As an educator for the better part of 20 years, you'd think the most chaotic days of the school year would be the last day of school or the week before winter break, but you'd be wrong. You see it wasn't until Marty became a father that he truly realized how the award for most chaotic school day belonged to the half day. More specifically half days that are faculty work days.

Normally he'd be stuck at school all day which means Harper would be as well. Left to keep herself busy in his office when she should've been out playing or hanging with friends. It's not that he didn't trust the other parents with his girl it's just that he didn't know them well enough to let her be in their care for long periods. Hell, the sleepover at Megan's a few weeks ago was her first ever and he only let her go because Riley was going.

That's why today's half-day is different. When Kensi offered to keep Harper after school it felt like a weight had been lifted off his single parent's chest. She did ask him why the sudden change of heart about his rule this morning, but he couldn't very well tell her that the brunette wasn't a stranger to him, or that she was the furthest thing from it.

They've been sneaking around for almost a month now and he's happier than he's ever been. Food tastes different. The air feels cleaner. Sun; brighter. As cheesy as it sounds he didn't realize how dull his life had gotten until Kensi popped back up into his life. Like he was wading in the middle of an ocean and a life preserver arose from out of nowhere.

Most of the kids have vacated the school so there's not much chatter going on in the halls that is until he catches the sound of her voice drifting down the hallway followed by a bout of laughter. Turning his attention to the front entrance he sees her talking to one of the teachers as if they're old friends catching up like old times. Oh man does he love this woman.

He notices the exact moment she realizes his eyes are on her and looks in his direction, the soft smile on her face suddenly morphs into one he hasn't been on the receiving end of in a very very long time. The smile she has reserved solely for him and him alone.

She says goodbye to the other woman and makes her way toward him. How is it that you can fall in love with someone even more just by them merely walking in your direction? "Hey, you."

"Hey, yourself."

"You didn't have to come in."

"Okay, I'll just be on my way." She shrugs and begins to turn around.

"Wait!" He reaches out for her hand without thought, pulling her back in his direction.

"Yes?"

Suddenly remembering where they are, he lets go of her hand and puts them in his pockets in hopes that it keeps his urge to touch her at bay. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Letting Harper spend the day with you guys and…for coming in."

"I'm happy to watch her. I've hit a bit of a writer's block lately so a day with them is just what I need."

"Is there anything else you may need?"

"I have something in mind…but just between you and me it's a little inappropriate for school."

He feels words that shouldn't be said around prying ears begin to surface and quickly has to bite his bottom lip to stop himself. Their eyes stay locked and the comfortable silence that surrounds them only makes it hotter. She's just about to say something when another voice breaks them out of their trance.

"Mom, can we have pizza for lunch?"

The pair quickly school their features as the unsuspecting 12-year-olds come up to them, eyes directed solely on the brunette waiting for her answer.

"After you eat your ice cream."

The dirty blonde's brow furrows in confusion at her mother's response. "Really?"

Kensi nods, smiling at the pure disbelief written across the younger girls' faces.

"Your mom is so cool. Isn't she cool, dad?" Harper looks up at Marty with amazement in her eyes.

"You have no idea." The words fall from his mouth without thought and his eyes go wide. Maybe she didn't notice.

"What?" The raven-haired tween tilts her head in curiosity at his words.

She noticed. "Um, nothing."

Kensi watches as Harper begins to open her mouth to ask her dad another question and quickly steps in. "Alright, girls, let's go so this nerd can get back to work."

The best friends erupt with laughter at the brunette's comment. Marty having trouble himself trying to fight the grin from spreading to his lips.

"Did you just call me a nerd?"

"If the glasses fit."

He shakes his head as the girls run off towards the front door, Kensi following close behind. Just as the tweens pop outside, the brunette looks at him over her shoulder, sending him a playful wink.

Yeah, this whole hiding their relationship from the girls is getting harder and harder every single day.

There's less than an hour until the workday is over. 60 minutes separating him and this boring ass presentation Mr. Walters is giving. He's been getting selfies of Kensi and the girls all day and it's killing him to be here. It's been just him and Harper for so long that the thought of making their family bigger never crossed his mind, but now…now two people fit so seamlessly into their little piece of paradise. Speaking of…he feels his phone vibrate once more and quickly pulls it out expecting another selfie but instead there's a message.

Kensi: Babe, are you jealous of my heart?

The blonde principal's brow furrows in confusion. Why?

Kensi: Cuz it's pumping inside me and you aren't.

