RJ's Holiday

“RJ, come down and have breakfast.” Mommy called from downstairs.
It was Saturday and I really didn’t want to get out of bed. It was the 4th of July weekend and the annual festivities weren’t going to start for a while. Every year for as long as I could remember; Mommy, Daddy and I went over to Jen and Jethro’s house for their 4th of July BBQ. And that wasn’t until Daddy was done with work.
“RJ, it’s time for breakfast. You better get down here and eat before it gets cold.”
“Ugh.” I moaned loud enough so Mommy could hear me down in the dining room.
“Ryan James Palmer it’s time to get out of bed and have breakfast now.”
“I don’t wanna.”
“Ryan James, don’t make me come up there.” Mommy said from the base of the stairs.
“I’m comfy.”
“Ryan James, if I have to call your father just to get you out of bed then it isn’t going to be good.”
With that I got out of bed, had breakfast. The day progressed on; I went along with Mommy to get the various things for her to make for the BBQ later. Once we were done food shopping we headed home and I helped Mommy make the dishes she had decided to make.
Before long we were at the BBQ. I was running around with the other kids. All the Moms and Dads were talking to each other. The older kids that were sandwiched between us younger kids and the eldest three as usual kept to themselves. JD was in the mode of not wanting to leave Dave’s side. Hannah and Leah were the same with their fiancés. Some things never really changed.

Liza's Inquiry

Today was a special day for me. It was a Mommy and me day. Daddy had to go to work, but Mommy had decided to take the day off from her job. This day was going to be a bit different than all of our other Mommy and me days.  From what Daddy said before Mommy came into the kitchen for breakfast, it was one of Mommy’s off days. Even at five, I knew what Daddy meant by Mommy’s off days. Mommy was in one of her moods. The mood where she was a bit jealous of Grandpa’s other kids, Grandpa’s NCIS kids and Grandpa’s other wife, the NCIS Partner turned wife. 
            “Liza don’t worry, Mommy will be fine. She’s just feeling like she is invisible to Grandpa right now. Mommy thinks he’s spending more time with your Aunt Bella, Uncle Carson, Uncle Jasper and Grandma Jen. She thinks he’s at NCIS too much with Tony and the others. Mommy will be fine before you know it.” Daddy said.
            “I hope so.”
            “You hope what?” Mommy asked as she came into the kitchen.
            “That you and I have fun today.”
            “Oh Liza, we’ll have fun. After all; its field day and Rocket the school mascot dog will be there.”
            “Oh yeah, can we go now.”
            “Go get your back pack and I’ll meet you outside.”
            I went to get my backpack like Mommy said.
            “I’ll see you at the school, Rocket.”  Mommy said as she kissed Daddy good bye.
            Mommy and I drove to school. I began to wonder why Mommy didn’t like Grandma Jen and the others. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with them. Grandma always played with me, braided my hair and did all the things Grandmas are suppose to do with their grandkid. She even reminded me that I was her only granddaughter since my aunt and uncles were too young to have kids of their own. I’d remind her of all the kids in the extended family that were older than me, I’d tell her that they were her grandkids too; but she’d tell me that they were her NCIS grandkids.  At that point I gathered enough courage to ask Mommy why she didn’t like Grandma Jen and the rest of the extended family.
            “Mommy, why don’t you like Grandma Jen?”
            Mommy didn’t say a word; she just kept looking at the road in front of her.
            “Why don’t you like Grandma Jen? Why don’t you like Grandma and Grandpa’s kids? Why don’t you like their NCIS family?” I asked trying to get an answer out of Mommy.
            “She’s not your Grandmother. Jen is your step-grandma just like she’s my step-mom. Your Grandmother, my mother and your namesake died in 1991.”
            “Grandma Jen is my grandma too. I have three grandmas; Grandma Ellie, Grandma Shanny and Grandma Jen.”
            Mommy didn’t say anything else for the rest of the ride. It wasn’t long before we were at my school. Once I got to my class room, it was just about time to go outside and play games. Midway through the games I was more excited to see Rocket.
            Mommy showed Rocket around. Mommy was awfully protective of Rocket. That was when I realized who Rocket was. Mommy only got this protective of Daddy when was at my school because there were a lot of other moms that would love to snag Daddy away from Mommy. Whenever they saw her protective arm around Daddy, they all backed off. Some were crazy enough to ignore Mommy’s actions and kept on trying to snag Daddy. That was when they had their chat with Grandpa which led to them finally backing off. Everyone listen to Leroy Jethro Gibbs when he spoke, no matter what.

 

Double Trouble

My brother and I were playing all over the house while Mommy and Daddy talked in the kitchen.  All Jake and I wanted to do was to go outside and play, but Mommy and Daddy wanted us to stay inside. Daddy was really protective of Mommy, Jake and I when they came home from work one night. Daddy had said there was a really bad guy that was around hurting good people. Mommy said Daddy was just being a Daddy when he was keeping us from going outside without him. She also said that Daddy was being protective of her because Uncle Jethro wasn’t working for NCIS anymore.

            As usual Mommy was wired on her daily drink of Caf-Pow and as Daddy always says; Mommy is bouncing off the walls. Jake and I heard Mommy and Daddy talking to each other in the kitchen as they got our lunch ready. It seemed that Mommy was okay with us playing in the backyard. Mommy had complete faith that Daddy, Aunt Kate, Aunt Ziva and Uncle Tony would get the bad guy that Daddy said was out there. Daddy wasn’t as sure as Mommy was though. It almost sounded like Mommy and Daddy were fighting instead of just talking.

