It had been a week since the family had been reunited. They all currently sat in the living room, bored. It was pouring rain out and the electric had gone out. They had candles all around the living room, trying to be able to see each other. The room was dim, but the flicker of the lights was enough to see each other well enough. It was quiet, until Tony decided to sing out at the top of his lungs.

"I'M A GOOFY GOOBER!"

Kate, Jimmy, and Abby started cracking up.

"The maturity level of a six year old," Kate laughed.

"Is it weird that that movie made me cry?" Jimmy said.

"Yes," Kate, Abby, and Tony said.

"But the part when they were under the lamp was so sad."

"What movie?" Jenny asked.

"The SpongeBob Movie," Tony said.

"Why are you always singing those songs?"

"Because they're catchy and amazing."

"Goofy, Goofy, Goofy Goobers!" Jimmy yelled out.

"Can you guys sing a normal song?" Tim asked.

"Fine," Tony said, "No. I'm bored. Abby sing something."

"No," she said, "Ziva you sing."

"No thank you," Ziva said.

"Why can't you ever sing?"

"Because I don't feel like it."

"You know…I think this is as good a time as any to bring this up," Ducky said.

"What is it Duck?" Mike asked.

"Since we are a family, I think that we will be bonded together more if we expose secrets about ourselves that we would never tell anyone else."

"That sounds good," Jenny said, "We should do that."

"You'll have to get me plenty drunk first," Abby said.

"Me also," Ziva said.

"Zi, go get us some hard core liquor."

"No," Gibbs said, "No drinking."

"Let's change the rules up a little," Mike suggested, "We write down questions on notecards for anyone to answer and then we can just pick them out of a hat or something so it would be less awkward."

"Sounds good," Tim said.

After 15 minutes everyone had put the notecards in a hat and Mike picked the first one out.

"This is for…Abby," Mike read, "What do you know about your biological parents?"

"That I'm adopted," she said.

"And…?"

"Datzzit," she said in a cute way that made Mike laugh.

"Okay," Mike continued, "Ducky, in less than a ten minute story, please tell us the worst thing you have ever done." Gibbs laughed.

"In less than ten minutes," Ducky snorted, "Okay…I cheated on a girlfriend I had once when I was 17. I felt awful."

"Wow, never would have expected that," Mike said, "Okay…this one is for everyone…what is your biggest secret? I guess I'll start…I shot myself in the butt by accident." Everyone busted out laughing.

"Oh my God! How?" Jimmy asked.

"It ricocheted. You're turn, Jim-bot."

"Okay…when I was in college…I cheated on my final."

"Ahh! James!" Ducky gasped in horror.

"I felt so bad! I am so ashamed!"

"You're turn, Tony," Ducky spat.

"I made out with Kate's sister," he said.

"Tony!" Kate almost yelled.

"Sorry. She was hot. McGoo?"

"When I was 17 I stole my parent's car and went to a party and I crashed the car and reported it as stolen," McGee said.

"Whoa," Abby said, "I have like a whole new outlook on you."

"Ducky?"

"Well the girlfriend thing was it," Ducky said, "Ziva?"

"I was abused in Mossad which you could probably have guessed…and I killed for the first time at the age of nine," Ziva said.

"Brave for saying that," Gibbs said.

"Thank you. Kate?"

"I smoked pot while I was still enrolled in Catholic School," Kate admitted, feeling awful, "I feel terrible and I don't want to discuss it. Mom?"

"I burned a file to save someone I knew from being arrested," Jenny said, "It was incredibly illegal and I regret it to this day."

"Wow…," Abby said in shock, "That was really brave of you."

"Thank you. Your turn."

"I really don't have 'secrets'…um…I used to cut myself and drink and do drugs when I was in high school and college because I was lonely and I was depressed."

"That's so sad," Ziva stated.

"Eh, it's life," Abby shrugged.

"You ever wonder what it would be like if you weren't ever given up for adoption?" Tim asked.

