Their life was getting back to normal. Well, as normal as it could
be considering they had a six-week-old baby. Jenny went back to
school the last week in August and Gibbs pulled a consulting gig
with NCIS. It was a one-time thing or, at least, that's what they
all told themselves. Both men missed working more then they could
say, but their lives as parents meant a hell of a lot more than work
to them.
The men still didn't have a clue someone was staking out their house
and following them when they went on road trips. Tony went out and
bought another SUV for himself. He kept the Mustang but needed more
of a family car for Matt and Jenny.
Jenny was taking to her new grade really well. She was class
president this year and still was planning on holding the book club
meetings. Everything was going great. Gibbs knew if he was going to
wait for the perfect moment to give Tony his ring and ask for his
hand in marriage, he would have to make the moment himself.
Marriage, a word Gibbs never wanted to ever say again with him being
the one getting married, but now that he had found Tony and Tony
him, there was no going back; it was full steam ahead and never
looking back. Gibbs knew that marriage was not in the cards, not
marriage in the traditional sense, but still a commitment that Gibbs
would stay with Tony in sickness and in health.
It was the second week in September, and Tony was sitting on the
porch. It was about 5:00 PM and it was getting dark earlier but
there was still plenty of light in the sky. Gibbs was picking Jenny
up from school; she had the book club meeting after school. The car
pulled into the drive and Tony was holding Matt in his lap, playing
with the baby. Matt had started to sleep almost all through the
night. Jenny was great if not too good with Matt. She was very
protective of the baby. Even with her fathers. If she saw a
problem with Matt she would let one or the other know. If they were
feeding him different she would point it out. It was cute.
Abby and Ziva's pregnancies were going well. Ziva was now on desk
duty and Abby was still in the lab but on limited case load. Tim did
not know which way was up or down as of late. His folks kept at him
about the type of relationship he was in and not marrying the mother
of his children; they did not understand that he loved both ladies
and that they loved him. He and Ziva had gone to start the
paperwork for the marriage licence.
Gibbs pulled into his spot and Jenny got out of the car smiling.
Gibbs had told her it was today and right when they got into the
yard that he was going to ask Tony and give him the ring. Jenny had
kept the secret that she knew Tony had a ring for Gibbs, too.
"Hey there, Peanut, and how was the book club today?"
"Great, Dad, and how are you and Matt?"
Tony looked right at Matt, who he was holding. "So, Matt, how are we
today? No, you don't say." Matt garbled something. "We're fine but
hungry."
"Dad, Matt can't talk yet."
"And you're sure about this how?"
"He doesn't say words."
"Again, how do you know? I'm fluent in baby, and that is what he
told me." Tony smiled as his lover walked up to him where he was
sitting on the step.
"Jenny, sit in the chair, please," Gibbs said. He had not even said
hello yet to Tony.
"Right, Daddy, like you told me." Jenny got into the chair on the
porch.
Gibbs picked up Matt and kissed the baby's cheek. Matt laughed or
whatever a baby's equivalent to a laugh would be. Gibbs put Matt in
Jenny's arms. Tony knew something was up but said nothing, just
watched this action unfold. Then Gibbs walked over to Tony and made
him stand up. Gibbs kissed Tony. Not long, not hard, but full of
passion and love. Then Gibbs put his hand into his pocket and he
went to one knee. Tony knew now what was about to happen and tears
welled up in his eyes.
"No," Tony squeaked out.
"Anthony Michael DiNoozo, will you be my life partner in sickness
and in health, to love honor and cherish till death do us both
part?" Gibbs put the ring that he'd had made for Tony on his finger.
Tony was crying full force now. Gibbs was getting a little misty-
eyed himself, looking up at his love, his Tony DiNozzo, the father
of his two children, the real reaons to get out of bed now and
forever.
Five minutes passed and Gibbs was still on one knee, looking up at
the crying form. Gibbs, not being as young as he used to be, stood
up and locked eyes with Tony. Jenny, holding Matt, was wondering
what was transpiring in front of her. The mystery person in the
woods was also wondering what was going on. Gibbs moved closer to
Tony and put his arms around his waist. Tony still couldn't form
words. He laid his head into Gibbs' neck and nuzzled the flesh
there. It wasn't the answer Gibbs had figured on but still the same
just not with words. Gibbs kissed what part of Tony's head he
could..
"I love you, Tony."
Tony mumbled something but with his face buried in Gibbs' neck he
could not get the words out but Gibbs made out what he needed to
hear.
After sitting there, not sure what the answer was, Jenny
asked, "Daddy, did Dad say yes?"
Gibbs smiled. He had forgotten they had an audience. Matt had fallen
asleep and Jenny was being quiet.
"Yes, Sunshine, he did."
"I didn't hear him."
"He didn't have to say it, honey, he showed me he did."
"How'd he show you, Daddy?"
"He just did, Sunshine. It's hard to explain, honey."
"Okay. Daddy, my arms are getting tired and I'm hungry."
