Ziva had fallen asleep on their way back to Gibbs' house. This time with Tony driving and Ziva in the backseat, Ziva curled into a comfortable ball. They were pulling into the driveway when Tony turned to see her waking up. "Hey." He said softly.

"Why do I feel so confused?" Ziva asked quietly.

"You're exhausted." Tony replied with a smirk.

Ziva rolled her shoulders out as she sighed. "It's back to four kids." She said softly as she sat up.

"If you want to stay out here and rest…" Tony offered.

Ziva shook her head. "Leah, Micah, and Adi have been alone with Gibbs for hours, I'm sure he's at the end of his rope." She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"I'm sure he's fine Ziva…" Tony pressed, knowing just how little sleep Ziva as running on. "Please… get some sleep… for me?"

Ziva shook her head. "I'm not abandoning my kids for you." She said, clearly frustrated.

"Zi are you okay?" Tony asked softly.

"Tony…" Ziva insisted.

"No seriously… You've been acting weird." Tony insisted. "Overreacting… You've been crying much easier than normal…" He started thinking. "You're not pregnant are you?" He asked, terrified of what would happen if the answer was yes.

"Really?" Ziva asked in disbelief. "You think I've had time to go out and get pregnant?"

"Why are you acting so strange then?" Tony insisted.

"DiNozzo… I'm female… One week a month I'm allowed to act however I want." She said angrily as she slammed the door to the car.

Tony's face flushed red. "Oh." He said softly.

Ziva nodded, her lips pursed. "Yeah… Oh." She replied angrily before going into the house.

"Ziva!" Tony tried to beg.

"Don't you dare hurt her." Gibbs said angrily as he grabbed his collar.

"Gibbs it's not what you think." Tony insisted.

"She goes to ask you if you really love her and she comes in pissed off at you. What am I supposed to think?" Gibbs asked, ready to attack.

"Gibbs!" Tony insisted. "I love Ziva… with every ounce of my being…She'll never forgive you if there's nothing left of me."

"Then why is she so mad?" Gibbs asked in disbelief.

"GIBBS!" Ziva screamed as she came back into the room to see him at Tony's neck. "GET OFF FROM HIM!" She insisted as she pulled Gibbs back, much to his shock. "Tony." Ziva said quietly as she wrapped herself in his arms. "How could you Gibbs?" She asked, tears of anger running down her cheeks.

"Ziver…" Gibbs tried to plead.

"No Gibbs… Why would you attack Tony?"

"I was trying to protect you!"

"Why would you need to protect me?" Ziva asked angrily. "I can and will take care of myself." She said before storming past Leah and Adi in the living room and into the back bedroom.

Gibbs stood there clearly dumbfounded. "What?"

"She's…experiencing…female issues?" Tony said awkwardly unsure of how to word the situation.

Gibbs turned just as red. "Ah."

"Yup."

"Okay then."

"Yup."

"Why are we standing here talking about Ziva's…"

"I don't know."

"Alright then."

"AUGH!" Ziva cried from the back room as a crashing sound echoed down the hall, causing both Adi and Sienna to begin crying.

"Ziva!" Tony cried as he rushed to the back room and threw the door open to see books scattered across the floor and a shelf on the wall had split in half. "Are you alright?"

"Tony I am fine." Ziva assured him. "It was more frustrating than anything else."

"Are you sure you weren't scared?" Tony teased.

"Snap it!" Ziva hissed.

"I think you mean zip it Zi." Tony said gently.

"Same thing!" Ziva replied angrily.

"I'm sorry Ziva… I shouldn't give you a hard time." Tony apologized. "You should really get some sleep."

Ziva shook her head. "I'm just going to take a shower and change. We need to go shopping for the kids, and work on the house situation."

"Ziva Gibbs and I can take care of those things. You and Sienna can stay here and rest." Tony insisted.

"Tony…You want to take two girls clothes shopping?" Ziva asked. "With Gibbs?"

Tony thought about it for a moment. "We can take Sarah and Abby's girls." Tony suggested. "I'm sure they'd like to get out of the house, and Sarah and Katie would be a huge help with Adi and Micah."

Ziva sighed, knowing she would soon be overcome with exhaustion. "I guess…" She gave in.

