Over the next couple of days, Harm and Tony got into a rather 'domestic' routine between school and home life while living together. Gibbs hadn't attempted to contact or even come over to the apartment, which Tony was rather grateful for, since he was still extremely pissed off at the man for practically ruining his eighteenth birthday.
But, Gibbs was worried about his son, and when he went over to Harm's apartment, noticing that Tony's black corvette was missing from the back alley, he decided now would be a good time to check on how Tony was actually doing, from the only person who knew what was going on.
Harm opened the front door, wearing a loose pair of shorts that hung low on his hips, and an opened button-up shirt, the puzzle piece necklace dangling against his bare chest "Oh, it's you…" Harm said as he pulled the door open further and let Gibbs into the apartment.
"Yeah, what? Were you expecting someone else?" Gibbs asked as he walked into the apartment, looking around the space slowly.
Harm shook his head "No, I thought Tony had forgotten his key… He likes doing that for some reason." Harm stated as he walked over to the coffee pot and hit the brew button.
"How is he, Harm? Like, really… Is he happy here? Happier than when he was living at home, with me?" Gibbs asked, walking around the open living room/kitchen/dining room area.
Harm nodded as he poured a cup of the freshly brewed coffee, setting it on the center island "Yeah, he is happy, Gibbs. Happier than at your place? I don't know, I haven't bothered to ask – We don't exactly talk about you… He's still pissed off." Harm stated as he grabbed a bottle of Gatorade from the fridge.
Gibbs sighed as he sat on one of the kitchen stools, wrapping his hands around the hot mug, "I miss my son, Harm. How do I get him back?" Gibbs asked, staring up at the young man who was standing in front of him.
Harm shrugged as he set his bottle down, bracing his hands against the counter "Have you tried actually talking to him? Listening to him, and I mean, actually listening to the words coming out of his mouth?" Harm asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
Gibbs shook his head, looking down into the black coffee, "No… I've been trying to give him space, I thought… maybe he would just come back on his own… but that doesn't seem to be happening…" Gibbs stated, rubbing at the side of his head vigorously.
Harm chuckled humorously as he backed up to the counter and jumped onto it, "That's because he likes living here with me. He has freedom that he never had living with you. Gibbs, he's eighteen… an adult… Sure he's only been an adult for four days, but he enjoys being able to do the things that you'd never let him do…" Harm stated blandly as he looked at his boyfriend's father.
"And just what the hell does he do that he couldn't do when he lived with me?!" Gibbs demanded angrily, standing up and pinning Harm with a steely look in his eyes.
Harm shook his head "Live, for one thing – He's able to go out and hang with friends, come back whenever he wants too without a curfew. We're able to kiss each other, without getting bashed in the head with a pillow… And yeah, we do the things that adults do, Gibbs… Hell, we do the things that forty-three percent of all teenagers are doing nowadays." Harm stated, his voice rising slightly as his own anger began festering beneath the surface.
Gibbs stared at Harm with wide eyes – Hearing the words, and speculating being two totally different things – "You… You guys have…" Gibbs shook his head as he sat back down, cradling his head in his hands.
Harm sighed as he slid off the counter, "Yeah, we've had sex Gibbs. And, Tony… God, he just wanted to crawl out from underneath your eagle-eyes and oppressive thumb. I know you gave him a lot of leeway when he said that he wanted to do Dance, Gymnastics, and Cheer… When you wanted him to do Baseball, Basketball or Football… But you never let him actually express himself to the fullest." Harm said quietly, pressing his palms into the counter.
"So, I need to apologize to him… I was being stubborn, and I was being a bastard, for a big portion of his teenage life…" Gibbs surmised quietly, tapping his fingernail against the ceramic mug in his hand.
Harm nodded as he looked up, "Yeah dad, you do need to apologize…" Tony said as he walked over to the bookcase lining one of the walls "I got all the way to the mall, and realized… I left my wallet at home… and my keys." Tony said as he grabbed both items off the shelf and stuffed them into his hoodie pocket.
