Chapter 39

Their part in the wedding pictures was finally done. The bridal party had been introduced and dinner served. The men had been able to hand their top hats over to the coat check for safe keeping. Other than Deeks's, the others were rentals and needed to go back in one piece. Their glee to get rid of them was short lived and ended when Michelle started using her cell phone to look up where to buy top hats in L.A. with Joelle, Nell and Laura peering over her shoulder. Other than Eric, the men glared at Deeks, who was trying to do his best impression of the Invisible Man.

The clinking of glasses made for one continual musical note for the entire meal, the brides good naturedly kissing even when one time the chime had just been several people clinking glasses after a toast. The room was filled with conversation and laughter. When it came time for the cutting of the cake, Paula had tried to keep it well behaved but Cassie had just smushed her piece right in Paula's face. The ensuing cake battle had everyone in stitches, although it left the cake a little worse for wear.

Once the brides were cleaned up, Chris requested all the single women out on the floor. Kensi, Nell and Joelle joined the other single female guests, giggling as the brides stood with their backs to them, bouquets poised. Together they flung them over their heads, one landing in Joelle's arms, the other in Kensi's. Both women looked stunned. Deeks looked over at Callen who looked like a deer in the headlights. He smirked at the man. Turning, he found Sam's eyes on him. He smiled widely at him and Sam's eyebrow quirked and he opened his mouth to say something when the bridesmaids returned to their table, Kensi and Joelle showing off their trophies and Nell looking a little sad.

Deeks heart squeezed to see his Velma looking down and leaned over to whisper in Kensi's ear. She smiled at him and whispered to Joelle who nodded. Reaching out, he pulled a couple flowers out of each bouquet and made a third, tying it together with some of the ribbon from around the champagne glasses on the table. He stood up and walked over to where Nell sat and handed it to her with a bow and a grin. She smiled up at him and chanced a look at Eric. His mouth was hanging open as his eyes flitted between the bouquet, Deeks and her. Deeks just grinned at him and went back to his own girl.

Vivid Dreams continued to play in the background and he watched Cindy watch Chris with pride on her face. There was so much love here tonight, he thought, feeling surrounded and warmed by it. Cindy had been asked to be in the bridal party but, between the fact that she was still nursing L.C. and that Chris would be playing in the band all night, she had sadly declined. Privately, she had confided in Deeks that the idea of parading around in a full length ball gown had terrified her. He loved Cindy to death, but even he had to admit she was a klutz on wheels. Paula and Cassie had still sat her at the head table with the rest of them anyway. That band of girls stuck together.

When the meal was cleared away, Chris announced the bridal dance. "Could Paula and Cassie please come to the floor for their first official dance as a married couple? The song they will be dancing to tonight is one that was written especially for them as wedding gift from Marty and Kensi. Ladies and gentleman, Paula and Cassie!" Everyone in the room stood and clapped as the two moved onto the dance floor to the opening strains of their song. Deeks moved in behind Kensi and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him as they watched their friends out on the floor in the spotlight. They looked so wonderful together as they danced to the beautiful music being played; staring into each other's eyes as the words that so perfectly described their journey towards this very moment swept over them. When the song and dance finished, there were not many dry eyes left in the room. Kensi turned in his arms and kissed him gently. "You gave them something they will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives!"

He smiled down at her. "WE gave them that, us, together." She returned his smile but felt there was something more behind his words. She was about to ask what when the rest of the bridal party surged past them, intent on heading out to the dance floor when Chris requested they join the brides. The members of Vivid Dreams were all accomplished musicians and the waltz that they began to play was beautifully done. Deeks had gotten all the men, including the Admiral when he was in town, dance lessons at his friend Karen's studio. They had all secretly learned the rudimentary steps of the waltz and were intent on showing their better halves what they could do. Deeks took her hand and bowed over it. "May I have this dance?" She nodded and they headed out to the floor, the brightly clad women in formal gowns making a beautiful contrast to the dark clad men in tails. Cameras were clicking all over the room as the men swung their women in circles to the music.

