A/N: I don't even know how long it's been since my last update, all I can is sorry! I have a most hectic year, got a new role & new challenges for us all. I'm hoping there's still a few followers to this story as its not finished by any means! my MTHDOverse is giving me a time out of the mayhem around, and I've managed to start writing again :)

So please enjoy! I hope this chapter brings a smile for you all (and yea, you may have to re-read the chapter, but quickly - Joanne's awake & is about to meet Nix!)

Shannon had been just sitting there taking in the sight of her mum, she was still trying to come to terms with so many things, but right now she was coming to terms with the fact her mother was alive, alive & sitting right in front her. She'd spent countless nights dreaming of being able to have conversations with her, she'd talk to her for hours about all sorts of things, from thoughts on the kids behaviours to dealing with MacDonald, or why she married him in the first place! to even how to cope with not having her soulmate by her side. And now, now she had a chance to really & truly talk to her, where did she even start? How could she even start? Did she work backwards? Forwards? And what about her mum's life? What had she gone through these last 13 years? She was pulled from her musing when she heard the door open. She turned & smiled when she saw her husband bringing in their boy, she gave him an encouraging smile to welcome her boy into the room knowing he'd be nervous, she held out her arms "come here darling" she greeted.

Nix was a little nervous but went to his mum, he just didn't let go of his dad's hand until he was in his mum's hold. He was getting stared at by his grandma & he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Shannon could now feel her boy's nerves, she gave his back a calming rub "you're ok my darling" she whispered into his ear. She then shifted the pair to look more towards to her mum & smiled "mum, this is your grandson Phoenix, he likes to be called Nix. Nix darling, this is your grandma"

Joanne couldn't help but stare as the boy entered the room, that hair was a red as Shanny's! His facial features were so soft & gentle, there was something so familiar about it all that it was kind of scary. She could see the boy was pretty nervous & she was too, but looking at him, she already knew she loved him with all her heart. She put on her strongest smile in greeting "it's a great pleasure to meet you Phoenix, your smile is just like your mum's"

"Hi" Nix greeted quietly.

Gibbs pulled up a chair next to his wife & behind his son so he too could support their boy, he gently rubbed his shoulders "you know Joanne, Nix is a great lover of cookies, especially your speciality, choc chips & sprinkles, isn't that right son?"

Nix nodded "yea"

"Well, I'd love to make them for you" Joanne smiled "or maybe we could make them all together?" she tried.

Shannon smiled, to her that sounded great "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, what do you say darling, a day where we just bake yummy foods all together?"

"Could we make ice cream too?" Nix whispered into his mum but giving a flash look towards his grandma.

"Why don't you ask grandma if she remembers how" Shannon suggested.

Nix nestled himself into his mum's side, and brought his dad's arm around him before looking at her, "do you remember how to make ice cream?" he asked quietly.

Shannon shared a smile with her husband, they knew he had cocooned into them to protect himself but were both so glad he'd made the effort & spoken directly to her.

Joanne beamed, this sentence alone proved her daughter remembered their time together "I certainly remember, but let me tell you the ice creams I like to make are anything but plain. I like to put all sorts of things into it, so I hope you don't like plain vanilla" she finished with as good a smile as she could muster.

"Plain vanilla is boring, I like toffee, chocolate chip cookie dough, caramel swirl, ice creams with lots of things inside" Nix said softly.

Gibbs smiled, he was so proud of their boy for speaking without any prodding "no boring ice creams in our family, that's for sure" he agreed as he gave his boy a peck to the head in encouragement.