"Oh all the time," Abby admitted softly with a brave smile, "After I got emancipated I used to wonder what if my mom was alive, what if my dad loved me? But after I found out I was adopted…it made me wonder where I went wrong. What was so bad about me that no one seemed to care? I started to wonder if I would have been normal as a child and teenager if at least one of my parents kept me. Always wondered if they would care."

"Didn't your mother go to your funeral?" Kate asked.

"She did! Wish I would have been able to meet her. Just to see what she was like. If she was anything like me. But whatever, you know, they didn't want me then…don't want me now. Dad?"

"I don't have any secrets," Gibbs said, "Honestly I don't." Abby just looked at him and nodded.

"I'm getting tired," Kate said.

"Me, too," Ziva said.

"Let's all head to bed," Mike said. Everyone headed upstairs except for Gibbs and Abby. Abby blew out most of the candles and she left three, so they could see. Abby sat down next to Gibbs and sighed.

"You cut yourself?" Gibbs asked.

"Well not anymore, but yeah," Abby said with a brave smile.

"When's the last time you did it? Honestly."

"When I found out I was adopted," she said feeling really ashamed.

"Why?"

"You don't know what it's like…it's horrible not to feel loved or being loveable. It sucks."

Gibbs nodded.

"Well I better get to bed," Abby said, as she tried to get up, but Gibbs grabbed her arm.

"I'm really sorry Abs," Gibbs said in a whisper, "Wish I could have been there to help you."

"You're here now," Abby smiled, placing a kiss on her cheek, "Goodnight." She got up and walked upstairs. Gibbs sighed and leaned back. Jenny, seemingly coming out of nowhere, startled him when she spoke.

"No secrets, huh?" Jenny asked. Gibbs watched her as she made her way across the room and sat next to him.

"For a man who has a lot of secrets…you couldn't share one? Not even…the important one?" her voice became low.

"Never bring that up Jen," Gibbs' voice was now low too, "What if she hears?"

"What if she finds out?"

"I don't know."

"She has to find out one day Jethro."

"No she doesn't! This is a permanent situation! She doesn't need to know about-…She doesn't need to know Jen."

"Okay. Yeah, just let her cry herself to sleep and cut herself because of it. Don't even tell her that you love her- no just let her blame herself."

Gibbs sighed, "What do you suggest I tell her?"

"Get her alone, maybe when everyone else is asleep and take her somewhere away from the house, like outside. Then sit her down and tell her gently what happened. And tell her how she was loved and how it wasn't her fault."

"What if she gets angry?"

"Hold her and let her cry."

"I said angry. Not sad."

"Knowing Abby if she gets mad she'll cry, but on the off chance that she doesn't I'd wear a cup."

"Not funny Jen."

"Just trying to lighten the mood. It'll be okay Jethro…either way you're still her father."

"I go back and think about it every day."

"I know…I know. Just let her know that."

"Okay."

From the staircase Kate quietly ascended, trying not to be heard. As she got to the top Tony was right in the hall.

"Hi-," Tony couldn't even get one word out, Kate had him pined to the wall with her hand covering his mouth.

"Quiet!" she whispered, "I just overheard Gibbs and Jenny talking."

"Gibbs and Jenny?" his muffled voice said, confused that she didn't refer them as Dad and Mom.

"Yeah and that's why we have to be quiet."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because I said so."

"Could you remove your hand?"

"Sorry," she let him go.

"Is it serious?"

"Very."

"Then tell me."

"I can't Tony! I wasn't even supposed to hear that!"

"Okay."

"What are you guys doing?" Abby asked, coming over to them.

"Shh!" they shushed her.

"Why are we whispering?" Abby asked.

"Nothing Abby, just go back to sleep," Kate said.

"No. What's going on?"

"Nothing!"

"Come on Kate!" Abby said loudly; laughing, "What's the issue?"