Gibbs turned around in his chair and looked at his son with a frown "Do you have time to talk now? Or… Are you busy?" Gibbs asked rubbing his sweaty palms against his jeans as he looked his son over, noticing the same necklace dangling across Tony's neck that Harm was wearing.
Tony shrugged as he looked between his father and boyfriend, Harm tilted his head side to side then shrugged, "Yeah, we can talk… C'mon." Tony said as he walked towards the door, "I'll be back around six, Harm… Order Chinese! Vegetable Lo Mein and Wonton soup." Tony called over his shoulder as he and Gibbs left the loft together.
Tony sat on the hood of his corvette – same make and model as Harm's; a '68 Mako Shark, except black. Tony cupped his hands between his kneecaps and stared up at his father, looking at the older man expectantly.
"Okay… I'm ready to listen, to whatever you have to say." Gibbs said quietly as he sat on the hood next to Tony, looking down at the ground.
"What the heck do you want me to say dad? I'm not going to apologize, I didn't do anything wrong… This is your time to talk – you have five years' worth of apologizing to me to do." Tony stated, turning to look at his father with a raised eyebrow.
"Five years?! What the hell do you mean I have five years' worth?!" Gibbs demanded, hopping off the hood of the corvette and whirling around to stare at his son.
Tony sighed as he lowered his head, pinching the bridge of his nose tightly "This… This is what you have to apologize for dad! Every time we try and talk, you turn it into this huge argument. When I told you I thought I was gay – 'No son of mine is going to be gay!' – When I told you I wanted to take gymnastics, - 'Gymnastics are for girls, you're a guy Tony!'…" Tony shouted, hopping off the hood to stand toe-to-toe with his father "I'm gay dad, I have known this since I was practically twelve years old! I like gymnastics, dance, cheer, yoga and ballet! I hate football, basketball, soccer and baseball – Ugh, I especially hate baseball! The only reason I tolerate football and basketball is because of Harm, and even then I am mildly enthused by the sport, and Harm knows that! Harm will even change the channel when I come into a room if he's watching a game, and we'll watch something that we both enjoy! Jesus, Harm knows more about me than you ever could, and I'm your SON!" Tony screamed, his entire face red as he gasped for breaths after his long winded tirade.
Gibbs stared at his son, biting at his bottom lip as he tried to form the words he knew he needed to say "Tony I…" Gibbs sighed and rubbed at his scalp vigorously.
Tony shook his head slowly "Forget it, you're absolutely incapable of apologizing. All these years… I swear it's like I was just dropped off at your doorstep one day and Mom just begged you to keep me like I was some lost puppy or something…" Tony said, crossing his arms over his chest as he paced the length of his car.
Gibbs watched Tony, a panicked look in his eyes "Tony…" Gibbs managed to squeak out, his own voice sounding foreign to his ears as he watched his son stop and slowly turn towards him.
Tony's eyes went as wide as saucers as he stared at his father "Oh my god… Please, please tell me I'm not…" Tony pleaded, tears coming to his eyes as he gripped onto the puzzle piece of his necklace, biting back his bottom lip.
"T, we wanted to tell you – Shannon and I – when you turned thirteen… But, then the accident and… I just… I didn't know how to tell you… Especially then, when you were starting to learn who you were, I didn't want to mess with your identity Tony… and for that – and all of it – I am sorry. I am so sorry I never told you that you were adopted… I'm sorry that I held you back from being your true self… I'm just… I'm sorry!" Gibbs said as he took a tentative step towards Tony.
Tony shook his head and angrily swiped at the tears in his eyes, "Tell me why… Why did you adopt me? Why did you chose me to be your son, and then… just… throw my personality back in my face when I started growing into myself?!" Tony demanded to know, keeping his distance from Gibbs.
