A/N All things must come to an end. This is the last chapter with an epilogue to follow shortly. I hope you've enjoyed it and if so, please let me know. There is a short M Rated section in the middle but it is clearly marked and you won't miss anything important if you choose to skip it. It's not overly graphic so the choice is yours. Thanks to all of you who take the time to review. It means more than you can possibly imagine. Usual disclaimers still apply except for the 18 extra characters I managed to create all by myself.

The dinner her mother prepared had been wonderful. Conversation had been light but comfortable as they just enjoyed being together for real. No sneaking around, no worrying about bad guys. Just being together and being normal, if there was such a thing.

He marveled at the cleanliness of the apartment and vowed to help her keep it clean until they could decide where they wanted to live. Talk about the case or anything work related had been prohibited by Kensi. She wanted to spend her evening with him alone and nothing else.

Monty had been so excited to see his master that he was completely exhausted from all the jumping up and down. He was currently sleeping at Deeks' feet.

They cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes then moved to the couch. He wrapped her in his arms as they laughed and talked about Monty who had followed him closely from the kitchen.

"Sorry buddy, this is your last stop for the night," he smirked as he patted the dogs head. "Kensi and I need some 'special private time' so don't get any ideas about following us to bed."

Kensi smiled and kissed him on the cheek then reached up and gently touched the bandage above his eye. She cuddled in closer and choked back the question that would violate her own rule against talking about the case. She pushed the thought away for now and asked, "So when should we tell everyone about… about everything?"

"Well…," he paused, "I thought we could have a dinner celebration Monday night and tell them then."

"That sounds great. Where?"

"I'm glad you think it's great because I've already invited almost everyone," he grinned. "I thought we should have it at Taddeo's."

"That's perfect! But… can we invite Mom?"

"She's already on the guest list. I was planning to call her tomorrow."

Kensi sighed and suddenly seemed lost in thought.

"What'cha thinking about?" he asked cautiously.

She seemed hesitant to voice her thoughts but Deeks wisely gave her some time to think it through without prodding her.

After a couple of minutes, she finally asked, "Can we just tell them we're getting married and save the baby news until later?"

Deeks was surprised. He assumed she would want to tell everyone as soon as possible. His thoughts raced to potential reasons why and he was immediately worried that something was wrong with the baby. "Why Kens? Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing's wrong I just… just…" she let the sentence hang.

"What Princess? You can tell me, I promise I won't be upset."

She let out a breath and finally voiced her concerns, "It's just that… you proposed before we got pregnant. Probably on the day we got pregnant," she said blushing slightly. "And no one knows that. I don't want them to think we're getting married because of the baby. I want them to know for certain we're doing this because we love each other."

He pulled her close and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. "I don't think anyone is going to doubt how much I love you," he whispered as he looked into her eyes. "But, if that's what you want, I'll gladly wait a while. But… not too long," he said smiling.

"Which brings me to our next dilemma," she said with a frown.

"Dilemma? We have a dilemma?" he asked with his crooked grin. "I thought those were reserved for soap operas."

"Come on Deeks, be serious."

"Oh, so now you're annoyed with me and it's 'Deeks' instead of 'Marty'. I see how this works," he laughed.

She smiled and rolled her eyes.

He stopped laughing and looked at her. "God, I've missed that."

"Missed what?"

"Missed you and the way you roll your eyes at me. It's just so… so…"

"What is it exactly?" she asked suspiciously.

"Adorable! Please don't punch me," he added quickly as he flinched.

"Remember, I don't punch anymore. Now back to our… decision."

He ducked his head and chuckled but didn't make any further comments as she continued.

"Should we either, A) get married soon so we don't have to explain the baby bump or, B) wait until after the baby is born to get married?"

He smiled but the look in his eyes was definitely serious when he answered, "Kensi, I would marry you tomorrow if you wanted me to. The sooner the better for me," he said softly as he kissed her deeply.

