Title: Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder
Chapter 9
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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"Seriously." Tony said, taking short quick breaths. "Doesn't some place deliver?"
"No." Gibbs rolled over kissing Tony's neck.
"Then you really need to control yourself and let me actually get dressed."
"You were dressed." Gibbs said between kisses,
"Okay you need to let me stay dressed, I need food."
"Well you shouldn't be so damn sexy when you put your clothes on."
Laughing, Tony shook his head.
"You put clothes on and all I can do is think about getting you out of them." Gibbs' fingers danced up Tony's ribcage.
"You are insatiable." Tony was still laughing as his body shivered from Gibbs' touch.
"I am." Gibbs' snickered as he pulled back. "How about I run and get some take out."
"That would be wonderful." Tony's hand cupped Gibbs' cheek. "And I'm not complaining about you being insatiable."
"I know." Gibbs dropped a quick kiss to Tony's lip. "I could use some food too." Climbing out of bed he pulled on his pants. "What are you in the mood for?"
"Surprise me." Tony pushed himself up on his elbows. "I'll start some fresh coffee."
Gibbs pulled a t-shirt over his head. "Shouldn't take long."
Tony nodded as Gibbs walked out of the bedroom.
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Starting the coffee, Tony turned around and leaned back against the counter looking out at the living room. Smiling, he shook his head, so much had changed so quickly, it still all seemed like a dream in some ways. Yet right here, right now felt more like home than Paris had in years. What if they decided not to stay here? Where would they go? There wasn't anywhere he could imagine going that would be more perfect than here. He actually loved everything about being here. The slower pace, the fresh air, the people, hell he couldn't remember the last time he checked his phone. Again he smiled, Tali seemed to love it here too. They could stay in the house, add on, like Gibbs had said when they originally talked. Again, the feeling that this was some surreal dream overwhelmed him and that any minute he would wake up and it would all be gone.
The sound of the front door opening pulled him from his thoughts.
"Daddy." Tali came bounding in, her papa a few steps behind.
"Hey sweetie." He embraced her as she ran in and hugged him. "Did you have a good time?"
"I had surf and turf."
"You did."
She nodded. "Steak, shrimp, and salmon. Plus a twice baked potato."
"That sounds delicious." Tony's stomach rumbled and Tali laughed.
"Didn't you eat?"
"Actually Gibbs left a little bit ago to pick something up."
"That's a late dinner."
Tony looked over and saw his father glance at his watch then look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Busy night?" Senior smirked.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Where's Sandy?"
"I dropped her at the Hotel, she needed to be back." Senior stepped into the kitchen. "Told her I'd get Tali home, maybe chat for a while and then head back to the hotel myself."
"I'm going to change." Tali announced then headed towards the hallway.
Senior smirked at Tony. "Gibbs really getting dinner or does this place have a basement and you have him tied up down there.
"Dad!" Tony shook his head but couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hey, I told you I'm happy for you." Senior smiled. "And Tali's happy. She can't stop talking about Gibbs, Alaska, having a new home, the three of you being a family."
Tony ran his hand through his hair. "I still can't believe it, it's-"
"Perfect." Senior finished his son's sentence.
"Yeah." Tony sighed. "Absolutely perfect and I've never had perfect."
"Please tell me you're not doubting-"
"No, God no." Tony quickly answered."I just-"
"I want to stay here."
Tony nodded.
"So what's the problem?" Senior couldn't understand the concern.
"I wanna make sure this is right for Tali, that it's where she wants to be and where she needs to be."
"She needs to be wherever her father is happy."
"I just want her to love it here as much as I do."
"I do love it here."
Both men turned at the sound of the girl's voice.
"Why wouldn't I love it here?"
Tony blew out a breath. "It's a lot different here."
"So, different is good." Tali paused.
Tony could see her thinking about her thoughts on the matter and how she wanted to say them.
"I want to stay here, not because I know you love it here, but because I do." She smiled. "It's beautiful, I've met all kinds of cool people and I met Hattie. Plus I wanna learn to fish, and learn more of the language, and this will be the best place for you and Gibbs to get married." Her smile turned into a wide DiNozzo grin. "And I can be the flower girl…Oh and papa can give you away."
Tony and Senior both broke out laughing.
"We'll talk about that last bit." Tony said then walked over and squatted down in front of Tali. "This is home now, you, me, and Gibbs."
