FAMILY PORTRAIT, FAMILY SHADOWS
CHAPTER 7
That Evening
DiNozzo Residence
Tony walked into the living room from the kitchen and flopped down on the couch, laying his head in Abby's lap and whined, "It's 9:15, shouldn't they be dead to the world by now?" He winced as another high-pitched, little girl scream/giggle pierced the air.
Chuckling, Abby ran her fingers through her husband's hair. "Not at a sleep-over, honey! These things can go all night!" She flat-out laughed at the look of horror on Tony's face. "Ohhhhhhh, poor baby. Big, tough, very special agent can't outlast a pair of six-year old girls?" She laughed again when he gave her the evil eye. "I think you can do it, Tony-Boy. I have complete faith in you. Plus $50 on a bet with McGee."
Tony sat up quickly. "You placed bets on me? On whether I'd crash before the girls do? Abby!"
Abby smiled and shrugged. "What? I've got $50 that says you don't! I'm cheering for you, Tony. So is Ziva…"
"Ziva's in on the bet, too?" He dropped dramatically back onto Abby's lap.
"Like I said, she thinks you can stay awake, too. It's only McGee that thinks you'll conk out before the kids." Tony sputtered. "And Gibbs."
"Gibbs? Gibbs? Gibbs? My kid's own grandfather - my boss! - thinks I can't keep up with a pair of hyped-up-on-sugar-and-Justin-Bieber six year olds?" He turned to Abby with a gleam in his eye. "This means war!"
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10:00 pm
DiNozzo Residence
At last, the girls were quiet, Tony thought to himself as he made his way to the kitchen. Abby had 'helped' the girls make chocolate chip cookies earlier in the evening, and the smell was still lingering in the air, driving Tony crazy. As he entered the kitchen, he saw the girls seated at the table, big plate of cookies in front of them. "Ah! So here's why you girls are so quiet - midnight snacking!" He got a glass and poured himself a glass of milk, then headed to the table to grab himself several cookies. "Ok if I steal a…few….." As he looked at the two six-year olds, he couldn't miss that their hair had been curled into ringlets and piled on top of their heads with bright pink and purple ribbons. As Mandie reached for another cookie, he saw that not only her nails, but Kaity's nails, too, had been painted, Mandie's a bright purple, while Kaity went for a bright pink. But what had him speechless was that both girls - both six-year olds - both children, babies, really - were wearing full make-up. Eyes, cheeks, lips, even eyelashes. Instead of reaching for cookies, his hand went to Kaity's face, and his thumb skimmed her lips - yep, lipstick. "So…..what have you two been up to? Playing in mommy's make-up drawer?"
The girls rolled their eyes at him. "No, daddy. We played Beauty Shop."
Tony was still in shock at seeing the girls all made up. "Y-y-y-y-eah, I can…see….that….did you show mommy…?" Abby would have a cow that the girls got into her make-up drawer!
"Da-a-a-ddddy!" Kaity rolled her eyes again, and looked at Mandie with an expression that seemed to say, 'please excuse him.' "Who do you think did our hair and make-up?"
"And nails!" Mandie added happily, holding up her hands to show off the nails.
Abby did this? Was she insane? "Mommy….did this?"
At that moment, Abby walked into the room. "Tony, I thought you were coming right back….oh, excuse me, Princess Mandie, Princess Kaity. I didn't realize you were holding court." She curtsied.
"That's ok, mommy." They continued eating cookies.
Tony looked at her, amazed. "You knew about this?"
Abby looked confused. "That they were having a snack? Uh, ye-ah." Looking at the kids, she rolled her eyes. She rolled them again when Tony grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the kitchen.
"We need to talk." He walked out of the kitchen with Abby. When he got to the living room, he stopped and held up a finger and said, "one second." He went back into the kitchen, snatched a few cookies from the plate and left. And went back a moment later for his glass of milk. After he left with the milk, he missed the look the two girls shared.
"Dads," they both said at the same time, shaking their heads.
Back in the living room, Tony was grilling Abby. "You knew about this?"
"It's a sleep-over, Tony. Staying up late and eating 'til you bust is normal."
He was pacing now. "No, no, no! Although I'm not sure Mia and Brian appreciate you loading them up on sugar right before bed." He gestured to his hair and face. "I'm talking about the…the hair, and, and…all this!"
Abby's eyes lit up. "Ohhhhh! You mean the Beauty Shop!"
"Yeah, the beauty thing….what…why…..the hair….and the lips…..nails….?" Tony sputtered.
Abby giggled. "You are such a boy!"
"Why? Because I don't think my daughter - my six-year old little girl and her best friend - should be wearing make-up and trying to look 18?"
