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.

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.

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.

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.