"Why are you so quiet?" Deeks questioned his girlfriend. Girlfriend he thought. The many years it had taken for them to get to this moment was finally worth it as he drove his truck up to Mammoth with her by his side.

Kensi shrugged, "just thinking." Deeks placed his hand on her knee.

"Are you regretting asking me to go all in?"

Kensi shook her head, "What? No, I just..." she paused not wanting to ruin their trip, but she was curious about something.

"What is it Kens?"

"It's nothing, it's stupid."

"I can tell when something's bothering you in that pretty little head of yours."

Kensi let out a small sound that was something between a laugh and a snort.

"I may not be able to fool you, but you can't fool me either."

"I know," she whispered looking down, moving her hand to pet Monty who was laying between them. The pooch was moaning softly in pleasure from her strokes. He nuzzled his head next to Deeks' hand on her leg.

"He loves you, ya know."

Kensi smiled, wondering if Deeks was only referring to Monty. "Tell me what's bothering you, remember partners don't keep secrets, and we're kinda partners in life now too, not just work."

Kensi took in a deep breath, "I don't really have a right to ask, but have you been with anyone else since we first were together."

Deeks let out a chuckle, "Really? That's what's bothering you?"

"I don't know. Maybe you've taken all your past ladybirds to Mammoth." She tried to bring a smile to her face.

"I thought now that we were official, that little green eyed monster would have gotten buried."

Kensi knew she was being ridiculous, but it had been bothering her for awhile. Especially since Talia had made many innuendos about her and Deeks. She was in Afghanistan, he was alone, nothing was concrete between them, she couldn't blame him if he had been with another woman. Deeks could tell she was certainly perturbed by the notion of him being with anyone but her.

"Baby," he said sweetly gliding his hand up and down her thigh, "you want the truth?"

Kensi's nerves bundles in her stomach. She felt like a school girl again. She was afraid of his answer, but of course she wanted the truth. "Yes," she said with a hint of fear he could sense.

"I haven't been with anyone since I met you. Ya I went on a few dates in the beginning, but nothing felt right. Work was the only place I wanted to be, next to you."

Kensi let out a little sigh of relief. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok. I know I have a wheel house," he smiled with his beautiful veneer, referencing when the partners went undercover at Tranquility Spa Rehab Center. Hetty had admitted Deeks' alias to the clinic as a sex addict, informing him this mission was in his wheelhouse. "But I only have a wheel house for you."

Her tension released a bit and she slid her hand on top of his and laced their fingers together.

"You were really bothered by the thought of me with someone else?"

Her brown eyes looked his way before looking down. "I don't know, our thing has been between us for so long, I thought maybe part of the reason you didn't want to try was because of other women."

Deeks couldn't help but laugh, "you realize for the past almost year, we've been basically staying with each other every night? And we're together every day?"

"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"Eh," Deeks joked. "Crazy for me," he winked.

"You're such an idiot."

"But an idiot that you like."

They arrived at Mammoth, a few minutes later. Kensi waited with Monty in the car while Deeks checked in. Their cabin was a little way down the road. Deeks hopped back in the truck and drove to their home away from home for the next few days.

"Ok Kensilina, close your eyes."

"What? What for?"

"Just close them, for me?"

Kensi rolled her eyes before doing as she was asked. He led her to the door and into the cabin. She could hear a fire already roaring. "Can I open them?"

"Alright," he let her gauge the room and find the treasure of marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and beer of course.

"Perfect" She giddily said running over to poach a marshmallow on a fire rod.

"You're so easy," he wrapped his arms around her while she toasted her marshmallow to perfection.

"Really?" She eyed him. "We will see who's easy." She opted to eat her marshmallow without turning it into a s'more. She slowly bit part of the gooey goodness, then turned around to tease Deeks with the remaining piece. She moved it near his lips then pulled it away taking another small bite.

"You're such a tease."

"I'm just getting started."

"Come here," he grabbed her and began kissing her marshmallow and all. He pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddling him. She could feel him stiffen between her legs.

"Who's easy now?" She taunted.