"Shan and I adopted you, because we thought we couldn't have kids… and we did, want kids, your father – He was a miserable, miserable man… an alcoholic, he beat his wife and had an ugly temper… And when we heard about you from the adoption agent… We knew that letting you go back to that man, we just… we couldn't let it happen… So, you became our foster son… You were only eight months at the time T… After having you for a year, we were finally allowed to adopt you, and we did… Then a year later, Shan got pregnant with Kelly… We chose you, because you were meant to be with us, meant to be our son!" Gibbs frowned as he crossed his arms over his stomach, shaking his head slightly "I never meant to hurt you Tony, by suppressing who you were… I was just… I was scared that if you really got out into the world, you'd end up like Shannon and Kelly… or… you'd turn into your birth father… I just, I didn't want either of those things to happen." Gibbs confessed, keeping his eyes on the concrete below his feet.
Tony nodded as he leaned against the car, hanging his head slightly "I guess I can understand that. I was scared too, you know? After mom and Kel were killed… I hated getting into cars, even though I had to out of necessity…" Tony said quietly, fiddling with the necklace in his fingertips, "I'm not coming home though… I can forgive you, but… I like living here, with Harm… Can you accept that and move on from the notion that I'm not a little kid anymore?" Tony asked, looking up at his father, a serious but pleading look in his eyes.
Gibbs nodded solemnly, "Yeah Tony… It's going to be tough, and I'll hate it, but yeah… I can accept that you're an adult, and you're able to make your own decisions now." Gibbs said softly as he straightened himself up and held his arms out towards Tony.
Tony smiled as he rushed into his father's arms, holding onto Gibbs' tightly "He proposed to me, ya know… The morning after my birthday." Tony said, smiling brightly as he looked up at Gibbs.
"Yeah? Is that what the two necklaces are about?" Gibbs asked, taking the puzzle piece pendant in his fingertips and examining the piece with a gentle smile on his face, "Have you guys set a date or anything like that?" Gibbs questioned, raising his eyebrow slightly.
Tony nodded enthusiastically "After I graduate, we're going to get married on July 4th. So, you have a year and a half to start saving up for it!" Tony said as he stepped back slightly, a shy smile crossing his face.
Gibbs chuckled as he brushed Tony's hair out of his eyes "I'll save up for it, as long as you plan it and just tell me what I'm paying for – I want your wedding, to the man you love, to be all about the two of you." Gibbs said softly as he kissed Tony's forehead lightly.
Tony giggled as he hugged his father again, "Thanks dad. I really appreciate that. I'll try to not break your bank, but… No promises… I can sometimes get a little carried away." Tony admitted, grinning up at his father. Gibbs laughed and nodded his head as he hugged Tony tightly to his chest.
Harm smiled as he looked down from the picture windows of the loft, "Atta boy Tony." Harm said out loud as he stepped away from the window and dropped down onto the couch, flicking the TV on and surfing through the channels.
When Tony returned back to the loft, five minutes after six, he sighed tiredly as he set several shopping bags down on top of the center island, he looked around the loft, then grinned once he spotted Harm standing in front of the mirror.
"Well, don't you look good enough to eat?" Tony said as he walked into the bedroom and looked appreciatively up and down the length of Harm's body, admiring the tight black slacks and purple button-up shirt, pieced together with a black tie.
Harm grinned as he turned around, "You better get dressed, we don't have much time before we have to get out of here." Harm said as he brushed a soft kiss against Tony's lips as he walked towards the bathroom.
Tony raised his eyebrow "Where are we going? I thought we were ordering in tonight." Tony asked, even as he began rifling through his clothes in the closet.
"I don't know, your dad didn't say… Just said to be ready by 6:15 and dress nice." Harm said, shrugging his shoulders as he applied Tony's favorite cologne to his neck and chest.
Tony sighed as he pulled out a hot-pink silk button up, black tie and black slacks "Think this is a little… too much?" Tony asked, looking towards Harm.
