In a perfect world, or in a movie, things would fall easily into their places. But that's the thing about the movies, you don't get to see what happens after the end credits, and in a real world there are no happily ever afters. Not the kind from the fairytales anyway. And that's good, there's nothing wrong with having a stormy weather just as much as the sunshine and rainbows. It's called balance. In a real world, the hardships only strengthen the bond between people. If not, then they were never meant to be.

In a storybook world, Gibbs would have found out about Tony while he was still a child, before he had grown a hard shell around his heart, while it would have still been fairly easy teaching the boy that not all parents were like Senior and that there truly was some good and beauty left in this world. In a movie ending, they would've hugged and then moved on to the end credits, pretending that everything could be fixed so easily, as if the years before didn't even exist. Like they weren't strangers only a moment ago.

After the incident at the hospital, Tony had to stay there for another night—much to his displeasure, which he loudly proclaimed—to make sure Senior had done no further damage. For Gibbs, it worked just fine to have Tony under watchful eyes for a little longer, when he wanted to make sure nothing else would go wrong regarding the case of Anthony DiNozzo, and he had to leave and give his own statement. While he was at it, he also had to tear a new one for a few people...

When the FBI had arrived, this time with sleep-deprived Tobias Fornell leading the case, he couldn't help but first go see the 'Gibbs' boy'. In fact, after the word got out that the infamous Agent Gibbs had a son, the door to Tony's room was blocked by the people wanting to get a look at him. Imagine the surprise when more than half of the FBI guys knew him.

Tobias was the one to put into words what they were all thinking. "What a small world. This whole time his son has been so close and he had no idea."

It was as if the two men—Gibbs and Tony—were destined to meet sooner or later anyway. The thought wasn't comforting for Gibbs, who was bitter and sad about all the lost years. No, not lost, but stolen.

The agents, who were acting more like a bunch of school kids than the people working for the FBI, were finally scared off when Gibbs arrived and he couldn't get to his son because of them. On that day, another story about the infamous NCIS Agent Gibbs started spreading around...

'You don't ever, under no condition, get between Gibbs and his son.' Some dared to say it was Tobias Fornell who started it, but they all took it to heart and anyone smart enough added it to the unwritten, 'What to never do around Agent Gibbs if you want to live,' guide.

Then the worst happened, or second worst, since no one died. The night before Tony's release from the hospital, he disappeared. No matter how hard Gibbs, or the FBI, looked for him, they couldn't find him. No one, even at his house or at his office, knew where he was. Although, Gibbs had a feeling that they knew perfectly well, but refused to betray their boss. In secret, he was pleased by how good his son was and how loyal those close to him were, but on the outside, he only showed his rage and despair.

Before they knew it, another six months had passed and Agent Gibbs was a shadow of himself, having fallen into a deep gut-wrenching depression, never giving up trying to find another lead of where his son was. It wasn't the worst moment of his life so far, but only because, unlike his girls, his son was still alive. Or so he hoped and prayed.

...

...

Staring at his unfinished boat, Gibbs sighed. It was going to be his most beautiful one so far. At first, he almost named it 'Anthony', but it made him think of that bastard with the same name as his son... He refused to use Tony's other name either, given by the DiNozzo, and he couldn't exactly name the boat 'Jethro'.

"Really, Shannon. Couldn't you have given him a third name or something?" he muttered fondly and shook his head and traced with his fingers the simple 'Tony'. He'd been making it for almost a year. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt this terrible urge to keep working on this boat, probably way more hours than was healthy. Ducky tried reasoning with him once that perhaps a small part of him was hoping that once he was finished, he would get his son back.

Taking a small sip of bourbon, Gibbs ran a hand over his hair. Looking at the time, he could see it was almost 8 AM on Sunday. He'd been up yet another night. Time, however, didn't matter a whole lot to him in these days. And if he was drinking just a little bit more of bourbon every day, he dared anyone to even mention that to him. He frowned when he thought he heard something from the upstairs. The front door? He turned off the small TV and took out his gun, just in case. Not many people came to visit him. Not after he put a bullet through Tobias' book, which the man had brought to him a few weeks ago.

"Try reading something instead. Bourbon and this... this boat. They'll be the death of you, Jethro," was what he had said.

Gibbs had his suspicions about the book, that it was most likely chosen by Diane, his ex-wife and Tobias' future ex. 'Gone with the wind' was not exactly his idea of a 'good story to read' and the title had brought yet another surge of emotions in him. Yeah, so his son had pretty much 'gone with the wind', but he didn't appreciate being reminded of that by his friends who were trying to 'help'. Realizing his mistake, Tobias had apologized, but Gibbs had sent the man away, with a threat to shoot him a 'new one' if he didn't get his ass out of his basement fast enough. There had been no visits since then, but twice the amount of phone calls, whenever the phone wasn't turned off.

