"I got her baby, you rest."

"Deeks, I can get her."

"I want to, you can have the next feeding."

Kensi nodded. She was very tired, but didn't want to miss any chance to bond with her child.

She laid in bed for a few, trying to go back to sleep. She was wide awake. She climbed out of bed and walked quietly downstairs. She peered around the corner and watched as the man she loved cradled their daughter while fixing her bottle. She loved seeing him so happy. She had reiterated his promise after Mexico that he would give her everything he had in this life and she did. She gave him the baby he had been wanting, the baby he had visions of during his concussion. Although, he visioned a boy, he had expressed his desire for a girl previously. He got exactly what he hoped for. He was in awe of the little package he was holding in his arms.

"You are perfect in every way princess." His smile was as wide as the ocean he loved. "I can't wait to teach you to surf and shoot and teach you all the things I know. I can't wait to teach you that even though this world seems cruel and bad, there is so much good in it. I used to think being alone was the only way to live. Then something happened. I met your mommy. She showed me the sun behind the dark clouds I was living beneath. That's why she's my sunshine, and so are you. I promise you Eliana, I will give your mommy and you everything I can in this life." He spoke softly as he stood in the kitchen holding her and feeding her.

Their baby cooed. She drank her bottle. She was a strong fighter. She was perfect in every way deeks admires. Kensi snuck up and put her arms around husband.

"I love you, you know that?" She whispered.

"Me or Ellie" he smiled.

"Both" she kissed his bare back.

"I love you too baby, but why are you up? And kissing me like that is not helping me at all through your recovery."

Kensi laughed. "I couldn't sleep. I want to be with her every moment she's awake."

"Me too. You need your rest. You ARE still recovering."

"I'm good, babe. But thank you."

He kissed her gently on her forehead. "You did good, Kens." He said looking back between her eyes and their daughter's.

"We did good," she corrected.

"We did."

"Are you happy with just one?"

"Kens, why are we talking about this already?"

"What Sam said, what you said. I don't know. You look so happy with her, is she going to be enough if we don't have more?

"Kens, what you went through, what Ellie endured, I don't know, I'm not sure I can handle watching you go through that again."

"So, If we just have her, your really ok with that?"

"Absolutely. We can spoil her more. But, I'm not opposed to another one, or practicing for one," he winked. "How long til we can?"

"Deeks!"

He smiled a huge grin. "Listen, all I wanted was to have a family with you. Grow old and Grey with you. Our family can be the three of us or the ten of us..."

"Ten? You want me to have seven more, that's not happening."

He laughed, "ok ok, maybe I was exaggerating at ten. The point is, whatever life has in store for us, I couldn't be happier that it's with you."

"I mean are you sure, I could call Talia. She's probably still pining over you."

"No, no need to call Talia, unless it's to tell her I'm officially off the market. I have been pretty much since I met you. Don't you think it's crazy that it took us almost six years to make our thing official, two more before we got engaged, and in less than a year we managed to finally get married after our long engagement and have a baby. We sure don't do normal."

"No we really don't."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Be honest, did you really think we'd end up here?"

"Honestly, I know I wanted it. I think I wanted it so much, I was afraid it wouldn't happen. Really, I'm not sure I thought it would ever happen. How bout you?"

"I don't know. I don't think I thought it was in you to settle down, Party Marty," she giggled.

"Really? You had to bring Party Marty into it."

"Would you rather I bring Magic Marty in it?"

"Now your just being mean."

"Seriously though, We danced around for so long. As soon as I got discouraged, you'd do something that gave me hope. It frustrated me almost every day."

"But I'd surprise you every now and then. Like with the amazing way I communicate?"

"I'm not sure I'd go that far," Kensi cackled.

He leaned in and kissed her as passionately as that day he first kissed her. "That's amazing communication!" He informed her.

"I guess it's pretty good."

The baby fell asleep in Deeks cuddle as they were chatting. Deeks placed her in the bassinet they had downstairs. They hadn't had a lot of time to talk lately, with Ellie being in the hospital and then kidnapped by a psychopath. Their talks were logistical and what to do next. Now they were reconnecting.

"Are you ready to go back to bed?" He questioned.

"Not really, Can we keep talking?"

"Of course Baby."

"This is nice. Can we promise to always make time for each other?"

"Always."

18 years flew by. The couple kept their promises to each other, raising their daughter, but always making time for one another. They taught her everything they knew. They taught her how to be strong and fight any adversity she faced. Deeks taught her to surf, buying her multiple pink wetsuits as she grew, until she was old enough to choose a cornflower blue suit, making Kensi proud. She was certainly her mother's daughter, stubborn yet considerate. She was also her father's daughter, humorous and kind. She was a perfect combination of both her parents. She displayed their strongest characteristics. She was intelligent, and sweet, athletic, yet still a princess. They were happy with just one. Kensi's complications would have put her at risk with another pregnancy, so they opted to be happy with their little family of three. Ellie was getting ready to graduate. She had a strong desire to help people and wanted to become an NCIS agent. Deeks wasn't keen on the idea. As soon as he was able to, he retired from the LAPD and kept his focus on the bar and his princesses. Kensi, On the other hand, was very proud of her daughter's decision to follow in her footsteps. She intended to focus on criminal justice as her major and then apply for NCIS.

"Hey uncle Callen,"

"Hey El," he said sweetly coming downstairs into the bar area. "What are you doing here?"

"Dad had to stop here before we go pick up my graduation dress. He's in the back."

"I can't believe it's been 18 years." He shook his head taking a seat at the booth with his God daughter. Callen had remain living in the apartment above the bar since the day Deeks offered it to him. Although, he and Anna did get married, they decided having Kids was not a mission they wanted to accept. They were happy watching Eliana grow and happy remaining in their jobs at NCIS and ATF. Callen using his skills could tell something was on the young woman's mind. "What's bothering you?"