He brushed her hair away from her face and pulled down her turtleneck. He placed small kisses from her ear to her neck. His touch sent shivers down her spine. This would be the first time they would make love as a couple. Kensi tried to pull away to make him beg, but his grip was tight. He wasn't ever letting this woman go, and he was determined to make sure she knew she was the only one for him. He moved the front of her sweater down to kiss the skin beneath it. Small whimpers came from her mouth.

"Do you want to see how easy I am for you and only you."

Kensi let out a soft giggle, realizing she didn't have to be insecure anymore. He was putty in her hands. Kensi kissed his lips then moved to his ear and neck. He echoed the sounds of pleasure she emitted moments ago. He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. "I wanted to ask you to be my ladybird officially tonight."

"But I beat you to the punch?"

"Mmhmm, your so impatient sometimes," he smiled kissing her. She pulled back and gave him a look, then began kissing him. He was growing harder as she softly hit spots that caused him more ecstasy than he'd ever felt."

"Now whose growing impatient?" She teased sliding her hands down his chest.

"Touché" he grumbled. He picked her up still straddling him and carried her to the bed where he gently laid her down. He was kissing her more passionately. He ran his hands down to her jeans and unbuckled them.

Kensi sat up and returned the gesture. She slid his jeans to the ground, while he stepped out of them. He stood before her in his Superman boxers that had now become her favorite. She smiled at the sight of them. He was clearly ready to make love to her. He finished removing her jeans kissing her legs as he took them off. He lifted her sweater over her hands and head and then removed his own shirt. He laid on top of her kissing her lips, moving down her neck to her breasts. He unfastened her bra and suckled on her mounds of flesh. Kensi couldn't help but let out little sounds of joy. Tired of letting him lead, she flipped him over and remained straddled on top of him. She kissed down his chest to his stomach and slowly removed his boxers. He pulled her up to him and flipped her back over. Their eyes locked.

"I want to show you that your the only ladybird I'll ever need."

Those words gave Kensi much pleasure. She relaxed her legs and let Deeks glide in. He slowly pushed in deeper causing her to let out a louder moan. Deeks moves slow and gentle with her. He kissed her between every movement. The roar of the fire seemed to echo the heat between them. They were engulfed by each other, making love as a couple for the first time, until they passed out from the exhaustion of emotion that over came them.

The weekend passed too quickly. It was Christmas Morning and they had to head home so they could work tomorrow. "Do we really have to go?" Kensi complained.

"I mean we could open up a little tiki snow bar and stay here, but you'd miss the excitement of getting shot at everyday."

"Thank you," she kissed his cheek. "This was the best Christmas ever."

Her eyes saddened a little. Christmas was never easy for her. She wanted to forget the past of being left on Christmas morning and move forward.

He lifted her face and kissed her, "I have something for you," he handed her a small box. "Merry Christmas Kens,"

"What's in the box, Deeks?" She cackled.

"Open it,"

Kensi looked up hesitantly. She opened the box with anticipation. Inside was a folded piece of paper. Kensi looked with questioning eyes at her new boyfriend.

"Before you read it, let me explain. After I was tortured last year, you know I wasn't sleeping."

Kensi nodded, knowing what a difficult time he had. She let him continue.

"There was many hours in the day in which I had time to process my thoughts. Meeting a few times with Nate helped put things in perspective. He told me to write my feelings down. That way I could see what I was thinking, since it was all jumbled in my brain. When I started writing my thoughts about you, I couldn't stop. Eventually, while you were in Afghanistan, I put those thoughts into a letter for you. I don't really know if I ever intended to give it to you back then, but I guess I decided it was time. I'm gonna take Monty for a walk before we head home, so you can read it alone."

Kensi kisses his cheek and nodded. She took the box and sat in the chair near the fire place. She carefully unfolded the letter and began reading.

