"Timmy, I don't wanna!" Abby protested her knuckles on her hand white from gripping the headboard.
"Abby, we're already late… One of these days Gibbs is going to start getting mad when we get there after lunch." Tim said, as he shuffled through Abby's closet.
Abby rolled over in bed and groaned. "Well…" She said as she pulled the covers off from her head. "You wouldn't want to get up at six in the morning if you felt like you were going to vomit every time you moved." Abby said irritably.
Tim pulled out a white tee that had a box similar to those found of the Periodic Table, however this one contained the letters 'Su' and above it read: The Element of Surprise, along with a black pair of yoga pants. "Come on Abs. Up." Tim said impatiently.
Abby stuck her tongue out, but finally started to get up. "Ugh…" Abby said, as she sunk back into the mattress.
Tim rushed over. "Abby you're not still nauseous are you?" He asked as he gently rubbed her hand.
"No Tim, I just decided I wanted to throw up." Abby replied sarcastically, willing the rolling feeling in her stomach to go away.
"Wasn't that supposed to stop as you entered the second trimester?" Tim asked, searching for his phone.
"Well, for most people…" Abby replied, but stopped, her stomach protesting. After a moment it settled and she continued. "But I'm apparently not 'most people'."
Tim gave her a look of sympathy. He honestly did feel bad, she had felt awful every morning for the past month, and it hadn't gotten any better. "I'm going to call Gibbs and tell him we'll be in by ten." Tim said as he picked up his phone.
"No Tim!" Abby said quickly. "I don't want to be late again today." She started to get up again, a bit too quickly.
"Abby…" Tim warned, but it was too late. Abby had already rushed to the bathroom. Tim flipped open his phone as he walked into the bathroom, and he dialed Gibbs's work phone.
"Gibbs's Phone!" Tony replied cheerily on the other end.
"Tony?" Tim asked, confused.
"Yeah… Who is this?" Tony replied.
"It's Tim. Will you tell Gibbs we're going to be in late again today?" Tim requested as he grabbed a rubber band from a bathroom drawer.
"Why do you guys get to come in late, just because you're married?" Tony asked, obviously jealous.
"Tony, it's not because we're married." Tim replied as he pulled Abby's hair up in a ponytail. "It's because Abby's pregnant."
"Oooooh." Tony said, as if he had just made some scientific discovery.
"Look Tony, just tell him we'll be in later… I've got to go…" Tim said, willing Tony to end the conversation.
"Why?" Tony asked, obviously not willing to indulge him.
"Because Tony." Tim replied irritated. "My wife is vomiting and I would like to go help her."
"Too much information!" Tony replied.
Tim growled and shut the phone."You alright Abby?" Tim asked rubbing her back.
Abby nodded. "I… just wish this would go away." She said as she rested in his arms, willing the nausea to pass.
"It will Abs… It will…" He said as he kissed her on the forehead. Suddenly he heard a knock at the door. "Abs… Abs, I gotta go get that." Tim pointed out.
Abby moaned, but carefully moved out of his lap. Tim rushed to the door and swung it open. "Gibbs!" Tim exclaimed, not expecting to find his boss on the other side of the door holding a grocery bag. "What… why are you here?"
"I figured Abby wasn't feeling well again this morning." Gibbs said as he stepped inside. "So I brought something from Ducky."
Tim, still confused, took Gibbs's jacket. "Okay?" He asked.
"Where is she?" Gibbs asked.
Tim decided he should give Abby some sort of warning so he replied. "Let me go check…" And he rushed toward his bedroom.
"Abby!" He said in a hushed voice. "Gibbs is here!"
Abby looked down to find she was only wearing a tight black tank top and a pair of underwear. "Crap!" She was unsure of what to do. "Tim, bring me a pair of sweats and any tee shirt." Abby requested quickly. Tim hastily retrieved an oversized pair of grey sweats and a blue MIT shirt. "Thanks." Abby said as she quickly, but carefully pulled them on over what she was wearing.
Tim went to retrieve Gibbs. "She's in here." He said leading him into the bathroom.
