A few months passed and the team got used to Deeks being around. It was a typical morning and the team was called up to OPS for a case. They walked in and stopped dead. There was a girl standing there smiling at them.

"Everyone I'd like you to meet Nell Jones. She'll be working with Mr. Biel here in OPS from now on."

The team looked at Eric who looked pissed but was holding it back. Eric was used to being top dog in OPS. Now he had to share that billing. Nell smiled at them all before moving to take her spot. Kensi watched her. She knew how Nell must be feeling. It's never easy being the new guy.

By the end of the case Eric was ready to scream. They found him pacing in the hallway.

"Eric you ok man?" asked Sam.

"She is driving me crazy. She has to get the last word in, has to be right all the time. I can't take it anymore."

"You need to give her time Eric." Said Kensi. "Look at it this way." She put her hand on Eric's arm. "Nell is new here and doesn't know anyone. Plus she probably feels like she needs to prove herself to us."

"Maybe."

"Remember how Callen always called me little miss know it all when I started?"

"Yeah you hated it."

Deeks looked at Callen and glared at him. Callen shrugged back.

"I was doing the same thing and it drove the guys crazy."

"Ok fine I'll give it time."

Eric walked away. Deeks however turned to face Sam and Callen. "You called my wife names?"

"Come on Deeks you know how Kensi can get. Spouting off weird facts all the time." Said Callen.

"Still you didn't need to call her names."

"We never called her it to her face." Mumbled Callen.

"Yeah how did you know?" asked Sam.

"Eric told me." Kensi smiled at Callen. "I've been called worse."

"You shouldn't have done that." Said Deeks. "Kensi can't help it that she's smart. She shouldn't have to hide it."

"Deeks we know Kensi is smart. That's why she's on our team." Said Callen. "And we haven't called her names in a very long time. It was only like the first month till we got to know her and realized how important she was to our unit."

"Ok fine." Deeks said. "But I still don't like it."

Deeks walked off leaving Kensi alone with Sam and Callen. "We're sorry Kensi."

"It's fine really." Kensi smiled at them. "I can be a bit of a know it all."

One thing Kensi had learned working for Hetty was that she could be herself. Even if the guys teased her they did it out of love. "Anyways families tease right?"

"Right." Said Sam putting his arm around Kensi as they walked down the hall.

"But don't forget I can still kick your ass any time any place." Said Kensi.

"Yeah we will never forget that ever."

That night the team was getting ready to head out for drinks. Kensi headed to the bathroom and found Nell standing in front of the mirror crying.

"Nell you ok?"

"Eric hates me."

"No Eric isn't used to being around girls. He thinks of me as one of the guys."

"He doesn't want to work with me."

"I'm going to tell you something. The guys are very protective of this place and the team. It will take some time for you to fit in but trust me you will and things will be fine." Kensi handed Nell some tissues. "I never fit in anywhere until I came here. It took a few months but now I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Thanks Kensi."

"Hey us girls need to stick together."

Nell smiled at her.

"Ok get cleaned up the team is going to dinner and you are coming with us."

"I don't think I should."

"You're coming with us." Kensi hugged Nell. "Come on the guys are waiting."

Kensi went out first. "Ok Nell is upset. She is coming with us and you four are going to be nice to her understand."

Eric leaned into Deeks. "Man your wife scares me when she gets like this."

"Yeah but it also makes the sex supper hot."

Eric looked at Deeks his eyes bugging out of his head.

Nell joined them and the team headed out. After about an hour Nell felt way better. The guys ended up being very sweet to her. Things got even better when she offered to buy the next round.

"Trust me, food and beer get them every time." Said Kensi laughing as Eric almost fell off his chair.

"Man down." Said Sam as Callen pushed Eric back into his seat.

"Ok I think it's time to get you boys home." Said Kensi.

"I can drop Eric off." Said Nell.

"Thanks Nelly." Slurred Eric. "You know you really are pretty."

"Ok let's go Eric." Nell started to push him towards the door. "See you guys on Monday."

