Warnings: Tony/OC, fluffy
A/N: Hello everyone! Two more fluffy chapters in this one to go. I have already started on the next story and I plan on it being a little bit more angst than the last two. Hope you enjoy!
Guest- Jack gets to meet Gibbs this chapter!
Gibbs opened the door to the guest room and peered at the portable crib. Inside Jack was lying on his back, his little hands reaching up for something to grasp… most likely looking for his mother.
Softly the team leader made his way over to the edge of the green and beige crib. He looked down at Jack to see his eyes open, looking up at him. "I thought you'd be awake by now," Gibbs told the baby. He leaned into the crib and with one of his hands supporting the baby's head, Gibbs lifted him out, safely situating him in his arms. "Everyone's been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Some didn't think your father was ever going to settle down, Jack."
Jack yawned and stretched. He kept his eyes on Gibbs who gently bounced him. The former marine smiled at the infant in his arms. When Tony had married Leah last year he didn't think the senior field agent could have been happier… but seeing Tony with his son had changed Gibbs' mind. He kissed Jack's forehead and proceeded downstairs and out to the back yard where everyone was enjoying a warm fall afternoon.
"Look who's up," Gibbs announced. "Think he's ready to rejoin the party now."
"He's probably hungry," Leah responded. She reached down into the diaper bag at her side and found a bottle.
"I thought you were breast feeding?" Delilah asked, surprised, when Gibbs placed Jack into his mother's arms and the baby eagerly accepted the bottle.
"Didn't think anyone would really want to see me whip out a breast at a cook-out," Leah teased. "I used the breast pump last night."
Tony scowled, slightly, worried that she was going to bring up that it had been him that had insisted she pump and bring bottles to the party. It wasn't that he didn't think his wife wouldn't be discrete… it was just the idea that everyone could catch a glimpse of his wife's breasts that unnerved him. "It wasn't given to you to sit in the closet."
Leah looked at him, innocently. "It was given to me so I could pump when I go back to work not because you're embarrassed your co-workers could see my breasts."
"Anthony," Ducky said with a smile, "We've all seen naked women here… some of us more than others I'd venture to guess."
"Breastfeeding is one of the most natural interactions between a mother and her baby," Delilah countered with a grin.
"Can we stop talking about… all of this?" Tony inquired.
Gibbs chuckled. It was funny how modest his senior field had suddenly become. Years ago Tony probably would have had no problems with his wife breastfeeding in front of everyone. Now… he was worried everyone might catch a glimpse. Of course he had felt the same way about Shannon after Kelly's birth…
Tim interrupted his thoughts. "He's just upset that this is the longest dry spell he'll have to endure while being with someone."
Tony threw his partner a mock look of angry. "Hey!"
"Well… you did have a reputation…" Leah teased him as she finished with Jack's feeding. He snuggled into her arms and drifted off to sleep.
"Great... my own wife is ganging up on me."
"Get used to it, DiNozzo," Gibbs remarked, gesturing for Leah to give him the baby. "You're a husband and a father now… lots of people are going to be ganging up on you."
Jack opened his eyes halfway to look at Gibbs before falling back to sleep. It amazed everyone there how comfortable the little baby was with the team leader. Tony had joked that his son had a little baby gut and just knew he could trust Gibbs.
Gibbs was happy to share this bond with Tony's son. He imagined this is what it felt like to be a grandpa—proud and happy and absolutely in love with the little guy. Of course how could you not be? He was sweet and precious with perfect little round cheeks, thick head of brown hair and lashes that fanned out over his soft skin when his eyes were closed. Gibbs reached out with his finger and ran it along Jack's cheek as Abby requested another turn holding him. Yes, Gibbs thought as he gently handed the baby to her, this was a well-loved little boy, indeed.
"Listen, we need to talk about waking Mommy and me up at three A.M," Tony said groggily to the wailing baby. "Eventually we will be going back to work and need our sleep."
Jack balled his fists and cried a little harder. Tony leaned down into the crib to lift his son out and rested him against his shoulder, rubbing his back while he walked towards the changing table. He laid the tiny infant on the well-crafted table to change Jack's diaper before going to feed him. Leah had insisted on getting up to do it, but Tony had argued with her that she should get some sleep too—not just him.
Tony had left her in the bedroom in the middle of the argument and she had just given up to go back to sleep. There would be plenty more late night feedings that she could get up for. So, with Jack snuggled against him, Tony went into the kitchen and found a bottle in the fridge, warmed it like he'd been shown by Katherine and went to sit on his easy chair in the living room to feed his son.
As soon as the nipple had been guided into Jack's little eager mouth he began to drink. Tony smiled down at him. "You definitely like to eat." He watched his son for a moment, still struggling to grasp that this little boy was his. "Guess you really are mine. Not that there was any doubt… just… I never thought I'd have you, Jack. I never thought I would have someone as wonderful as your mommy. I love you both so much."
Jack continued to drink, watching his father. Their eyes locked for a moment and Tony wondered what color his son's eyes would end up. "I hope you get your mother's eyes… they're one the many things that I love about her."
"She saved me, Jack. She made me a better man. I just hope I don't fail her… fail you," he whispered to the baby as he finished his bottle.
Tony slowly pulled the bottle out of Jack's mouth, threw a clothe over his shoulder and gently laid the baby over it, patting his back. In no time Jack let out a healthy little burp, making his father chuckle, and Tony eased him back into his arms.
Jack was wide-awake and didn't show any indication that he was going to fall back to sleep, so Tony grabbed the remote and turned the television on. "Ah," he said when he landed on a rebroadcast of SportsCenter. "How about your first football lesson?"
Leah woke up slightly startled that it was sunny out and Jack had not woken for his late night feeding. But then she remembered Tony got up to feed him… and apparently had not made it back to bed that night.
Shaking her head to wake up, she crawled out of bed and made her way down the hall towards the nursery. She expected to find Jack sleeping in his crib and Tony to be asleep on the sofa… but the crib was empty. Had Jack woken up a second time and she hadn't heard him? It seemed impossible but she was tired and as much as she loved her baby, taking care of him was hard work.
"Tony?" Leah called into the living room when she heard the television on. There was no response. "Tony are you up?"
Her husband had fallen asleep on the sofa like she predicted, but he'd falling asleep with his son snuggled up to his chest. Leah smiled to herself and went to pull the large Ohio State fleece blanket over them, making sure to give each of them a sweet kiss on the top of their heads. "I love you both, very much," she whispered.
Tony stirred a little and mumbled with a smile, "We love you very much, too."
