A/N: Again, thanks to everyone who has followed this story! Here's a short little look to the future as Tony and Gibbs build a house and a new life - together!

Epilogue:

Gibbs was under no illusion that living with Tony would always be smooth sailing. Spending every hour of every day together was a lot to ask of two lonely people wholly unprepared to find themselves thrust together by circumstances beyond their control. Like any couple adjusting to living together, getting on each other's nerves was inevitable.

Both of them could be stubborn and unyielding even when it came to the most mundane of domestic tasks. Gibbs hated dishes being left in the drainer to air dry, preferring to towel dry and put them away, and he was a stickler for squeezing the toothpaste tube from the bottom. Tony insisted that the bath towels be folded in thirds, his logic being that they stacked better that way, and he was adamant in his belief that there was only one way to properly load the dishwasher.

With no brand loyalty to speak of, Gibbs shopped for value and bought whatever was on sale. He really couldn't care less which laundry detergent (Tide), fabric softener (Snuggle), or toilet paper (Charmin Ultrasoft) they used so he deferred to Tony, and was just as passive when it came to picking out bathroom and kitchen fixtures, flooring, windows, paint, and appliances for the new house.

Petty issues were usually put to rest with playful scolding, but the house was the one subject that led to their most contentious arguments. Tension had been growing between them since the final plans were approved. With little in the way of oversight on his spending, Tony set to work creating his idea of a dream house. He did an admirable job of blending his more exotic tastes with Gibbs' more understated style. Gibbs only had to use his veto power twice, but otherwise Tony had free reign.

Now with completion only weeks away, bills for all of the little extras Tony had ordered on the sly started pouring in. The final cost was projected to be nearly $30,000 over the initial estimate. It wasn't the cost that bothered Gibbs, but Tony's stubborn insistence on paying for it. He knew he was being unreasonable and that Tony meant well, but taking money from him felt like charity.

Gibbs had secured a short-term mortgage, and quite frankly he didn't think the subject warranted any discussion or debate. Despite the ridiculous prices of the high-end appointments, he liked everything Tony had chosen for the house. Gibbs figured the added expense was worth it since it meant that he didn't have to waste time fretting over which kitchen faucet or type of light switches to buy.

Saturday morning found Gibbs staring down into his coffee when Tony bound into the kitchen after his post-run shower. His anger simmered just beneath the surface, but even a sweet peck on the lips and a cheerful "Good morning" did nothing to appease him.

Unaware of Gibbs' sour mood, Tony filled a mug with coffee and rambled on excitedly about their planned visit to the work site. Back to back cases had kept them from doing more than a quick drive-by every few days to check on progress during the last two weeks. Coffee suitably doctored with a copious amount of hazelnut creamer, Tony turned around to find Gibbs glaring at him.

"Something wrong, Jethro?" Tony asked before taking a sip of his coffee.

"What the hell is this?" Gibbs growled as he slid a sizable check, made payable to him, written in Tony's familiar script, across the glossy smooth granite surface. "I thought we settled this."

"No - you settled it. I never agreed to anything," Tony shot back defensively.

Gibbs noticed the twitching of his jaw and prepared for yet another pointless argument over money. He held his ground as Tony rounded the island and stepped right into his personal space. Unlike past confrontations, Tony didn't look mad. This time, he looked hurt.

Looking down as he shuffled his feet, Tony spoke softly. "I thought we agreed we were in this together."

Gibbs sighed. Keeping his voice firm yet soft he replied, "Yeah, we did, but we're talking about a hell of a lot of money, Tony. I told you I was taking out a loan."

Tony slowly raised his head and frowned. "But that's just it. You don't have to - you shouldn't have to. Hell, if it makes you feel better consider it an interest-free loan. You can pay it back – whenever. Jethro, I know it's your house and I'm just moving in with you, but ... "

At last the penny dropped. Gibbs cocked his head and interrupted with an incredulous, "Is that what this is about? That it's my house? Tony, you designed it and you're doing all the work picking out stuff for it, so as far as I'm concerned it's as much yours as it is mine."

"So then let me help pay for it, you stubborn bastard!" Tony shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Otherwise, what's the point? If I'm just going to be a guest in your house, I might as well just stay here." He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest in a show of protective defiance.

That stinging verbal blow hit its mark. Gibbs' eyebrows shot up and he swallowed hard as Tony leaned against the counter looking equal parts hurt and pissed. He knew Tony could match him in the stubbornness department, but his current posture and tone were downright combative. Tony was ready for a fight, and he wasn't going to fight fair.

The realization of what Tony was asking hit Gibbs with full force, and he suddenly felt like a complete idiot. This scene was all too familiar and one he had been an unwilling participant in more times than he cared to count. It could have been any of his ex-wives standing there scowling at him, manicured hands on hips, stomping their foot, and demanding in a shrill voice to be heard, understood, and appreciated.

Knowing that this battle was well and truly lost, Gibbs took a deep breath then slowly walked over and reached for Tony's hand. He let out a relieved sigh when it wasn't jerked from his tentative gentle grasp. When Tony squeezed his hand in response, the last of Gibbs' resolve slipped away.

