It was not the most promising start to an engagement. He and Kate had been engaged a week, and she was going through the process of becoming an NCIS agent again. And they were in Indiana, having just pulled in the driveway to meet Kate's family. He was understandably terrified. And Rosie had never met her grandparents.

Kate reached over and squeezed his hand, and he could see that she was biting her lip, "Katie?"

"I'm fine, Gibbs. We didn't have to do this, you know."

"Yes," he rubbed a thumb over her hand, "We did."

"At least we've got Rachel on our side."

"Small mercies," he grinned. They got out of the car, and Gibbs helped Rosie out of her seat belt. As they walked up the steps of the Victorian house, Gibbs was sure his heart was pounding so hard it would burst if it beat any harder.

But he couldn't forget that there was a woman next to him, one he'd loved for years. And she had his ring on her finger. They reached the top of the stairs, and Kate reached for the doorbell, only to hesitate.

God, if they don't approve, what will she do?

As though she could read his mind- he wouldn't put it past her- she turned to look at him and smiled, "I can't believe you actually agreed to do this, Gibbs."

"Family is important, Kate. And you can't say no to our daughter."

She grinned, "Gibbs, you can't say no to our daughter." It sent a small thrill through him every time one of them said it. Our daughter. He'd been in, just a few days ago, having her name changed. He knew that no matter what, Rosie was his. But it still made him feel better now that it was official.

"It's true, daddy," Rosie chimed in.

He ruffled her hair, "Did I ask?"

She giggled, and swatted at his hand. He smiled at her, and then looked over at Kate, fondly. She was smiling back at him, her eyes sparkling with the joy of realization. It was still hard to believe that this was his reality now.

"It really is true," Kate was laughing, "You might as well be wearing a sign."

"Put up a billboard," he agreed, and leaned down, kissing her.

And then the front door opened, "I thought I heard- oh."

They pulled apart, as though they'd been at work, and had rule 12 to contend with (more like ignore). An older woman was standing at the door, arms crossed as she looked at the trio in front of her.

"Caitlin. You're home." The voice was cool.

He took her hand, and she took a deep breath, "Mom, this is my fiancé, Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

"Your boss, right?" She said softly, looking at him.

"Mom, we've been here less than five minutes-,"

"Don't be mean to my mommy!" Rosie said marching forward, arms crossed.

Gibbs put a hand on her shoulder, and leaned down, murmuring, "Thank you Ro. But shhh."

"Your- mom…? Caitlin?" she asked, horrified.

"Mom, this is my daughter, Rosie. Our daughter. Rosie, this is your grandmother."

"I suppose you better come in," Rosalie Todd's voice was icy, and she didn't even look at her granddaughter.

Kate took a deep breath, "Mom, if we're not welcome here, then we can leave." She shrugged. "We only came to invite the family to our wedding."

"Oh you are getting married, after running away to the tropics for years on end without telling us, and having a daughter whom you also didn't tell us about. Don't bother apologizing Caitlin. It's about five years overdue.

Kate stood beside Gibbs, practically frozen in anger.

"Whoa, hold on a sec," he cut in, "Ya can't just-,"

"No, Gibbs." She grabbed his arm, "Don't. I can handle it."

"Kate, not worth it. We'll just go back to DC, and Ducky can walk you down the aisle."

"Who's Ducky?" Rosalie asked.

"He's a darling old man." And then Rosalie was pushed aside and there was Kate and Gibbs' number one ally: Rachel Cranston.

She looked at the two of them, glanced at the ring on Kate's finger and rolled her eyes, "It's about damn time you two."

"Hey Sis," Kate warmly embraced her, and Gibbs was surprised when Rachel pulled him into the hug as well.

"Hiya Doc," he managed, "Good to see you again."

"You two need to come on in, and tell me everything," Rachel warned as she pulled away, before seeing Rosie. "Hi there, sweetie, and you must be Rosie."

Rosie looked up at her in awe, "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm your Aunt Rachel, and I haven't seen you since you were a baby. You're so grown up now! How old are you?"

"Five," Rosie said shyly.

