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Thank you as always to The Maudlin Muse :)

Chapter 4

Gibbs was putting the finishing touches on Jack's high chair while Maddie looked on proudly. She loved that her Daddy could make things. He'd made a WHOLE chair! And it was as good as one that you could buy in the store even.

"We should make a chair for Ethan next." she mused. Gibbs nodded. He too would be sorry when the chair was finished. He'd enjoyed Maddie's constant chatter while they'd worked together on the small project and he'd found out more about the kids in her class and the rest of the neighbourhood than he'd ever imagined. She could spin a tale and even though he was sure she'd exaggerated quite a bit, it was entertaining.

"Yeah Mads we could do that. And for the Dinozzo twins too." Maddie grinned showing a wide gap of missing teeth.

"And maybe we should make one to keep here too...you know... just in case." Gibbs gave her a mock frown.

"How about I make you one for your dollies?" Maddie jumped down from the perch she'd been sitting on. "Really?"

"Really." Gibbs said bending down so she could climb on his back. "But not tonight. Bedtime."

"Awww already...?"

"Yep...bath and pyjamas and I'll read you a story."

"But I wanna wait for Mommy."

"Mommy's gonna be a while. She's gone to bowl with Aunt Abby, Aunt Ziva and Aunt Amber." Maddie started to form a pout but remembered just in time that she wanted a story so she let the subject drop. She wouldn't win the argument with Daddy anyway.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Abby had fed Ethan and he was already in bed before she left, well for the next four hours at least. She'd let a couple of bottles of expressed milk just in case. Abby's panic had been steadily growing all week and she'd been getting steadily more of a pain in the ass as the week went on. Finally all Tim had to do was relax until it was time to either feed the baby again or read the older kids a bedtime story. He just hoped that the girls were able to calm Abby down a little.

"When's Grandma and Grandpa coming?" Jess asked. Tim sighed.

"Monday." Tim said. It was Friday night so they still had a few days...

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

A reluctant Ziva had been shooed out of the door by Tony who had assured her that he was perfectly capable of making up formula. She had fed the twins already but wasn't sure they wouldn't wake again. They'd been supplementing with formula for the last few days because they didn't seem to be going long between feeds. Finally she gave up arguing and relaxed. She may as well enjoy her brief bout of freedom.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Amber was actually feeling excited to be going out. She'd enjoyed her visit with everyone a lot and she'd even been letting Jimmy do more for Jack. He'd been on the bottle for a month or so, so in theory it didn't really make a great deal of difference to his evening. She did however feel the pangs of guilt creeping in as she kissed her boys goodbye. Jack dropped his lip and put his little arms up for her to pick him up and she almost changed her mind.

"He'll be fine." Jimmy said. "He's gonna have a bath aren't you Jack? Yes you love to have a bath." The baby bounced happily in his Daddy's arms forgetting all about his Mommy leaving. With mixed feelings and her pangs of guilt now mild pangs of jealousy, Amber left quietly, part of her secure in the knowledge that her baby was just fine with her leaving.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox

No one was surprised to see Abby wearing her usual fifties style bowling skirt, and shirt with the embroidered 'Abby' on the pocket. They WERE surprised however to find that she was totally off her game. When her third ball in a row rattled down the gutter pathetically she flopped dejectedly onto the seat.

"It's no use." she said. "I just can't concentrate. The closer it it comes to them coming the worse I feel. I just have this sinking feeling in the pit of my tummy that something is going to go terribly wrong. Like monumentally wrong...like devastatingly..."

"We get the message Abs. But really honey, you don't think your overreacting just a little?" Kim asked. Abby shrugged. It wasn't like her to be so...worried. She usually couldn't care less what people thought.

"I dunno."

"You need to do something to take your mind away from your problems." Ziva said. Abby looked longingly at the bar. Just one little drink to relax her a little. That might help. She wasn't much of a drinker but nothing else seemed to be helping.

"You know what?" Kim said. "A glass of wine might be nice." she said.

"Yeah." Abby said. "Let's have a glass of wine...or a beer. That won't hurt my milk will it? I expressed so it should be gone from my system by the morning feed."

