Deeks' home

Well maybe this birthday wasn't so bad, Deeks thought as he walked up the stairs to his apartment. Sam had dragged him off to the Palio Oliver club where Sam, Callen, and Deeks had spent an hour drinking beers and bonding. Now the slightly intoxicated detective was heading home to spend the weekend sleeping off an impending hangover and trying to figure what was going on between Kensi and him.

Deeks paused at the front door when he saw that his mail and newspaper was missing. He pulled out his gun and quickly and quietly unlocked his door. He stepped into his dark apartment and called out, "Monty?"

No sound.

"Ok, seriously boy, you're freaking Daddy out!" Deeks flicked on his living room light and found crumbs trailing from the front door towards his bedroom. What the hell- did the Gingerbread man break into my apartment? the detective thought worriedly. When he stepped into the hallway, Deeks found that the trail of crumbs led to his bedroom door. With his gun in one hand, Deeks placed a hand on the door and gave it a push open.

Kensi was sitting cross legged on the bed with Deeks' violin in hand and an empty brownie case in the other. A music book was open in front of her next to a sleeping Monty. The agent didn't notice that Deeks had walked into the room because of the techno music blasting from the headphones covering her ears.

"Kensi, what the hell!" Deeks yelled. He dropped his arm and then put the gun on the bedside table. On the bed, Monty's ears perked up at his master's outburst. Kensi pulled off her headphones and let them hang around her neck.

"It's about time you showed up," Kensi said. Deeks narrowed his eyes at his partner before saying, "I hadn't expected company tonight. What are you doing here, Kens?"

"We need to talk about your birthday and your musical genius," Kensi stated. She patted the spot on the bed right next to her. "Sit with me, please."

"Kensi, why-"

"Deeks don't make me use my gun!"

Deeks sighed before slipping off his jacket and dropping it onto his desk chair. He quietly walked over to the bed and sat at the edge of the bed. Kensi glared at her partner before pulling him closer to her in the middle of the bed. She glanced down to the violin in her hand and whispered, "I should have realized that you knew how to play back when we had that case with the girl who played the cello."

"It was just a silly little side fact-"

"It wasn't, Deeks. Your violin is one of the things that make you and I should have said something about it. I should know these little things about you just like how you always remember to have chocolate on you for me or how you force yourself to go in the woods because you know how much it means to me."

Deeks remembered their last trip to the woods, which ended in the detective getting two bee stings. "I do it because I'm your partner and that's what people for their partners."

"I'm pretty sure that you mean people that they love," Kensi said. She placed the violin upright in her lap and began singing softly, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Marty, happy birthday to you."

Deeks paused before taking the violin out of Kensi's hands and placing his chin on the chin rest. He took the bow in his other hand and slid the bow across the strings. He then began to slowly play the tune to Happy Birthday while locking his eyes on Kensi. His partner grinned and rocked back and forth to the music.

"How is someone who sings tone deaf in the car play the violin so beautifully?" Kensi joked when Deeks finished playing. Deeks shrugged and placed the violin on the bed. "What makes you think that my singing is really that bad?"

"Touché."

Deeks smirked. "Alright, Fern. Since you feel pretty good about yourself, let's see how musically talented you are!"

"Alright, you're on," Kensi said determinedly. She took the violin in hand, looked at it confusedly, and then said in defeat, "How do I hold it?"

"Put your hand here," Deeks said, taking her hand and placing on the neck of the violin. Kensi placed her chin on the chin rest and then wrinkled her nose.

Deeks raised an eyebrow. "Feeling ok, princess?"

"I can smell the beer on you, Deeks," Kensi replied, letting go of the neck of the violin.

"I am a teeny weeny bit wasted- you can blame Callen and Sam for that. You have to hold the neck of the violin all the time, Kens."

"I only let it go for a second-"

"That was a long two seconds- owww! Deeks yelled out when Kensi punched in the arm. He rubbed his arm and decided to changed tactics. "You know what- let's practice with an imaginary violin before you break mine. Lean back and follow my lead."

The partners both scooted forward and laid back onto the bed. Completely out of character for her, Kensi scooted so close to her partner that her head was his shoulder. Deeks took Kensi's hand and raised it towards the ceiling. She entangled her fingers in his and whispered, "Deeks, I don't know how to tell you this, but-"

"I love you too, Kens," Deeks whispered. "I should have realized it earlier, but I think I found an inspiration to play on my good days too- you."

"Good because you need to play every day and I wasn't going to let you stop," Kensi said in a matter of fact tone. Her expression suddenly turned serious. "I'm so sorry that I forgot your birthday. I know that saying sorry won't help, but I just want you to know that I will make it up to you."

A malicious smile appeared on the detective's face. "Make it up to me? Can it-"

Kensi rolled her eyes. "It cannot have anything to do with my lingerie."

"Ok…"

"Or any new nicknames…"

"Damn, how about-"

"Not that either, Deeks."

"Ah, come on!"

The End