Tony was half surprised when Mike picked him up the last official day is 8th grade. He knew the foster home was tired of him and told him he wouldn't be attending the graduation ceremony already since they weren't going to be there. The foster parent planned a trip with their real kids and planned to put him in a group home though Tony knew the real reason.
"Hey Mike what are you doing here?"
"It's nice to see you too kid. We're moving to the East coast. I came to pick you up since it's the last day of school for you. I'm waiting for your graduation certificate unless you want to attend the graduation." Tony shakes his head.
"They were going to send me to a group home tomorrow."
"Yeah I heard about that. Got caught staying out all night with the girl you have a baby with." Tony turns red. "I'm not judging just stating facts."
"I'm not allowed anywhere but school and the foster home. I don't even know where Nellie or her Mom Faith are. I tried calling them and Faith's mom said she died and Nellie was gone but ..." Mike waits until he gets the paperwork he needs before leading Tony outside to a rental car.
"I know that and Nellie's safe. Your father took custody of her when her mother died. I'm not sure what happened to her but that's all I know right now."
"So am I going home? I want to see Nellie?"
"No, he found someoene to help care for Nellie but he can't have physical custody of you. Technically you're no longer a foster kid so the usual rules don't apply. Your father gave someone legal guardianship over you until your 15th birthday though I don't understand that part."
"All the DiNozzo's get a trust fund and emancipated when they turn 15. My dad and my Uncle's traveled the summer after they turned 18 then went on to good schools. My Uncle Roger started his own business after college, so did Dad while My other Uncle went to law school and is a lawyer now. I'm the oldest grandchild and I already have a baby."
"Take the baby traveling with you. Are you with her mom?"
"That's the thing. She brought Nellie to California when I called her and told her what was going on but now ... we were to get married though. I have to think about it. "
"Grandparents aren't always everything. Take care of your baby and yourself. Go travel even with the baby, hire a sitter or nanny."
"I know what I would like to do. Do you know how to reach Gibbs and Kelly? I would like to see them. I don't know what it is about them but I thought about them a lot especially Kelly. My MOm died when I was her age and things changed a lot."
"I do and they think a lot about you too. Your dad walked about who might take you in and they wanted to see you as well so Gibbs will be your guardian until your birthday."
"Oh thank goodness." MIke looks at him. "I was worried it might be one of his friends and they only wonder about what I'm going to do with the trust. That's still better than foster care but as long as he doesn't know about Nellie ..."
"He does, your dad said he would see you next week with the baby so he had to know." Tony groans but there's nothing they can do about it. When they landed in Virginia and were waiting for their luggage Tony was shocked when Kelly ran up to him.
"Tony!" She hugs him as Gibbs approaches with a stroller.
"Hey Kel, hi Gibbs. What are you guys doing here?"
"We knew what time you plane was coming in so I thought we'd come pick you up and save Mike the trip. I hope you don't mind."
"No, I wasn't expecting to see you guys but I don't mind. Who's the kid?" Tony peers into the stroller stunned to see Nellie. He took her out of the stroller. "Nellie, daddy's missed you. My dad made you her guardian?" Gibbs shakes his head.
"Nope we're just her sitters until you got here. All I was told was that she's your daughter and you have custody of her."
"I've been seeing her regularly in California until two weeks ago. Then I was told her mom died but no where she went or who had her." Tony took the rabbit from his backpack. "Look what daddy got you, it's a bunny." Nellie squeals and takes it making them laugh.
"Let's get your bags and head to the house. Your dad left some supplies and things he thought you would need for her and things for you. He said he would come for you before your birthday in a couple of weeks. My dad's at the house and has dinner waiting." On the way to Gibbs' house Tony didn't say much unsure what Gibbs would think of him as a single dad at 14.
"I'm not judging you for having a child at your age and neither is my dad. I was a teen dad myself and we'll try to help you as best as we can."
"I know how to do a lot. I went to school and then their house. THe foster home didn't care when we came home. They didn't even realize I stayed out most of the time to be with Faith and Nellie until the house caught fire and they didn't know where I was. I got put in a new home where I wasn't allowed out after dinner and if I disappeared I would go to a home for wayward teens but I talked to Faith every day. We were going to get married when I got emancipated."
"Why? I mean why were you going to be emancipated? Because you had a baby?"