Harm turned his head and shook his head "For you babe? Never. Pink and you go together almost as good as you and I do." Harm said as he brushed a comb through his hair quickly, spiking up the front of his bangs with a bit of hair gel.
Tony nodded as he changed into the outfit, then joined Harm in the bathroom "So, which goes better though? You and me? Or Me and pink?" Tony asked as he ran hair gel through his hair, cocking his head to the side slightly.
Harm shrugged as he leaned back against the glass shower wall, "Mmm, I don't know, it's a toss-up between the two, honestly." Harm said, grinning as he ducked the wet wash cloth that Tony threw at him, "Okay, okay… You and Pink!" Harm exclaimed, running from the bathroom as Tony collected the wash cloth.
Tony laughed as he tossed the cloth back into the sink and followed Harm out into the living room, pinning the taller man against the counter, "I'd like to think that you and I go better together." Tony said softly as he kissed the bottom of Harm's chin lightly.
"Don't have time Tony, gotta get out of here in three minutes." Harm said as he spun Tony around and pressed him into the counter, kissing him lovingly on the lips before releasing him and heading towards the front door.
Tony groaned as he followed Harm "You're such a killjoy sometimes, you know that?" Tony asked as he slid his hand into Harm's as he walked down the stairs together.
Harm chuckled as he nudged Tony's shoulder "I've been called a lot of things in the past, don't think killjoy has ever been one of those things." Harm mused as he pushed the service entry door open, letting Tony out before him.
Gibbs stared at the two men as they climbed into the back of the challenger together "You two are late." He stated as he pulled out of the alley.
Harm shook his head "You're actually early, by a minute. But that's beside the point – Where are you taking us?" Harm asked, leaning awkwardly in the backseat of the challenger.
Gibbs looked in the rearview mirror and shook his head "Not telling you, guess you both'll just have to find out once we get there." Gibbs said, grinning as he drove down the street, heading into the DC area.
When Gibbs pulled up into the parking lot of The Wok, Tony shook his head slightly "Dad, this is like uber expensive!" Tony exclaimed as the trio got out of the challenger.
Gibbs nodded "Yeah, I know. It's okay though… You, and Harm, both deserve this." Gibbs said as he opened the front door to the restaurant, letting the two boys in before him, then walked up to the hostess' podium "Reservation for Gibbs." He said to the young girl standing behind the podium.
"Yes sir. The rest of your guests have already been seated, if you will follow me." She said, bowing as she grabbed three menus, leading the trio towards the back of the restaurant.
"Rest of your guests? Dad, what on earth did you do?" Tony asked as they walked carefully through the restaurant.
Harm sighed as he set his hands onto Tony's shoulders, squeezing firmly "Just go with it, Tony. No more questions." Harm instructed as he set his hand over Tony's eyes as the hostess opened the doors to the private dining room.
Tony squirmed slightly as he blindly walked over the threshold with Harm's guidance, when Harm lifted his hand everyone in the room – Gibbs, Ducky, Gerald, Tim, Mac, Jimmy, Abby, AJ and Harm – all shouting 'Surprise' enthusiastically.
Tony gasped as he looked around the dining room – decorated in a sea of green hued party decorations – he looked over at his father with tears in his eyes "Dad! This… This is perfect!" Tony squeaked as he rushed into his father's arms, hugging him fiercely.
Gibbs grinned as he hugged Tony warmly, kissing the top of his son's head lovingly "I'm glad you like it, Tony… But it wasn't all me. Your fiancé had a lot to do with this as well." Gibbs said softly.
Harm shook his head slowly "I just gave you the decoration ideas… This was all you Gibbs." Harm said as he walked over to the large circular table and pulling out Tony and his chair.
Tony giggled as he plopped down into the chair, "This is amazing… I love you guys… all of you!" Tony said as he looked around the table at everyone, a bright smile on his face.
