AN: HEY GUYS! A new update!

Ya-Da-Da!

I got an ALMOST A+on my math test! I'm so happy!

I have a mini-break from school! I'll be posting MUCH MORE.

This chapter may seem a bit fast-forwarded, but I think it's solid. :P Promise next one's going to be much better. :)

Enjoy. :)

Chapter 71

Kate barely woke up. Her eyes were literally glued. She didn't sleep much last night.

The message her mother left was bothering her. Why wouldn't she come back to NCIS?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud sound. Alarmed, Kate got up from her bed, holding her gun. She went downstairs into the living room.

There was an unbelievable sight there: Tony was chatting with her father, while Kate's mother was making breakfast.

Kate slapped her forehead. Kate's mother noticed her.

„Oh, morning, sweetie!" She said cheerfully. Kate groaned.

„Mom! What are you doing here?" Kate asked, letting the frustration rise in her voice. Her mother was slightly taken aback.

„Well, I just came by to see you. Can't a mother visit her daughter?" Kate's mother said innocently. Kate shook her head.

„Mom, every time you 'come by', you want something from me"Kate said warily.

"Well, I did leave you a message, didn't I?" She replied casually as she sat down next to her husband. Kate rolled her eyes.

"Yeah" She mumbled, looking at her feet.

"We'll talk later. Now, go get dressed up. Look at yourself; you look like you just jumped out of bed" Her mother said as she looked at Kate carefully.

"I did jump out of bed" Kate said, as if trying to defend herself.

"Oh" Her mother said with a light nod. "Okay, then"

Kate turned around and went upstairs.

Kate couldn't believe her mother did this.

Again.

She was a great mom, but she certainly did have her moments.

Kate finally completely changed her clothes. She went downstairs again.

"Ah, there she goes" Kate's mother said, smiling brightly. Kate tried not to roll her eyes. She sat by Tony as Kate's mother served the breakfast to them.

"Ooh, this looks delicious" Tony said happily. Kate's mother smiled.

"Trust me. It is delicious" She replied.

"Don't flatter yourself, Monica" Kate's father said jokingly. Kate chuckled. Monica kissed her husband on the cheek.

Tony and Kate shared a worried glance. Kate's mother easily noticed.

"So, Tony" Kate's mother started, "How did we happen to find you here?"

Tony choked on his juice. Kate spitted her food.

"Mom!" Kate hissed. Monica smirked.

"Sorry, honey. I just want to be in, you know?"She turned to Kate.

"Kate offered me to stay at her place" Tony said quickly. Monica looked at Kate again.

"Really?" Robert, Kate's father, said, looking at Kate expectantly. Kate stared back.

Tony nodded, hoping this will not lead to his execution. Kate groaned.

"Mom, his jacket was wet. It was snowing last night. He slept on the couch. No big deal" Kate explained, now looking intently at her mother.

"Oh" Her mother simply said with a nod. "So, what's up with Dwayne?"

Kate bowed her head. She picked through her food with her fork, looking like a little kid.

"Um…" Kate started insecurely.

"There's no need for stress, Kate. I am your mother, after all" Monica said peacefully. Kate sighed a she raised her head.

"We broke up" Kate simply said. Kate's father looked at her worriedly.

"Why, what happened?" He asked. Kate glanced at Tony.

"Well…" Kate replied slowly.

"Let's just say he had a nervous breakdown" Tony filled in her sentence. Kate's parents looked at Kate with shock. Kate's mother quickly reached for Kate's hand.

"Sweetie, did he hurt you?" She asked fearfully. Kate shook her head.

"No, he didn't" Kate said. Her mother sighed with relief.

"Are you sure?" Her father said strictly. Kate nodded.

"Don't worry, dad. Tony and the team saved me" She assured her dad as she glanced at Tony. Kate's mother slowly let go of her hands.

Silence overruled.

"So, did you finish your breakfast?" Robert asked. Kate handed over her plate to him.

"Yeah. It was very good" Tony added satisfyingly. Kate's mother chuckled.

"Why, thank you, Tony" She thanked him gracefully.

Robert cleared his throat. So did Monica.

Kate and Tony shared a confused glance, right before Monica sat down by the table again.

"Kate, honey" Monica started quietly.

"We really need to talk to you" Robert finished her sentence. Kate's mother nodded.

"Okay. What exactly do you want to talk about?" Kate asked worriedly. Monica sighed.

"Well, your father and I were talking about your job a few days ago…" Monica said as she glanced at her husband.

"We don't want you to come back to NCIS" He continued. Kate groaned.

"It's not dangerous!" Kate raised her voice. Robert looked at Kate.

"We almost lost you, Kate! We're not going to let that happen again" Her father said.

"I'm grown up! I can take care of myself" Kate hissed.

"Next time, you might get killed!" Kate's mother said. Kate crossed her arms.

"Mom, I could've died a billion times" Kate defended herself.

"You were in coma" Kate's father forcefully voiced. Kate was fuming.