"No, my dad's parents Yaya and Papa have money and they have 3 boys who got money and emancipated when they turned 15. Technically I'm the oldest grandchild along with one of my cousins who is a day younger than me we're supposed to do the same thing. They hate me for having a child at my age but will still do the same since now I have to be responsible for another human being." Gibbs doesn't saying anything and TOny shrugs, "If I didn't need the money to raise her I wouldn't even take it." At Gibbs house there was a man who seemed familiar though Toy couldn't place him.
"Dad this is Tony DiNozzo. Tony this is my dad Jackson Gibbs."
"Hi Mr. Gibbs it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too but just call me Jackson. Your daughter is beautiful."
"Thank you." Gibbs shows him the room Tony and Nellie will stay in. It had a bed, rocking chair, playpen and dresser along with a small lamp and TV.
"You have your own bathroom and there are supplies for Nellie in there if you want to give her a bath. The top drawers have clothes and things your dad brought though we can pick more up because if I remember correctly they need more than they bought and it's nothing but dresses. Kelly had other types of clothes when she was that age unless Shannon took her somewhere. We can go after we eat."
"Yeah, she mostly had these one piece outfits and pajamas when I would see her. These are bute but I don't think she'll need them every day." After dinner which Nellie ate some of the potatoes and bread they first to the thrift store.
"I know these aren't new but since babies go through clothes quickly its cheaper and this store sells them in good condition."
"I don't mind used clothes for her or myself." They found clothes, bibs, some toys and other odds and ends Tony or Kelly thought she might need including a carrier for Tony to carry her in front of him. "She'll like this she loves to be carried." Gibbs smiles,
"At least when you're with us I don't think you'll have to worry about that. Kelly seems to want to carry her everywhere." Later when they're home and Nellie and Kelly are asleep Tony went down to get something to drink. "Is Nellie asleep?"
"Yeah, I found the things to give her a bath so I did that and gave her the bottle and she fell asleep quickly. I wanted to thank you for letting us stay here. They were going to send me to a group home for ..." Gibbs and Jackson look at him. "Nellie's mom Faith brought Nellie out to California and the foster home I was in didn't care if or when I came home as long as I didn't bring the police or wake anyone up. I would stay the night sometimes and one night there was a fire ... that's when they discovered I wasn't there. My last foster home wouldn't let me out of sight except for school and I was dropped off and picked up. I was going to a home for wayward boys." Gibbs nods,
"That sounds like what we heard but I didn't get the impression that you would be that kind of trouble. We didn't find out until today about Nellie when we met with your dad to sign the papers."
"Thanks for helping us. I didn't want to be in a home until I was 18 with Nellie growing up with strangers and I didn't like the idea of her staying with strangers who might do a better job than me and want to keep her."
"I'm sure Kelly wouldn't mind keeping her but your dad couldn't keep her and hoped I wouldn't mind if you did. He's going to come by next weekend to visit but we'll meet him somewhere. I would prefer he not know where we live."
"That's fine and I didn't think I would see him until I went with him. I mean I haven't seen him since the day of the accident anyway." THey fell into an awkward silence. "Is there anything I should know about staying here? Or what are the rules?"
"I don't have many rules. Dono't go into other people's rooms unless it's an emergency without them saying to come in and we'l do the same for you. Pick up after yourself and Nellie, hhelp with dinner or cleaning up after dinnner. Kelly goes to the neighbors in the morning and then her ssummer camp picks her up because I leave for work at 445to start at 5 and I get off at 2 so Im home when she gets back."
"THat's really early What time is she picked up?"
"Around 8 depending on which kids go that day. It's $15 a day because it's so early but she fixes breakfast and makes sure KElly has a lunch. If you would do the same I'll pay you the same just so she doesn't have to get up so early. I'm sure Nellie will have you up early anyway and you both have to eat as well so there will be food."
"Yeah, I can keep her in the morning. I wouldn't be happy getting up early either." Gibbs and Jackson chuckle. "If she would rather stay home I don't mind that either. I mean we won't do much but ..."
"She would like that and already asked if she could so she could stay home and play with Nellie all day. I said it was up to you. There are things to do around here within walking distance. Movies that play old kids movies for a dollar twice a day. There's a library Kelly loves to go to at least once a week for new books. We can get you a temp card for when you're here with us so you can check some out too. They also have story time. THere's also a park Kelly always wants to go to but Saturdays are my only days to keep up with house work and Sundays we go to don't have to go but we spend half the day there."
