a/n: Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews I've been getting! Makes me smile and I love to hear from all of you. Feedback is greatly appreciated. So, if you didn't realize from other chapters, the italicized stuff is a flashback. Just a heads up. Also, I wanted to let you all know that the next few chapters are going to be centered on the new Jenny, Jethro, Lauren dynamic as well as the team, their opinions, take on what's going on, and how everything works out. After that, some more stuff, maybe some surprises, and I think that might be it. The conflict has almost been resolved ;)
A few weeks had gone by and Jenny could say with certainty that her and Jethro were together again. They were spending evenings at each other's houses and Lauren couldn't be happier. However, their relationship was still in the shadows. No one knew about them, not even Lauren. After a long discussion that, surprisingly, didn't involve an elevator they decided that they were going to keep things quiet until the custody situation was settled. Jenny and Heather had worked on everything over the phone and had filed all the necessary paperwork and set up a date for social services to look at what they had created. She had been extremely nervous all week leading up to it and finally the day had arrived. They had filled Lauren in on what was happening and she had been completely gung ho about it, to Jenny's relief. Jethro had told her all along that Lauren would be good with it but of course she hadn't believed him. Now it was 1130 and she had to be there by noon. Lauren was with Claire and William while Jethro was driving them to the office. She couldn't stop fidgeting.
"Jethro." She said softly. He was playing with her hair. Lauren had long gone to bed and they were laying on the couch together watching an old movie on TV. He hummed softly in response. "I've been talking with Heather about Lauren and—if I'm getting full custody of her—I was wondering if you wanted to be included?" She asked hesitantly without looking up at him. He stopped tugging at her hair and she tilted her head up at him. Slowly, he smiled.
"You gonna let me?" He asked and she chuckled as she flipped over so her hands lay softly on his chest. She looked into his eyes.
"Of course Jethro! You are her father after all. I want you in Lauren's life as much as you do." She said and he smirked before pecking her on the lips.
They had decided on joint custody. She was going to be just as responsible for Lauren as Jethro was. They were going to be like any other parents. And that made her smile. Looking back on her life, not in a million years did she ever think that she'd be in a situation like this—and she wouldn't have it any other way. As they walked into the building he gave her a reassuring smile and she let out a soothing breath as he took her hand in his. They were going to do this—together.
. . .
Unfortunately, they had to go back to work. But all she wanted to do was celebrate. Didn't this warrant a day off? As Director she knew it would never happen but as a mom, she could dream. She couldn't stop beaming. And Jethro, being the proud parent he was, was having trouble keeping back a smile as well. They had done it. Officially, they were the full time parents of Lauren Caroline Shepard. After all these years, she had finally gotten her baby back. It'd been a crazy ride with lots of ups and down and conflicts that got in the way, but they had done it—finally. She felt oddly relieved because now so many things had been resolved. Lauren knew that she was never going to leave her again; she didn't have to worry about Gibbs's suspicion because she'd tell him everything anyway and she didn't have to worry about getting distracted by the custody situation itself; which—if she was to be honest—was the stupidest reason to possibly get into a car accident.
They arrived at Claire's a short time later. Lauren and William were running around the house while the three adults stood chatting. "Congratulations, you two!" Claire exclaimed happily and Jenny smiled as Jethro's hand found her back.
"Thank you, it took a while to get everything the way it is now." She supplied ironically. Claire didn't know the half of it. After they'd rounded up Lauren they headed back to NCIS. In the car ride they'd decided to bring up the custody situation. This was a big step and after losing a previous round of rock-paper-scissors it was decided that Jenny was going to bring it up. "So did you have fun with William?" She asked and Lauren nodded.
"Yeah, we had lots of fun!" She exclaimed and Jenny smiled. Silence filled the car for a moment. Jenny took a deep breath. "Lauren, honey, do you remember when we went to the Doctor's office a few weeks ago?" She asked and Lauren nodded. "And you remember how Mr. Harry Shepard is your daddy right?" She asked and Lauren giggled but nodded her head. "Well I know who your real daddy is." She said and Lauren's eyes widened as her mouth hung open.
"Really?" She asked in a low voice, like this was a big secret. And as much as she hated to admit it, right now, it was. Neither Jenny nor Jethro were ready to tell anyone about this let alone the fact that they were dating. But that was another matter entirely. But they owed it to Lauren to tell her that Jethro was her dad. She deserved it with all the things she's been through. However, not having a dad her whole life was familiar and this was different. They could only predict how she was going to act. Jenny nodded in the rear view mirror and watched Lauren carefully. She looked deep in thought. Her lips were pursed and her brow was furrowed. Just the way she was looking out the window, as if she was pondering some deep life question, made Jenny want to let out a nervous laugh. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Lauren turned back to them. "So it's not just gonna be you and me anymore?" She asked curiously and Jenny sighed. She didn't know how to answer that.
"No honey, it's not just going to be you and me anymore. But I promise that you can always talk to me or come to me with anything alright?" She asked and Lauren nodded. She seemed hesitant yet excited. Ever since she'd started school she's wanted a dad. And Jenny suspected that it didn't just have to do with the kids at school having dads. However, it'd always been just Lauren and Jenny, the dynamic duo. They didn't need anybody. They had each other, and that was enough. Lauren had only ever known "Jenny and Lauren" and Jenny wondered how the little red head was going to react to now being a trio. Lauren nodded softly. There was silence for the rest of the ride and Jenny and Jethro had agreed to give her some space to think about this new development before confronting her.
When they arrived at NCIS Jenny shut off the car and they all got out. However, before they could walk into the building Lauren tugged at Jenny's sleeve and the red head stopped. Gibbs stopped as well but she waved him on. "What d'ya need, honey?" Jenny asked softly and Lauren ushered her closer. So she bent down and looked the little girl in the eye.
"I didn't want to say this in front of Gibbs because I didn't want him to feel bad." She said and Jenny nodded hesitantly for her to go on. "But I wanna know who he is." She whispered and it took all of Jenny's will power not to laugh aloud. Oh the sweet irony. She took a breath. They were planning on doing this together but this worked too.
"Lauren, sweetie, Gibbs is your dad." She said bluntly and Lauren froze for a moment. Then her eyes widened.
"Woah." She uttered and Jenny chuckled before kissing the little girls head. Suddenly, Lauren grinned and giggled and Jenny looked at her curiously. "I knew it." She said with a little smirk and Jenny furrowed her brow, willing Lauren to explain and she did. "Well, I don't know. I just knew. But then Tony said that me and Gibbs look the same and "glare" the same so then I really knew." She emphasized and Jenny smiled. Lauren: that wonderful little girl. Slowly, Jenny ushered the girl into the building. She didn't speak again until they were safely in the elevator. "Mommy?" Jenny hummed in response as she looked down at Lauren. "Does that mean I have to call Gibbs "daddy"?" She asked and Jenny shook her head.
"You can call him Gibbs or Daddy. Your choice sweetheart. Whatever you're most comfortable with." She said. Lauren had been calling Gibbs "Gibbs" for a while now so if she wasn't comfortable calling him "daddy" it was fine with them. Lauren nodded. There was silence as they walked past the bull pen. Neither Gibbs nor the team was there. It reminded her that if Lauren started calling Gibbs "daddy" then they needed to tell the team. She was not going to have an overwhelming uproar if suddenly Lauren walked in the bull pen and greeted Jethro with "daddy". The question was when, and how.