Three months later it was quite obvious that Kate and I were pregnant. Our respective baby bumps had grown quite a bit. Although my baby bump was a bit bigger than Kate’s since I had twins growing inside of me and Kate only had one growing inside of her. Kate had found out that she was having a boy and I found out that I was having twin girls. Nick and I decided to name our twin girls Jayden Sophie and Jocelyn Reese. Kate and Drew decided to name their son Benjamin Brent.
Much to Nick’s disdain we weren’t having any more kids after Jayden and Jocelyn. I was more than done with having kids. Kate on the other hand wanted to have at least four more after Benjamin came into the fold. Part of me wanted the twins to come out already so that I could get back to my skinny size four figure, but then I also wanted them to stay in me as long as possible so that they weren’t premature.
It was a laid back day at NCIS. We had wrapped up our case so Jethro let us do whatever until it was time to call it a day. Jethro decided to spend the rest of the work day upstairs with Jen. Ziva and Tony went bowling with Abby and McGee. AJ and Palmer volunteered to watch Hannah and LJ for Tony and Ziva.
They even volunteered to watch JD for Nick and me. AJ thought I could use some alone time with Nick before our quaint family of three became a family of five. I already knew what Nick and I were going to end up doing when we got home to our quiet house. Alone time was exactly how got to where I am now. Instead of following my sister’s lead and spending time with the man in my life I had gone down to hang out with Ducky.
“My dear; you should really get off your feet.” Ducky said when I got down to Autopsy.
“I’m fine Ducky, Jayden and Jocelyn are fine.”
“Will you at least sit down?”
“I love ya; Ducky like a daughter loves her dad, but you’re a medical examiner not my gynecologist.” I answered as I took my seat.
“My, you have the same spunk and tenacity that your sister has.”
“What can I say; it comes with the hair color.” I said wit fully.
“And her wit.”
“Well she did raise me, Ducky.”
“You look worried, what is going on in that head of yours?” Ducky asked.
“Nick wants to have more kids after Jayden and Jocelyn are here.”
“Do you want more children, Jaylyn?”
“With all the stretch marks I have from when I was pregnant with JD and now the stretch marks the twins are going to leave me with, no I don’t want anymore kids after the twins.” I answered.
“And Nick doesn’t agree with you.”
“Pretty much.”
“He’ll come around eventually.” Ducky said as he tried his best to reassure me.
“And how do you suggest I get my husband to come around now instead of later?” I asked.
“Jaylyn, you are an intelligent young woman; I am sure you can figure something out.”
“And if I can’t, Ducky?” I asked.
“Then take a page from your sister’s play book.”
“I’m not going to divorce Nick over this like Jenny dumped Jethro seventeen years ago.” I said as I got up and walked out of Autopsy.
“That’s not what I meant.” Ducky called after me.
“I know, Ducky.”
When I got back up to the squad room I had found Kate relaxing at her desk.
“Are you sure that you want to go through all the joys of pregnancy four more times, Kate?” I asked as I sat down.
“It’s worth it. I want what you and Ziva have.”
“Well I hope you are ready for sleepless nights and 3am feedings.”
As Kate and I chatted Tony and Ziva were still bowling with McGee and Abby. After ten minutes of sitting I started to get antsy. I had decided to go up to see what my sister and Jethro were up to. Needless to say that was a poor choice that I had made.
“I wouldn’t go in there, if I were you.” Cynthia said to me.
“They won’t mind.”
“I think they will.” Cynthia said as I opened the door.
The next thing I saw was going to be eternally etched into mind under the category of being scarred for the rest of my life. At that point after turning away from the sight of seeing my sister and Jethro having one of their romps in her office, my morning sickness from my first trimester had momentarily returned.
“I think that I am going to be sick.” I said so that Jen and Jethro knew they weren’t the only ones in the room.
“Jaylyn, what the hell are you doing here? Can’t you see that we’re a bit preoccupied here?” Jenny asked.
“Yeah, I got that when I was scarred. God Jethro will you put something on.”
“What do you need?”
“I don’t need anything, I was just bored.”
“Damn it Jay, you’re twenty-eight. I’m not supposed to be the one that has to constantly entertain you. That’s why you are married to Nick. He’s your entertainment now.” Jen said.
“Did you really have to say entertain?”
“Go ask your husband to entertain you and let me get back to mine.”
“Fine, just be careful or you’ll end up like me.” I said.
“Maybe I want to end up like you, Jay.” Jen called after me as quickly left.
Jethro instantly got that Oh crap look on his face as my sister drew his attention back to her.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Two Expectant NCIS Agents
It was a Sunday morning and the entire team had off; thank god!!!!! Kate’s family had gotten wind that she was alive. They had also found out that she was married, pregnant and back at NCIS. Kate’s parents had decided to send her three brothers and her sister to talk to her. Mr. and Mrs. Todd had thought that Kate had lost her mind. On some level Kate was more than thrilled to see her siblings again, but then again she was also quite content with them not knowing that she was alive.
Either way she knew that she couldn’t win. Her brothers and sister were at some point going to meet Drew whether it was now or when she had her baby. Jenny and I were slowly getting tired of having Jasper around, Ziva wanted Eli to go back to Tel Aviv and to leave her alone. Tony kind of wanted Senior to disappear again; even Jethro was wishing that Jackson would go back to Stillwater despite how much Jenny tried to convince him that he didn’t really want his father to leave. Jeanne and Hollis left just as Damon had, they had finally gotten the memo that they weren’t welcomed.
Jackson ended up staying with Jenny and Jethro. In Jethro’s opinion his father staying with him and Jenny prevented certain things from happening. There were moments where Jethro wanted to rip Jen’s clothes off of her but knowing that his father could pop in on them at any moment without any warning made him feel like a teenager again. But there was one time while Jackson was staying with his son and his son’s girlfriend that his son really didn’t give a damn. That one time was the morning that Kate learned of the impending visit from her brothers Adam, Tyler and Seth along with her sister Chelsea; that was this morning.
We had an unspoken rule between all of us that when Jenny and Jethro were more than ten minutes late to work we would deal. Which meant everyone on the team would chalk it up to Jenny and Jethro making sure Jackson was okay by himself. Tony and I knew the real reason why my sister and Jethro were late. Jenny was changing when Jethro gave into his urge. The sunlight was streaming through the bedroom window when Jethro came in to find the sunlight dancing across what he thought was an absolute masterpiece of gorgeous taut skin. He slowly started to think he was never going to see her shirtless until his father returned to Stillwater. But that morning was Jethro’s lucky day. A few days after Jenny’s return to NCIS; Tony and I were told that we were in charge when they were away. So since Tony was Jethro’s Senior Field Agent he became Team Leader. I was lucky enough to be left in charge of the agency which meant that I didn’t have to answer to Tony like the others did; it was one of the bonuses of being the Director’s sister.
“See something you like, Jethro?” Jenny asked.
“Quite a bit.”
“Well what do you plan on doing about it, Jethro?” Jenny asked as she chose what top she was going to where that day which gave Jethro more time to savor every passing minute of her perfectly sculpted torso.
“I plan on taking that perfectly sculpted body of yours in and have it against mine.”
“Should I even bother putting this on?” Jenny asked as she held up the top she had chosen.
“What do you think, Jen?” Jethro answered.
On some level Jethro wanted another kid just as Jenny wanted a child of her own. And he wanted Jenny to know what it was like to be a mother to a child of her own instead of being a fill in mother to Tony, McGee, Ziva, Kate and Abby like she was. He wanted Jenny to have what Ziva and I had as well as what Kate was going to have. Jethro knew that no one could ever replace Kelly in his heart. But he also didn’t want to see that gorgeous body standing before him change.
While Jen and Jethro romped around in their bedroom, Kate was contending with her own issues. Drew had ran to the local grocery store for Kate since she was having major cravings just I had been having. Chelsea, Adam, Tyler and Seth showed up just minutes after Drew had left the house. There was an awkward silence between Kate and her siblings. When Kate had opened the front door she had found Chelsea in front of her with Seth, Tyler and Adam standing behind Chelsea.
After the awkwardness continued while Kate and her four siblings sat around in the living room Chelsea had decided to break the silence.
“We've missed you so much. We thought we lost you.”
“Well you didn’t. I’m clearly alive.” Kate responded.
"So, how long have you been married?" Seth asked.
“A year and three months.” Kate said as Drew came up behind her and placed his hand on Kate’s shoulder.
Kate then introduced Drew to her sister and brothers. After the introductions were done Kate explained everything that happened with her supposed death and the fact that she had been in witness protection all that time. Once Kate’s siblings had told her she was crazy for going back to NCIS, Kate had decided that she was going to tell them about the little one growing inside of her since they were apparently clueless to the fact that Kate was starting to get a bit of a baby bump.
“Oh, and by the way, you are all going to have a little niece or nephew soon.” Kate said.
That night Tony and Ziva had their own romp in their bedroom. Their endeavor was just as heated and intense as Jen and Jethro’s was. Tony kind of wanted more kids, but Ziva on the other hand was more than done in the kid department. But that didn’t stop them from enjoying each other. The twins had just fallen asleep after Ziva had tucked them in, Tony was lounging in his and Ziva’s bed in his lounge pants. Ziva came in from the master bathroom to change into her own pajamas. Before long Ziva noticed Tony eyeing her up and down like he did when she had first came to the agency seven years ago.
“See something you like?” Ziva asked.
“I see a lot that I love.”
“At least that was a better answer than the last time.” Ziva said referring back to when Tony had followed her up to a bomb that Sharif had left in an abandoned warehouse five years earlier.
“So what do you see that you like?” Ziva asked when Tony didn’t respond.
“You know your exotic Israeli curves make me want you. Your chiseled body always does me in.” Tony answered.
Ziva didn’t say word, but she did close their bedroom door. Then she stripped down in front of Tony. Tony instantly got that “kid a candy shop” look on his face as Ziva pulled his lounge pants and boxers off in one foul swoop.
“You’ve got some mad skills.” Tony said as Ziva crawled seductively from the end of the bed up to the head of the bed to where Tony was.
“I know.”
“You’re my little Israeli goddess.” Tony said as Ziva lowered her body on top of his and kissed him.
Moments later Tony and Ziva’s romp was over. Ziva had changed into her spaghetti strap tank top and lounge pants. Tony pulled his lounge pants back on and put on a t-shirt as they heard a knock on their bedroom door. A few seconds later LJ came into the bedroom all upset from a nightmare that had woken her up. Tony told LJ to squeeze in between him and Ziva.
“That was close.” Ziva whispered into Tony’s ear once LJ was settled.
Tony laughed and kissed Ziva.
Fifteen minutes later Hannah had come into the room because she didn’t want to be alone in her and LJ’s bedroom.
The next morning Jenny and Jethro played house again, so Tony and I were left in charge. Around 10am that morning Jenny and Jethro decided to grace us with their presence at NCIS. Without thinking Tony gave Jethro that I know what you were doing smile as Jethro sat down.
“I know what you were doing too. But I've been wondering, as often as it happens, why haven’t the kids caught on yet?” Jethro asked Tony.
Ziva and Tony were completely shocked. Meanwhile Jenny walked past Cynthia and into her office.
“Have fun playing house, sis?” I asked as Jenny walked into her office.
“Well obviously I’m not the only one.” Jenny fired back as she looked down at my ever growing stomach.
“Oh, so I wasn’t the only one who noticed that Tony and Ziva both seemed a bit extra happy this morning.”
Jenny laughed at my naïve nature.
“No; you aren’t the only one who noticed that, but I wasn’t talking about them.” Jenny said.
I laughed at my sister’s wit.
“I know, I know. But the difference between you and Gibbs, Nick and I, and Tony and Ziva, is that Nick and I are married, and so are Tony and Ziva. But you and Gibbs aren’t.” I said.
During our conversation Jethro had come up.
“I’d be careful if I were you Agent Gibbs. They are fighting again.” Cynthia said when she noticed Jethro.
“No we’re not.” Jenny and I said in unison.
Either way she knew that she couldn’t win. Her brothers and sister were at some point going to meet Drew whether it was now or when she had her baby. Jenny and I were slowly getting tired of having Jasper around, Ziva wanted Eli to go back to Tel Aviv and to leave her alone. Tony kind of wanted Senior to disappear again; even Jethro was wishing that Jackson would go back to Stillwater despite how much Jenny tried to convince him that he didn’t really want his father to leave. Jeanne and Hollis left just as Damon had, they had finally gotten the memo that they weren’t welcomed.
Jackson ended up staying with Jenny and Jethro. In Jethro’s opinion his father staying with him and Jenny prevented certain things from happening. There were moments where Jethro wanted to rip Jen’s clothes off of her but knowing that his father could pop in on them at any moment without any warning made him feel like a teenager again. But there was one time while Jackson was staying with his son and his son’s girlfriend that his son really didn’t give a damn. That one time was the morning that Kate learned of the impending visit from her brothers Adam, Tyler and Seth along with her sister Chelsea; that was this morning.
