The Privilege Of Being Yours

It had been three weeks. Three weeks since they last came home with Semper, and Kate's things were almost completely moved in to Gibbs' house. All that was left to load into the truck from the last busy day, was a box of framed pictures. Many photo albums, courtesy of Rosalie. Others with her family, the team and of course, Kate with the president.

Gibbs had placed the last box in the truck and climbed the many stairs back up to her apartment, wondering to himself why Kate needed to go to the gym when climbing these stairs every night would give her the desired work out. That, or his old age was creeping up on him.

When he rounded the corner and entered the already open door to her apartment, he saw her standing there, in the middle of the insanely clean, emptied living room. Kate's arms were wrapped around herself, her posture loose, and her attention fixed on anything other than the man who had just entered the room.

"Kate?" He spoke softly, stepping a little closer toward her.

Despite his efforts not to startle her, she jumped a little at the sound of his voice, as it echoed, and bounced off the walls and straight back to her. She turned her head halfway, glancing back at him.

"Hmmm?"

"Ya ready to go? The last of the boxes are in the truck."

She simply nodded, and turned back toward the empty space she was staring at. Gibbs moved closer to her, his hands finding her waist from behind, and pulling her back into him. He interlocked their fingers, and placed a gentle kiss on the side of her jaw.

"Sure this is what ya want?"

"Huh?" She blinked away her daydream, in order to pay a little more attention to him.

He frowned. "Living with me."

"I'm sure."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but ya don't sound sure, Katie."

She took a deep breath and turned in his arms. "Oh, I'm sure. Yeah, I'm a bit terrified. Not about living with you, but about leaving this place. I've lived here since I moved to the city. But-" she kissed him, her eyes flicking up to look into his. "Although I've lived here for such a long time, it was never really home. I'm home now."

He grinned stupidly at her comment, and kissed her again. "Come on, I left the truck running."

She nodded, and waited for him to lead the way out. Once he was ahead of her, and aiming for the stairwell, she stopped. She turned slowly, took a deep breath, and with a slightly heavier heart, shut the door to her past.

"You coming? Home would be pretty empty without ya, Katie-girl." Gibbs called from the bottom of the first flight of stairs.

All at once, her chest lifted, and she grinned. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, an attempt to hide her ever-growing smile. She trotted down the stairs and slipped her hand into his, gazing up at him.

"Ready."

He bobbed his head, placed the softest kiss on her temple, before beginning the rest of their journey together.

"Really? The entire team is here to help unpack?" Kate rolled her eyes, "I'm sure we'd have done just fine." She hopped out of the truck and pushed the door shut.

Grabbing her hand he chuckled, "don't worry, DiNozzo is strictly carrying boxes, if he snoops through your stuff I'll," he thought for a moment, and shrugged. "I dunno, whack him into next year."

She giggled, and squeezed his hand a little tighter.

"Hi!" She cooed, dropping Gibbs' hand and instantly crouch to greet Semper, who sprinted excitedly into her arms, licking at her face.

Gibbs smirked, Kate spent hours every day interacting with Semper, and he was just as excited to curl up in her lap despite growing bigger at an alarming rate over the last few weeks.

"Finally!" Tony bellowed, appearing from the door. "I'm starving! We all decided on pizza, that okay boss?"

Gibbs nodded sharply in response.

"Extra cheese for us!" He heard Kate call from behind him.

"Sure thing." Tony whipped his phone out and dialled the number to the pizza place.

Gibbs rolled his eyes, and glanced back toward Kate who was now tumbling around in the grass with Semper jumping over her. He nudged the side of her leg with his foot. "Ya planning on helping, Kate?"

"Wait! I'm playing with my baby, yes I am!" She cooed at Semper, ruffling his ears.

Gibbs held out his hand, gesturing for her to take it. When she did, he helped her up and brushed the grass from her, his hand lingering on her butt a little more than needed.

"Think you got it, Gibbs." She grinned, her cheeks pink.

"Ah, you know me," he smirked, "I like to be thorough." He shrugged with his infamous cheeky grin, and leaned in to peck her cheek.

He didn't let go of her hand until they were inside, and even then it was only because of the sheer fact that they had to actually start to unpack.

"Abby!" She whined, upon seeing her sat on the floor, rummaging through the medium sized box marked 'sketchbooks.'

"Kate, these are so cool! Sorry for snooping, but I couldn't resist. Your artwork is just too good!" She replaced the book she was currently looking through into the box and lifted it. "Where do you want it?"

