Chapter 2

Dinner

Author's Note: NCIS Los Angeles and its characters are not mine.

I have to say I am overwhelmed with the response this story has gotten. The reviews and the follows and the favorites that I have gotten for this story are incredible. Thank you so much for the support. I really appreciate it more than you know.

And so here it is, the dinner. What happens? Well I guess y'all have to read to find out.

Again – I have no beta. So let me know if I missed any errors – typos, grammar etc…PM me so that I can correct them immediately.

Once more, thank you for reading! I really am loving writing this story and writing Kensi and Deeks!

. . .

During dinner, the conversation was lighthearted. Julia happily just listened to Marty's stories about his exploits and adventures with Kensi.

She laughed especially hard when Marty told her about the time they gone undercover as a married couple and he had caught Kensi pretending to cook Snickerdoodle cookies. As she took her "freshly baked" cookies to their neighbor's house, he had seen an empty package of store bought Snickerdoodles in the trash bin.

"You pretended to bake cookies?" Julia exclaimed. She was a little breathless from laughing so hard.

"Well….um…uh…" Kensi stammered, coloring slightly as the truth of her deception was laid bare.

"Why didn't you just tell him the truth?" Julia asked, grinning at her daughter broadly.

Kensi turned to Deeks and gave him a dirty look. Deeks raised his hands in mock surrender. "Come on Kens, you gotta admit that was pretty funny. I mean - really?"

"Fine. But it wasn't as funny as you running around the neighborhood with a fanny pack." Kensi shot back, grinning at the memory.

"A fanny pack?" Julia almost choked on the wine she had been sipping. "You mean those awful bags that you put around your waist that were so in fashion in the 1980's?"

"Okay. Haha! It wasn't a fanny pack!" Deeks protested, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake." Kensi retorted, rolling her eyes. "You're right. It wasn't a fanny pack. It was a bro-sack."

"A bro-what?" Julia's eyes bugged out and she started laughing again.

"A bro-sack, Mrs. Feldman. It was a manly, practical bro-sack used by men like me when they need to carry something in their person." Deeks confirmed in the most serious tone he could muster. " I needed to carry a device while I was jogging around. And I couldn't hold it in my hand, so I took it upon myself to dig out and use my ever practical and handy bro-sack."

"Uh huh. Manly huh?" Kensi snorted, rolling her eyes once more.

Julia snorted and laughed again. "How do you two get any work done? I mean I've spent barely two hours with the two of you and my stomach hurts from laughing already."

But Kensi and Deeks didn't seem to hear Julia. Instead they were staring at each other in a seeming stand-off. Then out of nowhere and without warning Kensi sneezed.

Julia and Deeks' jaws dropped in surprise and there was a sudden quiet. Kensi and Deeks both turned to look at Julia who was just about choking on her erupting laughter before their gazes met again. One second later, the two of them were both shouting with laughter, tears in their eyes.

"Bro-sack!" Kensi squealed.

"Martha Stewart recipe my ass!" Deeks gasped out amidst his laughter.

The two of them were so busy laughing and remembering that they didn't realize Julia becoming quiet. Her laughter had faded and in place a soft smile lit up her face as she watched the two of them. In that moment she knew she was right about her daughter and Marty.

It was Deeks who glanced Julia's way first and noticed that serene, knowing smile on her face. He glanced back at Kensi and motioned with his head to her mother. She followed his instruction almost instinctively and both of their laughter began to fade.

"Mom…" Kensi began. There were still traces of glee on her face but it was now mingled with a bit of confusion.

"Yes, Kensi?"

"Uh, why are you looking at us that way?" Kensi sounded wary.

"Oh nothing." Julia said it was nothing but they could tell by the way she said it was anything but nothing.

Kensi glanced at Deeks who just shrugged.

"I mean we were laughing our asses off…" Kensi said. "And you weren't… I thought you found us funny but maybe I was wrong?"

"Yes you were. I do mean it when I say I don't know how you get any work done coz if I wouldn't in either of your shoes. I'd be doing nothing all day but laugh."

"But you weren't laughing anymore." Kensi stated.

"Yes, because I realized that I hadn't seen two people laugh that much and in a such a carefree manner in quite a long time. It was just nice to watch and know that people especially people with your jobs can still laugh that way."