We had an unspoken rule between all of us that when Jenny and Jethro were more than ten minutes late to work we would deal. Which meant everyone on the team would chalk it up to Jenny and Jethro making sure Jackson was okay by himself. Tony and I knew the real reason why my sister and Jethro were late. Jenny was changing when Jethro gave into his urge. The sunlight was streaming through the bedroom window when Jethro came in to find the sunlight dancing across what he thought was an absolute masterpiece of gorgeous taut skin. He slowly started to think he was never going to see her shirtless until his father returned to Stillwater. But that morning was Jethro’s lucky day. A few days after Jenny’s return to NCIS; Tony and I were told that we were in charge when they were away. So since Tony was Jethro’s Senior Field Agent he became Team Leader. I was lucky enough to be left in charge of the agency which meant that I didn’t have to answer to Tony like the others did; it was one of the bonuses of being the Director’s sister.
“See something you like, Jethro?” Jenny asked.
“Quite a bit.”
“Well what do you plan on doing about it, Jethro?” Jenny asked as she chose what top she was going to where that day which gave Jethro more time to savor every passing minute of her perfectly sculpted torso.
“I plan on taking that perfectly sculpted body of yours in and have it against mine.”
“Should I even bother putting this on?” Jenny asked as she held up the top she had chosen.
“What do you think, Jen?” Jethro answered.
On some level Jethro wanted another kid just as Jenny wanted a child of her own. And he wanted Jenny to know what it was like to be a mother to a child of her own instead of being a fill in mother to Tony, McGee, Ziva, Kate and Abby like she was. He wanted Jenny to have what Ziva and I had as well as what Kate was going to have. Jethro knew that no one could ever replace Kelly in his heart. But he also didn’t want to see that gorgeous body standing before him change.
While Jen and Jethro romped around in their bedroom, Kate was contending with her own issues. Drew had ran to the local grocery store for Kate since she was having major cravings just I had been having. Chelsea, Adam, Tyler and Seth showed up just minutes after Drew had left the house. There was an awkward silence between Kate and her siblings. When Kate had opened the front door she had found Chelsea in front of her with Seth, Tyler and Adam standing behind Chelsea.
After the awkwardness continued while Kate and her four siblings sat around in the living room Chelsea had decided to break the silence.
“We've missed you so much. We thought we lost you.”
“Well you didn’t. I’m clearly alive.” Kate responded.
"So, how long have you been married?" Seth asked.
“A year and three months.” Kate said as Drew came up behind her and placed his hand on Kate’s shoulder.
Kate then introduced Drew to her sister and brothers. After the introductions were done Kate explained everything that happened with her supposed death and the fact that she had been in witness protection all that time. Once Kate’s siblings had told her she was crazy for going back to NCIS, Kate had decided that she was going to tell them about the little one growing inside of her since they were apparently clueless to the fact that Kate was starting to get a bit of a baby bump.
“Oh, and by the way, you are all going to have a little niece or nephew soon.” Kate said.
That night Tony and Ziva had their own romp in their bedroom. Their endeavor was just as heated and intense as Jen and Jethro’s was. Tony kind of wanted more kids, but Ziva on the other hand was more than done in the kid department. But that didn’t stop them from enjoying each other. The twins had just fallen asleep after Ziva had tucked them in, Tony was lounging in his and Ziva’s bed in his lounge pants. Ziva came in from the master bathroom to change into her own pajamas. Before long Ziva noticed Tony eyeing her up and down like he did when she had first came to the agency seven years ago.
“See something you like?” Ziva asked.
“I see a lot that I love.”
“At least that was a better answer than the last time.” Ziva said referring back to when Tony had followed her up to a bomb that Sharif had left in an abandoned warehouse five years earlier.
“So what do you see that you like?” Ziva asked when Tony didn’t respond.
“You know your exotic Israeli curves make me want you. Your chiseled body always does me in.” Tony answered.
Ziva didn’t say word, but she did close their bedroom door. Then she stripped down in front of Tony. Tony instantly got that “kid a candy shop” look on his face as Ziva pulled his lounge pants and boxers off in one foul swoop.
“You’ve got some mad skills.” Tony said as Ziva crawled seductively from the end of the bed up to the head of the bed to where Tony was.
“I know.”
“You’re my little Israeli goddess.” Tony said as Ziva lowered her body on top of his and kissed him.
Moments later Tony and Ziva’s romp was over. Ziva had changed into her spaghetti strap tank top and lounge pants. Tony pulled his lounge pants back on and put on a t-shirt as they heard a knock on their bedroom door. A few seconds later LJ came into the bedroom all upset from a nightmare that had woken her up. Tony told LJ to squeeze in between him and Ziva.
“That was close.” Ziva whispered into Tony’s ear once LJ was settled.
Tony laughed and kissed Ziva.
Fifteen minutes later Hannah had come into the room because she didn’t want to be alone in her and LJ’s bedroom.
The next morning Jenny and Jethro played house again, so Tony and I were left in charge. Around 10am that morning Jenny and Jethro decided to grace us with their presence at NCIS. Without thinking Tony gave Jethro that I know what you were doing smile as Jethro sat down.
“I know what you were doing too. But I've been wondering, as often as it happens, why haven’t the kids caught on yet?” Jethro asked Tony.
Ziva and Tony were completely shocked. Meanwhile Jenny walked past Cynthia and into her office.
“Have fun playing house, sis?” I asked as Jenny walked into her office.
“Well obviously I’m not the only one.” Jenny fired back as she looked down at my ever growing stomach.
“Oh, so I wasn’t the only one who noticed that Tony and Ziva both seemed a bit extra happy this morning.”
Jenny laughed at my naïve nature.
“No; you aren’t the only one who noticed that, but I wasn’t talking about them.” Jenny said.
I laughed at my sister’s wit.
“I know, I know. But the difference between you and Gibbs, Nick and I, and Tony and Ziva, is that Nick and I are married, and so are Tony and Ziva. But you and Gibbs aren’t.” I said.
During our conversation Jethro had come up.
“I’d be careful if I were you Agent Gibbs. They are fighting again.” Cynthia said when she noticed Jethro.
“No we’re not.” Jenny and I said in unison.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Unexpected Guests
Just as I had expected things got pretty interesting at NCIS that afternoon. Jeanne came back despite Ziva’s warnings. Both Jackson and Hollis were still around as well. It was more than obvious that Jethro was quite unhappy that his ex-girlfriend and his former ex-girlfriend turned current girlfriend were in the same building. And of course Tony made countless references to Jethro’s train wreck from five years ago. It wasn’t until Tony got a head slap to the back of the head and a glare from Jethro that he had decided that it would be best to drop the subject. Jackson was still hopelessly flirting with Kate, Ziva, Abby and I. We had to remind Jackson that we were married women; Ziva and I had to remind him that we are mothers. Kate and I had to tell him we are pregnant. Jethro was in the conference room with Hollis.
“Jethro, have I ever once popped into your mind since I left DC?” Hollis asked.
“The first few days you were.”
“So I guess our relationship is over now that you are with Director Shepard.”
“Holly, our relationship was over when you found that tape that my daughter made for me and instead of dealing with it you ran away.”
“What did you want me to do Jethro? I was fighting a losing battle just like your ex-wives did and soon Director Shepard will realize what the rest of us already know.” Hollis said.
“It’s different with Jen.”
“I don’t see how it is.”
“Jen loves me and I love her. She knows that I still care for Shannon and Kelly. Jen is able to accept the fact that I had a family.” Jethro answered as he left Hollis in the conference room.
As Jethro left the conference room Hollis went to Jenny’s office so that Jeanne and Tony could talk away from Ziva. Tony could tell that Ziva was about ready to put a round or two in Jeanne at any moment.
“Wow, I can honestly say I'm surprised that I am in the NCIS conference room; Tony DiNardo, or, I mean, DiNozzo. I never expected you to ever get married. I figured that you would never be able to find a woman to blind to see through your lies.” Jeanne said.
“I only ever really lied to you about two things: my name and my job. The love was real. But obviously it wasn’t meant to be, because it didn’t work out. I've moved on. I've found the one I was meant to be with. I thought you would have moved on by now too.” Tony responded.
Meanwhile in Jenny’s office the discussion between my sister and Hollis was underway.
“Looks like you made sure that I wouldn’t get that second chance with Gibbs.”
“I didn’t do anything; you did the minute you moved.” Jenny said.
“Maybe he’ll come to his senses before you break his heart again.” Hollis said.
“I am not going to break his heart again. I’m not going anywhere so you might as well fly back home.”
As Jeanne made her way to the elevator Ziva stopped her.
"You know, I really can't tell if you are really brave, or just really stupid for marrying that liar.” Jeanne said.
“Back off; Tony isn’t a liar. He is a good man; he is my husband and the father of my children. Vous chienne jalouse.”
With that Jeanne left and Ziva returned to her desk. Meanwhile Jackson had gone up to talk to my sister. Jenny and Jackson were talking about Shannon and Kelly since Jenny’s curiosity got the better of her.
“After Shannon and Kelly died, I never thought I would see Leroy happy ever again. But he seems to have found some happiness with you.” Jackson said.
“So that you know, I'm not trying to replace Shannon in Jethro's life. I know she will always be his soul mate, and she will always have a special place in his heart. But I would like to think that in a way, I am sort of a second soul mate to Jethro, to help give him happiness now that his wife and daughter are gone.”
“I know, just be good to each other.” Jackson said as he got up and hugged Jenny.
“Thank-you.”
“Like my son, I consider you and your beautiful sister to be family.” Jackson whispered into Jenny’s ear.
Next Jackson talked to Ziva since he could tell that she was still upset by Jeanne’s visit.
“I don't want Jeanne ruining what I have with Tony. And don't want her to force him to think about what might have been with her. I'm afraid she's trying to tear us apart.” Ziva said.
"Tony loves you. Tony and Jeanne weren’t meant to be. Tony has a life with you now; and your kids. He reminds me of how Leroy loved Shannon and Kelly. That’s the way he feels about you and Hannah and LJ. No matter how hard Jeanne tries, she can't get between you and Tony." Jackson responded.
Jethro found his father after he came back with drinks for everyone. Jethro had made sure that he didn’t get coffee for Kate and me.
“I get that you like flirting with the women on my team and everything, but it’s not going to work. You have to stop flirting with them. Jenny is taken and the girls are married. Ziva has a family just as Jay does and Jaylyn is adding to her family in case you haven't noticed. Kate is starting a family of her own. If you want you can flirt with Hollis or Jeanne.” Jethro said to his father.
“I'm sorry if it bothers you Leroy. I guess I never really considered it flirting. The girls don't seem to mind. They usually just smile and laugh. But if you want, I'll stop.”
Things calmed down after all the drama. Jenny and I walked down the stairs at one point. Jenny wore the outfit she had worn when Ziva was framed by the Iranians six years earlier when Jethro stopped by her office. I was in stiletto heels, spaghetti strapped tank top and a pair of my ripped low rise jeans before I couldn’t wear them. Jackson was completely stunned as he watched us walk over to the squad room.
“You two know how to turn heads.”
“What can we say; it’s apart of the Shepard charm.” Jenny and I said in unison.
“Jethro, have I ever once popped into your mind since I left DC?” Hollis asked.
“The first few days you were.”
“So I guess our relationship is over now that you are with Director Shepard.”
“Holly, our relationship was over when you found that tape that my daughter made for me and instead of dealing with it you ran away.”
“What did you want me to do Jethro? I was fighting a losing battle just like your ex-wives did and soon Director Shepard will realize what the rest of us already know.” Hollis said.
“It’s different with Jen.”
“I don’t see how it is.”
“Jen loves me and I love her. She knows that I still care for Shannon and Kelly. Jen is able to accept the fact that I had a family.” Jethro answered as he left Hollis in the conference room.
As Jethro left the conference room Hollis went to Jenny’s office so that Jeanne and Tony could talk away from Ziva. Tony could tell that Ziva was about ready to put a round or two in Jeanne at any moment.
“Wow, I can honestly say I'm surprised that I am in the NCIS conference room; Tony DiNardo, or, I mean, DiNozzo. I never expected you to ever get married. I figured that you would never be able to find a woman to blind to see through your lies.” Jeanne said.
“I only ever really lied to you about two things: my name and my job. The love was real. But obviously it wasn’t meant to be, because it didn’t work out. I've moved on. I've found the one I was meant to be with. I thought you would have moved on by now too.” Tony responded.
Meanwhile in Jenny’s office the discussion between my sister and Hollis was underway.
“Looks like you made sure that I wouldn’t get that second chance with Gibbs.”
“I didn’t do anything; you did the minute you moved.” Jenny said.
“Maybe he’ll come to his senses before you break his heart again.” Hollis said.
“I am not going to break his heart again. I’m not going anywhere so you might as well fly back home.”
As Jeanne made her way to the elevator Ziva stopped her.
"You know, I really can't tell if you are really brave, or just really stupid for marrying that liar.” Jeanne said.
“Back off; Tony isn’t a liar. He is a good man; he is my husband and the father of my children. Vous chienne jalouse.”
With that Jeanne left and Ziva returned to her desk. Meanwhile Jackson had gone up to talk to my sister. Jenny and Jackson were talking about Shannon and Kelly since Jenny’s curiosity got the better of her.
“After Shannon and Kelly died, I never thought I would see Leroy happy ever again. But he seems to have found some happiness with you.” Jackson said.
“So that you know, I'm not trying to replace Shannon in Jethro's life. I know she will always be his soul mate, and she will always have a special place in his heart. But I would like to think that in a way, I am sort of a second soul mate to Jethro, to help give him happiness now that his wife and daughter are gone.”