"And a half," Kate said, grinning at her daughter.

And then Rachel looked at Gibbs again, "She looks more and more like you every day, Gibbs."

"You- Kate told you?"

"She was scared, but I suspected it was you. Rosie has the bluest eyes, Gibbs. I'm not an idiot."

He rolled his eyes, "Did you know about us, Doc?"

"Course I did, I know everything. If I'd known she was in danger-"

"She was in danger?" The four of them had been so intent on their conversation, that they hadn't noticed Rosalie.

"Mom, this isn't really a conversation to have in front of Rosie." Rachel said, looking between her mother and sister.

She seemed to hear the girl's name for the first time. "Rosie. What's her full name?"

Kate looked her in the eye, "It's Rose. My favorite flower. Rose Abigail Heather Todd." It isn't Rosalie.

Rachel ran a hand over her sister's hair, "I missed you, of course. How was the tropics?"

"Hot," Kate laughed, "And I missed you a lot."

"Now come on in, and tell me everything. Every detail! Come on, sis." Rachel marched right past her mother as she led Kate inside.

Rosie followed, whispering to Gibbs, "Are we okay, daddy?"

He kissed the top of her head, "Yeah, Ro, we're okay."

XNCISX

Andrew and Rosalie Todd are proud to announce

The Engagement of their daughter,

Caitlin Rose Todd,

To Leroy Jethro Gibbs of Washington, DC,

On September 22, 2011.

Kate groaned, staring at the announcement in the paper.

Gibbs paused, a hand on her shoulder, the other holding a mug of coffee, "What is it?"

She showed him the paper. He chuckled.

"You're welcome." Rachel said casually as she sipped her coffee.

Gibbs kissed the top of Kate's head, "I like how my name looks in the paper."

"How about an obituary?" She asked, turning to look at him. He moved away, still smiling, but set a plate in front of her. "Breakfast. Important."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't parent me."

"Kate, it's allowed for me to take care of you." He teased, before handing a plate to Rachel, "I assume you won't say no to breakfast?"

"Didn't know you could cook, Gibbs," Rachel took the offered plate.

"Steak and eggs aren't that hard."

Kate looked towards her sister and Gibbs, "He prefers his steaks over a fire."

Rachel laughed, and Gibbs looked around, "Anyone seen Rosie?"

"She was running around outside with my dad last I checked. Maybe go help him. She's got way too much energy."

He set his mug of coffee down beside her, "Drink up. Duty calls."

Gratefully, she took his mug of coffee, wrinkling her nose at the strength, but smiled to herself.

Only two days into their stay in Indiana, and she was deeply suffering. Rachel was the only sibling who had come to Indiana, thank God so she could take Kate's side, and try and convince their mother that the engagement was not a complete crisis.

She had cried herself to sleep their first night, and Gibbs had simply held her in her arms, and let her cry, stroking her hair. She was reminded every day that she was so lucky to have him. Strong and silent, and a bit of a bastard was what he was, but it was what she needed in the turmoil that was her immediate family.

She looked up, "Rachel, did you post this?"

"Dad did. Mom doesn't know yet."

"She's going to lose her shit."

"Caitlin Rose Todd! What did I tell you about using that kind of language in this house?"

Kate whipped around, a hand to her chest. "Sorry," she muttered. It was the kind of atmosphere that inspired bad language in her, as bad an example it was to her five-year-old daughter.

Her mother grabbed the paper from her, "What is this?" she asked.

Rachel, leaning against the counter and sipping her coffee, smiled. "Dad and I put that in."

"But I don't- I'm not proud." Rosalie sputtered.

"Why not?" Kate asked, standing up, "Why shouldn't you be proud?"

"He's eighteen years older than you, he's your boss-"

"Former boss," Kate cut in.

"You slept with your boss when you were his subordinate, because that daughter of yours is his, and you've been gone for six years- And you want me to be proud?"

Kate turned and looked out to the front yard, where Gibbs and Rosie were now kicking a soccer ball back and forth. She thanked God that Rosie and Gibbs were not around to hear this latest abuse. She watched a few moments longer, as Rosie tackled her father to the ground.

