So - this chapter is a little different then other previous ones. A HUGE thank you to bookdiva for letting me bounce ideas off of her and for reading this over for me. She is INCREDIBLE; if it's somehow possible you haven't read her stories, you really need to go check them out.

As Kensi woke up, she slid her hand over the sheets next her, noting the cold sheets. Sighing heavily and opening her eyes, she saw the empty bed and her heart skipped a beat before she tampered down the initial feeling of panic. Even after all this time Jack's abrupt departure from her life still brought nightmares. But they had changed. Instead of waking up to a cold bed and remembering him, she now had a brush of fear that it was Deeks who had left her.

But it never lasted more than a few seconds, until she could get her bearings and remember that unlike Jack, Deeks would never leave her. She knew that with every ounce of her being, and she cursed her ex-fiancée for instilling this natural reaction in her. And Deeks being Deeks was nothing if not amazing for knowing this. Every time she had woken up alone, there was always a note from him. She rolled over and saw that beautiful piece of paper on the night stand.

Good morning gorgeous. At the beach with Monty, catching some waves. Be home soon. I love you.

He didn't need to do it, but the first morning he had come back from surfing and found her staring at his side of the bed, rubbing the sheets with a faraway look in her eyes, he made sure to never leave her without a note again.

Getting up, she headed to the shower and hopped in, letting this morning ritual wake her up, knowing there was coffee waiting for her in the kitchen. As she washed her hair she thought back to the night before, how they had sat on the couch and he had played with her dark brown locks. He told her that no matter what kind of day they had, coming home and doing something as simple as running his hands through her hair helped relax him. She had confessed that the feeling of him doing that was as calming to her as it was to him. He had smiled at her and kissed her, letting the passion run through them.

Smiling, she got out of the shower and went in search of clothes. I may as well just bring all my clothes over here for as often as I am here.

That thought stopped her dead in her tracks. Wait, was she wanting to move in with him?

Well, it's not like you sleep in your own bed anymore. And when you do, he's with you. Thinking, she tried to remember the last time they had slept apart for the night. Hmmm… there was that one time she had been mad at him and tried sleeping on the couch. Nope, that didn't count, he had picked her up after she had fallen asleep and carried her to bed.

If she had to guess, it had been about four months or so since they had slept in separate beds. She could see the evidence of her all around the room. Her night clothes strewn all over the floor, some work clothes piled in the corner, shoes in the closet. Her toothbrush next to his in the bathroom, their shampoo and conditioner sharing a space in the shower. She pulled the towel tighter around her and sat down on the floor, her legs no longer supporting her.

Would it be such a bad thing to move in with him?

Before she could answer that question, she heard the front door open and Monty came running in, giving her kisses.

"What are you doing on the floor Princess? Need some help with that towel?" He stood against the door frame, seeing something that looked like panic in her eyes and tried to lighten the mood in the room.

Instead of answering him, she just sat there and petted Monty. He pushed himself off and sat down in front her, taking her free hand in his. While he waited for her to tell him what was going on in her head, he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, gently letting her know whatever was wrong, and it would be okay.

She gathered her thoughts and looked at him, seeing the warmth and care and pure love in his eyes.

No, it wouldn't be bad at all.

"I was, uh… I was in the shower."

"Really? Well now that you mention it, your hair IS wet." A smile played on his lips, as he squeezed her hand. The answering glare made him laugh.

"Okay, you were in the shower. Is that a problem?"

"I have a lot of stuff here."

"You do."

"Deeks, when was the last time we slept in our own beds, away from each other?"

He knew immediately where she was going with this. How he answered this question, and her response to it, was suddenly incredible important. He had been waiting for this since
he came back from his assignment with LAPD and they had become official, but he knew if he moved too fast it would scare her away.

"Four months and ten days."

He watched her face carefully, looking for a sign of which way this was about to go. She was either going to be extremely freaked out that he had gotten her to basically move in with him without her knowledge and consent, or she would happy with this. When she didn't immediately answer, he let go of her hand and got up.

