A/N: This most likely takes place in season 7. Mild angst with significantly more fluff.

Kensi rested her head on Deeks' shoulder, smiling as a trio of carolers dressed in 18th century clothed sang in front of a large decorated tree. Around them, kids were running with strings of flashing fake lights around their necks and venders sold hot chocolate.

The carolers finished a song and the crowd dispersed a little. Looping her arm through Deeks', they walked towards a lights display.

"This is nice," she said. When Deeks had first suggested it, she'd been a little hesitant. She wasn't the most holiday inclined person, especially when it came to Christmas.

"I used to come here with my mom," he shared, looking down at her with a reminiscent smile. "The first year after dad…well, we didn't have very much. Mom was working two jobs just to keep a roof over our heads and pay bills. Even though she tried to hide it, I knew she felt terrible that she couldn't afford any extras."

"That must have been hard."

"It was." He sighed, eyeing a flashing snowman. "I didn't care about the presents, but mom thought she was failing me. Anyway, when she got home from work on Christmas Eve, we didn't any decorations up or anything cause we had to sell or leave a lot of stuff behind when we moved.

"Not going to lie, it was pretty bleak after we finished dinner," Deeks continued. He stooped and picked up a few spare pine needles, rubbing them between his thumb and forefinger. "But I told mom that I didn't care, it was still the best Christmas. Which was true in a way. At least there wasn't any shouting, drinking, or broken dishes for once."

"Even then as an eleven year old, you were still thinking about other people," Kensi said, giving him a fond smile. "That's admirable, Deeks."

"I don't know about that," Deeks disagreed, shrugging off her compliment, like he tended to when it to honest comments about his character. "I just didn't want to see her sad anymore. You know? She'd earned a break." He was quiet for a moment and they continued strolling through a path of giant candy canes.

"We decided to go look at Christmas decorations because it was free and would get us out of the house. And somewhere along the way, we found this place. Of course, back then there were just a few trees and deer and the hot chocolate was kind of burnt. I still thought it was pretty great."

"I bet it was. Thank you for sharing it with me now." Kensi leaned up to kiss Deeks' cheek. His story had done more to warm her through than ten cups of hot chocolate ever could.

Deeks led them through to a small gazebo which isolated from the rest of the display by a copse of firs. There were a few benches and more twinkle lights, which gave it a distinctive fairytale feel.

"What about you?" Deeks asked,, bracing his back against one of the inner railings while she looked out at the lights from a distance. "Any Christmas traditions you want to add into the mix?"

Kensi considered his question for a few minutes. At one time, she would have balked at the idea of sharing such a private part of her life. Now though, she wanted to share it all. The problem was, she had relatively few traditions with the fairly nomadic life she'd led.

"When he was home, my dad and I would put all the couch cushions and pillows on the floor, make hot chocolate, and watch movies while roasting marshmallows in the fireplace," she told him.

"Every year, we'd pick out a new movie to watch, but we'd always make sure that "Holiday Inn", "White Christmas", and "It's A Wonderful Life" were on the playlist."

"So that explains why we have a box set of holiday classics," Deeks teased, but she shrugged, running her fingers along the smooth white paint on the railing. Of course Deeks picked up on her hesitance. "I take it that's kind of a painful memory, without your dad."

"It used to be," she agree softly. "Actually, the last time I had a Christmas movie night was with Jack when we first started dating. We never got around to a second time with everything that happened."

"Oh." Sighing, Deeks shook his hair back, and nodded in apparent acceptance. "I get it and we absolutely do not have to talk about it anymore. I mean, I've barely admitted that my mother exists."

Ignoring his attempt to change the subject, Kensi slid closer, turning so they were face-to-face.

"Deeks, that's not what I'm asking. It was incredibly painful at the time and I let those feelings rule me for far too long. I'm ready to move on, to make new memories, recreate old traditions, with you." She stretched up and brushed her lips to his.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Deeks murmured, drawing her closer. Under the twinkle of the lights and with the slight chill in the air, they kissed, in a magical world of their own.