Hey, I'm back again! Sorry it took so long, it's that time of year in school when I'm getting tests in every subject. This one was kind of rushed ever so slightly but I tried my best and tried to clear a few thngs up at the same time. I think I might make the chapters apart by between six months - a year apart so you can see how they progress as a family and now Antonia gets more grown up. She may be a little more advanced than the normal one year old but my little cousin is the same age and I used her as a base for how progressed Antonia should be and she is a little advanced even slightly more than wee Antonia.
Sorry for my babbling, once again I own nothing except Antonia and I hope you enjoy this part!
4th July 2001
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Tia, happy birthday to you."
The small collection of people in the Gibbs' back yard clapped as Jen and Jethro helped there one year old daughter blow out the candle on her cake. As the flame went out the little girl clapped and giggled excitedly. Jen and Gibbs shared a secret look both unconciously remembering the morning after the promises made.
Jenny woke up and realized she wasn't alone. She turned over and came face to face with a nightmare - in the form of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
"Morning Jen," He smiled and her mind wandered to lovely memories but her memory soon came back to her. Had the past fourteen months been a dream? No, definately not. She had left him in Paris, she did return to DC and realize she had made a mistake that couldn't be fixed, she did cry about it for days and never stop missing him. But then he came back and -probably not without messing with the Director's head- had been put on the same team as her.
It was like nothing ever happened, he made it perfectly clear he wanted another try at being together - and she had no problem with it. It began again, sneaking around behind our team leader's back, kissing in elevators, romantic meals and oh so perfect nights in. He changed her more than he ever had before, she had inherited more traits. She was straight to the point, addicted to caffeine and back to slapping Junior Agent Hoffman on the back of the head. They were happy, she had never been happier.
Then he was gone- an undercover mission in Moscow and he hadn't come back, until two weeks ago. He resumed his place at his desk as if nothing had happened but this time she was ready, she wasn't giving in again, she wasn't resuming their relationship - if you could call it that - and he wouldn't get round her, ever. Well he had now.
"Aren't you gonna say something Jen? Or am I going to have to fill you in on last night?" She snapped out of the flashbacks and thought of the night before - the baby, Ducky, Jethro, Mommy and - gulp - Daddy.
"Did I really say that?" She looked him in the eyes and he nodded. "So we are now parents of an eight week old daughter, we work for NCIS and our boss is going to kick our asses?" He laughed and rolled over on his back and she continued, "How on earth did you manage to get into my bed?"
"Well, that was all my idea, you were out of it when we finally got Antonia to sleep and you kinda just crawled into bed and I just lay down next to ya. And just so we clear, no one is kicking our asses." Jen sighed,
"So I suppose that makes us a 'couple' again then? Or are we going to pretend like this never happened and I raise Antonia?" Gibbs kissed her cheek.
"I like the first situation so much better." She laughed and let him kiss her - only to be interrupted by a hungry baby.
Jen placed Tia on the table amongst her gifts. The group watched as the little girl began to examine the three parcels from her three guests. Her Saba David, Uncle Ducky and Aunty Noemi - her sitter and the family house keeper.
The party chuckled as Tia began to open her gifts. Her Saba David had given her a gold band with her name and date of birth on it in Hebrew she had smiled at the shiny object as Jenny put it round her wrist. Ducky had given her an animal picture book that had noise buttons, every time Tia pressed one she would squeal in delight at the bark of the dog, the meow of a cat or the roar of the lion but her favourite was the "quack quack" that came from the duck button. Noemi had given her brand new Wiggles DVDs and she had almost immediately pointed at them eager to watch her new DVDs. Jen and Jethro had spared no expense on there baby's first birthday, she now had a slide, a swing and a mini jungle gym in the back yard as well as a television and DVD player in her room. She was one year old and already one of the most spoiled kids in DC.
Eli David was sitting in his chair laughing at Jen and Jethro's account of the past year. He was happy that he had given Tia to them, she was happy and they were happy, Ziva was back to her usual self if not a little more reserved and he was able to see his granddaughter knowing that she would remain safe even when he was not there. He admired the little girl who had toddled off to play on her slide. She was almost exactly like her mother was when she was a baby. The dark curls and small features made her almost a complete mirror image of her but when the little girl caught his gaze with her soft green eyes he was forced to remember that she wasn't just like her mother. It was all to obvious while watching her that she had a different nature. She loved to watch kids programmes and movies and she was happy in her own company and could satisfy herself without needing other kids to play with. Ziva, who had grown up with brothers and sisters could never get used to playing on her own as a child, she would always have friends over and loved having Tali trailing along behind her , hero worshipping her. Where Ziva was quite quiet and went with the flow, Tia was noisy and always had to have her way and as an only child always got it. As well as getting her own way, as an only child Tia was far more advanced than a lot of one year olds as she had so much attention shown to her and encouragement given to walk and talk herself and be able to tell people what she wanted instead of just pointing. Or maybe it was just that her mother had always been independent when it came to making her own decisions. Suddenly he felt tugging at his ankles and looked down to see Tia smiling up at him.