Taking pity on the poor man, Abby stood and enveloped him in a hug. "Tony, they're being princesses, not trying to sneak into R-rated movies or buy alcohol. You're right, they are little girls, and little girls like to pretend to be big girls. They like to play Dress-Up and Beauty Parlor." She gave him a soft kiss, hands framing his face. "She's still your little girl, daddy. Everything on their faces is made especially for little girls playing Dress-Up. It's non-toxic, and washes off with soap and water. And it's not like I gave them perms or anything, just a few curls with the curling iron. And Mia is totally fine with me painting Mandie's nails, just like I've let her do Kaity's." She pulled Tony down to sit next to her on the couch and put her arms around him. "It's harmless fun, babe. It doesn't mean the girls are going to be drinking and fooling around by freshman year of high school."
Tony pouted. "I know," he whined. "But….I….it's just…." He sighed. "I got a glimpse of what our baby's going to look like when she's older, and….." Tony shrugged. "There's going to be guys calling all the time, coming to the house….she'll try and sneak them in….I was that guy, Abbs! I know what guys will be thinking! And they'll be thinking it about my little girl!" Abby hid her face in his neck and laughed. "Go ahead and laugh…you'll see….just wait 'til she brings home that first Arthur Fonzarelli-type from high school…..all hands and raging hormones….wanting to 'study' in her bedroom….taking her to the prom, keeping her out all night doing who-knows-what. Pfffft!" Tony glared at Abby. "I know what he'll be doing to our girl on prom night, same thing me and every other seventeen-year old boy since the beginning of time has done on prom night! Wo-ho! That's it, no prom for our girl, telling you right now! And she's not dating 'til she's forty!" He looked back down at Abby. "Are you laughing? How can you laugh, knowing that guys like…like….me… are going to be sniffing around your little girl?"
Abby sat up, wiping the tears off her cheeks, still chuckling. "None of that is going to happen, Tony. Our girl is too smart to fall for any of that. Besides, do you really think any guy is going to try something like that with her, knowing that every member of her family carries guns and knives, and are members of law enforcement? Not to mention a mom that can kill him and leave no forensic evidence?"
Still pouting, Tony agreed. "Well…..maybe….."
Smiling, Abby said, "and I hope she does meet a guy just like you. Honest, strong, dependable, caring, sweet, loving….not to mention extremely handsome." She winked. "But most of all," she said softly, laying a hand on Tony chest, over his heart, "her best friend….who's always there for her. Who loves her no matter what." She sniffled, trying not to cry. "Even when…when it's bad, when she thinks he's crazy for standing by her side, when she does everything she can to push him away…..he's there for her, never gives up on her…doesn't let her give up on herself….." She looks him in the eye. "So yeah, Tony….I want her to meet a guy just like her daddy. Cuz her daddy is one hell of a man."
Tony's face softened and a small smile graced his lips. "Well, her dad is also very lucky. He's married to the bravest, most beautiful, smartest woman on the planet." He pulled Abby into a tight hug, rubbing his hands up and down her back, hoping to banish the thoughts of all they'd been through together before he'd finally convinced her to marry him. "So…extremely handsome, huh?…..Ow! What?" He released Abby and massaged the spot on his ribs where she'd poked him. Hard. Before he could open his mouth to complain, there was a high-pitched, terror-filled scream from the den. Where the girls were. Cursing not having his weapon, he couldn't get there fast enough, the screams and crying of the girls driving him.
He burst into the den ready to do combat. Scanning the room for threats, he didn't immediately see one, but the girls continued to scream in fear, clinging to each other. "What? What's wrong? Where is he?" Tony looked where both girls shakily pointed, but saw nothing. Unless he was hiding behind all those princess curtains Abby and Kaity hung all over the room this afternoon. Stealthily creeping over, he threw aside the pink curtain and saw…..!
Nothing.
He turned his frustrated look on Abby, who had grabbed the girls and was now standing with them outside the room. She got the message. Hugging the scared kids to her, she knelt down to their level, shushing them. "Ok now, remember, princesses are always brave in the face of danger. So, big breath in…." She took a deep breath with the girls. "And slowly…let it out…..good. Now, one of you tell daddy what's wrong."
Both girls cried at the same time, "SPIDER!"
Abby had to stop herself from bursting out into laughter at the look on Tony's face. She assessed the girls, and decided that Mandie was a bit more in control of herself than Kaity. "Mandie, honey, can you go show Kaity's daddy where the spider is?"
