A/N: Written in celebration of Martin Atticus Deeks' 45th birthday.
"Shhh, you're going to wake him up."
"I'm being as quiet as I can. Can you grab the syrup?"
"Let me put the flowers down first."
Deeks cracked one eye open, first registering the twins cradled in either arm. He vaguely recalled going to change them last night in a haze of sleep. He turned his head to the side where Kensi and Rosa were still whispering, bent over something on the side table. He heard the distinctive click of a lighter.
"Ouch!"
"Don't get wax on the—"
"Do I wanna know what's going on over there," Deeks croaked, not bothering to lift his head. Kensi and Rosa spun around simultaneously, Rosa hurrying to block his view of the table.
"Baby, you're supposed to be sleeping still," Kensi lamented, moving over to the bed and leaning to kiss him.
"And you're supposed to be taking it easy," he reminded her. "Cause of these gremlins." He lifted his shoulders in the direction of the oblivious twins.
"I think I can handle carrying a lighter upstairs," she countered as Rosa stepped forward with a tray, laden with an omelet, fruit, coffee, and thick pancakes topped with lit candles.
"Happy Birthday, Marty," Rosa wished him, waving her hand over the spread with a flourish.
He shifted himself higher against the pillows while keeping Caleb and Sophia cradled in his arms. "This is amazing, but I didn't expect anything this year with everything going on."
"It's a very important day," Kensi said with a fond smile. "One that I'm never, ever going to miss again. She kissed him again, sliding onto the bed next to him, and reached to take Sophia.
"Hey, I can still eat and hold them at the same time," he protested, scooping both babies a little tighter on his chest.
"I know, but you don't have to. I promise I'll give them back as soon as you're done."
Kensi scooped up Caleb and Sophia, settling beside him, and Rosa set the tray over his lap.
Deeks gingerly blew out the candle stuck in the center of the pancake stack, putting it to the side. He was about to dig in when Rosa crawled up next to him. Something about that, maybe combined with the lack of sleep, made his heart squeeze with sudden affection, and the odd urge to cry.
"What's wrong? Did we forget something?" Kensi asked, making Deeks realize he'd been sitting there with an empty fork for a while. He glanced between Rosa, the twins, and finally Kensi. His family.
"No. No, this is absolutely perfect," he assured her, brushing a couple tears back. "Thank you, baby."
"Happy Birthday, Deeks. We love you."
A/N: I just love writing Deeks as the happiest dad.