Chapter Ten: Good Times and Bad
"Put that down, Jen," Gibbs said. "I'll get the bags."
"I'm perfectly capable of carrying a suitcase, Jethro," Jenny said swatting his hand away when he tried to take it from her. She may have been 26 weeks pregnant but that didn't mean she couldn't do anything. Her belly definitely got in the way of her doing some things but there was no reason she couldn't carry the suitcase out to the car.
Gibbs shook his head as he watched helplessly. He wished she would take it easy although he had to admit, the suitcase was pretty light. Bailey's little hand tapping on his stomach refocused his attention. "I can't pick you up right now, Little Man," he said rubbing the child's head before heading into the kitchen. "We have to get going." Bailey followed close behind Gibbs, moaning and reaching his arms out towards him. Gibbs handed him a bottle of strawberry milk and a granola bar then called for Josie.
Bailey put his breakfast on the kitchen floor and once again lifted his arms to Gibbs. "I want you, Daddy," he moaned.
Josie bounced into the kitchen and took her breakfast from Gibbs. "Can I eat in the car?" she asked.
"Yep," Gibbs answered, "Mommy's already out there. Go ahead out and I'll be there in a minute."
"Daddy!" Bailey's cries were getting louder and more demanding.
Gibbs knelt in front of Bailey and brushed the tears from the corners of his eyes. "What's the matter, Bud? Why are you sad?"
"I want you," Bailey cried.
"Bailey, I love you to death, Buddy," Gibbs said, "but I had to get everything ready for our trip. Otherwise we're going to be walking around naked and we won't have a camera to take pictures or swimsuits to swim with the fishies." He brushed the last of the tears from Bailey's cheeks as the little boy wrapped an arm around his neck. "I know you like to cuddle in the morning, I do too. Mommy and I will spend all weekend cuddling with you and your sister."
He grabbed Bailey's breakfast, carried him out to the front porch and locked the house up then buckled him into his booster seat. "Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah," Bailey said as he calmed himself down.
Gibbs leaned in and kissed the little boy's forehead then leaned over and kissed Josie's cheek before climbing into the driver's seat. Jenny reached over and rested her hand on Gibbs' forearm as he put the key the ignition. They'd decided to drive to Ocean City, Maryland for a weekend of fun. They planned on spending the night then driving home Sunday afternoon. Minus a few discomforts from the pregnancy, Jenny was doing very well. They both knew the third trimester could bring more aches, pains and discomforts so they were using the trip to the beach as a fun summer getaway and a way to celebrate how far they'd come with the pregnancy.
Originally they'd planned on letting the twins sleep for part of the trip like they'd done when they went to Stillwater but Josie had gotten up when she heard Gibbs and Jenny moving around then gone into her brother's room and got him up. Bailey was excited about getting to swim with the fishies for the first time in his life and couldn't go back to sleep so he'd spent the morning following Gibbs around, begging for his normal Saturday morning cuddle time.
Gibbs took a deep breath and focused on being happy that they were all in the car and leaving at a decent time. He put the car in gear and backed out of the driveway, letting himself relax and get excited about their time away. They kids ate their breakfast while Gibbs worked on his second cup of coffee for the day. Jenny ate some of the fruit she'd cut up and fed some of it to the twins. She'd already had peanut butter toast at the house but was trying to eat well balanced and somewhat healthy meals.
"Do you want some fruit?" Jenny asked.
"Got any strawberries in there?" Gibbs asked.
Jenny fished a strawberry out and fed it to Gibbs after he'd merged onto the interstate. "You know," she said, "when the baby comes we might need a bigger car. Two booster seats and a car seat is going to be a tight fit."
"Great, we've graduated to minivan status," Gibbs joked.
"Mm-hmm," Jenny hummed, offering Gibbs a bite of melon. "We might need a bus by the time we're done," she teased. She had to get him back for teasing her so much.
Gibbs glared over at her playfully. "We're not having that many kids," he said.
Jenny just laughed and went back to her fruit.
