By the time Nick and I got to the banquet hall of the Addams House Hotel with our twins, their dates and Jayla; things were already underway. As I had expected the usual suspects were at the bar ordering drinks. JD and Dave of course had invited Franks, Leyla, Amira and Jackson to their wedding; Dave knew that even though Franks, Leyla, Amira and Jackson weren't directly let alone biologically related to JD that she still considered them to be family.
Franks and Jethro were at the bar getting drinks for themselves, Jen, Amira and Leyla. After I had given Jayla to Nick, I had gone over to the bar while Jethro and Franks waited for their drinks.
"Isn't it a bit early in the night to start drinking?" I asked as I came up behind the two men I considered to be my mentors.
"Its never too early darlin'." Franks said.
"Still on Mexico time, huh?"
Franks nodded as he turned away from the bar for a brief moment to say hello.
"It was a beautiful ceremony." Franks whispered in my ear.
"Thank-you."
"What would you like to drink Jay, it's on me." Jethro asked.
"That's sweet Jethro, but just because you're my brother-in-law doesn't mean you have to order me a drink."
"Stop being so damn stubborn Jaylyn and let me get you a drink."
"Jethro, you know what I drink. It's always been bourbon just like you and Jen since I was twenty-one."
Jethro then turned to the bartender.
"Make that three bourbons."
The bartender nodded as he poured my drink.
Jethro and I then rejoined the rest of the bridal party at the table.
"What's going on?" Jen asked.
"Oh nothing, Jethro just told me I was being petulant and he brought me a drink."
"Well he's an expert on petulance." Jen said as she looked to see what her husband's response was as she fed Bella.
Before long JD and Dave had arrived.
"I'd like to announce for the first time anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Anders." the dj said.
I started to cry a bit as I saw my daughter and new son-in-law walk onto the dance floor. Seeing my daughter walk onto the dance floor in her bodes corset wedding dress on the arm of her husband just made me lose it. Seeing JD dance with Dave to their wedding song which was Stealing Cinderella by Chuck Wicks reminded me of when Nick and I danced to At Last at our reception. Before long Nick would be up on the dance floor dancing with JD to Chuck Wick's Stealing Cinderella.
Once that was over Dave was going to dance with his mother to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but it was the original version of the song; the one that Judy Garland herself sang in The Wizard of Oz since that was his mother's and JD's favorite song. I knew when I finally saw Dave and Grace dance to that classic song that I was going to wish that I had at least one boy during one of my pregnancies. Throughout the night I was told by the guests that both the ceremony and the reception were beautiful. Soon I would finde out that JD had planned something without me knowing.
"May I have everyone's attention; the bride has something she'd like to share with all of you." the dj said as he hadned the microphone over to JD as she came over to where the dj set up his equipment earlier.
JD thanked the dj before she spoke to the rest of us. I just wanted to say a quick thank-you to my parents; Jaylyn and Nick as well as my in-laws Grace and Chris, who made all of this happen. Now for those of you that likely have heard my parents, my aunts and uncles say to each other "Forever and For Always" throughtout the evening; believe me it's nothing compared to growing up hearing that phrase as much as I have. With the inside joke of everyone knows how long my parents as well as my Uncle Tony and Aunt Ziva have been married is the same as mine, Hannah and Leah's ages; is that the phrase they all say is their way of that life is short and unpredictable especially in their chosen professions. There is a minor story that goes with that whole rant I have been going on about. As soon as Hannah, Leah, Jayden, Jocelyn, Benjamin, Jaliyah, Noah, Ashleann, Drew Jr. and I all started dating we were told that untl we were each married we were not allowed to say "Forever and For Always." JD said taking a slight pauses
"So tonight I will be able to utter those words to my husband just as my mom has uttered them to my dad for nineteen years. Now that I am done with that rant, if you all don't mind. I have one more thing I have to do. Back when my parents as well as my aunts and uncles got married, they didn't get to have the perfect first dance as husband and wife like Dave and I. So first off in the order that they got married, Dave and I would like to invite my Uncle Tony and my Aunt Ziva up to the dance floor to have their perfect first dance as husband and wife."
As JD handed the microphone back to the dj, Tony and Ziva made their way to the dance floor. It was clear that this was JD's gift to the eight of us. Once on the dance floor, Tony shook Dave's hand in gratitude as Ziva hugged JD.
"Thank-you, baby girl." Ziva whispered to JD as she hugged her.
Just as they had danced to nineteen years ago, Tony and Ziva danced to Brad Paisley's She's Everything. Tony took Ziva in his arms just as Brad's voice came over the speakers. We all could tell that JD was doing this as a gift for all of us; had meant a lot to Ziva due to her history. As Tony and Ziva's wedding song wrapped up, JD returned for the microphone. Once Tony and Ziva had taken their seats with the rest of us after thanking JD again, JD spoke again.
"Next I'd like to invite the two people responsible for my existence; my parents, Jaylyn and Nick."
Nick and I walked up to the dance floor. I mouthed a thank-you to my daughter as she returned to her seat next to her husband. Just as he had nineteen years ago at our reception, Nick had me circle him at arm's length before pulling me into him.
"They look so perfect together up there." Jayden whispered to Jocelyn and JD from where she was sitting with Jayla on her lap.
"They do." JD and Jocelyn responded in unison.
"That's how they looked at their reception." Jen told her nieces.
As Etta James' At Last ended, Nick pulled me a bit closer and we shared a kiss. After Nick and I danced Jen and Jethro danced as did Delaney and Will. Following the dancing we all ate, JD and Dave cut their wedding cake; JD tossed her bouquet as Nick tossed the garter. In between all of that I was able to give a toast just before the cake had been cut.
Later on that night everyone returned to their respective homes. JD and Dave left from the reception for their honeymoon in Hawaii. All the kids had gone to bed and were sound asleep. With that the rest of turned in for the night.
"Forever and For Always." JD said to Dave as she fell asleep.
"Forever and For Always." Tony and Ziva said to one another.
"Forever and For Always." I said to Nick.
"Forever and For Always." Jen and Jethro said to each other.
"Forever and For Always." McGee said to Abby.
"Forever and For Always." Kate said to Drew.
"Forever and For Always." AJ said to Palmer.
"Forever and For Always." Ducky and Jordan said to each other.
"Forever and For Always." Kelly said to Jason.
"Forever and For Always." Delaney said to Will.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Here Comes the Bride
The following day was JD and Dave's wedding. And as all wedding go it was a joyous yet sad time, at least for me it was. Everyone was getting ready in their respective places. The guests were arriving and taking their seats. Those of us in what I referred to as "the bridal suite" even though it was just Jen and Jethro's bedroom, that we were in; the bridal part took part in JD finding out what her Something borrowed, Something blue, Something old and Something new were. JD was completely surprised to see that she got my mother's pearl necklace as her something old, my diamond earrings and bracelet as her something borrowed. She loved her new garter that was white with black lace lining and her new lingerie as her something new. But she was absolutely loved being the only one who had a baby blue ribbon aroiund her bouquet.
At one point I had looked out to the scene below from one of the bedroom windows to see Dave's grandparents take their seats. Shortly after both sets of Dave's grandparents were seated I saw my mother and father -in-law hobble to their seats. Upon seeing Nick's parents waiting below made me wish that my parents were there to see their granddaughter walk down the aisle.
"They'd be proud of her and you." Jen said as she came up behind me.
"I know they would. Besides it's not just that Jen. Still can't believe she's getting married, seems like just yesterday Nick and I were bringing her home from the hospital."
"JD is just getting married, it's not like she's joining the Corps and being deployed." Jen said.
