Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Wow, this has come to an end and I'm pretty sure this trilogy is not going to have a fourth! So it is done done. I want to take this to thank EVERYONE who started at the beginning and kept running along, those that jumped on in route, and those that have just found me recently. Also to those of you the endured numerous draughts between posts, sometimes making for excruisating waiting, but never failed to come back once I got on track once again. A heartfelt thanks goes out to those of you that took the time to review for me telling me what you liked. This has been a wonderful trilogy to write and I hope you have enjoyed reading it! On to the final chapter. Enjoy and let me know what you thought. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Life Ever After
The party was loud. Gibbs had to admit, Kate's family knew how to throw a good party. The night was lingering on, the dance floor was crowded, and the mood was light and happy. The kids had commandeered a set of tables all to themselves, the older ones entertaining the younger ones. All dressed sharply, as parents cringed while the younger ones ate cake.
Gibbs and Kate had shared their first dance to George Strait's Cross My Heart. Gibbs had let Kate pick out all the music and he had to admit while they were dancing that she had picked a solid song. He listened to the lyrics as they moved gently together.
"You like it?" Kate asked.
"It's fitting," Gibbs had replied.
"But do you like it?"
"Of course," he said with a grin. Kate smiled back at him.
They had danced the rest in silence, each relishing in the feel of the other. It was finally sinking in for both of them, the marriage was finally there. They were husband and wife. Kate couldn't remember a time she was happier, and Gibbs was caught in awe. It had been a very long time since he had felt this way, and he hoped it would last the rest of his life.
The dance came to an end, to the mad cheers of Kate's family, causing a slight blush to overcome Kate. Gibbs grinned at her reaction, bending down to slightly kiss her behind the ear. Kate was then destined to dance with her father.
Doug led his daughter out on the dance floor with a smile on his face. Kate had let her dad pick the song they were to dance to, and she was not able to prod the song title from him. She smiled when it started; it was Paul Simon's Father and Daughter.
"Good pick, Daddy," Kate said as she took a deep breath to control her tears.
"Thank you, Sissy."
"Did mom help you?"
"Nope, did this one on my own," Doug replied with a chuckle.
"I'm impressed," Kate countered.
"Should I be insulted?" Doug asked with a grin.
"I just never expected, Daddy, I'm touched," Kate replied with a smile in return. Doug nodded and the continued their dance. Gibbs watched from the table, having trouble keeping his eyes from Kate. She truly was beautiful he thought.
Kate came and sat down next to Gibbs and he shifted his attention to the room in front of them. He couldn't help but smile, as his gaze landed on his team, intergraded into Kate's family. DiNozzo was hanging with Kate's brothers, obviously throwing back drinks. Abby and McGee were sitting with them cheering them on.
Jeb was with Kylie, who was holding Noah, and Ann sitting with a couple of Kate's cousins, or at least he thought that's who they were, he'd lost track. Ducky was sitting with Kate's grandfather as they traded stories of who knew what subject matter. Gibbs chuckled as it appeared both men were talking at the same time.
He spotted Hunter with the horde of other children from Kate's family, a smile plastered on his face, as they seemed to be watching an older boy performing magic tricks. Gibbs couldn't contain the grin. Kate noticed it and leaned into him.
"What's so funny?" Kate whispered.
"My family is commingled into yours."
"That's a good thing."
"I know," he said leaning over and kissing her. Kate smiled and nodded.
As the night continued, the noise level from the group of Kate's brothers, Donovan, a couple of Kate's cousins, DiNozzo, Abby, and McGee grew louder and louder. Gibbs figured if Jeb wasn't helping Kylie with Noah he'd be right in there as well. He looked at Kate who seemed a bit embarrassed by her brother's behaviors.
"Don't be embarrassed," Gibbs said with a smile. "Look, DiNozzo, McGee, Abby, even Donovan are joining in your with your family."
"I know. I shouldn't. But…"
"Don't worry about it. Let them have fun."
Kate nodded and then looked at Gibbs. They decided to move from the main table and join the commotion. It was great entertainment to watch the drunken group try to play drinking games and one up each other with stories. The night grew longer and most of the older crowd had left. Kate was growing tired herself, wondering how long this crowd planned to keep her out. She hoped there were enough designated drivers still around to get everyone home safely. Most of the kids who were still lingering around, mostly because their parents were caught up in the drunken windfall, were slowly churning down.
Gibbs got up from the noisy group and made his way over to Hunter who was sitting with two other boys. Gibbs slid into a seat across the table from them and noticed the bleary eyed exhaustion that stared back at him. He smiled.
"Tired, Buddy?" Gibbs asked Hunter.
"Yeah, Papa," Hunter said with an almost uncontrolled head nod.