"Dear Fern,

It's March 4,2014. You've been gone now for almost 3 months. I wake up in the mornings hoping each day will be the day your waiting in the bullpen for me so we could go kick some bad guys' asses. Every night before I fall asleep, i think about your smile, your laugh, everything that got me through the torture, it's all that gets me through the cold Lonely nights now, that and our secret chats that Nellasaurous set up for us. However, I do think she's falling in love with me, If only I could tell her that Fern is the only ladybird for me. I miss your smell of sunshine and gunpowder. I made a promise to myself, when you come home I'm going to tell you how I feel and stop being a terrible communicator. Insert snarky smile because you think you were right. I'm scared of losing everything, our jobs, our partnership, but in my heart, I know it will be worth it, to be able to call you mine. Before you left, you were scared too, but I promise, if you give us a chance it will be amazing. Today, we had a case and we teamed up with DEA. I was partnered with what some would say was a stone cold fox, she obviously was intrigued by the Deeksness I emit, who could blame her honestly. Large smile here. In the past, I may have entertained the idea, but honestly Kens, your it for me. I just hope that when you come home, I can be brave enough to tell you to your face. We can ride around in my truck, go bowling, get ice cream, all the things i told you we could do. Maybe giving me your dads knife was just a knife, but I want it to make us official. I don't want to spend another night without you next to me. You being gone has made me come to terms with my feelings. So there I said it, I like you Kensi Marie Blye, as so much more than a work partner. I trust you with everything, including my heart.

Only yours,

Max

Kensi was baffled. She knew their thing was more than either would acknowledge, but she had no idea he had truly felt the same as her for so long. She felt dumb for being so worried about Him being with anyone else. He came through the door moments later. Kensi rose from the chair and walked over to him not saying a word. She put her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him as heartfelt as she could. He closed the door lips still locked. He paused for a moment to let Monty off his leash. "We have an hour til check out," he smiled.

She regained contact with his lips. They spent the next hour entwined in a tangled mess of their bodies and sheets. Enjoying every ounce of their new found relationship.

"We need to hit the road," Deeks moaned.

"I know." Kensi sadly agreed leaning over to kiss Deeks before exiting the bed. They gathered their belongings, Kensi hooked Monty back on his leash and the approached the door. She looked back at the mess they had created of the bed and smiled. Nervous and excited for the future in the real world. Deeks threw the bags over his shoulders and took Kensi by the hand.

The couple was content for the majority of the drive home. "How long are we going to be able to hide us?" Kensi began letting fear overcome her.

"Hey," he squeezed her hand that he had barely let go of, "if I have to go back to LAPD for us to stay together, I will."

"But I love working with you. Being your partner..."

"I know. We're good at what we do. We're gonna be fine."

"I hope so."

The next few weeks went well. The pair felt they were doing an amazing job hiding their personal relationships at work. They would go to one another's house every night, wake up go to work. They were never separated. Kensi felt Nell had a suspicion. She was brilliant after all. But true girl code and friendship, kept their secret. She needed her red head friend's help one day to surprise Deeks for his birthday.

"Nell, can you get everyone on board to meet at the restaurant tonight? I don't want anything to let on," she winked at her friend.

"I got it," Nell winked back.

The day was slow, Nell had informed everyone to meet at the restaurant on the beach in Malibu. Deeks loved the clam chowder there, and being January, the nights were chilly, even in California. Deeks loved his birthday. He was a little sad two years ago, when no one remembered and Kensi's went out with their informant instead of him. Hence the reason for the box, he had yet to open. Last year, she was in Afghanistan and they were only able to get a few encrypted texts across. This year, she was going to make sure everyone was there to celebrate.

"So birthday boy, clam chowder sound good?" Kensi prodded as they got into the Audi.

"Mmmm, I was thinking take out and then to my place so you could check out my birthday suit."

"Your such an idiot!" She loved calling him that. "I really want clam chowder though. You can show me your birthday suit later, I promise." She leaned over and kissed him.

"Whatever my ladybird wants, my ladybird gets. Even if it is the day I graced the Earth with my awesomeness."

Kensi shook her head, "just drive."

When they arrived, Deeks looked confused. "Kens, they look closed."

"Let's just go up and see."

Deeks got out of the truck and opened Her door for her.

