Chapter 14

"HE'S GOT WHAT?!" Jethro yelled as Tobias stood close by holding the latest photo's, of Tony in a suit and a girl in a white bridal dress coming out of the main church in the town's piazza.

"He got married." The Director of the FBI said to the stunned NIS Agent.

"But, he's only seventeen!" Jethro spluttered. "Why didn't someone stop it."

"It wasn't forced, look at him Agent Gibbs, he doesn't look worried or upset."

Gibbs looked at his son, the smile on his face wasn't forced, although there was something in his eyes, a small sadness that only he noticed. In the next picture it was gone and Jethro recognized the look on his son's face, it was the same look he had given Shannon on his wedding day. He was totally in love with this girl.

Gibbs sank into the chair, "He's not coming home is he?"

Tobias moved to place a supporting hand on Jethro's shoulder.

"We don't know that." He said.

"What do we know about the girl?" Gibbs asked.

"Her name is Maria. She's sixteen daughter of Don Macaluso a close friend of the DiNozzo family."

"Sixteen? Is she…" Gibbs shook his head, he didn't want to know, but he asked anyway, "Is she pregnant?"

Tobias shrugged, "We don't know. I don't think that's why they got married. The word is it was a true love thing. Apparently your Tony begged his parents and hers for the right to marry her."

Gibbs shook his head, "No… There's no way, Tony had his whole life ahead of him. He was looking forward to going to Remington, going to college."

"He's not dead Gibbs, just married."

Gibbs shrugged, "Might as well be."

Tobias chuckled. "Not all marriages are like yours Jethro."

Gibbs smirked, "Yes, how is Diane?"

"We are fine thank you."

The Director looked between the two men confused, "He married my wife." Jethro deadpanned.

"She was your Ex-wife Jethro."

Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle. He realized he needed that little release of tension and was grateful for it.

"Is there any word on why Senior allowed this?" Gibbs asked, turning his mind back to the matter in hand.

The director shook his head, "No, I know that Don DiNozzo is old, we knew he wanted to see his grandson, but I don't know my gut says something else is going on behind the scenes."

Gibbs nodded in agreement, "We just need to find out what is going on."

Tony stretched as he woke up, smiling as he looked into Maria's eyes.

"Good morning beautiful." he smiled as he leaned over and kissed her. He was amazed, they had been married for little over a week and Senior had sprung for a holiday on the island of Sardinia. The beach was beautiful and the private villa with staff and security was perfect. All in all Tony had never been so content. Maria loved him with all of her heart and he her.

They walked along the beach during the day, came home to ready prepared meals at night and didn't have a care in the world.

For Tony nothing mattered, he had tried to call Gibbs, to let him know he was married; but each time he had dialed the new number Senior had given him it went unanswered. He had sat with his father the night before the wedding and told him he had wished that Gibbs could have been there, Senior had then told him that Gibbs had been sent on a long term undercover mission and had asked Tony not to call him.

The night before his wedding he had sat in his father's room, sobbing at the fact that Gibbs didn't seem to want him anymore.

"But what if you decide you don't want me either?"

"Son, I will always be your father. It doesn't matter what that piece of paper Jethro has said."

"But he told me he would always be my father. You changed your mind about being my father…."

"I was in a bad place." Senior said, putting his arm around his son, "I had just lost my brother. I made a mistake. Besides, tomorrow you will be a man, son, you'll be married and you'll be responsible for your own family."

"I'm scared." Tony admitted.

"Family is everything son, you are a DiNozzo. We will never disown you or abandon you, not again."

Tony for the first and last time fell asleep in his father's bed.

Senior had watched as his son slept, "Tomorrow you will be a man my son." He said as he walked out and closed the door. "And soon your inheritance will be mine."

Arriving back after his honeymoon Maria and Tony were greeted warmly by his family.

"The happy couple are home, how are you both?" Senior asked, pulling his daughter in law into a hug.

"We had a wonderful time Mr. DiNozzo." Maria said, blushing as she reached for Tony's hand.

"Maria, you are my daughter now, so Anthony please."

Maria smiled, "Anthony."

They spent the next month settling into married life, Tony was offered a job working in the small vineyard attached to the house, it was hard work but he enjoyed it. It was all the more welcome when Maria announced she was expecting a child.

Tony was ecstatic, and to his face so was Senior and Don DiNozzo.

Senior shut the door to the Don's study and looked over at the sour face of Don Di Pisa, "You have a problem." He said sourly.

"What, my son is married, his money is nearly released and he's stopped asking about going to America. What on earth could be wrong?"

"There is a clause, I looked it up as soon as you mentioned the pregnancy."

The old Don looked up, "If your son has this child, the child will be entitled to the money, there is nothing for you."

"What?!" Senior turned red with anger. "What can we do? I will not kill the child!" Even Senior had morales and killing children was highest on that list.

"You do not have to, however, I believe I have a plan."

Tony was on cloud 9, he was going to be a father. He knew he would be a better father than both Senior and Gibbs. He would give his child everything he had never had.

He sat at his office window overlooking the countryside as he watched his wife and Mario get in the car. She was heading to town to see the doctor and do some shopping. He waved at her as she looked up into his window with a smile and a laugh on her face.

He watched with a smile as she got into the car and they drove down the winding roads towards the village.

He turned to pick up some paperwork as a loud boom sounded throughout the building.

He turned in a panic and looked at the direction the car had gone.

In the distance was a plume of smoke.

"NO!" Tony screamed, dropping the papers and running out of the office and following the other men in the direction of the fire.

Two of the family bodyguards held onto Tony as his father caught up with him.

"Let me go!" Tony screamed. "MARIA!"

Senior's tear stained face told him what he didn't want to know. His wife and his best friend were dead.

Senior gathered his son in his arms. "I am sorry son." He said as Tony dissolved into sobs.

"Are you sure?" He gasped, "She can't be dead." The world span and before he knew it he had fainted.

The room was dark when Tony woke up. "Maria?" he called.

"Tonio." His grandmother said softly.

He looked at her and moaned, she was dressed in black and dabbing tears from her eyes.

"Father?"

"I'm sorry son, it's true."

Tony wanted to cry, but he couldn't. "What happened?"

"It was a rival family, we do not know who, they placed a bomb in the car. I am worried that they may have been targeting you. I have decided to send you back to America. You still have your place at Remington."

"No, I want to fight!" Tony said, sitting up in the bed anger on his face.

Senior shook his head, "You are my son. You are my only child. I need to know you are safe, please go back to America, stay at Remington. Make me proud."

Tony nodded, to be honest, he didn't want to be here anymore, surrounded by reminders of the woman he loved and the child they were never going to see.

"I will go back." He said his voice flat and his eyes devoid of emotion.

DiNozzo's don't cry. He reminded himself as he climbed off the bed and moved to pack his bags, his hand ghosting for a moment over a picture of Maria and a small half knitted pair of booties she had been working on for his child.