Wow! 15 reviews on the last chapter! I truly do love you all!
Here we go! Chapter 24! Enjoy :-)
I DO NOT own NCIS or anything related to it…But if you know how I can correct that, let me know!
*I apologize in advance for the language in this chapter.*
"Daddy, are we there yet?" asked Arissa.
"Not Rissa, we are not there yet!" replied Tony.
"When we gonna get there?"
"We still have another five hours."
Tony readjusted himself in the driver's seat as he drove down I-70 in route to Indiana. Kate's great aunt was turning ninety-five and Ellen thought it would be a great opportunity to get the entire family together to celebrate. Kate tried to think of every excuse to get out of going but her mother insisted that she come and celebrate with the family.
Only half way through the trip, Arissa had asked nearly fifty times if they were there yet. Tony did his best to try and entertain the girl while he drove. He loaded his iPad with her favorite movies and TV shows along with a few games in an effort to keep her quiet and busy during the trip but it did little to keep the girl's interest. Instead, he heard the word "Daddy" about every ten minutes. While Tony's heart swelled every time the four year old called him "Daddy," hearing it so many times was starting to become annoying to him.
"Daddy? Mommy still sleeping?"
"Yeah, she's still sleeping."
"The babies make her tired?"
"Yeah, they make her tired. That's why you have to be quiet so Mommy can rest."
"Okay, I be quiet so Mommy can sleep," said Arissa as she picked up the iPad.
"Thank you, sweetheart!"
Kate had been asleep since they crossed the Pennsylvania border, two hours into the trip. Carrying twins for the past thirty weeks was a lot of work on Kate's body so Tony preferred that she slept when she needed.
Kate began to stir in the seat next to him.
"Where are we?" asked Kate as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Almost to Columbus," replied Tony as he reached over and rested a hand on Kate's stomach. "Sleep well?"
"I'm sorry, honey!" yawned Kate. "I only meant to close my eyes for a minute.
"It's okay, you need your rest!" smiled Tony.
"How has she been?"
"Keeps wanting to know when we are going to get there."
"Ten and a half hours is a long time for a four year old in the car. I really wish we could have flown."
"You're in your third trimester, hon. It's safer for you and the babies if we drove."
"I can't believe I let my mom talk me into coming up here for my Aunt Bee's ninety-fifth birthday!"
"I can't believe you have an Aunt Bee? What do you have an uncle named Andy and a cousin named Opie?"
Kate laughed.
"I'm not going to lie I'm not looking forward to facing your Dad again. After our last encounter, I'm sure he already has his shot gun loaded for me."
"He doesn't have a shot gun."
"Really?"
"No. He has a forty-five!" chuckled Kate.
"Not funny."
"Daddy! I gotta pee!" shouted Arissa as she wiggled in her booster seat.
"Didn't I tell you not to drink those juice boxes so fast?" spat Tony.
"Gotta pee, Daddy! Gotta pee!"
Kate squirmed in her seat. "I have to pee too, Tony!"
"You too?" questioned Tony.
"Tony, I have a baby sitting on my bladder! What do you expect?"
"At this rate we won't make it to Indiana until after the party!" said Tony as he pulled off at the exit so Kate and Arissa could empty their bladders.
They continued on their journey until they arrived at Kate's parent's house later that afternoon. Parking the car, they were greeted by the sight of Ellen rushing out the front door.
"David, they're here!" shouted Ellen as she ran to open the passenger side door to help her daughter out the car. "Look at you, Caitlin! You have gotten so big since I last saw you!"
"I feel big!" replied Kate as she rubbed her belly.
"Well, you are almost there! A few more weeks and you will have two beautiful babies! Speaking of beautiful, where is Arissa?"
"I right here!" shouted the little girl as Tony took her out the car.
"Well, look at you! You've gotten even pretty since the last time I saw you! I tell you if I didn't know any better I would think Caitlin was your real Mommy!" said Ellen, as she hugged Arissa.
"She is my Mommy now!" replied Arissa with a smile as she hugged Ellen.
Ellen looked at Kate knowing the truth about their situation with Arissa. "She sure is! It's good to see you too, Tony."
"Nice to see you too, Ellen," said Tony as he hugged the older woman. "David isn't around is he?"
"Oh yeah, he's right out back! Come on, he'll be happy to know you're here!" said Ellen as she walked inside the house with Arissa.
"I don't know about that?" sighed Tony as he helped Kate inside.
In the backyard, David scrubbed away at the large barbeque grill in an effort to clean it.