“I know, just be good to each other.” Jackson said as he got up and hugged Jenny.
“Thank-you.”
“Like my son, I consider you and your beautiful sister to be family.” Jackson whispered into Jenny’s ear.
Next Jackson talked to Ziva since he could tell that she was still upset by Jeanne’s visit.
“I don't want Jeanne ruining what I have with Tony. And don't want her to force him to think about what might have been with her. I'm afraid she's trying to tear us apart.” Ziva said.
"Tony loves you. Tony and Jeanne weren’t meant to be. Tony has a life with you now; and your kids. He reminds me of how Leroy loved Shannon and Kelly. That’s the way he feels about you and Hannah and LJ. No matter how hard Jeanne tries, she can't get between you and Tony." Jackson responded.
Jethro found his father after he came back with drinks for everyone. Jethro had made sure that he didn’t get coffee for Kate and me.
“I get that you like flirting with the women on my team and everything, but it’s not going to work. You have to stop flirting with them. Jenny is taken and the girls are married. Ziva has a family just as Jay does and Jaylyn is adding to her family in case you haven't noticed. Kate is starting a family of her own. If you want you can flirt with Hollis or Jeanne.” Jethro said to his father.
“I'm sorry if it bothers you Leroy. I guess I never really considered it flirting. The girls don't seem to mind. They usually just smile and laugh. But if you want, I'll stop.”
Things calmed down after all the drama. Jenny and I walked down the stairs at one point. Jenny wore the outfit she had worn when Ziva was framed by the Iranians six years earlier when Jethro stopped by her office. I was in stiletto heels, spaghetti strapped tank top and a pair of my ripped low rise jeans before I couldn’t wear them. Jackson was completely stunned as he watched us walk over to the squad room.
“You two know how to turn heads.”
“What can we say; it’s apart of the Shepard charm.” Jenny and I said in unison.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Unexpected Surprise
The next day we had yet another visitor at NCIS. This time it was Jasper instead of Eli or Senior. Jasper had offered to take Jenny and me out to lunch. We had both said yes against our better judgment and our significant others’ judgment. The entire time Jasper kept trying to get me to drink some of the wine he had ordered. I obviously didn’t drink any of it so that the twins remained safe. Jenny on the other hand was being the lush between the two of us. When Jasper had stepped away to go to the bathroom for a second Jenny and I had a moment to ourselves.
“The twins and I appreciate you drinking the wine dad keeps giving me, but you kind of need to be sober to run the agency.”
“I know my limit, Jay and I haven’t reached it.”
“Really, cause it looked like you reached it about ten minutes ago.” I said.
“When do you plan on telling dad about JD and the twins growing inside of you?”
“I’ll tell him eventually.”
“He deserves to know that he has a granddaughter and possibly two more granddaughters on the way. Besides you are depriving your daughter of knowing her grandfather based on an incident that happened three years ago that she had no hand in.”
“I am not depriving my daughter from anything. I am protecting her from getting hurt like I did.”
“Stop avoiding it and tell him.” Jenny said as Jasper returned.
Jasper had obviously connected the dots when it came to my wine.
“Is there anything you want to share with me as we wait for our food to come?” Jasper asked me.
“Let’s see; did I tell you are a f*&%ing bastard?”
“Jaylyn Emma Balboa.” Jenny said reprimanding me.
I had gotten my middle name from our mother when I was born and Jen knew the minute she uttered my full name that I would retract the claws as I dialed back the bitchy-ness.
“It’s fine Jenny; she has every right to be mad.” Jasper said.
“What do you want to know, dad?” I asked.
“I want to know why your sister is doing all the drinking for the two of you and you aren’t drinking at all.”
“You have to tell him.”
“Tell me what?”
“I am pregnant; Nick and I are expecting twins in nine months.”
“You look awfully calm for being pregnant for the first time. Your mother was a nervous wreck both times she was pregnant.”
Jenny looked at me, telling me that I had to tell Jasper about JD.
“This isn’t exactly my first pregnancy, dad.”
“What do you mean?” Jasper questioned.
“You have a four year old granddaughter.”
“A four year old granddaughter; that could only mean that you and Nick conceived her on your honeymoon.” Jasper said after our meals were delivered to us.
“Yes, Nick and I conceived her on our honeymoon; her name is Jennifer Delaney or JD as everyone affectionately calls her since she is named after Jenny and Nick’s sister.”
Before Jasper could react to the news of having a four year old granddaughter and two more grandchildren on the way, Jenny and I had both received text messages telling us to get back to the office asap. Needless to say Jasper wasn’t the only surprise we had that day. When we got back to the office we were completely stunned by seeing the additional visitors we had. Jenny and I knew two of the four visitors standing before us in the squad room, the other two we had no idea who they were. Hollis had decided to pay Jethro a visit just as Jeanne had decided to fly in from Africa or wherever she was these days to stop by.
I could already tell that the presence of Hollis was going to cause unneeded stress on Jenny and Jethro’s already stressed relationship. I also knew that having Jeanne Benoit around wouldn’t make Ziva all that happy. A few minutes after Jenny and I got back to the office we had learned that the other visitors besides Hollis and Jeanne were Jethro’s father; Jackson and Corporal Damon Werth. It was a bit obvious that Tony was still jealous of Damon despite the fact that he was the one who won over Ziva. Jethro had already introduced Jackson to Kate and much to Jethro’s discomfort Jackson had flirted with Kate in his absolutely charming way just like he had when he first met Ziva and Abby four years earlier.
“Now who are these ravishing young women standing before me, Leroy?” Jackson asked.
Jenny and I saw Jethro roll his eyes before he introduced us to his father.
“Dad; I’d like you to meet Jenny and Jaylyn Shepard.” Jethro said.
“Ah the crimson haired beauties of NCIS.”
“Abby and Ziva were right; you are a charmer, Jack. I’m Jaylyn and this Jenny.” I said as I shook Jackson’s hand.
“You’re the one that stole my son’s heart thirteen years ago.” Jackson said to Jenny as he shook her hand.
The rest of us looked the other way.
“I guess you can say that.” Jenny said in response.
“Before Leroy tells me to cut the charm, I have to say that out of all the women my son has been with since Shannon; you are my favorite.”
Jenny completely blushed as Ziva, Abby and I looked over to Hollis to see how she reacted to what Jackson had just said. After some time had passed Damon had left NCIS at Jethro’s request as Jeanne had at Ziva’s request. Hollis and Jackson stuck around for a bit. Jethro was uneasy with his father hanging around NCIS since Jackson spent the time he was there hopelessly flirting with Jenny, Abby, Kate, Ziva and I. But both Jenny and Jethro were uneasy with Hollis sticking around. Jenny knew it was only a matter of time before Hollis wanted answers regarding Jenny’s relationship with Jethro just as Jethro’s ex-wife Stephanie had five years earlier. Needless to say it was going to be an interesting afternoon at NCIS for Team Gibbs.
“The twins and I appreciate you drinking the wine dad keeps giving me, but you kind of need to be sober to run the agency.”
“I know my limit, Jay and I haven’t reached it.”
“Really, cause it looked like you reached it about ten minutes ago.” I said.
“When do you plan on telling dad about JD and the twins growing inside of you?”
“I’ll tell him eventually.”
“He deserves to know that he has a granddaughter and possibly two more granddaughters on the way. Besides you are depriving your daughter of knowing her grandfather based on an incident that happened three years ago that she had no hand in.”
“I am not depriving my daughter from anything. I am protecting her from getting hurt like I did.”
“Stop avoiding it and tell him.” Jenny said as Jasper returned.
Jasper had obviously connected the dots when it came to my wine.
“Is there anything you want to share with me as we wait for our food to come?” Jasper asked me.
“Let’s see; did I tell you are a f*&%ing bastard?”
“Jaylyn Emma Balboa.” Jenny said reprimanding me.
I had gotten my middle name from our mother when I was born and Jen knew the minute she uttered my full name that I would retract the claws as I dialed back the bitchy-ness.
“It’s fine Jenny; she has every right to be mad.” Jasper said.
“What do you want to know, dad?” I asked.
“I want to know why your sister is doing all the drinking for the two of you and you aren’t drinking at all.”
“You have to tell him.”
“Tell me what?”
“I am pregnant; Nick and I are expecting twins in nine months.”
“You look awfully calm for being pregnant for the first time. Your mother was a nervous wreck both times she was pregnant.”
Jenny looked at me, telling me that I had to tell Jasper about JD.
“This isn’t exactly my first pregnancy, dad.”
“What do you mean?” Jasper questioned.
“You have a four year old granddaughter.”
“A four year old granddaughter; that could only mean that you and Nick conceived her on your honeymoon.” Jasper said after our meals were delivered to us.
“Yes, Nick and I conceived her on our honeymoon; her name is Jennifer Delaney or JD as everyone affectionately calls her since she is named after Jenny and Nick’s sister.”
Before Jasper could react to the news of having a four year old granddaughter and two more grandchildren on the way, Jenny and I had both received text messages telling us to get back to the office asap. Needless to say Jasper wasn’t the only surprise we had that day. When we got back to the office we were completely stunned by seeing the additional visitors we had. Jenny and I knew two of the four visitors standing before us in the squad room, the other two we had no idea who they were. Hollis had decided to pay Jethro a visit just as Jeanne had decided to fly in from Africa or wherever she was these days to stop by.
I could already tell that the presence of Hollis was going to cause unneeded stress on Jenny and Jethro’s already stressed relationship. I also knew that having Jeanne Benoit around wouldn’t make Ziva all that happy. A few minutes after Jenny and I got back to the office we had learned that the other visitors besides Hollis and Jeanne were Jethro’s father; Jackson and Corporal Damon Werth. It was a bit obvious that Tony was still jealous of Damon despite the fact that he was the one who won over Ziva. Jethro had already introduced Jackson to Kate and much to Jethro’s discomfort Jackson had flirted with Kate in his absolutely charming way just like he had when he first met Ziva and Abby four years earlier.
“Now who are these ravishing young women standing before me, Leroy?” Jackson asked.
Jenny and I saw Jethro roll his eyes before he introduced us to his father.
“Dad; I’d like you to meet Jenny and Jaylyn Shepard.” Jethro said.
“Ah the crimson haired beauties of NCIS.”
“Abby and Ziva were right; you are a charmer, Jack. I’m Jaylyn and this Jenny.” I said as I shook Jackson’s hand.
“You’re the one that stole my son’s heart thirteen years ago.” Jackson said to Jenny as he shook her hand.
The rest of us looked the other way.
“I guess you can say that.” Jenny said in response.
“Before Leroy tells me to cut the charm, I have to say that out of all the women my son has been with since Shannon; you are my favorite.”
Jenny completely blushed as Ziva, Abby and I looked over to Hollis to see how she reacted to what Jackson had just said. After some time had passed Damon had left NCIS at Jethro’s request as Jeanne had at Ziva’s request. Hollis and Jackson stuck around for a bit. Jethro was uneasy with his father hanging around NCIS since Jackson spent the time he was there hopelessly flirting with Jenny, Abby, Kate, Ziva and I. But both Jenny and Jethro were uneasy with Hollis sticking around. Jenny knew it was only a matter of time before Hollis wanted answers regarding Jenny’s relationship with Jethro just as Jethro’s ex-wife Stephanie had five years earlier. Needless to say it was going to be an interesting afternoon at NCIS for Team Gibbs.
Friday, March 5, 2010
JD turns 4
The two weeks between the twins’ birthday and JD’s had past. Now things were a bit chaotic at the Balboa house. Nick worried about me overexerting myself. It slowly got to the point where I was getting annoyed with my husband. Nick wanted me to call my sister and Jethro to see if they could help us set up for JD’s party.
“Honey; do you remember what I told you when we first started seeing each other?” I asked.
“The china doll thing?”
Yes the china doll thing. You’re treating me like a breakable china doll again.” I said.
“Okay I’m backing off; just do me a favor, call your sister and Gibbs.”
After Nick’s request, I felt my phone go off in my pocket. I had gotten a text message from Jenny.
“SECNAV knows.”
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked as he saw my jaw drop.
“SECNAV knows about Jenny and Jethro.” I answered.
“This isn’t good.”
“No fooling. Davenport is going to fire one of them.” I said.
“Well there’s nothing we can do about it. All we can do is let your sister and Gibbs deal with it since it is their battle.”
“Yes Nick, there is something we can do and I am going to do it.” I said as walked out of the house.
Through my own connections I had found out that Davenport was in the conference room within the building that his office was in. Once I got to SECNAV’s office I made a beeline for the conference room completely ignoring what his secretary had said to me. I flung the conference room door open, walked over to table that was sitting in the conference to see Davenport sitting at the far end of the table. Without any hesitation I climbed onto the table in my black stiletto heeled boots, my favorite boyfriend fit ripped jeans along with the cream colored menswear vest I had worn a few times before with a tank top underneath it and confidently walked all the way down to Davenport.
“What the hell are you doing, Agent Shepard?” Davenport asked.
I said nothing to SECNAV until I was just about eye level with him.
“I’m here to tell you that there is no way in hell you are getting rid of Jenny and Jethro.”
“Yes I am.”
“No you’re not; cause the last time you replaced my sister everything went to hell. And if you attempt to get rid of her again or even get rid Jethro, I promise you that I won’t be the only one hunting you down.” I said.
SECNAV didn’t say anything.
