"Need some help with that?" Jethro watched and worried as Tony stepped outside. In one hand he had a cane, to help keep the weight off his healing leg, and the other hand was holding a small tower of plates. Somehow that stubborn son of his made it safely to the long table outside and put the plates on it.

"No. I can handle this."

Sometimes Jethro found himself feeling almost glad that the kid had broken his leg; knowing how good Tony was at running and disappearing, at least he hadn't been able to do it with a broken leg. Then he felt guilty because even if it was true that only thanks to the accident they had been able to spend time together and talk, as a parent he never wanted to see his child get hurt.

During these days with his son, Jethro had been smiling and laughing more than he had since losing his family. It was then that he truly realized just how much he had changed and it made his heart ache again. He now knew more than ever that he couldn't lose Tony. He could not let his son go. So if Tony by the end of this decided to leave, he would follow him. His son may have been blessed with many talents beyond his years—including disappearing so no one could find him—but his dad had those actual years of experience and his tracking skills during the years had become something of a legend, even if that was mostly thanks to trying to find his son.

"You know, mom would be making those faces right now and mumbling to herself, thinking we don't know what she's saying."

"And why is that?"

"Because you're going to make your cowboy steaks. She did always say it's the only thing you can make. I haven't seen any evidence that it has changed."

Jethro growled gruffly, "Then get back in kitchen and start cooking!"

"On it, boss." Tony saluted and made it back inside without too much trouble. It scared him how easy it was for them to get along now. They talked every day and Jethro had even made him talk about that one thing he didn't want to talk about; the murder of mom and Kelly, and what it did to him. He hated the man for making him go through that again. Even if Jethro did apologize afterward.

Picking up a potato in the kitchen, he began peeling it and he found out soon how hard the job really was. Not because of his leg, since he was sitting on a chair, but because of the endless tears rolling down his cheeks again; the tears making his vision foggy. It was painful to be back in this house. All the memories were crushing him, both the good and bad. "I miss you two..." Tony whispered, wiping away his tears. Manly tears, he would say, despite the way even his nose was running. Hearing footsteps, Tony grabbed in desperation one of the onions near him and started peeling it.

"Are you all right, son?" Jethro asked, concerned and not fooled.

"Yeah. Onions you know..." Tony sniffled with his hunched back toward the doorway.

Seeing the obvious lie, but respecting Tony's need for privacy, Jethro took the knife he came for and left.

Tony dropped the onion. The vegetable had only made things worse.

One by one their guests arrived to the house and sat down behind the long table, which Jethro had built in a rush. There were more people there than at Jethro's and Shannon's wedding. They were both old and new friends. The party had been Abby's idea; a young woman who was a little too friendly with both him and Jethro than Tony would like, but he found himself unable to hate her. Her personality was a bit too much, but it grew on you.

The guests were chatting happily while Jethro started carrying the food on the table, with the help of Abby and young James Palmer; Jimmy between friends as the stuttering kid had told Tony. There was plenty of food and Jethro jokingly pointed out how proud Shannon would have been of them, him and Tony. If Jethro was laughing and smiling more than people were used to and Tony's eyes were red and a little puffy, no one said anything.

"M-Mr. DiNozzo."

Tony looked up and grinned at the nervous Jimmy. "It's Gibbs, but you really must call me Tony or I can't call you Jimmy."

"Right. Ducky told me to take a look at your leg, to make sure you haven't hurt it, with all that walking around today and..."

"Fine." Tony sighed exasperated. With a little help from Jimmy the two of them somehow made it inside.

Jethro turned away from the retreating duo and faced his guests with a huge smile on his face. Gibbs. Tony was using his name again.

"Are you happy now?" Abby asked, having seen the whole thing and the way Jethro's whole face had lightened up. It made him look so unlike himself that it was kind of weird to look at, but she could get used to it.

"Yes. I think I am." Jethro was still smiling. Yes, he was happy. Of course the future was still uncertain, but by taking back the name Gibbs, Tony had in his own subtle way agreed to try this. Whatever 'this' now was, Jethro was determined to not screw up. Never again. And although there were still many people out there who had hurt his son—mainly DiNozzo Senior—he wouldn't leave his son again to go after anyone. He would however keep his rifle in a good working condition. You never knew when he'd get the chance to use it on that one person who deserved it the most...

When he looked up sometime later, Jethro saw few more people arriving there. People whom he hadn't seen since the funeral of his wife and daughter. Three of them stood out the most; Maddie, Shannon's mother and— Oh no. His father. Jethro felt someone gently touching his shoulder and he noticed Tony standing there, leaning against the cane.

Tony had a challenging look on his face. "You know, if I can forgive you, then you sure can forgive yours."

Jethro felt his mouth go dry at the thought of it, but then he grinned when he realized what else his son had said. Dad. Sounding so natural and without snarkiness. Then he heard Tony swearing when he dropped his cane and had to pick it up, which his leg didn't thank him for. "One of these days I really am going to wash your mouth with a soap."

"Only if I get to wash yours first!" Tony cheered after his dad, after taking the food from Jethro and watching as the man walked slowly toward the other part of his family. Jethro and Jackson had not seen each other for almost ten years.

"Hi, dad..." Jethro stared at his aging father, hiding his shock at the almost dramatic change. They hugged awkwardly, but only after the staring between the two of them got even more awkward.

Tony looked up to the blue sky. The weather was perfect and once again he found himself missing the lost part of the family. "I'm going to try, for you two. For us. That's all I can promise for now."

Although it would take a long time for them to repair their relationship, and perhaps Tony would run away again, they would both at least try. And while Senior was still out there somewhere, Tony was no longer that little boy, helpless and so easy to hurt. If it would come to that, this time he would be standing next to his dad as they dealt with the man who took their girls from them. Just a man, and not a monster, as Tony used to believe as a child. A mere mortal who stopped looking so big and scary years ago.

Tony held up his glass of alcohol toward the sky. He had gone through a huge argument with Jethro before he was allowed to have any. When he spoke, his words were just a soft whisper, "For you two..."

The End