Title: Cabin Fever
Author: MindyH
Chapter: Someday
On the last morning we have at the cabin, Gibbs brings me breakfast in bed, just like he did on the first. I remember waking up on that first day that seems so long ago, to the sounds of rain patting on the roof and Gibbs pottering in the kitchen. He still wakes early and I still wake late. He came into the bedroom with a mug of sweet coffee and a plate of toast, setting them in my lap as I sat up.
"Mmm," I hummed smugly: "I could get used to this."
"So could I," Gibbs had replied softly, running his eyes over my rumpled figure, with a lop-sided smile.
He has brought me the same breakfast this morning and delivers it to me with a kiss, before taking a seat on the bed.
Waking up, my thoughts are on the last two weeks we have spent up here and all that we have discovered and experienced. If I'm honest, when we first came up here, I was absolutely certain that I was in love with this man. And now, as we leave, I am certain that he's in love with me.
It seems like forever ago that we arrived, and I dread returning to our normal lives in the city. But my biggest wish is that we will someday be back here again.
I take a long sip of coffee then bite into my toast, watching Gibbs' face as he fumbles with my discarded cardigan. His thoughts emerge fairly quickly this morning; perhaps he's been preparing since he woke.
"Kate…" he begins intently and shrugs a little: "Do you think that…. somewhere down the track….you know, after we get everything settled at work, and….after I meet your family and, ah….do you think that, one day….. you might marry me?"
I can't decide whether to smile or sob or laugh or choke. I have to remind myself to breathe and to chew as I blink at him in silent shock. I swallow a mouthful of bread, making it scratch my throat and swipe my fingers across my lips.
Gibbs looks at me, seemingly calm and patient. He probably knows what my answer is -- but I never thought he would ask, especially so soon. He's cautious when it comes to marriage -- with good reason, I now know -- which is why this means so much.
"Yes, Jethro…" I croak finally, feeling my heart swelling in my chest: "I think that's a definite possibility."
"Good," he nods decisively and gets up from the bed.
"Jethro?" I ask, regaining a little strength to my voice.
He turns at the foot of the bed and looks at me. He likes the sound of that name, I can tell.
"You think, maybe…" I muse hopefully: "—somewhere down the track, we can come back here again?"
Something about this he finds amusing, because he laughs slightly and wags his head at the floor. I wonder what he's thinking. I wonder if it's anything like what I'm thinking – this place would make a beautiful honeymoon spot. He raises his head again and smiles at me, nodding silently in agreement. I beam at him wholeheartedly and feel my eyes shinning with love.
He turns again to leave and I call him back a second time, putting my breakfast aside and crawling out from under the covers. He watches me walk on my knees to the end of the bed and then reach up to wrap my arms around his neck.
I know we have to leave today, but I don't want to think about it right now. I see his eyes go all soft as I draw him down to the bed and I feel his body submit as I suggest with long kisses that our departure be postponed, for a little while at least.