"Abby, shut up! Be quiet!" Kate begged.

Jenny and Gibbs both heard them and Gibbs decided that this was as good a time as any to tell her the truth. He swallowed his fear and tried to think of what to say.

"What do I say Jen?" Gibbs asked, "How do I explain this to her?"

"Just tell her the truth," Jen answered honestly. Gibbs nodded and walked towards the stairs. Gibbs continued towards where the noise had been, but by the time he got there everybody was in their rooms. He slowly walked over to the girls' room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Ziva called. Gibbs walked in and saw Ziva reading in her bed with her bedside lamp on. She was looking at him with a sweet smile on her face.

"What can I do for you?" Ziva asked with a smile.

"Wanted to speak with Abby," Gibbs said, but when he looked over he saw that Abby was asleep.

"She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow," Ziva said, "She was so tired."

"Yeah she's asleep," Kate said, making a smug face that told him that she was mad.

"Something wrong Kate?" Gibbs asked.

"No. Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing at all…," then under her breath said, "Liar."

Gibbs just rolled his eyes.

"Kate, stop being mean," Abby groggy voice said.

"I'm not!" Kate defended.

Abby turned on her side and leaned on her arms to look at Kate, "Yes you are. Just tell him why you're mad."

"No!"

"Why are you mad, Kate?" Gibbs asked.

"She's mad because she overheard whatever you and mommy were talking about and she won't tell me what she heard so I can't help her," Abby said.

"Abby!" Kate yelled.

Gibbs looked at Kate, "You overheard?"

"Yes."

"Maybe you two should talk about whatever's bugging you," Abby suggested.

"Sounds like a great idea," Gibbs said.

"No! Who you need to talk to is Abby!" Kate yelled.

"Me?" Abby asked, but they ignored her.

"Kate maybe we should-," Gibbs tried to speak.

"No. Why don't you tell Abby the truth?! Why don't you tell her what she deserves to know that you've been keeping from her?!"

"Dad…?" Abby's soft voice asked.

"Okay Kate you win," Gibbs growled. Then he walked over to Abby's bed and kneeled in front of her.

"Abs," Gibbs said calmly, "Would you mind taking a walk with me? There's something we need to talk about."

"Okay," she said, sitting up and throwing on a sweat shirt and some shoes. They walked out of the room and went downstairs and then outside. They walked a small distance from the house and Abby sat on a rock, while Gibbs stood in front of her.

"What did you need to tell me?" Abby asked.

Gibbs sighed. "Abby…I'm going to tell you a story about a good man, okay?"

"You're scaring me."

"No, don't be scared baby," he said sitting next to her, he cleared his throat, "I was in the Marines. I was in my mid-twenties. I was stationed in South Korea. I was married at the time and Kelly was about four months old. Anyway, I had a friend named R.J. Fairbanks. Roger Jacob Fairbanks. He was the nicest guy you'd ever meet. He would always brag about how beautiful his babies were and how much he loved them and couldn't wait to get home to them. His wife was 20 and she was struggling at home without him and he missed her so much. We were friends. One day while doing our rounds…we were attacked by a rebel group that tried to kill us. We shot at them but everything was just so fast and I don't remember most of it…but I do remember me firing my weapon at a terrorist and missing…and he shot and killed R.J."

Abby looked at him.

"R.J. was a good man who loved his babies. He talked about his twins every second of every day. His daughter's first word was 'dada' and all he could talk about was her for a month straight and how perfect she was and how he couldn't wait to see her."

"How old was she?"

"10 months. And so was her brother. Her mother…she couldn't take care of them as much as she would have liked, so she had no choice but to give them to families who could do what she didn't. Shannon and I fostered them until they were 1 ½ and permanent families were found for them. Shannon wanted to keep them, but I told her that they would be miracles to someone else who couldn't have children. And so we gave them to those families hoping they would have good lives."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Abby…I have a lot of regrets: Missing that terrorist, not protecting R.J., not keeping those two babies. If I could go back I would fix it, but I can't."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Abby…R.J. Fairbanks…he was your father."

