The day before Eric's birthday was a lot of chaos. Ziva and Abby had gone to the mall in search of a birthday present for Eric and Gibbs had taken Eric out to the park.

Jenny was baking a cake; her darling grandson had been very specific when he said he wanted a ship cake with a shark.

Now as the shark, a simple fin would do but the boat was incredibly difficult to carve. Kate was preparing food and pitched in once in a while.

After the cake collapsed because she cut too much cake off the bottom, Jenny hung up her apron. She simply baked another cake and left the knives out.

When Gibbs returned, she ordered him to the kitchen and instructed him to build a boat. Gibbs looked bewildered and even amused but obeyed anyway.

After about three hours, Jenny entered the kitchen and found one smug looking husband and a rather intricate looking ship.

"How in the heck?!" Jenny demanded instantly

"Not much different than wood, better actually, you can mould it," Gibbs said with a shrug.

The day of the birthday started at 05:00 since Eric was up and jumping about. He had awoken his mother and grandparents by jumping on the beds and Ziva and Abby by his hollering.

"Your father will be here soon," Jenny said as ten o clock rolled around

"If I time it right, we'll never have to say a word to each other." Gibbs planned

"Well, might as well get this party started." Abby said, reaching for the wine

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Jenny asked

"Mom, I need to take the edge off." Abby whined

"As if anyone's ever accused you of being sharp." Ziva teased

"You know the rule in this house." Jenny chided

"Mom, don't worry. I'll leave you some." Abby assured her

"All right, you know what? Maybe one glass with dinner." Jenny offered as the doorbell rang

"Randy, what do you mean you're not coming?! So what if your grandmother's missing? She'll turn up." Abby said as she walked down the stairs, talking to her new boyfriend

"Hey, grandpa Jack." Kate said as she opened the door

"Kate! Hi! Oh, wow. Look at you. You're like an entirely different person." Jack complimented

"Grandpa!" Eric yelled

"Hey! Look at you! What a great, big guy." Jack said lifting the boy into the air before putting him down again

"Actually, uh, he is your great-grandpa, sweetie." Kate told Eric

"That's right. You got a good grandpa and a great grandpa." Jack teased

"Dad" Gibbs greeted

"Son."

"Um How how was the, uh, car ride?" Gibbs asked

"Same as always." Jack answered

"Well, this conversation ran out of steam quick, didn't it? I'll get you a beer." Gibbs said finally

"Uh, oh, hang on. I haven't said hello to your beautiful bride." Jack said, moving toward Jenny

"Jack! Hi! How are you?" Jenny asked hugging him

"And to my granddaughters." Jack said pulling in Abby and Ziva for a hug

"Oh, I hope that's either Randy or his grandma." Abby said as she bolted to the door when the doorbell rang

"Oh, it's just you." Abby stated when she found Mike at the door

"All right, I'm getting a mixed message here. The mat says welcome." Mike stated, walking in with a gift wrapped present.

"Who are you?" Jack asked a man standing outside

"I am Stan,"

"Didn't you run out on Kate?" Jack demanded, "I promised myself that if I ever saw you, I'd kill you."

"Well, you don't have to. I am leaving the country permanently." Stan said, "Please tell Kate,"

"I'll see how it goes." Jack said

"Come on! Time for cake," Jenny yelled just as Daniel flew through the door

Everyone sang 'happy birthday' and Eric blew out the candles. Gibbs lifted a piece of cake and let Eric eat it.

"Presents!" Eric yelled as Kate caught him around the waist

"Cake first," Jenny said

"NO! Want presents," Eric said with a shake of his head

"Hey bud, hold on a little," Gibbs said, feeding him a little more cake

Once everyone had eaten cake, Eric dragged everyone to the sitting room for presents.

Ziva and Abby got him an Under the Sea Activity book and a set of Disney cartoons. Kate got him a truck and Jenny got him a radio controlled cars. Gibbs got him an Early Builder set and Daniel built suspense before revealing his gifts.

He handed Eric a stuffed shark that was about 60cm long and easy for him to carry it around. Then he went out to his car and brought in a stuffed shark that was 26'' long and was almost like a bean bag for the young Eric.

"A big scary shark!" Eric yelled throwing his arms around Daniel who simply basked in Eric's appreciation.

"I love you!" Eric shouted

"I am pretty fond of you too," Daniel said and hugged the boy before tossing him onto the shark.

20/21 June 2015