"Who's your friends here?"
"That's Jared," he said pointing to his left. "And that's Denny," pointing to his right. "They're Kate's nephews."
It was then that Gibbs noticed the teenager watching him from the end of the table. Up until Gibbs had come and sat down over here, the young man's eyes had been focused on the uproarious group at the other end of the hall. Gibbs patted Hunter before he got up and walked to the teenager. He recognized the boy once he got there; he had played basketball against him, one of Kate's brother's sons.
"Hi," Gibbs said dropping down into a seat. The teenager offered a polite smile.
"Hey," he said sullenly.
"Not having fun?"
"Wish I could go back to grams and gramps' house."
"Yeah, they are carrying on over there aren't they?"
"Like always," he said with a sigh. "I'm J. J."
"Jethro."
"Suppose it's Uncle Jethro now," the boy said with a slightly more realistic smile. Gibbs returned it with a nod.
"Suppose so."
They continued to talk until the party started to die down. Gibbs looked over and saw two people, obviously drunk, trying to carry another person who was beyond standing. Much to the delight of Gibbs and J. J. the party seemed to be breaking up. Gibbs glanced over and saw Hunter curled up on a table top sound asleep. When he spotted Jeb, his son was helping a very drunk Donovan walk towards the door. Kylie was following behind with the baby while Ann headed towards Hunter.
Gibbs bid his farewell to J. J. and walked towards Kate who was trying to reason with a very drunk cousin. After all was sorted out and everyone was on their way home –safely, Gibbs and Kate made their way out of the hall.
That night they were staying at a hotel, away from anyone else that had come in for the wedding. Once they were in their room and alone once again Gibbs smiled at Kate. She had removed her wedding dress and was beautiful to him.
They snuggled together into the bed and Gibbs wrapped his arms around Kate. She could feel the drain and exhaustion of the entire ordeal tugging at her, but she didn't want this night to end. She rolled so she could face Gibbs. She found him staring at her with a lopsided grin.
"What?" she asked.
"Today we start life ever after," Gibbs replied leaning in and kissing.
"Life ever after?" Kate asked.
"Yes, you know…every story ends happily ever after. Well, were now in life ever after."
Kate smiled. The night wasn't going to end here, she knew that now. She saw the look in his eyes and she knew he saw the same in hers. Gibbs rolled her onto her back, bringing himself up over her, looking down at her.
"I love you," she said with a smile. He leaned down and kissed her.
"I love you too, Mrs. Gibbs," he said when they pulled apart. The night was just beginning, their first night of life ever after.
Seven Months Later
The wedding had been seven months ago. They had honeymooned in the Caribbean, for a week, much to the surprise of Kate. Gibbs had surprised her with the trip. Upon returning home Kate had returned to work for a few months, before taking a desk assignment, until she was finally put on maternity leave. Gibbs was an ever attentive husband and Kate couldn't get enough of their new life.
Now as she lay in the hospital bed, spent and exhausted, she looked at Gibbs. He was sitting in a chair next to her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. In the crook of her arm laid their child. Kate couldn't remember a happier moment. She watched Gibbs as he watched their new baby sleeping on her chest. He finally looked up at her with a beaming smile. She could see the pride and joy in his face and it made her smile in return.
"She's beautiful," Gibbs said. "Just like her mother." Kate took a deep breath, looking down at their baby girl. She felt tears of joy coming to her eyes and she wasn't sure she wanted to force them back. "I love you both," Gibbs said after a long pause. Kate looked back up at him and smiled.
"And we both love you," she whispered. It was then that there was a tentative knock on the door. Gibbs got up and opened it to find the team standing anxiously in the hallway. He smiled and stepped aside to allow them into the room.
"Aw, she's beautiful!" Abby coed as she sat down in the chair Gibbs had just occupied. Tony smiled as he leaned against the wall. Ducky had the proud smile of a grandfather as he stood next to Abby. McGee stood at the foot of the bed with a smile.
"So what'd you name the little spitfire?" Tony asked curiously. Kate looked at Gibbs with a smile before he answered.
"We decided on Bailey Jasmine Gibbs," he said looking at his daughter.
"Awe, what a gorgeous name," Abby replied barely containing her excitement.
The team stayed for a while, before they noticed the exhaustion on Kate's face. They excused themselves and filed out of the room quickly, leaving the new family alone again. Kate looked over at Gibbs and reached out a hand. He took it as he came back to his chair. Once he was sitting down, he scooped his daughter into his arms and cradled her to his chest.
Kate couldn't help but smile at the image. He really did make a great father. Her attraction and love for him was stronger now than when they had first admitted their feelings, so long ago in his basement. She could see the same from his eyes every time he looked at her and knew that they would make it through life ever after.
The End.