“One more thing, don’t forget both my sister and I have the connections to get you replaced.” I said as I got off the table and left.
Once I got home I had noticed that I had another text message from my sister.
“SECNAV is backing off. What did you do?”
I knew I had to answer Jenny; I also knew that if I had told her what really when on between SECNAV and me, that she would completely lose it.
“I was just protecting my family.” I said when I texted Jenny back.
“Instead of having JD’s party here at the house, why don’t we have it at the jungle romp place JD loves going to? Nick asked in suggestion.
“It’s an idea.”
Before long everyone was at the jungle romp. Kids were running around everywhere. At one point I had sat down for bit. Ziva had come over and joined me.
“I don’t know about you but I couldn’t have predicted that I would be married with a four year old and twins on the way by the time by the age of twenty-eight.” I said to Ziva.
“I know, I’ve thought the same thing before. But I am happy with where I am. I love Tony with my whole heart and the girls are my world.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, but what is it like being a mother of twins? Will I be able to handle being a mother of infant twins and a four year old?” I asked Ziva.
It was obvious that I was a bit unsure if I was going to be able to be a mother to three kids under the age of ten.
“Jay; within all the time that I have known you, I have seen you accomplish quite a bit. You’re a fighter; Jay, just like your sister and me. You can handle anything that comes your way; you can more than handle being mom of three.” Ziva answered.
Throughout the course of the party I was able to talk to Jenny. Jenny had told me that Secnav had called her to discuss her and Jethro’s relationship. Secnav had said that he was fine with it, but if Jenny and Jethro had interfered with their jobs in anyway then there would be some changes within NCIS. As JD opened her presents with me and Nick watching along with her entire extended NCIS family; I had started thinking about the two little ones growing inside of me with each passing day.
I wondered what the twins were going to look like. I wondered if they were going to have my red hair like JD and I or if they would have their father’s brown hair. As I placed my hands on my stomach like all mothers do at some point during their pregnancy, I wondered if they would have brown eyes like the three of us did or if they would get the dormant gene for green eyes from me. On some level I thought that it would cute for mine and Nick’s twins to be mini versions of their Aunt Jenny. Waiting the nine months to see was going to be absolute torture.
By 11:30pm things had been over for five and a half hours. I had put JD to bed at 8:30 as Nick brought in all of JD’s gifts. Before midnight rolled around everyone on Team Gibbs was in their respective beds fast asleep. It wasn’t too long after both Jenny and myself had been in own beds with our respective significant others next to us that we both woke up from a nightmare that had haunted us for our entire adult lives. Jenny had the exact same nightmare she had that one time she woke up in her office one morning with the desk drawer that her gun sat in remained opened until she had closed it.
Jen’s nightmare was from the day Dad supposedly died where she was upstairs when she heard the gunshot ring out causing her to run down the stairs to find him dead in the study. My nightmare was just as bad. That day I hadn’t found our dad the way Jenny had. Instead I had arrived at the study with Jenny standing at the doorway with our dad’s lifeless body behind his desk. Even on a subconscious level that day was still considered to be the worst day of our lives. As Jenny rushed down the stairs in her dream she woke up just as she had before. A few minutes later I had woken up too.
Both Jethro and Nick could sense that Jenny and I had woken up in pure fear.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked groggily.
“I had that dream again.”
“The one about your dad’s death?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, that one.” I answered.
“Everything is fine, your dad isn’t dead and you are safe. Go back to sleep, you and the twins need the rest and all this stress isn’t good for you or for them.” Nick said as he massaged my back to calm me down.
Meanwhile at Jenny and Jethro’s, Jenny was trying to calm down herself.
“You had that dream again didn’t you?” Jethro asked.
Jenny just looked at Jethro and he knew that she had the nightmare of our father’s death.“Don’t worry, I’ll always protect you.” Jethro said as he tried to calm her down.
“Honey; do you remember what I told you when we first started seeing each other?” I asked.
“The china doll thing?”
Yes the china doll thing. You’re treating me like a breakable china doll again.” I said.
“Okay I’m backing off; just do me a favor, call your sister and Gibbs.”
After Nick’s request, I felt my phone go off in my pocket. I had gotten a text message from Jenny.
“SECNAV knows.”
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked as he saw my jaw drop.
“SECNAV knows about Jenny and Jethro.” I answered.
“This isn’t good.”
“No fooling. Davenport is going to fire one of them.” I said.
“Well there’s nothing we can do about it. All we can do is let your sister and Gibbs deal with it since it is their battle.”
“Yes Nick, there is something we can do and I am going to do it.” I said as walked out of the house.
Through my own connections I had found out that Davenport was in the conference room within the building that his office was in. Once I got to SECNAV’s office I made a beeline for the conference room completely ignoring what his secretary had said to me. I flung the conference room door open, walked over to table that was sitting in the conference to see Davenport sitting at the far end of the table. Without any hesitation I climbed onto the table in my black stiletto heeled boots, my favorite boyfriend fit ripped jeans along with the cream colored menswear vest I had worn a few times before with a tank top underneath it and confidently walked all the way down to Davenport.
“What the hell are you doing, Agent Shepard?” Davenport asked.
I said nothing to SECNAV until I was just about eye level with him.
“I’m here to tell you that there is no way in hell you are getting rid of Jenny and Jethro.”
“Yes I am.”
“No you’re not; cause the last time you replaced my sister everything went to hell. And if you attempt to get rid of her again or even get rid Jethro, I promise you that I won’t be the only one hunting you down.” I said.
SECNAV didn’t say anything.
“One more thing, don’t forget both my sister and I have the connections to get you replaced.” I said as I got off the table and left.
Once I got home I had noticed that I had another text message from my sister.
“SECNAV is backing off. What did you do?”
I knew I had to answer Jenny; I also knew that if I had told her what really when on between SECNAV and me, that she would completely lose it.
“I was just protecting my family.” I said when I texted Jenny back.
“Instead of having JD’s party here at the house, why don’t we have it at the jungle romp place JD loves going to? Nick asked in suggestion.
“It’s an idea.”
Before long everyone was at the jungle romp. Kids were running around everywhere. At one point I had sat down for bit. Ziva had come over and joined me.
“I don’t know about you but I couldn’t have predicted that I would be married with a four year old and twins on the way by the time by the age of twenty-eight.” I said to Ziva.
“I know, I’ve thought the same thing before. But I am happy with where I am. I love Tony with my whole heart and the girls are my world.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, but what is it like being a mother of twins? Will I be able to handle being a mother of infant twins and a four year old?” I asked Ziva.
It was obvious that I was a bit unsure if I was going to be able to be a mother to three kids under the age of ten.
“Jay; within all the time that I have known you, I have seen you accomplish quite a bit. You’re a fighter; Jay, just like your sister and me. You can handle anything that comes your way; you can more than handle being mom of three.” Ziva answered.
Throughout the course of the party I was able to talk to Jenny. Jenny had told me that Secnav had called her to discuss her and Jethro’s relationship. Secnav had said that he was fine with it, but if Jenny and Jethro had interfered with their jobs in anyway then there would be some changes within NCIS. As JD opened her presents with me and Nick watching along with her entire extended NCIS family; I had started thinking about the two little ones growing inside of me with each passing day.
I wondered what the twins were going to look like. I wondered if they were going to have my red hair like JD and I or if they would have their father’s brown hair. As I placed my hands on my stomach like all mothers do at some point during their pregnancy, I wondered if they would have brown eyes like the three of us did or if they would get the dormant gene for green eyes from me. On some level I thought that it would cute for mine and Nick’s twins to be mini versions of their Aunt Jenny. Waiting the nine months to see was going to be absolute torture.
By 11:30pm things had been over for five and a half hours. I had put JD to bed at 8:30 as Nick brought in all of JD’s gifts. Before midnight rolled around everyone on Team Gibbs was in their respective beds fast asleep. It wasn’t too long after both Jenny and myself had been in own beds with our respective significant others next to us that we both woke up from a nightmare that had haunted us for our entire adult lives. Jenny had the exact same nightmare she had that one time she woke up in her office one morning with the desk drawer that her gun sat in remained opened until she had closed it.
Jen’s nightmare was from the day Dad supposedly died where she was upstairs when she heard the gunshot ring out causing her to run down the stairs to find him dead in the study. My nightmare was just as bad. That day I hadn’t found our dad the way Jenny had. Instead I had arrived at the study with Jenny standing at the doorway with our dad’s lifeless body behind his desk. Even on a subconscious level that day was still considered to be the worst day of our lives. As Jenny rushed down the stairs in her dream she woke up just as she had before. A few minutes later I had woken up too.
Both Jethro and Nick could sense that Jenny and I had woken up in pure fear.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked groggily.
“I had that dream again.”
“The one about your dad’s death?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, that one.” I answered.
“Everything is fine, your dad isn’t dead and you are safe. Go back to sleep, you and the twins need the rest and all this stress isn’t good for you or for them.” Nick said as he massaged my back to calm me down.
Meanwhile at Jenny and Jethro’s, Jenny was trying to calm down herself.
“You had that dream again didn’t you?” Jethro asked.
Jenny just looked at Jethro and he knew that she had the nightmare of our father’s death.“Don’t worry, I’ll always protect you.” Jethro said as he tried to calm her down.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Twins turn 4
The next day was a busy one for all of us. But it was a bit more than busy for Tony and Ziva. Today was the day that little Hannah Tali and little Leah Jacey turn four years old. I was quite happy that my three year old was still three years old for another two weeks. I could definitely wait the nine months to be a mother to a four year old and two infants.
The four of us had no idea what to do for the impending fourth birthdays. The morning of Hannah and Leah’s birthday started off quite fine. Ziva had awoken to Tony tussling her hair and nuzzling her neck. As Ziva’s eyes focused in on Tony a smile played across her face.
“Good Morning.” Ziva said as she kissed Tony.
“Good Morning.” Tony said when he could.
There was still a smile on Ziva’s face and Tony had more than noticed it.
“What has you so smitten?”
“You as always.” Ziva answered.
“Before we get going today, there is one thing I have to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank-you for making me the happiest man alive and for giving me our two little angels.”
“You’re Welcome. Love you.” Ziva said.
“Love you too.”
“It's weird not having the girls around.”
“You miss waking up to their little feet, don’t you?” Tony asked.
“Of course I do; I did carry them for nine months, Tony. There is a bit of a bond there.”
“Once we get set up for their party, you’ll have them back soon enough.”
“I know.” Ziva said.
“Did I ever tell you that you are a good mom?”
“Yes, you have and you’re a good dad to our girls.”
“Looks like we’ve learn quite a bit from Gibbs and Director Shepard.” Tony said.
Ziva smiled at her husband as she kissed him again. A few hours later the DiNozzo house was filled to the breaking point. Ziva was happy that her daughters were finally home where they belonged. Tony and Ziva had invited the entire team to the twins’ party along with some of the kids from the twins’ day care. There was a clown and a magician entertaining the kids in the family room.
The guys were out back barbequing hot dogs and burgers for everyone. Jenny, Ziva, Abby, Kate and I sat around the dining table in the kitchen. We were more than relaxed; the sight of seeing the girls around their friends was very comforting. There were glasses sitting in front of each of us as well as two bottles. One was champagne and the other was sparkling apple cider.
“Have you told Nick yet?” Jenny asked as her gaze went from Nick outside to her nieces with their friends in front of us.
“Of course I told him.”
“How did it go?”
“Mixed response.”
“How could he give you a mixed response?” Jenny asked.
Ziva, Abby and Kate knew what we were talking about so there was no looks of confusion on their faces.
“Nick is more than happy that he is going to be father again. But he is still a bit pissed at me since I told you and Jethro before I told him.”
“Oh.”
“Speaking of which; what the hell possessed you to tell Jenny and Gibbs before you told your own husband?” Ziva asked.
“Would you have woken Tony up at 3am to tell that you are pregnant again or would you have done what I did?”
“Nice try Jay, answering a question with a question.”
“I learn from the best.”
Kate had announced before the guests arrived that she and Drew were expecting their first child. So far within the five of us that knew that Nick and I were expecting twins.
“Let’s just say there one more little surprise that only Nick and I know of.” I said.
“Well what is it?”
“Nick and I aren’t just having one baby like the last time.” I said.
“How many are you having?” Kate asked.
“We’re having twins.”
“You’re having twins.” Ziva said.
“Yes we’re having twins.”
After my little announcement the subject of my pregnancy was dropped and the birthday party went on. Everyone ate the hamburgers and hot dogs the men made. Hannah and Leah opened their gifts. After all the gifts were opened, everyone had cake and then all of the twins’ friends went home with their parents with their goody bags in hand.
Once the last guest had left with her parents, it was time for the twins to be spoiled by their aunts and uncles for awhile. But after a few minutes had past and it got closer to the girls bed time we had decided to call it a night. As Tony cleaned everything up from the twins’ party, Ziva gave the girls a bath and got them into bed. Ziva tucked both girls in their beds and read them their bed time story.
“I love you both.” Ziva said as she kissed both Hannah and Leah on their foreheads.
“Love you, mommy.” Hannah and Leah said in unison.
“Did you girls enjoy your birthday party?”
Hannah and Leah nodded yes.
“Good night girls, sweet dreams.”
“Good night mommy.” the twins said.
“I’ll send your dad in.” Ziva said as she walked out of the twins’ bedroom.