The three hour car ride passed listening to kid's music, laughing and joking, practicing the twins' alphabet by reading the license plates of the passing cars and talking about the baby growing in Mommy's tummy. Neither Gibbs nor Jenny knew where they came up with all the questions they did but their curiosity hadn't died down at all since they'd first learned about their new sibling.
They pulled up to their hotel shortly after 11:00 that morning. They'd made good time. Gibbs checked them in then they headed for their room. They were on the 22nd floor of a decent hotel but didn't have a view of the beach. They didn't see the need to pay extra when they didn't plan on spending much time in the hotel room. They all changed into their swimsuits, Gibbs grabbed a backpack with their beach gear in it then they headed out again.
They walked along one of the crowded pathways lined with street vendors and grabbed some lunch. After a quick meal they headed for the beach. They'd chosen to go to the beach mainly for Bailey. The little boy loved water, loved swimming in the bathtub and loved fish. He talked about it constantly, watched SpongeBob whenever Gibbs and Jenny let him and even had a SpongeBob themed bathroom with fish painted on the walls. Gibbs and Jenny were hoping he liked the water as much as he thought he did.
They found an open area on the beach and spread out their beach towels. It was a hot July day and there were a lot of people around. Jenny put sunscreen on the twins while Gibbs set up their stuff. They both had fair skin and with the sun high in the sky she knew it wouldn't take long for their little bodies to turn red. Once they were all ready, they headed towards the ocean.
Bailey immediately started searching for fish, SpongeBob, Patrick and any other characters from his favorite TV show. The lines between cartoons and reality were blurred in his four year old mind. Josie squealed and rushed to grab onto Gibbs as a small wave came towards her. Gibbs laughed and rubbed her head. She poked her big toe into the water and giggled in delight.
Gibbs and Jenny grabbed the kids' hands and walked farther into the water. Once the twins got used to the salt water burning their eyes there was no stopping them. They floated on the water with Gibbs and Jenny holding them up, let the waves push them around and even practiced swimming although it was difficult with all the waves. The afternoon was spent swimming, running in the surf, building massive sandcastles and collecting seashells. By dinner time Gibbs and Jenny were dragging two tired kids off the beach to find somewhere to eat.
That evening they attended the free concert on the beach and bought the kids an ice cream cone from a nearby stand. The music wasn't really anything Gibbs and Jenny were into but the twins entertained them by dancing and putting on a show for everyone sitting near them. Gibbs paid more attention to the twins than the musicians as he held Jenny close. Nothing beat quality family time together. At that moment they didn't have a care in the world.
By the time they arrived back at the hotel room that night the kids were struggling to stay awake. They'd gotten up early, missed their nap and played hard all afternoon. Both of them fussed and cried when Gibbs and Jenny told them it was time to return to the hotel. Bailey threw a big fit when Gibbs told him it was bath time. He threw himself on the floor and went limp, forcing Gibbs to carry him into the bathroom.
Gibbs tried to stand him next to the bathtub but Bailey immediately dropped to his butt in protest then cried out even louder when he made contact with the hard bathroom floor. "Somebody's tired," Gibbs said as he filled the tub.
"No I'm not!" Bailey cried. "I wanna go look for the fishies!"
"It's too dark to see the fishies, Bailey," Gibbs said as he pulled the little boy's shirt over his head.
"No it's not!" Bailey screamed growing more upset by the minute.
"Can you take your swim shorts off or are you going to make me do that too?" Gibbs asked.
"I don't want to take a bath!" Bailey cried.
"Sorry Bud," Gibbs said lifting Bailey into one arm and tugging his shorts off with the other. "Don't start thrashing around in the tub. I don't want you to get hurt."
Gibbs washed the sand off of Bailey while the little boy sat in the tub sobbing and crying. Gibbs knew he was just tired and would eventually get tired of crying or cry himself to sleep. The fact that he hadn't wanted to leave the beach and then learned he had to take a bath pushed him over the edge. Gibbs suspected once all the sand was cleaned off of him and he could cuddle with Mommy or Daddy he'd fall asleep quickly.
After he was clean, Gibbs pulled Bailey out of the tub and wrapped him in one of the large white, fluffy hotel towels. He carried him out and laid him on one the beds then put a pair of underwear on him. "He's all yours, Momma," Gibbs said laying the little boy down next to Jenny.
