Epilogue: Part Two

There wasn't a sound in the house when Tony woke up. It was completely silent. The windows were closed because it was chilly out, but it wasn't quite time for the heat to be on. There was no other white noise to fill the silence. Jethro had rolled over so that his face was buried in his pillow, and Tony couldn't even hear him breathing. It was absolutely silent, which meant all he could hear was his own heart beating.

He considered how poignant that sound was on a morning like this, and how he had finally felt whole again. His heart was beating, his life was moving forward, and he was a better person on many levels because of it. He was strong enough to stand on his own, wise enough to know he needed people in his life, and open enough to remember that every day, no matter how good or bad, could be a source of growth if only he took the opportunities laid out before him, and used them to the best of his ability.

He'd been given a second chance at life, and he realized only now that the second chance happened the day he and Jethro had broken up. There had still been a lot for him to learn that he hadn't been ready to learn back then, and that he would only have learned if he had been on his own. He was a fuller, more complete person now because of it, and he had a feeling Jethro was too. He hated every minute of the two years they had been apart, but he knew now that if they would have stayed together back then, he would've been stuck in that place for the rest of his life. The time apart had allowed a stronger Tony to pull through, and he was happy to know that Jethro loved that Tony even more.

He considered his talk with Ducky about their vows. They were going to go with traditional vows, but Ducky was going to say a few things first. Jethro didn't know that, and it made Tony smile. He'd given Ducky the run down about things from his own perspective, and he had answered his questions truthfully. In the end, Ducky seemed to be much more comfortable with their marriage, and Tony was relieved.

And here he was, on his wedding day, waking up to hear his own heart beating in his ears, a heart that was so very broken just a few weeks ago, a heart he never thought would be whole to beat again, but now it was. He rolled over on his side and spooned his lover, and as he did, his chest pressed against his back, and his hand rested on his chest, and he could feel that their hearts were beating in time together.

NCISNCISNCISNCIS

Ziva looked at Abby as they set the table cloths on the tables they were planning on using for the cake and coffee. They had already set up the others for people sit at, giving their benches a scrub-down. Abby looked around at the picnic area. Ziva had wrapped the pillars in cream and brown cloth, and at each table there were small cream boxes wrapped in a single brown ribbon for the guests. Inside were small baggies of chocolate covered espresso beans and a card with a saying that Ziva had found especially fitting.

Abby stood next to Ziva when it was all set up and smiled, putting her arm around her.

"I think it's perfect!" Abby said quietly. "It's not exactly what I would do for me, but for our guys, it is perfect. Classy, understated, and personal."

Ziva slipped her arm around Abby's waist and nodded. "I agree," she said, taking it all in wistfully. The sound of a vehicle pulling up made them turn to see McGee pulling up. Ziva smiled brightly, and turned to Abby, noticing the exuberant look on her face with a twinge of concern. She was afraid of her friend getting her heart broken. Abby had confided in her that she was starting to wonder if maybe she should get back together with McGee a few weeks prior, and she had tried her best over the past week to figure out if McGee was receptive to the idea. The fact that he wasn't had her worried, but that was between them.

"Looks great!" Tim said as he approached them. He got a hug from Abby and surprised Ziva when he hugged her as well. She settled into the hug with a smile, finding that she was oddly glad for the closeness. When he pulled away, she couldn't seem to stop grinning.

"I hope they like the additional touches," Ziva said as she looked around.

"I think it looks perfect. Not too much. Tastefully done and toned down." Tim's affirmation of what Abby had just said made Ziva's nerves settle.

"Thank you," she said with a sigh.

"They'll love it," Tim said. "Is there coffee yet?"

Abby chuckled, and led him to the coffee bar. Ziva followed them, and ignored the weird twinge in her gut as she watched them together.

-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-

Jethro watched Tony getting dressed from the closet doorway. He smiled, completely enamored. Tony slipped his jacket on over his shirt, and turned to find Jethro's staring.

"What?" he asked with a shy smile.

"I'm a lucky bastard," Jethro said without thinking.

"Makes two of us," Tony said quietly.

"Let's go get married, Tony."

"Are you going to put pants on first?" Tony asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, smart ass. That's part of the plan."

Tony laughed quietly and came to stand in front of Jethro, a hand going to each side of his waist.

"Good, because I'm not sharing this view with anyone." He leaned in and kissed Jethro softly, and then let him go to finish getting dressed. "I'm gonna go get some coffee. No better way to start the day of my coffee themed wedding!"

Jethro smiled and shook his head as he watched Tony leave the room, his voice trailing after him down the hall.

Haven't felt like this since the morning of our wedding, Shannie. I hope you're okay with it. I have never felt so sure about anything.

