Memorial Day Weekend had arrived. Tony and Ziva were looking forward to having the team and a few neighbors over to help celebrate the holiday. Gibbs had arrived early Saturday morning after accepting the breakfast invitation from Ziva and Tony the day before. He and Tony were going to spend the day getting the pool ready for the BBQ on Monday and take care of some odd jobs around the house.

Ziva was in the kitchen cooking breakfast while Ben played out back on his swing. Gibbs and Tony were in the garage getting the pool chemicals together and the other cleaning tools they would need for their project. Tony out of the blue asked Gibbs, "Did you ever have to spank Kelly"? Gibbs stopped trying to read the instructions on the bottle of chlorine he held in his hands and looked at Tony. He sat the bottle on the table as he said, "A few times, she didn't get into too much trouble". Tony just nodded and turned around pretending to be looking for something. "Uh, how old was she boss"?

"Who DiNozzo"? Gibbs asked not following the conversation.

"Kelly, how old was Kelly when you spanked her the first time"?

Gibbs had to think back, "She was probably around Ben's age I think".

Gibbs could hear Tony sigh even though the younger man still had his back to him.

"Hey, talk to me DiNozzo", Gibbs said as he thumped Tony in the back.

Tony turned around grinning at Gibbs. "That's what I like about you boss; you like to get right to the point". Gibbs patiently waited for Tony to tell him of the events leading up to Ben's spanking. When Tony was finished he looked at Gibbs and asked, "Did I do the right thing boss?"

Gibbs answered right away, "I would have done the same thing".

"Really boss, you're not just saying that to make me feel better, because I have read that…."

Tony was silenced by a head slap he did not see coming.

Gibbs got right in his face, "You are a great father to that little boy out there. From the first time I saw you holding him in the hospital and saw how you looked at him, I could see it. Don't let some bullshit book ever question your ability to be a good father to your son."

Tony nodded that he understood and Gibbs added. "You did what you felt was right, you want Ben to be safe, you want him to learn from his mistakes, you want him to know that bad decisions have consequences and you want him to know that he is loved. Isn't that why you spanked him"?

Tony nodded yes and Gibbs said, "Damn right it is, why do you think I head slap his father"? and with that Gibbs turned and starting walking back inside the house saying, "I'm hungry, if you want me to help you with your damn pool you better feed me."

Tony stood there in stunned silence, his mind processing what Gibbs had just said to him. He couldn't help but smile as he made his way back into the house.

After breakfast Ziva went shopping with Abby and Breena while Gibbs, Tony and Ben cleaned the swimming pool. They worked side by side for hours scrubbing the sides of the pool and sifting out debris that would rise to the surface. After the chemicals were placed in the pool and the PH readouts were safe, Tony allowed Ben to put on his lifejacket and float around the pool in his little rubber raft while Gibbs and Tony swam in the sparkling pool water. Tony had just turned on the pool heater that morning and knew that the water would be just perfect come Monday for Ben and the other guests to enjoy at the BBQ.

Tony put Ben down for a nap after they got out of the pool allowing the two men to finish a few light maintenance duties around the house. The two side kitchen windows that had been sticking all winter now opened and shut smoothly and one of the automatic sprinklers that had been spraying water into the street was now working just fine, even the burned out light bulb on the front porch was replaced and now Gibbs and Tony were sitting on the back deck watching Ben play in the sandbox. Tony wanted to talk about what was said in the garage and let Gibbs know he felt the same way but Gibbs seemed to want to leave things as they were for now.

That night after Ben was put to bed; Tony and Ziva made love well into the night. Tony decided to keep what Gibbs had told him in the garage just between the two of them for now. After all, Gibbs had a reputation to uphold even if his senior field agent knew different.

A/N Please review and let me know how I am doing. The next chapter will cover the BBQ on Memorial Day.