All thoughts of babies and weddings faded away in an instant as she melted into his kiss. Her hand moved up to tangle in the soft curls behind his neck as she hungrily responded to his lips on hers. The past weeks faded away as conscious thought was replaced by undeniable need. The need to be as close to him as possible. The need to feel his skin against hers and to become one with him.

He slowly stood and lifted her with him, never breaking contact. She began unbuttoning his shirt as he reached around to find the zipper to her dress. He walked her backwards toward the bedroom as they shed their clothes along the way.

They paused only once to gently push Monty outside the door. The urgency to be together trumped all other emotions or needs. The desperation to know that the other was really here and understanding that nothing was more important at this moment than being as close as a man and woman could possibly get.

Their love making was urgent and desperate as they met each other, kiss for kiss and thrust for thrust. There was no time for slow and languid. All that mattered was the physical closeness and reaching the moment when nothing else existed but the love between them.

As they lay together afterward, he placed soft kisses on her face and temple and held her more tightly than ever before. He was physically and mentally exhausted from the events of the last few days but this beautiful, amazing woman always managed to strengthen and energize him.

Conversation was non-existent and ultimately unneeded as they soon fell asleep in each other's arms. There were no nightmares; no waking suddenly thinking sounds were heard in the apartment; no distant fuzzy dreams of the other. There was just blissful, welcomed, uninterrupted sleep where each of them felt safe in the other's arms.

Early morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom curtains and Deeks awoke with a start. It took him a second or two to realize he wasn't in his apartment but it didn't take long to acknowledge the woman of his dreams lying naked, draped over him. He watched the sunlight dance across her features and spent several minutes just watching her sleep.

"See something you like?" she asked sleepily, keeping her eyes closed.

"Always," he replied as he leaned back and placed his hand on her stomach. "Has baby Deeks been behaving him or herself?"

She rolled back slightly and placed her hand on top of his. "So far so good. I've haven't been sick lately which is good I think."

He leaned down and kissed her stomach. "Make sure Mommy feeds you good stuff and not just junk food and sugar," he said. "She thinks I don't know about the Twinkies in the back of the cabinet but I'm on to her," he whispered loudly to the baby.

She giggled and he moved back up to kiss her cheeks and neck. Playfulness soon gave way to seduction as they took their time with their ministrations. As rushed and desperate as they were last night, they were slow and deliberate with their love making this morning. He wanted only to please her and her goal was to welcome him home in an unforgettable way.

It was probably the longest love making session of their lives but it was also the most satisfying physically and emotionally. It was true love, expressed as it should be, in its basic form without outside distractions, without baggage and without selfish agendas. Exhausted and satisfied, they soon fell back to sleep tangled up together.

As much as he hated the idea of leaving Kensi even for a short while, he had a long list of things to do before their party on Monday night. He kissed her lightly on the cheek then eased himself from the bed. It was already well past ten a.m. and Monty was whining outside the door.

He made his way to the bathroom and was shocked at the difference from the last time he had been here. It was, for lack of a better word, sparkling. Julia was becoming such a great influence on Kensi and he again was thankful they had finally reconnected. He smiled when he thought about Kensi's lack of cooking skills. That was one of Julia's traits he doubted he would ever see in Kensi but he was okay with it. He was a decent cook and their work schedule was more conducive to take-out food most of the time anyway. Besides, her talents were many and definitely not typical of most women. She was kick-ass and she was all his.

He dressed quickly then went to the kitchen to make coffee. He wrote a note, letting her know he was running errands and taking Monty with him. The poor dog's tail was about to come off he was wagging it so fast.

Kensi had given him back his cell phone but he needed to stop by Ops at some point to get his wallet and badge. A badge he planned to trade in soon. He hadn't told Kensi about the application he had given to Hetty for a couple of reasons. If it wasn't approved he didn't want her to know about his obvious failure to impress Director Vance and if it was approved, he wanted to surprise her along with everyone else.

