Part II - Telling the World

AN: We knew we were never going to see this on the show, so now you know how almost everyone finds out Deeks and Kensi got engaged (this is what I was trying to write when Part I intruded, by the way, and starts just a few minutes after that ends). The title is borrowed from the Taio Cruz song of the same name from the "Rio" soundtrack.

Part III should be up midweek.

"Ready to go home?" Deeks asked as they sat in the car, eyeing members of the FBI, EMT, LAFD, and LAPD, meandering around like drunk ants in an initialism army.

"I don't know," Kensi said from behind the steering wheel, the engine yet to be started. Thrilled as she was that she'd just proposed to Deeks and he'd said yes – not a certainty by any means given that she hadn't accepted either of his proposals that she'd been awake for – Kensi felt reality settling back in. The fact that Michelle was dead, Sam was a widower, and their children were motherless hit her once more.

As did the fact that she'd impulsively asked Deeks to marry her in the middle of what looked like a war zone, when she knew he'd been looking for the perfect place and time and way to do it himself. What was I thinking? She hadn't been, she knew. She'd been feeling, and while she didn't regret the result, she wondered if she should have waited until tonight, when she could have dropped some hints that Deeks should do the honors before she did.

Realizing Deeks was expecting her to offer an alternate destination and that she's been quiet for too long, Kensi shook herself out of her thoughts and said, "If we're smart, we'd head back to the mission and get the after-action reports done while everything's still fresh in our minds."

"You think we're going to forget anything about the past forty-eight hours?" Deeks asked doubtfully.

Kensi sighed. "No. Probably not."

"Do you really want to go into work? I mean, we can, but I'm thinking we can do something much better than paperwork." Deeks recognized the emotion in Kensi's voice and deduced that she was experiencing many of the same thoughts he had a few minutes ago.

"Like sparring? I don't think I'd be able to pull my punches after the last couple of days. You'd have to gear up."

That Kensi's mind went straight to hitting something and not where he was trying to lead her confirmed his suspicion. "Yeah, no. Wonderful as it sounds to be the personal punching bag of Bad-Ass Blye today, I was talking about this," he held up his left hand, the oversized flashbang pull ring still dangling from his finger. "If we go to the mission, we can tell everyone about how you just begged me to marry you."

He flashed a grin then turned serious as he took Kensi's hand in his. "I'd be okay with it if you want to wait a little while, though, give everyone the chance to start grieving Michelle." After his moments of…he wouldn't call it doubt, as there was no doubt he wanted to marry Kensi…whatever it was just a little while ago, Deeks wanted nothing more than to share the news with their friends and family, and he believed it would ease Kensi's now-heavy heart as well. But their feelings weren't the only ones to consider at the moment.

"Well, since Nell knows, anyone who's still there when she gets back to the mission will find out soon enough."

"Wait, what? How the hell does Nellosaurus know already? Is there some kind of extrasensory bell that rings every time a woman gets engaged? Or is it a hormone thing?"

"I'm going to forget that you said any of that and point out that I was talking to Nell just before I proposed, oh observant one. She saw the whole thing. Gave me a big okay sign and a thumbs-up right after, so I think she approves of my choice of husband."

"Husband. Wow, I hadn't really thought of myself that way until just now. I've been thinking about you as my fiancée and ultimately my wife, but not the other way around. It's pretty cool, though." He quickly glanced beyond the windows of the car, "Is Nell still here? Never mind. Text her, tell her not to say anything to Beale, or anyone else for that matter. Eric and I will probably both end up at Sulk Beach tomorrow morning. I want to tell him myself that I'm going to be Mr. Kensi Blye."

"Sulk Beach?"

"What we call the beach we go to when we need to really concentrate on the surfing and not our problems. Because if you don't, you get battered by the waves and the rocky bottom, which further adds to your misery."

"Sounds fun."

"He ran into me there a bunch of times when you were in Afghanistan. And once or twice while you were in rehab. I think we'll both need the distraction tomorrow."

"So…we're not heading to the mission now?"

"To do paperwork? Hell no. Let's head home, maybe stop at your mom's on the way?"