Shannon smiled "how about this time we also try a red velvet cheesecake ice cream too" she suggested to her husband

Gibbs had to grin at his wife, that was a combination of some of their favourite cakes "now that sounds like a plan"

Joanne couldn't help but smile, it seemed the pair were still very much in love, she took a deep breath trying to sort out all of her emotions. Things were just so unbelievable, she was here in a hospital having been checked in as dependent of Jethro's! Someone she hadn't spoken to in years! Someone she had yelled at the last time they spoke too. Her daughter was alive & sitting right next to her, her daughter was alive! She'd gone 13 years thinking she had died all because of her ex-husband! A daughter she had grieved for years over & had still been grieving for until this day! But now she was alive, and in her lap was a grandson, a grandson she didn't even know existed! A boy that looked so familiar it wasn't funny! She was really struggling to deal with it all! She closed her eyes momentarily to try to regroup & gather all of her thoughts.

Gibbs could see that Joanne was struggling a little & she had just come out of major surgery "why don't we let you rest for a little while Joanne, we'll come back later this afternoon to see how you're doing." He knew it might be a struggle to get mother/daughter to separate but the woman needed rest desperately. His hope was now that she knew & she wasn't struggling with learning it, she could rest just a little better.

Shannon flashed a look to her husband, she couldn't believe he was suggesting they leave her mum, but then she looked at her mum & she understood, she really needed to rest, she needed to get better after the major surgery. She took a deep breath "good idea, we'll go sort a few things out & then come back see you a little later mum"

Joanne wanted to argue, she really did, she didn't want her daughter to leave her side, but she was exhausted. She looked between Shannon & Jethro & nodded in agreement "good idea"

Nix looked between them all "but then grandma will be all alone"

Shannon had to smile at her boy's comment "darling, grandma needs her rest & she can't do that if we're here, but the doctors & nurses will look after her"

Joanne was very touched at her grandson, her grandson's, comment "your mum is right, I need to rest so I can be awake for when you come back"

"Grandma will be fine son, don't forget we've got a pair of marines looking after her too" Gibbs added, he'd keep the security detail in place for as long he felt it was warranted, no matter what anyone else thought. That included his wife who was now giving him a particular look he knew all to well. It was the type that meant a conversation would be forthcoming when they were alone.

Shannon gave her husband a curious look, why on earth was a security detail still needed? Was there still a threat he wasn't telling her about? Or was it something else? She needed a private word with him.

"Come on bud, let's go get the others, grandma will rest & we'll come see her again this afternoon" Gibbs motioned as he stood the pair of them up, he wanted to give Shannon another moment alone with her mum.

Nix stood up "bye grandma"

"See you later Phoenix" Joanne whispered as she let some tears fall down her cheek, it had been too long since someone had called her that & it felt like heaven! Absolute heaven!

Shannon watched as the streetscape changed on their way back to the navy-yard from the hospital, she was feeling a lot better now that she had connected with her mum. She could tell her son was feeling better for it too, which she was glad for, but how to help her girl? She caught sight of something & smiled. She leaned forward & placed a hand on Mike's shoulder "Mikey, I'd like to make pit-stop, into that mall please"

"Of course Mrs G" Mike responded easily.

Gibbs turned around from the front seat to look at his wife "what's up babe?"

Shannon smiled at him "nothing, there's just something we need to get & I'd like to do that now"

Gibbs was curious but smiled none the less "ok" he agreed easily. He knew Tony had things will in hand & his main concern were the people in this car, his family. Though he couldn't deny he wanted to understand why the case was heading for trial so quickly, something he'd need to figure out & then tell his family, because he knew they'd all need time to prepare for it!

Gibbs held the door open as everyone bundled out of the car, not only was his family present including his father, but so were both Bond boys, it was a little strange to have them with them, he'd much have preferred to have it be just them.

"Ahh Mrs G, I need to fill up the gas tank, can we meet you back here?" Mike asked

Shannon smiled, she knew that whilst they probably needed gas it was for another reason "of course, why don't you boys go get some gas & then meet us back in say an hour? Do you need cash?"

""No need, I've got & we'll see you see you in an hour" Mike responded, he wasn't sure what gave him the idea, but he felt like this excursion was a family only deal. He gave Kelly a smile "see you soon Kells"

Kelly nodded, she had no idea what was going on, why were they stopping? Why was Mike going to get gas now? She felt her mum take her into hold "what are we doing?" she asked.