Just as Ziva walked into the family room; Tony had just finished up with the dishes.
“The girls are waiting for you to say good night to them.” Ziva said.
“I was just about to go up.” Tony said as he walked up the stairs to the twins’ bedroom.
A few minutes later Tony was in the girls’ room. Like all daughters do; Hannah and LJ adored Tony. Both Hannah and LJ knew that they had Tony wrapped around their fingers; like all daughters, the twins used it to their advantage.
“Good night girls, love you.” Tony said as he kissed both of them good night.
“Night daddy.”
“Night, dream of….”
“Bed bugs tonight.” the twins finished.
Tony turned the girls’ nightlight on before he left. Now it was Tony and Ziva’s turn to unwind from the day. By ten of eleven Tony and Ziva were in bed. JD had fallen asleep as we drove home. Like JD, I had fallen asleep in the car.
Nick had to carry both of us into the house. He brought JD in first and put her to bed. Nick then brought me to our bed. He couldn’t help but kiss me. Once Nick got me into bed, he got in bed himself. By twenty of midnight everyone on Team Gibbs in bed.
The four of us had no idea what to do for the impending fourth birthdays. The morning of Hannah and Leah’s birthday started off quite fine. Ziva had awoken to Tony tussling her hair and nuzzling her neck. As Ziva’s eyes focused in on Tony a smile played across her face.
“Good Morning.” Ziva said as she kissed Tony.
“Good Morning.” Tony said when he could.
There was still a smile on Ziva’s face and Tony had more than noticed it.
“What has you so smitten?”
“You as always.” Ziva answered.
“Before we get going today, there is one thing I have to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank-you for making me the happiest man alive and for giving me our two little angels.”
“You’re Welcome. Love you.” Ziva said.
“Love you too.”
“It's weird not having the girls around.”
“You miss waking up to their little feet, don’t you?” Tony asked.
“Of course I do; I did carry them for nine months, Tony. There is a bit of a bond there.”
“Once we get set up for their party, you’ll have them back soon enough.”
“I know.” Ziva said.
“Did I ever tell you that you are a good mom?”
“Yes, you have and you’re a good dad to our girls.”
“Looks like we’ve learn quite a bit from Gibbs and Director Shepard.” Tony said.
Ziva smiled at her husband as she kissed him again. A few hours later the DiNozzo house was filled to the breaking point. Ziva was happy that her daughters were finally home where they belonged. Tony and Ziva had invited the entire team to the twins’ party along with some of the kids from the twins’ day care. There was a clown and a magician entertaining the kids in the family room.
The guys were out back barbequing hot dogs and burgers for everyone. Jenny, Ziva, Abby, Kate and I sat around the dining table in the kitchen. We were more than relaxed; the sight of seeing the girls around their friends was very comforting. There were glasses sitting in front of each of us as well as two bottles. One was champagne and the other was sparkling apple cider.
“Have you told Nick yet?” Jenny asked as her gaze went from Nick outside to her nieces with their friends in front of us.
“Of course I told him.”
“How did it go?”
“Mixed response.”
“How could he give you a mixed response?” Jenny asked.
Ziva, Abby and Kate knew what we were talking about so there was no looks of confusion on their faces.
“Nick is more than happy that he is going to be father again. But he is still a bit pissed at me since I told you and Jethro before I told him.”
“Oh.”
“Speaking of which; what the hell possessed you to tell Jenny and Gibbs before you told your own husband?” Ziva asked.
“Would you have woken Tony up at 3am to tell that you are pregnant again or would you have done what I did?”
“Nice try Jay, answering a question with a question.”
“I learn from the best.”
Kate had announced before the guests arrived that she and Drew were expecting their first child. So far within the five of us that knew that Nick and I were expecting twins.
“Let’s just say there one more little surprise that only Nick and I know of.” I said.
“Well what is it?”
“Nick and I aren’t just having one baby like the last time.” I said.
“How many are you having?” Kate asked.
“We’re having twins.”
“You’re having twins.” Ziva said.
“Yes we’re having twins.”
After my little announcement the subject of my pregnancy was dropped and the birthday party went on. Everyone ate the hamburgers and hot dogs the men made. Hannah and Leah opened their gifts. After all the gifts were opened, everyone had cake and then all of the twins’ friends went home with their parents with their goody bags in hand.
Once the last guest had left with her parents, it was time for the twins to be spoiled by their aunts and uncles for awhile. But after a few minutes had past and it got closer to the girls bed time we had decided to call it a night. As Tony cleaned everything up from the twins’ party, Ziva gave the girls a bath and got them into bed. Ziva tucked both girls in their beds and read them their bed time story.
“I love you both.” Ziva said as she kissed both Hannah and Leah on their foreheads.
“Love you, mommy.” Hannah and Leah said in unison.
“Did you girls enjoy your birthday party?”
Hannah and Leah nodded yes.
“Good night girls, sweet dreams.”
“Good night mommy.” the twins said.
“I’ll send your dad in.” Ziva said as she walked out of the twins’ bedroom.
Just as Ziva walked into the family room; Tony had just finished up with the dishes.
“The girls are waiting for you to say good night to them.” Ziva said.
“I was just about to go up.” Tony said as he walked up the stairs to the twins’ bedroom.
A few minutes later Tony was in the girls’ room. Like all daughters do; Hannah and LJ adored Tony. Both Hannah and LJ knew that they had Tony wrapped around their fingers; like all daughters, the twins used it to their advantage.
“Good night girls, love you.” Tony said as he kissed both of them good night.
“Night daddy.”
“Night, dream of….”
“Bed bugs tonight.” the twins finished.
Tony turned the girls’ nightlight on before he left. Now it was Tony and Ziva’s turn to unwind from the day. By ten of eleven Tony and Ziva were in bed. JD had fallen asleep as we drove home. Like JD, I had fallen asleep in the car.
Nick had to carry both of us into the house. He brought JD in first and put her to bed. Nick then brought me to our bed. He couldn’t help but kiss me. Once Nick got me into bed, he got in bed himself. By twenty of midnight everyone on Team Gibbs in bed.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Parents' Timeout
Thankfully the stressful work day was coming to an end. Jethro had told us all to go home. But the icing on the cake for Ziva and I was when our respective husband had convinced Jenny and Jethro to take the girls home with them so that they could have time alone with us. Ziva and I knew what had prompted our husbands to do this. This week was our respective anniversaries.
It seemed like it was just yesterday that Nick and I were saying I do in Jethro’s backyard. Three years later Nick and I were just as in love as we were then, JD was proof of that. I had found myself looking down at my rings countless times throughout the day, remembering that day. Throughout the course of the past three years there was another change besides all of us getting three years older and there being three sets of newlyweds.
Jenny had moved in with Jethro, Tony and Ziva had gotten their own house before the twins were born. McGee moved into Abby’s, Kate and Drew got their own place, Nick and I also got our own house prior to JD’s birth. Jordan moved in officially with Ducky just after AJ and Palmer started living together. Things were good for all of us. Both Ziva and I had no idea what our husbands had planned for us.
All we had been told by our husbands was that we were going out and we were to dress up. Later I had found out that Tony took Ziva to a romantic candlelit Italian restaurant for dinner and then took her on a horse drawn carriage ride around the city. Nick also made reservations for us at an Italian restaurant. Dinner was perfect for all of us. After everything was said and done all I wanted to do was to settle in for the night with my husband.
On some level I knew my night wasn’t over. Nick probably wanted us to do the things we did as newlyweds before JD came along. I could tell by his eyes that he wanted us to shower together like we did the night we conceived JD on our honeymoon. I knew that the shower would lead to other physical pursuits. With every fiber of my being I wanted to say no; but one look into Nick’s hazel eyes, I had found myself ignoring my being and said yes.
Nick and I wasted no time once I had said yes. Nick pulled my clothes off without any problems or hesitation. I had completely given in as I ripped Nick’s clothes off. Before long we were standing under the water of our shower. Neither of us worried that JD would burst in on us.
I knew that Nick was turned on by the water sliding down my body; it was quite easy to read Nick. The one thing that had me besides having my husband standing before me look absolutely handsome in every possible way was the water coursing down every ripped muscle he had. Within minutes Nick and I were within inches of where we had been three years earlier. Things weren’t over once we got out of the shower things between Nick and I only got juicier. After our little rendezvous in the shower; Nick and I had a few more encounters.
Ziva knew the one thing that Tony wanted. Like Nick, Tony had gotten use to having a smile put on his face after he and Ziva had some physical pursuits of their own.
“Whose better; Jeanne or me?” Ziva asked as she lay in Tony’s arms with the bed sheet covering her as it covered Tony’s lower body.
“Definitely you.”
Before long I had fallen asleep in Nick’s arms. At one point Ziva had fallen asleep in Tony’s arms as well. Both Nick and Tony stayed up for a bit longer. As Nick watched me sleep peacefully he couldn’t help but fall in love with me all over again. Tony had fallen in love with Ziva again. But during the middle of the night I woke up knowing that something had changed. My gut was telling me that my quaint family of three was gonna grow quite a bit in nine months.
Nick was still asleep when I got out of bed. A few minutes later I had arrived at Jenny and Jethro’s. Jethro was still up when I got there; another late night of working on his boat. From what Jethro had said after he let me in; JD had woken up during the night due to a nightmare she had. So Jenny brought JD back to bed and ended up falling asleep in JD’s bed with JD. Jethro then went get Jenny, he could obviously tell that I needed to talk to her without me telling him.
Jenny was kind of drowsy and half awake when she and Jethro came back into the kitchen. Jethro put on a pot of coffee. The scent of Jethro’s homemade brew instantly filled the room and woke Jenny’s senses up. Once the coffee was ready, Jethro poured some coffee for all of us.
“Sorry Jethro, I can’t exactly have that.” I said.
“It can’t be, you can’t be.” Jenny said.
“I think I am, Jen.”
I could tell that we had completely lost Jethro. Sisters had their own way of communicating, Jenny and I definitely had our own way of communicating.
“But when and how?” Jenny asked.
“Jen, you know how.”
“When?”
“Do you really want to know the details?”
“Well; if I’m going to be an Aunt again, I think I deserve to know when my sister thinks she conceived her baby.” Jenny said as she sipped her coffee.
Now Jethro had caught up and was following along.
“After work; in the shower and in bed.” I said as I bit my bottom lip modestly.
“So you’re pregnant.” Jenny said.
“Well congratulations.” Jethro said.
“Congratulation, Jay.”
“Thank-you both, now I just have to tell Nick and break the news to JD. This is gonna be interesting.” I said.
It seemed like it was just yesterday that Nick and I were saying I do in Jethro’s backyard. Three years later Nick and I were just as in love as we were then, JD was proof of that. I had found myself looking down at my rings countless times throughout the day, remembering that day. Throughout the course of the past three years there was another change besides all of us getting three years older and there being three sets of newlyweds.
Jenny had moved in with Jethro, Tony and Ziva had gotten their own house before the twins were born. McGee moved into Abby’s, Kate and Drew got their own place, Nick and I also got our own house prior to JD’s birth. Jordan moved in officially with Ducky just after AJ and Palmer started living together. Things were good for all of us. Both Ziva and I had no idea what our husbands had planned for us.
All we had been told by our husbands was that we were going out and we were to dress up. Later I had found out that Tony took Ziva to a romantic candlelit Italian restaurant for dinner and then took her on a horse drawn carriage ride around the city. Nick also made reservations for us at an Italian restaurant. Dinner was perfect for all of us. After everything was said and done all I wanted to do was to settle in for the night with my husband.
On some level I knew my night wasn’t over. Nick probably wanted us to do the things we did as newlyweds before JD came along. I could tell by his eyes that he wanted us to shower together like we did the night we conceived JD on our honeymoon. I knew that the shower would lead to other physical pursuits. With every fiber of my being I wanted to say no; but one look into Nick’s hazel eyes, I had found myself ignoring my being and said yes.
Nick and I wasted no time once I had said yes. Nick pulled my clothes off without any problems or hesitation. I had completely given in as I ripped Nick’s clothes off. Before long we were standing under the water of our shower. Neither of us worried that JD would burst in on us.
I knew that Nick was turned on by the water sliding down my body; it was quite easy to read Nick. The one thing that had me besides having my husband standing before me look absolutely handsome in every possible way was the water coursing down every ripped muscle he had. Within minutes Nick and I were within inches of where we had been three years earlier. Things weren’t over once we got out of the shower things between Nick and I only got juicier. After our little rendezvous in the shower; Nick and I had a few more encounters.
Ziva knew the one thing that Tony wanted. Like Nick, Tony had gotten use to having a smile put on his face after he and Ziva had some physical pursuits of their own.
“Whose better; Jeanne or me?” Ziva asked as she lay in Tony’s arms with the bed sheet covering her as it covered Tony’s lower body.
“Definitely you.”
Before long I had fallen asleep in Nick’s arms. At one point Ziva had fallen asleep in Tony’s arms as well. Both Nick and Tony stayed up for a bit longer. As Nick watched me sleep peacefully he couldn’t help but fall in love with me all over again. Tony had fallen in love with Ziva again. But during the middle of the night I woke up knowing that something had changed. My gut was telling me that my quaint family of three was gonna grow quite a bit in nine months.
