Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. Except for the mistakes those are mine.

A/N: The reviews were absolutely wonderful, thank you so much. Thank you as well for your wonderful support through out this story, it always encouraged me to deliver something that all of you enjoyed. As I said in the last chapter I'm not quiet ready to say goodbye to this universe just yet, there will be various tags to this.

I realised that I wasn't really clear with what I said about the 'supernatural category', I apologise. What I meant was 'genre', meaning Jibbs in a story about vampires and stuff – you get the picture. I was just curious to see how many of you would read something like that before I started writing something ;) Be on the look out for my next Jibbs story called – The Protection Detail – it's sort of an AU take on their Europe adventure.

Enjoy*

14 years later (June 2011)

The crickets were still singing outside, meaning he still had an hour or so of peace and quiet. It was the first time in years he hadn't been able to fall asleep. He was used to little sleep, raising four children had taught him to appreciate any form of shut eye he could get. Tonight or rather this morning was different – life as he knew it was about to change once again. This day had been a long time coming, but he didn't want it to happen for another twenty – maybe even thirty years.

His little girl was finally all grown up, ready to start her life as a young adult. He had hoped that he could freeze time some how and relive all the moments in her life all over again – from the moment he held her up until today – graduation. Jethro let out a soft sigh.

The bed shifted and he knew she was awake as well. Jenny had been a lot more expressive in how she felt about Kelly graduating from high school, he had caught her crying in the nursery just before they had turned in for the night. Turning on his side, he looked at her. Just like he suspected, she was awake, her cheeks glistening with tears. Reaching out he cupped her cheek, wiping away the tears.

"Thought you were asleep." He said quietly.

Jenny shook her head, placing her smaller hand over his, "He's going to be waking up any minute."

They both looked down when the latest member to their family started stirring. Logan Jethro Gibbs let out a quiet whimper, waving his tiny arms in the air and kicking his legs as he started crying. Jenny smiled and shifted until she was propped up against the headboard.

Jethro sat up as well, watching his son root around aimlessly before latching on, with his mother's help, and starting to drink. He rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand, watching Jenny as she stroked Logan's tummy as he suckled happily. He moved closer to them and wrapped an arm around Jenny's shoulders letting her rest her head on his bicep.

"He's still so small." Jethro whispered quietly.

Jenny laughed quietly and turned to kiss Jethro's cheek. She had learned after their first pregnancy that Jethro was easily enthralled with just how tiny a baby could be. He had informed her that Adira had been smaller than Kelly, which was in a way understandable he hadn't seen Kelly until she had been a month old.

Their youngest daughter, Anja, had been the smallest clearly taking after her mother. Logan, however, was in every sense of the word his father's double. He was equally stubborn and never made a sound, unless he was hungry or needed attention from his mother. All four their children were precious and each had a story for the ages.

"Jethro," Jenny said quietly as Logan's eyes started to droop, "I don't want her to leave." Jethro buried his nose in Jenny's hair, silently agreeing with her.

They had been through a lot over the last fourteen years, it hadn't been long after they had gotten married that their family of three grew into a family of four – with Jethro going missing in Columbia for a month during the last stretch of pregnancy. Kelly had broken an arm, bashed her head open more times than they could count all in a stretch of five years between Adira and Anja being born.

It had become quite clear that Kelly had inherited her father's – for a lack of a better word – guts to face a dangerous situation head on. The broken arm had been a result of her being stuck in a tree and then plummeting to the ground when the branch broke during their summer vacation in Stillwater. Her head injuries where all a result of falling off her bicycle without her helmet.

Their little tomboy had blossomed into a beautiful young woman – who was getting ready to start her own life.

"It feels like yesterday that I met her." Jenny smiled nostalgically as she stroked Logan's downy hair.

Jethro took Logan carefully as Jenny handed him over, placing him on his chest and cradling him for their early morning snuggle. It had become their ritual ever since Adira had been born. After they had been breastfed and burped he would take them and sit with them until the alarm went off.

