A/N: Thank you all so much for following and reviewing this story! I've loved all your comments, and I'm still astounded by the response to this story!

I know it's quite a jump from last chapter, but I really wanted to write the kids as teenagers. :)

There will be one spin-off of this universe, but it won't be Jibbs-central- it will followed Kate and Keith, and how they met Lindsay and fell in love with her. I promise, that will make sense by the time you finish reading this chapter :)

Disclaimer: I own my OCs and the plot.

Eighteen years later...

The Gibbs' house was always the place to go for holidays- although the house was no the biggest, it was cozy, and comfortable, and it was where the family met.

"Mom, where's the food?" Jacob asked, his feet kicked over the edge of the couch, his rock t-shirt askew, and his head near the lap of his girlfriend, Leah. Jenny tapped his feet off the couch, frowning at him, sending Leah a soft smile, which the dark-haired girl returned easily.

"Your dad is bringing the pizza after he picks up the girls from practice," Jenny informed him as he sat up, throwing an arm around Leah's shoulders, watching as the girl rolled her eyes, exchanging a look with Jenny. "Hello Leah. How are you?"

"I'm pretty good, Mrs. Gibbs," Leah answered, her dark eyes glittering with amusement. "This goofball keeps me pretty entertained.

"Hey, who are you calling a goofball?" Jacob asked, his tone teasing as he grinned at his girlfriend. She grinned back, and Jenny smiled as she walked away, shaking her head.

So much had changed in the past eighteen years in her life.

Jacob had grown into a wonderful young man- a bit silly at times, but he was a laugh, and a good kid. He did well in school, and was looking into being a graphic designer, something in the music industry. He was a drummer, and was fixing up an old motorcycle he'd bought after saving up his money.

When Jacob had turned three, they'd decided to try for just one more. They'd had some difficulties conceiving again, but about two months after Jacob had turned four, they'd discovered they were pregnant again. Both had been hoping for a girl, to have one of each, but they wouldn't have been upset with a boy.

Imagine their surprise when the ultrasound had uncovered two heartbeats.

Six months later, their fraternal twin girls, Lucie and Mia, had been born, and they'd decided that their family was complete. Now, they were fourteen, and as different as night and day sometimes.

Lucie had thick, dark auburn hair that cascaded down to mid-back, and her large green eyes were intelligent but teasing. She was their ballerina, and she spent a lot of her time at the dance studio. She as quick with a comeback, but was loyal to the teeth to everyone she cared about.

Mia was more soft-spoken, with crimson curls and inquisitive eyes that told you they'd listen to anything you said. She was a bit of a bookworm, and was always on top of her studies, but she had an intense passion for drawing and painting. She thrived in the studio, and they'd converted the attic to a place for her to do what she wished with her artistic abilities.

And Jethro as the same as he'd ever been- quiet, loving, enjoying every moment with their child and each other. He was a little grayer, had a few more wrinkles, and his stamina may not been what it used to, but he was still the tough-as-nails former Marine and NCIS Agent she'd fallen in love with over two decades ago.

He was picking the girls up play practice before coming home with dinner, and everyone else was meeting them for their weekly Friday night dinner.

It had become a tradition once their families had started to grow, and now it was something they hated doing without. So, the DiNozzo's, McGee's, Hayfner's, the Oliver's, Abby, and Ducky came every Friday night to eat, laugh, and enjoy the company.

She was in the kitchen when Jethro walked in with a stack of pizza boxes, and she smiled at him when he set them down.

"Hey you," she said, leaning forward to kiss him. "Where are the girls?"

"Here Mom," Lucie said, her hair up in a messy bun and her eyes rimmed with green liner. She plopped into a chair at the island, leaning back against it and tucking her knees up against the counter.

"How was practice?" Jenny asked, grabbing a stack of paper plates and cups. "And where's your sister?"

"Mia's talking to Leah, and practice actually went well for once. Mr. V seemed happy, which means we did something right," Lucie answered, shrugging her shoulders as she pulled her phone out, starting to text.

"Hey, no phones in the kitchen. You know better," Jenny said, plucking the cell out of her daughter's hand and turning it off.

"But Mom! That was Tommy Highland, only the cutest boy in the tenth grade!" Lucie cried, her green eyes pleading.

"Well you aren't in the tenth grade, so you don't need to worry about him," Jenny informed her, pocketing the phone. "You can have it back after dinner. Go wash up- everyone will be here in less than twenty minutes."

Lucie went off with a huff, and Jenny sighed, shaking her head.

Mia walked in, her hair secured in a braid, and her sunglasses were perched on the top of her head, a smear of paint on her right cheek. Her nose was in a book, and she nearly knocked into her mom.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mom!" she apologized, shutting the book. Jenny smiled fondly at her daughter, kissing her forehead.

