Marriage
It wasn't meant to be this way. It was meant to be her standing up there next to him, beaming up at him. It should have been her hand he was grasping. Instead, she was standing in the back, in the shadows, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to spill over.
"Oh Jethro." She sighed, "I hate to see you do this to yourself." Abby sat in the front row, her arms folded, sulking. Jen spared a brief smile at the loyalty of the goth. Tony was standing behind Gibbs, surreptitiously checking out the guests, although every time his eyes rested on the imposter bride they would narrow. McGee gazed around wide eyed with confusion as if expecting to see her hiding in the shadows. Only Ducky stood at the back with her.
"Oh Jennifer," He whispered, "I am so glad you aren't here to see this." A small tear ran down his face and Jen ached to brush it away for her loyal friend.
"It's ok Ducky; I can't expect him to mourn for me forever." She replied, knowing that the doctor wouldn't hear her, but wanting to express her opinion anyway. She wished Ziva was here, but no one had been able to get hold of her. She wanted to see her old friend, wanted to see her and Tony flirt and try to deny feelings for each other, wanted to see the way she was with McGee, she wanted to see Abby happy, flinging her arms around people like she used to do, before all this happened. Before Jethro settled for the first woman he came across, just to try and erase memories, before she, herself became just a memory.
The brides family and friends burst into applause, Jethro's side gave muted claps, signifying the end of the ceremony. Jen spared one last look at her old family before turning away. She would be there for him when it all broke down, she would sit beside him whilst he drank himself into oblivion in his basement, she would be there when he broke down and called out her name in his sleep, she just wished she could touch him.
V!
xox