He loaded Monty into his car and drove to the beach. Kensi wasn't the only one he needed to spend time with. Deeks got the Frisbee out of the trunk and spent almost half an hour playing with his furry friend.

When it was obvious Monty was tiring, he found a spot on the sand to sit down with the happy dog close behind, curling up beside him. Deeks closed his eyes and listened to the waves rolling in. He had missed the beach and was content to spend some time reacquainting himself with the sounds and smells.

He cleared his mind then began prioritizing what needed to be done. He first called Eric and Nell to invite them to the dinner celebration and to thank them for all their help. Then he called Julia to thank her for the fantastic meal and to invite her as well.

Next on the list was Taddeo. He had to hold the phone away from his ear when he told him about his plans.

"Marty, I'm so proud of you! She is such a beautiful woman and you will make beautiful babies together!" Taddeo shouted into the phone.

Deeks just grinned and replied, "Yes we will."

He wanted to shout their baby news from the rooftops but he understood why Kensi wanted to wait and would honor her wishes by keeping that bit of information to himself... for now. He finally was able to complete the conversation and promised he would stop by tomorrow to finish up the special arrangements.

He roused Monty from his dreams and loaded him back up in his car. He drove to his real apartment and again the dog started jumping up and down excitedly.

"Did you miss your own bed Buddy?" he said as he unlocked the front door. Yes this was his home but he hadn't really lived here for a few months. He would miss this place but finding a new home with Kensi would be exciting and the start of a new phase in their lives.

He packed up a few clothes and collected some of Monty's toys then opened the windows to air out the place. He planned to come back here tomorrow to get ready for their dinner party.

On the way back to Kensi's house, he picked up a copy of the Sunday paper and pulled out the real estate section. Maybe they could take some time this week to look at a few possibilities.

"Honey, I'm home," he called as he and Monty entered the house. Kensi came out from the kitchen and met him in the living room. She put her arms around his neck and gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek.

"Wow! How 'June Cleaverish' of you," he said smirking as he dropped his bag and pulled her to him. "I could get used to this though." He kissed the top of her head and hugged her close.

"I'm glad you're home. Lunch is almost ready."

"Wait. What? You fixed lunch?"

"Don't freak out, it's just sandwiches and a little surprise."

"I love surprises! Lead on!"

He sat down at the table which was already set with colorful plates and real flatware. He was really surprised since they usually used paper plates and plastic utensils.

"I think you must really be June Cleaver! Since when did you become so… so… domestic?"

"Since I wanted to fix your lunch." She brought fancy sandwiches to the table on a platter followed by another with an assortment of fresh fruit."

"Okay, now I'm officially freaked out. Kensi Blye doesn't do fruit."

"That's not true! I eat strawberries and bananas sometimes."

"Yes, but they have to be dipped in chocolate first!" he replied grinning.

"Which brings me to my surprise." She went back into the kitchen and brought out a plate full of beautifully dipped strawberries.

"Where did these come from?"

"I made them," she said grinning.

"Yeah, right," he responded as he reached for one.

She swatted his hand away. "I did too make them myself and you need to eat your sandwich first."

He looked at the strawberries then back at Kensi. "Kens, you don't even know how to heat up canned ravioli. How did you learn to dip strawberries?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

He decided to let it go for now but he would figure out what was going on. There was no way Kensi had made these strawberries. She had absolutely no cooking savvy and he had suffered through several take-out meals that she had actually burned when she reheated them.

The sandwiches were great and the strawberries even better and he made sure to let her know he appreciated her efforts even though he was pretty sure she had help somewhere along the way.

The conversation eventually turned to work since she had to go in the next day. He had told Hetty he would be back on Tuesday due to the mounds of paperwork and follow up interviews to do at LAPD headquarters.