"I'm glad you approve?" There was a hint of a question there.

Once more Kensi glanced at Deeks. Deeks took that as Kensi wanting some back up and so he turned to her mother. "Well I for one, Mrs. Feldman hope that you do approve. Coz honestly, Kensi and I are usually like this. I apologize if we got a bit carried away."

"Not at all, Marty. I really mean that. It really IS nice and refreshing to see people laugh that way. I see it so rarely nowadays."

"Are you sure? I mean you were so quiet." Deeks remarked. His voice held that same question that Kensi's had.

Julia smiled and replied, "Yes I'm sure."

There was a pause then Julia spoke again.

"So Marty, Kensi tells me you're the special liaison of NCIS to the LAPD."

"Yes, ma'am. So that makes me a LAPD detective not a NCIS agent."

"Do you like your job?"

"Yes, I do. In fact, I love it."

"Excuse me if I'm overstepping my boundaries here, but may I ask why stay just a liaison to NCIS for the LAPD? Why not just apply to be a NCIS agent? I mean you practically are one."

Deeks was silent for minute. Kensi looked at him as he pondered the question Julia had asked him. She had often asked Deeks that very same question. In fact she knew that Hetty had already given him the necessary papers to make it official. All he had to was fill them out and sign them and it'd be a done deal. But for some reason, Deeks hadn't taken the offer, hadn't taken that step. He still remained a LAPD detective.

It took a few moments, but finally Deeks answered her as best as he could. "You know, Mrs. Feldman, I honestly don't know why at the moment. I mean I love what I'm doing now. I mean I get the best of both worlds, you know?"

"Again, I'm sorry if I'm overstepping – so – you don't see it as being in between two worlds?"

Deeks once more thought carefully before replying. Kensi gave her a mom a look trying to signal her to shut up. But Julia waved her concerns away.

Kensi took a small but impatient breath and put in, "Deeks I'm sorry my mom's being so nosy, you don't have to answer that."

Julia gave her daughter a look. Kensi gave her a look back. Deeks saw the expressions on the two women's faces and chuckled. "Hey Kens, it's okay. She's just being a mom. After all, I am your partner and she just wants to make sure that the guy who watches your back is qualified and focused. Right, Mrs. Feldman?"

Julia beamed at him. "That's right."

"You already know that Marty has my back, mom." Kensi said. "You don't need to interrogate him."

"I'm not interrogating him!" Julia protested, looking somewhat upset just then.

"Kens!" Deeks put in a little more loudly. He saw the two women getting irritated at each other and he didn't want to be the cause of any friction them.

Kensi's gaze went to Deeks and Deeks smiled at her calmly.

Julia smiled to herself as she observed him calming her daughter down. Kensi was headstrong. And stubborn. A deadly combination. Plus she was not used to having a parent around and she was still getting used to having one again. It can make for an occasional volatile situation.

"Kens, it's okay. She's not overstepping. I don't feel like I'm being grilled or anything of the sort. So don't be upset. Honestly, I actually kind of like it." Deeks admitted, glancing quickly at Julia before giving Kensi his complete attention again.

"You like it?" Kensi looked disbelieving.

"Yes I do."

"Why? I mean you don't think she's being nosy?"

Deeks shook his head, still smiling, still calm. "No, not at all. She's curious, yes but she also just wants to know if my heart is in this job, in this unit. And she wants to know that because you are in this unit, Kensi and you are my partner."

"So?"

"She needs to know her daughter's partner's head and heart is fully in the game because one day, her daughter's life can depend on me. She knows yours are – and because of that she knows that you have my back. But she needs to know that she can depend on me for the same thing. Am I right Mrs. Feldman?"

Julia nodded. "Yes, Marty. That is exactly what I'm thinking."

"Mom! Like I said early, you know this! I trust him implicitly. I sent him to protect you. That should already have told you that. I mean, I even told you that."

Julia shrugged. "I know that sweetheart."

"Then why?" Kensi asked, still a bit disconcerted.

"Because," Deeks cut in before Julia could respond, "she needs to hear it from me."

