Kelly Gibbs lay in bed with a huge smile on her face. She was in her old bedroom at her parent's house one last time. Today was her wedding day. She couldn't believe the past two years of her life. She had survived a vicious attack outside of a nightclub, met her future husband, and had found a job teaching music.

The rising sun streamed through the curtains and Kelly could hear the birds chirping as she got out of bed. It was a beautiful April day, and Kelly couldn't wait for her wedding. It was still early, by anybody's standards, but Kelly couldn't sleep any longer.

"Morning sweetie." Shannon Gibbs said as Kelly walked into the kitchen in her fuzzy pink slippers and pajamas.

"How's it feel?" Jethro Gibbs asked as he sipped his coffee.

"What?" Kelly asked as she gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from her mom.

"This is your wedding day, how does it feel?" Jethro Gibbs elaborated.

"Great. Now I'd just like to be married please." Kelly said simply.

"I remember that feeling." Shannon said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"On our wedding day all I wanted was for it to finally be official." Shannon said with a smile.

Kelly had been afraid that the day would drag on and on, and she would be jittery for most of the day. The wedding ceremony wasn't until evening. Kelly was surprised that her day went very fast. Most of it was spent at the spa with her bridal party as they got their hair, nails and make-up done. Abby was great at creating distractions. Before she knew it the time had come for Kelly to put her dress on and finally get married. The satin ivory gown fit Kelly perfectly, and a beautiful rhinestone and pearl tiara sat on top of her head, accentuating her bright red hair.

Jenny Sheppard had been a Godsend. Kelly thought to herself as she eyed the red-head from across the church. Quietly Jenny had sat down in the last row. Until the reception began, Jenny's work was done. The church was decorated beautifully, and Kelly couldn't wait to see the reception hall. Jenny truly had become Kelly's fairy godmother.

The music began and Jethro Gibbs slowly walked his daughter down the aisle. Shannon Gibbs had tears in her eyes, and for a moment she thought her always stoic husband just might cry a bit, but he refrained.

Gently, Timothy took Kelly's hand from her father, and led her up to the altar. The ceremony seemed to speed by. As she posed for pictures after the ceremony Kelly felt that it was all a blur. She barely remembered saying her vows, and the pastor had urged her to speak up. Kelly had been so nervous her voice was barely audible in the large church.

As she entered the reception hall Kelly was breathless. White candles glowed everywhere. Sprays of white and lavender roses decorated every surface, and the chandeliers were dimly lit. An ice sculpture of a swan greeted guests as they made their way to the bar.

"Wow." Timothy McGee whispered in his wife's ear.

"Wow is right." Kelly said with a smile as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband.

Kelly had more fun at her wedding reception than at any party she had ever been to. Jenny Sheppard had gone out of her way to create a dream wedding, and as Kelly stood back for a moment and watched her guests, she was eternally grateful. Everybody was smiling, dancing, or enjoying a conversation.

Time seemed to fly by. It was almost midnight and Kelly wanted a moment to herself. Quietly she snuck away from the reception and made her way out to the balcony over-looking the garden. Kelly braced her hands against the railing and looked up at the night sky. The sky was aglow with billions of bright stars. Kelly quickly found the one that shone brighter than any other. The North Star glimmered like a diamond in the inky black sky.

Drawing in a breath Kelly hesitated for a moment. It had been years since she had done this, but for some reason tonight seemed perfect. In a quiet whisper she slowly began saying what sounded right.

"I can't believe it. I got married today. You'd really like him I think. He loves to listen as I play piano, just like you used to. You always laughed and said it made the long shifts go by a lot faster. He's a writer, and a really, really good person. He makes me so happy. I think you'd approve. I remember what you told me about boys. Take time to think. Make sure they're the right one. I was only eight then, and it seemed like a zillion years before I'd be dating. You told me that after you caught me kissing Joey Taylor on the cheek in the sandbox. I remember it like yesterday. It's been a crazy couple years, what a ride! Ziva told me the other day. Don't tell anybody though; she wasn't supposed to tell me what was in the final report in the case file. You didn't die right away. That's what we thought for years. You had time to swerve the car. If you hadn't gone in the opposite direction, my mom and I would have died too. Thank-you Paula." Kelly finished and blew a kiss at the North Star.

As Kelly turned to head back into the reception she ran smack into her father.

"Dad what are you doing out here?" Kelly asked as she tried to hold back tears.

"Same thing you were." Jethro said with a smile.

"I'm not surprised. You were the one who taught me in the first place." Kelly said as she hugged her dad.

When he had returned from Iraq Jethro had realized that Kelly had been suffering from nightmares related to the car accident. Even at eight years old Kelly felt guilty that somebody had to die so she and her mother could live. Kelly didn't understand that the agent who had died while protecting them knew that was a possibility. Late one night Jethro had comforted Kelly after an especially bad nightmare by taking her outside and sitting with her on the back patio. It had been a chilly night, but Jethro had explained to his young daughter that if she talked to the brightest star in the sky that Special Agent Paula Cassidy would be able to hear her.

At eight years old Kelly had stood on her back patio and cried as she looked at the night sky and apologized to the Agent who had saved the lives of her and her mother. In the dark of the night Jethro had to use all of his energy to hold back his tears. For years, that was how Kelly had coped. It wasn't uncommon for Jethro to wake up in the middle of the night and find Kelly on the swing in the backyard looking up at the sky and recounting the details of a dance, or what the newest song she learned on the piano had been.

"And just what do you want to say to Paula?" Kelly asked with a smile.

"It'll be short." Jethro said with a smile as he pulled a flask out of the pocket of his tuxedo jacket.

Kelly turned and headed back into the reception.

As she walked towards the party Kelly could hear her father whisper quietly "Thank-you." Then he took a swig from his flask, and headed back towards the reception.

Kelly had barely found her husband when Jenny Sheppard tapped her on the shoulder.

"It's about time." Jenny said as she tapped her watch.

Tim grabbed Kelly's hand, and Kelly held her bouquet as the couple made their way to the dance floor. Kelly tossed the bouquet and much to her surprise, Kate caught it. Kelly scanned the crowd, and at the far edge of the dance floor, even in the dimly lit ballroom Kelly could see Tony turn beet red. Kelly smiled at Tim, and hand in hand the newly married couple exited the reception. Four floors above the ballroom there was a honeymoon suite waiting for the new Mr. and Mrs. McGee.

At two a.m. the reception was finally over. Two hours after the happy couple had left guests had partied and danced much of the night away. As the guests left Jethro Gibbs approached Jenny Sheppard. He was carrying a small box wrapped in silver paper, and tied with a white ribbon.

"Kelly wanted you to have this." Jethro smiled at the red-head as he handed her the box.

Jenny tore through the paper and opened the box. Inside was a silver magic wand, engraved with the words "Fairy Godmother."

Jenny laughed and smiled at the private joke she and Kelly shared.

THE END