Disclaimer: I don't own them...

Chapter Three

"Hey it's Tony, leave a message..." the voicemail prompted.

"Tony, it's Kate, call me please." Kate's voice trembled a bit. She clicked the cordless phone off and threw it on the bed. Hastily, she brushed the tears from her cheek. She hated feeling like this, so teary and emotional, Kate chalked that up to hormones. Her sister was the emotional one in the family. Kate was the one with "balls", as Gibbs had once said. Kate wasn't one to cry over little things, not that telling her boyfriend she's pregnant and having him walk out on her was a little thing, it wasn't Kate's nature to cry. She picked up the phone again and once more dialed Tony's cell.

"Hey it's Tony, leave a message..." she got the voicemail once more and decided that seven messages were enough.

Questions raced though her mind, "What the hell just happened? Is this really what I want? Do I have what it takes to raise a baby alone? Will Tony come back? Kate sniffled and let the angry, hurt tears fall freely.

From her hiding place under the bed, the dog, now christened Lil' T cautiously peeked her head out. The dog, sensing her master's pain, jumped on the bed and licked Kate's hand. Kate patted the dog's head and closed her eyes.

Tony knew he was being an ass, but he needed to think about the recent events, mainly Kate's newfound pregnancy and his impending fatherhood. Am I ready for this? Will I be a good father to this baby? Will Kate let me back home? He couldn't grasp the fact that he, Tony DiNozzo, was going to be a father. He picked up his cell and dialed. He needed to talk to someone, someone who, besides himself, knew Kate better than she knew herself. That person, was Gibbs.

Gibbs agreed, against his better judgement, to meet Tony at the bar. Surprisingly, he wasn'tready to kill Tony. Gibbs had known about their "secret relationship", Abby had told him all the information he wanted, for a Caff-Pow.When Tony called him, Gibbscould tell by the strain in the younger Agent's voice, that he was in some kind of trouble. What that trouble was exactly, he wasn't sure.

"So that's it..."Tony finished. He had told Gibbs about his discovery earlier that night.

"Are you doubting Kate?" Gibbs asked. He took a sip of his coffee and stared hard at his senior agent.

"No...I'm just afraid."

"Afraid? DiNozzo, I didn't think that was in your vocabulary."

"Normally it isn't. But this is far from normal."

"Did you at least tell her how you feel?"

"No, I just left."

Gibbs sighed and dragged a hand over his face, "Tony, go home and tell Kate how you feel." Gibbs said as he thwacked his hand over the back of Tony's head.

"You think so?" Tony asked.

"Yes DiNozzo I do." Gibbs replied.

"Thanks boss."

Tony left the bar quickly and drove home. He was going to tell Kate he was scared about this baby thing.

He noticed, as he pulled up, that the lights were off in their apartment. He figured she'd be asleep, it was well after three a.m. Quietly, he opened the door, and set his keys on the nearby end table. Quietly, he walked to the bedroom and stood near the bed. Lil' T picked up her head, her tags clinking together softly. A low growl rumbled in the dog's throat.

"Off the bed." Tony hissed, "Psst, dog, off the bed. Tony reached to grab the dog and drag her off the bed, but the little terrier snapped at him. "Ahh!" Tony jumped back, pulling his hand away just before Lil' T could taste his flesh. Tony made a face to tease the dog.

"Don't tease the dog Tony." Kate mumbled, her back to Tony. "Get down T." Kate added, and the Jack Russell Terrier jumped off the bed. Tony waited until the little beast left the room then he sat on the bed.

"Kate I..." he began

"Could you just leave me alone Tony?" she sniffled, her voice betraying the anger she felt inside. When Tony didn't move, Kate rolled over to face him. He lay facing her, his eyes not leaving hers.

"I was talking to Gibbs tonight about the baby, and us." Kate's eyes flashed, but Tony continued, "I realized something Kate, I realized that while I'm excited about this baby, I'm also scared as hell."

"I'm scared too." Kate admitted softly.

"Kate, I love you so much that it hurts. I know that's cliche but I do. I saw the fear in your eyes when I left earlier and I'm sorry that I hurt you."

Kate smiled a little and reached for Tony's hand. She took a breath and then spoke.

"I know that this was unexpected, and that it's a little overwhelming, but Tony we can handle this. I was thinking about this baby earlier when you were gone. We can handle a baby. Hell if we can take down wanted criminals, track down terrorists, shoot to kill on a daily basis and survive the plague, this baby will be a walk in the park."

"Kate?" Tony interrupted.

"What?"

"I'm going to be a father." Tony was giddy now. He rubbed Kate's still flat belly. "Hey little baby, I'm your daddy. You're mommy and I can't wait to meet you. You know what baby, you're mommy is the most beautiful woman I have ever met."

A little giggle escaped Kate's mouth. She sighed in contentment, she had her boyfriend by her side and he'd be there for her and this baby forever. She snuggled closer to Tony and closed her eyes.

Tony wrapped his arms around Kate and breathed in her scent. He kissed her head and hugged her close. The two of them fell asleep in each others arms, not waking until the morning light was streaming through the window.