hi all! thanks for the reviews! keep it up because you are making one gal (me) very very happy and more confident in my writing!

here is the next part...and as a treat...but mainly because this is a tres short chapter...i've done a two for one! so you'd better review...coz there are two chapters here!

Chapter 9

It was another scene of domesticity as Kate watched Gibbs knock back a beer, flipping the steaks. Gibbs looked up and saw her watching him "What?"

"I just never thought I'd be here watching you make us dinner."

Gibbs replied, "I never thought I'd have you here with me" Kate's eyes softened.

Dinner was eaten in a comfortable silence, before moving back inside the house before it got too cold outside. They were sitting on the couch again, only this time Kate was curled into Gibbs' side, telling him about her family.

"Gibbs?"

"Hmm"

"Did you really mean what you said before? About you thinking that you'd never have me here with you?"

Gibbs was silent for a moment. It was strange, he suddenly felt as though he could tell her anything. Something he had never been able to do without prodding from his exes.

"Yeah, I did mean that." He turned her round so that he could look into her eyes"Katie, I really do care about you, a lot more than I've cared about my exes."

Kate was confused, trying to work out the translation from 'Gibbs Speak'.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think that I might be falling in love you, no, I know I'm falling in love with you." His eyes searched her face for some kind of reaction.

Her eyes were welling up again, "Gibbs I- I don't know what to say."

"How bout telling me I haven't made a complete fool of myself?"

Kate gave a watery smile and moved her hand to his cheek, "You haven't. I know that I'm falling for you. I have been for a long time."

Gibbs grinned again, "Yeah, well." Gibbs waggled his eyebrows at her.

Kate laughed, "You know you're kind of killing the mood with that ego of yours Gibbs."

He just drew her in for a long, slow, passionate kiss "How's that for ego?"

Chapter 10

0147 Gibbs Residence

Grace quietly unlocked the door, and took off her shoes, tiptoeing into the house. She didn't miss Kate's car still parked in the drive, but knew that Kate's being there still wouldn't stop her from being in trouble. The only light that was on was the one in the living room. Kate must have fallen asleep, meaning that Gibbs was either with the boat or already in bed. She tiptoed past Kate on the couch, smiling as she saw the afghan pulled up to her chin. Seeing that the basement light was off, she sighed in relief. That meant that he was already asleep.

"I wouldn't be so happy if I were you young lady," Grace jumped a mile, almost dropping the bottle of water that she had grabbed from the counter top. Busted, cringing she turned around slowly to face her father.

"Hi Dad," she whispered sheepishly.

"You're late."

"I know. I tried to call; honestly, both times I got your voicemail. I left a message twice."

"Gracie, you're over and hour late," Grace's features fell. She knew what was coming, the 'I'm disappointed with you' talk.

"But seeing as you did call me- twice, I'm letting you off." Grace blinked. 'He's letting me off!'

"On two conditions," 'ah. and there's the strings'

"You are not going out at night until I get back from California. And you're to stay with your Grandparents until I get back."

"Stay with Nana and Pops until you get back! But Dad-"

"Uh uh, no buts, you weren't just a little late Gracie; you were almost two hours late! You were supposed to be home bymignight, 0030at the latest. Why did you feel you had to stay out an extra 2 hours?"

"I didn't- okay the truth, we just lost track of time. We had dinner, and there was this little festival on the beach. We stayed for a bit, and then I realized how late it was so I rang in but I kept getting your voicemail. I thought that you would have gotten my messages, so we stayed a little longer."

"Gracie, don't you think that I would have called you if I had gotten your messages to okay it?"

"I guess I didn't think about that, we just having so much fun, before you say fun doesn't equal safe, there was a bunch of cadets and MP's there as well as a cops-" Grace stopped, eyes widening as she realized her mistake.

"A bunch of cadets?"

"And Cops," she mumbled.