"Ha, you'll be singing a different tune when Jethro is walking Bella down the aisle."
"If he can still walk by then."
With that sisterly banter put aside we began the wedding. Everything had gone as we had rehearsed the day before. Now I had assumed that JD wanted Nick to walk her down the aisle as all fathers did with their daughters. JD also knew that I was not as fortunate to have my father walk me down the aisle at my as she was, she even knew that Jen wasn't as lucky. But either way knowing everything, JD decided to walk herself down the aisle.
Now the wedding was absolutely perfect and was just as we had planned it. Dave had Tony, McGee, Palmer, Jethro, Nick and Drew as his groomsmen.
"We are gathered here today, in the sight of God; to join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. Who gives this woman to this man?" the Reverend asked.
"We all do." We all said.
There was a slight chuckle from Dave's family behind us. The wedding progressed and the vows were said. As JD and Dave exchanged their vows, those of us that were married all looked at our significant others after looking at our own wedding rings remembering the day we had been in JD and Dave's shoes.
"If there is anyone who has just cause as to why Jennifer and Dave should no be married, speak now or forever hold your peace." The Reverend spoke.
Just as predicted Jethro then looked to everyone seated behind us giving them his stare.
No one said anything and the Reverend wrapped up the ceremony.
"You may kiss your bride."
JD and Dave kissed.
"It is my great honor and privelege to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Dave Anders." The Reverend said as JD and Dave began to walk back down the aisle this time as husband and wife.
Just as Nick and I made it midway down the aisle I leaned slightly over to Nick to give him a quick peck on the cheek as a thank-you for being my rock through all of the wedding preparations.
"One down, three to go." Nick whispered to me as we drew closer to the house.
"Don't rush it." I said in response.
With that, after the rest of the bridal party had gathered in the house it was time for everyone to make their way to the reception which was being held at the banquet hall at the Addams House Hotel.
At one point I had looked out to the scene below from one of the bedroom windows to see Dave's grandparents take their seats. Shortly after both sets of Dave's grandparents were seated I saw my mother and father -in-law hobble to their seats. Upon seeing Nick's parents waiting below made me wish that my parents were there to see their granddaughter walk down the aisle.
"They'd be proud of her and you." Jen said as she came up behind me.
"I know they would. Besides it's not just that Jen. Still can't believe she's getting married, seems like just yesterday Nick and I were bringing her home from the hospital."
"JD is just getting married, it's not like she's joining the Corps and being deployed." Jen said.
"Ha, you'll be singing a different tune when Jethro is walking Bella down the aisle."
"If he can still walk by then."
With that sisterly banter put aside we began the wedding. Everything had gone as we had rehearsed the day before. Now I had assumed that JD wanted Nick to walk her down the aisle as all fathers did with their daughters. JD also knew that I was not as fortunate to have my father walk me down the aisle at my as she was, she even knew that Jen wasn't as lucky. But either way knowing everything, JD decided to walk herself down the aisle.
Now the wedding was absolutely perfect and was just as we had planned it. Dave had Tony, McGee, Palmer, Jethro, Nick and Drew as his groomsmen.
"We are gathered here today, in the sight of God; to join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. Who gives this woman to this man?" the Reverend asked.
"We all do." We all said.
There was a slight chuckle from Dave's family behind us. The wedding progressed and the vows were said. As JD and Dave exchanged their vows, those of us that were married all looked at our significant others after looking at our own wedding rings remembering the day we had been in JD and Dave's shoes.
"If there is anyone who has just cause as to why Jennifer and Dave should no be married, speak now or forever hold your peace." The Reverend spoke.
Just as predicted Jethro then looked to everyone seated behind us giving them his stare.
No one said anything and the Reverend wrapped up the ceremony.
"You may kiss your bride."
JD and Dave kissed.
"It is my great honor and privelege to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Dave Anders." The Reverend said as JD and Dave began to walk back down the aisle this time as husband and wife.
Just as Nick and I made it midway down the aisle I leaned slightly over to Nick to give him a quick peck on the cheek as a thank-you for being my rock through all of the wedding preparations.
"One down, three to go." Nick whispered to me as we drew closer to the house.
"Don't rush it." I said in response.
With that, after the rest of the bridal party had gathered in the house it was time for everyone to make their way to the reception which was being held at the banquet hall at the Addams House Hotel.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Rehearsal Dinner
Before I had known it was the day before JD and Dave's wedding. That night was the rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner. But first, it was time for Dave to meet the rest of the family before the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. It was clear that JD was nervous as hell. It was one of those things where you had a gut feeling that bringing your fiance home to meet your overprotective parents who just so happened to be federal agents and to meet your three younger sisters was nerve-racking, but having your fiance meet your extended family; who were for the most part in the same profession as your parents was ten times worse.
JD knew that if there was anything that Dave should fear more than meeting his future mother-in-law and father-in-law, it was meeting her uncle; the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs along with her Aunt and partial namesake. JD even due to the fact that her godfather had been a cop as well as a federal agent for years along with the minor detail that her godmother was a trained assassin prior to her current position was anything but comforting. It was instances like these that JD truly detested the fact that she was protected, let alone that we chose a former Mossad assassin and a cop to be her godparents almost two decades prior. She just didn't see that Nick and I had wanted her to always be protected if anything should ever happen to us, it was the same thing we wanted for the twins and Jayla; t was what we wanted for all our girls.
"Everything will be fine. If I was able to get through a meeting with your parents and your sisters; then I can get through a brunch with your Aunt, Uncle and Godparents." Dave said as he and JD drove to the restaurant they were meeting Jethro, Jen, Tony and Ziva for brunch.
"Ha sure you are. Just remember Jethro is a marine; Tony, Ziva and Jen all trained under Jethro. They eve worked under him. Jen was Jethro's Probie way back when. Tony was a Baltimore cop prior to joining NCIS." JD said.
"You left out Ziva."
JD smiled upon hearing her godmother's name.
"Ziva is well, she's the female version of Jethro in every sense. Just whatever you do, don't mention anything about Shannon, Mossad or Eli David. And whatever you do, Leon Vance is still off limits as he was the last time."
"I got it babe."
"And one more thing, remember my Uncle Jethro is quite protective of the women in his life."
JD and Dave had walked into the restaurant to see Jen and Jethro with the triplets in their respective car seats, Tony and Ziva were waiting.
"Dave; this is my Uncle Jethro."
"It's nice to meet a former Marine Gunnery Sergeant, sir. My father was a Commander with the Navy during the Gulf War."
Jethro smirked.
"There's no such thing as a former Marine." Jen, Tony, Ziva and I said in unison.
Once again Jethro smirked; we could see how pleased he was with us quoting him.
"And this is my Aunt Jen, my mom's sister and half of my namesake."
"Nice to meet you ma'am."
"Nice to meet you too, Dave."
"And who are these adorable little ones?"
"They are my cousins, Bella, Carson and Jasper. My Uncle Jethro and Aunt Jen's kids."
"You have three beautiful children, ma'am."
"This is my Uncle and Godfather, Tony."
"Ah, it's nice to finally meet the famous movie aficianado, JD has told me so much about."
"And this is my Aunt and Godmother Ziva."
"Nice to meet you ma'.........." Dave trailed off after JD elbowed him in the side.
"Don't call her ma'am, she doesn't like it." JD whispered.
"Don't worry about it, JD is just being dramatic." Ziva said .
"Factious, babe." Tony corrected.
"Okay before this gets anymore dysfunctional, let's eat." JD said as she helped Jen and Jethro carry the triplets to the table.
The triplets had been quiet content in their car seats. Bella cooed ever once in awhile just to get Jen and Jethro's attention while Carson and Jasper sucked on their pacifiers.