Abby was sitting with her back pressed against the shower door, and she looked extremely uncomfortable. "Hi Gibbs." She said with a forced smile that caused her stomach to roll.
"Don't strain yourself Abs." Gibbs replied, pulling out a bottle from the shopping bag. "Here. This is from Ducky." He said handing her a bottle labeled 'Sweet Ginger Tea'.
"Thanks?" Abby asked, cautiouslyreaching for the bottle.
"He says it will help with your morning sickness." Gibbs expalained.
"Well in that case…" Abby said twisting the lid off. "Thank you very much." She took a sip and moaned with pleasure.
Gibbs smiled at Abby, who looked rather childish sitting cross-legged on the bathroom floor smiling as if she had just won a prestigious award. "That help?"
Abby nodded slightly before she groaned and moved toward the toilet again. Tim frowned and moved so he could rub her back softly. When Abby suddenly sat back down before she could throw up, Tim looked at her with confusion. "What?"
"I don't feel good enough to throw up." Abby replied looking extremely unhappy.
Gibbs started to laugh, but he stopped when Tim shot him a glare. "Abs?" Tim asked as he carefully pulled her into his arms.
"What?" Abby asked irritably.
"I think you should go see a doctor." Tim said carefully. Abby hated doctors, she at all costs would avoid them, even if it meant having a broken wrist without treatment for weeks.
"No." she replied through gritted teeth.
"Abby…" Tim was getting ready to demand she went to the doctor when Gibbs interrupted him.
"Abby, why don't you let Ducky come over here and check you out?" He suggested.
Abby looked up, her usually bright green eyes lacking their sparkle. "Fine." She replied and then she looked back down.
"I'll call him for you." Gibbs whispered to Tim before he left the two of them alone.
"Tim why a doctor?" Abby asked taking another sip of her ginger tea.
"Abby I think you're sick." Tim said simply as he helped her from the floor.
"I'm pregnant you moron." Abby said irritably.
"Abby I know." He said at a normal volume. "Trust me… I know…" He mumbled. "But I think you're sick… like you have a virus or something."
Abby looked at him blankly and he felt like he was talking to a wall. "Abby, you've been working too long of hours, and you're not getting enough sleep." Tim pointed out.
"I have not!" Abby protested, until she met Gibbs's eye in the doorway. "I mean… maybe I have?"
Gibbs nodded softly before he spoke. "Ducky said he would be over in a moment." Gibbs said softly, noting Abby's paled expression. Gibbs pulled Abby into a gentle hug. "Are you okay Abby?" He whispered.
Abby nodded, in her almost routine response. Gibbs gave Tim a look that clearly meant he should leave, and Tim made an exit. "Abby…" Gibbs started again, but Abby had already started crying. Gibbs sat down on the floor and Abby sat next to him. He put his arm around her in the normal comforting way. "What's wrong?"
Abby avoided Gibbs's comforting gaze as she replied. "I can't do this…"
Gibbs smiled softly. "Abby, you can do anything."
"No Gibbs. This isn't the same." Abby said tears falling down her cheek. "I'm good at what I do because I know what's going to happen, and what it means. But now…"
Tim who had been sitting outside the door stepped in and helped her to her feet. "Abby." He said softly before pressing his lips gently to hers. "I'm… just as scared…as you are…" He said as he gently trailed kisses down her neck.
Abby was about to recapture his lips in hers when she realized Gibbs was still there. "Tim." She said quietly. When he didn't respond she tired again. "Tim!" She said abruptly.
Tim stopped, realizing why Abby was trying to get his attention. He looked toward Gibbs and saw the half amused smirk on his face. "Sorry boss."
Gibbs gave a genuine smile. One that Abby rarely saw. "It's fine. After all I am in your house."
Tim thought about that for a moment, and decided that he had a point. He kissed Abby one last time. "When's Ducky…?" He started to ask but was interrupted by the doorbell. "Question asked, question answered." He said as he rushed to get the door.
He opened the door to reveal Ducky holding a black medical satchel. "Thanks so much for coming." Tim said as he motioned for him to come inside. "You know how much Abby hates going to the doctor…" Tim lead him to their bedroom, where Abby was gently being laid onto her bed by Gibbs.