"Grace Sara Gibbs, do not tell me that you were hanging with said bunch of cadets at this time of the night." Gibbs was furious. How could she be so irresponsible? He'd spoken to her about this, she knew how he felt about her out late at night, especially with cadets.

Grace knew she was in trouble now. She wouldn't be able to talk her way out of this one either. "Only for a little bit, Dad, I swear. We left because they were starting to get-"

"Get what? Drunk? Touchy? Get what, Grace?"

By this time, Grace was a little scared. She'd never been in this much trouble before, She knew her dad was a little funny about her being out at night since the case about some marine and navy cadets attacking some teenagers a few months ago.

"Daddy they just started to get rowdy, that's when we left I swear. Dad, I'm sorry I should have come home before that." She started to get a little teary, hating that her dad was so mad and disappointed with her.

Gibbs drew her into a hug as she started to cry. Gibbs hated that he made her cry, but he had been worried about her, then a thought occurred to him "Gracie, why didn't you answer your cell?"

Grace wiped her eyes and pulled her phone out of her pocket, looking at it, she saw that it was switched off, "Battery must have died. I swear, Daddy, I didn't know."

Gibbs just hugged her again and kissed her forehead, "Just come home on time next time." Grace nodded in his arms. She said something but it came out all muffled.

"What was that?"

Grace pulled back and repeated quietly, "Do I still have to stay with Nana and Pops?"

Gibbs chuckled "Yes, or would you prefer to stay with your mother?"

"No, no, Nana and Pops is just fine… how about Abby?"

"We'll see, now go to bed, it's late."

"Night Daddy."

"Night honey."

tbc...
phew...Papa bear comes out of the cave again! lol

agent-mac: hmmm whats going to happen... not sure yet...longing glances..interupted kisses, embarrassing situations...the works me thinks!

dg101: i dont think that you did mention it, but thanks! did i mention that i love that you love this!

prymtns: devious mind running amuk? me? no...! just wait till we get to California!

k8tyds: aww thanks for the love...it has been recieved! sending hugs back to you! hope this update was biggish for you! decided not to be cruel and just post that tiny chapter lol

Lyrio: patience is a virtue...i really should pratice what i preach! LOL glad you survived the wait! i cant wait till they 'Meet the Todds' either! lol

Emsta: aww a happy reviewer! yay! the next chapter...which i'm holding hostage...well it made me laugh out loud writing it!

jtbwriter: i am very happy i have met your approval! lol we'll get to California...give it a few more chapters...some time for Abby and Grace to harrass our favourite couple a little before they leave...may bring Tony and Mcgee into it later on...te he!

Christieanne-Anna: wow. thats a long name! lol thanks for reviewing! i'm glad you've enjoyed it so far!

charmed-angel4: thankyou! i think that my ego is growing LOL

orangeangel: hmmm we'll see if you change your mind once the brothers get involved!

ccabello: thankyou! keep reviewing! btw...do you have like an autoreply in your reply? lol i know you as the very good, write more soon reviewer now! LOL thanks again and keep on enjoying this! you rock!

99CDN: yaay you read it! lOL and yes missy since i've updated...its your turn now!

NavyJax: i love your name! THANKYOU!

Hemi girl racing: i get the feeling that you will be the one who will email me to get me to update more often lol! thanks for reviewing and i hope you keep loving this!

Kibbsforever: LOL i know! i thought the last line was perfect! keep on reading! ps. your name also rox! Kibbsforever...right-on!

Mellie Erdmann: another faithful reviewer! thankyou!

emma: another person who loves their exclamation marks! yay! i hate how it wont let me do more than one!

lillie: i'm very glad you're surviving this ride! if this chapter didn't make you go eep... then the next few will..we'll get there! lol and you're reading The Enigma too! yay! thats the fic thats gonna have you're mom worried if you keep falling out your chair or screaming LOL!

thanks to everyone for reviewing and for reading! keep it up, and i'll keep writing!

now...who remembers the drill?

person in the back?

"HIT THE PURPLE!" spot on, give the kid a gold star!