Hello, all you happy readers!
Here we go! Chapter 23! Enjoy :-)
The protocol is as usual…I DO NOT own NCIS or anything related to it
It was Monday afternoon, Jackie and Robbie sat the entire class down in the front of the classroom.
"Okay, kids! This Friday is our school's Family Day! To celebrate, we will be putting on a special presentation where each of you will have the chance to talk about your family during the Family Day picnic on Friday afternoon!" exclaimed Jackie.
The kids in the class began to cheer.
"For the presentation, we want each of you to put together a picture book and tell us about your family," explained Robbie. "When you go back to your tables, you will find some construction paper and art supplies to start working on your pictures for your book. Ms. Jackie and I will come around to help you."
The kids in the class dispersed and head to their respective tables to start working on their projects. Arissa, Brittany, Sammy, Shawn and Jeremy all sat together. Right away the other children got to work on their books while Arissa sat quietly looking at her blank piece of construction paper.
"Arissa, why you no drawing?" asked Brittany.
Arissa sighed. "I no know which family to draw."
"You draw Kate and Nozzo! They your family!"
"They my temporary family. I get a new family soon."
"You no stay with Nozzo and Kate no more?" asked Jeremy.
"Sharon say they no can keep me because they can't take care of me and the babies. I have to stay with the Owens and they going to be my new Mommy and Daddy but I no like them! I want Kate and Nozzo to be my Mommy and Daddy," said Arissa as she put her head down trying to hide the tears in her eyes.
The struggle over where Arissa would go was starting to affect the little girl. Arissa loved being with Kate and Tony but Sharon let it be known that her time with them was running out and that she would soon be in the care of the Owens.
"Arissa, no cry!" said Shawn as he hugged the little girl, his attempt to comfort her.
"It no fair! Why everybody leave me?" Arissa began to cry as Robbie came over to see what was wrong.
At NCIS, Tony listened attentively as Kate talked on the phone with their adoption lawyer.
"What did he say?" asked Tony as Kate hung up the phone.
"The court accepted our petition for adoption today," replied Kate.
"That's great!"
"They also accepted the Owens'."
"That's not great."
Kate sighed. "Mr. Combs feels that with all the success we have had with her and given the fact that she has been with us this long that we may have a shot."
"Not if Sharon has anything to do with it!" Tony ran his hands over his face in frustration. "I can't believe that we may loss our daughter."
Kate looked at Tony. "What did you call her?"
"What?"
"You called Arissa our daughter."
"Did I?"
Kate smiled. "Yeah, you did!"
"My fault! It's just she's become like family, I sometimes forget she isn't ours."
"It's cute."
"It would be cuter if it were true."
"You two have a conference with Gitmo in ten minutes," spat Gibbs as he rounded the corner.
"Ten minutes? Gibbs, we have to go pick up Arissa from daycare," replied Kate.
"Have Abby go get her," said Gibbs.
"She's processing evidence!"
"McGee?"
"Out interviewing a witness," interjected Tony.
"Ducky?"
"He and Palmer have four bodies down in autopsy."
"It's fine. Tony can handle the conference, I'll go get her!" said Kate as she picked up her things to leave."
"No, I need the both of you in there." Gibbs let out a sigh. "I'll go get her!"
"Thank, Boss!" smiled Tony. "Hey, do you mind stopping and getting her some dinner on the way back?"
Gibbs shot Tony a cold stare as he walked toward the elevators.
Gibbs walked into the classroom and caught sight of Arissa, playing with her friends on the floor.
"You must be Agent Gibbs, Tony called and told me you were coming," said Robbie as he approached the older gentleman.
"How's she doing?" said Gibbs with a smile on his face as he watched Arissa playing.
"Well, we had a bit of a rough day today."
"What happened?"
"She got upset while she was working on her family book today. I think the whole situation with the adoption is starting to weigh on her."
"It's weighing on everyone."
"She really loves Tony and Kate but she's still trying to come to terms with the fact she has to go with the Owens. The other kids tried to cheer her up but she's still in a bit of a funk. Maybe you can talk to her and try to cheer her up a bit?"
"I'll try."
