-III-

Early that evening, Kensi and Callen sat at their desks in the bullpen, finishing up some last minute paperwork. The rest of the team had disappeared, probably already gone out for drinks, and both of them sat in silence as they tapped a few keys on their laptops and scribbled away with freshly sharpened pencils. Just then, a little lady with round, black glasses appeared in front of them.

"Miss Blye, I have a gift for you."

Kensi looked up, and Hetty handed her a long black jewelry box. "For the ball," she said.

Kensi could feel Hetty and Callen's eyes on her as she cautiously opened the box. She gasped. Inside was the most beautiful shiny pearl necklace. "Oh, Hetty…" she began.

"The finest, most perfect natural pearls from the deepest point in the ocean," Hetty explained.

"Aren't you supposed to give her glass slippers and a pumpkin carriage?" Callen asked.

Hetty glared at him, and Callen recoiled.

"Hetty, I can't take your pearls," Kensi said.

"No, no, dearie, they're for you to wear to the ball. They're magical…" Hetty lowered her voice and added secretively, "They will tell you when you find your Prince Charming."

Kensi looked at Hetty skeptically, but the little lady did not say anything further. And Kensi couldn't help but feel that her words weren't quite as crazy as they sounded.

"I have something for you, too, Mr. Callen," Hetty said.

"I don't look good in pearls, Hetty."

Callen winced as Kensi punched him playfully.

"Not pearls, Mr. Callen. Come with me."

Kensi chose that moment to make her exit. "Well, I'd love to stay and watch, but I have to go get ready for the ball."

"You're leaving me alone with her?" Callen hissed.

"You're an armed federal agent!" Kensi shot back.

"Mr. Callen!"

Kensi couldn't help but laugh as Callen clenched his fists and strode off into Hetty's office.

WHAM!

Kensi jumped as her front door slammed. "Callen?" she called.

"What?"

"Everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah."

"What did Hetty want?"

"Expense reports. Piles and piles of expense reports."

Kensi winced as she heard a loud thud, probably the stack of expense reports hitting her coffee table. She ran a brush through her hair one more time and examined her reflection in the mirror. She just had to add one more touch…Hetty's pearls.

She walked out into the living room where she had left the jewelry box and found Callen flopped on the couch, scowling at the pile of paperwork. Kensi tried to stifle a giggle, as she really couldn't blame him…it was a giant stack of paperwork.

But when he caught his first glimpse of her, all thoughts of paperwork fled his mind. For once in his life, Callen was speechless. The floor-length blue dress hugged and accentuated her curves in all the right places. The neckline dipped low, and the sparkly sequins shimmered in the light, making her look even more radiant. Her wavy brown hair tumbled down her bare back, and a few loose tendrils framed her beautiful face.

"Kenz," he finally managed in a whisper. "You look…amazing."

"Thanks," she replied. She opened the jewelry box and fiddled with the clasp on the pearl necklace. She gave up quickly and turned to Callen. "Can you…help me?"

Wordlessly, Callen got up off the couch and took the necklace. Kensi turned around and held her hair out of the way. She tried to ignore the electric sparks that ran through her as his fingers brushed against her neck. The clasp clicked. "All set," he said softly.

Kensi turned around to face him. "Thanks." Her eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of them said a word. Kensi could feel a strange heat flooding her body, and it almost felt like Callen's blue eyes were piercing a hole through her heart.

"I better go," Kensi said, in a voice so soft that Callen could barely hear her.

"Yeah," he said. "Good night, Kensi."

"Good night, Callen."

And then she quickly walked out the door, leaving Callen alone…with his paperwork.

Late that night, Kensi quietly slipped in her front door. In the dim moonlight, she saw Callen fast asleep on her couch. She smiled as she glanced at the paperwork on the coffee table…it didn't look like Callen had gotten very far. She went to her room and quietly began undressing for bed. As she removed Hetty's pearls, she realized that she could still feel the electricity where Callen had touched her. She set the pearls back in their box and studied them for a minute. Is this what Hetty meant? Kensi couldn't help but think that maybe…just maybe…her Prince Charming hadn't been at the ball tonight. Instead, he was fast asleep on her couch.