Jenny moved closer, leaning her head against Jethro's shoulder and just watching him hold their son. She knew Jethro occasionally felt detached, he had done everything when Kelly had been a baby – resulting in him hovering in the background whenever it was feeding time. In the beginning it had frustrated her that he was constantly there when the baby cried, but they had soon used the opportunity to bond with each other and their child.

"Back then, you ever think we'd be married with four kids?" Jethro looked at her with a smile.

Jenny grinned up at him, her emerald eyes large and warm, "Back then I didn't even think I would be married, let alone have children."

Jethro laughed quietly, shaking his head. They had gotten married in July, two months after she had returned from Paris, it hadn't been long after their wedding that she had told him they were expecting. He was convinced conception had been during their honeymoon, while Jenny firmly believed it happened just after they had returned from Positano.

The second time around had taken significantly longer. It had taken them five years before Anja was conceived, they had tried again after that but when they hit the two year mark they agreed that three girls were perfectly fine with them. Up until last year when the doctor had told them that Jenny wasn't experiencing symptoms of menopause but that she was in fact pregnant.

"Jen," Jethro looked up from watching Logan, "what if we never see her again?"

Jenny placed a kiss on his shoulder, "She'll only be away for the summer, after that she'll be back here."

"Living on her own."

Jenny shook her head, "Jethro, the town house is in Georgetown it's not that far. It's closer to medical school, and she's a responsible young woman."

Jethro raised a sceptical eyebrow, "Then why were you crying earlier, if she's not going to be that far?"

Jenny glared at him playfully. Relaxing against him again, she covered his hand as it rested on their six-month-old son's back, "I never wanted her to grow up."

They fell silent again, both just waiting for the day to start – which would no doubt be an emotional one.

An alarm clock went off somewhere in the house, it wasn't long before she heard someone whine to turn it off. She smiled and snuggled further into her comforter, hoping to get another thirty minutes of shut eye. Just when the silence drew on long enough for her to fall back asleep her bedroom door crashed open.

Yoda growled from his blue basket, the old dog snapped at the Boston Terrier puppy who tried to get in the basket with him. "Yoda, be nice to Chewie." A small voice giggled.

"No, Yoda, don't be nice chase them away." Kelly grumbled from somewhere under the comforter.

Kelly braced herself for impact when the bed dipped, relaxing only when she felt a tiny body crawl underneath the comforter with her. Opening one blue eye she watched as Anja only succeeded in tangling herself in the comforter. Running a hand over her face, Kelly sat up looking down at her little sister as she stared back up at her.

"What you doing up, little worm?" Kelly asked through a yawn.

Anja sat up as well, crawling out of the comforter and onto her sister's lap. She shrugged her shoulders and leaned against Kelly, burying her face in her shoulder.

Kelly placed a comforting hand on her sister's back. Looking around her room she hugged Anja tighter. She had several fond memories in her still yellow-walled room. Memories of her parents reading to her, long nights of studying – as well as her dad walking in on her and Kyle making out not so long ago. She snorted softly, her mom had been the calmest, making sure Kyle made his way to the living room without suffering any spontaneous injuries.

"You hungry?" Kelly asked Anja as she heard the little girl's stomach growl. Anja nodded and scrambled on the bed to hitch a piggyback ride down to the kitchen.

Kelly groaned as her eight-year-old sister hopped on her back and wrapped her arms around her neck. She winced slightly as Anja pulled her hair accidentally, smiling when she heard the softly muttered sorry that followed.

Yoda struggled out of his basket, Kelly frowned slightly. The once rambunctious pup had mellowed with age, she wondered how much more he still had in him. Preferring to push that depressing thought out of her mind she whistled at Chewie who was still snoring in the basket. The puppy jumped up and bolted out of the room, earning himself a disapproving yap from Yoda.

Placing Anja on the floor, Kelly trudged behind her sister at a snail's pace until they found themselves in the kitchen. She looked around the kitchen bleary eyed until she found the full carafe on the island, the house had gone through various renovations since their family started growing. Filling her large Star Wars mug with scalding hot coffee– which had been a gift from Tony to replace the sippy cup she had out grown – she watched Anja usher the dogs out into the backyard.