He finished getting dressed with a smile on his face, and a warm calm descended on him. He stood straight and still, and for just a moment, he could have sworn he could have heard Shannon's voice whispering in his ear. "Be happy, Jethro."

He wasn't sure if he heard it from outside of him or from within, but it reminded him of the day he came around to Tony's mouth against his on a dock, both of them cold, and Maddie lying next to them just as drenched. The peace that settled in him took a heart that had been super-glued together, and made it polished and new, and he felt so perfect that he was startled to find tears running down his nose. He reached up and wiped it away, looking at the moisture on his thumb as if though it was a foreign object he had never encountered before.

He wiped the rest of them away just in time for Tony to walk back into the bedroom. "Brought you some, since it appears you're never coming downstairs," Tony joked. Tony stopped in his tracks as he noticed Jethro's bright eyes. He could have sworn they were tear glazed, but the content smile on Jethro's face threw him. "You okay?" he asked.

Jethro nodded slowly. "I'm perfect." He reached out and took the coffee from Tony's hand, sitting it on top of the dresser and pulled Tony towards him. The kiss he planted on Tony's lips was breathtaking, and Tony shuddered as he felt Jethro's warm arms encircle him, holding him close.

They pulled out of the kiss, but Jethro didn't let him go, so he didn't let go either. "You are perfect," Tony whispered, his hand reaching up to wipe away one stray tear that had escaped from Jethro's left eye. "Perfect for me."

==NCIS—NCIS—NCIS==

Tony and Jethro arrived at the park at exactly noon, driving to the small lot by the picnic shelter near the bushes they had their first kiss behind. Everyone else was already there, waiting for their arrival. When they had told their friends what they had wanted to do, they had taken it in their hands to plan the entire thing, and had told them to just show up. It had taken a lot of trust, and Abby had surprised them both with how tame she was through the process. Having Ziva there to reign her in was a huge help, and they were both wondering what it was that Ziva had planned for them.

They didn't have to wait to find out. They pulled up and saw the pillars of the picnic shelter wrapped tastefully in brown and cream cloth, and Tony smiled at Jethro, who smiled back. The entire scene was beautiful. Their family and friends were gathered in a large group, waiting to welcome them. The brown wood of the picnic shelter went well with the way the posts were wrapped, and the table cloths, centerpieces, and cake were the perfect backdrop to the gathered people.

They got out of the car and met in front of it, taking each other's hands, their smiles bright and gleaming as they moved towards the group. They disconnected to begin hugging everyone. Jethro hugged his dad, then Leyla, and picked up Amira for a long hug. Tony pulled Ziva close first, whispering a thank you, and then moved on to Abby, who he was afraid wasn't going to let him go.

"You look so happy, Tony. It's all I've ever wanted for the both of you."

"Me, too, Abs. Me, too." He finally pulled away and was pulled into a quick hug by McGee who smiled and slapped him on the shoulder.

"Congrats, Tony," he said.

"Haven't tied the knot yet!" Tony chuckled.

"You think we should put up barricades? One of you gonna make a break for it between now and The Great I Do?" Tony reached forward and slapped him in the back of the head, and they both chuckled. Meghan stole him next and he hugged her tightly.

"If he screws this up, I know some people we can get to take care of him," she said with a wink as she pulled away. Tony laughed.

"That won't be a problem," he said quietly, leaning in to whisper. "If he screws it up, I'll be taking care of it myself!"

"I didn't hear a thing!" she said with a chuckle.

Tony felt a hand around his waist and turned to smile at his fiancé. "Oh! Jethro! This is Meghan. Meghan, the infamous Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

Meghan smiled and shook his hand, and Jethro smiled sheepishly back at her. "It's really nice to meet you, Doc."

"Likewise," she said, giving him a look that despite the smile said, 'If you hurt him, I'll kill you.' Jethro only smiled brighter at that and nodded.

"Tony, there's something I forgot to tell you," he said.

Tony's eyes went wide. "What?" he asked, his stomach dropping out from under him. Jethro turned him by his shoulders towards the parking lot, and Tony's stomach jumped up into his throat as he saw Fornell and Emily crossing the lot.

Tony walked away from the group without a word, and went up to Fornell as everyone stood by watching. He wrapped the older man in a hug that was returned, and Tony had to clear his throat before he could speak.

"You came," he said.

"My two closest friends, hell, two of my only real friends in the entire world, are getting married. You're damn right I came." Tony looked back at Jethro and smiled, then turned back to Fornell.

Meghan bumped Jethro's shoulder with her own. "You did that, didn't you?"

