Deeks and Kensi reunite

"Kensi?" The all too familiar voice called. She slowly turned to see him standing there, older now but still the same man.

"Hey Deeks." She said quietly as she studied him. He looked good, he'd taken care of himself.

"You look good."

"Thanks." He smiled that smile she'd missed so much. "So do you."

He remembered the last time he'd seen her. It had been on this beach, roughly around the same time too, with the sun sinking into the waves. She looked just as beautiful then as she did now, with her hair tumbling down her back in the same messy, unkempt way. In a lot of ways it was almost like nothing had changed.

But things had changed. It had been over five years since the day they'd last seen each other and, in that span, time had passed and lives had to be lead.

"You still at NCIS?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, Callen took over once Hetty retired. Can you believe that?"

"I know, I always thought that she'd be there until we died." He chuckled and she did too.

"How about you? Still diving into dumpsters for the LAPD?"

"Yeah well, some things never change."

Before she could respond, a little girl with blonde curls came running up to Deeks, dog in tow.

"Daddy, MJ want ice cream."

"Oh he does, does he?" Deeks smiled and knelt down to the little five year old.

"Yes, and mommy said that he could have some if you said yes so can he?"

"Hmm, I have a better idea." Deeks whispered something in her ear that made the little girl's face light up.

Deeks how could you do this to me?

It was a mistake Kens, a stupid drunken mistake!

With a laugh the little girl went racing off, leaving Kensi and Deeks to an awkward silence.

"What did you tell her?" She asked after a minute.

"I said that MJ looked full but that she could ask mommy if she could have his ice cream."

"MJ?" Kensi looked at him, cocking an eyebrow.

"Monty Jr." Deeks explained to which Kensi nodded and smiled. He always was good with kids.

"She looks good Deeks." She offered. "What's her name?"

"Rachel." At her raised eyebrow he explained. "Her mom was a big Friends fan."

Kensi smiled and looked past him. "You're gonna have your hands full when she starts noticing boys."

"Don't remind me." He groaned.

So what are you going to do?

I don't see what else I can do Kens.

"How about you and your FBI guy? Any…"

Kensi shook her head. "No. We tried but, uh, no luck." She shrugged, keeping any pain she felt about that on the inside.

Just like always though, he saw right through that. "What about adoption?"

Kensi just shook her head. "Hank was never all that crazy about the idea of kids in the first place and, you know, neither was I."

"Oh Fern." He said sympathetically. Kensi had to bite back sudden tears at the once all too familiar nickname.

"Haven't heard that name in a long time." She told him softly.

He looked down, shame written all over his face. The silence returned.

"Daddy come on!" Rachel reappeared and started tugging at him.

"In a second sweetie, daddy's just…"

"No, no you should go." Kensi took a deep breath and smiled. "Sounds like someone needs their ice cream."

Deeks smiled before he picked up Rachel. "Rachel, this is your Aunt Kensi."

"Hello." The little girl said with a big grin, obviously not shy at all. "Can we go get ice cream now?"

Deeks kissed her on the nose before setting her down. As they turned to leave, Deeks looked back at her.

"You know, I love Rachel. I've never once regretted having her."

"I know Deeks."

"I just regret what it cost." He smiled at her sadly. "Goodbye Fern." He said softly before he turned and walked down the beach, hand in hand with his daughter.

As she watched him go, Kensi felt her heart break all over again.

"Goodbye Max."

That's The Story Of