A/N: Ten Chapters WOW! This is my longest story out of everything I have ever typed (including my Senior Paper!). So All the reviews I have received until this point have been for a Christmas Proposal; so A Christmas Proposal it is. I had ideas for the other two opinions so I might write those as one-shots. I am skipping Christmas Eve, but I wanted to get it all set up. There is not a lot of dialogue between the team because I wanted to highlight the speech Jethro give Jen. Let me know what you think. Oh Ziva's plaque is her name's meaning Ziva: Brilliance and David: Beloved. Ok; so someone pointed out to me that there are 8 days in Hanukkah and not 12 so I went through and corrected myself; sorry if I offended anyone.
A Marine's Return
10.
A Christmas Proposal
It was two days before Christmas and one day before Christmas Eve. Jethro found himself sitting at Jen's conference table going through ideas for the academy. He had accepted the role about a week after he returned. The academy wouldn't open until next fall so he could prepare and hire staff. Right now he was trying to figure out if he wanted to teach anything else. He stared at the list Jen and SecNav came up with while he was in Iraq and read the list: Skills needed: 1. Firearms skills (cleaning, care and shooting). 2. Basic hand-to-hand combat. 3. First-Aid and CPR certification. 4. Crime Scene protocols. 5. Witness questioning. 6. Suspect questioning. 7. Report formats. 8. Undercover work- basics. 9. Emergency procedures. 10. Protection detail duty protocols.
Finding nothing else needed he signed the bottom of the page and moved on to hiring and assistant. He started looking through some of the resumes before a name popped out: Quinn. He started laughing; Quinn could teach; she didn't need to be his assistant. He put her resume into a different stack and moved on. Finally he had it narrowed down to three candidates and placed them in a stack to interview after the holidays. He looked at his clock and saw that it was past 2000 hours.
"Jen, let's go home."
"Did you chose and assistant?"
"Narrowed it down to three to interview after the holidays, and I have an idea for the hand to hand combat teacher. How about you; how many case reports have you finished?" He teased her.
"Too many, but I need to get them down if you want me to take the holidays off."
"Yes I do want you to take them off. You can come in on the days in between Christmas and New Year's. Now once you've finished the file you are on we will leave."
"Ok Jethro. I am almost done."
Ten minutes later she signs the report and places it in a pile to be placed on Cynthia's desk to be filed away after Christmas. Grabbing her purse and coat she allowed Jethro to lead her from the office and drive them home. When they got home he had her go up and start running herself a bath. Ten minutes later he walked up the stairs and into the master bathroom to find Jen soaking in a bubble bath. She smiled at him when he walked in.
"Care to join me?" She asked in a very suggestive tone.
"Don't have to ask me twice." He replied stripping out of his clothes while she moved forward to let get in behind her. Sinking down into the warm water with a sigh he wrapped his arms around Jen as she leaned into his chest. They sat in silence for a few minutes; just enjoying the company.
"Is the team coming over for Christmas?" Jethro asked Jen; not having seen much of the team in the past few weeks because he was trying to finish his boat before the house sold.
"They will be here Christmas morning at 1000 hours along with Abby and Ducky, and we will be joining Abby for her party tomorrow evening. The team, her interns, Ducky and the rest of the new autopsy staff and the team will be stopping in as well."
"We going to prepare the food for them tomorrow before we leave?"
"I thought so. I wanted to make oatmeal pancakes and have eggs and sausage and if we can get turkey sausage for Ziva. You picked her gift right?"
"Ok I will soak the oats and have everything ready. And I will do the cooking. Last time I saw you cook you almost set the kitchen on fire."
"That was almost a decade ago! I can actually cook some stuff without burning it. And you didn't answer my question."
"Yes I have gifts for Ziva. Yes I did pick up her Christmas gift but I also have 8 Hanukah gifts for her. In fact I have at least 3 gifts for everyone all wrapped and ready to go. And they get to open them all on Christmas Day when they come over."
"I can't wait Jethro. This will be the first time we are all together as a family for a holiday. I hope it goes well."
"It will be fine Jen." Jethro starts to massage her shoulders causing her to moan and relax. They stayed in the tub for another 20 minutes before getting out and moving to the bed.
Jethro couldn't wait for Christmas day either.
Christmas Day
1000 hours
Jen and Jethro's home.
The end of Christmas morning found Jen and Jethro entertaining guests. Family actually. With the team, Abby and Ducky sitting down to eat a Christmas Brunch of Pancakes, eggs and some form of sausage. After the food had been eating everyone moved into the sitting room to open up presents that Jen and Jethro had given them; having exchanged their gifts to each other at Abby's party the previous night. Abby had written everyone's name down and had Jethro draw the names out of a Santa Hat. The first name was Ziva's. Gibbs handed her a large, wrapped box and a smaller one.
"I know that you are Jewish so the big box has 8 gifts for the 8 days of Hanukah. But some of the gifts in there will give away your other gift so open the smaller one first."
Ziva smiled when Jethro mentioned her faith and did as he requested. She opened it and saw a 16GB IPod Nano in the color Black. She got up and gave Gibbs a hug for the gift before sitting back down and turning to the box. She opened it up to find a new chain for her Star of David pendant, ITunes gift card, IPod Nano hard case with the Star of David on the back, a ring with both an Orchid and Lilly adorning it, topaz (her birthstone) earrings, a pair of leather gloves, a set of speakers for her iPod and a wooden plaque that read: "Brilliant and Beloved" the meanings of her name that Jethro made himself. She hugged him again with tears in her eyes; no man had acted like a better father to her than Jethro.
She then opened up Jen's gift which was a stereo that she could put in her car that played her iPod. She hugged Jen and sat back down. Abby handed her the hat to draw another name. Ziva drew out a piece of paper with Ducky's name on it.