"All I did was try and mend our friendship. I wanted him here, too. He's my best friend." He smiled over at Meghan, then went to join Tony and Fornell.

Abby was giddy as she watched the three men talking. She had known just how hurt Tony was by Fornell's decline to his invitation, and when Fornell had called her the night before to let her know that he was coming after all, she was ecstatic. After the mention of how the inside of the grooms' rings read "Second Chances", the two had a long talk in which they had hatched a plan to add their own touch to the ceremony. They called Ducky, and he was happy to oblige in their request. They hadn't told anyone else about the change, and she was excited and anxious to see it through.

Ducky finally called everyone together in the field next to the picnic shelter. Ziva had her camera out, taking pictures as everyone went along. She was excited to have a chance to use a camera for something other than crime scene photos, and she wondered if maybe that was something she should consider doing more of.

Jethro and Tony held hands behind everyone, letting them go towards the spot where Ducky stood.

"Are you ready for this?" Tony asked with a gentle smile.

"I don't think I could ever be more ready. I'm not only ready, but I'm excited! I'm about to go marry the man I love more than anything, and anybody, in this entire world."

Tony smiled shyly, a stark contrast to how confident he had been over the past few weeks, and Jethro loved that that smile was just for him. "I love you, Jethro, and I'm ready to spend the rest of our lives together."

"Me, too."

"So let's do this," Tony said with a bright smile, twining his fingers through Jethro's and walking side by side with him towards Ducky. Their crowd of friends and family parted to make an aisle, and they smiled at the way the two men couldn't keep their eyes off each other. Tony caught Dale watching them closely, a smile on his face that Tony knew meant that he approved, and then they were standing in front of Ducky. Fornell came to stand behind Tony, and Abby came to stand behind Jethro, and the two of them gave each other a questioning raise of an eyebrow, but let it go, knowing that it wouldn't take long for them to figure out what it was all about.

Ducky smiled at the both of them, and then began.

"There are stories from the beginning of time that explain the archetypal journey. A hero sets out on an adventure, expecting to battle and conquer, but along the way he finds out that it is not so simple. The hero must fall, face himself, his reality, and then and only then does he find the strength to rise again and battle the demons of the tale. Only after the darkness can the hero celebrate in the light.

"The two of you have been on your own journeys for many years now, leading you to this place, surrounded by these people. You have conquered your demons apart, and have come back together to be one another's heroes.

"There's no such thing as happily-ever-after. That's why all of the fairytales stop there. Reality goes beyond that perfect moment, and you find out what love really is when you're in the trenches with one another, battling each other's demons, pulling each other back from the ledges of insanity. Love is helping each other back up, piecing each other back together after the storm has blown through, and holding each other's hands as you stand battered and broken in the rain, screaming at the wind together.

"Marriage is a promise to honor that love when you find it, and never let it go. It's knowing that though there will always be storms, behind every storm cloud, the sun hasn't stopped shining. You, my dear, beloved friends, have been through some of the worst storms I could have ever imagined, and yet here you are. We, your family and friends, are proud to stand with you today, to support you as you make this promise to one another. We hope to be a constant source of encouragement, and a fountain of strength for you to draw from when you need it." Ducky turned to Abby, who came to stand next to him on one side, and Fornell moved to stand next to him on the other, facing out towards the crowd.

"Tony," Abby said, her voice surprisingly clear, steady and confident. He turned towards Jethro, understanding what was happening with a bright smile, looking up into the blue eyes that turned to meet his. "Do you take Leroy Jethro Gibbs as your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to cherish him, protect him, support him and love him, through the worst of the worst, the best of the best, through sickness and health? Do you promise to be patient, kind, understanding and caring, even in times of anger, sadness, distress and fear? Do you promise to honor the second chance that you've been given, and live from the love you have for Jethro for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Tony said, his smile never fading. "I most certainly do," he added so quietly only the five of them could hear.

Fornell smiled at Jethro's shining eyes and bright smile, and he knew that this was what his friends needed. Any hesitation about being the one to offer Jethro his vows evaporated, and his words flowed surprisingly easily.

"Jethro," he began. "Do you take Anthony DiNozzo Jr. as your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to be there for him at the lowest points of your lives, and support him as he struggles through life's challenges? Do you promise to remain faithfully by his side, protecting him from the world around him and the world within him? Do you promise to do your best to understand him, to believe in him, to be kind and loving to him? Do you promise to stand by him in sickness, injury or health, in poverty and grief, in times of fear, anger, frustration and sadness? Do you promise to honor the second chance that you've been given, and live from the love you have for Tony for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Jethro said, his smile making his eyes crinkle. His hands and Tony's were folded into one another's, and he could feel Tony starting to tremble, though the look on his face was nothing but blissful. Abby reached her hand out towards Tony, and Tony let go of Jethro's hand to take the ring from her that Jethro had been wearing for the past two weeks.