"Well… let's take a look Abigail." Ducky said as he placed his medical bag on the bedside table. Abby, debating whether or not to object, groaned, but didn't protest to the thermometer Ducky placed under her tongue. A moment later it beeped and he pulled it out. "101…" He said as he shook his head. "Abigail have you been getting much sleep?" Ducky asked as he pulled things out of his bag.
Abby shook her head as another wave of nausea passed over her. "And I know you've been working over time… say 'ahhh'." Ducky instructed in the middle of his sentence. "… So it's no wonder that you're under the weather."
"How is she Duck?" Gibbs asked impatiently as Ducky pressed his stethoscope to her chest.
Abby pressed her eyes shut as the cold metal collided with her soft skin. "Stop." She said softly.
Ducky immediately pulled the stethoscope from her back. "What's the matter Abigail?" Ducky asked as he made a note on his chart.
"Would you just tell me what's wrong with me and let me go to work?" Abby asked irritably.
"Well. Besides your fever, you have no other symptoms…." Ducky started but then remembered her increased nausea. "Oh and the nausea. Where have you eaten recently?"
Abby looked at him in disgust. "Why on earth… I FEEL LIKE CRAP HERE AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS FOOD?"
"Abigail… I think that food…"
"GIBBS GET HIM OUT!" Abby screamed.
Gibbs carefully laid Abby back down. "Abby I think he wants to know where you ate in case it's…" He started.
"OUT!" Abby screamed. Tim carefully sat next to her and pulled her into his arms, she immediately calmed down.
Tim started to list the things she had eaten recently quietly, trying not to anger Abby. It wasn't until he got to cookie dough that Ducky stopped him.
"Did that cookie dough by chance have raw eggs?" Ducky asked reaching for his bag.
"Yes…" Abby grumbled.
Ducky sighed, he knew Abby knew better, but he really couldn't blame her. "Well… Since you had it almost a week ago, the poisoning is starting to wear off which will leave you feeling extremely dehydrated, and probably still nauseas, in your condition."
Abby jumped a bit, and clutched her side. Everyone in the room gave her a startled look. "Sorry…the baby just decided to kick me in the ribs…" Abby explained, and Tim's hand immediately started massaging the area she had held in pain. "Gibbs… please, please let me come to work." Abby knew she was helplessly begging, but she didn't really care.
"Abby, I don't think that's such…" Gibbs started but Ducky interrupted him.
"Jethro, she'll be fine to come to work, as long as she keeps hydrated."
Gibbs gave Ducky a look that obviously meant he didn't want Abby to go to work anyway, but Abby was already set on going. "Well let's go then." Abby said slowly getting out of bed.
"Hold on Abigail." Ducky said before she was halfway up. "You need to get some sleep, so I'd suggest you sleep this morning and come in this afternoon."
"Ducky I'm fine…" Abby protested through a yawn. Ducky gave her a look that clearly stated that she wasn't winning this argument. "Fine… I'll be in at thirteen hundred." Abby said pulling her blankets up over her head.
"Abigail, don't forget to…"
"Stay hydrated… I know, I know."
"Well look who finally decided to show up." Tony greeted with a smile his hands behind his back.
"Shut Up." Abby replied harshly. "What needs to be done?" She asked pulling on her lab coat.
"Everything." Tony replied glancing at the evidence bins sitting on the table. "Aren't you going to ask what's behind my back?" he asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Anthony DiNozzo… I'm really not in the mood…" Abby replied rolling up the sleeves to her lab coat.
Tony mumbled something to himself before he pulled out a water bottle, and a package of Chocolate. "Here." He handed his peace offering to her.
Abby smiled, and snatched them both from his hands. "Thank you." She said. "Now OUT! I've got to work!"
Tony was just walking out the door when Tim came in. "I heard you got here." Tim said with a smile wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well you heard wrong. Abby's not here right now, please go away so her replacement can get her work done." Abby said as she struggled to loosen Tim's grip around her waist.
"Abs? Really? You think I wouldn't recognize my own wife?" Tim said with a laugh.
"I sure hope you recognize your boss." Gibbs said as he moved swiftly into the lab. "Morning Abs." He greeted Abby with a gentle hug.
