Gibbs sat at his desk looking down at the drawing Franklin had made for him. Of course Gibbs thought his three year old son was amazingly talented and could tell the picture was of Franklin, Maggie, Gibbs, Freckles and Jamie and a birthday cake flying over their heads. Maggie had labeled the stick figures with "Mommy"; "Daddy", "Me", "Freckles" and "Jamie". And over the birthday cake it said "Happy Birthday Daddy."
Gibbs had found it next to his coffee mug when he got up that morning. Today he was turning 60. He chuckled to himself. The grey hair always threw people off. If he told anyone it was his birthday, they'd have assumed 70. But they were wrong. Gibbs went grey young just like his father had. Of course when he'd be out and about with Franklin, people thought he was the Grandfather. Gibbs was okay with it. He'd gust grin and Franklin would correct them. "That's my Daddy. Not Grampy Jack."
Gibbs looked back at the picture and thought about the past three years. He'd missed a lot of Kelly's early years doing to being deployed. Maggie had been a pro at the whole scheduling thing when Franklin was a baby. They had a system where Gibbs took the earliest feedings in the mornings and Maggie to the latest ones at night. Gibbs had taken two weeks' vacation when Maggie and the baby first came home. Because Maggie had the C-section, she couldn't do any kind of lifting, not even of Franklin out of his cradle. Gibbs loved sitting in the rocking chair and holding Franklin or watching him sleep in the cradle.
When Gibbs had been home two weeks, he posed the question to Maggie about taking a longer break from work.
"I have the time built up." He told her as Maggie finished getting ready for bed.
Maggie slipped in next to Gibbs and snuggled into his shoulder.
"You have to go back Monday."
"Why?"
"Gibbs, when Tony came by for dinner last night and you two were talking shop, I could see it in your eyes. The wheels turning."
"Tony's doing fine in my place. He did it before when I retired."
"A- you didn't retire, you were on a margarita safari Tony said."
"I was not…" Gibbs cut in.
"And B – " Maggie lifted up on her elbow so she could look at Gibbs in the eyes. "I can't take having you home 24/7 right now."
"What?" Gibbs look offended. "Why?"
Maggie traced her forefinger over Gibbs' stubble covered chin. "I can't have sex for another month until I get the okay from the doctor and watching you with the baby, unshaven and looking sexy as hell to me is doing me in."
Gibbs began to smile.
"I need a break from looking at you all day. I just had a baby, I look like crap and I want to do things to you that I can't yet."
Gibbs pushed Maggie back onto the bed and leaned up over her.
"A – you don't look like crap; you don't even look like you had a baby." Gibbs gave her a kiss. "And B- I know exactly how long it's been since we had sex and how long it is until we can again. And believe me, you better be rested up for that night."
Gibbs did go back to work that following Monday and kept his word. When the doctor gave Maggie the all's clear sign; they were both a little tired and distracted the next day from the night before activities. And Gibbs did miss the work, but now, unless there was no other choice, the team was home at a normal hour. Gibbs loved coming home to see Franklin sitting in his bouncy chair tracking everything with his eyes. Franklin especially loved watching Freckles and the feeling was mutual. One night Maggie went into the baby's room and found Freckles bed lying in the middle of Franklin's room.
"Hey Gibbs."
"In here." Gibbs called from the bedroom, where he was sitting in the middle of the bed changing Franklin's diaper.
"Did you move the dog bed up into the baby's room?"
"Nope."
"Hmm. I didn't either, how'd it get there?"
Freckles; who was sitting on the floor looked up at Maggie and then back to Gibbs.
"You don't think…" Maggie looked at the dog. "Nah, she wouldn't have dragged it all the way up here?"
Gibbs knew that Freckles was always close by to the baby, watching over him.
"Put the bed in the hallway and let's see what she does."
Maggie took Freckle's bed and put it in the hall and then went back into their bedroom with Gibbs and the baby. After a minute Freckles went out into the hall. Maggie snuck over to the door and watched as Freckles dragged her dog bed back into Franklin's room.
"I'll be damned." Maggie whispered.
Gibbs picked up the baby and kissed him on the forehead. "Looks like you have a new roommate."
Maggie loved being home with Franklin. Whenever the day was nice, they were outside enjoying the day. Gibbs took another week off over 4th of July to go down to Stillwell and bring Franklin down to where his Grandfather could show him off.
"Would you ever want to live here again?" Maggie asked Gibbs as they sat on a blanket in the park, Franklin sitting with Jackson having all the older ladies coo over both of them.
"Nah." Gibbs shook his
head.
"Shannon?" Maggie asked. Maggie was comfortable with talking about her and Gibbs was okay with talking and asking about James; especially with Jamie.
"No. I want Franklin growing up in a bigger place, bigger city. More family around up there."
Gibbs was amazed at the amount of gifts Franklin got for his birthday. "He's only one. He doesn't know how to ride a tricycle yet."
"But he will before you know it and every little boy needs a Red Rider Tricycle." Ducky told him of his gift.
