Put My Heart Down

Disclaimer:
You know the drill.

Rating:
T

Genre:
Romance/Family/Drama

Pairing:
Tibbs

Lyrics Used:
Corbin Bleu - "Moments That Matter"

Moments That Matter

Looking back on the photo album of my life | It's the little things that make us smile (that that that that make us smile) | Like the very first time you discovered true love (uh) | It's a feeling you can't describe | But it always stays on your mind

Or the first time you hear a song on the radio | That gives you goosebumps all over from head-to-toe | Or the time you stayed up all night talking on the phone | And you realized she's staring up at the same star as you | That's what gets me sentimental (sentimental)

Tony DiNozzo smiled as he followed his pregnant lover into the bullpen. Things seemed to be going exactly as he'd always wanted them to. It had been roughly four weeks since he'd left Wren Hastings and reunited with the the only person he'd ever truly loved – Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And, they had big plans for this evening. Jethro had another check-up appointment, later that afternoon and, after the appointment, they were planning to announce the pregnancy and their reunion to their friends over at Gibbs's place. However, he soon spotted a letter on his desk. "What's this?" He questioned, curiously, eyeing McGee and Ziva.

"I dunno." Timothy McGee shrugged, thoughtlessly. "Someone from the mail office just came in and left it on your desk." He added, off-handedly, focusing on the mountain of paperwork on his desk.

There's no return address. Tony observed, silently, carefully opening the envelope. Dumping the contents onto his desk, he was relieved when there was no powered substance on or around the paper that fell on to his desk. How was it even delivered without a return address? Picking the paper up, he silently read it, to himself.

Tony

You may or may not have realized this, yet. But, leaving me was the single biggest mistake you have ever made in your life. Well, if you haven't already figured that out, don't worry. I'll be glad to help you out. Don't worry, when you least expect it, everything will become clear to you. I know you feel like you have to go back to that wrung-out Marine has-been that looks like he's been rode hard and put away wet. But, you don't have to be stuck with him! Don't you get it?! I was SO much better to you! And, you know that! I can make you happy in ways that old fart could never even dream of! But, don't worry. Like I said, I'll help you see all that in due time. Until then, just know that I'll be waiting for you.

Love,
Wren

Tony quickly folded the paper up and stuffed it into his pocket. I can't believe this! He thought to himself. The guy just doesn't take a freakin' hint! Tony was engrossed in his thoughts – outraged that Wren would even think such things – it took a moment for him to register that Jethro was calling his name.

"Tony?" Jethro called. When he received no response, he tried again, slightly louder. "DiNozzo!" He barked, satisfied when Tony snapped to attention.

"Yeah, Boss?" Tony replied, reflexively.

"Somethin' you wanna share with the rest of the class?" Gibbs asked. The rest of the team only heard the sarcasm in his voice. But, Tony could hear the worry and concern that the sarcasm was meant to conceal.

"Nah." Tony replied, dismissively. "It's nothin'." Seeing the disbelieving stare in Jethro's piercing blue eyes, he just offered his lover a look that said If it were something, I'd tell you … Or at least he hoped that was what his eyes were saying. And, it seemed to work as Jethro stared at him a moment longer before nodding.

"Well, then…" Gibbs replied. "Get back to work." He added, gesturing toward the pile of paper work on Tony's desk.

"On it, Boss." Tony replied, relieved that – for the time being, at least – Jethro seemed to buy his story. Jethro's got enough on his plate … He doesn't need to deal with Wren's jealous, petty, ramblings. He thought to himself as he focused on his paper work.

That's what life's all about (yeah yeah) | That's what gets me all emotional | Bothered with all the things I can do without | 'Cause I figured out these are the moments that matter (matter) | And I figured out that these are the moments that mean the most to me | 'Cause I know I got friends, trust, family and love | All around me that should be enough | And, I figured out that these are the moments that matter to me, matter to me

Later that evening, Tony and Jethro had arrived at Jethro's house to prepare for their friends' impending arrival. They had just finished setting everything up when Jethro whirled around, pinning Tony in the corner. "Mmm." Tony purred, smiling, seductively. "I don't know where this is going, but, I like it."

