Now you may ask what had me remember this particular memory almost a decade later. It was an interesting little conversation I had this evening with my eldest child.

I was sitting on the couch leaning back against the cushions game controller in my hands. Sam was sitting on the floor his back against my legs his own controller grasped tightly as he tried for the seventeenth time that night to beat me at the game playing across the TV screen. I had sensed Luc hovering at the edge of the room for some time. I knew my son well enough that he needed to ask as question and was just finding the right moment.

As my game character snuck in for an attack on my 10 year old's avatar Luc blurted out quickly and jumbled together "Hey Dad can I have the paddle that GG made?"

Having to discern exactly what he'd said and being somewhat surprised by what I'd heard I lost complete concentration on the game. When Luc had began speaking I looked over my shoulder lowering my attentiveness on my animated attack. Sam cheered as he was finally able to overtake my onscreen persona. My youngest jumping up and down, waving his controller in his hand as he gloated "I win, I win, I win".

Both Luc and I chuckled at young Sam's reaction. "Way to go Monkeyshine" I laughed before turning so that my arm hung over the back of the sofa and I could more clearly see Luc. He was standing in the doorway, back against the door frame, looking at his feet his hands tucked behind his back. I tried to interpret his expression and body language, embarrassed or guilty?

"You feeling guilty about something son? You and I need to go to your room for a private conversation?" I asked only half joking.

It took him a few seconds to process what I'd said before he vehemently answered "NO…. Daaaaaadddd" his hands raised in front of him waving no. "I mean can I borrow it" he reiterated. I guess I looked confused, which would have been accurate because I was. "Why exactly would you like to borrow it?" I asked.

"'Cause we're doin' this comedic skit at school… and we kind of need one… long story Dad… just can I borrow it?" Luc's discomfort was more than just a little evident in both his words and stance. I wasn't trying to make him feel any more uneasy when I asked the next question but his rosy complexion suggested that he was feeling less than relaxed. "Doesn't the school have one in the principal's office?"

"Ya" his sarcastic response his way of coping. "So why borrow my paddle? If it's a school 'project'?" I asked but didn't really expect an answer. "'Cause it's easier to ask you to borrow it then Mr. Littleton" his words were dripping with sarcasm. His hands were hidden behind him again as he pushed himself slightly off the wall and then allowed himself to fall back again. Luc may be 6 feet tall now but in those few seconds he looked so much the tiny 6 year old he was when he first discovered its existence.

"Sure you can borrow it… as long as I get it back" I smirked. Luc smiled back and I went to stand up. Noticing for the first time Sam's reaction to the whole conversation; shocked. It may have been his younger age or his more frequent acquaintance with it that had him staring between myself and his older brother during the discussion. As Luc and I headed towards my room to get the paddle out of my closet Sam watched intently but I heard the video game resume before we hit the bottom of the stairs.

I thought nothing more of the conversation until I happened to overhear the two boys in Luc's room when I came up to tuck Sam into bed.

"Luc please… you can just say it got taken… or that it fell out of your bag… or…" Sam's voice was pleading.

"Look Sam, I am NOT going to lose it, misplace it or have anything untoward happen to it…. Got it?" Luc answered annoyed. His tone dismissive enough that I figured this little chat had been going on for some time.

"Lucas… you aren't being fair" Sam's voice rose with a high pitched whine.

"Fair… this has nothing to do with fair Sam… I asked to borrow it for a school project… and not as you seem to think as a way to have it disappear and I'm not going to do to anything to betray Dad's trust in lending it to me…so really you're not being fair asking me" Luc's tone much more like that of a father than older brother. I smiled at Luc's reaction and then put on an overly stern appearance even crossing my arms over my chest and then stepped through the door.

Sam's back was to me but from his instant change in posture I knew he realized I was there and had heard everything; gaining his insight from the look on his sibling's face. With a flourish he turned to face me a large charismatic grin on his face showing his dimples to full effect. "Hi Dad… I'm ready for bed now."

I didn't bother saying anything as I knew both boys were more than aware of what I was thinking and would do should either of them 'accidentally' lose the 'package' Gibbs had handed me so many years ago.

After tucking in Sam and then going back to Luc's room to say goodnight. I returned to my office to work. I got nothing accomplished as instead I ran through the past, realizing just how much my children have grown.