With a shaky nod, Mandie slowly made her way into the den, hiccupping tears the whole way. When she finally reached Tony, she hid behind him, grabbing onto his belt loops and plastering herself against his leg. She reached out a shaky finger, pointing. "He's…he's ov-over there," Mandie whimpered, and Tony reached a hand down and stroked her hair. With a final pat, he picked up a magazine, walked over to the place Mandie said she saw the spider, and scanned the entire area, looking for that stupid spider. Finally finding it, he scooped it up with the magazine and quickly made his way out of the room, all three girls (Abby included!) backing as far away from him as possible. He went to the kitchen, opened the door, and blew the spider off the magazine and into the night. With a tired sigh he shut the door. When he walked back to the den, two six-year olds rushed at him and latched onto him, thanking him profusely. He bent down and kissed each girl on the head. "I declare this room safe from all creepy-crawlies."
"Thank you daddy!" "Yeah, thank you, Kaity's daddy!" The two girls raced back into the now spider-free room and picked their game up right where they'd left off. Tony smiled. 'Anthony D. DiNozzo,' he thought to himself, 'Saver of Princesses!' With a satisfied sigh, he turned to leave the room. As he passed Abby, she fluttered her eyelashes. "My hero," she cooed dramatically.
Tony turned, one eye squinty. "Just doin' my job, li'l lady. Someone's gotta' rid the world of spiders," he said in his John Wayne impression.
"Oh, how will I ever thank you for savin' those little girls?" She simpered like a southern belle. Abby laughed and began to walk away. As she passed Tony, he grabbed her around the waist and spun her to face him. Still doing his John Wayne voice, he said, "you can thank me later, after the little ones have gone to bed. And ya' better be wearin' that white nightgown I like so much." He pressed a hard kiss to her lips and let her go. Tipping an imaginary hat, he walked away. Abby sighed dramatically and fanned her face, watching that tight butt walk away.
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11:30 PM
DiNozzo Residence
As he walked into the den to get a book, he saw the two girls cuddled up on the couch with Abby, critiquing Disney's Cinderella. "But, how can the Prince and Cinderella both know, just from dancing together, that they love each other? They didn't talk or nothing, just danced."
"Well," Abby began, trying to think of a good reason. "That's how it was with your daddy and me. Right, daddy?" She looked up at Tony, trying to convey silently to just agree with her.
Oh, Tony got the message, but he was playing this game by his own rules! "What? You hated me when Gibbs first introduced us! Called me "the new guy" for - what - five, six months? Shot me down every time I asked you to dinner or for drin -a soda?"
Kaity and Mandie laughed. Abby scrunched up her eyes, giving Tony her 'you are so going to get it when I get you alone' face. "Ok, so maybe I wasn't as dazzled by that DiNozzo smile as every other woman at NCIS. But remember our first dance, at your first NCIS Christmas party?"
Tony smiled fondly. "Ah yes, the one Android Lust song they played! - Ow!" He rubbed his arm where Abby punched him as she went across the room to the stereo, hunted for a CD, and put it in the player when she found it. The beginning strains of the 1950's song, "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingoes, started.
Doing her best Gibbs impression, Abby said, "Abbs! Dance with the new kid." She turned to Tony. Still being Gibbs she said, "DiNozzo! Touch her and I'll kill ya'!" She Gibbs-slapped him. "Now you two go, have fun."
Tony gulped and said meekly, "Y-yes, b-b-boss…." Kaity, Mandie, and Abby laughed. Tony took Abby's hand and led her a few feet away and took her hands in a formal dance pose. "And all I could think was, 'how am I supposed to have fun without touching her?'" He chuckled when Abby slapped his chest. "You did that then, too!"
"Just dance, DiNozzo!" Kaity and Mandie laughed.
Tony looked over at the girls. "No, she really said that that night." Abby just rolled her eyes, then closed them as she and Tony fell into a smooth, swaying rhythm. Tony pulled her a little closer - keeping it G-rated since little eyes were watching. By the end of the song, they were looking into each other's eyes. On the final note, he dipped her, and held her there for a moment, just looking into her eyes. "And that's when I knew…." he let Abby up and released her hands, "that mommy loved me." He smiled evilly. "OW!" He laughed, rubbing his shoulder. "You did that that night, too!"
Kaity and Mandie had stars in their eyes after watching Prince Charming Daddy dance with Princess Mommy. "Daddy! Dance with us!" Mandie chimed in, "Yeah, we wanna dance like a princess, too!"
Rolling his eyes, Tony turned to Abby to save him, but she was already going back to the CD player. A second later, the opening strains of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" started. After pleading silently with his eyes, Tony turned away from Abby and looked at the girls, both of whom were so excited they were bouncing. Sighing, he put on his best princely manners and walked over to Kaity and Mandie. With a flair, he offered his hand to Mandie. "Visiting princesses first. Princess Mandie, may I have to honor of escorting you on the dance floor?"
