Chapter Thirteen "Firsts"
Harry's POV in the end and a time skip to July 31st
"Daddddyyyy!"
Jamie Gibbs stomped his small foot impatiently in his crib, waiting for his adopted father to hear him from the crackling baby monitor and rescue him from his prison. He grabbed the crib bars clumsily and sighed, wishing he were older already.
"Someone is an impatient little boy today," Jethro chuckled as he entered the jungle-themed nursery and retrieved James from the crib, holding him on his hip and carrying him to the dresser. Sitting Jamie on the changing table, he dug around for the outfit Abby had ordered him to dress the birthday boy in.
Jethro grinned at Jamie's babbling as he laid the baby down and unbuttoned the footie pajamas he'd dressed the 12-month-old in last night. He still couldn't believe that Jamie had learned to say "Daddy" just two days ago and was using it every chance he got apparently.
He made quick work of the baby's diaper and had him dressed in a light blue T-shirt that said, "Lock up your daughters" and denim jeans to match. Jamie kicked his legs as Jethro pulled the small socks on his feet and lifted him up, tickling the baby's stomach. Jethro carried his son downstairs where Abby and Tim were. Tony and Ziva had agreed to get the cake and other necessities first thing before meeting them here.
"Happy, Happy Birthday my precious little boy!" Abby cheered as she snatched Jamie from Jethro and bestowed the squirming baby with kisses galore until Tim rescued Gibbs's son from her clutches. James hid his face against Tim amongst the men's laughter while Abby pouted.
Eventually Jethro had gotten Jamie settled down in his high chair and began to pour the baby a small amount of cheerios, to the baby's obvious delight at the finger foods. James grinned, showing his baby teeth off as he munched on his breakfast.
During breakfast, Tony and Ziva soon rejoined the group with loud, obnoxious "Happy Birthday Jamie!" noises from Tony and a quiet well wish from Ziva. James only responded by stuffing a piece of cheerio in his mouth. Jethro shook his head and cleaned him of crumbs.
Crumb-free and clean, James was placed on a blanket in the living room while the group gathered around him, waiting for Palmer and Ducky. The doorbell suddenly rang and, knowing Ducky would knock instead, Jethro went to answer it.
"Whose a big boy?" crooned Abby as she sat in front of Jamie on the blanket and the baby blinked at her incredulously before turning away. The team snickered at Abby's downtrodden face before watching as Gibbs returned with a frown marring his face.
"Apparently, Draco Malfoy sent Jamie a birthday gift," Gibbs told the group and watched James perk up and look as he set the gift down. Gibbs was about to retrieve his son when Jamie began to wobbly clutch the couch cover, standing himself up. Abby, realizing the baby's intent immediately scrambled away to give the child his space.
"Gibbs!" Abby squealed excitedly and quite unnecessarily as all eyes went to the baby while James concentrated on gripping the couch tightly and-at last- he took a step forward… and let go of the cough.
"Oh, he's walking! He's walking!" Abby bounced in her spot away from the baby as Jamie began to walk forward unsteadily and Jethro knelt down next to the box, smiling widely when Jamie toddled to him and promptly fell into the strong arms.
"Such a good boy," Jethro praised as he bestowed his adopted son with a kiss to the cheek and sat down on the floor with James in his lap. The baby grinned toothily at his just as Ducky and Jimmy Palmer entered the house. The team was quick to fill the two up on what they missed and Ducky nearly bored them again with a story of development and walking.
"How about we open the box now?" Tim suggested when Ducky opened his mouth to continue. Looking put out, he nodded and settled in the recliner while Jimmy nervously glanced the group and joined Tony on the couch.
Jethro had his hands over Jamie's tiny ones and helped him rip open the emerald green paper and unfold the cardboard top. Inside were several items and the first that Jethro pulled out was a stuffed owl. He wondered why but was laughing as Jamie bounced in his lap excitedly at the sight of the owl.
"Ehhwee!" Jamie clapped his small hands and reached for it, pulling it to his chest after tugging it out of his father's hold. Jethro shook his head in amusement and withdrew a rather soft pillow with a red lion on it, a dark red and gold pacifier with HJP on the front, and last but not least, an action figurine.
Harry was quite happy to have a Hedwig look-alike toy but found himself plotting Draco's death when he saw the pacifier and pillow. He'd been looking at the baby store when Teddy had been born; those were two things, of which he himself had purchased, for his godson. Malfoy must have gotten hold of it. The figurine had him wrinkling his nose though. It was made to look exactly like his adult-self with a scar on its forehead and everything. You've got to be kidding me…
"Maybe I should let him have that when he's older," his adopted father mused aloud and Harry was inclined to agree with him. From there, Gibbs began to stack his gifts beside him and the others would hand him his presents even before the cake! Harry had quite a lot of fun with the wrapping paper, having never actually torn open a present before. From Tony, he had a baseball cap with "#1 Baby" on the front and a T-shirt that had a puppy on the front. Abby had given him a set of new jeans and jackets in his size that were of different varieties. Harry liked the dinosaur jeans he saw in there. Ziva had purchased a set of finger paints and wooden blocks for him to play with. Ducky had gifted him with felt-feel books and pop up ones that made Harry laugh at the absurd pictures. Palmer, who he knew the least, gave him a few peg puzzles to play with and Tim had gotten him a plastic telephone. Harry fondly remembered Wizards calling it a fellyphone.
His favorite, by far, was the toy car that his adopted father had bought him for his first birthday. Reminded of the kiddie broom he saw in that picture of his parents, he waited for Gibbs to set him in it before he took off, squealing quite happily. He paid no heed to the plant he knocked over or Tim who he ran over until his father immediately caught him around the waist and lifted him up.
"I'm definitely not teaching you how to drive until you're eighty," Gibbs said as he surveyed the mess Harry had suddenly created. Harry didn't care, that had almost been as fun as his broom!
He was placed in his highchair when the gifts were put up and a cake with his name on it was set in front of him. Ooh chocolate. Remus Lupin would be very jealous of him no doubt. Harry much preferred a treacle tart, but chocolate was the next favorite of his. Well Mars Bars actually but he knew he couldn't have that!
"Dear Jamieeeee… Happy Birthday to youuuu!" sang the group as Harry was aware of their singing. He blinked and watched in amusement as Tony did some kind of jig and added lyrics like Scooby-Doo and something to do with four? All well, he stopped thanks to his dad's head slap to his coworker's head.
As he stuffed his hand into the cake, he relished in the fun he could get away with among them as he heard his dad laughing; probably the best birthday anyone could ask for. It was that thought that had Harry sending the cake off the tray with a grin and watching it hit Tony's very expensive shoes.
"Arg! JAMES, NOT THE SHOES!"
Definitely the best birthday ever.
I've been sick for two days straight after going to the fair the other day. Sorry! Hopefully this makes you happier with me and whatnot. Oh! Since I did that, I'll put the sequel up if people really want me to.