"It's fine- how's your book?" she asked, watching as Mia's eyes lit up.

"It's really good- it's a medical mystery about outer space," she replied, glancing down at the blue-green cover. "Uncle Tim recommended it."

"He's the one to go to," Jenny said, laughing slightly. "You've got paint on your cheek sweetheart- go upstairs and wash it off before everyone gets here."

Mia nodded before bounding off, and Jenny sighed again.

"Will they ever slow down?" she asked when her husband came over to wrap his arms around her from behind, letting her lean back against his chest.

"We've been askin' them to for the past eighteen years," he murmured, his voice low and strong in her ear. "Jake's leavin' for college in two weeks-"

"Please, do not remind me of how my baby is leaving my house," Jenny interrupted, shaking her head. "I feel like he was just born yesterday. I will not be thinking about how he is leaving this house and going to school in New York."

"Jen, we had to let him go at some point," Jethro said, and she sighed again.

"I know. But I wish they'd stayed babies," she replied. Then there was a knock on the door, and Jake hollered from the living room.

"Mom, Dad, door!"

"Thanks for all your help in answering it, Jacob," Jenny replied sarcastically as she walked past him and Leah.

"Kinda busy, Ma," Jake replied, his eyes focused on the video game he and Leah were playing together. Jenny rolled her eyes, opening the door with a smile.

"Hello McGee family," she said, letting them in. They were always first everywhere- Carson didn't like to be late, or even have the possibility of being late, so they were always early.

Carson and Tim had gotten married six years after Jacob's birthday, after dating seriously for six and a half years.

Their only daughter, Emma, had been born a year later, and she was their pride and joy. She was now eleven, and with thick, dark blonde hair and large blue eyes, she was happy and bubbly, but could be shy and reserved when she wanted to.

Carson had left NCIS after Emma had been born, and was now a full-time writer. She'd written a New York Times bestseller young adult novel entitled 'Saving Grace', and was currently working on a novel involving the Bermuda Triangle. Tim had written two more Deep Six novels, but had finished the series, and was working on another project, co-authored with his wife.

"Hey Jenny," Carson said, giving her former boss a hug. "You look tired."

"Three teenagers does that," Jenny replied, and Carson laughed. "Hello Emma, how are you?"

"I'm good, Aunt Jenny," Emma replied, smiling up at her. "I started my science project with Daddy. We're making a volcano!"

"Those are always fun," Jenny said, opening the door wider to allow Tim inside with the two large bottles of soda. "Hi Tim."

"Hey Jenny," he replied, kissing her cheek swiftly. "I'll bring these into the kitchen."

"Thanks," Jenny said, turning back to Carson and Emma. "Lucie and Mia should be down in a minute, and Jacob is going to turn that video game off right this second because we have company. Right Jacob?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied, saluting her. Leah giggled and Jenny rolled her eyes, letting out a breath.

"I had to have a boy," she said, but there was only teasing in her voice. There was another knock on the door, and she opened it to reveal Abby and Ducky together.

"Jenny!" Abby cried, throwing her arms around the older woman. In all the years at NCIS, the bubbly Goth hadn't changed. She hadn't settled down, not finding the right guy, and instead merely enjoyed the kids of all of her friends. "I didn't see you at all the past two days, and my lab has been so quiet!"

"Well, we haven't caught a case," Jenny said, patting the woman's back to get her to release her. Then the Goth spotted Carson, and was off like a shot, leaving Jenny with Ducky. "Hello Ducky."

"Good evening, dear," he said, coming forward to kiss her cheek. The former ME was starting to get frailer- he'd retired, leaving Autopsy in the very capable hands of Mr. Palmer, and was living quietly at home, enjoying the peace. "You're looking lovely."

"You lie, but thank you," Jenny replied, smiling. "There a kettle on in the kitchen if you'd like a cup of tea."

"You're always prepared," he said, squeezing her hand before moving further into the house. Jenny turned to be sure her son had turned off the game, sighing in relief when she discovered he had. He and Leah were talking with Abby and Jethro, who caught her eye, sending her a smile from across the room, which she returned easily. There was another knock, and opened it to reveal the DiNozzo family.

"Hi Jenny," Gianna said, hugging her quickly as she ushered her three kids inside. Gianna and Dinozzo had gotten married a mere three months after Jake's birth, and their oldest, Melanie, was only ten months younger than Jacob. She was a strikingly beautiful seventeen year old, with her mother's thick, dark hair and her father's bright hazel eyes. She had the voice of a siren, and had sung choir since she was eight.