"Morning sleepy head." Jenny smiled as she walked into the kitchen, placing a kiss against Kelly's temple she reached for her own mug. "What time did you get in last night?"

"One, I think, I can't really remember. Ask Dad, I'm sure he'll know." Kelly laughed as she took a seat on one of the bar stools.

"Was he spying again?" Jenny asked as she took a seat next to Kelly.

"Yes, and I don't know if he's aware that I can see him when he's peeking through the curtains."

Jenny laughed, placing her mug on the island and wrapping an arm around Kelly's shoulders, holding her close. She had promised herself that she wouldn't be too emotional today but it was proving to be rather difficult.

"Mom," Kelly said quietly as she moved closer to her mother, "have I ever told you how thankful I am that you came into our lives?"

Jenny felt tears burning the corners of her eyes. "Oh, Kelly, you just know how to make someone cry." Putting her mug down, she wrapped her arms around Kelly and hugged her. Placing a hand on Kelly's long curly hair she kissed the crown of her head. "You're missing her, aren't you?"

Kelly wiped at her eyes discreetly, trying to hide the fact that she was crying, "It feels so stupid, I don't even know her. All I know is what Dad and Nana told me."

"It's not stupid, honey, she's still your mother. Even though she isn't around to see you, I'm more than sure she'd be proud of the woman you have become."

Kelly sniffed a little and wiped her face with the back of her hand. The back door opened and the two Boston Terriers waltzed in with Anja hot on their heels. The little girl's red hair glinted in the sun as she walked through the door and closed it behind her.

Skipping to where her mother and sister sat, she hoisted herself onto a chair and then moved to sit on the island. She tilted her head at her mother and sister, looking at them with pursed lips, "Why are we crying? Is it because Kelly's going away?"

"Yes, darling. Now get off the table, a lady shouldn't sit on a table." Jenny scolded Anja lightly.

Anja looked at Kelly with a raised eyebrow before turning back to her mother, "Is it because I won't get a husband when I sit on a table. That's what Nana Jo says when I sit on the table and she's nearby. If it's true can I keep sitting on the table? Because I don't want a husband."

"No, it has got nothing to do with you not getting a husband, Anja. It's called manners, and if you don't find ours it's going to be you and me, young lady." Jenny looked at her youngest daughter with what the kids had dubbed the 'momma-look'.

Anja widened her eyes comically and looked at her big sister for help. Kelly shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her little sister. Anja huffed and jumped off of the island just in time to avoid her father scolding her as well.

Jethro adjusted Logan in his arms, smiling when he clapped his hands excitedly the moment he saw his mother. Logan gurgled happily as his father planted a kiss on his tummy, he smacked his lips together and fisted a hand in his father's hair as he babbled to everyone in the kitchen. Logan held out his arms towards Kelly, cooing when she took him and cuddled him against her.

Jethro took a seat next to Jenny, turning her towards him he gave her a slow and long kiss.

"Gross!" Anja exclaimed in disgust as she watched her parents kiss.

Jethro pulled his face at Anja and kissed Jenny again for good measure. They shared a smile as she rolled her eyes and shot passed them to the living room where Chewie was probably gnawing on someone's toy. Jenny abandoned her spot to start breakfast.

Jethro took Jenny's seat next to Kelly and watched with a smile as she interacted with Logan – who was beyond thrilled with all the attention. Jethro refilled the empty mug and took a long drink from the cup. Placing a hand on Kelly's shoulder he squeezed softly.

"How's my doc, you excited?" Jethro pulled Kelly closer, hugging her into his side.

Kelly nodded enthusiastically, her blue eyes shining brightly, "Yeah, you have no idea. My bags are already packed."

Jethro smiled despite the painful thud his heart gave when he saw the excitement in his daughter's eyes, of leaving to start her own life. She had surprised them when she had informed them one night that she wanted to study medicine and specialise in paediatrics. They had their own theories; one of them being that she knew about their difficulty to conceive, whatever it was that had urged her on, they were supporting her with every step.