"So, should we eat first, or do gifts first?" Gibbs asked as he sat down on the other side of his son.
Tony shook his head and interlocked his hand with Harm's "I think Harm and I should make an announcement first – A double celebration, if that's okay with you?" Tony asked, looking at his father, Gibbs nodded, grinning slightly. Tony inhaled deeply as he turned back to his friends and family, "Well, as of four days ago… Harm and I… We're engaged!" Tony said excitedly, bouncing in his seat happily.
"Oh my gosh! That's so incredible!" Abby squealed happily as she bounced up from her seat and went over to Tony and Harm, hugging both men lovingly around the neck, "Where's the ring?! How'd he do it?! Oh my gosh! Need details!" Abby rambled out as she released the boys and headed back to her seat.
Tony giggled, "No ring – we uh, we've got matching necklaces." Tony said as he and Harm pulled the necklaces out from underneath their shirts, linking the two puzzle pieces together, "And there really wasn't any big romantic setting to it, if you were wondering… We were just lying together, and he asked." Tony said, shrugging slightly as he looked up at Harm with a soft smile on his face.
"Give me a little credit, I at least – sort of – got down onto one knee and asked you." Harm said as he kissed Tony's forehead lightly.
Tony nodded as he nuzzled into Harm's shoulder lightly "Okay, enough… I'm hungry and I really want to open some presents!" Tony exclaimed, grinning as he sat up straight again, bouncing happily in his seat "Gifts first though, eating can wait." Tony added as he looked around the table expectantly.
After receiving the gifts – Which included a boxset of Tony's favorite shows, several DVDs, money and a new watch – and eating their meals Tony, Gibbs, Harm, and AJ were sitting around the table talking after everyone else had left for the evening.
"So, you two set a date yet?" AJ asked curiously, sipping at his water slowly.
Harm and Tony both nodded their heads, "July 4th, 2012. After Tony graduates from school." Harm said as he leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out underneath the table.
AJ nodded as he looked over at Gibbs then back at his son, "Well, how do we do this? Split the wedding bills down the middle? One father pays? I've never had to deal with this before." AJ said, chuckling slightly as he looked around the table.
The three other men shrugged their shoulders "I don't know. I think it's fair enough that the bills get split down the middle, since neither of us will be the bride… But, someone has to pay for the wedding, right?" Harm questioned, looking between Gibbs and AJ with a raised eyebrow.
"Sounds fair to me. I definitely wouldn't mind having someone to help pay for this shindig." Gibbs said, chuckling as he leaned back in his chair, tapping at his empty plate with his finger.
AJ stood up and walked over to Harm and Tony, the boys stood up and hugged AJ, "Thanks for showing up, AJ. I really appreciate it." Tony said softly, looking up at the older man with a smile.
"Anything for my future son-in-law. Happy birthday Tony, and congratulations, you've got yourself quite the catch in my son." AJ said as he released the boys and walked over to Gibbs, shaking the man's hand firmly "See you for the baseball game on Thursday?" AJ asked as he grabbed his jacket off the coat rack.
Gibbs nodded as he stood up, "Absolutely. Nationals and Braves game is going to be amazing." Gibbs said with a smile as he grabbed his suit coat and slid into it.
Tony groaned loudly, rolling his eyes as he banged his forehead against Harm's chest, "They are so not invited to the wedding if all they can talk about is baseball." Tony griped as he looked up at Harm.
Harm laughed as he wrapped his arms around Tony's shoulders, "I'm sure that they will be too busy to think about baseball when we get married." Harm said as he kissed the top of Tony's head affectionately.
Once Tony and Harm got back to the loft, the two men laid in bed, Tony lying on top of Harm's bare chest and drawing patterns against Harm's pectoral muscle. Harm smiled as he was doing the same to Tony's back, "So, did you enjoy tonight?" Harm asked, resting his cheek against Tony's head.
