AN: This is too implausible to be a prediction. It's just something that popped into my head fully formed when I heard R. Scott Gemmill's tease about an incident that will affect Kensi and Deeks.

"Listen, partner," Kensi said as she hobbled into the mission with her husband, "Next time we go undercover at a cocktail party, you can be the one who gets to wear the high heels all night, OK?"

"I don't think they'd match my super stylish Tom Ford suit, otherwise of course I'd be happy to," he replied with a grin.

Kensi merely rolled her eyes, set down her bag, and went to get coffee. As Deeks laid down his own bag, he noticed Hetty looking his way from her desk, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She nodded and gestured for him to come over. As he approached, the serious look on her face immediately had him concerned.

"Good morning Mr. Deeks," she said rather somberly. "Can you please ask your partner to join us?"

He desperately wanted to prod to find out what bad news required both his and Kensi's presence, but knowing Hetty would stay mum if he tried, he turned to retrieve his partner, a frown coloring his features.

Once the two returned, Hetty gestured for them to take a seat. Deeks' racing mind immediately filled with silly one-liners to cut the tension, but somehow he managed to refrain from his usual nervous repartee and waited for Hetty to speak.

"There's been an incident," Hetty stated.

"What kind of incident?" Kensi asked.

"The kind, I predict, that you will always remember," she replied enigmatically.

"Hetty you're starting to freak me out-"

"Mr. Deeks, please allow me to continue," Hetty stated patiently.

He nodded, raising his eyebrows expectedly.

"It involves Shay Mosley."

"OK, that, I was not expecting," Deeks said. He sat back in his chair, somewhat relieved that said incident sounded work related.

"She and Derrick were living in Philadelphia under assumed names. With Spencer Williams dead, they should have been safe."

Deeks felt his stomach drop. "Should have been?"

"I'm afraid to report that Mosley was killed two days ago when armed men attempted to kidnap Derrick."

"That's terrible," Kensi replied. "Is Derrick OK?"

"His mother kept him safe. She fought off four men and got Derrick to safety, but took two bullets in the process. She died in surgery."

"Where's Derrick now? Who sent the men? How will Derrick stay safe?" Kensi persisted, anxious to make sure the child was out of danger.

"One thing at a time, Ms. Blye. It would appear that Williams has a brother, Steven, whose criminal enterprise is more than the equal of Spencer's. He managed to track Mosley and Derrick to Philadelphia. He apparently wanted revenge on Mosley for killing his brother, as well as to take Derrick back into the family- and most likely, eventually, the family business."

"That's awful," said Kensi, clearly troubled by the news.

"Indeed. Currently Derrick is in protective custody."

"It wouldn't be safe to place him with Mosley's family," Deeks added, thinking out loud. "Steven Williams would no doubt find him."

"True, Mr. Deeks, if Mosley had any family. Unfortunately for Derrick, she didn't."

Hetty took a long sip of tea, giving Deeks and Kensi a moment to absorb the news.

"Hetty, please tell me Derrick isn't going to end up in the system," Deeks said. "He's already been through so much. Did Mosley have a will? Surely she anticipated needing to provide for Derrick if something happened to her."

"She did," Hetty said simply. "In fact, she left detailed instructions." Hetty pulled several papers out of her desk drawer, turned them around, and slid them across to the couple. "Take a look. I have something to check on in Ops." With that, she got up and walked away, leaving Kensi and Deeks staring at each other with confused expressions.

Kensi pulled the papers closer, and Deeks leaned in so they could read together. The first document appeared to be the will in question. Halfway down the first page, they reached a section entitled, "Guardianship Nomination."

In the event that my death occurs during the minority of my son, I nominate Kensi Marie Blye and Martin Andrew Deeks of Los Angeles, California, to be the co-guardians of his person and estate. I direct that the co-guardians of my minor child perform all acts, take all proceedings and exercise all such rights and privileges, although not specifically mentioned in this Will, with relation to any matter affecting both the person and estate of my minor child…

"What the-" Deeks exclaimed. "This can't be right. It doesn't make sense."

"This is not happening," said Kensi. "Why would she… What would make her think… How could we… I mean, can she do this?"

Deeks nodded. "She can, but why would she? Let's keep reading." They finished the short will and turned to the final page, which had a different format- that of a personal letter.

Dear Kensi and Deeks,

If you're reading this, then the worst has happened and I've left my son without any parents to care for him. It breaks my heart imagining him all alone in the world, especially after everything he's been through. He's such a sweet, gentle boy and he doesn't deserve any of the terrible things that have happened to him. I know I carry a good deal of the blame for that, but now it doesn't really matter, does it?

I have many dear friends in my life who've supported Derrick and me, friends who would make fine adoptive parents. But you know what? As I thought through the list of people who might take on this role, for some reason you two kept popping into my mind. I cannot think of anyone with whom I'd rather entrust the person I love most in the world. I don't believe it's just because I know you'd both give your lives to ensure his physical safety (you nearly already did that), although Derrick's safety does weigh heavily on me every day as I look over my shoulder for ghosts from my old life. Believe it or not, I actually think it's because of how well I came to know you in our short time working together.

