Kate walked around the corner towards her locker and couldn't keep the grin at bay any longer, especially once she saw her friends at their lockers by hers.

"He asked me!" Kate shrieked with delight as her friends caught immediately on to the excitement, and began jumping and clapping and hugging. "Yay! Congrats Kate!" Ashley said as she wrapped her arms around her.

"We are all going to be very jealous," Ziva said slyly as she smiled.

"Oh, I thought he was never gonna ask!" Kate began shoving her books in her locker.

"Me either!" Kate turned around to the sound of her little brothers voice. The same voice that seemed to always be there to spoil all the good moments she's had in her life. She glared as he wore that grin that always made her friends talk about it. "I mean OMG this gonna be so much fun!"

He grabbed her shoulders and began to shake them with fake excitement.

"Grow up," Kate caught him with a good, quick sock to the gut as he grabbed it and laughed.

"Ouch Kate, that really hurt." Tony leaned up against her locker as she rummaged through it trying to ignore him.

"Good, I'm glad." She gave him a big smile, and continued going through her locker. "What do you want?"

"Well, I need five bucks for lunch. Can ya help me out?" Tony made a puppy dog look, and she could see her friends staring and whispering.

"No way, Tony. You still owe me from last week!" Kate said.

"Oh.. I have five dollars Tony!" A hand suddenly threw itself in front of Kate's face waving a five dollar bill. She recognized the voice as Camille's. "You can have it…" She smiled flirtatiously.

"Are you sure about that? I'd feel bad taki-" Tony asked, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, no I insist." Camille smiled and stepped back to join the small group of ogling girls.

"Well thanks. See you girls later…" and with that Tony turned and walked away..

"Bye Tony.. Cya Later…" the group chimed in.

"You guys make me wanna throw up, seriously.. Its pathetic." Kate slammed her locker shut and the group began to walk down the hallway.

"Oh Kate.. don't be so naïve. You know he's absolutely adorable!" Megan piped up.

"No.. no actually he's very much the exact opposite." Kate said with spirit. "He's repulsive."

"Ha! Kate, he is so cute. And funny and nice and good at sports… and-"

"And messy, smelly, immature, annoying, conniving-"

"Charming, tall, strong, tan, great hair -" Camille added.

"Okay, do you guys want me to start dry heaving?" Kate said making them all laugh.

They all laughed, this was almost like a game they would play with Kate about her brother.. Getting her worked up while talking about him. It was funny to see, and deep down they all knew that Kate really did like her brother, and deep down they all really did think he was cute.

"Oh but Kate, if he wasn't still dating Alexis I was thinking about asking Tony to the prom!" Camille piped up.

Kate stopped in her tracks. Then the group started laughing, they knew that would never happen, if their group of friends had a rule book, that would be rule number one- don't let Tony spoil Kate's senior prom.

XXXXXX

"So anything interesting happen at school today?" Jenny asked as she began to cut her chicken.

"Kate got asked to Prom," Tony blurted before Kate had the opportunity to share the good news with the family.

"Ugh, Tonyy." Kate glared across the dinner table.

"Oh, that's exciting Kate!" Jenny smiled.

"Who asked you?" Abby piped up from next to Tony, she knew who Kate had been wanting to ask her.

"Jesse Macomb," Kate couldn't stifle the grin that came when she said his name.

Abby smiled and shrieked as small as possibly. "Oh he is soo cute!"

"I know!" Kate took another bite of her dinner.

"Who is this kid?" Jethro piped up, always wary of kids who wanted to date his daughter.

"He's a senior too, and his dad is a lawyer and his mom is an accountant. He lives just a few blocks over, on Holly." Kate piped up her prepared spiel on Jesse's home life.

"Yeah and he likes to ride motorcycles and lift weights and go to-" Tony said with pretend excitement as he let the stuff out that Kate had purposely wanted to keep from their parents.

"Tony!" Kate kicked him from across the table, which made Tony yelp in pain.

"I want to meet this boy, Kate." Jethro said as he took another bite off his food.

"That's fine," Kate feigned coolness.

