A/N: I realize now that I could've written this as the ending to chapter
21, but at the time it wasn't in my head. I wanted to write more, but I am
very pleased with where this has led me. So this is the ending. Hope you
all enjoyed reading it.
She was stunned, to say the least. He actually said it. He said he loved her. And she knew he meant it, that it wasn't some knee-jerk reaction to what had happened earlier. He'd cried and said "I love you, Kate." She was stunned into silence. She wanted to say that she loved him back, but her mouth and tongue weren't getting the signals her brain was sending. But she had to tell him, she didn't want him thinking that she didn't feel the same way, because she did. She loved him more than she loved the oxygen that kept her alive. So she ordered herself to take a deep breath and try again. But just as she opened her mouth to say it back he lifted his head.
He looked into her eyes; his own still wet from his tears, and said, "Being with you, Kate, has made me realize something. I believe we love truly, deeply, only once in a lifetime. It doesn't matter how many people we go through to find the one that we're meant to find, when we find them we know deep down inside. And I knew the moment I saw you, I just didn't want to be wrong again. So I denied it, and myself. But I'm done denying it now, Kate. I want to be with you, in every way possible, for the rest of my life. I want to be your friend, your lover, your husband, the father to your children, your ally, your confidante, your rival. I want to be yours, Kate. Please, let me be yours."
She brought her hands up the sides of his face and brought her mouth down on his. It was a brief kiss, but a sweet kiss. And when she pulled back she said, "Yes, to all of the above. Just promise me this: Let me be your lover, your wife, the mother of your children, your ally, your confidante, and your rival. Let me be yours."
He smiled as his own words came back to him. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "In my dreams, you already are."
"I love you, Gibbs." She whispered back.
A/N2: I want to know all the people who read this(a head count of sorts), so only if you just type a number or one letter, please press the review button and tell me you read it. Thanks-J
She was stunned, to say the least. He actually said it. He said he loved her. And she knew he meant it, that it wasn't some knee-jerk reaction to what had happened earlier. He'd cried and said "I love you, Kate." She was stunned into silence. She wanted to say that she loved him back, but her mouth and tongue weren't getting the signals her brain was sending. But she had to tell him, she didn't want him thinking that she didn't feel the same way, because she did. She loved him more than she loved the oxygen that kept her alive. So she ordered herself to take a deep breath and try again. But just as she opened her mouth to say it back he lifted his head.
He looked into her eyes; his own still wet from his tears, and said, "Being with you, Kate, has made me realize something. I believe we love truly, deeply, only once in a lifetime. It doesn't matter how many people we go through to find the one that we're meant to find, when we find them we know deep down inside. And I knew the moment I saw you, I just didn't want to be wrong again. So I denied it, and myself. But I'm done denying it now, Kate. I want to be with you, in every way possible, for the rest of my life. I want to be your friend, your lover, your husband, the father to your children, your ally, your confidante, your rival. I want to be yours, Kate. Please, let me be yours."
She brought her hands up the sides of his face and brought her mouth down on his. It was a brief kiss, but a sweet kiss. And when she pulled back she said, "Yes, to all of the above. Just promise me this: Let me be your lover, your wife, the mother of your children, your ally, your confidante, and your rival. Let me be yours."
He smiled as his own words came back to him. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "In my dreams, you already are."
"I love you, Gibbs." She whispered back.
A/N2: I want to know all the people who read this(a head count of sorts), so only if you just type a number or one letter, please press the review button and tell me you read it. Thanks-J