A/N: So sorry for the delay, Life and my muse seemed to be fighting one another I do hope you enjoy this chapter as it is the ending of my story. It's time to let go of this tale of mine. My many thanks to all of you that reviewed and added this their alerts and favorites.

To say every one was tired would be an understatement. After the adoption went through with no problems the entire family celebrated for the whole weekend playing hooky, junk food and movies much to the chagrin of Aunt Theresa.

She bid her time after long talks with Leon, Gibbs and, Steve she had come to a decision a few of them in fact. With the household back in its normal schedule she asked the family, the extended one as well to please come to at meeting on Saturday night; she would supply a late night meal for the adults after the children were put in bed. She had a lot to tell them and she didn't was the little ones interrupting them.

"Okay Aunt Theresa you have our attention." Tony tells her as he places the tray of coffee and tea on the table.

"As you all know, because in this family it is impossible to keep any secrets. My health is not as good as I lead everyone to believe that being said, there are few things that you all need to know."

"Theresa you're scaring me now." Tony says as he takes her hand in his.

Theresa looks at Tony silencing him with a single glance. "After a long talk with Leon and Gibbs and a longer talk with Steve, I believe I can make everyone happy."

Mandy looks at Tony and shakes her head no, when he starts to say something.

"I'm going home for a month, In the time that I'm gone Gibbs along with some of his friends are going to built an attachment to this house, A small one mind you, big enough for a sitting room slash bedroom with a tiny kitchen big enough for me to make a cup of tea and maybe some toast, also a bathroom with a walk in bathtub so I can sit in it and none of you have to worry about me falling. I am paying for the whole thing. He has already talked to the right people and received a building permit."

"But Theresa, we would have paid for it, it's our house after all."

"Too late I've already giving him the money to buy everything needed and to pay the crew."

"Steve is going to bring me home and talk to my attorney there; I will be transferring all of my legal work to Steve and his firm. I will be selling my condo and most of my belonging will be donated to charity, it's time I down sized. As for my new medical team, I know you are all worried about; I'm sure between Brad and Grace that will be easily rectified. I'm going to follow my doctor's orders and take good care of myself."

There is one more thing." she says then she places a large brown envelope on the table.

"I'm intrusting this envelope into the care of Brad as of today. The rest of you are officers of the court so you can't have it, but Brad being a doctor and a friend he is not bound by the rule of law or any courts, not at this time anyway. Inside is all the information you will need if my brother tries to start any problem with Tony and his family, going after any money that I leave him should I die before he does. There is enough information in enclosed to keep my brother behind bars for the rest of his life. He knows that I have some of this but not all of it."

"Doesn't he have to stay in prison now for breaking the restraining orders?" Grace asks.

"He petitioned the court for lenience because of his age, he is asking for anther chance. My soft hearted nephew didn't put up a fight. This is going to be his last chance and he knows this. I suggested that he go to New York is old stomping grounds and stay there."

"Where will he stay?" Mandy asks not liking that he will be free.

"We are a large Italian family one of the family members will take him in. They all know that he is a conman so the won't be able to steal from them. He won't be allowed near any money or books. Just a place to eat, sleep and rest. I've already spread the word; he can go from family to family if he gets board we'll even fly him over to Italy to spend time in the old country. Now I'm going to bed, our flight leaves at ten in the morning."

Tony waits until he is certain that Theresa is safely ensconced in her bedroom before he says anything. "I wish you had said something to us Gibbs, I don't want her to pay for the extension to the house." Tony tells him as he refills the coffee cups

"She has her reasons for doing it this way. I for one am not about to argue with her."

"Dr. Pitt could I please have the envelope." Leon asks him holding his hand out for the envelope.

"I don't think that would be wise do you Director? As Theresa stated you are an office of the court. If you look at the contents of the envelope then you are duty bound to turn it over to the courts, right? She just wants to protect all of you."

Nodding his head in agreement he frowns as do Gibbs and Tony. But they understand why she is doing it this way. Even if they don't like it.

