A/N: This was originally posted for day 7 of Densi-mber. Does not follow that day's prompt.

"Hey babe-Deeks, what are you doing?" Kensi paused with one foot in the upstairs bathroom, looking down at her husband in confused astonishment. He was currently partway under the cabinet, his lower half surrounded by a collection of screws, tools, bits of plastic and instruction manuals.

He wriggled himself out enough to say,

"Baby proofing." Kensi snorted.

"In case you haven't noticed, we don't exactly have a baby," she pointed out.

"But we will." He ducked back into the cabinet and blindly reached for a screwdriver.

"Deeks, I'm not even 12 weeks," she protested as he made a strained noise, followed by the sound of cracking plastic.

"Crap!" he hissed, reappearing with bits of sawdust in his hair. He reached to grab a new lock and Kensi grabbed his hand.

"Wait, what are you doing?" she asked, seeing a slightly manic look in his eye. He blew out a long breath.

"I don't want to be unprepared."

"Baby, we have plenty of time before the baby's born, and it's not going to be able to get around and into stuff for at least six months after that." For a second she thought he was going to argue, but then he tossed the screwdriver on the floor and scrubbed both hands over his face.

"I'm freaking out a little," he admitted quietly. Kensi crouched beside him, growing concerned but still confused.

"About baby proofing?" she asked.

"About everything. I don't anything about raising a baby."

"That's not true. You're great with kids," Kensi protested.

"Not babies. I've never taken care of a baby, or any kid for that matter, long term."

"So your plan is to turn the whole place into an obstacle course for the next how many ever years?" Her voice came out a little harsher than she intended and he retreated from her, resting his chin on his knees. Sighing to herself, she sat down next to him against the cabinet and gathered both his hands between hers. "I'm sorry. Tell me what's going on. Why is this bothering you now?"

"I don't know. Maybe because it's something I can control? I can't promise that I'm going to be a great father, or even a good one. And I might screw our kid up in all kinds of ways, but I figured at least I could try and keep them safe." He gave a defeated sigh and Kensi's heart clenched.

She wondered if he'd ever be able to completely move beyond the damage his father had caused. If he'd ever stop believing that he'd turn into him one day. All she did know was that she'd never stop trying to change that.

"Oh baby, I know you're not going to believe me right now, but you are going to be a great father. We'll both make mistakes for sure, like everyone does. But it won't mean that you don't care. And it won't mean you're anything like your father," she told him sincerely.

Glancing up at her from under his bangs, he looked unconvinced but desperate to believe her. It made her heart ache even more for him. She eased one of her hands from his and used it to turn his face. Cupping his chin, she said,

"It's true, Deeks. And I'm going to keep saying it until you know it too." She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, wiping away the moisture that had gathered beneath his eyes. He let out a shuddering sigh.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" he whispered.

"Every day," she answered. "In a million different ways." They stayed cuddled up on the floor long enough for Kensi's butt to start aching and eventually Deeks shifted and said,

"I guess I better start clearing this stuff up, huh?" He motioned to the pile of hardware.

"What are you talking about, we got a lot more baby proofing to do," she responded, grabbing a hammer and wrench. Deeks frowned at her for a moment and then smiled gratefully.

As crazy as she might think it was, she spent the rest of the day helping Deeks install all manner of locks and latches, happy to see him content.