"It's not really morning anymore Gibbs…" Abby pointed out as he released her. "Now what do you need done?"
"Well Petty Officer James Oleg was found unconscious in Georgetown, and his twin brother, Petty Officer Jason Oleg was found murdered less than two miles from him." Gibbs filled her in.
"James and Jason… Cute." Abby said sarcastically. "So what kind of evidence do we have?"
"Personal Effects, human tissue from under fingernails… and a knife." Gibbs said with a smile, knowing he had saved the best for last.
"Yes!" Abby said with a genuine enthusiasm as she sifted through the evidence crates for the knife. "So…." Abby started as she pulled out a bloodstained knife. "How'd we find this?"
"It was in James's pocket." Tim replied with a smile.
Abby threw her head back with glee. "We haven't had a case this good since… the past." Abby finished, unable to decide on a specific case. "Twins… One found unconscious holding a knife that allegedly killed his brother… Creepy." Abby said to herself. Gibbs decided he would make his exit, and headed for the door.
"I'm gonna get going Abs." Tim said as he placed a kiss gently on Abby's forehead.
"Tim." Abby said a glazed look going over her eyes.
"What Abs?" Tim asked turning back to face her.
"Tim… what if it, is really them?" Abby said placing her hand on her small bump. "And what if they try to kill each other!" She looked panicked.
"Abby!" Tim rushed over to her. "Abby calm down!" He said rubbing her back gently.
Tears were streaming down her face. "Timmy… what if…"
"Abby there is no what ifs! We… me and you… are having a baby. There's only one and so it can't try to kill it's twin." Tim said trying to console her.
"TIM WHAT IF IT TRIES TO KILL ITSELF?" Abby was now in full panic mode, there was no way to reason with her now.
"Abby…" Tim started but decided it was no use. He sat down on the floor and pulled Abby into his lap and gently ran his fingers through her hair, the one thing that always calmed her down.
"Timmy…" Abby said softly into his neck. "Timmy I can't…"
"Abby you are the strongest most amazing woman I have ever met and you can do this." Tim said with confidence.
"Do What?" Palmer said absentmindedly as he walked into the lab. "And I remember just a few months ago when you said Wonder Woman was the strong…"
"Palmer!" Tim cried as Abby rushed out tears streaming down her face. He raced after her. "Abby wait!"
"GO AWAY!" Abby screamed, not caring she was attracting attention from everyone in the hall.
"Abby." Tim tried again, grabbing her wrist.
"Let go of me!" Abby cried pulling her wrist free. She had pulled so hard, without paying attention that she ran right into Gibbs.
"Abby!" Gibbs choked as she collided with his chest. "What happened?" Gibbs asked Tim sternly.
"Palmer… Evidence… Wonder Woman…" Tim stuttered.
Gibbs carefully pushed Abby away from him and stormed to the lab. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" He yelled at Palmer, who was still patiently waiting for Abby to sign for the evidence he had been sent to deliver.
"Huh?" He replied, obviously not paying attention.
Gibbs smacked him across the back of his head. "Get out." Gibbs ordered.
"I need Abby to…" Palmer interjected.
"I'll sign for it." Gibbs said irritably pulling a pen from his jacket pocket and scribbling on the clipboard. "Now out!"
Palmer rushed out of the room almost running over Tony and Ziva. "Does Abby have any… Where's Abby?" Tony asked, forgetting his initial question.
"I really don't know." Gibbs replied angrily pulling out his phone.
"What's going on?" Ziva asked Tony quietly.
"Abby's being hormonal… And Gibbs has issues with women who are hormon…" He stopped abruptly as he felt a hand collide with his skull. "Sorry boss."
"I don't have issues with women who are hormonal. I have issues with people who tick off pregnant women." Gibbs clarified as he left, evidence jar and clipboard in hand.
"Is it just me or is he off his poker?" Ziva asked.
"What?" Tony replied in confusion. "I can't even tell what you mean by that…"
"Poker… that thing that old people sit in, is it not?" Ziva tried to clarify herself.
"Rocker…." Tony said still confused.