Mandie jumped to her feet. "I would be delighted, Sir Prince!" She took Tony's hand and followed him a few steps away. She giggled when he picked her up and put her on his hip, then took her hand in his and began to sway and turn gently. She sighed and smiled, resting her head on Tony's shoulder.
About half-way through the song, Tony set Mandie on the floor and led her back to her spot. He gallantly kissed her hand and thanked her for the dance. Then he held out his hand to Kaity. "Princess Kaitlyn, may I have this dance?"
Standing, Kaity posed regally, "Yes, you may, my Prince." She took his hand and let him lead her to the floor. As he had done with Mandie, Tony scooped Kaity up and held her on his hip and took her hand in his. When the song ended, he set Kaity on her feet and kissed the back of her hand and thanked her for the dance, and she responded in kind.
Bending down, Tony kissed each girl on the head. "Now, how about you guys get in your sleeping bags, and you can finish watching Cinderella." He could tell by their drooping eyelids that it wouldn't be long before they fell asleep.
"Ok!" the girls chimed happily. They climbed into their Disney Princess sleeping bags and snuggled in as Tony started the movie back up. He tucked both girls in, giving them each a kiss on the forehead. "Thanks for dancing with us, daddy," Kaity said with a smile.
Tony smiled back and tapped her on the nose with a finger. "You're welcome, Kaity-did. Night, baby." Turning to Mandie, he gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"Thank you for dancing with me, Kaity's daddy," she said shyly. "You're welcome, sweetheart," he said, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "Night, honey."
Tony stood and happened to glance over at Abby, who was watching him with tears in her eyes and a smile, telling him without words how much she loved him. He walked over to the bookcase and found the book he had originally come in for and turned to leave. But first, he made a detour over to Abby. He tipped her chin up with his finger and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to her lips, then ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. With a soft smile just for her, he left the room quietly.
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1:00AM
DiNozzo Residence
A piercing scream split the night, followed by a child's crying. Tony ran from where he was sleeping on the living room couch with Abby into the den, where Kaity and Mandie were sleeping. Through the low, amber light of a table lamp left on for a nightlight, he saw that it wasn't Kaity having a nightmare, it was Mandie. He gave a relieved sigh that it wasn't his baby, then immediately felt bad. He quietly made his way over to Mandie's sleeping bag. "Hey, baby, what's wrong, huh? Bad dream?" Mandie threw herself in his arms the second he was close enough, crying her heart out. He snuggled her close, shushing and rubbing her back. "It's ok, baby, it's ok. No one's gonna' hurt you, baby." He stood and walked over to the closest ottoman and sat, cuddling her across his lap. "What's the matter, kiddo? Want to tell me about your dream?" He brushed a few strands of tear-dampened hair off of her face while she shook her head no, gulping for air. Tony shushed some more and rocked her, feeling her body slowly begin to stop shaking. When she was down to the occasional hiccup, he tried again. "Want to tell me your dream, now?" He kissed her temple when she shook her head no. "It will make you feel better…." He sighed when she shook her head no again.
Kaity began to wake up. "Wha's a matter? Mandie? You have a nigh'mare?" Mandie nodded her head sadly. "Daddy always fixes all my nigh'mares. Nuthin' bad wants to mess with him cuz he's a special agent. Even the scary monster ones."
Mandie snuck a peek at Tony, who gave her a small smile, still rubbing her back. Sniffling, she said, "O-okay." Kaity lay back down, and Tony held Mandie tight.
"No one's gonna' hurt you, baby, I promise. I'll keep you safe, just like I do Kaity. Ok?"
Nodding, Mandie began to tell her dream. "It started out nice, with everyone dancing and happy. Then the ugly monster came!" She began to cry again. "She was mean, saying bad things about everyone, and all the kids were scared of her! And-and-and then, sh-she started picking on Kaity, saying mean things, making Kaity cry! I-I-I-I tried to tell Kaity not to-to listen to the monster, bu-bu-but she just kept crying. The mon-monster said something really bad, and pushed Kaity, telling h-h-her to go away! And she did! And-and-and-and, and all the kids tried to tell the grown-ups what happened, but nobody would listen, nobody knew Kaity was gone. They never even loo-loo-looked for her. And Kaity got lost, and she was scared an-an-and crying, and still nobody went to find her! And the monster just laughed and laughed….." Mandie wrapped her arms around Tony's neck, her tears soaking his shirt.