He looked at the ring, and took Jethro's hand in his, then looked up into the blue eyes across from him. "You're my second chance, Jethro. I'll never walk away again. I'll fight for you, for us, because I believe in what we have."

Abby nodded at Fornell, who handed Jethro the other ring. She watched the way the two men nodded at each other, and she was glad they were mending their friendship.

Jethro slid the ring onto Tony's finger, and clasped his hand against his heart. "You're my second chance, Tony. One that I don't think I deserve but will do everything to defend for the rest of my life. I'm not letting you go ever again for anything."

Ducky's voice sounded as happy and joyful as Tony and Jethro felt as he rang out to the group, "By the powers invested in me by the District of Columbia, I now pronounce you husband and husband."

Tony's grin was so wide that when he jumped forward to take Jethro's face in his hands and kiss it, his lips had a hard time puckering, but he managed and Jethro pulled him forward by his waist, letting the kiss deepen just a little bit. They stood lost in their moment together, forgetting the group of people around them until Abby sent out a cat call that made everyone laugh.

"Let's go have some cake," Tony whispered, leaning in for another quick kiss.

"Okay," Jethro said, responding with yet another kiss, that turned into a dozen more little kisses as everyone dispersed around them for the cake. Abby jumped past them, and they trailed her with their gaze, watching as she and Ziva looked through the viewfinder on her camera.

"Those are awesome, Ziva!" Abby said excitedly, then looked up to wave Tony and Gibbs over to look at the small screen on the back of the camera. "Check these out, you guys!"

They huddled up around the ladies, and clasped hands again as they saw the tender look on their faces as they shared their kiss.

"Very nice, Zee! You have an eye for that. I guess years of crime scene shots really are good for something!"

"I'd head slap him for you Ziva, but he can claim abuse and take my house now, so I can't. You're more than welcome to though."

"Gee! Thanks!" Tony said as the group chuckled. "And I offered you a pre-nup! Not that we're gonna need it, but ya know, when a guy has gone through this four times already, sometimes you need a little something to calm your nerves."

"Don't need a damn thing to calm my nerves, Tony. You're mine, now, and it's all I wanted," Jethro said, pulling him towards him again. Tony's hands went instinctively around Jethro's waist, and he leaned in for another kiss.

"So, are the two of you going to find time for a honeymoon?" Abby asked as Tony and Jethro pulled apart except for their hands, and walked towards the cake table.

"We're going to wait until our one year anniversary. That way Jethro has already retired and we only have to work around my schedule."

"Figure I can take the vacation payout at the end and use it towards the trip since I know there is no way I'll use all that vacation time between now and June."

"How much do you have, Gibbs?" Ziva asked.

"A hundred and nine days."

"Oh, my," she said quietly. "Yes, I can see how that would be a little hard to squeeze in."

"I'm up to seventy-two," Abby said, lost in her thoughts.

"You really need to get away more, Abby," Ziva said. "It is not good for any of us to be working that much."

Tim joined the group by the table and heard Abby's vacation day count, and then Ziva's comment. "If we all would have taken every vacation day handed to us over the past ten years, we wouldn't have gotten anything done. How many times do we make plans just to break them because a case steals us away? And we all like to do different things for our vacations so it's not like we could have planned one big trip, though honestly, we're already so attached to one another, I'm surprised we didn't."

"Maybe we should," Gibbs said with a shrug.

"Don't know how we'll find the time," Tony said. "Now that the Natoli case is over, and the Giovannis are being put away one by one, I'll be forming my team and testifying left and right. Not sure when I'll be able to break free for the next six months."

"Forming your team?" Tim asked.

"Yeah. That's the plan anyway. Has been for the past six months, but we had to wait until the Natoli case was done because we didn't want any other agents involved out of the D.C. office. With the reorganization, on November first, Fornell becomes the Director of Regional Investigations, and I become the Assistant Director of Regional Investigations. We'll be responsible for every team from Maine to Jersey, and I will have my own team under me."

"Holy cow, Tony! Why didn't you tell me this?!" Abby asked, squealing and giving him a hug of congratulations.

"We weren't allowed to talk about it until this week, but I wanted to wait until after the wedding to tell everyone. It's a pretty big deal, but the wedding was more important," he said, reaching out to take Jethro's hand, seeing that his expression was just as shocked as Abby's. Jethro pulled him close, hugging him, and whispering in his ear.

"So proud of you, Tony. Congratulations."

Tony smiled. "Thanks, Jethro."

