Title: Grandparents
Summary: First meetings of Allison DiNozzo and Senior in Flesh and Blood and Charlotte Gibbs meeting her Grandmother, Joann Fielding in Mother's Day.
Disclaimer: I only own Allison and Charlotte, and the added dialogue.
A/N: Allison doesn't like Senior and Charlotte doesn't like her Grandmother.
Allison DiNozzo
Tony nearly felt sick with how 'cute' everything was. His Dad was pouring on the charm as thick as he could. Tony knew he and his father shared looks but that was really where the similarities ended. Tony didn't understand why Abby and Ziva were falling over themselves to talk to him and to ask about Tony's childhood. He wondered what they had been told. He didn't have much of a childhood. He watched as Abby walked off clutching his father's arm tightly.
"Boss, it's been over 24 hours. I should go home, make sure Ally's doing ok?" Tony asked.
"Go, DiNozzo. Has your father met her?" Gibbs asked.
"No, and I plan to keep it that way." Tony explained.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because he ruins everything he touches. My childhood, my mother, my friends – you know he slept with one of my old girlfriends from College? She told me the next morning." Tony said.
"Go, make sure she's ok." Gibbs waved him away.
"Thanks, Boss." Tony turned to go to elevator.
"Junior!" Tony froze, "What's this Abby tells me you've got a daughter?" His father called.
"Yeah, Dad. I do. But I had planned on easing both of your into meeting each other. And that was my choice." Abby had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Well, what better time than now?" Senior chuckled.
"No, you are not meeting my daughter today. If I had my way you would never meet her." Tony told him.
"Why not?" Senior asked.
"Because you ruin everything you touch! You are coming no where near my daughter and she will only know you by name – but never meet you." Tony hissed.
"Dad! What is keeping you?" A voice called from the elevator. Oh no, Tony's mind hissed, brilliant! He saw the expression on Senior's face as Allison Sophia DiNozzo came towards them. With her long blonde hair, green eyes, figure that most woman would kill for and long strong legs made for cheerleading.
"Are you coming?" She asked, with one of her trade-mark 'DiNozzo Dazzlers'.
"Yeah, baby, I'll be there in a minute." Tony said.
"This is her?" Senior asked.
"Yeah…Allison Sophia DiNozzo meet your Nonno, Anthony DiNozzo Senior." Tony said, reluctantly. He was pleased when Allison frowned at her grandfather.
"But you told me he was in Europe." Allison said.
"I was, but I came back to see your dad. I didn't expect you to be so beautiful though. You did good, Junior. Who's your mother, sweetheart?" Senior asked, Allison face darkened.
"Uh, no. You don't get to call me 'beautiful' or 'sweetheart' those words are reserved for my father, my Aunty Abby, my Uncles Tim, Jethro and James, or my grandfather, Ducky. Not you. I don't know you and I am going to pretend I never met you. Come on Dad. You owe me lunch." Allison said. Senior was slightly stunned; it took until Tony was about to step out from behind his desk that he finally spoke up.
"Junior…what do you teach her? She should show respect to her elders and particularly her family." Senior said.
"Oh, she does. Apparently – to her – you are not family." Tony snapped, following his daughter to the elevator.
Charlotte Gibbs
Jethro had nearly had enough of Joann lying to him. She'd described the wrong man, Kyle Buckley? Really? Gibbs hadn't thought of him in years. Not since he died in that car accident. And Jethro also couldn't believe that Joann still blamed him for Shannon and Kelly's deaths. Why couldn't she understand that as a Marine he didn't have a choice he had to follow orders. He hadn't wanted to leave the Fielding Farm. Or Stillwater. His Dad was there, Kelly loved it, it was Shannon's home. Mac and Joann loved having their granddaughter there just as his father did. But Jethro had orders, they had to go. Even with Kelly sobbing he had to ignore it and honor his commitment.
Now he approached her to let her know exactly what he thought.
"Beautiful morning," she said.
