I have no idea if there is a zoo in Washington. I assume so. For the purpose of this there is. :)
Christina x
NCISNCISNCIS
When Jenny woke the next morning, she found Gibbs' hand in hers. She smiled. It was as thought he was afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. That one wrong move and she would throw him out and refuse to let him see Lizzie again. She wouldn't do that though, she couldn't do it to Lizzie.
Jenny realised he'd woken up when his hand pulled out of hers. She turned to face him and smiled.
"Morning," she said. Although neither would say it, both felt completely comfortable waking up together, and both had slept better than they had in months.
"Hey," Gibbs said.
"Do you want to use the shower?" Jenny asked.
"You go first," he replied. "I know how you like the hot water." She smiled.
"I'll go get Lizzie up first."
"I'll do it," he offered.
"Hey Lizzie," he said, seeing his daughter already awake, sitting up in bed reading.
"Dad!" she smiled, scrambling out of bed and running over to give him a hug. He picked her up.
"Help me make breakfast?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied enthusiastically.
Downstairs, Lizzie sat on the worktop, chattering happily, while her dad made breakfast.
"I'm going to be an actress," she announced. "At school we have drama lessons and they're so much fun. And mom's taken me to the theatre loas of times. We always go. My favourite's still Wicked. I love it so much! Idina Menzel's my favourite actress ever. She was the first person to play Elphaba in Wicked. She was in it when mom took me to see it. Next time we go to New York mom says we can go see Beauty and the Beast again. It was the first musical we went to see."
Gibbs had no idea about most of what Lizzie was talking about, but he listened carefully, smiling, happy to listen to her talk. He would've sat through the whole synopsis of ever stage show she and Jenny had ever seen just to spend time with her. Although he'd only just met her, Lizzie had worked her way into his heart already.
When Jenny came downstairs, she heard Lizzie's voice, talking ten to the dozen as usual. And Jethro used to say she talked a lot. Lizzie could talk for America, Canada and Mexico combined. Gibbs looked up as Jenny entered the kitchen, his breath catching in his throat. She looked amazing. Her purple dress, worn over black leggings, set off her red hair, which was loose. Since her pregnancy had begun to show she'd switched from her famous heels to flats.
"Something wrong?" she asked, catching his eye.
"Nope," he replied, without taking his eyes off her.
"Mom!" Lizzie cried, turning to face Jenny, throwing out her arms. Jenny obligingly went over and received the usual exuberant hug from her daughter.
"You left me any hot water?" Gibbs asked, smiling.
"Hmm... Not sure," Jenny teased.
"Wouldn't surprise me," he said, walking to the door. On impulse, he paused and kissed Jenny's hair as he passed. She was surprised, but didn't object. In fact, the kiss was welcomed.
Lizzie gulped down her breakfast. Jenny swore her daughter was practising for an eating contest. She definitely had a healthy appetite. With Lizzie's energy levels, she needed one.
"Right you," she said, when Lizzie's plate had been practically licked clean. "Go get dressed."
"Where are we going?" Lizzie asked curiously.
"Get dressed and I'll tell you," Jenny replied. Lizzie faked a pout. "Go!" Lizzie jumped down and tore upstairs again. Oh that girl was so destined to be an actress. Jenny shook her head. A few minutes later Lizzie raced back downstairs, dressed in purple shorts, black New York t-shirt and sandals.
"Now will you tell where we're going?" she asked eagerly.
"Wait for your dad," Jenny replied. Lizzie sighed impatiently, then flopped down on the couch, picking up a magazine and flicking through it.
When Gibbs came downstairs again, he was ambushed by a redheaded blur.
"Where are we going?" Lizzie demanded. "mom wouldn't tell me until you came down." He met Jenny's eyes and smiled.
"It's a surprise,' he replied. Lizzie glowered at her parents.
"This isn't fair," she declared dramatically.
"That's life," Jenny told her. Gibbs bent and picked her up.
"Come on then impatient," he said, carrying her out to the car.
XOXOXOX
Lizzie's face lit up when she realised where they were going.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried from the backseat.
"Are we forgiven?" Jenny asked, smiling over her shoulder at her daughter.
"Yes!"
When they'd paid for their tickets, Lizzie commandeered the map and began reading it intently.
"Lizzie's really good with maps," Jenny told Gibbs proudly.