"She's her mother's daughter." Jethro said to Jen.
"Ha, play nice Jethro."
Brunch had gone better than what JD had expected it to go. Before long we all had met up for the rehearsal. JD wanted to have her wedding in Jen and Jethro's backyard just as Ziva and I had nineteen years ago.
We had run through the entire wedding. Dave's parents'; Grace and Chris walked down the aisle to their seats as Dave took his place in front of the Reverend. After that the wedding processional started down the aisle with Liza, Addie and Jayla being walked down the aisle by Kelly, Jaliyah and Ashleann. Jake and RJ were carried down the aisle by Ducky and Jason. Following the kids' venture down the aisle it was the bridesmaids' turn to walk down the aisle. Hannah was escorted down the aisle by Vince followed by Leah and Andy who were linked arm in arm just as Hannah and Vince were. The DiNozzo twins were then followed by Jayden and Jocelyn who had their new boyfriends Eric and Clay Smithson. Then it was time for the matrons of honor to make their way down the aisle with their escorts. Now I had the honor of not only being the mother of the bride but also being one of the matrons of honor. So Abby was escorted down to the alter by McGee, AJ and Palmer followed, then Kate and Drew walked down, Ziva and Tony followed afterwards, myself and Nick followed as did Jen and Jethro.
Later that night Nick and I had found out about the twins' boyfriends who also happened to be twins themselves. I had also later heard my daughter's soon to be mother-in-law refer to Hannah and Leah as the DiNozzo twins as she referred to mine and Nick's twins as the Balboa twins. I had to remind Grace that the girls all had names and that it would probably be best not to always refer to the four girls as the twins. Shortly after the rehearsal we went to the rehearsal dinner before calling it a night.
JD knew that if there was anything that Dave should fear more than meeting his future mother-in-law and father-in-law, it was meeting her uncle; the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs along with her Aunt and partial namesake. JD even due to the fact that her godfather had been a cop as well as a federal agent for years along with the minor detail that her godmother was a trained assassin prior to her current position was anything but comforting. It was instances like these that JD truly detested the fact that she was protected, let alone that we chose a former Mossad assassin and a cop to be her godparents almost two decades prior. She just didn't see that Nick and I had wanted her to always be protected if anything should ever happen to us, it was the same thing we wanted for the twins and Jayla; t was what we wanted for all our girls.
"Everything will be fine. If I was able to get through a meeting with your parents and your sisters; then I can get through a brunch with your Aunt, Uncle and Godparents." Dave said as he and JD drove to the restaurant they were meeting Jethro, Jen, Tony and Ziva for brunch.
"Ha sure you are. Just remember Jethro is a marine; Tony, Ziva and Jen all trained under Jethro. They eve worked under him. Jen was Jethro's Probie way back when. Tony was a Baltimore cop prior to joining NCIS." JD said.
"You left out Ziva."
JD smiled upon hearing her godmother's name.
"Ziva is well, she's the female version of Jethro in every sense. Just whatever you do, don't mention anything about Shannon, Mossad or Eli David. And whatever you do, Leon Vance is still off limits as he was the last time."
"I got it babe."
"And one more thing, remember my Uncle Jethro is quite protective of the women in his life."
JD and Dave had walked into the restaurant to see Jen and Jethro with the triplets in their respective car seats, Tony and Ziva were waiting.
"Dave; this is my Uncle Jethro."
"It's nice to meet a former Marine Gunnery Sergeant, sir. My father was a Commander with the Navy during the Gulf War."
Jethro smirked.
"There's no such thing as a former Marine." Jen, Tony, Ziva and I said in unison.
Once again Jethro smirked; we could see how pleased he was with us quoting him.
"And this is my Aunt Jen, my mom's sister and half of my namesake."
"Nice to meet you ma'am."
"Nice to meet you too, Dave."
"And who are these adorable little ones?"
"They are my cousins, Bella, Carson and Jasper. My Uncle Jethro and Aunt Jen's kids."
"You have three beautiful children, ma'am."
"This is my Uncle and Godfather, Tony."
"Ah, it's nice to finally meet the famous movie aficianado, JD has told me so much about."
"And this is my Aunt and Godmother Ziva."
"Nice to meet you ma'.........." Dave trailed off after JD elbowed him in the side.
"Don't call her ma'am, she doesn't like it." JD whispered.
"Don't worry about it, JD is just being dramatic." Ziva said .
"Factious, babe." Tony corrected.
"Okay before this gets anymore dysfunctional, let's eat." JD said as she helped Jen and Jethro carry the triplets to the table.
The triplets had been quiet content in their car seats. Bella cooed ever once in awhile just to get Jen and Jethro's attention while Carson and Jasper sucked on their pacifiers.
"She's her mother's daughter." Jethro said to Jen.
"Ha, play nice Jethro."
Brunch had gone better than what JD had expected it to go. Before long we all had met up for the rehearsal. JD wanted to have her wedding in Jen and Jethro's backyard just as Ziva and I had nineteen years ago.
We had run through the entire wedding. Dave's parents'; Grace and Chris walked down the aisle to their seats as Dave took his place in front of the Reverend. After that the wedding processional started down the aisle with Liza, Addie and Jayla being walked down the aisle by Kelly, Jaliyah and Ashleann. Jake and RJ were carried down the aisle by Ducky and Jason. Following the kids' venture down the aisle it was the bridesmaids' turn to walk down the aisle. Hannah was escorted down the aisle by Vince followed by Leah and Andy who were linked arm in arm just as Hannah and Vince were. The DiNozzo twins were then followed by Jayden and Jocelyn who had their new boyfriends Eric and Clay Smithson. Then it was time for the matrons of honor to make their way down the aisle with their escorts. Now I had the honor of not only being the mother of the bride but also being one of the matrons of honor. So Abby was escorted down to the alter by McGee, AJ and Palmer followed, then Kate and Drew walked down, Ziva and Tony followed afterwards, myself and Nick followed as did Jen and Jethro.
Later that night Nick and I had found out about the twins' boyfriends who also happened to be twins themselves. I had also later heard my daughter's soon to be mother-in-law refer to Hannah and Leah as the DiNozzo twins as she referred to mine and Nick's twins as the Balboa twins. I had to remind Grace that the girls all had names and that it would probably be best not to always refer to the four girls as the twins. Shortly after the rehearsal we went to the rehearsal dinner before calling it a night.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Mother, Daughter bonding
Mid-afternoon Tuesday, JD and I sat down to lunch; taking a break from all the wedding stuff. It was still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my first born, my baby girl was getting married soon. Just the thought of there being a second ring on my daughter's hand was enough to send me into a tail spin. It was as if Cinderella was being stolen away in the dead of night.
"What is it like being married, mom?" JD asked after our drinks were brought to us.
"Um, well being married is like. Being married is just being married." I said completely not knowing what to say.
"Come on, give me something tangible. You and Dad make it look so easy."
"Your father and I have been married for almost twenty years, Jennifer; being husband and wife is just second nature for us."
"That was helpful."
"What do you want me to say, your father and I just fit together; we balance each other. We know each other and each other's quirks. Your father and I love each other."
"So what you're saying is that you and dad mirror each other. When he moves, you move and vice versa." JD said.
"Basically."
"What about the honeymoon?"
"You want to talk about your wedding night with me?" I questioned.
"Yes mom I do and you can drop the federal agent side, and revert over to being my mom for a bit."
"This is just all together weird. I never thought I'd be discussing this with you." I said.
"Please mom, all I want to know is what your honeymoon was like."
