Hopefully this will make up for the delay in updating and the shortness of the last chapter. Tiva! Jibbs! Fluff! What's not to like? I'm nearing the end of this story but am considering a sequel. Please tell if you think I should. Yes? No? Maybe? Possibly maybe?

Christina x

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As he waited for the light to change to green, Gibbs took advantage of the moment to glance round at his family asleep in the car. Lizzie was curled up in the passenger seat, her head leaning against the window, Ava was straped into her car seat behind him, and Jenny had fallen asleep in the back passenger seat. Since it was their first long car journey with Ava, Jenny had decided to travel in the back too. Lizzie was more than happy to sit in the front. He smiled softly at the sight of his girls sound asleep.

Lizzie was the first one to wake up. Noticing her stir, Gibbs glanced over and put a finger to his lips, indicating with his head towards the back seat. Lizzie glanced round.
"How long?" she whispered.
"Bout an hour longer," he replied.
"Kay," she yawned.

Fifty minutes later they pulled up in Stillwater, outside his dad's store. Gibbs turned and reached over to gently shake Jenny's shoulder.
"Jen, wake up, we're here," he said. Jenny stretched slowly, rubbing her neck.
"I'd forgotten how uncomfortable sleeping in a car is," she muttered. He smiled.
"Why don't I go in with Lizzie first?" he suggested. "Give you a chance to wake up a bit."
"Okay," Jenny smiled gratefully. He knew she needed her sleep, Ava had been keeping them both awake. But while he could survive on caffeine, Jenny couldn't.
"Come on then kiddo," he said. Lizzie grinned and jumped out of the car.

"Dad?" Gibbs called as they entered the shop, Lizzie holding onto his hand and looking around curiously.
"This is where you grew up?" she asked.
"Yeah. What do you think?"
"Bit quiet," she decided.
"Leroy? That you?" Jackson Gibbs called, coming through into the shop.
"Hey dad," Gibbs smiled, giving his dad a hug. "How you been?"
"Not bad son," Jackson replied. He glanced at Lizzie. "Hi. Who are you?"
"Elizabeth Jennifer Gibbs," Lizzie replied. "But you can call me Lizzie. That's what everyone calls me. Except sometimes Tony calls me Liz, but no one else is allowed to call me that."
"Lizzie's my daughter," Gibbs explained. "My elder daughter."
"You have more?" Jackson asked.
"Ava, she's two months old. She's outside with her mom right now," Gibbs replied. He gave his dad a look which said he would explain later.
"How old are you Lizzie?" Jackson asked.
"Eight, nearly nine," she replied.

Jenny rubbed her neck, trying to remove the stiffness from her muscles. Then she reached over and unclipped Ava from her car seat. She scooped her daughter into her arms gently and held her close. She knew she should go inside, but she loved these moments where it was just her and Ava. With Lizzie, it had always just been the two of them, and as glad as Jenny was that Lizzie had forged such a close bond with her father, she sometimes missed it just being the two of them.

"Hey sweetheart," she said softly. "You know I love you very much, right? You are so precious to me and I love you every bit as much as your sister." Ava moved in her sleep, causing Jenny to smile. "Guess we should go and introduce you to your grandpa, huh? Okay then, let's go."

She felt slightly nervous as she entered the shop, and Gibbs, Lizzie and Jackson turned to look at her. Then Jenny met Gibbs' eyes and relaxed. Jackson watched the smile that passed between his son and this woman, another red head he noted. Gibbs stood next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Dad, this is Jenny Shepard," he said. 'Jen, this is my dad Jackson."
"It's good to finally meet you," Jenny smiled.
"And you," Jackson replied. Jenny stepped forward.
"And this is Ava," she said, tilting her daughter so Jackson could see her properly.
"She's beautiful," he said. "Both of your girls are."

XOXOXOX

"Zee-vah."

"Yes Tony?"
"I've decided what I want for my prize," Tony said, lounging in his chair, feet kicked up on his desk. If Gibbs had been here, he would never have dared to sit like that. Mind you, if Gibbs was here he wouldn't dare ask what he was about to.
"Your prize?" Ziva repeated, looking confused.
"Remember? At the pool with Lizzie? We agreed on anything," he reminded her.
"Ah. Yes." Ziva was regretting saying anything now, but in her defense she honestly thought he wouldn't make it. "Well, what is it then?"
"Have dinner with me."
"What?" Ziva was sure she must've misheard him. He could choose any number of ways to humiliate her and he chose this?
"Have dinner with me," Tony said. "Tonight. Just the two of us."
"Gibbs will kill us."
"Gibbs is in Stillwater. Even he can't have me head slapped from there. Besides, remember what the Director told us? What Gibbs doesn't know can't hurt us. So what do you say?"
"Okay."
"What?" Now it was Tony's turn to think he'd misheard.
"Okay. What time?"
"Um, seven?" he said, still in shock she'd agreed.

XOXOXOX

Jenny's body clock woke her as normal at seven. She mumbled and turned onto her side, glad she didn't have to get up to take Lizzie to school. She half opened her eyes, hearing the door open, and spotted Lizzie looking in. Jenny beckoned to her and Lizzie smiled and ran round to Jenny's side of the bed, climbing up next to her mom. When it was just the two of them, they had often spent Sunday mornings like this, snuggled up in bed together for hours. Jenny had to admit she missed it sometimes. Lizzie's eyes drifted closed again and soon she had fallen asleep. Jenny gave up trying to fight sleep, and joined her.

