A/N: Sorry for taking so long but writers block has been kicking my butt with this chapter. Hope everyone's staying safe out there.
After Anthony's funeral Gibbs, Tony, Charlie and Arthur drive two trucks with Tony's things from New York to Gibbs' house in Arlington. Tony packed up most of his bedroom, some things of Liz's and a few things of Anthony's he wanted but kept special track of one box that only had photo albums.
"So what's up with the photo albums?"
"Nothing, what do you mean?"
"You're taking better care of that then your Mom's jewelry or Anthony's things. I'm not judging I was just wondering what was special about those photos."
"Aunt Camille told you about my cousin Danny right? My Aunt Michelle's son who was killed in a crash? I have pictures of him in here but I want copies of the pictures. I want to keep them safe so they don't get lost. Aunt Camille says she doesn't have pictures of Danny so I want to surprise her."
"How doesn't she have pictures?"
"I'm not sure but Mama took pictures of everyone and everything so I figured she might have some and I have at least a dozen. I think Aunt Michelle lost them but if I can give her some it would be nice."
"That is nice I was just wondering why you're protecting it like it was a baby." Tony laughs,
"I just wanted to make sure I don't lose it." After lunch when they start off again Tony was curious.
"Mr. Broadway is my maternal grandfather right?"
"Yes, he's Stephanie's father. Dad says she went to town to spend the 4th with him but she went early and asked about you."
"What did he tell her?"
"That you went to you father's funeral but would be there on the second They weren't happy with that answer but it's the truth." Tony thinks about this. You met Bob Dearborn right? The sheriff?"
"Yeah, him and his son Josh. Is he a brother or cousin? I heard him call Mr. Broadway Grandpa Miles so …"
"Your brother and they know you're Stephanie and my son but Dad doesn't know how that's going to go. Josh doesn't consider Stephanie his mom just Kate who started out as his nanny when he was a baby so she's the only Mom he knows."
"What happened between you and Stephanie?"
"she wanted to go to college and get out of Stillwater while I did too but I wanted to raise you too. Dad would've helped because I joined the Marines but dad's didn't get a say then. You were born a month before she left for college and once told me she was glad she left before she couldn't see being married to a Marine."
"That wasn't nice."
"Shannon told her she enjoyed it and she did sometimes. We traveled, she always had support from other Marine wives, Kelly made a lot of friends of kids who's dad were in the same situation. Stephanie went to college and stayed away almost 8 years until her Mom got sick then she came home. She married Bob, they had Josh and she found she couldn't be a mom so she left. I haven't spoken to her since though I see her sometimes. If she can't … she shouldn't have had another kid if she couldn't be a mom and I still resented her or not letting me keep you.'
"My childhood wasn't that bad."
"I know but then I didn't. I mean I met your grandparents so I knew they couldn't be that bad but not all kids turn out like their parents."
"AJ's like a mini Anthony even looks like his pictures from high school oddly enough."
"Are you going to stay in touch with them?"
"Not intentionally but I may see them at board meetings if and when I have to go to New York. With 25 shares of DiNozzo Enterprises I have enough voting rights. Well so do they if they combine them but Uncle Ham promised they'll try to keep the big votes until I can come up to New York on the weekends."
"And he's your Godfather?"
"Yeah one of them. He gave me 10 shares so I would have an edge over Stella and AJ since they each had 10."
"And you got 15 how?"
"They were Mama's shares pretty much set for me when I turned 15 but that was if I got emancipated or why it was set to age 15. Can I put pictures up on the walls? Or the paintings I brought? Mama painted them so …"
"You can do whatever you want to the room. Dad plans to replace the carpet in yours and Kelly's room so you can both paint them and fix them up. Kelly thinks hers looks too babyish while you're is dull and boring."
"It could use brighter colors in there." By the time they got home it was late but Camille, Jimmy, Kelly and Jackson were there.