"Um-" Kate thought for a moment, turning her attention, and in turn, the question, over to Gibbs.

"Basement, Abs." He stated simply, without much thought.

"Okay." Abby shrugged, and disappeared into the back of the house.

"The basement?" Kate quirked an eyebrow, moving closer toward him.

"Yeah, well, I like having you there when I'm working on the boat." He looked around to make sure they were alone before he continued. "Especially when there's a particularly difficult case, and I'm working, I look up, and see you sketching-" he grinned at the memories of their evening routine. Having her around was comforting to him. Watching as she would catch his eye, flash him that sunshine smile, and instantly make his aching muscles somewhat lighter, and he'd smile right back.

"If you're okay with it, I am." She tiptoed to kiss him just as they heard Ducky walk in, They drew apart, faces burning crimson.

"Please, don't let me interrupt," Ducky brushed off their embarrassment, " it's rather quite refreshing to see you two very much in love."

Despite his reassurance, Kate dipped her head with a blush. "I'll see if Abby needs any help." She caught Gibbs' eye again, with a sheepish grin, and descended into the basement.

"Oh Jethro, it's so lovely to see you like this." Ducky commented, his eyes sparkling like a proud parent.

"Ah- thanks, Duck." He paused, listening out for incoming footsteps, when he heard none he continued. "Duck, I need your opinion on something."

Ducky frowned. "Well, go ahead. I'd be happy to help."

Gibbs sighed. "Is this all too fast? I mean, we only started this whole thing a few months ago."

"Are you regretting it?" He pressed, his voice firm, already becoming defensive over Kate.

"No." He stated, and he meant it. " I just don't wanna make an ass out of the both of us."

Ducky sighed heavily. "Jethro, permission to speak freely?"

With a smirk, Gibbs replied. "When has that ever stopped you before Duck?"

"I've known you a long time, all I'm to say on the matter is that with your three prior ex wives, put together, I have never seen you happier. The important question is, however, if you see a future with Caitlin. She is considerably younger-"

"I wouldn't say considerably-" Gibbs grumbled, somewhat resembling a teenager.

"Talk to her. To make sure she has the same concerns in mind as you. For instance, given your past marriage history, you may never want to, but she will have probably been dreaming of it since she was a little girl. If you doubt it, ask yourself, do you see a future with dear Caitlin?"

Gibbs took a moment. He blinked. And he couldn't imagine a world without her in it. "I see myself dying with her, Duck."

Ducky grinned. "Then you have your answer."

In that moment, Kate emerged from the basement. "Hey, Jet?"

"Hmm?" He was looking at her differently, like she was the golden sunlight, sparkling, and since before then he'd been kept in darkness.

"I uh- don't know where to unpack my sketch books. Your basement doesn't look like it has much order to me, but you seem to know where everything is, so I don't want to mess anything up."

"I'll put a couple of shelves up tomorrow, above the sofa, you can put your art stuff on those. That, or I'll clear out a couple draws, whichever you prefer."

"Really?" She grinned, "my own little art space?"

"Yep." He beamed back.

"Thank you." She blushed, and grabbed another box labelled "art supplies".

When Kate arrived back in the basement she found Abby sitting with a mischievous grin on her face.

Kate frowned, her left eyebrow arched. "What?" She plonked the box on top of the workbench, and folded her arms across her chest.

"So, you gonna marry Gibbs?"

Kate choked, and avoided the question by busying herself in the box.

"Come on, Kate. We never have our girl talks anymore!" Abby whined.

"What- Abs." She breathed, composing herself, and looking up at her friend. "It's Gibbs we're talking about."

"Yeah?" Abby blinked.

"Gibbs." She emphasised. "He's not going to want to get married. I mean, we're just moving in Abs." She laughed it off. She shrugged with a sigh, and crossed her arms again. "It's just a simpler solution, nothing serious, really."

Abby pulled a face that Kate knew she was screwed, and Abby wasn't going to drop this anytime soon.

"Abs, I was here the majority of the time, if not all, it just made sense. Like I said, just a simpler option, rather than going back and forth.

Abby was sitting atop the workbench now, swinging her legs like a mischievous child. "You didn't answer my question. Do you want to marry Gibbs?"

"Abs- no- well, yeah, but he doesn't, so it doesn't matter, it's okay." Kate rambled, evidently flustered with the subject.

She ran a hand through her hair. "I'm just not expecting that Abs. I'm not waiting for a proposal, and I was prepared for that the minute I realised things were getting a little more serious. It's not going to be a white picket fence life, because that's not Gibbs, it's not who he is." She paused only for a moment, to catch her breath. "And I'm okay with that, Abs, I really am."