"Look who I found?" announced Ellen as she, Kate, Tony and Arissa walked into the backyard.
"Katie Pie!" shouted the David as he ran over to hug his daughter.
"Hi, Grandpa Todd!" said Arissa.
"Well hello darling!" said David as he kissed Arissa on the cheek. "How was the trip?"
"Long!" exclaimed Tony.
David stared at Tony. "Tony? Didn't think you were coming?"
"Well, someone had to drive, David," smirked Tony, gaining an icy gaze from David.
"Tony, why don't you go put your things in Caitlin's old bedroom? It's upstairs last door on the right!" said Ellen.
"Okay," said Tony.
"I help you, Daddy!" shouted Arissa as she ran after Tony.
"Don't start, Dad!" spat Kate as she sat down at the patio table.
"Why did you have to bring him? You know, I don't like that boy, Katie Pie! He's nothing but bad news!" asked David.
"Like him or not, he's my boyfriend and the father of your grandkids so can you do me a favor and at least tolerate him while we are here and not torture him the whole time?"
David rolled his eyes before focusing his attention back on cleaning his grill.
"Well, I'm so happy to have the both of you here! And I'm really happy to see Arissa again! How is the adoption going?" asked Ellen.
"Not too good. They are moving pretty fast in reviewing the family. Arissa could be gone by the time the twins are born!"
"They don't they just leave her be? She is so happy with you too!"
"Her caseworker can't stand me and Tony! She'll do anything to get her away from us including putting Arissa with a family she doesn't like! I'm surprised she even agreed to let us bring her here. I was sure she was going to make Arissa stay with the Owens while we were gone!"
"Well, I'm praying for the three of you every day."
"Thanks Mom."
"I wonder where are Rachel and the boys are? I told them you were coming!"
"No, Mom! You didn't tell them to come over did you?" groaned Kate.
"I only get to have all you kids together every few years! Besides they are your brothers and sister!"
Like an introduction, Kate's older sister Rachel and her three older brothers D.J., Kevin and Bobby all entered into the backyard along with Rachel's son, Steven, D.J' two kids, Emily and Zach and Kevin's son, Ryan. The sound of their arguing preceded them.
"Don't remind me!" sighed Kate.
"D.J. move your truck!" shouted Kevin.
"I'm not moving my truck, Kevin!" yelled D.J.
"Your truck is blocking the driveway so I had to park on the street!"
"What you're too good to park on the street?"
"No! I just want my car in the driveway!"
"I'm not moving my truck! Your car is fine on the street!"
"Mom, tell D.J. to move his car!"
"Would you two knock it off? You sound like a bunch of kids!" snapped Rachel.
"Oh shut up, Rachel!"
"Some things never change!" laughed Kate as she watched her siblings.
Excited to see their distance sibling, the group stopped their bickering long enough to go over and hug Kate.
"Katie? Putting on little bit of weight there aren't you," joked D.J.
"Very funny, smartass!" replied Kate, cutting her eyes at her oldest brother.
"Caitlin?" gasped Ellen.
"Sorry!"
"Mom told us but I had to see it for myself! I can't believe my baby sister is pregnant!" said Bobby.
"Well, believe it!"
"How far along are you?" asked D.J.
"Thirty weeks."
"Almost at the home stretch," said Rachel as she rubbed Kate's belly. "Most women deliver twins between thirty-six and thirty eight weeks."
"That sucks for you, Bobby! Not only did Katie graduate before you but she's having kids before you too! Some big brother you are! What's wrong with you?" joked Kevin.
"She didn't graduate before me! We graduated at the same time!" corrected Bobby.
"You're a year older than her!"
"So?"
"It's okay Bobby. We all know you're special!" joked Kate.
"Shut up, dork!"
"Nice comeback, did you pick that one up when you repeated the tenth grade for the second time?" replied Kevin.
"Stop it!" scolded Ellen. "I will not have this entire visit spent with you all arguing!"
"So when are we going to get to meet the son of a bitch who knocked you up, Katie?" asked D.J.
"David John Todd!" spat Ellen, appalled by her son's choice of words.
"I'm sorry, when are you going to get to meet Tony?"
"He's upstairs with Arissa putting our stuff away," said Kate.
"You guys are going to love him! Tony is a really nice guy!" said Rachel
"Speak for yourself!" snapped David.
Tony walked outside with Arissa. D.J., Kevin and Bobby stared Tony down as he stood in front of them.
"Should I run?" asked Tony to Kate, nervously.
"D.J, Kevin, Bobby this is my boyfriend, Tony. Tony, these are my brothers," said Kate introducing them.
