The next day Tony sat stiff in the waiting room of his lawyer. Gibbs was sitting next to him but even his relaxed-seeming presence couldn’t calm him down. Of course, Gibbs was not relaxed at all. Sure, he barely knew the girl but here was his chance of a family, his last chance, and he wouldn’t let anybody take him that away. Not without a fight. The secretary finally asked them inside and Tony shook hands with the tall good-looking man in a dark, and probably expensive, suit.
„Jethro, that’s Robert. He was in Ohio with me. Rob, that’s Jethro Gibbs, my life partner.“
„Ok, please sit down. I expected this situation when you called me.“
„You mean you expected Tony to be with a man?“
Gibbs asked frowning. He wasn’t quite sure what exactly they had been at college and he couldn’t help but be slightly jealous.
„Well, yeah, I know Tony pretty good, Jethro.“
Screw the slightly, Gibbs thought.
„Well, what seems to be the problem?“
„You know, Amanda died a few days ago. Of course I got Lil now.“
„Usual procedure.“
„Yeah, but Steve Andrews, Amanda’s boyfriend has another oppinion. He wants the custody.“
„He’s been Lil’s guardian?“
Gibbs‘ gaze wandered through the room and he noticed that everything in here was a good deal bigger, more expensive, than at his lawyer.
„No. He wasn’t even on the list to pick her up from kindergarten. That’s what I don’t get! How can he manage it to even get a hearing?“
Robert shifted in his chair.
„Well, does he know about the two of you? He could say that you, your relationship, that it’s not a good envirement for a child. He could say that Lil is used to live with him. I don’t really know yet, but I’ll find out. When‘s the hearing?“
„A week from now.“
„Ok, I’ll get everything there is to this case and I’ll call you for an appointment... Isn’t that the Steve...“
„Yup, that’s him.“
A nasty grin shot over Robert’s face.
„Tony, we’ll not only get you full custody, we’ll also get an restraining order through, if that’s what you want. That guy is dead meat.“
„Good to hear that, Robert. See you soon.“
„So, he knows you pretty good?“
Gibbs asked on their way to the car.
„We’ve been dating, happy now?“
„No, but he seems like a good lawyer. You really want to go for that restraining order?“
„First I want the custody. Then we can think about that...Jethro? We’ve got to get to work tomorrow.“
„Yeah, so?“
Tony waited to get into the car but doesn’t turn on the engine.
„Tony?“
„You think I should tell them? I mean, Lil’s living with me now...and the next weeks will be stressful for both of us.“
„Then tell them...you don’t know how, right?“
Tony shifted in the driver seat.
„What?“
„Actually, listen. To tell them that I’m a father will be big shock, right? But if they see my little girl...“
„So you want to take Lil to the office?“
„Em...“
„Tony...what did you do?“
„I told Abby to get them all a call-in. For dinner. Tonight.“
„At my place? Tony! Did you think that through? We’ll have to tell them why you’re living at my place aswell!“
„Jethro! We’re going to court! It could be that you all have to say what a great father I am. They would find out sooner or later. And it’s the team!“
Gibbs looked out of the window. Tony gently touched his arm.
„You want to have a family with me, right? Well, news flash, we already are. Lil will be your daughter just as much as mine and Abby is your daughter and like a sister to me. And she’ll be the mother of McGee’s children. You really want to leave Ziva and Ducky, your best friend, out of the loop?“
„If you say it like that...you’re right. I’ve handled my life too long like a classified file. McGee will know anyway and Ducky has the right to know. I’ve damaged our friendship enough. And Ziva won’t hurt.“
„Exactly. That way we’re all happy.“
There was barely a sound in the house. The faint noise of a video game came from the living room but they were oblivious to that. Tony sat tensed at the kitchen table and Gibbs basically paced the small room and looked occasionally into the different pans.
„Are you actually cooking or are you trying to kill time?“
„Bit of both, I guess. You should tell Lil to go up and get dressed.“
„She wants to get dressed by Abby. They already are like sisters...hey, am I Abby’s stepdad now? Can I give her arrest?“
„Don’t think so. But she might ask you for pocket money.“
„Haha, very funny.“
He kissed Gibbs just as they heard rumbling in front of the door.
„That has to be Abby. She can’t get used to it that it’s locked now.“
Tony grinned and went to open. Immidiatly she had a small girl hanging on her and they vanished into the spare room. It didn’t took more than ten minutes before Ducky arrived.
„The door is locked? Now I’m shocked. Good evening, Anthony.“
„Hi, Ducky. C’mon in.“
„Wow!“
Ducky said once in the living room. Tony thought he was talking about the nice decorated table but his gaze was on the TV set.
