Anonymous: Kensi and Deeks' son plans to marry Eric and Nell's daughter.

Deeks sits on a bench just off the beach, sipping a coffee as his son approaches. He hands one to Ray and he smiles, taking a seat.

"Thanks for meeting me, dad."

"Of course. It sounded pretty urgent on the phone."

He looks out towards the water and Deeks watches as he does so. It's been twenty five years since his son came into the world, and it still blows his mind just how much the kid looks like him. If Deeks was a bit younger, they could be twin brothers.

"Not exactly urgent," Ray explains, scratching the back of his head. "Just… important."

"Is it about Alex?"

A tiny smile appears on his face at the sound of her name but he avoids the question, instead stating- "I had dinner with Eric last night."

Deeks furrows his eyebrows and gives his head a slight wag. "But he didn't say a word about it at work today-"

"That's because I told him not to," Ray interrupts, turning to face his dad. He grins, the smile enveloping his whole face. "I asked him for permission to marry Alex."

Deeks' jaw drops, his mouth hanging ajar. "You asked him for… oh my god, Ray!" He's laughing and then he's almost crying (but trying so hard not to do so), and then finally, when he doesn't know what else to do, he pulls his son into a hug. "That's amazing!"

"I haven't even asked her yet."

"Yeah, but you know she's gonna say yes."

Ray shrugs. He knows it's true. "Yeah. Hopefully."

"Do you have a ring yet?"

Ray smiles, he knew that his father would ask. He sifts around in his pocket, whips out a small velvet jewelry box and hands it to his dad. Deeks flips the lid open and his eyes instantly widen.

"That's… wow. I mean… wow." He looks from his son to the ring then back again. "How much did you spend on this thing? An entire years salary?"

Ray rolls his eyes and takes it back. "That isn't important."

"So you did spend an entire years salary! I knew it!"

"Not a year." He tucks his head and mumbles, "More like nine months."

"Are you serious?"

"Kinda."

"Kinda? Does that mean yes or no?"

"Well… yes. But I just want it all to be perfect." Ray takes the ring out of the box and rolls it between his fingers. "I love her, dad. I really do."

Deeks smiles. "I know you do. In fact, I've known it since you were about six."

"That might be a bit of an exaggeration."

"You know what? You were six, and that means you don't remember. I was forty three, and I remember it all very well. You were in loooove, son."

"Maybe."

He grins. "Yeah. Definitely."

Deeks watches as Ray continues to play with the ring, and says- "I feel so…"

His son looks up. "Happy? Proud? Accomplished? What?"

Deeks shakes his head and squints his eyes. "Old."

Ray elbows him in the side. "You're not old, dad. You could never be old.I'm convinced that you're eternally thirty. You're just… you're that guy."

"That guy?"

"Yeah. That guy who never ages."

Deeks motions one hand around his face. "You see these? Wrinkles. I'm aging, and I think that-" he points to the ring box, "just added a new line to my forehead."

Ray rolls his eyes. "You're so dramatic."

"You're getting married! My firstborn is getting m-a-r-r-i-e-d. That calls for dramatics."

Ray hangs his head and stares at the ring in silence, until- "Don't tell mom, okay? I wanna tell her myself. With Alex."

"She's gonna kill me for keeping this a secret."

"You won't have to do it for long."

"When are you proposing?"

Ray smiles. "Tonight."