Gibbs drove him and Arissa to his favorite dinner where the two of them shared a booth near the window. Usually he and Arissa would admire all the semi-trucks that went by but this evening the four year old sat silently staring out the window. Elaine, Gibbs' favorite witness at the diner, walked over with a pot of coffee and a glass of chocolate milk.
"Well, if it isn't my two favorite customers! Agent Gibbs and Miss Arissa!" said Elaine as she placed down the milk in front of Arissa and poured Gibbs a cup of coffee.
"Hi, Ms. Elaine." waved Arissa.
"Hey, sugar! I made your chocolate milk just the way you like it, extra chocolaty!
"Thank you!" said Arissa before she took a big gulp of her milk leaving behind a brown mustache.
Gibbs laughed to himself. "What do you say, Munchkin? We get the usual?"
"Okay."
"The usual it is!" said Elaine as she walked off to get their food.
"You got a little milk there, Munchkin?" said Gibbs pointing to the little girl face.
Arissa wiped away her milk mustache. "Why you call me Munchkin, Gibbs?"
"I don't know? You just remind me of a Munchkin! Why? You don't like it?"
"No, I like it."
"So how was school today, Munchkin?"
"Okay," sighed Arissa.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Why everybody leave me, Gibbs?"
"What?"
"My Mommy and Daddy left me and now Kate and Nozzo leaving me! Why no one want me?"
"Your Mommy and Daddy wanted you, Munchkin. And Kate and Tony want you too!"
"Then why I have to leave them?"
"They don't want you to leave Munchkin but Sharon thinks that it would be best if you stayed with the Owens…"
"I no want to the Owens, Gibbs! I want Kate and Nozzo!"
"I know but…"
"No, Gibbs! You have to help me!"
"Help you what?"
"Help me make Kate and Nozzo my Mommy and Daddy? Ms. Lee say I no can stay with them because I no they real daughter because I no come from Kate's tummy like the babies. I want to be their real daughter so we can be a family! But, I no know how to do that so I need you help."
"I can't do that, Munchkin!"
"Yes, you can! You the boss at N-C…N-C…"
"NCIS!"
"Yeah! You can talk to Ms. Lee and tell her I no want to go to the Owens and make Kate and Nozzo my Mommy and Daddy!"
"Just because I'm the boss at NCIS doesn't mean I can stop you from going to the Owens."
"Yes, you can! You can put her in jail then I no have to go!"
"As nice as that would be I can't do that, Munchkin."
"Please, Gibbs?"
Gibbs' heart broke hearing Arissa beg him like that. "You know, just because you didn't come from Kate's tummy doesn't mean that you aren't still their daughter. To them you are a part of their family, just like the babies in Kate's tummy. Family doesn't only have to be the people you are related too. Family can be people you love and care about and who care and love you too."
"I love Kate and Nozzo."
"And they love you too! So if you asked me, you guys are already a family."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"So if I love them that mean they my family?"
"If you want them to be!"
"I love Abby and Timmy? Can they be my family?"
"They sure can!"
"And I love Ducky and Jimmy!"
"They can be in your family if you want."
"I love you Gibbs! Can you be in my family?"
Gibbs smiled.
Friday afternoon came and Gibbs and his team, arrived at the daycare playground where hoards of toddlers ran around laughing, screaming and carrying on while their parents stood proudly around the perimeter watching.
"Why are we here, Boss?" asked McGee.
"Arissa, asked me to bring the team to her Family Day. So here we are!
"God, this reminds me of recess in elementary school! All the kids ran around acting crazy while the adults stood around and watched!" exclaimed McGee as he tried to dodge the rush of kids that ran around him.
"Well at least this time, you're one of the big kids McGee!" joked Tony.
"I miss recess! Playing hopscotch and jumping rope!" said Abby.
"You still do all those things in your lab," interjected Palmer.
"Oh yeah! It's great being a kid!" smiled Abby as she locked her arm into Gibbs' who simply smiled.
"Anybody see Rissa?" asked Tony, as he looked around the playground.
Arissa ran over to the group. "Nozzo! Kate!" shouted Arissa as she hugged their legs.
"Hey, sweetie!" said Kate.
"Gibbs, you came to my Family Day!" smiled Arissa.
"I told you I would come!" replied the agent with a smile.
