*insert apology about updating process here*

Abby is getting ready to stay with Abigail while her apartment building is being subjected to an exterminator. They've also not-so-subtly been flirting, and talking about the future together. You might want to back to the previous chapter for a refresher.

*hides in cone of shame*

Abby was pleasantly surprised that excitement was the first look on Abigail's face when they entered her home together. She'd been nervous of her opinion because it wasn't exactly traditional.

It was much like stepping into some kind of Southern Gothic tale. From the furniture style, to the archways that led to other parts of the dwelling or to alcoves that showed off Abby's favorite things, and even to the wrought spiral staircase that led to an upper promenade with more displays, it had a romantic charm. The candelabras and stained glass also helped add to the appeal. So did the objects and extra gothic decor. There was even a larger alcove dedicated to her technology, too. Abigail wouldn't have expected anything less of Abby Sciuto's place.

And overall, she found the apartment to be very cozy.

"What do you think?" Abby asked nervously.

"I really like it." Abigail replied sincerely. "But hey—is it true that you sleep in a coffin?"

"Yep! How did you even hear about that?"

"I've read Deep Six more than once. I'm also really good at unscrambling anagrams, too."

Abby laughed. "So you unscrambled 'Thom E. Gemcity,' and put the pieces together after that?"

"I did. I just never mention it around Tim because I'm sure you all heckled him enough when the book was new."

Abby smirked. "Tony and Ziva threatened him bodily harm if he ever published something besides that, or the longstanding unfinished sequel, Rock Hollow."

"Sounds about right."

"Come on." Abby beckoned to her. "This is where I sleep."

Like the rest of Abby's apartment, her bedroom showed off her proclivity for the gothic lifestyle, but things were more… intimate. Abigail briefly wondered how many people had seen this side of Abby in recent times. She had a feeling that the number was limited.

And there was Abby's coffin, in pride of place on a raised platform. It looked like most other coffins, except that it was high-end and had been outfitted for use as an actual bed. The idea sleeping in it even sounded appealing.

Abby broke through her thoughts. "Is it too weird?" Abby was nervous again.

"Uh-uh. I think it's all uniquely you." Abigail gave Abby's hand a gentle squeeze. "Where's your luggage? In your closet?"

"Yup. I'll go get it, but don't be afraid to look around."

Abigail nodded, and was left on her own for a few minutes.

Abby's bedroom was filled with even more things that accentuated her taste in dark and unusual things. While Abigail wasn't surprised by the voodoo equipment, she was amused to see to see that a whole separate area of the room that housed a large number of bowling trophies and pictures from a bowling team, as well as other kinds of bowling-related items. There was no question about what Abby did for fun.

So she bowls, Abigail thought. Maybe we can do that for a first date.

Her thoughts were derailed the next second when she saw something that made her stop in her tracks. Two somethings.

"What are you looking at, beautiful?" Abby asked when she returned with her luggage.

"These."

Abigail motioned towards a pair of stuffed bears on the bedside table. One bear was green, the other yellow, and both looked like they'd seen the power of time and lots of love. There had to be a story behind them.

Abby gently deposited the toys into Abigail's arms. "Nobody outside of my immediate family knows, but I miscarried twins once."

Abigail's heart filled with sorrow. "Oh, Abby..."

"I was even engaged to the father, but things didn't work out. He was a selfish jerk. I haven't seen him since, and I'm perfectly okay with that." Abby tapped her shoulder blades. "I have stick figures angels tattooed here, and a cross on my back, to honor my kids."

Without thinking, Abigail said, "I saw them."

"Really, now?"

Abby's tone was full of amusement. "You would have only seen those if you'd been checking me out while I was changing clothes at the lab."

"I, uh…" Abigail stammered.

"Well, take a breath—I was putting on a show for you because I totally knew that you were watching."

Abigail exhaled noisily. "Thank God. I was really enjoying the view."

"I'll remember that." Abby smirked. "I don't mind you checking me out."

She looked back at the stuffed animals in Abigail's arms.

"My mom gave those to me when I was recovering in the hospital. She suggested they might help with coping. I named them Haven and Harper."

"When were you due?" Abigail asked softly.

"On Christmas Day. My kids would be twenty this year, but at least they're in Heaven together, watching over mommy and chasing butterflies."

Abby lifted the stuffed animals out of Abigail's hands and put them back on the table. She would come back for them before they left.

"I'm going to take a shower," she told Abigail. "And then we can get started on packing, alright?"

"Okay. Sounds good to me."

In a little over an hour, Abby had enough of a wardrobe to last for the two weeks, her tech had been taken taken care of, her favorite belongings were packed, she had a bag of her portable tech, and her fridge had been cleaned out, too. It wasn't even a long drive to Abigail's house on Collingwood Row.

Abby watched Abigail unlock the door. "Anything I should know about the animals? I'm sober this time."

