AN: Wow! I'm back. I know it's been forever and I do have sort of excuse...for about a two week period I was gone more than I was home...meaning for a lot of it I was in another state...ahh the wonderful great white tundra (AKA Minnesota). Anyway after celebrating the new year with a friend (and Tonic Sol-fa concerts) I was out of town again the next weekend. So now I'm back and have gotten through writer's block (and if this sucks I'm soooooo sorry!)...so enjoy chapter thirteen awaits you. dark rollina sea
Chapter Thirteen: Girls Night Out
Gibbs put his arm around Kate's shoulders and she looked up at him. He smiled at her and she just nodded. She then turned her attention to what was going on in the group. Abby was holding Noah while Hunter told them about how he was going to get to go to a dairy farm. Kate saw Ann smiling, as Jeb and Kylie watched the exchange.
Kate settled into Gibb's embrace and tried to let the conversation with her mother go. She couldn't. She didn't understand why her mother thought it was such a big deal. Gibbs noticed she was distracted and leaned in close to her ear so only Kate could hear him.
"Everything all right?" he whispered. She wet her lips and took a deep breath.
"No, my mother is being a pain," Kate whispered back. Gibbs nodded and tightened his arm up a touch. Kate smiled at the gesture. Finally they were both sucked back into the main conversation when Abby asked a question.
"Kate, how about we go out tonight, just the girls. Sorry, boys. But you, me, Ann, Kylie, maybe some of your sisters-in-law? How bout it?" Abby asked.
"I guess. I'll have to ask Mel or Carrie if they'd like to go. I don't think Terri or Paula would but I could ask them too. I'll call my cousin up too see if she wants to go."
Abby smiled and nodded and the rest seemed to agree. Kate went to work first asking Carrie is she would join them. Her older sister-in-law agreed and then Kate went to call Mel. After talking to Robbie for five minutes she finally convinced her nephew to hand the phone over to his mother.
"What's up Kate?" Mel asked.
"Want to do a girls night out?"
"Of course, tonight?"
"Yes tonight. Me, you, Carrie, and some of my friends. Maybe Meg. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a lot of fun."
They wrapped up their conversation. Mel would swing by the house around six and they would go from there. Kate then called her cousin Megan and held a similar conversation with her. She also agreed to a night out and the plans were set. Now they just needed to figure out what to do.
As it neared six o'clock, Kate, Carrie, Abby, Ann, and Kylie sat in the living room of Kate's parents' house. They still hadn't decided what to do but they figured their best bet was to go into Fort Wayne to find a place. Meg showed up on the dot at six o'clock and Mel came in shortly after.
They all packed into Mel's mini van and they set off for the city. It was after seven thirty when they finally arrived and they found a small bar. They piled into a corner booth and ordered the first round of drinks. Everyone was drinking alcohol except Kate, Kylie, and Mel, they ordered a soda.
They fell into an easy conversation as they got to know each other. Abby was quickly becoming the life of the party as she got them all to relax. She had them laughing and carrying on.
Being a Tuesday night the bar was slow and they were relatively the only people there. Ann got up and went to the juke box and dropped her money into the slot. She rummaged through the selection looking for the perfect song. She didn't know what to pick and eventually settled on Old Time Rock and Roll.
She dropped back into the booth and smiled as the song came on. After the song ended Abby smiled and said they should have a dance contest in the bar. They were on their third round of drinks.
Ann agreed with Abby and got Megan to agree as well. Abby smiled at Kate who gave her a look and shook her head. Mel agreed it would be fun and then turned on trying to convince Kate. Kate was adamant she was not going to dance. Kylie went to the juke box and dropped more money into the machine and shortly after Great Balls of Fire came on the speakers. Megan and Mel grinned and slid from the booth with Ann, Kylie and Abby right behind them.
Carrie and Kate sat in the booth laughing at their friends dancing to the music. They watched as that song ended and the entire group migrated to the juke box and started pouring money into the machine while picking song after song to play. They wanted a long list of unending music to dance to. Carrie turned to Kate in the booth.