"Thank you sweetheart." Tony said giving her a gentle kiss. "You need your rest."

Ziva shook her head, clearly annoyed. "Let me just explain what's going on to the kids." She requested as she went back out to the living room. "Hey guys, let's have a little talk." Ziva requested as she sat down on the couch, picking Sienna up from her playpen on the way.

"You look really tired Ziva." Micah informed her helpfully.

"I am Micah." Ziva assured him. "That's why Tony is going to take you shopping."

"I thought you didn't like him." Leah said softly.

Ziva sighed. "Things change." She assured her. "I'm exhausted and I need to rest. You'll really like Caitlin and Anastasia."

"Who?" Leah asked.

"Tim and Abby's daughters are going to go with you." Ziva informed her.

Leah sighed. "Alright." She said softly.

"Come on let's go!" Tony said excitedly as he grabbed Adi's and Micah's hands. Adi promptly began screaming. "I'm sorry!" he apologized, clearly taken off guard.

Leah took hold of Adi's hand. "She's just shy." She assured him as the entire room, minus Ziva and Sienna went to the garage.

Ziva looked down at her daughter. "Hello." She said softly as she ran her finger along her baby's cheek. "You're beautiful." Ziva said quietly. "I'm so happy you're mine." She said gently as she stood up from the couch and went to the bedroom.

"Are you as tired as I am?" Ziva asked her softly and she was awarded a small yawn as a reward. "That's what I thought." She said as she held her carefully in her arms as she lie down. "Let's get some sleep."

Tim was slowly walking around the hospital room with Ryan in his arms. "Hey buddy." He greeted him as he started to squirm. "Please don't wake up mommy." He begged looking over at Abby in the bed. She was beyond exhausted and she refused to sleep while she knew Ryan was upset. She was so determined to be a good mother.

Ryan looked up at him with wide eyes. He was clearly debating whether or not to burst out in tears. Tim, deciding he really didn't want to risk it quickly moved into the hall.

"Timothy?" Tim suddenly heard from behind him, in a voice he hadn't heard in years.

"Mom." Tim replied calmly as he subconsciously held Ryan closer to his chest.

"Timothy Ryan Mcgee." She said, completely ready to yell at him but then he turned around with a bundle of blue blankets in his arms. "He's so small."

Tim nodded. "He's only a few days old." He pointed out. "Of course he's small."

"I'm sorry." Rita tried to apologize. "I shouldn't have…"

"Mom I don't want to hear about it." Tim said angrily. "You said terrible things about my wife. Showing up now isn't going to change any of that it's only going to make me hate you more."

"Tim…" Rita tried again.

"Mom no." Tim hissed, careful not to upset Ryan. "You can't show up simply because you think now is a good time. Our lives have been turned upside down and you weren't there for any of it."

"Not by choice… You blocked us out!" Rita argued.

"YOU SAID SHE WAS INSANE!" Tim exploded causing Ryan to burst out into tears. "I'm sorry Ryan." Tim quieted immediately. "Daddy's so sorry." He said feeling ashamed of himself.

"Ryan?" Rita asked quietly, moving slowly toward him.

Tim quickly moved him closer to his body. "No." He replied simply.

"Timothy he's my grandson." Rita insisted.

"No… He's not." Tim replied. "Abby put so much of herself into this pregnancy. She gave up everything. There were so many moments when I thought her body was going to just stop. This baby isn't mine, it's hers. And you don't want her near your grandchildren, so there is no way this is your grandson." He said angrily. "Excuse me." He said before pushing past her and further down the hall.

"Tim!" Rita tried but Tim was past caring.

He walked for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only about ten minutes before he ran into Ducky.

"Timothy!" He said clearly concerned. "What are you doing here?"

Tim looked around. He wasn't exactly sure where 'here' was. "Where am I?"

"The morgue." Ducky replied immediately, quickly regretting it as Tim's face paled. "Timothy are you alright?"

"She's down here isn't she?" Tim asked softly, unaware that his grip on his son was slipping.

"Timothy, Ryan." Ducky reminded him as he put his own hand under Tim's to stabilize the infant's neck.

"She's here…" Tim said again, this time with much more need in his voice.