            “But Timmy, the kids will be fine. They’d only be in the backyard running around and playing on the playground equipment. You know as well as I do that we’d be able to keep an eye on them from here.”

            “That’s not the point. You know that I don’t want you or them to step out of this house until we catch the serial killer. Abs, this guy is worst that Cobb was. It’s a miracle that Franks survived. Besides you’ve seen firsthand what this guy has done to his victims. You know he’s worst than Cobb, Boone and his attorney combined.”

            “I know that. When the case first came up you said this guy was worst that Ari, Rivkin, Paloma and all the other bad guys that have come after us over the years. Only difference now is that Gibbs and Jen let Tony and Jaylyn take the reins. Now you know you can’t keep me and the twins locked up in this house until the case is solved, especially if you want it solved. The kids have to go to pre-school and I need be at my lab.”

            “Who is Paloma, Jake?” I asked my brother.

            “I don’t know; think I heard Mommy and Daddy say she was a bad lady that tried to hurt Uncle Jethro a long time ago.”

            “Why would she want to hurt Uncle Jethro?”

            “I don’t know, Addie.”

            “Tim, you have to loosen up some. Even Gibbs isn’t this uptight when it comes to protecting his kids.”

            “Abby, you know as well as I do why he isn’t as overprotective as I am.”

            “Cause Gibbs has a redhead that knows how to mellow him out.”

            “Abby, the twins can hear you.”

            “Oh come on, they’re four; they have no idea what I mean. Not yet at least.”

            “I know how old they are, I was there when they were born.”

            “I was too. AND AS I RECALL I WAS THE ONE WHO DID MOST OF THE WORK BY BRINGING THEM INTO THIS WORLD. Now they are going to go and play in the backyard after they have their lunch whether you like it or not.”

            “Yay Mommy!!!!” Jake and I shouted.

            “Sounds like you just made two four years very happy.”

            “Addison, Jacob; come in here.”

            “Uh oh, we’re in trouble now.” I said.

            Jake and I walked into the kitchen.

            “What did I tell you about listening to adult conversations?”

            “That we’re not supposed to do it.”

            “Now what do you have to say to Daddy and I?”

            “Mommy, we can’t say we’re sorry. Rule 6.”

            “Uncle Jethro’s rules don’t apply to you two.”

            “Sorry Mommy, sorry Daddy for listening in on your conversation.”

            “Apology accepted. Now go wash up for lunch before you two sit down.” Daddy said.

            We did as we were told and washed our hands in the bathroom. By the time Jake and I finished washing our hands Mommy and Daddy had set our lunches at our places at the dining table. Both Jake and I were quite scared still from being yelled at before that we sat in silence.

            “Addie, Jake; we’ve decided to take you two to the park for an hour. You just have to stay where Mommy and I can see you.” Daddy said to us.

            “Okay Daddy.” Jake and I said together.

            “And if anyone says something to you what do you do?

            “We come over to you and Daddy.” We answered.

            After lunch we took a ride down to the park. Jake and I were beyond happy to be outside playing. But that went bad after a few minutes. Jake and I were going down the slide and chasing each other when this creepy guy came up to us. He asked us what our names were and why were at the park. Jake and I didn’t answer the creepy man just like Mommy and Daddy said. Instead we ran over to Mommy and Daddy.

            “Daddy, Daddy; that big, scary guy came up to us and tried to get us to talk to him.” I said pointing over to the guy who had moved on to the next kid who came down the slide.

            “Abby; take them back home, call the team and tell them to meet me here.”

            Mommy understood what Daddy was getting at.

            “Come on guys, it’s time to go.” Mommy said as she put us in front of her on our way to the car.

            “Be safe.” Mommy said to Daddy when we were still nearby him.

            Once we got to the car Mommy made sure that Jake and I were in the car first. She then called Aunt Ziva, Uncle Tony and Aunt Kate as we drove off. She had them all on a speaker conference call.

            “You guys have to get down to Rock Creek Park now. The serial killer came up to Addison and Jacob while they were playing. Tim is by himself.”

            “We’re on our way, Abs.” Uncle Tony said.

            “The twins okay?” Aunt Kate asked.

            “They’re a little shaken.”

            “Just take them home, Abby, keep them safe and call Gibbs. Tell him to meet us down at Rock Creek.” Aunt Ziva said.

            “How can Uncle Jethro help? He’s retired.” Jake asked.

            “Uncle Jethro can help cause he can.”  Uncle Tony said.

            “Thanks guys. I’ll tell Jaylyn what is going on after I call Gibbs.”

            “Okay Abby.” Our Aunts and Uncle said in unison.

            “Be safe guys.” Mommy said.

            “We will, Abby.”      

            Once we were home as Mommy locked all the doors and had us sit in the living room, she made the calls she needed to. Before long Aunt Jen and Aunt Jaylyn were over at our house with our cousins. I noticed that Aunt Jaylyn was a bit antsy.

            “Why is Aunt Jay bouncing around like that Mommy?” I asked.

            “Aunt Jay wants to be out helping Daddy and others get that bad guy.” Mommy said.

            “Addie, your Aunt Jay doesn’t like being Director like I did. She likes being an Agent like Uncle Jethro.”

            After Aunt Jen said that, Bella came over and tugged on the bottom of Aunt Jen’s shirt.

            “Mommy, Daddy is gonna be okay right?” Bella asked nervously as Aunt Jen scooped her up.

            “Yes Bella, your Daddy is going to be perfectly fine. He knows what he’s doing and he has your Uncles and Aunts with him, who will make sure he’s safe. Besides remember what Daddy told you the other day about the men and women who serve in the Marines and Navy, how they are just like NCIS Agents?”

