At 1930, Gibbs followed his wife into their home. His hands were full of take out bags for dinner. Jen told him she would be cooking dinner but had changed her mind. He walked to the kitchen, but she detoured into the study. He felt arms come around his middle moments later, and a smile graced his face. Jen rested her head against his back, and his hands went over her arms. "Peace and quiet," he whispered.
"Jethro, don't jinx it." She winced at the sound of a door slamming upstairs. "You had to jinx it."
"If we ignore them, they're not here."
She let out a small laugh at his silliness and smiled at him when he turned around to face her. He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close against him. She kissed him gently on the lips.
"Mom!" Katie's voice called as she descended the stairs. She received no answer. Her mother's mouth was not being used for talking at the moment. "Mom!" Katie yelled once more, sounding more urgent. She checked the study and found it to be empty. She knew her parents were home since she'd heard the car. Katie continued her search and found her parents in the kitchen. "Get a room," she said, observing her father's hands on her mother's rear as the two were engaged in a miniature make-out session.
Jen pulled away from Jethro and smirked at him. He sighed and removed his hands, not so subtly glaring at his daughter. "Katie, it better be important."
"It is," she answered. "Lizzie wants to borrow a pair of wedges, but I can't find them in my closet. Do you have them?" she asked her mother. All three wore the same size shoe, and pairs were borrowed without permission all the time.
"Which ones?"
Jethro shook his head, mumbling something about women and shoes as he exited the kitchen. He should be used to the interruptions from Katie and Lizzie. In his opinion, a matter about shoes wasn't significant enough to be an interruption. He was outnumbered if he expressed his opinion. He walked into the study and poured a glass of bourbon, leaving Katie and Jen in the kitchen.
"The teal ones with the lighter teal snake looking leather," Katie described and grinned as realization dawned on her mother's face.
"I did borrow those."
"In your closet?"
"I think so. I'll help you look," Jen said, leaving the kitchen and walking up the stairs with Katie. "Why does Lizzie want to wear those?"
Katie shrugged her shoulders. "She wants to wear them when she gets coffee later."
Jen narrowed her gaze and knew there was a reason for those shoes. A male had to be involved. Lizzie would not want to wear three and a half inch wedges if a male was not involved. "Go on in and start looking. Be there in a minute." She walked to Lizzie's door and knocked.
"Hold on!" Lizzie yelled and opened the door a minute later. "Hey. Dinner's ready?" she asked casually.
"Elizabeth, do you have a date?" Jen noticed the black low cut dress and knew what the back of the dressed looked like. It had a cross back and showed a decent amount of skin. She had bought the black dress for Lizzie and a violet dress for Katie. With the outfit choice, her daughter was most definitely going on a date.
"Maybe. Did Katie find the wedges?"
Jen walked into the room and sat down on the bed. "She's looking in my closet. Who is he?"
"I don't know. Allison set me up on a blind date."
"What's his name?"
"Mom, I don't know. Haven't you ever been on a blind date?"
"A lifetime ago, Lizzie."
Unknowingly, Katie saved her sister from more interrogation. "Found them!" She announced, holding the wedges in her hand. She dropped them onto the floor and sat down next to her mother. "How are you doing your hair?"
"I'm leaving it the way it is," Lizzie told her. "We're only going for coffee." She didn't want to admit that the cast on her wrist made it harder to do more to her locks than a simple blow out and no frills styling.
Katie nodded her head and sensed a look from the person next to her. "Don't give me that look," she admonished as she looked into her mother's eyes.
"Why shouldn't I? You knew that she has a date and didn't tell me."
"I didn't want to answer questions I don't have answers to."
"You're too much like your father."
"That's a good thing, right?" Katie grinned.
Jen rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Not all the time. Dinner is ready. Lizzie, I would change into jeans and a t-shirt to go down and eat." She would save her daughter from Jethro's third degree interrogation. If he knew Lizzie was going on a date, he would drive both of them crazy and get McGee to find out everything he could on the poor soul.
"Good idea! I didn't even think about that."
Jenny left the bedroom and closed the door, going down the stairs and into the study. Katie changed positions, so she was lying on her stomach and propped up on her elbows. "Well?"
"Well what?" Lizzie asked, playing dumb as she pulled on a pair of jeans.
"Lizzie, don't even. I know you. We shared a small studio apartment together for nine months," Katie finished with a smirk. "Who is he?"
Lizzie rolled her eyes at her older sister and threw on a Georgetown t-shirt, sitting down on the bed. "Stays between us," she said softly.
