New NCIS fic: What's in a Name?
Title: What’s in a Name?
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abby, Gibbs, Emily, Tony, and a couple of OFC
Spoilers: Family
Prompt: #16 Purple
Word Count: 1764
Rating: T
Summary: “Mom, this isn’t a stranger. This is Abby, Emily Gibbs’ mom.”
Author's Notes: This is an AU, inspired in part by wiccagirl24’s wonderful Kelly!verse. In this ‘verse Emily Fornell is actually Emily Gibbs.
“Abby!”
Abby turned from the paint samples as she heard her name being called by a teenaged voice. Coming towards her was one of Emily’s newest friends, a girl that had moved into Fornell’s neighborhood a few months before. Abby had only met her once, when she had taken Emily and several of her friends to the mall, so it took a moment to think of her name, but fortunately it popped into her head just as the girl stopped in front of her, “Hi, Mandy.”
The girl beamed, “Hi! Oh, are you picking out the new colors for your living room?”
“Amanda Leigh,” the woman who had been trailing behind the girl admonished in a thick Georgia accent. “We don’t ask strangers about their business.”
Mandy’s eyes rolled, “Mom, this isn’t a stranger. This is Abby, Emily Gibbs’ mom.”
Abby opened her mouth to correct the teenager, by her mother was quicker.
“Oh my goodness, it is so nice to meet you. Emily goes on about you all the time; 'my mom this and my mom that.' My husband is a forensic scientist as well, so she's always telling him how brilliant you are and how many cases you and her dads have solved."
Abby blinked at the woman. Diane had been a teacher so she knew that Emily had to be talking about her. She swallowed, "Emily calls me her mom?"
"Of course, dear," the woman looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "I know that you've got a bit of a unique situation, but she always calls you mom."
"Abby, are you okay," Mandy looked at her with concern and confusion.
Abby shook her head, "Yeah, I'm just in a bit of a rush. Emily and her dad are waiting for me to get home so we can start painting."
"Oh, don't let us keep you then. Maybe we could have lunch sometime; I'd love to get to know you better. I'm Carla, by the way."
Abby took the offered hand, "I'd like that, Carla. It was nice meeting you and nice seeing you again, Mandy."
In a daze she walked up the paint counter and ordered two gallons of each color on the sample she was holding.
<><><><><><>
"Abs, I know I said you could pick the color, but I don't think I could live with an entirely purple living room."
"What," Abby came down the last few steps, now dressed in her painting clothes. "I don't want purple. It won't go with the new furniture. I wanted green."
"Then why'd you buy four shades of purple paint," Gibbs asked as he used the screwdriver to gesture at the four open cans of paint.
There ranging from a purple indigo to lavender sat four testaments to her state of mind at the Home Depot.
"Shit," she swore quietly as her hands went to the top of her head.
"Hey, it's not a total loss. We both like dark walls in bedrooms, so the indigo would be good for our bedroom."
"Is it," she asked softly, still transfixed on the cans of paint.
"Yeah," he started closing the paint, "some cream trim and it will look good."
"No, is it 'our bedroom'?"
Gibbs looked up at her, shocked. He had thought something was wrong she got home, but now after the wrong paint and that question, he was sure. Crossing to her, he lifted her chin so she was looking him in the eyes, "Yes, it is our bedroom. Yours and mine. Equally. Look, I know that we should probably get a place of our own, a new place, but Emily was raised here and Kelly..."
"No," she cut him off with a hug. "No, this is our home. I've got a lot of memories here myself. I know you want to re-do it to make me feel like it is more of my place, but I already love this house. I just... I'm not totally sure were I fit. I'm... I... Emily calls me mom when she's talking to her friends."
Gibbs pulled back a little, unsure of what to say. He wanted to kiss the woman in his arms out of joy that his daughter thought that way, but Abby seemed bothered by this. She was comfortable with 'Aunt Abby,' but perhaps 'Mom' was too much. "Oh. Hey, it is okay. I'll talk to her; tell her to stop doing that."
"No," Abby cried out again.
"You want her calling you mom to her friends?"
"I don't know. I think so," Abby sighed. Since all the living room furniture was covered in drop cloths, Abby moved to the stairs and sat down. "I was never Diane's biggest fan, but I've never wanted to take her away from Emily or replace her. But, I love Em so much. And to think that she calls me mom to strangers, but has never said it to my face. It hurts... in a way I wouldn't have expected."
