A/N: This literally popped into a dream I had the other day, so I simply had to write it down. Sorry it's so short. Hope you enjoy in spite of it's length!
"Mom, why does Dad call you 'Jen'?"
The question was so bizarre that at first Jenny was unsure of how to respond, and as she looked at her fourteen-year-old daughter, she frowned.
"Because my name is Jennifer."
"I know that," Jillian said in exasperation, sounding so much like her mother that Jenny nearly laughed, "I mean, why doesn't he use nicknames like he does with me? He never calls you "honey" or "sweetheart" or anything like it."
A horrible thought occurred to the young girl, and she looked at her mother worriedly, her eyes wide.
"You're not going to get divorced are you?"
Jenny did laugh now, shaking her head as she took her by the hand, leading her to the couch. Aries jumped up into Jillian's lap, seeking her attention, and as she ran her hand lightly over the dog's head, Jenny smiled at her.
"No, Jilly. I think your father has been divorced so many times he's set a record for it. But everything is fine. I promise."
"But you fight all the time," her daughter said doubtfully.
Jenny laughed, shaking her head, hugging her close, kissing Aries as she leaned over.
"When you're older, I promise you'll understand."
In spite of her mother's reassurances, Jillian still worried the entire day, counting down each minute until her father came home, hardly even registering the book held in her lap. When she heard the sound of his car in the driveway, she bolted for the door, thankful that Jenny was in the shower and that her occasional babysitter Elisabeth Murphy had the day off.
He smiled as soon as he saw the young girl, swinging her up into his arms in a giant hug, and when he kissed her cheek, he frowned at the look on her pretty face.
"What's wrong, Jilly Bean?"
"Dad, don't call me that," she said in annoyance, "I'm not five anymore."
"Fair enough," he conceded, "still, what's wrong?"
"Are you and Mom going to get divorced?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
Gibbs frowned, tilting his head at her question, and when he noticed just how serious she was, he nodded his head at the stairs, indicating that she should follow him. She did so, Aries at her heels, and as they walked into her room, he made sure to leave the door partially open so he would hear Jenny should she come down the hallway.
"Why would you think that? Your mom and I love each other very much. And we love you even more."
Jillian shook her head, her long red hair falling into her face.
"You call her 'Jen'. And all she ever calls you is 'Jethro'. You guys don't ever call each other cute little nicknames, you never surprise her with flowers, you don't go on dates, you don't do any of the gross stuff that my friend's parents do."
"What brought this up? Did your mother say something to you?"
Jillian shook her head, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.
"No. Allison and I were talking at school and she asked what kind of cute nicknames you and Mom had for each other. And besides, you fight all the time."
Gibbs laughed, shaking his head as he looked at her, both of them unaware that Jenny had managed to sneak into the hallway just outside her room without being noticed.
"Let me ask you something, Jilly. You know sometimes when you're playing a game with Uncle Tim and you lose, so you scream and yell?"
"Yeah…" her voice was hesitant.
"That makes you feel better, right? Getting out all that anger and frustration?"
At her answering nod, Gibbs leaned closer, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
"That's what fighting does for your mother and me."
Jillian frowned, looking at her father as though he'd lost his mind.
"Fighting with Mom makes you feel better?"
"Sometimes," he admitted, "Not always, though. That's when you have to learn what you're really fighting about and decide if it's worth it. If you're going to really hurt someone with your words, be absolutely sure they're the ones you want. Sometimes you can't help it. But you always have to be careful with your words, Jilly."
"Is that why you don't talk much, Dad?"
He nodded.
"Always mean what you say."
Hours later, long after Jillian had gone to bed, Jenny sat quietly reading to herself, and when Gibbs came up from the basement, she gave him a small smile. He returned it easily, leaning down to kiss her gently, and as he sat down next to her, she placed her book on the bedside table, her eyes meeting his slowly.
"I heard you talking to Jilly earlier."
He frowned.
"About?"
"About always meaning what you say and being sure of your words."
He smirked, laughing quietly to himself, and she looked at him as though she'd never seen him before.
"You heard all of that?"
She nodded, smiling at him.
"She came to me about it, too. She must have been really worried about it to corner us individually."
"Must have," he agreed, "Guess she hasn't picked up on the fact that no one else in the world calls you 'Jen' and gets away with it."
Jenny laughed, shaking her head slowly.
"Not if they want to live. I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning. We might have to watch just how much we yell around each other, though."
"You're usually the one doing all the yelling," he reminded her.
"True. But still. My point still stands."
He nodded, kissing her one last time before turning out the light, his voice warm in the darkness.
"I love you, Jen."
"I love you too."
A split second passed before he spoke again, the laughter evident in his tone.
"Good night, babe."
"Jethro, don't make me shoot you."
A/N: Let me know what you think!