"Maybe you should give him a formula bottle to make sure." Ziva said. "The girls have some formula."

"We don't have any."

"We'll get some on the way home." Kim said. "Now will you just relax a little?"

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Tony had put the water on to boil and was reading the instructions on the can of formula wishing to hell he'd watched Ziva last time like she wanted him too. It couldn't be that hard but the girls were both screaming now and he was finding it hard to think.

"Kyle don't jiggle her like that bud she doesn't like it." Kyle rolled his eyes but stopped his gentle rocking anyway. Didn't much matter what he did...she still screamed. How could so much noise come from such a small person? Mike wasn't doing much better with Aviva.

"Dad could you hurry?" he said. He didn't like his sisters being so upset.

"I'm trying." Tony read the directions again and then slapped his forehead. "Shit!...Sorry boys...and girls..." It said cooled boiled water and he'd just tipped out the cool boiled water and put fresh water on to boil...he opened the can and peered inside. The little scoop thingy seemed to have gotten buried in the powder picked up a knife out of the drawer.

"You can't use that." Mike said.

"Why not?" Tony asked.

"It isn't sterile."

"Right. I knew that." He moved the can a little and managed to make the scoop surface without touching it. Short of wiggling his nose though he couldn't see how it was gonna make it's way out of the can with out him touching it. He really didn't want to give the boys the satisfaction of asking more questions but …..Hannah screamed louder and made the decision easier. Kyle grinned.

"There's stuff in the steriliser." he said with a grin. Except for the screaming he was quite enjoying his Dad's discomfort. Tony poured the now boiling water into four sterile bottles. He threw two into the freezer and then ran the other two under a running tap. He felt like he was doing a science experiment.

""Don't they have pacies?" Mike asked. Of course...the pacies...that might put the stopper in the sink and stood the bottles in the running water while he took Aviva off Mike.

"Go see if you can find some. Don't touch them with your fingers though."

"How's he supposed to get em down here then...magic?" Tony glared at Kyle, making a mental note to wallop him when it finally got quiet.

"I knew what he meant." Mike said with a grin. He was happy that his job involved getting away from the noise if only for a few minutes.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"Ok what're we all drinking?" Abby asked. Amber picked up the drink menu.

"How long is it since we've all been out together? We should celebrate!" Abby bounced up and down in her seat.

"Cocktails!" she said happily. Kim looked unsure. "Ok..one cocktail...and possibly a beer. It's been a while since I had a beer."

"What if we each pick a cocktail that suits our mood or personality..."Abby said brightly. She was really warming to this idea.

"Could work..." Kim said with a giggle. She could only have one though cos she had driven everyone.

"I am in." Ziva said as she picked up a menu. "I will choose...'Death By Sex'!"

"Death in the Afternoon for me." Kim said. "Cos that's what's gonna happen to me if Jethro finds out I had a cocktail and then drove."

"Lighten up Kim. It's evening anyway."Abby said. Kim gave her a gentle shove.

"Uhhuh...I'm sure that'll make a difference." she said. Abby giggled.

"Me...I'm having a …...'Sex on the Beach'." No I don't really like the sun...I'll have a 'Dark and Stormy'."

"Abs are you sure...dark Rum?"

"Yeah you only live once."

"Hmmm. Somehow I have a bad feeling about this." They all turned to Amber who was examining the menu carefully.

"I'll have a 'Pink Lady'." They all burst out laughing. "They'd all marvelled at Gibbs control when he'd seen what Amber had done to his basement. Living with Maddie must have broken him. A year ago he would have wasted no time with niceties. He would have smacked her ass and told her to get rid of all the pink crap pronto.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Mike returned from upstairs with some very welcome gifts. The pacifiers. Thankfully they had lids on them.

"Where'd you get them?" Tony asked.

"They were in their crib."

"Didn't think of that." Tony admitted. He popped the lid off one and put it in Hannah's mouth. She calmed immediately and the loud crying became little sobs. He did the same with the other, popping it into Aviva's mouth and then passed the much quieter little bundle back to Mike. He wasn't silly... he knew the peace wouldn't last long and he'd have to move fast before they realised there was nothing coming out of those things.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"You know what? That was yummy... I don't think another would hurt." Abby said.