"YES! That's it. Rocker." Ziva said with a smile. "So I'm assuming someone ticked off Abby, and he's pissed about it…"
"I wonder who it was." Tony said out loud as a young woman with long blonde hair walked into the lab.
"Are you Abby?" The woman asked Ziva.
"No she's not…" Tony answered for her. "Who are you?"
"Oh I'm Adrienne, Abby's assistant."
"Abby!" Ziva called down the hall as Abby was headed back to her lab.
"What Ziva?" Abby asked, obviously still mad.
"Uh… You need to know something…" Ziva said cautiously.
"What?" Abby asked starting to get impatient.
"Well, Apparently… Director Vance thought you couldn't handle the workload. So he hired you a…"
"NO NO NO NO NO!" Abby screamed, changing her direction toward the Director's Office.
Ziva tried to stop her but she wasn't fast enough. Abby had already thrown the door to Vance's office open before she caught up with her. "I WORK ALONE!" Abby shouted, not caring she was talking to her boss.
Vance turned to face her. "Good Afternoon." He greeted.
"Don't even go there." Abby growled. "I work alone." She stated again.
"Abby, you're not getting enough work done." Vance pointed out. "Besides what bad can come from an assistant?"
Ziva's face changed from the expressionless gaze to a look that stated, 'you really shouldn't have said that'.
"What bad?" Abby asked incredulously. "Well lets see… So far, they've framed NCIS agents, committed murders, and tampered with evidence."
"Ms. Sciuto, just because you've had a bad experience with assistants in the past…" Vance started to reason.
"Director Shepard…" Abby started to protest again.
"Director Shepard isn't here anymore Ms. Sciuto." Vance said, a bit too harshly.
Abby gave him a last look eyes filled with tears, before running out with Ziva right behind her. "What were you thinking?" Gibbs asked turning from around the door frame.
Vance glared at Gibbs. "What are you doing here?" He asked shuffling with papers on his desk.
"Defending Abby." Gibbs replied simply.
"She doesn't need to be defended! She's always been able to speak up for herself." Vance said, speaking as if he were trying to defend himself.
"She's weak now." Gibbs said quietly, in case Abby was still nearby. "You don't know just how hard this is for her."
"And you do?" Vance asked suspiciously.
"Abby isn't just a co-worker, she's a close friend of mine. I know when things are wrong, and right now things are." Gibbs said angrily.
"Agent Gibbs…" Vance started, but Gibbs didn't let him finish.
"I'm okay with you giving Abby an assistant; I've thought she needed one since I first found out about her pregnancy. However, I'm not okay with the way you talked to her about Jen." Gibbs said sternly.
"Director Shepard…." He started again.
"She had a name. She wasn't just our boss, she was our friend. It would do you good to give her some respect." Gibbs said, obviously waiting for a response.
"Agent Gibbs, I'm going to ask you to leave…now." Vance said looking extremely uncomfortable.
Gibbs, knowing he had gone too far, left. "Abby?" He called as he made it to her lab. He could hear a faint whimper from the back of the lab. He walked to her office to find her under her desk crushing Bert. "Abs." He greeted with a half smile.
"Hi Gibbs." Abby said, not looking up from Bert.
"Abby he didn't…" Gibbs started to comfort her.
"It's okay Gibbs. I shouldn't have… I'm just so…" She tried to explain but found it difficult to talk about her pregnancy with Gibbs.
"Abby you don't have to explain." Gibbs assured her. "Kelly didn't want to either, the only person she would talk to was her…" He stopped before finishing his sentence, realizing that finishing with the word mother, probably wouldn't have been a good idea considering her mother had died a couple of years ago, and Jenny, who had been the next closest thing to a mother to her was also dead.
It was too late though. Abby knew what he was going to say, she choked back a sob. "It's okay Gibbs." Abby tried to assure him.
"Abby… when was the last time you saw the nuns?" Gibbs asked, knowing Abby always found solace when with them.
"The wedding…" Abby replied quietly, still not meeting Gibbs's gaze.
"Maybe you should…" Gibbs started.
"Uhm…" Abby said protectively touching her bump. "I'd…rather not."