"Kate, we can go dress shopping this weekend if you want!" Jenny smiled brightly.

"Yeah, that would be great Mom! I think Camille and her mom want to go shopping too!" Kate smiled.

Jenny nodded approval.

"Anything else happen at school today?" Jenny asked the rest of the kids.

"I got an A on my Calculus exam," Tim smiled proudly at his parents.

"Wow.. That's quite shocking news there Timmy!" Tony patted his lil bro on the back.

"Tony…" Jethro warned.

"Ah im just kidding Tim, that's a good job." Tony said genuinely.

"Yeah, we are proud of you Tim." Jenny said warmly.

"I got yelled at for having chains on my pants…" Abby said grimly.

"Why?" Jenny asked. "I am pretty sure my thirteen year old daughter is a part of gang activity.

"That's what I said! But, the rules are the rules I guess…" Abby said.

"Well I think you look gothic enough without your chains honey," Jethro smiled at his youngest.

"Thank you Daddy," Abby smiled as the rest the family giggled.

"What about you Tony? Anything happen at school today?" Jenny asked.

"He got detention," Kate piped up, with a smile on her face showing she could play that game too. She received a glare from Tony, but decided to keep eating and smiling instead.

"Tony, what did you detention for this time?" Jethro asked with a frown on his face.

"Well… you see.."

"He ditched history class again…"

"You what!" "Tony.."

"No, no, no ….. I was just .. I didn't leave property though. I was just in the hallways because before fourth period I broke up with Alexis and she-"

"You broke up with Alexis? Why?" Tim and Kate asked at the same time.

"Because she was getting all naggy, and then her feet make this annoying sound when she walks and-"

Jethro smacked him on the back of the head hard. "Ow." he blinked. "Right anyways, I ..broke up with her and she wasn't taking it very well… so I had to sit there and make sure she got her breathing back and everything… and-"

"Get her breathing back?" Jenny asked shocked.

"Yeah, see what I mean by she was getting attached," Tony said like he meant it. "And so I didn't ditch," he glared at Kate once more. "But was just really late… ended up taking Alexis to the school nurse. You can check the records.."

"God… poor Alexis. Why girls date you I have no idea." Kate said shaking her head. "Everything will be going fine and then Bam, you break up with them…"

"Yeah, Tony she was really pretty. Like really, really-" Tim said nodding his head.

"That's enough…" Jethro raised his voice. "Tony your not grounded.. But if you get another detention this month I will. Kapeesh?"

"Kapeesh." Tony nodded and then scooped more food onto his plate.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

"Kate, so Tony is single again?" Megan asked with a smile.

"Oh not again… yes, he is. As usual, and no I don't know what happened, and no I don't know if there is another girl…" Kate said as they walked down the hall.

Just as they were walking around a corner, Kate saw Kelly Henderson, an extremely pretty junior leaning cozily against Tony's locker as she talked with him. Then she saw Kelly smile big, give Tony a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then scurry along down the hall to a group of awaiting junior girls.

What was that about? Kate thought. "Apparently there is another girl…" Megan said teasingly.

Kate approached her brother and yanked his backwards hat off and pushed his shoulder around so his back slammed into his lockers. He smiled and attempted to get his hat back, but failed.

"Kate…How's it goin? Can I have my hat back please?" Tony smiled pretending to be annoyed. But, he always liked the attention.

"Yeah, once you tell me what that was about with Kelly?" She put his cap on backwards and smiled.

His smile turned down. "Okay, but you cant be mad at me… and I promise I will be good!"

"She asked you to Prom!" Kate's mouth opened in awe. "Tony!" she smacked him in the chest a few times… "And…"

"I said yes.." Tony winced, Kate smacking his arms as he defended himself.

"I cant believe you! You aren't technically allowed to be there.. But you find a way anyways!"

"Kate, if you want me to go tell her I can't then I will… its not a big deal.. I'm just a sophomore, I have two more.. Its not that important to me."

Kate thought about that for a second…

"But she was just really excited she said and wasn't gonna go cause she couldn't find a good date, then she heard I was single and so…." Tony said seriously.

