Author's Note: I've been shooting for Monday updates and it barely lasted two weeks. I suck.

Lightning's Halo: I'm glad you liked it!

NCISnewbie: The way you worded that just gave me an awesome idea.

"Ooh, is this the first proper date?" Kensi prodded. She had been ignominiously curious ever since Nell had apparently blushed when asked about what the three of them had done after she left with Deeks.

"I guess so." Nell replied, looking past Kensi when she did so.

"Are you going to do this properly and take her out to a nice dinner?" Kensi asked, directing the question at Eric.

He stifled a chuckle. "Are you kidding? Like she'd ever let me pay."

Nell just smiled back as the three of them made their way past the bullpen.

"Besides, technically on Saturday when I destroyed her in Mario Kart was our first date." Eric recalled.

Kensi was silent for a moment while Nell gave him a judgmental glare. "Is he serious?" She asked Nell.

"In his dreams. He won four out of seven!"

"And three of five before that, and two of three before that."

Kensi gave Nell a surprised look which prompted the redhead to scoff. "He's lucky and gets a lot of blue shells."

"And humble, don't forget humble!" Eric added, ignoring her attempt to belittle his victory.

"Alright you two, save it." Kensi disdainfully interjected. "So, what are you doing?"

"Watching a movie." - "Going to a play." They answered in unison. At first the pair just stared at one another dumbfounded, then Nell sneered at Eric as he tried to plead his case. "Come on, I want to watch a scary movie."

"Oh no. Not with my Nell." Kensi lectured, grinning at the pair. "I know boys like him; you can't trust him in a dark theatre."

"Come on, she's so cute when she's scared." Eric corrected her. "And really? What is this, middle school?"

Nell wasn't having it for a second. "Yeah, when I'm scared. You try to anticipate the jump whenever the movie gets even a little tense so you can save face. You don't fool me, Beale."

Eric felt himself flush a bit. "I uh, don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, you sit through a horror movie constantly saying 'here it comes' or 'aaand BLAH' hoping that when the real jump comes you'll miss it."

"Oh, please. Maybe I'm really good at anticipating the jumps and I like to show off."

"You're terrible! If you were right there would be a jump every thirty seconds! In that stupid exorcism movie you wouldn't shut up and half the time you weren't even looking at the TV!"

The more uncomfortable he got the wider her smile grew. "You're exaggerating."

"And whenever the tense music cuts away suddenly your eyebrow is itchy or you have to check your phone." She elaborated.

"June. Movie. Night." Eric retorted simply, almost cutting her off.

Try as she might, she couldn't hide the initial widening of her eyes when he mentioned that night. True to form, she levelled her brows and replied evenly. "What about it?"

"The girl disappeared and the whole house started to shake, and suddenly your mom calls? 'Cause it sounded to me like one of those fake call apps."

At some point Kensi had walked away, though neither of them could pinpoint when. When Nell didn't reply at first he realized that they were alone in the hallway from the bull pen at the same time. Eric broke the momentary silence. "Come on, dinner and a movie is a classic – it has been the most popular first date since the invention of the motion picture."

"Exactly! That's why it's a lame idea. Come on, a girl I went to college with is costarring in a play at the Lounge Theatre."

"No way. Besides, that's really more of a fifteenth or sixteenth date when I'm just placating you so that you'll be willing t–"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Beale." She growled playfully. "She's cute, you'll like her - also I'm pretty sure she stabs some guy in the first act."

He raised a brow before abruptly changing the subject. "We could go to my place and I could make us something to eat."

"Hmm, that's more of a… third date sort of activity. I'm not sure I can trust you to be a gentleman just yet."

"A gentleman? And here I thought you were just interested in my body."

"More like," she paused, leaning in a bit and watching him eagerly await her response before she pulled back, "-despite your body."

"Ouch."

"You know you like a little abuse." She replied cheekily as she started to walk toward the door. "How about we go for a walk in the Canyon somewhere?"

"I'm sorry, dinner and a movie is lame but hiking isn't?"

"No, hiking isn't lame." She stated flatly.

"Yeah, well, I'm still not really much of a hiker – also you're a much better runner than I am; if we run into a mountain lion I won't stand a chance in flip flops." He joked.

She rolled her eyes and tilted her head simultaneously. "So don't wear flip flops!"

He had to avert his eyes from her dimpled smile before responding as seriously as he could muster. "What's the point in being outside if my feet are still confined?"

"They're called shoes, Eric, people have been wearing them for centuries because feet are gross."

"Maybe your feet are." The smile melted right off his face when the comment got a full blown gasp from Nell. "Kidding!" He practically shouted, throwing his arms up from his sides defensively.

"You're on thin ice, Beale." She growled, gnawing on her frustration for a few seconds before continuing. "Now come on, it's your turn to think of something - and don't you even think the word chess."

He chuckled to himself, looking back down at the redhead before deciding to goad her some more. "Ch –" He started, stopping himself after the first syllable and grinning cheekily.

"I'm warning you."

"We could…."

"Uh huh." She nodded, dragging out the last syllable.

"Play che – Ow!" He yelped, rubbing his arm where she hit him. "Hey!"

"Quit being a baby. You say chess, I say no. My turn!"

"What? That was obviously a joke."

"Not obviously enough. Let's go for a bike ride."

He crossed his arms defiantly but, he definitely liked the idea. "I don't know…"

Author's Note: I've got two little short ones that I want to post next Monday, then after that I'll have one that addresses what happened in 5x03 and 5x04.

If you can spare a few seconds to write a review, I'd really appreciate it!