I approach my old my friend and give him a hug, as Kensi was approaching Jenna and gives her a hug too.
"How have you been, man?" I ask Ray after we break the hug.
"I've been good; although the wife has been keeping me pretty busy." Ray says.
"I would say I know the feeling, but it's been a busy nine years. And none of it Kensi doing." I say.
"So you and Wikipedia?" Ray asks.
"It's hard to believe you two got this far." Jenna says.
"It was a natural progression for us. It took us sometime, but we got there. Sorry about the phone call." I say.
"Or lack thereof." Ray say, teasingly.
"If it's okay with you guys we're going to go up to our room." Noa said.
"Sure thing. We have a few days to kill in Miami anyways." Kensi said.
"You clear it with Hetty I take it?" I ask Kensi.
"Yep." Kensi said.
"See you guys when you get back." Sam said.
"Bye Uncle Sam, Uncle Callen, and Aunt Noa!" Both Conor and Clair exclaimed.
"Good night Clair and Conor." Sam, Callen, and Noa said.
With the good nights said Sam, Callen and Noa went upstairs for the night; while Ray's family and my family move over to the couches in the atrium. Ray and Jenna have two kids: a girl name Riley who is eleven years old, and a boy named Ryan who is eight years old. Jenna got another job working behind a deli counter, and Ray works as a delivery driver for the same company that Jenna works for.
"About three years after you guys left I made the jump to becoming a federal agent." I say.
"Do you regret that decision?" Jenna asked.
"That's a rhetorical question." I say. "Ray, if you would do the honors."
"L.A.P.D. hated him, honey." Ray told Jenna.
Jenna shrugs her shoulders, and then wraps an arm around one Ray's arms.
"I'm happy for the career move, now I don't have to worry about him being pulled back for a some ridiculous assignment." Kensi said.
"There was nothing left me for as a cop, so it was the next logical choice for me to make." I say. "Best decision I have ever made."
I give Kensi a kiss, and she kiss me back.
"I love being able to kiss freely." Kensi said.
"That makes two of us." I say with a smile.
"Get a room you two." Ray said teasingly.
"We will." Kensi says.
We continue to talk for an hour before our kids tells us it's time to call it a night. Kensi and I carry Conor and Clair up to our hotel room, while Ray holds Riley's hand as they walk out to the car, and Jenna carries Ryan out to their car. Before we leave I ask if they want to meet us for breakfast, and a then day at the beach; Ray was up for it. We decide to meet at a restaurant around the corner from here at eight in the morning, and then head to the beach. We head up to our room, and put Conor and Clair to bed. There's a knock at the door, and it's Sam.
"Hetty said that you guys don't have to be back to work until Monday." Sam said.
Monday was two days away; short stay, but I'll manage.
"We'll enjoy it." Kensi said.
"Anything you need from us until we get back?" Sam asked.
"Could you pick us up from the airport?" I ask.
"No problem." Sam said.
Sam left, and then Kensi and I took a shower together. We make love in the shower. After we finish our shower Kensi whispers in my ear.
"That was my favorite session by far."
"Any time I make love to you is my favorite, but that was definitely in the top ten." I say.
After we get dried off and dressed we crawl into bed cuddling together as we drift off to sleep. The next morning I get Conor and Clair dressed and then take them down to stretch their legs, while Kensi sleeps for a little bit longer. At seven thirty we come back to get Kensi, and she is dressed and ready to go. As we're exiting the hotel I see Ray, Jenna, Riley and Ryan walk toward us. I see the kids run towards each other and greet each other, as Kensi and I greet Ray and Jenna with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. We all head to the restaurant, and carried on in small talk.
Riley and Ryan were explaining to Clair and Conor all the things they wanted to show them to day; all the adults laugh at their conversation. Breakfast was uneventful, and fast. After breakfast we walked to the beach, which was conveniently located two blocks from our hotel. When we get to the beach I head for the surf shop, and rent a wet suit and a board. It's been five years since I've surfed last. Jenna and Kensi relaxed on the beach, and chatted under the umbrella's we brought. While Ray was watching the children play in the surf. I surf for about twenty minutes before I see Ray wave me over. So on my return trip I surf my way over to him.
"So how did it happen?" Ray asked. "How did you two end up getting married?"
"It was done in private." I say. "We had our parents come watch, and then we went on our honeymoon in Hawaii."
"Your mom is back in the picture?" Ray asked.
"Yeah, it was strange because I was working a case that started when I was a detective almost twenty years." I say.
"Was she happy to see you?" Ray asked.
"She was shock to see me after not talking for almost a decade, but yeah she was happy to see me." I say.
"She also made a crack about her son being shaggy." Kensi joining the group.
Jenna, Ray and Kensi were laughing at Kensi joke, but I paid her back by smacking her butt.
"Whoa!" Kensi shouted.
I blew her a kiss, and winked at her. Kensi playfully glared back at me; I gave Kensi a kiss. I got back on my board, and paddle back out to sea.
"Thank you for taking care of my friend." Ray told Kensi.
"It was my pleasure, but I think he was taking care of me just as much I was taking care of him." Kensi said.
"You two look no worse for wear." Jenna says
"It was pretty rough for a couple of years. Conor had to be raised by a couple of our friends because of an assignment went south." Kensi said.
The memory of being separate from her son stills haunts Kensi to this day.
"You made it through, even with some scars to show for it." Jenna said, as she hugged Kensi.
"Thank you." Kensi said, after she regained her composure.
By lunch time I had to return my suit and board, and then join the rest of the group on the blankets. We sat and talked for a little longer before heading out to get lunch. Come Sunday, we said good bye to Ray and his family.
"Do you think we could do this again some time?" Ray asked.
"I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to, but it might be inadvisable. I think Hetty might be able to work something with you handler where we might be able to stay in touch." I say.
"I'd like that." Ray said.
We said our good byes, and then my family boards the plane, but I don't board until I saying.
"Never shoot back."
"Always shoot first." Rays says back.
And that was the last time I saw Ray. A few weeks later Hetty got permission for us to communicate with Ray through unofficial channels. When we land in L.A. Sam was waiting for us. We all hug Sam, and then the kids talk Sam's ear off the entire ride back to Ops. I run into Ops to get my keys, and then head back out to our suv. I unlock my vehicle before entering the garage. By the time I get back out Clair and Conor were already asleep. Kensi was giving Sam a hug good bye, and then got in the vehicle. I give Sam a hug good night.
"See you tomorrow." I say.
"Tomorrow." Sam says.
With that I get in, and drive my family home. When we get home Kensi and I put Conor and Clair to bed, and then we go to bed ourselves; cuddling the whole night.
N.C.I.S. L.A.
The next morning at Ops Sam was walking in to Callen coming down from ops with Noa.
"What's the word?" Sam asked.
"Got a lead on that case we pick up on Friday." Noa said.
"What case?" Kensi asks, as we enter ops.
"Dead marine." Sam said.
"I'm not going in first, or undercover" I say.
Everybody chuckle at my joke.
"You will go undercover if the situation calls for it, Mr. Deeks." Hetty said.
"I'm not saying I won't go undercover at all Hetty. I just don't want to go in first, and without proper back up." I say.
"Fair enough." Hetty says.
Hetty walks over and holds her arms out. I knee down and hug my boss. Kensi and I put our bags at our desk, holster out guns, and then head back out to the garage.
It's was good to be back. Even better to be back with my wife and children. I think.