"Ugh… I hate you," Kate said defeated.

"I love you too Katie-bear…." Tony wrapped his big arms around the smaller framed Kate and wrapped her into a bear hug rocking her back and forth jokingly.

Kate giggled and pushed Tony off of her, "Its fine…like I would ever tell you you cant go to prom…" Kate smiled and ruffled her little brothers hair before pushing his chest back into the lockers before her and Megan made their walk to first hour.

"Kate.. My hat!" Tony yelled over the crowded hallway…

Kate smile as she pretended not to hear Tony yelling for his prized possession.

XXXXXXXXX

"I know Kate, he must have a way with words or something…"

"Dad.. It didn't even take until first hour…" Kate said as they walked down the grocery store aisle searching for dinner. "That's not a way with words.. that's like he sold his soul to the devil or something."

"Good looks run in the family Kate, what can I say?" Jethro joked with his eldest.

"Hahah. Well I am just saying.. When im off at school next year…you guys better be careful… hes like an X-rated Peter Pan."

"Haha," Jethro grabbed a box of Capn Crunch off the shelf for said Peter Pan. "If you say so Kate."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Oh Kate… you look so beautiful!" Jenny gasped as she snapped a picture of Kate as she walked down the staircase in the pink dress they had picked out at the mall three weekends ago.

Abby and Tim agreed from their spot at the bottom of the stairs, and Jethro smiled in approval as Kate finally reached the bottom of the staircase.

"You look beautiful honey!" Jenny gave her a hug, and tried not to mess up her hair or anything.

"Thanks mom…" Kate smiled back.

"Is Tony still up there getting ready?"

"He was just getting in the shower when I was putting my shoes on.. "

"God…" Jethro shook his head. That would be his son..

"Okay well, while we wait for Tony, Jethro snap a picture of me and Kate!"

He snapped the picture and then Kate and Jethro posed as Jenny got one of them.

"Tim, take one of the three of us and then we will get you guys in on one…" Jenny asked, she was in her photog mood and there was no stopping it.

Kate stood in between her parents and smiled happily as she thought of what a great night she was about to have.

She smiled for a picture with each Tim and Abby, and still they were waiting for Tony.

"Tony! Come on!" Jethro bellowed up the stairs.

"Comingggg…" Footsteps down the hallway above could be heard running, and then Tony emerged his arms in the air as they fought to get in the sleeves of his black tuxedo jacket… his hair was freshly gelled lightly, the spikes standing up without uniform, as usual, and boy -

"You look so handsome!" Jenny squealed with delight as she snapped a quick shot of Tony smiling as he jogged down the final few stairs.

"Thanks mom," Tony said bashfully and she kissed him on the cheek.

"How do I look?" He gave a spin and a bow towards Tim and Abby who giggled.

"Okay I want a picture of you with everyone and then you and Kate!"

They had just gotten all the pictures when the doorbell rang.

"That's Jesse! Someone get the door!" Kate ran to get the boutonnière.

"Okay, well that's my cue, I'm gonna go pick up Kelly," Tony said as he waved the keys to his black mustang off one finger. "Cya guys later!"

"Tony, wait," Jethro grabbed his son by the shoulder. He held out fifty bucks and smashed it into his son's hand. "I'll cover your dinner…"

"Are you sure Dad? I was gonna pay-" Tony said

"Yeah I'm sure, Tony. Have a good time, and keep an eye on your sister…"

"Will do Dad, Thanks," Tony nodded and allowed his dad to tussle his hair,

Tony grabbed the corsage and headed out the side door as he heard Jesse and Kate pose for more pictures with his family.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Okay! I need some punch now! I'm dying!" Kelly smiled from the dance floor that they hadn't really taken much of a break from as she looked up at Tony. They were having a lot of fun dancing together, and with friends. They actually got on quite well. Tony kinda liked her, so far.

"Alright, lets go!" Tony smiled and grabbed her hand as they weaved their way through the rowdy high schoolers.

Just as Tony poured two glasses of punch and made his way back to the table where Kelly was waiting for him with a smile.

