Here is the last chapter of this story. Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, following and favoriting this story. It means more to me than you'll ever know. Your reviews are what inspire me to write and try to get better with every story. I think I've replied to all of the reviews for the last chapter but if not, I apologize. I can't believe this story got more than 400 reviews! I'm in awe of all of you who took the time to let me know what you thought.

I still don't own NCIS Los Angeles or any of the characters. I just borrowed them for a while and now I'm giving them back...until the next time. I do own my original characters.

Press that little button one last time and leave a review on your way out to let me know what you think of this last chapter.

Enjoy.

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CHAPTER 36 - Life Goes On

Marty returned to full from modified duty a couple of weeks after the party. Work was going well and his and Kensi's partnership/relationship; their 'thing', got stronger by the day and was apparent to everyone around them. One morning, Marty told Kensi he had to stop in at LAPD and would meet her at work which was a white lie. Instead he hightailed it to the Mission to see Hetty, hoping he would get there before anyone else. On entering the building, he saw Hetty in her usual location; sipping a cup of tea at her desk while doing paperwork. He walked toward her desk but wasn't surprised that she knew he was there.

"I see you're here early Mr. Deeks." Hetty looked up at him. Did you want to speak to me about something or weren't the waves good this morning?

Deeks rubbed his chin then scratched his beard in nervousness as he sat down. "I didn't go surfing…um, I wanted to talk to you before anyone else got in. Hetty…I…that is…do you remember the letter and box I left with you a while back?"

"Yes of course I do."

"Well…I need…I mean I want them back." He was fidgeting in the chair while running his hands through his hair, he was so nervous.

"I see. Do you have anything else to say to me? Does this mean what I think it does? Are you planning to finally move forward with Miss Blye?"

"Well…yeah. If I do though, what does it mean for our partnership? Are you going to separate us again? I don't want anything to change for Kensi. If I have to, I'll go back to LAPD. Kensi was born to be an NCIS agent and I don't want that to change." His knees were bouncing up and down he was so nervous about what Hetty might say.

"You don't have to worry Mr. Deeks. I won't separate you two again. I learned from my mistake the first time. And besides, I've seen how much better the two of you are when you are together as a team. Your strengths and weaknesses complement each other." Hetty smirked as she added "Just keep it professional in the office."

Marty felt all the tension drain out of his body. He grinned at her "Got it Hetty." He turned to leave but stopped then turning to her said "Thanks Hetty."

"You're very welcome Mr. Deeks. But aren't you forgetting something?"

He had a puzzled look on his face. "I don't think so."

"The ring, Mr. Deeks, the ring." Hetty handed the item to him smiling.

Deeks wiped his hair off his forehead with an embarrassed smile. "Oh yeah, the ring."

After getting the ring back from her, he put it in his pocket and went to his desk to begin his day. It had been quiet at work for the past few days so the whole team was catching up on paperwork and he was also completing some training courses Hetty had recommended. He didn't know where to hide the ring; should he leave it in his pocket or put it at the bottom of his messenger bag. He didn't want Kensi finding it until he proposed to her. After much thought, he hid it in the bottom of his bag.

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In between paperwork, training, and bantering with the rest of the team, he was busy planning the perfect proposal, at least he hoped Kensi would think it was perfect. He had thought long and hard about what he wanted to say and where he wanted to say it. He'd decided he wanted to propose to her at the beach and knew the perfect spot to do the deed.

It took him two weeks to get everything in place. He first asked Sam and Callen for their blessing. He had been afraid of what they would say but was pleasantly surprised.

"It's about time you asked the woman. What were you waiting for, an engraved invitation?" Sam snarked.

"Just remember, if you hurt her, you will answer to us." Callen stared at him as Deeks gulped then laughed. "Yes, you have our blessing. Doesn't he big guy?"

"Ha, ha you two." came back from him with a withering look. "I knew you would be okay with it but I wanted your blessing since you're like her two older brothers. Besides I have a favor to ask you both."

"What's that?" came from Callen.

"Would you help me set everything up?" He then explained what he wanted to do. Both men were happy to help.

"Thanks guys." He was so glad they were going to help but then he had a horrible thought. "Oh God, she'll say yes, won't she? You do think she'll say yes, right? I mean…what if she says no. I don't know, maybe I should wait?…but I've waited so long and…I don't want to wait any longer…I want it to be perfect…but what if she says no?"

"You're babbling Deeks!" Callen laughed.

"No, I'm…yeah, I guess I am…sorry!"

Sam reassured him "Don't worry about it Deeks. She's going to say yes. And she'll love what you have planned. You know she loves you and what you're planning is so you. We'll be there to capture it for prosperity and we'll have everything ready when you bring her down to the beach tonight."

"Good…good…I'll have her there at 8 pm. Just as the sun is getting ready to set."

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That evening, he took Kensi out for a nice dinner at a little Italian restaurant they liked that was close to where he was going to propose. As usual, she enjoyed her food, very vocally. When it was time for dessert, he suggested they go for a walk first and then get ice cream. Her face lit up and she eagerly agreed.

They left the restaurant and began strolling down the beach. Sand was getting in her shoes so he encouraged her to take them off.

"I'll carry then for you Kens."

"Thanks Marty." She wriggled her toes in the sand and gave a contented sigh. "This feels so good. The sand is warm. Where are we going?"

"I've been wanting to show you this secluded part of the beach I found when I was young. I go there sometimes to think about things. Not many people even know about it except for surfers, but since it isn't a good surf spot or near the shops, visitors and surfers don't bother going there. I thought we could watch the sunset together. What do you think?" He was so nervous and afraid she'd say no to his idea that he could feel his hands shaking.

"That sounds nice…real nice. But then after the sun sets, ice cream. Deal?"

