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Chapter 43
The morning was a little bit different from the other mornings. Everyone seemed to feel nervous for this day. Kensi could hear Deeks walking around downstairs. From Narah's room came no sounds so Kensi knocked on the door.
'Narah?' she asked. 'Are you ready?' The door opened and revealed Narah. She was dressed, which was a relief for Kensi, but behind Narah was a mess of clothes of books.
'I will be right there,' Narah answered. 'I just...need to know which clothes to bring...and I can't find my math book.'
'Your book is downstairs,' Kensi answered while walking into the room. 'On the kitchen counter. And you should find something you're comfortable in.' Narah held up a hoodie and then smiled.
'I can't go to court in a hoodie,' she said. 'I need something decent.' Kensi noticed that tears were threatening to fall from the girl's eyes and she wrapped her arms around her. Narah buried her face in Kensi's chest. 'What if they don't agree with you and Deeks adopting me?' Kensi placed a kiss on top of Narah's head.
'Miss Rooney told us it's more like a formality,' she assured the teenager. 'The approval of Social Services is really important. She told us not to worry about the legalization.' Narah slowly nodded and Kensi lifted the girl's head to wipe some of the tears away. 'Now we should find a nice dress for you and then we should go down to stop Deeks from walking a hole in our floor.' That got a laugh from Narah and Kensi started to go through the big pile of clothes.
'Agent Gomez is taking me to the courthouse, where I am meeting you, right?' Narah asked and Kensi nodded, holding up one of Narah's dresses in front of her. Narah also gave a nod.
'That's right,' Kensi answered while she handed Narah the rest. 'Okay, we should go downstairs and get you some breakfast.'
'You are all ready for this afternoon, right?' Deeks asked when he and Kensi walked into the bullpen. Callen and Sam both nodded.
'Yes we are,' Sam answered. 'Michelle, Aimee and Sarina will be at your place as well. And Michelle will pick up the cake on their way.' Deeks smiled and he put his bag next to his desk.
'Are you two ready to become Narah's official parents?' Callen asked.
'Doesn't feel like it will be only real as from this afternoon,' Kensi answered. 'We have been living towards this day for a couple of months now, so we are ready. Maybe a little nervous for the tiny chance that the judge doesn't agree with Social Service and he won't legalize the adoption...but like I said: only a tiny chance.'
'I say we send Hetty after the judge when he does that,' Deeks said and they all started to laugh. They stopped when they saw Granger walking into the building.
'What is he doing here?' Callen asked.
'As long as he isn't going to mess up our day,' Deeks said and they watched Granger closely. To their surprise he walked to the bullpen instead of Hetty's office. He stopped in front of Kensi's desk and Kensi looked wide-eyed at Deeks.
'I heard that you and mister Deeks are expending your family,' he started and Deeks shrugged at Kensi, looking worried. To their greatest surprise Granger began to smile.
'No need for the worried looks,' he assured them. 'I just wanted to congratulate the both of you.' Deeks and Kensi took a relieved breath and nodded with a smile.
'Thank you, sir,' Deeks said. Granger looked at Kensi for a little while and he leaned towards her. His eyes rested on her for awhile.
'Your father would have been proud of you for doing this,' he then said with a softer voice so that only Kensi would hear it. She smiled weakly and gave him a little nod as he walked away. Deeks shot a questioning glance in her direction.
'What was that about?' he asked and Kensi noticed Callen and Sam looking at her as well, with great interest. 'What did he say to you?' Kensi was still smiling a little.
'He is not all bad,' was all that she told them and she turned to her paperwork. She saw Deeks looking at Callen and Sam for help but both men shrugged.
Narah was making her way to the car, shaking from head to toe. Maria was smiling at her. When she heard her name, Narah turned around to see Chris and Hannah heading towards her.
'Just wanted to wish you luck,' Chris smiled at her.
'Thank you,' Narah replied. Hannah wrapped Narah into a hug. Narah hesitated for a moment but then returned the hug.
'You look great in that dress,' Hannah told her and Narah smiled. Kensi had indeed picked out a great dress. It was a simple lace black dress. Narah loved the simplicity of it and the perfect fit of the dress.