When Gibbs woke the first thing he saw was Lizzie curled up next to Jenny, both of them sound asleep. Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was almost time for Ava to be fed and, not wanting her cries to wake Jenny, he slipped out of bed. Once Ava had been taken care of, he returned to bed, Ava in his arms. Lizzie shifted as he climbed back in and sat up slowly. Noticing her sister she moved round Jenny carefully. Gibbs smiled at her, she returned the smile. Jenny swore sometimes they could communicate with a look, and this time was no different.

"You could've woken me you know," Jenny said sleepily.
"Thought you'd like the lie in," Gibbs replied. She yawned and streached, rolling over so she was lying facing him and their daughters.

"Morning," she smiled.
"Hey," he smiled back.

XOXOXOX

Dinner with Tony hadn't been that bad. In fact, Ziva thought to herself as she stepped into the elevator the next morning, she'd actually enjoyed herself.
"Hold it!" Tony yelled, dashing towards the closing doors, jumping through just before they closed. "Morning," he grinned.
"You are in a good mood," Ziva observed.
"I am," he replied. "Nothing could get me down today."

Suddenly the elevator screeched to a halt and the lights flickered out.
"I stand corrected," Tony said. "Almost nothing."

XOXOXOX

"You want to explain to me now why you never told me you had another daughter?" Jackson asked.
"I didn't know," Gibbs replied. "Jen never told me. She left and I didn't see her again for six years when she turned up as my boss. After I came back from my retirement-"
"You retired?" Jackson interrupted.
"Yeah, didn't last long," Gibbs smiled slightly sheepishly. "Well after I came back we got together but we decided to end it. I was with someone else when she told me she was pregnant. Few months later she told me about Lizzie and let me meet her. Since Ava was born we've been living together."
"She's a good woman," Jackson said.
"The best," Gibbs said quietly.
"Does she know about Shannon and Kelly?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Found out 'bout two years ago."
"What about Lizzie?"
"No... I keep thinking, maybe it's fate or something that I got to meet Lizzie now. She's eight, same age as Kelly when... They're nothing alike, apart from both liking horses. Still..."

"Daddy!" Lizzie cried running into the room towards her father.
"Hey," Gibbs grinned, bending to receive a hug from her.
"Mom just got a call from McGee," she told him. "He says ythere's a power cut and Tony and auntie Ziva are missing. He thinks they're stuck in your conference room. And that Abby's plotting something but mom wouldn't tell me what."

XOXOXOX

"Always thought this thing would break down eventually, with Gibbs using it as his conference room," Tony said. He sat on the floor of the elevator, leaning against the doors. Ziva sat diagonally opposite him, leaning against the back wall.
"Fascinating Tony," she said sarcastically.
"Just trying to pass the time Zee-vah," he replied. Silence fell. Tony watched as Ziva closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall behind her. Er breathing slowed.

"Ziva?" he said carefully. No reply. He guessed she must've fallen asleep. Trying to be quiet, but expecting her ninja senses to wake her, he moved next to her, letting her head lean against his shoulder. She would probably kill him with a paper clip when she woke up, but if he let her get a crick in her neck she would blame him and make his life a misery anyway.

XOXOXOX

Jenny felt Gibbs stiffen as they walked through the town, arms around each others waists. Lizzie was spending time with her grandpa and Ava was asleep, giving them some welcome time to themselves. She saw a man watching them. As they approached she realised he was the Sheriff.
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs," he said. "Never expected to see you again. You always wanted to get out of this town. And I hear your on our side now. Didn't expect that one either."
"Just back for the weekend," Gibbs replied. "Visiting my dad. How's things?"
"Married, kids, got promoted to Sheriff last fall. And who's this?"
"Jenny Shepard."
"You married?"
"No. Two kids, eight and two months, been together nine years almost."

Jenny could tell by Gibbs' tone that he didn't like this man, and she was surprised that he lied about them being together for nine years. As they walked away she said, "What was all that about?"
"We didn't get on when we were young," Gibbs replied.
"Understatement alert," she smiled.
"Him and a couple of his friends tried to beat the crap out of me once. Or twice."

Jenny reached up and kissed him.
"Forget him," she said.
"Already done Jen," Gibbs smiled at her.

XOXOXOX

"Thank goodness!" Tony cried, leaping out of the elevator as soon as the doors were finally forced open. Ziva rolled her eyes as she stepped round him towards the bullpen. "What took you so long probie?" Tony asked.
"We didn't know where you were, your cell phones are off," McGee replied.
"Well, as temporary team leader I'm calling today a work from home day," Tony said. "Being stuck in an elevator will do that to a person." he frowned. "Hey hold on, why're the lights off?"
"There's been a power cut," McGee explained.
"Oh, so Gibbs didn't break the elevator," Tony realised.

"McGee! What are you doing here?" Abby cried. "Ooh, CafPow!"
"Tony declared a work from home day when they got him out the elevator," McGee explained.
"Cool," Abby said. "Feel like coming to a brain matter concert with me?" McGee hesitated. How did you say no to Abby? "I wonder of Tony and Ziva would like to come too?" she mused.
"Sorry Abs, they already left."
"Together?"
"I don't know."
"Well, you're supposed to know these things Timmy!"

Tony lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. Ziva was lying with her back to him, having fallen asleep. He turned onto his side, put a hand on her shoulder, and leant down to place a kiss on her cheek.
"Gibbs is going to kill me," he said quietly. As he wrapped his arms around her waist, he guessed some things were worth dying for.

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One two three... AWWWWW! I know, very soppy and fluffy but I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. Reviews make me smile. If I get enough reviews, I'll consider the sequel. Evil, I know. I can be bribed with chocolate or reviews. :)

Christina x