"Okay. We should probably tell her about Michelle first, then us. Same goes with your mom."

"Let's see how things go with Julia," Deeks hedged.

The visit with her mother that evening went pretty much as Kensi had anticipated. When they showed up unannounced at her door, Julia breathed a sigh of relief to see them both there. Her mother had once confided to Kensi that her worst fear was having one or the other of them arrive without warning, knowing what news would likely follow.

Kensi understood. Growing up with a Marine father, she knew her mother used to live with the low-level but ever-present worry that the next time the doorbell rang, she would open it to find a chaplain and a casualty assistance officer. She felt badly that she hadn't called her mother in advance, but Kensi's thoughts had been sidetracked by concern for Aiden and Kamran. Kensi had wondered if she should try to speak with them, since she knew all too well some of what they would be feeling right now.

They didn't let the reprieve last too long, however. Soon after they accepted Julia's offer of something to drink, Kensi prepared her mother for the sadness to come. They broke the news, not sharing too many details, but enough that she understood Michelle's death was a result of their jobs.

Julia cried quietly for a time. When she collected herself, she said, "That lovely woman. Sam must be heartbroken. And their poor, poor children. I just can't believe this. How awful."

Kensi sat next to her mother on a living room couch, holding her hand and providing whatever comfort she could. Deeks was on a chair nearby, looking pained for both of them.

"Is there anything we can do? Do they need help with the arrangements? Should we offer to stay with the children?"

"I don't think so. At least not now. Sam wants to be with the kids for a little while, and I'm sure his and Michelle's folks will help with anything that needs to be done. But we'll tell Sam you're available too," Deeks assured her.

"So we don't know when the visitation or funeral will be? You'll let me know, won't you? I want to say goodbye to Michelle, and pay my respects to the rest of the family. She was such a kind, beautiful woman. She didn't deserve this." Julia looked at Kensi fiercely and gripped her hand tighter, "Did you get the monster who did this to her?"

"Yeah, Mom, he's dead."

"And we'll pass along the information as soon as we hear about the wake. You can come with us, if you want," Deeks said

Julia nodded at him, then quickly turned to Kensi. "You'll talk to them, won't you, Kensi? The kids? You know what they're going through, you can offer them…I don't know, a shoulder, an ear, the knowledge that someone close by understands, maybe?"

"I was just thinking about that on the way here, actually. If Sam's okay with it, I will. Probably sometime after the funeral, and once all the family that comes to town goes back home." Julia may have lived with knowledge that any day could bring the news of Don's death, but it wasn't something a young Kensi really worried about. Her father was a strong, brave, and smart U.S. Marine; he was invincible as far as she was concerned. She never doubted he would return home to her after every deployment. And he did.

As a result, it hurt even more and was just a little bit harder to bear when that notification came. When all he'd done was go out with friends. Kensi felt a familiar pressure in her chest at the thought that Kamran and Aiden were experiencing the same pain and suffering now. Considering that Michelle had been mostly out of the intelligence business for much of their lives, if they worried about losing a parent, it would have been their father they feared for, not their mother.

"That's a great idea, Kens. I'm sure Sam would appreciate it," Deeks said.

"Those babies must be hurting so much, I can't even imagine it." Julia started crying again, harder this time. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when your father died. I should have been. You shouldn't have had to be alone."

Pulling her mother into an embrace, Kensi assured her, "Mom, we've talked about this. It was a long time ago and we both made mistakes. I got through it, and I'll help Aiden and Kamran do the same if I can, I promise."

Kensi looked at Deeks over Julia's shoulder, unsure now if they should share their other news.

"Julia, Kensi and I have something else we want to tell you. You think you're up for it?" He offered her a soft smile.

She wiped new tears away as she parted from her daughter. "I don't know if I can handle any more bad news right now, honestly."

"It's actually good, Mom."

"That's it, Kensalina? Just good? I'd have gone with something more like all kinds of awesome, myself."

Julia looked up at him hopefully, "I could do with that kind of news, Marty. What is it?"

"Our girl here dropped down on bended knee today and practically demanded that I agree to marry her. And since I'm not nearly as picky as she is about the ring or the location, I said yes."