"Plus your father told me the man's been married four times! Isn't that even the bit of concern? Or are you crazy with lust that you don't care if he'll dump you once he's gotten what he wanted?!" Her mother was still talking, unfortunately.

Kate gestured out the window, "You see that, mom?"

Rosalie looked around her, seeing that Gibbs had picked Rosie up and was giving her a ride on his back around the front yard. Anyone watching could see that they were completely enamored with each other. In fact, Kate could hear Rosie's shrieks of laughter through the open windows.

"He got what he wanted, Caitlin. How can you not see that he's using you?"

"Mom, the first time around, I left him. He didn't know about Rosie, because…" Kate played with her hands, and the truth all came out in a rush, "Because a terrorist attacked me, and I thought the baby was his. And I never had it tested because I was terrified. Mom, when I ran to him, because I thought bad people were after me, and I asked him to look after a child that could be the child of one of his greatest enemies, he said yes without hesitating. He watched over her as if she were his own. And she is, without doubt, his daughter. He didn't ask me to marry him out of duty."

In fact, as she told her mother that, the conversation they'd had the previous night came back to her with a vengeance.

She had been crying heavily when he'd walked in to their room. He'd immediately been at her side, a warm, reassuring presence. "Kate? Katie what's wrong?"

She'd looked up, her lip wobbling. "My mother, Gibbs. She thinks you only offered to marry me because of-," a sob escaped, "our bastard daughter. She actually called her that. She told me that you only proposed because of Rosie."

She had felt him stiffen a little against her, his body language screaming that he was angry. Not with her, she hoped, and she gulped out a "don't be mad, please, Gibbs."

"Hey, Katie, shh… Hell, I'm not mad at you." he pulled her into his embrace, sitting on the edge of the bed, "Shh… I didn't propose just cause of Rosie, Katie. You know that."

"Really?" she asked.

"Kate, listen to me. I was going to propose when you were on my team, but the timing was never right. I had the ring all picked out and everythin'."

"And I abandoned you," she chuckled weakly through her tears.

"Stop that, Katie. I don't blame ya. I'd just wished I'd had the chance to give you that ring. And I did get that chance."

She grabbed his hand, and he kissed her hand, his lips lingering on her ring finger, "And someday, Gibbs, regardless of what my parents say, I'll replace it with a wedding ring."

She looked up at him, and he brushed away the tears on her face with his thumb, "I love you, Katie. God help me, bastard that I am, but I love you. Never stopped, Katie. And always will."

"You may be a bastard, but.. I'm so goddamn lucky to have you. I love you too, Jethro." And he'd kissed her then. She was so incredibly grateful, and still in a state of disbelief that her family had not sent him running. And she wondered… Who was really the lucky one of the two of them?

"Then why did he wait?"

Kate murmured, "Because for all he calls himself a bastard, he's one of the best men I know. He wouldn't just attack me with a proposal at a random time. And definitely not as soon as I got back from running for my life. He may not act like it… but he is a romantic," She smiled out the window.

"It's true mom, he's… really great," Rachel cut in.

Rosalie turned to her, "Why did you take Caitlin's side? You barely know him!"

Rachel stood up from where she was leaning, "You want to talk about Gibbs, mom? Yeah, he's been married four times, and for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't make him a bad man. He fought for Kate. He fought hard. And trust me, if he'd known about Rosie, he'd have been there in a heartbeat. You have to trust Kate, mom. She's a grown woman, and you can't keep expecting-," She was cut off when the doorbell rang.

"Who is that?" Rosalie asked, just as Kate heard the commotion outside. She exchanged a look with Rachel, and followed her mother to the door, wondering if she was hearing things, because that sounded like-

"Caitlin!" The door opened, and her mouth dropped open. It was her team. The team was there. She didn't know how, but the team was there.

"Ducky!" She launched herself at the medical examiner, so grateful for a friendly face that she didn't care if she almost knocked him down the front steps.

"Goodness Caitlin, it's only been a few days."

