Title: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 7

Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.

Summary: Does absence make the heart grow fonder or is it just a line we hear but never feel.

All mistakes are mine, this has not been proofed.

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Gibbs pulled the car into the hotel parking lot and cut the engine. "I'll take you in and introduce you to Sandy."

The two men climbed out of the car and as they reached the front of the vehicle Senior grabbed Gibbs' arm stopping him in mid step. "You're a good man Gibbs, Junior is lucky to have you."

"I feel like the lucky one and-" Gibbs took a moment deciding if he should actually make the next statement.

Senior chuckled. "I know." He patted Gibbs' shoulder. "If you thought Junior wanted to get married today you'd already be buying rings and making sure the minister was ready." Senior winked. "Junior's in no rush to get married, hell it took you two almost two decades to actually tell each other how you feel. I don't see you running to the altar anytime soon."

Gibbs nodded as they walked into the hotel lobby.

"Jethro." Sandy smiled as she walked out from behind the counter and gave him a hug. She turned to the other man. "And you must be Mr. DiNozzo."

"Anthony please." He smiled, instantly taken in by the women's friendliness and beauty. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Oh Jethro warned me you were a charmer." She leaned towards him slightly. "But he forgot to mention how handsome you are."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. Great they'd probably fall in love and Senior would move here then he'd have to deal with him all the time.

"Let me get your room key and I'll give you the tour." She said as he reluctantly let go of her hand.

"Thanks for the ride Gibbs." He smiled. "Think I can take it from here."

Again, Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"Have a good night Jethro, I'll take good care of him."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Gibbs mumbled under his breath as he headed back out the hotel door.

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Gibbs opened the door cautiously and heard the laughter as the door creaked open. Tony was sitting in the middle of the couch, Tali to his left and they were laughing as they ate what GIbbs assumed was ice cream.

"Hey how'd it go." Tony asked.

Gibbs shrugged. "Okay."

"You want some ice cream?"

"No, I'm good." Gibbs made his way over and sat down next to Tony. The younger man leaned back against him and Gibbs kissed his cheek.

"Here." Tony held up a spoonful of ice cream to him and took it.

"Good."

Tali giggled and ate another spoonful. "Did papa tease you?"

Gibbs nodded.

"Dad all set at the hotel?"

"Oh yeah, he was just fine after he met Sandy."

Tony shook his head and chuckled.

Tali sat her empty bowl on the coffee table and yawned.

Glancing at his watch, Tony sat up. "I didn't realize it was so late."

Tali rolled her eyes. "I know, I should be in bed."

"It's way past your bedtime." He stood and walked over grabbing her bag by the door. "We'll get you settled in the bedroom."

"I can sleep on the couch."

"You and your dad will sleep in the bedroom." Gibbs explained.

"Why?" She looked at him confused. "You and dad should sleep in the bedroom."

"I like sleeping on the couch." Gibbs grabbed the blanket and pillow from behind the couch.

"Are you two not sleeping in the bed together because I'm here?"

"No, you and your dad are sleeping in the bed because I want the two of you to be comfortable."

"Right." She rolled her eyes as she got up.

Gibbs looked over at Tony who was trying not to laugh.

Tali grabbed her bag from her dad. "I'm going to get ready for bed." With that she walked off towards the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Tony saw the glare from Gibbs. "Come on. I like sleeping on the couch." He mimicked Gibbs' voice. Unable to hold it in any longer, he started laughing.

"You're a lot of help." Gibbs snapped.

"I wasn't trying to help." Tony grinned as he made his way over to Gibbs. He took a hold of the sides of Gibbs' shirt. "You're cute when you're flustered."

Gibbs rolled his eyes as he wrapped his arms around Tony letting his fingers caress the small of the younger man's back.

"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" Tony asked again. "We were doing that because Tali didn't know, but she knows, so-"

"I'm sleeping on the couch," He leaned forward whispering in Tony's ear. "For a lot of reasons."

Tony felt the fingertips claw into the small of his back then Gibbs stepped back.

"Now go get some sleep." Gibbs slipped off his shoes.

"Night Gibbs." Tali said as she emerged from the bathroom in her purple pajamas. "See you in the morning."

"Night Tali." Gibbs tossed the pillow at the end of the couch.

"Night Gibbs." Tony smirked as he took a step towards him, stopping when they were toe to toe. "I love you." He watched as Gibbs' resolve softened and he reached out cupping his cheek.

"I love you too." Gibbs' lips gently brushed against Tony's. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah." Tony sighed, patting Gibbs' chest. "In the morning."

"Go." Gibbs gave Tony another quick kiss.