Gibbs caught on. "Abby, they know you're married…" He pointed out.
"Gibbs it's just… awkward. It was weird enough walking into their home dating Tim… But now? When everyone knows…" Abby began to cry as if she had lost her best friend.
Gibbs placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Abby, they're your friends. You should go." He said and with that he left her to her thoughts.
Sometimes… I spend all day wishing Kate were still here… Abby thought as she sat quietly under her desk. Today… Is one of those days. Before Abby knew it she was nodding off to sleep.
"Abby…Abby?" Kate asked quietly. "Abby what's wrong?"
Abby leaped up quickly and enveloped Kate in a hug. "Kate!" She cried through her tears. "Kate I miss you so much."
"I miss you too Abby." Kate said holding her tightly.
"Kate I just don't know what to do!" Abby said through her tears.
"Well… What's going on? I have been gone for almost five years." Kate pointed out. "I take it something happened." She said gesturing to Abby's abdomen.
"It's kind of… a long story." Abby said quietly. "A lot of it… aren't things I like to remember…" Abby took the time to replay the events since the day Tony confessed to breaking up her and Tim.
"Wow." Kate said, looking overwhelmed. "Are you okay?" She asked gently.
"No." Abby replied honestly. "I feel tired all the time; I'm not getting any work done; And I can't control my emotions, especially with Tim." Abby explained.
"Why don't you tell Gibbs?" Kate suggested.
"I can't." Abby said simply.
"Why Abby? You've always told Gibbs everything." Kate pointed out.
"Kate, this is different. I can't talk to him about being pregnant. It… makes him miss Kelly too much." Abby said quietly.
"Abby." Kate said wrapping an arm around her friend. "Gibbs misses Kelly and Shannon, and I know why. They're amazing people. But you're like a daughter to him Abby! He wants to talk to you, even if you don't want to talk to him."
"Really?" Abby asked, searching for any hint Kate was lying just to make her feel better.
"Abby, you need to tell Gibbs." Kate affirmed. "You'll put you and the baby in danger if you don't stop overworking yourself."
Abby nodded. "I will Kate, I promise."
"And tell Tim how much he means to you." Kate said with a smile. "You may be hormonal, but that doesn't mean you love him any less. You need to tell him that."
"Kate." Abby said softly.
"Yes Abby?"
"Why did you have to go?" Abby asked. When she got no response she tried again. "Kate… Kate?"
"KATE!" Abby screamed through tears into the lab as Tim shook her awake.
"Abby… Abby calm down." Tim said as he rubbed her back slowly.
Abby tried to relax into Tim's arms. "Tim." She said quietly.
"Hmmm?" He asked as his hands gently massaged her lower back.
"Tim, you mean so much to me and even if I get mad it's not because I don't love you it's because I'm hormonal and irritated but I still love you." Abby said in a single breath.
Tim smiled and kissed her. "I know Abby." He said quietly. "You don't have to tell me that."
"Timmy?" Abby asked, the tension finally releasing from her spine.
"Yes Abs?" He asked as he gently helped her up from the floor.
"Can we go see Sister Rosita and the other nuns?" Abby asked as if she were suggesting a ridiculous idea.
"Of course Abs." Tim said giving her a gentle kiss. "When do you want to go?"
"Now?" Abby said, unsure if it was okay.
"You'd have to ask Gibbs." Tim pointed out.
"Ask Gibbs what?" Tony asked as he came in accompanied by Ziva and Adrienne.
"Uh…" Tim said awkwardly.
"I want to go see Sister Rosita." Abby said simply. Then she turned to Adrienne. "You must be my new assistant." Abby said more patiently than anyone would have imagined. "I'm Abigail Sciuto, Forensics Specialist."
"I knew that." Adrienne said quietly. "I'm Adrienne."
Tim nearly choked.
"What?" Abby asked in alarm.
"Nothing…" Tim said acting as if it had never happened.
Abby shook her head. "Timothy Mcgee." She said warningly.
"I just used to date an Adrienne. It's been a while since I've heard that name." He said a look of bliss across his face, until Abby's hand collided with it. "OW!" He cried.
