Wow...I am incredibly embarrassed over how long it took me to actually take the time to finish this epilogue. To be honest, I forgot about it for quite a while :/ but here I am and at least I have finished the entire story! Yay! Thank you for all your patience and lovely comments =] I read them all and I am so appreciative of them!


Epilogue

The leaves on the trees changed and eventually fell around the same time Leroy Jethro Gibbs gained a ten inch scar set between his hip bones. He wore the permanent mark with pride. Now, just six months after the birth of his gorgeous baby girl with stunning blue eyes and soft honey blonde hair. He's finally shed the last pound that returned him to his pre-pregnancy weight.

Gibbs returned to work at the beginning of December. But, after three cases that left them staying over night several hours away from home in just as many weeks, leaving Abby to check Charlie out of the NCIS daycare each time, Gibbs announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year.

The team wasn't completely shocked. Deep down, they all knew it would come. That Tony would inevitably be assigned as the new team leader and Gibbs would ironically take on the role of stay-at-home Papa.

[Four Years Later on August 15, 2014]

So, here he is now, helping his now four year old daughter get dressed while she continued chattering happily about the pretty butterflies that she saw in the park with daddy on her birthday morning stroll. Tony had taken her out to distract her while Gibbs had decorated the backyard for the party they were having later on that day.

"And there was this cute little puppy dog that kept chasing the purple one I liked. I want a puppy dog like him, Papa, can I have one? He had a spot over his left eye that looked like a eyebrow. Please, Papa? 'Cause it's my birfday today, member?" Jethro struggled to clothe the wriggling child that couldn't stay still even if you promised her a trip to Disneyland and a plate full of snicker doodles. Ya, she's definitely Tony's daughter.

"Oh I definitely remember, Baby. I was there. But, you should ask Daddy about that puppy because I have been telling him for years that we should have one." He folded down her lacey white socks, and buckled the new glittery shoes that Abby bought her a week ago.

"Don't you lie to the birthday girl, Jethro!" Speak of the devil, "He only mentioned it once, Princess, just after you were born, and you were too little to have a doggy around."

Tony stood in the doorway leaning against the door jamb as he watched his lover set Charlie on the carpet. The little girl twirled around in the new dress Tony's father sent from his latest quest, while Jethro simply admired his lover as he gazed fondly at their little girl. This was his family. The family he was near positive that he would never have again, would never let himself have again.

"Daddy, Papa, you're both silly." She gave them both a very DiNozzo-esque smirk and a ornery look. She held her hands out, palms up, in a questioning manner. "When's the team getting here for my party?"

Tony stepped forward and scooped his baby girl in his arms. "You're right, Papa is very silly." He blew a raspberry against the her baby soft cheek. Her squeals of laughter and delight filled the house.

The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of their guests and answering Charlie's question. She struggled to get loose from her Daddy's arms. "I gots it! I gots it!"

She finally clambered down from Tony's grasp and took off at a run down the hallway, hollering all the way. Tony followed after her, throwing an exasperated but fond look back at his lover before hurrying down the hall.

Gibbs walked over and looked out the window in Charlie's room that was set above the front drive. Abby's hearse sat quietly behind their truck. A small smile grace his features as he watched McGee pulled up to the curb in front of the house and step out of his car with a large colorful gift bag. He made it to the living room just as Charlie was jumping into a hug with 'Uncle Timmy!'. Slowly but surely, their house filled with friends form work with their own small children in tow, along with a few kids and families from up and down their neighborhood block.

The hours past quickly, presents were unwrapped, little frosting fingerprints appeared all over the patio furniture and swing set Gibbs had installed that morning, games were played, and then tired children were carried out by their parents. Charlie made out like a bandit in the present department. Tony had never seen so many Barbies and little doll clothes. McGee thought the set of musical instruments he bought her was hilarious, even though it earned him a discreet head slap from his former boss. Ziva found a modest little girl's make up set with glitter and pink lip glosses galore. Somehow a squishy pink football found its way in the mound of toys along with a small pink baseball glove. Tony smiled when those gems were happily discovered by his now four year old daughter. Ducky sat back and admired the scene like any proud grandpa would, his eyes shining bright when Charlie cuddled into his side to have a second piece of cake as she rambled joyfully about the wonderful day she was having. The thought now occurring to Jethro that maybe she didn't gain all her gift-of-gab from her Daddy. Of course, Auntie Abby doted on the little girl all day and spoiled her the most. Games and clothes and stuffed animals filled the bags and boxes wrapped in horrifically bright rainbow packaging.

After every goodbye was said with a hug and a kiss from the birthday girl and the last guest had left, Tony collected his baby girl and swept her off for PJ time. After some begging in true little girl with too much sugar in her system fashion, her and Tony walked back to the living room with Charlie dressed in her new hippo footie pajamas from Abby. Jethro was already sitting on the coach resting his eyes, having already cleaned up and thrown away most of the mess.

Tony held a finger to his lips as he faced Charlie. They did their best to sneak up of the grey haired man, but stopped in disappointment when they each got a step away from him right as he popped one eye open to stare at them.

"Really, DiNozzo? You're teaching her horrible stealth techniques." He reached out and pulled a bundle of giggling little girl in his arms.

"My stealth techniques are above average! You're just abnormally sensitive, babe"

"Ya babe!" Charlie mimicked as Tony squeezed in next to them and leaned over Charlie's head to steal a kiss from her Papa.

The two men laughed at the little girls antics. "Alright little one," Tony poked her side, "It's time to tell Papa good night because it is time for bed."

She huffed, "I'm not little any more; I'm four now!"

"You're right, you're almost an adult! What was I thinking?"

Charlie peered up at her papa, "Un, papa, I'n not tired yet. Wanna know what would make me tired?"

Gibbs melted inside at the innocent look and pitiful pout his favorite girl was giving him. Who would have thought that Gibbs would be the push over parent.

"Tell me, baby, what would make you tired?" He spun her in his lap so she was facing both her fathers.

"Un, I'n pretty sure that if you watched The Little Mermaid with me, then I'll probably be tired after that."

Gibbs let out a full bellied chuckle and Tony brought his hand to his face as his shoulders shook in laughter.

"Cause it is still my birfday right?"

"Well, at least we know her bargaining skills are up to par." Tony acknowledged after Gibbs conceded and told her to run and get her favorite Disney DVD.

"Seriously, how does she manage to negotiate her way out of bed time all the time?" Tony said just as his daughter finished putting the Ariel DVD in the player. There's no doubt that she is Tony's daughter. Four years old and running the DVD player like it's second nature; Gibbs smiled and leaned over to help Charlie climb up and cuddle in between them. She rooted around until she was snuggled in good and she patted her Daddy's belly.

"Silly Daddy, it's part of my charm."


And they lived Happily Ever After, cue the singing Crab and crazy sea witch!

I was inspired by Father's day yesterday, every year my dad and I watch the Little Mermaid before bed. It's always been my favorite and my daddy is the cutest man ever =]

Thank you all for reading!

P.S. I know most 4 year olds can't speak in such complete sentences, but the little girl I babysit does. She's hilarious and speaks like an adult all the time. But then randomly says 'Un' and "I'n" instead of "Um" and "I'm". I literally had a full conversation about Disney Princesses with her when she was 2 1/2. I'm not sure what her parents did to teach her such amazing speech skills, but ya...=]

Yay, it is all done, and I no longer feel guilty for leaving it with the promise of an Epilogue!