Kensi started to feel the panic all over again. The threat of tears hit her and with a choked voice she called out to him.

"Wait Deeks, please… please, don't go."

He turned back towards her, noticing the tears and hating himself for allowing her to think he was leaving her.

"I'm not going anywhere, Kens. I just want to show you something." He walked out of the room and she held her breath, waiting for him to come back.

A few minutes later, he walked in with a cup of coffee and some pictures. Handing her the coffee he sat back down, laying the pictures out in front of them. There were seven in total, each one showing a smiling and laughing couple who had both been through so much yet still managed to find the good in the world.

"Kens, what do you see when you look at these?" His voice was gentle as he asked her.

"Us. I see us." She picked up the picture of them at the beach and smiled.

"I want to add to these pictures. Every day. You asked when the last time we spent the night apart and I answered you. But I don't want to remember the last time; I want to know that no matter what, I am coming home with you, to you."

He leaned forward and kissed her softly, his hand cupping her cheek. She smiled against his mouth, secure in knowledge that he wanted her - with him – no matter what.

"I have a lot of stuff."

His entire body went lax. She was good with this. She wanted this too.

"I think 'a lot' is an understatement, but we can go through it."

"I have a perfectly normal amount of stuff Deeks. And if you start making hoarder jokes, you will be sleeping on the couch from now on."

She played with the ends of the towel, watching his eyes grow dark as she inched it up. He tried to gain control of the situation, knowing they didn't have a lot of time.

"Hey, um, are we still…" He lost his train of thought as she stood up as his eyes travelled the length of her legs.

"Having lunch with my mom today? Yeah." She let the towel fall to the floor as Deeks' jaw dropped.

"Oh wow. Well, that just happened." He put his hand on her ankle and let his fingers trail up her legs as he stood up, never letting his hand leave her now naked body.

"We still have time. Got any suggestions Shaggy?" She laughed as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to bed.

"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something."

"Wow mom, you outdid yourself. The lasagna was perfect. I'm stuffed."

"Well, I mean, how can you not be? You ate more than me and your mom combined." Deeks smirked at her while Kensi gave him her famous death glare.

"She always did like her food." Julia chuckled, thinking back to Kensi as a child.

"Hope my pantry is big enough," Deeks said under his breath.

"Oh? Why's that?" Julia looked back and forth between the two. Deeks just looked at Kensi, silently asking her if she wanted to tell her mom the big news.

She didn't take her eyes off Deeks as she answered her mom, "I am moving in with Deeks."

Deeks smiled, knowing how big of a deal this was. "The sooner the better, too."

"Well, congratulations you two. You both deserve all the happiness in the world. If you need any help moving things, please let me know."

"Thanks mom, we will definitely take you up on that." Kensi smiled, stood up and started clearing the plates from the table.

"Kensi sweetheart, you don't have to do that."

Deeks stood as well, making his way into the kitchen.

"You cooked Julia. Let us clean up, it's the least we can do."

"Okay, well, while you do that I have something for you. I was cleaning out the attic the other day when I found a box of your father's things. I thought you might want it." Kensi was just staring at her mom. She didn't have many things left of her dad – a few pictures, his medal and his rifle. She couldn't speak, so she just nodded her head.

"Marty, can you help me get it? It's not that heavy but getting it down might be a little awkward for me."

Deeks looked at his partner, seeing the awe in her eyes at the prospect of getting something else that was her dads. I would go to the center of the Earth if that's where it was, he thought to himself. An attic? He had this.

"I know doing dishes is a foreign thing for you Kens. Try not to completely soak yourself and the 10 foot radius around you while I'm gone, okay?" He smiled and pecked her lips, following Julia up the stairs to the hallway. He pulled the rope that was hanging down, letting the stairs unfold.