"Yeah. I'm your wife. So shut up." Abby said trying not to get too mad. "Adrienne." Abby greeted. "You can start with those evidence bins. Ask Tony to fill you in." Abby said before heading to the door.
Everyone except Adrienne was staring at Abby in shock. "You coming?" She asked Tim.
"Uh.. yeah." He said snapping back into reality.
"How come you didn't bite her head off?" Tim asked incredulously.
"I didn't feel like it."
Within an hour Tim and Abby were pulling up in front of Sister Rosita and the nun's house. "We're here." Tim said, gently shaking Abby awake.
"Hmmm?" Abby asked incoherently.
"Abby. We're at Sister Rosita's." Tim said again.
"I don't wanna…" She said through her drowsiness. Tim noticed she was looking a bit pale, so he decided to go get Sister Rosita and bring her back some water before having her walk to the house.
Tim cautiously rang the doorbell and was greeted by Sister Rosita herself. "Tim!" She greeted. "How are you? It's been a long time since I've seen you and Abby."
"We're doing just fine." Tim said, but quickly remembered Abby sitting in the car. "Abby's feeling a bit out of it right now though. Do you have some water I could take to her?"
"Of course, of course!" Sister Rosita said as she ushered him inside heading for the kitchen. "What's wrong with Abby?" She asked as she filled a glass with water.
"Oh!" Tim said realizing he had left out crucial information. "Abby's pregnant." Tim said with a smile.
"Congratulations!" Sister Rosita said excitedly. "I'm sure you're taking good care of her." She said as they walked out to the car.
When they reached Tim's new Porsche they saw Abby asleep, again. "Abby." Tim shook her awake gently. Once Abby was coherent enough to know where she was Sister Rosita handed her the glass of water, which Abby accepted graciously.
Once Abby had finished the water she looked up, with a realization of who was there. "Oh. Hi Sister Rosita." Abby said embarrassed as she carefully stood up with Tim's help.
"Hello Abby!" She said giving her a cautious hug. "You look great!"
"Thanks." Abby said, cheeks burning.
"You'd think she had never heard a compliment before." Sister Rosita said to Tim who gave a slight grin.
The three of them slowly walked toward the house, making light conversation the entire way. It wasn't until they reached the door that Abby spoke up. "Sister Rosita?" She asked, rather quietly for her.
"What is it Abby?" Sister Rosita replied turning to face her.
"Um… Could we talk?" Abby asked cautiously.
"Of Course!" She replied, automatically knowing she meant she needed someone to talk to, and she wanted to do it alone. "Tim, why don't you go and get some work done." She suggested. "And pick up Abby this evening."
"Uh… Do you want me to go Abs?" He asked her.
Abby nodded. "I'll be fine, go ahead." Tim gently kissed Abby on her lips, which made her blush.
"I'll see you later Abs." He said with a smile before going back to the car.
"Come in, come in." Sister Rosita said as she ushered her inside. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"Somewhere to sit down?" Abby asked quietly.
"Of course. Let's go to my office…" She said opening the door that led to her office. "Sit, sit." She lead her to a comfortable sofa against the far wall. After a moment of sitting in silence Sister Rosita spoke up. "Abby, what's wrong?" She asked carefully.
Abby didn't reply, she sat and stared at the wall across the room. "Abby, you know you can talk to me." Sister Rosita prompted.
Abby shook her head. "I can't talk to anyone." She said dejectedly.
"Why not?" she tried again.
"Because… I don't have anyone. My mom is gone, Jenny's gone, and I can't talk to you about being married…" Abby started to ramble.
"Why can't you talk to me about being married?" Sister Rosita asked surprised.
"You're a nun…" Abby said as if it explained everything.
"Abby, I never told you this." Sister Rosita started. "I've been married, and had a child."
"What?" Abby asked in disbelief. "But… you're a nun!"
"Yes… but not since birth." Sister Rosita pointed out. "I was twenty three when my house burnt down with my husband and son inside." She said quietly. "After that, I came here… And I'm still here."
Abby looked up with wide eyes. "Wow… I never knew."
Sister Rosita smiled. "What is it that's bothering you?" She asked gently as she sat down next to her younger friend.