"Tony, you okay?"
Tony nodded his head yes. Strength had returned to his legs. Gibbs
kissed him once more on the head and walked over to Jenny and picked
up Matt.
"Okay, honey, let's go and see what we can make for dinner."
"Can we have spisgties?"
"Sure, I think we have some meatballs that I can throw in the nuker
and defrost real quick."
"Cool. Come on, Dad, let's go in and eat."
"Shuuuurr, Peanut." Tony still was very spacey. He picked up
Jenny. "Oh, you're getting big, Peanut, no food for you tonight,
you're growing too fast."
"No, I'm hungry."
"He's only joking, Honey. But we are going to put a rock on your
head to stop the growing."
They bantered between them all as they walked into the kitchen. Tony
only made it as far as the living room.
"Have to put you down, Honey. Dad is not as young as he used to be,
okay?"
"Yup. Can I make the garlic bread?"
"Sure. I have to run upstairs and get something."
Gibbs smiled and put the still-sleeping Matt in his carrier. Tony
walked up slowly to their room and got his rings that he'd bought
for Gibbs and himself. He liked the one Gibbs had given him much
better because Gibbs put a lot of thought in it and had had it
made. Now he felt bad that he'd bought off the show room. He just
sat there, his sock drawer open, almost crying again, looking at
the two rings he'd bought, thinking how could he have been so stupid
and not gotten something special.
"You going to look at that all night?"
Tony spun around. The rings went flying out of his hand, and he saw
Gibbs holding Matt in his arms. Matt was sucking on a bottle.
"Oh, shit." Tony went looking all over and he only found one of the
two rings. He looked; it was not the one with the engraving in it,
so that meant it was his own ring.
"Damn it, damn it."
"Tony, stop."
Tony looked up at Gibbs like a dear caught in headlights. "Boss, I
have to find-"
"Tony, come here." Gibbs moved his fingers in the come hither
motion.
"But-"
Tony stopped at Gibbs' glare, the glare that he loved so much. The
ice blue eyes were calling to him to get lost in the endless sea of
love in Gibbs' eyes. Tony stood up and was putting his head down in
shame.
"Okay, look at me."
Tony did not look at him.
"Tony, look at me, please."
Tony slowly looked into his eyes.
"Come closer."
Tony was now up against Matt, staring into Gibbs' eyes. Gibbs leaned
over a little and kissed him. Tony melted. Gibbs had a way about
him. He always made Tony feel safe and centered. It must be a
genetic thing since at times Gibbs was the only one who could get
Matt to stop fussing and crying.
"Now, take a breath."
Tony did as Gibbs said.
"Close your eyes."
Tony again did what Gibbs said.
"Okay, now open them, and if you look on the other side of the bed,
you might find what you want."
Tony opened them and walked over to where Gibbs said to look, and he
found it right in front of the night stand on Gibbs' side. Tony bent
down, picked it up and walked back over to Gibbs.
"I wanted to do this in Disney, but, well, our life never will be
the same." Tony showed him the ring.
Gibbs was now welling up with tears.
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, will you take my hand in marriage?" Tony
slipped the ring on his finger as he finished the rest. "To love,
honor, cherish and obey, in sickness and in health for as long as we
both shall live?"
"Yes." Gibbs let the tears flow but not a strong flow just a happy
flow of tears.
"Boss, look, sorry that it's not-"
Gibbs kissed him. "I love it. Tony, it's from you, and that is all
that matters to me."
"I had a matching one for me to wear without the inscription, but
now, well..."
"I guess we both have a ring to return."
"Why?"
"I got a matching one of the one that I got you for me."
They both laughed.
"Jenny knew. Why'd she let me...?"
"You told Jenny, too?"
"That little sneak. Well, we know she can keep a secret."
"Yup. Here, let me take him, you're cooking." Tony took Matt and
finished feeding him and burped and changed him. "Oh, someone needs
a bath tonight, I think."
Gibbs and Tony went down to the kitchen. Tony put water in the sink
and gave Matt a quick bath while waiting for dinner to cook. Jenny
helped with the bath.
"Daddy, did Dad give you the ring?"
"Yep."
"Did you cry like he did?"
"Well, yes, I let a few tears fall. I love him so much. Yes, I did."
"Good" Jenny said and smiled. Gibbs kissed his daughters head and
finished getting dinner on the table. Tony just Smiled and finished
washing Matt.
Chapter End Notes:
OK please have read No More Sick Days as well as And Jenny Makes 3.
Ok i would love to Thank G and BC and a few others
that will remain nameless for prereading this and letting me know
what they liked about it. I am giveing one last warning about
things to come. THe Gates of hell will open and release the Devil.
No plot just fluff for right now.
Ok i would love to Thank G and BC and a few others
that will remain nameless for prereading this and letting me know
what they liked about it. I am giveing one last warning about
things to come. THe Gates of hell will open and release the Devil.
No plot just fluff for right now.