"You brought Abby, Timmy, Ducky and Jimmy too!" said Arissa as she hugged each of them.
"Of course! We can't miss Family Day!" exclaimed Abby.
Brittany, Sammy, Shawn and Jeremy walked over to say hi to the team.
"Hi Timmy!" said Jeremy, with a smile.
"Hi Jeremy," replied McGee.
"I had fun with you at Arissa's birthday!"
"I didn't have fun with you! Either did my phone!"
"McGee!" spat Abby.
"You want to come see our classroom?" asked Jeremy.
"Jeremy, I'm here for Arissa not you! Go show, your parent's you classroom!" snapped McGee.
"I already did! Now I show you!" Jeremy grabbed McGee's hand and dragged him off towards the classroom as Abby and the other kids followed.
"Aww, Probie made a friend!" joked Tony.
Gibbs, Palmer and Ducky headed over to the buffet of picnic foods that sit on some tables underneath a covering on the playground. Gibbs offered to make a plate for Kate and Tony while Tony helped Kate find somewhere to sit down and rest.
Tony and Kate smiled at one another as they envisioned what it would be like to do Family Day with their twins one day. Their smiles quickly turned frowns when Sharon followed by the Owens family walking across the playground.
"Agent DiNozzo! Agent Todd! So nice to see you!" said Sharon, in the most fake pleasant voice she had.
"Sharon? What a surprise?" replied Kate, also using her fake pleasant voice.
"I want you to meet Henry and Patricia Owens and their children Liam, Andrew, Gloria and Felicity. I don't know if you have heard but they have petitioned the court for the adoption of Arissa!"
"Really?" replied Tony, trying to play dumb.
"Yep, just a matter of logistics before Arissa will be living with them permanently!"
"But don't worry! We know how close Arissa is to you two so we have no problem letting her come visit from time to time," said Henry.
"Well, isn't that nice of you, Henry," replied Tony, annoyed by the presence of Sharon as well as the Owens.
Just then Gibbs, Ducky, and Palmer walked over to join Kate and Tony, followed by Abby and McGee and Arissa.
"Sharon, what are you doing here?" asked Gibbs surprised to see the caseworker.
"Seeing how today is Family Day, I thought it would be nice for Arissa to have her soon-to-be family here to support her! Henry and Patricia this is Agent Gibbs," replied Sharon.
Gibbs shook the couple's hand. "You two are the ones who are trying to adopt Arissa?"
"They aren't trying Agent Gibbs! They are adopting Arissa!"
Gibbs raised his eyebrows at Sharon comment.
"Arissa, aren't you going to say hi to the Owens?"
"Hi," said the three year old, coldly as she sat in Abby's lap.
"Sharon, why don't you take the Owens over to get some food? They look hunger!" said Tony.
"That's a good idea!" said Patricia. "Would you like to come with us to get some food, Arissa?"
"She has food right here!" spat Abby, as she clung tightly to Arissa.
Sensing a bit of tension in the air, Sharon escorted the Owens family over to the food table.
"The nerve of that woman!" snapped Tony.
"Forget about her, Tony! Today is about Arissa!" said Gibbs.
The team enjoyed a picnic lunch with Arissa, laughing at her stories of all the fun things she did with her friends in daycare. They even entertained her friends, who came over and sat with them for a while. After lunch, Jackie had everyone go into the classroom so they could begin their presentation.
Inside, the team sat down at two of the round tables towards the back of the class. Despite their cold stares, Sharon along with the Owens family sat at a table next to them.
"My knees are in my chest!" griped Tony, struggling in his kid's sized chair. "I can't breathe!"
"Welcome to my world! You only have your knees, try having to tiny bodies pushing against your lungs!" replied Kate, who thanks to her condition was able to sit in an adult sized chair.
"Shh! They are about to start!" said Abby as the first little child stood up in front of the class to share their book about their family.
The team listened to the various kids talk about their families, some talking longer than others.
"That kid had thirteen cousins! Did he really need to talk about all of them?" asked Tony, as the crowd clapped for a presentation.
Jackie stood up in front of the class. "And last but not least, we have Arissa Moreland who is going to share about her family with us!" announced Jackie as she lead the group in a round of applause as Arissa walked to the front of the class.