As he climbed up and turned on the light, he looked around. He saw boxes marked 'Christmas' and a few that said 'Kensi' on them. He wondered briefly what Kensi was like as a child and what could be hidden in those boxes. Before he could dwell anymore on it, Julia had made it up the stairs behind him.

"Okay, so the box is over here. Like I said, it's not heavy, and I could have gotten it down by myself, but I wanted to get you alone for a minute."

Deeks raised his eyebrows at that last sentence. What the…?

"You love her. I can see it in your eyes, in the way you have to be close to her. You can read her like no one else can, get her to open up in ways I've only dreamed of. But I can also tell that she loves you more than life itself and would do anything for you. I have watched the way you have entire conversations with your eyes. It's an incredible thing to witness. I have never seen her look this happy. I am content with her job because I know you are there to keep her safe, and will do so at the sake of your own life. But it also scares me, because I know she would do the same for you in a heartbeat."

She stopped and looked around, glancing at the boxes that littered the floor. After a moment, she looked back at him.

"This stuff up here, it's her past. It's what helped her be who she is today. But you, Marty Deeks, you are her future. She will be yours forever as long as you treat her right. She trusts you with something much more important to her than her life, she trusts you with her heart." Her eyes were shining with unshed tears as she said this, and Deeks just nodded. He fully understood what she was saying, because he still didn't know what he had done so right in this life to have Kensi want to be with him. But whatever it was, he wasn't letting her go now. Not ever.

Julia pulled an envelope out of her pocket.

"Donald always said if something happened to him, and he wasn't around when Kensi brought home the man who would forever hold her heart, that I was to give this to him. I promised him I would not give the envelope to just anyone, but the one who was right for her." She handed over the envelope, but instead of letting go when he took it, she held firm and looked him in the eyes.

"In giving this to you, Marty Deeks, I am telling you that one day, when the time is right, you have my permission to marry her."

His breath hitched. She let go of the envelope and he took it, holding it in his hands and staring at it. When he looked back at her, his eyes were bright.

"Julia, Kensi… she is my everything. I can't imagine life without her. And I will spend the rest of my life showing her exactly what she means to me. I know it won't be easy, because nothing has ever been easy with us. But she's worth it. We are worth it. Having your permission makes me realize exactly how much I want that happy ending with her. That you think I am the man who can make her the happiest - to love and cherish every second we have together - well it means more than you possibly know."

She nodded in understanding. Turning, she sniffed a little and wiped her eyes.

"If I were you, I would probably read that first in private."

"Yes ma'am, I will do that."

Smiling at him, she indicated the box.

"Well, this is it. We better get down there or Kensi is going to start wondering where we are." He laughed and leaned down, grabbing the box, and carefully made his way down the attic steps. He stood there and waited for Julia to descend and then they made their way back downstairs together.

Walking back in the kitchen, he sat the box on the counter and looked around.

"Wow! How come you can't clean up like this at home Fern?" She turned and lightly punched his arm.

"Don't get used to it Deeks. This doesn't happen often."

"Yeah, don't I know it! Often… like never?"

Julia chuckled, listening to these two and loving their banter.

"Deeks…"

"Kens…"

Both of them were looking at each other, heads cocked to the side, locked in a stale mate. Kensi because well, he was right; Deeks because he didn't want to sleep on the couch if he kept going.

"Okay you two, how about some pie for dessert," Julia said, still laughing. Kensi was the first to break eye contact at the word 'pie,' her eyes lighting up. Deeks laughed as well and grabbed her hand, unable to stop the kiss he landed on her cheek.

"Come on my Sugarbear. Let's get you some pie." She squeezed his hand and punched his shoulder with her free hand. She didn't want him to think she was going soft. All she got was an answering laugh.

Kensi opened the door to his – their - apartment that evening, letting Deeks go in first to put the box down.

"Fern, I'm going to walk Monty, okay? I'll be back soon." He kissed her, wrapping his arms around her as she deepened the kiss.

