A/N: I got this update out sooner than I expected- yay! :) This is major fluff, and I had fun writing it. Thanks to my reviewers; hermosagirl3, itzcheeseball, Levana Fay, KuteKat133, Nicky, and HesMines- you are all awesome! :) And I know the episode premiered, like, two weeks ago, but who else watched Lauren Holly on 'Covert Affairs' and was like 'Jenny come back!'? Because I know both my friend Brianna and I were. She was excellent though, and for those that haven't seen it, I totally suggest it! :)
Jenny watched Jethro walk into the kitchen, still wondering what he could have for her. Shrugging her shoulders, she walked over to the couch, where Liam was sitting up, yawning as he rubbed his fists into his eyes. She scooped the toddler up, causing him to giggle as he latched onto her, resting on her hip.
"Momma!" he squealed, kissing her cheek loudly. She covered his face and head in kisses, making him squeal and giggle even louder. He returned her kisses with his own baby kisses, rubbing his nose against hers.
"Hello baby boy." Jenny said, hugging the little boy to her chest. He buried his face in her neck, letting out a happy sigh.
Unbeknownst to her, Gibbs was watching her with Liam, smiling as he leaned against the doorway. Jen was a natural with their son- he watched her kiss Liam on the forehead before hugging him to her chest, her cheek on the top of his head. She walked over to Allison, kissing the top of her head and ruffling her hair, smiling down at the little girl. Gibbs watched for a moment more before turning back to the kitchen to start dinner.
Jenny smiled down at Allison, tapping her cheek gently with her fingertip.
"Why don't you go grab your brush, I'll re-braid your hair before dinner."
"Okay Mommy." Allison said, smiling up at her before skipping off up the stairs. Jenny looked at Liam, brushing back a curl from his eyes.
"Let's go change you, then we can go see Daddy." Jenny said, tweaking his nose with her forefinger and thumb. Liam giggled, his big blue-green eyes lit up as he clung to his mom. Jenny smiled, carrying him upstairs to his nursery. After changing him, she brought him into the kitchen, where Jethro was starting dinner. He looked up, smiling when he saw them.
"Hey Liam. Did you and Mommy and Allie have a good nap?" he asked, wiping his hands on a dishcloth before taking him in his arms, ruffling his hair. Liam beamed, touching his nose to his dad's cheek.
"Dadda." he said simply, causing Jethro's eyes to light up and Jenny's heart to skip a beat.
"I knew you could do it Liam!" Jethro said, tickling the little boy's sides. Jenny laughed, shaking her head. Jethro looked up, meeting her gaze. He shifted Liam to his hip and turned to Jenny, reaching with his free hand to cup her cheek before leaning forward and kissing her firmly, his excitement flowing through the kiss. Jenny responded easily, closing her eyes as she melted into him.
After a few long moments, they broke apart, their gazes meeting. Jenny softened, overwhelmed by the intensity of love in his burning blue irises. She looked at Liam, who was looking at them happily, letting out a giggle when Jethro tickled his sides. Jenny smiled, running her fingertip along Liam's cheek, sighing quietly. Jethro gave her an odd look that she couldn't quite read. Just as she was about to ask him about it, Allison bounded into the kitchen, brush in hand.
"Mommy can you fix my hair?" Allison asked, looking up at her. The moment between Jenny and Jethro was dispersed, and Jenny smiled down at the little girl, nodding.
"Of course sweetheart."
Grabbing the brush, she took the hair tie out of her daughter's hair, letting the frizzy hair loose from its previous braid. She ran the brush through the thick crimson strands, smoothing them, before speedily re-braiding them into a neat French braid.
"There you go Allie. Can you run the brush back upstairs and then wash your hands for dinner please?"
"Yes Mommy. Thank you." Allison said, beaming up at her. Jenny returned the smile, tapping her nose before watching her race from the room. Turning, she walked over to the phone, noting the three new missed calls, most likely from the parents of the three kids from Allison's class. She'd listen to them later, she decided, before looking over at Jethro. He'd gotten Liam set up in his high chair, and was working on getting the rest of dinner ready.
Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her nose into his back. He continued to work, but dropped one hand on top of hers, squeezing gently.
"Sorry I'm not more help." Jenny said softly, inhaling his scent.
"You're tired. Everyone needs a day off once in a while."
"Even Leroy Jethro Gibbs?" Jenny teased, peeking around his shoulder to see his expression. He glared lightly at her, relenting with a smirk when she flashed him a smile.
"I'll get you back for that." he said, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure, Jethro. Sure you will." Jenny said with a quiet laugh. Allison ran back into the room, giggling when she saw them.
"Mommy is dinner almost ready?"
"In a minute sweetheart. Why don't you sit down at the table and Daddy will bring it over to you and Liam." Jenny said, smiling down at the little girl as she released her arms from Jethro's waist, stepping away from him.
"Okay Mommy." Allison said, sliding into the chair at the table where the Disney Princess placemat sat, bouncing slightly in her seat. "Did you get the call from Trevor and Sadie and Molly's parents Mommy?"
"There are messages on the machine sweetheart. I'll listen to them after dinner." Jenny answered, placing a plate of food in front of her daughter.