I'm sure your heads are spinning at this news, but let me tell you a bit more about why I've come to this conclusion. Kensi, I'll start with you. Your courage is awe-inspiring. The ferocity with which you work to bring justice to the world, to defend the defenseless from those who would do them harm, has inspired me. You carry a well-earned confidence in your ability to do your job, but I don't think you've begun to appreciate how those abilities will translate into building a family for yourself. Your strength will carry you far, but it's your empathy, your ability to understand others' pain and fight to find a way to ease it, that will make you the best kind of mother. I often think about your selflessness when I find myself second-guessing the way I treated your husband (a belated congratulations, by the way). I know I could have used a much bigger dose of understanding myself.

And speaking of the detective… Deeks, I know you and I never saw eye to eye on anything. But as I got some distance from NCIS and gained perspective on what happened, I kept thinking about you. About the way you stood up to me, the way you stood up for your principles and for your teammates. I couldn't ask for a better example for my son. And your loyalty to your team, and of course to your partner, that drove you to join them on a potential suicide mission even after how badly I had treated you, again just made me respect you all the more.

There's one more thing, Detective. And that has to do with your own upbringing, which I know was filled with its share of trauma. (I'm sorry to admit that I read your file. All of it.) That you managed to emerge from so much darkness in your own childhood to become a man of principle who fights for what's right, who can light up a room with his humor (I may not have laughed but I did notice your effect on everyone else), and who does it all with an innate kindness, well, that's what I want for Derrick. He's a kind soul and I see him having more in common with you than you might have imagined that day when you brought him back to me. You more than anyone I know will be able to guide Derrick to a happy and healthy life.

I don't know when or if you two spoke of having children yourselves, but I sincerely and profoundly hope that you'll consider taking Derrick into your lives. He is my pride and joy. He's a beautiful boy. I just want what's best for him. And that is, to put it simply, the two of you.

With boundless gratitude,

Shay

The couple sat silently. Tears dropped from Kensi's eyes. Deeks stared into space, trying to make sense of the whole thing.

Finally, Kensi turned to her husband, taking his hand in hers. "She took long enough, but I'm glad she finally understood you," she said.

His lips turned up ever so slightly in a sad smile. "I don't know about that, but I do think she had you pegged pretty good."

After a few more minutes of silent thought, Deeks asked, "What are we supposed to do now?"

"I don't know," Kensi replied. "I feel angry that she would put us in this position, but also kind of like she's given us no choice."

"Yeah, I get that. Wait, what? What does that mean? What are you thinking?" Deeks hadn't realized what he wanted until that moment, when his heart became clear. He looked at Kensi but tried not to hold out hope that she'd want the same thing.

"I don't know, Deeks. I can't bear to think that us turning Derrick away would send him into the system. We fought so hard, and nearly sacrificed so much- everything, really- to help that boy live a safe and happy life. I don't know if I want to be responsible for him experiencing even more trauma."

"We wouldn't be responsible, Kens. He's not our responsibility… unless we want him to be."

Kensi looked at Deeks with a growing sense of frustration. Utter frustration that something she always thought she could control – when to start a family – felt like it was being imposed on her. Yet she realized as she looked into her husband's face, and saw him trying to hide his hope, that it wasn't his fault. Maybe the best decision was to simply accept what fate had seemingly bestowed. She thought back to the darkness that had enveloped her after the helicopter crash, when a similar bitterness that fate had taken away her chosen path in life overtook her. And with more than a small degree of terror, she vowed to herself to handle this twist of fate with more grace.

"Maybe it was always meant to happen this way," she told him.

"What was meant to happen this way?"

"Us starting a family."

It was Deeks' turn for a few tears to fall. He released a shaky breath. "Are you sure? We can take more time to think about it, to talk about it."

Somehow Kensi felt a growing sense of certainty. "Yeah, I'm scared to death, but somehow this feels right. When have we ever done things the conventional way? I think I'm ready for our next adventure. That is, if you are?"

"Oh Kens. Where you go, I go. But yeah, this feels right. And yes, I want this," Deeks told her, a look of gratitude on his face.

She wiped the tears from his cheeks, then wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss. "Let's do it, partner."

"We're doing this," he smiled. This time it went all the way to his eyes. "Our mothers' heads are going to explode at the sudden appearance of a grandson."

Kensi laughed. "I hope not – we need them for child care!" she joked.

Hetty chose this moment to reappear. "Have you had a chance to consider your options?"

Kensi told her, "Yes we have, Hetty. We'd like to honor Mosley's wishes and bring Derrick into our family."

"As long as you'll agree to be his godmother," added Deeks.

"With pleasure, Mr. Deeks, with pleasure. I know this has been a bit of a shock, and that you'll need time to fully absorb the news, but do let me know when you are ready to see Derrick."

"Wait, what? Hetty, where exactly is he right now?" Deeks asked.

"As I stated, Mr. Deeks, he's in protective custody. As it happens, right here in Los Angeles. He arrived last night."

"Were you that confident we'd say yes?" asked Deeks.

"I knew only that the two of you have always done the right thing for others. I merely trusted that you would do the same in this instance," Hetty replied.

Deeks chuckled, then turned to Kensi. "What do you say, Kens, do you want to go meet your son?"

Kensi's eyes bulged in fear, but then she slowly nodded and smiled. "Our son, Deeks, our son."

Thanks for reading my first ever fan fic. I think it got kind of sappy at the end there, but like I said, it just came that way. All constructive criticism is welcome.