The guttural groan that exuberates from deep within him startles the whole room. Realizing what he's done, he looks up from the screen and as expected Mr. Walters along with the rest of the faculty is staring at him. Yep, he definitely did that out loud. "Heartburn."

Marty: Oh, you're gonna pay for that. Especially now that all my coworkers think I'm dying because of the noise that just escaped my mouth.

Kensi: Can't wait.

Kensi: Oh, and one more thing.

Marty: Yeah?

Kensi: I love you, nerd.

Marty: I love you back.

There's a knock at the door, pulling her away from the stove. Knowing exactly who it is, she all but sprints towards the door. She hasn't felt like this in a very long time. The anticipation of seeing him again when she just saw him 5 hours ago.

Reaching the door she takes a moment to gather herself before pulling it open and coming face to face with him and boy oh boy has she been thinking about his outfit all day along with his smile and…everything. "Hi."

"Hi."

"Come in. The girls are just getting washed up for dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Oh, yeah. You're staying for dinner.

"Oh, we are, are we?"

She nods as a matter of fact before spinning and making her way towards the kitchen just as she did the day of their reunion a few weeks ago. Visions of her and him making a mess in the semi-clean room dancing around in his head, but the girls are here and that can't happen right now. Pull it together, Marty. "So what are we having? Last thing I knew there's only one thing you can cook."

"Well, that's upped to 4 things now. All of which we're having tonight. One is Mac & Cheese."

"You don't mean THE Mac & Cheese."

She sends him a smile, mentally sending herself a high five. "I do."

"Should I go grab dessert?"

"No, I've got that covered, too."

The room becomes silent and mismatched orbs trace up and down his lean body, examining every inch of him. There wasn't much she could do at school and there's not much she can do now.

"I know that look."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She playfully bats her eyelashes.

"That seductive little curl at the corner of your lips."

"Well, what do you expect me to do when you're dressed like that?"

He steps around the corner of the island, taking away the barrier between them. "What, like a nerd?"

"You do know I was always into the studious type."

"More like they were into you." He grins. Oh, if the walls at Washington State University library could talk.

She takes a step towards him, closing the distance as she curls her fingers around his tie. "Those glasses are new though."

"You like that?"

"Uh-huh. Got a whole Clark Kent thing going on."

He closes the distance between their lips, mere inches away…"Oh, I can be your hero, baby."

Kensi can't help but shake with laughter. Marty Deeks was always the cheesy type and it seems as though some things never change, but that was obvious a couple of weeks ago when he was fucking her on the counter.

"What's so funny?" The sound of Riley's voice filters into the room along with the pattering of feet on the stairs.

Forced to pull back, the pair do their best to act casual. Kensi stirring the vegetables and Marty leaning against the counter as if they were just talking. "Nothing, just telling her one of my dad jokes."

"Was it the one about the zucchini?" Harper asks sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Yep!" The brunette meet's the blonde's eyes trying to bite back a smile. "Alright, girls, dinner is served."

As Kensi starts carrying the main dish over with the help of Riley, Harper pulls on Marty's arm, halting him. "Hey, dad?"

"Yeah?"

"I think you should ask her out." She says it in a hushed tone, careful not to let the other pair hear.

His pulse begins to quicken. He hasn't really dated anyone since she was born and she never really mentions her mother. That's why her statement catches him off guard. I mean obviously, they're already dating but keeping it a secret was just to help prevent Harper from feeling overwhelmed. "What? Why?"

"She laughed at your joke and earlier today she was poking fun at you."

"So?"

"I saw you smile."

"I smile all the time."

"Not like that. Never like that."

"I don't know."

She shrugs, trying her best to give him the encouragement he needs. "I'm just saying. You're always worried about my happiness, why not think about yourself?"

Damn this kid.

Kensi makes her way back into the kitchen with a smile on her face as she reaches for the dish on the counter. "Harper, I know you don't like broccoli so I made you some roasted carrots. Hope that's okay."

"I love roasted carrots. How'd you know?"

"I heard you and Riley talk about your dream meals so I did a little research and now I have another dish added to the few things I can cook."

The raven-haired tween lets out a shakey breath. She's been okay without having a mom for the last few years because her dad is always there but being around Kensi…that longing for a strong woman in her life, a mom, is bubbling up. There's even a part of her that wishes the brunette could be her mom. "You did that for me?"

"Of course."

Marty looks on at the exchange and is suddenly rethinking this whole secrecy thing. Maybe they should just forgo this whole dating thing and have a surprise wedding.