Eyes widening in surprise, Julia's hand went to her chest, "Really? You're engaged?"

Kensi nodded. "And I have a feeling I am never going to live down being the one to propose."

"Damned straight, my bride-to-be. What guy wouldn't tell the world that the woman of his dreams asked him to marry her? Especially when she's as gorgeous and kick-ass as you."

Kensi would have rolled her eyes, but Deeks' words were so sincere, she couldn't manage it. She didn't even try to keep the smile he loved from her face.

"This is just wonderful! I'm so excited for you both," Julia said as she drew her daughter in for another hug. When she pulled away, she looked at Kensi's left hand.

"Her ring's at home," Deeks explained. "But you should take a gander at mine," he held up his own extremity and waved his fingers

Julia embraced him before examining what Deeks was proudly showing off. "What is it, a key ring?"

"You don't want to know, Mom," Kensi said lightly. "Let's just say it was a spur of the moment proposal and I made do with what was available at the time."

Hetty had texted the team not to bother coming in the next day, so Kensi was reluctant to get up before dawn to accompany Deeks to TCs. Located just past the White Point Nature Preserve, it was a bit out of the way for a workday morning surf. But after she learned why he wanted to come to this particular beach, Kensi would never let him come here alone again if she could avoid it.

After a quick glance at the water she could tell the waves would be too much for her and was glad she left her board at home. While Kensi enjoyed surfing, she wasn't nearly as good or experienced as Deeks, and she knew her limits. She would be content to keep an eye on him and Beale if they wanted to be beaten up by mother nature.

Besides, she was wearing her engagement ring and didn't want to risk going into the ocean with it on.

At this hour of the morning in the middle of the week, Kensi was unsurprised the shore was nearly deserted. There were only a few surfers out on the water, and Deeks declared that none of them was Eric. Kensi settled herself on a towel, and Monty plopped down next to her.

She had debated bringing a book with her but decided against it, figuring she would and their pooch would take turns dozing while the boys surfed. Neither she nor Deeks had slept well last night, owing to being overtired after the two days they'd just had. Grief for Michelle, Sam, and the kids and excitement over their own engagement were enough to make them restless, even in sleep.

After leaving her mother's house, they stopped for take-out but weren't in the mood to eat when they got home. Instead, they showered, made love, and laid in bed holding each other until they drifted off. Their lovemaking had been more tender and comforting than passionate and celebratory, nothing like Kensi had thought it would be given that they had just gotten engaged. But the specter of Michelle's death had been difficult to shed.

Kensi woke in the middle of the night, famished and still somewhat conflicted, and was making her way through her lo mein at the counter when Deeks walked into the kitchen.

He poked his chopsticks in the carton and shoved a bunch of noodles in his mouth before she thought to warn him that they were still cold. After he swallowed with a disgusted look on his face, Deeks said, "Gross, Kens. Why didn't you heat it up?"

She shrugged, "I don't mind cold Chinese. Plus I didn't want to wake you with the smell. Or the noise."

"You just didn't want to cook, even if all it entailed was punching a few buttons on the microwave."

Kensi stuck her tongue out at him.

"Now, now. Be nice, princess, or I won't give you your surprise."

"What kind of surprise can you possibly have for me at…" She checked the time on the neglected appliance, "Two forty-one in the morning?"

Deeks took the food from her hand and walked them into the living room, sitting on the couch and pulling her onto his lap. A small light was on above the sink in the kitchen, but that barely touched them. Instead, the room was bathed in the soft glow of the streetlamps coming through the windows.

"I know this isn't the beach, and we're way past sunset, and I'm not on my knee. But you kind of stole my thunder and my line with your proposal, so I think we're beyond that anyway." He took the ring out of his pajama pocket picked up her hand. "What I am going to do is put this ring on your finger while you're conscious and tell you how much I love you, and how happy and lucky I am to have you in my life, both as my partner and now as my fiancée."

As he slid the thin band in place, Kensi's eyes filled. "I love you too." She kissed him softly, but Deeks wrapped both arms around her and deepened the kiss.