"I must say, you're nothing like what I expected," said D.J. as he walked over and shook Tony's hand.
"Thanks? What were you expecting?"
"I don't know? But I must say you're a step up for the other guys Katie has dated!"
"Shut up, D.J.!" snapped Kate.
"And you must be Arissa! I'm your Uncle D.J.!"
"Hi, Uncle D.J.!" waved the little girl.
"I got a little girl named Emily who's about your age, she's around here somewhere! You want to go meet her?"
"Okay!" said Arissa as she took D.J.'s hand so she could go meet his daughter, Emily.
"Tony, I must say it amazes me that Katie was able to find a man let alone one to get her pregnant!" laughed Kevin.
"Well it wasn't planned but I couldn't be happier!" responded Tony as he wrapped his arm around Kate.
"I'm just surprised that you've actually stayed with her all this time and haven't bolted out the door!" said Bobby.
"Me too," said David under his breath.
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Kate.
"You aren't the easiest person to deal with Kate!" said Bobby.
"Oh and being around you is so great? When was the last time you had a girlfriend, Bobby?"
"Okay you two that's enough!" scolded Ellen.
"She what you have to look forward to with her, Tony?" joked Kevin.
Being with Kate's family, Tony was afraid that he would be dealing with threats and dirty looks from her brothers but instead Kate's brothers took a quick liking to Tony. After sitting down to enjoy a few beers, and talking about everything to from sports to women to embarrassing stories from Kate's childhood, Tony felt himself start to relax and by the end of the evening felt like one of the boys with Kate's brothers. The next morning they even woke Tony up to join them in a game of basketball where their male bonding continued.
David distanced himself from Tony, opting to hide out in his den rather than interact with his daughter's boyfriend. Tony tried to get David to talk to him but his efforts were futile, all he was able to get from him were cold stares. But, Tony seriously needed to talk to David and wasn't willing to put it off any longer.
"Room for one more?" asked Tony he stood in the den doorway.
David stared at the television as he rocked in his La-Z-Boy recliner.
Tony ran his fingers through his hair as he walked into the den and sat down on the sofa across from David. He pulled the bottle out of the bag and placed it on the coffee table near David.
David looked at the bottle then back at the television.
"Johnny Walker Double Black? That's top shelf."
"You're a whiskey man, right David?" asked Tony.
David stared at the television.
"I'm trying to make peace here, David."
"Buttering me up with whiskey isn't going to help."
"Can't hurt!" said Tony with a smile.
"What do you want, Tony?"
"I need to talk to you about Kate and me."
"Found another toy to play with so you want to leave me Katie Pie, huh?"
Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny item placing it on the table near the bottle. "Actually, it's quite the opposite."
David stared at the item as it glistened off the brown tint of the whiskey. "Is this some type of joke?"
"No, sir."
"You doing this to spite me?"
"Not at all."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"You know why, David."
"You know my feelings on this."
"Yes, and I understand but I hope you can understand how I feel. I do love her, David."
David looked at Tony before he got up and walked over to his liquor cabinet taking out two shoot glasses. He placed a glass in front of him and Tony and then opened up the bottle of Johnny Walker that Tony had brought pouring them each a glass.
David held up his shot glass with a small smile across his face. "Finally decide to become a man, Tony?"
Tony picked up his glass and tapped it against David before downing the whiskey.
"This doesn't mean I like you," smirked David.
That night, it seemed like the entire town showed up at Kate's parents' house for Kate's great aunt's birthday. Arissa ran around with Kate's niece and nephews playing not having a care in the world while Kate was busy entertaining guests, fielding questions about Arissa and the twins while Tony stood proudly by her side.
D.J. stood in the center of the party, tapping his glass. "Excuse me! Can I have everyone's attention?"
"Is it time to cut my cake?" asked Kate's weary Aunt Bee.
"Almost darling but first I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate with us! As you know my Aunt Bee is turning ninety-five years young!"
"What are talking about? I'm thirty-nine!"
"Yeah, fifty-six years ago! But I feel like we have so much more to celebrate today! Katie? You, Tony and Arissa come up here!"
"No!" spat Kate, getting the feeling that she was being set up by her brother.
"Come here!"
The three cautiously made their way to through the crowd to join D.J, unsure of what he was up to.