Julia turned her gaze back on Deeks. He smiled and then in what only could be described as a tender voice, answered her question. "Even if I'm not quite a NCIS agent ma'am, I am fully your daughter's partner and friend. You have my word that I completely have her back at any given time. I give you my word that I will always look after her and protect her. I will do everything in my power to make sure that no one ever hurts physically or otherwise. I swear that to you, Mrs. Feldman."

Kensi felt her cheeks color as Deeks' promise - the full meaning of it - sank in. A warmth spread all over her body and all of a sudden, she felt light and burden-free. In that moment, she forgot all that was wrong in the world and all the scary things they had to see and deal with each day. In that moment she just felt happy and….loved.

A smile began to pull at the corners of her lips and the urge to throw her arms around her partner was immense. And though she contained herself, she knew that she should say something. You can't hear something like what he just said only to let it go as if nothing had been said. And besides she knew she'd never hear the end of it from her mom if she didn't say anything. So she spoke up, her voice a little stilted from trying to keep the emotions going through her at bay. "Thank you Deeks."

Deeks was almost startled to hear her speak up. He had been looking at Julia – only at Julia – because he had been afraid to see her reaction to such a definitive declaration of his affection for her. He did not know what he expected. But he didn't expect this. A smiling, emotional and almost soft Kensi. No - this definitely wasn't what he expected. But this was definitely what he had hoped for.

Deeks' pulse began to race. Once more, Julia was all but forgotten. He met her two colored gaze and hers didn't stray from his. He gave his trademark Deeks smile and replied, "Anytime Kens. And I hope you know I mean every syllable of that statement."

Kensi nodded, smiling, unable to talk further. She didn't trust herself to say anything just then. She already knew what Deeks had said was true even without him saying it – but to hear him say it, to find out that what she thought all along was correct and real – it was entirely something else.

For the first time she could concretely say that there was definitely something there between her and Deeks. And she was very glad that he agreed to hang out with her after they took her mom home later. Maybe then they can start to see what that something there truly was.

"Anyway, Kens. I know you have my back too." Deeks said. Then all at once, his face lit up with delight and his tender look melted into a naughty one. "And not just my back, but my backside as well. I remember very well when we went undercover in that surf bar remember? I was in board shorts and I remember very well you checking out my backside. And not to mention slapping it very soundly just a few weeks ago. So I guess you could say you definitely have my back covered."

Kensi's mouth dropped open and she reached over, slapping Deeks playfully on the arm. "Deeks!" Kensi protested merrily. "My mom did not need to hear that!"

Deeks peeked at Julia who was also laughing. She had her hand on her mouth trying to keep from laughing too hard and too loudly. "I don't think she minded that at all, Kensi. Did you Mrs. Feldman?"

Julia couldn't speak. She was laughing too much. But she vehemently shook her head. Finally when her laughter subsided, she spoke, her voice still full of merriment, "No, I didn't mind that at all. God you two, like I said, I don't know how you get any work done. But…." Julia paused, sobering now, "But, I'm glad you ended up partnered with each other. Not only do you watch out for each other and you make each other laugh and most importantly - you trust each other."

Kensi and Deeks exchanged glances before they turned back to Julia, smiles once more on their faces. "Yeah, I guess we do." Kensi admitted.

"You sound surprised Kensi." Deeks pointed out.

"I guess I kinda am." Kensi told him truthfully.

Deeks gave a mock pout and remarked, "Should I be offended with what you just said?"

"No." Kensi grinned.

"I mean I know you don't like surprises?" Deeks persisted.

"Well this one's okay."

"I…I…well, thanks?"

"I hear a question there, Deeks!"

"I'm joking." Deeks answered, grinning. "I'm really glad they partnered me up with you."

"Me –" Kensi started to say but before she could finish, Deeks cut her off again.

"I mean I seriously do not want Sam to be the one watching my butt and slapping it." Deeks declared.

"Deeks!" Kensi's eyes widened and she laughed again.

"Well, come on!" Deeks' grin was from ear to ear. "That just wouldn't be right."

"Hmmm….I don't know. I think I'd enjoy seeing that."

"What?"

"I mean in another universe you two could be partners at work and partners at play!"

"What? Nah. That's just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean look at this package. I'm all man here." Deeks protested.

