After dinner and dishes and a tour of the house, Rachel and Jenny had curled up on one of the couches in the livingroom with mugs of hot chocolate cradled in their hands, and talked like two girls who were back in college. They shared stories and memories, laughed about things that had happened, and played catch up with each other's lives - everything they hadn't gotten from occasional letters and emails and phone calls.

Jenny laughed. "I was so mad at you for getting almost perfect on that exam. You'd barely studied at all the week before hand. I crammed my butt off just to the high mark I was used to." She shook her head. "No fair having a best friend with a photographic memory."

Rachel winced and shrugged. "I know a few people that hated me that semester. But it's not like I can help it. Blame my dad, that's who I got it from."

"How are your parents?" Jenny inquired.

"They're doing well. Dad retired a few years ago, though it was a struggle to talk him into it. The man would have worked until he was 85, not 65, if he had any say. And Mom is still involved in the women's group at church and keeping busy. She's getting excited though, finally having a grandbaby on the way."

"That's so exciting!" Jenny exclaimed. "Aunt Rachel, that should be fun."

Rachel smiled. "I know. Who would've thought my baby brother would get all grown up enough to have his own baby? But I feel badly for Melissa. It's been a hard pregnancy for her. She just wants it to be over with."

Jenny tried not to react as they talked about babies. Sure, once she'd dreamed about a life that included the normal family things, but then NCIS had happened and she'd gotten caught up in the climb to the top. She'd pretty much given up any dreams of motherhood, even when she and Jethro had gotten married. Gibbs never really talked about Kelly or Shannon that much. Jenny knew he was trying to protect her from his memories, but still, she wondered what he had been like as a father.

Early on in their marriage, Jenny had harboured a secret hope that perhaps she would get pregnant and they would be able to share that experience together. Protection was never really something they'd worried about that much anyway. But it was seven months later and nothing had happened and Jenny's cycle had been as regular as always. So she finally gave up hoping and just enjoyed being with her husband. A wistful look crossed her face, wondering when she would be able to get back to that point.

"What are you thinking about Jen?" Rachel asked, noticing the expression on her friends face.

Jenny sighed. "It has been hard to be going through this while I'm married Rach. Jethro and I," she shrugged, "we so much enjoy the 'perks' of being married, as you call them. But I can't...not yet...I don't even know how to feel about it."

"I know Jen. Well," she amended, "I know what it's like to have those thoughts in general, but I don't know what it's like to remember when being intimate was something I enjoyed."

Jenny shook her head. "I can't imagine what it would be like, to have that experience as your first time. I'm sorry Rachel."

"Don't be," Rachel smiled slightly, "I've made my peace with it. And hey, maybe someday the right guy will come along and show me that intimacy can be a good thing. Who knows?"

Jenny nodded. She glanced at the clock. It was pushing towards nine o'clock. "Hey Rach," she began, "I know I said we probably couldn't do sleepovers anymore, but since this is the first time I've seen you in way too long, would you like to stay over tonight? We have a guest room and that way you can stay a bit later tonight and have breakfast with us in the morning."

Rachel's face lit up. "I never say no to sleepovers and free food," she grinned. "But umm...what time is breakfast?"

Jenny chuckled. "0645. That's a quarter to seven in the morning for you non-military types."

"I do actually understand military time Jen," Rachel rolled her eyes. "And I'm going to have to start speaking it again if I'm working at the Naval Academy. What time do you guys leave for work?"

"Usually by 0710, we like to be at work early."

"Well, maybe I'll just go home for the day and try to finish putting my apartment in order. Or sleep more," Rachel added. She had never been a morning person.

"Okay," Jenny agreed. "Come back for supper again tomorrow night? Maybe Jethro won't be working and we can all eat together. I'd like for you to get to know him."

"I'd like that too," Rachel smiled. "I know it's a little late now, but I want to make sure he's good enough for my best friend."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem," Jenny said softly.

