"You feeling better Abby?" Tim asked her gently as she stirred awake on her bed.

Abby looked up at him with a small smile. "It was a long night." Abby admitted. "I can't stop thinking about what Caitlin said."

"Abs… I'm sure that she'll come around eventually." Tim said gently as he took her hand in his. "I talked to Sarah this morning." He said with a sigh.

"I feel terrible for leaving her here with the girls on such short notice without any explanation of what happened." Abby admitted softly. "But I honestly don't think I can tell her…"

Tim nodded. "It's alright Abby. We don't have to tell anyone what happened if you don't want to." He assured her. "You're still Abby, no matter what happens."

Abby shook her head. "I don't feel like myself." She admitted. "I thought I was stronger than that."

"Oh Abs." Tim said gently seeing the pain still evident in her pale green eyes. "You have no idea just how strong you are." Abby tried to hold back her tears but didn't last for long. Tears began to fall down her face uncontrollably. "Abby don't cry." Tim tried to comfort her. "You are the strongest woman I know."

Abby shook her head. "I can't even hold myself together right now Tim… How am I supposed to last for another five months?"

"Abby we're going to get through this together." Tim assured her. "And it's going to be worth it. Just like you told Caitlin."

Abby shook her head. "I'm so scared Timmy…" She admitted as she curled into his now open arms. "It's terrifying to think about all of this and I try to block it out… But every time I feel him move it all comes rushing back."

Tim instinctively placed his hand onto Abby's bump. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

Abby looked up at him. "What are you sorry for?" She asked curiously as she wiped her own tears.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this. I'm sorry that I can't do anything to make this better. I'm sorry that I'll never be able to make it up to you. I'm sorry for everything in this cruel unfair world that I can't protect you from." Tim said softly. "I miss your sparkling green eyes, and I miss how happy we were as a family. I miss when the only heartache in our lives was lost friends..."

"Tim…I don't know if we can ever go back…" Abby said softly.

Tim shook his head. "That's just it. We can't go back. The only place we can go is forward, but I want our future to be the best future it can be. And in order for that to happen our family needs to accept what's happened to us, and that it's going to be alright."

"Tim we never got over Oliver… I don't know how we can…" Abby began.

Tim looked her intently in the eyes. "We should take the girls."

Abby looked back curiously. "No Tim."

Tim took her hands in his. "He was their little brother. If we're going to be united as a family with this baby… We need to go back and start where this began." He said gently.

"Tim they were just kids…" Abby said softly. "Oliver was nothing to them."

"Oliver's their little brother." Tim pointed out. "He means something to them whether or not they know it."

"You really want to go?" Abby asked softly and Tim nodded in response. "Then I guess we're going." Abby said softly.

"Mom where are we going?" Caitlin whined as she sat in the backseat of the car, feeling rather bored.

Tim had told the girls they were going out, and that no phones or other electronics were coming with them. Since then they had been in the car for nearly an hour.

"Caitlin we're almost there." Tim assured her, squeezing Abby's shaking left hand.

Did he say where we're going? Anastasia questioned her sister who responded with a shake of her head.

Tim pulled slowly through a pair of large iron gates and into a parking space. Both of his daughters got up from their slouched positions and looked out, surprised to see a cemetery surrounding them.

"Dad why are we here?" Caitlin asked curiously as the four got out of the car.

"We're going to go visit your little brother." Tim said softly as Abby signed the same to Anastasia.

Caitlin's breath hitched but she followed her parents as they walked down a pathway. Eventually they came to a stop in front of a small headstone that read: Oliver James Mcgee across the top.

"Girl's this is Oliver." Tim said softly as he held Abby's shaking frame. "Your baby brother."

Caitlin looked over at her mother and couldn't help herself. "I'm so sorry mom." She cried as she rushed into Abby's arms. "I never should have said… I didn't know…"

"He was perfect." Abby told her softly. "Just like you and Stace. But he never got the chance. I have to give this baby a chance." She said as she put her daughter's hand on her belly.

Anastasia looked around understanding the situation. She quickly moved to her father's side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Your mom really misses him. Tim signed to her subtly.

Why don't I miss him? Anastasia asked curiously.

Tim sighed. You never really got to know about him. He explained. You were barely five when we lost him. He pulled his daughter slightly closer to him and rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

The small family stood in silence for several moments before Abby let out a noncommittal moan.

"Abs?" Tim asked gently, his hand immediately moving to her shoulder.

"I want to go home…" Abby said softly as Tim pulled her gently into his arms.

Tim nodded. "We can go." He assured her, still quite concerned. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked softly as they were walking back to the car.

"I feel lightheaded." Abby admitted quietly. "And I'm just sore in general."

Tim smiled at her sympathetically. "How about a back massage when we get home?" Tim offered.

