Tony stood beside the river holding his son close. Gibbs sat on the bank holding his head in his hands. They had returned home from Jack's funeral an hour ago. Gibbs had changed from his suit to a t-shirt and pair of jeans and walked back out the door. Tony had picked up baby Jack and his diaper bag and followed his Boss. He suspected that Gibbs noticed but didn't yell at him or send him back. Finally Tony got closer and took a seat beside his Boss.
"Why'd you follow me DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Just worried about you I guess." Tony admitted.
"I'm fine don't worry about me." Gibbs replied.
"You just disappeared after your dad's funeral." Tony replied.
"I needed to get away and well I always came here to clear my head when I was younger." Gibbs replied.
"Well it's a nice place. I can see why you'd like it." Tony commented.
"I wasn't much older than Jack the first time my dad brought me here." Gibbs replied.
"You remember that?" Tony questioned.
"Well no but there is a picture of it somewhere in the house." Gibbs explained.
"Must be nice to have had a special place to go." Tony replied.
"You didn't?" Gibbs asked.
"No well when I was little. When I was four or five my mom had the gardener build a tree-house for me in the back yard. I was always up there but my dad hated that tree. It was what kept us from having a pool. He had it cut down while I was away for a long weekend. I cried so hard and of course he yelled at me. I searched for another special place but it was a gated community and everything was somebody's property. When I got the boarding school there was security everywhere and thus nowhere to hide." Tony explained.
"I would have never cut down your tree-house. Unless it was after you had grown and moved out and you gave me your blessing." Gibbs assured.
"I guess it's pretty selfish of me to complain about my childhood. Just after you buried your dad." Tony apologized.
"It's OK I could use a distraction." Gibbs assured.
"Have you thought of what to do with the store?" Tony questioned.
"Not really guess I'll sell it." Gibbs replied.
"LJ Moore doesn't want it?" Tony asked.
"He isn't up to running the place. He said he would work as a part-time employee and help the new owner get used to running the place." Gibbs explained.
"Anyone in town interested in buying it?" Tony questioned.
"No I am going to have to look outside of Stillwater for a new owner." Gibbs replied.
"What if the new owner ruins it or turns around and sells it to some big coöperation? I would hate for Stillwater to lose its charm." Tony questioned.
"I will be very careful who I send it too." Gibbs assured.
"I know you will but people can trick you." Tony commented.
"What are you getting at?" Gibbs questioned.
"I think I would like to buy it." Tony replied.
"You sure?" Gibbs asked.
"Well I can't be an agent anymore and I have too many enemies in DC. I don't know it might be fun running the store." Tony replied.
"Have you talked to Emily about this?" Gibbs questioned.
"Not this exactly but we have discussed moving out of DC." Tony replied.
"Well talk it over with her first than get back to me." Gibbs replied.
"Thanks Boss." Tony replied.
Tony left Gibbs to deal with whatever he needed to deal with. After stopping off at the diner for a quick-lunch. He returned to the house/store. He found Emily sitting on the floor of the store. He could tell that she had been crying. Jack and her had gotten very close. The last couple weeks of his life. Tony set baby Jack in his baby seat and sat on the floor beside his fiancée.
"Where were you?" Emily asked.
"I went to look for Gibbs. Then I got something to eat." Tony replied.
"Where did Gibbs go?" Emily questioned.
"He went down to this place by the river he used to hangout when he was growing up." Tony replied.
"That sounds nice did he seem OK?" Emily asked.
"He was pretty upset but he seemed OK." Tony replied.
"I'm glad I was a little worried about him. Considering that Jack was his last family." Emily replied.
"Gibbs is a tough guy and he has us, McGee and Delilah, Jimmy, Abby, and Ducky." Tony replied.
"You're a good man Tony DiNozzo." Emily commented.
"Thanks. Uh can I ask you something?" Tony asked.
"Of course anything?" Emily asked.
"You remember how we talked about moving the kids out of DC?" Tony asked.
"Yeah why?" Emily questioned.
"LJ Moore can't handle running this place and nobody in town is interested. So Gibbs is going to have to look for somebody out-of-town. Well I think running a small town general store could be fun and I wouldn't sell it to somebody who would ruin it nor would I ruin it." Tony explained.
"Dylan told me they were looking for a teacher's assistant/librarian at the elementary school. Since I left my post in DC so abruptly they probably won't take me back but I could get the job at Stillwater Elementary really easy. I kind of spoke to the principal and he said that all I had to do was send over my résumé and a recommendation. Even if I don't get that job. The kids love it here and I could work with you in the store." Emily replied.
"So you're saying?" Tony asked.
"Let's do it. Let's buy Jack's store." Emily cried.
"I can't wait to tell Gibbs!" Tony squealed.
"I didn't think you were the squealing type." Emily observed.
"I know but I am just so excited!" Tony cried.
"I am glad you are happy." Emily replied.
"Wait" Tony sighed.
"What?" Emily asked.
"Where are we going to get the money to buy this place?" Tony questioned.
"My dad left me several thousand dollars when he died." Emily explained.
"I will talk to Gibbs in the morning." Tony replied.
"Let's not tell the kids until this is official." Emily said.
"Deal" Tony replied.
A/N: What will happen when Tony tells Gibbs he is buying the general store. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thank for reading.