Thank you all as usual for the reviews and alerts. I'm sorry that it's taken a while for me to update. I've been really busy. I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Chapter 28
The buzz of excitement in the McGee household the night before the cruise had made it almost impossible for any of them to sleep...big or small. Finally most of the McGees had laid down their heads and dosed off. Even Zac who was asleep downstairs on the fold out sofa in readiness for their early flights the next day.
"Abby...you need to sleep." Tim said, the patience he'd had for the last two hours finally slipping. "WE need to be up early."
"I'm trying Timmy really." she said flipping over once again in the bed. "You sure that special bag got there on time?"
"Yes...I'm positive. As positive as I was when I checked for the second time today just before we went to bed."
"But..."
"Go to sleep Abs."
"I'm trying." she flipped over again with her back to her husband and flicked on the TV. "I just need a little background noise." Tim pulled Abby back against him and snagged the clicker and switched the TV back off.
"Sleep." he said hoisting one leg over her body to keep her still.
"Really Tim?"
"NOOO. We have to get up in four hours Abby...sleep."
The heat from Tim's body and the fact that she could no longer move, soothed Abby until she finally drifted off to sleep.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoox
They all stood in awe at the site of the enormous ship they were about to board.
"Holy crap it's a Disney Cruise!" Tony said forgetting to close his mouth.
"TONY!" Ziva chided. "Little jugs have big ears!"
"So does Mickey Mouse...and Pluto and and Eye Ore..."
"We get the picture Tony." Gibbs said.
Abby was bouncing around like she was doing an impression of Tigger.
"Isn't it exciting?" she said clapping her hands. Jess and Maddie were bouncing right behind her.
"Will all the princesses be here?" Maddie asked loudly and with great excitement..
"Yes...ALL of them!" Abby squeaked.
"Oh Abby, this is too much..." Amber said.
"Pretty close." Kim giggled at her husbands obvious discomfort.
"Don't you get to dress up and have dinner with the princesses on these cruises?" she asked.
"I'm not getting dressed up." Gibbs answered.
"But you HAVE to Gibbs."
"We don't have costumes." Ziva said. Gibbs could have kissed her.
"She's right Abs. We don't have costumes." Gibbs added winced.
"Yes we do Gibbs!" Abby said bouncing over in his direction. "Tim let me choose costumes for everyone and we had them all delivered to here."
"Oh crap!" Kyle said. He loved Aunt Abby but if she chose all their costumes God knows what they were gonna be wearing.
"Hey!" Tony said trying to swipe the back of his ducking head.
"You said, it." Kyle whined.
"I told you Tony... big jugs!" Ziva said. He smiled at the missed opportunity that he didn't dare say. He was hoping to see her big jugs clad in a bikini NOT a Minnie Mouse costume.
"Ok everyone relax..." Gibbs glared in Tim's direction. "Sorry Boss...I had to give her a job her excitement was...overwhelming." he whispered. No change in Gibb's expression. "You only have to dress up for one dinner..."
"I'm not wearing tights." Gibbs said.
"Oh... I'm sure she chose something for you that wasn't ….tights...Boss."
"Did you check Tim?"
"Uhhh...not exactly."
"I'm not wearing tights McGee..."
"Got it."
"Did you get him tights?" Tim whispered to Abby.
"All the Princes wear tights McGee..."
"Of course they do." Tim was starting to rethink the costume idea, but when he saw the look on Abby's face he relented. It was too late anyway. "It'll be fine Abs...I'm sure everyone will grow to love their costumes."
"Is this a baby cruise?" Dyl asked.
"Nooo. Boys you're gonna LOVE this cruise!" Abby said. She got out some books from her purse and handed them around. "See?" She pointed to the space that was to be the playground for the three boys... a room called 'The Edge'...All the boys gathered around and whooped with edge had numerous entertaining activities for this kids of this age including a comedy workshop...
"Good Abs.." Gibbs chuckled... a place for them to learn to be even bigger wiseacres.