Tony let his hand slide down Gibbs' chest and finally away completely.

Gibbs watched until Tony disappeared behind the bedroom door. Then he blew out the breath he'd been holding and ran his hands through his hair. Walking over and flipping off the light, Gibbs made his way back to the couch, removed his shoes, and flopped down on his back. Staring up at the ceiling in the dark he told himself to just close his eyes and go to sleep.

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Tali climbed into bed and pulled the covers up.

Tony walked in a few minutes later in sweats and a t-shirt. "You all set?"

She nodded.

Tony sat down on the other side of the bed, then leaned back against the headboard. He glanced over at Tali and they instantly broke out laughing.

"This is stupider than you and mom pretending like you wanted to sleep in the same bed." She rolled her eyes. "You were on the couch every morning when I got up with some lame excuse."

"Yeah well." Tony and Ziva had tried sharing a bed, at least to make it look like they were trying, even if they really weren't.

"You can sleep on the couch with Gibbs."

He chuckled. "It's okay. I'll talk to Gibbs in the morning."

"Are we going to buy a bigger house?"

"Um, depends on if we stay here."

"I'm okay with not going back to Paris."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She glanced over at him. "Don't you want to know what Gibbs said when I asked if he wanted to marry you?"

Tony shook his head.

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't matter. We love each other and whether we're married or not it doesn't change that."

"Do you want to marry him?"

"I'm just glad we're at this point."

"He's been married a lot."

"Yeah." Tony sighed. He and Ziva had both talked about that, he had no doubt she'd heard.

"Because of Shannon and Kelly?"

Tony nodded. He knew she'd heard about that. Everyone that called him when Gibbs retired said he was finally making peace with Shannon and Kelly's death and most of those calls had been Facetime.

"I don't think you want to get married."

"Excuse me." His brow furrowed.

"It scares you."

"And why do you say that?" He watched as she thought about her response. She always wanted to choose her words carefully whenever she thought an answer would upset someone.

It took a moment but she finally answered. "You're scared to be happy." When her dad didn't quickly respond she blurted more out. "It's why you let mom stay so long, it's why you never told Gibbs you loved him, and it's why we've stayed in Paris even though you don't want to be there."

Tony groaned. "It's worse than a lawyer, you're going to be a psychiatrist."

"And it's why you joke about it all whenever it comes up." She rolled her eyes and pulled the blanket up further.

"Hey." He nudged her shoulder with his sensing her annoyance. "Message received."

She reached up and made a fist gently tapping on his forehead. "Did it actually get in there?"

"Yes." God it was so strange the whole forehead tapping thing, she'd been doing it for years everytime she really wanted to make sure he was listening to her. Now suddenly he realized how much it reminded him of the head slaps from Gibbs.

"I know you're happy." She could see the worry in her fathers face. "But you could be really happy, like Romeo and Juliet happy-wait not a good example."

He tried to hold back a laugh seeing her struggling to find an example.

Her brow furrowed. "There are a lot of sad love stories."

Oh so true he thought.

"Cinderella or the frog prince." She quickly said, proud to have remembered the happy ending fairy tales.

"So am I Cinderella or the prince."

"Definitely cinderella." She laughed as he started tickling her.

"Oh thanks and I suppose I am the princess that kisses the frog too!"

"No you're the prince that kisses the frog." She managed to say through her laughter.

"Okay that sounds good." Tony stopped tickling her and held her in his arms. "I'm happy and getting happier day by day."

"Good." She looked up at him and held up her right hand pinky up. "Pinky Promise If I'm not happy or you're not happy we tell each other."

He wrapped his pinky around hers. "Pinky promise."

She let go of his pinky.

"And since when do ten year olds read Romeo and Juliet?"

"I'm in advanced English."

He sighed. "I do wish sometimes you had gotten a little more of my sense of humor and less of your mom's seriousness."

Slipping out of his arms, she snuggled down into bed. "Promise I'll giggle like a little girl when I wake up tomorrow and you're on the couch with Gibbs."

"Thank you." He replied happily. "That's all I'm asking for." He reached over and turned off the bedside light.

"Night dad."

"Night sweetie."

Rolling onto his back he stared up at the ceiling, a few minutes later he heard the light snoring of his daughter and smiled. He ran his hands down his face. God why did she have to be so insightful and right.

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He had tossed and turned for what seemed like hours unable to stop himself from thinking about the man in the other room. At some point he must have fallen asleep because now he was dreaming…a wonderful dream. Tony was in his arms, hands caressing up his chest, and soft lips kissing up his jawline. His hands caressed down Tony's back and cupped Tony's ass drawing a needy moan from the younger man. God it seemed so real, felt so real.

