Warnings: Cute, holiday fluff

A/N: Here's part three! Enjoy!

"Grandpa Gibbs where's your Christmas tree?" Grace asked first thing when Tony dropped her off for the afternoon after school a few days after Tony had taken the new job. She stood in the middle of the entranceway, looking puzzled. "We have a tree! A big one!"

"Don't worry, she's been asking everyone that we meet this question, even strangers at the mall," Tony said, putting Grace's backpack by the door. "I'm surprised she hasn't offended anyone yet."

Gibbs chuckled and picked Grace up. This little girl had been such a light in all their lives with her inquisitive mind but lovable personality. Gently he kissed her cheek. "I thought we'd save that for today. Just you and me kid. We can go pick out a tree, cut it down, bring it home and make it look just as nice as yours."

Grace's eyes lit up when she learned that Theo and Samantha would not be coming that day. Since the twins had been born she had been sharing her Wednesday afternoons with her favorite grandpa. It was rare that she got to spend any of them with just Gibbs. "Where are Theo and Samantha?"

"Aunt Delilah had to go to the doctor so they stayed at daycare," Gibbs answered. He put the little girl down on the floor. "Keep your coat on. We're going to get into the car in a few minutes."

"Daddy can you come too?" Grace asked looking up at her father hopefully.

"Sorry princess," Tony said, sadly. "I have to go back to work. I have a meeting this afternoon."

Grace frowned, her green eyes almost filling with tears. "You always have meetings, Daddy."

Tony squat down to her eye level, gave her a little kiss on her cheek and promised that he would be home early and that they would watch The Polar Express—again. "I know I've been busy with all the meetings for the new job. I promise after Christmas things will settle down and I'll be around more, okay?"

"Okay," the little girl grumbled. She was still slightly sore that Tony had played ice hockey in the backyard with Jack the day before and had not spent anytime with her. "You promise?"

"Promise," Tony replied, crossing his fingers. He gave her another kiss and stood up. "Nana and Grandpa are going to pick you up later. Have fun decorating Grandpa Gibbs' tree!"

Gibbs reached out and pat Tony on the shoulder when he saw the dejection in the younger man's eyes. The last few days had been difficult on Tony and his family. Leah had been placed on bed rest after a false alarm, John and Katherine Dawson were doing their best to help out but they were also visiting friends in high places while in D.C which didn't always fit the schedule of the busy family. On top of that Tony was transitioning into this new job... "Sure you don't want me to take the kids for a night? I don't mind, Tony."

Tony shook his head. "No thanks, Gibbs. It's fine, really. Things will settle down when the baby arrives. Leah's stress level is through the roof thanks to this bed rest. Hopefully the baby will make their appearance before Jack's holiday show next week. She'll be devastated if she misses that."

Grace tugged on Gibb's flannel shirt. "Mommy's cranky," she said, simply. "She told Nana she wants the baby out of her belly."

"Well, the baby will come out of her belly when the baby is ready," Gibbs said, slipping into his coat and grabbing his car keys. He scooped Grace off the floor, "Okay, let's go find that Christmas tree!"

"After can we call Grandpa Ducky and see if he wants to come over?" Grace asked as Gibbs carried her out to his truck. "I like it when he tells me stories about Christmas in Scotland. I think I want to go to Scotland, Grandpa. Can we go to Scotland?"

Tony laughed, softly, and shut the door to Gibbs' house. He dug his keys out for his car and followed behind his former boss and daughter. "Guess he hasn't told her about Nessie yet," he teased.

Gibbs gave him a little glare over his shoulder as he strapped Grace into her car seat. "Don't you have a meeting to get too?"

"Yeah," Tony sighed, "Bet you never thought I'd slide into a political position, huh, Gibbs?"

"No, but back when I first met you, you were alone and didn't have anyone else to think about," Gibbs told him, honestly. He tickled Grace's toes and smiled when she giggled. "It's a whole different ball game when you have a family, Tony."

"Tell me about it," Tony mumbled as he headed towards his car. He got inside, watched as Gibbs finished getting Grace settled and then got into the truck and drove off. Starting the car up, he sighed, heavily, and repeated, "Tell me about it."

Having done his best to get home early, Tony was surprised to find his wife resting on the sofa with Jack, Grace, and the McGee twins when he did finally get home. All four children were engrossed in whatever movie was on and only Theo looked up to smile and greet him. "Hi Uncle Tony."

Tony slipped out of his jacket, exhausted after a long day of meetings about his new job. In the long run he knew it was going to be worth it, but he had never downed so much coffee than he did that day. He was turning into Gibbs. Sleepily he smiled at Theo. "Hi. I didn't know you were coming over, this is a nice surprise."

