"So partner, are you joining me on Christmas? I planned to go to Lake Tahoe and want my partner with me," he says, smiling at her from the other side of the tree they're decorating in the mission.

It's one week until their Christmas break. The people are busy buying Christmas gifts, food for their upcoming Christmas dinner or just relaxing in the sun—and although it's December and some parts of the world are covered in snow, surfing is still no problem.

Marty Deeks is one of those guys who bought all the gifts in November already. He even made a list. He got almost everything he wrote down. He got some very nice, antique tea set for Hetty, which he almost didn'tbuy because he's still hurt by her actions of last year.
To find something Callen doesn't have was easy, because a) he still needs furniture and b) he's a lot like Deeks and Deeks knew what men like him want.
That's why he asked his friend Kip for tickets to a game.
Now, finding a gift for Sam was a different thing. He has almost everything. A family, and a full-furnitured house. That's why Deeks bought a book about something Sam had been talking about for the last few months.

After Kensi's present last Christmas, he needed a very special present or two.

He still can't get over her gift because it revealed so, so much.

On a Saturday in late November, he planned to spend the whole day to find a gift for Kensi—luckily, he didn't need all day.

During the day he also had the idea to invite her to go to Lake Tahoe with him, this time just them.

That's what brings him here today.

"If you don't have time I'll understand, but Monty didn't see you much last week, so I think you owe him."

Deeks sees her mouth curving into a grin. "I almost wanted to say no, but after you mentioned the debt I owe my boy I can't say no, right?" she asks, smiling happily.

He chuckles. "No, you most definitely can't. I planned to leave the 22nd around noon, is that okay for you?"

She answers right away. "Sounds good. Don't forget my donuts and coffee, sugar."

They end up needing more time than they thought to finish decorating the tree but they have fun with it.

Deeks even gets to touch Kensi inappropriately at work. She wants to put the star on top of the tree, but is still too short. That's why she needs Deeks to assist her.

"Deeks, can you help me?"

He has his last ornament in his hands and places it on the tree before looking up.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I can't reach the top, can you help me?"

Marty Deeks isn't surprised at her question. In the past year they've grown even closer, but still haven't kissed, at least not yet. He plans to change it in Lake Tahoe.

After her present last year, they've been more open about everything. Even about their attraction to each other.

"You don't even have to ask me," he jokes with her, "I always want to touch you."

Kensi can't help but laugh at his cheesy, flirty comment.

"Now help me, will you?" she asks and steps closer to him.

He takes a deep breath before he wraps his arms around her legs and lifts her up. He can feel her hand gripping his shoulder and shudders a little because it still amazes him that she's opened up to him and the fact that she's the most beautiful woman doesn't help either.

She puts the star on top of it and looks down at it from where she is and is proud of what they did. Now she even gets snow on Christmas.

Kensi strokes through his wavy blonde hair to get him out of the daze he's in.

"I'm done partner, you can let me down now."

He nods and slowly puts her on the ground but doesn't let her out of his space yet. "We did pretty well, right?" he asks while he has his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

She hits him slowly afterwards and moves out of his hold. "We did," she says, smiling.

He turns around and sees the guys walking in and stopping at the tree beside them. "Exercising already, huh?" Callen jokes and chuckles.

"Shut up, G," Sam says but teases them even more when he continues, "don't remember that we don't know those lovebirds have a dog together."

Deeks raises his eyebrows at that. "Monty is my dog."

Callen and Sam turn their heads to him and say in unison, "Keep telling yourself that."

Deeks turns around and murmurs something under his breath no one understands because Eric is calling them to OPS.

22nd December 2014

On my way. Did you pack everything? - D

Did you get my favorite donuts? - K

You know it. See you in five, Fern. - D

Kensi, to her own surprise, has finished packing already and is only waiting for Deeks to pick her up. She's beyond excited. She gets to spend days alone with Deeks and do anything she likes. She plans on beating Deeks in snowboarding. If she's brave enough, she'll even wear that little Christmas-y lingerie she packed.

She wonders if he's wearing her present from last year on this trip. He doesn't wear it often, but she knows he still has it. Kensi decides to wait for him outside. After checking that everything is unplugged and that no light is on anymore, she goes outside, carrying one suitcase.

His car is on her street now and she waits until he parks before she stands up. She sees Monty in the back and already knows he'll freak out the moment she's in the car.

He gets out of his car and greets her with a kiss on the cheek before putting her suitcase in the backseat.