Their son, Leo, was fifteen, and had the eyes of every girl in school- something he used to his advantage. He had his father's light hair and his mother's dark eyes, with a cocky grin that displayed his white teeth. From across the room, Mia caught sight of him and turned red, and Jenny smiled at her daughter's crush.

There was no chance she was dating a DiNozzo.

The third and final DiNozzo child was Violet. She was six years old, and hadn't been planned by her parents. A drunken escapade at Kate's wedding had resulted in their third pregnancy, and although she wasn't expected, they still loved her very much. She had thick brunette ringlets and large hazel eyes, and was currently missing her two front teeth.

"Hello DiNozzo family," Jenny said, bestowing smiles on all of them. A chorus of responses hit her, and then Melanie went off to talk with Jacob and Leah, Leo went to talk to Lucie and Mia, and Violet clung to her mother's leg.

"Is Jake really leaving in two weeks?" Gianna asked, stroking her daughter's hair as she talked to Jenny, while Tony went to talk with Tim.

"Yes. We're driving him up," Jenny said, sighing softly. "I feel like we only brought him home yesterday."

"The years have gone by fast," Gianna said, looking down when Violet pulled on her shirt. "What's up Vi?"

"Thirsty," Violet said, and Gianna said, swinging her up onto her hip.

"Drinks are in the kitchen," Jenny said, and Gianna smiled gratefully, walking away with her daughter.

The next family to arrive was the Oliver's; Landon and his wife Skyler brought their only child left at home, Celeste, who was sixteen. Sienna was going into her senior year at Colombia University, and Tanner was going to be a sophomore at RIT. Landon had recieved his own team a few years ago, and Jenny was proud of her former team member. He was taking big strides, and she knew he was good at his job. He and his wife were happy, and almost all their kids were done with high school.

The finally family was the Hayfner's; six years ago, Kate had married a FBI agent by the name of Keith Hayfner. He was nice, and a decent guy for working for the FBI. They tried for four years to have a baby, but eventually they'd learned that Kate wouldn't be able to conceive. So, they'd turned to adoption.

Both had been cleared, although they'd been asked if their work would be a problem, which they both assured wouldn't. Then, they'd met Lindsay. She'd been fifteen at the time, and she was incredibly sweet, thought shy.

And, she was almost completely deaf.

She'd been involved in a car accident with her parents that had killed them, and severely damaged her hearing. She could hear no sound on the left side, and only seventy five percent on her right side. She wore a hearing aid in the right side, and could sign expertly, as she'd been in the accident when she was only seven.

Kate and Keith had immediately wanted her, and they'd spent months learning how to sign from Abby. Now, two years later, signing was as natural as breathing for everyone in their extended family. Lindsay was shy, but she'd formed a special bond with both Abby, and Jethro.

She wore her light blonde hair in a short pixie cut, the strands spiky with gel most of the time, and the hairstyle displayed the scars from the crash proudly. When Kate and Keith had met her, she'd worn it long, to hide them. But gradually, as she grown to know and love them, she'd cut it shorter and shorter, until it was the length it was now. She had blue eyes that looked like the summer sky on a clear day, and her hands were thin and flexible, which made her a great piano player. She could feel the resonance from the notes, and she spent hours learning how to play hundreds of songs. She was the best player in the school, and thanks to her parents, she'd learned to overcome her stage fright.

"Hello Kate, Keith," Jenny said, before turning to sign to Lindsay. "Hello beautiful."

"Hi Red," Lindsay signed- she was the only one who called Jenny that, simply because of her hair, and it was simple to sign. Jenny grinned, squeezing the teenager's hand softly.

Turning, she looked at her family- some of them blood, most of them not. Her son wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, kissing her temple gently, while Mia held a conversation all by herself with Leo, her blue eyes shone as she made Leo laugh, and Jenny softened. Lucie was talking with Lindsay in sign, her movements animated and excited, while Lindsay listened in amusement.

"Boo."

She jumped slightly at the soft voice in her ear, but moved easily into her husband's embrace as his arms slipped around her. He pressed a kiss to the skin just below her ear, making her close her eyes and smile.

"Twenty one years," he said quietly, and she nodded, sighing.

"Can you believe we've been married over two decades?" she asked, her hands tightening over his momentarily.

"Sometimes it feels like less- sometimes it feels like more," he answered, and she nodded. "But I wouldn't change a minute of it."

"Neither would I," Jenny replied, turning and brushing her lips over his gently.

She thought back to that nightmare of so long ago- of losing him forever. But now, over seventeen years later, she didn't have that nightmare anymore.

Because she had everything she'd ever wanted.

-The End-