"You hadn't told him yet?" Fornell asked, joining them at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Wasn't allowed to until Wednesday. Was waiting for the right time."

"Hell, I couldn't wait to rub it in Diane's face."

"How did telling her about your plans today go last night?" Jethro asked with a smirk.

"Oh, it was incredible! First, she went quiet, which is a miracle in and of itself, and then she went white. Her eyes were so wide, they were bulging out of her head, and then her mouth tried to start working, and all that came out at first was gibberish. It was priceless! Then, when she finally did find words, they went something like, He's, he's with, with-with-with Tony again? Why-er-when did they- uh, I didn't know they were together again…" They all shook their heads with broad smiles as Fornell started laughing so hard he began coughing. When he finally controlled himself, he stood up straighter and pulled his jacket down. "Needless to say, she was a little surprised. I almost think she expected to be invited."

Jethro thought back to the night in his basement that she'd given him back his grandfather's pocket watch, and he remembered what she had told him about being her Shannon. There was no way he could have invited her to the wedding and watched him be happy with someone else. He'd thought about that night many times over the next few years, and he had come to realize, that he wasn't her Shannon.

Shannon had loved him back just as much as he loved her. He couldn't say the same for Diane. He liked her, he cared about her, he even loved her, but the type and amount of love wasn't the same as what he was receiving, and the difference lied there. He looked at Tony, and he knew that he loved him like he loved Shannon. He loved him inside and out, and he was loved by him in the same way.

Tony watched the way that Jethro watched him through the story, and he smiled back. He knew there was a lot on his mind, and yet he was present with him, and that's all he could ask. He found the cake slicer and held it up, raising an eyebrow at Jethro who nodded back with a smile. They moved to stand next to the cake, and Tony smiled as he looked at the cream and brown stripes and smelled the sweet icing.

Jethro placed his hand over Tony's, and without a word, they sliced into the bottom layer of the cake, releasing the aroma of coffee. They cut a piece together, and put it on a plate. Tony knew that even with it being coffee flavored cake, Jethro wouldn't be eating much of it. Jethro smiled as he stuck his finger in the icing to taste it. Tony was feeling mischievous though and stuck his finger in it only to swipe it against Jethro's lips. Jethro laughed, and Ziva snapped a picture as Tony leaned forward to lick it off and kiss it away.

"Have to try that at home sometime when there aren't little eyes around," Tony whispered.

All Jethro could do was nod as he tried to think about anything that could keep him from getting an erection at the way Tony had just thoroughly explored his mouth. Tony knew that's what was happening, and smirked. "I'm sure there will be leftover cake to take home anyway," he said sensually, continuing to torture his husband.

Abby hit the button on a CD player, and music started. Immediately, Amira ran up and begged Gibbs to dance with her, and Gibbs chuckled, pulling Amira up into his arms and spinning her around a couple of times. Tony handed the cake slicer off to Tim who began cutting pieces for everyone who was gathering around the table. Jackson stole Amira from Jethro, so Tony took the chance to steal his husband back and pull him out into the middle of the picnic tables to demand a dance.

"Any excuse to hold you," Jethro said, smiling as he pulled Tony towards him.

Tony rested his head on Jethro's shoulder, and they swayed back and forth in circles together. Tony was well aware that Jethro couldn't dance, but he wanted to be near him, and this was the perfect excuse. He let the words to the song settle into him, realizing that Abby must have created a special playlist just for them, because the song hit a chord in him that made him ache sweetly.

He stood up a little straighter, and rested his forehead against Jethro's as they danced. He noticed that they weren't the only ones dancing now. Meghan and Kim were dancing and talking intimately with a smile on their faces. Abby and Jack were together on the floor for a sweet, affectionate dance, and Jethro smiled as he realized that Fornell had gotten Emily to dance with him.

Tim was watching Ziva look on at the dancers contemplatively. He knew that she had been having an emotional couple of months, and he'd gotten a much deeper glimpse of her than he thought he'd ever get. He realized that she trusted him a lot to show him that, and he thought of their many long talks since Ziva's decision to leave the field.

He shook his head the slightest bit and approached her, taking the camera from her. She looked at him in confusion, and he smiled and sat the camera on the table before taking her hand and pulling her out on the dance floor. Her smile back at him was worth the fool he knew he was about to make of himself, but he pulled her closer to him than he would have a year earlier, and admitted he couldn't really dance. Ziva laughed, and put one hand over Tim's shoulder, the other in his, and moved in small motions that he could keep up with without stepping on her feet.

Tony raised an eyebrow at Jethro as he watched it all unfold, but Jethro just shrugged. "I don't get it, either," he said quietly. "They've gotten really close, but I don't know if it's a romantic thing or not."