Jenny brushed the tears from Bailey's cheeks then pulled him close to her side while he slowed his crying. Gibbs tossed Bailey's blanket to Jenny and she covered the four year old up as he tucked his thumb into his mouth, something he only did when he was overly tired.
Josie was lying on her stomach at the end of the bed watching TV while she played footsie with her mommy. Gibbs picked her up and carried her into the bathroom.
"Why Bailey is crying?" she asked around a yawn.
"Because he's sleepy and he doesn't like to take baths," Gibbs answered as he filled the tub once again. Josie nodded her head as she yawned again. She was sleepy too. "Can you get undressed for me, Sweet Pea?" he asked.
Josie pulled off her tank top and shorts followed by her bathing suit then stood there staring at the bath tub like a zombie. Gibbs picked her up and sat her down in the tub then went to work washing the sand off of her. Her hair was longer and more challenging to get clean. It took a few washes before he finally got all the sand washed out.
The little girl nearly fell asleep as Gibbs rubbed the washcloth over her body, washing the itchy, uncomfortable sand away from her smooth, soft skin. When she was done Gibbs picked her up, pulled the plug on the drain and wrapped her in a towel before heading back into the main room.
Bailey was sleeping soundly while Jenny combed her fingers through his wet hair. Josie fell asleep on Gibbs' shoulder before he laid her down in the bed. He put a pair of underwear on her and tucked her into bed then moved Bailey into bed next to her and left them to sleep.
Once the kids were taken care of Gibbs and Jenny headed into the bathroom to get all the sand washed off themselves. They were just as tired as the kids were and were looking forward to sleep. A half an hour later they were cuddled together in their bed and both fell asleep almost as quickly as the kids had.
Josie was the first one up on Sunday morning. She climbed out of bed and walked over to the bed Gibbs and Jenny were in. She knew Daddy was usually the first of her parents to get up so she crawled up on top of him to see if he was awake yet.
Gibbs woke when he felt a little hand pushing into his stomach and a little knee dangerously close to his groin. He opened his eyes to find Josie crawling on top of him. "Good morning, Baby Girl," he whispered.
"Good morning, Daddy," Josie whispered back. "Are you awake?"
Gibbs smiled as he laid her out on top of him. "I am now," he whispered before kissing her cheek.
He glanced over at Jenny then looked over at Bailey and wasn't surprised to find both of them still sleeping. He got Josie and himself dressed then they headed out to walk along the beach and watch the sunrise. He didn't want to wake Jenny or Bailey and didn't want Josie to have to try to be quiet. They'd have more fun going on a little adventure and it would give him some quality time with his little girl.
The two strolled along the unpopulated beach as the sun peeked out above the water in the distance. Josie held onto Gibbs' hand and danced around as the water washed over their bare feet. She collected a few more seashells, sang songs and talked to the seagulls.
"Daddy, my tummy is hungry for breakfast," Josie said after they'd been walking for a little while.
"My tummy is thirsty for coffee," Gibbs said. "I think we better find somewhere to get some food."
"And coffee," Josie said. She knew how much her daddy loved coffee. "Can I ride on your shoulders?"
"You sure can," Gibbs said lifting the little girl over his head and settling her on his shoulders.
Gibbs and Josie found a nearby Burger King and ordered breakfast for everyone then headed back to their hotel room. Jenny was already up and dressed, reading her book while Bailey slept.
"Morning," Gibbs said before leaning in for a kiss.
"Mmm, good morning," Jenny replied. "Good morning, Sweetie," she said to Josie.
"Good morning, Mommy," Josie said as she climbed into bed with Jenny. "Good morning, Baby," she said to Jenny's belly. "Daddy and me bringed you guys breakfast."
Jenny cuddled Josie next to her and kissed the top of her head. Gibbs handed Jenny and Josie their breakfasts then sat down in bed next to Bailey. He leaned against the headboard and started rubbing Bailey's back to wake him. Bailey mumbled and groaned before yawning and climbing into Gibbs' lap. He sat facing his daddy with his arms wrapped around Gibbs' midsection while Gibbs rocked him and peppered his head with kisses.