"Deal! I know not to get between you and your sugar cravings Kiki." He laughed as she lightly punched him on the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Big baby. I didn't hit you that hard."

He made a big show of looking at his arm and teasing her "That's going to bruise, I just know it. You love beating me up, don't you." He wrapped his arm around her waist and bumped hips with her.

"Just keeping you in line. And don't you forget the ice cream or I may hit you again."

"Bully."

"Big baby."

They were both laughing at the absurdity of their conversation by that point.

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They continued strolling down the beach just taking in the sounds of the ocean lapping the shore, the gulls flying overhead and enjoying the warm weather and each other. Once they were almost to the rocks that hid the section of beach he was aiming for, all that was left was to go around them and then down a small hill to where, he hoped, Sam and Callen had completed the preparations. The sun was getting lower in the sky, painting it with beautiful reds, yellows and oranges as they rounded the rocks. He turned her slightly and pointed out something on the beach before her.

He heard her gasp as she read the words, "I love you, my Ladybird, today, tomorrow and for eternity" written with small rocks. There were bunches of her favorite flowers at the top of the words. He looked at them and then into her face so thankful he had a team that came through for him.

"Marty, I…I don't know what to say. This is beautiful. You do know I love you too, right?"

"Yes I do. Come on. There's more I want you to see." He took her hand and led her down the hill toward the words. As they got closer, she could see a blanket on the sand spread with what looked like a picnic. There was a cooler and a large shell sitting to one side as well.

"What's this? We've already eaten." Kensi was confused until she realized what the cooler meant. "Is this dessert?" Ice cream?"

He nodded his head "Yes, sweets for my sweet."

"You're so cheesy Marty!" she laughed opening the cooler. Seeing two of her favorite flavors of ice cream, she grabbed two spoons and a carton of Double Double Chocolate Chip. "Come on, let's dig in." She handed a spoon to him.

Marty realized the sun was beginning to set so reached out and took both spoons from her and put them and the ice cream back in the cooler. "I have something I want to say before we have our dessert."

"Can't it wait until after dessert? Pretty please?" Kensi had an adorable pout on her face.

"It can't wait, Kens. This is really important, okay?"

She gave him a quizzical look. "Okay, if it's really important, I guess I can wait. So spill it, mister. What's so important that I have to wait for dessert? I'm hungry and the ice cream is calling my name; I want my dessert before it melts."

His knees were shaking he was so nervous. "Kensi, even though I didn't want to admit it at first, I've loved you since the day you walked into the Blood and Guts Gym. The minute I set eyes on you I knew you were the one I had been waiting for and I was yours from then on. That love has only grown and become stronger through everything we've experienced; all the good and bad that we've seen. I know we've had some issues with communication, but not any more. I can't imagine my life without you; you complete me in every way. You make me a better man, a better cop and a better agent. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He picked up the shell that was sitting on the blanket and held it out to her. "Look inside the shell, there's something in there I want you to have."

Kensi took the shell from him, and saw a ring box. While she was doing that, he slowly sank to one knee. Her eyes became huge and one hand went up to cover her mouth. She dropped both the shell and the ring box she was so surprised. "That's a box…a ring box to be exact." When she saw him down on one knee, she felt her heart start hammering and tears begin to gather in her eyes. "He's not going to propose, is he? We haven't really talked about marriage. I mean we only moved in together a few weeks ago. What am I going to say?" She saw him watching her with fear on his face. His blue eyes were turbulent with emotion and he looked like he was afraid she was going to run.

He felt his heart in his throat as he reached down and picked up the box. "Kensi Marie Blye, I love you with all my heart and soul. You are the part of me that's been missing my whole life. I didn't know what real love was until you came into my life. Will you marry me and make all of my dreams come true?" He was holding the box out with both hands hoping her answer would be yes. If she said no or ran, he didn't know what he was going to do. He figured he'd probably get roaring drunk and then destroy something.

Kensi continued standing there without saying a word. She could see eternity in his eyes but she couldn't seem to make her body obey her. She knew he would always be there for her but would she be good for him? What if she screwed everything up? What if she made him miserable? She was frozen in place, not sure what to do.

He was beginning to get worried. His palms were sweating and his gut was twisting as he asked again "Kensi? Did you hear me? Will you marry me?"

"Oh Marty. You're asking me to marry you aren't you." She gasped.

"Yes. Will you? I'm dying here. Please say yes."

"Are you sure this is what you want? What if I screw everything up?"

"I love you Kensi. If you love me too, we can get through anything. You're not going to screw anything up. We've already proven that. Please Princess, answer my question before I have a heart attack. Will you marry me?" He felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest waiting for her decision.

"Oh Mary, if you're sure…then yes! Yes I'll marry you. I love you so much."

Marty opened the box, gently pulled out the ring and put it on her finger.

She looked down and gasped again. "Oh, it's perfect Marty. Where did you find it?" She was looking at the ring with its oval-shaped blue sapphire in the center of three graduated baguette diamonds on each side. "Are those vines on the band and holding the middle stone?"

"Yes. I, um, I designed it and had it made for you."

She looked down at him with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. "It's so beautiful. The sapphire matches your eyes. I love it and you so much. You couldn't have picked a better engagement ring for me."

He jumped up and grabbed her around the waist, his face shining and laughter in his eyes. He twirled her around while crowing "You said yes…you said yes! We're getting married. This is the best day of my life!"

Kensi had a huge smile on her face. "Put me down you doofus!"

He put her down while keeping her wrapped up in his arms. His heart was so full, he thought it might explode into a million pieces of light he was so happy. He turned her so her back was to him with his arms wrapped around her as they watched the sun set in all of its glory.

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A/N: This is the end of another story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks again nherbie for your wonderful reviewing skills! The story wouldn't have been nearly as good without you.

Fini