Prompt: Can you do a drabble of Kensi apologizing to Deeks for forgetting his birthday in season 4.
"Hey, don't you finish off that burger while I'm gone," Deeks warned Monty on his way out of the den, headed for the kitchen in search of a second beer. Monty gave a little whine, but when Deeks returned, his half of burger lay untouched. He thought there might be a couple fries missing, but he couldn't blame Monty too much.
Deeks threw himself down on the couch, cracking open the beer, and grabbed the TV remote, searching around until he landed on a CHiPs marathon.
"You know, this definitely isn't the worst birthday I've ever had," he informed Monty, who seemed to raise one of his shaggy eyebrows. "Ok, it's in the top ten, but not nearly as bad as the one I spent next to a dumpster as Arty."
Or any of the ones when his dad was around and drunk off his ass.
He finished off his beer, and two episodes of CHiPs (Monty only made it through one before he fell asleep with his head on Deeks' knee), and was debating a third drink, or a pint of ice cream of debatable age when there was a firm knock on the front door.
"I am so not in the mood for a sales pitch tonight," he muttered, dragging himself to the door to glance through the peephole. Of all people, he did not expect Kensi to be standing there.
"Hey," Kensi said when he opened the door. Her arms were folded behind her back, and she smiled a little too brightly.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" Deeks asked, leaning into door frame as Kensi shifted on the balls of her feet. "I thought you had a date."
"Yeah, I did, but I also heard it's my partner's birthday and there's no way I'm not celebrating such a momentous occasion." Deeks gave a very hard eye roll at her explanation and she bobbled her head. "Plus, I brought ice cream cake. And no one can say no to cake."
She pulled a paper bag out from behind her back and smiled invitingly.
"Alright, come on," he said, ushering her in.
Kensi headed straight for the coffee table, busying herself with removing a slightly crushed plastic container. While she pried the lid off, he went to grab plates, knife, and forks.
"You know, this—Kens, what are you doing?" He settled his hands on his hips, sighing as he watched her hurriedly lighting several candles poked into the chocolate frosting covering the top of the cake.
"It's not a birthday cake unless you make a wish," she informed him, turning with the candle laden cake, presenting it at eye level with an expectant look. "C'mon, you know you want to. Pleaaaase?"
Unable to stop himself from chuckling, Deeks leaned over and blew them out with a single breath. Despite himself, he was touched by the effort. Yeah, it was a Dairy Queen cake she bought last minute, but it was more than he expected at this point.
"Thank you," he said once they were on the couch and each had a slice of the now melting cake. It was extremely sweet, yet half of Kensi's slice was already gone. "For this."
"You're welcome." She trailed her fork through some frosting, focusing on the pattern left behind. "I'm sorry I got the date wrong," she added, eyeing him briefly. "I honestly though it was the 18th."
"Hey, it's no big deal." Deeks shrugged, brushing off the vestiges of his disappointment and hurt feelings. Yeah, it would have been nice if Kensi remembered his actual birthday and all. Continuing to blame her for it would just be petty though. "You, uh, had other things on your mind. Like you're big date."
"Oh, that." Kensi made a derisive noise, shaking her head. "Yeah, tonight was kind of a disaster."
"Why, what happened? Don't tell me Jaime tried to make a move."
Kensi avoided his gaze, letting her hair fall into her eyes as a blush crept up her cheeks.
"Seriously, did he try something, Kensi?" he checked, sitting straighter.
"No, of course not. And you know I'm more than capable of handling him if he had." Her cheeks flushed a little more and she mumbled something.
"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"He brought his mom!" she repeated more loudly. "And implied that we were in a relationship."
Deeks burst into laughter before he could stop himself. "That is the most amazing thing I've ever heard," he gasped. Kensi glared at him, and he held up his hand, attempting to look contrite. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He snorted a few more times. "So, when's the wedding?"
"Hilarious," Kensi said dryly. "It was one of the most awkward, horrible nights of my life."
"But it definitely made my night."
"Well, I guess that's something," she commented, brushing her hair back with a deep sigh. She rested her cheek on her raised knees so her face was turned towards him, expression shifting again. "I'm sorry that I didn't cancel, Deeks. I should have."
"No worries," he assured her, reaching over to brush her arm. "You came through in the end."
She smiled back at him, shifting closer until they were pressed side to side, snatching the rest of his cake.
Maybe it wasn't such a terrible birthday after all, he decided.