He told her about the case and how it ultimately ended. He also told her about all the help he had gotten from Eric and Nell and that Sam and Callen had been extremely helpful when it was time to take down the bad guys. He left out the part where Sam had saved his life. He didn't want to scare her unnecessarily.

As they sat on the couch and circled some possible houses to visit, he suddenly turned to her and said, "Come to my apartment with me."

"Your apartment? Why?"

"David Granderson's apartment. I really want you to see that tub and maybe even try it out," he said softly as he leaned in to kiss her.

"What? Right now?" she asked confused.

"Yes now," he grinned. I have to pack up my things and give the keys back to Bates tomorrow. If you decide you like it, then maybe we can look for a place that has one similar to it."

"There's really no need. You know I'll like it."

He pouted and used his best sad puppy dog look, "You don't want to try it out with me?"

She laughed and patted him on the head, "How on earth can I refuse that pitiful face? You're so neglected!" she teased.

"Awesome! Why don't you pack a bag and we'll spend the night there. I can drop you off at OSP on my way to headquarters in the morning."

"On one condition," she said seriously.

"What's that?"

"We stop by the beach on the way there and you go surfing."

"But I don't need…."

"Okay then, no deal."

He sighed and smiled brightly, "You are going to spoil me."

"Too late! You're already rotten."

He laughed as he scooped her up carried her to the bedroom door then set her feet back down on the floor, "You go pack and I'll clean up the kitchen."

The afternoon at the beach was actually just what he needed to unwind and shed the final remnants of 'David Granderson'. Granted, he was one of his better aliases and while it was easier to step back into being Marty Deeks than his usual scumbag covers were, it was still necessary to release himself of the persona. He surfed the waves as Kensi and Monty played on the beach. He sat on his board waiting for the next wave while watching them play. He sighed and realized that this was how weekends should be spent. With family.

Afterward they dropped Monty off at Kensi's house and left him with his newly acquired toys and some fresh kibble then stopped by one of their favorite pizza joints for dinner on the way to Granderson's place.

As they were eating, Deeks received a text from Hetty that simply said; 'Done'.

He deleted it from his phone and told Kensi it had to do with his meeting with Bates the next day which was absolutely the truth.

It was just after eight o'clock when they entered the apartment where he had spent the last six weeks. Her one and only visit had been short and she had only seen the entry way. She marveled at the place when she finally saw the whole thing.

"Wow, maybe we should just live here," she commented.

"First, it belongs to LAPD second, it's way too far away from the beach and the office and third, it's not big enough for a growing family which includes Monty because he wouldn't be allowed."

"So it's only redeeming quality is the tub?"

He took her hand and pulled her with him to the bathroom. As she rounded the corner and saw the huge porcelain monstrosity she gasped.

"Oh!"

"You like?"

"Are you kidding? It's amazing!"

"Let me get it ready and I'll come get you when I'm finished."

She agreed and went back to wander around the kitchen and living area while he started the bath.

He had picked up several candles earlier in the day and was busy placing them around the room while he filled the tub with extra warm water. He hooked his phone up to the speaker system built into the wall and chose a playlist of their favorite songs. He set the volume level then lit the candles. He spent another ten minutes getting out towels and preparing the bedroom then quietly moved up behind Kensi wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"You ready?" he asked softly.

"I was beginning to think you forgot about me."

-M-

"Are you kidding? I've been dreaming about you and me in that tub for weeks. You, my beautiful wife to be, are about to make my dreams come true!"

She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, "And how exactly do you want me to do that?" she whispered seductively.

"Well… first…" he began as he alternated his words with strategically placed kisses below her ear down to the hollow of her throat. He felt her shiver as he continued his instructions, "you would… lead me… to the bathroom…"

She pulled away and grabbed his hands as she walked in that direction, "And?"

"And then… you would slowly remove your clothes."

"Just me?"

"I'll give you instructions when necessary," he replied mysteriously.