"Almost looks like it's turning into one," Tony said under his breath with a rather confused expression on his face.

Again, Jethro simply shrugged.

The sun was starting to set and the night was getting cold as Abby, Ziva and Kim took down the decorations. Kim had invited them to her yoga studio, and Abby was asking her if she bowled. Ducky, Meghan, Dale, and Jethro were all sitting together talking about the courses Jethro would want to take to volunteer with the Center for PTSD, and Tim and Tony were carrying on their own conversation at the table about the new program he was developing for the hybrid agents. Leyla and Jack had headed back to the hotel, taking a tuckered out Amira with them. Fornell had said his goodbyes, and left at the same time to try and spend some of his weekend with Emily as he had originally planned.

Tony and Jethro's hands were linked again, despite being in two different conversations. It was comforting, and Tony saw Meghan looking at it with approval, which settled his nerves about how she was feeling about Jethro. Soon, Abby, Kim and Ziva joined them at the table. Abby sat next to Jethro, holding his arm in both of hers like she was hugging it. Ziva sat next to Tim, stealing the conversation about the hybrid agents. Kim rested her hands on Meghan's shoulders, and bent down to kiss her on the cheek, making both of them smile.

"I think it's time to go home," Tony announced, looking at Jethro who nodded eagerly in agreement.

"I put a bunch of the cake in your trunk, Gibbs. Don't brake too hard or it will go everywhere. And the leftover guest favors are in there too. They have chocolate covered espresso beans in them, Tony. Make sure you take them out."

"Ooo! Yummy! You're awesome, Abs!"

"The favors were actually Ziva's thing. Make sure you look in them."

"Will do."

"Thanks, Abs." Jethro kissed her forehead, and then he and Tony got up, making a round of thank yous and goodbyes. Ten minutes later, they were in the car, on the way home.

"We're married, Jethro," Tony said with a dreamy smile, his hand taking his husband's as they drove down the road.

"Yeah, we are. Gotta say, feels a lot better than the last few times I did this."

"Really?" Tony asked, surprised as he turned to watch Jethro's expression.

"Yeah. Hard to explain I guess. With the exes, I guess I felt… I dunno, resigned? With you," Tony noticed Jethro's smile widening and his eyes brightening. "I feel relieved. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah, it does."

Jethro turned his smile at Tony. He always seems to understand what's not being said...

Tony squeezed Jethro's hand. If he only knew what that means to me…

They got home and put the cake in the fridge. "That was actually really good," Jethro said, sticking his finger in the frosting again, this time holding it out for Tony to lick from his finger. Tony smirked at him and obliged, his eyes locked on Jethro as he suckled his digit. Jethro licked his lips as he watched, mesmerized. Tony made a bit of a show of pulling back, pushing back down, and pulling back again, leaving Jethro's finger poised in mid-air.

"That makes me think of the other night in your office," Jethro said with a smirk.

"Yeah, but you were the one with the oral talents," Tony said, his smirk equally salacious.

Jethro came back with, "Better than icing." Tony approved of him keeping pace, but something else was in Jethro's eyes that fed more than the fire that they were igniting in one another.

"You really want forever with me." Tony's words were full of awe, and Jethro's eyes softened.

"More than anything," Jethro said, his voice barely above a whisper and gravely. "Did you doubt that?" he asked, and Tony noted the insecurity in the question.

Tony's hand moved to Jethro's cheek. "You know me, Jethro. I doubt anything good that's supposed to stay in my life. It's how we ended up in this mess."

"You're preaching to the choir," Jethro said with a scoff, making Tony chuckle.

Tony ran his finger down Jethro's jaw, down his throat, across his collarbone, down his arm, and to his hand, where he entwined all of his fingers with Jethro's. "I think," Tony said, clearing his throat, "That I may be addicted to you."

Jethro shook his head and immediately said, "There's no program for this one. Promise. You may just have to indulge in your addiction." His voice was so mock-serious that Tony laughed and leaned his forehead in until it touched Jethro's as he chuckled.

"Come upstairs with me?" Tony whispered as Jethro's arms came up and over Tony's shoulders, holding him close. Jethro nodded the slightest bit.

"I'll go anywhere with you," he said softly. "Everywhere."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be than upstairs in our room, making love to you."

Jethro put his hand in Tony's, and then pulled Tony gently back through the dining room towards the stairs. No words were spoken, and none were needed. They went through the door to their bedroom, and Tony nudged it shut behind him before being pulled once again against Jethro's body.

"I've been yours for years, Tony," Jethro whispered into the dusky shadows of the room, his face so close to Tony's that the younger man could feel his breath across his face and shivered. "And now I'm yours forever."