            “They watch out and protect their own.”

            “That’s correct, baby. So while Daddy is out there with your Aunts and Uncles getting the bad guy, he’s protecting them and they are protecting him.”

            “Don’t worry Bella, we have smart Daddies.” I said as we both slid off of our Mommies’ laps to go play with the boys and Jayla while our Mommies and Aunt Jay waited to hear from the others.

 

 

Jayla's Day

Being the youngest of four with three older sisters was okay. I absolutely loved my sisters. JD always made sure that I wasn’t left out when it came to things that all of us could do together. Jayden would when she wasn’t busy, play with me; we’d play anything I wanted to. Jocelyn never minds doing my hair. And whenever my sisters came over I was the happiest I could ever be.

            One day like any other day, Mommy came into my room to wake me up while Daddy made breakfast and let our two Australian Shepard dogs; Juliet and River out in our backyard.  Juliet and River were a present to Mommy from Daddy for their anniversary after I was born. Both Juliet and River followed me everywhere I went when I was awake.  Mommy and Daddy saw the dogs following me around as them being protective of me. In fact when any of the other kids came over or when my sisters came over both River and Juliet would be protective of us.

            Mommy told me once I was fully awake told me that all three of my sisters and my brother-in-law were coming over later on after breakfast for a family barbeque. She then said that all my aunts, uncles and cousins were coming too. I could hardly wait for the barbeque. After that I ran down the down the stairs to see my Daddy and the dogs.

            “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy; we’re having a barbeque today and everyone is coming over.” I said excitedly.

            Daddy picked me up as Mommy brought River and Juliet back in from the yard.

            “I know. Bet you can’t wait to see your sisters.” Daddy said.

            “No I can’t, I can’t even wait to see everyone else; Daddy.”

            Daddy then set me back down on the ground and went back to making breakfast for the three of us.

            “Jayla, while Daddy makes breakfast; can you please feed Juliet and River for me?” Mommy asked me.

            “Okay Mommy.”

            River and Juliet were the same age as me; all three of us were four years old.

            “Julie, River; food!!!!!!!!!” I called.

             Juliet and River bounded in from the family room. Before long I was getting the usual amount of doggy kisses from River and Juliet.  

            “Juliet, River.” Mommy said reprimanding the dogs.

            Juliet and River stopped licking my face to beg for their food. I didn’t like it when Mommy reprimanded the dogs. Soon breakfast ready and I washed up.  After breakfast my sisters and brother-in-law arrived. Then Aunt Jen, Uncle Jethro, Bella, Carson and Jasper came.

At one point after Kelly, Jason and Liza came in; Jocelyn had decided that we should have French braids done. Kelly worked on Aunt Jen’s hair she sat in the back doing Mommy’s. Mommy did JD’s. Jayden was in front of JD, Jocelyn was in front of Jayden and I was in front of Jocelyn. Aunt Ziva worked on Bella’s.

“Hey Mommy.” I called back to my Mommy.

“Yes, Athena.”

“Why are we all having our hair done this way?”

“We are doing our hair like this cause its hot out and I want your hair done this way.”

The boys were outside playing while my daddy and all the other big boys were starting to grill. Before long it was just Mommy and Aunt Jen in the house. I had sneaked in at one point to go potty and saw that Mommy and Aunt Jen had funny drinks. I also noticed that Mommy wasn’t all that happy and I didn’t understand why.

I thought Mommy was always happy. She always said she was whenever she was talking to TV person on the TV. But today she didn’t seem that way.  It confused me why Mommy wasn’t happy after all. Even Aunt Jen didn’t look happy. When I went back outside I tried to find Daddy or Uncle Jethro. It was easier to get to Uncle Jethro.

“Uncle Jethro.” I said as I tugged on his shirt.

“Yes Miss Jayla.” Uncle Jethro said as he picked me up.

“Mommy and Aunt Jen don’t look happy inside and they have funny looking drinks in front of them. What’s wrong with Mommy? What’s wrong with Aunt Jen?”

“Hey Nick, what’s today’s date?”

“It’s the 31st.”

“Jocelyn, come take your sister. Nick come with me.”

“What’s wrong with Mommy and Aunt Jen?” I asked my sister.

“Don’t worry Athena, they’ll be fine. Dad and Uncle Jethro will make sure of it.”

Jayden and JD came over.

“The birthday.” Jayden said to Jocelyn and JD.

“The birthday?” I asked.

“It’s Grandma Emma’s birthday, Jayla. It’s why all of us have our hair braided.  Grandma use to do Mom and Aunt Jen's hair like ours when they were little."” JD said.

 After my sisters told me, Aunt Ziva and Aunt Abby came over to us.

“Why did Gibbs and your Dad go in?” Aunt Abby asked.

“Mom and Jen are commiserating Grandma Emma over cocktails.” Jocelyn answered.

Aunt Ziva decided to go in like Uncle Jethro and Daddy.

“Why did she go in if Daddy and Uncle Jethro went in already?”

“Cause Ziva has been friends with Jen and your Mommy for a long time, Athena; and she wants to be there for them. She knows what it is like to lose a parent.”

A little while later everyone was outside. Mommy gave a great big hug to my sisters and whispered something to them before she picked me up.  Once I was in Mommy’s arms she gave me the same hug she gave my sisters and whispered something to me.

“You’re so much like Grandma.”

Later on I heard one of my sisters say that Aunt Jen had said the same thing to Bella that Mommy said to me.

             Once Aunt Jen and Mommy put Bella and me down, we ran over to the table picked up a cupcake each that had a burning candle on it and looked up to the sky. 