"Of course." Katie would never divulge her sister's secrets, and Lizzie would never tell Katie's secrets. Both were strong followers of their father's rule number four.
"While I was in mom's office, I swiped her phone and got a number from it. I texted Tony and asked him out for coffee."
"Tony as in Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo Tony?"
Lizzie nodded her head. "That would be the one."
Katie smirked at her sister but couldn't hide the fact it was turning into a grin. "I won't say a word. I want details as soon as you come back. If I'm asleep, wake me up."
"You'll be awake. Daddy said no later than 2345."
"I can take care of that," Katie replied confidently. She would convince her father she wanted to work on the boat and go with him. The man lost all track of time when working on that boat. "You handle mom."
Lizzie grinned mischievously and nodded her head. "Deal." The pair left the bedroom and walked downstairs to grab dinner. Dinner was had around the island in the middle of the kitchen. Gibbs threw away the take out boxes while the girls handled the dishes. Jen went into the study to tackle the never ending paperwork.
"Daddy," Katie said while loading the dishwasher.
"Yeah?" He looked at her as he lifted the trash bag and tied it.
"Can we go work on the boat?"
"We can. Lizzie, you wanna go?"
"I'll pass."
He smirked at her. "Better things to do?"
"I'm going for coffee with friends. Remember or forgetting in your old age?"
"You wish. I remember I told you to be home by 2345."
She handed the last plate to her sister, and the two exchanged glances. Lizzie dried her hands and walked over, standing on her toes to kiss her father's cheek. "Of course, you remember that."
He grinned and gave her a hug. "Have fun and be careful."
"I will. You and Katie have fun choking on sawdust."
"Go. Get outta here," he told her. He watched Lizzie leave the kitchen and turned to Katie. "Go change, and we'll go."
Katie dashed out of the kitchen and up to her room to change. Gibbs walked to the study and leaned against the doorway, watching his wife be engrossed in her paperwork. He couldn't deny thinking she looked adorable with her glasses nearly to the end of her nose. He said her name as he walked to the desk. "Katie and I are gonna go work on the boat."
She nodded her head and continued reading the case report. "I'll still be here when you get back."
"You should take a break from it after a few hours."
She nodded slightly. Both of them knew she wouldn't take a break. He moved the chair and gave her a kiss. "Bye Jen."
She smiled at her husband and kissed him a second time. "Bye Jethro. Love you."
"Love you too," he replied, hearing Katie run down the stairs and then appear in the doorway of the study.
"C'mon, let's go. Bye mom!"
The two of them left to work on the boat. Lizzie changed her clothes and touched up her make-up before appearing in the study half an hour later. She walked over and sat down on top of the desk. "Got a minute?"
Jen removed her glasses and put them down, looking at her. "What's the conspiracy?"
"Daddy wants me home by 2345. If the date goes well, I might not come home until after that time."
"And that's why Katie wanted to work on the boat," Jen answered with a laugh. Her girls had always been too intelligent for their own good. "Don't worry. I'll cover you on my end."
"Thanks, mom. You're a life saver."
She smirked and shook her head. "Don't thank me. Go and have a good time. I won't bother you if you don't bother me. Deal?"
"Deal. I'm leaving in a few minutes. Call when I'm on my way home?"
"Please."
"Bye mom," Lizzie said, giving her a hug and leaving the study. She picked up her purse and left home. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the coffee shop and parked her car. Tony had been waiting for fifteen minutes. He was nervous, and he was rarely anxious about first dates although he kept telling himself it was not a date. Tony cleared his throat nervously and adjusted the collar of the dark blue oxford shirt he was wearing. He noticed the redhead walking towards him with a smile on her face, and he swallowed hard.
"Hi," Lizzie said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Been waiting long?"
He shook his head and stood up from his sitting position on the bench. "No, not at all. You look beautiful."
"Thank you." She smiled at him. "Let's get coffee. I'm dying for a cup."
"Are you one of those that needs an IV drip?" He half joked as he opened the door for her.
"Not yet." She walked inside, and he followed her inside. He let her place her order first and was surprised to hear it. He knew better than to assume, but he'd expected her order to be a large Jamaican blend with no cream or sugar.
"What?" she asked but caught on. "I might be a Gibbs, but I don't drink Jamaican blend all the time."
He looked embarrassed. "Sorry. A cappuccino for me, please," he told the barista.
"A caramel latte and a cappuccino. Right?"
