AN: This was inspired by and written for "Densi-mber," a month-long celebration on Tumblr of our favorite couple (feel free to PM me if you'd like the URL). I'm also working on a follow-up discussion that actually involves both Kensi and Deeks and should be up next Sunday. In fact, I'm hoping to post a Densi-mber themed chapter every week for the entire month and have ideas for all five weeks, each of them taking place in December. Good thing one of the goals of these little ficlets is that they're short!

Kensi watched the kids skating on the ice as she made her way down the bleachers. Even though it wasn't a free skate session and there was no Christmas music playing in the indoor rink, she couldn't help but smile a little at her favorite ice skating memory. It was hard to believe it was almost exactly three years since she and Deeks decided to be bold together.

Now they were engaged and talking about leaving their jobs to start a family. Kensi paused and took a settling breath as she spotted her target sitting alone among the smattering of observers. Time to be bold again.

Choosing a spot one bench behind and a little to the right the woman, Kensi tried to guess which child belonged to her. It was impossible to see hair color due to their helmets, and they were chasing after the puck too fast to get a good look at their faces.

Acting before she could change her mind, Kensi cleared her throat and asked, "Which one is yours?"

Ellen Whiting did a good job of schooling her features when she turned around, Kensi thought. She looked neither startled nor pissed, but Kensi was sure she was a little of both. "What are you doing here?" the detective demanded.

Kensi stood and climbed down to Whiting's level to sit next to her. "I apologize for the location, but I was hoping for a little woman-to-woman chat," she said sincerely.

Somewhat mollified, the detective asked, "How did you find me?"

"Your husband really should make his Facebook page private," Kensi said.

Whiting shook her head and looked back at the rink for several moments before speaking. "Number twenty-seven."

They both watched the boy, now ten years-old if Kensi was correct, maneuver smoothly around the ice. He whipped his stick at an imaginary puck while he waited for the real one to come his way. "He's good," she said when she'd seen enough to say it truthfully.

"Got his father's grace out there," Whiting replied. "I can barely stand up on blades."

Kensi smiled, "Deeks outdoes me on the ice too. In most activities that involve water in any form, in fact."

"I'm sure you didn't come here to discuss Deeks' recreational aptitude."

"No." Kensi spoke slowly, "I came to ask what it was like to leave your son when you went back to work. Knowing there's always a risk you might not come home."

This time Whiting's face did betray her surprise. "You mean after he was born, or when I was shot?"

Kensi shrugged, "Either. Both." Spotting the detective's quick glance at her abdomen, she said, "I'm not pregnant." She eyed the young hockey players and continued, "But I want to be one day."

Catching on, Whiting said, "They were two of the hardest days of my life."

"Why'd you go back, then?"

"It's what I do. And frankly, before I worked with your team, I'd never even come close to being shot," she said, matter-of-factly. "What we do is important, Agent Blye, and there aren't enough women in law enforcement as it is. Don't feel bad if you choose to keep working."

"I already decided to give it up when the kids come. Probably before then." The detective's eyebrows shot up and Kensi chucked. "Deeks' idea, actually."

"I have to admit I'm shocked to hear that. I didn't think he was the type to want his wife to stay home having babies."

"He isn't. He wants out too. Wants a job that doesn't have us dodging bullets every other day." Kensi leveled her gaze at Whiting. When she was confident the other woman recognized the true purpose of her visit, Kensi put it into words. "If Deeks leaves LAPD some day in the not-too-distant future so we have a better shot of raising our children into adulthood, I need to know if you're going to try to send him to prison for murder."

The detective was silent for a long time. They both followed her son's progress across the rink as he made a break and attempted to score. Grabbing her phone to record it, Whiting stood up as he took the shot, sending the puck soaring into the net. She cheered and shouted her praise at the boy. Kensi was still applauding and whistling when Whiting said proudly, "I know it's only a scrimmage match, but that was his first goal in this league." She replayed the video on her cell. "His dad's going to hate that he missed it."

Nodding to the phone, Kensi said, "It's good he'll still get to see it. You're quick with the camera." She left Whiting to send her husband the video and focused her attention on the boy as he got back to the game.

Whiting's attention was still on her device when she calmly spoke. "I can only give you my word, but if Deeks wants to find a safer job so you both can watch your children grow up, I won't stand in the way of that."

Kensi nodded, a slight smile on her lips. "I'll take your word. Deeks trusts you, and I will admit that you're a good detective who is dedicated to doing the right thing. I respect that."

Whiting met her eyes, "And I respect what you two want to do. Despite what I said earlier, maybe I even envy your decision."

Kensi stood and offered her hand. "Thank you, Detective Whiting."

They shook. "Is there a timeline for this change of careers? Any idea how much longer I can count on Deeks to be my secret weapon?"

"Not yet. We still need to figure out what we want to do next."

"Whatever it is, I doubt you'll find anything quite as exciting as what you do now."

Pointing to the rink, Kensi said, "What I just saw was pretty exciting to me. I think we'd be happy with a long lifetime of moments like those."