Tony just held Mandie and rocked until her breathing started to return to normal. "That sounded like a really scary dream, sweetheart." Mandie nodded and hiccupped. "And you're right, that was a bad monster, telling your friend to go away. Even badder that all the grown-ups didn't listen to you. But I'll tell you what," he kissed her sweaty forehead. "you, and Kaity, and anyone else, can always come to me or Kaity's mommy, and I promise, we will listen to you. Ok?" He gave her a little squeeze when she nodded. "And as for that mean ol' monster - if it knows what's good for it, it won't come around, because I love to catch monsters and lock them away forever and ever."
"He's real good at it, too!" Kaity piped up from her sleeping bag.
Seeing Mandie wasn't quite done beign scared, Tony held her and rocked her, humming softly and murmuring that everyone will keep all the kids safe. Finally, he felt and heard the tell-tale sigh that signified sleep was imminent.
"You want daddy to sing to you like when I can't sleep?" Kaity asked drowsily, still worried about her friend. "Will you, daddy?"
"Sure, honey, if Mandie wants me to." The tired little girl in his lap nodded. "Ok, what should I sing?" Mandie shrugged.
Kaity yawned. "Sing that song you always sing me, the one in 'talian. 'member, you said it was magic, and no monsters could get in if it was singed to me."
Wow, Kaity was willing to share her special lullaby, Tony thought. " 'Fai La Nanna'?" he asked, just to be sure.
"Uh-huh." Kaity yawned again, followed by Mandie.
Still rocking Mandie, Tony began to sing an Italian lullaby his mother had sung to him when he was a boy.
"Fai la nanna rosellina, (hush-a-bye little rose
Fai la nanna bambolina, hush-a-bye little doll,
Dormi bene nel lettino, sleep well in your cradle,
Che la mamma e' qui vicino. your mum is here, close by.
Chiudi gli occhi dormi tanto. Close your eyes and sleep,
E vedrai tutto e' un incanto. and you will see everything
Rosso, verde, azzurro e' oro is enchanting. Red, green, blue,
Son piu' belli, mio Tesoro. and gold are more beautiful,
my sweetheart.
Viola, arpa, e' mandolino; Viola, harp, and mandolin,
Tutto e' suono per la mia bambina." Everything is playing for
My little baby girl.)
By the time he was finished, both girls were sound asleep, Mandie like a rag doll in his arms. Tony carefully stood up and carried the little girl back to her sleeping bag. Kneeling between the two, he leaned over and gave Mandie a kiss on the forehead, then did the same for Kaity. "Love you, daddy," she mumbled in her sleep. Tony smiled and watched his baby girl sleep - he could just sit and watch her all night, she amazed him so. "Love you too, mia bambina." he whispered.
A few hours later, Abby awoke on the couch alone. Curious as to where Tony had gone off to, she walked first to the kitchen - he was notorious for midnight snacking - and then to the den when he wasn't there. Tip-toeing in so she didn't wake the girls, she smiled at the scene before her. Tony was lying on his side on the floor between Kaity and Mandie, Kaity curled against his chest, Mandie snuggled up against his back. Somehow he managed to have an arm around each girl, and all three were sound asleep.
Abby crept over to the desk and quietly pulled out the digital camera. Hopefully there was enough light in the room to get a good picture. She walked back over to the sleeping trio and snapped a couple of pictures, relieved when none of them woke up. "Bet's a tie," she whispered. She put the camera in her pocket. Bending over, she kissed her fingers and pressed them to Kaity's cheek, then did the same to Mandie. Then she kissed them again and laid them softly on Tony's lips. "Love you, Tony." She stood and got the afghan off the back of the couch, and laid it over her husband. She walked back to the living room and snuggled up on the couch, and fell back to sleep, still smiling.
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A/N - YAY! FINALLY A HAPPY CHAPTER, YOU'RE ALL SAYING! HOPE YOU LIKED IT JUST AS MUCH AS I DID. THANKS TO MANDIELOULUVSEWE FOR HELPING WITH WHAT LITTLE GIRLS WOULD BE DOING AT A SLEEP-OVER THESE DAYS - IT'S BEEN A FEW DECADES SINCE I'VE BEEN TO ONE, AND SHE GRACIOUSLY GAVE ME IDEAS.
DISCLAIMER - I GOT NUTHIN'.
SHAMELESS BEGGING FOR REVIEWS - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! DON'T MAKE POOR, LITTLE MANDIE HAVE HAD THAT NIGHTMARE FOR NOTHING…..C'MON, JUST CLICK ON THE LITTLE BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM, THERE. PLEASE? AND MANY THANKS!