The trip to Las Vegas went smoothly. The strip was fun, the two trips to Nellis were just as smooth. Gibbs and Victoria enjoyed the trip, though more than once she disappeared for hours, and he couldn't quite figure out why she was gone. It was extremely difficult to read her at moments. By the time they returned to DC, the media had moved on to other things, and her arm was getting a lot better.

It was six weeks from when she'd been ordered to Las Vegas. It was the day before she was promoted to Brigadier General.

"Leroy, I really don't think I can do this." She'd just gotten her cast off, and her arm looked perfect, at least in her opinion. She was sitting on his desk, in NCIS, with that special little visitors badge, looking over her shoulder at him. Tony, McGee and Ziva were all at their own desks, trying to not pay attention.

"What gave you that idea?" He looked up from the screen. She'd been visiting with the team more and more often, as the day got closer. Though she'd done a lot of work. Getting her team together, infact the base was operational, on a basic level, it just didn't have an actual head. No civilians were aloud on the very large base. In Virginia it was twenty miles out from DC, and quite spacious. But she'd been clingy, and Gibbs had a good idea why.

"A gut feeling?" the question made him chuckle.

"Never stopped you before. You'll do fine." He reached over and touched her hand, before snatching the coffee she'd been holding out. She chuckled. He grinned at her, hoping it might give her some confidence.

"You say that, but sometimes I wo-"

"Tori! Hey! Didn't expect you here. Ok I did, but still. Gibbs? Do I get a prize? I figured out who your murderer is." Abby came up and hugged Victoria, before she held out the piece of paper. Gibbs read it quickly.

"DiNozzo, gas the truck. Ziva, McGee, your with me. We're bringing in Gunnery Sargent Weiss." He said standing up, and opening his drawer to get his gun, clip and badge. He moved quickly, but touched Victoria's arm before he sped off. Quickly the middle part of the bullpen was quiet. Well mostly. Abby smiled.

"So did he ask you yet?" Abby looked overjoyed.

"Ask me what?" Victoria said, grabbing her friends arm and leading her to the elevator.

"You know, the special question? He sure seems sweet on you. That and he's been a lot nicer since Las Vegas. Did you two, you know, get it on?" The laughter from the non-goth made the goth girl smile as they stepped into the elevator. "It's a good question. It's logical to. I mean he's only been that happy once, and that was with Director Shepherd, and never ever tell Tony that one." She continued to chatter as they entered Abby's lab. The lab was full of odd mechanical tools, obviously they were part of the current case, but still. Victoria moved to the main screen and looked up at it.

"Weiss is a pretty one." She murmured. He was a marine, but still. He'd raped to girls, and murdured them and their mothers. Both women had turned him down, and married his two best friends. He was going after the best friends next. She hoped that Jethro got them. She smiled a little. She'd confused him a great deal in Las Vegas. Half the time he was Leroy the other half Jethro, and he couldn't convince her to chose one. She lowered her gaze as she thought about her life now. She was going to be a general by the evening of the next day. She was going to be in control of her dream base, and she was terrified. Politics had only just started to happen. She glanced at Abby who was sipping a Calf-Pow and humming to the loud music. What would life hold for Victoria? Well, it would all be good. Riley was getting better fast, and going to be relised with a Medical Discharge, as well as a girlfriend, a nurse who'd he'd wooed, or was in the prosses of wooing. He wanted to work for NCIS, and she thought that would be a good one for him. Her old OSI team was being shifted around, placed in better areas. She just… was a bit unsure what was going to happen now. She'd found her nitch, and she almost was worried it would end all to quickly.

She only noticed that she'd been standing there thinking when strong arms wrapped around her. "Abs say's you've been here for two hours." Jethro's lips nearly brushed her ear. She smiled a little.

"A lot's happened since we met, that's all." She leaned back, and grinned up at him as he was to shift his leg back to brace himself. "Didn't notice the time." She added.

"Dinner." Victoria laughed.

"Always the sweet talker. Of course. I'm not sapposed to do anything until the day after tomorrow." She pulled away easily, and grinned at Abby. "You'll be there right?" she asked the goth.

"Me? Everyone here will. Gibbs, Tony, Ducky, Jimmy, Ziva, McGee, Vance. It's like NCIS is taking a break for a few hours to a day to see you become a general. You know it sounds really good. General Crane." She hugged Victoria with a laugh. "We'll be there. Don't worry. Plus there's dancing after wards. Not often do civilians get to go to a Dining Out." Tori grinned.

"thank you Abby." She murmured, before flouncing out of the room. Gibbs eyed her.

"No Gibbs, you didn't miss anything. She's just not going to be fully here until after the day after tomorrow." Abby said with a grin, hugged him, and turned around to work on another case. Jethro followed Victoria to the elevator.

"You ok?" He asked her, as the doors closed.

"Been better, but I always get like this. I can see how I can do everything wrong, and believe I can't do it. It'll pass. I hope." She added with a smile.