"We're only doing this because we care about you" Monica said.

"Well, I'm coming back to NCIS, and there's nothing you can do about it" Kate got up. Monica and Robert looked at each other.

"Actually, there is" Robert said.

"What?" Kate asked angrily. Monica scratched her head with a loud sigh.

"We can never speak to you again, not attend your wedding, and not attend your childbirth…" Monica replied, letting her voice drift off. Her voice became shaky.

Kate looked at them at shock.

"You wouldn't do that" Kate said, trying to laugh desperately. Monica shook her head.

"You have a choice" She simply said before she walked out of Kate's house, along with her husband. Kate sat on her couch.

"They can't do this! They're…They're blackmailing me!" Kate stuttered panicky. Tony sat next to her.

"Maybe you should call them later" Tony suggested. Kate ran her finger through her hair.

"What have I done?" She whispered. Tony sighed.

Suddenly, Kate got up quickly.

"What is it?" Tony asked. She ran out of the house.

Tony was utterly confused.

"Wait!"He yelled as he ran after her.

They were both out of the house now.

Kate's parents were just starting the engine when Kate ran up to their car.

"Open the window!" Kate yelled through the glass as she banged her fist against the hard window of their car. Her mother rolled her eyes, but opened it.

"What now?" She said, sounding quite annoyed.

"Listen to me, mom" Kate pleaded. Her mother sighed.

"Go on?" She replied.

"Just because I was in coma, doesn't mean I'll end up in it again. Yeah, I could've died, and I could die again. But, actually mom, danger is everywhere. Lurking from the shadows. You gotta live. There's only one life. I chose that job, because I wanted to protect the country. And I've got great friends and company over there. They're all supportive. And they're my family too. If it weren't them, I wouldn't be alive today. So, please, let me get my job again, and please, attend my wedding" Kate finished her speech in a breath.

Kate's mother covered her mouth in shock. She opened the car doors and got out. She hugged Kate tightly.

"Honey, I'm so sorry I said those things. I didn't mean it" She whispered. Kate nodded.

"Now, mom. I was the rude b-"Kate joked, but was interrupted by loud panting.

"What the hell was that, Kate?" Tony asked through short and sharp breaths. Kate separated from her mother and turned to Tony.

"Trying to get my mom to talk to me once more in my life" Kate explained simply. She turned to her mother again.

"So, will you let me go back to NCIS?" Kate asked childishly. Her mother sighed.

"Well...okay" She said. Kate screamed and squealed happily. She jumped on Tony and hugged him.

"Oh, okay" Tony barely said.

"But, I need you to do something for me today" Monica interrupted. Kate climbed off Tony and turned to her mother.

"Anything" Kate said cheerfully.

"Your sister has been pleading me to take care of her baby. Could you please do it, since I'll be busy tonight?" She asked hopefully.

"Okay…Wait, tonight?" Kate replied. Kate's mother nodded.

"Yeah, the baby will sleep at your house. That's not a problem, right?" Monica questioned.

"No, I guess not" Kate said. Monica smiled.

"Great. I'll see you soon" She said as she kissed Kate's cheek. Kate smiled.

"Bye, mom" She said. Her mom waved to her as she got into the car.

Kate and Tony watched as the car drove off. Tony turned to Kate.

"What do you want to do now?" Tony asked. Kate smiled.

"Take me to NCIS! Please!" Kate cried. Tony laughed.

"Okay, okay!" He said. She clapped her hands happily.

15 minutes later…

At the NCIS building…

Ziva was finishing the final touch of her report, when she heard a familiar sound. She turned around, only to see Kate and Tony walking out of the elevator. She smiled inwardly.

"I'm so excited" Kate whispered. Tony chuckled. They approached Ziva's table. Gibbs and McGee raised their heads.

Gibbs put on a crooked smile.

"Well, it was about time" Gibbs said happily as he stood up. Kate turned to him, smiling brightly.

"Hey, Gibbs" She said casually as she walked up to him. She hugged him. He patted her back. He let go of her.

"How are you going with the 'Dwayne-wanted-to-kill-you-thing'?"Gibbs asked. Kate cocked her head.

"Don't worry about that. It's past" Kate dismissively said as she waved off with her hand. He smirked.

"Good. Now, explain what are you doing here" He asked. She shrugged.

"Just wanted to get back to work. Can I?" She asked excitedly. Gibbs looked at her strangely.

"Nah, it was boring at home, so I came back here" Kate said, relaxed.

"You sure you're ready to work?" Gibbs questioned with his eyebrow raised. She nodded.

"Yup. I'm in my best" Kate said. He curved his smile into a grin.

"Okay" Gibbs shrugged slightly.

"But, there's a tiny problem" McGee suddenly said. Kate turned around to face him.

"What problem?" Kate asked. McGee sighed.

"Well, since you were gone for a long time, Ziva took your desk" McGee said. Kate looked at Ziva, who had a look of guilt in her eyes.