Arissa let out a sigh as she stood in front of the group holding her book in front of her chest. She opened the first page of the book and revealed a picture of a man and woman, with angel wings and halos over their heads.
"My real Mommy and Daddy died. I loved them a lot but they left me so I no have a real family anymore. I missed them. I talk to Gibbs and he say that family no just the people you related to but the people you love and care about so…"
Arissa turned the page to reveal picture of seven smiling people. "This is my new family!"
"That doesn't look like us?" whispered Patricia to her husband.
Gibbs stared at them as he smiled to himself.
The next page revealed a picture of a man with brown, spiky hair making a funny face.
"This is my Nozzo! He really silly! Kate say being with him like having two kids around! He always makes me laugh! He gives me hugs and plays with me!"
Kate laughed. "That looks just like you, Tony!"
The next page showed a picture of a woman with brown hair and big belly sitting in a bed next to a little girl.
"This is my Kate. She really nice! She give me my teddy bear Mr. Snuggles. Every morning we cuddle in bed before I go to school. She call me pretty!"
"She got the stomach right!" joked Tony.
The next page showed two circular blobs inside a black circle.
"These are Nozzo and Kate's babies! They live in Kate's tummy. We no know if they boys or girls but I love them too! Nozzo say when they come, I going to help change diapers and fed them!"
The sound of "awes" hit the room.
The next page showed a man with brown hair and a little girl eating ice cream.
"This my Timmy! Nozzo call him "Probie." We go get ice cream and play games on the computer. I play a princess and Timmy play a little blue smurf!"
"Nice Elf Lord!" smirked Tony. McGee just smiled.
"This is my Abby! She really smart! She let me do coding and gives me lots of hugs! I like to do my hair hers!" said Arissa as she showed a picture of a pigtailed woman in all black.
Arissa showed a picture of two men in scrubs.
"This is Ducky and Jimmy. Ducky tell me stories and then Jimmy give me candy for not falling asleep through them!"
Ducky looked at Palmer in disapproval while he just laughed nervously from embarrassment.
The last page revealed a picture a silver haired man with a giant smile across his face sitting in a booth with little girl.
"And this is my Gibbs. He look really mean but when he with me he always smile! He call me Munchkin! He helped me make my book! He said he love Nozzo, Kate, Timmy, Abby, Ducky and Jimmy just like I do so that means we all a family!"
The team looked at Gibbs in shock as the crowd started to clap.
"Is that true, Gibbs? Do you see us as a family?" asked Abby.
Gibbs stared at his team.
"If were a family, then what does that make you the dad or the grandfather?" smirked Tony.
Gibbs slapped Tony in the back of the head and focused his attention on the little girl who walked over to him.
"Nice job, Munchkin!" said Gibbs as he pat the little girl's head.
Arissa smiled at him.
Jackie stood up in front of the class. "All the kids would like to present a special card to each of their families."
Arissa handed a card to Kate and Tony.
"What does it say?" asked McGee.
Kate and Tony read the card and were frozen.
"Can you be my Mommy and Daddy?" read Kate.
"I no want no one else to be my Mommy Daddy," replied Arissa.
"But Arissa, me and Kate…We…What about the Owens?" asked Tony, unable to gather his thoughts.
"I no want the Owens! I love you and I want to be in you family!"
Tear formed in Kate's eyes. "We love you too, sweetie."
"So you be my Mommy and Daddy?"
"We would love to be your Mom and Dad," said Tony.
Arissa smiled and gave them a big hug. "So, can I call you Mommy and Daddy now?"
"I don't know? I was getting use to Nozzo!" joked Tony.
Henry, Patricia and Sharon looked on at the three of them.
"She really does love Kate and Tony, doesn't she?" asked Patricia.
"It doesn't matter! As soon as the court gets done reviewing your family, Kate and Tony will be out of her life and Arissa will be your daughter! So all of this is pointless!" snapped Sharon.
"But she's so happy with them, Sharon. It's the point in all this to find somewhere where she will be happy?"
"She will be happy…with you!"
Henry and Patricia looked at each other in question.
What do you think? Reviews/comments are welcomed as always and an update is coming soon :-)