"Night Nell." Callen Kensi.

"Eric is a goner." Joked Sam.

"Yep I give them two years and we'll be dancing at their wedding." Added Callen.

"Well Princess looks like you got that best friend you always wanted." Said Deeks as he pulled Kensi into his body.

"Nell is a nice girl. She just needs time that's all."

Nell kept looking over at Eric. He was passed out in her passenger seat snoring. Maybe Kensi was right. Eric was a real geek that was for sure. She started to wonder if he ever had a girlfriend before. This made her chuckle.

Once they pulled up in front of Eric's apartment building Nell poked him a few times.

"Eric wake up your home."

"Huh… wha…" Eric said finally opening his eyes. "How did I get here?"

"I drove you."

Eric looked over at Nell. "Oh."

Nell shook her head. "Ok Eric out you go."

Eric opened the door and took one step before corkscrewing into the pavement. Nell shook her head and got out to help Eric up. Lucky for her he lived on the first floor. Nell got him into the apartment and onto his couch. Eric was once again out cold.

Nell looked around the living room. Everywhere she looked there were toys. Little plastic men and women, weird looking ships of some sort. It reminded Nell of her nephews room. Looks like Kensi was right Eric had no clue about women.

She pulled a blanket over Eric and headed home.

Monday Nell found Kensi to tell her about Eric's home.

"I told you so."

"I know it was like being in a toy store." The girls giggled over it bonding. That was until Eric walked in and they both stopped looked at him and started laughing again.

"I'm going to tell Hetty." Said Eric.

"Tell Hetty what exactly?" asked Nell getting a bit too close to Eric. Eric sputtered and backed up.

"I don't know yet but I'll think of something."

The girls were still laughing when the rest of the team joined them for the case. Sam and Callen looked at the girls to Eric and shrugged. They were not about to say anything.

Deeks was just happy to see his wife with a female friend. They spent a lot of time with Ray and Kip but Kensi really needed another female.

As they headed out to the crime scene. "I'm glad you and Nell are getting along."

"She's really funny. Nell said Eric's apartment looked like a toy store." Kensi laughed and Deeks couldn't help but smile.

"That bad huh?"

"Oh yeah. She really should have taken pictures."

Deeks figured the guys were right Eric had met his match.

That night Kensi walked into the living room to find Deeks sacked out on the couch. He was on the phone talking to Ray.

"Ray man all I can say is you better watch your ass man. You keep this up and you're going to be sorry." Kensi moved Deeks legs and sat down. He kicked them back up on to her lap. "Ray this is bad really bad. You are walking a thin line my friend." Deeks listened and shook his head. "Yeah I'll talk to you later."

"Ray out running guns again?"

"No but he got an order to removes some serial numbers from some. He's recording them and who is buying them. Wants me to pass the information on to major crimes."

"He really needs to get a real job." Said Kensi. "It scares me that he's out there doing this stuff."

"Scares me too Princess."

"So I was thinking we could go out to that new all you can eat place Saturday."

"Kensi we can do anything you want." Deeks looked over at her and smiled.

Kensi ran her hand up his leg to where his hand was and laced their fingers. "I'm so glad I married you."

"I'm glad I had the nerve to talk to you that day on the beach."

Kensi smiled at him. "My dad always said that some things were meant to be and if they were there was no stopping them."

"I would have liked your dad."

"He would have liked you too."

"Kensi have you ever thought about looking for your mom?"

"No why?"

"Just wondered."

"Marty just because you're close with your mom doesn't mean I want to be close to mine."

"I know."

Kensi looked back at the tv. They had some movie playing but Kensi wasn't really paying attention to it. It wasn't that she didn't miss her mom. They had never been really close when she was growing up. Kensi had spent most of her time with her dad learning to track, shoot and work on cars. Her mom had once entered Kensi in a beauty pageant. Kensi hated it, the dresses and makeup, the prancing around on stage.