Abby sighed. "I don't know who I am anymore." She said honestly. "I wake up and I feel… awful." Abby said trying to find a word that expressed her mood that wouldn't be offensive.
"Awful how Abby?" Sister Rosita asked cautiously.
"Awful like no one wants to be around me because I'm so irritable. Awful because I don't have the energy to express anything. And most of all awful, because I feel like Tim… Tim doesn't want me anymore." She said quietly tears running down her cheeks.
"Now why would Tim not want you anymore?" Sister Rosita asked as she comfortingly rubbed her back.
"Because I'm fat and hormonal." Abby said, choking on sobs.
Sister Rosita couldn't help but hold back a smile. "Abby do you remember when you first met us?" She asked, and Abby nodded. "And how I said you were a beautiful young lady?" Abby nodded again, wiping away some tears. "You still are." She said with a smile.
Abby looked up at her, eyes still wet. "Really?" She asked as if it meant the most to her in the world.
"Really." Sister Rosita confirmed with a hug. "Abby I know it's hard, but it's all worth it in the end." She promised.
Abby yawned. "Thank you Sister Rosita." Abby said in-between yawns.
"Abby do you need to sleep?" Sister Rosita asked quietly.
Abby nodded. I've been ridiculously tired lately and with Tim around I feel like…" She yawned. "I feel like I should be paying more attention to him, rather than sleeping."
Sister Rosita smiled. Abby was always thinking about someone else before herself, even when it put a risk on her health. "You are always welcome to sleep in the living room Abby." She said as she helped her up.
"Thanks." Abby said softly as she made her way to the couch, where she immediately fell asleep.
Several hours later Tim showed up to pick up Abby, and Sister Rosita pulled open the door before he could ring the doorbell. "Come in, come in." She greeted quietly leading him into her office.
"Tim, I would like to talk to you for a moment if that's alright." Sister Rosita said.
"Sure?" Tim asked, curious as what she needed to talk about.
"Abby and I had a talk today, and I think there's something you should know." Sister Rosita said seriously. Tim nodded. "She thinks she's disappointing you, and she's trying hard to prove her love for you, but she's harming herself at the same time." Tim looked confused so she elaborated. "She says she feels tired all the time, but she doesn't want to fall asleep and leave you alone, so she's not getting the rest she needs."
Tim looked shocked. Abby had been tired at nights lately and fell asleep almost immediately, but she hadn't said anything about it. "I can't… Why didn't she tell me?"
"She feels like a burden on you already. She's afraid you want to leave her." Sister Rosita explained.
"I would never leave her. I love her!" Tim sounded as if he were defending himself.
"I know that, and you know that, it's Abby who needs to know that." Sister Rosita said as she opened her door and led Tim to the couch where Abby was fast asleep.
Tim smiled. Abby looked beautiful, no matter what Abby thought, she was and always would be the prettiest girl on the planet. "Abby." He whispered into her ear, causing her to stir slightly. "Abigail Mcgee you look gorgeous this evening." He whispered rubbing her arm slowly.
"You're delusional…" Abby mumbled, her brain still drowsy from sleep.
"No I'm not." Tim said quietly. "You're my gorgeous wife and I love you." He said kissing her softly on the lips.
"Timmy not here." She said quietly.
"What?" He asked perplexed. "You're my wife and you're gorgeous , how come I can't express my love for you?"
"Tim… we're in a convent…" Abby said irritably. "People don't kiss in a convent…"
"Well I do." He said kissing her forehead gently. "Because I love you and there is no place I'm going to pretend like I don't."
Abby felt tears stream from her eyes, but they weren't her recently usual tears of anger, they were tears of happiness. "Oh Tim." She said softly as he helped her off the couch. "I love you too. I just wish…"
"Abby you don't need to do anything. You're perfect just the way you are."
Author's Note: Okay! This story is almost done :(… BUT! I'm making a sequel! YAY! There will be one to two more chapters to this story and then an epilogue! Another note… I just recently realized I could reply to reviews, so Imma start doing that now, because I love all my reviewers you guys are AWESOME! Thanks so much for reading! Please Review!