Abby's eyes were sparkling, a little lump had formed in her throat as she watched Kate passionately rant in Gibbs' defence. "You really love him don't you?"

Kate chewed on her thumbnail, her eyes vacant. "I really do."

In the hall Tony was, for once, being helpful and unpacking a few boxes. As nosy as he was, he lifted out a wooden box, and lifted it open to find a gun.

As if on cue, Kate emerged from the living room with Gibbs following closely behind.

"Tony!" She whined, throwing her hands up.

"What?" He blinked, reaching beside the box for his pizza, and taking a large bite.

She rolled her eyes. "Predictable," she mumbled.

Tony smirked. "So, Kate, do you still sleep with your gun every night or does it depend on who you're sleeping with?"

"When my boyfriend can kill you in a few simple, quick movements, I don't need a gun Tony. Also, must you talk with your mouth full?"

Tony frowned, thinking a moment. "Point taken." He finished his slice of pizza and attempted to lift a box labelled "books" struggling, he gave up and turned to one labelled "cushions" which he lifted easily. "I'll put these in the living room."

Kate smirked, and rolled her eyes. She grabbed the box full of books, and followed him into the living room.

"Kate!" Gibbs interjected, jogging down the rest of the stairs, he grabbed the box from underneath.

"What?"

"That's heavy." He stated, taking it from her.

"Gibbs, I can carry a few books, I'm not Dinozzo." Kate teased, glancing over her shoulder at Tony.

"Hey!" Tony protested.

Gibbs placed the box down, away from her. "You could pull a muscle."

Kate crossed her arms, leaning back a little. " I'm quite capable of lifting a heavy box, Gibbs."

"I never said you weren't capable."

Tony sat awkwardly in the room, his eyes darting between the two of them like a close-to-call tennis match. "Wow, remind me not to be around when Kate is pregnant."

"What?!" Kate and Gibbs both shrieked in unison, glaring at him.

"I'm going to see if Abby needs help." And with that Tony rushed out passed them.

Kate watched him leave, and when she turned back to Gibbs his eyes were glued to her stomach. "Gibbs," she ducked her head, catching his gaze, "I'm not."

"Huh?" He managed to draw his eyes back up to look at her face, but the frown on his didn't leave.

"I'm not pregnant, stop worrying." Her voice was quiet, a mere mumble, with a gloomy tone lacing every syllable.

He tugged on her hand, untangling it from her crossed arms, he brought it toward his lips. He ran his other hand up that same arm, caressing it. "Not worried." Was all he mumbled, before pulling her into his arms. He held her close, his lips pressing to her neck which she knew, from previous experience, was his silent apology.

She separated from him, almost awkwardly, taking a step back and running a hand through her hair, her teeth toying at her bottom lip.

"I was thinking," she began timidly, "can I put up a few pictures?"

He raised an eyebrow, only slightly amused. "Katie. You don't have to ask."

"But- it's your house."

He busied himself with a box, picking it from the floor and resting it on the sofa.

"No, it's ours." He reminded, opening the box to reveal some framed photo's.

She perched against the arm to the sofa, folding her arms across her chest as she looked at him.

"I just don't want to take over"

"If you're worried about taking over, the chances are that you won't." He gave up digging through the box, and plonked himself down on the sofa.

Kate browsed around, the living room, stopping by the fireplace. "Is this Kelly? And Shannon?" She hasn't noticed it before. Despite their living arrangements, the majority of their time was spent either in the basement, kitchen, or bedroom; the rest of the house was more or less unexplored. Before, Kate hadn't really given much attention to the detail, or lack thereof, in Gibbs' house. She'd browse his bookshelf and feel herself shrivel slightly, feeling guilty, and all too intrusive. But now that he had welcomed her formally, if you will, she felt at ease.

"Yeah." He spoke with a lump in his throat, moving to stand behind her.

"Wow, they are beautiful, Gibbs."

"We don't- I can just put this away." He leaned over her shoulder, and grabbed it from the fireplace.

"Why?" She frowned, her eyes shooting from his face, to the photo frame now tightly in his clutch.

"It's not just my place anymore."

"If you really want that…?" She said doubtfully, but knowing from experience not to push the situation.

"Yeah." He leaned in and placed a chaste kiss to her cheek, before wandering out of the room, leaving Kate bewildered, her brows furrowed.

