A/N: Hi again. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and your kind words.

This chapter has been an absolute struggle and I'm still not sure about it. Something still feels like it's missing, but It's the best it's going to get, I fear, and I've made you all wait long enough.

Next chapter hopefully won't take too much longer, but I'm also in my last semester of my Masters and there are assignments coming up (which is what I should have been doing with my time today, instead of finishing this, but hey, what you gunna do?)

Hope you enjoy!

Saturday mornings were getting easier to wake up to, Kensi found. It had taken a couple of weeks for the routine to set in but her alarm wasn't the evil killer of dreams anymore - it was the bringer of fun. Instead of covering her head and hiding in a sheet fort, enjoying a morning where she could sleep in, Kensi looked forward to early Saturdays spent in the surf and sand.

Saturdays were now priceless to her, and in a way, Kensi found the young woman she had been before Jack had left her, was slowly making a reappearance. These days spent with her silly partner and her sister allowed her to relax more; and Kensi was finally beginning to understand Deeks' love affair with the sea.

No one day was the same; the people, the water or the sun. Though, in her world, they were the only constant, and it was exciting to see what the day would bring them. That, and she enjoyed watching her partner glide along the waves and cheering when Kaylee stuck to the swell. He was amazing with her sister, always. At first she was worried Deeks was placate Kaylee, but Kensi knew her partner and there was no denying the toothy grin that reached his eyes, familial love radiating from them. He genuinely loved spending the mornings with them, teaching them how to surf when he could have been out enjoying the waves himself.

Kensi was dressed and ready, Lily had her lead on and favourite ball next to her when a knock came at the door. Smiling to herself she went to let her partner in. Even though she'd given him her key, the only time he'd used it was the night she'd slipped it into his bag. Kensi wasn't sure if it was out of habit, or if he was afraid overuse would result in its confiscation - it wouldn't have. Or maybe he was just being a gentleman, giving her a warning to his arrival rather than come straight in to the possibility of finding her in an indecent state.

She opened the door to his grinning face and she couldn't help feeling like the sunshine had arrived. He said nothing, handing her a bag with a doughnut, which made her smile grow wider.

'You ready?' he asked. She simply nodded and closed the door behind her and Lily.

Within minutes of getting into the car, the doughnut had been consumed. Though she ate it quickly, she had savoured every bite, every dollop of raspberry jam, every crumb of pastry and every particle of icing sugar. Leaning up against the car door slightly, Kensi licked the remnants of the doughnut off her fingers, smiling happily as her sugar demon was quietened.

When Deeks didn't drive after the lights turned green, she looked over to her partner concerned. Deeks was staring at her, mouth slightly open. He had been transfixed, watching her lick sugar off her fingers. It had been nothing more than an innocent action, a compliment of her satisfaction to the doughnut, but to her partner, whose brain could dwell in the gutter, that glazed, longing expression told her his thoughts were anything but innocent. Embarrassment caught up with her.

'Go, Deeks,' she said, snapping him out of his wandering thoughts.

She could only imagine what he was thinking, and then did imagine what he was thinking. Kensi couldn't stop the blood rushing to her cheeks as her own fantasies swirled in her minds eye. Too embarrassed to look at her partner with salacious images of him running around in her head, Kensi stared out the window and willed her heartbeat to slow and her composure to return before they got to her family's house.

They didn't speak or look at each other as they got out of the car to make the exchange. Deeks released Lily and Monty from their prison - which is how they always made it sound with their cries - while Kensi went to the door. She turned when she felt his presence next to her, wanting to say something. She turned to look at him and any possible words were cut short when his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth.

'Missed some,' he said quietly, showing her the blob of jam on his thumb. It was her turn to stare as she watched the digit pass his lips. 'Good doughnut,' he managed roughly.