When they entered the bathroom she took in the candles and listened to the music softly playing. She pulled him to her and gave him a kiss that left him wanting more then pushed him away as she began to slowly unzip her jeans. She pushed them to the floor to the rhythm of the music then kicked them away. She reached for the hem of her shirt and gave him her best seductive smile as she slowly lifted it over her head.

As she stood in only navy blue lingerie Deeks was fighting the urge to reach for her. His eyes were dark with desire as she turned her back to him then looked over her shoulder and reached back to unhook her bra. She slid it off her shoulders then held it out and dropped it on the floor. She wiggled out of her panties then turned slowly to face him.

"Now what?" she whispered.

He took a step closer but couldn't seem to speak as his eyes roamed her tanned body. He beckoned her to him and replied in a throaty voice, "Now you come over here and undress me."

She made her way slowly over and walked behind him where he couldn't see her. She reached around him and grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it slowly over his head, careful not to touch him any more than was absolutely necessary.

His breathing was ragged as she moved in front of him and unbuttoned his jeans. He wanted to feel her skin touching his and the waiting was torture. He followed her with his eyes as she knelt down and began to unzip his jeans unbearably slow. His desire for her was evident as she tugged on his belt loops dropping his pants to the floor. He stepped out of them then she picked them up and tossed them aside. She remained in a kneeling position in front of him.

She reached for the elastic on his boxers and the electricity that shot through him when her fingers touched his skin sent shivers down his spine. Her hands gripped his boxers and slid them over his needy member and slowly down his legs. He could feel the heat of her body even though there was no direct contact. As he stepped out of the boxers, he bent down and put his hand under her chin and coaxed her to stand up. As they stood face to face, now completely naked but still not touching, he reached around to the back of her head and carefully pulled the band out of her hair.

The sight of her dark curls falling down around her shoulders was the final temptation as he pulled her body to his and kissed her hungrily. His hands and lips wandered and explored as hers did the same. His body was tingling all over as he picked her up bridal style and carried her to the tub. He placed her inside the warm water then quickly sat behind her with his legs on either side. He turned on the spa jets then wrapped his arms around her from behind placing kisses on her neck and shoulders.

They both relaxed as the water bubbled around them. After a few minutes, Deeks got the body wash and began rubbing it on Kensi's back and arms. She melted into his touch and moaned softly when his hands reached her breasts. He explored every inch of her body as he teased her with his artful foreplay.

She was amazed at the different ways in which they made love. Not physically, although she had absolutely no complaints, but emotionally. While they had already experienced the urgent and needy kind as well as the slow and deliberate marathon, this time was purely about pleasure and experimentation.

And experiment they did. After a rather interesting underwater exploration he quickly pulled her toward him and guided her to straddle him. He kissed her heatedly and before long they were splashing water out of the tub. His thrusts were hard and deep and her moans soon became screams as she reached her climax. As her walls contracted around him he found himself shouting her name as he finally lost control.

They stayed cuddled to one another in a hazy embrace, reluctant to pull apart. As the waves of pleasure slowly began to subside he asked, "So… how do you like the tub?"

She laughed as she tried to slow her breathing, "I love it! But I love who's in it more." She ran her fingers through his wet hair and kissed him passionately. She immediately felt his desire rekindle and her breath caught as another wave of pleasure washed over her.

"How about we take this to the bedroom?" he asked with a smirk.

As her body tingled with the thought of more, she simply nodded, unable to speak.

They reluctantly separated long enough to step out of the tub and grab the towels. He turned off the jets and the sudden quiet of the room surrounded them. He pulled her close and wrapped a towel around them both.

"I love you Kensi," he whispered softly as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you more," she answered, not daring to look away. The candle light reflecting in the deep blue of his eyes was mesmerizing.

He took the towel and dried her off and she returned the favor. He dropped the towel in the very wet floor and scooped her up in his arms. He carried her to the bed and gently laid her down then crawled in beside her.

