a/n: Soundtrack of this chapter - Jason Robert Brown - Someone to fall back on.

Honor to whom honor is due: I would like to thank and give credit to a great friend and fan of the Buchanan Clan, Watchdog, who gave the idea of this chapter. The words in Tim's vows are almost a transliteration of Watchdog's definition of the Tim&Joy relationship. Thanks!

Ladies, hold on to your hankies, this is squee and tear worthy.


Chapter 47: Timothy's vows

He passed the mike for Timothy, who received a surprised glance from Joy as he grinned at her with that shy smile of his before patting the pockets of his tuxedo.

He glanced nervously at the church and grinned.

"Hi folks, I've written some words that I would like to share and..." he patted another pocket, "A-ha, here it is..." he took a paper from his pocket and the congregation laughed as a long computer paper unfolded, almost to the floor.

"It's just a few words, it won't take long, I promise." He said, his eyes shining with mischief.

He turned to Joy, who had covered her mouth with her hand, not hiding her mirth and embarrassment at the situation.

"Well... Joy." His voice took a serious tone when he said her name, so her eyes immediately went to his.

"My whole life I kept searching for something that seemed to be beyond my grasp, just out of the reach of my fingers. My quest seemed to be doomed from the start, as no woman I've ever had a relationship with understood my need to seek a commitment, to seek a forever kind of companionship. I also despaired of ever finding it, and meeting you was a turning point in my life.

Not only because we clicked, but because … ah... because you needed me. In a way I've never been needed before. You were all strong and brave and yet with me you would tear down your walls and show me how vulnerable you really were and I've felt humbled - I still am - of how utterly honest you were about your failings and shortcomings, while I tried to keep pretending that I was all right with the way things they were, you kept pushing me to become a better agent, a better man, in a way no one had ever done before. You are complex to say the least and you don't slow down for others to catch up with you. You might not bring the best out of the people but yet what needs to come out will come out thanks to your prodding."

He smiled lightly as he remembered the first months of their relationship.

"You didn't slow down for me; you looked back at me and you ordered me to catch up with you because you had faith that I had the potential of being a better man and agent than what I was. And for that, I'll be forever thankful to you."

He smiled shakily and took her hands in his, glancing at their united hands and the matching wedding bands on their fingers.

"I love you. I've loved you from the moment I've met you. I might not have been aware of it right away, but as the days, weeks and months went by I realized that … there was no Timothy McGee without Joy Buchanan. My first waking thought was you and my last was about you too. I was hooked and there was no way out and I was happy with it. I kept waiting for the moment you would suddenly say that you've found someone else or that I wasn't what you wanted... yet the more we stayed together more attached we became and that moment never came. You protected me, you fought for me, you fought with me and we made up and … what I'm trying to say is that I'll be yours forever. I love you."

Timothy finished his emotional speech with a quivering voice and a silent mantle fell over church, broken here and there by a sniffing noise or a hiccup, as the more emotional ladies - and a few men - cried at this passionate speech.

On the bridesmaids sections, Hope had her head on Faith's lap, wiping her nose on a handkerchief as she cried buckets. Temp was smiling and crying at the same time, while Abby was hugging Ziva, both women silently crying as Sarah looked proudly at her big brother between her own tears.

Ducky happened to glance at Gibbs, finding him grinning proudly at his youngest agent as only a father could do when one of his offspring have surprised him.

Timothy folded his paper and glanced behind himself, towards the piano where John changed the tune and started a new song, bringing a grin to Timothy's face.

"I've been added to your family and you guys seem to say important things through songs. So I've found one that fits."

Stephanie played a long note on her cello, following the piano as Timothy started singing in a surprisingly nice tenor voice echoing in the church.

I'll never be
A knight in armor
With a sword in hand,
Or a kamikaze fighter;
Don't count on me
To storm the barricades
And take a stand,
Or hold my ground;
You'll never see
Any scars or wounds -
I don't walk on coals,
I won't walk on water:

The strings joined, the bows moving softly over bringing soft notes echoing throughout the church.

I am no prince,
I am no saint,
I am not anyone's wildest dream,
But I can stand behind
And be someone to fall back on.

The orchestra finally joined the others, with Stephy playing a solo as Timothy kept singing. Tony could barely hide the astonishment of his face as his Probie sang as an extra of a Broadway musical.

Some comedy -
You're bruised and beaten down
And I'm the one
Who's looking for a favor.
Still, honestly,
You don't believe me
But the things I have
Are the things you need.

Joy stared into Tim's eyes, as he sang with all his heart to his wife.

You look at me
Like I don't make sense,
Like a waste of time,
Like it serves no purpose -
I am no prince,
I am no saint,

There was a crescendo of the orchestra and he sang in a stronger voice, looking into her eyes.

And if that's what you believe you need,
You're wrong - you don't need much,
You need someone to fall back on...
And I'll be that:
I'll take your side.
If I'm the only one,
I'm used to that.
I've been alone,
I'd rather be
The half of us,
The least of you,
The best of me.
And I will be
Your prince,
I'll be your saint,
I will go crashing through fences
In your name. I will, I swear -
I'll be someone to fall back on!
I'll be the one who waits,
And for as long as you'll let me,
I will be the one you need.
I'll be someone to fall back on:
Your prince,
Your saint,
The one you believe you need
I'll be - I'll be

The music faded slowly as he squeezed her hands and sang softly the last line looking into her eyes.

Someone to fall back on.

The song ended and another moment of silence filled the church. So far, it has been a different wedding for most of the guests, as they were used to attending weddings where interest and potential gain was more important than feelings, but this little wedding had been filled up until now with heartfelt declarations of love and hope.

Vala wiped her tears and leaned her head on Teal'cs shoulder, who just smiled and left her rest more comfortably against himself.

Penelope had long ago hidden her face against Morgan's neck, hiccupping throughout the love declaration, glad to feel Morgan's strong arms around herself. Ah, how she wished for certain someone to declare himself to her like that...

Jimmy looked at his long time colleague and friend with new eyes, proud at his courage to proclaim his feelings like that. His gaze moved to Temperance, in her beautiful green dress primly sitting on the steps beside her sisters, her elegant neck stretched as she looked up and her elegant curls carefully rolling down her back and over her shoulder. He gulped at the fresh wave of heat and feeling he felt, something he had felt before but had never consciously acknowledged as what it was.

As if feeling the weight of his gaze, Temp looked towards Jimmy, her face serene as she smiled at him with that pixie smile that had fascinated him right from the beginning, making Jimmy warm all over and feel faint with the newborn certainty he felt in his heart that he loved that girl - no, idiot, woman, she's a woman - and that he would do anything for her. He grinned back at her, and the love she transmitted to him in only a gaze made him feel like Superman.