Two days before Christmas Tony drives everyone back to DC early in the morning. Jackson had an anxiety attack that came so suddenly he passed out but was released after a few hours of monitoring. They decided to head back to DC because Johnny still was upset with Gibbs and both kids wanted to spend Christmas with Jeanne. They traveled early so the kids could sleep part of the way and when the reach DC its early morning but they find Abby asleep in the living room. "What's she doing here? I thought she was just checking on the house."

Tony shrugs, "I don't know but I say lets get the kids upstairs before they wake up and let her sleep. I'll run to the store and get stuff for breakfast."

When he puts Johnny to bed he starts to wake up, "Is it time to leave daddy?"

Tony kisses his nose, "Nope, we're home already. Go back to sleep it's early and I have to go to the store for stuff for breakfast."

Johnny cuddles with him while Gibbs puts Sami in her bed, "I'll go see what we have for breakfast Tony, you stay here with Johnny."

Johnny sniffs, "Is he still mad at me?"

Tony shakes his head, "No, I just need a few minutes with you. Are you mad at him?"

Johnny shakes his head, "He was mad at me … I don't like when he's mad at me."

Tony sighs, "He's not mad anymore Johnny and he …"

Gibbs was in the doorway, "I was never mad at you Johnny and I meant to talk to you but I just didn't."

Johnny leans against Tony, "I don't like being in trouble."

Gibbs goes to them, "You're not in trouble buddy. I shouldn't have yelled at you but I was worried about Grandpa and didn't want to stop."

Johnny sniffs, "I know but I … I thought I was going to get sick and daddy said to tell him. I couldn't sleep and …"

Gibbs picks him up, "Next time I'll listen to you okay?" Johnny nods hugging him around the neck and Gibbs kisses him. "Downstairs the kitchen is stocked. I'm guessing Abby went shopping and then fell asleep so she wouldn't have to drive home tired."

Tony smiles, "Okay then I'm going to start breakfast."

"Dad's already down there starting breakfast but it's early enough to start calling people. Abby's helping dad but you can call the others … she said Mike, Leyla and Amira will be here later so don't worry about them."

Tony smiles calling Jeanne first, "I thought you guys went to Stillwater."

"We did but Jackson was only kept overnight so after making arrangements we're back. How are you feeling?"

Jeanne sighs, "Not so good, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Can you come by later so we can talk about it?"

Tony knew it was bad news, "Sure, why don't I go by with lunch? Do you want to see the kids yet or …?"

Jeanne was close to tears, "No, I can't see them … not today. Can you come sooner?"

Tony talks to Gibbs, "Sure, give me time to shower and get dressed and then I'll be over."

Gibbs stops him, "What's wrong with Jeanne? Is she okay?"

Tony shakes his head, "I don't know … she had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I'm guessing it didn't go well. I don't think she's going to be here for much longer."

Gibbs sighs, "If she needs anything let us know. We don't like what happened with her but …"

Tony nods, "Thanks Gibbs,"

At Jeanne's house she was waiting for him looking sickly, "Thanks for coming Tony I just …"

Tony sat with her, "Talk to me Jeanne, what's going on? What did the doctor's say?"

Jeanne sighs, "It doesn't look good for me. Nothing … there's nothing else they can do but make me comfortably but soon I'll need full time care."

Tony sighs, "What do you need from us? I mean me and the team they'll help with whatever you need."

Jeanne shakes her head, "I couldn't ask you to do that Tony or them. I know they still haven't forgiven me for what happened when I accused you of killing my father or keeping the kids from you. I was angry and hurt but I didn't think you would actually kill him. He had done nothing to you."

Tony nods, "I was worried about you and went looking for you when they discovered he was missing but we figured he went on the run. Then you disappeared so …"

Jeanne nods, "I just had to get out so I went to France where we had a chateau. I sold it and put it into trust funds for the kids, this place will be sold when I die. The buyers are willing to wait …"

"What will happen to you? I mean do you have someone coming here? The kids will want to see you and I don't know …"

Jeanne nods, "I would like to stay with them for as long as possible but if it comes down to me being on machines … I don't want that. They can make me comfortable and that's about it. I'll look into getting a home care nurse or someone so I can stay here. Hospices' are okay but I don't want the kids exposed to that."

Tony nods, "Okay, just let me know. The team doesn't hate you because we're a family and you did give me two beautiful children. If nothing else worked they did and I love them."