At that moment I flashed back to my honeymoon that was almost twenty years ago, but with the intervening time between then and now; my wedding night with Nick is still quite vivid in my mind. Of course I had to choose what out of mine and Nick's activities from our honeymoon were suitable to share.
"Well mom?"
"My wedding night was one for the record books." I said with a smile on my face and look in my eyes that would give me away in a heartbeat if I wasn't careful.
"Wasn't that the night that you and dad conceived me?"
"Yes it was that night at some point."
"At one point?" JD questioned.
"Don't pry any further. All I am going to say on this subject was that your father and I were in love, just as we still are in love to this day; we were young. That night with your father was one the happiest times in my life."
"When were the other times?"
"When I gave birth to you, Jay, Joce and Athena. You girls are my world, my everything; besides your dad of course."
"I can't believe that in two months I'll be married. It's insane that in the two months I have to figure out my bridal party. Then I have to worry about that whole something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue thing."
"Jennifer, don't worry about anything but getting married and your bridal party. The bridal party and I will worry about the other stuff."
"I'll try, but its not easy being a bride."
At that moment I was thinking "Being the bride is a hell of a lot easier then being the mother of the bride.", but I had thought otherwise."
"I know what its like, I've been there." I said as I held up my hand.
"I think I know that by now, mom."
"You're luckier than I was."
"I know the story mom; I know that both your and Aunt Jen were shanghaied because Grandpa wasn't around. And before you go any further I know how fortunate I am to have both you and dad."
As lunch was wrapping up, I was already planning what JD and I were going to do next. And as usual I just chalked it up to my mind operating in Special Agent/mother of four mode.
"How about we go pick up the twins from home and you can call Hannah and Leah to tell them to meet us at the at the bridal shop so we can get their bridesmaids dresses as you choose yours." I had said to my daughter as we paid the bill and left.
"Sounds good to me."
With that we were on our way to pick up Jayden and Jocelyn. Nick had been called into the office for his mandatory psych eval, so the twins had Jayla in her car seat with then as they came out to the car. After we had picked the girls up it didn't take us long to get to the bridal shop.
"Some things never change, mom. You still drive like Uncle Jethro and Aunt Ziva." Jayden said as we parked in the bridal shop parking lot.
"Well it comes with knowing them for so long. You can thank your Aunt Jen for that when you guys see her again."
"Oh we will." Jayden and Jocelyn said in unison as Hannah and Leah came up behind us.
When we had walked into the bridal shop we were instantly greeted by one of the consultants.
"Hello; I'm Amanda, how can I help you today?"
"We're looking for a gown for her." I said as I pointed out JD.
"Congratulations, when is the big day?" Amanda asked.
"Two months." JD answered.
"Is there anything else you guys are looking for?"
"Yes, we need to get bridesmaids dresses for my sisters and my friends. I'd also like to see if you have any flower girl dresses."
"Okay, I am sure this little cutie will look adorable in anything. How old is she?"
"She's a month and a half." JD answered.
"If you don't mind me saying, but you look good for having a baby a month and a half ago." Amanda said.
"She's not my daughter."
"She's my daughter." I said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Amanda said completely blushing.
Once we got past that incident we went dress shopping. JD found a wedding gown that she absolutely loved. Then I was able to pick out of three little flower girl dresses that would be absolutely adorable on Jayla, Addie and Liza. As I was driving back to the house multiple things came rushing through my mind at once. I began to reminisce, one minute I was a carefree twenty-five year old to being a forty - four year old mother of four. The other thing was my own daughter, who was half me just as her three younger sisters were; was getting married. I wondered where the past nineteen years had gone. I had also longed for the days where JD was a kid again.
But that wasn't the choice for this situation, my little girl was an adult now and she was getting married.
"What is it like being married, mom?" JD asked after our drinks were brought to us.
"Um, well being married is like. Being married is just being married." I said completely not knowing what to say.
"Come on, give me something tangible. You and Dad make it look so easy."
"Your father and I have been married for almost twenty years, Jennifer; being husband and wife is just second nature for us."
"That was helpful."
"What do you want me to say, your father and I just fit together; we balance each other. We know each other and each other's quirks. Your father and I love each other."
"So what you're saying is that you and dad mirror each other. When he moves, you move and vice versa." JD said.
"Basically."
"What about the honeymoon?"
"You want to talk about your wedding night with me?" I questioned.
"Yes mom I do and you can drop the federal agent side, and revert over to being my mom for a bit."
"This is just all together weird. I never thought I'd be discussing this with you." I said.
"Please mom, all I want to know is what your honeymoon was like."
At that moment I flashed back to my honeymoon that was almost twenty years ago, but with the intervening time between then and now; my wedding night with Nick is still quite vivid in my mind. Of course I had to choose what out of mine and Nick's activities from our honeymoon were suitable to share.
"Well mom?"
"My wedding night was one for the record books." I said with a smile on my face and look in my eyes that would give me away in a heartbeat if I wasn't careful.
"Wasn't that the night that you and dad conceived me?"
"Yes it was that night at some point."
"At one point?" JD questioned.
"Don't pry any further. All I am going to say on this subject was that your father and I were in love, just as we still are in love to this day; we were young. That night with your father was one the happiest times in my life."
"When were the other times?"
"When I gave birth to you, Jay, Joce and Athena. You girls are my world, my everything; besides your dad of course."
"I can't believe that in two months I'll be married. It's insane that in the two months I have to figure out my bridal party. Then I have to worry about that whole something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue thing."
"Jennifer, don't worry about anything but getting married and your bridal party. The bridal party and I will worry about the other stuff."
"I'll try, but its not easy being a bride."
At that moment I was thinking "Being the bride is a hell of a lot easier then being the mother of the bride.", but I had thought otherwise."
"I know what its like, I've been there." I said as I held up my hand.
"I think I know that by now, mom."
"You're luckier than I was."
"I know the story mom; I know that both your and Aunt Jen were shanghaied because Grandpa wasn't around. And before you go any further I know how fortunate I am to have both you and dad."
As lunch was wrapping up, I was already planning what JD and I were going to do next. And as usual I just chalked it up to my mind operating in Special Agent/mother of four mode.
"How about we go pick up the twins from home and you can call Hannah and Leah to tell them to meet us at the at the bridal shop so we can get their bridesmaids dresses as you choose yours." I had said to my daughter as we paid the bill and left.
"Sounds good to me."
With that we were on our way to pick up Jayden and Jocelyn. Nick had been called into the office for his mandatory psych eval, so the twins had Jayla in her car seat with then as they came out to the car. After we had picked the girls up it didn't take us long to get to the bridal shop.
"Some things never change, mom. You still drive like Uncle Jethro and Aunt Ziva." Jayden said as we parked in the bridal shop parking lot.
"Well it comes with knowing them for so long. You can thank your Aunt Jen for that when you guys see her again."
"Oh we will." Jayden and Jocelyn said in unison as Hannah and Leah came up behind us.
When we had walked into the bridal shop we were instantly greeted by one of the consultants.
"Hello; I'm Amanda, how can I help you today?"
"We're looking for a gown for her." I said as I pointed out JD.
"Congratulations, when is the big day?" Amanda asked.
"Two months." JD answered.
"Is there anything else you guys are looking for?"
"Yes, we need to get bridesmaids dresses for my sisters and my friends. I'd also like to see if you have any flower girl dresses."
"Okay, I am sure this little cutie will look adorable in anything. How old is she?"
"She's a month and a half." JD answered.
"If you don't mind me saying, but you look good for having a baby a month and a half ago." Amanda said.
"She's not my daughter."
"She's my daughter." I said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Amanda said completely blushing.