And before Gibbs knew it he was changing the baby proofing of the house from a crawling infant to a walking toddler. Gates went up at the bottom and tops of the stairs; the lock on the toilet door was frustrating to Gibbs at first, until Franklin tossed his cell phone into the toilet.
"You should upgrade to a smart phone." Mike the IT guy at work told him. "I can put baby insurance on it."
Gibbs just stared at Mike; who handed Gibbs the reliable flip phone and walked away.
"Do not let him get to you. He just likes what he likes." Ziva commented as Mike walked by.
"Yeah well DiNozzo's stash is long gone. Now I have to hunt e-bay to find that damned phone. Someone needs to bring him closer to this century." Mike commented back.
Now here Gibbs sat; 60 years old, a father of a 3 year old, step father of a 28 year old Marine and married for 4 years now. His longest marriage since Shannon. He looked around the bullpen. Ziva was out in the field with McGee. Tony was up in MTAC. Ducky had retired last year and Palmer was now in charge of Autopsy.
"Thinking about my offer?"
Gibbs looked up to see the SecNav standing in front of his desk.
"Maybe it is time Sir." Gibbs stood up. "I need a few more days to think about it."
"Auntie Abby here! Auntie Abby here!" Franklin ran into the kitchen yelling happily as he saw Abby's red car pull up in front of the house.
"Well go open the door for her." Gibbs smiled at his son.
"Can't reach da handle." Franklin told his father. "Help."
"Help what?" Gibbs let his son take his hand and lead him to the door.
"Pweeze."
Gibbs helped Franklin open the door to let Abby in. Franklin launched himself into Abby's arms.
"Auntie Abby!"
"How's my favorite little man?" Abby asked as she carried Franklin into the kitchen. Franklin proceeded to tell Abby about his new friend and his first days at pre-school.
"Can we draw pictures later?" Franklin wanted to know.
"You have to eat dinner and take a bath then you can draw." Gibbs rubbed his son's head.
"Draw first." Franklin scrunched up his little face and stared at his father.
Abby watched the standoff trying not to smile. Franklin stood feet apart, hands on hips staring up at his father. Gibbs copied the stance and two pairs of blue eyes stared at each other. Gibbs made the same face his son was making and Franklin started to smile. Gibbs smiled back and picked his son up.
"Dinner, draw then bath." Gibbs leaned his forehead down to Franklin who put his small hands on his father's cheeks and gave him a kiss.
"Tank you Daddy."
Gibbs gave Franklin a bear hug and put him back down on the ground as Maggie was coming into the kitchen.
"Wow, you look hot." Abby complimented Maggie who had on jeans tucked into high heeled brown boots, a grey sweater and purple scarf.
"I agree." Gibbs stared at his wife. She had cut her hair a little bit shorter recently, but it still reached her shoulders and he loved when she wore it down like she did tonight. "I may have to go change."
Maggie teased Gibbs by making a face at him as she looked over what he had on. He had on a pair of jeans, a dark grey v-neck sweater with his white tee shirt under that.
"You look fine Gibbs. Now, have you decided where you want to go?" Maggie wanted to know.
"Yup." He answered and clipped his cell phone on his belt and took his keys. "Call me if you need us." Gibbs kissed Abby on the cheek. "And don't let Franklin con you into an extra story."
"Awe come on Gibbs, he loves when I read him stories." Abby protested.
"Only one extra." Gibbs gave in.
"Dinner is in the oven, it should be ready in about 30 minutes." Maggie told Abby. "Take the left overs home. I made extra." Maggie made homemade mac and cheese which was Franklin and Abby's favorite.
"Mags, you're too good to me." Abby said as she followed them to the door. "Now stay out late, have fun."
"Your wife must really love you if this is your idea of a romantic dinner." The waitress who served Gibbs his morning coffee told him. "If you were my husband; you'd be sleeping on the couch tonight."
"Aw come on." Gibbs flashed his smile up at her. "I thought you loved me."
The waitress raised her eyebrow and shook her head at Gibbs.
"It's his birthday." Maggie whispered from her side of the booth. "So he got to choose."
"Well why didn't you say so this morning?" The waitress smacked him on the shoulder with her order pad.
Gibbs just shrugged.
"Well let me guess, steak and fries for you." The waitress wrote down Gibbs' pre-marriage usual eat alone order. "Black coffee and water on the side."
Gibbs winked at her. "Make it a beer instead of coffee."
"And for you?" The waitress smiled at Maggie.
"Cheeseburger with onion rings, coke and water on the side."
"Mm hmm a woman who eats. You are a dying breed." The waitress smiled. "Drinks are right on their way."
After the waitress brought the drinks, Maggie leaned forward and looked at her husband.
"Okay, now it's time to tell me what's going on."
"It's my birthday. This is where I wanted to go." Gibbs reached out and put his hand over Maggie's.
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I know you better than that. Something has been on your mind. You've been distracted lately."
"Later." Gibbs told her. "I just want to have a nice dinner with my wife. That's all I wanted for my birthday."
Maggie arched her eyebrow. "Really?"