Leah glanced up at her husband, looking uncomfortable and slightly miserable that she had been confined to the sofa or a bed for last three days. "Delilah had to work late and Tim was going to the airport to pick up Sarah and the baby."

"Just Sarah and the baby?" Tony questioned, wondering where Sarah's husband of a year was going to be.

"I didn't ask questions," Leah snapped. "It's none of my business. Tim needed someone to watch the twins so I said yes."

Tony put his jacket in the closet and with a shake of his head ventured into the kitchen to find something to eat. Katherine was scooping some leftovers onto a plate for him, with a gentle smile. "I think she's getting worse," he mumbled to his mother-in-law.

Katherine put the plate in front of him at the island. "You know Leah, she needs to be constantly moving, doing something. She very rarely sits down to relax. She's bored and disappointed that she can't participate in all the holiday fun with Jack and Grace until the baby is born."

"I've tried telling her that it's okay," Tony replied, digging into his dinner. "I bet you can imagine how well that went."

"You mean well, Anthony," Katherine assured him. "I think you did a nice job on the wrapping."

"Wasn't kidding when I said I knew how to tie a bow," Tony teased with a twinkle in his eye. "My cookies for Grace's class will be another story."

Katherine held a plastic container of cookies up. "Your father stopped by. He heard that Leah was stuck in bed and since Grace loves your mother's recipe for Snickerdoodles he thought she'd like to take some to school to share."

Tony was surprised. It was true that since the children had been born his father had made a better effort at being a grandfather than he had been as a father, but still, Senior was Senior and he had his relapses. Of course, Senior was just like Gibbs—couldn't say no to Grace. "She'll be thrilled," he stated. "Might help since it doesn't look like Leah is going to make it to that party next Monday."

"Anthony," Leah's voice came from the hallway.

"Leah," Katherine chided her. "I told you to stay on the sofa and I'd bring you what you needed."

"Fine, but right now I need a ride to the hospital," Leah snapped. "My water just broke!"

Tony jumped off the stool, food still stuffed in his mouth and reached for his keys. Swallowing what was in his mouth he dashed to the closet to grab their jackets. Katherine was helping Leah down the hall to the open jacket and then into the coat. Tony grabbed the bag for the hospital and threw it over his shoulder.

Jack and Grace were standing at the edge of the living room, watching with wide, curious eyes. "Mommy, Daddy, where are you going?" the little boy asked. "The movie isn't over yet."

Katherine tried to shoo them back into the living. "Mommy and Daddy are going to the hospital. I'm sure they'll call when the baby is here."

"The baby is coming?" Jack asked with a grin on his face. "Really? Right now?"

"Yes, the baby is coming," Tony told him, opening the front door. "Be good for Nana and Grandpa, alright?"

"Grandpa!" Jack shouted, taking off towards the den where John was sitting reading and having a drink. "The baby is coming!"

Katherine helped Tony guide Leah onto the front steps. "Don't worry about the kids, alright. They'll be fine."

Leah suddenly panicked. "Oh my God! Theo and Samantha! I promised Tim I'd watch them!"

Tony chuckled. "I think Tim is going to understand."

Slowly they started down the icy front steps, taking them carefully towards the car that was waiting for them. It was then, while Tony and Katherine helped Leah down the steps that he noticed Grace, boots on the wrong feet, jacket buttoned unevenly, following them. Katherine continued to help Leah to the car while Tony gently dealt with the little girl. "Gracie, what are you doing, sweetheart?"

Grace looked up as she climbed down the steps. "I'm going to the hospital with you and Mommy."

With a heavy sigh, Tony picked her up and carried her back inside to the warm house. "I'm sorry, princess, you need to stay here. I don't know how long it's going to take for the baby to arrive and you have school in the morning. I promise, Mommy is going to be okay."

"But hospitals are scary places, Daddy. People who are sick go there and don't come back," Grace argued.

"Sometimes. But the hospital is the best place for Mommy and the baby to be," Tony said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I know! Why don't you and Sammy draw pictures for Mommy and the baby while we're gone?"

Grace nodded her head and let Tony take her jacket off. She sat down and slipped out of her boots. When she stood up she hugged Tony's legs tightly "I love you," she whispered before disappearing.

Tony chuckled to himself before he turned on his heel and ran back outside. Leah was in the car and waiting for him. "Is Grace okay?" she asked, breathing through a contract as he started the car up.

He nodded. "She'll be fine. She just wanted to make sure that her mommy came home from the hospital, because they're scary places that sick people go to and do not come home from."

She looked exasperated. "Where does she come up with this stuff? Have you been telling her about hospitals, Tony? Because that sounds like something you would say about them."

"Can't take credit for this one," Tony said as he pulled the car out of the driveway, waving at Katherine before driving away. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. "Let's go have our baby."