Chapter 20- You leave my daughter out of this.

It was the night before the dreaded event and Jenny had strolled into Rory's room while she was reading, things had been a little bit off with them for the last few days and she knew it was because Rory was waiting on her mother telling her whether or not we were going.

"Hey Rory, can we talk," Rory lifted her head up from behind her book, held her mother's gaze for a moment and nodded as she put her book down.

"Are we going?" She asked, Rory wanted to go and hang out with the team, but her mother had been very guarded about it. '

"Well that what's I wanted to talk to you about," she said as she sat down on the edge of the bed, "If we went to this thing, well" Jenny trailed off she didn't know how to finish that statement.

"If we go I'd have to pretend that Jet doesn't sneak in here during the night, I know mom," Jenny closed her eyes tightly, her daughter was smart, she knew what was going on

"I don't ever want to put you in a situation where you would have to lie Rory, I don't want to make you uncomfortable." Rory sat up and looked at her mother.

"I want to go mom, I want to hang out with the team, I don't care if I have to pretend I don't know Jet, I don't care if you're dating him, you're happy," Jenny smiled at her daughter and placed a kiss on the little girls head.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me Rory," she said, and Rory smiled, she knew.

After a very long moment and a fight with her wardrobe, Jenny's room looked like a bomb had exploded in her wardrobe, but she and Rory were both ready to go. Jenny wasn't so sure what the right clothing attire was for attending a dinner party at your married boyfriends house, could she really call him a boyfriend? Ugh it was just semantics. Jenny was dressed in a pair of tight, black jeans paired with a lacy blouse that wasn't too revealing and a pair of Louboutin's. Rory was wearing a summer dress and sparkly shoes with a cute bow in her hair. She had opted to dress more casually as to try and not upstage the wife, but her kid, she dresses any way she wants.

When Jenny and Rory got out of the car Jenny smoothed out Rory's dress and took her hand, "Pretty house," Rory deduced as they walked up the steps to the front door her mother murmured a response.

"Hi, Jenny," Diane greeted "Your timing is perfect, the boys are already here" and gestured them both inside. "we are going to have some drinks in the garden before moving it inside for the meal." Diane shut the door behind them and tilted her head. Jenny bit her lip when she realised that Diane was waiting to be introduced to Rory.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jenny said, stumbling over her words, she nudged Rory to introduce yourself.

"Hi Mrs Gibbs, my names Rory," she said extending her hand to shake Diane's

"Oh, aren't you so polite," Diane said, shaking her hand. "and what a pretty dress you have on."

"Thank you Mrs Gibbs," Rory said with a smile.

"Call me Diane dear," Rory looked up at her mother and Jenny just nodded.

"I can take your purse and put it in the closet if you would like," Diane offered. "and I can take your pack back too if you want Rory." Diane offered

"Mommy keeps a hold of it," Rory started "It had my Epi Pen in it, in case you give me nuts of shellfish and she put some things in there in case I get bored" Rory said matter of factly.

"Oh well I made sure there is none, my husband told me, " she said almost harshly before changing her tune "but you leave that with your momma, just in case, You guys go on out back, and don't worry Rory I've got some things for you to play with"

"That's very kind Diane you didn't need to do that, do you need help with anything Diane?" Jenny asked nicely attempting to control her breathing while Rory ran out the back.

"Oh, it is nothing just some bubbles, you and that little one go outside and have some drinks." Jenny followed Rory out.

Exiting to the back yard she saw Burley wave at her as he and Deck began to play with Rory, before her eyes fell onto Jethro who was standing behind the Grill where he was making the steaks. Diane went over to him handing him a beer, and demanding he go and say hello to Jenny and Rory.

Rory ran up to him and stopped before she came near the grill and looked back at Jenny who nodded that it was okay, she gave him a big hug as he came around the side of the grill and picked her up, "Wanna help me grill Ror?" he asked as Rory looked at her mother, again, for approval.

"You can help Gibbs grill Rory, just be careful," she said.

"Jenny I just love those Louboutin's" Diane said looking the woman up and down

"Thank you, beautiful house," she answered. Diane nodded and observed Gibbs with Rory.