"You promise you won't be sneaking out when you're in Boston?" Jethro asked with a teasing smirk.

Kelly scoffed and turned her attention back to her baby brother, "Dad, please, you think uncle James will let me out of his sight?"

Jenny laughed from where she was busy with breakfast. "You have a better chance sneaking out of this house."

"No she doesn't. I've caught her every single time Kyle showed up on our doorstep." Jethro gave his daughter a smug smile when she glared at him. He didn't mind Kyle hanging around the house, as long as the boy was in his line of sight so he could break his legs when he got too frisky it was fine with him.

"You're aware that they see you, right?" Jenny asked with a grin of her own.

"I let them see me, Madam Director." Jethro gave Jenny a lopsided smirk as she narrowed her eyes at him, his smile only grew when she licked her lips and blew him a kiss.

"Jeez, could you two please get a room." Kelly mumbled just before she finished her coffee. Standing she handed her brother back to her dad and left to get in the shower before anyone else.

Logan babbled cheerfully once he was in his father's arms, giggling when he was tickled. Jethro adjusted Logan so he could sit on his lap and handed him the wooden rattle that had been a gift from Jackson. Satisfied that Logan was preoccupied he watched his wife as she moved around the kitchen effortlessly.

His moment of admiration was interrupted when Adira moseyed into the kitchen, looking still half asleep. She glared at her baby brother when he chucked his rattle at her in excitement. Picking the wooden toy up she handed it back to him and climbed onto a chair next to her father. Adira eyed her brother wearily as he kicked his legs and babbled at her.

Jethro kissed Adira's temple softly, not saying a word. He'd never admit it, but he was terrified when one of his children were headed for those dreaded teenage years. They reminded him too much of the tantrum phase each of his daughter's had gone through. Kelly's teenage years had been relatively calm, with only a handful of slightly rebellious incidents, but every kid tried to act out in some way or another.

He wasn't sure what to expect from Adira. She looked every bit like her mother, from the sharp green eyes to the deep crimson curls. Despite the stereotype that red hair meant a fiery temper, she was the exact opposite. She was calm and collected, in a way she reminded him of his mother, always able to see the bigger picture despite the circumstances.

"What time did you go to sleep?" Jethro asked as he watched Adira fight yet another yawn.

She smiled at him sheepishly and wiped the moisture out of her eyes that the yawn had brought on. Clearing her throat she shifted in her chair, "I was still awake when Kelly got back."

"That was almost two o'clock." Jethro looked at her with narrowed eyes. Getting Adira in bed early had been a struggle since the day she had been born, she was by definition most definitely a night owl.

"It was a really good book." She looked from her father to her mother, unsure of what their reaction would be.

Jethro bounced Logan on his knee as he looked over at his wife, pointing a finger at his daughter he grinned at his wife, "She gets it from you."

Adira reached for an apple, preferring to keep herself out of the conversation. Biting into the apple thoughtfully she reached for the necklace Kelly had given her for her birthday. She didn't want her parents to know that she and Kelly had spent most of night talking instead of sleeping. She had shared some things with her sister that would definitely give her parents a heart attack.

There was a clatter in the living room, followed by tiny paws clattering on the wooden floors. Chewie flew into the kitchen, sliding across the floor until he came to a stop near Jenny's feet. Jenny glared down at the pup as he dropped the purple slipper at her feet, barking at her for approval.

Chewie had found his way into their home one night when Jethro came home from work with the puppy wrapped with him in his coat. He had stumbled across him while interviewing a neighbour at a crime scene and had brought him home, ever since then he and the dog had been inseparable. The girls had all fallen in love with him, and so did she despite the fact that he'd chewed his way through more toys than she could count, and some of her favourite heels.

"Give it back!" Anja demanded as she stormed into the kitchen, her hands on her hips and glaring at the pup as he laid down and rested his head on the slipper, looking at her with liquid brown eyes. It must have done the trick because she sat down next to the puppy and scratched behind his ears. "Can I have Kelly's room?" Anja looked between her parents with bright aquamarine eyes.

"I want her room." Adira interjected quickly. It had been war ever since Kelly had told them she was moving out.