           "Happy Birthday Grandma Emma." we said before blowing out the candles.

Trio's Playdate

            My brothers and me were way too excited to stay in our beds for Mommy and Daddy to come and get us out of bed that we ran to theirs. Mommy was all cuddled up in Daddy’s arms.  Mommy and Daddy were very heavy sleepers so we only had one way of waking them up. Jasper, Carson and I climbed up onto the bed to get ready to jump until they woke up. We started jumping up and down once we were all standing on the bed. It wasn’t long before Mommy and Daddy woke up. Daddy was quite cranky when he woke up.

            “Bella Rue, Carson Jackson, Jasper Scott; stop jumping on the bed or you won’t be going to Gymboree with Athena today.” Daddy said angrily

            “Jethro, don’t snap at them; they’re just being kids.” Mommy said scolding Daddy for yelling at us.

            I laughed a little when Mommy yelled at Daddy like all the other adults did when Mommy did what she did in front of them.

            “Jethro, why don’t you and the boys go downstairs to make some coffee and breakfast?”

            Daddy just stared at Mommy.

            “That doesn’t work on me, remember.”

            I giggled again at Mommy’s quick wit.

            “Come on boys, it’s our turn to make Mommy and Bella breakfast.”

            “But it’s not Mother’s day.” Carson said as Daddy helped him off the bed.

            “Yeah it’s not, so why are we making them breakfast?” Jasper asked as Daddy helped him.

            “Cause Mommy wants breakfast made and she wants to spend time with your sister.” Daddy answered.

            “Why would she want that?” Carson asked as they walked out of the bedroom.

            “Bella is the only girl in the family; so Mommy wants to spent time with her.”

            “Bella isn’t the only girl in the family. Kelly is a girl and so is Mommy.” Jasper said.

            “Yes, both Mommy and Kelly are girls, but they are not little girls like your sister. They are big girls and Kelly doesn’t live with us. She lives with Liza and Jason.”

            Once Daddy and the boys were out of the room, I wasted no time cuddling up next to Mommy under the covers.

            “Mommy, tell me a story about when you and Daddy were Agents, please.”

              “Well baby girl it’s hard to choose just one, you’re Daddy and I had so many adventures when we were agents.”

            “Please Mommy. There has to be something you remember.”

            Mommy then had a look on her face that made me wonder why she was smiling the way she was.

            “Mommy, why are you smiling like that???”

            “It's nothing; Mommy is just remembering the good times Daddy and I had in Paris a long time ago.”

            “Can you please tell me what you and Daddy did in Paris?” I asked.

            At that moment I saw something rare play in Mommy’s eyes. Mommy had panic in her eyes.

            “Can you tell me a Paris story?”

            “No.”

            “Why not?”

            “Because Mommy said no.”

            “But why?”

            “No Paris stories.”

            “But why, Mommy; why?”

            “Bella Rue; I am the Mommy and if I say no it means no.”

            I was quite persistent.

            “What did you and Daddy do in Paris?”

            Now Mommy was mad.

            “Daddy and I went sightseeing.”

            After that Daddy called us for breakfast as my brother dug in.

            “What’s wrong Jen?” Daddy asked Mommy.

            “She asked about Paris and what we did there.”

            “Paris in ’99?”

            “No Jethro, when we were there for our honeymoon; of course back in ’99. She wanted a story from our days as agents.”

            “Did you tell her?” Daddy asked as they joined us for breakfast.

            “What do you think? I wasn’t going to tell our four year old about Marseilles.”

            After breakfast Mommy and Daddy got us ready for Gymboree. Before long we were at Gymboree playing with Athena on the various toys while Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Jay and Uncle Nick watched from outside the play area.

Ben’s Rendezvous

            It was a Friday night and I had a date with my girlfriend, Remy Greene. We had been seeing each other for about six months. I have to admit things were going good for Remy and I. She was completely fine dating someone whose mother had a history that somewhat rivaled that of Ziva David- DiNozzo’s. Unlike the other kids outside of myself, my sisters and brothers, we only had to explain to our significant others that our mother was a Fed and our dad was a civilian.

            But then again Remy understood even before I had explained anything. Both of her parents are in the Navy.  I had determined that our date tonight was just going to be a movie night in my living room for the two of us. We were pulling a Tony and Ziva movie night without a doubt. All I had I wanted was a nice, quiet evening with my girlfriend, before our night even got underway; I knew that it wasn’t going to happen.

            Mom was still at the office and Dad was running late at his job.  Noah and Drew were out front playing a game of one on one in the driveway. Jaliyah and Ashleann on the other hand were driving me absolutely crazy going back and forth from their rooms to the kitchen. The doorbell rang alerting me to Remy’s arrival.  As of late Remy had been a bit of a rebel in her own way.

We were only nineteen so there were only a limited amount of things we could legally do.  Remy didn't care whether it was legal or not, she did it anyway. Mom was starting to notice Remy's actions and didn't like them very much. Mom had thought that Rem was a bad influence on me.  But for me I could see past the underage drinking and going out to get a new tattoo every chance the whim came up. I loved Remy after all. 

My parents had seen Remy’s rebellion as a way of acting out against her parents being Navy personnel. When Remy came into the house completely things seem to stand still. For most of the relationship I had hid the GPS tracking locater that had been attached to my ankle for the past nineteen years. The audio and video surveillance Mom had told Tony she’d have built into her kids clothes had been removed from mine days before my first day at Georgetown last year. Remy had no idea of the tracking anklet, but that was about to change.

