Realizations: Chapter 10 – The Conclusion/Epilogue

Hi guys! This is the last chapter – I want to very sincerely thank every reader that read, reviewed, followed… whatever. I was pretty insecure going into this fic, because of my long pause from writing beforehand, but you guys made it a pleasure with the overwhelmingly positive response and the amazing feedback I got. You guys got my enthusiasm for writing going again! And even though I know I'm going to be much busier these coming years with school and such, and I probably still won't be writing as regularly as I used to, the fire is still stoked and I probably won't ever completely stop.

In this epilogue: some Densi fluff (the fun, bantering kind, cause that's what we love and this fic has been seriously lacking in it) and closure with Alexis. And the promised happily ever after. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Just borrowing.

"I honestly don't know how you can eat all that junk."

"Oh, here we go."

"Seriously Kens, I can feel the diabetes developing inside my body, just by looking at that-… that-… monstrosity."

That comment earned him a nasty glare.

"It's dark chocolate. It's good for you."

"Yeah, in normal people-doses. Not when in the form of a double scoop, caramel-dipped, chocolate-flake sprinkled sugar cone of doom."

Kensi decided not to reply to that. Her ice cream cone was quickly melting and dripping down the sides of her cone in the hot Los Angeles sun anyway, so right now bantering would a waste of precious time and ice cream. Besides, she wouldn't exchange her delicious treat for Deeks' ridiculous fruity sorbet-nonsense for the world.

They were coming back from an interview for a case, when Deeks had a rare moment of ingenuity and suggested an ice cream-stop and a stroll by the pier. It was nearing lunch time anyway, so she had agreed with minimal debate, especially when he (foolishly) promised her any toppings she wanted. The pair strolled unhurriedly down the wooden walkway, their fingers interlacing as they went. Kensi tried to supress the smile tugging at her lips, realizing how they must be looking. The young couple in love – holding hands, walking together, eating ice cream, sitting down on a wooden bench by the waters to sit right up next to one another. The picture of romance.

After a few comfortable moments, eating their ice creams together, Deeks broke the silence. "Jeez, Kens, you've got ice cream all over your face." He said with a chuckle.

Her ice cream down to only the cone, she frowned and wiped at her mouth with the scrunched-up napkin. "Got it?"

With another chuckle, Deeks shook his head no. "Don't worry, I got it." He closed the distance between them and gently kissed away the sweet chocolate smudge at the corner of her mouth. His move was clearly unexpected for Kensi, and she gasped – something Deeks made sure to take full advantage of, until his girlfriend pulled her lips just-just away from his, with a shocked expression on her face. "I thought we said none of that at work?" She whispered in a scandalised tone.

Deeks shrugged in his usual casual way. "We're not at work." He raised his wristwatch. "And it's lunch hour. Not on the clock either." With a salacious wiggle of the eyebrows this time.

"Deeks." In a warning tone; his blue eyes were sparkling with mischief, because he knew from the smoulder in her eye and the hitch in voice as she spoke, she wasn't nearly as steady on her feet as she was pretending. He decided to have some fun with this, pulling his arm – already snugly placed around her waist – tighter so that she was pressed closer against him, and brushed his nose against hers affectionately.

"Come on, Kens." His voice was deep and husky, deliberately seductive. "Live a little. Cuddle with your boyfriend on lunch hour."

She playfully shoved his shoulder away from him, making sure it's gentle enough to keep him close. "You're an idiot." Which he knew, by now, meant I love you. She didn't say anything else; she did lay her head on his shoulder. Faircompromise, he thought. Not making out, but some mild PDA with his stunning girlfriend was always time well spent… Several quiet moments passed, until Kensi raised her own arm, checking the time.

"We should probably get driving, Deeks. We're still quite a bit away from Ops."

She felt him nodding rather than saw, and they slowly hoisted themselves up, and walked hand in hand back to the SUV. When, suddenly, a voice broke their comfortable silence: "Marty?"

The couple turned, finding a surprising sight a few feet behind them. Another couple was walking down the route they were, hand in hand – a handsome man, with his arm draped over the shoulders of a very familiar face. Alexis, wearing a bright yellow sundress and an elated dimpled smile.

"It is you!" She walked the few steps necessary to envelop Deeks in a hug. Then she turned to Kensi: "Kensi! It's good to see you. And you two are-…" She waved a finger between the two of them, suggesting the relationship.

"Yeah," Deeks said, with a small chuckle. "Yeah, we are." His arm snaked back around Kensi's waist comfortingly, and she felt immediately at ease. "And you two?" He did the same between her and the stranger beside her.

With a blush and a giggle, she nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, I'm being rude. This is David. David, this is Marty and Kensi. Some old friends of mine." Her voice was filled with a warm fondness, and no malice. David shook their hands friendlily, and Kensi caught a familiar something in his eye when he turned his gaze back to his pretty girlfriend. A look she had caught in Deeks' eye herself once or twice…

"You're happy." Deeks observed, with a sunny smile. "I'm happy, that you're… you know."

Alexis smiled too, nodding with understanding. "Everything worked out the way it should have." After a quiet moment passed, Deeks piped up again. "Listen, it was really great to see you, and meet you David, but Kens and I…" He pointed over his shoulder. "we have to get back to work."

"It was nice seeing you again." Alexis said, gently. "You too, Kensi."

"The same." Kensi said, a wide, real smile spreading over her face. As they left, with one last wave goodbye, the smile sustained.

"That was nice." She said, buckling her seat belt as they got into the SUV together. "She looks good. She looks happy."

"She was right." Deeks said.

"Bout what?"

Deeks' hand reached out to take hers where it rested on her thigh. Their fingers interlaced, the way he usually did, and his thumb caressed her palm in a way that still made her stomach do a flip. "Bout everything turning out right. I know that us getting together didn't necessarily take the smoothest course, so to speak… But I wouldn't have it any other way. Got me the greatest girl in the world." He moved closer and placed a kiss on her temple. "I love you."

She felt the blush warm her neck and cheeks, and she drew a deep breath. "Woah, getting a little sentimental there, aren't we, Shaggy?" She teased. "I love you too." Her voice was just above a whisper. His lips formed a smile against her temple. He moved his hand down her leg to her knee, and squeezed it affectionately.

"Back to work, partner?" He asked, with a smirk.

"Back to work." She agreed in a soft voice. "Partner."

Alrighty then. There it is! Please let me know, for old time's sake, what you guys think. Once again, thank you so much for all the wonderful support in the writing of this fic. You guys rock!

Much love,

Zanny