"Okay, okay! How's everybody doing tonight?" a voice boomed over the sound system. They all cheered in joy. "It's finally time to announce this years Prom King and Queen!"

More cheers. Tony had voted at the door, along with everyone else. He had voted for Kate and for Michael Camp, a friend from the Basketball team and a popular kid throughout the school. He didn't think either of them would win, Kate maybe, she was pretty popular, but he didn't really think so.

"And this year's King is Todd Harris," the announcer said which followed a bunch of cheers as Todd made his way to the stage and accepted his sash his saber and his crown.

"And now .. This years Queen is… Caitlyn Gibbs!" and cheers resounded as Kate took the stage.

Tony smiled brightly and cheered as Kelly gave him a hug as they watched Kate on the stage get her crown, sash, and flowers.

"Alright now its time for the King and Queen to dance!" And with that the royalty danced on stage as Kelly and Tony made their way to the dance floor to join them.

Eventually they ran into Kate and Jesse on the dance floor. Tony took Kate's hand and kissed it before bowing playfully, "My Queen.." Kate smiled and pulled Tony into a big hug. "Congratulations Katie!" Tony said. "Thanks." She replied.

"You having a good time?" Kate asked Tony as she eyed the beautiful Kelly with her blonde hair and bright purple dress.

"Yeah I'm having a great time! You?" Tony replied.

"Yes! Could this night get any better?" Kate smiled and Jesse put his arm around her shoulders.

"Alright, well you guys have fun, catch up with ya later," Tony said as he grabbed Kelly and playfully marched behind her, hands on her hips as they danced into the crowd further to find some more friends.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So what were your plans for after?" Tony asked Kelly as they went to find the freshman locker they stowed Tony's tux jacket and Kelly's shoes in.

"Um it was kind of up in the air, I have to be home by 2 though," Kelly said as she put her high heels back on. "What about you?"

"Yeah I don't really have anything, I just gotta be home by 2 too. Did you bring extra clothes?" Tony asked as he buttoned up the tux jacket and adjusted his bow tie.

"Yeah, so I'm game for whatev, I know we don't really have the same friends, but a few of my friends are going to a party at Rachel Martins if you wanted to go check it out for a bit…" Kelly said with a wince, kind of hoping he would say yes….

"Sounds like a plan," and Tony held out his arm for her to wrap her own around. They headed out to Tony's mustang.

Just as he was putting the key into the ignition, he heard something. His eyes snapped up to meet Kelly's.

"Did you hear that?" he asked her.

"Hear what?" Her blue eyes questioned as she listened for something.

There it was again. A yelp of anger. And then another. They were different, one of a girls and one of a boy's. They sounded mad.

Tony held up a finger to Kelly as he followed the sound to a few cars over. There was a black trans am parked a few spots away in the parking lot, which was void of most people, and only a few remaining soul-less cars filled the lot.

Tony then recognized the signs of a struggle in the car, and he recognized the sounds that came from the trans am as that of his sisters… He was still a good 50 yards away

The door wrenched open and he could see Kate trying to wriggle her way out of the car and she made it, but Jesse made his way out from the back seat just as fast and caught Kate as she was trying to find her things from the front seat.

She tried to move away from the car but just as she did she felt a strong hand on her arm.

"Listen get back in the car! We aren't done with our date you little prude!" Jesse was in her face, and Kate started to cry once more in fear.

Just then Jesse was shoved out of her view in a flash of black and she felt the car shift behind her as Jesse was rammed roughly up against it.

"What's your problem man!" She recognized the voice of her little brother… she hadn't been this happy to hear his voice in .. forever.

"Hey get off me!" Jesse shoved him back, but Tony held his position still pretty well …. Especially considering the amount of muscle mass difference between the two. Tony was just a sophomore, no matter a well built and tall one, but nothing to the senior beefcake.

Kelly's approaching footsteps, the loud clanking of her heels echoing through the parking lot could be heard.

"Kate get your things, we are getting out of here!" Tony held Jesse with his forearms, hard against the frame of the car.