Yep, I can definitely get used to this, he thought. Monty's bark caused them to pull back. He placed their foreheads together and looked in her eyes.

"I know, boy, I'm coming. We are really going to have to talk about your timing though." She laughed when he said this and stepped back.

"Go on Shaggy. Take your sidekick and let him do his business." She swatted his butt and he laughed.

"I knew you liked my ass. That's the only reason you're moving in isn't it?"

"Get it right. I'm moving in for the free housekeeping and chef services. The ass is just an added bonus." She winked at him, making sure he saw her eyes roam over his body very slowly. By the time she got to his eyes he was smirking and wiggling his eyebrows at her. She threw the cat pillow at him as he walked out with Monty in tow.

He walked Monty to the beach a few blocks away. He had brought the envelope with him that Julia gave him, wanting to read it in private. He had no doubt he would share it with Kensi, after all it was her dad that had written it, but he wanted to read it first. He sat down on the sand, letting the last of the sun's rays warm him. Monty was running around sniffing everything, but never leaving the sight of his owner. Deeks took the letter and opened it up, taking a deep breath as he started reading.

I will never have the pleasure of meeting you, talking to you, looking you in the eye as you ask for my daughters hand in marriage. I will never see the love you have for her shining in your eyes, or hear the smile in her voice as she talks about you. I will never shake your hand or smoke a cigar with you or give you the third degree to make sure you are good enough for her.

Kensi Marie Blye won't just fall in love with anybody, though. He has to be fearless and brave, tough and smart. He has to know when to be funny and when to be serious. Because my baby girl is way too serious for her own good.

I hope you make her smile. Every day. Because there is nothing in this world that can compare to the REAL Kensi smile.

I hope you make her laugh. Even as a child she was serious, and I want you to make sure she takes time to enjoy life and appreciate the small things.

I hope you are her safe haven. She would take on the world if she could. She needs someone she can come home to who helps her remember that she doesn't have to do it by herself. Someone who shoulders her responsibilities with her, not for her. If she wants your help, don't make her feel helpless.

I hope you are her best friend, her most trusted confidant. Let her tell you her secrets, but safe guard them. She doesn't trust easily, and if she trusts you, you have the world at your feet. But trust her in return with your secrets and fears.

I hope you are her light in the darkness. The one who will always be there to chase away her demons and save her from the nightmares. She needs someone she can count on always. Don't let her push you away, no matter what. If she thinks she is protecting you from something, she will do whatever she has to. Do NOT let her do that to you. Remind her, every day, you are in this with her, that she doesn't have to do anything alone. One day, hopefully, she will fully understand this.

I hope you are patient with her. She is proud, and stubborn, and hard-headed. She can argue with you until she is blue in face, regardless of if she is right or wrong. I think she got that from me.

But most of all, I hope you love her, every day, no matter what. She deserves nothing less than that. If you are reading this, Julia gave it to you because she feels that you are THE man for my Kensi. She has seen the way you look at her, the way you treat her, the way you love her. And she has seen the way Kensi loves you. That's good enough for me. So young man, know this. She is my everything, even though I am not there anymore. Treat her right and love her with everything you have. If you can do that, then you have my permission to marry her.

- Donald Blye

Deeks had known from the minute he saw her in the MMA gym that she was it, the one for him. Things may have started out less than ideal for them, but they had made it work.

The doubt he had in himself regarding Kensi – not being good enough for her – was tampered down tonight. Between Julia and her dad, he knew he would never truly be good enough for her, but he was the only one who would ever love her like she deserves to be loved. He was the only one in this world who would treat her like the princess she is. And he was never going to let her go.

He had just gotten her to agree to move in with him. He knew right now was too soon to take the next step, but he would be ready for it when it presented itself. He would have married her years ago if the choice was his, but it wasn't. He wanted nothing more than to slip a ring on her finger, making her as his forever. And one day, he would.