Once we got past that incident we went dress shopping. JD found a wedding gown that she absolutely loved. Then I was able to pick out of three little flower girl dresses that would be absolutely adorable on Jayla, Addie and Liza. As I was driving back to the house multiple things came rushing through my mind at once. I began to reminisce, one minute I was a carefree twenty-five year old to being a forty - four year old mother of four. The other thing was my own daughter, who was half me just as her three younger sisters were; was getting married. I wondered where the past nineteen years had gone. I had also longed for the days where JD was a kid again.
But that wasn't the choice for this situation, my little girl was an adult now and she was getting married.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Beach Escape for the Parents
By the beginning of July we were all set for our beach escape. After four months of all nighters, 3am feedings and wedding preparations it was time for a bit oft relaxation. In the days following the babies' arrival, I had filled the others in. Of course AJ, Palmer, Abby and McGee weren't sure who would watch their respective children while we were all away. I said that Ducky and Jordan could babysit as well as Jackson and Franks.
After that theyy were on board for flying down to Cabo San Lucas for the weekend. At 11am we all left for Cabo. We had arrived in Cabo San Lucas around 4pm that afternoon. Once we had checked in and set our things down in our respective rooms. The men wasted no time in changing into their swimsuits and headed down to the beach outside our hotel to play some volleyball. Before they had left us they had told us to hurry. We then had to remind our respective husbands that we had more than just our swimsuits to put on.
AJ, Kate, Abby, Ziva, Jen and I were sunbathing in the sand a bit away from where the guys were playing volleyball. At one point the ball was knocked out of bounds and our husbands turned to see all six of us lying on our beach towels in our bikinis. It was obvious that they were completely stunned. I guess that Palmer, Drew, McGee, Tony and Nick forgot how hot we looked in our bikinis. Jethro had a smirk on his face that was a country mile wide as he ditched the game and came over.
Now keep in mind, Ziva and I were the only ones besides Jen and Jethro that knew the true details of what made Jen and Jethro, Jen and Jethro. So with that Ziva and I looked over to Jen to watch her reaction as Jethro drew closer. In the background behind Jethro we could hear Tony babble.
"Is it me or does Jaylyn and Jenny look hot as hell?"
"He's your husband." I said to Ziva.
"McGee head slap him for me." Jethro called back.
"Not just Jenny and the Director, Tony." Drew said as he looked over to Kate.
"Looks like they can't help themselves." Kate said.
"Can we blame them?" I asked rhetorically.
Jen, Ziva, Kate, Abby, AJ and I stood up as our husbands came over. McGee, Drew and Palmer then told their wives how gorgeous they were.
"I always tell you, you're hot as hell when you're in your bikini." Tony said as he wrapped his arms around Ziva's waist and brought her closer to him.
"I know; the pictures from LA proved that." Ziva said as she kissed Tony.
"You're such a tease when you're in that." Nick said.
"I know, I'm your tease and I always will be."
I could see the smirks play across Jethro and Jen's faces out of the corner of my eye as I kissed my husband.
When it came to Jethro telling Jen what he thought of seeing her in her bikini, his functional mute side was all they needed. It was quite obvious that Jen and Jethro communicated better without words; and we all knew it.
Meanwhile back at home there was a slight hitch. The hitch was at mine and Nick's. JD had gone to meet Dave for lunch, which left Jayden and Jocelyn watching Jayla. The girls were having a hard time getting Jayla to settle down.
"We should call Mom and Dad."Jocelyn said.
"We can't, they're enjoying themselves on vacation." Jayden said in response as she swayed in place in attempts to pacify Jayla.
"Then what do we do, Jay? We can't call Mom and Dad; Jenny is at lunch with her fiance. We have no one to help us."
"Relax, Joce; we can handle taking care of our baby sister until Jenny gets back from lunch. And if you're that worried then we can call Kelly to come help us."
"Kelly's busy with Liza, Bella, Carson and Jasper."
"Then call Ducky and Jordan if you want."
"They're watching Addie and Jake.
"Call Jackson then."
"He's watching RJ with Franks."
"Jocelyn, we can handle watching Jayla. All we have to do is settle her down and put her down for her nap."
Jayden and Jocelyn managed to calm Jayla down before putting her down for her nap.
Back at the hotel, we had all returned to our respective rooms. In our rooms we had settled into our own little activities for awhile before we all went to dinner together at the hotel restaurant. Once we had returned to our rooms we quickly changed into something that was a bit more comfortable than swim trunks and bikinis. Jen and Jethro were like Nick and I, they had wanted to do something fun before they got ready for dinner; but with being parents of three newborns any chance of getting sleep without being woken up by one of their kids crying at the top of their little lungs.
Jethro was wired on coffee as usual so he just laid in their bed watching the sports highlights as Jen caught up on some sleep. Jethro knew how taxing parenthood was and knew that it wasn't easy bein a first time parent, even though it had been years between Kelly being a baby and the triplets. He was the seasoned parent and Jen was the probie parent. He knew it was one thing to be a parent to someone who was the same age as your younger sister; it was another to be a parent to three newborns that were actually biologically yours. The one thing that put a smile on Leroy Jethro Gibbs' face was that he had his probie back after years of his wife's probie side being retired.
Now when it came t what Nick and I were doing, it was a bit similar to what my sister and Jethro were up to. Prior to coming to Cabo I had told Nick that we were more than done with having kids, that Jayla was our last whether he liked it or not. Clearly Nick wasn't thrilled with my decision. I could tell that he still wanted a son and that he was a bit jealous of Drew, Palmer, McGee and Jethro. Anyway, Nick eventually got over everything by the time we arrived.
Like Jen, I was tired; between the baby and helping JD plan her wedding, the sleep deprivation was justifiable. Nick was just as tired as I was. Our bed in our room was more than inviting after we had changed. After awhile the silence was starting to get to me, making me wish that the noisy house we had left behind was with us.
The others did their own thing as Jen, Jethro, Nick and I slept. The others started to worry ifr we were going to make it to dinner or not. Then again they didn't want to wake us either since they remembered how taxing it was being parents whether you were a new parent or a seasoned parent like Jethro, Nick and I.
Jen, Jethro, Nick and I had woken up in time for dinner. Jethro as usual wanted to go to a casual restaurant but he had been overruled. We had decided to go to the hotel restaurant and get dressed up since it was our first night there. No one was about to say no to Jen and I, especially our husbands. By the time we had all met up for dinner I was completely entralled.
The last time Tony, Ziva, Abby, McGee, Jen, Jethro, Ducky and I went out to dinner was for my 25th birthdat just after mine and Ziva's accident in LA. Obviously this time we had additional people that hadn't been with us before at the last dinner twenty some odd years ago and then there was the minor detail that Ducky wasn't with us. There was also the detail that Ziva and I didn't have crutches this time around. At one point I had leaned over to talk to Ziva and Jen for a brief moment.
"We have to do this again. You guys, me, Tony, Abs, McGee, Kate, Jethro and Ducky. Just like last time." I said.
Jen and Ziva nodded in agreement. After dinner that night we all had enjoyed the remainder of our weekend beach escape. We all found this mini vacation as a way to reconnect. A means for Jen and Jethro to reconnect as wife and husband, for Tony and Ziva to do the same, as well as the rest of us.
Come Monday we had returned to DC. Now it was time to get on board with JD's wedding, to help my daughter have the fairytale wedding she had wanted.
After that theyy were on board for flying down to Cabo San Lucas for the weekend. At 11am we all left for Cabo. We had arrived in Cabo San Lucas around 4pm that afternoon. Once we had checked in and set our things down in our respective rooms. The men wasted no time in changing into their swimsuits and headed down to the beach outside our hotel to play some volleyball. Before they had left us they had told us to hurry. We then had to remind our respective husbands that we had more than just our swimsuits to put on.