"When are you going to tell your brothers you're pregnant?" Carrie asked. Kate looked over at her a little surprised by the question. "Honestly, Kate, I've had three kids. You think I'm not going to notice?"
"I only just told mom and dad, I'll tell the boys soon," Kate said with a smile.
"This isn't the reason for this marriage is it?" Carrie asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kate was a little peeved by the comment; it was the second time this comment had come up. "No, actually he proposed almost a year ago and I'm only 2 months pregnant," Kate said a little tense.
"Sorry I didn't mean to upset you," Carrie said. "A year really?"
"Yeah, I think he proposed before he was really ready to go through with it and…"
"Why would he propose then?"
"It was mostly an accident," Kate said with a smile.
"An accident?"
"Yes a stressful situation and he was thinking about his own life a lot and it sort of slipped out."
"How does something like that 'slip out'?"
"You have to understand Jethro first. He was insecure about a lot of things. He has been married three times, all ending in disaster. He was afraid if he took the next step with me it would fall apart on him."
"What makes you confident it won't?"
"It's different this time."
"Different how?"
"I don't know but I've noticed him change the more we are together. Plus first thing is he lets me in on his secrets."
"I don't know, Kate, he seems a little old…"
"I don't care if you disapprove, Carrie," Kate said in a stern voice. She looked at her sister-in-law for a moment before returning her gaze to the ones on the dance floor, laughing and tripping over each other. Abby was up on a table now dancing. Kate smiled.
"I didn't say I disapprove, Kate, I just don't want you rushing into something with him because everyone thinks you should settle down."
"If you knew the story, Carrie, you wouldn't think we were rushing in. We've known each other for over four years now and have been a couple for over two. We work together. I think I'm pretty secure in my decision."
"Ok," she said relenting. "As long as you're happy."
"I never asked Josh if he was sure fifteen years ago," Kate shot out with a fake smile. Carrie took the hint and nodded. She looked away. Kate tried to enjoy the rest of the evening and with Abby and her bubbly attitude it wasn't that difficult.
It was late when they returned to Syracuse. Kate had broken down later in the night and shared a few dances with Abby in the bar. Abby was toasted and Kate did it simply to placate her for a while.
Once back they made sure everyone got to where they had to go and got their safely. Kate went up stairs and found Gibbs in the bed seemingly asleep. She smiled and simply watched him for a while before she changed clothes and climbed in beside him. He reached out for her as soon as she hit the mattress and she smiled.
"Have a good time?" he whispered softly as he opened his eyes. Kate smiled and leaned in closer to him.
"Yes, except my sister-in-law was pesky."
"Pesky how?"
"Just making sure I don't rush into marrying you because of pressure from my mother to settle down and have kids. She also wants to know when I'm going to tell my brothers you got me knocked up," Kate said with a smile. Gibbs eyed her and then shook his head.
"Not her business," Gibbs said leaning in closer to Kate. "As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
"I couldn't be happier," She said giving him a kiss. Gibbs smiled and closed his eyes.
"Think I should worry when you tell your brothers?" Gibbs asked with a smile. Kate punched him in the chest. "Ow," he said with a chuckle.
"No you shouldn't worry. I guess maybe they are just weary since I didn't share my relationship with them from the start. I didn't phone home as soon as you kissed me and tell everyone in Syracuse that I had a boyfriend."
"You know, Kate, they are just looking out for you."
"I know, but I can look out for myself."
"Sometimes, it's nice to have backup," Gibbs said softly as he leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. She smiled and nodded.
"She says you're too old for me," Kate said with a smile. Gibbs eyebrows rose in an arch and then narrowed.
"I'm no that old," he said defensively. "I'm not considerably older than thirty seven."
Kate couldn't help but laugh at him. He smiled and pulled her close to him and she rested her cheek on his shoulder. She sighed and then closed her eyes.
"I don't think you're old," she whispered. Gibbs smiled.
TBC…
