The following morning Gibbs pulled open the door and stood with his arms across his chest. "What are you doing here?"

"Jethro," Shannon edged past him and hugged the man at the door. "Tom, I'm happy you could make it. Jethro, I invited him over." She frowned when all Jethro did was arch an eyebrow. "Tom, come in and sit down."

The original face-to-face between Tom and Gibbs hadn't gone so well. As much as Shannon tried to diffuse the situation, there had been obvious anger and resentment in Gibbs' eyes. It had taken over two hours, and three boxes of old evidence and photos to eventually convince him that the FBI had made the correct choice for their safety. But he still didn't have to like it, and he'd made it quite clear that Tom should stay clear of him.

"Thank you." Tom edged past Gibbs and followed Shannon to the living room. "Hello Kelly."

"Hi Tom, how're you?"

"I'm doing great thanks. I've only got a few more weeks until I am officially done with the FBI. It'll be nice to be a free man after that. How are you doing? Good to be back in D.C.?"

Shannon shot Kelly a warning glance before she could roll her eyes.

"Yeah." Kelly pushed up off the couch. "Dad was just about to show me something in the basement, right ?" She glanced at her father. Please.

"Right." Gibbs nodded warily and followed his daughter toward the basement steps.

"He didn't replace you as my father. I hope you know that." Kelly circled the boat, idly picking at her nails. "I mean, I think he wanted to, but… he never did."

"I know." Gibbs sat on the third step from the bottom. He hated to see his daughter so visibly torn up over something that was out of her control.

"He wasn't around that much, but he was always popping up at my school events and sports games. It made me angry at first. I mean, I was only eight, but I wasn't dumb. I knew it was him and the FBI that decided that we had to hide and you couldn't come with us," Kelly wiped at her eyes before the tears could fall. "And I hated him for it."

Gibbs stood up and waited for Kelly to move into his arms. "It's okay."

"But it's not." She sniffled into his shoulder.

"It is, you were a young girl and you had no family. You needed the support." Gibbs stroked her hair softly and tightened his grip around her. "You don't get to feel guilty for letting someone like him into your life."

"You didn't."

"You're right," he kissed her forehead. "I didn't let anyone in until recently. And until then, I was miserable. You made the best of life. I saw the pictures. You were a happy, beautiful young woman in Portland."

"But I wasn't!" Kelly started to protest. "I missed you!"

"Hey, I'm not saying that you didn't miss me, I'm just saying you didn't let yourself be miserable, and I'm glad you didn't."

Kelly cried quietly against his chest, hugging herself as tightly to him as she could. Gibbs waited for her sobs to turn to sniffles and then eventually stop. "You hated him at first, and then what?"

Kelly pulled back to look at him.

"It's okay," he told her gently. "It's okay if you decided you liked him in your life."

Kelly shrugged. "I wouldn't say I really liked him. I tolerated him, but for mom's sake I played it up a little bit. I didn't really mind him popping up, but it made mom really happy." She hesitated a moment. "She really likes him."

"I know."

"What are you going to do?"

"Do?" Gibbs pulled back and arched a brow.

"I mean, I'm not a kid anymore and if you and mom…" Kelly shrugged in his arms. "While I've always had the whole 'one-big-happy-family' fantasy, I know it won't necessarily happen. I just want you both happy and in my life."

"You don't have to worry about that, I don't plan on letting you go anywhere."

0o0o0

They left Friday afternoon for the four-hour drive to Stillwater, Pennsylvania. Gibbs had called ahead to give his father time react to the news privately first, and to prepare the guest room as well as his childhood bedroom.

The trip went mostly as Gibbs' expected, and as much as he tried to keep a leash on his emotions, tears were shed by all. Although she didn't have too many memories of Jack, Kelly fell right into her roll of granddaughter and let Jack spoil her, sticking to his side much of the weekend. Shannon phoned her mom from the shop and although Joann didn't come out and say it, she made it quite clear that Jethro wasn't invited to her reunion with the girls.

"How you doing, son?"

Gibbs looked over at his father as he continued to price the soup cans before placing them on the shelf. "I'm good."

