Hi, everyone!
Before you move on to the story, I'd love to tell you that I am hosting a writing contest at the account titled Quarantine Writing Challenge. It is open to all fandoms and is accepting submissions until May 2! Make sure to go check it out! Even if you have never written a story before, you are welcome to use this as your motivation to start! We also need readers/voters starting on May 4. Please check out that account profile for more details and feel free to message me at that account or this one for more information or to answer any questions!
Thanks to the reviewers on the last chapter - Troubled-Angel-26, his-red-head, slibbsshipper, Sarai, HannaBananas13, DS2010, Loads of Randomness, Hetwaszoietsals, MissShepardGibbs, Suzy Q1068, Guest who, Hawk, Fan, fiftyshadeswritergal, and Fashionista-girl. It is so encouraging to see so many people enjoying this story too! If you ever see ways that I can improve (feasibly - I cannot post multiple times a week on each story so that is unfortunately off the table, but I love hearing other suggestions or constructive critques), please let me know!
Now, please enjoy!
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Abby and Ziva snacked on cotton candy. It melted on their faces and made their chins sticky, but it was a delicious treat!
...
"Here we are," Gibbs announced as he pulled into a parking space in front of the fancy restaurant. He had lost his chance to do this years ago - he was not going to mess it up again. He got out and walked around, opening Jenny's door for her.
"You do know that women are capable of opening doors for themselves, don't you?" Jenny quipped, but she could not succeed in hiding her smile at the chivalrous gesture.
"I've seen you kick in doors before - I don't want you deciding that'd be an easier way out of the car than using a handle," Gibbs responding jokingly.
Jenny laughed and took the offered arm without comment.
They strolled in the doors to be greeted by the sounds of a string quartet and gently clinking dishes.
...
"Now, what do you want for supper?" Abby asked the toddler.
"Tandy!"
"Shh! No! You're not supposed to learn that word," Abby scolded nervously. She had a strong suspicion on how Jenny would react if she learned that the scientist had been feeding her precious baby candy - by telling Gibbs. And how Gibbs would tell Abby that they did not approve might be a little less than fun. It would be best if they never knew.
At least Ziva now liked Abby a whole lot more! Their friendship was sealed with a mutual love of sucrose.
But that friendship was about to be tested by the decree "No cotton candy for supper."
"Ookies?"
"No! You can't have cookies for supper, you silly baby!" Abby sighed, bending down to kiss a sticky little cheek. The toddler, denied of her favourite "supper", ducked away in a fit.
"OOKIES!"
"No cookies."
"MAMA!"
"Oh, so you're going to try to manipulate me now?" Abby asked calmly, recognizing the toddler's steps. "I'm the queen of that, sweetheart. It won't work."
Ziva plopped to the floor and started screaming.
...
Tony was hollering once again.
"KATIE! If we don't leave now ..."
"...We're going to be late. So why haven't you started the car yet?" Kate asked, bustling into the room while trying to pull her coat on over her dress.
"Hey! We have a second. Let me see you without the coat before we leave!" Tony insisted. "You're so gorgeous, Beautiful." Kate blushed a little at the compliment but proudly modeled her new dress bought specifically for this night.
"Do you really like it?"
He stepped forward to give her a kiss that would leave no doubt that he did.
...
"I'll be back with orders in just a bit," the waiter said with a smile.
"No need to hurry. We are in rush," Gibbs said.
Jenny bit her lip nervously, but finally relented with a deep breath and a little smile, relaxing in the glow of candles and tasteful light fixtures. Real flowers on their table added their fragrance to the delectable scents from the kitchen. She leaned back into the upholstered seat with the velvety fabric. Stress that she had been holding for months began to drain from her body. Her eyes began to sparkle as her happiness and comfort became the primary concern of the evening, along with that of her partner.
"You are right. Abby will be fine."
...
"NO!" Ziva yelled, pushing the carrots away for the fourth time in a row. Her cheeks were still wet from the tears of her continuing tantrum, but somehow Abby was actually calmer about it then Mama usually was. Abby was eating her whole supper, while Ziva was sitting there, starving!
"Yes," Abby insisted, putting more carrots on the fork and giving it to Ziva.
"OOKIES!" Ziva hollered, throwing her fork down on her plate. She was not starving for carrots! She needed cookies!
"No cookies unless you eat your carrots. If you eat them, then maybe you can have a cookie after."
"OOKIES! MAMA!" Ziva shrieked. Where was Mama with a cookie jar? She needed to come help, right now! Not that Mama liked it when Ziva was screaming, but that was beside the point.
"Well, I'm going to eat all my carrots and then I'll get a cookie. If you eat your carrots, you can have a cookie too. But you only get a cookie for eating carrots! They're connected with cause and effect. Got it?"
Any scientific reasoning flew right over the toddler's head, but she could tell that the tantrum was not having the intended effect - and she was hungry. She rubbed her wet little face with the back of her fisted hands in frustration as she quieted her screaming - after all, if Abby was not going to give her the cookies right away there was no point to the continued theatrics.
"Do you want to eat your rice and chicken or your carrots first?" Abby asked with an encouraging smile.
"Wice," she sniffled, pointing to it on her plate.
"Yes! Okay. Hmm, your fork isn't working great for this, is it? Want me to get a spoon for you? I'll get a spoon."
Tantrum forgotten, Ziva eagerly waited for Abby to bring back her spoon with the pink handle with a butterfly on it! She liked using her spoon all by herself. She was a big girl!
And Mama often said if big girls were good girls and ate all their meals, sometimes they get cookies!
There was hope after all!
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I hope that you enjoyed! And make sure to check out the contest account. More writers would be wonderful, but readers will find lots of fun there too starting May 4!