"Yep." Amber said. "I could go another."

"Hmmm...one more." Ziva said slurping up the last of her drink.

"I dunno. I have to drive." Kim said.

"I am not."

"Are too."

"What would I be scared of?"

"Are you scared Gibbs is gonna spank you?" Abby asked with a teasing smile. Kim narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"NO! I'm not scared of Jethro and will you keep your voice down."

"It's just a word. Spank. See...spank...spank...The roof didn't cave in or anything."

"Abby shhhh. I'm not scared of Jethro ...you know..."

"SPANKING YOU?"

"Abby shhhhh. People are staring and it's not that. I have to drive."

"Then leave the car here. We can get it tomorrow."

"I guess."

"Well I'm gonna have a …."

"No no no...I think we each should pick for each other this time." Abby pulled a pen out of her purse and picked up some napkins writing each of their names on one. Then she turned them all over and mixed them up. Everyone pick one. They all picked a napkin and then decided on a cocktail for that person. Kim and Abby got each other as did Amber and Ziva.

"Amber I will choose for you...A 'Fancy Angel.'."

"Aww thank you Zi." Amber said "I will choose for you...A Body and Soul Reviver'." Cos with twins you can probably do with all the reviving you can get."

"Yes sleep...I have forgotten what sleep is. Thank you Amber." Abby screwed her face up.

"Ok no talk of sleep yet we'll all get tired. This is a party remember." They all frowned. Was it a party? What were they celebrating. Oh freedom that's right. Freedom. None of them were really drinkers and the cocktails were strong.

"Ok... Kim let me see what can I pick for you...?" Abby grinned. "A 'Yellow Fever'...cos you're scared of little ole Jethro." Kim chuckled.

"You'll keep little Miss Smart ass. I pick for you... a 'Pain Killer', cos your gonna need it when Tim's done spanking your ass." Abby giggled.

"That won't happen." Abby said smugly.

"Uhhuh." Kim said.

"She is an adult." Ziva said.

"Xactly. I'm not doing anything wrong.I'm over twenty one and I can drink if I want to." Abby slurped up her drink maybe just a little bit quickly. "And you know what...I'm gonna have another one." Abby picked another drink from the menu only this time she chose by alcohol content and slurped away determinedly while Kim looked on a little concerned. Perhaps they should move from the stool onto a chair. Abby was starting to sway.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Tony finally had the formula at the right temperature and the girls were happily sucking away each in a brother's arms. Tony was fussing around like a mother hen, making sure they were held properly and the bottles were tilted so they babies weren't sucking air. It appeared that he did in fact listen to some stuff.

"I have her Dad." Kyle said as he looked adoringly into his sister's face. "She's kind of pretty isn't she?"

"They both are." Mike said as he kissed Aviva's soft curles.

"Well duh...they are twins."

"Don't start Kyle." Tony said.

"Jokes Dad...geez lighten up."

"The only thing I'm gonna light is a fire on your ass if you don't cut the smart ass comments." He was deadly serious. He was tired and stressed and he needed a little peace. He spoke too soon though as a distinct rumble could be heard in Hannah's diaper.

"Oh gross!" Kyle yelped with fright. "Oh ….how can she do that while she's eating!" He screwed his face up and coughed in disgust. "I think your daughter needs you Dad." Tony rolled his eyes but took his little girl with a smile.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Well it is time I went home." Ziva said. "Are you ready to go girls?"

"Um how we getting home?" Amber asked. Ziva shrugged.

"Cab?"

"Guess so." Amber giggled. She'd had a great time tonight. Abby and Kim were in fine form and had been very entertaining.

"Don wanna go yet." Abby said.

"Me either."Kim agreed.

"You can stay but...I can't keep my eyes open."

"Nah...I've had fun but I'm worried Jack'll wake and freak cos I'm not there."

"Come on then. We better go."

""Come on Zi!" Abby said with another slurp of her fourth cocktail. "I feel better now...we're having some girls having fun. Hey...'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!' she sang. we need Karaoke..."