Nick was still asleep when I got out of bed. A few minutes later I had arrived at Jenny and Jethro’s. Jethro was still up when I got there; another late night of working on his boat. From what Jethro had said after he let me in; JD had woken up during the night due to a nightmare she had. So Jenny brought JD back to bed and ended up falling asleep in JD’s bed with JD. Jethro then went get Jenny, he could obviously tell that I needed to talk to her without me telling him.
Jenny was kind of drowsy and half awake when she and Jethro came back into the kitchen. Jethro put on a pot of coffee. The scent of Jethro’s homemade brew instantly filled the room and woke Jenny’s senses up. Once the coffee was ready, Jethro poured some coffee for all of us.
“Sorry Jethro, I can’t exactly have that.” I said.
“It can’t be, you can’t be.” Jenny said.
“I think I am, Jen.”
I could tell that we had completely lost Jethro. Sisters had their own way of communicating, Jenny and I definitely had our own way of communicating.
“But when and how?” Jenny asked.
“Jen, you know how.”
“When?”
“Do you really want to know the details?”
“Well; if I’m going to be an Aunt again, I think I deserve to know when my sister thinks she conceived her baby.” Jenny said as she sipped her coffee.
Now Jethro had caught up and was following along.
“After work; in the shower and in bed.” I said as I bit my bottom lip modestly.
“So you’re pregnant.” Jenny said.
“Well congratulations.” Jethro said.
“Congratulation, Jay.”
“Thank-you both, now I just have to tell Nick and break the news to JD. This is gonna be interesting.” I said.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Other NCIS Mom
As I tried to gather myself; Ziva was juggling work and motherhood. While Jethro went to check on Abby; Ziva, Tony and Kate each had a kid with them. Hannah was sitting on Ziva’s lap as Ziva worked on her computer. LJ was on Tony’s lap as he made phone calls. Jethro had left JD with Kate. At the moment Tony was on the phone with the BOLO officer that was based in the Navy yard. Tony was trying to be subtle with three young ears nearby.
“Can you stop speaking in code DiNozzo?” the BOLO officer asked.
“Nope; not with the company that I have.”
“Let me guess, Agent David and Agent Todd are nearby.”
“Yes they are but that’s not the reason; my daughters and my niece are here too.” Tony answered.
“Have fun, DiNozzo.”
As Tony hung up he noticed that it was time for lunch. Tony then looked down to see what LJ was doing.
“Sweetie, do you want me to get the girls lunch today?” Tony asked Ziva.
By this time I had finally gathered myself and joined the others in the squad room. JD quickly got off of Kate’s lap and begged me to pick her up.
“Thanks Kate.” I said as I picked up my daughter.
“It would be perfect if you fed the twins.”
“Tony, do you mind feeding JD too? We’re having lunch with Jen again.”
“Think you can handle three girls under the age of five?” Ziva asked her husband.
“Of course, I can. Probie come help with the girls.”
“Classic Tony.” Ziva said as Tony and McGee headed to the elevator with the girls.
“I would pay to see those two take care of the twins and JD for a day.” Kate said.
Kate, Ziva and I then made our way upstairs to get Jenny before we went downstairs to get Abby and to leave for lunch. Things were kind of cozy in the car. Jenny, Abby and I squished together in the backseat of the car we borrowed from NCIS. Kate drove as Ziva tried not to go crazy in the passenger seat. We all knew Ziva was somewhat of a speed racer when she was behind the wheel. We also know that she only dialed back her crazy driving when the twins were in the car with her. It was weird for me to be away from JD. I had gotten so use to being with her, that I missed her as we drew closer to the outdoor bistro we were going to. I knew that I had left her in fully capable hands; I also knew that Nick was there if Tony needed a break. Plus Jethro was there if Tony, McGee and Nick needed help. As we turned onto the street that the bistro sat on Jenny looked over to me. Jenny knew I was worried.
“Don’t worry JD, is fine.”
“Easier said then done, sis.”
“Jaylyn, I know you miss your daughter; but you need this time away from her so you don’t lose all sanity. Both you and Ziva need some adult time. Especially since the two of you have been doting mothers since the day the girls were born.” Jenny said.
A few minutes later we were at the bistro. As the five of us got out of the car and headed into the bistro, I wondered if Ziva was as worried about the twins as I was worried about JD. Then again Ziva was Ziva; Jethro’s double when it comes to showing emotions. After all of this time I should have remembered that Ziva and Jethro buried things. Before long we were standing in front of the hostess podium waiting to be seated.
“How many?” the hostess asked.
“Five.” Jenny said.
“If you would follow me, I’ll take you to your seats.”
We followed the hostess to where she led us. Once we had our drinks and the waiter took our entrée orders; I had finally started to relax. But that changed when Ziva got a call from Tony.
“What’s wrong, Tony? Are the girls fine?” Ziva asked.
“The girls are fine. We have slight problem though.”
“What is it?”
“Well my father is here.” Tony said.
“Okay; what’s so bad about that?” Ziva questioned.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. The downside is that Eli is here.”
“Where are the twins?” Ziva asked instantly with an air of panic about her.
“McGee and Drew took them down to Autopsy. Eli is the conference and Gibbs is waiting for Jenny to get back.”
“Okay.”
“Get back here; both you and Jenny, before Gibbs’ temper gets the better of him.”
“We’re on our way.”
Once we paid the bill; we made our way back to the office. This time Ziva drove back. When we got back Tony took Ziva and I to the girls. Abby stayed in the squad room with Kate and McGee. Tony and Ziva went into protective parent mode just as Nick and I had. I was glad that Nick understood why I was concerned about Eli being in the same building as JD and the twins. Everyone on the team knew Eli wasn’t a good guy, even Drew understood.
Jethro had ordered Tony to keep Ziva and his goddaughters away from Eli at all costs. When we had gotten back Jenny had pretty much ordered Nick to do the same. I wanted to stay where I was and protect the girls, but then again I also wanted to go upstairs and slap Eli across the face for how he treated Ziva. But I knew that Jethro and Jenny would make sure Eli got what was coming to him. So against what my gut was saying I stayed in Autopsy with the others.
Meanwhile two floors above us; Jethro was waiting for Jenny in the hallway. A few minutes later Jenny was at his side.
“You ready for this?” Jethro asked.
“More than ready; Jethro, its time for Eli to see the light.” Jenny responded as Jethro opened to conference room door for her and let her walk in before he did. As Jenny and Jethro entered the conference room Eli got up from his seat out of respect.
“Director David, it’s good to see again.” Jenny said as cordially as she could without there being any sarcasm in her voice.
“Director Shepard, Agent Gibbs.”
There was quite a bit of tension in the room.
“I thought I told you that Ziva was off limit.” Jethro said.
“You did, but Ziva is my daughter. Not yours; you lost yours.”
“What do you want, Eli?” Jenny asked before Jethro could retaliate.
“My daughter. She is coming back to Israel with me.”
“She isn’t leaving.” Jenny said.
“Yes she is, Director Shepard.”
“No she isn’t. Ziva would never leave her family.”
“She has a family!!!!!”
“Yes she does. She married Agent DiNozzo three years ago and they have twin daughters. Besides she is safer here than she would be back in Israel with you.” Jenny said.
“My daughter is married to that murdering American. My granddaughters are American.”
“More like your granddaughters are Italian, Israeli, American and Jewish.”
“Well if you hadn’t taken her away from me then Ziva wouldn’t be married to an idiot and my granddaughters would be completely Israeli and Jewish.”
At that point Jethro was fuming.
“I only took Ziva away from a dangerous environment and put her with people that actually care for her. You never cared for her; hell from what I have heard you didn’t even send anyone to rescue her when she was held hostage in Somalia.”
Eli was just as mad as Jethro.
“Its time for you to get out of her, Director David. Tony is good husband and a good father. He’s a better father to his daughters than you ever were to yours. Get out of here, don’t ever come back; stay away from Ziva and her family.” Jethro said.
Eli got up and left. He fully intended to find Tony and Ziva before he left. Thankfully Kate saw Eli descend the stairs and intercepted him before he could figure out where Tony, Ziva and the twins were. Tony’s dad stopped Kate and Eli for a moment.
“I don’t know what you said about my son up there or what you said about your own daughter. But I have one thing to say to you.” Senior said.
Eli nodded.
“My son is the best thing that has ever happened to Ziva, as she is the best thing that has happened to him. They both learned how to be great parents from the two people you probably just disrespected. Whether you like it or not your daughter made her choice a long time ago, she married my son and they have a family together. It shouldn’t be a problem for you to be a grandfather to two girls that have a heritage like the twins do. If you weren’t so ignorant you would be able to see that our twin granddaughters are our chance to make up for the fact that we were the world’s worst fathers to our children. Man up.” Senior said.
After Senior spoke Eli punched Senior square across his jaw. Senior returned the favor before Kate and McGee separated them. Kate and McGee then escorted Eli and Senior out of the building. Abby went down to Autopsy to get us once the coast was clear.
“Can you stop speaking in code DiNozzo?” the BOLO officer asked.
“Nope; not with the company that I have.”
“Let me guess, Agent David and Agent Todd are nearby.”
“Yes they are but that’s not the reason; my daughters and my niece are here too.” Tony answered.
“Have fun, DiNozzo.”
As Tony hung up he noticed that it was time for lunch. Tony then looked down to see what LJ was doing.
“Sweetie, do you want me to get the girls lunch today?” Tony asked Ziva.
By this time I had finally gathered myself and joined the others in the squad room. JD quickly got off of Kate’s lap and begged me to pick her up.
“Thanks Kate.” I said as I picked up my daughter.
“It would be perfect if you fed the twins.”
“Tony, do you mind feeding JD too? We’re having lunch with Jen again.”
“Think you can handle three girls under the age of five?” Ziva asked her husband.
“Of course, I can. Probie come help with the girls.”
“Classic Tony.” Ziva said as Tony and McGee headed to the elevator with the girls.
“I would pay to see those two take care of the twins and JD for a day.” Kate said.
Kate, Ziva and I then made our way upstairs to get Jenny before we went downstairs to get Abby and to leave for lunch. Things were kind of cozy in the car. Jenny, Abby and I squished together in the backseat of the car we borrowed from NCIS. Kate drove as Ziva tried not to go crazy in the passenger seat. We all knew Ziva was somewhat of a speed racer when she was behind the wheel. We also know that she only dialed back her crazy driving when the twins were in the car with her. It was weird for me to be away from JD. I had gotten so use to being with her, that I missed her as we drew closer to the outdoor bistro we were going to. I knew that I had left her in fully capable hands; I also knew that Nick was there if Tony needed a break. Plus Jethro was there if Tony, McGee and Nick needed help. As we turned onto the street that the bistro sat on Jenny looked over to me. Jenny knew I was worried.
“Don’t worry JD, is fine.”
“Easier said then done, sis.”
“Jaylyn, I know you miss your daughter; but you need this time away from her so you don’t lose all sanity. Both you and Ziva need some adult time. Especially since the two of you have been doting mothers since the day the girls were born.” Jenny said.
A few minutes later we were at the bistro. As the five of us got out of the car and headed into the bistro, I wondered if Ziva was as worried about the twins as I was worried about JD. Then again Ziva was Ziva; Jethro’s double when it comes to showing emotions. After all of this time I should have remembered that Ziva and Jethro buried things. Before long we were standing in front of the hostess podium waiting to be seated.
“How many?” the hostess asked.
“Five.” Jenny said.
“If you would follow me, I’ll take you to your seats.”
We followed the hostess to where she led us. Once we had our drinks and the waiter took our entrée orders; I had finally started to relax. But that changed when Ziva got a call from Tony.
“What’s wrong, Tony? Are the girls fine?” Ziva asked.
“The girls are fine. We have slight problem though.”
“What is it?”
“Well my father is here.” Tony said.
“Okay; what’s so bad about that?” Ziva questioned.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. The downside is that Eli is here.”
“Where are the twins?” Ziva asked instantly with an air of panic about her.
“McGee and Drew took them down to Autopsy. Eli is the conference and Gibbs is waiting for Jenny to get back.”
“Okay.”
“Get back here; both you and Jenny, before Gibbs’ temper gets the better of him.”
“We’re on our way.”
Once we paid the bill; we made our way back to the office. This time Ziva drove back. When we got back Tony took Ziva and I to the girls. Abby stayed in the squad room with Kate and McGee. Tony and Ziva went into protective parent mode just as Nick and I had. I was glad that Nick understood why I was concerned about Eli being in the same building as JD and the twins. Everyone on the team knew Eli wasn’t a good guy, even Drew understood.
Jethro had ordered Tony to keep Ziva and his goddaughters away from Eli at all costs. When we had gotten back Jenny had pretty much ordered Nick to do the same. I wanted to stay where I was and protect the girls, but then again I also wanted to go upstairs and slap Eli across the face for how he treated Ziva. But I knew that Jethro and Jenny would make sure Eli got what was coming to him. So against what my gut was saying I stayed in Autopsy with the others.
Meanwhile two floors above us; Jethro was waiting for Jenny in the hallway. A few minutes later Jenny was at his side.
“You ready for this?” Jethro asked.
“More than ready; Jethro, its time for Eli to see the light.” Jenny responded as Jethro opened to conference room door for her and let her walk in before he did. As Jenny and Jethro entered the conference room Eli got up from his seat out of respect.