AJ, Kate, Abby, Ziva, Jen and I were sunbathing in the sand a bit away from where the guys were playing volleyball. At one point the ball was knocked out of bounds and our husbands turned to see all six of us lying on our beach towels in our bikinis. It was obvious that they were completely stunned. I guess that Palmer, Drew, McGee, Tony and Nick forgot how hot we looked in our bikinis. Jethro had a smirk on his face that was a country mile wide as he ditched the game and came over.
Now keep in mind, Ziva and I were the only ones besides Jen and Jethro that knew the true details of what made Jen and Jethro, Jen and Jethro. So with that Ziva and I looked over to Jen to watch her reaction as Jethro drew closer. In the background behind Jethro we could hear Tony babble.
"Is it me or does Jaylyn and Jenny look hot as hell?"
"He's your husband." I said to Ziva.
"McGee head slap him for me." Jethro called back.
"Not just Jenny and the Director, Tony." Drew said as he looked over to Kate.
"Looks like they can't help themselves." Kate said.
"Can we blame them?" I asked rhetorically.
Jen, Ziva, Kate, Abby, AJ and I stood up as our husbands came over. McGee, Drew and Palmer then told their wives how gorgeous they were.
"I always tell you, you're hot as hell when you're in your bikini." Tony said as he wrapped his arms around Ziva's waist and brought her closer to him.
"I know; the pictures from LA proved that." Ziva said as she kissed Tony.
"You're such a tease when you're in that." Nick said.
"I know, I'm your tease and I always will be."
I could see the smirks play across Jethro and Jen's faces out of the corner of my eye as I kissed my husband.
When it came to Jethro telling Jen what he thought of seeing her in her bikini, his functional mute side was all they needed. It was quite obvious that Jen and Jethro communicated better without words; and we all knew it.
Meanwhile back at home there was a slight hitch. The hitch was at mine and Nick's. JD had gone to meet Dave for lunch, which left Jayden and Jocelyn watching Jayla. The girls were having a hard time getting Jayla to settle down.
"We should call Mom and Dad."Jocelyn said.
"We can't, they're enjoying themselves on vacation." Jayden said in response as she swayed in place in attempts to pacify Jayla.
"Then what do we do, Jay? We can't call Mom and Dad; Jenny is at lunch with her fiance. We have no one to help us."
"Relax, Joce; we can handle taking care of our baby sister until Jenny gets back from lunch. And if you're that worried then we can call Kelly to come help us."
"Kelly's busy with Liza, Bella, Carson and Jasper."
"Then call Ducky and Jordan if you want."
"They're watching Addie and Jake.
"Call Jackson then."
"He's watching RJ with Franks."
"Jocelyn, we can handle watching Jayla. All we have to do is settle her down and put her down for her nap."
Jayden and Jocelyn managed to calm Jayla down before putting her down for her nap.
Back at the hotel, we had all returned to our respective rooms. In our rooms we had settled into our own little activities for awhile before we all went to dinner together at the hotel restaurant. Once we had returned to our rooms we quickly changed into something that was a bit more comfortable than swim trunks and bikinis. Jen and Jethro were like Nick and I, they had wanted to do something fun before they got ready for dinner; but with being parents of three newborns any chance of getting sleep without being woken up by one of their kids crying at the top of their little lungs.
Jethro was wired on coffee as usual so he just laid in their bed watching the sports highlights as Jen caught up on some sleep. Jethro knew how taxing parenthood was and knew that it wasn't easy bein a first time parent, even though it had been years between Kelly being a baby and the triplets. He was the seasoned parent and Jen was the probie parent. He knew it was one thing to be a parent to someone who was the same age as your younger sister; it was another to be a parent to three newborns that were actually biologically yours. The one thing that put a smile on Leroy Jethro Gibbs' face was that he had his probie back after years of his wife's probie side being retired.
Now when it came t what Nick and I were doing, it was a bit similar to what my sister and Jethro were up to. Prior to coming to Cabo I had told Nick that we were more than done with having kids, that Jayla was our last whether he liked it or not. Clearly Nick wasn't thrilled with my decision. I could tell that he still wanted a son and that he was a bit jealous of Drew, Palmer, McGee and Jethro. Anyway, Nick eventually got over everything by the time we arrived.
Like Jen, I was tired; between the baby and helping JD plan her wedding, the sleep deprivation was justifiable. Nick was just as tired as I was. Our bed in our room was more than inviting after we had changed. After awhile the silence was starting to get to me, making me wish that the noisy house we had left behind was with us.
The others did their own thing as Jen, Jethro, Nick and I slept. The others started to worry ifr we were going to make it to dinner or not. Then again they didn't want to wake us either since they remembered how taxing it was being parents whether you were a new parent or a seasoned parent like Jethro, Nick and I.
Jen, Jethro, Nick and I had woken up in time for dinner. Jethro as usual wanted to go to a casual restaurant but he had been overruled. We had decided to go to the hotel restaurant and get dressed up since it was our first night there. No one was about to say no to Jen and I, especially our husbands. By the time we had all met up for dinner I was completely entralled.
The last time Tony, Ziva, Abby, McGee, Jen, Jethro, Ducky and I went out to dinner was for my 25th birthdat just after mine and Ziva's accident in LA. Obviously this time we had additional people that hadn't been with us before at the last dinner twenty some odd years ago and then there was the minor detail that Ducky wasn't with us. There was also the detail that Ziva and I didn't have crutches this time around. At one point I had leaned over to talk to Ziva and Jen for a brief moment.
"We have to do this again. You guys, me, Tony, Abs, McGee, Kate, Jethro and Ducky. Just like last time." I said.
Jen and Ziva nodded in agreement. After dinner that night we all had enjoyed the remainder of our weekend beach escape. We all found this mini vacation as a way to reconnect. A means for Jen and Jethro to reconnect as wife and husband, for Tony and Ziva to do the same, as well as the rest of us.
Come Monday we had returned to DC. Now it was time to get on board with JD's wedding, to help my daughter have the fairytale wedding she had wanted.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The babies arrive
By the time we had gotten to the hospital the waiting room in the maternity ward had been overtaken. The team had completely occupied the room with Jackson and Franks. Kelly had arrived shortly after Nick, the girls and I had. Jason was with her; apparently they had left Liza with Jason's parents. After Kelly and Jason arrived the doctor that was taking care of Jen came over to us. He had that lookon his face like there was somethin wrong. It took me a mere five seconds to find Nick's hand so that I was able to handle whatever the doctor was about to say.
"Are you the family of Jennifer Gibbs?" the doctor asked.
"I'm her sister and she's her daughter. What's wrong with my sister?" I asked.
"Is there something wrong with my brothers and sister?" Kelly asked.
"There's a slight complication."
"What's wrong with the babies and my step-mom?"
The doctor didn't say anything.
"What the hell is wrong with my niece and nephews? What the hell is wrong with my sister?"
"Well since Jennifer has been in labor for as long as she has along with her age has put some unexpected stress on her and the babies. The only option we have right now is to deliver the babies via c-section."
After hearing that I went into panic mode which prompted me to double over in pain.
"Mrs. Balboa, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" the doctor asked.
"It's Director Balboa!!!!" I said at the top of my lungs in between the agonizing pain.
"Director Balboa, how far along are you?" the doctor repeated.
"I'm almost forty weeks."
"Let's get you into a delivery suite; it looks like you're going to have your baby today."
