Because she currently sat on the edge of the Mallard bath tub holding a small stick. A small stick that read…
Abby felt sick. She knew this was a possibility, especially since they had discussed it months ago and yet…glancing down at the proof made her feel hollow inside. Never before had she wanted children. Sure, she loved kids but for her? No, she never felt as if she would be one of those perfect mothers. You know, the ones who packed lunches everyday and sat through PTA meetings.
But over the past year her mind became filled with thoughts of what could be. She dreamt of little girls with blue eyes and raven black hair…well, ok, strawberry blonde hair (her original color). Or little boys with light brown hair and green eyes always wanting to play cops and robbers. Even the memories of her dreams made her smile now. But no dream could substitute the negative sign glaring up at her through her tears.
The moment she heard Ducky say it had been two months she dared to hope…she allowed herself the image of having her dreams come true and yet now…
Somewhere deep inside of her, she knew she had to get up. With shaking hands and trembling legs, she tossed the test into the basket and headed to bed. Her last thought before sleep took her was that she would be free of dreams which would tug at her heart.
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Gibbs wasn't faring much better. Without Abby by his side, he found it difficult to even lie in the bed he had somewhere along the line begun to think of as theirs. The third day he woke up (underneath his boat) and decided it was time to make a plan.
Five hours and several boxes later, he stared into the now empty room that was once Kelly's. Memories rolled over him; however, he was finally at a point in his life where they made him smile instead of regret. He knew Shannon wouldn't want him to live his life in memorial to them, she had always been so full of life—a 'live-in-the-moment' type of woman. Giving one last look at the bare room, he turned to make his way back down to his basement.
'Blue, green, or pale yellow?' Those were the choices of paint Gibbs had stored on a shelf beside his boat. While his first love had been more of a fan of pastels; the lab technician who held his heart now was very opposite. Picking up his keys, he made his way to his car and drove to the local paint store.
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"Abigail? Are you up, my dear?"
"…"
"Abby?"
Ducky found himself to be very concerned about his house guest; mainly because she had grown quiet, which was unlike her. Upon hearing no response, he carefully opened the door to the guest room.
"Oh, Abby!"
He stepped into the room, only to find the woman he felt was like a daughter to him, curled up in a tight ball with tear stains on her cheeks.
"I really had hoped, Ducky…"
"Hope what, my dear?"
"When you said it had been two months, I…I got excited. I thought---"
"Oh my. Well that would explain the rather unusual stick my Mother said she found in the trash can this morning. "
Abby couldn't stop the half-giggle that made its way out of her mouth. "Ducky! Oh, I'm sorry, but—"
"Yes, well you try explaining to my Mother what a plus sign means on a stick."
"I'm sure it was…wait, plus sign?!?"
"Well, yes dear. I thought you knew."
"But…it was negative."
"Abigail, I might be older than our dear Jethro, however my eye sight is considerably better than his…"
Ducky watched at Abby ran out of the room, he had made it to the bed room door before hearing her scream.
"DUCKY!! It's positive! Oh my goodness!"
The older man felt a smile grace his face as he watched his friend jump up and down, holding the stick between her hands.
"I was so tired last night…I swear it said negative. How?"
"How long did you wait before checking it, Abby?"
"Hmm…I don't know. But do you think it's right?"
"Only one way to find out, my lotus blossom."
"Right! I'm going to get dressed then we'll head to my lab."
A chuckle sounded from the man, obviously pleased at the events. However, once the energetic scientist was out of sight, a thought occurred to him…
'Oh dear…Abigail without caffeine. I don't much envy Jethro at this point.'