“Director David, it’s good to see again.” Jenny said as cordially as she could without there being any sarcasm in her voice.
“Director Shepard, Agent Gibbs.”
There was quite a bit of tension in the room.
“I thought I told you that Ziva was off limit.” Jethro said.
“You did, but Ziva is my daughter. Not yours; you lost yours.”
“What do you want, Eli?” Jenny asked before Jethro could retaliate.
“My daughter. She is coming back to Israel with me.”
“She isn’t leaving.” Jenny said.
“Yes she is, Director Shepard.”
“No she isn’t. Ziva would never leave her family.”
“She has a family!!!!!”
“Yes she does. She married Agent DiNozzo three years ago and they have twin daughters. Besides she is safer here than she would be back in Israel with you.” Jenny said.
“My daughter is married to that murdering American. My granddaughters are American.”
“More like your granddaughters are Italian, Israeli, American and Jewish.”
“Well if you hadn’t taken her away from me then Ziva wouldn’t be married to an idiot and my granddaughters would be completely Israeli and Jewish.”
At that point Jethro was fuming.
“I only took Ziva away from a dangerous environment and put her with people that actually care for her. You never cared for her; hell from what I have heard you didn’t even send anyone to rescue her when she was held hostage in Somalia.”
Eli was just as mad as Jethro.
“Its time for you to get out of her, Director David. Tony is good husband and a good father. He’s a better father to his daughters than you ever were to yours. Get out of here, don’t ever come back; stay away from Ziva and her family.” Jethro said.
Eli got up and left. He fully intended to find Tony and Ziva before he left. Thankfully Kate saw Eli descend the stairs and intercepted him before he could figure out where Tony, Ziva and the twins were. Tony’s dad stopped Kate and Eli for a moment.
“I don’t know what you said about my son up there or what you said about your own daughter. But I have one thing to say to you.” Senior said.
Eli nodded.
“My son is the best thing that has ever happened to Ziva, as she is the best thing that has happened to him. They both learned how to be great parents from the two people you probably just disrespected. Whether you like it or not your daughter made her choice a long time ago, she married my son and they have a family together. It shouldn’t be a problem for you to be a grandfather to two girls that have a heritage like the twins do. If you weren’t so ignorant you would be able to see that our twin granddaughters are our chance to make up for the fact that we were the world’s worst fathers to our children. Man up.” Senior said.
After Senior spoke Eli punched Senior square across his jaw. Senior returned the favor before Kate and McGee separated them. Kate and McGee then escorted Eli and Senior out of the building. Abby went down to Autopsy to get us once the coast was clear.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Juggling Act
I had been standing in the doorway of Jenny’s office for five minutes when I noticed Jethro standing behind me.
“You following my lead, Jethro?”
“Something like that.”
“Are you just up here to brief Jen on the case? Or to get in her pants?” I asked.
“Jaylyn.”
“Come on Jethro its obvious how much you love her. Nick and I were like you and Jen before we had JD.”
Once again Jethro didn’t say a word.
“Jen is good with kids, especially with JD. She reminds me of you when she is playing with JD.” I continued in a whisper.
JD looked up from her game with Jenny and saw Jethro and me standing in the doorway.
“Mommy!!!!!!!” JD shouted as she got up and ran over to me.
With one arm I scooped my daughter up like I did once in awhile during the first few months of her life when she wasn’t sleeping through the night.
“Mommy, mommy; guess what I saw on Aunt Jenny’s desk?” JD asked.
I knew JD was talking about the picture of her grandfather, but on a subconscious level my mind was partially thinking that Jen had left something that she would use when she and Jethro were alone; the kind of thing that no three year old should know it is what it actually is until she was at least twenty.
“What did you see?” I asked.
“I saw Aunt Jenny’s picture of Grandpa Jasper. Mommy, is Grandpa Jasper dead?”
“Grandpa isn’t dead, sweetie.” I answered.
“Then why don’t you and Aunt Jenny ever talk about him?”
Ever since JD had turned three she had become more and more curious with each passing day. I was kind of torn when it came to answering her. I wanted to tell her why her Grandpa wasn’t around and why we never talked about him, but it was just one of those things that a three year old wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t understand why Jen and I were mad at our father. Her sweet innocence blinded her on some level for her to understand that in important moments like your daughter’s wedding and the birth of your granddaughter; you as the only living parent for your daughter and being the only living grandparent on your grandchild’s maternal side of the extended family made you automatically required to be around. But the reassurance that JD at least had Nick’s parents being the doting grandparents that spoiled her rotten besides all the aunts and uncles was quite comforting to me.
“Mommy.” JD whined.
Jethro could see that he wasn’t going to get to have a moment alone with Jenny this time.
“JD, why don’t you come with me to go see your aunts and uncles?” Jethro asked.
“Why?” JD inquired.
“Cause mommy needs to talk to Aunt Jenny.” Jethro said as he took JD from me and carried her out of Jenny’s office.
“What the hell were you thinking Jen?” I asked once JD and Jethro left.
“I told her the truth, Jay. She asked who he was and I told her. I’ll be damned if I am going to continue to lie to my niece.”
“Did you forget that he bailed on me at my wedding and that he didn’t even bother to show up when his own granddaughter was born?”
“I haven’t forgotten, but she does deserve to know who he is. You not telling her and leading her believe that Nick’s parents are her only grandparents is just doing more harm than good.”
“JD knows that Nick’s parents aren’t her only grandparents. I’ve told countless times about mom and how much she looks like mom.” I said defensively.
“I know you have, but you’re just telling her about mom. Tell her about dad.” Jenny said as she nodded to the door just as she had three years earlier when Jethro and Hollis stood in front of her.
“Fine, I have to go see Ducky.” I said as I walked out of Jenny’s office.
“Ah, Jaylyn; my dear.” Ducky said as heard the autopsy doors slide open and me walk in.
“You wanted to see me, Ducky.”
“Yes I did, Mr. Palmer can you give us a moment?”
Jimmy nodded and left.
“That daughter of yours is absolutely charming.”
“Thank-you.”
“Anyway, to answer your question from earlier; JD is clinging to you cause she is an only child. She doesn’t have a built in friend like Hannah.”
“So what you are saying is that I have to have another baby so that JD gets over her only child syndrome.”
“My dear; I know you and Ziva have been pulling a juggling act as mothers and full time NCIS Agents, but you both have your husbands.”
“Its more than just a juggling act for Ziva and me.” I said as I left autopsy.
The elevator doors opened to reveal my husband standing inside.
“So I guess you’ve talked to Ducky about JD.” Nick said.
“I did.”
“Are you pissed at me or something else?” Nick asked not completely sure if I was mad at him or not.
“I am pissed, but its not you.”
“What did Ducky say is up with JD?”
“He said she has a case of only child syndrome.”
“Which means you have to get pregnant again.”
Now I was pissed at Nick; without a word to Nick, I had flicked the switch that stopped the elevator just as Jenny and Jethro had done countless times.
“You got to be kidding me.”
“What did I say to upset you?
“You know damn well what you said. You want me to get pregnant again so that you can have that little boy you didn’t get three years ago.”
“That’s a low blow, Jay. You know I love JD with my whole heart. Us having a second child is solely for JD.” Nick said as he flicked the switch to let the elevator work again.
“To hell it is.” I replied once we got to the main floor.
Now I was pissed at my sister and the father of my daughter. I knew this wasn’t good. Once I was out of the elevator I put my back to wall where Tony had taken many phone calls from Jeanne Benoit and sank to the ground with a feeling of being completely being overruled and overwhelmed all mixed into one. All I wanted to do was escape from all my roles for a while.
“You following my lead, Jethro?”
“Something like that.”
“Are you just up here to brief Jen on the case? Or to get in her pants?” I asked.
“Jaylyn.”
“Come on Jethro its obvious how much you love her. Nick and I were like you and Jen before we had JD.”
Once again Jethro didn’t say a word.
“Jen is good with kids, especially with JD. She reminds me of you when she is playing with JD.” I continued in a whisper.
JD looked up from her game with Jenny and saw Jethro and me standing in the doorway.
“Mommy!!!!!!!” JD shouted as she got up and ran over to me.
With one arm I scooped my daughter up like I did once in awhile during the first few months of her life when she wasn’t sleeping through the night.
“Mommy, mommy; guess what I saw on Aunt Jenny’s desk?” JD asked.
I knew JD was talking about the picture of her grandfather, but on a subconscious level my mind was partially thinking that Jen had left something that she would use when she and Jethro were alone; the kind of thing that no three year old should know it is what it actually is until she was at least twenty.
“What did you see?” I asked.
“I saw Aunt Jenny’s picture of Grandpa Jasper. Mommy, is Grandpa Jasper dead?”
“Grandpa isn’t dead, sweetie.” I answered.
“Then why don’t you and Aunt Jenny ever talk about him?”
Ever since JD had turned three she had become more and more curious with each passing day. I was kind of torn when it came to answering her. I wanted to tell her why her Grandpa wasn’t around and why we never talked about him, but it was just one of those things that a three year old wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t understand why Jen and I were mad at our father. Her sweet innocence blinded her on some level for her to understand that in important moments like your daughter’s wedding and the birth of your granddaughter; you as the only living parent for your daughter and being the only living grandparent on your grandchild’s maternal side of the extended family made you automatically required to be around. But the reassurance that JD at least had Nick’s parents being the doting grandparents that spoiled her rotten besides all the aunts and uncles was quite comforting to me.
“Mommy.” JD whined.
Jethro could see that he wasn’t going to get to have a moment alone with Jenny this time.
“JD, why don’t you come with me to go see your aunts and uncles?” Jethro asked.
“Why?” JD inquired.
“Cause mommy needs to talk to Aunt Jenny.” Jethro said as he took JD from me and carried her out of Jenny’s office.
“What the hell were you thinking Jen?” I asked once JD and Jethro left.
“I told her the truth, Jay. She asked who he was and I told her. I’ll be damned if I am going to continue to lie to my niece.”
“Did you forget that he bailed on me at my wedding and that he didn’t even bother to show up when his own granddaughter was born?”
“I haven’t forgotten, but she does deserve to know who he is. You not telling her and leading her believe that Nick’s parents are her only grandparents is just doing more harm than good.”
“JD knows that Nick’s parents aren’t her only grandparents. I’ve told countless times about mom and how much she looks like mom.” I said defensively.
“I know you have, but you’re just telling her about mom. Tell her about dad.” Jenny said as she nodded to the door just as she had three years earlier when Jethro and Hollis stood in front of her.
“Fine, I have to go see Ducky.” I said as I walked out of Jenny’s office.
“Ah, Jaylyn; my dear.” Ducky said as heard the autopsy doors slide open and me walk in.
“You wanted to see me, Ducky.”
“Yes I did, Mr. Palmer can you give us a moment?”
Jimmy nodded and left.
“That daughter of yours is absolutely charming.”
“Thank-you.”
“Anyway, to answer your question from earlier; JD is clinging to you cause she is an only child. She doesn’t have a built in friend like Hannah.”
“So what you are saying is that I have to have another baby so that JD gets over her only child syndrome.”
“My dear; I know you and Ziva have been pulling a juggling act as mothers and full time NCIS Agents, but you both have your husbands.”
“Its more than just a juggling act for Ziva and me.” I said as I left autopsy.
The elevator doors opened to reveal my husband standing inside.
“So I guess you’ve talked to Ducky about JD.” Nick said.
“I did.”
“Are you pissed at me or something else?” Nick asked not completely sure if I was mad at him or not.
“I am pissed, but its not you.”
“What did Ducky say is up with JD?”
“He said she has a case of only child syndrome.”
“Which means you have to get pregnant again.”
Now I was pissed at Nick; without a word to Nick, I had flicked the switch that stopped the elevator just as Jenny and Jethro had done countless times.
“You got to be kidding me.”
“What did I say to upset you?
“You know damn well what you said. You want me to get pregnant again so that you can have that little boy you didn’t get three years ago.”
“That’s a low blow, Jay. You know I love JD with my whole heart. Us having a second child is solely for JD.” Nick said as he flicked the switch to let the elevator work again.
“To hell it is.” I replied once we got to the main floor.
Now I was pissed at my sister and the father of my daughter. I knew this wasn’t good. Once I was out of the elevator I put my back to wall where Tony had taken many phone calls from Jeanne Benoit and sank to the ground with a feeling of being completely being overruled and overwhelmed all mixed into one. All I wanted to do was escape from all my roles for a while.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
3 years, 11 months, 3 days
Once again things had changed over the past 3 years, 11 months and 3 days. We were all a little older. I had just turned twenty-eight as Nick had been thirty-four for a few months. Jenny was forty-eight and Jethro was sixty-one. Kate was thirty-eight. Drew was thirty-nine.
Abby and McGee had turned thirty-three a few months ago. Ducky was seventy-four as Palmer was twenty-nine and AJ had turned twenty-five. There were a few other things that were different now then what they were three years ago. Within the intervening years of when Nick, myself, Ziva and Tony got married along with when Ziva and I found out we were both pregnant to now. I had mine and Nick’s daughter; Jennifer Delaney, two weeks after Ziva had given birth to her and Tony’s twins; Hannah Tali and Leah Jacey.
