Yeah I know. I am a horrible updater. It's okay though, I'm seeing some kinda doctor for it. Ha ha… so please read and review! PLEASE forgive me too.

It had been about a month since the big dinner and Tony woke up at six thirty on a Friday morning to hear Kate getting sick in the bathroom. He knew that she couldn't wait to be through her first trimester because that meant no more morning sickness, at least for most. Honestly, he couldn't wait either because on mornings that Kate got sick, she was normally grumpy and he always took the hits. Today, he knew she wouldn't be in a good mood. Her apartment was an absolute wreck since he was in the process of moving in. Reason for her bitching at him: his shit was everywhere. They'd agreed on living in her apartment because it was bigger than his and after the baby was born and they were married, they would start looking for a house. It all sounded so much simpler than Tony knew it was going to be. At the moment, nothing in his life was easy.

Tony closed his eyes for a minute then heard Kate walk out of the bathroom. He knew for a fact that she was going to make herself some hot chocolate. Being pregnant meant that there was no coffee consumption allowed. Reason for her bitching at him: her being pregnant was all because he was irresponsible. So as usual, he got out of bed and went to take a quick shower. He always made sure to hurry, wanting to give Kate time to take a shower as well and do whatever else she had to in order to get ready.

Once Tony stepped into the shower, the warm water hit his body in splashes. It felt good to just relax. As the water streamed down, he couldn't help but continue to think about the dinner and how excited everyone had been about the marriage and the baby. Even though it had been about a month, no more planning had gotten done. Nothing more accomplished. Reason for her bitching at him: he was making her too stressed out to even think about the wedding. But he knew that eventually things would just slip into place after…

"Mind if I join you?" Kate's words interrupted Tony's thoughts. He pulled open the shower curtain and saw Kate getting undressed.

"Looks like my answer really doesn't matter. You've already made up your mind," Tony laughed, surprised by her easy-going mood. He grabbed her hand and she joined him in the shower. "I love you," he whispered into her hair as he pulled her close, her arms wrapped around his waist.

"I love you too," Kate replied as she looked up at him and a single tear slid down her cheek. At least Tony thought it was a tear. It could've been a drop of water, but he figured not.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I think I'm just… scared," Kate admitted.

"Of what?" Tony questioned as he turned her back to him and began to rub her shoulders. "Everything is going to be okay. The baby's going to be fine, we're going to get married and we'll live happily ever after."

"You make us sound like Cinderella and Prince Charming," Kate giggled.

"Actually, I've always thought that you looked more like Meg from Hercules. Don't you think?"

"But she wasn't a princess," Kate fake pouted.

"It's okay. You're still my queen." Reason for her bitching at him: none.

"Aww DiNozzo… you're so mushy!"

"Thanks," he smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.

"I think you should be Hercules."

"Really? Is it my muscles? My god-like complexion?"

"Something like that."

"DiNozzo! Todd! You're late," Gibbs yelled at Kate and Tony as they stepped out of the elevator hand in hand.

"Sorry boss. We were… busy?" Tony replied, unsure of his answer.

"I don't want to hear about your sex life DiNozzo. Now grab your gear and lets go. McGee is gassing the truck."

"On it boss!" Tony said, grabbing his things, as did Kate.

"Drop it Todd. you're staying here," Gibbs ordered.

"What? Are you kidding me? Gibbs…" Kate complained, shocked and pissed.

"I'm not going to be responsible for you out on the field. I already feel like I have to baby-sit DiNozzo. I don't have time to keep an eye on you too."

"Gibbs! You need me and you know that. Just because I am pregnant… as long as I am capable of doing my job, let me do it," Kate urged.

"This is not a debate," Gibbs said forcefully. "Ever since the two of you broke one rule, you feel the need to contradict everything I say. That's it Kate. I can't let you go."

"Gibbs, as much as I want Kate to stay here, she has a point. Her job is everything to her right now. Trust me, I know," Tony said, trying to help.

Gibbs sighed. He didn't feel like arguing with the two of them. "All right Kate. Lets go."

"Yes!" Kate mouthed as she grabbed her gun and ran to catch up at the elevator.