"Okay Mommy. And we can watch a movie, right?" Allison said, a hopefully expression on her face.
"Yes baby. We can watch a movie." Jenny said, kissing the top of her head and smiling at her. Content, Allison dug into her macaroni and cheese, and Jenny turned back to Jethro, who in turn handed her a plate loaded with their dinner. She accepted it with a smile, sitting in the chair opposite Allison. Jethro placed a glass of water in front of her before sitting next to her, opening his bottle of beer.
Allison chattered on about her day, giving her parents a blow-by-blow account of everything that had happened. She talked about playing with Amanda on the playground, and sitting with Hannah during story time, and coloring with Trevor. Jenny listened intently, marveling at the insight of the almost five year old.
"And Andrew said he wanted to be my boyfriend on the swings today. But I said no because you said I couldn't have a boyfriend until I was thirty Daddy." Allison concluded, causing Jethro to choke on his beer and Jenny to stifle her giggle in her hand. Jenny met Jethro's gaze, amusement sparkling in her emerald green eyes.
"Really, Al? Well good job sweetheart. Because you're right, you won't be having any boyfriends until you are thirty." Jethro managed after a few moments, nodding to his daughter. Jenny's giggles were threatening to spill over, tears in the corners of her eyes, and Jethro glared at her, the corners of his mouth turning up in spite of himself.
"What's so funny Mommy?" Allison asked, frowning. Jenny struggled to compose herself, gasping for air.
"Yeah Jen, what's so funny?" Jethro asked, raising an eyebrow at her as she attempted to control herself.
"Oh, just you, sweetheart." Jenny said, ruffling Allison's hair. The four year old giggled, her big blue eyes shining.
"Momma, Dadda." Liam babbled, catching their attention. Jenny smiled, brushing the auburn curls from the little boy's forehead.
"Hello sweetheart." Jenny said, kissing Liam's forehead. Liam giggled, clapping his hands together before grasping his sippy cup, bringing it to his lips and drinking from it. Jenny met Jethro's gaze, once again surprised by the unreadable emotion in his eyes. She frowned, touching his hand in concern. He jumped slightly, seeming to become aware of her again. He shook his head slightly, and she let it go.
Dinner finished rather quickly, and Jethro brought Liam upstairs to take a bath while Jenny stayed in the kitchen, cleaning up. Allison was sitting at the kitchen table, a piece of paper in front of her as she practiced her letters. Jenny loaded the dishwasher before turning to the phone, listening to the messages and writing the information on the notepad on the fridge along with the other kids coming to the party.
Jethro came down forty five minutes later with a clean Liam, who instantly reached for Jenny. She took him into her arms, feeling him rest his slightly damp head under her chin.
"I'm going to give Allie a bath before the movie. Can you put Liam down?" Jethro asked, walking over to Allison and scooping her up.
"Sure. I'll meet you two in the living room." Jenny said, nodding. Jethro came closer, kissing Liam on the forehead gently.
"G'night buddy. I love you." he whispered, his nose resting in the auburn curls for a moment before pulling away and pressing a tender kiss to Jenny's cheek. "See you in a little while babe."
"Alright." Jenny said, her fingertips on her free hand brushing his cheek softly, her eyes studying him. The tenderness in which he regarded her and their son was incredible to her. The impulse to tell him struck her, and before she knew it, the words she'd been holding in spilled out. "I love you, Jethro."
He looked up, his eyes flashing with love and tenderness. His lips curved up into a smile, his hand still in Allison's as he started to lead her up the stairs.
"I love you too Jenny."
Her heart leapt to her throat at his reply, although she knew it shouldn't have. They were married; of course they told each other that they loved each other. But she hadn't said those words in so long. It felt right, to say them.
Jenny smiled at him, watching as he led Allison up the stairs. Looking at the very drowsy toddler in her arms, she carried him up to his nursery, rubbing his back and rocking him gently as she walked. Reaching the room, she turned the light off and turned the mobile above his crib on, sitting down on the rocker with him as he curled into her lap.
His head rested against her chest, his hair tickling the skin on her neck, his head tucked under her chin. His left hand was pinned in-between their bodies, and his right rested on top of her left hand. Her right hand stroked up and down his back in soothing motions, drawing him into a deeper sleep.
He sighed her name once more before snuggling further into her warmth, his soft breath touching her skin. She hugged him closer, resting her cheek on the top of his head as she listened to his breathing even out as he drifted. She rocked the chair slowly, just enjoying the feeling of a tiny body in her arms.
Eventually, Liam was in a deep enough sleep for her to place him in his crib. She stood, placing him in the center of the mattress gently, stroking his auburn curls as he dreamt. Pulling the blanket up higher on his legs, she pressed a lingering kiss on to his forehead, breathing his scent in, memorizing it. She never wanted to forget it.
"I love you Liam." she whispered, closing her eyes momentarily.
She restarted the mobile, watching him sleep for a few more moments before slipping out of the room quietly, leaving the door open a crack. Sighing quietly, she walked into the bedroom to change into something more comfortable. Upon walking into the room, she was assaulted by the sounds of laughter and water splashing, and she headed in the direction of the bathroom, her face breaking out into a smile when she took in the scene in front of her.
