Disclaimer: NCIS is not my creation or property- I own all the DVDs though.

AN. I apologise for the sucky ending. Truth is, I wasn't sure how to end it. I had a bit more planned, but decided it would work better as a mini-sequel if anyone's interested?

Chapter 28

One morning in August, Gibbs had barely sat down at his desk before one Abby Scuito came barrelling into the bullpen.

"Gibbs! Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs!"

Gibbs rose in alarm, thinking something was seriously wrong. "Abby, what's happened?" he demanded.

Abby was breathless, clearly she'd run up the stairs from her lab rather than take the elevator.

"We have to go!" she insisted.

"Go where, Abby?" Ziva asked, also standing from her seat.

"The hospital," Abby replied, and McGee's eyes widened as he rose hastily.

"Wait, what? Why? Tony?" he asked and Abby nodded.

Gibbs placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to understand what was happening.

"Abby, what's happened? Is it Jemma and the baby?"

She nodded. "Tony sent me this text message a minute ago. Look!"

She shoved her phone into Gibb's face, who blinked and pulled it back so he could actually read the message.

"Good morning, Auntie Abby! Round up the family and come meet your godson," he read aloud.

It took Gibbs a moment to register what he was reading.

"It's a boy?"

McGee and Ziva exchanged grins. "Jemma had a boy?" McGee asked, completely thrilled considering he'd bet it was a girl.

"Are she and the baby alright?" Ziva asked worriedly.

"I thought she was booked in for a C-section next week," McGee said and Abby rolled her eyes as she grabbed her phone back from Gibbs.

"Guys, I don't know everything! But you're missing the important part of the message!"

Ziva frowned. "What is that, Abby?"

Abby gestured as though it were obvious. "Round up the family and come meet your godson," she read out, and then bounced excitedly on her toes.

"They're asking me to be godmother!"

Gibbs smiled. "Congratulations, Abs."

She was beaming. "Thank you, Gibbs! Now, can we go? Please? I want to see the baby!"

"Are Ducky and Palmer here yet? Do they know?" McGee asked.

"I left Ducky a message. They'll find it when they get in," Abby replied, then turned pleading eyes on Gibbs.

He didn't make her wait too long before agreeing.

"Let's go," he said and Abby squealed.

"Yay! Thank you, Gibbs! I call shotgun!" she exclaimed happily, dancing towards the elevator.

"Dammit," McGee muttered as they followed, and Ziva laughed.

When the four of them entered Jemma's hospital room, she was awake, alone and glowing with happiness.

"Where's Tony?" Abby asked after hugging Jemma excitedly.

"He went to the nursery to get the baby. We figured you wouldn't be long," she replied with a smile.

Gibbs studied her carefully. She was pale and tired, but she was in great spirits.

"So, what happened? I thought you were booked in for a C-section next week?" McGee asked her and Jemma chuckled.

"So did we. My waters broke about midnight last night, and five hours later after we got here, he was born. That was pretty much it."

"And are you alright?" McGee asked and Jemma nodded, smiling softly.

"I'm fine, thanks Tim. I lost a bit of blood, so they gave me a transfusion, but the doctor said we're both healthy, and there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to have a healthy, drama-free pregnancy in the future."

"Tony must be very happy," Ziva said warmly and Jemma laughed.

"He is. I think he would have been just as happy with a girl, but he likes knowing he was right."

"Sounds like DiNozzo," Gibbs said and they all laughed.

"Should I be offended here?"

The team all whipped around to see Tony in the doorway, with a small bundle in his arms.

Immediately, tears sprung to Abby's eyes.

"Oh, Tony!"

Tony crossed the room and placed the baby in Jemma's arms, and they all crowded around to see.

"He looks just like you, Tony," Ziva commented in wonder.

It was true, he was a mini-DiNozzo, there wasn't much resemblance to Jemma at all.

"What's his name?" McGee asked them.

"Alexander," Tony replied proudly. "After Jem's father."

"Alexander DiNozzo," Abby sounded out slowly. "I like it! So… is it Alex? Or Xander?"

The new parents exchanged a glance. "We're not sure yet," Jemma admitted. "We didn't want to commit to Alex or Xander until we know which one he suits best."

"Although, the nurses have come up with AJ, and I'm kinda liking it," Tony admitted.

"AJ?" Ziva repeated. "What does that mean?"

"It's short for Alexander Jethro," Jemma explained, smiling at Gibbs. "Alexander Jethro DiNozzo."

Gibbs froze, and Abby was crying quietly, as she looked at the baby. "Alexander Jethro… he is definitely an AJ," she said decidedly, wiping her eyes and Tony grinned.

"I know, right?"