"Timothy focus." Ducky tried again.

"What's going to happen?" Tim pressed, feeling so much pain for his daughter.

"Timothy we've discussed this several times." Ducky reminded him softly. "There will be a service in a couple of days."

"I want to see her." Tim said softly.

Ducky shook his head. "Timothy we should go." He encouraged softly.

"She's my baby girl." Tim said softly finally letting it all sink in. "And… I never…"

"Timothy." Ducky insisted, this time completely taking Ryan from his arms. "Calm down."

"Calm down!" Tim screeched, and Ryan began to squirm.

"Timothy you're upsetting Ryan!" Ducky said harshly. "Ryan everything's alright. You're experiencing sensory overload but it's not going to hurt you." Ducky assured him as he swayed back and forth. "Your father just misses your sister. I bet you miss your sister too, don't you Ryan?" He said softly. "Many researchers believe that relationships between twins start in-utero. You probably feel pretty lost without her don't you?"

Ryan found Ducky's English tones soothing rather than upsetting and he curled up toward him with a small sigh. "That's right… everything's okay."

"Duck… I can't do this." Tim said as he slid down to the floor and put his head in his hands.

Ducky looked down at the baby in his arms. "Abigail worked… So hard for him." Ducky said quietly.

"I know that!" Tim insisted. "But… I can't take care of him." He said softly. "By myself…"

"Timothy." Ducky said, looking into Ryan's light green eyes. "Look at him." He requested as he lowered down to his level. "Look at his eyes Tim."

Tim peered into the blankets and saw a face he couldn't get used to, a perfect combination of his features and Abby's. "He's ours." He said quietly. "He's… Abby…"

"Ryan Charles Mcgee." Ducky said quietly. "He's so lucky to have a father like you." He assured him.

Mcgee was in a trance when his phone began to ring, catching him off guard. "Hello?" He asked monotonously when he got his phone out of his pocket.

"Timmy where's Ryan?" Abby's voice asked weakly through the phone.

"I'm so sorry." Tim replied immediately. "We went on a walk, I'll bring him right back."

"Okay." Abby said quietly and Tim hung up the phone.

"I've got to go… Abby wants Ryan." Tim said as he carefully stood up.

"Don't hurt her Tim." Ducky reminded him softly. "I'm sure you're a bit agitated due to your mother showing up, but Abby is immensely fragile right now."

Tim nodded. "I know Duck… I'm just as terrified as everyone else."

Several minutes later Tim gently opened the door to Abby's room. "I'm here Abs." He said softly.

"Ryan." Abby requested immediately.

Tim smiled, trying not to be hurt by the fact Abby didn't want to see him. He gently delivered Ryan to her waiting arms.

"There's my baby." Abby said quietly.

"Abby?" Tim asked after a few moments.

"Yes Timmy?" Abby questioned quietly.

"What's going to happen… to… our kids?" Tim asked, concerned that she wouldn't understand what he was trying to ask.

Abby looked down at the infant in her arms and tears began to fall. "I don't know…" She admitted softly. "Ryan's going to grow up without me."

"No he's not Abs…" Tim tried to console.

"I'm going to miss so much Tim. His first words, his first steps…" She said softly as she remembered all these things from her daughters' childhoods.

"I'm so sorry Abby. This wasn't supposed to happen." He murmured. "Everything was supposed to be about our baby…"

"I want to go home Timmy… I know I have to go to Anderson next week… But I want to spend my time at home until then." Abby was practically begging.

Tim nodded. "I'll see what I can do Abs." He promised before going out to find her doctor. "Doctor Samson?" Tim called after her.

"Ah, Timothy, I was just on my way to see Abby." She informed him. "You look a bit nervous." She observed.

"Abby wants to go home… Just short term." Tim reported.

"Ah." She replied. "Well… there would have to be precautions taken, but I'm sure it could be arranged." She explained before changing the topic. "I actually wanted to ask you about what the plans were regarding your daughter's services. I think it's very important for Abby to be there."

"Sometime early next week… I'm actually not sure how this is going to play out… It probably won't be a very big service…" Tim tried to explain.