On his way back home with Monty, he thought back to the last few months he and Kensi had been together. It was perfect the way they complimented each other. While today was too soon to propose marriage, he knew it would happen eventually.

He walked in and was greeted by the sight of a beautiful woman in an LAPD t-shirt and yoga pants dancing around in his – their – living room. Monty started barking and Kensi danced over to him, grabbing his hands and making him dance with her. He may not have her moves, but he would indulge her tonight. And every night for the rest of their lives.

Shaking his booty to the rhythm of the music he twirled her around, making her laugh. They danced through another four songs when a slow song came on. He stopped and bowed to her, offering her his hand.

"My lady, may I have this dance?"

She smiled at him and took his hand. With one arm around each other, their other hands held together against his chest over his heart, they swayed to the music.

"I love you, Kensi. You will never realize how much."

"I love you to the moon and back Deeks. Always have, always will."

When the song ended, he headed to the fridge and grabbed some beers. Handing her one and setting his on the table, he grabbed the box of her dad's things.

"I'll start dinner. Why don't you look through this and see what's in there." He gave her a gentle smile, knowing she had been waiting to do this until he was home. She smiled at him and nodded her head.

Opening the box was like Christmas. There wasn't much in it, but she knew she would cherish every single thing in there.

The first thing she pulled out was an old Marine Corp sweatshirt. She brought it up to her nose, hoping it would still smell like him but time had washed away his scent. Setting it down next to her, she reached back in the box, this time bringing out a picture album completely filled with Kensi as a baby, surrounded by the love of her parents. Turning the pages, looking at the pictures there, she couldn't stop the prick of tears in her eyes.

When she was done, she closed it and ran her hands over the cover of it. Placing it next to the sweatshirt so she could show Deeks, she leaned over and looked in, seeing a few books that he had loved. There were a couple of pictures of her dad with his old unit. But what caught her eye was another picture at the bottom, the glass cracked. Pulling it out, she looked at her parents on their wedding day. Julia in a beautiful white flowing dress, and a dapper Donald Blye in his dress uniform, looking at each other with such love in their eyes you couldn't help but stare.

Deeks walked up and stood behind the couch looking down at her and the picture she was holding. He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"Look at them Deeks. Look how happy they were." He could see where her thoughts were going, wondering what had happened and worried that she would follow the same path. He walked around the couch and sat down next to her.

"That won't happen to us Kens. I will never willingly leave you. And you can bet your ass that if you ever left me, I would follow you around the world and get you back, no matter what. You are it for me."

She laid her head on his shoulder, letting his words wash over her, giving her the comfort she needed. She would never know how this amazing man seemed to know exactly what she needed but she wasn't going to complain. She turned the picture over to see if there was anything written on the back when she saw a piece of paper barely sticking out of the back of the frame. Intrigued, she moved the tabs holding it together and pulled the paper free. As she opened it up, she recognized her dad's handwriting and moved it a little, letting Deeks read it with her.

My beautiful Kensi,

I hope you know how proud I am of you. I love you so much baby girl. This picture you are holding shows one of the happiest days of my life. The other was the day you were born. I know things didn't turn out right for your mom and me, but I want you to know I never stopped loving her. You and her were my whole world, but my job, well it tore us apart. I can't blame her for wanting something better, to be with someone she didn't have to worry about every day they weren't there. I wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. And if that wasn't with me, then so be it. But I can promise you I will love her until the day I die.

This picture reminds me that happiness is possible. And when you find it baby girl, when you love someone more than the air that you breathe, then don't let go. Ever. Fight for it every day. I wish I had fought harder. I don't want you to look back with 'what ifs,' it's not the way to live life. I love you sweetheart.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes. She looked over at the man she loved more than the air she breathed and smiled.

"I will fight for you, for us, every day."

He took the picture and the letter and put it on the table, taking her hand and standing up, looking in her eyes and repeating her words.

"Every day, Kens."

AN - I would REALLY love to hear what you thought of this chapter. Leave me a review and let me know. :)