Gibbs listened closely as someone walked around the house for a while, most likely looking for him. Since that someone didn't know about his habit of living in the basement, it couldn't be anyone he knew or a friendly visitor, and so he was fully prepared to shoot. The footsteps stopped, and then the door to the basement opened. The person hesitated and then finally came down. Gibbs stared with wide eyes. Either it was too much bourbon or he was seeing a ghost, or then he had finally lost it, like Abby had feared he would. "Tony?"

The young man looked uncomfortable, and Gibbs remembered he was still holding that gun. Putting it away, he didn't care that his voice was trembling. "Tony..."

...

Tony swallowed nervously and looked around the room. "Uh... Yes. That... That's me. Look. I'm sorry how I... That I... I'm sorry, okay? I broke my promise, but I just couldn't... I... I mean..." His eyes widened and for a while there was silence, as Tony gaped at what he saw. "Is that a boat?" he questioned incredulously. "A boat in a basement? Why—?" He was cut off by strong arms pulling him into a tight, bone-crushing hug. He went slowly from stiff to relaxed and carefully returned the hug.

"You're really here," Gibbs mumbled.

"Yeah... I'm here," Tony agreed softly. When he could feel how thin the older man had become, he frowned and freed himself from the death-grip. It took many trials and errors before he succeeded. "What happened? You look like crap."

Gibbs shrugged and held Tony's arm tightly, refusing to let go.

Tony winced, but didn't say anything. He knew he'd be having some bruises from that, and guilty Gibbs if the man ever saw them, but he didn't mind. "Listen... I'm not going anywhere. Not again. I know I broke that promise once, but... I truly promise this time to not leave. Not without giving you a heads up. So... Can we go upstairs and sit down and talk and maybe get something to eat? I'm starving." The last part was a lie, but he felt the need to get the man to eat something.

Gibbs hesitated, but finally nodded. As they climbed the stairs, he still hadn't let go of the arm. Tony never mentioned it nor tried to shake or pull himself free.

...

Once they were in the kitchen, Gibbs finally let go, but only because he was blocking the doorway and Tony had started cooking something, without asking for a permission and looking very much at home in there. Gibbs swallowed thickly when the young man reminded him of Shannon in the kitchen. Same kind of chaotic energy, but the end result was always worth it.

"Where were you?"

Tony looked over his shoulder when he heard the soft question. "I'll explain everything once we've had some breakfast, okay?"

Gibbs nodded somberly, still not convinced that this was actually happening. After six months... His son in his kitchen, like that time didn't exist. It seemed so surreal, so perhaps he really was only seeing what he wanted to see. Although, why would he imagine his son in the kitchen, of all places? Maybe this was just a dream.

"Sit down. You look like you're about to fall over, dad," Tony said and then turned around quickly, standing a little hunched over.

For Gibbs, with a warm feeling inside his broken heart, it felt like a couple of those cracks were healed with that one word alone. After one last uncertain glance at the doorway, he finally walked to a chair and sat down, observing quietly with a small half-smile.

...

Later, when they had finished eating their breakfast, the two men were sitting quietly. Finally, Tony, the more talkative one of the two, sighed, and took out a folded paper from his pocket.

"When I was in the hospital, I didn't..." Tony shook his head. "Here's the thing; I had in a very short amount of time found out that my father was not just a conman, but he had actually kidnapped someone's child. Then I got shot by him and my father got shot too. I wake up in a hospital and find out that he's really, literally, not my father and that I am that kidnapped son, that I actually have a real father who really, truly, wants me. That you're my father and I had a mother and a sister who I'm never going to meet. Then there's the little incident with Senior, where he almost killed me again, and then he died, which brought a whole new set of issues for me... Feeling guilty that I didn't even feel bad that he was dead. Despite everything and no matter what the circumstances, for twenty-six years, he was my father. I thought that it had to count for something, you know, but I felt nothing. It was like some complete stranger, whom I had never even met before, had died."

"Tony..."

"I know. Someone already told me the whole thing, no reason to feel guilty and so on. I've heard it all, but back then it was what it was."

Gibbs wondered how he hadn't realized it. How had he missed the signs?

"I'm good at hiding my true feelings and thoughts. I'd be shocked if you had noticed something... And then there was all the attention, sometimes even affection, I got day and night, especially from you and those two friends of yours... Abby and Ducky?"

Gibbs nodded, with a frown, wondering what was wrong with that.

"The thing is..." Tony looked uncomfortable, saying the next words. "I can take a beating and getting shot to death. I can take being called by names, and I can take all kinds of other cruel things this world has to offer. I'm used to it. But kindness..?" Tony avoided looking at the older man, and suddenly the tablecloth seemed awfully fascinating. "I'm not good at receiving it. Sure, I enjoy my time with some women now and then, and I even have some good people in my life, but we don't really show our caring sides to one another. I'm really not good at dealing with kindness... So then at the hospital there was you and then all the other guys from the FBI and who knows who else... I got scared. I hate to admit it, but I really got scared... It was suffocating me, overwhelming, so I did what I do best; I ran."

