The next morning, Sophie was the first to wake up in the house and once she woke up she didn't usually fall back asleep. So, she decided to get up and wander down the hall to see if she could find her parents. She pushed open one door and found it was the bathroom so she moved across the hall to try another door. She smiled when she saw her mom and dad cuddled close together and fast asleep. Jenny had her head rested on his chest and Jethro had both his arms wrapped around her. Sophie walked over and climbed onto the bed from her mother's side. Jenny felt the bed dip and stirred in her sleep. She opened her eyes a bit and smiled when she saw Sophie sitting next to her with a big grin on her face. She then looked and saw it was four in the morning. Without saying a word, Jenny opened her arms and let Sophie lay down with her and Jethro. Sophie easily snuggled in with them and eventually fell back asleep as did Jenny.
Jethro was the next person to wake up two hours later and he was surprised when he saw Sophie sleeping in between him and Jenny. Jenny had her arms wrapped around Sophie and Sophie was fast asleep. Jethro wondered how he didn't wake up when she came in the room last night or this morning. He smiled at the two of them until his mind flashed back to Shannon and Kelly. He could hear Kelly's laughter and see Shannon's smile. When he snapped out of it he quickly got out of bed and went straight for the bathroom. His sudden movement woke Jenny and stirred Sophie. Sophie turned so she was facing her mother and mumbled,
"Where's daddy going?"
Jenny just kissed Sophie's forehead and told her to wait in their bed while she went and talked with Jethro. She opened the bathroom door and found him leaning against the sink with his hands on either side of it. His face was wet as were his hands from splashing water onto his face. Jenny closed the door behind her and slowly approached Jethro. She put one hand on his shoulder and he flinched and it made her quickly remove her hand.
"Jethro... what's wrong?" she whispered. She could hear his heavy breathing and his eyes looked as if his mind were someplace else. She had no knowledge of his life with Shannon and Kelly so this side of him confused her. Jethro finally picked his head up and looked at her. He could see the amount of worry she had in her eyes and he knew he would need to tell her about Shannon and Kelly sooner or later. He prefered the latter, but in order to make his relationship work with her and Sophie he needed to let them in or else he would lose them.
"I can't... I can't take about it right now, but I have to tell you something important."
Jenny didn't push him to say any more and just hugged him. He squeezed her a bit tight for her liking, but she didn't want to say anything. Jethro kissed her cheek and then left the bathroom. When he exited, he found Sophie waiting outside the bathroom with wide eyes. She looked almost scared to talk to him. Jethro bent down to her level and she immediately went into his arms. Jenny leaned against the doorframe and watched his interaction with her. Jethro picked Sophie up and she giggled.
"Can we have breakfast now, daddy?" Sophie asked. Jethro nodded.
"How does eggs and bacon sound?"
Sophie nodded her head excitedly and turned to look at her mother, "Are you coming?"
Jenny smiled and nodded. "We need to stop at home after to change clothing and then you need to go to school today."
Sophie nodded and then Jethro took her downstairs to get her some food.
Throughout the day, Jenny's mind kept going back to how Jethro behaved this morning and she was wondering what it could possibly be that he wanted to talk to her about. She thought about looking in his file, but decided against it. For now, she would have to wait until he was ready. A knock at the door broke her train of thought and she allowed the person to come in. She smiled when she saw Ducky.
"Ah Ducky, thank you this will just take a minute."
"Of course my dear." Ducky says as they sit down at the conference table. Jenny pulled out one of Sophie's files that had where the godparents needed to sign. She had Ziva's signature, but she still needed to ask Ducky.
"When I had Sophie I needed to choose two guardians slash godparents for her. Ziva agreed to be her godmother and I wanted you to be her godfather."
Ducky's eyebrows go up. That was not what he expected to hear. He nodded, "Well of course I will gladly if it's me you... and Jethro want."
Jenny noticed his change of tone at the end and she sighed. She took her glasses off and leaned back in her chair. "Okay, I know you want to say something so go ahead."
Ducky just shook his head, "I'm not going to lecture you Jennifer."
Jenny sighed again at the use of her full name. He only used it when there was something he wished to say. "I know you're disappointed..."
Ducky shook his head again. "Not disappointed, but Jennifer he deserved to know from the beginning. Especially since he has never had any children!"
"I wanted to Ducky but I couldn't. Not after how I ended it."
Ducky folded his hands on the table, "With a Dear John letter?"
Jenny's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped a bit, "How did you... did you read it?"
Ducky shook his head, "No he revealed that a couple months ago back when DiNozzo was infected with the plague..."
"SWAK?"
"It's sealed with a kiss Gibbs, didn't you ever get a love letter?" Abby asks as she examines the envelop Tony opened. Gibbs expression changes.
"Does a Dear John count?"
Abby frowns and turns to the camera, "Awe! I feel sorry for you Gibbs!"
Jenny bites her lip and looks away from Ducky. Ducky reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen to sign the paper under where his name was printed. He then passed it back to Jenny.
"Thank you."
Ducky nods and stands up and as he is going for the door it already begins to open. Jenny smiled when she heard the sound of her little girl's voice.
"Hi mommy! Hi Ducky!"
Sophie gave Ducky a hug and Ducky laughed, "Hello my dear. Don't you look adorable in that dress."
Sophie did a twirl around and dropped her bag onto one of the conference table chairs. Jenny stood up and walked over to Stan, who escorted Sophie to the building. "Thank you Stan, Agent Gibbs will be driving us home today so you have an early night."
Stan thanked her and walked away quickly before she could change her mind. Sophie would come to NCIS after school on Fridays and Wednesdays since Naomi didn't work those days and then Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays Sophie would go home and Naomi would look after her.
"Mommy where is daddy? I didn't see him at his desk!" The girl exclaimed as she skipped over to the couch. Jenny turned to Ducky since she didn't know.
"Your daddy is out with Tony and McGee interviewing someone right now, but I'm sure he will be back later. I'm afraid I must go now ladies. Have a nice evening." Ducky said and then exited the office and shut the door behind them.
"Are we going to daddy's house tonight?"
Jenny shook her head and went over to her desk. "No, daddy is coming home with us." Sophie shrugs and pulls out her book to read while her mother works.
When Ducky exited the Director's office he was going towards the elevator when he saw Tony, McGee, and Gibbs return. The expression on Gibbs's face made Ducky frown; he didn't look happy or mad, but more depressed. He saw Gibbs head for the elevator so Ducky called it for himself first and would pick him up and then Gibbs. Ducky got in and moments later the doors opened to Gibbs.
"Abby's lab?" Ducky asks and Gibbs nods. Ducky pushes the button and the doors close. "I signed Miss. Sophie's birth papers signing me as her godfather and guardian."
Gibbs nods. "Thank you Duck."
"And are you alright with Ms. David being her other guardian?"
Gibbs turned and flipped the emergency switch. Ducky frowned. "Is there something you want to say Dr. Mallard?"
Ducky sighs, "Jethro, you don't seem all that happy today and even more these past few days you seem like you're in some other world."
Gibbs flips the switch and the elevator begins moving again. "I trust Jen's judgement on what is best for Sophie. If she thinks Ziva is a good choice than so be it."
And with that the elevator doors open and Gibbs walks out, leaving Ducky to think over what just happened.
