Tiva short story

"Chuga-chuga-choo-choo, open up, here comes the train," I laughed spooning applesauce into my 8 month old son, Liam Jethro's, mouth. Liam spit it out on to the floor.

"Why did we decide on a white kitchen?" Tony sighed wiping the sticky mess off our 2 year old daughter, Caitlyn Abigail Tali.

I bent down to wipe the applesauce and responded, "it was your idea."

I picked Liam up out of the highchair and gave him to Tony. "C'mon Kate, let's go get dressed," I called.

Kate went up and started padding her way to her room. I followed behind and helped her pick out jeans and a t-shirt. I brushed her hair and put it into braids. In the bathroom she brushed her teeth with her musical toothpaste and toothbrush.

We finished and went back down to the living room where the movie Mary Poppins was on. Another classic movie playing thanks to Tony.

Kate sat on the couch next to Liam in his bouncy chair trying to sing along to the song. Tony sat on the couch pulling Kate closer watching the whole event with an amused look.

I set up the baby monitor and Tony got up from the couch. We went upstairs to our bedroom which was huge. Unlike his old apartment, we had a king sized bed which was used for, well you know, more than sleeping.

Tony shut the door and looked me up and down in my pajamas.

"You're one sexy ninja," Tony said.

"Are you sure you're not just saying that because of last night?" I responded.

He just smiled his handsome smile and leaned in and kissed me. He took off his flannels and exchanged them for shorts and blue v-neck. He was extremely hot. He looked at me and knew what I was thinking.

"You like this look?" he said,more of a statement than a question.

I quickly threw off my pajamas and threw on a sundress. Tony stood gaping at me.

"You like this look?" I smirked.

"Very much so," he said leaning into kiss me. This time it was much longer and my tongue begged for entrance. Tony's mouth agreed. We pulled away maybe six seconds later but it felt like eternity. Everything was perfect. Me and Tony with our 2 wonderful children.

Liam started crying and Tony sighed giving me one lass kiss and started down the stairs. I finished up my hair and makeup before I headed downstairs.

I was walking to the kitchen to make the family's lunches when I heard low singing from the living room. I stopped by the door watching from the outside. Tony was holding Liam, slowly rocking back and forth, lowly singing Frank Sinatra. When he finished Kate clapped.

I smiled, remembering when he first sang this song. He walked into the bullpen singing really loud. I laughed softly remembering Gibbs anger. Tony really came along way with his fear of children. I glanced back, seeing Tony bouncing Liam on his leg, playing with Kate. He really did make the worlds best father. I was so lucky to have him and our children.

I made my way to the kitchen and pulled out the pasta and water. I made a lemonade out of a mix and put it in a portable pitcher. I heated up the pasta and started working on a salad. I threw some lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots together. The microwave beeped and I pulled the pasta out. I salted it and buttered it, putting it in a container. I pulling the refrigerator door open, I took out some chickpeas an parsley among other things to make tabouli which was Kate's favorite. As a surprise for today's picnic I had made cookies and I pulled them out. I packed them all into a picnic basket and left it on the kitchen table.

I carefully strapped Liam into his carseat while Tony strapped Kate in. Tony insisted on driving from the day Kate was born. I took my place in the passenger seat and we took off to AdAda's Park.

We pulled into the parking lot and as soon as Kate was unbuckled she ran to the path through the woods. Tony chased after her and I put Liam into a stroller and grabbed the picnic basket.

We met at the opening of the forest, Tony holding Kate back. On the path we ran letting Kate go first, then Tony, then me pushing the stroller. We ran in the woods passing the trees that were golden from the leaves that had already fallen. About 3 minutes later we stopped. A sign stood next to a climbing structure telling us to cross it 4 times. We did, even Liam tried to cross it.

At regular intervals there were more stations. At one, you crawled over tree stumps, at another you walked across a suspension bridge. Along the way you would hear laughing and squeals. We wound through the trail like this, up and down hills. We came to a clearing where we sat down for lunch.

We sat down on a blanket and I pulled out the food. We sat down and while the others were helping themselves, I pulled Liam onto my lap. We ate happily, enjoying the sun. We finished and cleaned up.

"Ready Kate?" Tony asked.
"Ready Daddy."

They grabbed their fishing gear and headed for the river. I rolled a ball to Liam and watched my beautiful boy play, soaking up the sun.

A half-hour later Tony and Kate came back, hand in hand, wide smiles lighting up their faces.

"Catch anything?" I asked.
"Caught the sun, caught the day," Tony replied.

I giggled and started to pack up our stuff. We headed towards the car and buckled ourselves in.

"I love that sexy little laugh of your," tony said.

I gave him a rueful smile and stroked his hand. Liam started babbling happily from the back.

"What are you saying my garcon doux?" I smiled. (Sweet boy)

I turned to Kate and saw her nodding off, her eyes drooping. I gently shook her. "Kate, Kate honey, wake up, we have one more place to go. Tony smoothly pulled into downtown DC and parked the car. He picked up kate and placed her on his shoulders. I undid Liam's seatbelt and propped him onto my hip. We walked down admiring the skyline. Slowly we made our way down the block until we were in front of Dana's Donuts. We walked inside, a brisk shoot of warm air hitting our faces as we left the outdoors.

Inside the shop the air of fresh donuts, powered sugar, and Cinnamon filled the air. We breathed it in and Tony let Kate down. Now wide awake, she ran to the glass window that showed the workers making the donuts.

"What would you like, hon?" I asked Tony. "Uhhh 6 powdered and 6 cinnamon sugar sweetcheeks."

I smirked and gave him Liam and pushed him lightly towards Kate. I stood online and ordered our donuts. While we waited for our freshly made donuts we huddled around the glass window, watching our donuts get made. An employee poured the dough into the machine which spat out the perfectly round shaped donuts. They moved along the conveyor belt arriving at the oil. Metal spikes flipped the donut over to another conveyor belt, where they finished on a paper towel. When 12 donuts were made, an employee sugared and powered the donuts.

"Why don't you guys go find a seat."

I waited on line and payed for the donuts. I walked to the table that they had found. It was located just outside the store.

"Here you go my petit-pois," I said and gave Tony the bag of donuts.

He pulled me down and close to his chest.

"Daddy," Kate cried impatiently. Tony put a few donuts onto a paper plate and handed it to her. He gave Liam a donut, which he held tightly in his little fist.

Tony leaned into kiss me and his lips danced delicately on mine.

"Mommy, Daddy, Ewww," Kate yelled in disgust. We pulled away, smiling. Tony chuckled softly.

I looked up to see Liam's face covered in powder. I laughed slightly. I felt the warm April breeze in my face, and saw the street lamps casting a glow onto Kate's face.

And in this moment in time, I wouldn't change a thing.