When they broke for air, Kensi said, "I'm sorry for stepping all over your proposal. You were probably planning some incredibly romantic surprise and I gave you a flashbang pull ring, literally in the middle of the street. It's just…after putting you off twice, expecting the perfect time or place, or whatever it was I thought I wanted, it hit me: what hell was I waiting for?"

"At least I'll be the talk of the LAPD for something good for a change," he quipped. "Look, maybe it wasn't me on the white horse with the rose petals –"

"Shirtless, I think you said."

"So you were paying attention. I wasn't sure at the time, since you were more intent on beating up your wheelchair than listening to me. But the point I was trying to make then, and is also relevant now, is that the details don't matter, baby. We love each other and we're going to spend the rest of our lives together. That's what's important."

Kensi smiled and nodded her head, grateful for the reminder. "You're right."

"Wait, what? What did you just say?" Deeks looked around, "Where's my phone? Can you say that again? I need to get it on record, maybe make it my ringtone. Hang on," he stood, Kensi cradled in his arms, and carried her into the bedroom.

"Really, Deeks? We were just having a moment."

Laying her on the bed and stretching out beside her, his tone was serious. "I promised you more of them, and I mean to deliver. I got millions of moments, Kens. Just for you."

"Just for us," she whispered as she leaned in to kiss him again. This time when they made love, it was exactly the way Kensi thought it should be.

Deeks was waxing his board when he looked up beyond her and waved, pulling Kensi from her reverie. She didn't bother turning, who else would it have been but their tech operator? Kensi wasn't terribly surprised to hear Nell's voice as they came closer, and wondered if her friend had been successful in keeping their confidence.

She and Monty got up to greet them and one look at Beale's face told Kensi that he didn't have a clue. Eric gave her a big hug and whispered that he was glad she and Deeks were okay.

When they parted, Kensi tucked her left hand in her pocket as Eric said aloud, "Hetty and I watched the whole thing from ops. Sam and Callen had such a close call Hetty actually invited me down to her office for a drink after."

"Yeah? Did you even make it home? Because that stealthy little Chupacabra can drink anyone under the table. Did she at least cover you with that ugly, itchy blanket before she left you supine on the floor for the night?" Deeks asked, wanting to lighten the mood.

Eric laughed, "No. As excited as I was to be sharing an after-work drink with Hetty, turns out I don't like scotch. So I very politely took a few sips and then begged off and went home to crash."

"If by crash you mean you waited for Nell to join you so the two of you could pass out on your couch together, that's just too adorable," Deeks said.

"And amazingly like so many of our nights," Kensi added.

Nell, who could barely contain herself, said, "Alright you two, why don't you go do your surfing thing while Kensi and I…do whatever Kensi and I are going to do." She turned the brunette back toward her towel and spread her own out alongside it while the men prepped their boards.

"How are you guys doing?" Kensi asked after a minute or two of admiration for the view in front of them, which included both the water and the men.

The redhead was instantly on the verge of tears at the question. She didn't bother to try to stop them from spilling from her eyes. "It hit hard last night. As much as I wanted to be able to cry when all we could do was work, when I was finally able to let it all out, I really wanted that distraction again, you know?"

Kensi said, "I get it. We stopped by my mom's on the way home last night to tell her about Michelle. It was brutal. And we're going to visit Deeks' mom later today, assuming he remembered to find out when she'll be home."

"Did you also mention," Nell stopped to glance at the Eric and Deeks, who had finished waxing their boards and were now almost to the water, "your engagement?"

"Yeah, and it was good for that distraction you wanted, for all of us."

Watching the guys paddling out a few seconds later, Nell chuckled. "You have no idea how many times I almost spilled the beans last night. That secret was one of the toughest I've been asked to keep in a while," she lightly shoved Kensi's shoulder. "And that's saying something considering I know some of Hetty Lange's deepest and darkest."

Kensi smiled, "I'm impressed. And thanks for the effort. Deeks is really looking forward to telling Eric." She squinted at them, bobbing near enough on the water as they waited for a good wave that they could maintain a conversation. Based on the movement of Deeks' hands and Eric's head, it seemed that's exactly what they were doing. "You think he already did it?"

