A/N: If you haven't read my story Companion, then none of the drabbles or one-shots in this series will make sense to you. Actually, they'll probably scare the hell out of you.

This won't be a traditional multi-chapter story. Think of it more as insight into the lives of Kensi and DKS-35 (and hopefully Kensi won't forget his birthday when he turns into DKS-36) after the end of Companion. And since this is non-traditional, the very first chapter is actually the end of their story. I've known for a while now what their destiny would be - a human and a cyborg, with different degrees of mortality and vulnerability, are destined to have a tragic fate. It's their (mostly humorous) experiences before the end that really matter, though.

And as usual, I don't own the characters. Shane Brennan does. Thankfully he hasn't had me arrested yet for the things I do to them.

There were several incidents that put them in the position they were in right now - standing in the middle of a dreadfully ugly house atop the hills in Malibu. Okay, yes, most of the incidents were her fault, except for one of the really big ones. That one was his fault, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. Neither could take credit for the ultimate catalyst that brought them here on this exact day and time, however.

"I don't like the skylight." Deeks pointed to the ceiling. "Why would I want to give aliens easier access when they decide to invade?"

Kensi rolled her eyes. "For one thing, an alien invasion is the last thing you should be worried about right now. And also, aliens aren't real."

"Are you going to start this with me again? They're real."

"I'll believe it when I see one in the flesh."

Deeks picked at the paint peeling off the wall. "How do you know you've never met one? You never know. And I can practically feel you getting lead poisoning from these walls."

"Are you saying you know an alien?" She ignored the walls and the floors and the godawful kitchen decor, keeping her focus on what drew her here in the first place.

"I don't know for sure but I have my suspicions."

"Sam is not an alien," she said with a laugh.

Deeks curled his lips. "Well, he's not human."

Kensi shook her head. "After all this time, you're still mad about the push-up contest."

"Damn straight. Like I said, not human." She could feel his attention being drawn toward her back as she stared out of the biggest window she'd ever seen in her life. The view of the Pacific Ocean in all of it's expansive glory was breathtaking, almost as much as the feeling of his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her to his chest. "It's beautiful," he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"This is it." A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped it away furiously. She could do this. They could do this. "This is where I want to be."

When we die, she thought but didn't say. He knew what she meant anyway. The view from this window was amazing not only because of what they could see, but what they couldn't. The fires, the riots, people killing each other in the streets as they tried desperately to get as far away from this city as they could. But them? Not them. They stayed and did their jobs until it became apparent that there was no cause to fight for anymore.

Now here they were, in this abandoned home with the most perfect view in the world. Deeks didn't fear his own death - he embraced it. It was Kensi that dreaded the inevitable for them both. The ocean, calmer and quieter than she could ever remember in her entire life, helped ease her fears. His strong arms around her, holding her tight as he unstrapped her rifle and let it fall gently to the floor, helped as well. This was how she wanted to go, though maybe she could convince him that the best way to greet death would be as one instead of two. Getting lost in him, losing control of her senses and body with the ocean as their backdrop would be the most beautiful way to leave this world. When all that was left was ash and dust, at least she would have that to cling to in whatever afterlife might await her. If there was a God, hopefully he'd allow her Companion to come with her.

Deeks smiled at her thoughts, watching the clear blue waves crash against the beach. "Regrets?"

She shook her head, lacing her fingers through his. What was once a foreign feeling against her skin was now natural and necessary. "No regrets."

For the record, this chapter is entirely the fault of wingsofnight and her awesome edit where Los Angeles is burning (that I can't find to save my life). Just go look at everything of hers, cause it's awesome.