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Title: The Rest of Our Days
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Jimmy Palmer/Tim McGee
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: PG-13
Table: narrative_x_10
Prompt: Story 03
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Jimmy Palmer or Tim McGee, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.***
"I love the holidays," Jimmy sighed, leaning back into Tim's embrace as his boyfriend aimed the remote at the television to turn off the dvd they had been watching. "These have been a little more stressful than usual, but still, they've been great."
"And they're not over yet," Jimmy pointed out with a smile. "This is only New Years' Eve. We've still got one more day off before we have to be back at NCIS. I'm just glad that when we go back, everybody will know about the two of us. No more hiding."
"I really didn't think everybody would take it so well," Tim said with a smile. He'd been more nervous about telling his friends and colleagues about his relationship with Jimmy than he'd ever been about anything, but fortunately, it had all worked out very well.
Aside from a momentary shock, the rest of the team hadn't seemed overly surprised about the fact that they were together. Abby had pulled Tim aside at the impromptu Christmas party she'd thrown in her lab to tell him that she thought Jimmy was perfect for him.
Ziva and Ducky had said much the same thing, and Tony had joked about them unveiling their relationship to everyone at Christmas, though it was obvious that he accepted the two of them as a couple. Even Gibbs had seemed to be approving, wishing them both a merry Christmas.
"They really didn't have a choice, did they?" Jimmy said with a soft laugh. "It's not like we're going to throw away our happiness if the people we work don't approve of two guys being in love. I think they realized that they'd just have to get used to us being together."
"It's amazing what people will accept when they know they don't have a choice about it," Tim agreed, his voice very soft. "But they're our friends, and they want us to be happy. So I kind of knew that even if they might have reservations, they'd welcome us with open arms."
"I'm just glad our families feel the same way," Jimmy said with a soft sigh. "Even though your dad didn't seem to be really pleased about it, at least he didn't rail at me and throw me out of your parents' house like I thought he might. But there's still a wall to be climbed there."
"I really hate to say it, but there probably always will be." Tim sighed again, closing his eyes. "My dad wants me to be happy, but he's what you'd call a real man's man. I've never been good enough for him, even though I know he's proud of some of the things I've done."
"But he has a hard time with the fact that you're in love with a man," Jimmy said, his own sigh echoing Tim's. "I guess I can't blame him for that, really. He grew up in a different world than we did, Tim. He's not going to be as accepting of us as others will be."
"Your parents didn't seem to have any problems," Tim pointed out. "Neither did my grandmother. But she's always been the kind of person who overlooks things that other people have problems with. I expected her to be happy for us. She's cool like that."
"I love your grandma," Jimmy said with a laugh. "I honestly like your whole family -- even your dad. He showed a lot of restraint and tolerance when we had dinner at their place. That meant a lot to me. He might not have completely accepted us, but at least he doesn't hate me."
"I'm just glad that we got to spend Christmas Day on our own, without having our families around to make things stressful for us." Tim hugged Jimmy closer against him, feeling grateful for his boyfriend's presence. "I loved being able to spend the whole day alone with you."
"I loved it, too," Jimmy said softly, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "Okay, so maybe lounging around and ordering Chinese takeout from the one place that was open and watching movies and reading all day might not sound like a great holiday to some people, but it was for me."
"Thank you for the ring," Tim said softly, holding up his hand to admire the silver promise ring that Jimmy had given him. "It's beautiful, Jimmy. Nothing I've ever gotten has meant so much to me." He had to blink back tears as he thought of the inscription inside the band.
To Tim, my partner, my best friend, and the love of my life. I'll love you for the rest of our days and beyond. Those words had almost made him cry when he read them, and he knew that they would resonate in his heart for every day to come.
Jimmy's hand moved to his throat, to touch the gold necklace that he wore. Tim had taken his time picking out the gift, wanting to get his boyfriend something that would symbolize the two of them, and he thought that the interlocked hearts were perfect.
Even more so was the inscription he'd had written on the back of those hearts. My love, my life, my everything. For us, forever, until the end of time. It was all he'd been able to say, the only words he could think of that encompassed all that he felt for Jimmy.
He'd never loved anyone as much as he loved the man who was here in his arms. He had never thought that he could love anyone like this; he'd never thought he was capable of such deep emotion. Jimmy had showed him a side of himself that he'd never even guessed could exist.
"I'm glad you like it, sweetheart," he murmured, bowing his head to brush a kiss against Jimmy's cheek. He couldn't imagine having a better Christmas than the one he'd spent; it felt as though he was surrounded by love and happiness on all sides.
This was how he wanted to spend the rest of his life, Tim thought dreamily. Here with Jimmy, knowing that he loved and was loved in return, letting the rest of their life go on just like this, encapsulated in a world of their own where no harm or pain could ever touch them.
Of course, that wasn't possible, and he knew it. They had responsibilities outside of the little bubble that the two of them lived in; there were people who counted on them to do their jobs, and neither of them would shirk those responsibilities, even if they could.
"I hope our life is always going to be this great," Jimmy said softly, leaning his head back against Tim's shoulder to look up at his boyfriend. "I want the rest of our days to be like this, Tim. Loving each other, being this close, until we're old and grey."
"Even when we do get old and grey, I'll still love you," Tim whispered past the lump in his throat, knowing that those words were one of the truest statements he'd ever made. No matter what happened in their future, he would always love Jimmy. Nothing could ever change that.
"And I'll love you," Jimmy murmured, a satisfied smile on his face as he snuggled into Tim's embrace. "For the rest of our days. Until the end of time. Always and forever, Tim. Don't ever forget that." He raised a hand to place gentle fingers on Tim's lips, smiling as he did so.
"I'll never forget it, Jimmy," Tim answered, forcing back the lump in his throat. He wasn't going to get overly sentimental and spoil the moment. After all, this was how their lives would be from now on. It was something to enjoy and appreciate, not something to cry over.
"Spending our time like this for the rest of our days might not be something we can do, bu we can enjoy the time while we've got it," Jimmy said pragmatically, smiling up at him. "So let's forget about having to go back to work in a few days and enjoy just being here with each other."
"That sounds like a great plan to me," Tim told his boyfriend with a smile. He bowed his head to let his lips meet Jimmy's, the kiss washing away any doubts he might have had about their future. This was exactly how he wanted them to spend the rest of their days -- and their nights as well.***