21

DiNozzo POV

Abby has dragged me along to a BBQ at the boss' house. This might get awkward. Especially after the other night. And the gym incident. Or maybe not, I see Tim's Porsche out the front, parked behind that is Ducky's Morgan. In the driveway is Gibbs' truck and a black suv. Hey, why was Tim invited and not me?

"Tony," Abby calls out to me as she pulls up in her bright red hearse. "Give us a hand"

"Sure Abs, what you got here?"

"They're for dessert. I know Gibbs said not bring anything but it's rude to show up empty handed." Looking down at the platter, I spy red velvet butterfly cupcakes. They look so delicious. "Oh, I see Timmy and Ducky are here. Let's go!"

Ducky POV

"Anthony, Abigail. Welcome." I greet them at the door warmly with hugs. "Allow me Abby?" I ask taking the dessert which look scrumptious.

"Thanks Duck-man, where's Gibbs?" She asked

"Now Abby, you will play nice, won't you?" Tony asked

"Of course, I know how he feels about apologies, but I feel that they both deserve one after the way I behaved."

"Allow me the honour to show you the way." I lead them past the kitchen outside onto the deck. "Jackson, Michael this is Abby and Tony." I introduce them as they shake each other's hand. "Jackson is Jethro's father and Michael is Katherine's."

"Jethro and Katherine will be down shortly. They're just dealing with something upstairs." Michael says as he continues chopping vegetables for the salad.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Jackson asks.

"Beer thanks, Abby beer too? " Tony answers.

Tim POV

So far not as awkward as I imagined it would be, Ducky, Abby and Tony are here now. We are all seated at the outdoor dining setting which is set beautifully, complete with cute little place cards. I noticed Katherine is seated next to Gibbs.

"Grumps," I noticed a little honey blonde mini version of Katherine run out onto the patio. She whispers something in Jackson's ear.

"Excuse me," he moves to go inside the house.

"Hi, are you Tony?" The mini Katherine asked me.

"No, I'm Tim. And you are?"

"Lucy. Daddy said not to tell Tony about Zoe. Zoe's my twin. We need you to help." She grabbed me by the hand and dragged me inside.

"Careful probie, isn't she a little young for you." Tony teased as she led me into the house.

"Zip it DiNozzo!" Gibbs threatens from the kitchen. "Or I'll come out and zip it for you."

Inside, I do a double take at my boss standing behind Katherine at the bench. He is kissing her on the neck and holding her around her waist while she peels boiled potatoes.

"Come on Tim. Dads just kissing mum, he does it all the time."

Upon entering the living room, I see Zoe.

"Aha, twins!" I exclaimed excitedly.

"Tim this is Zoe." Lucy introduces me to her carbon copy.

"Ok Tim. We need you to distract Tony so we can sneak outside." Zoe continued to let me in in the plan.

Tony POV

So far, so good. Talking with everyone about everything, turns out that Katherine's father Michael loves Magnum P.I.

"Hi." A honey blonde little miss pops her head up. "I know you. You're Tony." She is a cutie, must be Katherine's kid. I know none of us from NCIS have kids, including the boss.

"And you are?" I ask. I'm quite sceptical because I know I've never met the kid before.

"Lucy Gibbs." She smiles at me. It dawns on me that it's that cocky smile Gibbs has. There's the conclusive DNA test.

"Didn't know Gibbs had a kid." I reply to her.

"Hi" I jumped out of my skin. There another one. Two of them!

"There's two of you?" I exclaimed in a high pitched voice that reminds me of probie.

"Otherwise known as twins DiNozzo." Gibbs says entering the outdoor dining area carrying potato salad. "Lucy, Zoe go help your mother bring out the salads and bread."

"Cute kids boss."

"DiNozzo, make ya self useful and help." And I make my way to the BBQ as Gibbs and I start up the grill.

Katherine POV

Lunch is a lively affair with lots of love and laughter. I can tell L-J and his team are close. I think back to my clinic and my colleagues there. Nope, not that close. I adore each and every one of them. Especially Abby and Ducky. Even Tony is growing on me.

"So Katherine, how did you and Gibbs meet?" DiNozzo asks sweetly as we begin eating.

"Well, you see here Tony. My late wife and Mickeys late wife Eve were best friends from the moment they moved next door. I reckon they were 3 or so and Leroy pulled her hair. He laughed, she cried. They've been inseparable ever since." Jackson answered before I got a chance to.

"Apparently, that's the story." I concede.

"Well what's your story?" Huh? "You know, how did you get from the hair pulling to twins?"

"Mummy and Daddy had so much love they decided to take that and share it with the world. They made us. Right, daddy?" Lucy asked.

"You're sure right baby." Gibbs soothes. We catch each other's eyes. "Didn't yesterday teach you anything? About being so nosy?"

"Tony, wait until after lunch and the kids are playing if you feel you absolutely need to ask me questions." Certain things aren't supposed to be discussed at the dining table.

"I'll help you wash up Katherine" Abby says following me into the kitchen.

"Abs, feel free to call me Kat." I say

"I would but Gibbs looks at people funny when people do. Like he is going to rip their head off." I smile at this.

"Probably because Jethro was the first person to ever call me that."

"If you don't mind me saying, what are you guys exactly? Ducky says just friends."

"Yep. Just friends." I lie. I don't think Jethro wants anything announced just yet.

"Men and Women can never be just friends. There's always sex involved." She states.

"Of course there's sex involved. We have children." Twisting her trap onto her.

Gibbs POV

After lunch and dessert was eaten and Kat dished up large containers of leftovers for Tim, Abby, Ducky and Tony the adults settle into an easy discussion, while Zoe and Lucy play in the yard.

"I think it's sweet Gibbs. You're childhood sweethearts." Abby says dreamily. I catch Kat's eye and we laugh.

"No we weren't Abs. Just friends."

"I don't buy it," Tony adds. "Men and woman can never just be friends. There's always sex involved."

"It's true." Jackson interjects. "They've always been just friends. Only ever had the one incident."

"A drunken encounter, if you will." Mickey adds. I catch Kat's eye and we both smile.

"Aha!" Abby squeals. "What's that smile?"

"What smile?" Kat asks smiling wider and right there, I fall in love with her further.

"Share! Come on Katherine!"

"The night we made the twins? It wasn't the first time." I add smirking even further.

"What?!" Dad says spilling his beer. "When the bloody hell was it?" Looking over at Mickey, he looks furious. Luckily he is going to be leaving in the morning.

"Out of respect for our privacy, I'm not saying anymore. Except this... It wasn't the last either."

Kat throws her empty water bottle at me. I get up from the table to escape her hard throws and she chases me.

"How could you Jethro?" She seethes. "My father now knows we have been... "

"Kat, he had to know eventually. Hopefully, our family will be expanding soon."

"Jethro, say it a little louder. Someone might not hear you."

Suddenly, I sweep her up in my arms and dump her over the other side of the yard, in the pool. Coming up she coughs and splutters some obscene language at me and I know I'm done for.