"Hey, I'm bringing bagels and coffee. Any requests?" Kensi texted Deeks Saturday morning. She'd stopped off at a bakery on the way to his house.
Last week, he'd surprised her with donuts, so it only seemed fair. Plus, she figured he could use a break from cooking. Deeks didn't respond by the time she reached the register, so she ordered three of her favorites—a triple cheese bagel toasted with cream cheese—her usual iced coffee, and one of the lattes Deeks favored, and an apple juice for Caleb.
She was a little surprised that he didn't answer since he was usually up early with Caleb. Maybe he'd slept in for once though. Kensi smiled at the thought of a drowsy, sleep-mussed Deeks.
It was just after 10 when she knocked on the front door, and it was a minute or two longer before it swung open. "Hey, lazy bones, did you—?" Kensi started to say, the joke she'd spent the whole ride over crafting dying on her lips as she realized a woman, not Deeks stood in front of her. "Um—"
"Oh, you must be Kensi," the woman said before Kensi could form a coherent sentence. "I'm Roberta. Come on in."
"Mrs. Deeks, I had no idea you'd be here," Kensi apologized, taking a couple steps back. "I can come back another time."
"Nonsense! Marty'll be ready in a minute." Holding her arm wide, Roberta waited for Kensi to hesitantly step inside, then continued father into the house, talking a minute a mile. "If I'd known you were coming, I would have whipped up something special for breakfast, but it looks like you got that covered."
"Oh, it's just bagels, no big deal." Kensi gestured lamely with the drink carrier and paper bag.
"Let me tell you, food is the way to most men's hearts."
"Actually, Deeks is usually the one who cooks," Kensi found herself saying, and instantly regretted. She internally winced, and wished that she'd had some forewarning before this meeting.
Roberta turned, settling her hands on her hips, and narrowed her eyes at Kensi. Then to Kensi's complete surprise, she smiled. "I like you," she decided. "Deeks needs an honest woman. Who cares who does the cooking."
"Ok." Kensi smiled back a little uncertainly.
"Hey mom, Caleb wants you to help him pick out some pajamas," Deeks said from somewhere down the hallway, appearing in the living room in sweat pants and a faded t-shirt a few seconds later. His expression from confused too pleased as he noticed Kensi awkwardly standing in the middle of the room. "Kensi. I didn't know you were coming today."
"I texted you," Kensi explained. "Though I'd bring over some breakfast."
"God, I'm sorry. It's been a crazy morning." He rolled his eyes in the direction of his mom, who made a huffing sound.
"I'll give you two a minute. I can tell when I'm not wanted." She gave them both a pointed look. "I'll help Caleb finish packing."
Deeks waited until she was out of sight to let his head fall back. "Oh my god," he sighed. When he straightened up again, he added. "I am so sorry about that. I haven't checked my phone in a while."
"That's ok." She glanced around the room, which didn't hold any clear signs of an impending trip. "Are you guys going somewhere?"
"Food first. Then I'll explain. " Deeks rested his hand on her lower back, ushering her into the kitchen. While he grabbed plates, Kensi pulled out three bagels which were still slightly warm and crunchy on top.
"And that is a beautiful sight. Bless you, Kensi Blye," he said, accepting the bagel with a sigh of happiness. He took a generous bite, shoulders relaxing for the first time since she saw him.
"Ok, so why is Caleb packing?" Kensi prompted.
"Every so often, mama takes him for a couple days. They go to all his favorite places, watch movies together. Usually, we plan it a little more, but since my mom is wonderfully unpredictable and chaotic, she decided to surprise us. Which is why I couldn't warn you."
"And you're ok with her just dropping in like that?" Kensi asked with some surprise. She'd seen how protective he was of Caleb.
"A couple years ago, my answer would be "absolutely not", but I've seen how much she cares about him. She'd never actually pull any crazy stunts with Caleb because she loves him too much. Sure, he might get significantly more ice cream for dinner than I would prefer, but mom holds in her more…eccentric qualities when she's taking care of him."
Kensi nibbled at the top of her bagel, putting together the mismatched pieces that Deeks have provided. It painted a very interesting picture of his mother.
"She seems to know a lot about me."
"I may have mentioned you a time or two," Deeks admitted reluctantly, dipping his head to conceal the blush highlighting his cheekbones.
"Don't believe him," Roberta disagreed, sweeping back into the kitchen. "I haven't heard this boy gush so much since the time he got to meet one of his surfing idols." She squeezed his shoulders affectionately, blatantly ignoring his glare.
"Thanks so much mother. Don't you have reservations to make or some national secrets to spill?"
"Oh, don't be salty, Marty. This girl deserves to know that you think she's amazing and gorgeous."
Kensi pressed her lips together to conceal a grin as Roberta shamelessly ruffled his hair.
"Grandma!" Caleb called from the other room, and Roberta dashed back out to see to him.
"Amazing and gorgeous," Kensi repeated, taking a healthy sip of her coffee. "Interesting."
His entire face was flushed a light pink now. "Uh, I believe the exact words I used were fantastic and stunning," he corrected.
"Ah, completely different," she teased. Huffing a laugh, Deeks slid his hand across the table and threaded their fingers together. "I'm sorry," he gestured across the room with his head. "I know she's a lot to take in without warning."
"Deeks, it's fine." Any discomfort she initially felt had been obliterated by Roberta Deeks' complete lack of boundaries. "Though I do want to hear more about what makes me so stunning."
"Dad, we're leaving!" Caleb announced, running into the kitchen with Roberta trailing behind him.
"Woah, how much did you pack?" Deeks asked, examining Caleb's backpack, which couldn't quite contain several superhero figures and what looked like a stuffed rabbit or possibly a lamb. "You do know you're going for like a day and a half, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't want to forget something important. Grandma's house is like 100 miles away."
"Well, you can argue with logic like that." Deeks kissed the top of his head and swung him up into a tight hug." Have fun, kiddo. And listen to grandma." Turning to Roberta he added, "Have fun and try not to end up in the news."
"He thinks he's a comedian," Roberta said with an eye roll. While father and son finished talking, she added, "It was nice meeting you, Kensi. You'll have to come over for dinner sometime."
"Oh, sure. That'd be great."
"Bye, dad!" Caleb said, kissing Deeks' cheek and hopping to the ground. To Kensi's surprise, he skipped over and gave her a hug. "Bye, Miss Blye. C'mon grandma, let's go before they run out of pizza!"
Roberta let him drag her from the room, picking up an extra duffel bag as she went. "We'll be back Sunday night."
Deeks rested his chin on his palms and laughed softly. "So, now you see why we don't live near each other. Definitely didn't see my weekend going this way."
"Well, you do have me, and bagels," Kensi pointed out.
"True." Deeks lifted his coffee in a silent cheers, then leaned forward, expression shifting in an instant to something more intimate. "Kensi, would you go out with me for our first completely solo and undisturbed dinner?" he asked.
"I would love to, Mr. Deeks."
A/N: Probably the most unrealistic thing about this story is how much free time Kensi has as a teacher.