"Looks like the Shepard girls still do everything together." Franks said as I was wheeled through the swinging doors that separated the waitin room from the delivery suites.
"Shut the hell up, Franks." I said in between the contractions.
"She's fiesty, must run in their blood."
I glared back at Franks.
"She's always like this when she is in labor." Nick said as he followed me.
"Keep us posted." Abby called after us as the door swung closed.
They had put me in the delivery suite next to Jen's. I could hear her scream with every contraction she had and she heard all of mine.
"That's Jay, she must be in labor." Jen said.
"How do you figure?"
"Jethro, I think after being her sister for her entire life I think I know how she screams by now."
At one point Jethro and Nick had bumped into each other while they had gotten ice for us. Nick had told Jethro that I was in labor and Jethro said that they were waiting for the nurses to prep Jen for her c-section before they had returned with the ice. Now Jen and I had been in excruciating pain for hours now. The Doctor wanted to see if Jen could de-stress herself and wanted to see if that would alleviate the stress that was on the babies before they proceeded with the c-section. About midway through for both me and Jen, we were both literally begging for an epidural.
Jen had de-stressed, but the babies hadn't improved much. I could hear Jen telling Jethro that she was going to deliver their daughter and sons on her own without the doctor cutting her open. Jethro tried to convince her to let the doctor proceed as planned but he had no succes. Before long Jen had given birth to her and Jethro's daughter, Bella Rue.
Following baby Bella's arrival I had given birth to baby Jayla Athena. After Jayla joined Bella outside the womb, Bella's brothers soon followed suit. Carson Jackson was born before Jasper Scott joined his sister, brother and cousin. After a while of recouping and bonding, everyone that was waiting came into see the latest additions.
Once the team, Kelly, Jason, Jackson and Franks had left the hospital; JD left with the twins adter they met their new sister. Nick and Jethro left when visiting hours had ended. I wanted to see my niece and nephews, I had a feeling that Jen would want to meet Jayla as well. Thankfully the nurses had left Jayla in the hospital basinet they had put her in as I had asked. With that I sat up in bed and slipped into the slippers I had brought with me before picking Jayla up. I picked Jayla up and she looked up at me with her big brown eyes wondering what was happening.
"It's okay, baby girl; you're safe. We're just going next door for you to meet your Aunt Jen and your cousins."
I knocked on Jen's delivery suite door once I had Jayla in one arm.
"Come in and let me see her." Jen said.
"Jayla, I'd like you to meet your Aunt Jen; my big sis." I said to my newborn daughter as I handed her to Jen.
"She's gorgeous."
"So is Bella." I said as I cradled my niece in my arms.
"Thank-you."
"Carson and Jasper are quite handsome."
"Jasper has dad's temperment which is good since Bella is just like us when it comes to her temper and Carson is just like Jethro."
Now we had all known that Jayla was going to have brown eyes like me, Nick and her sisters. But the one thing that we all wondered was if she was going to be a redhead like her sisters, Jen and I or if she was going to have Nick's hair color. But when it came to Bella, Carson and Jasper; we wer all left wondering. Jen was hoping that her babies would have Jethro's cobalt blues and Jethro wanted them to have Jen's emerald greens. Bella was Jen's doppelganger when it came to her hair and eye color. The boys on the other hand were their half and half when it came to the hair and eye color. Jasper and Carson inherited Jen's green eyes, but were brunettes instead. After holding Bella for a bit I had switched her over to my right arm and picked up Carson.
"Okay now it's time to start losing the baby weight for our beach trip as soon as we're discharged." I said.
"I know, once Jethro and I are settled; and the babies are on a schedule, we'll hit the gym."
"Okay."
With that as Jen and I sat in her hospital suite admiring our respective children. I was more than done when it came to having children, especially now when I was taking on the role of being mother of the bride. I could tell that Jen was done too, three babies at once was more than enough.
After some time of basking in the innocence of the babies, Jayla and I returned to our hospital suite so that Jen could get some rest.
"Good night, sleep tight Jayla Athena; I love you."
As I drifed off to sleep I coul hear Jen saying good night to Bella, Carson and Jasper.
"Are you the family of Jennifer Gibbs?" the doctor asked.
"I'm her sister and she's her daughter. What's wrong with my sister?" I asked.
"Is there something wrong with my brothers and sister?" Kelly asked.
"There's a slight complication."
"What's wrong with the babies and my step-mom?"
The doctor didn't say anything.
"What the hell is wrong with my niece and nephews? What the hell is wrong with my sister?"
"Well since Jennifer has been in labor for as long as she has along with her age has put some unexpected stress on her and the babies. The only option we have right now is to deliver the babies via c-section."
After hearing that I went into panic mode which prompted me to double over in pain.
"Mrs. Balboa, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" the doctor asked.
"It's Director Balboa!!!!" I said at the top of my lungs in between the agonizing pain.
"Director Balboa, how far along are you?" the doctor repeated.
"I'm almost forty weeks."
"Let's get you into a delivery suite; it looks like you're going to have your baby today."
"Looks like the Shepard girls still do everything together." Franks said as I was wheeled through the swinging doors that separated the waitin room from the delivery suites.
"Shut the hell up, Franks." I said in between the contractions.
"She's fiesty, must run in their blood."
I glared back at Franks.
"She's always like this when she is in labor." Nick said as he followed me.
"Keep us posted." Abby called after us as the door swung closed.
They had put me in the delivery suite next to Jen's. I could hear her scream with every contraction she had and she heard all of mine.
"That's Jay, she must be in labor." Jen said.
"How do you figure?"
"Jethro, I think after being her sister for her entire life I think I know how she screams by now."
At one point Jethro and Nick had bumped into each other while they had gotten ice for us. Nick had told Jethro that I was in labor and Jethro said that they were waiting for the nurses to prep Jen for her c-section before they had returned with the ice. Now Jen and I had been in excruciating pain for hours now. The Doctor wanted to see if Jen could de-stress herself and wanted to see if that would alleviate the stress that was on the babies before they proceeded with the c-section. About midway through for both me and Jen, we were both literally begging for an epidural.
Jen had de-stressed, but the babies hadn't improved much. I could hear Jen telling Jethro that she was going to deliver their daughter and sons on her own without the doctor cutting her open. Jethro tried to convince her to let the doctor proceed as planned but he had no succes. Before long Jen had given birth to her and Jethro's daughter, Bella Rue.
Following baby Bella's arrival I had given birth to baby Jayla Athena. After Jayla joined Bella outside the womb, Bella's brothers soon followed suit. Carson Jackson was born before Jasper Scott joined his sister, brother and cousin. After a while of recouping and bonding, everyone that was waiting came into see the latest additions.
Once the team, Kelly, Jason, Jackson and Franks had left the hospital; JD left with the twins adter they met their new sister. Nick and Jethro left when visiting hours had ended. I wanted to see my niece and nephews, I had a feeling that Jen would want to meet Jayla as well. Thankfully the nurses had left Jayla in the hospital basinet they had put her in as I had asked. With that I sat up in bed and slipped into the slippers I had brought with me before picking Jayla up. I picked Jayla up and she looked up at me with her big brown eyes wondering what was happening.
"It's okay, baby girl; you're safe. We're just going next door for you to meet your Aunt Jen and your cousins."
I knocked on Jen's delivery suite door once I had Jayla in one arm.
"Come in and let me see her." Jen said.
"Jayla, I'd like you to meet your Aunt Jen; my big sis." I said to my newborn daughter as I handed her to Jen.
"She's gorgeous."
"So is Bella." I said as I cradled my niece in my arms.
"Thank-you."
"Carson and Jasper are quite handsome."