As she swung her legs up from the floor past mine she brushed by it. There was silence before Remy said something. The previews were playing so we had a few minutes.

“There’s something on your ankle.”

“Yeah.” I said trying to play it off.

“What’s on your ankle?”

“It’s a GPS tracking anklet.”

“Okay……. why is there a GPS tracking device on your ankle?”

“It’s something that my mom insisted that all of her kids have on them when she and Tony picked up the little prodigy blind pianist girl a few years back.” I said.

“And I thought my parents were crazy.” Remy said.

“She’s just protective. With what she’s had to deal with over the years, it’s understandable. Besides prior to her and my dad having me then my siblings; she wasn’t as up tight as she is now.”

“Yeah that’s doubtful.”

“She was, prior to her faking her death way back when, she’d relentlessly teased Tony.”

“But now she leaves the teasing to Ziva.”

“Well obviously she’s gonna leave that to Ziva. Ziva is Tony’s wife after all and my mom is married to my dad.”

After that the movie started. My brothers went up to their rooms as did my sisters. Remy rested on my lap as we watched the movie. Now I had a feeling that things were going to get a bit more tempting for Remy and I before the movie was even halfway through. The movie we were watching was the 1996 Kelsey Grammer movie Down Periscope.

“Hey, that Lt. Emily Lake looks a lot like your Aunt Jen.” Remy had said after that particular character first appeared on the screen.

“Really? I don’t see the resemblance.” I said.

Obviously I had seen the resemblance between the person portraying the character of Lt. Emily Lake and my Aunt. I had just wanted Remy to move past that topic. The one thing that Remy hadn’t connected the dots to was that the two people were different by one feature. The character in the movie was a blonde who always had her hair pulled back. My aunt on the other had was a redhead and her hair was like it was before she faked her death years ago.

Before long my parents were home, the movie had ended and Mom had told Remy it was time to go. So with that I walked Remy to her car and said good-bye.

“Knew that was gonna happen. Your mom is way too uptight.”

“I’ll call you later. Text me when you get home.”

With that Remy got into her car and drove off as I went back inside once Remy had turned the corner.

JD's Shockfest

             “I would not be surprised if one or both of my parents pull out their Sigs and aim them at you.” I said.

            “They won’t, hun. We’ve been married for four years; they’re going to be thrilled by the news when we tell them.”

            “Have you met my parents? If my dad doesn’t kill you then my mom will.”

            “And if they don’t then Jen, Jethro or Ziva will. I’ve heard it all before.”

            “I know you have.”

            “JD, we’re gonna have to tell them that you’re pregnant; they’re going to find out when you start showing in a few months.”

            “Not if I have anything to do with it.” I said.

            “Says the woman who could possibly be pregnant with twins or more since multiples run in her family.” Dave said.

            “Just because I have sisters that are twins doesn’t mean that we’ll necessarily have twins ourselves.”

            “Stop avoiding the possibility of maybe having twins and stop being evasive when it comes to telling your family. We told mine and everything was okay.”

            “Well of course everything went okay when we told your family, they aren’t navy cops like mine are.”

            Dave then gave me that look of his that I knew quite well. A look that had said it all.

            “Fine we’ll tell my family, but it may not be pretty.”

            “It will be fine, go make your phone calls.” Dave said in a commanding way.

            “Want to try that one again.” I said with a look on my face that reminded my husband that he and I were equals, that there was no need for him to act like he was my superior officer that I had to comply to.

            “Sorry.” Dave said.

            “Rule 6.”

            Dave just nodded in what seemed to be complete and utter compliance.

            “Do I have to re-train you after all these years?” I playfully teased.

            “Why Ms. Jennifer Delaney Balboa-Anders, I do believe you’re trying to trick me.” Dave said.

            “Me trick you, now why would I ever do a thing like that?” I said becoming ever more mischievous.

            “Cause you are your mother’s daughter and you’ve spent the past twenty-three years of your life around some very devious women.”

            “What can I say; I did learn from the best.”

            With that I led Dave up to our bedroom for a bit of one on one time before I had called who I needed to call. It was quite obvious that Dave was hesitant to have sex with me due to the whole pregnancy thing. I had found it quite annoying having to remind him that having sex while I was pregnant was completely fine, that our son or daughter would not be harmed considering the fact that the next generation of Anders was small enough that he wouldn’t do any damage to it.

            Apparently it was the typical guy worrying he would harm his unborn child syndrome that annoyed the hell out of all us. For some bizarre reason I had thought that my pregnancy would be different than all of the others that preceded it. Of course it didn’t, I fell into the same boat that my mother had to deal with when she was pregnant with me and then again with the twins. Thankfully by the time that Jayla came into the picture my dad had lost that nonsense. Ziva had to deal with it too, although she knew a way back then that she was able to use against Tony. 

            When Abby was in that position she just ignored McGee as AJ did with Palmer. Now Jen was unique in her way of knocking some sense into Jethro. She had decided to quote his rules back to him any chance she got while reminding him that it took him three marriages turned divorces, an ex-girlfriend, an almost lawyer girlfriend and an almost hooker girlfriend for him to realize she was the one for him besides Shannon.

            Some time later I let Dave sleep in bed as I made my phone calls telling everyone to meet Dave and I at Palina’s for our announcement. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy at all. If mom and dad didn’t kill us then Jethro, Ziva, Tony or Jen may. This was all uncharted territory for me which scared the hell out of me.

            After Dave had woken up we went to meet everyone at Palina’s. Of course like any other family gathering the younger kids were running around like maniacs while the kids in between us older three and the brood of maniacs kept tabs as best as they could on the sugared rushed munchkins. Abby of course was her usual self, begging Dave and I to spill our news.

