Author's Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! Please enjoy the ending!
"I can't believe I'm actually going to admit this…" Jethro said uneasily as he slid into the passenger's seat of Kelly's car.
"What? That you're in love?" Kelly said with a smirk as she started the car.
"No. I'm nervous. I think I might actually vomit if I think about this much longer." Jethro admitted.
"Dad…you can't be serious." Kelly mused.
"Oh but I am." Jethro said honestly.
"You've had some practice…how can you be nervous. There's only two outcomes." Kelly tried hard to reassure her father.
"She's said no once before." Jethro whispered.
"She won't make the same mistake twice. I promise." Kelly said as she eyed her father.
"She's talked to you about this?" Jethro asked with a raised eyebrow. Usually Jenny kept her feelings to herself, especially about such personal matters.
"Not specifically, but trust me dad, she won't say no." Kelly said as they sped towards Jenny's house.
"I hope so." Jethro said as he nervously fumbled with the small blue-velvet box in his hands.
"Kelly…I guess I've never really asked you. How do you feel about all of this? I mean be honest. What do you think?" Jethro pressed his daughter for an answer.
"Where do I begin?" Kelly said as she stopped at red light and bit her lower lip.
"Dad…if it's me you're worried about, don't be. Jenny is teriffic. I wish you two could see your relationship from the outside looking in. The both of you belong together. If it's any consolation I think Jenny is a better woman than the other three put together." Kelly said as she pulled up in front of Jenny's house.
"Thanks kid." Jethro said simply as he kissed Kelly on the cheek and got out of the car.
Jethro entered the house quietly, and a sense of peace he hadn't felt in the past few days fell over him. Kelly was right. Jenny was different, this was different. Jenny wasn't a Diane, or a Ginger, or Stephanie Or Hollis, she was Jenny, and he loved her for it.
"Hey honey!" Jenny said as she emerged from the living room into the front hall.
"Hey Jenny!" Jethro said with mock surprise as he slid the box into his pocket.
"I missed you." Jenny said with a pouty look as she leaned in and kissed Jethro.
"Wow…all that and I was only gone for two hours!" Jethro said happily when Jenny finished kissing him.
"Yeah, go away for a night and see what happens when you return." Jenny winked as she headed towards the kitchen, with Jethro following her closely.
"I remember, if it's anything like that night we got split up in Rome…" Jethro trailed off as Jenny turned around sharply, her cheeks already bright red with an embarassed blush.
"I was so happy to see you! To know you were safe, and uninjured." Jenny remembered.
"I felt the same way." Jethro said as he wrapped Jenny in a tight hug.
"Very happy." Jenny said as she snuggled up to Jethro.
"Mmm…I love your perfume." Jethro said as he inhaled the familiar scent of orchids and vanilla.
"Thanks." Jenny said quietly.
"So I was thinking…a quiet dinner here? Just the two of us?" Jethro said as he looked into Jenny's sparkling green eyes.
"Sure." Jenny replied.
"I know I promised you a nice dinner on the town, but I thought I'd try my hand at steak au poivre." Jethro said as he made his way to the fridge and began pulling out steaks and the other ingredients necessary for the meal.
"Sounds lovely…I think I'm going to take a nap while you get dinner ready." Jenny explained.
"Tired today?" Jethro asked nervously. Jenny had been making huge strides with her treatments, but she was often tired, and the new medicine she was taking seemed to wipe her out by early evening.
"Yeah." Jenny said simply as she headed to the bedroom.
Jethro sighed with relief as he heard the bedroom door close. He loved spending time with Jenny, but tonight he was worried she'd pick up on his nervous energy.
Two hours later Jethro had set the dining room table with the best china Jenny had, a bottle of champagne was uncorked and distributed between two crystal champagne flutes. The steak was just about done, as was the asparagus.
"Perfection." Jethro said under his breath as he removed the steak and placed it on a serving platter alongside the asparagus.
"Jenny…honey..wake up." Jethro shook Jenny's shoulder gently and whispered her name.
"Mmph!" Jenny muttered as she pulled a pillow over her head. Jethro knew she was exhausted, and she could have probably slept through the night, but she needed to eat at some point.
"Dinner is ready." Jethro whispered as he offered his hand to Jenny and helped her out of bed.
"Thanks." Jenny said with a yawn as Jethro led her to the dining room.
"It's so pretty!" Jenny exclaimed as she clapped her hands in delight.
Jethro dimmed the lights of the chandalier and sat down next to Jenny.
"Dig in." Jethro said proudly as he handed the platter to Jenny.
"That was amazing." Jenny complimented as she helped Jethro clean up the kitchen.
"Thanks." Jethro said simply. He had managed to quell his nerves during dinner, but as the moment drew closer his anxiety was getting harder to control.
"Are you feeling okay?" Jenny asked nervously as she bit her lower lip.
"I'm fine." Jethro grunted in his typical fashion.
"Let's go outside…sit under the stars…get some fresh air." Jethro said as he grabbed a throw blanket off the back of the couch.
"Sounds good to me." Jenny said as she followed Jethro onto the back patio.
They sat on the cobblestone, huddled under the blanket, Jenny's head resting on Jethro's shoulder.
"Jenny?" Jethro asked after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah?" Jenny replied.
"I was wondering…" Jethro stopped short, a shooting star was flying across the sky.
"Make a wish!" Jenny shouted happily.
Jenny and Jethro both closed their eyes and silently made their wishes.
"What did you wish for?" Jethro asked as Jenny opened her eyes.
"I can't tell you, it won't come true." Jenny said with a giggle.
"What did you wish for?" Jenny retorted with a raised eyebrow.
"For you to say yes…" Jethro said as he got on one knee and handed Jenny the small blue box.
"Jenny…will you marry me?" Jethro said as his voice shook.
Jenny looked up at Jethro with tears in her eyes. Her hand was shaking as she took the box out of Jethro's hand. She opened the box slowly, and the emerald cut solitare diamond sparkled under the night sky.
"Yes." Jenny finally said as she looked into Jethro's eyes.
Jethro smiled, and exhaled with relief. He slipped the beautiful ring on Jenny's finger and kissed her with all the passion he felt.
"Jethro…" Jenny whispered as she laced her fingers with his, and rolled over in the big bed they shared.
"Yeah?" Jethro said absentmindedly, still in a daze from the passionate encounter he and Jenny had just shared.
"My wish came true." Jenny whispered back as she leaned up and kissed Jethro's cheek gently.
THE END