Helen Shepard arrived in D.C. on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Her first destination was Hotel Palomar. She had no intention of leaving the room until the next day. The seventy year old despised flying which is why her visits to her daughter had become more and more scarce over the years. After an hour nap and a shower to make herself feel more human after being on a plane for so long, she placed a phone call and waited impatiently. Patience was believed to come with age but not in her case. With the years, Helen had become more impatient especially when it considered her daughter and her grandchildren. Two and a half hours later, her cell phone rang. "Why on earth did it take you four hours to return my call?"

"It's been about two and a half actually," Katie replied as she rolled her eyes and received an amused smirk from her mother. Both of them knew Helen expected tasks to be done when she wanted.

"Don't get sassy, Katharine."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, what have you been doing in the two and a half hours it took you to return your only grandmother's phone call?"

"I was getting a mani and pedi with mom," she answered her grandmother truthfully.

Jenny winced, knowing her mother would want to speak to her. Her mother detested flying and was always cranky afterward. A disagreeable Shepard female was nothing anyone wanted to deal with whatever time of day. Katharine handed the BlackBerry over to her mother with a sugary smile. "She wants to speak to you."

She took the phone. "Hi mom. How are you?"

"Jennifer, I'd like to have lunch with you tomorrow."

"I'll have to check with Cynthia."

"You shouldn't be too busy to have lunch with your mother."

"I will do what I can."

Helen gave an unseen disapproving look, but her daughter felt it through the phone. "You have time to get a manicure and pedicure. If you could fit that into your busy schedule, we'll have lunch tomorrow. I'll be at NCIS at noon. Let me speak to Katharine."

Without a word, Jenny passed the phone to Katharine and continued driving home. Five minutes later, Katie dropped her phone back into the pocket of her purse with a huff. "I have to cancel my plans for tonight."

"You've been summoned?"

"Yes."

"Better you than me."

"I'd rather it be you."

Jen's lips curved into a smirk. "You'll put her into a good mood."

Katie grumbled under her breath and gazed out the window as her mother drove to their neighborhood. The pair said goodbyes, and the younger female hopped into her car and left. Jenny entered the house and took in the smell of cleanliness. Noemi wouldn't be back until after the holidays. It would be a small miracle if Jethro contributed to taking up the cleaning slack. He was and wasn't a typical male. He was predictable in leaving clothes scattered here and there. At the door, she slipped out of her heels and padded into the study, dropping her briefcase and bag onto the desk. She found her husband in the kitchen, sitting on a bar stool. Jen slipped her arms around his neck, running her hands down his chest and kissing the side of his face. "Hello," she murmured into his ear.

"Hey," he replied with a grin and turned to stare at her face. "Guilty of something, Jen?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Only guilty of getting a manicure and pedicure. Like my nails?" she asked, running her hands back up his chest and displaying her hands to him.

He smirked softly and kissed the tips of her french manicured nails. His wife rarely opted for polish, and he always admired the simplicity of her manicures. Of course, he loved when she changed her mind and went for the deep crimson color that both reminded them of Paris.

"Jethro, I've been thinking," she began as she pulled out the stool next to him and sat down. However, she paused upon hearing his grumble.

He innocently glanced at her. "Go ahead."

"Nevermind." She slipped off the stool and left the kitchen, retreating into the den.

"Dammit, Jen," he cursed under his breath and followed her.

She stared at him from her spot on the sofa. He surveyed the situation and surroundings. Her arms were folded over her chest, and there was a cold facade although he caught the playful smirk and twinkle in those green eyes. "C'mon, Jen...you know you wanna tell me."

"Nope," she retorted with a shake of her head. "Lost your chance, Jethro."

He glanced up to the corner of the ceiling and rolled his eyes. "Jenny." He hated this game, and she knew it.

"I suppose I'll have a glass of bourbon and call it a night," she said casually, getting up from her spot.

"No, you don't." He took hold her elbow, and she spun around, placing her hands against his chest. She pushed gently at him.

"It won't be that easy, Jethro."

"Never liked easy, Jen."

"Easy doesn't come with redheads...as you know," she added, slinking her foot in between his and knocking him down. Jethro took her down with him, listening to her giggles as his back landed on the couch. Before she could make an escape, he held her firmly against him.

"You can't go anywhere."

"Sure about that?" Her knee inched closer to a certain area.

He raised his eyebrow at her. "Play nice."

She huffed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. "Let's go away for New Year's."

"Where?"

"Anywhere. Let's get out of the city."

"We'll go to the cabin." The two enjoyed escaping to their favorite cabin in the Shenandoahs but hadn't in recent years. It was time for the workaholics to take a vacation and have something to look forward to until then.

"Perfect," she grinned before placing a kiss on his lips. Tomorrow, she would have Cynthia clear out her schedule for a blissful two weeks in the mountains with Jethro.

"I love you."

"If you love me so much, let's go out to dinner."

The sound of grumbling followed, and she clamped her hand over her husband's mouth. "Jethro, you won't get dessert."

"Let's go."