Gibbs almost growled, frustrated that he hadn't noticed anything and mad at all the other people for making it worse. Tony just smiled sadly.

"It would have happened eventually anyway... All that simply pushed me over the edge faster. Maybe it's a good thing that I left then, instead of doing it when we had started to form a bond. After that, it could have been either much easier or much harder to return... And I really did need some time alone. I needed to think and really digest everything. Figure out who I am if not a DiNozzo. I... I hope you understand. It had nothing to do with you. Not really."

"I get it," Gibbs said softly. But while he did understand, he didn't like it. They had already lost so many years. "What happened that made you finally come back?"

"Oh. No, nothing happened. I just sort of died and—"

"What!"

"Sorry. Wrong choice of words. You'll soon learn that my way of joking around can be kind of... Well, you'll learn." Tony looked embarrassed, and then he held out the folded paper. "It's not what you think. I-I got something for you. Had some help, since it's not like I've ever done this before. I hope it's okay. I can always change it if it's not good..."

Gibbs took the paper and unfolded it. He grumbled when he tried reading it, and Tony became even more nervous, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh, I can read it for you."

"No! I'll manage," Gibbs muttered, unwilling to admit his 'weakness'. Then his eyes widened, and he stared at Tony. "Really?" he asked quietly, and Tony nodded, with a shrug that was too nonchalant to be genuine.

"Thought it'd be the right thing to do... Never liked being Junior. Not his anyway. It is the right name, is it? Anthony Jethro Gibbs."

Gibbs smiled softly and took Tony's hand in his, his fingers trembling slightly. "It is."

Tony looked relieved, and then he made a face. "Although I did keep Anthony, because it was my name from the very beginning, I don't want to be called that."

And Gibbs couldn't agree with it more. It brought too many unwanted thoughts and memories. "Tony is just fine. In fact, it is more than fine. At least I don't have to change the name of the boat."

Tony stared, looking stunned. "You... You named a boat after me?"

Gibbs nodded, looking with sadness and realization that no one most likely had ever done anything like that—big or small—for his kid. It broke his heart again, and yet he still wanted to find out more about Tony's life, both the good and bad. But not now. Not today.

Tony grinned and stood up. "Wow. That's... awesome. Can I see it?"

"It's your boat."

"My boat?" The smile fell, and Tony faltered. "But... I know nothing about boats. The last boat I owned is at the bottom of a lake. You better keep this one far away from me."

"You'll learn."

"I'm hopeless."

"I'll teach."

"Do I have to spell it out to you? I'm not good with boats. I set my friend's yacht on fire last summer. You don't want me anywhere near that boat."

Gibbs shrugged. "Then we'll make a new boat if that happens."

"A new..." Tony hurried after Gibbs when he left the kitchen. "What do you mean we? I don't know how to build a boat. Any boat I'll build will sink like a rock or break down into pieces in the water."

Gibbs stopped for a moment and he stared at the honest worry and fear of messing things up. He regretted for a moment that he had already killed DiNozzo... Putting his arm around his son, he smiled. "I'll teach you, you will learn, and even if you do mess up, that's fine. Got it?"

"Yeah... Sure..." Tony smiled nervously, looking more terrified than happy, and they disappeared in the basement.

...

They had a very long road ahead of them, plenty of hard work and plenty of moments where two strong personalities would end up in some big collision, but after each storm, they came out with an even stronger bond than before.

After a couple of months of getting to know each other, Tony finally moved his growing business and life to D.C., which made Gibbs very happy, but he wasn't pleased that his son refused to move in with him. Instead, he bought a house next-door. Not close enough for Gibbs, but it had to do. At least for now his son was spending most of his time with him anyway. Some people still called Tony by his full name, Anthony, but most learned soon to not do it ever again. Ducky was not one of them... And while it for some time pissed off Gibbs and made Tony feel uncomfortable, there came a day when it no longer meant anything. It was just that, a name.

Ten years later was when the life was finally good for both men. Tony had become close even with Ducky and Abby, and he was spending most of his time, even work, with Gibbs and helping the man with his NCIS cases. That had brought a whole new set of issues, at first with Gibbs' own team, who had treated him like some jealous bunch of kids and showed it, but they didn't last long after that.

As for what they did with the money Shannon had put away... Neither wanted to see any of it, so it all went straight to some charity, without even looking at the amount of money there was. They received a huge gift basket and a thank-you card.

And every once in a while, one of them or both dreamed about their family, about the life they would have had, but it no longer made them feel sad when they woke up and found out it wasn't real. Gibbs had the memories and Tony had the stories, and they both had each other. And while in a perfect world they would have it all, they were happy together.

...

— The End —