"So, are you ready?"
Gibbs nodded but was he really ready? He was going to meet Kate's children and that was something special. Darn, he so wanted to remember the last time he had met them.
Kate studied him carefully. Was he having second thoughts? "You changed your mind?"
He turned to look at her. "What, no! I just… just wished I could remember them."
She understood.
He gave her a quick smile. "And I am sure they want to meet the man who asked their mother to be his wife."
"Wow; that was really sweet of you to say. You sure you are feeling ok?" She teased him.
He rolled his eyes at her. "Let's do this."
She nodded and opened the door. She walked through and knew he was right behind her. She took of her jacket and waited as he did the same with his. Soon there was some movement heard and as she continued on Marcy appeared from the kitchen.
"Hey guys."
Kate took a deep breath not really knowing why she was so nervous, "Gibbs, this is my daughter Marcy."
He offered the young woman his hand and she took it. He could clearly see the resemblance to Kate in her. "It's nice to meet you.… again." He tried to joke.
Marcy smiled at him. She'd been kind of rough on him the first time they met but no need this time. She liked him. "Likewise. Come on in and take a seat."
He passed the two women and wondered why he felt so damn nervous.
Marcy could clearly see her mother's anxiety. She wrapped an arm over her shoulders. "Don't worry mom. It will be fine."
Kate nodded and proceeded to follow Gibbs as Marcy headed back into the kitchen. He was now seated on the couch and Kate sat down on one of the chairs. "What are you thinking?"
He looked at her. "You have a beautiful daughter." Not as beautiful as her mother but then no one was.
"Thanks. Her brother should be here somewhere." And right in that moment her son walked in.
"Hey."
She took a deep breath and blew it out her nose. "Gibbs, this is my son Leo."
Gibbs eyed the young man carefully as he took and shook the hand he was offered. This man could not be Kate's son. "Nice to meet you."
"You to." Leo smiled at him as he took a seat.
"Yes, he is my son." Kate answered the unanswered question she knew was on Gibbs' mind. "I had him when I was very young."
He smiled at her. "You must have."
Leo watched the two and the way they looked at each other. He especially kept his eyes on Gibbs. Despite amnesia it was clear that the man had feelings for his mother. "I was sorry to hear about your accident."
Gibbs looked at the younger man. "At first it didn't bother me too much.."
"But now.." Leo pressed on.
"Now it does bother me. I met you and your sister and cannot even remember it. Makes me wonder what else I cannot remember?" He had a feeling there were more important things that he shouldn't have forgotten.
Kate bit her lower lip but said nothing.
"Yeah I can imagine that would be hard to live with." Leo offered in sympathy.
Marcy came back into the living room and took a seat. "So, dinner will be ready soon."
"Cool." Leo answered while still looking at Gibbs.
Great, now Gibbs felt even more nervous. Why did he feel like the kid was trying to read him?
Leo straightened up a bit. "So hope you don't mind me asking you Gibbs, why do you want to marry our mom?"
Kate rolled her eyes and just wanted to hide behind something.
Gibbs looked at the floor real quick before his gaze came to land on Kate. If anyone deserved the truth it was her children. "I love her."
Kate froze. Had he actually said that he loved her? Out loud?
Marcy and Leo exchanged knowing looks.
Kate couldn't help but to keep staring at Gibbs who stared right back at her.
Leo had to ask the question. It wasn't really true but it was the way things stood now. "You love her and want to marry her even though she is pregnant with someone else?"
Kate could barely breathe. This wasn't fair at all. She needed to do something.
Gibbs nodded. He did not hesitate. "Yes."
Kate needed to say or do something. It shouldn't be like this. "Gibbs…"
"Kate." He interrupted her knowing what she was going to say. "I'm serious about this."
Leo could see they both were in their own little world now. He motioned for Marcy to follow him so they could leave the couple alone a little.
Neither Kate nor Gibbs noticed when Marcy and Leo stood up and walked away.
Kate was the one to break the silence between them. "Abby recently told me that you loved me. When I had told her that you had proposed she said that it was because you loved me. I wasn't so sure."
"Well, she was right. I've loved you for a long time Kate. Even before the accident and since I still do odds are I did during that missing year too." He waited for her to say something. Clearly she had not expected his little revelation.
She wanted to say it. She had wanted to say it for so long. "I love you too."
He blinked not sure of what he had heard. Not sure if he dared to believe it. "Kate, you don't have to…" She moved and in one quick stride was now next to him on the couch. He tried to say something else but didn't have chance until she started to talk.
"You said there was more between us then being just coworkers and friends. You were right. I've always felt more for you than that. I am in love with you and have been for quite some time now." She touched his face with one of her hands. "You don't have to marry me if you want to be with me or help with the baby. Loving me is enough."
