tells him. "It's where my mind should have gone."

He tightens his hold on her for a moment and then sighs. "I'm really sorry that happened to you, Kens. I mean, part of me has to be glad it didn't work out with him, you know? Because it gave me the opportunity. Might make me selfish, but it's a guy thing. But the way he did it... that's not okay. That's never okay. Doesn't matter what he was going through. You deserved better."

Kensi twists in his arms so she can press the side of her head against the front of his. "Thank you, Deeks."

He presses a kiss to her cheek. "I promise you I will never do that to you, Kens. Never. If I'm missing in the middle of the night it's because I'm walking the dog. Or I've been called into work, which you will probably also be called in for." He pauses and smirked. "Or I've been kidnapped. And if that's the case I expect you to drop everything and come to my rescue."

She snorts and then laughs. "No one kidnaps my man out of my bed and gets away with it."

X

The art of compromise...

Kensi stifles a yawn and presses her back into her partner's chest. She turns her head and presses the side of her face into the pillow that they share as she wills herself back to sleep. The rhythmic rise and crash of the ocean, so close, is surprisingly soothing. Her eyes close and she feels her mind drifting back towards sleep.

Deeks's arms tighten around her. He groans and pulls her tighter to his chest. He mumbles something that may be her name. Or good morning. Or may simply be a string of nonsensical consonants strung together.

She giggles. "Too early for you?"

"The waves are calling for me. They won't let me sleep."

"It's not even dawn yet." She lets herself yawn this time.

"Doesn't matter. The waves don't care."

"The waves don't have feelings. Or thoughts. They're waves."

Behind her, he groans. "I know you're goading me. I won't be goaded."

"Okay, wave-boy."

"Wave-man," he mumbles.

She laughs. "Wave-man," she echoes. She reaches down to loosen his grip around her waist and then carefully turns over in their shared sleeping bag so she is facing him.

It had been one of his Christmas gifts to her. A double sleeping bag. She had been confused when she had opened it Christmas morning. It had only been a few hours after her near break down in the middle of the night. They had made love on the couch and then laid together for the better part of an hour before they both fell asleep. It was only a couple hours before she had grown cold and woken up. Instead of moving to the bed, they had redressed and sat together on the floor under their tree and opened their presents.

She had opened a double sleeping bag and looked up with a raised eyebrow to a grinning partner. Deeks had declared that he wanted to take her camping. She pointed out that he hated camping. He said he had discovered the perfect compromise; camping on the beach.

And shared sleeping bag, he'd added with a smirk.

So, here they were, compromising. In a tent. On the beach. No showers, but working bathrooms not far away. No pool and no cabana, but the beach was oh, so close. He hadn't let her bring any MREs, but he had let her bring a small propane stove top. They were making half their meals that way. The other half they were buying from the food truck up the beach.

Not Kensi's idea of 'camping.'

But so much better. She was having a blast.

They'd taken a long weekend, the Friday and the Monday, and joined what was a apparently a popular thing to do at the beach. There were at least two dozen other couples or families along with them on this stretch of beach, all quite friendly. So far, it had been three days of freedom and relaxation.

"You know, when we live on the beach one day," she tells her fiancé, voicing their hopeful future plans, "You'll never be able to sleep in again if the waves keep calling you."

He makes a face. Then he shrugs. "We'll just get high tech sound proof glass walls."

She laughs. "Glass walls?"

"Of course. We'll need glass walls so we can see the water all the time."

She laughs again. "We may need to adjust our timeframe...may need more than five years to save up for this house."

He tightens his hold on her and shuffles closer. He presses his forehead to hers and sighs. "Honestly, Kens, I'd live in a shack, as long as it was with you."

She feels her heart flutter at his words.

"I like that we want the same thing, that's we're working toward this dream house together, but I don't need it. I just need you."

And now her heart just feels like goo. "Deeks," she whines. "You can't just say things like that to me when..." she trails off.

He chuckles. "When we're not in a soundproof tent?"

She presses against him, breathing his air. The one downside to their camping excursion had been spending the entire time with him without being able to be with him. Their closest neighbor is fifteen feet from them. They can hear other beach campers talking at night, so they're not about to let themselves be caught doing more than talking.

"This whole shared sleeping bag was a bad idea..." She laments.

"No, it was an awesome idea," he counters. His forehead is still pressed to hers.

She is awfully warm. And cozy. And really, really loved.

That's just how he makes her feel.

She presses against him. Really, there's no room between them, but she wants to be closer. "I don't care either," she whispers. "Where we live," she clarifies. "I don't care where we live, as long as we live there together."

Their foreheads are still pressed together and now their noses are kind of scrunched together, but she doesn't really care. She just wants to be close to him. Close and warm and cozy and loved. She really likes being loved. And loving him.

"You'd move out of your apartment to move into a shack?" He teases.

She growls. "Our apartment," she corrects.

His inhale is sharp, but his exhale is even and happy. "Our apartment," he echoes.

"And...yes, I would. I wouldn't like it," she says before he can say anything. "But I would do it." And she would. Moving would be easier now, having lived with him for so many months. In the near two years since they'd set out to work towards being together and then built their relationship together, she had found her need for her things changing along with herself. She had changed. She had healed a lot. He hadn't changed her, but he had helped her to change. Her first instinct may always be to hold onto things - because her past will always be her past - but she's learned to trust in her future; something she hadn't been able to do for a very long time.

"Well, I'm happy in our apartment for now, if you are."

"I am." She tilts her chin up to kiss him. "But I am excited about our one-day fancy beach house, too."