"Not a chance. We haven't heard Beale's excited shriek of delight yet," Nell said.

Discussion ceased as the friends watched their men enjoy themselves on a series of heavy waves. Kensi understood the skill, strength, and finesse it took to make surfing look effortless, and for a time she and Nell just sat back and appreciated the show. They both cringed a while later when Deeks wiped out in spectacular fashion. "Ouch," Kensi muttered.

Snapping out of her trance-like state, Nell remembered what she had been about to do when the guys diverted their attention. "Oh my god Kensi, I can't believe I didn't ask to see your ring yet. He did give you one, didn't he?"

Kensi smiled at the memory, "Yup, at two forty-one this morning, to be exact." She held out her hand to show off the two-diamond ring.

"It's beautiful," Nell gushed. "And untraditional. Is that in case you forget to take it off and need to explain it away? So it's not an obvious engagement ring?"

Kensi laughed, "He didn't say as much, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was part of the appeal too. Deeks actually told me he chose two stones to signify the two elements of our partnership; work and home."

"Aw, that's so romantic. Have you thought about a date yet?"

They chatted about possible locations, appropriate attire for a beach wedding, food options, and the best time of year to get married outdoors in California when a screech caught their attention.

Looking toward the sound, they were just in time to witness Eric grab Deeks' hand in a hearty shake, and then attempt to draw him further in for what Kensi was sure would have been a manly back-smacking embrace had they been on land. But since they were still on their boards, in the middle of the water, and Deeks didn't seem quite sure of Eric's intent, both men ended up falling into the ocean, where the ensuing hug almost ended up drowning them.

"I think Eric knows now," Kensi said dryly.

"And I'm betting Deeks is regretting his timing. Or at least the location."

Eric and Deeks climbed on their boards and paddled back to the shore. When they reached the sand, Eric handed his board off to Deeks and hurried toward them, unzipping and peeling down the top of his wetsuit as he approached.

"Uh-oh, Kens, I think he's coming for you," Nell warned.

Sure enough as the technical operator came closer, he was practically singing, "Kensi!"

She put her hands up to keep Eric at a safe distance, given that his bottom half was still wet, but it didn't matter. In his exuberance Beale must not have even noticed, or perhaps he misinterpreted the action, because he rushed right between her raised arms and wrapped Kensi in an enthusiastic, if cold and sodden hug.

"I'm so happy for you guys! Congratulations!" he gushed, rocking her body from side to side.

"Thanks Eric," Kensi laughed. "Once again, you might be more excited than even me and Deeks."

"Now are you going to get a puppy? I mean, obviously the living together worked out well, like I knew it would. Oh! Or you could just skip the new dog and go right to little baby Densis! How awesome would that be? Monty would be a great older brother to a human puppy. And Nell and I could come over and babysit whenever you need, and –" the dog in question barked at the sound of his name.

"We'll be sure to keep that in mind when the time comes, man. But maybe let me and my ladybird work on spreading the word and getting married first," Deeks said as he approached the small group.

Nell threw her arms around Deeks, unconcerned about the water still dripping off the detective. "I saw you give Kensi a hard time at first, Shaggy. Don't know what you were thinking there, but I'm glad you finally came to your senses."

"What are you talking about?" Eric asked as he tossed Kensi her towel and started drying off with his own.

"I was there, and saw the whole thing. Kensi and I were talking when she excused herself and walked over to Deeks, took his hand, and got down on her knee."

"Don't forget I detonated that flashbang first. Had to have something to slide on my man's finger."

"Right! I swear I was tempted to march over there and beat the brains back into him, because all I saw next was Deeks shaking his head and trying to get Kensi to stand up."

"But my partner's got a hell of a grip and really good upper body strength, so that wasn't happening," Deeks said proudly as he slid his arm around Kensi's waist.

"Deeks finally gave up and knelt down in front of Kensi and before you know it, he's nodding his head yes and they're hugging, and Kensi, you looked so happy and beautiful." The analyst embraced her friend, crying tears of joy this time.

"What? How could you not tell me?" Eric's question was practically a whine.