Ducky picked up his gifts and opened them to find a leather journal, a bottle of the best scotch and a plaque like Ziva's, but his read: "Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard" on it from Jethro and a set of new shot glasses to keep in his desk form Jen. He thanked them both profusely for their gifts as Abby handed him the hat. He drew Abby's name.
She squealed and opened Jen's gift first. It was a small ring with a shiny black stone in the shape of a rose. She gave Jen one of her death grip hugs then turned to her presents from Gibbs. The first was a plaque that read: "Hinky!" It was followed by a hippo buddy for Bert and an Onyx cross pendant with a chain. Giving Gibbs a big hug she picked up the hat and drew Tony's name from it.
Tony's presents were a Hawaiian Shirt like on Hawaii Five-0, a John Wayne Trivial Pursuit game and a plaque saying: "On It Boss!" from Jethro. His gift from Jen was a new watch and Wallet. He shook Jethro's Hand and kissed Jen's cheek. Before sitting down and pulling McGee's name out of the hat.
Tim opened his gifts from Jethro which included: a type writer manual, a best but gift card for 200 dollars and a wooden plaque saying: "Probie. . . Formerly" on it. His gift from Jen was a blank journal much like the one Jethro had given Ducky. Thanking them in the same way Tony did he sat back and pulled Jethro's name from the hat.
Smiling at him Jen handed him his gifts. She got him a set of cufflinks bearing the Marine Corps insignia, a new watch and wallet in black leather and a photo album filled with pictures from their past ops in Europe. Ziva handed him a gift card to Home Depot. While he got a bottle of some good Bourbon from the Duckman. Before Abby handed him his gift she said: "This is for when you are missing her when she goes off to meetings and such and you can't be with her." He opened up the box to find a medium sized lioness whose fur matched Jen's hair color. Tony handed him a collection of Hank William CDs to "Broaden your music collection to more than 5 songs." Tim had also given him a Home Depot gift card.
Jen was next and Jethro motioned for the team to give her their gifts first. Ziva gave her some bath salts, Ducky gave her some new music CDs, Abby gave her a silver-haired fox for when she went out of town and missed her Jethro. Tony gave her a John Wayne poster with the quote "That ell Be the Day" and Tim had gotten her a gift card to Bath and Body Works. She thanked each of them before looking at the gifts Jethro had gotten her. Smiling at him she picked up the two small ones and opened them to reveal a diamond heart pendant with a matching chain and a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. She got up and gave him a soft kiss before turning to the last gift. It was a plaque like the others had gotten and it read: "Director. . ." Smiling at the gift she put it aside to give Jethro another kiss, but his stopped her.
"That gift is missing one word, but that word depends on your answer." She looked at him puzzled for a minute before encouraging him to continue.
"You're last present sits in the tree, find it." She gave him another look but then turned her attention to the tree in the corner of the room. She searched for ten minutes before finding the beautiful ring held in between an Angel's hand. Tears filled her eyes as she removed the ring form the angel and turned to face Jethro; forgetting for a moment the rest of her guests. Jethro walked up to her and took the ring from her limp hand and knelt down on one knee.
"I am very bad with speaking; especially when it comes to emotions. But I thought that I needed to say these things to you. You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me; I thought that when we first met and time has not changed it. I don't think it ever could. But you are not just beautiful for your looks but for everything else: your heart, and mind as well as your sharp wit and yes even your fiery temper. I fell in love with you then and remain in love with you today. I know that I have screwed up all of my past marriages after Shannon. And I now know why. I had a lot of time to think while overseas and I came to the conclusion that all my other past relationships were born to replace people: Shannon and Kelly. And because no one could ever measure up to them ever thing fell flat. But you are in a class all to yourself. In the beginning when we had secrets you never pushed me to talk about my past and when you found out you didn't push me away. You understood that they will always have part of my heart. But know that they rest belongs to you." He paused to take a deep breathe. The rest of the group was very quiet and watched the proposal with tears in their eyes, and in Abby's case balling their head off. Jen also had tears falling down from her eyes. She knew that he swore off marriage after his last divorce.
"Jen I love you. Give me the best Christmas present and be my wife?" He held his breath while he waited for her answer.
Jen sank down to the ground so her face was level with his and took his face in her hands.
"Yes." Was her simple answer and she burst into happy sobs as Jethro place the beautiful ring from Paris on her finger and kissed her tears away from her face before kissing her lips. When they broke for air Jen buried her face in his neck as they stood up. Their family surrounded them with hugs for everyone including Jethro. Jethro left the room and came back with a bottle of champagne and glasses for everyone. Once he had poured the glasses and handed them out the toasted to a long happy marriage between Jen and Jethro. After the toast Jen turned to Jethro and said.
"I have one more present for you; I was going to wait until we were alone to tell you but I want to now." At his nod she walked out of the room and up the stairs. Five minutes later she came back and handed him the tube wrapped in colorful paper. He unwrapped it to reveal a pregnancy test with a plus sign on it. He stared at it in shock for a few minutes before a huge smile broke out on his face. Seeing his smile Jen smiled one of her own before wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his cheek before saying in a soft voice that everyone could still hear.
"Merry Christmas Daddy!"
A/N: okay so that last part snuck up on me. My only goal was to have him propose to her and she was to say yes. Well should I leave it there or continue on this story or a sequel? Or should I just write and epilogue and be done with it? Your opinion matters; so leave me a review and tell me. And I have decided to write out the other proposal ideas as one shots the titles are: "Semper Fi Engagement" and "Thanksgiving is for Thanks and Rings." Expect them sometime in September of earlier. Reviews are wonderful.