Prompt: Hi! Could you write a Drabble where Fatima is curious about Kensi and Deeks marriage and how they became something more. Thanks
"You want another drink?" Deeks asked Fatima and she shook her head. She and Kensi were sitting at one of the tables a few feet from the bar, discussing her dating woes.
"At this point I can't imagine maintaining a relationship past a few dates. How do you guys balance it all?" she asked, sounding frustrated. "It seems like you have it all figured out."
Deeks glanced at Kensi incredulously and chuckled.
"Yeah, no, that is so not true," he said and Fatima looked surprised.
"Really, cause you guys seem really laidback."
"Laidback? Should we be offended?" Kensi smacked his arm lightly and rolled her eyes.
"It's a compliment," she said, then added as an afterthought, "I think."
"It is," Fatima assured them hastily. "Most of the couples I know fight way more than you two and are practically on the verge of divorce. And they aren't also federal agents who own a bar and talk about having kids someday." She finished looking slightly depressed.
"Somehow that still doesn't sound very much like a compliment," Deeks pointed out. Sighing, Fatima crossed her arms uncomfortably.
"I guess I'm just wondering how you guys got here," she said quietly. Deeks and Kensi glanced at each other, the weight of their gazes heavy and full of meaning.
Rolling her eyes, Fatima added, "I'm not saying that everything went super smoothly and that you guys didn't fight to get to this point. I mean, Sam mentioned something about Deeks proposing three times before you accepted."
"Actually, I was the one who proposed," Kensi said.
"Only after my proposals. And in my defense, one of the times with me she was in a coma," Deeks added. Fatima looked dumbfounded for a moment, started to say something and ended up just shaking her head.
"But I get what you're saying," Deeks said, deciding to take pity in her. "Relationships aren't easy at the best of times and it's even harder with what we do. I mean, we didn't even like each other the first few months of being partners."
"That is not true," Kensi assured Fatima, glaring briefly at Deeks. "We just were different people then. But after a few years we realized that there was something more between us. It took a long time to for us to figure out if we were willing to risk our friendship, and partnership."
"So what made you take that leap?" Fatima leaned forward eagerly.
"We decided to be brave," Kensi answered with a private smile just for Deeks. "And I realized that I was happiest with Deeks and whatever else happened, being with him was the right choice."
Deeks took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back. Fatima shifted, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
"It takes a lot of compromises and sacrifice," Deeks said. "Especially in this field. Every decision you make, you also have to take the job into consideration."
"And it takes someone special." Deeks grinned at that.
"Definitely."
"And realizing that even through all the really sucky times, there's one person you love more than anything and are willing to do anything for." They shared another look and then Deeks cleared his throat, turning to look at Fatima.
"Does that help?" he asked and Fatima shrugged.
"I think it might have actually made me feel worse," she said ruefully. Kensi looked distressed and she added, "I'm joking. Mostly. But you guys have made me realize that I am trying way too hard to make things fit when they don't."
"Don't settle," Kensi told her seriously. "I know it sounds idealistic, but the person you end up with should be your best friend and someone you can trust to be by your side even through bad and really, really ugly times."
"Which means no swiping right on this guy," Deeks said, tapping the screen of her phone in reference to the most recent dating app offering.
"Deeks, it's not tinder. And I thought he was kind of cute," Fatima said, sounding slightly regretful.
"He looks like a player to me. I bet he has multiple accounts."
"This from the guy who used to go to a yoga class just so he could pick up women," Kensi scoffed. "And you tried to make me be your wingman."
"That was a different part of my life, I was a different man," Deeks said reasonably.
"Wait, so did you help him get a date?" Fatima asked, attention now completely them, her would-be date forgotten."
"Not exactly. He told me to act like we were breaking up-"
"And no one needs to hear that story," Deeks interrupted, tugging her towards the kitchen. We have dishes to wash."
"But we already washed them all."
"Well, we'll wash 'em again." Fatima shook her head and smiled as they continued to bicker good-naturedly. Maybe they were perfect role models to have, but they certainly were happy.