'Narah, we have to go,' Maria said and Narah took another deep breath. Hannah hugged her again and Chris gave her shoulder a squeeze. In a quick pace she walked to the car and got in.
'Are you ready?' Maria asked and Narah nodded. 'Kensi just texted me that she and Deeks are on their way to the courthouse as well. They will wait for us at the entrance.' Narah glanced out of the window. Today it was finally happening. She would have a family again. They had lived towards this day and Narah had many conversations with Jordana about this moment. And in this moment she was so scared. It would be all good; that was something Narah was sure of. She was closing the chapter of her past. She would have a home and family to return to every day instead of being unsure all the time.
It didn't take them too long to arrive at the courthouse and Narah grew more nervous. Maria dropped her off in front and drove off to park the car. Deeks and Kensi were at the entrance, like they said they would, and they both hugged her.
'Let's go,' Deeks smiled and he wrapped his arms around Kensi and Narah. 'Time to be a family.'
Narah was jumping up and down in the backseat of the car. Deeks and Kensi now were her parents; her official parents. No more foster families or Miss Rooney. That time was over now. She was now Narah Deeks. It would take some time to get used to Deeks' last name , but they decided on Deeks because Kensi said that one day she would become a Deeks as well. Narah noticed Maria's car parked in the driveway, which surprised her because she would have thought that Maria had the afternoon off. There was no need for a protection detail when Deeks and Kensi were around.
'Narah, are you coming out of the car?' Deeks asked. Narah had missed them getting out of the car. She nodded smiling and got out. When Kensi opened the front door, Monty greeted them happily. Deeks grabbed Narah gently at her shoulders and guided her to the garden. Narah looked confused at Kensi, who just smiled. Kensi opened the doors to the garden and Narah was greeted by the sight of their friends and family. All of them were standing in the garden, holding their glass up in the air. Kensi handed her and Deeks a glass as well and Deeks raised his.
'To Narah Deeks,' he toasted.
'To Narah Deeks,' the others toasted in chorus and everyone took a sip from their drinks. Narah couldn't do anything but smile. Then she saw Ivan, Emily and Ming standing to the side and she ran to her friends, hugging them tightly.
'Congratulations, sister from once again other mother,' Ivan whispered in her ear.
'It's so great that you are here!' Narah said enthusiastically. She had missed her friends. From the corner of her eyes she saw Chris and Hannah standing. 'Oh, I want you all to meet my other friends.' She pulled Ivan, Emily and Ming over to her other friends and introduced them to each other. She noticed Ivan and Chris staring at each other, a little longer than normal , but she had no time to watch more of it as people wanted to congratulate her.
Kensi stood in the kitchen with Julia by her side, cutting some more bread and getting more snacks. She looked out of the window into the garden, where Narah and all their friends seemed to have a good time. Lot of talking and smiles on their faces. The doors opened and Deeks walked inside.
'I will leave you two to it,' Julia said while she gave Kensi's shoulder a squeeze and she walked out of the kitchen. Deeks followed her.
'Don't have to leave, grandma,' he joked and Kensi's eyes grew wide. What did Deeks just say? Deeks held up his beer and moved into the kitchen, but Julia smiled at them.
'Grandma...' she mumbled. 'I actually like the sound of that.' Deeks and Kensi started to smile as well and Julia continued her way to the garden. Deeks walked over to Kensi, who just turned around to continue cutting and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He softly kissed her in her neck.
'What are you doing?' Kensi asked smiling while she turned around in his arms, so she was facing him, and put her arms around her neck. They moved closer to each other and kissed.
'I just wanted to congratulate you on becoming a mom,' Deeks said between the kisses.
'Well, congratulations to you as well, daddy,' she smiled.
'Are you happy?' Deeks asked and Kensi looked confused at him. 'I know commitment can be a bit scary for you and all of this...' She cut him off with a kiss.
'I couldn't be happier,' she promised him.
'How are you feeling?' Narah asked Callen, when she took a moment away from her friends to mingle with the other people at the party. 'How is the shoulder?' Callen rolled his shoulder and smiled.
