Disclaimer- I don't own NCIS

Author's note – I hope that this is alright! It's set in the same universe as my story 'life changes, people move on-but love can remain' only it's twelve years later.
History:

After Paris Jenny ended up working in London. She fell in love with Dan, they got engaged, only on the 11th September 2001 he was in the pentagon when the planes hit. Jenny didn't know she was pregnant at the time. Katie is Jenny and Dan's daughter.
Jenny and Jethro got together, and got married. They weren't going to have children but then Hannah was involved in one of their cases and so they adopted her.
At 24 Katie moved to Paris to be a lawyer.
At 26 Hannah was appointed head of neurology at New York University Hospital.

Love Remained That Christmas

It's amazing sometimes, how people are able to face so many things, and have so many battles, yet still come through the other end with a smile on their faces and love in the air. For some people it is the reason they still believe in love, still have faith in humanity even after every piece of evil we see on the news. Through the wars that divide nations, through the technology that takes away heritage, and through every single change our world encounters as we move forward and develop. Out of everything that was on this planet to begin with, love is one of the few which remains, and the most powerful at that.

Jenny Shepard lost her second love in 9/11. After leaving Jethro he was her first sign of hope, her hope that she could move on. Then, he'd gone to NYC to the pentagon to work on relations, and one simple task had brought her world crashing down around her. He'd been in the pentagon when the planes hit. She'd lost him. Yet there had been a light for her. She'd found she was pregnant with their daughter Katie, and though everything she'd managed to bring up her little Girl.

For Jethro, it had been the death of his wife and daughter whilst he was deployed that had been his biggest battle. He'd lost the two people in the world he had sworn he would protect. That had hurt, he hadn't had somebody there, and those he had, had he had cut off because it hurt too much to be close to them.

It was twenty three years now though since they had married one another. Both were now fully retired and even though they weren't as young as they had once been, they were still very much in love. Jethro's hair was still silver and truth be told he had not aged a lot, his face was slightly creased but he still worked out at the gym and could – if he chose to – beet any of the younger recruits at NCIS. Jenny, although she didn't admit it, had gone grey. Yet with the aid of a very skilled hairdresser no one would ever know any different. She had a few laughter lines on her face, and even without any Botox or surgery she still looked amazing. Both still fit, they now travelled around on the one boat Jethro had built and kept. Its name was three redheads and a silver fox as chosen by Abby many years ago.

Christmas had fallen on Paris, Jenny and Jethro now docked their boat permanently in Europe and flew back and forth to the US. Twelve years ago, they'd sat on the same bank on the river as they were now, and stayed in the same Chataux. IT was strange how after all the years had passed they had ended up back here. Jenny smiled as she sat in the bay window seat of the lounge, the fire burning and curled up with her husband. Outside small snowflakes had been falling all morning. The grass outside was now a paler colour. The couple sat waiting for the rest of their family to arrive. Ziva, Tony was upstairs in their room whilst their now fifteen year old son Tom sat further in the lounge on his IPad, no doubt moaning how bored he was. Somewhere else in the Chataux was Abby and McGee. They had gotten married a few years ago but never had children; instead they were regular foster parents as it fitted when it came to Abby's past. Katie and Hannah however, now 29 and 28 were not there yet.

Hannah was still the head of neurology at New York University hospital, and had also written numerous papers which had in turn been published. Now she was on track to get a promotion to an overall head over a serried of hospitals in the next few years. Her parents were proud of her; she was in a stable relationship with a fellow doctor who was a cardiac surgeon. Jenny could see they were very much in love.

Katie however had not had things so easy in recent years. After moving to Paris at 24 to become a lawyer she'd had it all, as well as a beautiful French man. But when she'd found out that she was 5 months pregnant after a year in France, she'd then walked in on him with another woman, found out about a string of affairs and watched as he gave her a mouthful and walked out of the door. Yet even with her mother's begged to come back to the states, Katie had not let him get to her. With so many friends in Paris and a blossoming career she would not let anything stop her. Now she had a beautiful daughter named Meira Amelie Shepard. She had her mother's red hair and pale skin with her father's deep blue eyes. She was mild tempered and ambitious. Katie had managed to keep her career on track whilst being a brilliant mother.