"Thanks for helping!" Kate called, leaning back against Gibbs' chest as she waved off the team, and the last car rounded the corner of the street.

Closing the door, she returned to the living room, exhausted. She lowered herself onto the sofa, a dull ache in her muscles, her lids heavy with sleep, so she closed them momentarily.

"Gibbs?" She called out, without opening her eyes, wondering where he'd got to in the short space of time.

Semper popped his head up from the bottom of the couch, but soon settled down again, his head resting on her feet. Even the poor pup was drained from the activities of the day.

He entered the room, and placed two glasses of bourbon on the coffee table. He flopped down next to Kate on the sofa. Being familiar with his presence, she didn't bother to open her eyes. She felt the sofa dip a little more as he swung his legs over the arm of the couch and laid his head in her lap. She heard as he flicked on the TV and it landed straight on some old western movie, one he'd seen a dozen times, but still liked to watch every now and then whilst working on his boat.

"Tired." He mumbled, dropping an arm off the sofa and ruffling Semper's ears, who gave him a lick in return.

"Mhm." She agreed, her eyes still closed. She let her hand drop to his head, and stroked her fingers through his hair. She sank her head into the back of the sofa a little more, and sighed.

Gibbs, however, wasn't watching the TV as she suspected. Instead, he was staring up at her, and the freckles that made constellations on her neck, and under her chin. He sighed happily, relaxing a little more, and turning his head. He scoped the room, taking in the subtle changes to his living room that had already been made.

A little vase sat in the corner, with a single sunflower resting inside. A plump, light grey rug covered a large square of the floor, making the room somehow warmer, he noticed. Her sneakers were kicked off, and left beside the fireplace; which he knew she'd move before the morning.

Then something on the fireplace caught his eye. Three framed photographs. The first, of the team, one in which Abby had set up her camera and forced them to take. All in gear, jackets, even their infamous caps. They looked all too similar to a dysfunctional family, but nonetheless, happy.

The second, a photo he was less familiar with: Kate's birthday Party. McGee was practically holding up and drunk Abby, the image even captured the moment Tony got rejected by that one woman he'd been perusing the entire night. Finally, in the right corner, was Kate and Gibbs lost in the moment; lost in each other. They were standing closer than usual, his arm was even draped around her waist, and the earrings he gifted her with reflected back the flash of the camera. He smiled at the memory, until his eyes drifted across, and he noticed the image of Shannon and Kelly he'd earlier removed, back in it's rightful place, centre stage on the fireplace.

Kate frowned, opening her eyes as she felt him tense, and sit up. He said nothing, only he cupped her cheeks in his large, coarse hands and pulled her face closer to his. He captured her lips in a kiss, his tongue tracing a soft line along her bottom lip.

When he drew his lips away from hers she was breathless, caught of guard by his sudden, passionate display of affection.

"What was that for?" She said with a grin.

"I love you." He kissed her again, sloppier this time, and trailed his lips over her cheeks, across her jaw, and eventually to the base of her neck.

"I love you too," Kate giggled, running her fingers through his hair. She gasped lightly when she felt his teeth on the sensitive skin at the base of her neck. She smirked, "I thought you were tired?"

"There's always time for sleep later." He looked up at her, "that okay?"

She grinned, "more than okay."

"Good." He returned his lips to her neck, and trailed kisses along her collarbone, sucking softly at the centre of her throat. "When'd I get so lucky?."

"Hmm?" Kate's breathing was a little heavier, he knew all too well exactly where to put his lips to make her excited.

"Me. I'm a lucky bastard. The luckiest."

Between a deep, satisfied breath, she frowned. "Gibbs? You're worrying me a little bit."

He looked up at her again, cupping her cheek and stroking his thumb across it. "I haven't felt like this in a long time, Katie. Maybe ever. I don't wanna make an ass out of me and you. And I probably will, one day, it's set in my ways. I won't realise until it's too late."

She could hear the anguish in his voice, and her heart sank. Kate grabbed his hand, and brought it to her lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I mean it."

He spoke softly. "I'm a bastard, Katie."

"I know." She smirked. "But that's just part of why I love you. Yes, you're insufferable sometimes, you're grumpy, and you don't always tell me why which is so, incredibly frustrating-"

"Is this your way of making me feel better, because I'll tell ya, ya ain't great at it." He grinned, teasingly.

"Shut up." She laughed, scooting closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you, Jethro."

Gibbs wrapped his arm around her shoulder, ran his fingers along her arm, and gazed down at her, his chest heaving with happiness. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, and whispered his response.

"I love you too, Katie."