AN: I haven't forgotten about this, I swear. Just a bit of writers block. (Turns out you can get it even when re-writing things. I am going to make some MAJOR changes to the story from this point onwards. New characters and new crossovers. We'll get there eventually.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, subscribed, and pushed me to continue writing. This is for you.
Chapter 3
Stacie and Jethro stared at Jenny with a look of shock plastered on their faces.
"He's my dad?" Stacie said, "Since when?"
"Since always, monkey." Jenny replied, her eyes were looking anywhere except from everyone's eyes.
"How could you keep such a huge secret from me?" Gibbs asked.
"By the time I had found out, you had moved onto someone else." Jenny explained, "I didn't want to get in the middle of that."
"But why didn't you tell me when you returned?" Gibbs pursued.
"Believe me, I wish I had but every time I felt I should bring it up, something would happen that would stop me from doing that. I'm sorry."
By now, Jenny was almost in tears. She had never meant for any hurt to be caused.
Stacie walked over and hugged her mother, "It's okay mommy." She whispered.
Gibbs stared at the two females, their bond was obvious.
Stacie finished hugging her mother and walked over to her father, she extended a hand with a smile, "I'm Stacie Elizabeth Shepard, your daughter."
Gibbs crouched down to her height and shook her hand, "Leroy Jethro Gibbs, your father."
Jenny smiled at the scene in front of her.
"Can I call you dad?" Stacie asked, looking between her mother and father.
Gibbs just nodded, "I'd like that."
"I was just about to put this monkey to bed, would you want to join us for story time?" Jenny asked.
"Sounds like a plan."
As she watched her daughter lead Gibbs upstairs, Jenny felt a part of her begin to heal. She hoped that this could be the start of mending some of the pain she had caused.