"Ok, but it's the perfect film. It has romance, an element of mystery, heartbreak, and top it all off, time travel. Oh, and of course, Christopher Reeve."

Deeks watched Kensi, holding back a smile as she defended the movie they'd just finished watching before they started making lunch. He loved it when she got passionate about something like this. Didn't matter if the topic was her current favorite movie or some algebraic formula that Deeks would never fully understand.

It had been a hard summer so far in many ways. The bills just kept coming, there never seemed to be enough money, and Ray still wasn't talking to him. Kensi made it all seem a lot less terrible. He just needed to see her smile and his outlook got a little better.

He figured Kensi had picked up on his poor mood, since the last several days she'd found a multitude of ways to keep him occupied. Usually that involved some kind of food project, today's being enchiladas. Kensi had pulled out a couple of stained and well-loved cookbooks, a passed down gift from her mom, and picked the easier looking of the two recipes. Kensi had put him in charge of dicing the vegetables.

Kensi stopped her rant to mutter under her breath as she squinted at the small Spanish text and then hesitantly added a couple shakes from a spice bottle. He loved the way her face smoothed over when she gave a project her full attention.

The kitchen timer dinged and Kensi grabbed a pair of mitts, opening the oven. She bent over, her shorts riding higher up her tan thighs, and he quickly averted his eyes to the cutting board of partially sliced onions in front of him.

He cleared his throat loudly. "You also said that "Love Story" and "The Thing" were the best movies ever," he commented.

"It's "Somewhere in Time", Deeks." Kensi paused to look over her shoulder at him. "How can you not love it."

"Oh, I enjoyed it. I'm just trying to pin your criteria for a perfect movie."

"Shut up. Do you think these cookies are done?" Kensi asked, holding out a tray of peanut butter cookies. She poked at the middle of a pale looking one, leaving a small imprint of her fingertip behind.

"Mm, probably a couple more minutes," Deeks decided. "Don't you think it's a little ambitious to try for both cookies and enchiladas in one afternoon?"

"We don't need that kind of negative talk in this kitchen. And you'll thank me when we have something to snack on while the food cooks." She paused to jab a finger at him, then slid the tray of cookies back in the oven.

"I'm sure I will." Concealing his smile, Deeks chopped the last bit of onion, scooping it into a bowl, which he handed to Kensi with a flourish. "Your veggies, my lady."

"Gracias." She dumped the content of the bowl into a pan along with a very healthy pour of oil.

Maybe a little too healthy. Not that Deeks would ever complain. A meal was a meal.

"Do you have to work today?" she asked, moving the spatula in circles around the surface of the pan.

"Nah, Mr. Chowdry says I'm working too many hours. He gave me the day off."

"Good."

"So, what were you thinking of?"

"Well…" Kensi concentrated on her stirring. "It's been three weeks since my last driving test. My dad can't take me for two more days, so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me," she said.

"You want me to come with you?" Deeks repeated. "Don't you want your dad to be there?"

"Honestly, I think it made me kind of nervous last time," Kensi admitted with a self-conscious little shrug. "Even if he doesn't mean to, he tries to give advice and sometimes that's just not what I need. Plus, you know, we've been there for a lot of each other's milestones, so I figured why not this one too?"

She was rambling now, which Deeks found way cuter than he should.

"But if you have other plans or just don't want to—"

"Relax Kensalina, I'll do it," he cut her off before she could backtrack completely. Her answering smile was absolutely stunning.

"Really?"

"Yes. There's just one problem. Technically, I shouldn't be driving with someone under 18 in the car."

Kensi smiled again, this time mischievously. "I won't say anything if you don't."

Deeks had been less nervous about his own driving test than he was about Kensi's. Maybe it had something to do with knowing that she'd be even more devastated if anything went wrong again. Or the fact that it seemed to be taking forever. He told himself that it was a good sign, but even that couldn't keep his knee from bobbing to a fast-paced rhythm.

It didn't help that the only other person in the waiting area was an older woman who kept shooting him dirty looks. He'd tried smiling back, but she'd only glared again, and moved down a couple seats.

He'd just picked up a worn a magazine about home improvement when the bell over the entrance door jingled. He turned around in time to see Kensi walk in with the examiner. Unfortunately, he couldn't see her face from this angle.

Tossing the magazine aside, he stood up, arranging his expression into something neutral as Kensi walked over. She kept her head lowered; fingers clasped tightly in front of her.

Crap.

"Kensi—" His words of sympathy died on his lips as Kensi looked up, wearing a massive smile.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, throwing herself at him. Deeks caught her again his chest, squeezing her tightly.

"That's fantastic. Congratulations!" He hugged her for a few more seconds, then pulled back. "That was not nice."

"Oh come on, I had to create some drama after all the buildup. Don't pretend you wouldn't have done the same."

"Touché."

"Ok, I have to go get my picture taken and get my temporary license," she said, her excitement contagious.

Deeks stood nearby as Kensi had her picture taken (he held her purse and brush too) and filled out several forms. After about 15 minutes, she walked over with a piece of copy paper with an almost unrecognizable black and white print of her face at the top.

"It's official," she sang, shimmying. "Well, mostly. They'll send me the finalized copy in a couple weeks."

Deeks nodded along, even though he'd gone through the same process himself a few months ago.

"So, how do you want to celebrate?" he asked as they left the DMV. It was still bright out, and he had nowhere in particular to be. Honestly, going home was fairly depressing most days. Spending as much time as he could with friends or at work seemed far more desirable.

Deeks anticipated Kensi's usual go-to of food, but she surprised him with another mischievous smile.

"Come with me for my inaugural drive as a licensed driver?" she suggested.

"We're both under 18," Deeks pointed out, recognizing the irony of him pointing that out when Kensi tended to be the stickler for rules.

"I'll take only back roads and I'll drive like the trunk's filled with eggs. Please?" She gave him a pleading look, bottom lip slightly jutted out.

It was the same look that had once convinced him to ride his bike 10 miles to meet her favorite band at the time and help mow the lawn every week two years ago. They both knew he rarely denied her anything, so with a sigh of acceptance, got inside the car.

"Fine. But I want my objections put on the record now."

"Noted," Kensi said, buckling herself in. She rolled her window down, the breeze already shifting her hair as she put the key in the ignition.

A/N: We're just going to pretend that Kensi wouldn't need a legal guardian present to get her license. I also had to take a break from pure angst and have them be kids for a minute, and make some not so great decisions.