Shannon smiled as she walked herself & her girl towards the mall, she leaned in & whispered quietly enough for her girl to hear but no one else "we're doing something that I think dad will detest, but we will love & we're doing it because we have to"

Kelly looked at her mum, she was now really curious as to what she had planned "umm… ok?" she really didn't get the cryptic clue.

Shannon just smiled "trust me angel, this you will enjoy, we both will"

"Ok" Kelly agreed.

Gibbs came to walk up alongside his wife, he had their boy alongside his other side, holding him loosely on his far shoulder "what we doing Shan?"

Shannon put an arm around his husband's waist, it was slightly difficult given his sling but she did it anyway. She smiled at him as they walked into the mall "I need clothes Jethro, clothes that aren't Kells' clothes, so we're going shopping quickly"

Gibbs's eyes widened in surprise, I mean he understood it, for the last few days she had been wearing their girl's clothes, well.. their girl's bottoms, and his tops which he loved, but she did need some of her own stuff. The surprise was the word she used "you want to go shopping quickly? Since when" he chuckled. In days gone past when they went clothes shopping, it was never, ever, quick!

"You're such a funny man" Shannon smirked "and no, there's no going for a coffee or to the bathroom" she added with another and yet even bigger smirk.

Gibbs had to laugh, those were his 2 main avenues to get out of getting dragged around the mall in yester year. Thinking about it now though, and thinking of all those years that he yearned be dragged around, he was looking forward to it "I know, but we won't be getting too many t-shirts"

Shannon just smiled, she had been thinking the same thing "uh huh" she turned to her girl "so darling, where shall we start?" she saw a question forming "since when didn't we come to a mall & we not all get something" she finished with a grin.

Kelly smiled & looked around "ummm…. What about Nordstrom or H&M?"

Shannon considered it "what about we do Nordstrom today, we should find stuff for all of us there. We can come back another day & do a proper shop in all of the stores"

Kelly nodded as they headed into the store, her eyes immediately went to something she liked "mum!"

Shannon could only grin at her girl's infectious smile & call to her, it had been so hard to be apart from them & now to be doing something so basic & see the joy was just beautiful. She looked where her girl's was & had to smile too "looks like the best place to start" she turned as she pulled her husband in tow "come on Jethro" she urged "Kells first, then Nix, then us"

Gibbs just grinned as he literally got dragged towards the ladies section, but then he realised something "me? I don't need clothes"

Shannon just smiled "you don't have to wait to buy until you need something, we can get clothes when we want them"

"You say so" Gibbs smirked in response, he knew they had very different opinions on the matter of shopping.

Jack couldn't help but smile, these small interactions were a testament to the fact that they'd be ok in the long run.

"Let's take a look at what we've got" Shannon remarked as they approached the outfit her girl had made a beeline for.

"What do you think?" Kelly asked, she loved going shopping with her mum, they had similar tastes and they both really enjoyed it.

Shannon pulled the jeans/shirt combination out for a better look. The jeans were white, with royal blue paint looking splotches throughout whilst the short sleeved shirt almost matched the royal blue perfectly with the collar & rims a shade of white that matched the white of jeans. "I definitely like it, try it on"

Gibbs analysed the outfit, those jeans looked awfully tight & that top… it was pretty low cut & fairly tight too "looks a little tight no?"

Kelly had been busy finding her size when she heard her dad's comment & she stopped in her tracks to look at him "ummm…. no?" she tried to answer but looked more to her mum than her dad.

Shannon looked between her daughter & husband "try it on for us darling & we'll decide then" she knew where her husband was going with his comment & wanted to see how it developed..

Gibbs was about to say something when his son spoke first from only a short distance away.

"Mum! This?" Nix asked holding up a t-shirt.

Shannon looked over, the boys section was right next to them too, she smiled at the image on the t-shirt, it was black shirt with a darkish image of the superman logo "looks perfect for you darling, let's get it"

"Looks great bud" Gibbs added as he moved closer to his son, and looking through the t-shirts, they all had images of some kind of icon, there was one other he recognised "what about this one? Spiderman?"

