Jenny is close to her expectant date, Tony is 7 and Tim is 3 1/2.
Reviews are helpful; in fact, readers' suggestions have brought this series in this direction. Life has become crazy, so time in between posts might be longer than usual. Thanks for reading!
xxxx
"But, is he for real, dad?" Tim sat in his bed, looking up at his father, waiting patiently for his reply.
"Well, Tim, that's a good question, because not many people have seen him to prove that he is real."
"Yah, see, dad, Abby said when she stopped... believing in Santa she started to jus, get clothes for presents. So, I would like to say dat I still... believe in'm. Besides. I know dare are flying reindeers because I've seen dem."
"It's okay if you do, Tim. It's your choice."
Tim nodded, "Danks, dad." Tim lay down as Gibbs began to straighten his blankets.
"Dad? Do you think our new sister will-d like me? Wud if she don't? Will you still like me?" Gibbs hesitated,giving Tim his best reassuring smile. The big day was coming for the family to meet their new, little family member. Gibbs and Jenny agreed to not find out the gender of the baby at their ultrasound appointment but the technician had misunderstood and had told them, anyway. They knew it was an honest mistake and overjoyed, with their new found news. Unable to keep their excitement from the boys, they ended up telling them, too.
"She'll love you just like I will always love you, " Gibbs curled his finger under Tim's neck, as the boy protectively shrugged his shoulders; a giggle starting in his throat, that he struggled to contain. "-and Tony will always love you... and mom will always love you!" Now, Gibbs had to yell over Tim's laughter, as he tickled him mercilessly, under his neck and arms until he was overcome with a fit of unbridled giggles.
Tim screeched, "Aaaahh...and...Spike willed aldways... loved me?" Tim managed to ask in between bursts of laughter, as he rolled from side to side, his father keenly, causing him to futilely squirm.
"I think Spike loves you the most." Gibbs leaned down and blew raspberries onto his neck causing Tim to howl louder as the tingling sensation reached his toes. A deep chuckle grew deep within Gibbs; their combined laughter becoming infectious to the rest of the family, luring them to Tim's bedroom.
Tim bounced when Tony landed by his side, yelling, "Tickle Timmy time!" and joined in the ruckus. Tony pinned Tim's arm to his side so he was unable to push him away, tickling his belly and causing Spike to bark protectively and insistently on the floor, behind them.
"Hey... Dony! No-d fair, I'm being out...num-ered!"
Tim felt Jenny's arms wrap around his body pulling him close to her. "I'll save you Tim...from the ferocious tickle monsters!"
"Hee, hee, danks... mommy!" Tears poured down his face, not just from the intense episode of laughter he was unable to control but from the overwhelming feeling of love he was currently experiencing from all of his family.
Jenny whispered in Tim's ear, "Let's get your brother now!"
"Yeah!" Gibbs grabbed Tony so Jen and Tim were able to tickle him. Tony struggled laughing just as hard as Tim had until it turned into a tickle free-for-all, each person getting their share.
Their strong sounds of laughter came to an end and they began to quiet, as they all felt the closeness; dwelling in its special moment. They relaxed with sighs of contentment while leaning on each other, still on Tim's small bed.
"Okay, now that everyone is all worked up, its really time for bed," announced Gibbs smiling ear to ear.
"Oooohhhh! I don't wanna!" Whined Tony.
"I know, Jethro, I have to admit, I am in no way tired, I have so much energy." Jen's eyes were bright and wide.
Gibbs looked at the size of Jenny's growing baby bump underneath her apron, "Well, its getting close, I think your body is getting ready for all the work it's going to be involved in to get that little one out."
Jenny leaned back looking down at her belly, rubbing it lovingly. "And, boy! Is she kicking up a storm!"
"Can I feel, mom?" Tim looked at Jenny with pleading eyes.
"Sure, honey, she's kicking right now." Jenny placed Tim's hand on the correct spot while he looked back at his mom in awe.
"She's strong! Stronger dan the last time I feld her kick!"
Tony ran around the bed to also, get a feel. "She's going to be a professional...soccer player, huh dad?"
"Or, one of the lead dancers for Riverdance." Gibbs squinted his eyes and scrunched his nose at Jen. "Have you seen the way they can kick their legs out? I'm blown away by the idea of it all." Jen giggled.
"Did I kick like dat when I was in your tummy, mom?" Asked Tim causing Jenny to exchange a sad look of concern with Gibbs.
"Well...honey. You were in your other mommy's tummy."
A look of confusion clouded Tim's face and Jenny and Gibbs realized Tim's memories of his birth mother were beginning to fade.
"So, I wasn't in dare like my sisder? Were'd you Dony?"
"Uh, uh, don't you remember? We were adopted." Tony saw the disappointment in Tim's face as he tried to make sense of the special situation they shared. "But, mom and dad must really love us since they want to keep us even though they didn't make us." Tony assured Tim.
"Dad? Promise? You will-d keep us even doe you got us somewhere else?"