'Yeah...' Kensi could feel the heat between them, and all those memories of the touches, flirts and kisses almost overwhelmed her. It physically hurt not to close the diminishing gap between them by pressing her lips to his, winding her fingers through his hair, searching for his tongue, feeling his hand-

The door opened suddenly and both their heads snapped to greet her mother like they were teenagers getting caught making out. It felt like Kensi had had a bucket of ice water thrown on her as Julia greeted them warmly, effectively destroying her fantasy.

Recognition flicked across her Julia's eyes and knew she'd interrupted something. 'Good morning,' she chirped, a small smirk curling her lips up at the corners. 'Kaylee woke up late, she won't be too long,' she said, opening the door wide for them to come in.

Deeks recovered quicker than Kensi did, saying good morning, kissing her mother on the cheek and walking in the door. It gave Julia a moment alone with Kensi to raise her eyebrow, 'Did I interrupt something?'

'No, mom,' she replied, kissing Julia's cheek and going inside. Just my wild, frustrated imagination, she thought to herself. Now she just had to beg her cheeks to dim from their iridescent red before she gave her mother anymore ammunition or curiosity.

*~-=.oOo.=-~*

Not too long later, they were finally on the sand, waxing down their boards, Kaylee between them. The awkwardness had eased slightly with her sister there, but Kensi still felt her heart beat erratically when she caught him looking at her; all she could think about was her partner licking the jam off his thumb, and her brain would fight to try and create an end to that scene on the doorstep. He would quickly avert his eyes when she caught him looking, and she could see a faint blush coat his cheeks. At least her anatomy didn't show her arousal to bystanders and she felt sympathy for her partner as she watched him take deep breaths.

Did I actually admit to myself that Deeks wants me, and not freak out or disapprove? the thought hit her like a ton of bricks and settled in her gut. Was she actually giving into this - to him? All of her arguments for why they shouldn't were still lingering in the back of her mind, but they weren't as loud as before.

What if it doesn't work? That thought was always the loudest. Kensi looked up at her partner again. This time when she caught his eyes he didn't falter or glance away. He held her gaze trying to apologise with a slow, sheepish smile. I'm a guy, it said, and she couldn't help but smile back, almost wishing he could read her thoughts to prove it wasn't just a guy thing.

And then another thought hit her. Are you jeopardising your friendship because you're horny and it's been a while? People often ignored rational thinking to satiate their libido, and Kensi wasn't a saint. There had been a few one night stands she'd wished never happened but seemed like a great idea at the time. He couldn't be that one time thing because she had an itch. It wasn't fair to her or to him, or to the team, or to her family-

'Is that-?' Deeks asked, snapping her out of thoughts - another time. She followed his gaze behind her to see Eric and Nell not too far away with a pair of surfboards next to them. The small red head standing up as straight as she could, hands on her hips, intruding on Eric's personal space. She was challenging him to something - Kensi knew that stance anywhere - and Eric didn't seem to mind her closeness, he wasn't as flustered as he usually was when she was in his space. There was a certain confidence about him at that point as he stood there in his wetsuit, folding his arms across his chest and looking down at the short Analyst. Kensi had to admit he was far more comfortable than Nell who seemed out of place in her bright yellow rash shirt and board shorts, though it didn't make her back down from whatever she was saying.

'Who're they?' Kaylee asked, looking up from her board.

'Nell and Eric. We work with them,' Deeks said cautiously, .

'Are you not supposed to be out together?' Kaylee asked with a frown, sensing his discomfort on the matter. Deeks glanced at Kensi, properly this time, waiting for her to answer how she wanted to take this.

'No, I just haven't told everyone about you and mom, and the boys,' Kensi answered slowly, a soft smile on her lips as she regarded her baby sister. No, not really. Nell knew, Hetty knew, Eric knew about Lily...

There wasn't anyway they could avoid the pair. If Nell and Eric weren't in their own little world, they would notice Kensi and Deeks and Kaylee eventually. And it was about time she started to share her family with her coworkers. 'Come on,' Kensi said, getting up brushing the sand off herself. 'Let's go say 'hi'.'