Abby went wide eyed, "What?" her voice cracked. She covered her mouth with her hands.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart," Gibbs said, holding her arms, "I'm sorry I couldn't save your father. I'm sorry I had the chance to save you and I blew it. I'm sorry I gave you and your brother away. I'm sorry you had to be separated from him. I'm sorry I let you get abused. I am so sorry. I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry."

Abby started inaudibly crying, eyes shut tight. Gibbs pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry," Gibbs said, "He loved you, if it helps to know that."

Abby threw her arms around his neck and he could now hear her sob.

"Abs?"

"Have you been feeling guilty all this time?" Abby asked between sobs.

"Yes."

"Well don't. It's not your fault that he died or that you gave me up…you didn't know. You couldn't of known! Nobody knew."

"But I could have prevented it. Would have done anything to have prevented it."

"Hey," she pulled back to look him in the eyes, "I still love you. This doesn't change anything. In fact it kind of makes me love you more. You're my dad. You'll always be my dad."

"I love you sweetheart," Gibbs said, kissing her cheek, "So much. I'll never let anything happen to you again…I promise."

Abby smiled and hugged him.

They talked for another hour about her father and what he was like, before they walked back to the house. When Abby got back in her room she was all smiles and she was happy. Kate was waiting, expecting her to be angry with Gibbs.

"So Dad told you?" Kate asked.

"He did," Abby smiled.

"How angry are you? I mean, it's okay to cry."

"Why would I cry?"

"Because you're angry?"

"I'm not angry. I'm happy."

"You're happy even though he gave you up for adoption?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Dad is your biological dad and he gave you up for adoption."

"Or…dad served with my biological dad in the military and my bio dad was killed in action when I was a baby and my mother gave me up for adoption."

"Oh!" Kate exclaimed, "I thought-."

"Kate, you seriously need to mind your business."

"Excuse me?!"

"You heard me. What are you trying to sabotage my relationship with dad?"

"No! I thought he was lying to you."

"Kate, just…from now on…MIND YOUR OWN FRIGGING BUSINESS!"

Kate was gaping at Abby. Abby made a smug face before climbing into bed.

"Goodnight," Abby said, before shutting out the lights.

Kate stood there in shock before just climbing back into bed. It was silent for a while.

"Wow," Ziva said.

"Shut up Ziva," Kate said.

"Make me Caitlyn." Kate shot up out of bed and turned on the light.

"Okay, you know what?!" She grabbed Ziva and tried to fight her but in a matter of a second Kate was pinned. Abby got out of bed and jumped on top of them.

"Break it up!" Abby yelled.

"Ow!" Kate yelled, head butting Ziva and grabbing Abby's hair. Suddenly they were all brawling again.

"You know what?! This is stupid!" Ziva screamed pushing away.

"I am sick of this!" Ziva yelled, "Can't you two handle this more appropriately?! I mean, we're all adults!"

"Fine!" Kate yelled getting up, "What do you suggest?" Abby stood up and they stared at each other, not breaking eye contact.

"I think you know," Abby said.

"Rock, paper, scissors shoot!" Abby and Kate said together. Kate played paper, while Abby had scissors.

"Ha," Abby said.

"Okay, I'm sorry," Kate said. They looked over at Ziva who was pinching the bridge of her nose.

She head slapped them both and went right to her bed. "You're both idiots."

Abby and Kate laughed and walked over to their beds and shut out the light.

"Goodnight," Abby said.

"Goodnight," Kate said, "Goodnight Ziva."

"Don't speak to me," Ziva said.

Abby chuckled, "Ah, I love our stupid family."

"Such a goofy goober," Ziva said, making them laugh, "Did I use that correctly?"

"Goodnight," Kate laughed.

Tbc…