Proud

“Mama; I’m very, very, very proud of you.” little Asher said to Ziva as the four of them sat down at the table with the rest of the NCIS clan.

Knowing what motherhood was like and how sweet little six year olds were made Jenny smile at her friend and her friend’s son. Asher’s sense of being proud of his mother on the anniversary of the day that she officially became a naturalized American was unanimous around the room. Jenny had called ahead to have the restaurant have a room reserved for them.

“I’m proud of you too, Mommy.” Madalyn said not wanting to be outshone by her kid brother.

“We’re all proud of you, Ziva.” Jethro said as he pulled her in for a hug.

“I know that I’ve told you this a ton of times before Ziva, but I am going to say it again. This is exactly what I wanted for you when I approved of your liaison position after the agency’s lost. I knew that if anyone could keep you safe, protect you and be the father figure that you needed that Jethro was it. Ziva David, I will be eternally proud of you.” Jenny said before she hugged Ziva.

“I’m just happy that you told Ray no.” Abby said.

“Me too.” Tony said.

“I’m just happy she decked that bast….” Jaylyn was saying before she remembered that there were young ears around.

Jaylyn knew that she now had to watch what she said with Madalyn and Asher in the picture. She didn’t have to worry so much about what she said when it came to her nieces being around.

With everyone at the table, drinks were ordered and brought to the table. Appetizers followed as did salads and the entrees everyone had ordered. Palmer and Breena were on their way to join the team. Jaylyn and the girls were designated in a unspoken manner as the designated drivers due to Jaylyn’s pregnancy and the girls being under age. With parents, an aunt and most of the extended family being cops it was kind of hard to get away with things like underage drinking.

Jaylyn and the girls had coffee in front of them. While Madalyn and Asher were drinking juice. Jethro had as usual a glass of bourbon in front of him. Today was a wine day for Jenny as it was Ducky, Ziva and McGee. Abby was having a beer. Tony of course had a Bombay sapphire.

Arabella and Madison were coloring on the coloring place mat that Madalyn and Asher were given when they came in. Delilah and Emiliana were talking with each other. The adults reminisced over the journey Ziva had taken in order to get where she was at now. Ziva said that writing that email to her father was hard at first but in the long run she knew it was the best thing for her. That made Jenny smile.

At one point during the course of the gathering Jaylyn took note of how anxious Tony was. Jethro was also a bit on the anxious side. When she leaned back in her chair she also noticed that her own beau was just as anxious as her ex and brother-in-law.  Palmer and Breena arrived.

“Ziva think Tony wants to get you into bed like right now.”

“Of course he does. He knows it’s one of the things we do ever so well.” Ziva said as she sipped her wine and tilted her head in the direction of her and Tony’s kids.

Jaylyn knew that she didn’t have to mention anything to Jenny about Jethro.

“So Ziva, Tony; are you guys going to tell Tony and Director David about Madalyn and Asher?” Abby asked.

“Wasn’t planning on it.” Tony said.

“The less my father knows the better, Abby.”

“But they should know they have grandkids.”

“Abby, as far as I am concerned their grandfather is Gibbs. Not Tony or Director David. I gave them Gibbs’ last name not mine and not Tony’s.”

Knowing that she wasn’t going to win that argument with her friend, Abby moved onto the next thing on her mind.

“Are you guys ever going to get married? And I am weirdly gifted for wedding planning.”

“No we’re not. What we have going for us right now is just fine.”

“They’re not the marrying types.” Jaylyn whispered to Abby.

“If I remember correctly, Ziva; also said that kids weren’t in the cards for you either.” Tony said.

“Obviously that was a lie, Tony. I changed my mind the minute I had Madalyn in my arms for the first time eleven years ago and looked into those hazel brown eyes of hers.”

            “Motherhood does change things.” Jenny said reflectively as she looked down the table to her four girls.

            “Guess I have something to look forward to in four months.”

            “Yeah you pretty much do.” Ziva said.

            Abby feeling left out from the conversation saw how tired Madalyn and Asher were.