"The hell she is! I didn't ask her to senior prom for nothing! She owes me that!" Jesse pushed Tony back off him, much harder this time, and Tony had to take a few steps back to accept the force in order to keep from falling. Jesse made straight for Kate, but didn't make it far before Tony caught him in the shoulder.

Just as Jesse was being turned back against the car, Tony couldn't react fast enough to the fist that caught him good in the jaw, and snapped his head hard to the side. Tony righted his jaw and ducked the next punch headed for his other cheek, and gave a nice one to Jesse's eye.

"Hey stop! Stop!" Kelly yelled and tried to stop the fight, but to no avail.

Jesse made a strong lunge forward and tackled Tony hard to the pavement and although he tried not to let it happen, he felt his skull bounce off the pavement. Then he saw Jesse raise his fist, but Tony turned hard and rolled him off, now gaining the upper hand, but not before he caught another one to the mouth.

Tony laid a good one into Jesse's nose, and another into his eye, before taking a hard one to the jaw.

"Don't talk that way to my sister dirt bag," Tony managed before getting a good one into his eye once more. This time Jesse grunted and subdued. Tony moving off of him, he'd had enough.

He stood up to see Kelly gathering Kate's things, and Kate crying as she had watched her brother and some scumbag fight because of her.

"Tony, you okay?" Kelly asked concerned as she saw the blood and the swelling already.

"Yeah, fine." He wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth and made his way to his sister who was still upset and in dire need of a hug. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you Tony… thank you so much." Kate said as she let Tony hug her.

Jesse moaned from the ground.

"Come on Kate let's get out of here," Tony said.

"I've got all your stuff, we are parked just over there," Kelly directed, wanting to help.

Kate left Tony's embrace and walked over to the still sulking Jesse and laid a nice kick right into his side, eliciting a loud groan from the boy on the ground, and a chuckle from Kelly and Tony.

The trio made their way to the car. "Hey Tony are you sure your okay?"

"Let me see your face," Kate said without argument.

"I'm fine, let's just get home okay?" Tony tried to badger Kate's hands away as they turned his face back and forth in the dim light of the parking lot.

"Oh Tony your face is -"

"It's fine Kate.." Tony opened the car door on the passenger side and ushered his two ladies into it.

They piled into the car and made it safely back to the Gibbs' house, Kelly included.

They opened the front door, "Mom, Dad …" Kate semi-yelled into the house.

"Kate? Your home early…" Jenny rounded the corner from the living as she glanced at her watch, her eyes coming up to see Kate in a sash and holding a crown and broken roses.

"Oh Kate did you win queen!" She smiled dazedly and gathered Kate in her arms just as Jethro rounded the corner a bowl of popcorn in his hands.

"Who's a queen?" He joked, but then his eyes fell on the sad look in Kate's eyes and the bloody face of Tony falling in the door just behind Jenny hugging Kate. "Tony, son… what happened?" He set down the popcorn bowl and quickly made his way to Tony who was looking un-amused at the unwanted attention.

Kate began tearing up again … and Jenny finally took a glance at Tony before inhaling sharply and backing away from Kate to get a better idea of the scenario.

"What happened Tony?" Jethro sounded saddened, worried about another bully situation like the one they encountered last year.

"I got-"

"It's my fault," Kate said through tears. "After the dance Jesse… he-"

"He WHAT?" Jethro said menacingly.

"He got a little, you know…" Kate cried more. "Rough, and I tried to get away from him, and then no one was there.. And we were in the parking lot. But then Tony came before anything happened, and Jesse punched him … and they got in a fight and its all my fault.."

"Oh my godddd!" Jenny pulled Kate into a hug as she burst into tears.

"Did this Jesse kid hurt you Kate?" Jethro was livid.

"No Dad, Tony got there just in time, I swear…" Kate looked up and met her Dad's eyes from her mother's arms so he knew she was telling the truth. Thank god. He would also thank god for Tony. He was so glad he had a son to watch out for Kate that's for sure, and one that did as good a job as Tony. Thank God..