"I know right!" she said not catching on. All she saw was his smile. She so wanted them all to be pleased.
"Wow!" Mike yelled. "Look at the video wall...it's eighteen feet long and five feet high."Kyle and Dyl's mouths dropped open in were speechless.
"Do we get a special room too Mommy?" Jess asked.
"You sure do." Abby said... "You have two places and the boys can go there too...see?" she said opening the book to show them. "There's the 'Ocean Club' and the "Ocean LAB' JUST like Mommy's... only bigger! And...not real and definitely more colourful and more...Disney."
"Does it have a big TV?" Maddie asked.
"Bigger than the other room." Abby whispered.
"And that's not to mention all the pools and outdoor areas...This ship has something for EVERYONE!" Tim said. "If we don't actually miss it..!"
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Tim and Abby had wrestled with the sleeping arrangements, it hadn't been easy with the families all growing as fast as they had Finally they'd settled on what they hoped would be ok with everyone...
"Wow...Abby said as she walked into their rooms. They had booked for themselves and the Dinozzos...because they had the largest families...a 'Royal Suite'. These rooms came with a separate bedroom for the parents with a queen size bed AND most importantly...a door that closed for privacy. The large living area had two double fold down beds. Cribs for the babies had been placed in each suite.
For the other two families they'd chosen One bedroom suites...as well as for Ducky and Zac who'd they'd put together. These rooms were basically the same , just a little smaller with only one fold down bed...Abby and Tim knew that Sarah wasn't going to be happy with the arrangements, but Tim still couldn't bring himself to provide his sister with a room to sleep with Zac in...what she did that he didn't find out about he couldn't really change. He knew that.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
The families all settled into their rooms and had even done quick tours of the ship. The kids were over the moon with their activities areas and they couldn't wait for the next day. The ladies had all booked into a spa. Tony and Tim were planning on heading for one of the adult only pool areas, where they could relax and hear themselves think for a while. Gibbs had a book and was heading to the Cafe where he could read and relax. Ducky thought he might head to the adults bar. Not that he would spend all day drinking but it was the place he was most likely to meet other FRIENDS, possibly of the female persuasion.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
After a quick swim with the kids, they all changed and met up at one of the many dining rooms. Tonight was casual night so everyone was happy that they weren't going to have to face Abby's costumes yet.
They had a large table reserved so they could all eat together. As usual, Kyle Mike and Dyl were starving so they were first at the table waiting to be served. The little girls wandered around in wonder at the fining room. All the characters lit up on screens around the room.
"The fun will really start tomorrow." Kyle said with a grin."
"Yeah I can't wait." Mike agreed.
"Which room will we go to first?" Dyl asked.
"None." Kyle said.
"Huh?"
"Come on...the opportunity is just to sweet." Kyle said.
"I hate to admit it but he's right."Mike said. "What did ya have in mind?"
"I say we sneak out and do a little exploring of our own...on our own."
"Could we get away with it?" Dyl asked.
"Of course we could...and a ship this size...can you imagine what there is took look at...?"
"Oh yeah..." Mike said. "We could sneak into the bowels of the ship and see all the engines and stuff."
"Um,...yeah there's that..." Kyle said with a roll of his eyes... "OR we could sneak up to one of the adult pool areas and see the women in bikinis...or into one of the other adult areas..." Dyl giggled.
"I wouldn't mind seeing the big screen TV in that room Mom told s about."
"Yeah it's big, but it'll probably just show Micky Mouse."
"I guess."
"You can go there if you want Dyl." Mike said.
"No...I'll come with you two."
"Ok everyone choose yet?" Tone asked, taking the menu from Kyle.
"Ah yeah...we decided.' he said with a grin.
TBC
Just a short note. I have just had a book published by Blushing Books. It's called Becky's Last Chance. The name I'm writing under is Constance Masters. It is a little racier than I write on here but if you're over eighteen you might want to take a look. Thanks :)
The book is available at Blushing Books and also on Amazon Kindle :)
