Children may be the outcome (5)
I believe the answer is:
issue
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'children' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'the outcome' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'may be' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for issue that I've seen before include "Important topic for debate" , "Publish; children" , "Susie (anag.)" , "Outflow or point of concern" , "Progeny of, send out" .)