Dinner was Italian, and the evening was spent walking around the national monuments. Then her house. She fell asleep next to him on the couch, watching a movie. It was a simple movie, sad and happy, that had to do with a little boy who's father was a marine, but the marine had died. The boy was trying to cope, and had done the singing deal. It was actually a very cool movie, but she'd fallen asleep. He carried her to her bed, and fell asleep next to her.

The next morning was a whirlwind. She was up early, and digging through her closet before he was fully awake. She seemed to be trying to find the perfect uniform. She found it ,and her cap, and raced to the bathroom. He just shook his head. He'd brought over a bag, knowing she'd probably not want her to leave. Into the very nice business suit that he'd let Tony talk him into buying, and the expensive shoes, he went. The phone wrang as she came out the bathroom, her hair down, but the skirt, hoes and shirt were on. She snatched it up and started talking quickly into it. Mainly it was to a man, who she never named, but she seemed excited to see. "Who was that?"

"Someone that is very interested in meeting you." She said mysteriously. Then back to the bathroom. Hair was curled up into a bun, kerchief, service coat, and black pumps were on. She took an hour figure out make up, which he didn't understand, but it was enough time to make food and coffee, and then force her to eat it. Though he knew she didn't want to. The complaints reminded him of Tony. Only younger, and more female. A teen actually. The Taking Command Cerimony was at ten. It was seven. "We should go."

"Yep." He lead the way outside as she grabbed her bag and a few other things, then they were in his car. The yellow 71 Charger was, in Gibbs opinion, the best way to arrive in style. Victoria didn't mind. Her mind was elsewhere. It didn't take long with his driving to get to the new base. She showed her badge, the man at the gate smiled, and waved them through.

"Good Luck Colonel." The man said before Jethro closed the window. She smiled a little. He knew the place like the back of his hand, mainly because Victoria could only talk about it. But he got them to the main admin building where she'd be working. It was here that she was sapposed to be getting ready. He watched her move into the building as fast as possible. He didn't quite keep up, there was his entire team, and all of her friends off to the right.

"They aren't letting us in Boss." Tony complained.

"Agent Gibbs? The Col. Has asked for you." Said a young marine, maybe twenty one. He looked nervous, just barely a sergeant.

"Tell her I'm on my way." Gibbs said with a shake of his head. He turned to tony. "Keep an eye out."

"You expect trouble boss?"

"Be stupid to not to." Tony nodded, and moved towards Ziva and McGee. Gibbs headed off towards the admin building and entered. It was easy to figure out where she was. But he was put in a waiting room, for what seemed like an hour. It was only half an hour but still. She came out, and hugged him, hard. He looked down. "You'll do fine." He murmured into her hair.

"You keep saying that!"

"Maybe because it's true." He put his hands on her shoulder. "You can do this."

"I'll say she can." Said a voice that even Gibbs hadn't notice come in, he could see Tony behind the tall man. The man was about six foot four, with white hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a face that very much matched his girlfriend.

"Daddy!" Victoria spun and hugged the tall man.

"Hey Kiddo. You doin' ok?" He asked, giving his daughter a kiss. There were differences, but it was quite obvious.

"Yeah, Been better, but I'll survive. I always do." She smiled up at her father, who grinned down then looked at Gibbs. Gibbs unconsciously stood a little straighter. This must be Robert Crane. "Daddy, this is Leroy Jethro Gibbs, You've heard about him, Leroy, this is my dad, Robert Crane. Be nice, you aren't aloud to hurt him."

"And who's the desider of that?"

"He's a former marine dad, I think he'd win." She giggled as her father moved forward and held out his hand. He looked down at Gibbs, only about four inches shorter than him, but it was enough to slightly put Gibbs off for a second. He did draw a conclusion that this man had military training of some sort, and a military mind, but he wasn't actually military.

"Like my daughter said, I'm Robert. Nice to finally meet you. She's refused to bring you out to Arizona."

"There was a reason for that." She muttered.

"I've heard good things about you, Robert." Gibbs said, giving the man a good hand shake, then letting go. He glanced at Victoria, but she just smiled as she was whisked away to get her hair fixed again. Robert eyed his daughter's boyfriend.

"Hm. I've heard good and bad about you. But she seems to be taken with you." Gibbs felt slightly uncomfortable, but it didn't show.

"I with her." He said simply.

"Oh?" Robert eyed him. "You're better than that other guy… the special forces one that died two years ago."

"He seems the better choice." Gibbs said carefully.

"Evasive but honest. Well at least you won't bore her." It seemed the jury was out for Robert, at least for now.

"Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Crane, It's time for everyone to head towards the flight line." Came a young woman's voice. This time it was a young army officer. The base was completely joint. All five branches were there, there was a small dock, it could have a single air craft carrier in at any time, but no other ships, there were three run ways, and lots of area to practice all sorts of things. Darling Base was not as simple as it's name. The two civilians met up with the rest and a small woman, with blue eyes, brown hair, and obviously the same exact nose as her daughter, was in the group, and seemed to want to talk to Gibbs as well. She was wondering why this man was helping Robert pin on the star to her daughter's shoulders. She liked him though, as she was herself, a former Marine. Gibbs wasn't sure about her either, but at least they didn't hate her. As he sat down, he could see another group of people. It was a large family. A much older woman, and older man, Zoe, and three other older women, two teenage girls, a young teen boy, and the father's of the girls. It seemed that her other family was here as well. Well this was going to be interesting. At ten everything started. Two speeches, one of them from the president, and then the Air Force Hymn. Then both Robert and Gibbs went up to pin the stars on Victoria's shoulder, and hat, after she took her oath. Then came the fun part. At least for Gibbs. He watched as the five branches of the military gave their respects to the new commander of Darling Base. All military stood during their song, though she stood at attention the entire time, the special honor guard, which had all five branches in it, stood behind her. Then the entire base marched in review for her. She watched with a great deal of excitement.

Finally it was over, and DiNozzo made his way to the food, as did everyone else. The entire ordeal had taken about four hours. At two in the afternoon it was time to start the party. Or at least some of it. Gibbs let her alone for now. She was talking with five men and women. They were her closest staff. The commanders of each branch at the base, these men and women would be her eyes, ears, hands and mouth for as long as she was at the base. It was important she bonded with them. Jethro ended up speaking with Robert more, and the woman, who he learned was Darla. As the sun started to go down, they were moved into the elegant and large Officer's Club, where the ball was to happen.

The ball was sweet, somehow, Victoria had changed into a pretty red dress, floor length, and slim, it was sleeveless, and she looked stunning. She manged to coax Gibbs out onto the dance floor. Off the dance floor, Ducky and Abby were standing together.

"Don't they look adorable ducky?" Abby gushed.

"If by adorable, you mean like a very charming couple, then yes, I agree." Abby smiled as she watched them. It was a waltz, but somehow Gibbs was just barely managing to mess it up. Or maybe it was Victoria, either way the two of them were laughing almost hysterically. Though in reality it was over Gibbs talking about the different commanders, and the different branches, showing character flaws that were actually quite amusing. "Abigail, would you dance with me?"

"Oh ducky! I'd thought you'd never ask!" Abby smiled as Ducky lead her onto the dance floor.

Near the end of the night, Gibbs pulled Victoria aside. He seemed just a little nervious. He'd been thinking about doing this for six weeks, and it had practically drove him crazy. But now it was time. He was not going to do this in public, but he had no doubt she'd just go tell everyone. "Victoria." He murmured.

"Leroy? Why are we hiding from everyone?" She asked coyly. He was pretty sure she knew what was going on, but hell, she wasn't gonna say anything. He slipped down on one knee, pulled out the box, and opened it. Before he could say anything, she crouched down next to him and kissed him, murmuring yes. He laughed as he pulled away.

"How'd y-"

"Leroy, I expected it. There are some parts of you that are easy to read. Come on." She slipped the simple ring, with a small sapphire in it on, then grabbed his hand. She lead him through the door, and into a different life, where bad memories could be laid to rest, and maybe, redemption was just around the corner.

Ziva had disappeared half way through the night. She'd had an old two year old piece of paper that she'd had to fix. She was working on erasing a face. Finally, she just gave up and started again. There were differences. Tony looked a little more refined, though his usually crooked, rogue smile was still there. Abby looked just as excited, her thick boots and bat's around her head fitting perfectly. McGee stood beside her, a computer at his feet, a cell in his hand, and a PDA in the other, looking harried, but happy as he smiled up from the paper. Ziva herself looked happier, standing next to Tony, though not as close as a tall woman, with sparkling eyes. Jillian stood beside her husband, her arm wrapped around his, her navy uniform contrasting with Tony's jeans. Ducky looked older, distinguished, but it was obvious that he was starting to pull away from the group. He was the farthest left, and the farthest away from everyone. Jimmy Palmer was closer, his grin always there, and the scalpel and scull in his hands somehow comic. Vance stood in the back, his tall frame making him look powerful. He was still watching over them all. Finally, in the middle was Gibbs. He looked a little older, but a great deal happier. Beside him was Victoria. Not in uniform, but in her every day clothing. A cowgirl to the end. She had her arms wrapped around Gibbs' neck and shoulders, and was kissing his cheek. He had his own arm around her. The picture fit the team. The artist smiled down at it. "Now that's right." She murmured. She wondered what would happen now. Good things for sure. She had no doubt.

Notes: The story isn't over. This part is. I'll be writing another one. I like this paring. How about you guys? So Give me some R&R. Tell me what you think. I enjoyed that last part. And yeah, the popping the question is a little… corny, but I liked it. Like I said, I've got another story brewing, so read, R&R that one, and we'll see what happens. Maybe in the next one Ziva finds her own true love, or maybe not. Hm :p