"Saba,Tia,swing" the little girl gushed excitedly now tugging on his hand. He chuckled and lifted her up in his arms and over to the swing, making sure she was fastened in before gently pushing the swing to and fro while the little girl kicked her feet, laughing hysterically.
Jenny leaned in to her now fiancée and sighed contentedly at the scene in front of her. Gibbs squeezed her hand tightly.
"He obviously adores her Jen, and her him, it's great though don't you think?" Jenny squeezed his hand back.
"Yeah, you know maybe we should take that trip to Stillwater for vacation so she can meet Grandpa Gibbs, what do you think?" Gibbs laughed at her,
"That's a great idea Jen," he glanced at his watch - 19:45, "We need to get going in half an hour if we wanna get a good spot to watch the fireworks. I was thinking about going to the Jefferson Memorial, it's suppose to be a great place to watch the display, I went once years ago." He remembered Kelly's first July 4th but he didn't go into it, he didn't want to talk about it. Jenny understood and nodded,
"Sounds great, Noemi, Ducky would you like to join us?" Ducky looked away from watching his token niece and her grandfather,
"I'm afraid I can't, I have to go and see mother, I've left her alone for almost three hours, although I have phoned repeatedly to check in on her I do have to go home, maybe next year?" Gibbs smiled.
"Sure Duck, Noemi? Would you like to come?" The nanny smiled,
"I would love to, if you will have me." Jenny laughed gently,
"Of course we'll have you with us, we asked you didn't we? Your like family now Noemi." The woman smiled gratefully and nodded her thanks while sipping on a glass of Coke. Ducky stood up,
"Well thank you for having me Jethro, Jennifer. I have had a lovely time but I must be off ." Jen stood up and kissed Ducky's cheek and Gibbs clapped him on the back and thanked him for Tia's gift. He strolled over to the little girl who was still on her swing. Eli stopped it gently so Ducky could say goodbye.
"Well, little Antonia, I have to go home now, I will see you later." He patted her head, "Does Uncle Ducky get a kiss from the birthday girl?"
"Yes!" She leaned forward and gave her Uncle a kiss on the cheek. "Bye bye!"
Jethro stood on the front porch watching Ducky drive away in his Morgan. He heard footsteps behind him and an excited voice cry, "Daddy!" He turned round and scooped his daughter into his arms and then threw her into the air.
"Jethro don't she'll be sick!" Jenny warned him as he went to throw Tia again. He put the girl down and she hurried over to her mother.
"Mommy, fireworks?" Jen smiled and tickled her gently.
"Soon Angel." She turned and went back throw the house and into the back yard. She looked at Tia,
"Shall I ask Saba David if he wants to come with us?" Tia nodded and Jenny tapped the shoulder of the man helping Noemi clear the table of plates, cups and wrapping paper. "Would you like to come with us to watch the fireworks?" He smiled but then sighed,
"I'm afraid I can't Jenny, I have a flight to catch in an hour and a half so I really have to be off now." He took his granddaughter from Jenny, "Sorry nesichah Saba has to go home to Israel so he can't come to see the fireworks with you and mommy and daddy but I will be back to see you soon." He kissed her on the forehead before handing her back to her mother. "I'll leave now, I'll call you next week and tell you when I'll next be over." He ruffled Tia's hair and picked up his jacket. "L'hitraot, Antonia, ani o'hev o'tach." He said goodbye to Jethro before leaving. Gibbs came out into the yard and took Tia from Jenny,
"Come on sweetie, we'll put you in the car and get going." He made sure Tia was properly in her car seat before putting her stroller in the trunk and calling for Jenny.
"Hurry up, we're waiting for you and Noemi." Jenny emerged alone and got in the front with Jethro.
"Noemi isn't coming, she said it should just be us as a family." Gibbs took her left hand and kissed her engagement ring.
"I love you Jen," she smiled and kissed him. "I love you too Jethro."
He reversed out of the drive and they made there way to display.
It was late when the fireworks finally ended. Jen and Jethro walked silently back to the car, Jethro pushing a sleeping Antonia in her stroller. When they got home Jen hurried inside to fix Tia's cot as Jethro got her from the car. Jen hurried down from Tia's room and took her from her dad,
"Come help me get her ready for bed." The pair took the sleeping baby to her room, they changed her diaper and dressed her in her night clothes before placing her in her cot and standing over the cot watching Tia sleep. Jenny was the first to move.
"Come on Jethro, let's go to bed," She yawned and left the room. Gibbs kissed the sleeping baby and walked over and switched off the night light by the door.
"Good night angel," he whispered before closing the door. He walked into his and Jenny's room. He silently spoke to Shannon and Kelly telling them about the day and he was sure they were happy for him, happy that he was happy and he was he hadn't been happier since Kelly's last birthday and somewhere in his heart he knew that his wife and daughter were proud of him, for finally settling down and getting on with life again.
nesichah - hebrew for princess
saba - hebrew for granddfather
l'hitraot - see you soon (hebrew)
ani o'hev o'tach - (hebrew) i love you (masculine, man to a woman)
So what do you think? I hope I have answered some of your questions, please review, I need at least six if I am to do another part, although it is written. R&R please x :-)