As much as he enjoyed her touching his face he gently grabbed her hand and brought it down. He still could not believe what she had just said but looking into her eyes he knew she had told him the truth. He wanted to kiss her but the memory of their last so called kiss haunted him and he did not know if he should.
She knew why he did not make a move and this time it was her turn to do something about it. She leaned closer to him and captured his lips with hers. Right away his mouth opened in greeting and one of his arms sneaked around to her back to draw her closer. She had missed this.
She was now biting his lower lip and he enjoyed every sensation from it. He kissed her back with equal passion. This was what he had dreamt about. This is what haunted him every night and now, to know it was real was such an incredible feeling he didn't know what to do with himself. Suddenly he came to his senses and remembered they were not alone. He drew back and stroked her face with one of his hands. "I think maybe we should calm down a bit." He told her reluctantly.
She smirked at him knowing he was right. "Yeah." She looked around the empty room. "Wonder how long they are going to pretend they are busy?"
He let out a small chuckle and then looked into those beautiful brown eyes that gave him the same look back. "I do love you Kate."
She smiled at him. "I love you Jethro."
There was something magical at hearing her call him by his first name.
Marcy coughed slightly as she made her way back into the room. She almost laughed at the way they jumped apart like two naughty teenagers. "Sorry to interrupt but dinner is ready."
Gibbs stood up and waited as Kate did the same. He watched as she joked about something with Marcy. Tell the truth he didn't know what it was about. His mind was elsewhere.
'''''''''''''''
It was barely an hour later when Leo and Marcy were saying their goodbyes. He waited for Kate as he heard her talk with them in the hallway. Dinner had gone well. At least he hoped it had. For him thought the best part of the evening had been hearing Kate saying that she loved him. He heard footsteps that were getting closer and he looked up to see Kate walking towards him. He smiled at her as she took a seat next to him. "So what's the verdict?"
"They like you." She snuggled in close as he wrapped an arm around her.
Right away he noticed that her mood seemed to change. "What is it?"
She sighed and closed her eyes enjoying hearing his heartbeat. "I appreciate that you want to marry me but like I said loving me is enough."
He kissed the top of her head. "We'll do whatever you want. As long as I'm with you I'll be happy." He stroked her hair as he continued to talk. "I'll take care of you and your baby."
She had to work hard not to betray the inflicting emotions she felt inside. She needed to move up her schedule. This still was not fair to him. She had to tell him the truth. She would. A lot sooner then she thought but she would. She just needed to gather up some courage to do it first. All of a sudden she had to sit up and a hand flew to her mouth.
Gibbs straightened and watched her with concern. "Kate, you ok? He watched as she closed her eyes and grabbed his leg in a tight grip. "Kate?"
She took long, deep breaths and soon the sickness seemed to fade away. Her hand left her mouth and she opened her eyes to see him looking at her. She could see that he was worried. "I'm ok. Thought I was going to be sick but it's getting better."
He gently rubbed her back as she took a couple more of deep breaths. "You sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine." She met his gaze once again. "I think I need to lie down."
Right away he stood up and helped her to her feet. "Let's get you to the bedroom." The fact that she didn't joke with him for saying that told him how sick she really must be.
She felt rather foolish as he helped her. He was gentle as he held on to her. She wobbled a bit but he held her steady and she knew he wouldn't let her fall.
As they entered the bedroom he helped her to sit down. He took of her shoes as she lied down. He sat down on the bed to make sure she was comfortable. He wasn't prepared when she reached out and grabbed his hand. "What do you need?" He asked right away.
"Stay with me?" She was feeling tired but she didn't want to be alone.
He brushed a few hairs out of her face, smiled at her and got up. He rounded the bed, took of his shoes and gently lied down next to her. He wrapped an arm around her as she seemed to move a bit to fit into him. His hand came to rest over her slightly round stomach.
"Thank You." She said as she felt the sleep starting to take her.
"Don't thank me Kate. This is where I want to be." He heard some murmur but wasn't sure if she had heard him. As he felt the small bump on her stomach he wowed to love, protect and care for the child that was inside as if it was his very own. It would be easy since his love for the mother knew no bounds.
As he lied there and watched her something flashed in his mind. It was over in seconds but he had seen the image clearly. Her lying in his arms, under the sheets and clearly they were both naked. He frowned wondering what that meant. He remembered something similar from his dreams but right now he was awake. He looked back down at Kate and smiled as he thought about the kiss from earlier.
Again something flashed through his mind. He was with Kate and they were kissing, touching everywhere and falling down on this very bed. Now he really was wondering what was going on. Why was he having these flashes now when he was awake? They were dreams.. unless… No, they were dreams. He was probably just eager that he finally had gotten so close to Kate. He laid his head down beside her and decided to get some sleep. His over worked mind was probably just playing tricks on him. He closed his eyes and soon he was asleep as well.