"A pregnant woman strapping on a sig. Grr…" Tony growled, followed by a quick slap in the back of the head by Gibbs and an elbow in the ribs by Kate. "Ugh… I needed that."

"Hey Tony. Whatcha got for me?" Abby asked as Tony stepped into her lab.

"Well, lets see. I have everything from hair to fibers to possibly even a murder weapon," Tony told her.

"Not a very smart criminal huh? I just don't see the point of killing someone if you can't get away with it," Abby laughed and Tony looked at her strange. "Not that I've ever tried or anything. Anyway, where is Kate? Usually she helps you lug the evidence down here… or at least makes fun of you while you do it."

"Ha ha… but no. She's upstairs drinking some water and resting."

"Not feeling so well?"

"Well at first, Gibbs didn't even want her going out onto the field, but we convinced him that she would be fine. Then she threw up at the crime scene. Got ready to take some sketches and then ran outside. She's had a weak stomach lately and that certainly didn't help prove to Gibbs that she is capable of doing her job… without any hindrances."

"Well, she's three months pregnant Tony. Honestly, what did you expect?"

Kate took a sip of water and leaned back in her chair. She was nauseated and tired. It was so strange; never before had the sight of a dead body caused her to be sick, but in her state, she wasn't totally shocked. She just figured that she could handle it. Apparently not. Hormones going up and down, nauseating feelings, being self conscious, overly sensitive, easily pissed off, continuously tired… all just some of the joys of being pregnant. This was all Tony's fault. No, don't think that! Truthfully, she was tired of it all. Not to mention, her frequent mood swings often led to Tony being bitched out or the one to listen to her cry about how none of her clothes fit anymore. He'd been walking on pins and needles for over a month. He'd tried so hard to get her everything she wanted or needed. But here lately, she'd always found a way to make him feel horrible.

Tony walked out of Abby's lab and sighed. Going upstairs wasn't something that he wanted to do right now, not if Kate was going to be in 'one of her moods', which she most likely was. What have I done this time? Everything just about. But still, he found himself pushing the button on the elevator anyway and he was a little more than surprised when the doors opened immediately and he saw Kate sitting in the corner, bottled water in hand.

"Umm, Kate. Babe, what are you doing?" he questioned.

"Nothing," she answered and paused. "I came down here actually planning on stepping out of the elevator. But then the doors opened… and I could here you laughing and talking with Abby. I didn't want to ruin that. I didn't want to find some make believe reason to yell at you, especially since I came down here to apologize. So I just… sat here."

"You were going to apologi… wait, why would you have yelled at me?" Tony asked, confused as he sat down next to her on the elevator floor.

"Truthfully?" she stopped. "I don't know. Pick a reason. Trust me, I would've found one and you know that. I've been doing it a lot lately. I just search for something to be wrong, something off the wall to just scream at you about. And it gets harder every time because you don't do anything wrong. You're… perfect and wonderful. Anything at all can just cause me to go crazy. I am so sorry," she said, starting to cry. "Ugh… and I am so sick of bawling every second. I am stronger than that!"

"I know you are. But Katie, it's okay," he replied, wrapping his arms around her. "I know you are under a lot of stress. It's okay."

Kate sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "I think I'm just worried about the baby and we haven't even started to think about the wedding. I wanted to get married before the baby is born, but I also don't want to be showing too much in my wedding dress. I am too complicated. I guess that just means we have to… wait."

"Not if we get married soon, like in a few weeks," Tony said, hoping Kate would be okay with the idea."

"A few weeks? That seems a little soon. We haven't even started to plan."

"Well, I guess we have a lot of work to do," he smiled.

Kate smiled back as Tony lifted her chin and kissed her on the lips. Neither noticed that doors open and Abby standing there.

"I was wondering why the elevator hadn't left this floor," Abby giggled.

"We're getting married," Kate said, resting her head on Tony's shoulder again.

"I know. I thought that was what the one thousand lilies signified."

Chapter Title- I titled this chapter "Once A Hero" because Kate talks about how Tony is like Hercules. Tony is also her hero because he has been doing everything she asks and even convinces Gibbs to let her go out to the field.