"Well…hmmm….I guess. Those gold locks can be feminine from time to time. But don't worry Deeks, I'm very secure. I'm not going to get jealous at you for being prettier than me at times." Kensi told him, joking.

"That be impossible, Kens." Deeks told her.

"You think it's impossible for me not to get jealous of your pretty looks?" Kensi raised her eyebrows and folder her arms across her chest.

"No. I mean it'd be impossible for me to be prettier than you. Not many are, you know?"

The moment he said those words, Deeks felt like kicking himself and turned red. What the hell? Why did he just say that? And in front of her mom too.

Julia got a knowing look on her face again and she smiled at her daughter. "Did you hear that Kensi? Marty thinks you're pretty."

The words didn't sink in right away. But when it did, Kensi flushed a deep red as well. She looked down, unable to look at Deeks or her mother.

"Uh…I…" Deeks began to stammer, looking uneasily at Kensi then Julia.

"Don't tell me you've changed your mind Marty?" Julia asked. She didn't relent and turned to face him. She noted with satisfaction that he was still flushed as her daughter and just as flustered.

"No, uh I….I'm sorry sometimes I just blurt out everything in my mind."

"No need to be sorry Marty. I'm sure Kensi appreciates the compliment. You do, don't you, Kensi?"

Kensi took several deep breaths, telling herself that she was going to get through this before finally lifting her head to meet her mother's stare. She was still somewhat flushed but most of her composure was back. Kensi cleared her throat and then replied as calmly as possible. "Yes, mom, I do. Then clearing her throat again, she turned to her partner. "Deeks, thank you. That's very kind of you. I appreciate the compliment. Now can we get off this really embarrassing topic before I get such a big head in thinking how beautiful I am? I wanna be able to fit my head through my door you know?"

Deeks gave Kensi a grateful look. "Yeah, we definitely wouldn't want that." He was also slowly regaining his composure, the red stain leaving his face.

"No, definitely not." Julia agreed, smiling as she finished her last bit of wine and put her empty glass on the table with emphasis. "Especially since it's past 10 o'clock and I need to get going and I want to be able my daughter to fit her head through the door to see my off. So let me just call myself a cab and you two can stay here and enjoy your night."

"No, mom! Deeks and I will take you home. We already talked about it." Kensi told her, already getting up and making her way towards her room." Deeks, we can take my car."

"No, don't be silly. Sit down Kensi. You two stay here. The night is young. And you both have a rare night off. Take advantage of it. Stay and enjoy each other's company." Julia's eyes twinkled with mischief but she squelched the smile that was forming on her face again. She didn't want to preempt anything or worse, make Kensi run the other way. In her opinion, she had primed her daughter well for an evening of fun with Marty Deeks.

"Mom, Deeks and I will take you home. We can always hang out after. In fact, if you must know and if it will convince you to let us take you home, we already planned on it." Kensi was insistent.

"It's really no problem, Mrs. Feldman." Deeks assured her.

"I'm sure it isn't Marty. But it's a waste of gas and time. You two stay here. Kensi will call for a cab to take me home. Now, enough – that's settled so I'll have no more talk of you two taking me home all the way to the Valley."

"But mom, the cab is going to cost you a fortune!" Kensi protested.

"Darling, I'm okay. I don't cab it often and besides, I have the money. Okay? Don't worry. Now please, just be a good daughter and call a cab for me."

Kensi glanced at Deeks who just shrugged as if to say, "There's nothing we can do." And there wasn't. She knew that. Even though she had just been reunited with her mom, she already knew when Julia can be persuaded and when she couldn't. And this is one of those times when she couldn't be.

Sighing in resignation, Kensi picked up her cellphone and called the nearest cab company just like her mom wanted.

A few minutes later, she hung up the phone and turned to Julia. "They said 10 minutes, mom."

"Well that's fast. So I guess I better get my stuff."

"Why don't you stay here with Deeks? I'll grab your bag and coat from my room. I'll be right back." And with that Kensi left and went into her room.

Julia took full advantage of that few moments. "Thank you for making my daughter happy, Marty."

"Uh…" Deeks didn't know what to say so he simply opted to be quiet.

