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Title: These Are the Moments
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Jimmy Palmer/Tim McGee
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: PG-13
Table: 5_prompts, Three Days Only challenge
Prompt: 35:1, These are the moments
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.

***

"It's beautiful," Jimmy said softly as he stood on the balcony of Tim's apartment in the protective circle of Tim's arms, watching the last rays of the setting sun before it sank below the horizon. "I love watching sunsets. They're so completely glorious."

Tim nodded, his attention caught and held by the brilliant hues splashed across the sky. "It's been a really long time since I just stood around and watched a sunset," he murmured, bowing his head to brush a kiss across Jimmy's cheek. "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Jimmy asked, turning his head slightly to look at his boyfriend. Tim could almost feel his heart turning somersaults in his chest when those dimples flashed at him; they never failed to make him feel dizzy with desire.

What was it about this man that had so captured his heart? It hadn't been an immediate attraction; he'd known Jimmy for a long time before he'd realized that there were feelings buried inside him that he hadn't let himself pay any attention to.

Or maybe the attraction had been immediate, Tim told himself. Maybe he'd been in love with Jimmy since the first time they'd met, and he'd just been too scared to admit that fact to himself. Too reluctant to admit that he could love a man.

Which was ridiculous, as he'd never considered himself to be simply straight or gay. He was who he was, and if he was in love with a man, then that was just one part of the complete person. He loved who he loved; that was nothing to be ashamed of.

Jimmy needed an answer, and he intend to give it. He just couldn't think of the words right now, couldn't put those emotions into syllables that could be easily understood. His heart knew what he felt, but his lips couldn't form the words to match his emotions.

"For loving me," he began, hesitantly at first, then letting the words come tumbling out, from his heart to Jimmy's ears. "For letting me love you. For being here at times like this, and helping me appreciate something as simple as a beautiful sunset."

Jimmy didn't answer; he only smiled and nodded, leaning back into Tim's embrace with a soft, contented sigh. "Thank you, for all the same things," he murmured, his hands resting over Tim's, their fingers interlocking. "And for holding my heart."

Tim closed his eyes, no longer wanting to look at the glory of the setting sun. He just wanted to fill his mind, his heart and his thoughts with Jimmy, and to know that these were the moments that would stay with him all of his life and that he would always treasure.

***