The next few weeks past in a blur; Antonia grew stronger every day as did her bond with Ziva and each day Abby and Gibbs' close relationship became more and more strained and bitter, no one had any idea why. The two big announcements for the Gibbs' family were Antonia would be allowed home and that Kate and Tony were expected a baby of their own. Tony loved it, becoming instantly excited whereas Kate was taking her time in accepting the idea, she was nervous and scared.
Kate was sitting at the kitchen table, silent tears streaming down her face when Abby came in dumping her school bag in the corner.
"Hey, Kate," Abby smiled about to raid the fridge until she seen her sister-in-law's face.
"Katie!" Abby was immediately at Kate's side, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Kate sniffled, "Just stuff."
Abby nodded in understanding and pulled out her phone.
"Ziva! Back-up needed…no I've not been beat up…no not me idiot! Kate needs us! Yes as in our sister Kate...Bring Antonia with you, I need her as well…thanks bye" Abby hung up as she stood behind Kate's chair and hugged her from behind.
"Reinforcements are coming, Katie, don't you worry," Abby whispered to her.
Half an hour later Ziva came through the door, holding Antonia in one arm and pushing a pram that could have fit three babies in never mind one.
"Oh Kate, what's wrong?" Ziva asked slightly out of breath.
"Do want me to take Antonia into the front room while you girls talk?" Abby asked to which Ziva nodded. Abby quickly kissed Kate's hair like an over-protective mum about to leave her alone for the first weekend ever. Abby collected Antonia out of Ziva's arms carefully with so much love in her eyes which made Ziva and Kate smile.
"Oh BTW Abby, Dad is so pissed that you didn't tell him you were coming to Tony's after school," Ziva said quietly.
"And…" Abby said slowly voice filled with the stubborn teenager attitude and left the room singing to Antonia, Ziva couldn't help but think about how beautiful it was before her attention to Kate.
"Kate, spill it," Ziva said sitting across from her.
"I can't do this Zee! Tony is so excited…and…all I can think about is how things would…would…be different, serious! I can't be a mum, I am not mother material," Kate was full scale sobbing now.
"Kate, I felt like that at the start and then I saw my daughter for the first time," Ziva smiled, "I saw her big brown eyes and cute button nose and I couldn't believe that I could love another human being that much."
"I love Tony, I really do but this was never in the plan!"
"Kate! Look at me! I can't make you change your mind on whatever you decide to do but I'm a kid and I manage just fine, just bear that in mind and come hold your niece, just in case you do turn out to need the practice," Ziva helped her shaking, crying sister out of the chair and through to Abby; who was curled up on the couch with the baby cradled in her arms. As soon as the two girls entered Abby got up and handed Antonia to Kate; who held her awkwardly.
"Hey, baby Toni," Kate managed a small smiled which very slowly turned into a grin as she held the baby closer, to which Abby and Ziva high-fived each other.
…
"Hey, girls, dinner is almost ready," Jenny smiled at her daughters.
"I'll have mine later, if that's ok?"
"Ok, sweetie, it'll be in the microwave when you're ready for it," Jenny smiled in sympathy knowing that Ziva had next to no sleep the night before.
Ziva took Antonia upstairs in the hope that both of them could have a sleep.
"How was your day, honey?" Jenny asked as Abby threw herself down into a chair.
"The usual," Abby shrugged, "Yours?"
"Paperwork, butt kissing, more paperwork," Jenny replied, "Dad will be home in a minute."
"Ok, should I set the table or…"
"No, no, I was just letting you know that it would be nice not to have fighting at the dinner table," Jenny sighed.
"I'm sorry, mum," Abby gave a sigh which matched Jenny's but Jen wasn't sure if it was an apology for past or future behaviour.
"Baby, how are you doing, really?" Jen asked and Abby knew what Jenny was referring too.
"I'm fine," Abby smiled but she wasn't…the thoughts, the urges, and the therapy… She was trying but it was hard.
"Good," Jen kissed the side of Abby's head, "Remember you have a meeting with Dr. Silverman tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, Dad's picking me up at lunch time from school and driving me there and picking me up an hour after that and then we're going to NCIS, got it," Abby smiled slightly, "Ziva will be here, why do I have to come to NCIS?"
"Because Ziva needs to look after Antonia," Gibbs said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, dinner is almost ready," Jenny smiled.
"Smells good," Gibbs smiled slightly back, "Abby, have you done your homework?"
"Don't have any," Abby said in a cold tone.
"Abby! What the hell is going on with you?"
"Nothing," Abby muttered.
"I don't even know you anymore, Abby, because this side of you, it isn't my daughter," Gibbs seemed angry but didn't shout this time.
"I'm not your daughter because of one slip-up!" Abby climbed clumsily to her feet.
"You promised me you'd stopped after you almost killed yourself!"
"It's not that easy! What you don't think it's not there, eating away at me every single day! Like I want to take a blade to myself! It just happens because I don't know what else to do! It hurts! It fucking hurts and all you see in this is Kelly, you're not seeing the self-harm, you are not seeing me! You're seeing Kelly, you're seeing a car crash, you're seeing the loss of a daughter that isn't me or Ziva or even Kate, and you just keep reliving the past, you don't care, Daddy," Abby's angry shouts had turned to shaky quiet almost silent sobs.
"Abby," Gibbs said in utter shock, he'd expected a lot of things to be bothering her but not that.
"Can I be excused?" Abby asked Jenny who nodded silently as Abby bolted up to her room.
…
Since both girls were upstairs, Jenny held dinner back an hour before calling them down.
"Abby! Ziva! Dinner's ready!" Jenny yelled. Ziva came down first, looking like she might fall asleep walking with a white baby monitor in her hand followed by Abby; who scrubbed off her Goth make-up and tied her hand into a simple ponytail instead of two pigtails.
Once everyone was settled at the table, Gibbs decided that a conversation would do them all some good.
"How was everyone's day?" Gibbs asked the typical Jenny question.
"Good, Antonia was really good today," Ziva smiled brightly like she always did at the mention of her daughter.
"Not too bad, Jethro," Jenny told him politely nudging Abby slightly to knock her out of her daydream.
"Yeah, it was…ok," Abby forced a smile.
"I was thinking, we could hang out this weekend, Abbs, I know that Ziva and your mum were planning a shopping trip, we could play some baseball or go swimming or fishing," Gibbs suggested.
"Sounds good, Dad," Abby even managed a proper smile but Gibbs wasn't sure if she meant it or not.
"Mum, who's going to look after Tonia?" Ziva asked she appreciated the thought but she was still nervous about leaving Antonia with strangers, in fact her baby had never left her side.
"Tony said that He and Kate would babysit they want to see there niece" Gibbs smiled hopefully this trip just Abbs and himself would knock down the wall that had been silently building between himself and his youngest baby girl.
Sorry for the late up date, school has been really busy, hope you enjoy please review