"Yes please." Abby complied as Tim helped her get into the passenger seat.

"Daddy?" Caitlin asked as she buckled up in the backseat.

"Yes Katie?" Tim asked as he started up the engine.

"Can we have Gibbs and Tony and Ziva and Mr. Palmer over for pizza again? Like we used to?" Caitlin asked timidly.

Tim eyed Abby who simply nodded as she stretched out her back in order to try and relieve some of her back pain. "I think we could do that." Tim agreed.

"YES!" Caitlin exclaimed excitedly as she signed the information to her little sister.

Pizza party? Anastasia asked excitedly to confirm she had followed the information properly.

Caitlin nodded. "Can we have it tonight?" she asked excitedly.

"I don't see why not." Tim agreed. "Unless your mom has something against that of course." He saved himself.

"No that'd be fine." Abby assured them softly.

"You sure you're feeling alright?" Tim asked softly.

"Tim I'm pregnant… I'm just a little out of it." Abby said as she continued to try and alive the pressure on her back.

Tim looked at her worriedly. "Are you sure that you're up to having everyone over tonight Abs?"

Abby rolled her eyes. "It's time we get back together… The team's our family…. And I need family right now."

"DOOR!" Caitlin screamed as a knock sounded at the door.

"Thanks so much for getting it!" Tim called back sarcastically as he headed to the door. "Hey Gibbs." Tim greeted his boos as he opened the door.

"How are you doing Tim?" Gibbs asked as he came in carrying several liters of various sodas.

"We're doing a lot better." Tim replied honestly. "We took the girls to see Oliver today."

"And…" Gibbs pressed as he set the soda on the kitchen counter.

"And the idea of family is really setting in again." Tim admitted. "While things kind of seem like they suck right now, we're realizing that the only way we're getting through this is with the team."

Gibbs nodded. "I'm fairly certain that I can speak for everyone that we're here for you."

Tim smiled graciously. "Thanks Boss." He said before calling up the stairs. "Caitlin get Anastasia and come down Gibbs is here!"

"Did he bring the pizza?" Caitlin called back curiously.

"No!" Tim called back. "You know Tony and Ziva are bringing the pizza!"

"Guys shut up!" Abby yelled obviously frustrated from the den.

"Sorry Abs." Tim said with a smile as Gibbs and he entered the den.

"It's okay." She assured him as he kissed her cheek.

"How're you holding up Abby?" Gibbs asked as he sat down in an armchair as Abby was occupying the entire couch.

Abby smiled softly. "I'm okay." She assured him as the doorbell rang, Tim rushed from the room to get the door and Abby continued. "It's just hard…"

Gibbs nodded understandingly. "It's always hard to lose something." He assured her. "If you need anything let me know."

Abby nodded before she looked up at him with a smirk. "Gibbs?"

"What do you need Abs?" He asked prepared to go to the moon and back if necessary.

"I need to get up… My legs are cramping." She said softly as he stood up and crossed the room to help her up.

"That better?" He asked as soon as she was upright.

"Give me a minute…" Abby said as she began to pace around the area rug. "Yep!" She assured him with a smile.

"Abs what's wrong?" Tim asked hurriedly as Ducky followed him into the Den.

"I'm fine Tim." She assured him as he tried to support her as she stood.

"Why are you up? Do you need something? We can get it for you… you don't need to get up!" Tim rambled as he tried to get her to sit back down again.

Abby shook her head. "Tim I've got leg cramps… If I sit they're just going to get worse and worse and worse…"

"I get it Abs." Tim assured her with a smirk.

"How are you doing today Abigail?' Ducky asked as he pulled her into a gentle hug.

"Good Ducky." Abby assured him with a smile. "It's good to see you guys again."

"It's good to see you too Abigail." He said as he took a seat next to Gibbs on the couch.

"Ducky!" Caitlin said enthusiastically as she ran into the den.

"Hello Caitlin." Ducky greeted her. "How are you doing?"

"Good." She said as she sat down on the floor across the rug from the couch.

"Caitlin did you tell Stace that people are here?" Tim asked his daughter sternly.

"Well…" Caitlin said biting her lip. "I didn't exactly…"

"Caitlin go upstairs and tell…" Tim began.

Abby shook her head. "It's okay Tim, I'll go get her."

"Abby are you sure, she's all the way upstairs." Tim tried to persuade her.

Abby rolled her eyes at him. "Tim I'm not disabled, I'm pregnant. I'll be fine." She said impatiently as she headed toward the stairs.

"Abby!" Tim protested as he followed her out of the room.

"Tim stop!" Abby snapped at him as she turned around. "I'm fine." She hissed in an attempt to not let everyone else hear.

"Abby you've got to be careful." Tim said gently as he tried to hold her hand.