"You're right," Tony replied and paid for the coffees. He internally kicked himself. He had officially made it a date by paying. If Gibbs found out, he knew he was a dead man. Minutes later, the two had their coffees and sat outside. He found himself becoming more nervous by the minute, and Lizzie sensed it.
She glanced at him as she took a sip of her coffee. "Tony, you don't have to impress me. Relax. I don't bite unless asked." A grin came over her face which made him laugh and loosen up.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize."
"It's a sign of weakness," they said in unison and smiled at each other.
"What's your favorite rule?" Lizzie asked curiously.
Tony looked thoughtful as he took a gulp of cappuccino. "I've never thought about that. I can tell you which two are the most important when working with Gibbs."
"Do tell," Lizzie urged, moving forward in her seat and propping her chin on her hand.
"Rules 22 and 23."
"What's 22? I know 23."
Tony laughed. "You've never had to follow 22. Never ever bother him in interrogation."
Lizzie looked thoroughly amused. "Oh, 22 is different for Katie and me."
"Really? Do tell."
"I don't know if I should," she hedged.
"Oh, c'mon! You have to tell me!" It might kill Tony if he didn't find out what rule 22 was for the Gibbs twins.
"Okay. Well, 22 is never bother him when he's with mom in the bedroom."
Tony stared at her for a few minutes as he took in the amended rule for Lizzie and Katie. "Well, makes sense. Wouldn't the door always be closed?"
"Not all the time. It's either opened or cracked. If completely closed, rule 22 is definitely in effect."
Tony shook his head and sipped his drink. Gibbs was a smart man and never ceased to amaze him. The ice had been broken between him and Lizzie. The nerves affecting him earlier were gone. He smiled at her. "So Lizzie…or can I call you Liz?"
"Depends. Do you want to call me Liz because of Elizabeth Taylor?"
He mocked a flabbergasted expression. "How did you know?"
"I may have heard a few stories about you being a film fanatic."
"Elizabeth Taylor was a good actress," he attempted, unsure if he was on the verge of needing to bring out the movie arsenal to prove his point.
"I agree. She was great in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I don't have a problem with you calling me Liz, Tony."
Tony was pleasantly surprised at her reference to the movie. If she liked Sean Connery or James Bond movies, she could be a keeper. Still, he decided to test her knowledge. "What is the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?" He quoted, making a bad attempt at sounding like Paul Newman.
Lizzie couldn't help but smirk. "Just staying on it. I guess…long as she can," she retorted in her best Southern accent.
"Touché, Liz."
The conversation eased into a discussion about classic films then drifted to more personal topics. He entertained her with stories from his days of working in Baltimore and found out she was an art major with dreams of owning her own gallery. She was passionate and intense as she spoke about her artwork. Before they knew it, the coffee shop was closing. Tony looked at his watch. "It's midnight," he said aloud and couldn't believe the time. He had felt like he had been talking to someone he'd known for years so had she. Lizzie put her purse on her shoulder and looked at him.
"It doesn't seem like it should be."
"I agree. I'll walk you to your car."
"Okay." Lizzie smiled and walked next to him. At the car, he waited for her to fish her keys out of her purse and unlock the Mustang. He opened the door for her and propped himself up on it.
"Liz, I had a great time. I hate to sound cliché, but it's the truth."
"You having a great time or sounding cliché?" She couldn't resist teasing him.
He cracked a smile and shook his head. "You know what I meant."
She moved closer, propping herself up on the door and barely touching his arms. "I do," she answered and prayed he'd ask to see her again.
Tony cleared his throat and looked down at the top of the car door. "Let's do it again and soon. We'll go to dinner if you'd want to go out again."
"I'd love to," she answered.
He smiled at her and gently swiped her bangs away from her eyes. "Can I be honest with you, Liz?"
"Go ahead. I wouldn't want you to be anything less, Tony."
"I want to kiss you."
"I wouldn't stop you."
He leaned in, and she met him halfway. Both melted into the kiss. Time had stilled, and no one else existed on the busy Washington, D.C. street. Tony pulled away from the kiss and stroked her cheek, looking into her eyes. Lizzie felt lightheaded as she reeled from their first kiss. "Goodnight," Tony spoke softly.
"Goodnight," she replied in a whisper. She slid into the leather seat, and he closed her car door. She let out a light sigh of satisfaction and cranked the car, watching him walk away to his own. As he walked away, the biggest smile was on his face. There had been a spark between them.