Warnings: Fluff, plain and simple. Minor spoilers for season seven.
A/N: Last chapter, but don't worry! Tony and Kaitlin will be back, promise! It just felt natural to stop here and start a new story beginning with the Reynosa arc. Not sure when the first chapter of that will be up, but I'm hoping before the holidays... maybe even this week if I have the time. Until then... enjoy!
Guest- Thank you so much! You are very kind and I'm happy you like my story, and don't worry I have no plans to stop writing :)
kbor- I love daddy Tony! And yes he's always thinking about the best for his baby girl!
I just want to thank everyone that has supported me throughout this whole story. I'm looking forward to all you have to say in the sequel!
In the weeks that followed Tiffany Chase's arrest the team had to deal with dirty bombs, hijackers, and grand theft. Just another day at the office, Tony thought, exhausted when he returned from the undercover mission with Damon Werth.
Tony had been uncomfortable working with the former marine. He had after all broken the senior field agent's nose but after listening to Erin who had to deal with McGee on a caffeine high... Tony felt like he got the better deal. By the time they made it back to NCIS Tim had passed out in the back seat and Tony had driven both Tim and the boss home.
Now, he finally unlocked the backdoor of his own home and stepped inside. He could smell the remains of Jane's cooking and Abby's gun powder perfume. He should really look into getting a live-in nanny. It would make life easier on everyone he realized as he found Abby fast asleep in the guest room. Tony knew that it wasn't fair to ask Abby or Jimmy to stay with Kaitlin all the time and since her mother had no desire to come back... well... he really needed to think of other options. Jane was wonderful but she could only devote so much of her time to the baby.
He took a deep breath and went to check on his daughter. Kaitlin was curled up on her side, Gwens tucked next to her. Tony chuckled silently at how much that little girl loved that stuffed penguin. He reached into the crib and kissed her cheek. She barely stirred. "Been a crazy couple of weeks, eh baby?"
One, little hazel eye opened and peered up at him. She smiled. "Da..."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Tony said, leaning down and lifting her out of the crib. He kissed her cheek and went to the rocking chair. "Just think... you're going to be one year old in just a few days!"
Kaitlin grinned and held a hand out to her father. Tony gave her a finger and the little girl latched on. "Some people might not think my life is ideal... but you are the best thing that's ever happened to me, Katie. It's not easy being a daddy... but I love it. I love being your daddy, peanut." He watched as she started to fall back to sleep. "I think we're going to make even better memories in this next year, you'll see baby."
Tony stood up and gently carried her back to the crib and laid her down. "I love you, Kaitlin," he whispered, kissing her cheek. "Please don't ever forget that."
"Happy Birthday, Katie bear," Tony greeted her after her nap on the day of her birthday party.
Kaitlin smiled from the portable crib in the master bedroom of Steve and Meg's beach house. She pulled herself up into a standing position and held her hands up to her father. Tony lifted her out and kissed her on each cheek. "Is my pretty little Valentine ready for her party?"
Tony laughed as she babbled some response while he changed her and brushed her hair, dressing her in a sweet pink dress and white tights. He put a pink bow in her hair and carried her down to the living room.
"Well there's the birthday girl," Ducky said, smiling. He gestured for Tony to hand her over and he began to delight the child with a story of when he had been a boy and what his mother had done for his birthdays.
"You're going to love your cake, Katie," Abby said, tickling her toes. "It's a pink penguin!"
"Gwens?" Kaitlin asked, looking for her stuffed penguin.
It was placed in her lap courtesy of her father and she delighted everyone with a giggle. She hugged the plush toy to her and began babbling away to it as if she was holding a conversation with the stuffed animal.
Tony loved watching her entertain herself. He grinned at her, running his fingers through her hair. A year ago he had been agonizing over this sweet little girl and if he was going to be able to give her a decent childhood... if he was going to be a decent father. There had been some bumps along the way, of course, but he learned that was all a part of fatherhood.
Abby shifted on the sofa and reached for a present, handing it to the slightly confused baby. "Go on, Katie! Open it! Here... I'll help you!"
"Da?" Kaitlin inquired, looking questionably at Tony.