"Lets go," he says, already on his side of the car again.

Kensi sits down on the passenger seat and Monty is attacking her with kisses and licks. She laughs and tries to keep him away from her face, which is nearly impossible.

"I missed you, too," she says while she scratches him behind his ears.

They're driving for about thirty minutes with Monty fast asleep in the backseat, when she spots it. Her Christmas present.

"You're wearing it," she whispers, surprised, "I didn't think I'd see it again anytime soon."

He smiles and twirls the silver ring before answering her. "It's Christmas and the team isn't watching us. Best time to wear it."

Kensi smiles and watches him, while biting her lip. "Do you think they would suspect that I gave it to you?"

"I don't know and I'm really not in the mood to find out."

"Okay, but it definitely looks good on you."

He looks at her, laces their fingers, and smiles. "I know."

They continue holding hands the whole trip up to Lake Tahoe while talking and laughing with each other.

They arrive in the late afternoon. He booked two rooms, but they have a connection door, because a man can dream.

He lets Monty out first before carrying all their stuff into their respective rooms.

"Thanks, partner." Kensi smiles at him. "Up for a snowball fight?

He runs to his room and pulls out his jacket and pants he brought. "The one out the door first can throw the first snowball."

Deeks ends up winning the first round, even though he wasn't the one to throw the first snowball. "You cheeky something," he'd yelled out, "that calls for payback."

They play in the snow for the next twenty minutes before he tries a different tactic. He quickly forms more balls and picks them up before walking towards her.

She sees him and doesn't let him out of her sight but lets him come closer until he's standing in front of her. Kensi had so much fun and didn't think he would pull such a move. He lets all of the snowballs fall and pushes her so she falls in the snow and he quickly places himself on top, gripping her arms to keep them down before smirking down at her.

She opens her mouth in shock at what he did, but can't help but laugh at his ridiculously happy grin. "That was your plan all along, right? Getting on top of me."

"All along, missy."

She thinks for a short time before she replies, "You should know I like to be on top." With all the power she can master, she rolls over and has Deeks pinned down now.

Her now free hands are full of snow she plans to put on Marty's face. "You should never try to play dirty, babe," she jokes, "you can't win."

"You're wrong."

"Yeah, tell me why," she says, grinning.

He turns serious then. "You're here with me, I don't even care about who's on top." Kensi lets the snow fall out of her hands and melts on the inside. "Marty…" she whispers.

She sees him looking down and places her hands on his face.

He takes a deep breath. "Ooh oh oh, cold. It's really cold." Lacing their fingers together again, he lays them against her chest before placing one hand around her neck and pulling her in.

Their noses touch slightly and he's grinning. "I think you know a way to warm me up, right?"

Even though she really, really wants to kiss him, she still wants payback. That's why she turns them around, places her now warmer hands on his neck and pulls him closer until they're almost kissing, before she turns further around and presses his face into the snow.

Deeks jumps up and looks dumbfounded. "Damn Kensi, that's cold, why would you do that?"

She grins and stands up, too. "Payback, baby," she answers and takes his hand before pulling him back inside.

Kensi stands in the doorway to the patio and looks outside. She hears him coming out of the bathroom after his shower and waits for him to stand next to her. Instead of doing that, he wraps his arms around her from behind and places his head on her shoulder. "Are you warm enough?"

She snuggles more into his arms. "I am now," she answers him, smiling. Kensi feels him smiling against her neck and laces their fingers together and feels the silver ring cool on her fingers.

"It's amazing here, Deeks. Thank you."

Monty is now sitting at their side and she turns around and snuggles into Deeks's chest because she's cold and his scent is amazing.

"You're one part of this already amazing trip."

She looks at him places her hands behind his neck again. "But you planned all this. And I think you deserve a little thank you."

He grins because he already knows what she's planning. "I think so, too. But before you get naked, can I kiss you first?"

"Oh my god," she says, giggling into his chest, "you're unbelievable."

"I know. I'm also impossible to resist," he whispers, moving closer until their noses are touching again.

She nods and moves even closer. "One thing I can agree on."

"Good," he says and kisses her with all the love he has.

They stop kissing after a few minutes and press their foreheads together. "Wow." He only nods to show her he agrees.

"Deeks?"

"Yeah?"

"Deeks, can we eat now?"

He answers her, smirking. "Why did I know that was coming?"

"Because my partner knows me best," she answers, and smiles.