And so we have come to the final chapter. Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing and adding to alerts and favorites! I'm really glad you liked the story. I'm going to take a break from writing now (need to catch up on reading many of the other stories here!), but I'm hoping there will be more Callen/Kensi scenes in the show this season - for more inspiration!

And so now I present to you...the ending scene. I hope you like it. Thanks again!

-IX-

"The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation would like to confirm that we have fully infiltrated the ring of serial killers responsible for the deaths of eighteen young women around the country. The ringleader, Stephen Jansen, was killed in action, while all other members of his crew were also killed or taken into custody. The FBI was able to secure the scene at an abandoned building in downtown Los Angeles—"

Callen reached for the remote and clicked off the power to the television.

"Can't take it anymore, can you?" Kensi asked teasingly. "Watch them steal all our credit?"

Callen shrugged. "It was their case, Kenz…that's why we agreed to this."

"I thought it was so you wouldn't have to do the press conference."

"That, too."

Kensi grinned. She and Callen were sitting on her couch, watching FBI Special Agent David Franklin give the world a slightly modified version of how his agency had finally taken down a ring of serial killers.

Callen still wasn't particularly thrilled about handing this case over to the FBI, but he finally decided that maybe it didn't matter anymore. In the end, he had retrieved what they had taken. And right now she was home by his side, reclining against the cushions, her head resting against his shoulder...alive.

"I knew you were there," he heard her say quietly.

Callen turned and gave her an innocent look.

"On the beach that day."

"I wasn't—"

He started to protest, but she quickly put a finger to his lips to silence him. "Thank you," she whispered. "For watching my back. And for saving my life," she added softly.

She leaned over and gave him a light kiss, and Callen didn't protest again when she moved closer to deepen it. When they broke apart, the two of them remained frozen for a moment, completely lost in each other's eyes. Callen gently ran a finger alongside her cheek, his gaze dropping to her lips. And then Kensi felt his mouth descend on hers again...

As the bedroom door closed behind them, Callen and Kensi collapsed on her bed, locked in a passionate kiss. The sparks of electricity exploded between them, and their fingers worked furiously on the buttons on each other's shirts, both of them breathing faster in anticipation...both of them about to lose all control.

As their clothes fell to the floor and their bodies tangled between the sheets, Callen marveled at the sensation of his bare skin against hers. He gently pushed her back against the pillows, running his fingers through her hair and trailing a line of hot kisses down her neck.

Kensi closed her eyes and her breath caught as his lips grazed the sensitive hollow of her throat. The feel of his roughly shaven jaw brushing against her skin was driving her wild, and the way his hands tenderly caressed her curves made her entire body flush with desire for him. Sighing contentedly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close and hungrily seeking his lips for another steamy kiss.

Callen suddenly pulled back, brushing a silky lock of hair away from her face and resting his forehead against hers. "Please tell me you won't ever join the FBI again," he whispered breathlessly.

Kensi gave him a sly smile. "Once was enough."

No more words were needed after that. Kensi couldn't even speak as Callen captured her lips again in a deep, intoxicating kiss that sent tingles down her spine. She could barely breathe as his hands moved over her hips, slowly guiding his body inside of hers, discovering the most intimate way they fit together. As waves of intense pleasure swept over both of them, Callen could feel his heart pounding against his chest, beating in time with Kensi's.

It was in the heat of that moment that Callen knew he wanted her. He wanted to lose himself to her every night…and wake up next to her in the morning. He wanted to claim her as his own.

Because at some point in time – that he could no longer identify – Callen realized that Kensi had become so much more than our girl.

She had taken possession of his heart.

And she had become his.