"Forever," Tony whispered back, nodding with his arms around Jethro's neck.

"Show me? Show me that you want me forever."

Tony didn't have to be asked twice. He was quivering from head to toe with an overwhelming emotion that shook him to the very core. His mouth captured Jethro's, his kiss deep, slow, passionate. His hands moved to the side of Jethro's face, holding him to him, afraid to let him go. That kiss was the very breath of life to him, and he wasn't going to give it up without a fight. He wouldn't let anything ever take it away from him again. He felt Jethro's hands push his jacket off, and though Tony let his hands fall away from Jethro's face, his lips stayed attached to him, suckling his lip when he needed to breathe, letting just enough air pass to keep him alive before letting his tongue go back to exploring his lover's mouth.

Jethro's fingers worked slowly at Tony's buttons, and Tony captured Jethro's hands, holding them tightly as the kiss changed to something more fervent and heated. Tony started stepping forward, the gesture making Jethro step backwards towards the bed. Their bodies were on fire, and Tony felt like the world could start dancing in flames around them, and they still wouldn't stop. He let Jethro's hands go, and one went to the back of Jethro's neck as the kiss continued while the other went to Jethro's chest. He was going to start unbuttoning Jethro's buttons, but when his hand fell over Jethro's heart, and he felt the heart beating wildly underneath it, he ached somewhere deep inside, and he felt a heave in his own chest that was strangely like a sob.

That can't be right, he thought. I can't be crying. Why would I be crying? I've never been happier before in my entire life.

He clung to Jethro for dear life, the kiss becoming more and more desperate. He felt Jethro's fingers in his hair, holding him with a grip that was borderline uncomfortable, while at the same comforting, because that kind of grip was of a man that was just as frantic as he was that the moment was going to slip away and disappear forever.

"You're mine, Jethro," Tony said, and there was no more denying the sob had been real, because his voice gave it away, and the salty taste on his lips was unquestionable.

"Yours, Tony, forever," Jethro said, and that's when Tony heard the same passionate desperation in his lover's voice as his own. Tony's hands went to Jethro's shirt, his fingers trembling, and began unbuttoning it as he continued kissing him. His fingers gradually ran over the flesh that was now exposed underneath, and his hand once again rested over Jethro's heart.

"It's beating so fast," he whispered into the kiss.

Jethro's hands slipped up Tony's torso and pushed the shirt off of his shoulders, his fingers tracing Tony's biceps as it fell, making Tony shiver again.

Tony's hands slid down Jethro's stomach and unlatched his belt and pants as he finally broke from the kiss. He moaned, letting his mouth trail wet kisses and nips down Jethro's chest and stomach as he fell to his knees, bringing the pants and boxers to the floor. His hands trailed up Jethro's legs to grab his ass, and Jethro released a groan that was stunted halfway through when Tony's mouth licked the head of his cock like and ice cream cone.

Tony's eyes closed as he changed his angle, taking the first two inches of the thick member into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the head gently, tasting everything he could. Jethro's hands once again took up a perch on Tony's head, his fingers running through his hair a little looser now. Tony looked up through his glazed eyes, and saw Jethro's head tilted back in ecstasy. He licked under the ridge of the mushroomed head that was barely past his lips, then pushed his mouth down so that he felt the pressure on his throat and pulled back. He took a deep breath through his nose, and pushed even further down, relaxing his jaw to almost a yawn, and he felt Jethro slip past his tonsils.

Jethro felt the sensation of Tony around him like being engulfed in light, and when he opened his eyes, he saw bright spots in the quickly darkening room. Tony bobbed his head in pass after pass, and when Jethro groaned so low that he could feel it in his hand that had come to rest on Jethro's hip, he released him, gasping for breath and kissing his way back up Jethro's torso. His lips joined Jethro's again, and the kiss was hungry.

Tony worked his pants open, and let them fall to the floor with the weight of his wallet, phone and keys. He stepped out of it as he guided Jethro down onto the bed, then straddled him, bending back down to kiss him again.

Nothing had ever felt like this, and he had a feeling it never would again. He had never needed anyone so much in his life, and it scared him, but he was willing to lose himself to the man beneath him. He felt lost between worlds, somewhere between life and death, a dream and reality. Time had stopped for them, he was certain, but at the same time, he didn't think about it. He pulled back long enough to stare down into the unearthly bright eyes below him, the little bit of light still filtering into the room making them look like lanterns in the shadows of Jethro's face, guiding him into a place where the secrets of life were unfolding for him. They whispered truths of being loved, being needed, being wanted, and there was nothing in the world so beautiful.