"Sorry, Beale, that's on us. I had Kensi swear Velma to secrecy because I wanted to give you the good news myself," Deeks explained.

Nell continued, "And it was all I could think about last night, when I wasn't thinking about Michelle, and Sam and the kids. I really did want to tell you, but I promised."

"I have to say, I think it was worth the wait. We got to watch two normally graceful surfers fall all over each other and into the water. My only regret is that I didn't have my phone ready to record the moment," Kensi said. "Though Callen and Sam might get jealous at what looks like a level-four bromance blossoming between the two of you," she joked before remembering what Sam was now suffering.

Changing the topic, Nell suggested, "How about if Beale and I take the newly-engaged couple out for breakfast to celebrate?"

"You sure about that?" Deeks asked. "You've seen Kensi eat lunch and dinner, she puts away twice that at breakfast."

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Kensi defended herself.

Hoping to catch Hetty before work to tell their boss about their change in status, Kensi and Deeks arrived at the mission early the next day.

Spying them from across the open floorplan, their operations manager called out, "Ms. Blye, Mr. Deeks, how are you today?" She sounded tired.

Not even stopping to offload their messenger bags at their desks, the pair walked directly to Hetty's office. Kensi was glad she'd tucked her engagement ring into her front pocket before leaving the car a minute ago.

The older woman nodded at the chairs in front of her desk, indicating that they should sit. "Tea?" she offered.

"No thanks, Hetty," Deeks said as Kensi shook her head in the negative.

She studied them as she took a sip of her own. "That wasn't a rhetorical question," Hetty said as she placed the delicate china cup on its saucer. "How are you both?"

"Well, considering we're still alive, we've really got nothing to complain about," Deeks said flatly.

"You've also nothing to feel guilty for, I hope you realize," Hetty countered.

Kensi grimaced slightly. "Maybe. Maybe not. There's no denying that Michelle was at that warehouse, alive, when we were there the first time. I keep trying to figure out what we missed that could have clued us in sooner."

Deeks placed his hand on Kensi's. They'd been through this so many times in the past few days. But he was surprised she was sharing it with Hetty. He knew that Kensi would rather take the blame than believe Khaled had outsmarted them. If the fault lay within herself or the team, it was something that could be improved upon and avoided in the future. But if Tahir Khaled could outmaneuver them with such devastating results, who else could? No, Kensi would try to keep the responsibility for this squarely on her own shoulders for the time being. Deeks knew this because he felt much the same way. And he would be there to make sure it didn't knock her too far off kilter, just as she would do for him.

"My dear, everyone including Michelle herself, thought she was much further away than she was. You had no reason to be suspicious until your second visit. I believe Mr. Beale and Ms. Jones are similarly beating themselves up. They too are blameless."

Unaccepting of the other woman's absolution, Kensi nonetheless offered a nod and said, "Thank you, Hetty."

Not fooled for a moment, Hetty changed the subject to what she thought would be a more pleasant discussion. "I hope you two at least had a relaxing day yesterday."

Deeks was glad for the opening to bring up the reason for their early arrival. "Yeah, we actually met Nell and Eric at the beach. Beale and I surfed to our hearts' content while Nellousaurus and Kensi talked about mysterious lady things."

Hetty started typing on her laptop, seemingly distracted when she said, "That sounds like a perfectly lovely way to start your first full day as a betrothed couple."

"How –" Kensi started while Deeks said "Who –" at the same time.

"I purposefully didn't wear my ring so you wouldn't be tipped off until we told you," Kensi said, both surprised, and yet somehow not, that Hetty already knew.

"Did you squeeze it out of Eric?" Deeks demanded. "Did Beale squeal?"

The tiny woman smiled. "I can assure you that no one told me. If not for the early hour, I would offer you a libation with which to celebrate your good news. Unfortunately, you will have to settle for my warmest congratulations and small gifset to commemorate the occasion."

"You didn't have to get us a gift," Kensi said.

"No, Kensalina, she said gift set, which means more than one thing. Probably something for each of us. Like maybe his and hers submachine guns," Deeks guessed, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Hetty knows how much I love presents."