"Huh?" She looked up confused.

"You have that look in your eyes, the same one your mom gets when your dad does something to annoy her."

Ellie giggled. She knew the look. "He doesn't understand why I want to be an NCIS Agent. I've heard the stories growing up. You guys were an awesome team and amazing agents, I wanna be amazing too."

"You're already amazing, El."

"Thanks uncle Callen, but you know what I mean."

"Have you talked to him?"

"He won't stop rambling for five minutes about all the dangers and the life choices, anytime I bring it up."

"That sounds about right."

She nodded.

"What about your mom?"

"Of course mom supports me. Even if she didn't agree, she would still support me. He does the same when she tries to talk to him."

"He just worries about you, sweetie. We've had a lot of close calls. More than our fair share."

"So you're on his side?"

"I didn't say that, I just think you need to see where he's coming from."

He bright eyes looked at her uncle. "Maybe."

"I know you've heard all the stories over and over, the good and the bad. The good is what your mom focuses on, but those bad times hit your dad hard. He almost lost your mom more times than he could handle."

Ellie nodded again. She knew everything. They were always open with their daughter. They raised her to be independent and knowledgeable. As much as they wanted her to make her own decisions, Deeks' fears always came into play.

"Do you think I'd make a good agent, Uncle Callen."

"The best, Eliana, the best."

"Could you talk to my dad? He respects you so much,"

"He does, does he?"

Eliana laughed. Her eyes lit up any room she was in. Her eyes remained as blue as the ocean, just like Deeks'. Her long brown locks resembled Kensi's.

"You and Aunt Anna will be at the ceremony tonight right?"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. And I will absolutely talk to your dad."

"Thank you," she scooted out of the booth and hugged her Godfather.

Even through the changes of Deeks retiring, Kensi being boss, the team adjustment, the group stayed tight. Callen was correct, they had endured so much, love, life, trama and injuries, even death and then births, all together. They were family. Celebrating holidays together became a tradition, mostly having the gathering at the bar. It became the hangout on a regular basis as well, just like Deeks intended. At least once a week, they'd meet up to celebrate the good times and not focus on the bad times.

"Hey Callen," Deeks called out as he headed into the main area of his establishment. Deeks dedicates a walk to fallen soldiers, agents and people close to them. Michelle and Hidoko had a special plaque at the top of the wall.

"Are you ready for tonight?"

"To see my baby girl graduate. Not really, I have like 12 boxes of Kleenex ready."

"Dad!"

"What?"

"Your an idiot!"

"Only your mother gets to call me that," he said as they all laughed.

"Well, She's right!" Ellie retorted

"Touché, baby girl, Touche."

"Dad, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm graduating high school!"

"You'll always be my baby. He wrapped his arms around her squeezing her tightly as she squirmed.

"Deeks! I thought you were coming here to decorate. What have you two been doing?" Kensi was a bit frantic. "The party is tomorrow and we won't have time tonight. Have you picked up her dress yet?"

"Kens, relax," Callen started. "Anna and I will take care of it tonight. You worry about watching your daughter graduate."

Kensi let out a huge sigh. "I can't believe she's graduating. It seems like yesterday you traded yourself for her." Kensi's eyes began to tear up.

"Mom, seriously! I thought you were tough as Nails. At least that's what Uncle Sam always tells me."

"Usually, but when my only child is graduating high school, I get a pass on being tough."

"Touché," Ellie said.

"That's my girl!" Deeks exclaimed squeezing her through her dismay again.

"Kens, why don't you take El to pick up her dress, Deeks can show me what needs to be done for tomorrow," he winked at Ellie.

"Ya mom, come on. We can get ice cream too!"

"I promise, Kens, Anna and I will have everything perfect."

"Ok, Deeks, DO NOT BE LATE. We have to leave the house by 6 SHARP!" Kensi instructed.

"I'll keep him on task," Callen said.

"You know you're not my boss anymore," Deeks shouted as he watched his wife and daughter walk away.

Kensi flipped her brown and gold locks around giving him a stern look.

"I meant at work. Eh, I'm probably gonna pay for that later," he said to Callen.

"I'd bet on it, guy."

"She's put up with me this long, She'd miss me if she killed me. Unless, she cryogenically freezes me and displays me in our living room as I requested."

"Seriously Deeks?"

"What?" He shrugged.

"Just show me what Kensi wants done," he grinned.

Deeks went over everything Kensi wanted done for their daughter's graduation party.

"So Ellie and NCIS?" Callen started.

Deeks shot him a look.

"Not sold on it huh?"

"I don't know Callen. She asked you to talk to me didn't she?"

"No clue what your talking about," he winked. "You know I'd take her under my wing."

"I was just hoping once she started taking her college classes, she'd change her mind."

"It's in her blood, Deeks."

"I know," he put his head down. "We fought so hard to keep her safe. I just want her to always be safe."

"She just wants your approval."

"I'll always approve of anything she does. We've always supported her and let her make her own choices, while guiding her in the right direction."

"You and Kensi did an amazing job with her. Have you told her anything you just told me?"

"She knows I support her. She knows I'm proud of her. Doesn't she?"

"That's something you need to ask her."

Deeks ran his hands through his still moppy blonde hair, now with a few more greys that he learned not to freak out about. He was still his goofy kid like self 18 years later, and he still had his same nervous tics.

"It's crazy where we ended up, isn't it?"

"That's an understatement." Callen smoldered.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad it was us all together. We were an amazing team."

"Still are," Callen said as they moved things around for Kensi's liking, while working together as a team.