……………..4th of December…………….
……………Kate's apartment………..
"Mom…I know there is something you want to tell me. Tell me before we go to Tony." Kate told her mother.
"If you just don't say anything after I tell you." Emily Todd told her daughter.
"Fine…I can't take not knowing. All morning I've waited for you to tell me. I know you mom. You didn't come out here just to visit your daughter." Kate told her.
"Your father and I are safe…We're so safe that both of our daughters didn't want to play it safe in their lives. You became an agent and Jessica wanted to undercover the truth by becoming a journalist in Los Angeles after college. You saw what happened to her. Broken dreams and a good reality check." Mrs Todd told her.
"Mom, you left something out. Jessie didn't give up and she loved travelling across the country from one journalist job to another. She got experience and it led to her being able to work overseas. Jessie now works in New York and is happy. Did you come here to talk about how you think how unhappy I am here?" Kate asked her mother.
"Aren't you? Jessie is your younger sister and even if I've disagreed with many of her decisions I don't worry about her. She is married, has given me two grandchildren and has a job she plans to stick to. I can't say that about you. You know you will get fired from this job too if you hop into bed with that Tony guy." Her mother told her truthfully. Mrs Todd didn't want to sound harsh but it wasn't her who brought up the topic in the beginning. Someone had to knock some sense into her. Why couldn't she at least keep a job?
"Mom, I'm not hopping into bed with him. Did you come all the way here to complain about my life?" Kate asked her. She had heard enough of it and wanted her to stop but telling her that was easier said than done especially since the few times she had done so her mother had refused to listen. Her father had just felt the same but hadn't expressed it as verbally as her mother had done in the past.
"That's not why I'm here…As I said. Your father and I have played it safe but no more. We're selling the house and moving to an apartment. The last year has been pretty difficult for us. Your father lost his job." Emily said before Kate cut her off.
"He got a new one six months later and you know I'll help you out. Jessie has offered to help you out too. Why did you refuse our help?" Kate told her mom.
"I think both of you barely manage now so we don't want your money. That's why we decided to sell the house. The little money we have we want to use it on ourselves, have fun and be happy. We're going to marriage counselling and are considering even to leave the city and try something new. I was in New York last weekend and told Jessie that. We wanted to tell you in person but your father had to work so it was me who had to go to you to tell you both." Emily told her.
"I need to call dad. After the call we're going to Tony and his mother." Kate told her.
…………….. Tony's house…………..
"Mom…I do keep in contact with my siblings and I try to call you and dad at least once a month." Tony told his mom.
"I know. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Here in this big house." His mother told him while they were preparing lunch.
"I'm not lonely mom."
"I know you're not."
"I also now you've been to see Isabella, Kelly and Andy. Only you and not dad have been visiting them and I'm last on the list. They refused to tell me what is going on because you want to tell it in person. Now tell me. Are you and dad separating?" Tony asked her.
"We're not getting a divorce. Everything is fine with us. I decided to not work for six months and the six months are coming to an end and I wanted to visit my kids. Nothing unusual with that." Emma Dinozzo told him.
"It is when you're hiding something." Tony confronted her.
"Did I tell you how I and your father met? David has just died and we really needed money. I got this temporary job at your father's office. I was going to work there for three months. I had heard about him being left alone with two boys and when people heard about my situation, they though we had something in common. I thought your father looked good but I didn't want to push it. I barely spoke to him while I worked there. Then on the last day at my job he came up to me and said he was dared to ask me out. He asked me out and got 20 dollars from his friend by doing that. Your father reminds me a lot about you. I thought he was just joking so I didn't care but when I was going home he stopped me outside the building and asked me out for real. To me he had always been this grieving husband with two children but the last day he became someone else. He became my husband. I know you think everything went so fast. We moved in together a year later, got married after being together for two years and we moved to a bigger house. I just want to tell you look at what you have in front of you. Is it good or bad? If you don't like it then change it. All I want is for you to be happy but you're like your father sometimes. Too afraid about really doing what makes you happy in case you lose it. I don't want you to go through life with you thinking you missed out on something great. I wanted to share my wisdom with my children before it is too late. Your father has already done that and now it is my turn." His mother told him.
"Are you dying? It will make sense then." Tony said stunned. He had never heard this story before and he had heard many stories about things his father had done with Grace and Emma.
"No, I'm not dying."
"Then why tell me this now? You've never told me this before. Sharing your wisdom…You're going to live for a long time." Tony told his mother.
"You're afraid of me dying Tony. I did this to prepare our children for the future in the best way possible and I know this is what I have to do. Grace didn't want to die. She loved you so much. There wasn't a day which went by where she regretted how she lived her life. I know she died happy just as I want to die. Three of my children are happy with their everyday life but as a mother I know the fourth one isn't. "Emma told Tony.
"I'm happy mom. I've got the best job in the world. Fantastic friends and co-workers. A great family…So three of your children are married and have two children each but the eldest one hasn't any of that. You shouldn't worry about me. You can die happy. Tell dad that too. Also say I'm sorry for not being able to come over during the holidays." Tony told her knowing what she was thinking.
"The door is always open…Tell me about Kate." His mother then asked.
"That's why you told me the how you met story…Don't try to set me up with Kate. Kate has a different taste in men." Tony said feeling quite good about figuring out her plan.
"You can't blame me for trying." Mrs Dinozzo told him.
……………In Kate's car……………
"You've been quiet." Her mother told her.
"I got a lot on my mind." Kate replied.
"We're fine. Stop worrying about us…So tell me about your friends here." Her mother said to her.