"I didn't think you'd want me calling you mom."
Both Abby and Gibbs jumped at the sound of Emily's voice, as neither had heard Tony and her return from going to get pizzas.
Tony cleared his throat, "I'm going to take the pizzas to the kitchen."
"No, wait," Emily rested a hand on his arm. "You're family, too, and I guess I should tell you guys something. I've been telling my friends that Tony was my brother from one of Dad's previous marriages and Aunt Abby's my real mother, since I was nine."
"What," Gibbs glared at his daughter.
Emily headed for the stairs and sat down next to Abby with a sigh, "There was a concert or something at school one night and Becky Syms was ragging on me about something or other. I just wanted her to stop, you know, so I dragged her over to the stage and pointed out Aunt Abby and Tony. I told her that they were my mom and brother. I kinda shut her up and it just made it easier to explain when you guys were at school plays and concerts and games and everything. Over time, it just became normal."
"But why didn't you tell us," Abby asked, turning to look at Emily.
"I guess I thought that it was kinda like a wish, if I said it enough, it would come true. I thought maybe it was starting to work when you and Daddy started dating a couple of years ago and when Tony was spending so much time here after Kate died. Then you and daddy broke up and Tony started working undercover. So, I started doing it even more. Making up a few stories about spending time with my family and just wishing they could be true. Then Tony's assignment ended and he's been doing more stuff with us. And you moved in. It's nice to have... Look, I love my real mother, but I can barely remember her. What I can remember is a sick lady that cried a lot. But, you've always been there from skinned knees to homework to my... you know. You've been my mom."
Abby fought back tears, "I still don't understand why you didn't tell. Or ask us if you could call us your mom and brother."
Emily finally looked at Abby and then Tony, "Cause, who wants a little kid clinging to you. Who wants to be burdened by someone who’s not related to you, who wasn't a part of your plans or dreams?"
"Oh, Emily," Abby threw her arms around Emily and pulled her close, "you are so wrong. You've never been a burden and you’re a part of my plans and dreams now."
Tony knelt in front of them, "Bella, I've thought of you a kid sister for years. I'd kill anybody that would try to hurt you and I love being with you and only big brothers can be totally bad influences."
Even though a tear was making its way slowly down her cheek, Emily giggled when her father slapped the back of Tony's head. "You really don't mind?"
Abby and Tony both shook their heads.
Emily looked at Abby, "So, I could maybe call you mom?"
"Well, I think we should clear that with Daddy," Abby's thumb brushed away the tears, even as her own welled.
Gibbs moved to sit next to Emily, his long arms wrapping about them both, "This is between the two of you. This is something you need to decide, but I'll tell you that my gut says it is a good thing."
"We better trust the gut. Right, Mom," Emily looked at Abby with an open and pleading face; almost begging for acceptance and love.
Abby's hand caressed Emily's face, before pulling her even closer, "That's right, baby. The gut's always right."
Gibbs kissed each of his girls head and gave Tony a look that made the younger man's heart swell with pride.
"So, does this mean I can call you Dad," Tony asked, winking at Emily.
"Only if you want vomit and dumpster duty for the rest of your career."
"Ah, Dad," Emily and Tony whined together, "that's not fair."
Tony received another slap, while Emily got another kiss, "Brats. Come on, we need to get back to Home Depot to get the right paint."
"Could we use the Blue Corn Chips for the background color in my room,” Emily asked as she looked at the cans.
“Background,” Tony wrapped his arm around the girl and started out of the house. “How many colors are you going to make me put on your walls?”
“Just three. The gray background, then sponge painted pink and teal.”
“Sponge painted? I didn’t sign up for this. I’m strictly a roller guy…”
Abby and Gibbs listened as Tony and Emily continued arguing about painting and how they’d be doing her room as they left the house for the car.
Turning towards Gibbs, she asked, “What just happened here?”
“I think you just became a mom,” Gibbs wrapped his arms around her.
She fell into his embrace with a gentle laugh, “Funny, I always figured it would be harder than that.”
“I don’t know you’ve had seven years of labor.”
“You’re right,” she started from the house, leading Gibbs by their joined hands, “I want a damn good Mother’s Day gift this year.”
