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Chapter 29
The next morning the kids were all up early mostly dressed casually again in shorts and T-shirts with a bathing suit underneath. This worked out perfectly for the boys. Didn't matter where they started or where they finished, the same clothes would apply.
Jess and Maddie thought would both get dressed as Disney princesses. Neither Abby or Kim cared. This wasn't school and it didn't matter one way or the other what they wore really. By the time they dropped them off at their chosen venue for the day they realised that they weren't the only little girls with the same idea. Luckily Abby had thought to pack a couple of those dresses, Maddie would have been really put out if Jess had had a costume and she didn't.
Tim and Abby,Tony and Ziva and Jimmy and Amber walked the babies down to the nursery while Gibbs and Kim took the little girls to join the other kids their age. Sarah and Zac took the boys to their room and after signing them in left to find some fun of their own. Ducky had decided to find some adult fun and had gone exploring on his own. He planned to meet up with the other adults for lunch. The kids would be eating with their minders.
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
Freedom now at hand, Gibbs took himself off for a quiet coffee in the sports lounge where sports games were streamed.
"I hope that Aviva and Hannah will be ok." Ziva said worriedly.
"They'll be fine Zi." Abby said putting an arm around her friend. "Besides, Ethan's there too." What Abby thought Ethan might do to protect the girls distracted Ziva for the moment.
"The staff here is specially trained honey. The babies will be fine." Ziva smiled.
"And I left Jack in there." Amber said with a smile. They all burst out laughing...even Amber. "See...it must be safe...no horrible gut feeling are telling me otherwise."
"You are all right." Ziva said. "I am sooo looking forward to a massage."
"Me too." Abby said. "We're all gonna have the works. And if anyone needs us...the boys have that phone they gave us."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"This is pretty neat in here." Dyl said as he stared at the giant TV screen. "And look at the computers."
"Come on Dyl." Kyle said. "Don't chicken out now...we had a deal. Besides we have the rest of the trip to spend in here...lets just go see what we can find."
"I wasn't chickening out." Dyl said offended. He hated it when the older boys thought he was a baby. He wasn't.
"How are we supposed to get out of here anyway." Mike asked.
"I'll figure it out." Kyle said. I just have to have a look around...suss the place out a bit." Mike rolled his eyes. Family loyalty stopped him from pointing out to Dyl that that meant he had no idea.
Xoxoxoxoxoxooxox
Jess and Maddie squealed when they found Snow White herself standing in the middle of the Oceaneer's club. She was there to greet all the kids for an hour or so before she moved on but the girls thought she was there just for them.
"Where's the Prince?" Maddie asked excitedly.
"Oh he's a little busy at the moment." Snow said sweetly with a smile. Another question asker. It was all she needed...if only she could tell the truth , that it was a low paying job that she thought was going to be a lot more glamorous than it turned out to be. With VERY low tips. Kids this age didn't carry cash for tipping...
"What's he doin?" Maddie persisted.
"Well I'm not exactly sure...I'm sure he's doing very Princely things." Jess nodded enthusiastically, totally awed to have met the real Snow White.
"Is he in the Edge?" Maddie asked following the poor girl that had tried to make a quick escape. "Jess's brother and our other friends are in the edge." Snow White turned and gave Maddie and then Jess a big hug in the hope that that would distract them enough to make them stop asking questions. It didn't.
"Are you gonna marry Prince Charming on this boat?" Snow White kept her plastered on smile in place while her mind tried to come up with something that would appease this poor child, who was really just curious.
"I'm not allowed to tell you." she whispered softly. "It's a surprise...so that no little child ever knows which of us is going to turn up where...don't tell anyone..." she said. Maddie nodded seriously. All she had to do was say. Maddie could keep a secret.
'I won't tell...will we Jess."
"Nope... we won't tell anyone." Jess said reverently.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
All the girls were happily ensconced into the spa. Abby and Ziva were getting massages while Kim and Amber were in the middle of a pedicure.
"This feels sooo good." Ziva moaned. All the physical stuff she'd put her body through with her Mossad years and her crime fighting at NCIS...even being the mother of two rumbustious boys...nothing had run her body ragged like the constant care of twins...Now that they were finally starting to sleep more at night was the perfect time for this relaxation.
"Good hon." Abby said. "You deserve it. I don't know how you do it."
"It is fine...but my body is...tired."
"Well hopefully after this it'll be raring to go."
"Yes." Ziva muttered sleepily. "Better"
Kim and Amber were side by side getting their feet soaked.
"Are you ever sorry you didn't have another baby?" Amber asked. Kim looked thoughfully.
"I don't know. You know...I don't think I want another BABY as such but I wish that Maddie wasn't an only child...so maybe...no...I don't think it's what Gibbs wants."
"He's not the only one that matter you know." Amber said.
"I know...and if I really wanted a baby he would go along with that for me... but I'm not going to insist on something that I don't know I want in the first place...does that make sense?"
"Yeah it does."
"What about you...? Do you think you'll have more?"
"Yeah...not yet though. When Jack's a little older."
"Well you will have to get your pageant girl." Amber giggled.
"Boys do pageants too you know."
"I know..." Kim smiled... "Could you imagined if I did have a son and I put it in a pageant...Gibbs would..."
"Oh yeah." Amber said. Both women burst into a fit of giggles at the picture of an outraged Gibbs rescuing his son from a pageant...a tiny King's crown perched upon his small head.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
After dropping off the kids Tony, Tim and Jimmy headed for the adult pool area. They were happy to find it pretty much deserted. There was a bar at one end and lounge chairs where a few other adults were already laying reading books or or napping. They all grapped a lounge chair and started on there work for the day...some serious relaxing.
Tony waited until they were all settled and then pulled a large book for the beach bag he'd brought with him.
"Very funny Tony." Tim said with a scowl.
"Sorry Mc Gemcity...just thought this would be the perfect opportunity to catch up on our favourite agents..." he said with a grin.
"Uhhuh. You already read it."
"No no I scanned it for all the bits about me. NOW I'm going to read it from cover to cover...because I have time and I can."
"Gee thanks Tony."
"You're very welcome Tim. I'll let you know what I think."
"I'm sure you will." Jimmy closed his eyes and let their banter amuse him while he drifted off for a few minutes.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Back at the edge the boys were still searching for their out...or better still Mike and Dyl were waiting for Kyle to find their out. The Edge was great, but it was crowded and they would much rather spend the morning exploring the ship.
After a while, Kyle's keen eyes settled on something... A Goofy character disappeared into what looked like some sort of storage cupboard. He made a bee line and stood outside listening, the other boys hot on his tail. Suddenly he opened the door, there before him was a what looked like a seventeen year old kid with a Goofy head under one arm and a cigarette in the other.
Goofy looked horrified. This could would mean the end of his job if this brat told.
"Need a favour?" Kyle asked with a grin. Goofy shook his head as he blew smoke out of the corner of his mouth. This could mean even more trouble but the kid had him over a barrel. Suddenly two more grinning faces were in the doorway...
"Shit." he said. "Ok...what do you need?"
"Out of here." Kyle said. You have to either sign us out or distract the girl on the desk while we make a run for it."
"Guess I have no choice...and you won't tell?"
"Nope."
"Promise."
"Ok."
Goofy ditched the rest of his costume and went about chatting up his friend on the desk quickly before he got caught.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Fifteen minutes later and three young boys were delirious with happiness at the freedom their spectacular escape had given them as they made their way through the ships bowels. Finally their vacation could begin.
TBC
