A/N: Returning to my glorious make believe version of Deeks time at FLETC. Densimber Day 17.

If you'll recall, Alan was a particularly unpleasant candidate who got off to a bad start with Deeks.

Kensi wandered the hall outside the commencement auditorium, examining the pictures and various awards that lined the walls while she waited for Deeks to finish getting ready. He was supposed to dress, meet with the director of graduation, and then meet her here.

Not too much had changed since she'd attended FLETC, but there were definitely more portraits of new agents and graduates who excelled.

She'd already passed by the section with Deeks' picture twice, trying to be subtle about her fawning. In the image, he wore a suit, hair neat and oddly short, but a twinkle in his eye that made Kensi want to smile. A small silver plaque at the bottom designated Deeks as the current Honor Graduate.

Bending closer, she turned her attention to the other honored graduates. Among them were a young woman named Abigail and a man named Charlie, who Kensi recognized from Deeks' stories.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Someone said from just behind Kensi. She turned slowly, raising her eyebrows at the man who leaned even closer.

"It is," she said neutrally. He was dressed in academy approved attire, hair perfectly combed. He gave Kensi a knowing look.

"Well, FLETC only accepts the best," he said without a hint of modesty. "I'm Alan, by the way."

"Kensi." She shook his offered hand quickly, wondering if he was the same Alan Deeks had mentioned a few times.

"It's nice to meet you. I could show you around if you want," he offered. "I know quite a bit about FLETC's history. I might be able to get you into some of the private buildings." He winked at her and Kensi pressed her lips together to hold back a smirk.

She highly doubted he had any special access to the structures outside of the main living faculties and classrooms.

"That's really kind of you, but I'm waiting for someone," Kensi declined politely.

"Oh come on, I insist." She saw Alan's eyes travel down from the top of her fairly modest blue dress, which had just a hint of a "V" and stopped just short of her knees. She'd kept her hair in loose curls with Deeks in mind. "They won't be ready for the audience to enter for a while."

"Don't you need to attend the rehearsal?" Hiding her irritation, Kensi glanced towards the closed door down the hall. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

He chuckled dismissively, rolling his eyes.

"I don't need to spend an hour practicing walking up and down an aisle," he said, his arrogance setting off a nerve.

As much as Deeks hated rules and unnecessary pomp and circumstance, she knew he'd followed part leading up to graduation to the letter. He wasn't about to mess up his hard work for anything.

"I'm pretty sure I read it was mandatory," Kensi mentioned, losing some of her subtlety. Actually, she knew for a fact that failure to fulfill any of the requirements could result in dismissal. Which was usually enough to strike fear in the hearts of most candidates.

"Wow, you really toe the line don't you?" he said, seeming to find it amusing. "How do you know so much about FLETC?"

"I was a candidate here about 15 years ago." His eyes lit up at that and he placed a hand on the wall next to Kensi, leaning in towards her. It created an unwanted intimacy that had her shifting back a few inches.

"Wow, so not only gorgeous, but talented too," he observed, eyed lighting up. "You think you could kick my ass?"

"I'd certainly give it a concerted effort," Kensi said pleasantly.

"Then it's a date."

"Alan, are you hitting on my wife?"

With Alan blocking her view, she'd missed Deeks' arrival. Alan froze, expression shifting to one of dismay as he looked at Kensi and then turned towards Deeks, and back again.

"You're married?" he managed in a strangled voice. Kensi nodded, stepping past him to join Deeks. He reached for her hand, raising it to his lips.

"Two years," Deeks confirmed cheerfully.

"Look, I didn't know, man." Alan chuckled nervously and Kensi had to wonder what kind of reputation Deeks had developed to inspire such a response.

"I can see that. Based on the sound of it, you weren't doing so great anyway."

Alan's face flushed to the roots of his dark hair, eyes darkening and the last of his charm dissipating.

"Screw you, Deeks," he ground out, brushing past them. He glared at Kensi as he passed, seeming to include her in his disgruntlement.

"Always nice talking to you, Al," Deeks called after him. "And for the record, she can totally kick your ass."

"Deeks," Kensi hushed, even as she laughed a little. "That was mean."

"Eh, he's kind of a jerk." Deeks shrugged, looking unconcerned. "He's actually much better than when he first got here."

"Now that I find hard to believe," she said, smoothing her hands down his arms. "You look wonderful by the way." Reaching up, she rearranged one of his curls so it didn't hang over his eye. "Perfect."

"Thank you," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. Kensi patted his arms again, pulling in a deep breath.

"Now go make me proud, Agent Deeks."