"How'd you sleep, Buddy?" he asked quietly.
"Good," Bailey said. "What's that smell?"
"Josie and I brought breakfast," Gibbs answered smoothing out Bailey's hair. "We got you a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit and some orange juice."
"And hash browns?" Bailey asked.
"We would never forget the hash browns," Gibbs said with a smile. "Are you ready to eat?"
"Yeah, but I have to say good morning to the baby first," Bailey said.
"Don't forget to say good morning to Mommy while you're over there," Gibbs said as he stood Bailey on the floor.
"I won't," Bailey said. He walked over to the bed Jenny and Josie were sitting on and climbed up next to them. He walked to the head of the bed and wrapped his arm around Jenny's neck. "Good morning, Mommy."
"Good morning, Sweetheart," Jenny said before kissing his cheek.
"Good morning, Baby," Bailey said. "I really hope that you will be my brother a not another sister. I already got one of them."
Gibbs and Jenny smiled at one another. Jenny rubbed Bailey's back while Gibbs got his breakfast out. It was nice to be able to eat in bed with the kids and not have to worry about crumbs. The hotel would have to wash the bedding after they left anyways. After breakfast they put their swimsuits back on, covered themselves in sunscreen then went back down to the beach. They had to head back to DC that afternoon but they planned on enjoying themselves that morning.
Jenny relaxed in her chair while Gibbs built a huge sandcastle with the twins in front of her. She hated not being able to get down there with them comfortably but knew the baby would be there before they knew it and things would return to normal, or a new normal. She was excited to add a new life to their family, one she and Gibbs had created together. She couldn't wait to meet their little bundle of joy.
The sandcastle Gibbs was making with the twins collapsed when they tried to add a third level to it so they abandoned their construction project and decided it was time to play in the water again. Jenny joined them and she and Gibbs enjoyed listening to the kids laugh as they ran and played. They walked the kids out into the ocean a ways and let the waves wash over them before returning to shore. Bailey was a little disappointed he never saw any fish or found SpongeBob but the thrill of playing in the ocean overshadowed that disappointment.
As the morning turned to afternoon the beach filled up more and more and Gibbs and Jenny knew it was time to get going. They'd have to check out of their hotel room soon and they wanted to bathe the kids before the long car ride home. They packed up their stuff and headed back to the hotel one last time. Jenny packed their things while Gibbs put the kids in the tub together. Once the twins were taken care of, Gibbs and Jenny got in the shower together while the kids watched cartoons. After everybody was ready they checked out, stopped and grabbed some lunch then started the three hour trek back to DC.
The beginning of the third trimester seemed to bring all the aches and discomfort Jenny had escaped so far during the pregnancy. Not only was her skin dry and itchy she was having trouble catching her breath, her muscles ached horribly and almost everything she ate gave her heartburn. Despite her discomfort she still had work to do before her retirement.
By week thirty she was really starting to get antsy. Her bad days seemed to outnumber the good and she was anxious to get the baby out of her. Not only was she uncomfortable in her own skin, she also wasn't sleeping. She was nervous about the childbirth process and a little anxious about retirement being only a month away. It would be a big change in her life but she was looking forward to spending more time with the twins and taking care of her husband. On top of that she knew once she laid eyes on her newborn child she wouldn't want to let the infant out of her sight. She knew despite her anxieties she was making the right choice.
One evening in the beginning of August the pressure grew too much for Jenny. Endless meetings at work, rambunctious twins, swollen ankles, leg cramps and achy muscles all got the better of her. She found herself not wanting to leave her bedroom. With the twins going wild downstairs and Jenny nearly in tears upstairs, Gibbs didn't know who to take care of first.
"Go Jethro," Jenny said sympathetically. "Take care of the twins. I'll be okay. I'm going to try to get some rest."
"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Gibbs asked. He was concerned and didn't really want to leave her.
"Yes," Jenny said nodding her head. "I'm just going to relax, maybe take a warm bath, try to nap for a little while. I just need some time. I'll be okay."
"I'll tell you what," Gibbs said, "I'll take the kids out for dinner so you can have some peace and quiet then when I get home, I'll take care of you."