"I always navigate," Lizzie said, overhearing. "Mom's rubbish at reading maps." Gibbs raised an eyebrow at Jenny.
"Okay then boss," he said. "Where to?"
Lizzie frowned at the map for a moment longer then said, "This way!" She hurried off.
"Slow down!" Jenny called.
"You've no stamina Jen," Gibbs teased, his eyes twinkling.
"You try being seven months pregnant," she shot back. "I'm only here because you twisted my arm." He grinned.
"Lizzie, wait," he called. Ahead, Lizzie stopped, turned and looked at them impatiently.
"She got that look from you," Jenny said.
"I was thinking she got it from you," he replied, smiling, then slipped his hand into hers. He looked back at the impatient little redhead, itching to explore. "We're coming Lizzie."
XOXOXOX
By the time they managed to persuade Lizzie to stop for lunch, Jenny was beginning to feel tired. Despite Lizzie's reluctance to stop, it didn't stop her from gulping down a whole burger and fries. Jenny leant forward and stole a fry from her plate.
"Hey!" Lizzie complained.
"It's one fry Lizzie," Jenny said.
"Okay," she said. Then she bent her head over the map again, studying it carefully. "I want to go see the giraffes next," she announced. Gibbs glanced at Jenny, noticing she was tiring.
"How about the two of us go?" he suggested. "Leave mom here for a while?" Lizzie considered this, and Jenny shot him a grateful look.
"Sure," Lizzie replied. "Can we go now?"
"Let your dad finish his lunch first Lizzie!" Jenny laughed.
"You're both so slow," Lizzie said.
"Maybe it's you're too fast," Jenny smiled.
They left Jenny sitting at a table in the shade, with a bottle of water and a book. Lizzie put her hand in her dad's, skipping along beside him. She decided the giraffes were her favourite animal, until they went to the meerkat enclosure, but they only lasted until she saw the red pandas. When at last they'd seen everything for what Lizzie deemed was an appropriate length of time, she was set to start going round again.
"I don't think so Lizzie," Gibbs said. "Mom will be wondering where we've gotten to."
"Okay," Lizzie shrugged, and walked back to the cafe where they'd left Jenny, still holding onto his hand.
Gibbs smiled when he saw Jenny. Her hair was falling around her shoulders, and she had one hand pushing it back off her face as she read, wearing her sunglasses despite sitting under an umbrella. Lizzie ran inside to get a drink, on the condition she stayed where he could see her.
"Comfy?" he asked, coming up behind Jenny. She jumped.
"I really hate it when you do that," she said. He grinned and sat down while they waited for Lizzie.
"Thank you," he said, taking advantage of the Lizzie free moment.
"For what?"
"Today. Last night. Letting me meet her."
Jenny smiled. "As long as you realise you're caught for life now. Lizzie's worse than an elephant, she never forgets. I guess she got that from you."
"Not you?" he teased.
"Bit of both?" Jenny said, compromising.
"I'm fine with that."
"Mom!" Lizzie cried, running up to them and throwing her arms around Jenny's neck. Gibbs caught the soda bottle slipping from her grip and set it on the table.
"Hi Lizzie," Jenny said.
"It was so cool! You should've come," Lizzie said, releasing her. 'We saw the giraffes and the meerkats and the red pandas which actually look more like raccoon than pandas you know. Oh and there were baby tigers! They were so cute! Do we have to go? Cause we could go round again and you could see them."
"No Lizzie," Jenny smiled. "It's time to go."
As Lizzie skipped ahead, Gibbs slipped his arm around Jenny's waist pulling her close. She didn't move away, instead leaning her head onto his shoulder, red curls spilling over it.
XOXOXOX
When they drew up at Jenny's, Gibbs let them go in alone. He knew Jenny was tired and wanted to give her space.
"See you Monday Jen," he said.
"You can come in you know," she said.
"I know. Can't neglect my boat though."
She laughed. "Guess not."
On impulse she leant across and kissed his cheek.
"Bye Jethro."
"See you Jen."
"Hurry up!" Lizzie called from the doorstep where she was waiting impatiently.
"Coming," Jenny called. She got out of the car as Gibbs waved to Lizzie. She looked disappointed that he wasn't coming in, but waved back enthusiastically none the less. Both Jenny and Gibbs went to sleep that night feeling happier than they had in a long time.