"Member of my own family's been lying to me. Your story doesn't add up." He said.
"Well, maybe your math is wrong. Listen, the man I loved just died in my arms. What the hell do you want from me?" She asked.
"Respect. A little honesty maybe." He replied.
"I've always given you respect." She told him.
"When, uh, Shannon was alive, maybe." He chuckled.
"in my family, you have to earn it. When those girls died, you did nothing." She accused.
"Did you know that Joe Norton dealt drugs?" He asked.
"That's ridiculous." She scoffed.
"I can prove it." He said.
"I love him. I knew him." She pointed out.
"how well did you know him? You know he had million ins the back? Drug money from his dealing with the Reynosa Cartel – the same men who killed your daughter." He said.
"Shut up." She hissed.
"Shannon. Kelly. Mexico. Norton. They all have one thing in common, Joann: you." He said, he nearly expected the slap she gifted him with.
"You! You are the one who took my family away from me." She snarled, right in his face.
"I'm a Marine. I had orders. I didn't have a choice. I had to go." He replied, she knew which of his buttons to push and Shannon and Kelly were two very active ones.
"Because of you, they're dead." She accused.
"I didn't kill them." He replied.
"But it was still your responsibility. Why weren't you there to take care of our girls?" She asked.
"This is about the murder of Joseph Norton, Joann." He reminded her.
"Well go do your damn job, Jethro. Nothing ever stopped you before. Nothing's gonna stop you now." She snarled.
"Daddy!" Both turned at the voice. Jethro could feel that expression on Joann's face. Disbelief. A young girl – about 15 – ran towards them. Long brown hair – when the sun touched it right it turned auburn – blue eyes, figure of a dancer and it was clear she either a dancer or a cheerleader.
"Hey, darlin. What's wrong?" Jethro asked when the girl reached them.
"You promised me lunch, Dad." She said.
"So, I did. I'm in the middle of a case right now, honey. I just can't swing it. Why don't you get Tony to take you out?" He sighed.
"Because he and Ally have another lunch date today. You promised, Daddy." She whined.
"Alright, but only because I promised you." He said.
"Wait…Jethro – who is this? Why is she calling you 'Dad'?" Joann spluttered.
"Joann Fielding – meet your other granddaughter, Charlotte Joan Gibbs. Born when Kelly was 4." Jethro said, recalling the moment when Shannon told him she was pregnant. That Kelly was going to be a big sister.
"Here is D.C.? and I didn't know?" Joann was shocked.
"Shannon had planned to tell you. But life got in the way. Charlotte was sick more of her infancy and Kelly had started school. It just slipped our mind. Though she would have featured on the Christmas Cards. At least I hope she did." Jethro said.
"Shannon stopped sending photos with the Christmas cards, I don't think Charlotte was ever mentioned." Joann said, quietly.
"She would have been." Jethro assured her.
"'She' is right here." The newcomer reminded the pair of adults she was still there.
"So, you are. How old are you, Charlotte?" Joann asked.
"15 in two weeks." Charlotte replied, stonily.
"June. A summer baby. Were you home than?" Joann asked.
"Yeah, I was on leave for 18 months, so I was there for the first nine months of her life. Then I was on tour, didn't see her until she was 2 and half. Kelly was 6. Then I got called to Pendleton for another two years – in that time – Charlotte got to know her father, Kelly turned 8 and I was completely in love with my life and family. When I left for Desert Storm," here he paused, "I had never even heard of NIS until I was told what had happened. I was shocked when they told me that Charlotte had survived – having been so sick she had to go to the Hospital. I didn't see her until I got home." Jethro stopped here, the hand on his arm had stopped him.
"Daddy…you don't owe her that. She has never tried to be part of your life or mine before. She doesn't deserve it. I'm sorry for your loss, Joann. But my father and I have a date to keep." Charlotte's tone was clipped and sharp. Biting. It was clear she no love for her Grandmother. But Jethro had a feeling that if Mac had been around, it would be different.