"Gibbs."

The name was filled with lust and it suddenly pulled Gibbs from the sleepy haze. His eyes shot open and he realized there really was a body next to him.

"Tony, what-"

"I just wanted to be next to you." Tony's hands slipped around Gibbs' neck, his fingers playing with the hairs at the nape of his neck. "But then you were grabbing my ass." He smiled in the darkness. "Were you dreaming about me?" Tony pressed his hips forward feeling Gibbs' hard cock. "I hope you were dreaming about me if you're that hard."

Gibbs' arms tightened around Tony. "I was."

Tony's lips brushed against Gibbs' ear. "Were you fucking me or was I sucking your cock?"

"I hadn't gotten that far." Gibbs sighed his fingertips clawing at Tony's back. "We shouldn't-"

"Jethro, she's asleep. I made sure." Tony knew exactly why Gibbs didn't want to make love. "So as long as you can be quiet."

"I'm more worried about you being a good boy and staying quiet." Gibbs' hands involuntarily returned to Tony's ass cheeks and squeezed hard.

"Believe me when you're the reward I can be quiet."

Trying to focus in the dim slivers of moonlight, Gibbs tried to see Tony's face.

"I love you Jethro and I can only hope I can make you half as happy as you make me." Tony's lips captured Gibbs' before he could respond. His hands started to unbuckled Gibbs' pants, right now he was thankful for the need for silence. He welcomed it, wanting that silent connection that had always existed between them and now was even stronger. No talking, no foreplay, just pure raw need. Grabbing the lube he'd brought with him, he rubbed it over Gibbs' cock, feeling it twitch as he worked over its length when he heard the whisper.

"Enough." The tone was one filled with aching need as Gibbs rolled Tony over and pulled down the sweats.

Tony's eyes closed as he felt the fingers gently enter him, opening him up. He gave into the touch and rocked his hips as the fingers scissors inside him. Gibbs' touch was tender, arousing, sensual, and healing all at the same time. It made him forget everything and believe in anything. His mouth opened, then he slammed it shut, biting at his lower lip as Gibbs' cock inched inside him slowly until it was buried completely. Taking a deep breath, Tony felt the arms wrap around him, felt the hands caress under his shirt and claw at his stomach. Warm lips against his neck then at his ear and one word. Reaching down he grabbed Gibbs' right hand and pushed it down to his cock. Gibbs' hand wrapped around his cock and his entire body was engulfed in pleasure.

Gibbs knew exactly what Tony wanted and gave it to him without question and with endless love. He made short quick thrust into Tony, creating a matching rhythm as he stroked the younger man's cock. That's what Tony wanted, that connection with a quick release. His other arm wrapped tightly around Tony's waist trying to keep their bodies as close as possible, chest to back. The complete connection of their bodies gave Gibbs the added ability to feel Tony's breathing, the increasing warmth of his body, and the sweet smell of his sweat. Everything about Tony enticed him, but there was something about the man's scent…this heady mixture of natural musk, strong spice and a sweetness that could never be equaled. His tongue licked up the side of Tony's neck and the man shivered in his arms. A little taste was never enough, especially when it came to Tony. A kiss to the man's neck, then another and another until he was biting Tony's neck desperate to taste more.

Squeezing his eyes closed tighter, Tony tried to steady himself, he wanted fast, but his body was already starting to betray him. He struggled to take a deep breath and fill his aching lungs, but each time he tried Gibbs slammed into him again. His cock started to twitch and he felt the burning at the base of his spine. His body started to shake as the orgasm demanded release.

He tried one last time to take a deep breath, but his body surrendered and his mouth fell open in a silent scream.

Gibbs experienced every nuance of Tony's release, the desperate need for air, the trembling body, and finally the come as it poured through his fingers. Tony's body tensed in his arms then melted against him as all strength left the younger man. It was all Gibbs needed to give in himself, he buried himself inside Tony and came biting down harder to stifle a scream.

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Gibbs pulled Tony closer as they settled back on the couch. A quick clean up and they were again wrapped together on the couch. "Wanna tell me what that was about?"

Tony chuckled. "You really need me to explain it."

"You know what I mean." Gibbs whispered in his ear. He felt the fingers brush gently back and forth over his arm.

"Do you think I'm afraid of being happy?" Tony felt the arms pulled out from around him and the end table lamp was suddenly turned on. He knew Gibbs was staring at him, he rolled over and faced the man looking at him. "My daughter thinks I am."

"And it bothers you."

