Title: All Or Nothing
Author: rekkidbraka
Rating: T
Pairings: Tony D. and Ziva D.
Category: Romance
Disclaimer: No infringement intended.
Spoilers: None
Summary: Jack and Gaby surprise everyone -- themselves most of all, perhaps.

-------------------- All Or Nothing ---------------------

"My parents will NOT understand this," Gabrielle said. "Any of it." She knew her mother, in particular, would be furious. And as happy as Gaby was, she dreaded telling her mother the truth.

"Neither will mine," Jack agreed. "But you know what? They're gonna have to deal with it, baby. This was our decision. We own it. And if they aren't happy for us, well..."

"It's not that they won't be happy that we did it, honey," Gaby replied, reaching out to stroke Jack's cheek. "Maybe it's just... they'll wish we'd waited. To ask them to be part of it."

Jack frowned, looking dolefully at Gabrielle.

"But I thought this was what you wanted, too," he said, any trace of the joy he'd felt slipping away.

"Oh no... NO!" Gaby pulled Jack to her, holding him tightly. "Jack... this IS what I wanted. Oh, honey, I didn't mean to make you think that I'm not glad we went ahead and got married!" She smiled, blushing. "I couldn't wait, either. I'm happy that I'm finally your wife... you're my husband... it's official. And I love that. And you."

"I love you, too, Gabrielle," Jack said, his eyes searching hers. "I love being your husband... you being my wife... us being married. I just... I'm..."

Jack's lips met Gabrielle's just then as they kissed tenderly. When they finally pulled back from one another, Jack gazed down at his new bride with green eyes that sparkled. He was beside himself with joy at being Gabrielle's husband.

He hadn't thought she'd agree when he'd said, only a few hours after proposing, "Aw, the heck with waiting six months or whatever, Doc. Will you marry me TONIGHT?" But she'd said "Yes. Absolutely." And here they were now -- husband and wife. They'd both gotten so swept up in the excitement of making their marriage happen so unconventionally that the reality of not having their families involved was only just hitting each of them.

Gabrielle worried about how her mother would feel. Jeanne had dreamed of helping her eldest daughter plan every detail of her wedding one day. Gaby knew her mother never expected to be involved in — or likely even asked to — any wedding her younger sister Giselle might have. That, in itself, was a longshot anyway; Giselle railed loudly against marriage and "being controlled" by anyone. Now, her mother wouldn't get to see Gaby take her vows; her father wouldn't give her away. At least, none of these things would happen for the first time. And Gabrielle knew her parents would be hurt. But marrying Jack felt so right. She wouldn't apologize for that, for going with her feelings and giving herself to the only man she'd ever truly loved. She'd done the right thing, she knew, even if nobody but she and Jack understood. And she'd never felt so happy. Gaby looked at the "wedding ring" Jack had hastily produced for her — his old Ohio State frat ring. It was all he could offer until they had time to purchase a real set of wedding bands. She adored it. And him. He'd snickered playfully when she put her medical school graduation ring on his pinky, the only finger the small ring would barely fit. It was still too small but Jack wiggled it at her, joking "I'm all YOURS now."

Jack knew that his mother would accept the news of his sudden wedding with that resolute silence of hers — the quiet that meant she was so upset she literally could not speak. His father would be the one who'd give him hell about why he couldn't wait to marry Gabrielle, why he'd been so impatient. And Jack would have to work to keep from reminding his old man that when HE was a young man he didn't wait around for a damn thing, did he? Danny would be his usual devil-may-care self and just ask when the delayed bachelor party was happening and when he got to french... uh... kiss his big bro's bride. Sarah was going to be absolutely furious at not having been in on the secret. Jack hoped that, as usual, Paul's quiet demeanor would save the day and keep Sarah from screaming bloody murder at both he and Gaby — before she broke down in tears at being so happy for them but feeling so sad that Jack didn't come to her because, after all, she WAS his big sister...

What worried Jack most was how Kasim would handle the news. His son loved Gabrielle as if she were his mother. But Kasim had been adjusting to lots of new things in his life, not the least of which was learning that Jack was his real father, and finding out that his father had gotten married and hadn't told him or had him at the ceremony... Jack felt sad at not having had his beloved boy with him when he and Gaby exchanged vows. Maybe they had been too hasty. He sighed, wondering if he'd screwed up things for he and Gaby again. Then Jack realized that, despite those things, the knowledge that he was now Gaby's husband filled him with the kind of happiness he thought he'd never feel. He had a beautiful son and a gorgeous wife. He had a family. He'd find a way to make Kasim understand. He'd make his family realize that he and Gaby had made the right decision.

But then he thought of someone else. Someone far away who he hadn't seen or heard from in so long. That she wouldn't speak to him left him feeling empty inside. He loved her with all his heart and she acted as if he didn't exist anymore. Couldn't she forgive him? It had been years now. He wondered what she would think of Gabrielle, of Kasim, of the man he'd become...

"Honey?" Gabrielle said softly to Jack as she nestled her head against his chest. "Are you OK?"

Jack grinned down at her. He gently ran his hand through her light brown hair.

"Oh, I'm OK, baby," Jack answered, his voice growing husky. "Now I was thinking... Where should we go on our honeymoon?"

"Hmmm..." Gaby raised an eyebrow playfully. "I know this great place across town. It's clean, there's a kitchen, full bar, big-screen TV and a king-size bed."

"Sounds like it has all the comforts of home," Jack teased.

"It is home," Gaby laughed.

"Ah," Jack replied, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders as he led her towards his vintage Mustang. "Good thing I dusted this afternoon, then, huh?"