"There is Jennie who I met at NCIS but she doesn't work at NCIS and not the same floor as me. She works two floors over me but with other navy stuff. Administration and such. Paperwork. She is 30, married with no children but her husband is an officer currently stationed in Iraq. We exercise together and hang out a bit. The closest friend I got here is Abby who works at NCIS. We talk a lot, go to spas, restaurants and do so much else together. I work a lot so getting time to get friends and then actually spend time with them isn't that easy." Kate explained to her. She hoped it was enough to satisfy her mother.
"Ok…Are we there yet?" her mother then said.
Her response surprised Kate. Emily Todd didn't usually response this way.
"Really soon."
………………….At Tony's house………….
"Sorry for being late." Kate told Tony as they entered the house.
"It is ok. We were just finished." Tony answered.
"Let me help you set the table." Mrs Todd offered when she saw Mrs Dinozzo doing it.
"I was on my way to do it. Why don't you sit in the sofa while we finish?" Tony told Mrs Todd.
"Why don't you and Kate set the table while I go get the food in the kitchen?" Mrs Dinozzo suggested.
"I'll go help you in the kitchen." Mrs Todd then said. A few seconds later both mothers were in the kitchen.
"So what was that about?" Tony asked Kate.
"My mother is avoiding me. We had a long talk this morning and that's why we're late. I'm so sorry for causing a bad mood here." Kate apologized. She didn't want to tell Tony what was really going on. Her mother told Kate she was ready to give her space now she suddenly did as she said.
"My mother and I had a deep talk to which didn't end so well so I understand. I can't quite figure out my mother's agenda. She is tricky sometimes." Tony told Kate. He thought he had figured it out but the more he and his mother had talked the more doubtful Tony had got. A lot more doubtful than he portrayed himself to Kate.
"Let's set the table." Kate said while starting.
………..
A while later Kate and Tony sat down at the table but no food had come and especially no mothers had come.
"What are they up to?" Tony asked getting up from his seat.
"My mother wants me to get married. Have you told your mother a lot about me?" Kate asked him suspicious.
"Not so much…" Tony said feeling a little guilty. He had talked about her a bit but he knew a bit was too much for Kate.
"She's pumping her for some information. I can't believe you Tony. Do you have to blab to everyone about my private life?" Kate asked him.
"I don't do that." Tony protested.
"Yes you do." Kate objected.
"My mother also wants me to get married and I think in her eyes you're the only suitable candidate right now so how much have you told your mother about me? So maybe you're a big blabber too." Tony said a bit higher just to get back at her.
"You take that back instantly. At least my mother doesn't want me to marry someone like you. She knows me too good to think that." Kate told him.
"My mother knows me really well…You should take back that comment instantly." Tony warned her.
………
"What's all the shouting about?" Mrs Todd said as she and Mrs Dinozzo came into the room with the food.
"Nothing." Tony then said.
"Let's eat." Kate told them. Neither of them wanted to explain what had happened.
……………..After the lunch…………
Mrs Todd and Mrs Dinozzo were in the living room while their children were in the kitchen.
"They were quite quiet during lunch. Do you think it was because of us?" Mrs Emma Dinozzo asked.
"It was probably us and the fight." Mrs Emily Todd replied.
"Isn't it odd that when we start to get along they start to fight?" Emma stated.
"It is. Maybe we can make them feel better at the gallery." Emily answered.
Then they sat quiet waiting for their children to come back out to them so they could go.
…………When they we're going home after seeing the art gallery………..
"It didn't work. They talked to us and sometimes with each other but they are still mad at each other. "Emma told Emily when they were walking slowly behind Tony and Kate.
"I think they need to be alone without us for a few hours. Any ideas?" Emily suggested.
"Not really. When are you going home?" Emma Dinozzo asked.
"I haven't decided if it'll be on Friday or Saturday. What about you?"
"Saturday. You should go home by then too." Emma replied.
"I think I'll do that." Emily Todd replied.
…………..
Then Kate's cell phone rang. She talked for a while. Then she talked to Tony before they went over to their mothers.
"Mom. What would you say if you and Mrs Dinozzo spent the evening together? I can drive you home so you can get your luggage and then drop you off at Tony's." Kate explained.
"Why?" Emily Todd asked.
"I don't think I'll be coming home tonight and it should be more fun if you had someone to be with than alone at my place." Kate further explained.
"I feel the same. You need some company and I'm so sorry for not being able to provide it to you. This is apart of our job. Kate will drive you two to her place and then drop you off at my place. I'll be going straight away to NCIS." Tony told them.
……………….A while later at NCIS…………….
"So how did it go?" Tony asked Kate when she arrived.
"They seem like best friends. I'm sure they'll be alright. You have a lot of channels on your TVs if they get bored." Kate told him. She liked the emergency plan they came up with for their mothers but she still felt bad.
"We'll call them later…Gibbs got a led on the stolen car which is connected to the Dillon case." Tony said knowing how she felt about leaving their mothers together.
"Great. Maybe I'll call them in two hours." Kate then said. Tony nodded.
They were silent and waited for Gibbs to update them on the case.
"Why are we always good at setting aside our differences when we start to work?" Kate asked him out of the blue.
"I've always wondered that. Maybe we really don't want to hurt each other." Tony suggested after a while.
"Then why do we try to hurt each other so much? At work you're my partner, an important person to me whom I trust very much." Kate continued.
"I f eel the same but as soon as it gets personal we get out of hand." Tony told her.
Then Gibbs came. They couldn't finish what they had started. It felt like the story of their lives and both felt it. They felt it really hard.
………….
"Commander Murphy hasn't been seen since Friday and we have to find him. Either someone is after him and got him or he is covering up something. Either way we need to find him. "Gibbs told them and McGee.