"Tony, be serious." Jethro replied, his tone clearly indicating that now was not the time for flirtatious jokes. "I wanna know what was in that letter." He demanded, softly.

Rolling his eyes, dismissively, Tony tried to reassure his lover. "Jethro … I meant what I said … It's nothing, really."

"Don't lie to me, Tony." Jethro replied, his voice pleading. "I saw the look on your face. I know it's bothering you." Sighing lightly, Jethro added "Tony, talk to me."

Sighing in resignation, Tony finally replied "Look, it's just … It's just Wren being jealous and petty … It's nothing to worry about."

"Then, you won't mind telling me just what he said?" Jethro challenged, clearly not buying Tony's attempts to downplay the letter.

"All he said was that…" Tony began, recalling the contents of the letter he'd received, earlier, that day. "…I haven't realized it, yet, but, I made a huge mistake in leaving him and that he was gonna show me what a mistake it was when I least expect it." The younger man sighed. "Jethro, I can literally see the wheels turning in your head. It's nothing. He's just being jealous. He just wants to get in my head and make me question leaving him and that's not gonna happen. Okay?" He offered, hoping to assuage his lover's concerns. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere."

"That's not what I'm worried about and you know it, Tony." Jethro argued. "I don't like the way he worded that bit about 'showing you what a mistake you made when you least expect it'." He added, emphasizing the threat. "Tony, I really think you should take it, seriously. I think you need to report this…"

"And, what good could come of that?" Tony challenged, getting slightly annoyed that Jethro wouldn't let it go. "You know the drill, Jethro! All they would do is waste other agents' time by putting me on a protective detail."

"Well, maybe you should consider it." Jethro argued, unable to believe that Tony wasn't taking this seriously. "Tony, please … Just think about it, okay? … For me?" He begged, hoping that – if he couldn't get Tony to look out for himself – perhaps the younger man would do it for him and their baby.

Looking into Jethro's piercing blue eyes, he knew there was nothing he would ever deny the older man. "Okay, fine." He sighed, in defeat. "I will think about it." He clarified, quickly, planting a chaste kiss on his lover's lips. "But, only because I love you so much."

Smiling in relief, Jethro replied "Thank you, Tony." Leaning in for a second kiss, both men were annoyed by the sound of the front door opening as they heard their friends walk in. "I have got to start locking that door." Jethro growled, frustrated by the interruption.

Chuckling lightly, Tony replied "No complaints, here." He grinned, bemused by his lover's frustration. Just before Jethro could step out into the living room to join their friends, Tony gripped his arm, lightly. "Hey." He added, planting a light kiss to the older man's cheek. "We'll have plenty of time to finish this, later." He purred in Jethro's ear, thoroughly enjoying the way Jethro's eyes closed in lust-filled anticipation and the lust-filled shivers that rolled down Jethro's spine.

"I'm holding you to that." Jethro replied, gruffly, kissing Tony's cheek, lightly.

"Hey, guys!" Tony greeted, brightly, walking into the room to join the rest of his friends, before taking his seat next to Jethro on the couch.

"So, what's the big surprise?" Tim asked, curiously. Though, he suspected that it had something to do with how close Tony and Gibbs were sitting together on the sofa. Glancing around the room, he could tell by everyone else's faces that he wasn't alone in that suspicion.

"Well, guys…" Tony replied, unable to stop the excited smile spreading across his face even if he wanted to. And, he definitely didn't want to. "Gibbs and I have a couple of announcements to make." He began, scarcely able to contain his excitement.

"Well?!" Abby prompted, excitedly. "Get on with it!"

"Yes!" Ziva replied, equally excited. "Do not keep us hanging!"