"We don't get a hello?" Tony grumped, and then grinned at Rosalie, "Hey Mrs. T. I'm Tony."

Rosalie wasn't impressed. "Mmm."

Abby was climbing the stairs still, Rosie on her back. Kate quickly hugged McGee, and then turned to Ziva, asking in a low voice, "What are you guys doing here? Aren't you needed at work?"

Ziva looked, only to see that Rosalie was distracted by Ducky and Tony, and then smiled, "Gibbs called and asked us to come."

"Really?" she asked.

"He didn't tell us why, but I assume that things are a bit dense?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Kate agreed.

"Tense," Tim corrected gently, a hand on Ziva's shoulder.

"Thank you, Tim." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. And then they saw Rachel.

"Dr. Kate's sister!" Tony yelled, "Wow, it's great to see you again-,"

"Uh huh," Rachel was laughing at least. Abby reached the top of the stairs, and then said quite calmly, "You must be Kate's mom."

"Yes, I'm Mrs. Todd," she replied, drawing herself up.

"Aw, that's sweet that you're being so nice as to host Kate and Gibbs! They're so cute, aren't they?" Abby set Rosie down, and threw an arm around Rosalie. "Do you have any ideas for the wedding? Because I got asked to do a bunch of the planning, and having the opinion of someone who's been married would be such a big help." Still babbling, Kate watched as Abby led Rosalie into the house.

She turned to Gibbs, who was the last one up the stairs. "You called the team? Why?"

He smiled down at her, "Well Katie, figured I'd call in the cavalry. We're your family."

"You're all the family I need," she teased back, taking his hand. "Seriously. Thank you."

"Well something I learned around marriage number three, is that if the wife is upset, and it's the family causin' it, then I gotta do somethin' about it," He held up a mug, "Also, another coffee for you."

She smirked, smelling it, "Strong."

"Well Kate, I'm not defiling it. Even for you."

She took a sip, and closed her eyes in bliss, "Ah… that's good coffee."

"I brought my own," he said calmly as she handed the mug back to him.

"You did?"

"One thing you need to learn, Kate- I always bring my own coffee."

"Mm, a caffeinated Gibbs is a happy Gibbs. Thank you. By the way, did anyone ever tell you that you're an old sap?"

"You bring out my good side, Kate." He teased, "And being happy ain't a problem."

XNCISX

"The fire is ready," Kate's dad stuck his head around the door, into the kitchen. Andrew Todd had an unwavering devotion to his daughter, regardless of anything she had done. It was what set him apart from Rosalie- to the extreme. So he had welcomed the team, and had set up a campfire in the backyard.

Rosalie was about to follow Ducky- who'd she gained some kind of odd camaraderie with (though Ducky's main interest was being a buffer for Kate) - when Gibbs stepped in front of her, "Mrs. Todd can I speak to ya? Alone?"

"Of course, Mr. Gibbs." From the start, she'd refused to acknowledge him by his official title of special agent, and also refused to call him Leroy or just plain Gibbs, as Andrew had taken to doing.

He took her aside into the living room, and started without preamble. "My first wife died. And my daughter."

She blinked, not expecting that, "What?"

"They both died in a car accident when I was overseas. I was a Marine, but I wasn't there to protect 'em. And they died."

"I see… I am… sorry for your loss," she began formally.

"Save it," he interrupted. "I tried to get over it. I got married three more times. It was a mistake, and wasn't the best plan, I know. I know that." He had never let himself forget it.

"What does this have to do with my daughter?"

"Fact is, I was just tryin' to surviving… and then I met her. It wasn't like the movies. She questioned my every move, and called me on my bluffs. She had a lot of balls. I had to hire her. And I did."

"And somehow you started sleeping together?"

"It wasn't like that," he took a deep breath, not used to talking that much. "There was always somethin' there. I almost proposed, but the job… got in the way."

"Okay."

"Listen to me, Mrs. Todd. I had a wife and a daughter once. I was happy. And then I had neither. And now… Kate is my second chance. And she's a hell of a lot more than I deserved."