„That hasn’t been here at my last visit.“
„No..em...Ducky, sit down. The other’s should be here soon.“
Fifteen minutes later they all, minus Abby, sat at the table.
„Ok, where to start. Of course you’re all here for a reason and we do have some big news to break over you.“
Gibbs started and Abby walked then in.
„Just get it out.“
Abby pushed and shifted from one food to the other looking at the salad on the table.
„Ok...Em...first. Tony and I...we live together.“
Mouths around the table fell open.
„Second. As we recently found out, I’m Abby’s biological father.“
Mouths fell deeper.
„And I have a five year old daughter.“
Tony continued.
„Her mother died a few days ago and I’ll have to fight in court for the custody.“
„And I’m pregnant.“
All eyes turned to Abby. Even Tony and Gibbs looked shocked at her. But not as shocked as McGee.
„Pregnant?“
He squeeked.
„Yup. Twins. Can we start eating now?“
She sat down and reached for the salad but Gibbs softly whacked her hand.
„Isn’t someone missing?“
„Oh, right. LIL!“
The little female copy of Tony showed in the door and looked just adorable in a cute light pink dress. Tony went over and picked her up. Pecking her on the cheek he went to the table.
„Lil, these are my friends. Tim, Ziva and Ducky. Guys, that‘s Lilian, we call her Lil.“
„Hi.“
She said low and they all smiled at her. Tony sat her down and they started eating. Around half past eight Abby brought her to bed, half a hour later than usually, and that half a hour she had spent arguing with Tony about being up longer.
„You said you’ve got to fight for custody?“
McGee asked and Tony was happy he waited to bring it up until Lil was in bed.
„Yeah. The boyfriend of her mother wants it. But my lawyer doesn’t think he has a chance. I’m her father, I have a good job, there’s no reason to not give me custody.“
„What about, well, you know...“
„The person from Child Service doesn’t think that’ll be a problem.“
Gibbs said slightly grumpy and Tony touched his forearm.
Some time later Ducky and Ziva left but Abby vehemently didn’t want to leave.
„Abs, it’s nearly 1 am.“
„So? Why don’t we play a game?“
McGee threw Tony a nervous glance.
„Abby, I think Tim wants to ask you something.“
„What, Timmy?“
McGee looked nervous from Tony to Gibbs.
„Hey, Jethro, let’s start the dishes.“
„We can do that tomorrow.“
„C’mon, I know you hate that.“
„No, I don’t...oh, yeah...“
They left the room and Tony cuffed his arm hard enough to make him yelp.
„Abby...the...babies...are they...mine?“
„Yup.“
He took a deep breath.
„So, where do we go from here?“
She raised her eyebrows in a silent question.
„Ok, I’ll be more specific. I want to be together with you, Abby. Even without you being pregnant that’s what I wanted. And now...don’t you think we could at least try to be a family?“
„I won’t marry you just because I’m pregnant.“
„I didn’t ask, did I?“
„What are you doing, Tony?“
Gibbs said when he saw Tony at the door to the living room.
„Shhhh! I’m listening.“
„Don’t do that.“
„Why not? I’ve got to see that my stepdaughter is ok.“
„First: Stop refering to Abby as your stepdaughter. Second: Stop eavesdropping on my daughter. And third: You harassed me to do the dishes so come and help! You know I hate doing dishes!“
Grumbling annoyed Tony made to follow him when the door opened and Abby hugged him and then Gibbs.
„What’s up?“
„We decided to give it a try to be a family.“
She said beaming at them both. Tony clapped McGee on the shoulder.
„If you hurt my little girl, my husband knows hundred and one ways to kill you with bare hands.“
„I’ll remember that, Tony.“
McGee said grinning but Gibbs whacked them both over the head.
„Tony, fourth, don’t call me your husband, at least not yet.“
„Well, what should I call you? Boyfriend? Lover? Soul mate?“
„How about Jethro?“
„Can live with that.“
Gibbs nodded slowly and then turned to McGee, who turned slightly pale.
„First, congratulations, Tim. This house is now just as open to you as to Abby. And second,...Tony wasn’t right. I don’t know a hundred and one ways to kill you with my bare hands. I know one hundred and two and I won’t leave traces that not even Abby could prove me.“
„Got it, boss.“
McGee said swallowing hard.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Tony and Gibbs give Tony's lawyer a visit. And the team comes over for dinner.
Chapter End Notes:
Not betaed, nothing you know is mine. If you find mistakes, feel free to keep them. Feedback as usually appreciated.