"I know would be so much fun..." Zi chuckled. "But I am tired...I need to sleep." Abby put her fingers to her lips.

"SSSHHHHH!" she whispered very loudly. "Don't tell Tony I been …..." She hiccupped and nearly fell off the chair. "Don't tell Tony..."

"Don't tell Tony what?" Ziva could hardly keep a straight face.

"Um... I don remember...but don't tell him..."

"Ok." Ziva kissed both her friends."Are you sure that you two are going to be ok?"

"We're FINE!" Kim mumbled as she swayed precariously on the edge of her seat. She whispered in Ziva's ear. "I'll looksh after her ….shwees hadded a little...tooooo much..."

"I can see." Ziva said and then when Kim wasn't looking, she bent down and picked up her friend's bag without her even noticing and took out her car keys. At least they can't attempt to drive home she thought.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Tim put Ethan back in the crib in their bedroom and smiled. The crib choice was so Abby. It was like a sort of hammock arrangement that hung from the ceiling. It was meant to mirror the wombs gentle action. There was even a musical toy that instead of playing music thumped out soothing womb sounds that sounded like a heart beating. He shook his head at the ingenuity of it as the baby soothed himself off to sleep in a few seconds. Abby was a perfect mother. So patient and gentle. He looked at his watch and frowned. She was a little later than he expected. He hoped she was ok.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Amber turned her key in the door and tiptoed inside and into the living room. She smiled at the sight of her Jimmy fast asleep with her little man asleep in the crook of his arm. They must have gone to sleep in front of the TV. The Wiggles danced on noisily in the background by themselves. She turned off the television and took off Jimmy's glasses off and placed them gently on the coffee table before settling at the other end of the sofa and pulling a comforter over all of them. Before she knew it she was sound asleep...her routine had been totally smashed and she didn't give a damn. She was happy.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Ziva crept upstairs and into the nursery where Tony was giving the girls another feed. She almost cackled out loud at her brilliant husband. He had laid a pillow on his tummy and had each of the girls facing him while he bottle fed them both at the same time.

"You are clever my love. How did you come up with this idea?" she asked.

"Needs must Ziva. My little helpers have conked out for the evening."

"Ahhh." Ziva placed a gentle kiss on her husbands lips.

"Um...have you been bowling or to a bar?" he asked.

"Hmm. We started to bowl but then went to the bar."

"Ok..." he said with a chuckle. "You have fun?"

"Yes I did." Ziva decided. "I had a lot of fun. I got a taxi and dropped Amber off on the way."

"Abby and Kim?"

"Still having fun."

"Uh oh."

"I took Kim's keys." Ziva said. "She said she wasn't going to drive but I thought I better be sure. I didn't like leaving them there but I need sleep."

"They'll be ok. You go to bed. I'll join you after I put the girls down again."

"Thank you." Ziva said before going to prepare for bed.

Normally Tony would have thought to phone Tim and Gibbs and tell them where their wives were but he'd had a hell of an evening and he was beat. He just didn't think.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Gibbs rang Kim's cell phone for the fifth time. It rang out again. He shook his head. She better have a really good reason for not answering her cell... it was past midnight. Where the hell was she. The bowling alley would be closed by now. He would have gone and looked for her if Maddie hadn't been asleep upstairs.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Abby narrowed her eyes and focused on the clock behind the bar.

"No no no!" Abby yelled.

"What what what?" Kim asked.

"The formula... It'sh after midnight."

"Oh...oh...ok. Come on...wees better go find shome."

They got up and staggered out of the bar and onto the street. Kim looked at her car. Hmmm. How much had she had to drink? She hunted around in her bag for her keys.

"You ccan'tsh drive." Abby said.

"I knows...my keysh is misshing...come on."

"Whersh we goin?"

"Drugsh shtore..."

"Yeshh...why?"

"Formula of courssh" Abby started to cry. "Whatsh wrong baby...don't cry..."

"I'sh a bad Mommy."

"Nooooo noooo we'll get it."

"What?"

"The foooorrrrmula."

"Yessh." Abby said stomping off as fast and as straight as she could go down the street with Kim hot on her heels.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Tim opened Sarah's door. "Sar?" he whispered. Sarah squinted her eyes at the clock next to her bed.

