Caleb agreed to see Monica a couple more times over the next week, though he kept himself slightly distanced for most of her visits and usually insisted that Deeks accompany them everywhere. As much as Deeks debated if letting her back into their lives was a sound decision, he was glad that Caleb still trusted him so deeply.

When asked how long she planned to stay, Monica gave an ambiguous response about wanting to get acquainted with the city. Deeks didn't love the vague parameters, but he supposed it was a pleasant surprise that she'd kept her word and hadn't skipped out without a word. Yet.

Sighing, Deeks checked his reflection in his bedroom mirror, straightening the collar of his shirt one more time. It absolutely refused to stay flat though. Sometimes he really did hate wearing suits.

"Hey kiddo, you about finished in the bathroom?" he called out, listening for a response. "Caleb?"

A moment later, Caleb raced into the, curls flying in every direction, and barreled into Deeks' legs.

"Oh thank god. I thought you might have fallen in."

"Daaaad!" Caleb protested, throwing his head back as he clung to Deeks.

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let me get my backpack." He ran out again, meeting Deeks by the front door with his backpack on and a superhero in one hand.

Once they were waiting in the car rider line, Caleb unbuckled his seatbelt, and climbed into the front seat like usual. Up ahead, they could see Kensi letting students out of their cars and directing them to the entrance.

"Dad, is Kensi coming over to tonight?" Caleb asked, pressing his face close to the passenger window.

"Uh maybe, we'll have to see. It's been a little crazy," Deeks answered.

Caleb seemed to mull that over, then turned, his lip jutting put.

"Don't you want to see her?"

Deeks' heartbroken at that, and he immediately reached out to ruffle his hair.

"Of course I do. I like spending time with Kensi almost as much as you do."

"It's because of mommy, isn't it?"

Deeks sighed, dragging a hand through his hair as he turned to briefly stare out his own window. It was true Monica's presence had thrown a slight wrench in his and Kensi's relationship. Unless Monica stayed more permanently, a thought that had kept him up several nights, he didn't want to put Kensi through the drama that meeting Monica would inevitably bring.

Caleb didn't need to know any of that though. He was having enough trouble dealing with his mom's presence without throwing in additional grown-up problems into the mix.

Glancing back at Caleb, he offered him a half-smile.

"Kensi's been pretty busy with the end of the year coming up and we've been busy, so there just hasn't been the time. How about I ask if she can come on Saturday?" he offered. "Does that sound good?"

Caleb's face brightened with a toothy smile, and he nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, that would be great. And maybe you can cook lasagna again cause last time Kensi really liked it."

"Sounds like a plan, buddy."

Although Deeks insisted that he was doing better, Kensi could tell that he was strained. His texts were a little more clipped, his humor slightly forced, and when she saw him during drop offs, he seemed harried. She very purposely reminded herself not of it had anything to do with her.

Like father like son, Caleb continued to be less than his cheerful and outgoing self. From the few tidbits he dropped, Monica had come for dinner several times. He'd confided, after swearing her to absolute secrecy, that Deeks was not happy.

With that in mind, she grabbed a couple of coffees and pastries after work, heading for Deeks' house. She figured Deeks needed the pick-me-up, and to be perfectly honest, she didn't feel like waiting to see him until Saturday.

The sound of music with a heavy beat that didn't sound like Deeks' usual taste emanated from the house as she reached the front door. She pressed the doorbell three or four times before the music turned off abruptly and the door swung open, revealing a dark-haired woman in denim shorts and a t-shirt

Kensi's eyes widened for a few seconds before she caught herself.

"Well hello, you must be Kensi," the woman greeted her, giving her a very obvious and thorough once over.

"And you must be Monica," Kensi tossed back.

"I can see why Marty likes you. Come on in," Monica offered.

That sounded like the very last thing Kensi wanted to do, but somehow, she felt Monica was challenging her. So, she followed Monica in, pushing down the vague jealousy that threatened to creep in at her comfort in Deeks' home.

"Actually, I was just dropping these off for Deeks. Is he around?" Kensi held up the coffees and bag of pastries.

"He took Caleb to pick up dinner." Leaning closer, Monica dropped her voice to an almost flirty whisper. "I wouldn't mind a coffee though. Then we could chat."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Kensi said. Just off a few moments, Kensi knew she didn't want to spend any more time in Monica's company that necessary.

"Ooh, are you intimidated by me, Kensi? Maybe jealous?" Monica taunted, chuckling.

Biting back any response that would give Monica satisfaction, Kensi shrugged. "Fine." She wordlessly walked into the living room and set the coffee and food down. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Let's start with how you and Marty met."

"No. I'm not discussing our relationship with you," Kensi told her firmly, crossing her arms.

"Ooh, that hit a nerve. That's ok. I already know you're a teacher, you've been dating for a few months, and Marty is hopelessly head over heels for you," Monica listed off, slowly pacing around the room like some kind of caged animal waiting to pounce.

"Who told you that?" She was fairly certain Deeks would never share so much.

"Mostly Caleb." Running her fingertip along the top of a picture frame, she paused for several seconds. "It was pretty easy to get him talking about you. Then I might have seen a picture or two and some texts on Marty's phone." Monica nodded appreciatively. "Kudos on moving in on the hot dad. I bet the other teachers are so jealous."

"So you pumped your own son for information and violated your ex-husband's privacy. You really have no shame, do you?" Kensi said, fury making her voice shake.

"Well, how else am I supposed to make sure that you're going to take good care of Marty," Monica said reasonably, which only made Kensi that much angrier.

Kensi inhaled deeply to calm the sudden, intense urge to punch the woman in front of her.

"Since you pretty much abandoned Deeks and Caleb, I don't really think you're the best judge of character.

Instead of showing any sign of remorse or pain at Kensi's blunt retort, Monica just tilted her head, regarding her seriously.

"You see, that's where you're wrong." Monica gestures to herself, moving to stand closer to Kensi again. For the first time, she'd dropped the flirty, biting persona, and seemed to fully believe what she was saying. "I know what Marty and my—Caleb deserve. I knew I wasn't good enough, which is why I left. But damn if I'm gonna let someone else hurt him like I did. He deserves to be happy."

Kensi stayed silent for several moments, then tipped her chin up, facing Monica just as seriously. "He is happy." She nodded to the table. "Enjoy the coffee and the rest of your visit, Monica."

Then she walked out of the room, and the front door. It wasn't until she was in her car that she let her head fall back. It felt as though she'd just been through a brutal boxing match, and she wasn't sure who had won.

A/N: Monica continues to be the worst. Even if she thinks she has noble intentions.