Chapter 19- it's okay to make mistakes mommy, it's how we learn

Rory was away on a sleepover which meant Gibbs had stayed over, Gibbs was never there when Rory woke up, they wanted to keep it simple for her, but he did come with them on days out sometimes and Rory and him had gotten close. Jenny was curled into Gibbs side and he was playing with her hair.

"Jen," he said, mumbling into her hair.

"Yeah?" she asked, opening her eyes and pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips.

"How old were you when your mom left?" he asked.

She made a noise and turned away from him she didn't like talking about her mother, it pissed her off. Plus, Jethro and her never really talked, they talked about Rory and various other things, a little bit about Jenny's past before Rory was born but never really big topics

"14," she answered, and she didn't know why, she never did.

"You seen her since?" Jenny hadn't, and she didn't want to divulge any more about it, so she got on top of and she started kissing.

"Mommy why didn't you—ahhhh" Rory ran out the room, and Jenny pulled the covers over her, she wasn't supposed to be home yet.

"Oh my god, oh my god" she mumbled into Gibbs shoulders, and he laughed

"Do not dare laugh at me Jethro! You can explain it to her while you were in my bed," she shuddered feeling embarrassed. She got up and put clothes on, throwing things at Jethro.

She opened the door and didn't see Rory so she walked passed her room and peered in, she wasn't there, frowning she headed down to the kitchen to put a coffee on and she found her 7, a few months off being 8 year old, sitting at the breakfast bar with a glass of orange juice with her arms folded giving her mother one hell of a glare. Jenny flipped on the coffee machine and pulled up a seat beside her.

"Rory we need to talk about what just happened," Jenny started, "How come you're home so early?"

Rory glared at her mother "Ballet is cancelled, so I got brought home, you weren't answering your phone because you were busy," she spat, "Rule number 3 mom," she said tightly, damn Jethro for teaching her daughter those rules. Rory was annoyed at her mommy and she was confused. "I thought you said you couldn't marry Jet because he was already married?" she asked confused.

Jenny lowered her head to her hands, how was she supposed to explain to her daughter that her mother was a mistress. "That's right Jethro is married," she said, and Rory just glared. "I made a mistake Rory," Jenny started.

"Miss Mia says it's okay to make mistakes, that's how we learn better," Rory said matter of factly and she got up to give her mother a hug. Rory was right, you should learn from your mistakes, but Jenny wasn't learning, she was just fucking.

Gibbs spent the day with the girls, and he helped Rory plant some seeds. Gibbs had left after dinner and Rory was playing spies when the phone went in the hall.

"Shepard residence, Rory Shepard speaking," she said in her 'grown up voice'.

"Hi Rory, is your mommy there?" The lady asked.

"Whose speaking?" No one ever phoned the house but when they did mommy let her answer the phone, she taught her how to ask questions politely and take messages, it was a grown up job and she loved it.

"It's Mrs Gibbs, Diane," Rory frowned, Jets wife? "I'm calling to invite you and your mother to a dinner party, can I please speak to her," Mrs Gibbs was getting bossy.

"Mommy!" Rory called through the house, "Mrs Gibbs is calling for you," Jenny froze as she entered the hall.

"Mrs Gibbs?" She asked wearily and Rory slowly nodded her head. Jenny took the phone and kissed Rory on the head.

"Jenny Shepard," she said tightly into this phone, maybe Noemi was right, maybe she was going to be murdered.

"Hello Jenny, it's Diane, Gibbs, I was just calling to invite you to a dinner party on the 4th of July, I always host one for Leroys team." Diane said

"Oh, that is very kind of you Diane, but you see I have a little one and couldn't possibly get a sitter," Jenny closed her eyes and silently prayed, happy about being knocked up at 16.

"Of course, the little one is invited," Diane exclaimed "it's a whole team thing, and ducky will be there as well, I shall see you then, Leroy can give you more information." Jenny bid her a polite farewell and stomped her feet like a child.

Gibbs knocked on Jenny's door at 9pm the next evening and Jenny answered the door, looking pissed. "Get in here," she demanded, Gibbs thought he was getting lucky.

"Your wife called me today, " she asked coolly, pressing her lips together tensely "Oh and Rory answered."

"She called you? Why?" he demanded, his wife had been suspicious but he doubt she would have done something as bold as phoning his probie at home, how did she even get her phone number.

"I was making popcorn in the kitchen for Rory and I," she said. "When I heard Rory screeching , 'Mommy Mrs Gibbs is calling for you'."she spat.

"What she want?" Gibbs asked gruffly knowing fine well why his wife had called.

"To invite me over for a 4th of July dinner," Jenny growled. "I then explained I couldn't get a sitter and she invited Rory, Rory Jethro" she added tightly.

Jenny was seething, "I'm sorry Jen "

"I now have to decide whether or not I go and put my daughter through the hell of lying for her home wrecking whore of a mother or not go and draw suspicions," she yelled at him

"You aren't a home wrecking whore Jen," he said sternly.

"We fucked up Jethro," she admitted, she opened her front door "I don't want you here tonight, I need some time to get my head on straight." She said showing him out, he looked hurt, but he nodded, it was his fault, he was married and now he was going to pay the price.