"Can you bring me a Philly cheese steak?" Jenny asked. "No peppers or onions. They'll just make my indigestion worse and no rush, whenever you get back."
"Sure," Gibbs said as he wrapped her in his arms. "I have my phone. Call if you need anything." The two shared a kiss then Gibbs left her alone in their room and rounded up the twins.
Gibbs took Bailey and Josie to one of the sub shops they frequented for lunch at work. They had a wide variety, fresh ingredients and created excellent sandwiches. They ate dinner in the shop then Gibbs took the twins to a very nice playground that was nearby. He let them run around and play until they were good and tired. He was hoping they'd be ready to calm down and start thinking about bed when they got home.
Once the kids were ready to go Gibbs ordered Jenny's sandwich then the group hit up a couple stores on their way home. They bought a body pillow and an oddly shaped pregnancy pillow to try to help Jenny sleep. With her large belly she was having problems getting comfortable enough to be able to get any rest.
Jenny was just getting out of the bathtub when Gibbs and the kids arrived home. She was feeling a little bit better after her long soak in the tub surrounded by scented candles. Gibbs brought the twins into the room so they could deliver the pillows to her.
Jenny fought back tears as she accepted her gifts. Her hormones were raging and her emotions were all over the place. When the tears started she laughed at herself for crying over pillows. The twins had some concept of the baby inside Mommy making her act silly and usually gave her hugs and kisses instead of questioning her about her emotions. Gibbs couldn't wait till the emotions calmed down again. He wasn't sure how to react.
Jenny ate her sandwich while Gibbs bathed the twins and got them into their pajamas. They read bedtime stories together then Gibbs and Jenny left the kids to sleep and returned to their own room. Gibbs had Jenny lay down in bed so he could give her a full body massage starting with her achy, swollen feet.
"You ready for tomorrow?" he asked.
"I guess," Jenny said. "I really wish you were going with me."
"Ziva and Abs will be there and you'll have Josie," Gibbs said. "Baby showers aren't really a guy thing anyways. Besides, I need to finish the nursery. I want to be able to help out around here more since you haven't been feeling the best and I don't want to have to worry about getting the nursery done. So, you do your thing and I'll do mine."
"You think you can get it all finished tomorrow?" Jenny asked as Gibbs worked his way up her legs.
"Oh yeah," Gibbs said confidently. "With Tony and Tim's help, we'll have it done in no time."
"Whoa," Jenny said her hand quickly moving to her belly.
"You okay?" Gibbs asked concerned.
"Yeah," Jenny said focusing on her breathing. "Our little one's a wiggly butt tonight."
Gibbs scooted up next to Jenny on the bed and rested his hand next to hers on her belly. "I think he's ready to come out," he said with a smile as he felt his child moving around.
"You think it's a boy?" Jenny asked with a smile.
"I don't know," Gibbs said. "What do you think?"
"I don't know," Jenny said. "I keep going back and forth. I'm really glad we decided to wait to find out though."
"It does add to the excitement," Gibbs said. He felt another strong push against his hand as Jenny moaned. "Are you ready come out and meet your family, Little One?" Gibbs asked as he rubbed his thumb across Jenny's stomach. Ever since the doctor told them the baby could recognize their voices around week twenty eight, they talked to their child often. Bailey and Josie did as well.
"Lean forward," Gibbs said. "I'll rub your neck and shoulders and your back."
"I never would've gotten through this without you, Jethro," Jenny said as Gibbs slipped in behind her.
"You're doing just fine," Gibbs said. "You're stronger than you think you are but I'm happy to take care of you. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Gibbs took his time finishing Jenny's massage then helped her get comfortable with her new pillows. He knew it wouldn't solve all her sleeping problems but he hoped it would help some. She was exhausted and needed rest. He brushed his fingers gently through her hair until she fell asleep. Once she was out he headed down to the basement to put the last coat of stain on the baby's dresser. He'd surprised himself that he'd finished all the furniture in time but he was proud of his accomplishment. It had been a fun father and son project to do with Bailey and he knew his newborn would have the best quality furniture out there and it was unique, designed by him and made with love.