"Don't strain yourself." Doctor Samson encouraged. "I know this is hard for both of you… Which is why I think it's important for Abby to physiologically get the closure that she needs." She explained. "However, I don't think she's physically able to stand through a traditional service."

Tim took in a deep breath. "I know." He said softly. "I just…"

"I'm sorry Timothy… I didn't want to bring…" Doctor Samson tried to console him awkwardly.

"It's fine." Tim excused her. "I'm going to go talk to Abby." He said before excusing himself.

As he approached her door he could hear weak sobs and gentle English tones soothing them. "Abby sweetie?" He asked gently. "What's wrong?" He questioned Ducky.

"She…" Ducky began before realizing telling him in front of Abby would only hurt her further. "Let's step outside." He encouraged softly. As soon as they were in the hallway Ducky spoke up. "She dropped him."

"He's okay right?" Tim asked immediately.

"Ryan is fine, he was a bit startled… But he fell about three inches…" Ducky explained.

"Why is Abby so concerned?" Tim asked. "She dropped Caitlin down the stairs once."

"She lost consciousness." Ducky explained softly. "And… She dropped him."

Tim shook his head before going back into her room and right to Abby's bed. "I'm so sorry Abby." He said as he pulled her into her arms.

"It's okay… you don't have to pretend that you still love me." Abby said as she tried to pull away.

"Abby…" Tim said, his eyes filling with tears.

"How could you love me?" Abby asked quietly. "I can't even…"

"Shhh." Tim said softly. "I love you Abigail Mcgee. I love you so much it hurts."

"Really?" She asked softly.

"You can't even begin to imagine what it feels like loving you." Tim said quietly as he stroked her hair. "Every time I feel your skin against mine I feel your whole life vibrating with mine… And it's so perfect." He assured her softly. "And even when things seem so terrible that I feel like I want to give up, I look at you, and you give me strength I didn't know I had."

"Timmy." Abby said softly.

"Yes?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"What are you going to do when my hair falls out?" She asked quietly.

Tim looked at her, feeling so many emotions at once. "I'm going to give you my hand." Tim said, demonstrating gently as he put his hand in hers. "And you're going to think."

Abby nodded softly as she began tracing the lines on his hands. "I didn't mean to."

"I know that Abby." Tim encouraged. "Ryan is fine… You're fine." Abby tried to relax but found herself unable to. "You have nothing to worry about right now Abs." Tim assured her.

"I have so much…" Abby began to protest.

"No… Right now… you have sleep to worry about." Tim informed her importantly.

Abby smirked. "You think sleep solves everything." She said with a small laugh. "I used to think so too…But nothing seems like enough anymore."

"Oh Abs." Tim said softly. "I love you… I love you so much. We're going to go home soon I promise. We'll spend some time letting the girls get to know Ryan. I'll take the week off from work, and we'll just spend a week together as a family."

"That sounds nice." Abby admitted. "Can we have a real Christmas? With everyone?"

"Of course." Tim assured her. "We'll have a real Christmas dinner, and we'll open presents…" He continued on until Abby had fallen asleep. They sat in peace for nearly an hour before Ducky and Gibbs came in.

"How is Abigail doing?" Ducky asked softly, not wanting to wake Abby.

Tim nodded. "Progress… mentally anyway. Physically she's not much different, but she's gotten a much more positive outlook on the upcoming events."

"That's very good Timothy." Ducky assured him. "Her mental health is just as important as her physical health in this situation."

Tim nodded once again. "I know Ducky, I promise I know…"

"I think what Tim's trying to get across is that just because it's a good thing, it's not necessarily a comfort to him." Gibbs explained.

"Ah." Ducky affirmed. "Is there anything we can do for you?"

Tim thought about it for a moment. "Abby really wants to have 'Christmas' when she gets back home, which will probably be tomorrow. I don't have time to figure those arrangements out and keep Abby company."

"Enough said." Gibbs said with a nod. "We'll take care of everything, just keep Abby comfortable."

"Thank you… so much." Tim said softly. "It's time for there to be a good Christmas around here."

Author's Note: I'm so sorry this took so long to update! I'd like to be able to update more often but certain health problems aren't allowing me to. So thanks so much to all my loyal readers, I appreciate your support. Please Review!