"No, I want her room, I asked first." Anja stuck her tongue out at her older sister, a mean glare on her face.

"I'm older-"

"Enough, each of you have your own rooms." Jethro growled at his daughters, giving each of them a pointed look. Adira huffed and stormed out of the kitchen, taking the situation more personally than she was supposed to. Anja pulled her face at Adira's back only to have both her parents scold her.

Jethro let out a heavy sigh, emotions were at an all time high today. He felt Jenny move closer to him, taking Logan off his hands and holding him for a while. Jethro dropped his head against her chest, sighing dejectedly.

Jenny smiled as Logan yawned, smacking his lips together and resting his head on her shoulder cooing as he fisted a hand in her hair. Turning back to Jethro she hugged him closer, sliding a hand into his silver hair, and pressing a kiss to his temple when she felt him take a shuddering breath.

Jethro tugged at his royal blue tie, no matter how many shindigs he had gone to over the last few years, he still hated wearing a tie. Since Jenny's promotion from head of the anti-terrorism division to the director of NCIS; she had dragged him to every charity event and ball, despite his dislike of all the tight sphincters, he had been there to support her – and to glare at every congressman who leered at his wife.

The tie was supposed to match Jenny's dress, but he was perilously close to exchanging his designer suit for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The thought had hardly passed through his mind when he saw Jenny glaring at him in the mirror.

Jenny placed a sleeping Logan in his car seat and strapped him in. Placing the car seat safely on the floor next to Jethro's feet, she looked at her husband with narrowed eyes. "You ruin this tie, Jethro..." Jenny warned as she slapped his hands away and fixed it, "I'll tie you up with it."

"Promise?" Jethro smirked at his wife as she raised a teasing eyebrow.

Kelly's eyes widened slightly as she made her way down the stairs, "TMI," when her dad stared at her with a blank expression she collaborated, "Too much information."

Jethro grunted and turned back to the mirror that had found its way into the foyer over the years. He met his daughter's blue eyes in the mirror, "No dress, Kel?"

Kelly looked down at her black designer slacks and high heels, shrugging her shoulders she continued fiddling with her uncooperative curly hair. She wasn't a typical girly girl, she despised anything that resembled a dress or even a skirt. She'd learned early on to ignore the teasing and bullying. She smiled at her dad as he winked at her.

Dad had been there for her when the teasing and bullying had been a little too much to bare – her mother had wanted to snap everyone's neck who had ever teased or bullied her. She sighed softly as her father wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I've been thinking." Jethro said as he turned back to the mirror, "Sending you to Boston isn't a good idea, I mean who's going to keep an eye on you?"

Kelly rolled her eyes, her dad had been joking about not letting her go ever since uncle James had offered her the opportunity to work at the hospital he had opened in Boston. "Dad, we've been through this before, I'll be with uncle James for most of the day. You really need to relax, besides, Kate's in Boston now you can even ask her to check up on me."

Jethro spun around, finally happy with his tie. Holding up a finger he looked between the two women in front of him, "Kate won a wet t-shirt contest."

Kelly smirked slightly, her mom had teased her father about that picture for days when he had told her that he had never expected something like that from goody-two-shoes Kate.

"Yeah and? Mom won one too." She realised her mistake when her father's jaw practically hit the floor. Looking at her mother apologetically she tried getting out of the room as quickly as possible. "I uhm… I have to uh… I'm going to see if Anja needs any help getting dressed." Kelly stormed up the stairs again.

Jethro turned to look at his wife, he'd finally managed to close his mouth. He knew Jenny had had a slightly wild streak just after high school, but she'd never told him about any wet t-shirt contest.

"No, Jethro, it was a long time ago." Jenny glared at her husband, the playful twinkle in his eyes had told her that his mind had gone straight to the bedroom.

Jethro stepped up behind her, looking up the stairs at the top landing he made sure there was no-one listening. Placing his hands on her hips, he pulled Jenny into his chest, nuzzling his nose in her hair. He could see her green eyes darken as he kissed the side of her neck.