'Feels a lot better,' he answered.
'G is used to bullet holes all over his body,' Sam said smiling, putting a hand on Callen's good shoulder. 'Only the people around him aren't that used to it.' The three of them started to laugh. Narah turned around when someone touched her arm.
'Would you like to dance?' Chris asked. There had been some soft music playing and a couple of people had started to dance. Narah looked at those people and then back at Chris, who had a faint smile on his face. She had never really danced with a boy...but there could be worse times to try it for the first time. She felt a little nudge from Sam in her back.
'Don't keep the boy waiting,' he whispered at her. Narah smiled and she grabbed Chris' extended hand. He led her to a place with a little more space so they could dance. Narah was glad that Chris knew how to dance and how to lead because now she wouldn't look like a total fool.
'Congratulations again,' Chris said softly. 'It must be a great feeling to have finally found your place...a home.'
'Thank you,' Narah said and she felt that she started to blush from Chris' gaze on her. While they were dancing, Narah noticed her old friends sitting secluded from the rest of the guests. This may have become her new life with her new friends...but it didn't really seem like her old friends and her old life fitted into it. She turned her gaze back at Chris and smile. 'Umm..thank you for the dance, Chris...but I should go see my friends...' He turned his head in the direction of her friends as well and gave a little nod before letting her go. Narah gave him a quick smile and she walked over to her friends.
'Hey, Miss Deeks,' Emily smiled and she raised her glass at Narah, who sat down in the grass beside them.
'Thank you,' she smiled. 'Are you having a bit fun? I know it's not really a party we're used to back home...'
'Well this is your home now,' Ming noted and Narah averted her eyes to her hands. 'Which is totally cool and stuff...but...umm...like you said...not really our place...but we're really happy for you...we...umm...just have to get used to it. That's all.'
'But tell me about that cute guy...Chris?' Emily said and she moved closer to Narah.
'Chris is just a friend,' Narah answered. She looked up and saw Ivan looking at her. 'Just a friend...' Emily said something and started to laugh but Narah didn't get it. She was staring at Ivan, who hadn't said a word. 'You okay, Ivan?' He smiled at her.
'Of course,' he answered. 'I just have to remember that you are now my sister from yet another mother.' He also moved closer and put his arm around her shoulder. 'Which is getting confusing. Please stick with these guys.' Narah started to laugh.
'I'm pretty sure I will,' she assured him.
'We will see you at work!' Deeks said to Sam, when he, Michelle and the kids got in their car. The last of the guests were leaving and Deeks and Kensi stood at the door saying goodbye to all of them. Michelle gave them a last wave before the car disappeared from sight. Deeks took a deep breath.
'That went well,' he said relieved. 'It was a good party.'
'It was,' Kensi agreed. They turned around but stopped when they saw the small mess that was left over. 'Should we just leave it till tomorrow? A new day to clean up the mess.'
'That sounds like a good plan,' Deeks said. 'I'm in need of some sleep. But I will check up on Narah and her friends first. I haven't heard them in quite some time...'
'Don't storm into the room!' Kensi shouted after him as he went up the stairs. Upstairs it was really quiet. Even when Deeks walked towards Narah's room. He opened the door slowly and looked inside. He smiled when he saw Narah, Emily, Ivan and Ming. The four of them all crammed into the bed. He noticed how close Narah and Ivan were lying to each other and the boy's arms around her. He needed to take a deep breath to stop himself from going inside and remove Ivan's arms from Narah's waist. Two arms slipped around Deeks' waist and Kensi rested her chin on his shoulder.
'They look all so sweet and innocent together,' she whispered in his ear.
'Well, not those two,' Deeks said and he pointed at Narah and Ivan.
'Deeks, you know better...they are like brother and sister,' Kensi said and she kissed his cheek. 'Nothing to worry about. Beside, Ivan knows what is waiting for him when he hurts Narah. He has seen Callen and Sam.'
'Hey!' Deeks protested and Kensi started to laugh. She placed a kiss on his lips and let go of his waist. She took his hand and pulled him gently towards the bedroom.
TBC.