A/N: For today's prompt. This one is set sometime after Kensi and Deeks got together, probably season 7.

"Do you remember where your dad is?" Deeks asked as he and Kensi walked along the concrete paths, lined by immaculately kept lawns. He carried a large tote over one shoulder, filled with sandwiches, a couple of plants, and some tools.

"He's in one of the back lawns," she told him, looking back as he stopped to pull his jacket off. It was a beautiful, sunny autumn day. When he caught up with her, she reached for his hand and they set a leisurely pace.

They passed a large memorial and a family plot with several generations listed. Kensi paused for a moment to read the names before continuing on.

"It's a little bit of a hike."

"I don't mind."

"I remember the first time I came here on my own," Kensi told Deeks a few minutes later. "I was 18, in my first year of college actually. I scraped together just enough money to take a bus here on a Saturday."

"That must have been really hard," Deeks said, giving her an extra squeeze. "Doing that all on your own, I mean."

"It was." In some ways it had nearly broken her all over again. "But you know, it was also nice to come without anyone else. Before when I came with my mom, or during the funeral, I didn't feel like I could really express myself. I thought everyone expected me to act a certain way and especially when it first happened, I was angry one second and then felt like crying the next."

"That makes sense. And I don't think anyone would have judged you for your feelings." Kensi glanced up at him, remembering one of thousand reasons she loved him so much. No matter what, he was always her biggest supporter and champion.

"I don't know, but I thought they would. I think that's when I started keeping everything in. I wouldn't let anybody see me feel anything and that felt so much safer than the alternative," Kensi explained, wondering if she'd ever put exact words to those horrible years and moments. She led Deeks off the path and they carefully walked between plots marked by miniature American flags and many, with flowers or small stuffed animals.

"So what happened once you got here?" Deeks prompted.

"I took out dad's journal and started reading one of the last pages. I only got about two sentences in before I started sobbing." Her eyes burned a little with the memory and Deeks bumped her shoulder, drawing her back to the present. "Then I think I started shouting at him. I told him he shouldn't have left me alone...I screamed some pretty terrible things." She snorted. "And I'm pretty sure I scandalized a couple of older ladies who were taking care of a nearby plot."

"Unbelievable," Deeks said with mock solemnity. "Shouting in a cemetery." She rolled her eyes at him, stopping in front of a modest headstone. Her eyes automatically scanned his name, the dates that marked his birth and death.

"Here he is," she said a little unnecessarily. She glanced at Deeks a little self-consciously and then stepped forward, leaning down to kiss the headstone the way she had every time she visited him. "Hey dad."

Kensi could sense Deeks holding back, letting her have the moment just to herself. She brushed her fingers over the top of the stone and gestured for Deeks to come forward.

"Dad, this is Deeks. The guy I've been telling you about for years. He's pretty great." When she glanced at Deeks out of the corner of her eye, she realized he looked a little nervous so she added, "Even if his hair is ridiculous."

"And your daughter absolutely adores these curls," he teased. She spent a couple more minutes telling her dad about the past few months while Deeks unpacked the tote. Maybe it was a little silly, but it made her feel closer to him.

Together, they cleared the leaves and grass that had gathered around the marker since the last time she'd visited. When the area was neat and clear of all debris, Deeks planted two red geraniums-the lady at their local greenhouse had suggested them because they didn't require much care-directly in front of the headstone.

"It looks nice," Kensi decided when Deeks finished. It certainly looked better than when she tried her hand at gardening. Maybe the little flowers would make it through a couple months before she visited again.

"Thanks." He flashed her a smile as he handed her the other half of the blanket to lay out and then held up two sandwiches. "Do you want turkey or ham?"

"Mm, ham. Wait, does it have mustard?" Deeks nodded. "Then the turkey."

Kensi leaned against Deeks chest as they ate, feeling more relaxed than she ever had here. Some people might have found it weird or morbid to be eating across from her father's grave, but it gave her a sense of peace. And like she'd told Deeks, made her feel closer to her dad.

"Tell me about a good memory you have of your dad," Deeks requested as they finished their food. Kensi thought for a moment while she popped a chip into her mouth and slowly chewed. She tossed the the last bit of her sandwich on her plate and rubbed her hands together, turning to face Deeks.

"Ok, so my dad was always pretty adamant about eating healthy and exercising when I was a kid," she started, her lip turning up at the memory of her dad serving a healthy portion of broccoli onto her plate while she pouted. "The thing was, he had a massive sweet tooth."

"Hm, who does that remind me of?" Deeks rubbed his chin, smirking at her. "Maybe someone who ate all the ice cream last week."

"Anyway, whenever we would go on vacation or take a day trip, we had to check out a new ice cream shop, or bakery. Sometimes we would try to find the most outrageous dessert and order it just for fun. One time we ended up with this massive split-dad hated bananas so I don't know why he let me order it-and we spent two hours trying to finish it. I didn't eat chocolate for a week after that."

She sighed at the memory, resting her head on Deeks shoulder. He cupped the back of her head, gently caressing the nape of her neck with his thumb, and dipped his chin to kiss her.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," he said. "I wish I could have met him."

"Me too," Kensi said, smiling up at him. "He would have really liked you. He would have given you hell about your hair, but he would have liked you."

"I hope so."

"He would," Kensi repeated firmly, kissing him again. "Thank you for coming here with me. It means a lot."

"Always," Deeks promised.

They stayed until dusk, Kensi sharing random stories about her dad and childhood, and she had never felt more at peace.

A/N: I'm not completely certain that I've stayed completely canon with this, but I tried.