"Your such a gentlemen," she smiled.

"I have to keep my baby happy, then she'll keep me happy," he added with a smile.

Kensi felt that deserved a good hefty punch in the arm. "Happy birthday," she laughed.

"I like when you abuse me."

"Come on Loverboy," she pulled him up the stairs.

"See, they are closed for a private event." Deeks observed the sign.

"That never stopped us before," she smirked. "It'll be like an undercover operation."

"I'd rather be under the covers," Deeks slyly replied recalling Kensi's choice of words.

Kensi wasn't amused with his response, "you'll be lucky to get under any covers tonight if you keep it up." She opened the door and walked in. "Happy birthday!" She smiled as all their friends jumped out to surprise him.

"Bab, Kensilina," he stopped himself to not give away their romance.

"Nell helped," she pawned off the credit.

"I knew you were falling in love with me Velma."

"Whatever Shaggy!" Nell responded. "Happy birthday!"

Sam, Callen, Beale, Hetty and Granger came over to toast the birthday boy.

"To friends, family, and the best coworkers ever."

"Thank you," he whispered to his partner, "best birthday ever,"

"Just wait," she muttered back.

The grin he showed made her heart skip a beat. She knew she made his birthday special and that's all that mattered.

Two months had past since they became official. Kensi had decided she would take Deeks to meet her friends. The next morning Deeks was being his usual self, and began teasing KK.

"I think we're moving too fast." Kensi exclaimed as they bantered back and forth about how much time they spent together and Meeting her friends.

"They make me happy,"

"Wait, do I not make you happy?"

"Yes you make me happy, but it's a different kind of happy."

"Wow! Ouch!"

"That came out wrong," she crawled back in the bed and sat on the edge.

"Is this really happening? Are we having our first fight here?"he waited for her response. "Kens?"

"I just," the phone ringing interrupted their conversation.

They both softly answered as to not let on that they were together yet again. The partners looked at each other as they were informed Sam had been shot. They got in separate cars and headed to the mission.

Deeks' Gurkha pal Thapa was part of the task on hand, which ended with Sam taking a bullet in the line of duty. The partners and Thapa were sent out. Kensi headed to check out a lead leaving Thapa and Deeks to discuss the argument. Deeks had an admiration for the cool little dude and even though he pretended to be neutral or leaning towards Kensi's side, Deeks still had a fondness for the Gurkha.

At the end of the day, Thapa saved Sam's life, but paid with his own. He had told Deeks earlier in the day that home was not a place, but a feeling. Staring at his partner, the woman he was so very much falling in love with more and more each day, he suggested they take a night off from each other every now and then. Kensi breathes a sigh of relief.

"I'm so glad you said that."

"Really, then why didn't you just say it first?"

"Because we had that stupid first official fight this morning."

"Can't be our first official fight, cause I don't even remember what it was about," he grinned.

"I remember exactly what it was about!" Kensi retorted.

"Well, I complete forgot, KK."

Kensi looked down but couldn't help but smile. "You ok?" Her concern for her boyfriend won out.

"Ya, I was just thinking about what Thapa told me about smiles. He said that smiles are a , never mind i will a, I'll tell you later."

Deeks leaning towards changing his mind about spending the night together was rambling on which made Kensi start to put on a smile.

"What?" She questioned as he stared at her in awe.

"Your smile is so perfect,"

This made her beam.

"And there it is. Night."

"Just go home," she told him as she walked away.

"Im already there" he whispered without her hearing, Realizing Thapa was right in his summation.

Another few weeks had past by, it was a Sunday and the couple was settling in bed for the night. "I think we should tell the guys," Kensi brought up.

"I don't know, baby." He rustled his hands through his mop.

"It getting harder to keep it secret," she lamented. "I feel like we are lying to them."

"I think Sam and Callen will be cool, I mean Sam and Michelle kinda happened the same way. The wondertwins won't be able to contain their excitement, even the munchkin, who probably had a hand in us somehow will approve, I'm worried about Granger Danger."