He huffs a laugh. "Me too." He takes his turn kissing her.

"Well, do you want to pretend like we're already living in our dream beach house?"

"Hmm?"

"Where we can just get up at some ridiculously early hour in the morning and you can drag me out surfing?"

He beams. "You're offering to come surfing with me, this early?"

"You came camping with me...even if it's not really real-" she's cut off when he clamps a hand over her mouth, cutting her off before she can finish her sentence.

"It is so real camping," he insists. "Are we or are we not in a tent?"

"That is not the definition of camping. We could pitch a tent in the living room."

"I would also be okay with that kind of camping."

She rolls her eyes, but then she can't hold back her own laugh at his comment, knowing there's a hint of seriousness behind it. She rolls away from him. "Come on, Malibu Ken, let's go surfing."

"I liked wave-man better," he grumbles, but follows her lead.

The air out of the sleeping bag is cool. Kensi unhappily strips out of her (his) tee shirt and into a dry bathing suit. The air outside of the tent is even cooler and she hurriedly follows Deeks's lead in pulling on a wetsuit.

The sun is just starting to come up as they walk down towards the water, surfboards under their arms. Kensi hisses as the temperature of the water, but Deeks doesn't hesitate, so she's forced to follow him. The waves aren't huge, but are fairly impressive, so even in the shallowest area each wave brings a rise in the water level that makes Kensi unhappy as it brings the cold temperature up higher than she wants on her body. Finally, she just dunks her body down to get it over with, and then jumps onto her board and paddles after her partner, muttering, "cold, cold, cold," as she follows him. She knows he can hear her and is choosing to ignore her. They paddle out a fair way before stopping it. It's early. Barely anyone else is out yet. No competition for a good ride.

A wave comes in. Deeks motions for her to take it. She paddles forward, just like he taught her. She stands when she feels the urge to. She wobbles a bit, but steadies. She manages to ride along the wave a bit before turning to face the beach, not wanting to lose her balance and fall. She knows Deeks would have ridden much further, but he's much better than her...not that she'll admit that to him. She drops down to sit on her board and turns to watch her partner ride the next big wave.

And he does. With confidence and expertise.

He's grinning and flushed when he catches up to her. "Another?"

She nods and follows him back out. There's a lull between sets, so they sit and wait. The sun is making its way up into the sky. The sunrise is brilliant and beautiful; the sky so many shades of colour, fading into the sparkling ocean below.

"Wow," Kensi says. "I wish I could take a picture."

Deeks paddles himself closer so they're side by side, boards bumping. They hook their calves together under water to steady themselves without saying a word.

"Beautiful," Deeks comments. He reaches for her hand and squeezes. "The beach, the water. This was always where I could come when I needed to get away. This is where I found balance. Where I found peace."

"And now?"

"Now I have you." He says it like it's so simple. And maybe it is.

"Deeks..."

He shoots her a smile. "I still love it here. I still find balance and peace here. But I also find that in you. And being with you...I don't need to get away from my life anymore." He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. She knows he's gathering his thoughts and gives him the time he needs. "You accept me, Kens. You know me, the good and the bad and the ugly. All of it. You know me and you accept me." He shakes his head and meets her eyes. "I've never had that before. Not from anyone."

She nods. She knows. She knows the pieces of himself he's hidden in fear of rejection. She knows the lack of acceptance he's lived with from his family, his friends, partners in the past. Hell, even their team in the past.

"I know you, Marty Deeks," she tells him. "I accept every part of you. And I love every part of you." She cocks her head and offers him a smile. "Just like you love me for all my crazy; I love you for all your crazy."

He raises an eyebrow. "Oh, you are so the more crazy in this relationship."

"I beg to differ."

"You would."

"How do you figure?"

"Don't think I don't know you did that thing where you dragged a chair around on the carpet to make it look like you vacuumed last week. Again."

Kensi fought to not make a face. She really thought he hadn't been able to tell this time. "I happen to believe that is smart and not crazy."

He laughs out loud, a free and unhindered sound. "I really do love you," he tells her. "Every part of you, crazy or not."

She twists her upper body and reaches for him. Her fingers find the collar of his wetsuit and pull him towards her. "We can be crazy together," she proposes.

"Agreed," he says, before pressing his lips to hers.

X

AN: I will be (again...lol) marking this story complete. Not that I won't re-visit it in the future if there is interest, but that's all I have planned for now. I was hesitant to write the proposal...Was that okay? If I do convince myself to write another chapter, I may or may not write the wedding, but would continue with the same concept as the last 5 chapters with the 'scenes.'

As a more in depth explanation from the first AN (now that you've read the chapter) - Most of the planned 'scenes' for this chapter were about Kensi. I didn't realize until I was proofing the chapter as a whole that, when read all the way through, it made her seem pretty not-so-strong, which is not the way I see her or want to write her. This was not my intent. I was able to add some 'scenes,' but when I tried to add more it disrupted the flow of the chapter too much. It was a bit of a challenge to find the balance and fit within the overall theme of this chapter, which was their future.

Lastly - in finishing this chapter, I've come up with an idea for another story using the same concept of the combination of shorter 'scenes' and am looking to see what the interest might be if I write it, as I have a number of 'scenes' in mind. The storyline would be focussing on Kensi and Callen dealing with the temporary loss of their partners after the Sidorov case and forced to be each other's temporary partners. Would be half humour and half serious. Would, of course, include Kensi dealing with her and Deeks, and I may or may not stick to canon there. Any interest?

Thanks for reading!