"We'll have to do some animal-related housekeeping after we put our stuff away." Abigail replied as she got the door open and helped Abby bring her things inside. "Ruby has free roam of the house, but Darwin, Bowser, and Scooby will be in their kennels. The neighbor boys to the right, Silas and Jasper, come check on them for me when I ask."

"Have they been by tonight?"

"Yep. Silas texted me when we were leaving the Navy Yard." Abigail shut the door against the cold weather. "Darwin, Bowser, and Scooby always eat in the early evening, but everyone else eats around now."

"Copy that."

Just as they put away their jackets and shoes, there came two back-to-back noises.

BOOM!

WOOSH!

They heard a rumble of thunder, tail-ended by a massive downpour.

This was then rounded out by a chorus of barks and howls.

Abby giggled. "I take it that your canine babies don't like this weather?

Abigail sighed. "They really don't."

At that moment, Ruby the cat wandered in and rubbed herself against Abby's ankles. She even meowed very loudly. Making an entrance was her specialty.

"Hello, gorgeous girl." Abby picked her up and gave her a hug. "Hello."

Ruby's meows turned to louder purrs as she curled up in her friend's arms.

"Wow." Abigail said in surprise. "Ruby doesn't let just anyone pick her up."

Abby arched an eyebrow at her. "I'm not 'just anyone,' am I?"

"Certainly not. Now let's go spring the three amigos out."

Abby was led to a large storage room of sorts at the side of the house. Goods and supplies lined innumerable wraparound pantry shelves, and everything was organized according to species of pet. There was even a label system in place. Other features of the room included a dry-erase board with a very long list of things to be picked up at the local pet store, as well as a refrigerator and an external freezer. Abby couldn't imagine what was in them.

The dogs were in the middle of the room, each in their crates, and each now holding a favorite toy in their mouths. Just Abigail turning on the light had caused them to quieten. Their wagging tails, however, were already expressing the excitement that each of them was doing their best to contain.

Abby turned to her companion. "I've never seen dogs this well behaved before."

"The boys recognize and my authority, but it's also because you're here. Holding a toy also helps them keep it together." Abigail undid the crate latches. "We do this every day."

"Incredible."

Ruby left the room as the dogs gathered around Abby and Abigail, not in any mood to be trodden on.

"Hi, babies." Abby greeted each dog with head rubs and pats. "I missed all three of you very much. Oh, yes, I did."

The dogs' response was to drop their toys in front of her.

"Woah."

Abigail turned around from gathering some particular supplies. "What's up?"

"The dogs are sharing their toys."

"Well, how about that? My parrot approves of you, the cat approves of you, and now dogs approve of you."

"Remind me who is left in the menagerie now?"

"My budgies, and Spyro, my bearded dragon."

"Okay, then who is that for?"

Abigail was holding a small box with breathing holes with in her hands. It was closed tight, but what made Abby nervous was the 'LIVE BAIT' message stamped across the side, and that Abigail now had a pair of long feeding prongs protruding from a back pocket.

"They're for Spyro. He's first up on the feeding list."

"And your scaly baby eats crickets, or something?

Abigail shrugged. "Sometimes he gets mealworms, but he also likes fruits and veggies, too. We'll have more fun with him tomorrow."

Abby recalled a piece of information she'd learned in her inebriated state during her last visit. "That's because you said Spyro is a grump at night."

"Correct, but I have some ideas of how to play with everyone else."

"Like what?"

Abigail winked. "You'll see, Abby. Also, can you get that there, please? The pink one?"

She pointed to a small plastic storage box on a nearby shelf. It was marked 'BIRD FEED' in big block letters.

Abby picked it up. "Where to?"

Despite Abigail's reserved reputation the workplace, her home was the opposite. Had Abby never visited, she would have expected something along the lines of tidy and reserved, like the home of every other service member she'd visited. But it wasn't so in this case.

Abigail's home was bright and homey, with her office being no exception. The walls were bright green, and everywhere that Abby looked, there were numerous bookshelves crammed full of all kind of interesting titles. She also spotted an area of the room dedicated Abigail's time in the Marines, too. Her desk was near a cozy window seat and was unsurprisingly covered in more books. Next to it was—

"Is that Spyro?" Abby asked. "He's cute!"

True enough, Abigail's bearded dragon, movement in the room and had come to the forefront of his cage to investigate. Spyro was earth-colored, and looked a little intimidating with his claws, and his body armor of spikes and scales, but quite the opposite of Abigail's descriptor of him, he seemed… cheerful.

"Hear that?" Abigail cooed to her lizard as she opened the top of his cage. "Abby thinks you're cute, and she's totally right!"

Spyro just yawned and proceeded to lazily catch his offerings of crickets with his tongue for awhile. When he had been completely taken care of, and his cage re-secured, the humans moved on to the aviary. It wasn't far from the office.

Abigail's ten Budgerigar birds were simple simple creatures, only singing and appreciating the hand that fed them.

Neptune was a different story. He remembered Abby. When he saw her, all he wanted was to play and chatter. Abby had never had a parrot before. She returned him to his cage only after Abigail finished cleaning it and topping off the food and water supply. She found Neptune to be quite a charmer.

