So part of this chapter was actually my first attempt for a one shot in TKD series that I didn't know where to go with it, so I let it just sit in my docs.

Anyway, this is the last chapter of this story! It's such a bittersweet thing, because it'll make things easier for me to be posting less, but I had fun with this story. Please, please, let me know what you've thought, and if you have any guesses on Callen's lover...

One final note here, I'm not sure when I'll be back to working on this series. I have nothing planned, but then again, maybe as soon as I post this chapter I'll get a brainwave of what to write. However, if there is anything you really want to see in the AU, please reach out to me!

-owl

Kensi

Kensi was losing her mind. She was bored. The only thing she had been doing in the last few days was help Ziva and Tony organize the contents of the chest that had been unlocked. It was a bigger project than one would have thought because so much of it was stolen from not only the DiNozzo vaults, but also the vaults of Meadth, Investigatii, and Buidheann.

Everything had to go into its own pile, to be returned to the proper country. And, unfortunately for them, some of it was quite similar in style from one country to another. It also didn't help that Ziva and Tony didn't have a lot of time as they were ruling the country. That was one of the driving factors behind Kensi helping out.

Regardless, it was boring.

Ziva

Ziva could tell that Kensi was going stir-crazy. The duchess was keyed up and clearly desperately needed a break from the day-to-day that she had been living for almost the last month.

"Kensi?" Ziva called out, startling the duchess as she was reading a book while eating.

"Yes, Ziva?" Kensi looked up at her, setting her book down on the table.

"Would you like to spar with me today?"

Kesnsi smiled, the first real one Ziva had seen from her in a while.

"Sure!"

Ziva grinned. "I will meet you on the training grounds when the bell rings for noon. Do not forget your sword."

"I would never."

Ziva was at the training grounds before the bell rang for noon. She wore a loose dress that allowed for ample movement while fighting. Her sword was at her waist and a dagger was hidden in the bodice of the dress. Her hair was up in a tight bun. There were plenty of other people using the training grounds, and Ziva ignored them. They would not get in the way of her and Kensi.

As the bell began ringing for noon, Kensi came running out of the castle and towards the training grounds. She was dressed similarly to Ziva; a loose dress, her sword on her hip, and her hair was up.

"Are you ready, Ziva?" Kensi asked, drawing her sword.

Ziva mirrored the move. "I am always ready, Kensi."

Ziva and Kensi were getting quite close. Oftentimes, in the evenings after they sparred, they would go down to the hot springs together. The warm water did wonders for sore muscles. They had no set schedule for either sparring or the hot springs. After all, Ziva was ruling a country and didn't always have the time.

"I wish there was something like this in Bly," Kensi said one night as she joined Ziva in the water.

Ziva laughed. "If you had hot springs nearby, I doubt you would ever get anything done."

"I guess I can't argue with that."

"There is something I wanted to get your opinion on, Kensi."

Kensi gave Ziva a wary look. "I don't like the look you have on your face. What is it, do I even want to know?"

"I have heard rumors that Callen has a lover."

"Where's the question in that?"

Ziva rolled her eyes. "What do you know about your brother having a lover?"

"That's not something I normally think about. Though, to be fair, he has seemed happier recently."

"You are not telling the whole truth." It was a fact, not an opinion that Ziva voiced.

"Regardless if it's true or not, I don't get to tell you about it. Besides, sooner or later, you'll get to hear about it."

"If I will hear about it 'sooner or later,'" Ziva said with a smirk, "that must mean there is something going on!"

Deeks

Deeks couldn't have been happier then when he finally rode into the capital city of DiNozzo. It had been nearly a month and a half since he had seen his wife, and damn him, he missed her. The journey from Operacje this time wasn't as fast as it could have been, seeing as he had to bring along Kensi's horse, and having the extra animal to wrangle made things difficult.

The guards at the gate questioned him, but once he showed them his noble seal, they let him through. The city was silent as he traversed through it. Deeks entered the courtyard in the middle of the night. The full moon shone down on him as Tony greeted him.

"I take it if you're here, everything's been figured out?" he asked, clasping his hand and arm with Deeks'.

Deeks nodded. "Yes, and, in a wonderful turn of events, Granger was demoted to Duke, and Kensi and I were promoted to ArchDuke and ArchDuchess!"

Tony burst out laughing. "I — That's amazing! I bet Ziva'll get a kick out of that as well." Then he sobered up. "But I'm sure you're tired, Kensi is in the same room you two were in for the tournament. You guys can leave whenever you want, though it would be nice to be notified first so we can come say goodbye."

Deeks nodded again. "Of course."

Leaving the king behind, Deeks made his way through the castle to the room he and Kensi were always in. He was certainly glad that Tony and Ziva always tried to do that, to help make up for how maze-like the castle was.

When he entered the room, he was unsurprised to find it dark. The only light would be coming from the moon and none of the windows were facing the right direction for that. Deeks waited a minute until his eyes had adjusted and he could navigate the room without tripping over anything. Halfway to the bed Deeks shed the outer layers of his clothes.

Standing next to the bed, Deeks took the opportunity to watch his wife sleep. She was peaceful when she was asleep, her face devoid of any worry or anger. He smiled softly as he carefully eased into the bed next to her. Unconsciously Kensi rolled over and wrapped her arms around Deeks.

Kensi

Kensi woke up entrapped in a man's arms. That was odd, as she had gone to bed alone. Her eyes flew open and were immediately drawn to the man next to her. The scruffy facial hair and fluffy blond locks made it known that it was none other than Deeks.

"Deeks?" she questioned.

Slowly his eyes opened too. "Hey, Kens!" he said brightly. Then he pulled her in for a kiss. "Are you ready to go home?" he asked when they had pulled apart.

She nodded. "It's over?"

"Yes, it's all over." He grinned, a true smirk before he spoke again. "Do you want to know the best part?"

"And what's that?"

"Hetty stripped Granger of the ArchDuke title. He's just a regular duke now."

"Really?" Kensi asked, unable to hide her amusement.

"And, even better, —"

"I don't know how it could get better!"

"— Hetty gave us a promotion! The Duchy of Bly is now the ArchDuchy of Bly!"

"You're kidding."

"Not one bit."

Kensi and Deeks prepared to leave at noon. They were both eager to get home and back into a sense of normalcy.

"Thank you, Tony and Ziva," Kensi said, hugging the latter and shaking the hand of the former, "For your willingness to help me, both in duping Granger, then again to let me stay here."

Tony shook his head. "It was no problem."

Ziva smiled. "Safe travels."

They echoed the queen's words and urged their horses out of the courtyard. They were finally, finally going home.