"Uh huh."

Gibbs priced a few more cans, content to ignore his father as he fished for more information.

"You've got your girls back, it's a huge shock. I just want to know how you're doing."

"I'm fine. It's just been a lot. A lot has happened the past few weeks. It all feels like such a dream. How much for these?" Gibbs held up a box of oatmeal.

"$3.79. It's been a lot to take in. Have you told everyone at NCIS?"

"Yeah."

"How are things at home? For you and Shannon?"

Gibbs could only glare. His relationship with Shannon was no one else's business. In his dreams, she had come back to him and things had fallen back to the way they were – in reality, things weren't that simple.

"How is that scientist of yours, Abby, how is she doing?"

"She was really worried about you."

Jack smiled. "She's a hugger and a worrier, huh? Did ya tell her I can take care of myself? No Mexican drug lord will do anything to me as long as I got my Winchester. We can handle ourselves." Jack smiled proudly

Gibbs couldn't stop the slight grin and then rolled his eyes. "I think you forgot the bit about the agents I had up here looking out for you?"

"Minor detail," Jack grunted. "She met the girls yet?"

"Briefly. What's this about, dad?" Gibbs set down the pricing gun and turned to face his father. "Why the interrogation?"

"Look son, I know what you and Shannon had was… irreplaceable. I also know that it's been 18 years and you were starting to move on with your life and that you've had your eye on the lovely – don't deny it. I might be old, but I sure as hell ain't dead."

"Dad." He was having a hard enough time with those thoughts internally; he didn't need his father and everyone else weighing in. "Can I just enjoy having my family back?"

"Sure." Jack nodded. "Sure. Kelly grew up to be a beautiful young woman. I'd keep an eye on Tony. He sure does appreciate the ladies."

Gibbs arched a brow.

"He's a good man though, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

Gibbs shook his head. He had enough to worry about. He didn't need to think of DiNozzo working his charms on Kelly.

Moments later the small bell above the door rang as Kelly strolled in carrying a drink tray with milkshakes. "Mom is still with… grandma," the word was foreign in her mouth. "I got board so I caught a cab back and stopped at the diner down the street for milk shakes. Wait, you like milkshakes, right?" Kelly paused before setting them down.

"Of course." Jack stepped forward.

"Well I know you do, the woman at the diner said you had one every Sunday afternoon, said chocolate banana was your favorite. She wouldn't let me pay, just asked if I was that Gibbs' girl. But dad, you like…?"

"Yes, thank you." Gibbs accepted his drink.

"Ah yes, that Tammy. She's a good woman. Spoils me at times." Jack patted his belly.

"I see that," Gibbs didn't try to hide the smirk. "And you should've called," he turned to Kelly. "I would have come picked you up."

"I know, but then I would've had to wait longer and she was all touchy and cheek pinch-y and I was just ready to go. Her and mom are so not alike."

"No," Gibbs chuckled. "No they are not."

"But you're a lot like your dad." Kelly smiled. "And that's a good thing."

Both Gibbs' men tried not to smile and acknowledge the truth.

0o0o0o

That's how Shannon found them a few hours later, standing around the shop, happy smiles on their faces. "Looks like the three of you have been enjoying yourselves." She nodded to the empty milkshake containers. "Any left for me?"

"No, sorry mom. But if you go up the street to the diner and tell 'em who you are, you might get a free one."

Shannon laughed. "That old Tammy still running it?"

Jack smiled. "She is, I don't think she could survive without all the town gossip she gets up there."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Gibbs shook his head.

"Well I know you don't mean me." Jack grabbed the garbage can from behind the counter and tossed the empty cups in. "I don't need no town gossip. Half of it probably isn't true anyway."

"Sure dad, sure." Gibbs patted him on the shoulder. "Why don't you lock up? I'll go get dinner started."

"I'll help!" Kelly offered.

Gibbs turned and was about to tell her that he'd appreciate the help, but then saw she meant she was going to help Jack lock up and close down for the night. Gibbs just smiled and headed for the house.

0o0o0

TBC…

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