Deeks' eyes followed as she rose, a grin forming as she did. 'Yeah?'

'Yep.' She couldn't ask him to keep her secret forever - he would though, and she knew it. But the relief was evident on his features and his smile met his eyes, a tiny amount of pride shining from them because they were introducing Kaylee to their colleagues.

Kaylee took Kensi's hand as they left their boards, and she could feel Deeks brushing his arm against hers as he walked on the other side of her. Even through their wetsuits, her skin still tingled at his touch and a small amount of arousal flared in her again. Today is going to be hard- difficult! she thought and immediately scolded herself for dipping back into those thoughts, like his tongue would dip into her collarbone… STOP!

As it seems, Deeks was made for one reason only, and that was to torture her. In the few steps left between themselves and their Brain's Trust, his fingers had brushed gently against her palm as they walked, only to have him hook his index finger around her pinkie in the next step. It hadn't been deliberate the first time. The second time he'd simply taken advantage of their closeness to each other and to their co-workers so she couldn't scold him.

'Admit it.'

The demanding tone reflected the fiery redhead that had spoken. Deeks still had her in his grasp when they stopped next to the pair, shoulders brushing and their barely joined hands slightly behind them. Kensi had no idea why she hadn't broken free from his hold yet.

'Admit what?' Deeks asked, broad grin plastered on his face and Kensi knew some part of it was because their connection hadn't been severed, and he was now stroking her skin gently. This touch was far more bold than their small touches under the table as she introduced him to her family; cocky even and pushy - and yet, she still couldn't bear to shake him off.

And then the touch changed. His thumb moved away from her knuckles and traced down her pinkie, firmly hooking his index finger around her digit keeping her anchored. Kensi stole a glance at him questioningly, and his clear blue eyes said everything. I'm here with you, every step of the way. Kensi couldn't stop her heart from stuttering as he instantly switched from flirtatious to sentimental in mere seconds; that he knew before she did why she couldn't severe their touch.

'Deeks? Kensi?' Eric startled.

Nell snapped her attention to the trio - her sharp eyes observing the closeness of Kensi and her partner - and grinned back at them. 'Hey, guys! Eric can't admit it that I kicked his butt last night at bowling, and I reign supreme.'

'You did not, and do not!' He protested. Kensi and Deeks chuckled, watching him pout like a child.

Nell turned back to him, hands on her hips and looked up at Eric defiantly. 'Um, who got a 206, and who got a 99?'

'I was just off my game,' Eric mumbled.

'Ahuh,' Nell rolled her eyes and looked to Kaylee, smiling sweetly and knowingly. 'Who is this?'

'This is my sister,' Kensi smiled, letting go of Kaylee's hand and putting her arm around her sister's shoulders.

'Sister?' Eric blinked, rather shocked.

'Nell, Eric, meet Kaylee. Kaylee, this is Nell Jones and Eric Beale, our co-workers.'

'Nice to finally meet you,' Nell beamed and held out her hand. Kaylee smiled back and shook her hand.

'You didn't mention you had a sister,' Eric was still caught up on that. Nell elbowed him in gut lightly, snapping him out of it.

'Nice to meet you,' he said quickly recovering and extended his hand too, and Kaylee shook it, albeit a little more warily.

'You guys work with Kensi and Marty?' Kaylee asked, leaning into her Kensi's side.

Marty? Eric mouthed. Kensi rolled her eyes at him.

'We're Intelligence Analysts,' Nell told her.

'They're the smart ones,' Deeks faux whispered to Kaylee making her giggle.

'They sift through information to tell us what we need to know about missions. And they're scary good with computers,' Kensi said.

'Um...' Should you be telling her that?! Eric asked silently.

'Kaylee knows where we work, Eric.' So do the rest of my family, Kensi thought to herself. 'Just no case details.'

'Ok,' He said. He still looked a little uncomfortable, but true to his nature, Eric filled the information away and kept going. 'So, what are you guys doing out here?'