Tony's eyes flickered up and met Gibbs' for an instant and Gibbs couldn't think of anything to say.

Everyone had to hold the baby, of course. They debated 'Alex' vs. 'Xander' vs. 'AJ' for a while, finally agreeing that the newest and smallest member of Team Gibbs was more of an 'Alex', but 'AJ' should definitely stick.

Then Gibbs suggested they leave to give Jemma a rest.

Abby pouted. "I don't want to go back to work!" she complained. "This is such a great day!"

"You don't have to, Abigail."

They all turned as Ducky entered the room.

"What do you mean, Duck?" Gibbs asked.

"Well, as I was leaving the Navy Yard to come here, I ran into Director Vance," Ducky said. "When I explained where I was going and why, he said to convey his most sincere congratulations and best wishes to the new parents, and to give Team Gibbs the day off in celebration."

Abby gasped happily. "Really? Oh, Vance is so getting an awesome Christmas present this year!"

"Abby, it's only August," McGee reminded her, but she ignored him.

"I still think we should go," Gibbs said, although he certainly wasn't complaining about a day off.

"Would you mind taking Tony with you?" Jemma asked him. "He's exhausted."

"No, I'm not! And I'm right here," Tony replied pointedly.

Gibbs looked at Tony and could see how tired he was. "Come on, DiNozzo. I'll take you home."

Tony was reluctant, but eventually, he agreed and managed to tear himself away from his wife and son, leaving her in the company of Ducky.

Tony too tired to drive, so Gibbs left Ziva, McGee and Abby with the NCIS sedan, and drove Tony's car with Tony back to his place.

"So how was it?"

Tony chuckled. "When Jem told me her waters had broken, I panicked a little," he admitted. "I didn't know what was happening, and I was sure that something awful was going to happen. But once we got to the hospital, it all happened so fast… it was amazing seeing him be born."

Gibbs smiled, not taking his eyes off the road.

"You want to go home, or to my place?" Gibbs asked him.

Tony glanced at him. "Boss, there is a very real chance I will fall asleep within seconds," he warned him.

Gibbs snorted. "Wouldn't be the first time you fell asleep at mine."

That was true, Tony admitted. "Ok, yours."

When they entered Gibbs' house, Tony headed immediately for the couch. Gibbs was going to upstairs and change, but then stopped.

"Tony?"

"Yeah. Boss?"

Tony turned in the doorway to the living room, and Gibbs paused, unsure just how to say what he needed to say.

"Thank you, Tony," he said finally.

Tony grinned, not needing any more explanation. "You're welcome, Boss. And uh, Boss?"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow expectantly, and Tony looked almost shy as he opened his mouth.

"Jem and I were wondering… were hoping… if you'd be godfather," he asked nervously.

Gibbs smiled softly. "I'd be honoured, Tony," he answered and Tony let out a relieved sigh.

Gibbs held out a hand to Tony's to shake, but Tony ignored that and hugged him swiftly. Gibbs returned the hug tightly, and then gave Tony a gentle push towards the couch.

"Get some sleep, DiNozzo."

Tony nodded happily. "On it, Boss."

By the time Gibbs had changed into old jeans and a t-shirt and trotted back downstairs, Tony was snoring softly on the couch.

Gibbs smiled and headed to the basement.

Alexander Jethro DiNozzo was, Abby declared him, "the happiest baby in the entire world."

And although everyone usually called him Alex, "AJ" continued to stick, usually by Tony, Abby and Gibbs. He still looked very much like Tony at three months, although his personality seemed to be more like Jemma's.

"Thank heavens for that," Ziva teased Tony.

Tony was surprised by how much he loved his son, and he had a greater sympathy for Gibbs now for what he had gone through losing Shannon and Kelly. He was slightly dismayed how fast Jemma forgot the worry they'd faced throughout the pregnancy and the pain from labour and was eager to have another child. Tony managed to convince her they'd talk about it in a year, he was sure he'd need that long to forget it.

On Jemma and Tony's one year wedding anniversary, they left Alex with Gibbs. Tony had once again surprised Jemma with tickets to Wicked in New York. They were just going overnight, as neither could bear to be away from their son for too long.

And they were both nervous about leaving him, although neither had any doubts that he would be in safe hands with Gibbs.

"Would you two get out of here?" he demanded in exasperation, when Tony and Jemma were reluctant to actually leave.

"Ok, going, Boss. We're going," Tony said quickly and left with final goodbyes.

Gibbs rolled his eyes fondly as he held Alex in his arms and watched Tony and Jemma drive away.

"Just you and me, kid," he said to Alex, once they were alone.

Alex gurgled happily at him, and Gibbs smiled.

Evidently, the kid was okay with that. And so was he.

The End