Tali threw her arms around Tony's neck.
Hugging his daughter tightly, he kissed her check then pulled back. "Speaking of Gibbs, I'm starving. He should have been back by now." He heard someone clear their throat and looked up to see Gibbs standing just a few steps inside the living room..
Tony stood up seeing the emotion in Gibbs' eyes. "Guessing you heard most of that."
Swallowing the lump in his throat he nodded, sitting the food on the coffee table as he stood there looking at Tony.
Taking a few steps, Tony stopped in front of Gibbs. "I want us to buy this house, we'll build on, I'll help or we'll hire someone, but I want Tali to grow up here and us to grow old tog-" The rest of his sentence went unfinished as Gibbs wrapped his arms around him and kissed him. It was sweet and tender and full of love. They parted when they heard the laughter behind them. "Seems the peanut gallery finds us amusing." Tony patted Gibbs' chest before trying to step out of his embrace. When the arm tightened. Tony chuckled. "Are you going to let me go?"
"Never." Gibbs sighed.
"Can I help build the house? Tali was standing beside them.
"Absolutely." Gibbs smiled down at her as he released his hold on Tony but interlaced their right hands.
"Good. Glad all that is settled." Senior chimed in stopping by Tali. "It's late, you two need to eat, and I would like to visit with Sandy on my last night here."
"I have one more thing." Gibbs looked at Senior. "And I'd like you to be here."
Senior's brow furrowed."Alright."
Gibbs turned to Tony, reaching into his pocket, he pulled something out then dropped to one knee.
Tony's eyes went wide as Gibbs held up a small blue box. "Jethro." The name came out as a whisper.
Senior saw Tali's mouth open and he took her hand hoping to contain her excitement.
"I said I never wanted to let you go and I meant it. I want us to make this our home, you, me, and Tali, forever. I love you and I don't want to waste another day without you…will you marry me."
"God yes." Tony dropped to his knees, grabbed Gibbs' face, and kissed him.
"We're having a wedding!" Unable to contain her excitement any longer she ran to Tony and Gibbs.
They broke apart only enough to pull Tali in between them.
"How long have you had that ring?" Senior asked as the two men stood up.
"Ordered it the morning after Tony told me he loved me." Gibbs pulled the ring out of the box as he smiled at Tony. "Just haven't had time to pick it up."
Tony again grabbed Gibbs' face and kissed him.
"I wanted to ask you that morning out back." Gibbs sighed. "With or without a ring."
"And my answer would have been yes." Tony held out his hand and Gibbs slipped the ring on. It was a beautiful gold band with an inlay diamond on top. "It's beautiful." Green eyes met steely blue. "I love you."
"Can we have the wedding soon?" Tali asked.
"Soon." Gibbs smiled at her. "Promise."
"How soon is soon?" Senior smirked. "Do I need to stay a few days?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Just a few minutes."
Senior and Tony both looked at him confused. Then they heard a car out front.
Gibbs looked at Tony. "Marry me right now."
"What?"
"We can have a big wedding later if you want or a small wedding with friends, but I want you to be my husband today." Gibbs glanced at Tali then at Senior. "The people we need are here now, that's what matters."
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Gibbs said never taking his eyes off Tony. "If you don't want to that's okay, but-"
"Of course I'll marry you."
It was Gibbs turn to kiss Tony, a quick sweet kiss as he then turned to the man that had walked in.
"Amak." Tali ran over taking in the image of the man. He was wearing traditional native ceremonial attire. "
"I'm here to marry your dad and Jethro."
She looked at him completely surprised as did Tony and Senior.
"Amak is an Elder and can perform marriages." Gibbs walked over and shook Amak's hand. "Thanks for doing this."
"Of course." Amak smiled. "Do you need a few minutes or are we ready?"
"I think we're ready." Gibbs turned to Tony and the younger man nodded. He held out his hand to Tali and she took it. "Are you good with this?"
"Of course." She smiled happily.
"Take your dad's hand." Gibbs asked as she took Tony's hand. Hand in hand they walked towards Amok. Gibbs nodded back to Senior who stepped up beside Tony.
Amak began to speak. "I am here today merely as an advisor as the two of you continue on your journey together. You will both speak your truth, to each other and to those important few in this room. It is through those truths, many that you have already spoken to each other, that the eternal bond is formed between you." He looked back and forth between the two men. "Who would like to speak first?"