"I might try it at least once. I attend church when I can but some can be judgmental and I don't want to attend if this one is."
"I don't think they are but I'm also not a teen dad so that's up to you."
"Can I really help with the cooking? I like cooking and baking but I haven't really had the chance in a while."
"Of course you will need those skills when Nellie's bigger and wants whole meals." THe week went by smoothly with Kelly thrilled to spend her days playing with Nellie instead of at the summer camp. Friday Tony knew would be a pizza and movie night so they got a couple of movies from the library and decided to make the pizzas at home. When Gibbs got there he looked serious.
"Daddy!" Kelly ran to hug him and even Nellie got excited to see him but Tony coud tell something was wrong.
"What are you guys doing?"
"We thought we'd make our pizzas at home tonight. We got movies from the library and had everything but cheese and drinks for the movies. What's wrong? Did something happen?" Gibbs sighs taking Nellie from the high chair she was sitting in.
"Tony, your father and grandparents are at NIS with their lawyer. They would like to see us tonight ... or rather this afternoon." Tony takes a deep breath.
"Does Mike know what they want?"
"He says he doesn't just that they need to talk to you about something and it has to be today. Nellie wasn't mentioned according to him so we're not sure what that means."
"If Silerstein is with them it can't mean anything good." When they got to NIS Kelly and Nellie stayed with a female agent while Gibbs, Tony and Mike talked to Tony's family.
"THere you go Junior, we were starting to wonder where you were." Gibbs looks at the older man introduced as Jonathan DiNozzo and his wife Alexandra.
"I was at work when Mike reached me. I had to finish my shift and then pick up the kids."
"And just where is our great granddaughter? You said you picked them upbut I don't see her."
"SHe's with a female NIS age and you said she would never be your family anyway. You wanted nothing to do with her, to see her and you even said she would never get any part of the trust. THere's no need to see her."
"What about her mother? Do you plan to let Faith ever see her again?"
"Faith was killed in an accident from what her parents told me. We planned to marry when I turned 15 but either way no I wouldn't have kept her from Nellie. I know you didn't bring Silverstein here for just any reason so why are you really here?"
"Roger and Nancy are willing to take Nellie in so you can finish school, live your life and not be burdened with her. I know you and Charlie always wanted to travel and you also mentioned looking for your birth family." Tony shakes his head.
"THat's not going to happen. SHe's my daughter and if anyone's going to raise her it's going to be me. I might not be able to travel like I wanted to but we can still travel around America and I can still look for my birth family." Jonathan takes the folders from Silverstein and hands them to Tony.
"One of these has the paperwork to give ROger and Nancy custody of Nellie. If you sign then you'll be welcome back into the family and get to live the life you deserve The other folder is the paperwork for your emancipaion and trust fund. The papers you'll need to file but once you sign the form that you will no longer be a part of the family and ..." Tony takes the folders and leaves the room and GIbbs can see he's upset.
"Mr. Gibbs, as per are agreement as of Junior's birthday you no longer have to keep him or his daughter. I'm sorry for his but it's Junior's choice."
"No Mr. DiNozzo it's your choice" Gibbs puts the check down from Anthony in front of him. "I've been taking care of them without a penny from you and I'm not going to tell them they have to leave." Gibbs leaves and finds Tony at the end of the hall waiting.
"Don't worry I'm already looking for apartments for me and Nellie. I wanted to return here after everything so ..."
"You both are welcome to stay with us as long as you want Tony. I'm not about to turn you out into the street and I know Kelly loves having you there."
"What about ...?"
"If you ever feel like you shouldn't stay there or things are getting bad for you then you're free to go. I will even help you get something."
"What about them? What will they say?" Gibbs shrugs,
"I told them I wasn't going to kick you out on your birthday and you had a home with us and you do. Just take time to think about it until your birthday and let's find the girls. Dad was coming today because he thought we were meeting your dad tomorrow and he wanted to meet him."
"What will he think of this?"
"I think he'll make it his mission to spoil Nellie rotten and give her another grandparent. He already told me he bought her stuff, he always brings things for Kelly when he comes so he added stuff for her too." Tony thinks about this as they follow giggles to find Kelly and Nellie sharing a snack. Nellie squealed with happiness when she saw Tony who saw Anthony, Alexandra and Jonathan watching them. Pretending not to see them he enjoyed seeing Nellie being happy and that they could see she was too.