Jethro was giving Allison her bath, but it appeared as though their daughter thought he'd needed to get clean too. Jethro's hair was covered in suds, and his t-shirt was soaked. Allison was giggling uncontrollably, and Jethro was chuckling, shaking his head at her.
"Who was the one that getting a bath again? Was it Allie, or you, Jethro?" Jenny asked, a bemused expression on her face.
"Well, Allie decided that I needed to get clean as well." Jethro asked, wiping at the bubbles in his salt-n-pepper hair.
"I can see that." Jenny said with a laugh, shaking her head. "Why don't you two finish up so that we can watch the movie, alright?"
"Okay Mommy." Allison said, still giggling at her dad. Jenny shook her head again, rolling her eyes as she smiled at her daughter's antics.
Walking back into the bedroom, she grabbed a pair of green flannel pajama pants, switching them with her jeans, and a plain white t-shirt. Throwing her clothes in the hamper, she walked back downstairs, leaving Jethro to dry Allison off and get her in pajamas.
She headed into the living room, where she found the movie Allison wanted to watch on the coffee table. Smiling, she walked into the kitchen, filling a goblet with wine. Carrying it back into the living room, she settled down on the couch, grabbing the remote. She channel-surfed for a little while, settling on 'Grey's Anatomy', her guilty pleasure television show.
She was watching Meredith struggle to come back after drowning, finally seeing her mother, when Allison came bounding down the stairs. Jenny immediately flipped the channel, knowing it wasn't exactly a kid-friendly show, and turned to her daughter.
"Still want to watch 'The Little Mermaid' sweetheart?"
"Yes please Mommy!" Allison said, her tiny face lit up with excitement.
"Alright. I'll put it in. Where's Daddy?" Jenny said, standing up.
"He's putting dry clothes on. He said he would be down in a minute." Allison answered, snuggling into the couch cushions. Jenny grabbed a blanket from the corner, settling next to her and spreading it over them. She wrapped an arm around her daughter, feeling the little girl rest her head on her chest. Jenny pressed a kiss to her hair before resting her cheek on the top of her head, settling in to watch the movie.
The previews were just ending when Jethro walked in, changed into a clean USMC shirt and plaid pajama pants. He settled next to Jenny, pulling her against his firm chest. She nestled into his side, and Allison shifted slightly, her head still resting comfortably on Jenny's chest.
The movie started, and Jenny felt Jethro's fingers slowly start to run through her hair, their rhythm soothing and comforting. She sighed quietly, pushing her head into his fingers.
This setting was so foreign to her, yet it felt so natural. She'd had never spent an evening watching a Disney movie with her husband and daughter. But she wished she could. She'd much rather watch a movie about a redheaded cartoon mermaid who went against the flow with her family than spend three hours in her study, all alone, reading case reports.
Allison giggled when a seagull came into the movie, telling them what the items Ariel had found in the ship were.
"But that's a fork, not a dingle hopper!" she said with a laugh, shaking her head at the cartoon bird. "Silly Scuttle."
Jenny laughed with her, kissing her forehead. The movie progressed, and when it came to the part where Ariel and Eric were fighting Ursula in the ocean, Allison buried her face into Jenny's chest, hiding her eyes. Jenny rubbed her back until it was over, kissing the crown of her head. Finally, Ariel and Eric were married on the ship, and there was a happily ever after. If only that could happen in real life, Jenny thought.
"She's so pretty. She looks like you Mommy." Allison said, referring to Ariel in her wedding gown.
"Nah, your Mommy is prettier." Jethro said, shaking his head. Allison giggled, her eyes blinking tiredly.
"Bedtime baby. You've got to go to school tomorrow." Jenny said, picking the little girl and placing her on her hip. Allison protested feebly, but rested her head on Jenny's shoulder, her big blue eyes already closed.
Jenny carried her up to her room after Jethro had kissed the little girl goodnight, and was now turning the television and VCR off. Jenny was amazed that he knew how to, but hadn't said anything.
She tucked Allison in, watching her curl into a ball under her comforter. She leaned forward, kissing the little girl's forehead.
"Goodnight Allison. I love you." she whispered, smoothing back the halo of fiery hair.
"I love you too," came the mumbled reply, the brilliant blue eyes never opening. Jenny smiled, fixing the covers over the little body before straightening, leaving the room. Just as she was closing the door behind her, Jethro was coming up the stairs, the house dark below them.
"Both of the asleep?" he asked, taking her by the waist gently. Jenny nodded, resting her head on his strong chest, breathing him in. "C'mon, I have something for you in the bedroom."
Jenny looked up intrigued, but let him guide her, his hands holding hers. He led her into the bedroom, where there were candles set up, a music player in the corner. It was the most romantic thing she'd ever seen.
"Jethro…" she started, but he interrupted.
"Jen, just give me a minute."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small white box. He handed it to her, and she took it hesitantly, unsure.
"Open it."
She gingerly took the lid off of the box, gasping at what she uncovered.
A beautiful crystal pacifier sat in the cotton in the box.