"Jasper has dad's temperment which is good since Bella is just like us when it comes to her temper and Carson is just like Jethro."
Now we had all known that Jayla was going to have brown eyes like me, Nick and her sisters. But the one thing that we all wondered was if she was going to be a redhead like her sisters, Jen and I or if she was going to have Nick's hair color. But when it came to Bella, Carson and Jasper; we wer all left wondering. Jen was hoping that her babies would have Jethro's cobalt blues and Jethro wanted them to have Jen's emerald greens. Bella was Jen's doppelganger when it came to her hair and eye color. The boys on the other hand were their half and half when it came to the hair and eye color. Jasper and Carson inherited Jen's green eyes, but were brunettes instead. After holding Bella for a bit I had switched her over to my right arm and picked up Carson.
"Okay now it's time to start losing the baby weight for our beach trip as soon as we're discharged." I said.
"I know, once Jethro and I are settled; and the babies are on a schedule, we'll hit the gym."
"Okay."
With that as Jen and I sat in her hospital suite admiring our respective children. I was more than done when it came to having children, especially now when I was taking on the role of being mother of the bride. I could tell that Jen was done too, three babies at once was more than enough.
After some time of basking in the innocence of the babies, Jayla and I returned to our hospital suite so that Jen could get some rest.
"Good night, sleep tight Jayla Athena; I love you."
As I drifed off to sleep I coul hear Jen saying good night to Bella, Carson and Jasper.
JD and Dave
By the following morning the rest of us had found out what had happened over at Tony and Ziva's the night before. There was a bit of comfort knowing that I didn't exactly have to worry about JD sneaking her boyfriend, Dave into the house for their own physical endeavors. This was just one of the upsides to having twin fifteen year old daughters that were always around. Believe me I wasn't kidding myself into thinking that my nineteen year old daughter didn't sleep with Dave, the days of being young and in love weren't as distant for me as they were for some of the others. It was one of the benefits of being the youngest from the NCIS collective.
i was a typical Saturday for us. Like the traditional Saturday morning most families that lived in America had; I was in the kitchen cooking breakfast while Nick sat at the kitchen table reading the paper. All three girls were in the living room watching Saturday morning cartoons just like they had since they were younger. Being a month away from my expectant due date with Jayla; I pictured all four of my girls keeping the tradition going themselves and eventually with their own families someday. Before I knew it, JD had come in to see how breakfast was coming and to ask if it was okay for Dave to come over. When it came to something one of the girls wanted they'd always ask me instead of asking Nick.
"Hey Mom, can Dave come over to spend some time with me later? He said he had something important to ask me."
"Yeah sure, do me a favor and tell your sisters to wash up; breakfast is almost ready. Wash up too." I answered.
After putting breakfast on the table I had gone over to Nick.
"I think you should wash up too, Mister." I said as I bent over a bit in front of Nick just long enough to distract him from the paper.
"That is not fairm once the baby is here you won't be able to rely on your assets as much."
"Watch me." I said feeling a bit challenge.
As Nick went to wash for breakfast he kissed me on the forehead.
"Your mom is such a tease, Jayla." Nick said to my stomach before he left to wash up.
After Nick left the room, Jayla kicked my stomach.
"Its okay; Jayla, Mommy and Daddy are just playing with each other." I said to Jayla.
After that we all sat down for breakfast. Once the family breakfast was done; JD, Jayden and Jocelyn cleaned up while Nick and I relaxed together in the living room. Nick and I sat down on the living room couch; after Nick had sat down he had put on the baseball game he was waiting for while I decided to rest my head on his lap as I read the latest J.D. Robb book I had. As I read an idea popped into my head.
"Hey, what would you say to taking a trip to the beach after Jayla is born? Just us, Jen and Jethro, Tony and Ziva, McGee and Abs, Kate and Drew; maybe even Palmer and AJ." I asked during a commercial break.
"Sounds good to me. When after Jayla is born would you want to go?"
"Maybe a month or so after. I'm gonna want to fit back into my bikini once Jayla is here. Knowing Jen, she's gonna want to be able to fit in her bikini too once she has her three."
"Okay, but I don't know if I can get off of work; my boss is kind of a hard ass when it comes to time off." Nick said with a mischievous tone.
"I'll see what I can do about her and your time off." I said as I winked at Nick.
Midway through the game a few things happened. Dave came over .
"JD, we've been together for a few months now and for those few months I have fallen head over heels for you. Please do me the honor of marrying me?" Dave asked JD in front of Nick and me.
"Yes."
After JD had said yes to Dave's proposal and the ring was slipped onto JD's hand, the house phone rang. It was Jethro telling us that Jen was in labor. I instantly switched modes and told my family that we were going to the hospital.
Before I knew it, besides Jen being in labor and my nineteen year old daughter being engaged; things were gonna get interesting even more by this time the following night.
i was a typical Saturday for us. Like the traditional Saturday morning most families that lived in America had; I was in the kitchen cooking breakfast while Nick sat at the kitchen table reading the paper. All three girls were in the living room watching Saturday morning cartoons just like they had since they were younger. Being a month away from my expectant due date with Jayla; I pictured all four of my girls keeping the tradition going themselves and eventually with their own families someday. Before I knew it, JD had come in to see how breakfast was coming and to ask if it was okay for Dave to come over. When it came to something one of the girls wanted they'd always ask me instead of asking Nick.
"Hey Mom, can Dave come over to spend some time with me later? He said he had something important to ask me."
"Yeah sure, do me a favor and tell your sisters to wash up; breakfast is almost ready. Wash up too." I answered.
After putting breakfast on the table I had gone over to Nick.
"I think you should wash up too, Mister." I said as I bent over a bit in front of Nick just long enough to distract him from the paper.
"That is not fairm once the baby is here you won't be able to rely on your assets as much."
"Watch me." I said feeling a bit challenge.
As Nick went to wash for breakfast he kissed me on the forehead.
"Your mom is such a tease, Jayla." Nick said to my stomach before he left to wash up.
After Nick left the room, Jayla kicked my stomach.
"Its okay; Jayla, Mommy and Daddy are just playing with each other." I said to Jayla.
After that we all sat down for breakfast. Once the family breakfast was done; JD, Jayden and Jocelyn cleaned up while Nick and I relaxed together in the living room. Nick and I sat down on the living room couch; after Nick had sat down he had put on the baseball game he was waiting for while I decided to rest my head on his lap as I read the latest J.D. Robb book I had. As I read an idea popped into my head.
"Hey, what would you say to taking a trip to the beach after Jayla is born? Just us, Jen and Jethro, Tony and Ziva, McGee and Abs, Kate and Drew; maybe even Palmer and AJ." I asked during a commercial break.
"Sounds good to me. When after Jayla is born would you want to go?"
"Maybe a month or so after. I'm gonna want to fit back into my bikini once Jayla is here. Knowing Jen, she's gonna want to be able to fit in her bikini too once she has her three."
"Okay, but I don't know if I can get off of work; my boss is kind of a hard ass when it comes to time off." Nick said with a mischievous tone.
"I'll see what I can do about her and your time off." I said as I winked at Nick.
Midway through the game a few things happened. Dave came over .
"JD, we've been together for a few months now and for those few months I have fallen head over heels for you. Please do me the honor of marrying me?" Dave asked JD in front of Nick and me.
"Yes."
After JD had said yes to Dave's proposal and the ring was slipped onto JD's hand, the house phone rang. It was Jethro telling us that Jen was in labor. I instantly switched modes and told my family that we were going to the hospital.
Before I knew it, besides Jen being in labor and my nineteen year old daughter being engaged; things were gonna get interesting even more by this time the following night.
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