The decision to stop by the twenty-four hour convenience store and grab a cup of coffee. Must have been divine intervention. Because when he returned home, he discovered Holly sitting slumped over on the couch. An old photo-album resting on her lap. Holly had inherited her mom's love of history, photography, and photographs. She had also inherited her father's insomnia. So it wasn't uncommon to find her sitting up late at night going through the old family photo-albums. Needless to say Tony didn't think anything of it. He started upstairs his half empty coffee cup in his hands. Then he heard it the sound of his daughter's soft crying. He immediately raced back to the couch and sat down beside her. He reached over and placed one hand on her shoulder. Using the other to lift up the front cover of the photo-album and see which one she was looking at. Tony felt his chest tighten and had to fight to keep his own tears out of his eyes. This was the photo-album from when the twins were little and when Kate was still alive.

"I don't get it. Why did she have to die. I don't even remember her. I try to trigger my memories. I'll look at pictures and go into your room and feel her clothes and spray her perfume so I can smell it. They say that scent is the most powerful memory trigger but nothing works." Holly sobbed.

"You were only two when she died." Tony offered.

"People can remember as far back as when they were a year and a half old." Holly explained.

"I know but most people are older. I wish you guys remembered her too." Tony sighed.

"Noah does" Holly retorted.

"Noah only remembers her because he remembers being sick and I am grateful everyday that your mother and you didn't get sick." Tony explained.

"I wish I had been sick! So that I can remember her!" Holly snapped.

"No you do not. The only good part about Noah being sick is that he remembers her. It was hell for your mom with both of us being sick and it was hell for me knowing that it was my fault that my son could die. Besides the fact that even if you had gotten sick. It doesn't mean that you would remember your mother. It would just mean that you would have been sick. You would have to take an inhaler every day and you would have to go to the doctor for every little cold and sniffle. It is not easy for me and Noah." Tony explained.

"I don't want the lecture about how lucky I am that I didn't get the plague! I just want to remember my mom. I just want to remember her." Holly sniffed.

"I know, Holly believe me I know." Tony replied reassuringly.

"Why did she have to die? Why did she have to take that job? Why couldn't she have been a normal mom and stayed home or done a normal mom job?" Holly questioned.

"I have the same job." Tony reminded.

"I know but a lot of kids have dad's who are cops." Holly replied.

"A lot of kids have mom's who are cops too." Tony reminded.

"I know. I know how sexist that sounds but God it's hard." Holly sniffed.

"I know" Tony replied.

"Can you say anything besides "I know"?" Holly questioned.

"What do you want to here?" Tony asked.

"I don't know! I just want to hear something." Holly cried.

"How about this? I am here for you." Tony suggested.

Even with his cup of coffee the night before and the three he chugged before work that morning. Tony was still struggling to keep himself awake as he sat at his desk the next morning. Bishop and Gibbs were down in the shooting range taking an accuracy test and McGee was vigorously typing away at his keyboard. Without warning a large black hand slammed itself down on to his desk.

"Look sharp Agent DiNozzo!" Vance barked.

"I'm sorry director." Tony yawned.

"Grab yourself some coffee and then get up to my office." Vance ordered.

"I was just resting my eyes. I am sorry it won't happen again." Tony apologized.

"Just get up to my office." Vance replied.

Tony pulled himself up from his desk and stumbled to the break-room. He grabbed his "American Pie" coffee mug from the cupboard, grabbed the coffee pot, and poured until the cup was almost overflowing. He rode the elevator up to the director's office. Praying that he wasn't in too much trouble. He dreaded having to tell the twins that he had lost his job. Even more he dreaded Gibbs finding out that he had been fired.

"Gibbs told me what happened with Holly yesterday." Vance explained.

"Director before you fire me please remember I am a single father too. Holly needed me and there was nobody else except Noah and he's more clueless than me." Tony pleaded.

"No Tony I understand. Believe me. I just wanted to give you something." Vance replied handing Tony a small gift bag.

"Uh thanks" Tony replied.

"It's a box of chocolate and ear plugs." Vance explained.

"Thanks but I am watching my weight and I don't want to ignore Holly." Tony replied.

"It's for the twins chocolate for Holly and ear plugs for Noah. Trust me when Kayla gets weepie it drives Jared crazy and they fight but if he can't hear her. He can't get mad." Vance explained.

"Well hopefully this will help." Tony replied.

"If Holly needs any help Kayla is a great counselor." Vance replied.

"Can I ask you a personal question director?" Tony asked.

"Sure" Vance replied.

"Was Jackie alive when Kayla had her first one?" Tony asked.

"Kayla started about six months before Jackie died." Vance explained.

"I feel for Holly. She wants a mom but I don't know if I am ready." Tony explained.

"Try at least try." Vance replied.

"I like the twins English teacher." Tony explained,

"Gibbs told me." Vance replied.

"Gibbs told me to go for it." Tony replied.

"Sounds like Gibbs." Vance replied.

"I know but Gibbs never had to date with kids. I do and the last thing I want to is hurt the twins. They have been through enough

"Start out slow. Go to one of her breakfasts invite her to the movies with the twins and your usual group. Then small outings coffee or some other small thing. Then ease into real dates. Start with just dinner or a movie and then ease into more activities." Vance explained.

"What if she rejects me or we break-up?" Tony asked.

"Then at least you put yourself back out there and that's a major step, believe me." Vance replied.

A/N: Will Vance's advice help Tony at all? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.