"Uh, it's okay" Kate smiled at Gibbs. Tony looked at both of them.

"Okay, then. You'll be sharing your desk with Tony, until we get you a new one" Gibbs said. Kate looked at Tony. He grinned.

She smirked.

"I can live with that" She simply replied to Gibbs. He smiled as he started to walk away. He passed by her.

"Good to have you back" He said satisfyingly as he walked by. Kate smiled inwardly. Tony approached his table. He sat in his chair, while Kate sat on his desk, next to his computer.

Ziva watched them. She was feeling something completely different:

She was happy for them.

Her crush on Tony has been gone for a long time. She actually loved Gerald. He made her happy.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud squeal.

Abby ran into the room.

"KATE!" She yelled frantically. She jumped on her friend excitedly.

"Missed you too, Abbs" Kate whispered. Abby let go of Kate.

"I missed you so much! So many things happened, and…" She started babbling, but was cut off by Kate.

"Abby! You texted me two days ago!" Kate complained.

"Yeah, but it was, like, two days ago! It's a lot!" Abby replied. Kate laughed.

"I'll talk to you later, Abbs" Kate assured her friend. Abby slouched her back, faking a frown.

"Suit yourself" Abby said in a half-British accent, mimicking Jenny, the Director. Kate laughed.

They heard a loud 'Ahem'

Abby quickly turned around, so she was facing the director.

"Oh! D-Director! I'm sorry…" Abby said as she bowed her head quickly. Jenny held in her chuckle.

"It's nothing big, Miss Sciuto" Jenny assured Abby. She could've heard a 'phew' coming out of Abby's way. She leaned in.

"Although, I'm not British, for the record" She slowly whispered. Abby's blood went ice-cold. Jenny finally laughed.

"Get back to your work" She said softly. Abby quickly nodded.

"Yes, madam Director" She muttered before she walked away. Jenny grinned after seeing Kate.

"Agent Todd! How's it going?" She asked politely. Kate shrugged while smiling.

"Okay, I guess. I'm getting back to work" She said proudly. She glanced back at Tony. He smiled. She looked back at Jenny.

"Well, that's great. I'll be finally able to see your work" She said. Kate nodded happily.

"Can't wait to get back on the field" Kate replied. Jenny patted Kate's shoulder.

"I'll meet you later. I have some work to do" Jenny said. Kate watched as the woman walked away. She turned back to Tony and his report.

"So, what have you got?" Kate questioned as she looked at his screen. Tony sighed.

"Just a bunch of unfinished reports" Tony grunted. Kate groaned.

Later…

It was 6 P.M. Tony and Kate had typed in the last sentence of their report.

"Ugh! Thank God!" Kate yelled as she got up. Tony stretched.

"Glad we got that covered" Tony added. He put on his coat. Kate did too.

"Let's go home. We've got a baby to take care of" Kate reminded. Tony nodded.

"Right" He replied. They both left the bullpen.

…

"Are you sure it doesn't bother you?" Rachel Cranston, Kate's sister, asked for the hundredth time, as she handed over the baby to Kate.

"Don't worry, Rachel. It's no big deal, trust me" Kate assured her sister as she took the baby in her arms. Rachel nodded.

"Okay, then. Please, be careful with him" She appealed. Kate nodded.

"He's safe with me" Kate promised. Rachel smiled.

"Thanks" She said before she walked away from Kate's door. Kate closed the door and turned to Tony, who just showed up. She invited him, so he could help her with the baby.

"Let's roll" They said in unison. Kate sat on the couch. Tony joined her. They turned on the TV. Tony was about to change the channel on Fox Crime, but Kate suggested not to watch such things with a baby.

Just as they were watching a cartoon, the baby started crying. It was in Tony's arms.

"Shhh" Tony tried to hush the baby, but it only cried louder.

"Give it to me, I'll go change her" Kate said. Just as Tony gave her the baby, it immediately went quiet. It started giggling happily. Tony felt slightly offended.

"Aww…" Kate tickled the baby playfully. "Isn't he adorable?"

"Yeah" Tony glared at the baby.

"Can you give it to me for a moment?" Tony asked. Kate nodded.

"Sure" She replied. She gave him the baby.

The baby started crying again. It made Tony slightly upset. Kate laughed.

"I think the baby likes you more" Tony muttered. The baby started giggling, while still in his hands.

"Hey, it stopped" Tony said with relief.

"Yeah" Kate added. Tony smiled, but baby cried again.

"Oh, God, what have I done wrong in this world?" Tony complained, while looking at the ceiling. Kate chuckled as she passed by Tony.

"Now, that's a list I don't want to get started" Kate said meanly. Tony frowned.

"Geez thanks…" He grunted.

Two hours later…

Tony and Kate fell asleep on the couch, with the baby in Kate's arms, sound asleep. They were too exhausted to do anything.

AN: That's it.

REVIEW IF YOU LIKED IT.