After they had taken care of Kensis craving for Bulgogi, the partners had ended up at her place, having one of their movie nights.
They were watching Titanic again, but out of the corner of his eye, Deeks saw Kensi sneaking glances at him every few seconds instead of watching her favorite movie.
Slightly amused and a bit irritated he turned to her. "What is it?" He chuckled as he watched a blush forming on his partners cheeks.
"It's just, uhm... this is nice "She pointed at them with her index finger. "That's one of the things I missed the most"
Deeks smiled genuinely "So you did miss me?" He nudged her shoulder and made Kensi chuckle.
A warm tingling feeling spread in his stomach at the sound of her laugh.
"Come on, you know I did" she smiled.
"Yeah well for what it's worth, I missed you too."
The smile was wiped off Kensis face at his answer.
" you keep saying that "for what it's worth" It's worth a lot!" She frowned as if she was thinking about what to say next.
"You are worth a lot Deeks... and that you don't seem to believe that, that..." Her mouth opened and closed like a fish as she was grasping for words. She had already said much more than first intended, but she knew that after every truth he let slip up for her, she at least owed him to finish her sentence. " That worries me... no scratch that it's making me sick!"
Deeks eyes were wide with wonder. He wasn't used to Kensi opening up like this and he was bit taken aback by all that fury that seemed to have come out of nowhere, but he still kept his mouth shut, afraid he'd say something to upset her even more.
Kensi continued after a few deep breaths. "I mean after all this time, how can you still think, that what you are doing or feeling isn't worth anything?" In the background they heard people in the movie shouting and screaming. Furiously Kensi grabbed the remote and turned the TV off.
"Do you even realize how amazing you are ?"
Deeks frowned and Kensi sighed sadly. "you really don't do you?"
"Look" she said and took, to his surprise, his hand in hers. "I know that I tease you and that I don't really stand up for you when Callen and Sam make one of their stupid jokes and I'm sorry for that I really am. I'm just not that person. I ... I can't really explain it, but that's not the point, the point is, that you are the strongest most honorable and big hearted man that I know. You don't care about your own needs. If someone is in danger you help them, that's just who you are and..." Kensis eyes had filled with tears, which were now running down her face but she couldn't care less. "And to think that you don't believe that anything you do matters... It's upsetting me, because..." Her voice broke down to a hoarse whisper as she choked out the last words. "Because it matters to me! You matter to me and you just don't seem to get how much"
Deeks hadn't realized he'd started crying too, but now he felt something wet running down his chin and dropping in the opening of his V-neck.
Kensi took a shaking breath and started speaking again, her voice now a bit more firm than seconds ago. "So I'm just going to say this, with no expectations of you saying it back or doing anything about it, I just want you to know. I love you Deeks. I love you and I've loved you for almost as long as we know each other and I don't know what I'd do without you because... Because to me you are worth everything..."
She closed her eyes and wiped her face with her sleeve.
Deeks was in shock and couldn't speak for a while. When he finally got his act together his mouth took over before he could form a sentence that was at least half as good as her confession. " Wow... Kens I... " He saw her bite her lip her eyes still closed but new tears were already slipping through the tightly shut lids.
He reached out and wiped them softly away, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. " Thank You!" He murmured and a small smile stole it's way on Kensis lips. "And even if you say you don't expect me too, I wanna say it back." Something close to a whimper escaped her throat and Deeks fought to hold back his chuckle. "I love you too Fern..." He whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers.
He was rewarded with something that sounded like a mix of a chuckle and and a sob and she leaned into him.
"And Kens even if you said, you don't expect me to do anything about it, I'm planning to do so anyway."
He leaned in closer and could feel her breath washing over his lips just before he pressed them to hers.
The kiss was soft and tender as they both melded their mouths together.
Suddenly Deeks broke the kiss and Kensi looked up at him with a confused expression on her face.
Will you promise to do the "Bulgogi - dance" for me again?"
Kensi laughed out loud at that. It was his favorite laugh of hers. The one where she threw her head back and scrunched up her nose in that utterly adorable way.
As she had sobered Kensi put her arms around his neck. "You just wait and see Shaggy, you just wait and see"
"I'll hold you to that Princess" Deeks grinned and dove in for another kiss.