Abby snapped her hand to her side. "Tim… I'm just going up the stairs…"

"What if you fall?" He asked irrationally.

"Really!" She yelled at him, not caring who heard from the other room at this point. "I'm fine Tim! And I certainly don't need you to watch me go up the stairs!"

"What's going on?" Gibbs asked obviously concerned as he entered the hallway.

"Tell him to leave me alone!" Abby said as she pointed to her husband, tears she was trying to hide falling down her face.

"Abby…" Tim tried to console her.

Gibbs simply shook his head at his agent before moving over to his surrogate daughter. "Calm down Abs." He said gently as he hugged her.

"I'm fine!" Abby tried to insist. "He's hovering and I can't take it anymore!"

"Calm down it's not good for you or the baby." Gibbs insisted.

Abby took in a couple of deep breaths as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Tim said absent-mindedly as he headed to the front door.

Gibbs took the opportunity to help guide Abby up the stairs and into her bedroom. "Are you alright?" He asked her after she sat down on the bed.

Abby put her hand on her abdomen as she felt a kick and she shook her head. "This is never going to be alright Gibbs." She said as tears fell down her pale cheeks.

Gibbs carefully sat down next to her. "Shhhh." He tried to console her. "It's okay to feel hurt."

"I never thought anything could hurt this much… I never thought that this was going to be so hard." Abby admitted as she rested her head on Gibbs' inviting shoulder.

Gibbs nodded in understanding. "You've gone through so much Abby… Most of it's not your fault. It's honestly not fair."

"It's not!" Abby exclaimed. "Nothing about this is fair!"

Moments later a knock sounded at the door. "Abby?" Ziva's voice sounded.

"Come in Zi." Abby said softly.

Ziva smiled sympathetically at her best friend. "Having a hard day?"

Abby nodded as Ziva sat down next to her. "I feel so stupid…"

"Abby its okay to feel sad about what's happened to you." Gibbs assured her. "It's okay to be angry… You don't have to act like this is just fine."

Ziva carefully rubbed the back of her best friend's hand. "It's not silly Abby." She assured her.

"I thought I could do this… I thought we could have a nice time together as a family… But I can't even hold myself together through that!" She exclaimed grumpily. "I don't know what to do anymore!"

"Abby look at me." Tim requested from the doorway.

"Go away Tim." Abby said burying her face further into Gibbs' shoulder.

"Abby." He pleaded gently taking her hand from Ziva. "Please look at me." He said gently as he ran his fingers through her tangled pigtails. Abby eventually gave in and glanced over. "The only thing you need to do is be you Abs."

"What do you mean?" She asked softly.

He squeezed lightly on her hand. "You are perfect Abby. I married you because you're beautiful, and smart, and you're everything I wish I could be." He said softly. "All I want you to do is be you."

"Timmy." Abby said softly before he captured her lips in his.

"Mom Tony wants to know if…" Caitlin rushed into the room stopping awkwardly when she saw her parents. "I'm just… gonna…" She said awkwardly before running out of the room, Ziva and Gibbs laughing.

"I'm so sorry Timmy." Abby said softly. "You were just trying to take care of me."

Tim shook his head. "I'm sorry Abs, I should have thought more about how you're feeling."

"It's okay…" Abby assured him as he helped her off from the bed. "Let's just get through today."

"We're going to get through everything Abs." Tim assured her gently as he pressed his hand to her stomach. "And we're going to have the most perfect baby boy."

Abby nodded as he kissed her once again. "Let's go." She said as the doorbell rang once again.

"PALMER'S HERE!" Tony yelled up the stairs.

"I'm gonna go get Stace." Tim said softly. "You go downstairs with Ziva and Gibbs."

Abby nodded and the three of them made their way into the kitchen where people had already started eating. "You couldn't wait five minutes." Gibbs said grumpily as he grabbed a slice of pepperoni and took a seat at the table.

Abby just shook her head as she hugged Tony. "I should have seen this coming. I left you and my daughter alone with Pizza."

"Hey Ducky and Palmer were here too!"Caitlin protested as she took a big bite out of her meat-lovers pizza.

"And Sienna." Ducky said in a babyish voice as he bounced the infant gently in his arms. Ziva smiled as she retrieved her daughter from Ducky's arms.

"Hi baby." Ziva said gently to her daughter as she pressed her lips to her head.

Moments later Anastasia ran in signing rapidly at her older sister. Dad says you were supposed to get me like an hour ago! She informed her accusingly. You wanna know what I just did? I got your diary from your supposedly secret hiding spot and I posted every embarrassing secret I could find on your Facebook wall using your account using the password you think I don't know.

I'm going to kill you! Caitlin signed back angrily before she jumped over the table to tackle her sister.