            “I think it’s time we get going.” Abby said as she nodded over to Madalyn and Asher who had fallen asleep at the table.

            On that note Jenny paid the bill while the others got their coats on. Tony carried his sleeping daughter out of the restaurant as Ziva carried her sleeping son out. Kasey helped Jaylyn up and like a gentleman helped Jaylyn put her coat on.

            Everyone headed home. Tony and Ziva put the kids to bed. Then Tony being in a playful mood chased Ziva into their bedroom. Within seconds of making contact with the bed and a bit of kissing with some foreplay, Ziva let out a giggle. At Jaylyn and Kasey’s the same thing that was occurring over at Tony and Ziva’s.

            But the pros across town were at it full throttle. This time the girls had their headphones in their ears with their music blaring loud at the highest volume their iPhones could go.

            This time around it was Jenny’s turn to be on the receiving end while Jethro did all the manual labor. After the first ten moans and screams Jenny completely lost herself in her husband. Jethro knew what buttons to push in bed.

            When Jethro took some of Jenny’s breast in his mouth and had the other in his calloused hand, he knew things were getting good for Jenny.

            A few minutes later Jethro was chasing Jenny around their bedroom and closet.  The two of them were up for the entire night, chasing one another around and fooling around while their daughters slept. They both knew that they’d be running on coffee all day long tomorrow.

            The following morning Jethro woke up the aroma of coffee and the sight of his gorgeous forty-eight year old wife who with each passing day looked like she was ten years younger. As he saw his wife standing in the doorway of their bedroom with a cup of coffee in hand that she had brewed in the Keurig he had bought her last Christmas with nothing but the cup of coffee in hand and just pajama bottoms and a bra on Jethro instantly wanted to forget about the coffee and screw her once again.

            “Maybe later Jethro. First we need to get through the work day and catch up on our sleep since we didn’t get much last night before we even start round two.”

             At the office, the team saw how tired Jenny and Jethro were when they came into work.

            “What do you think warrants the Boss and the Director looking like they are half dead?” Tony asked.

            Jaylyn stared Tony down telling him that he should chosen better words in light of the past few days she and Jenny had.

            “I think they were doing the same thing we were doing last night, Tony.” Ziva said.

            “I thought you didn’t kiss and tell, Ziva.” Tony replied.

            “McGee doesn’t kiss and tell. Me on the other hand only tell when the sex is good.” Ziva said with a seductive wink.

            “Yeah Jen and Jethro definitely had sex last night. That’s why they both have their tenth cup of coffee in hand; they must have been up until 4am at the latest.”

            Tony was a bit awestruck at that moment.

            “Are we on the jealous side, Tony?” Jaylyn said baiting Tony like Kate use to.

            “Not in the slightest, Agent Shepard.”

            “What did J do now to piss you off, Tony?” Jenny asked.

            “It’s nothing Director Shepard.”

            “Its actually Director Gibbs now, Tony.”

            “Okay ma’am.”

            “When did she drop Shepard and the whole hyphenating thing she had going with her last name?” McGee and Tony inquired once Jenny was up in her office sipping away at her latte.

            Jethro was at his desk at this point. Ziva shrugged in response to the question that had been posed by her teammates.

            “I have no idea but its about damn time she did.” Jaylyn said approving of her sister’s decision.

            “She took officially took my last name yesterday before Ziva’s celebration.” Jethro answered.

            “Well its good that she did, I mean with the girls having your last name and all; Boss.”

            After about her fifteenth latte Jenny sent out an inter-office email to letting everyone know that she was to be called Director Gibbs from now on.

            “I guess this email makes it official.” McGee said after reading the email.

            “Thank god she’s finally gotten over her issues with Jethro’s last name and his track record. It was starting to get ridiculous.”

            Once all of that was taken care of the work day progressed on and things went on as normal. At one point during the work day Jenny sent Ziva a text.

            I am quite proud of you and always will be.

-          Mom.

After the text was read, Ziva smiled and looked up to the balcony to find Jenny standing in her usual spot at the railing in front of MTAC.

            Thank-you for making it all possible, Mom.