a/n: This chapter is more family than anything. We'll be getting back to the case in the next chapter.

Deeks was surprisingly exhausted as he played Mario Kart with Will while Kensi was upstairs bathing the two younger kids and the five year old was kicking his Luigi-backside, but he was a bit distracted about said partner upstairs and her offer for him to move in. He knew she had a spare bedroom at the front end of the house on the second floor that currently just held a few boxes of extra toys, but the appeal of sharing her bed each night was beyond tempting and definitely more desirable. Would it make it awkward for her if did bring home a guy on some nights? He knew that it would be far too weird for him to bring a girl home where his partner lived, but then again, those kind of activities haven't happened in a long time.

"Are you letting me win?" Will's childish sarcasm broke through his reprieve and he frowned.

"Sorry man," Deeks grimaced. "I guess I have a lot on my mind tonight."

"Is it about earlier when you and Kensi were gone?" Will asked, turning his attention completely from the game.

"Nah, nothing really happened while we were gone," Deeks fibbed, not wanting to worry the kid.

"Do you love Kensi?" Will asked and Deeks nearly choked on his own saliva at the boy's words.

"Where would you get an idea like that?" Deeks asked in a lowered voice in case they could be heard upstairs.

"Well, you make her smile and you watch out for each other," Will said, looking very thoughtful. "My mom and dad were like that too. Dad could always make mom laugh and they were a good team. I could never get away with almost anything bad and they always knew which one I needed when I was sad or hurt." Will sniffled a little to hold back the tears and Deeks pulled the boy into his lap to hold him.

"They sound like they were the best parents ever," Deeks murmured, rubbing Will's back.

"They really were," Will sniffled. "I wish I could've told them that before…"

"Oh bud, I'm sure they knew," Deeks said reassuringly. "And I bet they're watching over you and your brother and sister right now."

"You think so?" Will asked, his crying settling to a reserved sniffle.

"I know so," Deeks nodded firmly and gave him another hug.

"Are you gonna live here with us?" Will asked after a minute.

"I'm not sure," Deeks answered carefully. "Do you want me to?"

Will nodded fervently. "You make the best food! And Kensi burns stuff."

Deeks let out a surprised guffaw and shook his head. "Well I have some good help. Kensi may not be very good at cooking, but I know she tries to for you guys, so don't tell her about the burned food."

Will nodded, all serious again. "So will you?"

Deeks paused a moment to think. These kids were beginning to depend on him as much as Kensi and though he had often dreamt of having a family with Kensi, maybe this was his chance. He finally nodded and a wide grin split across Will's face.

"But I'm gonna need some help being the man of the house and everything," Deeks added. "Think you're up for the job?"

Will nodded eagerly and was almost shaking in excitement and determination.

"First we need to break the news to Kens – "

"DEEKS IS MOVING IN WITH US!" Will shouted as he bolted from his current position and ran up the stairs, repeating the message over and over until he heard the squeals and screams of the other two kids joining the din. So much for subtlety. Deeks played with the idea of remaining on the first floor until the excitement wore down, but he was sure Kensi would have her hands full with a couple wet kids and another one bouncing off the walls. With a nervous sigh, he made his way up the stairs and into the kids' bathroom where he found a dripping wet and bubbly Kensi and two laughing kids, dropping their hands into the water creating lots of splashing while Will bounced in place rattling on about the impending good times. Kensi looked to be partway between a scowl and a smirk as rivlets of water trailed down her bare arms and neck. When she had his full attention she only gave him a raised eyebrow that asked 'really?' and he nodded. A wide smile grew across her face and she quickly got to her feet and wrapped her arms around him.

"Argh…" Deeks groaned as her wet body pressed to his. "Thanks a lot Fern." He pried her off him and scrunched his nose when he looked down at his damp shirt and jeans.

"You have to get into pj's soon anyway," Kensi smirked.

"Aw but I thought I'd get to sleep in my birthday suit tonight," Deeks drawled and Kensi blushed as she scowled at him.

"What's a bird-day suit?" Elijah asked. "Do I get to wear one on my bird-day? Is it Dee's bird-day? Do we get cake?!"

It all escalated so fast that they couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll tell you when you're older," Kensi smiled, kneeling back down to start pulling Isla out and drying her off.

"Sounds like kissing stuff," Will groaned and left the room with a dramatic sigh.

Both adults blushed and chuckled as Kensi handed Deeks Isla who was wrapped in a towel.

"Make sure she gets a diaper asap," Kensi said as she returned her attention to Elijah was content splashing around still.

"Alright you mini-munchkin, you're mine!" Deeks said in a deep voice that sent the girl into a fit of giggles as she squirmed in his arms.

Kensi was frozen for a moment as she watched her partner carry the little girl out of the room and it really hit her that he was amazing with these kids and she'd be damned if she didn't admit that her biological clock started up with a resounding thud as her stomach erupted in butterflies. Her brain was quickly racing to dangerous territory over her partner and the possibilities and it took Elijah's squeal of oblivious delight to bring her back.

