A continuation of "Courage". I know I promised something unfluffy but I'm still stuck so for now, the fluffy cotton candy monsters will continue to spew forth their sugary fluffiness.

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS: LA or the characters.

Nell sat in front of her computer with one hand clicking the mouse and the other supporting her head. There was no new intel to sift through, no case reports to put together, and not a single five to place on top of the six so she could move the four to open the cell for a king. She was about to start a new game when Eric poked his head around the iron latticework that separated her little "office" from the rest of the Mission.

"Hey, Nell," Eric said brightly. "Got a minute?"

"Sure," she replied closing her game. She turned her chair around to face him. "What's up?"

"I need your opinion on something but, you have to promise not to laugh." The nervousness started to creep back up but Eric forced it back down.

"Depending on what it is, I may not be able to promise that."

Eric took a deep breath and stepped into Nell's little area. It took everything Nell had not to laugh at the sight that stood in front of her. Even though it was tailored and it fit him right, he looked so awkward and uncomfortable in that tuxedo. From the starched collar to the shiny black shoes, Eric looked very out of his element.

"You look," Nell said stifling her laughter, "dashing."

"Ugh. I knew you would laugh."

"I'm not laughing," she said trying her best to keep a straight face. "Let me just ask you one question: Shaken, not stirred, right?" At this point, Nell was fighting a fit of giggles.

"Forget it," Eric said turning to walk out. "Let me know when you're done laughing."

"No, no, no, no, no," Nell said standing up. She took hold of Eric's wrist and pulled him back into her office. "I'm sorry. You do look very handsome. May I ask what this is for?"

"I don't know," Eric lied. "Hetty told me to try it on." That part was true. "Does it really look good?"

"Very. You could definitely rival any 007." Nell stood on her toes and kissed Eric's cheek causing the nervousness he so expertly shoved back down to resurface. "I especially like the cufflinks," she half-giggled.

"Thank you," he said smiling. He turned to leave so he could collect himself but quickly turned back to face Nell. "Do you remember when you first started here?" Nell nodded. "You were constantly interrupting me and finishing my sentences..."

"I still do."

"Yes, you do but it's not annoying like it was back then. I've gotten used to not finishing sentences that sometimes when I talk to other people I stop mid-sentence waiting for you to finish it for me. Most of the times you aren't there so it gets to be a little awkward." Nell smiled at this. "Hetty actually asked me what I thought of you. Twice."

"Oh? And what did you tell her?"

"The first time, I sort of just grumbled. The second time she asked me I told her that you were starting to grow on me."

"What would you say if she asked you a third time?" A small voice in the back of Nell's mind started wondering where this conversation was headed but it was still half-laughing at the sight of Eric in the tuxedo.

Without hesitation, he replied, "If she asked me again, I'd thank her for hiring on someone as amazing and intelligent as you." The nervousness he felt before was now completely gone and he was slowly moving his hand towards his pant pocket.

"Aw," Nell said hugging him. "You're sweet."

"So are you, Rockstar," he said returning the hug and kissing her nose. "I'd also tell her I don't think I'd make it a day without you." He pulled away from the hug while simultaneously sliding the box out of his pocket. "You truly are an amazing girl, Nell Jones." Taking Nell's left hand in his own, Eric slowly got down on one knee and flipped open the black velvet box. The look on Nell's face was a mix of confusion and joy and the small voice in the back of her mind was silent. "Will you-"

"Yes," Nell's voice cracked. Her eyes became glassy with tears as the realization of the situation hit her.

"You really can't let me finish a sentence can you?" Eric chuckled.

"I'm sorry," Nell choked as she gestured for Eric to ask again.

"Will you marry me, Nell?"

"Yes, I will marry you," she replied nodding furiously. She covered her mouth but a small cry escaped between her fingers as Eric slipped the band onto her finger. Cupping his smiling face in her hands, she bent down to kiss him. "Did you get dressed up just for this?" Nell said sniffling.

"Just for you, Nell," replied Eric. He and Nell kissed again only to pull apart at the sound of someone cheering. Make that a lot of someones.

Eric and Nell emerged from her office to find almost all of OSP cheering and applauding. Nell looked to Eric for an explanation but he just shrugged. As if in reply to Nell's silent question, Deeks appeared in front of them holding a video camera.

"I think I speak for everyone here when I say, 'Finally!'" Deeks shouted over the ruckus with a very broad smile. "Eric Beale, it took you three years to pluck up the courage to ask out the lovely Nell Jones and another year to finally ask her to marry you. Now that she has said yes, what-" Kensi grabbed hold of her partner's ear and dragged him away before he could ask his question.

"Deeks thought it would be nice to broadcast Eric's proposal to everyone here," Sam said as the cheering died down. "There was no stopping him."

"I told you there was nothing to be scared of," Callen said to Eric as he clapped him on the shoulder.

"It still felt like an op," Eric retorted. He smiled as he felt Nell's fingers intertwine with his and smiled even more when he felt the cool metal of Nell's ring touch his skin. In a way, the proposal was like an op; when it was done, he was relieved and he was happy.

It's so cute! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

I was originally going to quote Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest but I was afraid that some of you might not have seen it (I highly recommend that you do). To be safe, I stuck with the James Bond reference.

If I do not update more frequently, I apologize. My summer class just started and I'm trying to get into the groove of it. I also received notification this morning that I have been accepted into a nursing program for the fall (Yay! No more prerequisite classes to worry about!) so, bear with me while I get adjusted. There are a lot of things I have to do before I can actually start the program (such as certifications, registrations, orientations, other-ations…) Please, review and thank you for your patience!