            I was as expected a bit reluctant to utter the words “I’m pregnant” to the present company before me, but with a slight nudge from Dave; I mustered up the courage to do just that.

            “I’m pregnant, 8 weeks to be exact.” I said.

            The room instantly went silent and that was when I wished that my mother hadn’t called ahead to request a private room for us. I then turned to Dave and looked at him for a moment before I whispered to him.

            “I told you so.”

           

Multiplied Surprises

My twin and I stood before our parents hoping against hope that the awkward silence between the four of us was going to end soon. Leah and I had just told our parents that we were getting married. Now to add to the awkwardness our father who always had something to say was being awfully quiet. It was clear that our mother’s Israeli temper was coming out. Leah and I had learned quite well over the past twenty-three years that when mom was mad, she tended to mix her languages.

            At this point Mom was so mad that she was beyond mixing up her languages. Every word was in a different language.

            “Occupé????  Che cosa מה و Sie два pensiero obtenir מאורס en Ihr גיל?” Our mother questioned.

            “Ziva, hun; you’re mixing your languages up again.”

            “Mom, just calm down. Hannah and I said yes when we were each proposed to cause we’re in love. We want to settle down now that we’re out of Georgetown. With everything in our lives set; we believe it’s time to have what you and Dad have.”

            “Ah, voi due siete troppo giovane per sapere cosa sia l'amore davvero.”

            At this point mom had calmed down a bit and the Israeli temper was beginning to ease away somewhat.

            “Vous êtes tous les deux trop jeunes pour vous marier. Pour pourquoi pas attends jusqu'à ce que vous êtes tant un peu plus fermes financièrement que vous tous les deux avez été à votre emploi pour quelque temps.”

            “We don’t want to wait. Mom, I love Chase and Leah loves Dylan.” I said.

            Dad, Leah and I were waiting for Mom to revert back to English. When Dad saw that wasn’t about to happen any time soon he took matters into his own hands.

            “Girls, let your Mom and I have a moment or two.” Our dad had instructed.

            Usually when Dad had said this to us in the past Leah or I would then joke with them telling them not to conceive anymore twins in our absence, but under the circumstances it was better for Leah and I to keep our mouths shut. Especially if we wanted to see our respective wedding nights. Leah and I left the house to go see what JD was up to.

            “Che diavolo c'è di sbagliato in loro? Dire sì a una proposta alla loro età. Sono troppo giovane e sai che Tony, quindi non cominciate con me. Non adesso.” Our mother said as she switched over to Italian.

            “Drop the Italian, Ziva; the girls are gone.”

            “Fine. Just don’t tell me that I am overreacting to all of this.”

            “You kind of are. You weren’t much older than Hannah and Leah are when we got married.”

            Leah and I eventually returned to the house when we figured it was safe enough to. With our mother's Mossad training along with her extensive skills with knives it was one of those things that we learned early on from dad to not make mom mad.  When we had left the house we had gone over to JD and Dave’s. JD, Leah and I had been the three musketeers of NCIS for the past twenty-three years and counting. Needless to say what Leah and I found out from our best friend was going send a major shockwave through the overall collective.

            When we arrived back at our parents’ house; my twin and I had been a bit hesitant to walk through the front door. We weren’t sure if Dad had been able to calm mom down. We weren’t sure if she had armed herself with one of her knives or her gun. The only thing we were sure of was that our mother, Ziva David, would never unleash her “crazy, insane ninja skills” as Dad affectionately called them; on us. If there was one calming thing that always pacified Leah and I; it was that since our mother became NCIS Special Agent Ziva David towards the end of her fifth year at NCIS a few years back that she had calmed down quite a bit which was only perpetuated further when Leah and I came around.

            “The knives are still locked up right?” I asked as Leah and I peeked into the family room.

            “The sig too?” Leah inquired.

            “Girls, it’s more than safe; your mother isn’t armed.”

            “Girls; please sit down. I need to have a word at you”

            When mom had made her idiomatic mistake this time we tried to mottle our laughter since we were still unsure of what may occur. It had also been a while since our mother had made one of her mistakes. Hell I believe the last one she had made was almost seven years ago when she had been put on the spot by Fornell. And as usual Dad was right there in the moment to correct mom’s faux pa just as he had and always will be.

            “Its “have a word with you” not have a word at you, hun.”

            “Oh shut up.”

            As my sister and I waited for our parents to stop bickering like brother and sister just like Dad and Kate tended to Leah noticed the notorious orange beanie resting on couch lounge chair.

            “Damn, it’s that time of the year again.” I said to Leah in a hushed tone.

            “I hate it when this day comes around. Mom is always completely unbearable to the point where she makes Jethro look like a saint.”

            “We should have known it wasn’t our respective engagements that set her off. That it was the anniversary of Lt. Sander’s passing. How the hell could we have missed that one? Anna?”

            “LJ, you know I don’t have an answer to that.”

            Mom then apologized for how she acted to our news earlier. She also told us that she was more than thrilled that we both had found our soul mates. Then she had reminisced about the time when she realized that Dad was her soul mate back in the fall of 2007 after the case they had with the Burundi cab driver with two wives. After the trip down memory lane was over mom had switched to wedding planner mode which was fine with us. We just had one minor request for both of our weddings and the various events that preceded the day Dad walked us down the aisle to our respective grooms. That request was to not have Abby plan a major party.