He was so hard that it hurt, and yet he didn't want this to end. The way Jethro's hand shook at it rested against the side of his face as he looked back at him, his mouth slightly open, made Tony's heart beat in a way that frightened him. He ran his thumb over Jethro's lips, and "I love you," escaped from his own. Jethro's eyes smiled for him, and the shaking in his hands only worsened. Tony reached for the lube on the nightstand, and once a palm-full was slicked over his cock, he started guiding it gently into Jethro, watching as those blue orbs of light registered being breached.

He moved slowly, so slowly. Once he was entirely engulfed in Jethro's warmth, his arms gave out and he landed on Jethro's chest, his head buried against Jethro's neck. There was something so perfect about that moment. Jethro's arms came around him, and Tony felt more loved, more whole, than he had ever felt in his entire life. This was what it felt like to be complete. This was the reason he was alive. Nothing would ever compare.

Jethro's fingers carded through Tony's hair, and their hearts beat against one another so hard they could feel each other through where their chests lied against each other.

Tony finally rolled his hips, and Jethro moaned into his ear. Another roll and Tony was trying to prop himself up again to find some leverage. He finally found strength in his arms again, and Jethro's hands held him up, one on each shoulder. He rolled his hips again and again, thrusting slowly, feeling the tension build until he thought he was going to go crazy with the way his nerves buzzed and his muscles burned.

"Please, Tony," Jethro asked breathlessly, not sure what he was begging for. All Tony could do was nod as he kept moving, increasing his pace only the slightest. He struggled to find some clarity, but when it was too hard for him to do, he shook his head and gave up, preferring to be lost in the sensations within him and around him. He wasn't sure when his hand had moved to Jethro's cock, and he was unaware that Jethro had begun supporting his weight at the grasp on his shoulder, but he knew that he was going to lose it all any moment now, and he wanted his husband to lose it with him.

His breath caught in his throat, and he made an almost choking sound on the sob that escaped him as he came. Jethro thrust a few times into his grip and then followed him over the edge, barely feeling the way Tony collapsed on him before he passed out.

NCIS—NCIS—NCIS-NCIS

Tony sipped his coffee at the dining room table, a smile on his lips that he couldn't shake. He'd never felt so happy. He sighed, putting his mug down and looked around the room. Jethro walked past him and stopped, taking a step back and bending to wrap his arms around Tony from behind. He kissed Tony's cheek, and Tony turned to capture his lips with his own. The kiss was short and sweet, but conveyed their mutual happiness.

"Want some cake?" Jethro asked.

"Sure," Tony said. Jethro let him go to head towards the kitchen, and Tony joined him, his mug in his hand. Jethro got the cake out of the refrigerator, and Tony got saucers down for them from the cabinet. He looked down at the bag on the counter, and remembered that Ziva had put together favors with espresso beans in them. He sat the saucers down next to his coffee mug, and rummaged in the bag for one of the small cream boxes with a brown ribbon around it. He opened it, and Jethro came up behind him again, looking over his shoulder as he slipped his hands around Tony's waist. There was a small mesh bag of coffee beans that he lifted out to reveal a small cream card with brown print on it.

"What's that?" Jethro asked.

"What Ziva printed up for our wedding favors," he said. They both read the script on the card, and Tony turned his head to find Jethro smiling. Tony leaned forward, and Jethro leaned forward, and they kissed.

"She's right."

"That you're my everything?" Jethro asked, nuzzling him.

"That you awaken me, and without you, life is missing something crucial."

Jethro nodded, resting his head on Tony's shoulder as he looked back down at the card.

Tony looked over at the man he loved more than anything, and he knew that life wasn't going to be perfect, but it was exactly what he wanted. "You're my everything, too, Jethro."

Jethro looked over at Tony and smiled. He took the card from Tony and sat it on the counter, and Tony turned to him, wrapping his arms around him, and kissed him deeply.

There are friends, there are lovers, and there are those that are lucky enough to be both, to be everything to one another, and by being that everything, they come to understand each other on a level that cannot be understood by anyone else. They live on a plane all of their own, and no amount of time, distance, or anger can keep them apart. They awaken one another, and without the other, they are merely sleepwalking through life, but once they find each other, they will never be able to stay apart. They will always find their way back to one another, if for no other reason than to teach the world the power of love.

A/N: Wow… it's actually over. Thank you all for your incredible support, feedback, kind and compassionate words, and for the strength you've given me. You've made sharing this story an incredible experience.

And to Kes and Jo- thank you for having my six this year as I've learned how to stop sleepwalking through life. You're my voice of reason, and the safe-keepers of my humanity. Thanks for not letting me go through this alone.