A/N: A random little Deeks, Rosa, and Pilar fic.

"Hey ladies, can I come in?" Deeks asked, knocking on the inside of the doorframe to Rosa and Pilar's room. They were sitting on Pilar's bed, giggling about something, a math book that read "Fundamentals of Algebra I" in Spanish open between them.

When they saw him, they immediately stopped talking, and Deeks bit back a grin. Their bond warmed and amazed him, to the point it was sometimes difficult to step in when they were clearly supposed to be doing something other than socializing.

"Of course, Marty," Rosa said, gesturing for him to come in. She shifted on the bed, sitting cross-legged. Pilar mirrored her position without thinking. Neither of them had felt comfortable calling him or Kensi anything other their first names at this point, which he completely understood.

"I know, we're supposed to be studying," Pilar added quickly, sliding the book onto her lap.

"Actually, that's not what I was going to say," Deeks told her with a slight grin. "Though, in order to fulfill my parental duties, I should probably tell you that studying is very important." His comment made Rosa grin and she reached over to grab a notebook.

"I already finished my homework for today."

"And I only have two more equations." Pilar said the last word with Spanish pronunciation and gestured to the page of her book.

"That's amazing. You guys are doing amazing, definitely way better than when I was in high school."

"Thank you," Rosa said, looking pleased by the complement.

"Anyway, the reason I interrupted whatever secret and mysterious activities are going on in here is to see if you guys wanted to go for a walk followed by Kensi's favorite sushi," he explained.

Pilar and Rosa shared another glance and both nodded.

"Sure, I'll go get my bag," Pilar said agreeably while Rosa got up and started searching for her shoes.

Deeks frowned, watching them scramble around the room. This was a pattern he'd noticed with both girls; no matter what the activity or suggestion they invariably agreed.

"Hey, you know you don't have to come if you don't want to," he spoke up as Rosa ran a brush through her hair. She paused, a frown furrowing her eyebrows. "I mean, you don't have to do anything to prove anything to me or Kensi. You can say no, and nothing will change."

"Maybe we want to please you," Pilar suggested softly. He saw Rosa watching them through the mirror.

"But you shouldn't have to. Not like this."

Pilar looked a little uncertain about that and stayed silent for several moments. Finally, Rosa turned around, some of the seriousness he'd noticed the first time they met in her eyes.

"Marty, both of us lost everything and ended up in places where we were either unwanted or too much trouble or work," she began slowly. "I think right now, it's nice to think that you want us to come with you. Even though you do not get anything from it."

He hadn't thought of it that way before, but he still had his doubts that they were being completely honest.

"It still doesn't feel right," he said.

"Maybe we won't want to go everywhere with you in a couple years," Pilar offered with a shrug. "But for now, it makes me feel…closer. Loved."

Deeks pressed his lips together, feeling an unexpected wave of emotion roll through him.

"Well, then I guess I can't argue with that." He reached out and both girls happily leaned in for a hug. "But whenever you get annoyed with us, you totally do not have to go with. Especially if it's Kensi's CrossFit or when I ask if you want to watch an old movie. We want you to be happy."

"Deal," Rosa said with a soft grin even as she brushed a knuckle under her eye. "I really do like spending time with you and Kensi."

"And we love sushi too," Pilar added pointedly. And somehow that perfectly teenage response reassured him more than anything else.