            After the insane party Abby had planned for JD on the sly which had succeeded the even more insane bachelorette party Abby had apparently planned for Jen. Leah and I knew that if we didn’t cut Abby off now than Jayden, Jocelyn, Jayla, Addie, Jaliayh, Ashleann, Bella and Liza would be screwed when they had their turn to walk down the aisle.

           

 

Graduation Day

                                      
     Today was the day. The day that my sister, my brothers and I where graduating
from high school. Believe me when say this, but we are quite thrilled for this
day because it meant that we get break until the fall from the countless number
of people asking if we're twins or triplets. Clearly those people couldn't count
let alone see that there were four us.  My siblings and I had yet to share with
our parents that the Principal and Vice Principal had given us strict
instructions to only invite three guests to the graduation ceremony.
       We were not allowed to have what the Principal called “the entire NCIS Staff,
past and present” in attendance like our brother; Ben, Jayden and Jocelyn had
last year. The Vice Principal then reminded us of the fiasco at Hannah, Leah and
JD’s graduation four years prior. When we had gotten home our mother, NCIS
Special Agent Kate Todd-Mackensie was in the kitchen on one of her infamous
video phone conversations with our Aunts; or at least some of our Aunts. Abby
was going on and on about how she couldn’t believe how much things had changed.
From what we could see from where we stood was that Ziva and Jaylyn were rolling
their eyes at Abby’s rant as Jen tried in the mother role she took on years ago,
to deter Abby’s  thought process.
    “Mom, we need to talk when you get a chance.” Ashleann said making our presence
known.
    “We’ll talk to you later, Kate.” Jen said.
    “Bye guys.” Our mother said as she ended the call.
    “What’s going on? You guys have to get ready for the ceremony.”
    “That’s what we have to talk to you about.” I said as I stepped into the role of
being the eldest quad and the second eldest child in the family.
    “What happened now?” Our mother asked.
    “The Principal and Vice Principal said we had could only have you, dad and Ben
at the ceremony later.” Noah said.
    “They are tired of having all of NCIS at the ceremony.” Drew Jr. said.
    “I’ll take care of it.” Our mother said.
    “Don’t bother; they are pretty set in their decision. Not even Uncle Jethro,
Aunt Jen, Aunt Ziva and Aunt Jay could persuade them to change their minds.” I
said.
    With that we left our mother to her own devices to get ready for the graduation
ceremony. Noah and Drew Jr.  had gone to their rooms to change into the button
down shirt, tie and dress pants before they had put on their caps and gowns.
Ashleann and I decided that it was better for us to go to get our hair done
before we got dressed.   My sister and I were in no hurry to change into our
caps and gowns. Our brothers were fortunate to have their caps and gowns be navy
blue in color. Whereas Ashleann and I were stuck with our caps and gowns be red in color.
     With our high school being located within Quantico it was a given that the school
colors would be the same colors as the Marine Corps. Ashleann and I were not
thrilled that we had to look like cherries while our brothers looked like blue
berries. Ashleann had decided that while we were out getting our hair done for
later that we should take it full circle by getting a manicure and pedicure.
Much like all younger sibling’s way of reasoning, Ashleann justified this idea
of hers was that Mom and Dad were paying for it. Our parents, at least Mom had
given us one of their credit cards to pay for the hair appointment and whatever
else we needed to do to be ready for the graduation ceremony.
    “Ash, I am quite fine with just getting my hair done. There is no need for a
manicure and a pedicure.”
    “Of course there is a need for a mani/pedi. Mom said to pamper ourselves, Ali.”
    “Fine we’ll get them done, just don’t come crying to me when you get read the
riot act.”
    With that my sister and I continued on with our graduation preparations. By 5pm,
the four of us were ready. Mom had broken the news our Aunts and Uncles in
regards to the mandate from the Principal and Vice Principal. Apparently Jethro
had attempted to have a word or two with the Principal and Vice Principal, but
he had been deterred thankfully by our mother and Jen.
    As the graduation ceremony progressed later that evening with our
graduating class processing up to the stage row by row to receive our diploma
sleeves from the Principal.
   “Jaliyah Ava Mackensie.” The Principal called as I walked across the
stage.
   “Noah James Mackensie.”
    Noah followed suit.
   “Ashleann Rachel Mackensie.”
   Ashleann mimicked Noah and I as she had for eighteen years.
   “Drew Michael Mackensie Jr.”
   I had noticed as I walked across the stage that my mom was in tears. In all my
eighteen years I had never once seen my mother cry this much. Nor had my
brothers and sister. It was quite odd to see the person known as Kate Todd by
all of NCIS show a bit of emotion due to her law enforcement background. It was
odd to see Kate Todd, former Secret Service Agent turned NCIS Special Agent cry
like she was.
  But then I realized it wasn’t NCIS Special Agent Kate Todd that was
crying. It was my mother, Kate Todd-Mackensie that was crying at the fact that
her babies were adults. That her four babies that she had carried for nine
months were adults. That in a mere two and a half months she and Dad would come
home from the office every night to an empty house instead of what they had been
accustomed to coming home to.
 It was at the moment when we had walked by our parents and brother
that I had a new found respect for my mother. At that moment she wasn’t just my
mom who was a federal agent, she was both. My mother and a Special Agent.                                        
                                      

Years Later

          Four years later things were different. Hannah, Leah and my older sister; JD were twenty – three. JD and Dave had been married for four years. Benjamin, myself and my twin sister; Jocelyn, had turned nineteen. We had also graduated from high school the year before and were following in the Georgetown tradition that my Mom and Aunt had started. Benjamin’s four younger siblings; his sisters and brothers; Jaliyah, Noah, Ashleann and Drew Jr, were seventeen. They would be graduating high school the following day.