Nix looked at the top, it was a great top, with a large spiderweb & Spiderman's hand shooting the web out of his wrist, he grinned "cool!" he then wondered something "have you seen the recent Spiderman movie?" he asked his dad.

"Not yet pal, maybe we can watch it together?" Gibbs answered, he didn't even need time to consider that one, he hadn't been to modern movie in well…. he did see that old cowboy movie about a year ago with Ducky, but nothing else even remotely recently.

"Awesome!" Nix agreed instantly, that sounded awesome!

Shannon smiled at the interaction, she knew they'd both love that father/son time. Turning her attention back to what clothes she was looking at with her girl she found something else "this Kells?"

Kelly looked at what her mum had found, it was a blue ladies tank top that had the Superman logo on it, she had an issue "you want squirt & me to have the same top?" while the top was pretty funky & sure his was black & this one blue.. but the mere thought of wearing the same outfit as her brother…. just…no!

Gibbs shared a look with his wife "would be fun to all get the same top & wear them together? No?"

Kelly & Nix shared a look before looking between their parents, it was a unanimous decision for the pair "no!" they both answered, they weren't those type of kids that enjoyed wearing matching family outfits!

"Party poopers" Shannon smirked "I think It'd be fun too"

Gibbs couldn't help himself, he closed to the distance to rack where the girls tops were "so let's get these 2, they're about your sizes, and I'm sure I can find a similar one in the men's section" he spoke looking to his wife & avoiding his children's gazes altogether.

"Ahh.. didn't we just say we didn't want to wear matching stuff?" Kelly asked not getting what was going on.

Gibbs turned to her "and on this shopping expedition we're putting the purchases to a vote, and given it's 2 v 2, we're claiming overriding veto power, if that's ok with you?" he asked with a smirk, he could see his wife had loved his comment.

"2 v 2? What about gramps, he's standing right behind you!" Kelly motioned, there were 5 people present!

Jack suddenly found 4 sets of eyes on him, he'd been enjoying this interaction with so much joy, loving it to bits, but he wasn't counting on being thrust right into the middle of it! "Ahh… … well, I think it best I stay out of this one, far be it for me to get involved in the clothing matters of the family"

Gibbs could only smile as he looked back to his kids, he'd have to thank his dad later for this one!

"Guess that settles it, we're getting the tops & that outfit you've got there Kells" Shannon replied with a smile to her husband "now, what can I find for myself" she said looking directly to her husband.

Gibbs saw the look "let's go find something babe" he grinned as he wrapped his arm around her waist and moved away from his kids & father.

Kelly just watched as her parents moved away, she looked between them & her brother "what just happened?"

"Don't look at me! I've got no clue" Nix responded, his parents were a little way away, and laughing at something, though what he didn't know & the smiles on their faces hadn't budged! "I'm not wearing my top the same day as you do, that's all I know, embarrassing!"

"Hey, I could think of nothing worse" Kelly responded, though given the looks her parents had, she wasn't sure how much of chance she stood with that one! Ohhh joy! Something to look forward to!

"That looks lovely darling, let's get it" Shannon remarked smiling at her daughter when she came out of the change room.

"You look lovely Kell darling" Jack added, she did look very nice in the new jeans/top outfit.

"Nice!" Nix commented, his sister looked awesome in that outfit!

"Thanks" Kelly blushed "I like it too"

Gibbs swallowed, he was having a different opinion to the rest of his family, those white jeans were extremely tight, and they didn't even go down all the way, he reckoned they only went down three quarters of the way down her legs. And that top, the low cut was his biggest issue, he took a breath "wouldn't the next size up be better? Not as tight, and more full length" he remarked softly. He really didn't like how tight it was!

Kelly flashed a look to her dad before looking towards her mum, this outfit was not 'tight' as far as she was concerned, it was comfortably fitting "ahhh… no?"

