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Day Sixteen: in formal wear
Timeline: married; Jenny is Director.
For once in her life, Jenny was not mocking her husband ceaselessly or devising some maniacal way to shock him or prank him; she was genuinely grateful he was doing her a favor, and she had no intention of alienating him about it - not until later, anyway. Maybe.
It depended on what kind of mood she was in.
She also didn't intend to nag him, but it was really worrying her that he was down in the basement among the sawdust and nails and dirt when he was supposed to be getting ready for the gala.
"Jethro," she called fastening on diamond earrings as she walked through the house to the kitchen. "We have to leave as soon as my security gets here," she warned lightly, hoping that was enough of a nudge.
He grunted something, and she made a face, fastening the other earring in.
"You sure I look okay in this drab cream colour?" she prompted.
He didn't answer, and she frowned, looking down at herself. For the event, she'd chosen a very simplistic cream coloured gown that gathered at the waist, had pearl buttons down the back, and fell to the floor in a flowy but clingy drape. She stared down at herself a little longer, and then felt furious.
"Fuck, I look like a bride," she swore to herself. "For the love of God, I'm the girl who shows up to the prom in a damn wedding dress," she growled.
"You look good in everything," Gibbs grunted from behind her.
She turned, and stared, taken aback. He gave her a funny look, and wiped off his hands on a towel, throwing it into the sink to be washed later. She continued to stare, suddenly forgetting that she was worried about the dress - maybe someone else would wear like, a lighter colour - or something uglier - so people wouldn't whisper about her.
"Where's your tux?" she asked, finally managing to find her words.
It wasn't that she hadn't seen him in uniform before; she had. It had just always been rough and tumble ACUs when he was at the recruitment office - and he'd worn a tux at their wedding, because it had been civilian and it distinguished their union from his previous one - and hers. But now - well, he'd decided to wear his dress blues to this event without letting her know, and she was dumbstruck.
"It's the Corp's birthday ball," he retorted, giving her a look. "Can't show up in a damn tux."
She supposed she should have realized that - he was a Marine, after all - but still - the medals and pristine regalia, and the effect of him in that uniform - it was really doing a humber on her.
She swallowed, and stepped forward.
He grinned, shooting her a wry look.
"Think it's the first time I've ever caught you speechless," he joked.
She put her hand on the medals, counting them, and tilted her head.
"This still fits you?" she asked.
He gestured, as if to say - obviously - and then he held up his arm, flexing a muscle, striking a pose.
"I still got it," he drawled, arching his brows at her.
She grinned, and bit her lip.
"Oooh, gunny, I can't wait to get you out of this!"
-alexandra