"Tim?"

"Sar...Abby hasn't come home yet I'm gonna go look for her can you manage?"

"Yeah. When did Ethan eat last?"

"An hour and a half. He shouldn't wake up."

"Ok. I might just go and lay in your room just in case."
"Thanks Sar."

"No problem."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Gibbs was getting really worried now. He was just about to call someone when Tim called him.

"Ah Boss..."

"No she's not home... Abby?"

"No...Boss I'm worried."

"Yeah I am too."

"I've left the kids with Sarah...I'm going looking."

"Thanks." Gibbs said with relief. "If you need me call."

"I will."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Tim drove towards the bowling alley keeping his eyes open for Kim's car as he went. Nothing until he reached the bowling alley and then there was Kim's car parked in front. The bowling Centre was closed. Tim ran his hand through his hair. Where the hell could they be. He thought about phoning Gibbs but he didn't really have anything to tell him.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Kim and Abby had managed to find a 24 hour drug store and they walked in arm in arm. It was a stance that had helped to keep them both upright while they made their way down the long street.

They hobbled along the isles inadvertently knocking things off shelves as they went. When they reached the formula isle the gathered up several cans that had newborn on the label in large letters.

"Which one?"

"Dunno." Kim said.

"Thish one." Abby garbled. "It'sh a gold cannn. Gold ish alwaysh the besht." Kim frowned but she couldn't really dispute her friends logic. Gold medalsh...gold winning …...prizes. Gold wash besht.

They tottered to the front of the store with their prize in hand and prepared to pay the bored checkout girl for their purchase. Not so easy. Abby dug deep in her purse for her wallet but she couldn't find it. She ended up emptying the whole thing onto the counter. Unfortunately for Abby...while she hunted for money... the checkout girl grabbed at a pair of sunglasses... in the middle of all the other stuff...that still had the tag attached. She held them up and banged on the bell loudly. Both Abby and Kim covered their ears.

A security guard came from nowhere and Abby smiled at him sweetly.

"Gonna need you ladies to come with me."

"I needsh to go home..." Abby said. Kim nodded although she was starting to worry that they might be in some kind of trouble.

"Should have thought about that honey before you stole the sunglasses." Abby looked at the man confused and then to the glasses in the checkout girl's hand.

"You think I shtole thoshe?"

"I know you did." the girl said. "They fell right out of your purse." Abby stood up to her full height.

"I am NOT a THIEFTH! I am a MOMMY and a SCHIENTISHTEST!" Kim stood by dumbfounded not really having a clue what to do. The security guard took Abby by the arm.

"Let my friend gooooo!" Kim yelled loudly whacking at the guard with her purse.

He rolled his eyes. He hated this time of the night. The place was always full of drunks and crazies and judging by the get up on the tall one..sometimes a bit of both.

"Now knock it off..."he said sternly. Abby started to cry...loudly.

"I would NEVER wear glasshesh that ugsly!" she wailed.

The man hauled Abby to his office with Kim following... still hitting him with her purse and yelling. Luckily for him she was so drunk that she wasn't making contact very often. He sat back and tapped the desk with his pen while the smaller one comforted her distraught friend. He wasn't sure how to handle this, he really did think the glasses may have been a mistake but he couldn't just let them go in a state like this. He picked up the phone. The cops could give them a bed for the night. They wouldn't be his problem anymore then.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Tim's phone rang and he picked it up quickly hoping it was Abby.

"Tim McGee."

"Tim?" Sarah said into the phone nervously.

"Yeah Sar...the kids ok?"

"Yeah...but there's a couple of other problems..."

"Oh no. What now?"

"Firstly...the police called." she whispered into the handset.

"What the?" Tim said NOT in a whisper. Sarah continued to whisper..

"She and Kim have been arrested for being drunk and disorderly."

"SHIT! Wait...why are you whispering?"

"Mom and Dad have arrived. Their plane got in early and they couldn't wait."

"Oh Holy F..." Apparently Tim had forgotten all about his no swearing rule as he picked up the phone to call Gibbs.

TBC