Warnings: None. Just cute fluff.

A/N: I apologize for the delay. We'll peek in some more on Theo and Samantha a little bit more in the next chapter as well. Perhaps an afternoon of Ducky and Gibbs trying to take care of the babies in this verse (Grace, Theo and Samantha). Until then, enjoy!


Grace was unhappy.

Tim could hear the five month old wailing when he got out the car and opened the back door to grab his son's carrier. Theo had turned out to be the laid back one, never bothered by his sister's crying, but something told Tim that Grace's high pitched wails was going to disturb the sleeping infant.

As they approached Gibbs' house, Tony appeared on the front porch, Grace in his arms. Her little head was snuggled underneath her daddy's chin and she was wailing away, her fingers stuck in her mouth. Tony was desperately trying to soothe her but it wasn't working. In fact, her cries only got louder as he started to sing sweetly to her.

Leah joined him on the porch then, some kind of toy in her hand and she handed it to the baby. Grace stuck the toy in her mouth immediately and almost just as fast her wails stopped. Tim glanced at Delilah. "She's cutting a tooth," his wife supplied, smiling gently.

"Great. I look forward to when Theo and Samantha go through that," Tim mumbled as he carried the two babies up the front steps. "Hey," he greeted, warmly as he stepped onto the porch while his wife went around the back to use the wheel chair ramp to get into the house. "Sorry we're late... still trying to figure out a routine."

"Don't worry, you've only missed Gracie's biggest cry fest to date," Tony replied with a smile and soft kiss to the top of his daughter's head. "Gibbs just fired up the grill anyhow. We all took turns trying to calm her and then realized... she's teething."

Grace looked at her uncle Tim with sad, green eyes. Normally she would smile for whoever, but today there was nothing but a little frown on her face while she sucked on the cold teething ring. It broke Tim's heart. And if this broke his heart what was he going to be like when it was his own babies?

Tony offered to carry one of the twin's seats into the house for him, shifting Grace comfortably into one arm and reaching for Theo's carrier. Grace got a confused look on her face as her eyes fell on the sleeping baby in the carrier. Up until now she was the only baby at these gatherings and she had only seen other babies at her daycare center. It was as if she was trying to figure out what and who this newcomer was...

Inside the house the laughter of two children could be heard. Tim peeked into the living room to see Jack playing with Victoria. Both children looked happy and completely unaffected by the earlier outburst from Grace.

"Hey, look who I found outside," Tony announced to the gathered adults in the dining room. "Couple of babies and a probie."

"Surprised that Grace's wailing didn't scare him away," Ellie observed, honestly. "See what you have to look forward too, Tim?"

"Don't remind me," Tim said, placing Samantha's carrier onto the floor. "It's going to be twice as bad."

Grace whimpered and snuggled her father. Nothing was really soothing her. Poor little munchin, Tony thought as he placed Theo next to his sister and shifted his daughter in his arms again, rubbing her back gently.

At least with the arrival of the twins the guests at Gibbs' house had babies to hold and gush over since, well, Grace wanted no part of that today. She was a daddy's girl when she was sick... actually, she was a daddy's girl all the time. Theo and Samantha didn't seem to mind being handed around, getting equal time with all the adults in their life. Tim and Delilah seemed relieved to have other people offer to feed and change them. Tony chuckled, recalling how Leah had disappeared to sleep for hours when her mother had spent a weekend with them recently and offered to care for the two kids. Parenting was exhausting.

Leah brought another cold teething ring for Grace, switching them out. If they kept them cold and at hand all the time it did seem to help. They took turns holding the baby, so the other could eat.

Jack came rushing into the room when Gibbs called out that his hot dog was ready, but he stopped when he saw the twins. Tim, who had Theo nestled in his arms, suddenly had his godson standing on a chair next to him, saying, "Hi Theo!" Gently the little boy gave the baby a kiss and went to do the same with Samantha.

"Kid loves babies," Tony pointed out.

"He's full of love, period," Abby said, scooping Jack up. The little boy giggled and settled on his Aunt Abby's lap to eat his lunch.

Tim had to smile at that. Jack was patient and easy going around his baby sister, even when Grace was screaming and demanding attention from their parents, and there was no doubt that Jack loved his baby sister, fiercely. He wondered if Theo and Samantha were going to have that kind of relationship. If his twins were as close and loving as Jack and Grace were... he'd be happy. Siblings should look out for one another and it seemed that Jack was off to a great start keeping his eyes on his baby sister.

Gibbs reached over the table and ruffled Jack's hair. Tim noticed the love in his eyes, the smile on his face. The former NCIS agent was happy... they all were happy. Tim looked at Theo sleeping in his arms. We've been waiting a long time for this... for all of us to finally be truly happy. And they were, anyone observing them at this very moment could see that.


"Okay. After five rounds of You Are My Sunshine, she's asleep," Tony announced coming into the master bedroom. He flopped down onto the bed. "How long until she wakes up screaming?"

"Well, the baby tylenol I have her probably will wear off in four to six hours," Leah said. She reached out and rubbed his back. "Don't worry, honey. We'll get through it. We survived Jack teething didn't we?"

Tony chuckled into his pillow, falling into a daze from her gentle hands rubbing his shoulders. "We didn't have a two year old when Jack was teething. These kids are going to kill me."

Leah laughed softly and continued to gently massage his aching muscles. "Oh, stop being so dramatic. I know for a fact that you wouldn't change a thing. You love those kids, you'd do anything for those kids."

It was true. He did love those kids and their mother. Rolling over onto his back, he reached out and pulled his wife into his arms, kissing her temple. "I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world thanks to you and those kids." And as he drifted off to sleep holding her in his arms, he murmured, "But you're right... we are no where near ready for another one."