The sound of Gibbs’ laugh was cut short when the front door closed.
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abby, Gibbs, Emily, Tony, and a couple of OFC
Spoilers: Family
Prompt: #16 Purple
Word Count: 1764
Rating: T
Summary: “Mom, this isn’t a stranger. This is Abby, Emily Gibbs’ mom.”
Author's Notes: This is an AU, inspired in part by wiccagirl24’s wonderful Kelly!verse. In this ‘verse Emily Fornell is actually Emily Gibbs.
“Abby!”
Abby turned from the paint samples as she heard her name being called by a teenaged voice. Coming towards her was one of Emily’s newest friends, a girl that had moved into Fornell’s neighborhood a few months before. Abby had only met her once, when she had taken Emily and several of her friends to the mall, so it took a moment to think of her name, but fortunately it popped into her head just as the girl stopped in front of her, “Hi, Mandy.”
The girl beamed, “Hi! Oh, are you picking out the new colors for your living room?”
“Amanda Leigh,” the woman who had been trailing behind the girl admonished in a thick Georgia accent. “We don’t ask strangers about their business.”
Mandy’s eyes rolled, “Mom, this isn’t a stranger. This is Abby, Emily Gibbs’ mom.”
Abby opened her mouth to correct the teenager, by her mother was quicker.
“Oh my goodness, it is so nice to meet you. Emily goes on about you all the time; 'my mom this and my mom that.' My husband is a forensic scientist as well, so she's always telling him how brilliant you are and how many cases you and her dads have solved."
Abby blinked at the woman. Diane had been a teacher so she knew that Emily had to be talking about her. She swallowed, "Emily calls me her mom?"
"Of course, dear," the woman looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "I know that you've got a bit of a unique situation, but she always calls you mom."
"Abby, are you okay," Mandy looked at her with concern and confusion.
Abby shook her head, "Yeah, I'm just in a bit of a rush. Emily and her dad are waiting for me to get home so we can start painting."
"Oh, don't let us keep you then. Maybe we could have lunch sometime; I'd love to get to know you better. I'm Carla, by the way."
Abby took the offered hand, "I'd like that, Carla. It was nice meeting you and nice seeing you again, Mandy."
In a daze she walked up the paint counter and ordered two gallons of each color on the sample she was holding.
<><><><><><>
"Abs, I know I said you could pick the color, but I don't think I could live with an entirely purple living room."
"What," Abby came down the last few steps, now dressed in her painting clothes. "I don't want purple. It won't go with the new furniture. I wanted green."
"Then why'd you buy four shades of purple paint," Gibbs asked as he used the screwdriver to gesture at the four open cans of paint.
There ranging from a purple indigo to lavender sat four testaments to her state of mind at the Home Depot.
"Shit," she swore quietly as her hands went to the top of her head.
"Hey, it's not a total loss. We both like dark walls in bedrooms, so the indigo would be good for our bedroom."
"Is it," she asked softly, still transfixed on the cans of paint.
"Yeah," he started closing the paint, "some cream trim and it will look good."
"No, is it 'our bedroom'?"
Gibbs looked up at her, shocked. He had thought something was wrong she got home, but now after the wrong paint and that question, he was sure. Crossing to her, he lifted her chin so she was looking him in the eyes, "Yes, it is our bedroom. Yours and mine. Equally. Look, I know that we should probably get a place of our own, a new place, but Emily was raised here and Kelly..."
"No," she cut him off with a hug. "No, this is our home. I've got a lot of memories here myself. I know you want to re-do it to make me feel like it is more of my place, but I already love this house. I just... I'm not totally sure were I fit. I'm... I... Emily calls me mom when she's talking to her friends."
Gibbs pulled back a little, unsure of what to say. He wanted to kiss the woman in his arms out of joy that his daughter thought that way, but Abby seemed bothered by this. She was comfortable with 'Aunt Abby,' but perhaps 'Mom' was too much. "Oh. Hey, it is okay. I'll talk to her; tell her to stop doing that."
"No," Abby cried out again.
"You want her calling you mom to her friends?"
"I don't know. I think so," Abby sighed. Since all the living room furniture was covered in drop cloths, Abby moved to the stairs and sat down. "I was never Diane's biggest fan, but I've never wanted to take her away from Emily or replace her. But, I love Em so much. And to think that she calls me mom to strangers, but has never said it to my face. It hurts... in a way I wouldn't have expected."