Hetty chuckled, "I'm afraid you both misheard me. I said gifset. As in a set of graphic interchange format images." At their blank looks, she mumbled, "You need to surf the net more." She turned the laptop around to show them and walked to the front of her desk as she explained, "Mr. Beale and I monitored the situation on the tour bus via nearby security and traffic cameras. Shortly after that much-too-close-for comfort explosion, we came down here for a drink, but I continued to keep an eye on the video feed, just in case. Needless to say I was quite delighted when I saw this." She hit one final button and stood back to watch the reactions of her agent and detective.

On the screen, Kensi and Deeks saw their own images in several different boxes, one atop the other, each replaying a particular scene of the proposal over and over. Kensi tossing the flashbang into the bomb containment chamber and heading toward Deeks; her pulling him away from the FBI and kneeling on the ground; Kensi slipping the ring on Deeks' hand and him trying to pull her up; both of them on a knee talking, hand in hand; Deeks nodding and Kensi launching herself into his arms; Deeks holding his hand up and looking at his ring; and finally, the newly engaged couple sharing their first kiss.

"Oh my god, this is incredible!" Kensi gushed.

"You couldn't have gotten my better side?" Deeks mock complained.

"Next time be mindful of where the cameras are, Detective," Hetty chided him.

"Next time? What next time? Four proposals are enough; this was the last one," Deeks said. "But Kensi's right, this really is a great gift…or is it a great gif?"

"Either will do, Mr. Deeks. It was very enjoyable to spend some time yesterday putting this together for you. It helped me take my mind off the sadness for a while. By the way, I can add captions if you would like to share what Ms. Blye said to win you over, Mr. Deeks."

"Didn't take too much arm-twisting, I can tell you that much." Deeks scratched the back of his head. "But you know what, I think some things are better left private, Hetty. Thanks for the offer, though."

"Thank you Hetty. We love it." Kensi gave the operations manager a hug, as did Deeks.

"I've emailed it to you. Perhaps you can play it for your mothers. I'm sure they'd be pleased to see it."

"Yeah, because Mama's not going to freak out at all seeing that destruction around us," Deeks whispered as he and Kensi made their way back to their desks.

"She did okay yesterday when you told her about Michelle, didn't she?"

"That's only because I was smart enough to make sure one of her friends was there before I called. And I wouldn't exactly say her moaning that she felt like she was about to have a heart attack was an 'okay' response, sugar bear."

"I still can't believe you gave your mother such bad news over the phone, Deeks."

"You know I can't stand to see her cry." Deeks defended himself.

Before she sat in her chair, Kensi pulled her engagement ring from her jeans pocket and slipped it on her finger. They settled in and began working on the small mountain of paperwork associated with the closing of a case.

Kensi was occasionally distracted by the glittering of the diamonds in her ring. So far her mother, Nell, Eric, and Hetty knew about their engagement. Callen would be next, shortly after he arrived this morning. Roberta still needed to be told, as did Sam. Kensi figured when things settled down after the funeral, she'd plan a weekend with the Cupcake Girls to tell them. And they needed to remember to take a picture, probably of both of their "rings," to send to Ray via the US Marshall's office.

She and Deeks had agreed to hold off on saying anything to Sam until sometime during the summer, at the earliest. As Kensi had shared with Deeks and her mother, she wanted to reach out to the kids and let them know she had an idea of what they were going through, in case either one of them was feeling particularly alone. She knew that everyone experienced grief differently, but Kensi realized that one of the things she missed when she lived on the streets after her father's death was the support of others in the military community who'd been through the same thing. She didn't want Aiden and Kamran to be without that connection if they needed or wanted it. If the time felt right, maybe they would share the news of their engagement with Sam then. If not, then as soon as he came back to work.

Her thoughts wandering back to Roberta, Kensi was slightly disappointed that Deeks hadn't wanted to visit her yesterday to give her the bad news-good news in person like they did with her mom. He'd said he didn't think she'd be able to handle the stress of all that emotional upheaval, even if half of it was positive. Kensi wasn't sure she fully believed that, considering what the woman had been through in her marriage to Gordon Brandel, but since this was Deeks' mother, she would defer to him for now.

