A/N: Densimber day 28.

Deeks watched Kensi and Rosa walk away from him down the beach, on a mission to retrieve the bucket of toys they'd forgotten in the van. That left him with Caleb and Sophia to entertain in the meantime.

They'd both just finished off a package of goldfish and juice pouch a few minutes ago, so they should be good for a little while. He wriggled both of them into water wings, slathered in sunscreen and headed out into the water, stopping about waist deep.

"You want to swim?" he asked, gentling dipping Caleb's legs in the water.

Caleb earnestly kicked his legs, managing to spin himself in a circle.

"There you go buddy! You got it! You want to try it Sophia?"

Sophia dipped one of her feet in the water, squealing as soon as it made contact, and immediately tightened her grip on Deeks' neck, apparently content to stay dry.

"Cold, daddy," she complained.

"It's too cold?" he repeated. "That's ok, daddy will keep you warm."

While Deeks kept Sophia entertained by throwing her in the air, Caleb kicked himself around them, smacking at the water in excitement.

"Look, simming!" he shouted.

"I know, that's incredible, kiddo. Soon you're gonna be swimming faster than daddy."

Caleb grinned back, pleased with the praise.

After about ten minutes, he started to flag, and gave Deeks a pitiful look. "I seepy."

"Ok, you ready to get out too, Sophie?" Deeks asked.

"Yeah. More fis."

"You know, you keep eating so many fish, you're going to turn into one, one of these days," he teased her as he scooped Caleb out of the water and toted both back to the shore.

"No!"

"Yes. I think I see a little bit of yellow coming out right here." He tickled behind her ear, eliciting a delighted giggle.

"Daddy!"

Back on the sand, Deeks set Sophia on the sand and grabbed Caleb's towel to dry him off.

"Wow, looks like you've got your hands full," a voice observed from behind him as he tried to keep Sophia from rubbing sand in her hair and Caleb from wandering back towards the water.

He turned to look over his shoulder at a woman with brown hair and a yellow sundress.

"Yeah, they keep you busy for sure," he agreed with a polite smile, hurriedly smoothing a beach blanket out for the twins to sit on.

"It's amazing to see a father so involved in his children. I can tell you're a great parent," the woman continued.

"Uh, thanks."

"I'm Paula, by the way." She held out her hand and he paused long enough to shake it before grabbing more snacks.

"Deeks."

"That's an unusual name," she commented and he nodded.

"Yeah, so I've heard. Well, I gotta get these guys fed if I don't want to have a meltdown," he said, unapologetically using the twins to end the conversation.

"Oh, I don't mind. Go ahead." She sat on the other side of the blanket, smiling up at him with a look he'd come to recognize.

He sighed internally. Where was Kensi when he needed her?

"I told Steven we could go on Thursday, but he has a test then," Rosa said, walking beside Kensi with a bucket of toys.

"Well, maybe you can go after his test," Kensi suggested, her feet sinking into the warm sand. She couldn't wait to get into the water.

"Maybe. It will be kind of late though. Also, who's that talking to Deeks?"

Kensi squinted at the spot where they'd left Deeks and the twins about 15 minutes ago. Sure enough, a woman in a yellow dress stood across from Deeks, her arms moving through the air as she talked.

"Looks like he found a friend," Kensi said. He had both twins in his arms, acting as mini shields from what she could tell. He was on the defensive, but didn't seem in immediate distress.

"Maybe she's just being friendly," Rosa suggested. Then the woman tilted her head back and laughed. "Or maybe not."

"It's always been pretty bad at the beach. You know, the bathing suit and tan emphasizes his muscles and he just has that surfer guy look going on."

Rosa made a face of mild distaste. "Yes, you find dad very attractive. It's beautiful."

Snorting, Kensi squeezed Rosa's shoulder. "Sorry. It's not just how Deeks looks. It's his charm and kindness that's irresistible."

"It doesn't ever make you jealous?" Rosa asked curiously. "I've always wondered."

"It used to," Kensi admitted. "Then one day I realized Deeks has no interest in anyone else. So, they can look as much as they want, and it doesn't make a difference. As long as there's no touching involved."

"Right, I remember what happened when the lady at the barbecue touch his bicep."

"She squeezed it," Kensi defended herself. "I was just doing what any good wife would do."

"Mm—hmm."

They were about twenty feet away now and Kensi watched Deeks take a purposeful step back, lifting Caleb and Sophia a little higher in his arms. The woman mirrored his movement, closing the gap between them.

"Oh, looks like it's time for me to make a timely appearance." Handing the other bucket of toys to Rosa, Kensi shook her hair back—the better to defend Deeks' honor obviously—and walked the rest of the way to their spot.

"Don't hurt anyone!" Rosa playfully hissed after her.

"Yeah, I'm pretty busy with my wife and kids," Deeks was saying, emphasizing the last few words.

"Aw, that's so sweet. I love a dedicated man," the woman gushed.

Deeks caught sight of Kensi and relief flashed across his face. As she approached, he set the twins down, holding his arms out.

"Hey baby. Sorry I took so long," Kensi apologized, resting her hand on Deeks' chest as she leaned in to kiss him. When she pulled back, she kept her hand on his chest, sliding the other up his back. His skin felt perfectly warm from the sun and she got whiffs of his sunscreen.

"That's ok. I've been occupied."

She turned to face the woman and smiled blandly. "Who's this?"

"Paula," Deeks answered wryly. "Paula likes to surf and take long walks on the beach and babies."

"It's nice of meet you, Paula," Kensi said, earning an insincere smile from the other woman.

"Mm. Your husband is very sweet and dedicated. We were just talking about me taking some surfing lessons with him," Paula said, unabashedly ogling Deeks.

Kensi held him a little tighter.

"Yeah, but I'm way too busy for that right now what with my job and three kids—oh look, there's my teenager—and beautiful wife, so best of luck finding someone else." Deeks rested a hand on Sophia's head as she started to wander away.

"It was nice meeting you," Kensi added in a clear dismissal.

"I guess I should get going," Paula said. "Hopefully we'll talk again sometime, Deeks." She gave him a last seductive look, waving her fingers at him as she walked away with a heavy sway to her hips.

"Yeah, see you later," Deeks muttered, then sighed in relief. "Thank god you two came along."

"Happy to be of help." Kensi kissed his cheeks, releasing him so she could pick up Caleb.

Rosa joined them then, having observed the entire interaction from afar. She regarded them with amused disbelief.

"I still can't believe how often you get hit on," she said. "What were you going to do if Kensi didn't come to rescue you?"

"Deeks arched an eyebrow. "Tell her I'm not interested and if that didn't work, fake a diaper emergency."

"It's so sexy the way you hate other women flirting with you," Kensi joked.