Julia chuckled. "It's okay Marty, you don't have to say anything. But you need to know that. You make her laugh. You make her happy."

For a moment, Deeks still didn't say anything. But then he glanced at Julia briefly before casting his gaze to the floor as he replied softly, "She makes me happy too, Mrs. Feldman."

Julia reached out and put a gentle hand on his cheek. Her touch startled Deeks and made him look up abruptly. Julia was beaming at him. "I know, Marty."

Deeks smiled at her, understanding dawning between the two of them. And surprisingly that didn't scare Deeks like he thought it would. Not at all, actually.

Just then, they heard Kensi's bedroom door close and their reverie was shattered. Julia stood up and so did Deeks. Kensi approached them, Julia's bag and coat in her arms. "Here you go mom."

"Thanks Kensi." She took her coat from her first and Deeks helped her put it on.

"Anytime, mom." Kensi answered, handing her bag to her.

"We should do this again soon. I really enjoyed having dinner with the two of you." Julia placed a special emphasis on the word two and both of them caught it.

Kensi rolled her eyes while Deeks said, "Same here, Mrs. Feldman. And I have absolutely would love to do this again. Kensi only has to ask."

"I'll keep that in mind Marty." There was that smile again. "And you should too, Kensi."

"Okay, mom!" Kensi's tone held a note of exasperation. She cast her gaze heavenwards and gave her head a little shake of resignation. Her mom was incorrigible.

Julia chuckled and was about to say something more but thankfully Kensi's phone suddenly rang.

"Saved by the telephone ring." Kensi muttered, sending a quick silent thank you to the man above.

Julia merely chuckled.

"Hello? Oh okay, she'll be right out." She hung up and turned to her mom. "Your cab's here."

"Alright. Well I will see you two. Have a fun night, okay?"

"We will, Mrs. Feldman." Deeks assured her.

The two of them walked Julia to her cab. Just before she got in, she gave Marty a hug and whispered, "Remember what I said."

"I will." Deeks whispered back and released her.

Then Julia turned to her daughter and said, "Thank you Kensi."

"Thanks mom. I had fun. I love you."

"I love you too." Julia replied, hugging and kissing her daughter.

"Text me when you're home, okay?"

"Okay."

With one last wave at Deeks, Julia got into the cab and she was gone.

They waited until the cab disappeared from their sight before turning around to go back into Kensi's apartment.

As they got in, Kensi started to make her way into the dining area to clean up. "Deeks…"

"Wait Kensi." Marty reached for her arm gently, stopping her.

Kensi turned around and found him gazing at her. "What?"

"I…Kens…"

"Look, Deeks, I know my mom said a lot of things and I just want you to know well…I'm not holding you to anything that you might have been forced to say because of her…"

"Maybe I don't want that." Deeks told her, his voice soft. "I'm not taking back anything I said just because she isn't here anymore.

"What?" Kensi knew she looked confused but at the same time, her heart started to race.

"Your mom didn't force anything out of me Kensi. I meant everything I said earlier. Everything."

"You do?" The thumping of her heart filled Kensi's ears and her voice sounded very faint to her at the moment.

"I do. Kensi, you…you make me… Deeks voice trailed off. For a minute he was unable to continue.

"I make you what?" Kensi asked looking at him intently.

Deeks released her arm and slowly he slid his hands into hers, intertwining them. He gazed at Kensi, assessing her reaction, waiting to see if she would run or pull her hands away. She didn't.

He took a step closer, closing the gap between them and with a tender look and smile, he told her, "You make me laugh…and you make me happy…."

"Is that a good thing?" Kensi's voice was also soft now.

Deeks laughed gently and confirmed it. "Is that a good thing? Of couse it is! It's very good thing…."

Kensi barely heard anything else. Her heart was pounding too fast and too loud. She felt its every beat – her pulse was literally jumping. And she knew it was going to happen even before it happened. Marty Deeks was going to kiss her – no he WAS kissing her and it felt so good. His lips were soft yet firm – just the way she liked them. A whisper of a sigh escaped her. And then finally she surrendered. At long last, Kensi gave in and kissed Marty Deeks back.

. . .

Squee!

So what happens after the first kiss is over?

Wanna find out?

There's one last chapter guys!

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