"Baby steps, my friends." Tony replied, grinning to himself at his inadvertent word play. "First of all…" He added, smiling lovingly, as he took Jethro's hands in his own – earning a small, excited, squeal from Abby – before continuing. "Jethro and I have decided to give our relationship another try." He smiled, unable to take his eyes off of his older lover.

"Yay!" Abby shrieked, leaping out of her seat and crossing the room to wrap both Tony and Jethro in one of her famous hugs. "I'm so glad you guys are back together!" She added, though muffled by Tony's shoulder.

"So are we." Tim offered, smiling warmly.

"Yes." Ziva smiled, excitedly. "We could not be happier for the two of you!"

Suddenly, a question occurred to Tim. "Wait … What about Wren?" He questioned, curiously.

"Well, that actually brings us to our next announcement." Tony began, cryptically, before turning to Jethro. "But, I think I'll let Jethro take this one." He smiled, excitedly.

"Thank you, Tony." Jethro smiled. "Well, I don't really know quite how to say this so … I'm just gonna come right out and say it…" He couldn't escape the anxious excitement that came over him as he prepared to announce his pregnancy to his friends and the people that had become his family over the years. "I'm pregnant." The words were simple, but, elicited indescribable excitement from the rest of their family.

"Oh my God!" Abby squealed, squirming excitedly in her seat. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!"

"Congratulations!" Ziva replied, smiling.

"How far along are you?" Tim asked, happy for his friends.

"About twelve weeks, now." Jethro smiled as Tony squeezed his hands, supportively.

"You've been hiding this from us for three months now?!" Abby shrieked, though, her her contagious smile belied her feigned indignation.

"Well, to be fair, I just found about this – myself – about a month ago." Jethro replied, still smiling uncontrollably.

"That's … actually kind of what led to me leaving Wren." Tony drawled, reluctant to place a dark cloud over their excitement. Turning to Jethro, he offered the man a reassuring squeeze of the hands as he returned his focus to the group around them. "When Jethro told me about the baby, he offered to let me be either as involved or un-involved as I wanted to be." He offered, saddened by the thought of his time away from Jethro. "Wren was convinced that Jethro was gonna try to use the baby to try to guilt me into taking him back."

"That is absurd!" Ziva replied, outraged by the thought that someone would accuse their leader of something like that. "Gibbs would never do such a thing."

"I know!" Tony assured his friend. "I know that … And, when I told Wren what Jethro said – that I could just walk away, if that was what I wanted – he told me to tell Jethro that I wanted nothing to do with him or the baby." Tony sighed, grateful for the reassuring squeeze from Jethro's hands.

"Unbelievable!" Ziva hissed, furious that anyone would dare try to take a father away from an unborn child.

"That's insane!" Tim agreed, equally outraged.

"My sentiments, exactly." Tony replied, darkly, as Jethro released one of his hands to gently rub his younger lover's back, soothingly. "That's why I told him that he was asking me to choose between him and my child … And, in that scenario, my child wins – hands down – it's no contest." Tony added, determined. "At that point, I hadn't even considered getting back together with Jethro, yet. All I wanted was just to be there for my baby."

"Aww, Tony." Abby cooed, quietly, crossing the room, once again, to wrap Tony in another one of her famous hugs.

"Thanks, Abs." Tony smiled, grateful for the young scientist's support. After she returned to her seat, Tony continued with the story. "Anyway … When I told Jethro about Wren's reaction to the baby … well, we got to talking and … one thing led to another, and … here we are." Tony explained, simply, as Jethro leaned into his side, allowing Tony to wrap his comforting arms around him. God, I've missed this. Both the parents-to-be thought to themselves in unwitting unison.

"Well, I – for one – could not be happier for the two of you!" Tim smiled, warmly.

"I second that sentiment." Ziva smiled.

Author's Note:
As always, I hope you've all enjoyed this little offering. Don't forget to drop me a review!

~Skye Coulson