"Well," Abigail said when they'd exited the aviary and closed the door behind them. "You've officially met all of my pets."

Abby nodded. "I have, and they've all taken to me much better than I thought they would."

"That makes me really happy." Abigail held out the things they'd taken from the pet room. "Do you remember where I got all of these from?"

"Uh-uh. Would you like me to put everything away?"

"Yes, please, and make yourself at home." Abigail smiled at her. "You live here now, too, so I'm officially giving you free range of the house. There's even leftover pizza."

"That actually sounds really good. What are you going to do?"

"Take a shower, and get ready for a night in with you. I still have a few things up my sleeve."

"I can't wait."

After a quick meal, Abby moved from the kitchen table to sitting on the living room couch. The furry pets descending on her immediately. Ruby claimed her lap and purred, while Darwin laid beside them, resting his head on Abby's thigh. His weight and warmth were very comforting. Bowser and Scooby parked themselves at Abby's feet, both asleep in moments. All was quiet, all was well.

They all sat together in silence, enjoying each other, and listening to the sounds of the rain.

Abigail returned from the upper level of the house at this moment, and felt her heart melt at the sight. She already loved Abby, but seeing the dogs and the cat respond to her this well sealed the deal. She was a total keeper. It was as if Abby had always been part of their lives.

Abigail wanted to marry her.

"Abby?"

She turned at the sound of her name, and then smiled. Abigail was dressed in casual pajamas, had her hair done in wraparound braids, and was even makeup-free and barefoot. This was a sight that Abby wouldn't mind coming home to every night.

"Hey." Abby greeted her as she sat with her.

"I just finished printing out these recipes for homemade pet treats," Abigail showed her a stack of papers she'd set on the coffee table. "But I see that look in your eye. You're having some kind of deep thought, huh?"

"I am, but it's about what we discussed earlier, back at my place."

"Mum's the word." Abigail said sincerely.

"Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a specialist, and she said that the chances of me being able to have a baby through IVF are actually really good for someone my age."

"So when we were in the lab, and you talked about some future kid of yours kicking you from the inside, you were actually considering it, anyway."

Abby bobbed her head. "Yes. I also recall you admitting that you were imagining me pregnant."

Leaning over, Abigail kissed Abby's cheek. "So I did. You would look so cute with a baby bump."

"You're just saying that."

"I am not. You would be extremely cute, and at the end of it, there would be a mini-Abby to love."

Abby laughed, although it was because she was relieved that Abigail was painting a nice picture. "That's a good point. So you think that me taking another shot at being a mom isn't a bad idea?"

"I think it's a wonderful idea, and if you want, I could help."

Abby's heart jumped. "Really? I have the funds to make this happen, but Abigail Irene, I haven't even started the hormone therapy."

"I'm very, very sure, and I could even be some sort of mother figure to the kid. Everybody needs two parents."

Just like that, Abby knew she wanted to marry Abigail. Now if only they could figure out how to tell each other that they loved each other.

"They do." Abby agreed when she finally remembered how to talk. "And thank you—you have no idea how much this means to me."

Abigail put one hand on top of Abby's. "I always wanted to be a mom, but then I lost my fiancé while we were enlisted in Iraq. I guess I put the dream away after that."

Abby hugged her. She didn't know what to say, but she hoped that her hug would be able to convey the sympathy that she was feeling. It definitely helped to have someone to hold as she felt her heart and brain come to a major life decision.

She pulled away and stroked Abigail's face. "I love everything about this discussion, and I definitely want you as my kid's other mom. I just have one request."

"Name it."

"Whatever this is, I just want it to be ours for awhile. Until we figure it out. We did just talk about becoming parents, but…"

"I know what you're trying to say." Abigail told her. "It helps that we've been friends for awhile already, but taking it slow is perfectly okay with me."

Abigail turned to mush on the spot. She almost even said, "I love you," but withheld it. There would be another time.

So she just watched as Abby moved Ruby off her lap, and then step over Scooby and Bowser. She even apologized to Scooby for almost tripping over his back. In response, they just stood and stretched out, with Darwin following suit. They were all ready to travel to wherever Abby's next spot was going to be. Even Ruby made to join the pack.

Abby stood and turned back to Abigail. "You coming?"

Abigail stood and followed her, grabbing the recipes as she went. "You bet."

"By the way, I can bake a mean blueberry cobbler, but I've never baked exclusively for a pet."

"No? And what kinds of pets did you have in Louisiana? Chickens?"

"Amongst other things. Aren't you from actual farm country, though?"

"It's even deep in Amish Country." Abigail confirmed as they walked into the kitchen. "I had a pet duck named Lula, and she lived to be twelve years old, which is a ripe old age for the kind of duck that she was."

"I was never that attached to our fowl. How did you get Lula?"

So Abigail began to tell the story of how she got her first pet.

Abby hung on to every word.