Days somehow turned into weeks and before he knew it just over a month had passed and Jethro was there at the Washington Navy Yard Chapel on the day of his daughter's wedding, a million things running through his mind.
It was a rather weird situation for him to find himself in. Jethro'd never thought much about his daughter's wedding day prior to the rather quick engagement she'd recently found herself in. It had crossed his mind once or twice when she was little but it was in the extremely far-off future. Some abstract thing that wouldn't happen for years, if it ever happened at all. He'd never seriously considered it.
One memory jumped to mind repeatedly and he could remember it as though it were yesterday. It had taken place one of the numerous times that they'd gone camping in that silver and white trailer that he and Shannon had owned.
A seven-year-old Kelly was sitting on the stairs leading into their trailer, dressed in a blue, white and green striped shirt with beige shorts and her blue converse shoes. The little girl was playing with a toy soldier and her beloved Strawberry Shortcake doll that she'd been taking everywhere with her lately.
Jethro was grabbing a drink from the cooler a few feet away when his daughter rather deliberately got his attention. "Daddy, watch!"
He noted that Kelly had dressed her Strawberry Shortcake doll in a makeshift wedding dress. Probably with her mother's help, if he had to hazard a guess. It quickly became clear that the seven-year-old girl was acting out a wedding. Kelly had the soldier and doll standing across from each other as though they were standing at the alter.
"You may now kiss the bride!" Kelly announced enthusiastically as though the little girl was officiating a wedding. She then made the soldier and doll kiss. "Muah!"
Then everything had changed. For years, he had thought Kelly dead and there was no point in torturing himself with all the what-ifs that always seemed to run through his mind. All those stolen moments. Stolen firsts.
And yet, now here they were. She'd make a promise and change her name today. She would leave the chapel Kelly Walsh. The entire thing felt surreal.
Michael was well-mannered enough and was the consummate gentleman when it came to his daughter, but Jethro still couldn't picture someone taking his little girl away. And that was exactly how it felt. He was happy for her, certainly, but his head and his heart were definitely on different pages.
Jethro took a deep breath from where he sat in the pews next to his wife. Today was the biggest day of his daughter's life and he honestly wouldn't have missed it for the world. Jethro had missed his daughter's birth and so many other moments but was exceptionally glad that he wouldn't miss her wedding day. That he got to be here for her and walk Kelly down the aisle.
Breaking away from the conversation with his father, Jethro looked down at his lap to where Shannon's slender fingers were laced through his own.
As the crowd started to quiet down, Jethro lifted his head and glanced around. Several friends of Kelly's from her time in Philadelphia had been able to make it, which Jethro knew meant a lot to his daughter. In any case, it was almost time to start. That meant that he needed to meet up with his daughter.
Jethro gave his wife a quick kiss before getting up and going to his daughter. He went through the double doors at the back of the chapel, instantly spotting his daughter.
His daughter looked stunning. Her white gown sparkled against the embroidery that lined the v-neck of the dress and her hair was in an up-do, except for two ringlets that went down to her shoulders. "Hey, Dad."
Jethro smiled back at his daughter, speechless and trying not to cry. How could that beautiful woman in front of him be the same cheeky kid that he knew? The same one that he'd read all those fairytales to and tucked into bed all those nights? The same one who had damn near given him a heart attack at three in the morning because she was running a fever of 104? Or when she stole his pocket knife, stood on the counter, and carved 'KG' into the kitchen cabinet?
Kelly readjusted her gown slightly and then looked back up at him. "Do you like it?"
He still felt quite dazed but didn't miss a beat. "You look perfect."
The redhead's eyes immediately lit up at his words. "I love you."
He dipped his head slightly. "I love you too, Kelly Baby."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You ready?"
"You know it," Jethro replied. He readjusted his tie and then held his left arm out to his daughter, the redhead accepting it with a bright smile.
As the wedding march began, Jethro and Kelly shared a look of understanding. It was time to walk down the aisle and for Kelly to start this new chapter of her life.
With every step they took, Jethro's heart raced that much quicker. He glanced at the family and friends that were watching from the pews and at the end of the aisle. Then he looked back at his daughter. Through her veil, you could still see her dazzling smile. Jethro never thought he would see her look so happy. Her baby blue eyes sparkled as she took in everything before her. And there was no mistaking those tears. She wasn't having second thoughts. Doubting. No, those were happy tears that were threatening to fall.
Before they knew it, father and daughter reached the end of the aisle. Michael, who was dawning his dress blues, stood with an arm out for his bride to take, an exuberant beam playing on his face.
Jethro took in a sharp breath. He wasn't ready to let go of his little girl; it seemed like just yesterday he was holding her for the first time.
"Dad," Kelly began in a whisper. When that didn't work, she tried again. "Daddy?"
He pulled himself out of his musings and glanced back at Kelly. "Yes, Princess?"
"You can let go of me now," the redhead said with a little smile curling at her lips.
Jethro nodded, a rough sigh escaping his lips. With much difficulty, he forced himself to let go of his daughter's arm. He pursed his lips together slightly as he watched the brunet Staff Sergeant eagerly take Kelly by the arm. As he handed his heart over to Michael, one loud thought ran through Jethro's mind. That boy had damned well better realize what he's been entrusted with.