"I see," she looked up at him, "And just because you've made some passionate speech, I'm supposed to instantly decide you're not such a bad man?"

"You don't get it. I am a bad man. I have killed, and I have done terrible things and I've hurt the ones I call family. I'm a bastard, but your daughter loves me anyway. Shouldn't that be enough?"

"It should be," she said, and he turned and walked away.

He looked outside, and saw that Kate wasn't around the campfire. The entire team was, and Rachel had Rosie on her lap, but his fiancée was nowhere to be found. He decided he'd better search for her, and went into the backyard, not turning towards the campfire, but towards the gazebo. There was a large pond in the Todd backyard, and a gazebo on the edge of it, overlooking the water. He could see she was standing inside, and when he got there, he leaned against the frame, "Kate."

She turned around from where she was looking out at the night sky, "You never see this many stars in DC."

"Tell me about it." He walked in, and took her outstretched hand, pulling her into a hug, "You okay?"

"I'm more than okay. And I've got you here."

"'M not very romantic. I didn't buy you flowers," he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Forgiven. Saving me from my family makes up for it."

He looked around the gazebo, the string lights blinking weakly. He smiled up at them, and then frowned as he saw the record player.

"Why the hell do you have a record player in here?"

"It's where my brother brought his girlfriend- now his wife- when he proposed. So… he had music and everything."

"Romantic," he teased. He walked over, and moments later, there was music soaring through the air around them, the stars reflecting on the pond. He held out a hand, "Want to dance, Agent Todd?"

She took it, "I'd love to, Agent Gibbs," She leaned her head against his chest, and they swayed back and forth for a few minutes. She smelled of his coffee, and the roses that surrounded the gazebo. "Didn't know you liked Phil Collins," she murmured.

"Is that who this is?" he replied, leaning his chin on top of her head.

She snorted gently, "We need to get you out of the basement more often."

He twirled her around, the record scratchy in the background, and she twirled back around, colliding with him. She laughed, and steadied herself by grabbing his shoulder. He couldn't help himself. He cupped her face in his hands, and leaned in at the same time she did. They met halfway, and she grinned into his mouth.

He pulled away, and leaned his forehead against hers, and out of the corners of his eyes, he could see the fireflies rising in the grass around the pond. In the dim light of the string lights, her eyes looked the color of bourbon, her cheeks pink. God help him, he was falling for her all over again. He twirled her around again, and they swayed for a few minutes longer.

Her hands were on his shoulders, her head against his chest. She looked up and smiled as the song ended, "And you say you're not a romantic."

XNCISX

Gibbs had Rosie on his lamp, a warm weight against him. Kate was sipping at her hot chocolate, as Tim and Tony roasted marshmallows over the fire. Ziva was curled up on her chair, watching the fire. Andrew and Ducky were laughing over one of Ducky's old stories, which Rosalie watched everyone. Rachel was on Kate's other side, gabbing with Abby as usual. Gibbs wondered if Kate found the merging of her two lives strange.

He had called the team and they had come. Rosie was asleep now, and Gibbs smiled to himself. Maybe she hadn't been born in a conventional way. But she was here. And he had been right. Kate and Rosie were his second chance at a life he didn't deserve, but would fight for until his dying day.

He hadn't noticed that Rosalie had vanished, until she cleared her throat from behind him. He sat up, suddenly wide awake himself, and looked at her.

She was holding a bottle of something, "May I have everyone's attention please?"

The talking ceased, and everyone looked slightly on edge.

Andrew stood, "Rosalie, are you sure this is okay?"

"Andrew. Sit down please."

She set a tray of glasses down on the camping table, which wobbled precariously. "I want us to go around and each say something that we're grateful for. And I brought champagne."

"What's the occasion, mom?" Kate challenged.

"My daughter is getting married," Rosalie said gently. "What more occasion do I need?"

Gibbs sat back, and forced himself to relax. He somehow knew that something was going to happen, and maybe it wouldn't be pretty for him.

Andrew went first, "I'm grateful that my daughter gave us a beautiful granddaughter, and is getting married."