As her parents left the house, Katharine arrived at Hotel Palomar. In the lobby, she stopped in front of a mirror and fixed her scarf. She took a breath and stepped into the elevator. There was no doubt she loved her grandmother, but she'd rather be going through with her original plans for the night. Katie had planned on catching dinner and a movie with her friends. Of course, Lizzie had plans with Tony.

Helen opened the door to the suite before her granddaughter was able to knock. "I thought I heard you."

Katie glanced down at her heeled black boots. Her grandmother's hearing certainly wasn't failing. "Hi." She stepped into the suite and glanced around. She was engulfed in a tight hug moments later and taking in the smell of her grandmother's Chanel No. 5 perfume. "I missed you," Katie whispered.

Helen broke away from the embrace but didn't let her granddaughter go. "I've missed you too," she replied, kissing her cheek. "I've ordered room service for us. First, take off your coat and get comfortable. Second, you're going to tell me everything that's been going on. And third, I love you."

She smiled softly and removed her coat, throwing it on an empty chair. Her grandmother was tough as steel but as soft as a cashmere blanket to those she loved. "There isn't much to report."

"Katharine, there is always something to report at your age."

"Well, I could graduate at the end of this semester, but I don't want to. I'd rather graduate in spring."

"Everything squared away for graduate school?"

"I've changed my mind. I'm going to join the circus."

Helen laughed as she rolled her eyes. "You still haven't grown out of that."

"What?"

"When you were told you were going to have a little brother, you informed your mother and father you'd be joining the circus. You called Ducky and demanded he drive you to our house. The manipulative toddler you were convinced him your parents were too busy to drive you, and we knew you'd be coming over to spend the night."

"You're making this up."

"I do not conjure such imaginative schemes and retell them as stories about my grandchildren. You arrived on our doorstep with a small suitcase and told your grandfather your brilliant revelation about the path of your life. Instead of calling Barnum and Bailey, he called Jethro to come and get you. You sulked for a week."

"I really think you're making this up."

"Ask your mother, your father, or Ducky. They will tell you the same story."

"I couldn't have talked Ducky into that. There's no way possible he would have believed me."

Helen rolled her eyes. "You'll understand how adorably manipulative a child can be if you ever become a mother. Like most children, you and Elizabeth were too adorable and intelligent for your own good...the inherited gifts of gab and intimidation only aided the two of you."

"Maybe I will join the circus this time."

Her grandmother laughed and told her to answer the door after hearing a knock. She let the young man into the room. He smiled at her.

"Didn't we take a class together?"

"What class?"

"Some art history class in the spring."

Katie shook her head. "No. You took it with my sister."

"Twins?"

She nodded her head.

"I'm sorry. That must happen often."

"It's fine. I'm used to it so is she."

He nodded and continued rolling the cart into the room. Helen instructed him where she wanted to have dinner. Katie watched her grandmother tip him generously. He left the room, but not before telling Katie that he'd see her around campus.

Helen watched him leave and sat down, looking at Katie. "He was cute. Don't date him."

"Why not?"

"He works in a hotel."

Katie rolled her eyes subtly and poured the pino grigio into her grandmother's glass. Her grandmother was selective when it came to suitors for her and Lizzie. She had been that way with Jenny. Jethro was not what Helen had wanted her daughter to marry. Helen had not wanted her only child to become a NCIS agent either, but she was proud of her daughter's accomplishments. The pair chatted throughout dinner. Helen became completely up to date with Katharine's life. She had her convinced to spend spring break in California.

"Why couldn't I get Elizabeth on her phone?"

The question had taken longer for her grandmother to ask than Katie expected. "Her phone's off," Katie answered bluntly.

"Why?"

Katie couldn't inform her grandmother that Lizzie's phone was off because her plans involved being in Tony's apartment, surprising him with candles, and showing off her latest purchase of skimpy lace and silk. "She's...busy...studying."

"Studying?"

"Yes."

Helen peered speculatively at her as she sipped her wine. "Does she have a boyfriend?"

"You'll have to ask her."

Helen smiled slowly. She had her answer. "Is he respectable?"

"He's an agent."

"FBI?" she asked, sounding hopeful. Nothing would set her son-in-law's temper off more if his daughter was dating an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"No, he's NCIS and on daddy's team."

Helen was wrong. Elizabeth dating one of his agents would do the trick. Her mouth curved into a pleased smile, and Katie could have sworn the distinguished white streak in her grandmother's hair shown whiter with happiness.

"How does Jethro enjoy that?"

Katie smirked. "He's coping with mom's help, of course."

"Of course." Helen nodded her head, finishing off her wine. She glanced at her watch. "It's nearing 10. It's past my bedtime."

Katie remained silent as she stood up. She knew her grandmother was a night owl and was getting rid of her. The woman had something up her sleeve. "Thanks for dinner."

Helen nodded her head and watched Katie pull on her coat, buttoning it. She fixed her scarf and kissed her forehead. "I love you. Let me know when you get home. Be careful." She followed Katie to the door and watched her walk into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, she rushed back inside and grabbed her phone to try and call her stray granddaughter. Helen ended the call and threw the phone onto the couch in frustration of hearing voicemail. Shaking her head, she decided she would have to put sense into Elizabeth. During this visit, Helen would somehow get the point across to her beloved granddaughter not to follow in her mother's footsteps.