A/N: Sorry if this is showing up a a few times there was a bit of confusion on a previously posted chapter that I needed to fix.
A few days before going to New York things came tumbling down around Tony or so it seemed. Colby got sick and couldn't go, Charlie decided to stay home since Micah wasn't going to make it to New York and Kelly was invited to California and Disneyland. Tony thought this meant the trip to New York was off so he was disappointed. Thursday night he was doing his homework at the table when Gibbs got home late from a date.
"Hey Tony, what are you doing?"
"Just an essay on King Edward I wrote for history class. I'm just going back over it to make sure it's done right. How was your date?"
"It was good; we went to a dinner for the FBI which was different. Are you ready to go tomorrow? I was thinking of picking you up at lunch and sending you off on the train then."
"Uh … where?" Gibbs looks at Tony strangely and then feels his head. "What?"
"New York? Spring Break starts tomorrow and you're supposed to go to New York for the entire week or did I miss something?"
"I thought it was canceled. Everyone's backing out of the trip so I thought …"
"Tony, you don't need everyone to go with you to New York do you?" Gibbs was thoroughly confused as to why other backing out of the trip meant Tony couldn't go. "What happened?"
"I don't know I thought since they weren't going …"
"I don't think Ruth and David want anyone but you there because they rarely see you. They like having everyone and want to meet Colby but you're their family. Did they say something?"
"No we talked about it earlier and they said they would be calling you but …"
"They're probably wondering why I won't send you alone. Tony, they're your family and I'm not going to keep you from them. Did you really think if the others couldn't go you wouldn't go?" Tony shrugs,
"You never mentioned it so I thought it was out of the question." The phone rings and Gibbs gets it.
"Hello?"
"Jethro its Ruth. What's going on there? Tonio told me he couldn't come for Spring Break after all but he wouldn't tell me why."
"He just told me this. I'm not entirely sure but apparently he feels since Charlie and the others backed out of the trip he wouldn't be able to go either."
"Why … we have plans to pick him up from the train station tomorrow and …"
"I know and I was going to send him around lunch time on the train so you don't have to pick him up late and that's when he told me. I was starting to wonder if something happened on your end."
"Not that I know of. I wanted to see what he wanted for dinner tomorrow and to tell him to let us know when the train will get in. Connor might pick him up depending on the time but he's still welcome here."
"Tony, do you want to go to New York? Ruth and David still want you there?" Tony nods and Gibbs smiles. "He still wants to go, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding then."
"I'm glad and I was wondering if something changed he couldn't tell me about. Well tell him to call us when he knows what time to pick him up."
"Okay Ruth I'll do that." Gibbs hangs up the phone and sits across from Tony. "Is something going on Tony? Why did you think your going depended on everyone else going?" Tony shrugs,
"That's what's been talked about since Christmas all of us going. Charlie's going with his family next weekend for the party but then you said you weren't going either … I wanted to go but I wasn't sure if I still could after what happened last time."
"Well I don't see why you wouldn't."
"Thanks," Gibbs ruffles his hair.
"What do you need to get done?"
"Just pack, Nonie said she would buy me something to wear in New York. We're going to do a big family dinner before the party at my Godparents restaurant Thursday night. Mostly everything's ready just in case."
"That's good and I think you'll have fun if you don't let Manny and Pauly get to you."
"I don't know how well that will go. Pauly's now living with Nonie and Poppy because of his boyfriend but I couldn't get the whole story from Nonie. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, you know that."
"The money in my bank account … how much of it can I spend?"
"Well I don't know because it's yours to spend. It's the money you're saving so it's up to you. Why do you ask?"
"I heard Manny and Connor arguing over Christmas about him spending the money he was saving. Connor said it wasn't up to him to spend but to save. I usually just spend what I want but then I wondered if you minded me doing that."
"As long as you don't just splurge on something you don't really want or need it's yours to spend. Remember we're still looking for a truck for you so you wanted to save for that."
"I know dad and I do but I want an electrical guitar. There are a few used music shops near Nonie and Poppy's house. Plus I still need to get them an anniversary gift. I know what I want to get them but its $150."
"That's fine and no limit because I know you've been saving a lot of what you earn."
"Plus Nonie and Poppy still give me money and Anthony's been depositing money every other month. I don't know why since he hates me but …"
"I doubt that. He probably doesn't like your choices but I doubt he hates you Tony. Is he going to the party?"
