Wow! I got quite a few reviews for this over the weekend. LOVED IT! Thank you so much!

Here we go! Chapter 14! Enjoy! :-)

No tengo NCIS…That's Spanish for I DO NOT own NCIS or anything related to it, mi amigo!

Tony and Kate walked into the Bullpen and were greeted by the melancholy faces of McGee and Abby. Abby being the person she was, approached Tony and Kate wrapping them in warm hug.

"I'm going to miss her. She was one of the best lab assistants I ever had. At least you know she went to a family who will take good care of her."

"Yeah," replied Tony, emotionless.

"How did she handle it?" asked McGee.

"She took it pretty well," replied Kate.

"What's the family like? Are they a nice couple? One who will play with her and hug her? She likes hugs. They aren't old are they? Cause she has a lot of energy and I don't know if an older couple can handle that…" rambled Abby.

"Abbs?" spat Tony, trying to refocus the Goth.

"Sorry."

"They decided it would be best for her to go to a treatment facility."

"A treatment facility? Why?" exclaimed McGee

"They are worried that Arissa may have some emotional problems and they want her somewhere that is capable of handling those types of issues in children," explained Kate.

"Emotional problems? She seemed fine with you guys? She was always happy and upbeat."

"We told the judge that but they can't be sure that she will react the same way with another family."

"So, why didn't they just leave her with you?"

"We're federal agents, Abbs. We're barely home, we work sporadic hours, not to mention we have a baby on the way. Kind of a difficult situation to take care of a three year old in?"

"We tried to reason with them but her caseworker felt she had to do what she felt was best for Arissa," replied Tony.

"How does she know what's best for her she only meet her a three times! You two have lived with her! You know what's best for her!"

"Abby," interjected Kate.

"No, Kate! This isn't right! She was perfectly fine with you! She was happy and coping just fine! Now they've gone and thrown her in some mental hospital where the only time anyone is going to pay her any attention is when they drug her!"

Tony gave Abby a hug hoping it would help calm her emotional state. "I know you're upset Abbs, but where she's going they are more than capable of taking care of her and giving her the attention that she needs."

"How do you know, Tony?"

At that moment, Gibbs entered the Bullpen with Arissa at his side and boxes of pizza in hand.

"Hi, Abby! Hi, Timmy!" waved Arissa. "Look, we got pizza!"

McGee and Abby stared at the two of them speechless.

"What? You don't like pizza?" asked Gibbs, not sure why everyone was staring at him and Arissa.

"Um, what is Arissa doing here?" asked McGee surprised to see the little girl.

"They didn't tell you? Kate and Tony are Arissa's new foster parents," said Gibbs as he sat the food down on his desk and helped Arissa into a chair next to him.

Abby's facial expression went from sad to angry as she punched Tony in the arm. "You said that Sharon felt that living with you wasn't the best place for Arissa?"

"She did!" exclaimed Tony in pain. "But the judge felt that Arissa would be better off staying with Kate and me because our environment will allow her a better sense of normalcy and routine in her life. Which apparently is very important for a child dealing with her situation. The judge was very impressed by us!"

"So, Arissa gets to stay with you guys?" asked McGee.

"Temporarily. They want to see how Arissa copes with things over the next few months before they move to the next phase of things. So Sharon will be checking in with us to see how things are going and six months from now they will reassess her and try to find her a more permanent placement," said Kate.

Abby rushed over and hugged Kate, bouncing up and down excitement. "Arissa gets to stay! Arissa gets to stay!"

"Hey Abby, be careful. You're shaking my kid up in there," said Tony.

"Sorry! This is just so amazing! You guys get to keep being a cute little family unit!" exclaimed Abby, still bouncing up and down.

"We are only her foster parents, Abbs," replied Tony.

"I know," replied Abby, with smirk on her face.

"Tony and Kate are going to need some help with her, so we all may have to pitch in from time to time," said Gibbs.

"I'm totally in to help out! My lab door is always open! Unless it's closed, then you have to open it! But yeah, just say the word and I'm there! This will be great practice for when my little niece or nephew comes!" exclaimed Abby as she pat Kate's stomach

"I'll help out too," said McGee with a smile.

