emerald_green37 | The Witch 4/? (Reply)

True to his word, Gibbs arrived only about twenty minutes after Tim and Tiana were home, carrying a large bone. "Here you go, boy." Doggie Jethro woofed his appreciation and took his treasure to his bed to start gnawing on it.

Dinner was a hearty affair of a bean soup that used up the last of the ham and a large pan of cornbread. Again, Gibbs was amazed to see Tiana eat what was put in front of her. "Is there anything she won't eat?"

"Processed foods." Tim grinned as he explained further. "Frozen pizza or the boxed macaroni with the powdered cheese – yeah, good luck getting her to eat those. She's got to be one step away from starving before she'll even touch them. Your cowboy steaks, though, she'd love that."

Tia took a big bite of her cornbread. "Yummy, I love steak."

Gibbs reached over and wiped the butter off the happy little girl's nose. "I'll have to remember that."

After dinner was bath time. Gibbs cleaned up in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher as he listened to Tim and Tiana singing about a rubber ducky. Dressed in her pajamas, hair loosely twisted around her head, Tia bounced back out and waited for her father next to the recliner. Gibbs leaned on the wall, listening as Pete the Cat lost his buttons, Tia pointing out the words she recognized. Eventually, she quieted, her thumb next to, but not in her mouth. Finally the last page was read and they closed the book.

"You ready to go to sleep?"

Tiana nodded as she yawned, so Tim set the book down before standing up with her. They walked over to Gibbs for his goodnight hug and kiss.

"Night-night, Papa. See you in the morning."

Gibbs pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Sweetpea." He followed them down the hall and fondly watched as Tim tucked her into bed before helping her choose three toys to sleep with. The stuffed penguin, frog and teddy bear were the chosen bed partners of the night.

Tim bent down and kissed her one last time before turning on her rainbow nightlight. "Night, Baby."

"Night, Daddy. Love you."

"Love you, too." Tim stood and quietly padded out of the room, closing the door part way. He smiled at Gibbs before returning to the kitchen. Pretty much everything was done and he turned in surprise to look at Gibbs.

Gibbs just grinned and shrugged. All that was left for Tim was to divide up what was left of the soup into plastic containers to freeze. Two future family meals were tucked into the freezer, ready for a night when he didn't feel like cooking with just enough left for a lunch which he packed up for Gibbs.

"Appreciate it." Gibbs was eyeballing the last piece of cornbread and Tim laughed as he wrapped it up.

"There, that should give you a decent lunch tomorrow." Tim poured two cups of coffee and they retreated to the living room, Gibbs finally sitting down on the new sofa for the first time. It was comfortable, but he still felt guilty.

"I really didn't mean to make you go out and buy a new one."

Tim closed his eyes briefly as he leaned back. "It wasn't just that. I really needed a bigger sofa." He sensed that Gibbs was working up to something, so he opened his eyes and watched the other man.

Gibbs hesitated, then shook his head. "If I'm under foot too much you have the right to tell me to butt out, you know."

Suspicious, Tim watched him closely. "Diane got to you even more than she got to me."

Gibbs shrugged, but didn't answer.

Knowing where this was coming from, Tim leaned forward and rested his hand on Gibbs' arm. "I love watching you with Tiana and your support, your presence in our lives, is something I've come to rely on very much. More than I've ever relied on anyone."

Knowing that he had Gibbs' complete attention, Tim took a deep breath. "Things are changing between us, Jethro. I know it can't change things on the job, but here at home, I'd like to see where it goes."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

A teenager came barreling down the road, burning rubber with the stereo full blast, waking Tia and she started to cry. Tim squeezed Gibbs' arm as he stood, giving the older man a few minutes to think undisturbed.

The loud sounds had frightened her, so Tim brought Tia back to the living room and sat in their favorite spot on the sofa with her on his lap, rocking her back to sleep. Not really fully awake, she reached out and found Gibbs' hand, tugging him closer. By the time the three of them had settled, Tim was leaning against Gibbs, Tia draped over both of them. Tim looked over his shoulder at Gibbs, worried that the older man might be uncomfortable, but he looked very peaceful. Confident that he hadn't pushed too far, Tim let his head drop back and enjoyed the sensation of being surrounded by those he cared about.

Gibbs watched as first Tiana, then Tim, apparently drifted off. The neighborhood had once again quieted down and the only sound was the snoring dog in the kitchen The last one awake, he thought about what Tim had said and admitted what was in his own heart, whispering. "Me too."

Nestled against him, Tim smiled, but didn't open his eyes.