A/N: Man, I feel so cheated. I can't believe how lame the Five-0 episode was in terms of a crossover. I got all excited when Kensi appeared right in the beginning, and I was like, "Oh, cool, she comes in so early!" Then I didn't see her at all for the rest of the episode and I went, "What? You mean she only appeared for three minutes? THAT's your crossover?" I am so disappointed. Sigh.

Still, at least I have the real thing to watch today - NCIS Los Angeles in action! So, while you guys read this final epilogue (which will, sadly, end the story), I'm gonna go watch Lone Wolf.

Thanks to all my reviewers DizzyDrea, SP SVU B, redmangan23, Rebel Magnus, cdfuller21, terken, Izzie, and evershort!

Epilogue

"Callen, what's going on?" Kensi asked suspiciously as he drove her home. He had been entirely too bright and cheerful ever since picking her up from the hospital. She was extremely happy to be out of the medicinal-smelling building, and glad to be on her feet again – but Callen's demeanor gave her the feeling he was up to something.

"Nothing. Why?" Callen inquired, a little too innocently. Kensi scowled.

"What are you up to, Callen?" she demanded.

"Would you just relax?" he asked her. "It's your first day out of the hospital – we don't want you to strain yourself imagining things that aren't real. We had enough of that the first two days." His lip quirked in humor, but the corners of his eyes creased at the thought of how real the situation could have been.

Kensi narrowed her eyes at him, but decided not to press the matter. Instead, she queried, "How come Deeks and Sam didn't come to pick me up too?"

"They're busy with a case," Callen responded. "They send their apologies."

"Hmm." Callen could hear that Kensi wasn't entirely convinced, but he kept up with the act. She'd find out soon enough, anyway.

When they reached Kensi's house and she saw the car parked there – a car that was definitely not her own – she began to have an inkling of what was going on.

"Callen…" she began.

"Shh!" he hushed her as he helped her out of the car. "Just wait."

Kensi mumbled something under her breath.

The two of them made their way to the front door, Callen supporting Kensi. The door was unlocked (Of course it is, Kensi grumbled to herself), so Callen didn't bother with a key and simply pushed it open.

Here it comes, Kensi thought, as they entered the living room.

Sure enough…

"SURPRISE!" Sam, Deeks, Eric, and Nell shouted as one. Hetty, although she refrained from joining in the chorus, was there too. On the coffee table was a large, elaborately iced cake bearing the words 'Welcome Back, Kensi'.

Kensi heaved a huge sigh, assuming a fierce glare. "I thought I told you I didn't want a party."

"You did." Deeks grinned, unrepentant. "We ignored you."

"I should've known," Kensi muttered. "When have you ever listened to anything I say?"

"Actually, I was seriously reconsidering my idea after you promised you'd kill me if I followed through with the party," Deeks admitted, "but Renko persuaded me to keep at it. He told me to tell you you aren't allowed to skip out on it."

"Renko told you to do this?" Kensi glowered, searching the room even though she knew she wouldn't find him. "Where is he?"

"He had to take off on assignment." Sam smirked. "Away from your wrath."

"Lucky guy," Callen agreed.

"Hetty, they got you into this too?" Kensi asked disbelievingly.

"But of course, Miss Blye," Hetty replied with a wide smile. "I could never resist a good party."

Kensi sighed, but she smiled too. "Nate?" she questioned as she lowered herself into a chair.

"Back in Yemen," Nell answered. "He left this for you, though." She handed Kensi an envelope with her name written on it in Nate's neat handwriting. Curious, Kensi opened it and slid out the folded paper in it.

The message was short, but heartwarming.

Kensi, sorry I couldn't be there, but duty calls. I'm really glad you're okay, though. And you and Callen are going to be fine – and more than fine. See you when I get back.

Regards,

Nate

As she folded the paper back again, Kensi felt her lips quirk in a soft smile.

Callen had been wrong, that Christmas Eve last year, when this had all started. He'd said that there were six people – Sam, Deeks, Eric, Nell, Hetty, and himself – whom she could count on. Kensi knew now that she didn't have six people – she had eight; Nate and Renko counted too, because even though they were away a lot, they always came back.

"Callen," she said, leaning into him as their teammates cut the cake (Deeks was bagging the first piece and annoying Sam, who was holding the cake knife and threatening to slice Deeks with it if he didn't shut up). "You were wrong."

Callen raised an eyebrow as he pulled her close. "About what?"

"I don't have six people I can count on." Kensi smiled. "I have a family."

Callen smiled back and kissed her forehead. "We have a family."

A/N: And that, my amigos, is the end. It's been really great having you all along for the ride, and I hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. A big thank you to everyone who reviewed favorited, and/or subscribed to this story, and I'll see you next time!