Disclaimer: You guys all know the drill. It's the same as all of the other chapters.

A/N: Ok, this is the last chapter, I promise. Hope you all like it! Please R&R!

Chapter 5- The Present

"I hope I'm not too late. I stayed a while at the office."

"Of course you're not too late. We're all just glad that you came. C'mon, right now we're playing poker."

"Strip poker!" Abby yelled across the room. Gibbs eyes lit up, but his dreams were soon dashed as Kate said,

" No we're not. Abby just wants to. So, do you want to play."

"Sure." Although nobody knew it, Gibbs was an excellent poker player. He had the perfect poker face, and even though he hadn't had good luck with marriages, he had good luck with the cards. He knew Kate was too honest to bluff, and even if she did, he could call her bluff. She couldn't have a very good poker face. That's why he had been hoping that it was strip poker. Oh well, he thought, it wouldn't be right with everyone else here. Maybe after everyone else leaves we can play chess. Strip chess. He was really good at chess too.

Soon the team had finished yet another game of poker. Kate then said that it was time for cake. She went into the kitchen. While she was gone Abby gave Gibbs one of her Goth party hats, and he actually put it on.

"Peace out man." Abby said.

Kate came back with an ice cream cake. It was vanilla, with crumbled Oreo bits and chocolate fudge. Happy Birthday was spelled out in blue icing, and there were two candles, a 3 and a 2. Kate lit the candles, and the whole team sang to her, even Gibbs. It surprised Kate that Gibbs had such a good voice. Well it makes sense, she thought. Everything else about him is perfect, why not his voice?

After they had finished singing, Kate blew out the candles and made a wish.

"So whaddya wish for Katie?" Tony asked with his usual grin.

"Don't call me Katie. And if I tell you what I wished for then it won't come true."

"Oh, c'mon Kate, isn't that a little 1st grade?"

Kate lared at him but didn't answer. She wanted her wish to come true so badly, she wouldn't risk it not coming true, even if it was childish. But there is no way it will come true anyway, she thought.

Kate was snapped out of her daydream by Gibbs, who had stood up and was clearing his thoat. Finally he spoke.

"I knew that it was Kate's birthday today. I came in so late to work today because I was looking for the perfect present. I hope you like it Kate. Happy Birthday."

He pulled out of his pocket the small package Kate had seen him put him into his gun drawer earlier. He handed it to Kate. She took it from him and unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a little gray box. Kate opened up the box, and there sat the most beautifule thing (besides Gibbs) that she had ever seen.

In the box was a ring. It was silver and polished to such a shine that if she tilted it right, the glare from the living room light would make her eyes water. But they were watering already anyway. Set in the middle of the stone was a ring. It was aquamarine, Kate's birthstone. Kate was surprised to see that the stone matched Gibbs eyes perfectly. On the inside of the ring was an inscribed message. It said: To my Katie, with love from LJG.

The other members of the team sensed that Gibbs and Kate wanted to be alone, so they all said happy birthday to Kate one more time and filed out the door. Before he left Tony whispered in Gibbs' ear, "Go get 'em tiger. Wraarr," he purred softly.

Gibbs gave him his famous glare, then slapped Tony on the back of the heade.

"Sorry Boss." Tony said while rubbing the back of his now sore head. Then he turned to head out the door.

"Dinozzo!" Gibbs barked.

"Yeah Boss?"

"I will."

Tony winked at him and then left.

After everyone had left Gibbs went and sat next to Kate on the sofa. She held the ring in her hand, staring at it.

"Gibbs, I don't know what to say..."

"You can say: Get out of my house you unsufferable bastard. Or you can say: Do you really fell this way? I feel the same for you. If you chose the latter, which I'm hoping you do, I would reply: Of course I fell that way. I've been fighting these emotions for almost two years now. Then I would do this."

He took jer head in his hands, and drew her close. Gibbs kissed her then, gently at first, waiting to see if she would object.

She didn't. The kiss grew deeper. They finally broke away, needing air. They held eachother for a long time. Gibbs stroked Kate's hair. Neither spoke for a long time. Finally Gibbs said,

"Happy birthday Kate."

Kate then said, "I guess wishes really do come true."

They sat in silence for a while, Kate admiring the ring, anf Gibbs too. Finally Gibbs broke the silence.

"So, do you like chess?"

Hope you all liked it! Please R&R!