"How come you never told me?" He asked hoarsely.

"I'm sure you have some dirty little secret I don't know about either." Jenny purred.

Jethro shook his head, smiling against her cheek when she scoffed. He inched his hands up her sides, "Jenny..." he drawled in her ear, smiling when she shivered, "Do you still have a picture?"

Jenny licked her lips, smiling wickedly when she met his darkened eyes in the mirror. Deciding to toy with him, she placed her hands over his and moved them further up her ribs, "No, but what would you do if I told you I might still have the t-shirt?"

Jethro tightened his grip fractionally, "I would prefer to show you."

Jenny let out a throaty laugh and pulled away from her husband, giving him a sultry look over her shoulder, "Too bad, I don't have the shirt any more."

Jethro opened his mouth to say something but everyone decided to storm down the stairs, with Kelly shouting at them to get moving because they were running behind schedule.

The large room was noisy with everyone moving around trying to find a seat. Jethro looked down the row of seats they had picked. The Gibbs clan took up almost an entire row with all their extended family members present. Everyone was there from Jackson, Joann and Ducky, to Jenny's family along with her brothers as well as the whole of team Gibbs. Mike Franks had been unable to make it, but he had called Kelly and told her that he'd be visiting after the summer.

Jethro rolled his eyes as he heard Ziva and Tony bicker. Things between those two had been tense for a couple of months after the Paris Op. They had danced around each other for years before succumbing and trying to make a relationship work, but even that had been an on again off again attempt.

A few years back Ziva had been injured during a stakeout and that had been the catalyst that made them realise they wanted something more permanent and stable. Now they were engaged and waiting for the one year mark before setting a wedding date. A friendly wave at the end of the row had him waving back. Jethro smiled at Tim and Delilah as they turned back to chatting with Abby.

Jethro looked down and watched his baby boy sleep soundly despite all the noise around him. Running a fingertip over his cheek, Logan squirmed and blinked his bright blue eyes open. Jethro had the bottle out of the portable bottle warmer before Logan could make a sound. Logan cooed softly as he suckled his bottle.

It had taken him a while to adjust to the fact that he didn't have to do every single thing when it came to parenting. It had taken him even longer to accept that his children were more interested in their mother on occasion because she fed them. One thing he was thankful for was the fact that they didn't have to struggle with making the formula, because he couldn't even see the tiny print back when Kelly was a baby.

Logan pushed his bottle away for a moment, cooing at his father. Jethro smiled and kissed his forehead softly. Looking down the row of seats he saw Adira and Anja deeply engrossed in a conversation with his father. Logan gurgled and kicked his feet in excitement when he saw his mother. Jethro gave her a faint smile and handed Logan over.

Jenny cradled Logan against her chest, giving him his bottle she stroked his hair until his baby blues slid shut. Looking over at Jethro she saw him look at their two daughters as they entertained everyone around them. Taking his hand in hers she smiled and ran her thumb over his knuckles. He was think exactly what she was, it would only be a matter of time before they were all grown up as well.

Jethro fiddled with the button on the camera, waiting impatiently for them to call Kelly's name. There was a sharp whistle somewhere down the row and it could only be Tony. It was hard to miss the blush on Kelly's cheeks as she made her way across the stage. Almost the entire row had scrambled to their feet. Angelo and Marco picked up the whistling when Tony seemed to have run out of breath.

Jethro smiled as he watched Kelly walk across the stage with her head held high.

"You two did good, Jethro. I couldn't be prouder." He could barely hear her but he knew who it was.

Jethro smiled and wrapped an arm around Jenny. It had been years since the last time he had heard her voice. He saw the slight quizzical look on Jenny's face but he simply pecked her on the lips. Hugging her against him, they watched Kelly make her way to her group of friends.

"We did good, Ma." Jethro whispered. Jenny nodded and they both smiled proudly at the strong young woman they had raised.

The nursery's lights were dimmed making the soft cream walls appear even softer. Jenny tapped Logan's back rhythmically as he drank, running her other hand over his dark hair soothingly. The corners of his mouth twitched as he smiled. Jenny shifted Logan to make him drink easier, dropping her head against the headrest of the rocking chair she looked over at Jethro.