"Hey bud," Kensi sighed, wrenching him from the water and wrapped him in his own towel to dry him off. "Time for pjs and bed."

"But I'm not seepy!" The toddler protested, already rubbing his eyes.

"I know," Kensi sighed as the boy clung to her. "How about we get into pjs and read a story and we see how you feel after that."

"Okay," Elijah pouted, not completely happy with the middle ground. Kensi carried him to his bedroom and pulled out some pajamas. Will was already in his own pajamas and reading a comic in his top bunk. Once Elijah was tucked into bed she sat on the edge of the bottom bunk and addressed both boys.

"Tomorrow both Deeks and I have to go back to work," Kensi said and instantly had both boys attention. "We both would love to spend all day with you, but we need to work so we can buy food and everything."

Both boys nodded their understanding.

"The place we were at today is the same place we'll be going to tomorrow, but this time there should be other kids there. Will, you'll be starting school tomorrow at Washington Elementary," Kensi said gently.

"Can't I stay with you and Deeks? I can help you with work," Will asked, his voice wavering.

"You're gonna have so much fun at school though that you won't even notice we're not there," Kensi offered, guilt eating at her as his face grew more sad.

"You're just gonna leave me there," Will started to cry. "A-and forget about me – "

"Will I'd never forget about you," Kensi softened and closed the distance to him and ran a hand through his hair.

"We'd never forget about you bud," Deeks voice came from the doorway and he came into the room to stand beside Kensi. "Remember what we talked about downstairs? I need you, Will."

Will's chin wobbled dangerously as he nodded.

"But you need to go to school to learn stuff so you can get extra smart and make friends," Kensi continued, her own eyes shining with Deeks' words.

"You promise you won't forget me?" Will asked, moving his gaze from Kensi's to Deeks'.

"Pinky promise," Deeks murmured, lifting his pinky out in front of Will. They shook pinkies and he turned to Kensi next and she slid her pinky in with his.

"Promise," Kensi agreed before kissing his forehead and stepping back.

"What about me?" Elijah asked, already sounding half asleep.

"You and your sister are going to be just down the hall from where we work," Kensi said, squatting down to meet his gaze. "We can maybe even have lunch with you."

Deeks nodded, keeping an eye on Will who was settling under his own blankets and curling into his pillow.

"Okay," Elijah sighed, starting to doze off.

"Good night guys," Deeks said, ruffling both heads of hair after Kensi kissed the top of each head.

"See you in the morning," Kensi added as they both edged out of the room. When the door was shut Kensi rested her back against the wall and sighed. "Kids can be so emotionally draining."

Deeks couldn't agree more, but he was so proud of how she handled the boys.

"Is Isla asleep?" Kensi asked.

"Yeah, she nodded off pretty quickly," Deeks said, curbing the urge to extend this domestic scene they had going and pull her into his arms. "How about I clean up downstairs and you get ready for bed."

Kensi nodded without complaint and dragged her feet to the master bedroom while Deeks went back downstairs to shut the TV off and clean up the last few dishes. When he got back upstairs he lightly knocked on the door frame and entered just as Kensi was crawling onto the right side of the bed in another t-shirt, but this one read 'LAPD' on it.

"Nice shirt," Deeks grinned, hoisting the one from his own frame up and off. When he looked back at her she was rolling her eyes while trying to focus on the ceiling and not on him.

"Yeah, found it in my drawer and have no idea how it got there," Kensi said, still not looking at him.

"Mhmm," Deeks hummed as he began taking the pants of next.

"You know I have a bathroom right there that you can use to get ready," Kensi grumbled, crossing her arms over chest, finding it harder and harder to not turn and stare.

"Almost done anyway," Deeks grinned. "You did say I could sleep in my birthday suit, right?"

"Deeeeeeeks!" Kensi hissed, finally staring at him. "There are kids in the house!"

"Oh, so it's just for the kids' sake that you want me to keep my clothes on and not for yours," Deeks said cheerfully. "Good to know."

"You know what I meant," Kensi huffed, turning to face away from him.

Deeks shared a sheepish grin with Monty who had been hiding in this very room for most of the time they'd been home before he crawled into bed behind her and pulled her back flush with his front. She squirmed and hissed his name in mock outrage, but he was so warm and his scent was intoxicating. After a minute she finally gave up and squirmed more into his arms than out and he tightened his hold on her before kissing the top of her head and nuzzling her hair at her neck.

"Sweet dreams, Fern," Deeks sighed, completely content to stay in this bed with her forever.

"G'night Shaggy," Kensi murmured just before she dropped off to sleep with the feel of his steady heart beat against her back and the sound of his breath tickling her neck. Couldn't get much better than this.

Once again, what would you like to see happen?