"What's everyone doing here? I know you left before us Camille but did you speed the whole way?" Camille laughs,
"We only stopped for gas, Mom made us sandwiches for the trip." Jackson nods,
"We decided to come try and help. I also wanted to talk to Camille and Arthur so no better place to do it than here rather than over the phone.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"No, everything's fine. I just wanted to invite Charlie and Jimmy to Stillwater. I figured Jimmy could tide back with me and Kelly and Charlie could go with Tony who planned to take the train."
"That's up to them but you can use the van and take all 4. You'll probably need it there anyway and we can drive your truck up there and get them and the van or when you bring them home."
"Sounds like a plan if Tony and Charlie wouldn't mind riding with me." Tony smiles,
"I don't mind." Charlie agrees and then they help unload the trucks before heading home. Tony then went through his pictures sorting out the ones with his cousin in them and the ones he wanted copies of finding some pictures that were just Connor and Michelle's kids.
Who are these people?"
"My Aunt, Uncle and their kids. Mama took a lot of pictures when we were little and my cousin Danny was killed in a car crash. Aunt Michelle lost any pictures she had of him so I want to send her these but I want to make copies of some of them with me, Charlie or our parents in them. I mean I know Anthony and Mama aren't really …"
"They loved you Tony and raised you so yes they are your parents." Tony looks at Gibbs.
"If they didn't then Anthony wouldn't have tried to give you a better home before he died. He wanted you to have a family who loved you. He could've said nothing and left you with Stella and A."
"Yaya already said they would've gotten me away from her. They accept AJ because he's their grandson but they don't like Stella. They're positive she would take advantage of my trust."
"That reminds me tomorrow before you guys leave I want to take you to the bank. We need to open an account here so your things can be deposited instead of the New York bank. Plus they gave me a check for your needs and the first rent check I want to deposit in your account.."
"That money's for you Gibbs."
"And it's my choice to give it to you. If I need it I'll keep it but I don't this month so I'm going to put it in your account."
"I have three checks I need to put in the bank as well."
"Where did you get three checks?"
"Papa, Poppy and Uncle Ham they told me to buy myself something nice and treat Kelly. Uncle Ham never met her but knows I have a sister."
"Well I don't give money unless it's for an event so you and Charlie will have to settle for belated birthday presents."
"You don't have to do that Grandpa."
"I know but I want to. You just think about what you would like." The next day Jimmy decided to stay home so Jackson set out with Tony, Kelly and Charlie. "Do you guys know anything about motor boats?"
"The ins and outs not really but I can drive one. Yaya and Papa always have big summer bashes where they have motor boats we learn to drive at 10. Can we rent them in Stillwater?"
"You can in town but on the fourth there's boat races, a boat show, even a scavenger hunt on boats. If you can drive boats we can see about you two entering." Charlie nods,
"That could be fun and I can drive too." They discuss things to do in Stillwater the rest of the trip. Kelly wanted to send time with Tony though she knew he wanted to get to know Josh as well. When they got to town it was dinner time so they went to the diner to eat before going to Jackson's house exhausted. Kelly fell asleep right away but Tony and Charlie were still awake when someone knocked on the door.
"I wonder who that can be so late?" Charlie laughs,
"It's only 9 it's not that late." Tony nods,
"It's just been a long week I guess." Jackson comes upstairs.
"Tony, are you awake? Bob's downstairs and would like to talk to you."
"The Sheriff? What could I have done? I just got here."
"Nothing like that he wanted to talk to you about Josh." Tony sighs but they go downstairs.
"Hi Sheriff, is everything okay?"
"Yeah sorry for stopping by so late but I had to wait until Josh was asleep."
"Is he okay?"
"Right now he's upset and scared and that's why I came to talk to you."
"Did Mr. Broadway say something? I'm hoping to get to know him and …"
"He did and that's why I'm here. Miles and Josh don't always get along especially when I don't make Josh hang out with him or do things Miles wants him to do. This year Stephanie started on him too because they wanted to go away with him for a week."