"As you all can see, my baby sister Katie is pregnant! And we have Tony here to thank for that! In a few weeks, I will be an uncle to not one but two little ones and I will hopefully have the honor of having Arissa here as a niece as well. Katie, I know me, Kevin and Bobby may torture you nonstop but I want you to know that we truly are happy for you baby sis! You've found a really great guy here in Tony and I wish you, him and little Arissa nothing but happiness in the future! D.J. raised his glass. "So here's to Katie and her boyfriend…"
"Sorry, D.J. but I have to stop you," interrupted Tony.
"What? Did I do something wrong?" asked D.J. in shock of Tony's interruption.
"No, no, you were great! I just need to correct something you said."
"What did I say?" asked D.J. still confused.
"You said boyfriend."
"You are her boyfriend, aren't you?"
"Yeah...But I don't want to be anymore!" exclaimed Tony causing the crowd to gasp.
"What?" asked Kate, in shock.
"I can't be your boyfriend anymore, Kate! I hear that word and I feel sick to my stomach because…"
"You don't love her?" interjected D.J.
Tony said nothing.
Bobby and Kevin rushed the center of the crowd, fists balled.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Tony?" huffed Kevin, jaw clinched tight.
"I don't want to date your sister anymore!" said Tony, coldly.
"So you're just going to break up with my little sister in front of all these people, like this?" asked Bobby as he slammed his drink down and rolled up his sleeve ready to punch Tony for hurting his sister.
"Now hold on a minute!" exclaimed D.J. "Tony, you better start explaining what the hell you are doing before me and my brothers put our feet up your ass!"
Kate tried to fight back the tears but she could stop them from falling. She was devastated. All this time she thought that she and Tony were happy together. Now here they were in front of her entire family and he just admitted to never loving her at all.
"Nozzo, stop being mean! You make Kate cry!" exclaimed Arissa.
"I'm sorry, Kate but I can't be your boyfriend because it makes me think of something temporary! And I don't want that with you! I want something permanent!" said Tony as he looked Kate in the eyes.
"What?" whispered Kate.
Tony looked to David who stood at the back of the room with a smile on his face. Tony took a deep breath. "Kate, I can't tell you the exact day it happened. Maybe it was when you told me you were pregnant or maybe when we started breaking Rule 12 or maybe it was that day when I saw you on Air Force One but I've fallen in love with you! In fact, I wish there was a word greater than love because that would better explain how I feel about you. I know that this is almost eight months too late but rather it be late than never!"
Kate's eyes got big as Tony dropped down to one knee and pulled a small black box out of his pocket that contained the item he showed Kate's father earlier that day.
"Caitlin Lauren Todd, will you marry me?"
Kate collapsed her hand over her mouth, unable to come up with words as she stared at the ring. "Tony, are you serious?"
"I'm on one knee aren't I? Kate, I know we said we would take it slow but after everything we have been through, I realize that you being my girlfriend is not enough for me! I want you to be my wife!"
Kate looked over to her father.
"I already talked to him. And everything is fine. Now could you just say yes or no cause this floor is hard and my knee is starting to hurt!" said Tony, using his humor to cover for his nervousness in this situation.
"Caitlin, would you say yes so I can have my cake!" interjected Aunt Bee.
Kate laughed. "Yes!"
"Seriously?" asked Tony, expecting the worse.
"Yes, Tony! I will marry you!"
With a smile a mile wide, Tony jumped up and hugged Kate as the crowd of clapped and cheered for the newly engaged couple. Even Arissa was unable to contain her happiness for them as she ran over to join their hug.
"Holy shit, Tony! You don't know how close you were to getting a beat down!" shouted Bobby, surprised by Tony's proposal.
"Robert Kennedy Todd!" exclaimed Ellen at her son's language.
"You middle name is Kennedy?" asked Tony.
"You weren't going to do nothing, Bobby! This was all a part of the plan!" said Kevin.
"Plan?" asked Kate.
"Tony, told us he wanted to propose this morning while we were playing basketball so we thought it would be fun to make you think that he was going to break up with you and that we were going to beat him up!" laughed D.J.
"You set me up?"
"We thought it would be funny! No hard feelings?" asked Tony.
Kate laughed before slapping Tony in the back of the head. "Nope!"
"Wait! This was all pretend?" asked Bobby with a confused look on his face.
"Yeah! You were there when we come up with it!" said Kevin
"Yeah…right! I remember!" said Bobby, trying to cover for the fact that he thought that this was real.
"If you two are done being romantic, can we get back to my cake! I'm ninety-five, I don't have much time to waste!" spat Aunt Bee.
Tony smiled before kissing his fiancée.
Kate and Tony are engaged! What do you think? Kate's brothers are crazy, huh? Reviews/comments are welcomed as always and an update is coming soon :-)