"Thanks, guys," replied Kate, touched by her coworkers willingness to help out.

"Now all you have to do is move into Kate's apartment," said Gibbs, with a smirk on his face.

"Wait? You guys are moving into Kate's place?" asked Abby in shock.

"The law requires that Arissa have her own bed. Tony only has the one bedroom," replied Kate.

"You okay with that, Kate?" chuckeled McGee.

"What's the big deal? We live together now," replied Tony, unsure of what was so funny.

"No, Kate lives with you! Now you will be living with Kate!" replied Abby, unable to control her smile.

"Why is everyone smiling?" asked Tony, still confused.

"Take it from me, Tony. Leave the seat down!" replied Gibbs.

Tony looked over to Kate, who simply tilted her head to the side and smiled.

That night after work and a quick stop by Tony's apartment to pick up some clothes and other essentials, Tony, Kate and Arissa all headed to Kate's apartment.

"Why we no stay at Nozzo's house?" asked Arissa as they entered into Kate's apartment.

"Because Nozzo only has one bed and you sleep like a rabid raccoon," joked Tony as he dropped his and Arissa's things in the middle of Kate's living room.

Though they had worked together six years, Tony had never really been in Kate's apartment aside from when they went there to carry out their secret affair. In which case, he was too preoccupied with their love making and leaving before anyone would notice, to really take a good look at the place.

Modestly furnished with few pieces of Ikea furniture, Kate's apartment looked barely lived in. Everything was neat and ordered aside from a few dirty dishes in the sink and the blanket and pillow lying on the sofa. A few miscellaneous photos of Kate with President Bush and other political figures were scattered around the living room along with a few photos of her family, the only personal touches of Kate in the apartment

"Tony?" shouted Kate.

"What?" replied Tony, pulling himself from his survey of Kate's apartment.

"Your bags go in the bedroom, not in the middle of my floor!"

Tony picked up the bags and headed down the hall towards the bedroom. He had very little recollection of Kate's bedroom, mostly because he only saw it in the darkness of night. Turning on the light, he was able to take in his first view of Kate's room. Much like the rest of the house, her bedroom consisted of nothing more than queen sized bed, covered in a dark brown comforter that complimented the tan pillows that rested at the top of the bed. Given the bed was still made and the fact that there was a blanket and pillow on the sofa, Tony assumed that Kate didn't sleep in her bed much. Aside from the bed, two dressers and a pair of nightstands were the only things that occupied the room.

"Like what you see?" asked Kate, entering into the bedroom.

"Yeah" replied Tony, flirtingly as he looked Kate up and down. "Your apartment's nice too! Looks a lot better in the daylight! Could use a little jazzing up though."

"And what would you suggest, Tony?"

Tony gave Kate a smile that said "the next words that come out of my mouth are seriously going to piss you off".

"I better go check on, Arissa. Make sure she's settled in." replied Kate as she left the room trying to avoid Tony's nonsense.

Inside the spare room, Arissa sat on the bed, holding her teddy bear, bouncing up and down.

"I like you house, Kate!" said Arissa.

Kate sat down next to Arissa. "Thank you! It's your house now!"

"What's this?" Arissa pointed to a teddy bear lying on a pillow at the top of the bed.

"Oh, that's my teddy bear, Mr. Snuggles," said Kate as she picked up the bear in her hands.

"He just like mine!" said Arissa, holding up her teddy bear, comparing the two.

"Yeah, he is!"

"He's so old!"

"I got him when I was a little girl like you."

"That was a really long time ago!"

"It wasn't that long ago!" chuckled Kate, slightly offended and slightly amused by the little girl.

"Do you still play with him?"

"No, not anymore. I kept him around cause I thought maybe one day I would give him to my child to play with," Kate unconsciously rubbed her hand across her stomach.

Arissa sat looking at the teddy bear silently.

"Here, why don't you keep him for a while?"

Arissa smiled, taking the teddy bear and hugging him tightly next to her teddy bear in her arms.