"You okay Tony?" Jethro pulled Tony a little closer towards the light, and grabbed him by the chin and turned his face from right to left and back.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's Kate that's upset.. " Tony looked sadly over at his sister. His hands in tuxedo pockets and his face still freshly beaten.

"She'll be alright Tony, ya did good kid. Thanks.." Jethro said.

Tony just nodded and locked eyes with his Dad. He was glad he had heard that when he did, or who knows what would've happened to Kate.

"Come on let's get ya cleaned up, and you can introduce me to your friend," Jethro held out his hand and shook it with Kelly who had maintained her stance awkwardly at the front door, letting the family have their time.

"Dad this is Kelly Henderson, Kelly this is my Dad," and with that Tony put his hand at the small of Kelly's back and led them into the kitchen where Jethro cleaned his cuts and prepared the ice packs… something they were used to by now.

"So tell me Kelly, did you have a good time at the Prom… despite the uh-drama- that happened afterwards?" Jethro asked as he felt around Tony's face, making sure everything was in tact, Tony wincing every once in a while when he would hit a tender spot.

"Oh I had a great time! It was a lot of fun!" Kelly smiled sweetly at Tony from where she sat at the island as she looked at the dazzling green eyes of Tony from his spot on the kitchen counter where he looked like a little boy who had just fallen off his bike and was waiting for his dad to clean his battle wounds.

"Good, good." Jethro's fingers probed along Tony's jaw line tenderly as he could see the bruises already forming, and then his fingers made his way into Tony's hair as he felt around his skull until his fingers felt something sticky, closely followed by a goose egg and a jolt and hiss from Tony ass he hit a lump on the back of his head.

"What's that from?"

"The pavement, I saw him hit it when Jesse tackled him.." Kelly piped up concernedly.

"Lean forward, Tony.." Jethro said softly. "Sounds like it was some fight…" "Yeah, and Tony won even though that kid was huge," Kelly said proudly.

"No doubt. Musta got lucky, my son cant fight…" Jethro smiled ruefully as he joked with Tony who shot a glare up at his Dad.

"Very funny.."

"Well Tony… I'm calling Duck, I think that the one on the back of your head is gonna need some stitches.."

"What? No way .. Dad! Its fine.. Just squirt some of that stuff on it and it'll be fine .. Come on.." Tony pleaded.

"No, Tony I'm not gonna let you wander around with an open head wound, im sorry," Jethro said in all seriousness as he held up an ice cube to Tony's split lip.

"Ugh.. But we were gonna go to a friends house for a little bit, its prom night and Kelly-"

"Nonono, its okay Tony, really. I can just wait here and make sure your head is okay.. And then we can just take it easy around here if its okay with your folks, and have my Dad pick me up later if you wanna hang out still…"

"No you wanna go to Rachel's, you can go ahead without me …. Its more your friends anyways, go.."

"Nope, I'd rather just stay here, I swear, make sure your okay .. That is if its alright with your parents."

"Yeah I think that's a fine idea…" Jethro looked back at Tony and wriggled his eyebrows playfully.

About forty minutes later, after Ducky had stitched up Tony and fed him a few of the painkillers he knew his nephew wasn't allergic to.. Jenny and Jethro looked over at the other side of the sectional couch to see Abby and Tim snuggled under a blanket sleeping like babies. And next to them was Kate who was leaning on Tony's lap, her arm around him, and crown still placed lazily on her hair, her cozy pajamas not really complementing the elegant piece, but oh well. Then there was Kelly who had borrowed a comfy pair of pajamas from Kate and was nuzzled up beneath Tony's arm, sleeping on his chest comfortably. And then there was Tony, whose feet were unwelcome-ly on the coffee table, in a baggy sweatpants and a t-shirt, with his head laid back gently on an ice pack, his newly strong jaw line bruising and his lip split, and eyes closed in a peaceful sleep as his two favorite ladies of the night cover him like a soft, warm blanket.

"That kid …" Jenny looked at their son. Handsome as a devil, and a heart of gold.

"I know it.." Jethro smiled and shook his head. It didn't need to be said. He had a good son. Kate was right he was like an X-rated Peter Pan. And boy was he loved …