Chapter 10: Calm Before the Storm

The trio stayed there in silence. Usually, Gibbs was all for it, but tonight it was driving a dagger into his heart. He just waited. Eventually, RJ fell asleep as he sat on the couch. Gibbs moved over, removed RJ's shoes and put his legs on the couch. Next, he grabbed a hold of Jenny's hand, surprising her. When she tried to pull away, Gibbs wouldn't let her. Jenny gave in to Gibbs' demand. He led her upstairs to his room. With extra care, he sat her down on the bed he rarely used.

"Jen, listen, to me", Gibbs urged. "Diane was working a case with us. We just wrapped it up today. I'm not exactly sure why she came here tonight. Maybe she just needed a bit of a push in the right direction. Believe me when I say that nothing happened."

"I know", Jenny said.

"Then what was all that about downstairs? Gibbs asked incredulously.

"I just lost it! Can I get away with it if I say it was hormones?" Jenny batted her eyelashes.

Gibbs felt his grip loosen on his temper. He kept it in check.

"Jen", Gibbs said. But he didn't how to say the thing on his mind without being harsh or without starting the next Great War.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?" he asked instead.

"You remember what date it is?" Jenny asked.

Gibbs thought for a second. Jenny saw the exact moment recognition dawn in his eyes.

"We thought, we'd give you a surprise on your birthday. We brought cake. And presents. It's in the car. RJ said it was absolutely necessary", Jenny told him.

Gibbs looked sad.

"What's the matter?" Jenny asked, looking concerned.

"I haven't celebrated this day in so many years", Gibbs said ruefully. "And I ruined it for you guys".

"It's not your fault", Jenny told him, tugging at his hand and forcing him to sit down next to her.

Jenny rested her head on Gibbs' shoulder and he put his arm around her, hugging her close. Gibbs relished this moment of peace and closeness.

"What are you making?" Jenny asked.

"Huh?" Jenny's voice jerked Gibbs out of his reverie.

"What are you making for the baby, in the basement?" she elaborated for him.

"Thought I'd finish the rocking chair tonight. Just needs finishing touches. I'll do the crib next", Gibbs told her.

"Let's just leave here. I'll leave my truck here and pick it up in the morning. Let's get you downstairs first, and then I'll wake RJ", he said.

"And the party?" Jenny asked.

"It can wait till we're at your place".

Later that night, Gibbs climbed into bed. It hadn't been much, but the party had exhausted Jenny. He assumed she was asleep. He jerked when he felt her hand on his arm and turned over to face her.

"Jethro, I was thinking", Jenny said, "I loved your house. It's huge, for one person that is. It has amazing potential, plenty of room, a lovely garden for the baby to play in. And you have that basement of yours."

Gibbs wasn't sure what Jenny was getting at. But he had some idea.

"I was thinking that it would be better if we moved there. The baby would have plenty of space, so will RJ. And you wouldn't have to keep making trips to work on your stuff if we're there"

It was music to his ears.

"Are you sure, Jen?" he asked.

"Absolutely", she said with a large grin. "We'll need time to redecorate. We can move after she's here", Jenny said.

Gibbs caught a dreamy inflection in her voice.

"How about we add another thing on the to-do list?" Gibbs asked.

"What?" Jenny asked.

"Get married", Gibbs paused and looked at her. Her surprised expression spurred him on. "Look, I said I would wait till whenever you were ready. But, I can't anymore. Being together, like this isn't enough. I want you to have my name. I want the baby to have my name. Both babies. You have to marry me".

"Jethro, getting married just so the kids have your name is not a good enough reason. They can still have your name. And we're as good as married already"

"Jenny", Gibbs said, exasperatedly. He honestly didn't understand her hesitation. She knew he loved her more than anything. Even if he didn't say it out loud. Maybe that was it. Perhaps she couldn't be sure.

Gibbs sat up. Mimicking his movement, Jenny sat up too, although not as easily as Gibbs. He held her by the shoulders, gently.

"Jen", he waited until she met his gaze. "If you have any doubt about me or my love for you, then let me put that to rest – I love you. There isn't anything or anyone I love more. I want you in my life in a permanent capacity. I want everything I was cheated out of. You, the kids and the happily ever after".

