Charity drove until she was pulling her car into her father's driveway. She turned the engine off and sat there for a few moments. Gibbs had heard her pull up and came outside. He tapped on her window.

Slowly Charity opened her door and stepped out of the car. "Munchkin, what happened?" Gibbs asked, looking at his food-covered daughter.

"Had lunch with Joanne." Charity answered. "It didn't go very well."

Gibbs was having a hard time keeping himself from laughing. "Let's get you inside and cleaned up."

Charity nodded and followed her dad inside. Gibbs grabbed a towel and an old NIS tshirt and laid them out in the bathroom for Charity. "You get a shower and changed and we'll talk." He told her, finding a spot on her forehead that wasn't covered in food, and kissing it.

"Okay." She replied, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.

Gibbs figured she would need to take a while to get all of that food out of her hair, so he headed back down into the basement to work on his boat.

Tony...

After picking up the ring, Tony and Bernie went to lunch. They found a small burger joint and sat down in a booth. "So, does Gibbs know you're coming?" Bernie asked.

"I didn't tell him I was." Tony answered.

"Do you think he'll be surprised about you asking for his blessing?"

"Probably not." Tony answered. "He knows everything...I mean he was surprised when he found out we were dating, but I don't think he'll know. He seems to just know these things. He usually tends to be about four steps ahead."

"I thought the saying was two steps."

"The saying is, but Gibbs is that good." Tony replied.

Bernie chuckled. "I can't wait to meet him. So, I'm guessing Charity must take more after her mother then."

"I wouldn't know too much about that part." Tony replied. "Most of the time I can look at her and think that she can't be Gibbs' daughter, but there are times when she'll get these certain looks or she'll do certain things that there's no denying that she's his daughter."

"What do you mean about you don't know?" Bernie asked.

"Her mom and her younger sister were killed when she was fourteen." Tony told him.

"That's terrible." Bernie replied.

"Yeah." Tony replied.

They finished their meal in silence. They paid and then hopped into the car, Tony driving for Gibbs' house. They arrived and Tony parked the car, a strange look on his face. "What's with the face?" Bernie inquired.

"That's Charity's car." Tony answered, looking at the familiar sedan in front of them.

"I thought you said she was going to be out with her cousin and grandma."

"She was supposed to be." Tony replied. "I'm starting to think that maybe that didn't go so well." Tony turned the car off and opened his door. He headed inside the house, worried about Charity.

Bernie followed him. When Tony just opened the door and walked inside, Bernie spoke up. "You don't knock?"

"Not at Gibbs' house." Tony answered and began heading for the basement.

Gibbs was working on his boat. Gibbs looked up. "What are you doing here, DiNozzo?" He asked.

"Well, I was here to talk to you about something, important." Tony answered. "But first, is Charity here?"

"Yeah. Lunch with Joanne didn't go very well." Gibbs answered, a small smile on his face. "She showed up here, covered in food."

"Covered in food?" Tony asked.

"Yeah. She hasn't said what's going on yet. She's upstairs taking a shower right now. I imagine she'll be quite a while." Gibbs explained. He then looked up to see Bernie. "Who is this?"

"Oh, yeah. This is my cousin Bernie DiNozzo." Tony introduced them. "Bernie, this is Gibbs."

Bernie stepped forward and extended his right hand. Gibbs shook it. "It's nice to finally meet the famous Gibbs."

Gibbs just nodded. He then looked back at Tony. "What did you want to talk about?"

"It can wait." Tony said, not wanting Charity to walk in while he was basically asking for her hand.

Bernie, as if reading his mind, looked over at him. "Go ahead and talk to him. I'll go upstairs and keep Charity from coming down here." Then, not giving Tony the chance to back out, bounded up the stairs and waited.

Gibbs looked at Tony. "What is it, DiNozzo?" He asked, although he already had a feeling he knew what it was all about.

"A little over a month ago, I ordered a ring." Tony began. "I picked it up today. I plan on asking her to marry me on her birthday...and I'd like your blessing."

Gibbs walked over to Tony and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a good agent, Tony. You're also a good man...and Charity is the happiest I've seen her in a long time. You have my blessing...but if you ever tell anyone I said all that..."

"I know." Tony replied, smiling. "Thanks Boss."

Gibbs nodded. "Let's go have a beer."

Charity...

After what felt like forever, Charity finished washing all of the food out of her hair and off of her skin. She dried off and pulled her underwear on and then slipped into the tshirt her father had given her. She made her way down the steps and was surprised to see Bernie standing there.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

Bernie grinned at her. "Waiting for you." He answered with a wink.

Charity narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Hey, I've gotta take the chances I can to see you. You know, get a few stolen moments." He replied, his tone playful.

Charity couldn't stop herself from smiling as she took the last step and now stood in front of Bernie. "You are so full of it."

"What can I say? You bring it out in me, with that beauty of yours." He told her, making a show of moving his head down the length of her body. "Your sparkling eyes, your smile...those legs...I mean damn girl!"

Charity giggled. "Where's Tony?" She then began heading for the basement.

Bernie quickly wrapped an arm around Charity's waist and gently pulled her back. "No need to go to the basement."

"Why can't I go to the basement?" Charity asked.

"Because." Bernie answered. "You just can't yet."

"You do realize, I can get out of this?" She asked him.

"How?" Bernie asked.

"Like this." Charity answered, reaching behind her and grabbing ahold of him.

The next thing Bernie, knew he was lying flat on his back in front of the basement door, Tony and Gibbs standing in looking down at him. Gibbs had a smirk on his face and Tony was having a hard time not laughing at his cousin.

Tony then helped Bernie up. Bernie looked at Charity. "What the hell did you do in the Marines?" He asked.

Charity laughed. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

"You seem to be in a better mood than you were when you came here." Gibbs observed.

"It's amazing what getting a shower and kicking some butt can do for you." She replied.

Tony walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head. "I hear you got into a food fight or something?"

"Just a little family dysfunction." Charity answered. "Nothing to worry about."

"Why don't I order us a couple of pizzas and we can all sit down and talk?" Gibbs suggested.

"That sounds good." Charity agreed.

"I'll agree to that." Tony chimed in.

"I'm just along for the ride." Bernie replied. "So, whatever."

Gibbs went into the other room to order the pizza. Charity then felt a wave of queasiness hit her and she was running for the bathroom. Bernie turned to look over at Tony. "What about our third stop?"

"I can do it tomorrow." Tony replied. "I think Charity just needs some fun right now."