Chapter 38

Deeks watched the expressions chase themselves across Kensi's face. "What did I say Princess?" he asked.

Kensi smiled softly at him in the mirror. "I'm sure you remember when I showed up at your house with Drunken Pigs and beer when you wouldn't return my calls or texts after, um, after Sidorov? I was rambling on about that movie I wanted you to watch with me. It was Burnt Offerings and you fell asleep right in the middle of my description of the movie's plot. I told you flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz showed up and you mumbled that those monkeys were scary. I settled down next to you, so happy that you were finally able to rest. I asked you what happens next, figuring I wouldn't get a reply and you said that it was a love story. I'll always remember that."

"Really? I have no memory of that at all!"

"Well, you were dead asleep by that point."

"I really need to stop telling you relationship altering things while I'm sleeping! It would be nice to remember them."

She laughed and turned back towards him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. "You do know you have entire conversations while you're asleep, right?"

"What? I do not!"

"Yup! It's actually pretty adorable." She laughed at the expression on his face. He really didn't know he talked in his sleep. She turned away and her eyes landed on the clock on the bedside table. "Oh man, we need to go now! I'm surprised Cassie and Paula haven't sent out search parties!" Just as she finished, both their phones went off, indicating text messages. She grabbed up the hat, gloves and cane off the bed and thrust them at him. "Move, move, move!"

They left the room in a hurry and headed up to the suite where everyone else was waiting. Seeing all the men in their top hats, gloves and canes, together for the first time with the women in their elegant ball gowns, he suddenly realized that they didn't look ridiculous at all. Cassie and Paula were nowhere to be seen. They wouldn't see each other until just before they walked down the aisle. As untraditional as this wedding was, that was one that they insisted on keeping. Neither was superstitious but they didn't want to tempt fate. The photographer was waiting and led them outside to get some candid pictures around the grounds, some with the ocean behind them, some with the beautiful building. Eventually it was time.

The guys kissed their significant others goodbye and headed into the Bow where the wedding was being held, the women heading to where the brides were waiting. Deeks went to the stage at the end of the aisle, practicing his lines again in his head. As groomsmen, the rest of the guys would greet and seat the guests before taking their spots to the right of the stage. The guest list was small and intimate and soon everyone was seated and the men were all in position. The music for the Wedding March began and everyone turned to watch the bridal party start their procession.

The first ones down were the flower girl, who was a young cousin of Paula's, and the ring bearer who was Cassie's nephew, both adorable in their formal outfits. The tiny tails and top hat elicited awwws from everyone in the room. The bridesmaids then started their walk and Nell was first to appear. While the dresses were all similar in design, the brides had let each person pick their own color as long as it was in a jewel tone. Nell was dressed in a deep emerald green and looked like a beautiful wood sprite or pixie. Deeks glanced over at Eric to find the man's eyes wider than he'd ever seen them. He smiled at the love struck look on the tech's face. They may or may not be together but he was pretty sure it wasn't because Eric didn't want it.

Looking at the rest of the men, he noticed that Sam looked shell shocked. He turned back to the procession and he saw Michelle had appeared in a ruby colored dress that really brought out how beautiful she was. Joelle was next in amethyst, stunning, and he didn't have to look at Callen to know what the man looked like. Laura then appeared, in dark turquoise and elegant as always. The admiral was a lucky man.

He knew Kensi would be next and he felt his heart start to beat erratically. He knew what she looked like in the dress, he'd seen it several times, but not in this setting and he was waiting with bated breath. When she appeared in her sapphire gown, holding her flowers in front of her, he literally couldn't breathe. She was beyond beautiful to him; he couldn't find the words to describe her even to himself. While he watched her walk towards him, suddenly her dress was white and she wore a veil over her face. He blinked several times and his blue clad girlfriend was back. What the hell was that?

After the bridesmaids came Cassie's maid of honor, her sister Chrystal, in deep, deep orange. Behind her was Paula's maid of honor, her cousin and best friend Miranda, in brilliant yellow. When all the girls were lined up on the left they looked like a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a group of vibrant butterflies. He had to admit, Cassie and Paula certainly had flair. There had been some concern that the sides would be uneven but the brides didn't care, they wanted who they wanted in their ceremony and neither maid of honor was currently in a relationship nor did they have any other men they wanted to ask to to fill in the gap. There was a pause and then Paula appeared on the arm of her father. Dressed in stark white in simple lines, she was ethereal. The happiness on her face made Deeks smile from ear to ear. She hadn't had the easiest time with her choices. Her parents had taken a while to come to terms with the fact that their only daughter was gay, but they had eventually accepted it and now supported her whole heartedly. It didn't hurt that they adored Cassie.

Cassie was the last to appear, on the arm of her stepfather. Her own father had died when Cassie was very young and the only father she'd ever known was this man. Her gown was also white but more playful, more in line with her own personality. The fathers brought the two to the stage and Cassie's stepfather placed her hand in Paula's. Together they made a striking couple. The two smiled at each other with such love that it brought a tear to many an eye of their guests. They turned to face Deeks. He cleared his throat and began the wedding. They had each written their own vows, not wanting to use the traditional ones, as both were of religions which did not yet accept the way they lived their lives. They had both agreed to keep it short and simple.

Paula went first. "Cassie, you brought light and love into my life. You showed me that it was okay to be myself and not what I thought others wanted me to be. You are everything I could ever have asked for and so much more. You've given me things I didn't even know I wanted until I met you. I know it won't always be fun and games. Life can be hard, but I can promise you that we will always work it out, together. I will love and cherish you for the rest of our lives together and beyond." She placed the wedding ring on Cassie's hand.

Cassie was near tears and had to clear her throat. "Paula, I knew the moment I met you that you were the one. No one else has ever made me feel this way. I never thought this would be my future, with you by my side forever more. I never dreamed I could be so lucky. There will never be another for me. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of our lives together and beyond." She placed the wedding ring on Paula's hand.

Deeks cleared his throat, a little choked up himself as he watched two people he cared so much about finally joined in marriage. "It is my honor and privilege, as friend to you both, to now pronounce you married in the eyes of the state of California and in the hearts of all those present. You are partners in love, and in all things, now and forever." Cassie and Paula kissed to the enthusiastic applause of the guests.

They turned to face their friends and families and held up their joined hands. Cassie shouted "Let's get this party started!" The room erupted in laughter as the two headed back up the aisle. The maids of honor were next and then each groomsman joined his bridesmaid for their walk. Kensi and Deeks were last. He looked at her and once again saw her in white, this time with the veil pulled back and he stopped. He wondered if this was a side effect of something that had been on his mind for awhile now.

"What's the matter Deeks?" she asked, a little freaked out by the expression on his face, partly confusion, partly awe. He shook himself and smiled.

"Nothing, Sugar Bear, nothing at all! Let's go party!" He held out his arm and she hooked hers in it with a huge smile on her face.

"Have I told you today that you look….intoxicating?"

"Really Kensi? I know you did NOT just go there!"

She laughed and pulled him up the aisle.

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A/N – this was supposed to be the last chapter in the wedding story line but it got away from me. Hope it wasn't to wordy or mushy but this isn't my strong suit.