"Go on! It's for you!" Tony exclaimed, smiling. He started to tear the paper to encourage her. "Oh! Look! I think I see Elmo!"
"Momo!" Kaitlin squealed when she saw her favorite Sesame Street character.
Tony chuckled when she was upset when the toy was taken away and a new wrapped package was placed in front of her. She wanted to play and she wasn't so keen on this gift giving thing yet. Kaitlin would fuss when each gift was taken from her and added to a pile. When she was done opening the presents it was decided she should get a few moments to play with her new toys.
Gibbs pat him on the shoulder and offered to help Tony get lunch ready. "Don't think Kaitlin is going to be interested in cake just yet."
He laughed and looked at his daughter engrossed with her new toys. "Yeah... might be a good time to get the sandwiches out. Don't want to upset her on her birthday."
"Probably a wise decision, Tony," the team leader said, leading the way into the kitchen.
"She seems to like her gifts," the senior field agent observed.
"She would have been happy with just getting to spend time with you."
"I've been away too much, boss, in just her first year of life."
Gibbs frowned, slightly. "Doesn't mean she doesn't love you less."
Tony took the sandwich platter out of the fridge. "I know, boss," he whispered, closing the fridge door. He put the platter on the counter. "But I hate being away from her."
His boss frowned even more. "And I've got to be better at keeping you here, Tony. I shouldn't always be sending you." Gibbs reached out and grasped his second in command's shoulder. "You've trained McGee and Erin well, Tony... there's no reason one of them couldn't travel if need be."
Slowly a grin spread across Tony's face. "Yeah, but if I don't go out to sea...who will? We both know that Tim doesn't have sea legs."
"DiNozzo..."
"Sorry, boss... couldn't help it."
Kaitlin's little feet could be heard waddling across the kitchen floor. Tony looked down to see his daughter, torn wrapping paper in her hand.
Tony shook his head and smiled. "I see you're bored with your toys already."
Gibbs picked her up and kissed her cheek. "Don't listen to him... playing with boxes and wrapping paper are all a part of childhood. You should enjoy it while it lasts."
She smiled at him and held some of the paper out to him. Tony watched as Gibbs took her back into the living room, playing with her as he went. Smiling himself, Tony gathered up the platter of sandwiches and brought them out to his guests. It was nice to get away for a while and Kaitlin was certainly enjoying the attention... even if she was confused why everyone was singing to her.
But she like her cake, to the delight of everyone else watching as she covered herself in it. As Tony was cleaning her up with Abby's help, the scientist looked over and grinned, "You did a great job with her party, Tony."
"I did?"
"Yeah. When she looks at all the pictures you're going to have so many stories to tell her."
Tony smiled at his daughter. This day had been everything he wanted for her... their family celebrating her first birthday and making memories that he could later look back at fondly.
By the end of the day both Tony and Kaitlin were exhausted. Tony sat propped up against the headboard in the master bedroom, the baby snuggled at his side with her new stuffed Elmo from Uncle Tim and chewing on a pacifier. Tony was gently running his fingers along her back and flipping through the photographs taken that day. His favorite one was Kaitlin sitting in her high chair, face covered in pink frosting and chocolate cake, grinning.
Despite some rough patches, she truly was happy. Tony kissed the top of her head and she slid down a little bit. Resting her head against his stomach she started to drift off to sleep.
"We've got it pretty good don't we baby?" He whispered to her. He saw her smile under her pacifier. "It might not be the perfect life... who really has that... but I think we're pretty close to perfect."
Kaitlin scooted her little body and climbed up onto her father's chest. Tony put the camera on the nightstand and wrapped his baby in his arms. She fell asleep sprawled out on his chest like she used to when she was a newborn.
Tony smiled and put on a movie. He didn't want to put the baby in her crib just yet because he knew that moments like this wouldn't last forever. For now he was happy to just get the time with her and soak up as much of it as he could. The last year had been wonderful, if difficult at times, but this baby had changed him... she had given him confidence that he had been lacking for years, not to mention unconditional love.
And as Kaitlin slept cuddled against him, Tony wouldn't change this last year for anything in the world.