"I'm going to go fix dinner. Why don't you play in here for a while?"

"Okay," said Arissa as Kate got up to leave. Laying down on her stomach, Arissa faced the two teddy bears toward one another. "Teddy, I want you to meet Mr. Snuggles! He Kate's teddy and he really nice like her!"

Kate smiled to herself at the sight of the little girl. As she walked out the door she ran into Tony who stood listening outside the door.

"Mr. Snuggles?" mocked Tony.

The fist to his abdomen shut him up before he had a chance to finish his sentence.

Later that night, after getting Arissa fed, bathed and into bed, Kate found Tony in her bedroom putting his things into drawers.

"The one drawer you gave me wasn't big enough so I thought we could share?" smiled Tony, wiggled a piece of Kate's clothing in the air.

"Tony, that's my underwear drawer!" spat Kate.

"Is there a problem?"

Kate slapped Tony upside the head before grabbing her undergarment. "Let me lay down a few rules. One, stay out of my underwear. Two, pick up after yourself and three, leave the toilet seat down, got it?" said Kate as she laid back on the bed.

"Got it! But I have a few request of my own," smiled Tony as he laid down next to Kate. "One, no using my toothbrush!"

"Tony, that's disgusting!"

"Two, no eating my cereal."

"Seriously, Tony?"

"And three," Tony reached under Kate's pillow and pulled out the pistol she kept hidden there in case of an intruder. "No guns in the bedroom."

"Oh! I guess it's not safe to keep that there with a kid in the house?" said Kate as she took the gun and walked into the closet to hide it.

"Yeah? For the kid's safety?" said Tony, sarcastically.

Kate went and put the gun away in the closet before laying back down with Tony.

"Tired?" asked Tony noticing Kate rubbing her back.

"You have no idea," groaned Kate. "My back is killing me!"

"Here, let me see if I can help."

Kate rolled on her side as Tony massaged the small of her back.

"Better?"

"Yes!" sighed Kate, enjoying the sensation of Tony's hands on her aching back. "Today felt like the longest day of my life!"

"Mine too! I left this morning thinking I would never see Arissa again and now she's our foster child!"

"We did the right thing by taking her right?"

"She's not in some treatment center right now so yeah, I think we did the right thing!"

Kate laughed. "I'm still wrapping my head around the idea that I'm about to have a child of my own now I'm playing mom to a three year old!"

"Well if it makes you feel any better, you are one hot play Mommy!"

"Are you flirting with me, Tony?"

"Well seeing as how we are dating and I don't have to worry about you shooting me for it. Yes, I am flirting with you!"

Kate rolled over onto her back, looking Tony directly in the face.

"Well, I have to admit, you're one hot play Daddy!"

Tony smiled as he leaned in slowly to kiss Kate. The two began to get caught up in the passion of their kiss when they heard the sound of sniffles coming from the doorway.

"I think we have company," said Tony as he looked to see Arissa looking at them.

"Kate?" whispered Arissa, hugging her teddy bears tightly.

Kate pushed Tony from on top of her causing him to fall to the floor. "Can't sleep, Arissa?"

The little girl shook her head no.

"Come on!" said Tony, a bit frustrated as he pulled the covers back, allowing the little girl to get in bed between him and Kate. "I guess I better get used to interruptions."

Kate laughed. "You okay, Arissa?"

"I miss Mommy and Daddy," said Arissa as she settled into bed.

"We know you do, sweetie." said Kate, gently stroking the little girl's head.

"I no like that they leave me by myself."

"Rissa, you know that they didn't want to leave you," said Tony.

"I know. I was scared that you was going to leave me today too."

Tony and Kate looked at each other.

"We weren't going to leave you sweetie, not if we could help it," replied Kate.

"Good. Cause I like you guys," yawned Arissa as she snuggled in next to Kate.

Tony kissed the little girl on her forehead as she started to fall asleep. "We like you too."

What do you think? Tony and Kate get to keep Arissa a bit longer, yay! Planning a surprise or two for the upcoming chapters. As always, reviews are welcomed and an update is coming soon :-)