"It's not that I doubted you. It's just that you've been married three times, now. Divorced twice. I just can't help wondering if things will work out", she let her fears be known.

"I held on to Shannon for a long time, I couldn't move on. In Paris, with you, I forgot. You helped me heal. I ruined that, too", Gibbs drew out a derisive sigh. "I married them for the wrong reasons. I tried to fill the void left by you. I thought of you each time I looked at them. I thought of you every time I touched them. You and the baby occupied my thoughts. It was doomed from the beginning".

When Gibbs finished talking, Jenny could understand where he was coming from. He'd said quite a lot out loud. The rest, he had communicated to her through his eyes.

"Jen, put me out of my misery. Say yes", he implored.

Put it like that. How could she decline?

"Yes", Jenny gave in. "But nothing extravagant. Let's just get married at the courthouse and host a cozy little party with our closest friends. After the baby is born. I'm not going to get married while I'm as huge as a house".

Jenny felt Gibbs relax. He leaned forward and kissed her.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me", Gibbs told her.

At 28 weeks pregnant, things were going well for Jenny. The doctor had given her the go ahead for resuming normal activities. Although she was called in for a scan every week to check for signs of trouble. Jenny threw herself into looking up stuff for redecorating Jethro's house. Their house. The last two weeks had been absolutely blissful. A woman couldn't have asked for more.

One night, Gibbs lay next to Jenny, eyes closed, while Jenny absentmindedly rubbed her hand on his bare chest.

"Jethro?" she asked tentatively.

"Mm-hmm?" Gibbs' reply told her how utterly relaxed he was.

"I'm tired of referring to the baby as "the baby". Can we pick a name, yet?" she suggested.

"Of course. Any ideas?" Gibbs opened his eyes and looked at her.

"You first", she said, passing on the turn.

"Something classic. Grace, Emma, Sophie or Anna", he suggested. "I don't want those ridiculously unique names parents try to foist off on their kids. She'll be picked on all her life".

"I love those names!" Jenny exclaimed. Then a thought occurred to her, uncertainty clouding her eyes. "Jethro, for the middle name, do you want to name her after… your daugh… Kelly?"

Gibbs lifted up on his elbows.

"What? And call my kid Grace Kelly? As much as I loved the Grace Kelly, the actress, I don't think it's a great idea" he tried to laugh it away. Then he turned serious. "Jen, I loved her to bits. She was my whole world. There isn't a day when I don't miss her. I have RJ and the baby, but there will always be a space in my heart occupied by Kelly. I don't want to look at her, our baby, and feel a sense of loss. I don't ever want to be sad to see her or hear her name being called".

Jenny sighed. When he put it like that, it certainly didn't seem like a great idea.

"Okay. We'll pick something else then. You know what I love Emma, Sophia, Anna and Grace. Maybe we can mix them up and come up with a first name and a middle name", Jenny suggested.

Jenny relaxed and rested her head on his chest. There was a dreamy look on her face, which didn't miss.

"Jen, what are you thinking about?" he inquired.

"The baby. I was hoping she'll have your eyes. And that smile that you have. I just want the baby to be a miniature version of you", she told him.

"We already have a baby that's a mini me", Gibbs replied, as he ran his fingers in her hair. "This time I want a mini you".

Jenny's blissfulness didn't last long. A phone call took that away.

"Hey, Irish! It's me, Decker", the caller identified himself.

"Will! Of all the ti–" Jenny began, but she was cut off by him.

"Listen, something is going down. I think our cover in Paris was compromised somehow. Someone is asking around about who killed Anatoly Zhukov. I'm being tailed. You watch your six. And his", he said before he cut the connection.

Jenny slumped in the chair.

Oh God! She thought, this couldn't be happening! Not now, when things for falling into place for her and Jethro!

She knew what she had to do, should the need arise. Jethro didn't have to find out until absolutely necessary. He'd be utterly disappointed in her. And RJ? She knew she had to protect him somehow, but she also knew that Gibbs would keep him safe at all costs. That left the baby. She hoped and prayed that they baby would be born safely before she participated in anything lethal.

Thank you all for reading. Special thanks to Left my heart in Paris who has been with the story all the way.