"Ooh, what about this?" Deeks asked, holding up a tiny green and red elf costume.

"I don't know," Kensi said, rubbing the fabric between her fingers. "It's cute, but also kind of ugly." She rested her hand over her stomach, absentmindedly rubbing a few times. "Those dresses are really cute, though," she added.

Deeks followed her gaze to the smallest imaginable velvet dress with a poofy skirt.

"That is adorable," he agreed. "We could get it."

"But then we're going to end up with three possible sets of everything to cover all the possible girl/boy scenarios. Besides, we're supposed to be getting gifts for family and friends, not the twins."

They'd taken advantage of an afternoon when neither of them had any appointments or work to knock out some of their holiday shopping. The giant display of baby paraphernalia had sent them on a half hour detour.

"Ok, where do you want to head first?"

"Well, I thought since Rosa's gift is probably going to be at least partially custom-made, we should probably get that taken care of before it gets too busy," Kensi suggested.

"Sounds like a plan." He saw Kensi give the baby clothes another look before finally turning in the direction of the jewelry department.

"How can I help you today?" the assistant at the jewelry counter asked as they approached. "We have some lovely pieces on sale today and all earrings in this display are 50% off."

"Thank you, but we're actually looking for a pendant for our daughter," Deeks explained. "This is what we had in mind."

An hour later, they walked away from the counter with pamphlets, paperwork, and the promise of their personally designed necklace in a week's time. In the end, they'd settled on a design a series of interlocking hearts that incorporated each of their birthstones, with space to include the twins' once they were born.

To some, it might sound slightly cheesy, but Rosa valued anything that linked her to her found family. From the pictures spaced throughout the house, to Deeks and Kensi's names on her school forms. The necklace just happened to be a very purposeful and more extravagant addition.

"I think she's going to love it," Kensi said, examining the example pictures they'd been given. They strolled past a couple food vendors on their way out and she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. "Mm, cinnamon rolls."

She gave Deeks a sly look, and he chuckled, veering off towards the Cinnabon. "C'mon, we can't let you and the Pastry Babies starve. Especially when there's literal pastry to be had."

Kensi looped her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I love you."

"So, where to next?" Deeks asked once they both had cinnamon rolls the size of his head in hand.

Peeling off a strip of glaze-covered dough, Kensi slowly at it while she considered his question. "That boutique Anna likes is across the mall, we're getting Rountree and Fatima's gifts at the Christmas market, so maybe your mom's?"

"Sure. Though we are definitely not getting items 2, 3, or 7 from her wish list."

"Oh, you mean the lingerie, dirty truth or dare game, and aphrodisiac gift basket?" Kensi said, licking icing off her finger. "Yeah, I'm thinking we need to pass those on to Arkady."

"Ew," Deeks commented, giving a full-body shudder. "Ok, you want to meet up in the accessories? I'm gonna grab some coffee to wash down the sugar and hopefully burn the thought of aphrodisiacs, my mom, and Arkady from my mind."

Snorting, Kensi leaned in for a kiss. "See you in a few."

Deeks joined the line for one of the many coffee shops sprinkled around the mall's main floor. When Kensi was out of sight, he ducked out of line, making a beeline for the baby department. It only took a few minutes to locate the racks of Christmas outfits they'd looked at earlier.

He grabbed the tiny green dress, smiling as he headed for the register.