The lights were almost completely out, only the TV shining in the dark. Monty lay on the rug at the front door. Finding Nemo played as Callie's eyes drifted shut. She was only two, and it was so late anyway. Every few minutes her eyes would flick back open and she'd try to watch the old movie, but she was tired.

Max however, was wide awake. He was snuggled into her side, just as Callie was. A blanket draped over the three of them.

When Deeks went undercover, it was hard for any of them to sleep. Movies and snuggling were just about how the nights went.

She knew that as a mother, she needed to care for her children's physical and emotional needs. She knew that she needed to send her kids to bed. Its so late. But she also knew that they needed comfort right now, more so than sleep.

The kids didn't understand it yet. They just knew he was working this week. They didn't know it, but he was going in deep tonight. Deep danger. No help. All alone. Eric watching from OPS was it. And if tonight went well, he'd be back tomorrow morning. If it didn't go well, he probably wouldn't be back ever. It was a big risk to take, and Kensi was on edge.

She hated when he did deep cover now. But he was so good. Good at his job. This mission was to get a little kid back, and kids were a soft spot in his heart these days. Always, but especially these days.

The kids missed him. Max may be 6, but he missed bedtime stories and goodnight rituals. Callie was getting old enough to enjoy those too, and it was clear that she was sad too. Neither had slept well all week, and Kensi was just glad it wasn't a school night for Max.

Finding Nemo was one of many movies that they've seen this week. Shrek, The Incredibles, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Brave. The Incredibles was quite the experience, and she wished that Deeks had been there to hear Max say, "You and Dad are kind of like them, right?"

It was halfway through the 'fish are friends, not food" scene that Callie went out for good, and Kensi pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She fought through Max's tangled blond curls to give him one too.

"Momma?" he asked, quietly.

"Yea, little man?"

"Is Daddy going to come home soon?"

Kensi's heart dropped. "Yes, buddy. I hope he'll be home really, really soon."

"Why did he leave?" Max asked, almost with a little whine. "I miss him."

"Daddy only left for work. I know he misses you too."

"So he had to be incredible?"

"Yeah. He had to be incredible," Kensi smiled.

"You're incredible, too, Momma." he said, snuggling deeper into her side as she pulled him in more. "But I still miss Daddy."

"I miss him too."

"Can we stay up late and watch movies with Daddy when he gets home? He needs to watch The Incredibles!"

"Absolutely. That sounds like a great idea," Kensi smiled. Just then her phone screen lit up and vibrated. It was Eric.

"Deeks is out. He'll text you when he can."

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Within ten minutes, Deeks had texted her.

"I'll be home in and hour and 15 minutes. I miss you so much baby girl. Are the kids okay? Are they up? Damn it Kens, I love you."

She couldn't help but laugh. Max had started to drift off to sleep. She kept nudging him awake, but didn't tell him why. The joy on his face when Deeks slipped in the door was worth it all. The way the smile fell onto a half asleep Callie's face reminded her that they truly are incredible.