"Yeah, they invited almost everyone they know to this. They still are connected in a way I guess through me though I don't want anything to do with him or Grandfather."
"Well they're connected to me in that sense then and I won't let them harm you." The next day Tony was barely in his 2nd class when he was called to the office and Charlie saw him.
"Did something happen?"
"Dad said he would get me out early to go to the train station but I wanted to turn in my essay first. I worked too hard on it to lose the points." Charlie grins,
"Have fun and we'll see you next weekend." Gibbs was waiting with all his stuff.
"Are you ready to go Tony?"
"Yeah I got the stuff I needed out of my locker, I turned in my essay and everything else is either in the suitcase or my pack. Can we make one stop at a store on the way?"
"Sure it doesn't leave for two hours but I wanted to leave time in case you weren't completely ready."
"I need to pick up disposable cameras. They're more expensive in New York and I didn't get them before thinking I wouldn't be going."
"Why don't you invest in a real camera? You have the camcorder but you take so many pictures it might cheaper in the long run to just buy the film then the whole camera."
"Yeah that would work because I was going to get 5 cameras but if I just buy one camera I can buy more film." Tony found the store was having a sale on cameras since it was spring break and found a nice one buying 10 packs of film to go with it.
"Are you sure this is what you want Sir? It's not really necessary at your age to purchase so much film for spring break."
"Why can't I buy it? I'm going to New York and my grandparents are having an anniversary party next weekend."
"We don't do returns on film because too many times people mess it up without realizing it and return it when they find they buy too much."
"If I don't use it next week I will have other uses for it. I buy disposable cameras all the time I thought it was time to make a better investment for the long run."
"Okay as long as you understand you can't just return it." Tony purchased the camera, film and a bag to carry it in. He also found a few other things he wanted and they barely made it to the train on time.
"Don't forget to call Ruth and let her know what time the train will get in and call when you make it to Ruth's."
"Okay dad, thanks and have Kelly call me before she leaves. I left her something and I want to tell her where to find it."
"What did you leave her?"
"Extra spending money." Gibbs rolls his eyes. "I know but she's my little sister. Maddie and her parents might be willing to let her pick out something for herself but this way she can bring other things home if she wants."
"That's true and I was going to give her some for the same reason. Or she might want something for herself that they're not providing." Tony got on the train and promptly fell asleep before he could call Ruth.
"Excuse me sir?"
"Sorry, yeah?"
"Your ticket said you were getting off at Grand Central station?"
"Yeah, when … are we there already?"
"Yes sir and we're almost ready to leave again. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I have to call my ride. I meant to call them before I fell asleep." Tony got off the train and promptly ran into David, Pauly and Phillip.
"Hey Poppy, Pauly, Phillip … I was just going to call the house. I fell asleep on the train and just woke up." David hugs him.
"We were just dropping Michelle and her sister off. They want to travel some this week so they left for the week."
"Oh that sounds like fun." Phillip snorts and Tony ignores him.
"Let's get back to the house, Ruth wasn't expecting you until later and she'll be happy to see you." Ruth hugs Tony insisting he rest before dinner so Tony calls the house.
"Hey dad, did Kelly get home yet?"
"Yes and the trips off."
"Why? What happened?"
"The Tyler's are getting a divorce. This was apparently a chance they were going to try and fix things between them but it didn't work out." Tony sighs,
"Okay do you want me to come back tomorrow? I know you have to work next week."
"No, you went for your vacation and I said you wouldn't have to miss it. I'm going to call Camille and see who's watching Jimmy this week."
"Charlie and Micah since Jimmy will tattle if they do anything against the rules. Are you sure? I can go home … Sunday if it's a problem."
"It's not a problem Tony and you stay there. I'll pay Charlie and Micah to watch her if they want to." Tony talked to Kelly who was disappointed but he felt bad about it.
"Is everything okay Tony?"
"Yeah I'm just thinking." Tony explained about Maddie's parents and David said they could go to DC to pick her up. They knew Gibbs would never send her on the train alone and they had a guest room for her so Tony told Gibbs who was okay with it. They were going to leave in the morning and stay overnight taking Pauly with them. Tony was glad Phillip wasn't going but could tell Pauly wasn't too happy about it. Tony just hoped his attitude would change when he was away from Phillip.