Grace asks a question that has been on her mind. As a nurse she knows just how important family is when you are older and ill. "Tony where is her family, children, grand children, husband?"

"My uncle died forty years ago, along with their only child. They were on vacation in Italy, they drowned, and she also lost the child she was carrying at the time."

"Damn, that explains why she was able to take off and go see you all of the time." Gibbs softly mutters.

"That's why I let her have her way with me too, I love her very much. After my mother and grandmother died she filled that void. She did the best she could and I'll always be grateful for everything that she did for me."

"Me too." Steve adds. When he sees everyone looking at him in confusion. "She would come to the frat house bring food, odds and ends, along with lots of medical supplies. You know ice packs, bandages for sprains, aspirin. We were all jocks and there was always someone who was hurting. Best of all she brought us lots of TLC. We all loved her, some of the brothers still ask about her too."

Gibbs managed to keep the disorder to the house and the lives to a minimum. He made sure that the small add on was perfect for Theresa. After talking to Tony and Mandy he added an intercom for her so she to call to them if there was ever a problem and she needed help.

Time passes like it always does, soon every one settled into a comfortable routine. Tony worked long hours, and sometimes, not often was away for a few days at a time. Mandy managed to keep things running smoothly just like she always had before Theresa moved in.

Hearing the noise coming from the backyard Mandy grabs the juice boxes that the children were waiting for. Smiling as she stops to stand next to Tony as he looks out the patios doors. She sighs softly as she sees the controlled chaos in the yard.

She still can't at times believe just how lucky she really is, she has everything that she had always wanted and feared that she would never get, a family. More importantly she found the love of her life, in Tony.

"Beautiful. Isn't it?" Tony asks her. Tuning he looks down at her and kisses her softly on her cheek. "I owe it all to you. If it wasn't for you. I would have died a long time ago. I was getting really reckless in the field and I was losing my battle with compassion, too many crimes and deaths. There was nothing worth living for anymore. You made me care again and love for the first time real love not just lust, but real love."

"Tony?" She whispers.

"Come on Manilow, let's get out there, we need to get things ready. Gibbs is going to cook just as soon the rest of the family arrives. He just has to pick up Grace and make a quick stop to the market. We have to make this party great for them, just think one year we've been a family it's something to celebrate. Don't you think?

"Yes of course, I love our kids, But Tony, just how many are coming?"

Everyone! Brad and Zoë, Sammy and the twins. Tim, April and their little one. Steve and his crew all of them as long as his wife doesn't go into labor she'll be here too. Leon and his kids along with his new lady, you'll like her she is an art teacher. Ziva and the man she is engaged to. Like I said the family."

"No Abby?"

He shakes his head. "Not yet. One step at a time, she came here for lunch last month. She still has to learn to control herself a bit more. Little by little."

She smiles as she looks out into the yard. "Look at Gunny. He growls every time anyone gets close to Theresa."

"That's because she sneaks him dogs biscuits, the little ones they sell for toy dogs. Her pockets are full of them."

Laughing slightly Mandy shakes her head. "I didn't know that." she looks at Tony and frowns slightly. "Are you going to tell them about your dad?"

"No, the car accident wasn't that bad. He'll be out of the hospital in a week. He can go back to playing with the rich old ladies in senior center when he gets out."

"You do care."

"He's my father."

Understanding completely what he is saying and not saying. She leans up to kiss him only to be shoved into his chest as a flying barking mass of fur as it flies by, as the door bell starts to ring.

"Looks like some the family is here." Mandy tells him as they hear some voice coming closer.

"Manilow if we sneak out the window in our room we can go to that Italian place we love just think no noise."

The head slap is not unexpected not really, Tony always made a show of being surprised, but he always knew when it was coming. "You ready to grill Gibbs?"

"Grab the gear."

Mandy and Tony exchanged a look and a smile before the answered together. "On your six boss."

The end.