Breena lowered herself into the seat beside Jimmy. The two had attended midnight mass almost every year since they had been together. Jimmy was somewhat amazed that Breena had felt up to attending the service this year. Pregnancy was exhausting as is but Christmas Eve had been a long and emotional day for them. They had lunch with Ducky and his friend Veronica, followed by dinner with Ed, his girlfriend Debbie, and Breena's aunt, uncle, and cousins. That morning was hard because they had attended the funeral of Admiral John McGee. Even though McGee hadn't told his co-workers about his father's decline and eventual death. Penelope had called Ducky and he had passed it on to the other Bishop was the only one from McGee's circle at NCIS to not attend. Ellie and Jake sent their condolences but had already flown to Ohio to see Jake's family when they got the news. They were in the middle of singing "Angels We Have Heard On High" when Breena's cellphone began to vibrate. It took both her and Jimmy by surprise. Since it was typically Jimmy's phone that rang at inopportune times signaling him to go to NCIS or a crime scene. Breena quietly slipped out into the hallway and answered her phone. While Jimmy waited nervously fearing that something had happened to Ed or another member of the Slater family. A few minutes later Breena returned. Jimmy's heart sank when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Come on Jimmy. We have to go." Breena sniffed.

"Is everything OK?" Jimmy asked.

"I will explain in the car. Just come on." Breena replied.

Jimmy stood and followed Breena back to their car. Dreading the news that was awaiting him when they arrived. Breena got in first and pulled the seat-belt over her swollen stomach. Jimmy fell into the passenger seat. He closed the door behind him and turned to face Breena.

"What's going on?" Jimmy asked.

"That was Sally from the adoption agency." Breena replied.

Jimmy was taken aback. Breena and him had met with a couple of potential birth mothers. Before Breena found out she was expecting but after they discovered their own pregnancy. They had opted to put an adoption off for a while. At least until after their baby was born and had become acclimated a little bit. Now they were getting a call from Sally. Less than three months before Breena was to give birth and over six months after their last interaction.

"Sally? What did she want?" Jimmy asked.

"Do you remember the birth mother we talked to just before I got pregnant?" Breena asked.

"Dana?" Jimmy asked.

"That's her" Breena replied.

"What about her?" Jimmy asked.

"The couple she picked realized they couldn't handle it and surrendered her. They want us to adopt the little girl." Breena replied.

"They do?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah. We have to get to the agency right away." Breena replied.

"So we get this baby girl and our baby boy?" Jimmy asked astonished.

"Yes" Breena replied.

"That is the best thing ever." Jimmy replied.

"We really did get the best Christmas gift ever didn't we?" Breena asked.

"Yes we did." Jimmy replied.

Breena drove as fast as she legally could to the adoption agency. This certainly wasn't the way they expected to be spending Christmas morning but it was certainly a welcome surprise. They parked their car and raced into the agency. Sally was rocking a small infant in a pink blanket.

"Mr. and Mrs. Palmer? This is Mary." Sally introduced.

"She's beautiful." Jimmy cooed looking into his new daughter's blue eyes and olive skin. She had a tuft of black hair on top of her head.

"Hi Mary, we are your new parents." Breena greeted.

"She is four and a half months old and very healthy." Sally replied.

"Why did her adoptive parents give her up?" Jimmy asked.

"They were older and had seven other adoptive children. Two of whom have severe issues and they just couldn't handle the little one." Sally explained.

"Well we can handle her." Jimmy replied.

"Yes we can." Breena replied.

"Merry Christmas, Mary we love you." Jimmy said.

A/N: I plan on having a second chapter where the Palmer's introduce their new daughter to everybody from NCIS. That will be up sometime today. Please review and thanks for reading.