"I will." Tiny spoke up, knowing if he let Gibbs speak first he would never be able to make it through his own words. Taking a deep breath, Tony squared his shoulders and took Gibbs' free hand and completed the circle between the three of them. "I have loved you for decades and that love has only grown stronger, deep, and more intense. When you told me that you loved me, part of me couldn't believe it." He smiled holding back the emotion. "But you made me believe with your words, your actions, and by just loving me unconditionally. I will love you for the rest of my life, with all my heart and soul, and promise to do everything I can to make you happy. I love you Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
Holding back his own emotion, Gibbs squeezed Tali and Tony's hands. "I had found peace, but it wasn't until you told me you loved me that I found happiness again. This right here, you and Tali, have made me whole again. You told me you never believed that saying absence makes the heart grow fonder until the moment before you kissed me." Gibbs shook his head. "I hate that we wasted so much time being stubborn. I hate even more that it took us being apart from each other to finally realize absence does make the heart grow fonder and I never want to have to be without you again, you or Tali." Gibbs smiled down at Tali. His blue eyes met green again. "I will spend the rest of my life making sure you both are safe, happy, and loved." Letting go of Tali and Tony's hands, Gibbs leaned in and kissed his husband, his hand cupping Tony's cheek. It was the first marriage since Shannon that there was no worry, no regret, no thought of it being a mistake. It was as Tony had said earlier, perfect.
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EPILOGUE
Gibbs stood by the grill looking around the backyard at all the people. Some were dancing, others were sitting talking at the picnic tables. He smiled. Old and new friends here to celebrate. Months after the impromptu wedding they had finally been able to have everyone out for a weekend, the team, Fornell, Senior had all come in from DC. Amak and his wife, Mac, Sandy, Adam, his wife, Sophia, and of course Tali's best friend Hattie. Gibbs' gaze landed on Tali and Hattie sitting next to each other at one of the picnic tables. The two had become inseparable, they were now in school together and spent most of their evenings after school together. They had both joined the Academic club and both were playing in the orchestra. Tali violin, Hattie cello. If Tali wasn't here she was at Hattie's and vice versa. He and Tony had become good friends with Adam and Sophia, hard not to become friends when your daughters are like sisters more than friends. They bought the house and the addition was almost complete. Tali had their old room and a new master bedroom, a small library and an additional bathroom had been added.
Gibbs sighed. It was late nights of lovemaking, loud nights if Tali stayed at Hattie's, early morning car pools, after school practices, concerts, and academic events, then home for dinner, homework and some family time. Weekends were family time as much as possible, fishing, boating, or school events if they had too…and Gibbs loved every minute of it.
He felt the hand on the small of his back then Tony's body slid up against him. Tony leaned back against his chest. Gibbs' arm instinctively wrapped around Tony's waist pulling him closer.
"I think Mac has a thing for Fornell."
"I see that." Gibbs placed a quick kiss on Tony's neck and he felt the fingers dance over his arm at Tony's waste.
"Have I told you today how much I love you?" Tony smiled as the arm tightened around him.
"Several times." Gibbs' lips brushed against Tony's ear. "I love you too." He gave a quick jerk yanking Tony back against his body and growling. Tony's body shivered. "And with Tali staying at Hattie's today, You can show me how much you love me and be as loud as you want."
"Jethro." Tony moaned as he squirmed and turned around staring into the steel blue eyes. "And you are not allowed to talk like that when we have a backyard full of people."
An ornery loving grin filled Gibbs' face. "I'll get Sandy to herd everyone back to the hotel early." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Tony couldn't help but laugh as he smacked Gibbs' chest playfully. "Our friends came all this way, we can spend some time with them." Tony grinned. "I'll just keep you up late."
"You're going to be up late no matter what." Gibbs leaned in and whispered in Tony's ear.
Tony's eyes closed and he purred as the words wormed their way into his brain. When his eyes opened he shook his head. "You are an evil bastard."
"Been called worse." Gibbs gave Tony a quick kiss.
"Quit kissing and feed us!" Tali's voice rang through the air and the laughter of the others filled the space after.
"Alright, it's coming." Gibbs snapped back. He shook his head. "She is a DiNozzo."
"Yes she is and this DiNozzo-Gibbs is hungry too." Tony's finger traced a path down Gibbs' jawline. "Perfect."
GIbbs turned and kissed Tony's palm. "Yes it is."