'Been teaching these two how to surf,' Deeks told him. 'Kaylee's getting pretty good at it too, Kens needs some work though.' The comment earned him a punch in the arm by Kensi. It wasn't as hard as her usual punches, and as she placed her arm back around Kaylee's shoulder, her grip tightened on his finger still grasping hers behind their backs. 'What about you guys?'

'He's trying to find something that he can beat me in,' Nell explained. 'I shoot better, play COD better, bowl better-'

'I will surf circles around you,' Eric promised, turning around to his partner again, hands on his hips.

'Are they always like this?' Kaylee whispered to her sister.

'You leave them alone long enough, yes.' Kensi whispered back with a chuckle. 'It's more fun watching them with try to outdo each other tracking down leads.

'They like each other,' she observed. Kensi nudged Kaylee, begging her to be quiet. 'They remind me of you and Marty.' Deeks snickered next to her, Kaylee hadn't exactly been quiet and her partner obviously heard. His thumb stroked her skin again and she could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. This had to stop.

'Oh-Kay,' Kensi said loudly, interrupting Nell and Eric. 'Ready to hit the waves?'

'How about the boys and Kaylee get a head start,' Nell suggested.

'Sure,' Deeks smiled knowingly. Their hands finally broke apart as he held his hand out to Kaylee, who also had a smile on her face. 'Come on, Sweetpea. Don't gush over us too much,' he winked at her and Kensi scowled back.

'Should I be worried? Is she going to interrogate me?' Eric asked quietly as he picked up his board.

'Are you scared of a girl, Eric?' Nell giggled.

'I'm scared of you two, sometimes, and she's a mini Kensi,' he told them, utterly serious, which made the girls laugh.

'You'll be OK,' Kensi chuckled, as he followed Deeks and Kaylee. 'But if it gets rough, sacrifice Deeks first!'

'You're going to have to stop giving him hell, you realise,' Kensi said to Nell as soon as Eric was out of earshot.

'I'm not sure he realises I know that these have been dates. Actually, I'm not sure if he knows they're dates,' Nell chuckled. 'I'm sorry by the way.'

'What for?'

'I forgot this is where you come to surf, I didn't mean to force you into revealing Kaylee before you wanted to.'

'It's OK,' Kensi smiled. 'With the way you two were, I don't think you would have noticed us for a while anyway.' She watched Nell blush beside her.

'I wasn't really observant this morning,' she admitted embarrassed. 'I got a bit too caught up.'

I know that feeling, Kensi thought to herself watching Deeks flick some sand playfully at her sister. 'I take it everything is going well?' Kensi asked cheekily.

'Yes,' Nell blushed. 'It's been… nice spending time with him outside of work.'

'Just nice?' Kensi pushed.

'More than nice,' she replied brightly. Even if Kensi hadn't been looking at her, the smile was evident in her voice. 'We fell asleep on the couch last night… What about you?'

'What about me?'

'Really?' the analyst countered. 'Deeks is getting sand thrown at him by your sister and wakes up early every Saturday to teach her how to surf. From what I can see, there are some pretty good waves out there that he's missing out on right now.'

Kensi chuckled as her sister flung a heap of sand at her partner and ran into the surf while Eric snuck up behind him, their surfboards forgotten. Even on days off he still got ganged up on - not that he seemed to mind.

'I know,' she sighed at the sight of them all. 'He loves her; loves the whole family.'

'There's someone else that he also loves...'

Kensi stayed silent, keeping her eyes on her partner picking up Kaylee and throwing her into the water. Her happy squeal filled the air and something stirred in her that made Kensi rethink her previous theory: that maybe it wasn't just lust she was feeling.

'And don't think I didn't see how close you two were standing to each other. If he were any closer, you would have been occupying the same space.'

Kensi took a breath. 'He was holding my hand.'

'He was what?'