Then a thought occurred to her. "Deeks, we have to tell your mother about us before the wake tomorrow. She's going to see everyone there."

"Please, we work with people who keep secrets for a living. They can keep this one for a few days."

Kensi was surprised by his quick reply, as if he'd already thought it through. "What about my mother?"

That stopped him for a second. "Just text her and ask her not to say anything yet."

"I'm not going to ask her. You ask her!"

"Come on, Kens. Be a good fiancée and do this one thing for me? Please?" he begged.

"Deeks, if I pick up my phone right now, it will be to find out if your mother is available after work tonight." They had a staring contest for several moments, which Kensi ultimately lost. "Fine," she relented with a huff, and started typing a message to her mother.

"You're the best, princess. No wonder I love you. I'll go tell Hetty right now, then I'll let Heckle, Jeckle, and Callen in on the plan when they come in."

"Callen's in," they heard from the nearest corridor. "What's the plan? And you'd better not let Heckle and Jeckle know you call them that."

"It's a perfectly valid comparison," Deeks claimed.

"Aren't they the cartoon magpies?" Callen asked.

"Yes. They sit and banter all day, and outwit their far less intelligent enemies."

Kensi joined in the conversation, having sent her text. "And how is that different from what you and I or Callen and Sam do?"

Deeks looked up to the second level. "They do it from on high, where they watch over all from their perch."

Kensi muttered with a grin, "You're ridiculous."

"And yet it looks like you agreed to marry him," Callen said from his desk, eyes pinned to Kensi's left hand.

"Oh no, no, no," Deeks said haughtily. "I agreed to marry her."

"You proposed to Deeks?" Callen appeared pleasantly surprised.

Kensi's smile grew, "Just got caught up in the moment, I guess." She held out her phone to the team leader, showing him the gifset.

Callen immediately recognized the setting and his face fell slightly.

Kensi noticed and explained, "I didn't plan it that way."

"Hey, no judgment. It just startled me. Congratulations." With that, Callen stood and offered a hug to Kensi, followed by a handshake and a bro-hug to Deeks. "Is this what you were talking about when I came in? You need to tell Hetty and the Wonder Twins the good news now?"

"Nah, they know already. We need everyone to keep their mouths shut about this anywhere near my mother for the next few days." Deeks said.

"You're not telling your mother?"

"Not quite yet. She'll need to calm down after the funeral first."

"Why?" Callen asked, clearly confused.

Deeks explained, "Mama is very…excitable. She's going to be a bigger wreck at Michelle's services than half of the family."

"Maybe if you give her something positive, like our engagement, to focus on, she'll be a little calmer," Kensi reasoned.

"Yeah, no. Then she'll want to talk to everyone about that. And trust me, Kensalina, you'll be grateful we didn't tell her right away when she's calling you twenty times a day to tell you her opinion about releasing a hundred white doves, and champagne fountains, and whatever else goes into planning a wedding."

"But we don't want anything like that at our wedding."

"Won't matter to Mama."

Knowing she wouldn't win, Kensi turned back to Callen. "How's Sam?"

Callen shook his head, "I don't know. He doesn't return my calls, answers my texts with one word, and won't let me come over. Says it's because there's a lot of family there, but I don't buy it."

Kensi said, "That may be part of it, actually. It's really hard when the family and friends leave and you're alone again. Could be he'll want you to come around once the dust starts to settle and the numbness begins to wear off."

"We'll see him tomorrow at the visitation and then the next day at the funeral and luncheon, so hopefully we can get a feel for how he is then. Kensi wants to visit in a couple of weeks, offer her support to the kids, so we can check up on him then too," Deeks said.

"That's a good idea. Sam may turn down help for himself, but not for Aiden and Kamran."

"Speaking of help that Sam will accept, how about we divvy his reports up as soon as we're done with our own?" Kensi suggested.

Callen said, "Now there's a plan I can get behind. Let's get to work. If we finish these today, we can take off the next couple for the services without the paperwork hanging over our heads."

Deeks nodded, "Yeah, then we can focus on Sam and the kids, make sure they get what they need."

They settled into their tasks, minds never far from their absent teammate.