"Okay, how do I factor into this? I barely know him and I don't know Stephanie at all."
"I know and that's half the problem. Josh told them no because he wanted to spend time with you but they turned around and told him you didn't like him."
"Why would they do that?" Bob shrugs,
"I have no idea but they said you wouldn't like him for being a baby and because hes not nice to them He likes Miles but he's teased about Stephanie not wanting him so much she left. I don't know what your plans are for your visit but …"
"To spend time with Grandpa, enter the boat races, hopefully spend time with Josh as well as Charlie. This is Charlie Parkerson he's my cousin. We've both taking boating classes and have driven motor boats for a few years thanks to our grandparents if Josh can join us."
"Yeah if Charlie doesn't mind. He doesn't usually join because he was too young and I'm a judge. I'll pay for anything you guys do or help if you want your work license to drive to and front town. I'm sure he'd like to go with you."
"I haven't brought it up but thought they could practice around town." Tony looks back and forth between them. "They gave you driving lessons?"
"No they just let us drive an old truck on the property once we could reach the pedals.. Anthony said he did the same thing which is the only reason Mama let me." Jackson laughs,
"Jonathan learned around 13 here and always thought that was unfair but his parents were strict Charlie looks at Tony.
"He knows Papa?"
"Yeah, that's how Anthony and Mama adopted me Grandpa knows Papa who had a son who wanted a baby."
"I want to hear more about Papa when he was young." They laugh and Tony looks at Bob.
"You don't have to pay for things we do because that's not being a brother. I brought money to do things with him and Kelly. Though I have a question. Why did you want to come when Josh was asleep? If you wanted to talk to me about spending time with him …"
"In case you didn't want to and I had to use bribes. I hoped you wouldn't tell him that though. Most people see him as a pest and me being the sheriff didn't help."
"I don't have a problem with that and I would do it even if he wasn't my brother and you just wanted help."
"Just come by the office around 8 or so in the morning and meet Josh and then go from there Or whenever you wake up."
"I wake up between 5 and 6."
"Come by around 8." They laugh and Bob leaves.
"We can drive to town?"
"Yes, just the next town over once you're 13 if you're doing something for your family or work. I told Jethro and your parents I would let you and they said you could do it. Neither mentioned that you knew how to drive though."
"It hasn't come up with me and Gibbs." Charlie nods,
"I don't think that would occur to Mom and Dad." There's another knock on the door and this time it's Miles Broadway.
"Miles, come in. How can I help you?"
"I wanted to talk to Tony." Tony and Charlie sit down and look at him.
"How can I help you Mr. Broadway?"
"What did Bob tell you? Is he spreading lies about us?"
"He came over to go over some rules for me spending time with Josh. We're going to enter the boat race and just spend time together. Why does it matter?"
"Did he mention that we wanted to spend a few days with just you and Josh? Stephanie tried to demand it and I don't think it went over well."
"I heard she said it was a week and just Josh."
"I wanted to spend time with both of you while she just wanted to spend time with Josh but I feel it wouldn't be fair to you to leave you out. Stephanie …"
"One I don't want to know her if she doesn't want to know me. Two this is my cousin Charlie who I did want to spend time with. Three if you want to spend time with Josh you don't have to include me. He's the grandson you know and it makes sense you want to spend time with him."
"Maybe we can spend time together before you go home then? It doesn't have to be a few days and if Charlie's here he's welcome to join us as well." Tony looks at Jackson who nods,
"Okay, we can do that." Miles starts to leave.
"I heard your father died and I'm sorry."
"Thank you," Miles leaves and Tony and Charlie head up to relax and try to sleep. They couldn't help but discuss Miles, Josh and Stephanie. Tony still didn't want to meet her but thought she would seek him out. He just hoped she didn't try anything or act mean towards them or Josh.