-M-

They made love twice more during the night and each time seemed to be more satisfying than the one before. Deeks knew there would come a time when anger or life's problems would drive a wedge between them but somehow he felt they would always be able to work through it and not around it. Working around problems meant you ignored them and they had both done enough of that to last a lifetime. And they both knew how hard it was to maintain a façade of happiness. Now that he knew what real happiness felt like, he could never go back to the 'pretend' version he had managed to successfully portray for most of his life.

He had promised her he would tell her how much he loved her every day and he intended to keep that promise no matter what might try to stop him because this was what was important. The love for this woman and the family they were creating.

Monday morning came much too soon as they rushed around getting ready and packing up his things. They were both physically exhausted from the night before but neither of them complained. They worked together to clean up the bathroom which still had large puddles of water in the floor. He took two loads of personal items and clothes to the car then made one final sweep of the apartment.

As he was about to lock the door he remembered the letters. He raced back inside and reached into the upper cabinet to retrieve them. He blushed slightly as he thought of the next tenant accidently finding them. 'They would have had one hell of a read!' he thought. He still hadn't read the last one from Kensi. After last night he decided that maybe he should have her act it out instead of him just reading it.

He carefully stuffed them into his bag and joined Kensi in the car. When they reached OSP he gathered the clothes Hetty had provided for his alias and returned them to the wardrobe. He collected his wallet and badge and stayed for just a short time. He promised to see everyone that evening then gave Kensi a peck on the cheek as he left to visit Bates.

His reception as he entered the precinct was definitely much warmer than in recent visits. Several officers patted him on the back and congratulated him. There were still those who he had history with that were less than pleasant but he had expected it.

Bates seemed genuinely glad to see him which was definitely unexpected. They shook hands then Deeks handed him the key to the apartment.

"I got a phone call this morning from the president of the college. He was full of praise about your teaching skills and told me they offered you a full time position on their staff."

"Yes they did."

"Somehow I still don't see you as a college professor but obviously you convinced them," he chuckled. "Have a seat Deeks," Bates said as he pointed at the chair in front of his desk.

He sat as Bates got straight to the point.

"As you know, there have been several arrests of men in charge of some of Ramirez's territories. However, there have been others who have disappeared and we need your help finding them and their drug storage sites."

"You don't need my help. You've got four very capable detectives who know just as much or more than I do about this case," Deeks said sincerely.

"Actually, we need you to go undercover again. You're one of the best undercover guys we have and I don't need to remind you of how big this is."

"No you don't which is why I need you to understand that what I'm about to do has been very well thought out and considered very carefully." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and laid it on the desk.

"Please tell me this is not what I think it is," he said as he reached for the envelope and glared at Deeks. He opened it and glanced at the single sheet of paper then sighed heavily before tossing it back on the desk.

"So the little Ninja finally stole you away from us. I should have known this was coming when I let her talk me into to this little arrangement."

"She did not steal me away. I've actually be thinking about doing this for almost a year. You chose to put me on their team but when you call me back here with no notice it affects the team dynamics and it's not fair to them. And if I'm being totally honest I think it's where I belong."

Bates stood up and paced back and forth behind his desk. "You know I could make this extremely difficult for you right?"

"Yes sir. But I'm hoping you won't."

He sighed and sat back down. "Fine, I'll accept your resignation on one condition."

Deeks held his breath as he waited for the terms.

"That you remain on this case as a consultant. You know what to look for with these guys placed at the colleges and we may need you to help with interrogations."

"Done. As long as it doesn't interrupt a case, I'll be glad to help."

"Understood." He stood as did Deeks and held out his hand. "Despite your shaky relationship with some of your fellow officers, you're a good cop Deeks."

"Thank you Lieutenant," Deeks replied as he shook his hand then handed him his LAPD badge.

He spent a couple of hours answering questions and finishing paperwork. He cleared out what little he had in his desk and said goodbye to the few people that mattered to him.

