AN: Alas it comes to an end. It was a really fun roller coaster ride to write guys and I truly hope that it was a great one to read! This is the last chapter of this one...enjoy...dark rolling sea.
Chapter Twenty Eight
8 Months Later…
Kate and Gibbs had come back to Washington. Somehow, still unknown to Kate, Gibbs got her job back for her. She was still working with him for the time being. Gibbs had come back a week later than Kate, spending some more time with his family, and the recovering Jeb before making his way back to work.
When she got back to Washington she had learned he had somehow gotten her job back. She didn't know how to thank him. He said to forget about it. They still hadn't set a date for the wedding. Gibbs was dragging his feet in Kate's opinion.
Jeb and Kylie had elected to go small and had a quaint wedding at the court house with a few guests including the family and of course Donovan. Jeb was recovering well and Kylie was coming along in her pregnancy without any complications.
Everyday Kate would drop hints to Gibbs about their own wedding. She knew it was a huge deal for him and that his proposal was pretty much an accident. It was kind of nice that way though because she knew how deep he really did feel for something so guarded to slip out without his permission.
He hesitantly would put the subject off. Not wanting to commit. She let it drop most times, not wanting to make him angry. She would usually turn the subject to something safer, Jeb's recovering for instance, or the new baby coming. Gibbs felt safer talking about those subjects.
Jeb had been checked and rechecked by doctors. He had no signs of the tumor in his brain and no signs in the rest of his body either. He had not needed anything other than the surgery and within a few weeks no one could even tell he had suffered from a brain tumor.
His hair had grown and it covered the scar nicely. He had recovered well from his heart stopping but he wasn't running six miles every day…yet. He was pushing himself within the allowed limits to get his body back to his standards and he was happy with his own progress.
Gibbs called every day like clockwork to get updates on him and Hunter. Hunter was coping with the situation well. He was back at school and making up the lost time. His teachers were amazed at how much the boy was absorbing so quickly. Gibbs beamed. He knew his grandson was smart.
Kylie and Jeb found out they were having a boy. Hunter was excited about the prospect of having a baby "brother". He wouldn't hear of the idea that the baby was actually his cousin. He said that Uncle Jeb and Aunt Kylie were like parents to him so the baby was his "brother". It astonished everyone at how he came up with ideas.
Jeb and Kylie discussed adopting Hunter and making their family official. They had long talks all through her pregnancy about the subject. Jeb finally approached Ann on the subject and she thought it would be a wonderful idea, but she thought that they might want to ask Hunter. Jeb grinned and nodded. He had thought of the same idea.
Jeb then tossed the idea out to Gibbs and he and Kate discussed it before Gibbs really let Jeb know what he felt. They both decided it would be good for Hunter. They also agreed with Ann that he should ask Hunter first. Jeb knew that was coming.
It was almost a week later when Jeb and Kylie sat down with Hunter. They told him what they wanted to do and waited on his reaction. He was silent for a while staring at both of them. They waited patiently for his reply.
"So then I'd be your son, not your nephew?" Hunter asked slowly.
"Yeah," Jeb replied.
"And the baby would really be my brother?"
"Yep," Kylie said.
Hunter thought on it some more then broke into a grin. He nodded his approval and Jeb smiled back at him. They went through the paperwork and after four months Hunter was officially adopted by Jeb and Kylie.
They debated back and forth on a name for the new baby. Neither one could decide. Kylie adamantly said no to another Jethro. Jeb laughed. He agreed with her and asked her if she ever remembered him going by that name. She asked if he ever told his parents that and he gave her a look like she was crazy. Of course not he told her. She laughed at him.
It was almost time for the baby and they still didn't have a name picked out. They would throw names at each other all day long. Neither one could agree. They would bounce names off Ann and Gibbs and Kate but nothing seemed to stick. Kylie finally threw up her hands and said fine it will be Baby Boy McPherson its entire life. Jeb grinned.
