Chapter Text
Wind stirred his fur as Cadoc ran through the woods, the hard earth beneath his feet still frosted with winter’s fog. He broke through the trees into the grove with the oak tree and halted at the sight of his wizard and his chosen knight. He preened inwardly at his success at tracking Tony down.
Tony was kissing Tom, slow and easy as though they had all the time in the world.
Cadoc was pleased to see Tony relaxed and happy.
Cadoc had decided not to return to his hibernation. It had been a long time since he’d stayed longer than the time taken to solve the problem he’d woken to tackle, but Tony’s magic was warm and familiar.
More importantly, Cadoc liked Tony.
He did not like the fish which had become part of Tony’s rooms. He made a habit of sitting beside the bowl and simply staring at the gold shiny stinky thing as it swam in stupid circles. He would never harm it though; to harm the fish would be to harm Tony and that was unacceptable.
“Happy New Year to you too,” Tony said breathlessly to Tom.
Tom dropped another kiss on his lips. “Happy New Year.”
Cadoc bounded over and rubbed insistently against Tony’s legs, a chiding meow escaping him.
“I think that’s our cue to head back,” Tony murmured. “I think Clive wanted us all to spend some time together before the meal.”
Tom nodded.
They walked with their hands easily clasped between them, both of them foregoing the necessity of gloves in favour of skin contact.
The manor looked inviting. The Christmas lights still decorated the windows, shining green, red and white.
Cadoc raced ahead of his chosen and through the newly installed cat door in the old tradesmen’s entrance.
Alice shooed him out of the kitchen and Cadoc wound his way to the main living room where the rest of the Paddington family waited.
Casper and James sat at a side table, a chessboard between them.
Cadoc sniffed.
The dog was losing. Centuries of strategy in its head and it still lost. James turned around and winked at Cadoc. Of course it would pretend it was losing on purpose.
Cadoc huffed and headed for the sofa. Chris obligingly shifted when Cadoc pushed at his legs, swinging them down to sit rather than sprawl over the cushions.
“Tony, you should tell your cat I’m allowed to lie on the sofa!” Chris called out as Tony entered the room with Tom a step behind him.
Tony looked at Cadoc. Cadoc looked back at him.
“Yeah, you’re on your own with that,” Tony said, accepting a cup of mulled wine from Clive, before ushering Tom over to the empty sofa opposite.
Cadoc purred; he had trained his wizard well.
Crispian cleared his throat from the stuffed armchair next to his son. He was seemingly immersed in a book, but his eyes kept straying to his son. “Did you tell Agent Black you were going to speak to that girl today?”
Cadoc flicked his ear, unhappy at the idea Chris was talking to Beth. She might have told them a lot in the end, but she had still worked with Morgana.
Chris scowled at his father. “It’s none of his business.”
“He’s right,” Tom spoke up before Crispian could argue. “And I’m Tom here.”
Crispian huffed. “Are you going to say the same, cousin?”
Tony lowered his mug. “It’s your son’s business.”
“But you’re worried!” Crispian pointed triumphantly at Tony.
Cadoc mused on the fact that Crispian without his memories was still a prat; that hadn’t changed unfortunately.
“I’m sure Chris will do the right thing to protect himself and the family,” Tony said diplomatically.
“Thank you!” Chris said, raising his own mug in Tony’s direction. “And for the record, I’m not getting back together with her…I just wanted some closure.”
Crispian subsided, hunching into the armchair and pointedly raising the book he held.
“There’s no hope then, dear boy?” asked James.
Chris shook his head. “I can’t trust her.”
“Well, New Year, new beginnings,” Clive said sitting down in the second armchair in the grouping. “Speaking of which, Tony, I’d be happy to help you find somewhere to live in London before you start at MI7 in a few weeks’ time.”
“Me too,” Chris offered immediately.
Cadoc purred his appreciation loudly.
“Thanks,” Tony said. “I may need some help narrowing down the options.”
“I still can’t believe NCIS agreed to have you operate as a liaison to MI7,” Tom remarked.
Tony shrugged. “The Secretary of the Navy saw the benefits of the relationship.” He waggled his eyebrows at his knight.
Cadoc kept purring even as James whistled.
“I’m just glad to have you here,” Clive said firmly.
“Hear, hear,” Casper said.
Tony smiled brightly, the magic that ran through his veins almost giving him a golden glow. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he excused himself to take the call.
Cadoc slid off the sofa and followed his wizard.
Tony looked out of the corridor window at the woodland as he held the phone to his ear. “Boss.”
“Not your boss anymore, DiNozzo,” Gibbs’ voice sounded out of the tiny phone speaker, but Cadoc could hear him clearly.
“You’ll always be Boss to me, Boss,” Tony quipped. He sobered a touch. “How are things?”
“Ducky insisted on drinks at his place to ring in the New Year,” Gibbs replied, “his mother called Abby a witch and tried seducing Fornell.”
Tony chuckled warmly. “That’s quite an image.” He hesitated before continuing. “You know Ziva wasn’t your fault?”
“No?” Gibbs said roughly. “I was the one who fell for her act. Vance told me she played me killing Ari, and she did. She didn’t even deny it when we confronted her with the rest of her spying before shipping her back to Israel.”
“At least she’s not Morgana,” offered Tony, still attempting to comfort his mentor.
Gibbs huffed out a chuckle. “There’s that.” He cleared his throat. “Your knight treating you well, Tony?”
“He’s…” Tony blushed again, “he’s good for me, Gibbs.”
“Call me Jethro,” suggested Gibbs. “And good; tell him he’ll answer to me if he’s not.”
“I think even Uncle Casper gave him a shovel talk already,” Tony said, sounding adorably confused about that turn of events. He didn’t know about the talk Cadoc had given Tom which had consisted of sitting on the knight and shoving his claws close to a certain area of his anatomy; the clever agent had gotten the message.
“Good,” Gibbs said. “You deserve this, Anthony. You’re the best agent I’ve worked with and I’m proud of you.”
Cadoc saw the gleam of tears in Tony’s eyes, the way he rapidly swallowed against a lump in his throat.
“Guess my gut was right, but I hate losing you,” Gibbs continued.
“We’ll still be friends,” Tony said urgently, “that doesn’t change, Jethro. You need me, you call me.”
“Same here,” Gibbs said, “door’s always open.”
There was a beat of silence between them; acceptance, Cadoc recognised for the change that was happening.
“Happy New Year, Tony,” Gibbs said softly.
“Happy New Year, Boss,” Tony replied.
The call ended.
Tony took a moment to take a breath. Cadoc bumped his head against his leg, offering his own comfort and was pleased when Tony reached down to stroke him.
“Come on, Cadoc,” Tony said, “let’s get back to the family.”
His wizard really did have the best ideas, Cadoc mused as they made their way into the warmth of the living room. Tony curled into Tom’s side, their hands sliding together as they snuggled.
Cadoc headed back to the other sofa, shoving at Chris’ legs until he grumbled and gave up the spot again. He glanced around the room. The dog had lost and a new game was in progress; Crispian was pretending to read his book and Clive was snoozing in his armchair.
Returning to Avalon was a long way off, Cadoc thought as he groomed his fur into place and curled into his favourite sleeping position, but adopting Tony in the meantime was a good decision, a very good decision. Myrddin would definitely approve.
Fin.