Ducky went next, "It's hard not to be grateful, for such amazing kin, even if we are not blood related. I am grateful for Clan NCIS."

Tim looked around, "I'm giving thanks that Gibbs hired me. And thankful for my coworkers."

"I'm thankful for food. Oh and friends!" Tony corrected himself as Ziva elbowed him.

"I am thankful that I am alive. And here."

Abby smiled, "I'm grateful for everything. And everyone. I'm grateful for happy endings."

Rachel cleared her throat, "I'm grateful that my baby sister is happy."

Kate looked around, "I can't help but be thankful that I have not one, but two families. Two worlds. And twice as many fantastic role models for my daughter. I'm grateful for family."

It was Gibbs' turn. He held up his glass, as he met Kate's eye. "I'm thankful for my second chance." He smiled. And she smiled back.

XNCISX

It was the morning of their last day in Indiana. The team had spent five days there, ensuring that the relationship between Kate and her parents wasn't completely destroyed by the announcement of her marriage, and the revelation that she had a daughter.

She turned to her mother, who had changed somewhat from the ice queen she'd been when they had showed up at her door, and asked, "So what made you change your mind?"

She felt Gibbs shift uncomfortably next to her, as he glanced between Rosalie and his daughter.

"About?" she asked, nonchalantly.

"About Gibbs and I." Kate wasn't playing around, and the rest of the team pretended to be absorbed in their breakfast.

"Sweetheart, it doesn't matter what made me change my mind. The two of you are getting married. I can't very well stop you."

"True," Kate nodded.

"Besides," Rosalie refilled her own coffee cup, "I haven't met any of your other boyfriends, but from what I've heard, it's better the devil I know…"

"Than the devil you don't," Gibbs finished the sentence for her. He took a sip of his own coffee, and turned to Rosie, "Come on Ro, wanna help me load up the car?"

Rosie nodded, and eagerly followed him outside. He handed her a suitcase, and as he followed her down the stairs with two bags of his own, he called out, "You okay Ro?"

He knew she was grinning at the nickname, could hear it in her voice, "Yeah, daddy, I'm okay."

When they got to the bottom of the steps, he set the bags down, and said, "Ro, I wanna talk to you."

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, turning to him.

He knelt down in front of her, "Of course not. You've done so well with your grandparents. First, I want to say I'm proud of you. Proud of my daughter."

She smiled, "Thanks dad."

"Are you happy that mom and I are getting married?"

She nodded. "Of course. We get to live happily ever after."

"Just promise me something Rosie."

She nodded again, serious, "What?"

"Promise me that if I can't, you'll look after mom. Promise?"

"Promise."

"I love you Ro," he passed a hand over her hair, and ruffled it. She grinned at him.

"I love you too daddy." He kissed her on the forehead. "And I know you'll always be here."

"You bet I will."

"Hey! What are you two nutcases up to?" Kate called. He turned to see her walking down the steps, and was suddenly struck by how beautiful she was. Sure, her hair was tied back in a messy braid, and she was wearing one of his oversized sweaters over top of plaid PJs, but as she sipped her coffee, he was sure he'd never seen anyone he wanted to spend his life with more.

He stood up as she got closer, "I was just having a little chat with our daughter."

Kate eyed the two of them suspiciously, "You two are already planning to gang up on me?"

"Maybe."

"Hmm," she nudged his shoulder, "Might have to even the odds. Two against one isn't very fair."

"Oh?" he breathed, "And what do you have in mind?"

"I'm thinking I get another team member."

"And how soon should we get on that, do ya think?"

"Mm, soon."

"I like the sound of that. Especially the before part. Though… another Gibbs running around…"

"Although this time… maybe we should get married first." She teased. "People might talk."

"Let them talk," He took her hand in his.

"Let's just go with it," she whispered, looking up at him.

He nodded, "Fair enough. But someday?"

She nodded, and because this talk was driving him mad, he pulled her into a kiss, fingers winding into the braid, cradling the back of her head.

When she pulled away, she grinned. "Someday."