            Addison and Jacob were five as was Ryan and my second cousin, Shannon. Then my Aunt and Uncle’s three kids; Bella, Carson and Jasper were four just as my younger sister, Jayla is. Things were quite different without a doubt. Meanwhile at Georgetown, Jocelyn and I were in our dorm packing our bags we were bringing home with us. Benjamin was doing the same across the hall. While we were packing in our dorm, Jocelyn and I were being regaled by our paternal grandmother at how she could hardly believe that she had granddaughters ranging in age from twenty- three to four. At one point Jocelyn and I looked at each other while our grandmother rambled on speaker about us and our sisters. We were desperately trying not to roll our eyes at how absurd our grandmother was sounding to us.

            “So I hear you girls are going home for the weekend?” our grandmother said to us.

            “We are; we have a graduation to go to tomorrow.” Jocelyn answered.

            “Whose?” our grandmother further inquired.

            “She should work for NCIS.” I quietly joked.

            “What was that?”

            “We’re going to Benji’s sisters and brothers’ high school graduation, grandma.” I said in attempts to deter her.

            “She hears everything like Uncle Jethro.”

            “So how is your Uncle Jethro and Aunt Jen?

            "They're good; Bella, Carson and Jasper are keeping them on their toes. Then Liza contributes to their insanity when she visits her grandparents?" I answered.

             "Still can't fathom that your Aunt Jen is fine with Jethro's daughter from his first marriage being around, let alone being a mother to the same daughter who isn't biologically hers while being a grandmother to a child who she isn't related to."

             "With all due respect grandma, Aunt Jen doesn't mind being Kelly's step-mom, she knows she'd never replace Kelly's mom in Kelly's heart; nor does Aunt Jen wish to. And Liza knows that she has three grandmas."  Jocelyn said bluntly.

             "Besides, both Kelly and Uncle Jethro know that Aunt Jen doesn't want to ruin their memories of Kelly's mom." I said backing my twin.

             "Well I see you girls have inherited your mother's forwardness. Tell your parents and sisters I said hi when you see them." our grandmother said in a clearly pissed off voice.

             Later once Jocelyn and I were home, we were read the riot act by our parents, more so by our mom. After mom had finished with us, JD came over.

             "What did you two do now?"  JD asked.

              "We pissed Grandma off and she ratted us out to mom and dad as we drove home." Jocelyn said.

               "Two things; one, haven't you two learned anything nineteen years? You know the minute Grandma doesn't like something she instantly tells dad who tells mom. And two, what did you two say to Grandma to piss her off?"

                "All did was stand up for Aunt Jen when Grandma criticized her for basically being wife # 5 for Uncle Jethro, for her being Kelly's step-mom and Liza's grandmother." I said.

                 "Still can't believe you two did that? Hell Jayla knows better than you two and she's four for crying out loud."

                 At that moment Jayla and Liza ran over and begged JD, Joce and I to pick them up. Apparently Carson and Jasper had been chasing them. Kelly and Jason had to go out to get graduation gifts for Jaliyah, Noah, Ashleann and Drew Jr. Aunt Jen and Uncle Jethro had to do the same as Kelly and Jason, so Mom had volunteered to watched the quartet.

            “So what’s with the extra feet running around?”

            “Kelly, Jason, Aunt Jen and Uncle Jethro had to go out to get graduation gifts. They didn’t want to have their kids underfoot.” JD answered.

            “So Mom volunteered.” I said.

            “Pretty much.”

            “You would think that being a mother of four, a wife and the Director of NCIS; would be enough.” Jocelyn said.

            “She’s an overachiever like us. It’s in the blood.”

            “We know.”

            After Jocelyn and I responded in unison our brother-in-law, Dave came over and wrapped our sister up in his arms.

            “Clearly you’re still in the honeymoon phase.” I said teasing my brother-in-law.

            “You could say that.” Dave responded.

            “He’s been trying to convince me lately that it’s time for us to have kids of our own instead of sitting on the sidelines while our friends have kids.”

              “You haven’t gotten very far have you?” Jocelyn said.

            “Obviously since Jennifer still has her slender, tight, kick ass figure still.”

            “Okay one that is way too much information and too JD is just as stubborn as the rest of us. It’s the Shepard side coming out to play.”

            Dave rolled his eyes.

            “You signed up for it.” I said.

            “For better or worse, remember.” JD said.

            “A stubborn wife, stubborn mother-in-law, three stubborn sister-in-laws, their extremely stubborn Aunt and Uncle; what did I get myself into?” Dave teased as he squeezed JD tight.

            I could see the glint in my twin’s eyes that said it all. She wanted what JD and Dave had, what our parents had as well as what all of our aunts and uncles had. Not for one second did I blame her for wanting what she wanted. I wanted the same thing. Our biological clocks were ticking without a doubt. The one downside was that it wasn’t the easiest thing to tell your boyfriend that you’re the daughter of the Director of NCIS and a NCIS Special Agent.

            Without a doubt we wanted our forever and for always. Once I snapped myself out of my subconscious thinking I had noticed that there was something going on between JD and Dave. Subtleness was not JD’s strong suit.

            “There’s something we have to tell you guys and the rest of the family something at some point.” JD said as Dave decided to wrap an arm around JD’s waist while Liza squirmed in JD’s arms.

            With Jayla on my hip, I knew that both Jocelyn and I were thinking the same thing after our sister spoke.  Within seconds Jayla uttered one word that encompassed what Jocelyn and I were thinking.

            “Uh-oh.” Jayla said.

            Little did we know then but our baby sister’s uh-oh moment was only the tip of the iceberg.