'We saw you two, and as much as I wanted to introduce Kaylee to you two, it was still nerve wracking. It was just a way of him saying he was there for me,' she admitted and waiting for the snicker. But it didn't come.

'Kensi,' Nell said softly, and her eyes found the small red head again. A soft, sad smile adorned her face. 'Let me impart some wisdom. He loves you. Martin Deeks loves you. And he is going to wait for you to realise it. But remember, he's still human, and that means he may meet someone else someday who reciprocates his feelings openly, if you wait too long to act on your feelings. And that will hurt you both.'

Her breath caught at the idea that he would meet a pretty girl, and share his life with her and not Kensi; no more late nights watching crappy horror movies, or Sherlock, no more flirting, no more mornings spent at the beach, no more Saturday brunches with her family. No more thing.

'Whatever you're afraid of Kensi, you need to talk about it: to me, to your mother, or even him. I don't want you - either of you - hurt.'

Kaylee squealed again, snapping Kensi back to her friends. Her sister was jumping on Deeks' back while Eric splashed water at them.

'It's difficult, Nell,' she said quietly.

'You love him, he loves you...'

'It's more complicated than that, Nell,' Kensi admitted softly. 'He's my partner. It's not like he's not going to be in my life if this thing doesn't work out.'

'Kensi,' Nell said, gripping Kensi's shaking hands tightly. 'Deeks knows you in and out.'

'That doesn't mean that we'll work.'

'You're afraid he'll be another Jack? That he's going to leave?'

Kensi nodded. 'And it was never like this with Jack. I couldn't take it if he-'

'Kensi, Deeks isn't Jack. He's your partner, would do anything for you. He's an LAPD liaison, he's not an agent. He's here by request; if he was going to leave don't you think he would have already gone? You're the only thing that keeps him here. Because it sure isn't Callen and Sam's teasing or Hetty's amiable personality.'

'Have you guys finished talking about us yet!'

The women looked over to Deeks as he was pelted with more water from either side, smile still wide on his face. The cold feeling her doubts brought melted away with his bright grin.

'We'd better go and save him,' Nell chuckled. 'But, Kens? You're not going to know for sure until you give it a chance - until you give him a chance.'

The intelligence analyst walked away then, surfboard under her arm. She knew that, of course. It wasn't fair to either of them, and this morning was a perfect example. There was something there between them, something real and heated and worth taking the risk; she just needed to find the courage. She faced terrorists everyday, but her feelings were infinitely more terrifying.

*~-=.oOo.=-~*

A lungful of water is not what he expected when was thrown off his board and into the wave he'd been riding.

Kensi, Nell and Kaylee were on the beach after their lesson and Eric had finally found something that he was better at than Nell. He had crowed and gloated when Nell had fallen off her board the first two times, but after that Eric had stayed close to the redhead and helped improving her stance and balance. Deeks his his grin at the pleased look on Eric's face when he had the chance to tutor Nell.

Kensi always insisted he get proper surfing in for the day, so he and Eric had continued riding the swell for a while longer. Deeks loved teaching Kaylee how to surf, and she was good, but the best part about these days was seeing Kensi turn up in her swimmers and try and keep up with him. Truth be told, she was getting better, too.

Saturdays had become the highlight of his week – his haven, the thing that got him through the week. He thought he had ruined it this morning though. Like every Saturday morning, he brought a peace offering in the form of her favourite pastry. Today, however, he managed to look at her at the precise moment, she was licking her fingers, and was transfixed. His mind was conjuring up a fantasy of her soft lips and tongue travelling lazily across his flesh, her fingers combing and pulling at his hair. Deeks gulped as his blood rushed south, remembering the feeling of her soft lips against his when they had played house and planted the memory into his fantasy. He had gotten caught up in exploring her body with his fingertips and the sounds she'd make, that he hadn't realised he'd been staring at her until she told him the lights had changed. He saw the small blush on her cheek and a slightly guilty smile adorned her lips as she realised what she'd done, and he knew that she knew what he was thinking about.

