Tony was about to head to the counter where dessert was laid out for the picking but Lucas had other plans. He pulled his uncle towards the living room and the once again sleeping infant. Abby made to join them but Tim gently pulled her back into her chair.
Looking down into the bassinet Lucas stared at Sam. He was small but mostly because he was newborn and not because he was actually tiny. He had a round face and chubby little hands that were curled around the edge of the blanket reflexively. Lucas had to admit his brother 'was' kind of cute.
"Sorry Sam" Lucas said as he pulled himself in over the side of the bassinet and tried to kiss his brother. It was Tony's quick response to lift the older brother that kept the bassinet from turning over. Lucas looked up expectantly towards his uncle who stood for several seconds questioning what it was he was supposed to be doing. With an annoyed looked and tone Lucas informed Tony "You are supposed to say you're sorry too remember?"
"Right… ah sorry Sam" feeling sort of uncomfortable Tony tried to turn but was stopped again by a little hand. "You didn't kiss him… that makes it all better" Lucas stated angrily.
"Oh… OK.." Tony leaned over and gently kissed the velvety smooth forehead. He'd been so nervous around Lucas when he was born that he hadn't ever felt a newborns skin before.
"That's better" Lucas said now dragging Tony towards the counter of sweets. He didn't have to be told twice to pick something for dessert.
Only Tony felt the slight unease that was initially hanging over the table. But as everyone ate the wonderful treats the tension lifted and people started talking freely. Before the table was cleared Gibbs nodded towards the little boy and then looked expectantly at Tony. Who answered with words although that wasn't completely necessary "I think I fixed it". The nod and half turned up side of his lips was all the acknowledgment that Gibbs gave but Tony understood that he too had been forgiven and all was well again.
oXoXoXoXoNCISoXoXoXoXo
The extended family left as soon as the table was cleared and all the dishes were washed up and put back where they belonged. Abby had taken Lucas up for a bath before the last of the guests left and she was sitting on a short stool beside the tub as he splashed around and poured water from one vessel to another.
Abby had been weighing the options of talking about the new baby and just letting it go seeing as Tony had said he'd "dealt with it" when Lucas without looking up from his toys said "Even though you have Sam you still love me too … right?" Quickly getting off the stool and kneeling beside the tub Abby answered "Of course I do… oh my gosh… Lucas I love you very much… I love you more than anything… you are my little bear… Sam is now part of our family and I love him too… but loving him or loving you doesn't mean I can' love the other one… I will always and forever love you".
"Ok… than… I just wondered" he said pushing a small toy boat through the water. Abby waited kneeling for a few more moments before returning to her post on the stool, satisfied that Luc didn't need her immediate presence. Giving him a two minute warning she explained that she would be washing him and his hair before it was time to get out and go to bed. She sat watching him play every few seconds taking a sideways glance at her. Just before she was about to declare wash time Luc asked "Is daddy still mad at me?"
Grabbing the soap and wash cloth Abby began to scrub up her eldest child as she answered "No daddy isn't angry with you anymore." She washed and rinsed his body before continuing "Daddy isn't angry but I want to you remember that how you behaved was completely unacceptable, you don't speak to anyone that way even if you are upset about something. Do you understand?"
"Yes, mommy" and then the little boy's brow furrowed "are you mad at me mommy?" Until she had spoken to him about his previous behavior it hadn't occurred to him that she might be angry with him too.
"Not anymore bear, not anymore" Abby said rinsing his now lathered head. Having rinsed out all the soap Abby drained the tub, wrapped the small child in a large towel and lifted him out onto the mat. Lucas was a very independent kid and would not generally allow this much "babying" but Abby figured he was up for any attention at the moment and expected that soon enough he would be back to his usual self.
Having laid out his pj's on his bed before bath time Abby deposited her son onto his bed with a bit of a throw and he giggled as he landed on the soft mattress. He got dressed as she looked through his bookcase for a good story to read. Cuddling up against the headboard Abby was about to start reading when Lucas sat straight up and said "Sam's going to miss story time… wait". He skooched across the bed and ran out the door. Moments later he returned with Tim following him carrying the baby. Lucas sat back into his cuddling position and then patted his lap. Tim unsure of what his son expected stood at the door. Patting again on his lap Lucas declared "Daddy put Sam right here so he can see the story".
Abby gave her surprised look with full eyebrows raised and mouth drawn in as Tim gently set the baby in his brother's lap. Both parents' heart leapt with joy when Lucas leaned down into the baby's face and said "Sam we read stories before bedtime can you see the pictures". When the baby stirred more out of discomfort of having a face so close to his, the older brother interpreted that his sibling was unable to see well and shifted the baby up so he was in a more sitting position.
Bedtime stories that night had many interruptions as Lucas described the pictures and what his favourite part was to Sam. For his part the infant sat silently looking more at the little face above him than the book in which he was supposed to be paying attention to.