"It really means that much to you?" Gibbs asked, searching green eyes and getting a jerky nod in response.

Gibbs steeled himself when Tony cleared his throat. "Yeah, actually it does - a lot. Look, I know it's still your house, I totally get that, but I want it to be our home. I thought that's what you wanted too," Tony questioned with a pronounced shrug.

Another body blow. Tony was going for the knockout.

Holding Tony's hand tighter, Gibbs declared, "Of course I do! Tony, I want to share my whole life with you – including the damn house. I never want you to feel like you're just a guest or a roommate. It will be your home – our home, no matter what".

Not breaking eye contact, Tony announced, "I saw the estimates and all the bills, Jethro. I know that the insurance money you got isn't going to come close to what it's gonna cost, and that's on me. I planned it, now they're building it, and you shouldn't have to go in debt because of it - not when I have my trust fund just sitting in a freaking bank. I don't want to keep fighting about this, but this is the only way I can, I don't know, feel like I'm contributing something. I may not own the house, and that's fine, whatever, but I need to do this, Jethro. I need to feel that I'm a part of this somehow."

Powerless against the pained look in Tony's eyes, Gibbs gave up the fight. If he had a white flag he would have waved it in complete surrender. He had vowed that he would do whatever it took to make Tony happy and put his insecurities to rest once and for all. If it meant swallowing his foolish pride, so be it. He released Tony's hand and reached up to cradle his face in his hands.

After leaning in and placing a chaste kiss on Tony's pouty lips, Gibbs looked into his eyes. "All right, I give up. You win. I don't want to fight either. If it means that much to you, I'll take your damn money."

To drive the point home, Gibbs picked up the $30,000.00 check, folded it in half, and stuffed it in his back pocket. "Go ahead and spend whatever you want on the house. Furnish it and decorate it however you want. It's your house, your home, too."

Gibbs could tell that a victorious Tony was trying to play it cool, but nothing was going to stop the beaming DiNozzo smile growing on his lips. With fingers curled in the belt loops of Gibbs' jeans Tony tugged him close. Gibbs went willingly and smiled as Tony mumbled a sincere, "Thank you, Jethro," against his lips before claiming them in a long, languid kiss.

When they broke apart, Tony's eyes were once again bright and twinkling. Not wanting to look or feel like a total pushover, Gibbs put his arms around Tony's waist and asked in an almost menacing tone, "Now, are we done?"

Tony's grinned and draped his arms over Gibbs' shoulders. Playing with the short hairs at the nape of Gibbs's neck he teased, "Yep, we're done. You wanna shake on it?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but I'll pass." He then proceeded to kiss the smug smirk off of Tony's lips.

Tony was barely able to sit still as Gibbs slowly navigated the familiar streets. Construction to rebuild the decimated neighborhood was in full swing. Signs advertising construction companies who had converged on the area staked claim to sites as houses began to spring up in fairly quick succession. The scant few that had escaped major damage had been repaired and were again occupied.

Foremen could be heard barking out orders as flatbed trucks rolled in loaded down with lumber, floor joists, roof trusses, and giant stacks of plywood. The rapid staccato of dozens of pneumatic framing and roofing nailers provided the soundtrack as the massive piles of framing supplies dwindled.

Gibbs pulled up to the curb with a smile. Next to him Tony gaped. The sprawling, split-level house was framed, sheeted and covered with Tyvek house wrap, and all of the doors and windows had been put in place. One crew was busy installing the pine green vinyl siding while another crew swarmed the tar-papered roof laying shingles.

"Holy shit!" Tony exclaimed as he clawed for the door handle, his eyes glued to the tableau before him. "It's almost done!"

Gibbs snorted and climbed out of the car. The exterior work may be nearing completion, but from experience he knew damn well that the interior would be a whole different story. When Tony caught up to him in the front yard, Gibbs took his hand and led him toward the wide-open front door.

"Oh, I doubt that. Come on, let's see if they've done anything on the inside yet," Gibbs suggested. Tony nodded and beamed in response.

As expected, the interior was a maze of beams and wall studs, miles of electrical wire and exposed HVAC duct work. Tony sighed and frowned at the big stacks of drywall and huge rolls of insulation piled in the middle of what would be the living room. In the dining room, a crew was installing thick, pink Corning insulation between the studs and covering it with vapor barrier plastic.

"What's wrong?" Gibbs asked, puzzled by Tony's frown. Except for the kitchen, it looked like the walls and ceilings were ready for sheetrock. All things considered, the house looked pretty damn good to his trained eye.

"Look at this place! There is no way in hell we'll be able to move in next month," he replied sadly. Waving his arms around he grumbled, "It's just a big empty."

Amused, Gibbs rolled his eyes. He pulled Tony close, noticing but paying no mind to the group of workers wearing "Weldon Drywall, Inc." t-shirts coming in through the front door.

"It'll be done on time. I promise," Gibbs said with all the assurance of a man with construction experience.

While most boys his age were out in the fields detassling corn during the hot summer months, Gibbs spent two summers working for Jack's friend, "Bud" Williams, razing barns, building sheds and additions, and doing general handyman jobs around town. He made pretty good money for a teenager and learned the ins and outs of wiring, plumbing, and with his attention to detail he had mastered framing. If not for his dream to escape the dusty little town to become a Marine, he probably would have ended up running his own construction company.

