The day of his adoptive son's first birthday was bittersweet for Tony and his family. They all adored JJ but his birthday would forever be a reminder of the deaths of his birth parents. They were all haunted by the memory of Breena at the hospital. Screaming that she couldn't do this and that she just wanted Jimmy back and then being kidnapped and murdered by DiNozzo Senior. Tony still hated himself for allowing Breena to be killed but with the help of Gibbs and his doctors he had made peace with himself. Seeing his son toddle around in his first birthday t-shirt hurt Tony's heart. Having missed so much of the first year but as Gibbs said there were tons of photographs and he had seventeen years to make up for the memories that he had missed out on in the first year.

"Somebody is excited for their birthday." Katie commented as she entered the room.

"He's a pretty happy kid. Just like his dad was." Tony replied.

"He even looks like Jimmy." Katie replied.

"Just like him. That's all Breena wanted. If she had just hung on." Tony replied.

"Let's try to be happy." Katie suggested.

"I am it's just hard." Tony replied.

"I know" Katie replied.

"I am so proud of JJ though. He is a tough kid." Tony replied.

"He is. So what time does the party start?" Katie asked.

"One thirty" Tony replied.

"I will text Tyler he is out with Liam." Katie explained.

"Those two have gotten so close since Ty moved up here." Tony observed.

"It's great I was so worried about Ty having trouble adjusting but Liam and him just clicked and it's great for Liam too. That boy has had a hard life." Katie explained.

"He is so lucky to have Gibbs now. Gibbs is the best." Tony replied.

"He is an amazing father but not near as amazing as you are." Katie replied.

"I try but I think that JJ needs a mother figure." Tony replied.

"And Ty needs a father figure." Katie replied.

"You know if we were together we could make an adorable little family." Tony joked.

"We would" Katie agreed.

"Are you saying that you want to?" Tony asked.

"I am not saying that we should elope but I could see myself marrying you. Down the road after we date and get to know each other a bit better." Katie explained.

"Well how about we have that first date on Friday?" Tony suggested.

"Seven thirty at Luigi's. It would be sooner but Ty has football until seven." Katie replied.

"No that is perfect." Tony agreed.

Liam loved having a friend again. Tyler would never be able to replace Noah but it was nice to feel included and liked again. Tyler was a year and a half older than him but they had a lot in common otherwise.

"Hey Liam!" Tyler called.

"What is it, Ty?" Liam asked.

"Check this out it's tadpole!" Tyler cried.

"Put it back. It looks dried out." Liam replied.

"It's already dead." Tyler explained.

"Did you kill it?!" Liam cried.

"No it was over in the rocks." Tyler replied.

"Maybe we should bury it." Liam replied.

"Good idea" Tyler replied.

"We have to go to JJ's birthday party but we can bury the tadpole after." Liam explained.

"My mom has some little boxes we can use." Tyler replied.

"We can line it with my old pocket square." Liam replied.

"What are you two scheming?" Gibbs asked approaching the two boys.

"Tyler found a dead tadpole and we are going to give it a funeral." Liam explained.

"OK just fill in the hole neatly. I don't want any clients tripping on the way to the woodshed." Gibbs replied.

"We will" Tyler assured.

"Well come on it's almost time for JJ's party and you two are filthy." Gibbs instructed.

"OK" Liam replied.

"Yes, Mr. Gibbs." Tyler added.

Gibbs was amazed by how much Liam and Tyler had bonded. Besides being best friends the boys were helping each other in other areas as well. Tyler had struggled with math for years but Liam taught him a few tricks and he was now on honor roll. Liam on the other hand was still dealing with his classmates abuse but Tyler had rushed to his defense and nobody had messed with him since that day. His other son was doing great too. Tony was working with him five days a week and picking up the slack at the General Store on weekends. He had done well by his boys. They would never fully recover from the abuse that they had endured but they were finally seeing that they were deserving of love. Tony even had a girlfriend. Tony and Katie's relationship was new, extremely new but they had been building up to the relationship for months now. Ever since the day that Katie was attacked by Manny DiNozzo and finally admitted that she had a thing for Tony and Tony returned the feelings. He left the boys at the swimming hole and started to walk back towards the house. Halfway to his home he bumped into LJ Moore.

"Hey Jethro" LJ greeted.

"Hi LJ, heading to JJ's party?" Gibbs asked.

"Well normally I think birthday parties for one year olds are stupid but that boy of yours does some good puppy dog eyes." LJ replied.

"He was a cop for nearly twenty years, highly skilled and trained in interrogation techniques and he gets his way the same way my daughter used to." Gibbs laughed.

"He's your boy so he is interesting." LJ replied.

"I love my sons and I thank God every day that I get to be with them. That I get to raise Liam and help Tony raise JJ. I will never get Kelly back but it is good to know that I am getting a second chance with my boys." Gibbs explained.

"And I am getting a second chance too, helping you raise them." LJ replied.

A/N: Apparently I said that I would be wrapping this story with chapter fifty but I meant to say forty. So there are only two more. Sorry for any confusion. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.