Disclaimer: I don't own them, only what's original...
Chapter 7
It had been three weeks since Kate's doctor's appointment. She and Tony had since set up their daughter's nursery. The theme they decided to go with, more like Kate said to go with, was soft pink and yellow hues. The walls had been painted a soft ballerina pink, while the accents were trimmed with a pale sunshine yellow. A white sleigh crib stood in the center of the room flanked on right side by a small white table with a pretty lamp, it's shade matching the colors in the room. Above the crib, hanging from the celing, was a mobile Abby and Tim had made. Dancing pink baby elephants and yellow baby ducks twirled and spun. Under the window, sat a white rocking chair, a pretty pink gingham pad was trimmed with pale yellow lace. Opposite the chair, was the closet. Tony had removed the doors of the closet and set the white changing table inside. Kate had hung pink gingham curtains with pale yellow gingham tiebacks on either side, making the changing area tucked away. It not only did it provide for more space, but it wasn't the first thing people would see when they entered the room. In the only remaing corner, there was a small handmade toybox with a matching shelf hanging above it. The set was a gift from Gibbs at the baby shower three days before. Kate's mother had sent some of Kate's baby things that she had saved all these years. Amoung them, was a beautiful handmade patchwork quilt. Kate's aunts and grandmother had made it for her when she was born. Beautiful patterns of flowers and berries seemed to dance across the border of the quilt, while a beautiful patchwork butterfly fluttered in the center. Kate's name and birthdate was hand stitched on the back of the quilt, with a promise from Kate's mother to stitch the new baby girl's name on the opposing corner.
Since the news of Kate's pregnancy had made it's way through her family circle, Kate's mother had a change of heart and reconciled with her daughter. Kate's father, on the other hand, couldn't bring himself to call his oldest daughter and forge a reconciliation. Not that he didn't love her, he did. He probably loved her to much, if that was even possible.
Kate missed her father terribly. She missed the daddy/daughter bond they had since the day she took her first breath of life. She missed way they understood each other, and how they teased each other. She missed the way he loved her.
One evening, a few weeks after the shower, Tony found Kate sitting in the baby's room, the quiet dusk shadowing the room in hushed colors. He watched her for a moment, as she sat rubbing her belly in an absent-minded fashion. He noted that she seemed a million miles from him, even though she sat not ten feet in front of his face. Slowly, so as not to startle her, he walked over to the rocking chair and knelt down.
"Hey." she whispered, her hazel eyes clouded with tears.
"You're crying." Tony observed. He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"I'm okay." Kate managed to reply. She was silent then.
"Where were you just now?" Tony asked.
Kate inhaled and turned to him. "I was thinking about my dad." she answered. "I miss him Tony."
"He still won't talk to you?"
"Every time I call there, he just hands the phone to my mom. She can't get him to talk to me. Molli's tried too, but he won't hear of it."
Tony took Kate's hands in his. He looked up at her, love and sympathy in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Kate. I wish I could change it." Tony told her. Kate gave him a grateful smile.
"Don't ever say you're sorry." she replied, a mirthy giggle escaping her lips.
"Great, I'm trying to have a sensitive moment here and you're quoting Gibbs." Tony smiled too, glad that his Katie was feeling a little better. "You hungry?" he asked. Kate nodded.
"Oh! Hey. I think this little one is hungry too." Kate put Tony's hands on the spot where the baby had firmly planted a tiny foot. The baby kicked again.
"I love you." Tony said softly to Kate. He kissed her hand and helped her up out of the chair.
Together, they stood in the doorway of the baby's room, staring at the empty crib, which would soon be filled.
"Soon." was all Kate said.