As they stood on the doorstep of the Feldman's, he couldn't help but wipe the jam off the side of her mouth with his thumb; couldn't resist cleaning off the sweet, red smear, though he did refrain from using his own mouth to clean it off her skin. The tension between them was tangible as her eyes followed his thumb to his lips. If Julia hadn't have opened the door when she did, Deeks probably would have done something incredibly dangerous, like kiss her, enjoying the taste of doughnut and her. What had make it infinitely worse was the way Kensi looked at him; like it was paining her as well not to close the gap between them; like she was watching her own fantasy play out in her mind. He dare not hope that maybe they were getting somewhere, but if she kept looking at him with those big, beautiful, wanting eyes, Deeks was not going to be able to stop himself from kissing her.

He had fought for control over his arousal the entire morning. It had been a little easier to hide whilst he was in jeans, but impossible in his wetsuit. Aside from the fact that he was in public, Deeks did not want Kaylee seeing anything. He did not want to scar the poor girl, embarrassing everyone in the process, and probably castrated by Kensi. That wasn't the fun thing he imagined her doing with that part of this anatomy. It was a struggle until he saw Eric and Nell, and then his thoughts were filled with concern. He hadn't meant to brush against her hand, but they always seemed to gravitate towards each other. He couldn't stop himself catching her pinkie and revelling in its softness, but he also knew she was tense, and while it was only a small gesture, hooking her small finger with his was him letting her know he was here for her, like had done months ago; and he was grateful she didn't let go.

Knowing he was going under, Deeks held his breath as the wave turned him about in the water. The strap to his board tugged on his ankle, pulling him in tow. A sense of calm fell over him as he felt and heard the muffled sounds of the ocean.

Back to reality. Her voice rang through his mind with clarity and the waves no longer had a hold on him. Truth be told, he enjoyed surfing much more when she was out here with him.

The water eased and Deeks broke the surface; the cause of his getting dumped was riding away on his former wave. He watched the woman glance back his way for a moment.

Deeks wasn't annoyed - yeah ok, maybe a little at the inconsiderate surfer, but things happen. It also gave him a chance to focus on something else instead of how much he wanted Kensi, but it didn't last very long. He looked to the shore as he sat back on his board. The owner of the voice in his head was walking along the shore line bending down every few feet. Collecting sea shells, he thought, and saw the other two girls delicately moulding the sand.

'Deeks! You OK?' Eric paddled over.

'Yeah, I'm good.'

'Surf etiquette is waning every day,' Eric said with a grumble. He looked back to the shore wistfully and then back to Deeks. 'Wanna head back?' he asked a little anxiously.

'Sure!' he grinned, heading back to land. If Eric hadn't suggested it, Deeks was going to. They both had it bad for their partners it seemed.

'Hey!'

He whipped around to find a woman with a board under her arm running out of the surf after him. 'Hey! I'm sorry!' She said stopping in front of him. She was pretty enough, blonde, blue eyed, most probably a slamming body underneath her wetsuit. 'My bad, I didn't mean to push you off.'

'It's OK,' he shrugged. 'It was time to come in anyway.'

'Are you sure? I can make it up to you, buy you breakfast?' the woman asked, giving him her best 'come hither' look.

He chuckled and Eric raised his eyebrows. 'As flattering as that is, I already have a breakfast date with those lovely ladies over there,' he said pointing to the girls, giggling as they made a sandcastle. Kensi, who was walking back with a handful of shells, looked up and caught his eye as he pointed, giving him a quick questioning frown.

'Your niece and sisters?' the blonde asked, almost hopeful.

'Our wives and my daughter,' Deeks responded easily with a smile. Eric almost choked as his eyes bulged.

'Oh,' the woman's demeanour changed instantly. 'Well, sorry again.'

'All good,' Deeks smiled and turned away from the blonde.

'You are so dead if they find out what just happened,' his friend said panicking.