He was propped up in the other rocking chair, his eyes firmly shut as he listened to all the activity going on in the house. He had been more quite than usual ever since they had arrived back home, the only time he really said something was during dinner. Kelly was finishing packing her bags, and she assumed that was getting to him.

"Jethro," Jenny whispered, he grunted for her to continue, "she'll be back here living with us before you know it."

"How can you be sure?" Jethro sat up, looking at her with raised eyebrows.

Jenny smiled, "Remember when she wanted to go out of State to study? It wasn't long before she changed her mind to study here."

"And your theory misses Gibbs?" Jethro asked with a slight smirk.

Jenny's voice dropped even further, "She doesn't like being alone. She'll be here more than at the town house. I only offered her the town house because I knew she'd eventually move back in with us."

"You're a devious woman." Jethro smiled at her. He knew she was right, Kelly was a people person despite the fact that she was still occasionally shy. The day she decided to officially move out, he wouldn't be as stressed about letting her live on her own knowing she'd be able to look after herself.

Jethro sat up in the rocking chair, feeling lighter than he had a few minutes ago. He smirked at Jenny when she looked at him again. "Jen..." He gave her a charming smile, "You still have that shirt, don't you?"

Jenny rolled her eyes but didn't answer him. There was no way she was going to dig that skimpy white shirt out of a box just so he could see it, because he would want her to wear it all the time.

"Can you take him?" Jenny asked quietly.

Jethro got up, reaching out for his son and cradling him against his chest while Jenny closed her shirt and smoothed down her clothing.

Jenny wrapped an arm around Jethro's waist and leaned her head against his shoulder, watching Logan as he slept in his father's arms. If she thought back over the last fourteen years, she couldn't imagine what her life would have been like without Jethro and Kelly. Kelly had taught her that it was possible to love someone unconditionally.

Those first few weeks away from them all those years ago, she had been able to be angry at Jethro using that as an excuse to pretend not to love him. But with Kelly, she felt torn apart, ashamed of herself for leaving her, and then they had showed up and the – once little – girl had loved her as if nothing had happened.

Jethro leaned over the crib and placed Logan gently amongst his soft blue blankets, covering him with a light blanket. Standing back up he saw Jenny stare at the various photos adorning the nursery's wall, photos of every family member sharing in their joy. Pulling her closer he kissed her forehead.

"You have to move on from what happened back then, Jenny."

"I was just reflecting." Jenny looked up, smiling at Jethro. He gave her his lopsided smirk and kissed her tenderly.

Kelly blew a loose tendril of hair out of her face, dragging her bulging duffel bag out into the hall. She glared at her sisters as they simply watched her struggle, they were more concerned about moving into her old room than helping her. Tucking a wisp of dark curly hair behind her ear, she kicked her duffel bag towards the stairs, her ever present All Star sneakers squeaking on the wooden floor.

Kelly looked up from gathering her things when she heard her parents close the nursery door. She smiled when her father glared at her bags, but gave her a reassuring grin when he swung her heavy duffel over his shoulder.

They made their way down stairs where her uncle was waiting for her, he had been on the phone ever since he had arrived.

James ended his call, running a hand through his dark curly hair he looked at the people descending the stairs. Anja was the first to attack him, giving him a tight hug before heading back to her mother. Adira gave him a shy smile and a hug. Holding out his hand he took the duffel bag from Gibbs. Turning to his oldest niece he smiled at her.

"You ready, Kel?"

"Yes, let's run now before Dad locks me in my room." Kelly smirked at her father when he glared at her.

Adira looked at her sister with watery eyes, trying to keep her cool she gave her big sister a hug. Holding her tight she whispered quietly, "Promise we'll talk whenever you have a chance?"

Kelly nodded, hugging her sister tighter. Despite their five year difference, they had shared everything with each other. "Always."

Stepping back Kelly turned to her little sister, who had opted to plant herself on the floor and glare at everyone around her. Kelly squatted in front of Anja, nudging her shoulder lightly with her fist. "Little worm," Kelly drawled as Anja looked away from her. "I love you, little worm."