His next stop was the jewelry store at the mall. Thankfully, the rings had come in early after being sized. He left the wedding bands for safe keeping and picked up only the engagement ring. He hoped Kensi would like what he had planned.

He took the ring then drove to see Taddeo. He was definitely going to need his help with this one.

At five thirty he raced home to get ready. He showered then rummaged through his closet trying to figure out what to wear. He wanted to look nice for Kensi and it wasn't everyday he proposed to the woman of his dreams. He finally chose a pair of black slacks with a grey long sleeve shirt and a silver gray vest. He checked his watch and hurried out the door to pick up Kensi.

She had changed clothes three times. She had been fidgety most of the day and could hardly contain her excitement. She knew he was going to propose and wanted to look extra special for him but she couldn't decide what to wear. Time finally made the decision for her. She put on a black spaghetti strap dress with a modest neckline and a silver sash at the waist. She wore her hair down and curly since it obviously had a positive effect on her partner.

Marty was picking her up and would arrive any minute. She finished her makeup then put on a pair of silver high heels just as she heard the doorbell ring. She was sure it was him even though he had a key. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering double time as she made her way to the door.

The man standing on her doorstep took her breath away as he stood gaping at her. They couldn't have coordinated their attire any better if they had tried. She felt like a school girl being picked up and taken to the prom.

"Again, you are absolutely beautiful Kens," he said as he took her hands in his and kissed her lightly.

"And you make me weak in the knees Mr. Deeks," she said grinning.

"I would test that theory if we weren't already a bit late. Shall we Miss Blye?" he said as he led her to his car.

They picked up Julia and drove to Taddeo's in Venice. Hetty, Sam and Callen were already seated in a room reserved just for them. Eric and Nell arrived together just about the same time they did. Taddeo greeted them warmly and hugged Kensi but was careful not to give anything away.

As they were seated the drinks were ordered and everyone talked and visited about cases and other news that had happened while he was away. Hetty sat at one end with Deeks next to her and Kensi to his left. Julia sat next to Kensi with Eric at the opposite end of the table from Hetty. Nell was next to him followed by Sam then Callen. Conversation flowed freely as well as the wine and beer. If anyone noticed that Kensi wasn't drinking they didn't mention it.

Deeks and Taddeo had made special arrangements for the meal and everyone gushed about how delicious everything was.

Just after the main course had been devoured, Deeks was surprised when Taddeo and their waiters brought out two very expensive bottles of champagne along with glasses and began filling them for everyone. This wasn't part of what he had arranged with Taddeo and he was confused until he saw Hetty stand up and tap her fork against her glass.

Everyone got quiet as she began to speak.

"We are very happy to have you back safely Mr. Deeks," she said as she smiled at him and raised her now filled glass to everyone. "You were sincerely missed and we hope you are never whisked away on a lengthy assignment again. As a matter of fact, we have taken measures to make sure that doesn't happen." She reached into her bag and brought out a small box. "From now on, if Mr. Deeks has to go undercover, he will have the full backing of NCIS and his team. Please join me in a toast to our newest employee, Special Agent Marty Deeks," she said as she handed him the box and held up the glass.

Kensi gasped and pulled him into a bear hug before he could even open the box and look at his new badge. Deeks was overwhelmed by the outpouring of sentiment when everyone erupted into applause and began congratulating him. He took out his shiny new badge and was amazed at the pride he felt when we looked at it then around the table at his family. He choked back his emotions as he stood to acknowledge his new position.

"Wow. Thank you all very much. You guys are my family, at least the closest I've ever come to having a real family and I can't express how much I've come to depend on each and every one of you." He addressed each of them as he expressed his thanks.

"Mrs. Feldman… I mean Julia. Thanks for your support and for being there for Kensi the past few weeks." She simply smiled and patted Kensi's hand.