Gibbs cupped Tim's chin then Tony's. "I will always be your dad. I love you, two more than anyone in the whole world, besides your mom and little sister. And, please. Don't ever forget that."
Tim smiled, looking at Tony. "See? I told you,Timmy."
xxxx
Saturday morning found the Gibbs family at Tony's soccer game, the fourth game of the season. Gibbs and Jenny sat side by side in beach chairs as Tim lay in the grass, close by, looking up at the clouds. "Do you think Tim is bored?" Jenny asked her husband.
"Nah. This is good for him. I bet he's made out a hundred shapes in the clouds by now...listen to this. Tim?"
"What Daddy?"
Gibbs pointed towards the sky,"What do you see in that cloud, there?"
"It's a grash-opper, dad! See his feets?"
Gibbs looked at Jen with admiration, "See? He loves watching the clouds pass by. He's very comfortable and content in his own company. He is very capable of entertaining himself."
Jen beamed," I am impressed. I suppose the fact that he is a pretty smart cookie, helps."
"Mom? I want to show you what I drew-ed." Tim sat up and placed his doodle pad in Jen's lap. "See? It's a camel wearing a soccer uniform like Dony's." Jen was fascinated with the picture but suddenly distracted when the onlookers began to cheer. She handed the pad back to Tim then stood with Gibbs, cheering, as Tony charged along the touch line with full control of the ball. He masterly kicked it around his opponent bringing it closer to the goal. Gibbs and Jen yelled, encouraging his progress. He neared the goal line and managed to keep control of the ball until he kicked it pass the goalie earning a goal. The crowd and the team yelled in triumph as teammates crowded Tony to pat him on the back.
"Did you see that?" Gibbs gave Jen a little squeeze, proud of his son.
Tim ran over to his father pulling on his pant leg,"What did Dony do dad?" Gibbs reached down and put Tim on his shoulders, laughing. "Your brother made the winning goal, Timmy!"
Tim raised his hands over his head, yelling, copying his parents. "Yeah, Dony! You did it! He's dah best soccer player, huh dad?" Tony was elated as he ran off the soccer field to his father and mother. Gibbs took Tim off his shoulders, placing him on the ground to hug Tony with a proud embrace.
Jenny then pulled him close, her hand around his neck, leaning over to kiss the top of his head. "I'm so proud of you, Tony. That was some impressive ball skills."
Tony rolled his eyes, embarrassed. "Thanks mom."
Tim came up the side of Tony pulling on his shirt. "Dony, Dony! Dad said we could get ice cream...Dony. Did you hear me? Is dah game over." Tony was talking to his friends, unable to hear Tim above the commotion as other team members congratulated him. Tim looked around at the boys that towered over him. They were loud and carelessly bumping into him, almost knocking him over so he thought it best to leave Tony's side. He sat in his dad's chair waiting for when his brother would be able to talk to him. He sighed then leaned his head back to search the clouds,but they had since become wispy and faint. Finally, the crowd dispersed, as Tony jumped up and down asking his father if he could sleep at Kevin Muller's house. "But, Dony. Don chew want to get ice cream wid us?" Tim yelled, running up to him.
"Another time, Tim." Tony waved to his parents then ran away to catch up with his friend and his family. Tim's shoulders shrugged as he let out an exasperated huff. "Dad? Why did he want to go wid that boy? I mish him now."
Jen gave Tim a quick, comforting squeeze then Gibbs lifted Tim back onto his shoulders. Jen folded the small beach chairs then tucked them under her arms to carry.
"He's making friends, Tim. You and me can do something together while mom takes a nap."
Tim looked down at Jen with a sympathetic look. "Poor mom. I don take naps anymore because I got bigger. I bet mom doesn't really wanna take one, huh?"
Jen quietly giggled then reached to squeeze his arm, affectionately. "Oh, you'd be surprised Tim. You just might have a different outlook on naps once you get older, work full time and have kids of your own." Said Jen.
"Nah...I won't. Day are not fun at all." Gibbs chuckled, "Hey, you guys still want to get that ice cream?"
Jen and Tim cheered together.
"I thought so." Gibbs held onto Tim's feet as he began a simple jog to the car, causing Tim to bounce, laughing at his quick, jerky ride.
Jenny yelled, "Jethro,you be careful! That might not be too good for his neck being bounced around like that!" She furrowed her eyebrows and pressed her lips together, shaking her head, wondering if he could hear her over Tim's laughter. She knew she would not be able to run, and catch up with them feeling like she had reached the size of a house; huge and uncomfortable. She knew she was over exaggerating but it had become close to impossible for her to tie her shoes anymore.
She realized their family was quickly changing; with the arrival of the baby and Tony getting older; joining more activities and gaining more friends, her free time was becoming more limited and scarce. She was looking forward to the maternity leave she would take once the baby came. But, something told her it wasn't going to be very restful and productive, except for the demand of the family's strict schedules and activities. How would it be once she returned to work? Would she be able to handle all this without it interfering with her number one priority; being a good mother to her children and wife to Jethro?