"Mhmmm. It was the best, thank you so much for helping my dad with the planning." Tony said softly, twisting a few strands of Harm's chest hair around his index finger.
"I'm just surprised he was able to get everything done within just a few hours. Determination is that man's strong suit, I definitely see where you get it from." Harm said, smiling softly as he massaged into Tony's lower back.
Tony shook his head and sighed "He uh… He told me something earlier today, that… I never would have suspected…" Tony said quietly, his breath hitching slightly as he curled his fingers into a fist, looking up at Harm with tears in his eyes.
Harm frowned "Is he okay? I mean… Nothing's wrong with him, health wise, right?" Harm asked in concern.
Tony shook his head slightly "No, no… Nothing like that – He's fine health wise." Tony said quietly, pushing up on his elbow to look down at Harm, "I uh… I'm adopted, Harm." Tony said, frowning slightly as he sat up, pulling his legs up to his chest.
Harm laid flat on his back, gently rubbing up and down Tony's back, "Really? Why are you upset about this? I mean… being adopted isn't so bad. Just means that you were special enough to get a great family, who loved you enough to deal with your craziness." Harm said, smiling slightly as he tugged the back of Tony's tank top, pulling his boyfriend back down against his side.
Tony sighed as he curled up against Harm's side again, wrapping one arm around Harm's stomach "You're not funny, you know… This doesn't change who I am, does it?" Tony asked, looking up at Harm.
Harm shook his head as he kissed the top of Tony's head "Nope. Just like when I found out that AJ was my dad… Doesn't change who you are Tony. You're still you. Tony the Lover, who despite hating every physical contact sport, fell in love with the superstar jock. Tony the Protector… The guy who would go to the ends of the earth to fix his boyfriend's stupidity whenever his temper gets the best of him. Tony the Fighter… the guy who stands up to people two times his size, to protect someone else from getting beaten up." Harm said, kissing the top of Tony's head again, "You are who you always will be Tony, and nothing will change that, not even your biology." Harm said, grinning brightly as he looked into Tony's glistening green eyes.
Tony chuckled as he scooted up, kissing Harm lovingly on the lips, "You realize I said that to you when you were freaking out about AJ being your father, right?" Tony asked as he laid his head down against Harm's shoulder.
Harm nodded as he reached down and pulled the sheets up over their bodies, "Of course I know that, I was there when you said it… Turnabout is fair play. Besides, I changed it up a bit, I was the Justice Seeker, not the fighter." Harm said, nuzzling his nose in Tony's hair and sighing contentedly, "I love you Tony… Doesn't matter who your father is – Because your dad is who really matters, and Gibbs is the best dad I know…" Harm said softly.
Tony frowned as he tilted his head back slightly "Do you think I should move back in with him?" Tony asked softly, worrying his bottom lip in between his teeth.
Harm shrugged slightly "That's up to you babe. I love having you here, but if you think that you want to move back in with him… Then that's up to you." Harm said as he rubbed Tony's back lovingly.
Tony sighed as he curled his fingers around Harm's shoulder, "Maybe I could split my time between his house and here… I hate to think about him being in the house all by himself all the time… I mean, I know we don't really get along, and he spends a lot of time in the basement… But he's still my dad, no matter what some birth certificate might say." Tony said as he snuggled deeper into Harm's chest, placing a gentle kiss down on the flesh beneath his lips.
Harm nodded as he held onto Tony lightly "That he is babe that he is… We'll figure all of this out in the morning though, we do have classes tomorrow after all." Harm said, yawning into the top of Tony's head as he snuggled down into the mattress and getting comfortable with Tony against his chest, "Love you Tony." Harm whispered as he kissed Tony on the forehead.
Tony smiled as he squeezed Harm, "Love you too, Harm. Night babe." Tony whispered as he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him, listening to Harm's breathing as it evened out, and then the steady drumming of the heart beneath his ear, eventually falling asleep to the sounds around him.