Morning
Gibbs was in the kitchen drinking coffee the next morning and reading the paper when the baby monitor alerted him that Tony was up, climbing out of his bed, and en route. He smiled and shook his head, hurriedly setting down the cup and jogging to the stairs. Tony had just made it to the landing and Gibbs felt his heart swell when he saw his little boy. Adorned in his Cookie Monster footed pajamas Tony's hair was rumpled from his sleep. He had perro clutched in one hand, and was rubbing his eyes with the other.
Gibbs swung him up into his arms when he got to him. Kissing him, he headed to the bathroom.
"Good morning, my big boy. Did you sleep well?"
Tony nodded but didn't answer. Gibbs set him down when they got to the bathroom, and ordered gently, "Let me hold perro while you use the toilet." Tony handed over the toy and climbed sleepily onto the step stool. "Wait," his dad added, "we need to get your pajamas down first." Tony stayed still, but allowed his dad to get his pants down. After using the bathroom, Jethro helped him wash his hands and brush his teeth. By then Tony was a little more awake, and he began to chatter as his dad led him back into his room.
"Come on, let's make up your bed and get you dressed." Tony set the stuffed animal down long enough to help his father, then beamed proudly when Jethro bragged on his work.
Tony pointed to his little coat rack, built by Jethro and occupying one side of the room near his rocking chair. "Abuela got my clothes out already, Daddy." Running over, he scooped up the garments and carried them to the bed. "I chose the shirt, Daddy, and the pants."
Jethro smiled and kissed him on the head.
He had Tony's pajamas stripped off and had nearly gotten him into his underwear when they heard the front door shut. Tony immediately wiggled out of his father's grasp and raced excitedly to the stairs, his face wreathed in a smile. "Abuela, Abuela, I am here! Vengan a mi, come here to me, por favor, please, Abuela."
Looking up at him, Maria set down her purse and laughed out loud. Climbing the stairs, Tony threw himself into her arms when she got to the landing. Kissing and rocking him as she held him, she carried him back to the bedroom. "Come, Bambino, you have to get your clothes on- all of them, so that you can help me cook breakfast. You can not be the breakfast maker if you are naked."
Jethro laughed at Tony's affection for his Abuela. Tony eagerly began to recount his day with the Mallards and going to the movie, and he assured Maria several times that he had been a very good boy in her absence. He opened his mouth as widely as he could and demanded that she notice his pretty teeth, which he had already brushed. Maria bragged on his hygiene. She managed to dress him and get his hair brushed, and then patted his bottom and told him to head to the kitchen.
Skipping towards the door, Tony paused and turned to address her. "Abuela mia, Daddy would not let me take a bath last night and I was dirty. He knows better, too, that is not how we act around here."
Maria turned to regard Jethro.
Gibbs tried to defend himself, "Tony, you know that you were almost asleep at the table!"
Shaking his head sadly, Tony made his departure.
Maria shook her head, then joined Jethro in giggling, and the two adults exchanged glances as they followed him down. Tony was a whirlwind.
Maria and Jethro discussed her visa and residency requirements during the meal. Tony ate hungrily, and Maria shook her head in amazement as he asked for more scrambled eggs, then more homemade salsa. For such a tiny body, he ate like a lumberjack. Jethro had to leave for work as soon as the meal finished, and Tony kissed him good bye with lips outlined with a milk mustache.