"He's very good with her," Diane said giving Jenny a knowing look, Jenny made no comment either way. "He went with you to her ballet recital?" Diane said tartly

"The whole team came," Jenny said abruptly.

"Leroy," Diane said, turning to Gibbs. "How much longer?" She asked changing the subject

"Food coming right up," Rory said smiling at Diane and Diane smiled back.

Burley came up behind Jenny and tickled her and she squealed. Gibbs narrowed his eyes on the two of him and Diane narrowed her eyes onto him. "Come chill with Deck and I red, we are playing football."

Jenny cocked an eyebrow and turned to Gibbs who nodded at her, Rory was fine with him, so she followed Burley over the grass area where the boys were playing football, she kicked off her heels and joined in, she needed something to avoid the awkwardness.

After 20 minutes of playing Jenny gave up and went to check on Rory. "You okay princess?"

"Yeah mom, look at the bubbles Diane gave me, and she's got some colouring for me to do!" Rory exclaimed excitedly, "I'm having fun," she added. Jenny kissed the crown of her head.

"I'm glad baby, I'm glad." Rory looked up at her mother with a puzzled expression.

"You aren't having fun mom?" She asked and Jenny just smiled.

"Jennifer, you look beautiful." Jenny turned around to see Ducky standing behind her and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "And Aurora, what a beautiful dress"

"You are so sweet, Ducky," she said taking a drink of her water, she wished she was drinking right now. Ducky gave Rory some sweets and she ran off to Burley to share them with him, kid has a big heart.

A few minutes later Diane had called them all in to sit in the dining room where Diane had set up a large table for everyone to eat, Gibbs couldn't have been placed further away from her. Everyone had steaks but Diane had put a small buffet of kid food together for Rory and it felt like a slap to the face for Jenny, this woman had gone out of her way to make her daughter feel comfortable and had food to eat, and Jenny was screwing her husband.

After dinner they all moved into the living room where Diane offered everyone teas and coffees, Rory was happily drawing even though it was getting late ."Jet?" Rory said and everyone looked at her, "Can I please see the boat?" She asked sleepily, they day had worn her out.

"Oh, sweetheart it's in the basement and those stairs are a death trap, I don't think your mom would want you going down there, it's not safe for little girls," Diane said, and Jenny looked at her, it wasn't any of her business.

"I'll take her Diane, she will be fine," Gibbs rolled his eyes and looked at Jenny, "as long as it's okay with you?"

Jenny nodded "Yeah fine, just don't be too long okay it's getting late." Jenny said, she realllllyyyy wanted out of here, she was beginning to feel like she couldn't breathe.

Gibbs helped Rory down the stairs, and Rory stared in amazement as she stopped for the first time seeing his famous boat. It was half finished but it was bigger than Rory could've imagined. "You built this?" she asked quietly.

He picked up a sander and stood beside her, placing the took on her hands and helped her glide the sander over the boat. "You go with the grain of the wood." He said to her. They spent time sanding the boat before Gibbs heard movement up the stairs and lifted Rory down off the stop "Come on kid, your mom is pacing." Rory looked up at him

"Can I come back another time?" She asked, and he nodded. Rory and Gibbs returned to the living room and gave her mom a tired smile. "I'm tired momma," Jenny nodded and began gathering her things.

"Thank you Diane for having us," Jenny said.

"I'll show you out," Diane said walking them to the door, Gibbs in tow. "Rory," Diane paused for a moment "has Leroy ever been at your house." Jenny froze fire evident in her eyes, she went to say something before Rory stepped in.

"Once, when we went to NCIS, it was for a case," the little girl lied beautifully, and it stabbed Jenny in the heart.

"Go wait by the car Rory," Jenny demanded, giving her daughter a look that meant business before she turned to Diane. "If you have problems in your marriage you talk to your husband about it," she hissed, "you leave my daughter out of it, don't you dare do that again." She barked and stormed off to her daughter. She was infuriated, how dare she talk to her daughter like that. Driving home silently Jennifer Shepard realised one thing, she was in love. The stress that came with the sin was suffocating her, she had everything to lose and the only way this could end was badly, and her daughter was now caught in the middle. She had never felt like a crappy mother until that moment.