"I didn't think you'd want me calling you mom."
Both Abby and Gibbs jumped at the sound of Emily's voice, as neither had heard Tony and her return from going to get pizzas.
Tony cleared his throat, "I'm going to take the pizzas to the kitchen."
"No, wait," Emily rested a hand on his arm. "You're family, too, and I guess I should tell you guys something. I've been telling my friends that Tony was my brother from one of Dad's previous marriages and Aunt Abby's my real mother, since I was nine."
"What," Gibbs glared at his daughter.
Emily headed for the stairs and sat down next to Abby with a sigh, "There was a concert or something at school one night and Becky Syms was ragging on me about something or other. I just wanted her to stop, you know, so I dragged her over to the stage and pointed out Aunt Abby and Tony. I told her that they were my mom and brother. I kinda shut her up and it just made it easier to explain when you guys were at school plays and concerts and games and everything. Over time, it just became normal."
"But why didn't you tell us," Abby asked, turning to look at Emily.
"I guess I thought that it was kinda like a wish, if I said it enough, it would come true. I thought maybe it was starting to work when you and Daddy started dating a couple of years ago and when Tony was spending so much time here after Kate died. Then you and daddy broke up and Tony started working undercover. So, I started doing it even more. Making up a few stories about spending time with my family and just wishing they could be true. Then Tony's assignment ended and he's been doing more stuff with us. And you moved in. It's nice to have... Look, I love my real mother, but I can barely remember her. What I can remember is a sick lady that cried a lot. But, you've always been there from skinned knees to homework to my... you know. You've been my mom."
Abby fought back tears, "I still don't understand why you didn't tell. Or ask us if you could call us your mom and brother."
Emily finally looked at Abby and then Tony, "Cause, who wants a little kid clinging to you. Who wants to be burdened by someone who’s not related to you, who wasn't a part of your plans or dreams?"
"Oh, Emily," Abby threw her arms around Emily and pulled her close, "you are so wrong. You've never been a burden and you’re a part of my plans and dreams now."
Tony knelt in front of them, "Bella, I've thought of you a kid sister for years. I'd kill anybody that would try to hurt you and I love being with you and only big brothers can be totally bad influences."
Even though a tear was making its way slowly down her cheek, Emily giggled when her father slapped the back of Tony's head. "You really don't mind?"
Abby and Tony both shook their heads.
Emily looked at Abby, "So, I could maybe call you mom?"
"Well, I think we should clear that with Daddy," Abby's thumb brushed away the tears, even as her own welled.
Gibbs moved to sit next to Emily, his long arms wrapping about them both, "This is between the two of you. This is something you need to decide, but I'll tell you that my gut says it is a good thing."
"We better trust the gut. Right, Mom," Emily looked at Abby with an open and pleading face; almost begging for acceptance and love.
Abby's hand caressed Emily's face, before pulling her even closer, "That's right, baby. The gut's always right."
Gibbs kissed each of his girls head and gave Tony a look that made the younger man's heart swell with pride.
"So, does this mean I can call you Dad," Tony asked, winking at Emily.
"Only if you want vomit and dumpster duty for the rest of your career."
"Ah, Dad," Emily and Tony whined together, "that's not fair."
Tony received another slap, while Emily got another kiss, "Brats. Come on, we need to get back to Home Depot to get the right paint."
"Could we use the Blue Corn Chips for the background color in my room,” Emily asked as she looked at the cans.
“Background,” Tony wrapped his arm around the girl and started out of the house. “How many colors are you going to make me put on your walls?”
“Just three. The gray background, then sponge painted pink and teal.”
“Sponge painted? I didn’t sign up for this. I’m strictly a roller guy…”
Abby and Gibbs listened as Tony and Emily continued arguing about painting and how they’d be doing her room as they left the house for the car.
Turning towards Gibbs, she asked, “What just happened here?”
“I think you just became a mom,” Gibbs wrapped his arms around her.
She fell into his embrace with a gentle laugh, “Funny, I always figured it would be harder than that.”
“I don’t know you’ve had seven years of labor.”
“You’re right,” she started from the house, leading Gibbs by their joined hands, “I want a damn good Mother’s Day gift this year.”
The sound of Gibbs’ laugh was cut short when the front door closed.