Jenny smiled as she saw the little girl sat in her mother's arms. Both of them with smiles on their faces. English was Meira's first language whilst she knew French as well as her mother. Behind them Jenny could see Hannah walking hand in hand with Kien, her boyfriend who was tall dark and handsome. Turning to kiss her husband before they moved and both smiled.

Walking into the lobby they watched as the little girl fought to jump down. Her mother let her down and took the red puffer coat and hung it on the coat stand. Meira ran to her nan. Jenny crouched down and hugged the little one. "Nan! Tu sont vraiment belle, et Papa,-"

"Meira, en Anglais s'il vous plait." Scolded her mother

The little girl turned to her mother and pouted, whilst her mother glared. "Oui mama." She replied before hugging her granddad. Yet when Abby appeared she ran off to see her. Turning to her girls Jenny smiled. Katie when to free Abby from the clutches of Meira whilst Jenny turned to Hannah. The younger woman smiled at her mum whilst Kien hung up her coat.

Her red hair which anyone would think came from Jenny came to just below her shoulders and was tied into a messy bun. She wore a pair of straight leg trousers with a pair of black converse pumps. On her top she wore a red, blue and white shirt. Looking at her she looked casual, but Jenny knew she had never been one for dressing up. Her makeup was light with just a light grey eye shadow, mascara and a light pink gloss on her lips. Jenny hugged her daughter. She had made her way ip the ladder even with her past as was so laid back and happy. "Hello darling." Said Jenny.

"Hey mum." She said returning the hug.

"Look at you! You're beautiful you know that!" laughing she stepped back. "Hey Kien, how are you?"

"I'm good thanks, how are you?"

"Feeling old looking at you to." She said. Jethro hugged her tightly making her smiled.

"Yet you still look beautiful!" he said making Jenny laugh.

"We're gonna get checked in mum. I'll see you later, bye dad."

"See ya." Said Jethro.

"Papa! Mummy won't let me have an orange juice! But I'm thirsty!" said Meira.

"Well, would like me to get you one munchkin?" he said tickling her.

"Stop! Papa, fini, fini! S'il vous plait!"

The two went off and Jenny turned to her daughter. "You look tired" she commented. The girl laughed and Jenny admired how she looked. Her daughter standing there, no doubt just from work. A tight emerald green skirt with a baggy black blouse tucked in. On her feet was a pair of black swayed stilettos that would compete in height with even her mothers. She smiled at her mum, her makeup was light, but with a thin line of black eyeliner that extended past her lids. On her lips was 'amethyst' coloured lipstick. Her hair was long and straightened. To some, she may look like she was trying to be younger than she was, but in reality she was dressing how she acted. She was pretty, young, and successful.

"Why thank you mum, that is so very nice of you to point out. I meet the first thing you say is 'you look tired'" Joked Katie.

"Honey, you're overworked."

"mum, that is coming from the queen of all nighters." Shaking her head Jenny smiled and raised her hands in surrender, hugging her daughter. "You look well mum."

Jenny was wearing a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a crisp white blouse with a long gold pendant. Around her shoulders was a chunky knitted burgundy cardigan. On her feet was a pair of high heeled brown boots. Her makeup was light, but the classic red lipstick still remained. Her hair was long, wavy and loose. "Thank you darling." They then walked into the lounge and sat on the sofa.

That day their whole family stayed together. IT was Christmas eve, they were a family and gathered around the fire. Over the years the family had grown close to the owners of the Chataux, and this holiday they were the only ones staying. At the fire hung stockings, one for each person. On the floor sat Meira, Katie, Abby, Hannah, tony and Ziva were all playing frustration. McGee was sat playing some game with Tom on his IPad, whilst Kien watched from behind, helping out Meira when she needed it. On the sofa Jenny and Jethro sat curled up together smiling. He kissed her head making her look up. "You're an amazing woman Jenny Shepard."

"And you are an amazing man Leroy Jethro Gibbs." She replied. Gently kissing him as they'd always kissed before parting, resting her head on his chest and watching their family.

Hope it was alright. If I get a good enough response I may add another chapter on Christmas day

-A xx