"CAITLIN KELLY MCGEE!" Tim and Gibbs' voices rang simultaneously through the kitchen.

Caitlin had just pinned her sister to the ground when she looked up. "What?" She asked innocently.

"You know the rules Caitlin." Tim chastised. "No death threats."

"Tim can't we just drop it today?" Abby requested tiredly.

Tim shook his head. "Abby you know why we have that rule. Caitlin knows why we have that rule, just because we're with family she's not getting off the hook."

Gibbs nodded in agreement. "Caitlin even I know that rule."

"DID YOU HEAR WHAT SHE DID?" Caitlin said angrily before turning to her sister. Why would you even do that?

YOURE THE ONE WHO WANTS A NEW FAMILY! Anastasia signed back angrily.

OF COURSE I WANT A NEW FAMILY! I WANT A FAMILY WITHOUT YOU! She signed back without thinking.

Anastasia took one look at her older sister and ran toward the front door. "STACE!" Abby tried to call after her, even though she couldn't hear her.

"Upstairs." Tim said threateningly as he snatched the pizza from Caitlin's hand. "And don't even think about coming out of your room."

Abby was attempting to follow her daughter. "Abby let me." Ziva insisted gently as she handed Tony Sienna.

"She needs me Zi." Abby tried to protest.

"Abby… She's fast and you know it. I'll talk to her and bring her back I promise." Ziva assured her before running out the front door. She saw Anastasia's bright pink coat several blocks down the street. After about a minute of running she caught up with it and gently put her hand on her shoulder.

Anastasia turned around, obviously alarmed, and Ziva saw the tears streaming down her face. Are you alright? She asked, checking to make sure nothing else had happened but wasn't surprised when she shook her head. Caitlin loves you sweetie. Ziva assured her.

Anastasia shook her head. She thinks I'm a burden. She signed angrily. She's always hated me because I was the younger one. I got all the attention that she wanted. And I don't want to live with her anymore.

Stace honey you don't mean that. Ziva tried to assure her.

Anastasia shook her head. I just want to get a break. I've dealt with her since I was little and I don't want to anymore. She hates me Ziva, She's an attention seeking jerk and I hate her too!

Ziva looked into her eyes and saw the sincerity of her words. Stace I'm so sorry, but she's your sister.

I don't care! Anastasia said tears falling down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" Abby's voice asked Ziva gently from behind her causing her to turn around.

I don't want to live with Caitlin anymore. Anastasia informed her matter-of-factly.

Abby sighed, somehow she had known this day was coming. Stace… I know she's difficult but she's your sister. I know it's hard but I don't know what else to tell you…

I can't do this anymore! Anastasia insisted tears streaming down her face.

Oh sweetheart. Abby signed before pulling her daughter into a hug.

"Abby… I don't know what you think of the idea I'm having… but I think it's a possible solution." Ziva said softly.

"Zi that's too much to ask." Abby replied immediately knowing her idea.

Ziva shook her head. "Abby I'd be more than happy to let Stace stay with us, even if it's just until this blows over. It would be good for Sienna to have an older sister like influence."

"Ziva…" Abby said hesitantly. "I think that's a great idea. We just need to talk to Tim about it… He's not going to be easy to convince… But thank you Zi…" Abby said wrapping one of her arms around her best friend.

Are you sure this is what you want? Abby signed to her daughter gently as she adjusted her jacket.

Anastasia nodded. They were standing outside the Mcgee house and Tony and Tim had just finished loading her things into Tony and Ziva's car. I'll still see you all the time mom. She assured her mom.

It had taken two weeks of negotiating with Tim before he decided that this plan was in fact, the best option until further notice. I'm gonna miss you too dad. Anastasia signed to her father as he pulled her into a hug.

If you ever want to come home… He signed gently and Anastasia nodded.

I'll call you if I ever need anything. She promised him before turning back to Abby. And you call me if you need anything.

Abby sighed as she looked at her baby girl. Everything's going to work out… I promise. She assured her daughter and watched longingly as she climbed into the backseat next to Sienna.

Moments later Abby and Tim stood hand in hand watching the car drive away. "Do you think she's going to be okay?" Abby asked him fearfully.

Tim nodded. "This is what she wants Abs. And if this is going to make our house a happier one then it's going to be worth it."

Abby smiled as she pulled his hand to her abdomen where their son was kicking. "It's all worth it."

Author's Note: So… confession… this sat around for like a month written… I thought I uploaded it (Awkward Times) So this is going to be the last chapter of this story. However it will be continued in the fourth story of the Mcabby Family series "What We Are" I'd love to hear people's opinions of my story so far! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, and especially to the people who have been here since the beginning (NCISaddict77, ladybugsmomma, and , you guys are awesome!) I love everyone else too! Thanks so much for reading and keep an eye out for "What We Are"