Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: None, but still set between "See No Evil" and "The Good Wives Club"

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 28

The rehearsal dinner went fine, without any glitches. The new found understanding between siblings seemed to have patched up everything. However in the path of them patching up their relationships, was their relationship with their father. For a few of them the familial cords were already cut, but others, they because severely strained. While Kate was happy to be on more solid ground with her brothers and her sister, she hated that it destabilized what they had established with their father. She wouldn't be able to reconcile with him as she had with her sister, but she hope the rest of her family would find common ground with him.

The next mornings dawned bright and clear, perfect for the wedding. Kate helped her sister get ready for her big day. They had promised to set aside time to spend together later on, when they both had time off. They wanted to build a better relationship and not let the past go.

The wedding itself was beautiful. Kate was happy for her sister. She had found a great man, who obviously worshipped the ground she walked on. She was glad that she had changed her mind and come to the wedding.

Gibbs was happy that Kate was happy. He had wanted her to fix the issues she had with her family. He had his own issues with his father, so he could understand her position there, but he knew that siblings were important as well, and was glad to see that she had restored her bonds with them. They were quiet after the reception, taking the last flight back to Virginia. Instead of heading to her own house, Kate stayed with him. She just wanted to unwind. They took turns in the shower. It wasn't a night for passion. She snuggled into him as soon as he was next to her in bed.

Kate loved being wrapped up in his arms, and in his scent. There was something so wonderful about it. It was like coming home. He was her home, not her apartment, not necessarily his house either. Just him. As long as she was where he was, she was home, because he had her heart.

"I love you, Jethro." She mumbled into his chest. "Thank you for going with me."

"Anytime. I love you too, Katie." The next morning was Sunday. They had one whole day to relax and unpack before going back to work on Monday morning. She planned to take full advantage of it by doing as little as possible beyond laundry. With that thought she burrowed as far as she could get into Gibbs embrace and let sleep over take her.

Gibbs watched her for a little while, holding her close. She was so special. She'd seen her fair of hardship and made it through. He wondered briefly how she could still trust after some of the things that her family had put her through. She had an amazing heart, one that had a great capacity to love and be loved. He loved that about her. He knew that he would ask her to move in with him in the morning. That they would spend the next free weekend they had moving her things into his house. He knew somehow that he would never finish the boat in the basement. He knew that he wouldn't need to. He knew that eventually he would make a bassinet down there, then a crib, then a bed for their kids. He knew that he would want them with her, and that no matter what happened she wouldn't ever let him try to run away. No matter how hard it was, she was always going to be there, and he was ok with that. He finally felt like his heart was beating, that there was something worthwhile waiting for him. He finally let sleep take him with a smile on his lips, and dreams of little girls that looked like Kate in his mind's eye.