"Let's check out the rest of it," Tony suggested, grabbing Gibbs' hand and tugging him through the kitchen and down the breezeway leading to the newly constructed three-stall garage.

"Wow!" Tony exclaimed when he stepped into the garage. His eyes scanned over the dozens of boxes of fixtures stacked next to the rich walnut finished kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. The new kitchen appliances, counter tops, washer and dryer, and all the materials to build the custom tile and glass shower in the master bathroom lined one long wall. "It's like Christmas on steroids!" Tony laughed.

While Tony inspected the cabinets and tested the drawers, Gibbs crept up and wrapped his arms around him from behind and crooned in his ear, "You did good Tony."

The gleaming open staircase led up to the second level. The upstairs part of the house was laid out much the same as the old house, except that the rooms were markedly larger. Except for paint and flooring the rooms were nearly finished.

Tony pointed out which room would serve as their home office and which would be delegated as the guest room. The last room inspected was the master bedroom, complete with a huge walk-in closet with plenty of built-in storage to house Tony's extensive shoe collection. The attached master bathroom was roughed in and ready for the plumbing to be finished and the custom shower to be installed.

Gibbs opened the French double doors leading out onto the deck. Leaning against the railing, he looked out over the activity in the backyard as a masonry crew worked on the brick patio. He sighed in contentment when Tony's arms wrapped around him and pulled him tightly back against his chest.

"What are you thinking?" Tony asked, resting his chin on Gibbs' shoulder.

"Mmmm. Just thinking how amazing this place is going to be and how happy I am that you're gonna be here with me," Gibbs replied.

Tony kissed his cheek then held him tighter. They stood silently swaying together for several minutes just enjoying the closeness. For Gibbs, now that he had found happiness again there would be no turning back. Even though the house would have the same address as before, the ghosts were gone along with any guilt he felt about allowing himself to love again. Years of memories, both good and bad, would always be with him but Gibbs was ready to move on and create new ones.

Tony's voice broke Gibbs from his thoughts. "I love you, you know that, right?"

Gibbs turned in the circle of Tony's arms and smile. "Yeah, I know. I love you too. Don't ever forget that."

They saved the basement for last. Gibbs stopped at the door and took a deep breath before turning the knob and switching on the light. The bare wooden stairs looked exactly the same and creaked in all the right places under his footfalls. Gibbs felt a jolt of déjà vu as he slowly descended with Tony right on his six.

The first thing to catch Gibbs' attention was the new window. 'How the hell did they get me out through there,' he thought to himself. The memory of being in agony and helpless as McGee and Palmer carried him to safety flooded back in causing him to shiver involuntarily.

Hearing a soft sob, Gibbs turned around and found Tony sitting on the cold concrete,, hugging his knees to his chest as he leaned back against the brand new high-efficiency furnace inside the steel-reinforced bunker beneath the stairs. Gibbs didn't need to ask Tony what he was thinking. They both knew it was only by the grace of God that they both survived that night.

Gibbs nodded when Tony's tear-filled eyes met his. He sat down next to him and pulled Tony into a desperate hug. They had spoken about the events of that horrible night but never the emotions associated with them. Pent up fear of what could have happened was brought to the surface. The emotional release was cathartic. Even with dozens of strangers working just above them, they were all alone.

"It's okay, Tony. It's okay," Gibbs murmured into soft hair. Tony's tears fell dampening his shirt. Gibbs just held him tighter.

After a few minutes Tony's sobs ceased. He extracted himself and leaned back against the furnace again. Grabbing a hold of Gibbs' hand, his breath hitched a few times as he attempted to speak. Finally, he managed to croak, "It all started right here, you know - you and me. I was holding you, praying for all I was worth, rambling on like an idiot, and that's when I kissed you." He huffed out a nervous laugh. "You know, I think I was more afraid that you were gonna come to and punch me. But ... if I was going to lose you, I needed that kiss to hold onto. Gibbs? Can I kiss you again?"

Gibbs turned his head and smiled. "You never have to ask for permission."

Tony climbed into Gibbs' lap facing him. Cradling Gibbs' face in his hands, he said, "I love you, Jethro. So much."

Well-rehearsed kisses followed, neither man fighting for control. Their tongues danced a sensual tango. Lingering hints of coffee and hazelnut mingled as they sought nothing more than comfort. Promises were murmured along with endearments. They were home, together, where they belonged.

Gibbs' phone rang. It was dispatch. Tony climbed off of Gibbs and offered him a hand up, grumbling about dispatch having lousy timing. Gibbs wrote down the information given to him on the small notepad that accompanied him everywhere he went. He tore the page out and shoved it in Tony's hand.

"Let's go. Dead Marine at Quantico. Call McGee. Have him pick up Ziva in the truck. I'll call Ducky," Gibbs ordered as he headed for the stairs.

Tony took a last parting glance around the basement. Following Gibbs up the stairs, he stated, "I still haven't figured out how we're going to get a boat out of here."