Kensi had ended up tripping and falling flat on her face that day. Her mom had been so pissed. She had dragged Kensi out to the car yelling at her the entire time. After that she had given up on Kensi.

Which was fine with Kensi. She spent her time reading when her dad was away and following him around everywhere he went when he was home. That was until he was killed in action. Then Kensi had made a decision. As soon as she was eighteen and out of school she would leave.

She hadn't seen her mother since. Hetty had told her that she had gone back to her maiden name but hadn't remarried. That and she was now living somewhere in Los Angeles. Kensi hadn't wanted to know more.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Stuff."

"Sexy stuff?"

"No goof just stuff." Kensi laughed at her husband. "Mostly my dad."

"If we ever have a son we should name him after your dad."

"I'd like that."

Saturday found Kensi and Deeks in line for their new favorite place to eat. Kensi loved it because they had food from all over. Deeks loved it because it was cheap and he thought that watching Kensi eat certain foods was sexy as hell. He would never admit that out loud but the girl could kill a hot dog like no one.

They got seated and Kensi headed up for food. Deeks waited till she had her first plate before he got his. "I have no idea where you put it all?"

"I skipped lunch today."

An hour and half later Deeks was watching Kensi polish off her second dessert plate.

"Princess you're going to need to find a way to work off all those carbs."

"That's where you come in handy." Kensi said and licked off a spoon which made Deeks groan.

They headed out soon after and Deeks asked Kensi if she wanted to go to the beach and take a walk.

"That sounds nice."

They drove to their favorite spot and parked. Kensi put her hand out to Deeks as they started to walk down the path next to the sand. They walked for a while till the sun started to set. Deeks found a spot and led Kensi to it. They sat on the sand Kensi's back to his front and watched the sun set.

"I love you Princess."

"I love you too Shaggy."

As they sat there watching the sun set Deeks thought back to a year after he had met Kensi and they were pretty much doing the same thing as tonight.

FLASHBACK.

Deeks sat holding Kensi against him as the sun set. They were back together after one of his undercover ops. The sun hadn't quite set when Kensi announced she was hungry.

"Fern your always hungry." Joked Deeks.

"Hey I worked all day and we were short so I didn't get lunch."

"Ok fine Lets go get my Princess some food."

They walked up to where the food trucks were set up and Kensi took a seat at one of the tables. "Get me anything."

"You got it."

Deeks sauntered over to place his order. While he was waiting Kensi sat watching the waves.

"Your Kensi right?"

Kensi looked up to see a rather tall man looking down at her.

"I'm sorry do I know you?"

"No but I'm friends with Brent. I may have asked him about you."

Brent worked with Kensi and for the most part was a nice guy.

"Sorry but I'm not interested."

"At least let me introduce myself. I'm Jack."

"Yeah still not interested."

"You should give me a chance. I'm only in town for a few weeks before I head overseas."

"Military?" asked Kensi.

"I'm a Marine."

"Oh. Well good luck."

Kensi went back to watching the water.

"Brent said you were a bit of a cold fish."

"Look whoever you are I'm waiting on my boyfriend to bring us food. I'm not cold I'm just spoken for so get lost."

"Everything ok Kens?" asked Deeks as he put the tray of food and drinks in front of her.

"Yeah this is a friend of some guy I work with."

"Brent said you weren't dating anyone."

"I keep my personal life just that… personal."

"Ok fine but if you change your mind Brent can hook us up."

Kensi snorted and took a bite of her taco. Deeks watched the guy walk away. "I don't like that guy one bit."

"Neither do I." said Kensi. "I may need to find a new job."

"Yeah might be a good idea."

Kensi looked over at Deeks who was still watching Jack walk away. "Hey Marty look at me." Deeks looked over at her. "I'm only interested in you ok."

"I know." Deeks leaned in and kissed her

"Doesn't matter how long we're apart it will always be you ok."

"I love you Kens."

"I love you too Marty."

PRESENT.

"Come on Princess lets head home and work off all that food you ate tonight."

"You read my mind."

Off in the distance a lone figure stood watching and remembering also…..