When Rachel looked into her eyes, she saw the love Jenny had for her husband. "That good, huh?"

"He's loved me through more than you have ever heard about Rachel. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world."

"I guess you learned that lesson already."

Jenny nodded. "It was one I only needed to learn once. Well, once and a bit, I guess."

She reflected on her early days at NCIS and how hard she had tried to prove to herself and everyone else, including Jethro, that she could do this job. It meant that she'd turned down an opportunity to, at the very least, be friends with her old partner, when she'd declared very firmly that there would be no 'off the job'. Not one of her finest moments, Jenny thought, after Jethro had let his guard down enough to say he missed her.

She hadn't been ready to admit that she missed him too and had thought about him often since Paris. It had been a year before she'd gotten another chance. Jenny would be forever grateful that Gibbs had come back, even if, in the beginning, it had only been because Ziva needed saving. Those four months had been some of the longest days of her life, fingering the picture he'd left of her in Serbia, remembering their time together.

"Jenny?" Rachel waved her hand in front of her friend's face.

"Hmm?" Jenny looked up. "Oh, sorry."

Rachel laughed. "I think I lost you somewhere."

"Just remembering," Jenny smiled.

"Tell me?" Rachel asked hopefully.

"Well..." Jenny hesitated, then decided it would be nice to talk about it. "Did I ever tell you about when Jethro and I were on assignment in Paris?"

"Paris? The City of Love?" Rachel's eyebrows rose. "Do tell Jen."

"We were undercover in this tiny attic apartment, doing surveillance on our target..."

The minutes flashed by as Jenny took Rachel back to Paris, to the summer she and Jethro had fallen in love.

NCIS

Bill and Gibbs exited the coffee shop, causing the little bell above the door to jingle again. Darkness had long since encompassed the city, but the streetlights made it easy to see everything. Bill pointed down the block and Gibbs nodded, falling into step beside his friend. They walked in silence for several minutes before Bill broke it to ask a question.

"Have you talked to Jenny yet?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Not since I was in her office. At first I didn't want to wake her. Then I got caught up in the case." He shrugged. "Noemi will tell her I've been by."

The other man took a sip of his coffee, careful to his tone. "You have to deliver your own messages Jethro. A second hand story is never as good as hearing it from the source."

Gibbs considered this. "I miss what we used to be. A month ago we were happy, we were great together. What if things are never the way they were?"

Bill changed tactics. "If Jenny was in an accident and got amnesia so that she couldn't remember you or being married or the love the two of you share, would you stop loving her?"

Gibbs frowned. "Of course not. An accident can't be helped. And if I kept loving her and being there for her, she'd eventually remember."

Bill didn't say anything else while Gibbs absorbed his meaning.

"You're saying that's the same thing," Gibbs realized after a minute.

"It's no different," Bill replied. "You and Jenny love each other and you've built a strong foundation for your lives together. But something happened that she couldn't help and now nothing is the same. Just like an amnesia patient though, if you keep loving her and being there for her, she will eventually remember that she can trust you. And when the trauma of this event is no longer constantly on her mind, Jenny will want back the life you had together just as much as you do."

It was Gibbs turn to be quiet for awhile. At last he finished his coffee and tossed the cup into a garbage can they passed.

"It's just hard to wait for that moment," Gibbs shared the truth.

"I'm sure it is Gunny. But I know you love her and I also know your patience will be worth it. Just approach Jenny with an open heart and be ready to fight for her if need be."

They finally made it back to where they'd parked their cars.

"Thanks for the coffee Bill. Tell Merry I appreciate her letting me borrow you for awhile."

Bill laughed. "Anything to keep me out of her kitchen while she's baking Jethro."

Gibbs was envious of Bill and Meredith's life together, he could tell his friend loved his wife deeply. "Someday you're going to have to share some of those happy marriage secrets," he told Bill.