Shannon was expecting a reaction, so this wasn't a shock, and she had been trying to see how to manage it "Three quarter length pants are in fashion at the moment, and Kells has lovely sandals she could wear with them Jethro. But maybe try the next sized up for the top, let's see the difference" she saw the look her girl was now giving her "humour us darling, please"

Gibbs watched as their girl huffed and went back into the change room, he took a seat on the bench next to his wife "those jeans are tight Shan, they don't hide a thing!" he whispered with as much meaning as he could. Seeing his girl, his little girl wearing something like that.. something that didn't hide anything or leave anything to the imagination, just… no!

Shannon had to smile, she knew where this steaming from, he was clearly struggling with his 'little girl' wearing something even remotely, really remotely, showy.. she knew he'd always have had issues with this no matter her girl's age. She placed a hand on his thigh & rubbed gently "Jethro darling, those jeans aren't actually that tight, they're normal jean tightness, they just look it because they stop before the reach her ankles"

"Well then she should wear a top that cover her backside" Gibbs remarked "a top that gives some coverage"

"She's got some of those already" Shannon smiled, she was going to say something else when her girl came back out "so Jethro, what do you think?"

Kelly couldn't believe that her mum was basically leaving it up to her dad to make the call, why?!

Gibbs looked at their girl as he considered how the new size looked "well.. it certainly covers more of you…." it did, but something wasn't right, even he knew that.

"But?" Shannon prompted.

"Pull it down more Kell" Gibbs suggested, maybe it was all bunched somewhere.

"I have" Kelly answered, demonstrating that she couldn't pull it down any lower.

"Perhaps it's too big?" Shannon suggested, she looked at her girl "try that smaller size we got too Kells, let's see a comparison"

Kelly knew that lower size would be tight! Really tight "umm.. really?" her response was a simple nod.

Gibbs looked at his wife surprised "why on earth would you want her to go even smaller than what she was wearing before?" he certainly didn't want her to go smaller or tighter!

"Let's just take a look" Shannon remarked with a small smile as she continued to rub her hand along his leg.

Gibbs wasn't convinced, but waited for their girl to change the top, he couldn't help but wonder why he'd hated this shopping all those years ago, he'd enjoyed helping his family select clothes this time out. He was about to say something when the curtain was pulled back, his eyes bulged & he leapt forward towards his daughter.

Shannon couldn't help it she yelped in fright as he lunged forward, it had unbalanced her where she sat "Jethro!" she exclaimed.

"Back inside" Gibbs urged hurriedly as he pushed her backwards, snagging her own top from the hanger he put it over her chest "get that flimsy piece of material off & put your own top back on!"

Kelly was frozen where she stood, huh?

Shannon flashed a look to Jack as she did her best to compose herself, she'd been expecting a reaction but not this by any stretch! She'd barely gotten a look at how Kelly looked with the top, her husband had been too fast to push her backwards, in fact she could barely see her girl behind her husband. She had though heard his comments about getting Kelly redressed "Jethro!" she called trying to gain his attention, nothing happened "Jethro! She can't change until you leave"

"Get changed, now!" Gibbs all but ordered his girl before he took a step back, but made sure to pull the curtain tightly without anyone being able to see through as he stepped backwards. Though he didn't move further, he held the curtain closed. He now realised one thing, being present for when his girl wanted clothes was probably going to be something he wanted to do more frequently, if not every shopping expedition! Yes, he will not be skipping a single shopping trip in future, none!

A/N: So I had to write a bit of fun for not just me, but everyone, and in all honesty, I think we were all waiting to Gibbs have to react to Kelly and her growth into a lady and let me just say, this is only the beginning :) Got a few things already in the works ;)

I've already started the next chapter & yes, for those following DK, I'm halfway through my update for that story, so it'll be coming soon! So stay tuned! I hope to have more chapters up soon :)

Let me know you're still with me & leave me a review! And if you've got something or a situation you'd like to see Gibbs have to react to, feel free to let me know, always open to new ideas!