"Eric and Nell. I would not have been able to help close out the case as soon as we did without your help and I appreciate you both and your 'mad skills' so much." Eric looked at Nell and she blushed slightly.

"Callen and Sam, Thank you so much for everything you did. If you hadn't been there to… well… let's not think about that right now. I owe you guys' big time and… I honestly don't know where I would be today if I hadn't met you two. I've learned a lot in the past two years from you guys. Mostly how to bicker with Kensi but…"

They all laughed then Callen commented, "I think you were doing just fine in that department without any help from either of us!"

Everyone nodded in agreement as they looked at the two of them.

"And Hetty, I want to thank you for looking the other way the past couple of weeks."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about Mr. Deeks," she said with a grin on her face which made everyone laugh even more.

He laughed then looked at her sincerely, "Seriously Hetty, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for you."

He signaled to Taddeo and the waiters brought out a dish for everyone and placed it in front of each of them. Everyone except for Kensi.

"This is a very special dessert that Taddeo made just for us this evening. Since I have my entire family here, I need to take care of some family business." He turned to Kensi then took her hand and pulled her up to stand next to him.

"Kensi, I can't imagine my life without you in it. You're beautiful, strong and could kick my ass anytime you want, which is scary and hot all at the same time. You're smart and funny and you get me. I'd be nuts to ever let you go. So… that being said…"

He took her left hand in his right as Taddeo handed him a plate of dessert with a huge grin on his face.

He dropped down on one knee and asked, "Kensi Marie Blye, will you pretty please, with Twinkies on top, marry me?" He held the plate out to her with a devastating smile that made her breath catch.

Kensi looked at the dessert which had a Twinkie prominently displayed in the center and sticking out of the top of the Twinkie was the engagement ring they had chosen.

She felt the tears begin to sting her eyes when she realized all he had done to make this night special. She couldn't help the tears that escaped down her cheeks or the beautiful smile that appeared as she nodded and said "Yes! Yes I will!" very emphatically.

Cheers again erupted as Nell and Julia wiped away tears of their own. One of the waiters had been standing in the corner and had videotaped the whole thing at the request of Taddeo.

Deeks stood and took the ring out of the Twinkie then set the plate on the table. He took her left hand and slid the ring down her finger. She looked into his ocean blue eyes and could see them glistening. She reached her arms around his neck and his went around her waist as they kissed deeply to seal the deal.

As the catcalls erupted they reluctantly pulled apart. Everyone hugged and congratulated them including Taddeo who again mentioned 'beautiful babies'. Kensi caught Nell's questioning look and she shook her head slightly to let her know they were going to wait with that bit of news for now.

Taddeo's special dessert was a huge hit. It was basically lots of strawberries and chocolate with the Twinkie in the middle and whipped cream on top. As everyone was talking and eating the 'Twinkie Special' Deeks put his arm around Kensi's waist and whispered, "Was that a little more proper than my first proposal?"

She laughed and whispered back, "Proper yes, but not nearly as much fun!"

He chuckled and kissed her again. "So when do you want to become Mrs. Marty Deeks?"

She glanced down at her still flat stomach then back up at him with a bit of a worried look on her face. "Do you think we can pull off a small wedding in three weeks?"

His grin turned into a smirk as he leaned his forehead against hers, "I told you the other night I would marry you tomorrow so yeah, we can do it."

Hetty watched her team from her place at the head of the table with a special eye on her youngest agents. Her life experiences had taught her to embrace happiness when it presented itself because there were too many times when it was most elusive. She hoped the pair would experience many more happy times than not. Somehow she knew they could work through the tough times. They had already worked through more than most couples did in a lifetime. Yes, they bickered and argued a lot but it was how they worked. They worked. And they worked well together.

Now all she had to do was find a way to convince Granger of that fact and somehow let him know that his newest agent was about to marry his partner.

A/N Epilogue to follow soon which includes the wedding!