A Bit Stranger Than Usual

Chapter 6

"Well, hey there, doll!" exclaimed the waitress when Abby walked into the diner.

"Hi, Darla," Abby replied, not nearly as chipper as the waitress had been.

"Bad night?" She asked.

"Bad week," Abby responded.

Abby smiled contently despite this, after all she was with some of her favorite people, in one of her favorite places, after having done what may have been her new favorite thing.

Luca and Kyle slid into a booth next to one another and Abby and Ziva did likewise on the opposite side. "Did you guys enjoy the performance?" Abby asked. She knew they would say yes even if they had not, but she really hoped and had a feeling that they had.

"Oh! It was amazing, Abby! Tim kept having to calm me down because I️ kept leaning over to whisper to him excited! It was so good! And so odd! And so you!" Ziva gushed, not giving the brothers a chance to respond.

"I️ really liked it too!" Kyle added. Luca nodded in agreement.

"What's with you?" Abby asked Luca. She reached across the table and poked Luca in the arm.

"I️ liked it...." Luca said, "I'm just not in the mood right now I️ guess, I'm sorry."

"Oh... okay," Abby replied, dejected. She knew Luca had been struggling themselves lately. They were fraternal twins and Luca had been raised in a less accepting house hold, which meant when they came out as non binary they hadn't been nearly as accepting as Abby's adoptive parents had been of her. Luca had been so grateful for Abby and having her in their life especially since medically transitioning had essentially excommunicated themselves from their family.

Abby smiled at them fondly and reassuringly as a waitress came up to their table to take their drink orders. Abby insisted they all got milkshakes, and because everyone wants Abby happy they did.

Abby got cherry lime, Ziva got vanilla, and Luca and Kyle got cookies and cream to split.