Deeks looked back over to their girls; Kensi was whispering in Nell's ear and both women glanced over at them.

'What makes you think they don't already,' he chuckled, and Eric saw the look on their faces.

'Finished already?' Kensi asked as the boys joined them, implication behind it.

'Yeah, got knocked off my board by that woman.'

'I saw. Did she apologise?'

'Yup,' he said, contemplating to elaborate. 'Said she'd make it up to me by taking me to breakfast.'

'Huh,' Kensi murmured clearly annoyed – and maybe a little jealous.

'What about lunch back at the house?' Kaylee asked, concern in her voice.

He bent down and placed a kiss on the top of her head. 'I have way more important things than breakfast with her, Sweet Pea,' Deeks grinned. 'One of which is helping you finish this sandcastle.' Kaylee smiled back at him and went back to placing shells around the wall.

He stood back up and was met by his partner, eyebrow lifted and accusation in her eyes. Without asking, she was behind him unzipping his wetsuit. 'Why is it,' she said in his ear quietly. 'You always seem to attract females at the beach?'

'Jealous, princess?' He whispered back.

Her chest pressed against his back and he could feel the heat of her skin pressing against his newly unzipped, exposed flesh. He once again fought for control over his arousal when he felt her lips against the shell of his ear. 'Why would your wife and daughter be jealous, honey?' She whispered facetiously. There wasn't anything behind it. The tone was more letting him know that she knew what was said. Reading lips was one of many things on Kensi Marie Blye's skill list.

Deeks turned around quickly and was met with his partners face inches away from his. Part of her bikini top was wet again from pressing against his back and he couldn't help but admire the view he had looking down at her. Deeks met her eyes again, she knew the effect she was having on him and she seemed like she was enjoying it.

'Seriously, how young must she think I was when I had her?'

'Doesn't matter. It had the desired effect,' He said stripping the wetsuit to his waist covering any possible awareness to his rising problem. And he didn't miss the way her eyes followed the wetsuit down his body, revealing skin. He felt another pang hit him in his gut. She would be the death of him. Then he got an idea.

Deeks glanced over his partner's shoulder quickly and smiled. She frowned at him when he closed the distance between them, curling a stray piece of hair back around her ear and kissed her cheek longer than normal. She went with it though, their growing trust allowing her to go with his better judgement, but it was a dangerous line he was toying with. He took his time with her soft, salty skin under his lips as his hand cupped her cheek. 'She was watching us,' Deeks said quietly in her ear when he pulled back.

Kensi glared at him, 'she's almost dressed and in her car,' she replied dryly, patting the side of his face. He squeaked when Kensi pinched his side quickly and sat back down in the sand.

He didn't quite understand how he was still alive after blatantly lying to her and stealing a kiss and precious seconds invading her personal space. He didn't question it, just thanked his lucky stars again.

Eric's mouth was agape at what he just witnessed, and Nell was trying to hide her smile. With a quick glance at the small redhead, and a pointed look to Kensi, he knew his partner had talked about him, and it made him wonder just how much she had told Nell, and if she had admitted something. Blush covered his partner's beautiful face again, and it made him wish he'd be able to act on his fantasies sometime soon.

'Right,' he said loudly. 'What am I making?'

He sat down next to his partner, brushing his knee against hers. He wasn't to know that the woman was watching them, and Kensi had been watching her over Deeks' shoulder. Even with her embarrassment of being sprung gossiping about him, he didn't question her fingers running through his wet hair for a few moments when they sat back down, or the smirk on her lips. Deeks was entirely oblivious to the possessive aura curling around him that any woman within a hundred miles could detect. Nell saw it though, her observation skills slightly more alert when she wasn't challenging Eric, trying to unhinge him and unhinging herself in the process.

Nell knew the risks, she was taking one herself with Eric, and she could only hope that her best friend would take a leap of faith soon.

A/N: Let me know what you all think :)