"Well this and whatever you have planned for later." He grinned.
They made small talk about Franklin's first days of pre-school. Gibbs didn't think it was necessary for their son to go yet, but Maggie said that it was good for interaction.
"It's good for him. You saw how much he likes it. It's only two mornings a week. And then next year he'll do three days and then when Kindergarten starts, he'll be ready." Maggie explained.
"I can't even think that far ahead yet." Gibbs took a sip of his beer. "But I guess you're right. You are the teacher in the family and all." Gibbs looked at his wife. "Do you miss it? Teaching full time?"
Maggie shook her head. "Not really. I thought I would at first, but your son keeps me on my toes."
"Oh my son huh?" Gibbs teased.
"He has your mind. He's always thinking. He gets that look, the one where you can almost hear the wheels turning. Like your gut feeling look you get."
"I get a look?"
"You do. Like you're staring at something but your mind is totally someplace else. He sees things and puts them together in his head. The other morning he told me that his friend at school was out sick because he forgot to wash his hands after he peed and got sick." Maggie told him.
"You don't mess with mess." Gibbs nodded.
The waitress came out with their orders and they both started to eat. Gibbs reached over and stole a couple of Maggie's onion rings and gave some of his fries to her. Maggie didn't complain; it was a little ritual of theirs, the only thing Gibbs didn't get was Maggie liking tartar sauce on her fries.
"It's a DiNozzo thing, Tony does it too." Maggie told him. "Jamie even likes and I'll make sure Franklin does."
"My son will not put anything but ketchup on his fries." Gibbs retorted.
After dinner, the waitress brought over a piece of blueberry pie wrapped in a to go box.
"My little boyfriend Franklin loves blueberry pie." She explained. "Bring him home a piece from me."
"I thought I was your boyfriend?" Gibbs teased.
"You were until that little boy came along. He's got my heart now; you just keep bringing him to visit me on Sunday mornings."
"Don't worry, he will." Maggie took the pie as they got up from the booth. "I can't live without your blueberry muffins."
After dinner Maggie and Gibbs drove to Georgetown to walk around and enjoy the warm fall night. They stopped at Georgetown Cupcakes where Gibbs got a Vanilla Birthday cupcake while Maggie got a Key Lime cupcake. They walked down to the waterfront, found an empty bench and sat down to enjoy their cupcakes.
"You've got a little frosting…" Gibbs pointed to the side of Maggie's mouth, but before she could get it with her napkin, he leaned over and kissed it off. "Mm, should have gotten one of those."
"We can stop in on the way back to the truck and get some more if you want." Maggie told him.
They finished their cupcakes and sipped the coffee they got from a vendor on their way to the waterfront. Gibbs put his arm on the back of the bench and Maggie slid over closer to him. They sat there for a few minutes watching the boats in the harbor before Gibbs spoke.
"SecNav came by the office earlier in the week and offered me a new job." Gibbs finally told her.
Maggie turned her body so she could look at him. "What job? Is Leon leaving?"
"No. And I wouldn't take that job for all the money in the world."
"Okay then. What is the job?"
"Train field agents."
"Don't you do that now? I mean like you did with Tony when he came from Baltimore?"
Gibbs made a face. "Not really like that. More like I wouldn't be leading a team anymore. No more field work for me."
"And you'd be okay with that?" Maggie knew her husband loved the field work.
"I could be asked to consult on special cases. But I'd be training field agents in undercover work. More like a teacher."
"But you didn't answer me. Would you be okay stepping away from what you do now?"
Gibbs tucked a strand of Maggie's hair that had blown in her face behind her ear. "I was thinking about retiring."
"Why? You're only 60; you're too young to retire." She knew about the 4 months he'd taken off before; calling it a retirement, but it hadn't been.
"I don't want to miss out on anything with Franklin. My job now doesn't have great hours and let's face it; I'm a dinosaur in it. I do things old school. Maybe it is time to let Tony step up and take the team permanently."
"And SecNav heard about you wanting to do this?"
"Well Leon and I talked and SecNav found out." Gibbs gave a lopsided smile. "Guess neither of them is ready to let me go."
"So when would it happen?"
"I have to tell SecNav by the end of the week. Then as long as we're not in the middle of a case, Tony takes over, McGee becomes Senior Field Agent, Ziva moves up and they'll promote someone up."
"And Abby?"
"Abby will be fine without me there every day. I'll still be at the Navy Yard, so it's not like I'll be far away. But now I know I'll be home for dinner every night. No more middle of the night calls to a crime scene."
"So you want to do this?" Maggie asked.
"I want to do this. I want you to be okay with me doing this." Gibbs told her.
"I'm behind you 100%. If you wanted to not take the job or take the job. I want you to be happy."
"I'm sorry. What did you just say?" Tony looked at Gibbs as they stood in Director Vance's office a few days later."
"I said I'm stepping down at the end of the month. The team will be yours." Gibbs told him again.
"Are you out of your flipping mind?!" Tony yelled at him.
"Now that is not what I expected to hear." Vance said from his desk.