"It bothers me that she realized it, saw the reasons behind it, and wants me to have some fairy tale happiness that I never thought possible." Tony stared at Gibbs' chest and picked at the fabric of his sweatshirt.

"She told you what I said when she asked if I would marry you."

"No." He glanced up at Gibbs. "She wanted to tell me and I said it didn't matter. That we love each other and I'm happy just to be at this point."

Gibbs nodded.

"She said I didn't want to know because I was scared to be happy, truly happy."

Gibbs watched as Tony's green eyes grew somber. "You are scared."

"Terrified." Tony swallowed hard and saw no concern in Gibbs' eye. His first fear was that Gibbs would be upset or concerned by his fear. "The last real happiness in my life was Tali and I've spent all this time making sure she's happy, that I can't remember being happy about anything but her. And now…" Tony's fingers traced a path down Gibbs' jawline. "Everythings changed, things I thought were only a dream are very real." His thumb brushed over Gibbs' lips and he felt the tender kiss to his fingertip. "It's overwhelming, and wonderful, and scary as hell when you realize you finally have everything you've always wanted."

"Be careful what you wish for." The phrase instantly came to Gibbs' mind.

"Oh no," Tony smiled. "I'd wish for you every time." Tony felt the arms gently wrap around him again. "It just seems like true happiness is this surreal emotion that I've forgotten how to feel and I'm learning it all over again." Tony sighed. "Does that even make sense?"

"Perfect sense." Gibbs kissed Tony's forehead and the younger man's eyes closed for a moment.

It suddenly hit Tony, the similarity and he drew back. "Is that how you felt? All those years after Shannon and Kelly."

Gibbs just nodded as he held back the emotion. "After I got over the anger and guilt."

Tony's lips found Gibbs for a brief kiss. "Just know that even though I'm working through it. You truly make me happy and I love you even more for it."

"Whatever you need. If it's making love like we did, time alone, time with Tali, or me holding you, Anything you need."

"I know." Tony pressed his body closer. "Right now I just need to be here in your arms and sleep."

"Sure you don't want to go back to the bedroom."

"No." Tony chuckled. "Tali already thinks its stupid that we didn't sleep together tonight. So from now on you and I will sleep in the bedroom and Tali sleeps on the couch."

"Stupid huh."

"Well, she dealt with her mom and I pretending, by sleeping in the same bed and me always being on the couch in the morning. Our situation is even stupider than that."

Gibbs blew out a breath.

"Are you going to be uptight about all of this?"

"I'm not uptight." Gibbs balked.

"Really? I'll sleep out here. I like sleeping on the couch. Please." Tony rolled his eyes. "Did you never have sex with Kelly in the house?"

"Of course, it was just different."

"Different?" In the past Tony wouldn't have asked but now talking about Shannon and Kelly was fair game. "Was Shannon not…vocal."

Gibbs shrugged. "Sometimes, it wasn't loud and I wasn't-" He stopped without finishing the thought.

An ornery grin spread across Tony's face as his hands caressed Gibbs' chest. "So all this grunting and groaning and dirty talk is because of me?"

Gibbs opened his mouth to make a smart ass comment but stopped. Taking a deep breath he answered honestly. "Yes."

"You are so sexy when you're uptight and honest."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "I'm not-"

"Yes, you are uptight about some things. Tali's grown up in Paris, the city of love. She's had health class and we've talked. It's a crazy world out there for kids nowadays and I always want her to feel comfortable talking to me."

"Understood. It's just that-" Gibbs shook his head. "No one has tested my control the way you do."

"God, you shouldn't tell me things like that." Tony said then bit at his bottom lip thinking about all the ways he would love to make Gibbs lose control.

"You just behave." Gibbs smacked Tony's hip.

"Right. We will get back to that at a different time." Tony cleared his throat. "My original point, she's a kid, but she gets we want to be in the same bed, she knows we love each other and that's what people in love do."

"I get it and I'll work on it."

"Good, because there will be sex in this house every night." Tony sighed. "And I will definitely be testing that control of yours."

"Challenge accepted." Gibbs was already anticipating all the ways Tony would try.

"Now that all of that is settled. We really need to get some sleep because Tali gets up early and she promised me to giggle like a little girl when she finds me out here on the couch with you."

Gibbs brow furrowed.

"She's so serious all the time, I just want her to be silly more, and that's her way of being silly for me."

"We'll work on that." Gibbs reached up and turned off the end table light. Wrapping his arms tightly around Tony, he kissed his forehead as the body settled contently against him.

"I love you Jethro." Tony sighed as he listened to Gibbs' steady heart beat.

"I love you Tony."