Hannah and Leah are fraternal twins. Hannah and Leah both got their black hair from Ziva, but the one way we can tell them apart is their eyes. Hannah got her brown eyes from Ziva as Leah had Tony’s hazel eyes that Ziva loved the most about her husband and daughter. Ziva wanted at least one of her daughters to have her sister Tali’s name as their middle name. Since Hannah had been the first one to be born three years ago between her and Leah, so she was one who got her aunt’s name as her namesake.
Jennifer was a single birth when she was born, thankfully. Jennifer had gotten her brown eyes from both Nick and me. She had gotten her crimson red hair from me. Everyone had said since the day Jennifer was born that she was a mini version of me. We said the same about Hannah being Ziva’s mini.
Like Ziva, I had decided that I wanted mine and Nick’s daughter be named after my sister. On the other hand, Nick had wanted our daughter to be named after his sister, Delaney. After being in labor with Jennifer for over twenty-four hours, Nick had decided that it would be perfect for our daughter to be named Jennifer Delaney instead of Delaney Jennifer. So Jennifer had both Jenny and Delaney as her namesakes. Back when Hannah, Leah and Jennifer were born, the four of us had to make a decision about who would be their godparents would be.
Tony and Ziva had asked Jethro and Jenny to be their daughters’ godparents. Both Jethro and Jenny had said yes without any hesitant when they were asked. From the minute Hannah and Leah were born Jethro had decided that he was going to call Leah, LJ instead of Leah. After a while we all started calling her LJ. Nick and I had decided to ask Tony and Ziva to be Jennifer’s godparents.
Much like Jenny and Jethro; Tony and Ziva said yes full-heartedly. I had also decided back than that we were going to call Jennifer; JD, this way we wouldn’t confuse her with her aunts. Having three year olds weren’t the only thing that changed. About a year or after Nick and I along with Ziva and Tony got married; Kate and Drew had tied the knot. AJ and Palmer had followed suit a few months after Kate and Drew.
About four months ago, McGee and Abby had gotten married as well. It had seemed like Jethro and Jenny were quite content with the way their relationship was. There were a few times when I could tell that Jenny was a bit envious of the life that I had. But then again she knew Jethro’s track record with marriages and women post Shannon weren’t that stellar at all.
One day JD, Hannah and LJ had wanted to see where we, their aunts and uncles worked. So with Jenny’s okay we brought the girls to NCIS. JD had told all of her classmates in her pre-k class that her parents, her aunts and uncles were federal agents. At one point after JD had come down from visiting Jenny she had a question for me.
“Mommy, why does Uncle Jethro look so old and Aunt Jenny doesn’t?” JD asked as any three year old would in their most innocent voice.
“Aunt Jenny is young because she hasn't been married as many times as Uncle Jethro has.” I answered.
Jethro gave me a look.
“What? It’s true.”
JD had run off after getting her answer to go see what Abby was up to.
“Where are you going?” Nick asked JD as she bounded toward the rear elevator.
“I’m going to see Aunt Abby, Daddy.”
“Okay.” Nick said as he made his way to main elevator to leave to go work on a case of his.
“She is so adorable.” Ziva said once JD was in the elevator.
“That she is.” I replied.
“Where are the twins?” Kate asked.
“They are up in the conference room, coloring with AJ.”
“I still can’t believe that we’re mothers.” I said to Ziva.
“I know it’s a bit mind boggling.”
Jethro had gotten a phone call from dispatch about a case. Hannah, LJ and JD had come back to the squad room.
“Grab your gear.” Jethro said to us.
“Mommy, where are you going?” JD asked.
“I’ve got to go to work with your uncles and aunts, sweetie.”
“But I don’t want you to go, mommy.”
“I know you don’t, but I have to. Besides Daddy should be back soon and you’ve got a lot of people here to play with while I am gone.” I said.
“Mommy.” JD said as she pouted and clinged to my leg.
Jethro figured he would help out so that we could get going.
“Hey JD.” Jethro said as he got down to her level.
“Yeah Uncle Jethro.”
“I know you want your mom to stay here and play with you, but she has to come with me, Uncle Tony, Uncle Tim, Aunt Ziva and Aunt Kate.”
“But I don’t want to alone.”
“Why don’t you go play with Hannah and LJ?”
“Can I go see Aunt Jenny again?”
“Sure.”
JD ran up the stairs to Jenny’s office after her little talk with Jethro.
“Thank-you.” I said to Jethro as the six of us stepped into the elevator.
Before long JD was standing in front of Cynthia’s desk.
“Do want to see your Aunt, JD?” Cynthia asked.
“Yes, please.”
Cynthia got up from her desk and walked JD into Jenny’s office.
“You have a visitor, Director.” Cynthia said.
JD ran around Jenny’s desk to sit on Jenny’s lap.
“Thank-you Cynthia.” Jenny said as she helped JD up.
“Hi, Aunt Jenny.”
“What’s wrong, JD?”
“Mommy left and Daddy still isn’t back yet.”
“Are you worried about your mom and dad, honey?” Jenny asked her worried niece.
“Yes.” JD admitted sheepishly.
“Let me tell you something about your mom.”
“Okay.”
“Your mom is a fighter; she has been ever since she was your age. She and your dad love you very much. The other thing I know is that ever since you were born your mom would make sure that there was nothing that would stop her from coming home to see you. The same goes for your dad, you are their world.” Jenny said reassuring her niece.
“If you say so. I have a question for you, Aunt Jenny.”
“Go ahead.”
“If you and Uncle Jethro love each other, why aren’t you guys married like mommy and daddy; like my aunts and uncles are?”
“We aren’t married because Uncle Jethro doesn’t want to jeopardize our relationship. Do you want to play a game?”
“Okay. Who’s that? JD asked when she saw the picture of mine and Jenny’s father, her grandfather sitting on Jenny’s desk.
“That’s your grandpa Jasper. He’s your mom and mine’s dad.” Jenny said as JD slid off her lap and waited to play a game with her Aunt.
Jenny pulled out two decks of playing cards from her desk. One red, the other blue. She set the cards on the floor next to JD as she went to her mini bar to grab the two ice buckets she had. Jenny had figured she would try to play the game she played with Carson two years earlier.
When we got back from the crime scene I had gone up to Jenny’s office to make sure JD wasn’t driving Jenny crazy. As I had gone upstairs Ziva and Tony had went to find the twins who had gone down to see Abby when JD had gone up to Jenny’s. When I got up to Jenny’s office, I stood in the doorway for a little bit watching Jenny and JD play the game they had been playing. A smile played across my face as I saw my sister and daughter bond over simple card tossing game.
Abby and McGee had turned thirty-three a few months ago. Ducky was seventy-four as Palmer was twenty-nine and AJ had turned twenty-five. There were a few other things that were different now then what they were three years ago. Within the intervening years of when Nick, myself, Ziva and Tony got married along with when Ziva and I found out we were both pregnant to now. I had mine and Nick’s daughter; Jennifer Delaney, two weeks after Ziva had given birth to her and Tony’s twins; Hannah Tali and Leah Jacey.
Hannah and Leah are fraternal twins. Hannah and Leah both got their black hair from Ziva, but the one way we can tell them apart is their eyes. Hannah got her brown eyes from Ziva as Leah had Tony’s hazel eyes that Ziva loved the most about her husband and daughter. Ziva wanted at least one of her daughters to have her sister Tali’s name as their middle name. Since Hannah had been the first one to be born three years ago between her and Leah, so she was one who got her aunt’s name as her namesake.
Jennifer was a single birth when she was born, thankfully. Jennifer had gotten her brown eyes from both Nick and me. She had gotten her crimson red hair from me. Everyone had said since the day Jennifer was born that she was a mini version of me. We said the same about Hannah being Ziva’s mini.
Like Ziva, I had decided that I wanted mine and Nick’s daughter be named after my sister. On the other hand, Nick had wanted our daughter to be named after his sister, Delaney. After being in labor with Jennifer for over twenty-four hours, Nick had decided that it would be perfect for our daughter to be named Jennifer Delaney instead of Delaney Jennifer. So Jennifer had both Jenny and Delaney as her namesakes. Back when Hannah, Leah and Jennifer were born, the four of us had to make a decision about who would be their godparents would be.
Tony and Ziva had asked Jethro and Jenny to be their daughters’ godparents. Both Jethro and Jenny had said yes without any hesitant when they were asked. From the minute Hannah and Leah were born Jethro had decided that he was going to call Leah, LJ instead of Leah. After a while we all started calling her LJ. Nick and I had decided to ask Tony and Ziva to be Jennifer’s godparents.
Much like Jenny and Jethro; Tony and Ziva said yes full-heartedly. I had also decided back than that we were going to call Jennifer; JD, this way we wouldn’t confuse her with her aunts. Having three year olds weren’t the only thing that changed. About a year or after Nick and I along with Ziva and Tony got married; Kate and Drew had tied the knot. AJ and Palmer had followed suit a few months after Kate and Drew.
About four months ago, McGee and Abby had gotten married as well. It had seemed like Jethro and Jenny were quite content with the way their relationship was. There were a few times when I could tell that Jenny was a bit envious of the life that I had. But then again she knew Jethro’s track record with marriages and women post Shannon weren’t that stellar at all.
One day JD, Hannah and LJ had wanted to see where we, their aunts and uncles worked. So with Jenny’s okay we brought the girls to NCIS. JD had told all of her classmates in her pre-k class that her parents, her aunts and uncles were federal agents. At one point after JD had come down from visiting Jenny she had a question for me.
“Mommy, why does Uncle Jethro look so old and Aunt Jenny doesn’t?” JD asked as any three year old would in their most innocent voice.
“Aunt Jenny is young because she hasn't been married as many times as Uncle Jethro has.” I answered.
Jethro gave me a look.
“What? It’s true.”
JD had run off after getting her answer to go see what Abby was up to.
“Where are you going?” Nick asked JD as she bounded toward the rear elevator.
“I’m going to see Aunt Abby, Daddy.”
“Okay.” Nick said as he made his way to main elevator to leave to go work on a case of his.
“She is so adorable.” Ziva said once JD was in the elevator.
“That she is.” I replied.
“Where are the twins?” Kate asked.
“They are up in the conference room, coloring with AJ.”
“I still can’t believe that we’re mothers.” I said to Ziva.
“I know it’s a bit mind boggling.”
Jethro had gotten a phone call from dispatch about a case. Hannah, LJ and JD had come back to the squad room.
“Grab your gear.” Jethro said to us.
“Mommy, where are you going?” JD asked.
“I’ve got to go to work with your uncles and aunts, sweetie.”
“But I don’t want you to go, mommy.”
“I know you don’t, but I have to. Besides Daddy should be back soon and you’ve got a lot of people here to play with while I am gone.” I said.
“Mommy.” JD said as she pouted and clinged to my leg.
Jethro figured he would help out so that we could get going.
“Hey JD.” Jethro said as he got down to her level.
“Yeah Uncle Jethro.”
“I know you want your mom to stay here and play with you, but she has to come with me, Uncle Tony, Uncle Tim, Aunt Ziva and Aunt Kate.”
“But I don’t want to alone.”
“Why don’t you go play with Hannah and LJ?”
“Can I go see Aunt Jenny again?”
“Sure.”
JD ran up the stairs to Jenny’s office after her little talk with Jethro.
“Thank-you.” I said to Jethro as the six of us stepped into the elevator.
Before long JD was standing in front of Cynthia’s desk.
“Do want to see your Aunt, JD?” Cynthia asked.
“Yes, please.”
Cynthia got up from her desk and walked JD into Jenny’s office.
“You have a visitor, Director.” Cynthia said.
JD ran around Jenny’s desk to sit on Jenny’s lap.
“Thank-you Cynthia.” Jenny said as she helped JD up.
“Hi, Aunt Jenny.”
“What’s wrong, JD?”
“Mommy left and Daddy still isn’t back yet.”
“Are you worried about your mom and dad, honey?” Jenny asked her worried niece.
“Yes.” JD admitted sheepishly.
“Let me tell you something about your mom.”
“Okay.”
“Your mom is a fighter; she has been ever since she was your age. She and your dad love you very much. The other thing I know is that ever since you were born your mom would make sure that there was nothing that would stop her from coming home to see you. The same goes for your dad, you are their world.” Jenny said reassuring her niece.
“If you say so. I have a question for you, Aunt Jenny.”
“Go ahead.”
“If you and Uncle Jethro love each other, why aren’t you guys married like mommy and daddy; like my aunts and uncles are?”
“We aren’t married because Uncle Jethro doesn’t want to jeopardize our relationship. Do you want to play a game?”
“Okay. Who’s that? JD asked when she saw the picture of mine and Jenny’s father, her grandfather sitting on Jenny’s desk.
“That’s your grandpa Jasper. He’s your mom and mine’s dad.” Jenny said as JD slid off her lap and waited to play a game with her Aunt.
Jenny pulled out two decks of playing cards from her desk. One red, the other blue. She set the cards on the floor next to JD as she went to her mini bar to grab the two ice buckets she had. Jenny had figured she would try to play the game she played with Carson two years earlier.
When we got back from the crime scene I had gone up to Jenny’s office to make sure JD wasn’t driving Jenny crazy. As I had gone upstairs Ziva and Tony had went to find the twins who had gone down to see Abby when JD had gone up to Jenny’s. When I got up to Jenny’s office, I stood in the doorway for a little bit watching Jenny and JD play the game they had been playing. A smile played across my face as I saw my sister and daughter bond over simple card tossing game.
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