The older man smiled. "Glad to Jethro. But give it a few years. I guarantee you will discover your own secrets for what works. Happiness is something you make together."

"Something to look forward to," Gibbs said quietly, getting into his car.

NCIS

When Gibbs got home, he was surprised to see an unfamiliar car parked in front of the house. He unlocked the door.

"Jenny?" he called.

"In the livingroom," she answered.

Taking off his coat and slipping out of his shoes, Gibbs walked towards the sound of his wife's voice. He entered the room, to find another woman sitting on the couch with Jenny. They both stood.

"Jethro," Jenny offered him a tentative smile and he could see in her eyes that how she'd felt this morning still stood between them, "I would like you to meet Rachel Wayne, my best friend from college."

Gibbs offered his hand.

"Jethro," Rachel smiled, gripping his hand firmly.

Gibbs could tell a lot about a person from their handshake. Rachel was confident, meeting his eyes and not acting nervous at all. He liked her already.

"So," he settled on the couch opposite them, "I finally get to meet this Rachel I've heard about. In town for a visit?" Gibbs asked flicking his eyes to his wife. He knew Jenny and Rachel had been trying to get together for some time now. But he thought Jenny would've said something if they'd finally managed to work it out.

"Well, no actually," Rachel explained. "I got a job at the Naval Academy and just moved here a couple weeks ago." She nudged Jenny. "Hard to say no to the opportunity to be closer to my old roommate."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "I'm sure you could tell some interesting stories about Jen in college."

Rachel nodded, mischief in her eyes. "I've got an interesting collection to draw from." Jenny elbowed her in the ribs and she shifted. "But if I don't want to fall out of favour when I just got here, that'll have to wait for some other time." Rachel glared at Jenny. "Like when your lovely wife isn't sitting right beside me."

"How interesting?" Gibbs asked, intrigued.

"Alright you two," Jen said, standing up, beginning to feel ganged up on, "new topic of conversation. If you'll excuse me for a minute," she looked back and forth between her best friend and husband, "behave."

Both immediately put on innocent looks that didn't fool Jenny at all. She was apprehensive about leaving them alone, but drinking liquid had it's consequences and she couldn't ignore it anymore.

As soon as Jenny was out of the room, Rachel turned back to Gibbs, not shy in the least.

"Jenny and I were just enjoying some hot chocolate Jethro, would you like some?" she offered.

He held up a hand. "I just had some coffee, thank you."

Rachel made a face. "Ugh. You drink that stuff too? Were you the one that got Jen hooked on it?"

Gibbs smiled. "Guilty. Comes from being partners I guess."

Rachel crossed her arms and glared at him. "It took me our whole first year of college to convert Jen to tea you know."

"Ahh..." he understood. "So you're the reason it takes her five minutes just to get it drinkable?"

Rachel laughed. "Okay, guilty on that one."

Gibbs sniffed the air. "What did you ladies have for supper?"

She smiled. "I am so going to steal Noemi away from you guys. Her fettuccine alfredo is amazing."

Gibbs wasn't sure if he should ask, but he had a feeling Rachel would've noticed. "Did Jen eat?" he finally managed.

Rachel looked away and was silent for a moment. "She pretended to," the woman answered at last.

Gibbs leaned forward. "Did you say anything?" He wondered if Jenny's best friend could get away with comments even he wasn't allowed to make.

She nodded. "We talked about it a little." She held his eyes. "But I have to tell you Jethro, I've been where Jenny is, so I understand probably better than anyone else."

He didn't understand at first. "You've been where Jen is..." then it hit him and he didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry."

Rachel shrugged. "It was a long time ago and I've dealt with it. But I remember when the very thought of food would turn my stomach."

"What can I do?" Gibbs asked, hoping for some insight.

Rachel's eyes were sad. "Be patient with her, encourage without pushing...but there's nothing you can do to fix it. It's something she will have to get through on her own."

Now he had to know. "Does life ever get normal again?"