Jeanne sighs, "You just never loved me." Tony tries to open his mouth but Jeanne stops him. "I accepted it a long time ago Tony and it's okay. You just don't … you would prefer the company of someone of the same sex … I guess is a good way to say it."

Tony looks at her, "How …?"

Jeanne smiles, "I remember us together and what I thought was love and I see you with others like Gibbs and see it more. I was just an assignment that literally blew up in our faces."

Tony shakes his head, "I did care for you a lot and did love you but … I wasn't in love with you I guess. I do care if something was to happen to you and never meant to hurt you. The others were mad because you framed or tried to frame me for murder."

"They're more protective than your 'father'."

Tony chuckles, "Yeah you could say that. He's never accepted me for who I am and he probably thinks if I'm left anything my significant other will get part of it. I'm not even with anyone and the kids would get it first. They would always have to come first."

Jeanne nods, "I hoped you could and would love Johnny and then … well as long as you took care of him I could go knowing he was okay."

Tony sighs, "I love them both and would've taken them both right away if I knew about Sami too. There wasn't a sign of another child so I never …"

Jeanne nods, "They didn't like the thought of taking both of them but they assured me Sami would be okay. She would soon forget about me and Johnny and accept them as her parents."

Tony shakes his head, "She wasn't happy calling them mommy and daddy but she loves her extended family. They're always doing stuff with them and the people in Stillwater just fussed over them like they were everyone's grandchildren. I think because they consider Gibbs family and he considers them the same."

Jeanne nods, "Maybe the four of you could make your own family." Tony shoots her a strange look and Jeanne smiles. "I see him watching you sometimes like he wants you but something's holding him back."

Tony shakes his head, "Oh no, Gibbs isn't … he would never …"

Jeanne smiles, "I think if you gave it a chance it could be. I just want you to be happy because the kids will be happy if you are."

Tony nods, "I know and I don't think Gibbs is … interested. He takes care of us like a team and he says I'm his 'son'."

Jeanne chuckles, "I think you're worried. I can't tell you what to do but just make sure you're happy."

Tony smiles, "I am happy where I am."

Later when Tony gets home Jackson's there with Sami and Abby, "Hey guys, what are you doing? Where's Johnny?"

Sami hugs him getting flour all over him, "He went with Uncle Gibbs, Tim and Jimmy to get a Christmas tree. Doda Ziva went to get Christmas ornaments and me, Grandpa and Aunt Abby are making Christmas cookies. Do you want to help?"

Tony smiles, "Sure,"

Jackson smiles, "We're getting the baking out of the way right now and tonight we'll decorate them. Johnny didn't want to stay home when Tim said he knew where they could cut down a tree."

"Jeanne warned me he liked to be hands on with things. Building stuff, taking stuff apart while Sami likes to learn stuff and do girlie things I guess."

Jackson nods, "They offered to take her so she wasn't just left behind but she didn't want to go into the cold. I was going to make the cookies anyway so she wanted to help. Abby stayed behind in case there were any problems since she's a girl."

Abby shrugs, "I don't like going out in the cold anyway. Besides Jackson said we could sample the cookies."

Sami nods, "They're yummy daddy. Where did you go?"

Tony sighs, "We'll talk about it later okay?"

Sami frowns, "Am I in trouble?"

Tony kisses her head, "No, of course not."

"Okay time to take out the chocolate chip and walnut cookies out of the oven. Can you get them Tony?" Tony takes the cookies out seeing how delicious they look and was tempted to take one. "Hands off until they cool a bit; the chocolate's too hot to put in your mouth. There's another tray in the fridge to go in the oven." That night Tony tells the others what Jeanne told him and they all offer to help however they can. They were getting to know Jeanne through the kids and realized she wasn't as bad as they had thought. There was some stuff they couldn't get over but they also couldn't turn on her because of the kids they loved and wanted to make things easier for all of them. They knew Tony also cared for her and if they turned on her it would make things hard for Tony.


A/N: Sorry for the delay but yesterday was a busy day and I didn't seem to have time to write. I also want to get this out now because if anyone has a problem with where this story is going I am being honest. This is going to be a slash story. Nothing graphic and it's going to be Tony/Gibbs. I hadn't intended it to be because I didn't know how people would react. Since there is an interest I will forge ahead.