Anja jumped to her feet and tackled her big sister, knocking them both to the floor. Kelly choked slightly and pried Anja's arms loose.

Anja looked at her sister with large eyes, "You promise you'll call everyday and tell me about all the yucky stuff you see?"

"All the yucky stuff, you got it."

Placing a hand on her chin she continued, "And your day, cause like I guess that's important too. Ooh, can you send like pictures of what you saw? That would be cool."

"You wanna know what I think?" Kelly asked as she struggled to her feet with her sister, "I think you're weird."

Anja giggle and hugged her big sister. "I'm going to miss you."

"Gonna miss you too, little worm." Kelly placed Anja on the floor and looked over at her mother who was doing a poor job at hiding her tears.

Jenny wiped at her eyes, shaking her head slightly at herself. Holding out her arms she reached for Kelly, wrapping her in a tight hug. She placed a hand on Kelly's hair and pressed a maternal kiss to her temple, holding her daughter at arms length she held up a finger, "You heard your sister, call whenever you get the chance."

"I will." Kelly answered with a smile.

Jethro grit his teeth painfully hard, he could feel the lump in his throat growing with each passing second. He looked at his eldest daughter as she stood before him. Blinking he was transported back to the day he had held for the first time.

Jethro dropped his duffel bag, wiping his hands on his trousers, he reached out for the bundle hesitantly.

Cradling the tiny baby close to his chest. He rested his hand on her chest softly, assuring himself that his daughter was in fact alive. He gently removed the edge of the blanket that was covering her face. His eyes were stinging again, and a lone tear slipped down his cheek. He traced her features gently, her skin soft under his callused fingertips. A proud smile graced his lips briefly, all he cared about in that moment was keeping his baby girl safe.

Jethro lifted the little bundle higher, kissing her forehead softly. The baby cooed quietly at the attention, her grey eyes blinking open briefly. He couldn't help but smile once again.

"I'm your daddy, Kelly."

"Daddy?" Kelly looked at her father as he suddenly wiped away the tears he had let slip.

Jethro smiled at his daughter and shook his head. He tugged her into a hug as well, holding her against his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the tears in his eyes. Ruffling Kelly's curly hair he pulled away, giving her a proud smile, "You go show them what us Gibbs' are made of."

"You bet ya, Gunny." Kelly saluted.

Kissing her father on the cheek she slung her backpack over her shoulder and stood next to her uncle.

"I'll bring her back safe and sound, Gibbs." James reassured.

Jethro wrapped an arm around Jenny and pulled her into his side. "I know. If Kyle shows up in Boston, you break his legs, okay?"

James laughed at the blush that spread across Kelly's cheeks, adjusting the duffel on his shoulder he met his brother-in-law's gaze, "Nah, I'll just shoot him."

A car horn sounded outside and they all sobered up.

They all stood on the porch waving as the taxi made its way down the road. Jethro shook his head when the girls raced each other back inside, already fighting about which movie they'd be watching first. He felt Jenny bury her face in his chest, and he gripped her tighter.

Eighteen years had brought a lot of change in his life. He'd gone from being a nervous single father, to being the father of four beautiful children. Looking down at Jenny, he met her emerald eyes. She was still as beautiful as the day he had met her, and he found her even more attractive with each day that passed.

Sliding a hand in her thick red curls, Jethro pressed his forehead against hers, nudging her cheek softly with his nose. They shared a quiet laugh.

"You, the kids..." Jethro said softly, "if it weren't for you, I don't think I would have made it this far."

Jenny smiled and nuzzled Jethro's cheek, "Kelly," she whispered, "she was our saving grace."

There was a lot behind her quiet admission. If it hadn't been for Kelly, they wouldn't have invested in something serious – they would have missed out on the wonderful life they had built together.

They met each other for a deep kiss, sharing the love and trust they had built over the years.

"This, us, the kids." Jethro said hoarsely, "It was heaven sent."

- The End -

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did writing it.

Your thoughts are welcome.