Once the bridal party had had their waltz, Vivid Dreams began to play a mixture of classic soft rock, original works by the band and snuck in a few more waltzes. Surprisingly, Hetty and Granger, who for some reason the brides had taken a shine to, appeared on the dance floor together more than once. The floor was always full and the NCIS team had finally been introduced to the young man who had accompanied Meaghan to the wedding. She had yet to officially claim he was her boyfriend but the team subjected him to the same treatment they would any young man with designs on their Meaghan. He had no idea that he had just been vetted by the CIA, NCIS and LAPD and passed. He simply mentioned to her later that her parent's friends were a scary bunch. She laughed and told him he had no idea.

When the women disappeared to help the brides change into the going away outfits they would wear on the first leg of their honeymoon tip to Fiji, Deeks wandered out to the balcony overlooking the ocean. Today had cemented something that he had been pondering for a while and he needed to talk to Sam and Callen. If they approved, he would then have to talk to Hetty and Granger. Only when he knew how his plan would impact him and Kensi, would he move forward. He planned to move forward no matter what, he just needed to know what obstacles he may be facing. He turned to hunt the two men down only to find them standing right behind.

"Jeez! You two taking lessons from Hetty? Warn a guy, will you?" he squeaked out.

"Deeks, you were so deep in thought we can have had a marching band announce our arrival and you would still have been oblivious. What's up?" asked Sam. Based on the look on Deeks's face after the bouquet toss, he had a very good idea what it was and was surprised to find that he was okay with it. He hoped his partner and their team leader would think the same.

"I was just coming to look for you two. I need to ask you something." He paused, not sure how to continue now that the moment was finally here.

"Were you planning on asking today?" asked Callen when the silence dragged on.

"What?" He blinked owlishly. "Oh, yeah, yeah, today, yeah today." and stopped again.

"Deeks, spit it out!" Sam gently chided him.

"Okay, okay, here goes." He took a deep breath and blurted out before his courage left him "I want to ask Kensi to marry me and I want, I need, your blessing!"

Callen's jaw dropped open but Sam just smiled, pleased that their friend valued them enough to ask their permission to marry their "little sister". Callen snapped his jaw shut and replied "I can't guarantee that NCIS will let you stay partners, Deeks. I can put in my two cents but ultimately it will be Hetty and Granger and maybe even Vance who makes that decision."

Deeks looked at him with a smile. "I know that Callen and, whatever happens we'll deal with it. I don't want to lose her as my partner and, if we're split up, I will worry about her every second of every day, but that's not what I'm asking you."

Both men now looked confused. "Then what are you asking Deeks?" asked Sam.

"I want to know that both of you approve of me asking her. Nothing to do with work, but as her big brothers, the closest thing she has to male family members, are you okay with me wanting to marry her?" He watched both of them anxiously.

Callen was tempted to let the man sweat a little but his partner punched him in the shoulder, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Sam smiled at Deeks and said "We'd be proud for you to ask her to marry you, Marty. She couldn't find anyone else who will love her as much as you do. I don't envy either of you the life you'll have together but, for some reason, it works." Deeks was too pleased with Sam's response to note that he had called him by his first name. When he thought about it later, he was sure it might have been the first time since they'd known each other.

He looked at Callen, waiting for his response. Callen looked him in the eyes for a few seconds, unable to resist teasing him. When Deeks looked like he was about to crumble, he grinned and said "Better you than me!"

The smile that lit up Deeks's face was blinding. "Thanks you guys! That means so much to me, you have no idea." His smile dimmed a little. "Now I just have to talk to Hetty and Granger. Maybe I should just wait to see if she says yes before braving that?"

A voice piped up somewhere around his rib cage startling all three of the men. "You certainly have my permission Mr. Deeks. Rest assured that I will do everything in my power to make sure that the two of you remain partners, as long as you do everything in your power to keep your personal lives out of our cases."

Deeks nodded enthusiastically, willing to promise anything if it meant being able to marry Kensi and stay on as her partner. For the first time he noticed Granger standing behind his boss. He gulped a little and waited for the man to say something. Granger stared at the detective and finally grinned and said "It's about time."

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A/N – ring shopping and proposal are still a few chapters away. Will she or won't she? I know what I'm hoping for. How about you?

Prior to that, a little Deeks whumping based on some suggestions from reviewers!