Kylie went into labor and Jeb rushed her to the hospital. He was more nervous than Kylie was. She found it amusing. Hunter stayed with Ann through the delivery and Kylie's stay. She delivered a healthy baby boy. He was seven pounds nine ounces. They still didn't have a name for him.
They were about to leave the hospital after the forty eight hour test was done and Jeb looked at Kylie. He was smiling, and then his gaze shifted to the baby. She looked at him a moment then prompted him.
"What?"
"How bout Noah Simon McPherson?"
"Noah Simon," Kylie said out loud testing how the name sound. She smiled. She nodded, "I like it."
"Me too," Jeb said. And then the baby had a name.
Gibbs and Kate made another trip to California to see the new baby and Gibbs held him almost the entire time they were there. Kate watched him closely as he interacted with the baby. She was deciding the right time to tell him about the new addition to their family that was coming. She figured now wasn't the time and she would wait. Ann noticed Kate watching and approached her.
"He doesn't know yet does he?" she asked quietly. Kate looked up at her a little surprised then smiled.
"No," she said softly.
"You should tell him, I think he'll be ecstatic. Remember he missed his boys being babies."
"I know, I just don't think right now is the right time," Kate said. Ann nodded and walked away. She would wait, but she would tell him soon.
Their trip ended and they were on the flight home when Kate looked at Gibbs from her seat on the airplane. Gibbs was staring out the window at the ground passing by beneath them. He felt Kate's gaze on him and averted his attention to her.
"So much has happened in the last year and a half," Kate said softly. Gibbs nodded and continued to stare at her. "I know you don't like discussing this situation but I'd like to get married, Jethro."
She felt Gibbs stiffen as the tension returned. He looked like a trapped animal and Kate looked away. She was a little hurt be his apprehension after asking her to marry him. She was a little upset that he wouldn't agree on a date. Gibbs saw her emotions dive and it pained him. He knew he was being the bastard on the wedding issue but he had to admit he was scared. He was terrified. All the others had been good until the marriage and he didn't want that with Kate.
"I know," he said quietly. He reached out and brushed his thumb along her jaw. She closed her eyes.
"When?" she asked softly.
"Soon."
"That's not an answer."
"Start planning it," he said quietly. "Pick a date and get it all together. Whatever you want."
She looked up at him astonished. He nodded and leaned in for a quick kiss. His attention went back to the window and Kate shook the shock from her head. She reached over and gently pulled his face back to her.
"You're serious?"
"Yes, Kate, I'm serious. I'm ready," Gibbs said with a smile. It felt good to admit that. Kate smiled. Gibbs turned his head back to the window once again. Kate stared at the seat in front of her.
"Good, so then are you ready to be a father again?" Kate said.
"I already am a…" Gibbs began before it struck him. She was smiling when she looked back up at him. He had a look of astonishment on his face. She grinned even more as his mouth moved but nothing came out. He was speechless. He looked at her and finally he found his voice. "What?"
It was more of a hoarse, cracked whisper. Kate laughed a little and ran a hand along his face. She nodded then spoke, "are you ready to be a father again?"
Gibbs was trying to process the rapid emotions that were rampaging through his head. He was elated higher than he had ever been before. He couldn't believe what she had just told him. He looked at her and smiled. His grin was contagious and Kate burst into one as well. He leaned down and kissed her.
"Was that a yes?" Kate asked when the kiss ended.
"Yeah," he said. "How far along?"
"Not quite a month. I found out just before we left for California."
"So when do you want to have the wedding?"
"As soon as possible," Kate said blushing slightly. Gibbs nodded, he understood. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her as close to him as the seats would allow. Kate pulled back from him and moved the arm rest up then snuggled back in. Gibbs couldn't wipe the grin off his face. Kate was happy.
They would sit down once they were back in Washington and iron out the wedding plans. He knew now that this was going to be different. He knew he was going to be a part of this child's life from the beginning and it was a new feeling for him. He had never felt more complete in his life than in that moment on the plane with Kate and his unborn child.
The End.