The feedback on this story has been absolutely amazing thus far! I am so (sooooo) excited for where the next few chapters in particular are heading... and I can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store!

Please review as always:)

- Hazel

Kensi wonders how her mother ever thought she could keep them apart.

They walk to class together, eat each meal together, and study for every test together. Today doesn't feel any different to her, not really.

He still smiles at her from across the classroom, insists on carrying her books when they leave class, and makes multiple jokes at her expense to their friends about how loudly she snores.

Deeks plays off the suggestiveness by claiming that this all happened in the car one day while they were driving, but says nothing about the impromptu road trip. It's theirs, so he's not gonna give anyone even a fleeting chance to tease Kensi or himself about it.

Instead, he sends a simple and discreet wink in her direction. She blushes.

At the end of the day, as Kensi's approaching the curb to wait for Deeks after seventh period, her eyes catch on a familiar figure that she almost overlooked completely.

What stands out the most to her is his wardrobe- a crisp, newly dry-cleaned military uniform. Kensi squints at the man, her heart palpitating.

He smiles, and she knows. Her father is home.

"Dad?!" Kensi asks as she sprints towards him, allowing her backpack to slide off of her shoulder and plummet to the ground with a thud.

"Hey Kens," he says, keeping his voice low so it doesn't break. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she replies, both arms wrapped tightly around his neck. It seems as if Kensi had no clue how much his absence was affecting her until she had him back. "But I thought you weren't supposed to be here for two more weeks?"

"Mission ended early."

She's couldn't be more grateful for that fact. His impromptu return is coming at the perfect time, as Kensi's certain that he'll be the perfect voice of reason in the current situation with her mother.

"Mom's just killing me," she says as they separate, his face finally visible to her.

"Not literally, I hope?"

Kensi rolls her eyes. "No, dad. Not literally."

He nods, and there's a brief silence between them. It's almost awkward, and she can't seem to figure out why.

"Your mother says that you have a boyfriend?"

There it is.

Kensi grins, chuckling as her eyes drift down to stare at her feet.

"So she wasn't lying! You do have a boyfriend!" He exclaims with a laugh.

She exhales at her father's calm reaction, as his emotions on the situation have been pretty hard to predict. Being dubbed as 'Miss Independent' for the entirety of her existence thus far means that when Kensi refers to someone as her boyfriend, it's serious.

"Sorta."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know if he's your boyfriend?"

She shrugs, quickly raising and lowering both eyebrows.. "It's what he likes to call himself."

"Hmmm. What's the boy's name?"

"De-" She stops herself before referring to him by his last name. "Martin."

It sounds so strange to Kensi, but highly distinguished to her father.

"Huh. Martin. He sounds... dignified."

She laughs. "He's not."

"Really?"

"Nope. More of a beach bum."

He shoots her a look, and she's quick to improve the statement.

"A dignified beach bum. He just surfs a lot, that's all."

Mr. Blye doesn't look convinced. Kensi rolls her eyes again, walking towards the parking lot and taking him along with her.

"Come on, Dad. I'll tell you alllll about him."

On the drive home, Kensi does just that.

Kensi makes sure to text him too, letting Deeks know that she won't be requiring a lift home.

My dad got home early and picked me up today. See you tomorrow?

His reply comes instantaneously.

That's awesome. Sounds good. Love you.

She smiles at the screen, and Donald immediately takes notice.

"Is that the guy?" He shakes his head. "I just got here. You don't have to start ignoring me so quickly."

"I'm not ignoring you, dad. I just didn't want to leave him waiting for me after class." Kensi waves her phone around in the air before shoving it into the top pocket of her backpack. "See? I'm all yours."

"Good. Otherwise I'd have to give him a hard time." He swallows, only a hint of tease left in his voice. "Julia really doesn't like him."

She snorts in annoyance, looking out the window. "Uh-huh. I figured that part out pretty quickly."

"You skipped school with him?"

Her confidence falters. "I mean... yeah. Once."

"And left for the night without calling?"

Kensi humphs. "Yeah. Once."

He shakes his head. "I think you're just worrying her, Kens. You've never been a 'trouble maker' before."

"But I wasn't making any trouble!" She exclaims, her words coming across a bit more hostile than is totally necessary. Collecting herself, Kensi continues on.

"He just needed to..." She furrows her eyebrows, searching for the right words. "...get away, for a little while."

"Get away from what?"

She lifts her eyes to meet his, contemplating what to say next. Telling him the truth seems like the best idea- Kensi just has to be sure that she prefaces the confession properly.

"Well, Deeks-."

His eyebrows furrow. "Deeks?"

She let it slip. Oh well. Kensi can't go on calling him Martin forever.

"It's his last name. Everyone just calls him that."

"Okay. Now I get where the 'beach bum' thing comes from."

He's smiling, clearly proud of himself.

"Dad!"

"Sorry, sorry. Continue?"

She nods, returning her demeanor to a more serious tone so that it matches up with the context of their conversation.

"His dad... he's just not a good guy."

"How so?"

Kensi shakes her head, staring at her lap.

"He hits him. Among other things."

Her dad stutters over his words. "He-he hits him?"

"Yeah," she answers, deflated.

There's a silence as he takes in the information.

"But Deeks shot him, so it's all okay now."

His eyes wide. "He did what? And how does that make anything okay?!"

Okay, that was probably a horrible way to toss the glaringly important tidbit of information out there.

"No, no... he had to do it, dad. There was no other choice."

"There's always a choice."

"Yeah, maybe," she spits out through a clenched jaw. "Life or death."

He swallows, almost looking sheepish. "That bad?"

Kensi nods, allowing the silence to speak for her.

"Is that why your mom doesn't like him?"

She shrugs, looking back out the window. "Not sure. It seems like a culmination of things, to me."

"Probably because you left."

"Probably."

Kensi remains motionless, her mind drifting as she stares out at the bumper of the car in front of them.

"He's a really good guy, dad. You have to trust me."

Her father sighs, the noise loud enough to make Kensi stop and look at him.

"I'll talk to her."

Both eyes brighten. "You will?"

"Sure. But only on one condition."

"Anything."

He pauses, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "You have to let me meet him."

On what planet is that a 'condition?'

"Yes! Of course! Thank you, thank you, thank you-"

As she reaches over to wrap him up in a hug, the car swerves. Kensi immediately pulls away, grimacing.

"You're driving. Right. Sorry."

"No worries."

The car straightens out, and her mind goes right back to focusing on Deeks.

"I promise Dad- you're gonna love him."

"Am I really?"

"Yes."

"What makes you so sure."

She doesn't miss a beat. "I love him."

Kensi feels the car stall slightly, as if her dad has just instinctively slammed his foot against the brake.

"You love him?"

"Yes."

"Love is a pretty strong word, don't you think?"

"Yes."

"You can't just keep saying 'yes' and expect me to drop it."

"Okay."

"One word answers have the same affect, Kens."

"Sorry."

"Kensi!"

"Okay," she says, laughing. "Look- I really do love him. Maybe after you meet the guy, you'll begin to understand why?"

He nods slowly, eyes narrowed just a hilt.

"Huh. Maybe."