"He is hard to read. You said no matter what we'd figure it out."

He sighed a little, "I know. Let's just give it a little longer, ok. Maybe drop hints to see their responses."

Kensi was a bit frustrated, but went along with her partner. They settled in and fell asleep. The alarm went off extra early as the pair wanted to go a little out of their way, to train together without suspicion. While at the park, bantering about Deeks being a lean mean sex machine in his ladybirds opinion, kensi noticed a woman taking pictures of them.

"Do you think I'm being paranoid?" She was always trying to stay vigilant, especially now with so much to lose. They headed to the mission to begin the days work. Hetty immediately split the duo up, pairing Sam and Kensi and Callen and Deeks, in a change of pace.

Deeks and Callen were sent to make sure the C4 given to under cover agents, who were killed earlier that day, were properly tested to not blow up. "So Joelle's good?" Deeks nervously asked. Although he admired Callen, he always felt inferior to the senior agent.

"Jo's is good. She's great."

"Great"

How's Kensi?" Callen figured he'd let the detective know everyone was on to his and Kensi's secret.

"Why would you ask about Kensi? You, you work with her?"

Callen chuckled.

"You know don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Who else knows?"

"Well, let's see, Sam, Nell, Hetty Of course, Beale, he took a while, but he finally got there, the guys in the motor pool, pretty much everyone by now."

"What about Granger?"

"Granger I'm not so sure about, he's definitely mellowed since the poisoning, but he could be biding his time waiting for the right moment to crush you both."

"Well, That is awesome."

"Don't pretend you didn't know the risks."

"I'm just wondering if this partner shuffle has something to do with that."

"That is a question only Hetty can answer."

At that moment, Deeks felt Kensi had been right about letting their team members in on their feelings. After they left, he sat for a moment trying to find the words to say. "Listen Callen,"

"You don't have to explain anything, I get it. Sam definitely gets it. We just wish you would have trusted us enough to be straight forward with us."

"Kensi wanted to, I was just nervous. I'm not one of you," he opened up about sometimes feeling on the outside.

"Your absolutely one of us Deeks, you make this team stronger."

The shaggy haired man was taken back a bit. "Thanks."

"Why you haven't signed the papers to be an Agent yet is beyond me, but that's your call. Just because you and Kensi have a outside relationship doesn't make you any less valuable. I just can't believe it took you two this long."

Deeks laughed. "That might earn a Touché."

Meanwhile, Sam was letting Kensi in on the fact that every knew about the couple.

"Am I ok with my co workers dating, No. Does that mean I want you off the team, hell no. And that goes for a Deeks too. Don't tell him I said that"

Sam filled her in on Michelle and his own adventures and let her know eventually they would have to figure out where this was going. She appreciated the senior teammates advice.

"I wanted to tell you guys sooner, Deeks is really concerned with Granger's reaction."

"He knows how good this team is, I think he'll be ok. If not we got your backs."

"Thank you, Sam."

The team solved the case in their usual manner. Not without some stressful moments, but when the day was done Hetty needed to talk to Deeks. Kensi by his side, the boss they respected so much filled them in that IA was opening an investigation into Deeks. Deeks deep down knew his past was bound to catch up to him, but he was yet to disclose any of it. Kensi in her normal worry fashion began to get knots in her stomach.

"They will use anything against you," Hetty told them.

"Me," kensi sighed sitting next to him.

"For now, stay vigilant, watch the shadows. I will do everything in my power to protect you two."

Kensi felt a little wave of relief, feeling like Hetty was unofficially letting them know she approved of their union.

Deeks was oddly quiet when they got to his place. "You ok? I'm usually the worried one?"

"Ya, just trying to figure out why IA is investigating me." Even though he was fairly certain he knew.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, except I like you," he winked at her lightening the mood.

"Still an idiot!"

"Hey, I meant it earlier when I said nothing was gonna tear us apart."

Kensi moved next to him on the couch. She turned his face towards hers and kissed him softly. "I know. And now that everyone knows, I think we're good."

"Ya, were good," he repeated trying not to get lost in his own worry.