"Where the hell is ZIva" said GIbbs walking into the bullpen sipping his Coffee
"here gibbs" said ZIva walking in behind him

"get your gear, we got a crime scene on 22nd"

Tony, ZIva and Mcgee grabbed their gear and followed gibbs downstairs to the car park where the van was waiting.

"Ziva, you drive" instructed Gibbs chucking her the keys
"you are letting me drive?" replied Ziva, clearly shocked
"yeah"
"Are you sure about that Boss" TOny asked
"yes dinozzo"
"May i ask why?" DInozzo replied, full of curiosity
"why Tony, Don't you trust me?"
"of course i do Ziva but your driving skills certainly uummm have room for improvement"
"Shut up, we have a 4 year old girl waiting on the street for us to some"
"WHAT?" ZIva asked
"you heard me, get in"

They arrived at 22nd street and Ziva Pulled up one wheel up on the sidewalk. A small girl sat wedged in between the two buildings.
"Why is this girl any of our business"
"She was just witness to a crime"
"Her!" Ziva exclaimed
"yeah, her parents both work in the Navy, the whole bloody street is packed with Navy officials, her parents never came home after going out last night and her 14 yr. old cousin who was babysitting her disappeared as well.
"Ziva go get the girl, Mcgee clear the house on the left, Dinozzo clear the house on the right"
"why do i get the girl?" Ziva complained
"Because.." gibbs started
"because I'm a Woman?" Ziva supplied
"Because i told you to"

Ziva walked over to the girl, who was shivering in her pajamas which were filthy from sitting in the alleyway.
"Hey, whats your name?" She asked Crouching down beside the girl. THs girl remained quiet.
Ziva sat on the ground beside her.
"Its okay were here to help you find your mum and dad and your cousin"
"i know that" said the girl boldly, looking up at ZIva
"SO will you tell me your name?"
"I'm called Nadia"
"thats a nice name"
"what are you called?" Nadia asked
"I'm Ziva" SHe told the little girl "What are your mum and Dad's names?"
"Chris and Rochelle, and my cousin is Grace" she said
""where are you going to take me?"
"Back to our office" ZIva said "come on get up and you can get some of your stuff from the house"

"This is my bedroom" The girl told Ziva showing her into a rich yellow bedroom
"Do you wanna get some stuff to take with you"
"I only want Sissy"
"SIssy?" Ziva chuckled
"yeah thats her name" said the girl turning around and folding her arms.

"Hey what's going on in here?" Tony asked
"She's making fun of my dolly!" Nadia accused
"ZIva? play nicely now"
"Ziva here's a bag pack some stuff" said Dinozzo said chucking her a snoopy back pack.
"Why do i have to do the dirty work"
"Because i told you, Dinozzo help"
"What do we do?"
"pack some clothes, toys, hairbrush"
"we have no idea what were doing gibbs"
"well you better get an idea"

They packed a few sets of clothes, pj's, a few dolls and some picture books.
"DO you wanna get changed into some clothes before we go?" Dinozzo asked
"Okay" Nadia said and stripped off in front of then and changed into some leggings, skirt and t-shirt.

"Ready?" Gibbs called at them from across the house
"Ready!" they called back.

They got back to HQ.
"Tony you look after the girl, ZIva your with me"

Ziva poked her tongue out at Dinozzo as she left with Gibbs to go down to interrogation.

"We think we may have one of the guys responsible" Gibbs said "he's all yours"
"How do you figure that, we barely got to the crime scene an hour ago"
"while we were there Abby was calling the school where the cousin attended and her best friend is missing as well, this man was seen hanging around outside the school and his brother, who can't be found was waiting outside the daycare centre where her cousin picked her up from"
"name?"
"Greg Clifton"

Ziva entered the room, swung the chair around backwards and sat down.

"What do you KNow about the dissapearance of Chris, Rochelle and Grace Belle?"
"I already told you i don't know anything"
"why where you at Sunny Corner Middle school yesterday afternoon"
"i was picking up my niece"
"sure, but i'm lookig for the truth, we have a little girl up their who is missing her parents and her cousin so spit. it. out!"

Tony had had a rough night, he'd been stood up. And not to mention their was a huge storm raging outside. He was about to go to bed when he heard a knock at the door.

"Ziva?" he said as he opened the door revealing the soaking wet israeli
"Tony, i need to talk" SHe said pushing past him and sitting down on his sofa.
"whats up"
"it michael"
"what did he do" said Tony quickly, feeling very protective over ZIva
"He's not the man i first went out with, he changed"
"what did he do"
"He bosses me around, treats me like property, like i belong to him"
"your too good for him ZIva, he's treating you like dirt"
"i know, thats why i left him, he took it so badly" Ziva told him putting her head in her hands
"why what did he do? did he hurt you?"
"He threw a phone at me, called me a whore and threatened to kill me if it was the last thing he ever did"
"Are you ok?"
"yeah i just got i scratch, i'm fine"
"You don't look fine Ziva"
"I'm scared Tony"
"Don't worry ZIva i'll help you, you'll be safe, i'll drive you home and stay to keep watch"
"Don't you understand Tony? i can't go home, he'll be waiting and even the 2 of us are no match for him"

Tony put his arm around Ziva and Pulled her close.
"I won't let him hurt you ZIva" He assured her

"Did you love him Ziva"
"How could i Tony?, i already liked someone?"
"Who?" said Tony casually his heart fluttering
"you"

And of course as you would suppose one thing led to another and they physically declared their love for eachother.


2 weeks later

Ziva had been staying at Tony's ever since that stormy night. They hadn't done IT since that night and Ziva was staying in the spare room. They hadn't fought, they were just taking it slowly.

A savage knocking came at the door. Tony and Ziva's eyes met, ziva reached for the pistol at her waist and Tony picked his up from the bench.

Tony swung open the door. Michael Rivkin was standing there, scratched up and wearing the same clothes he had on the night ZIva had left him. He had a a sick smile on his face and was holding a handgun in one hand and a dagger in the other.

Ziva put a bullet through his head before he took one step into the room. Then she fell to the ground from the force of the shot she had just fired.

" Ziva? are you ok" Tony asked jumped out form beside the door.
"I'm fine" said ZIva allowing herself to be helped up by tony.

An hour later Michael's body had been removed from the apartment by some other mossad officers who were escorting it back to Israel.

"you sure your ok Ziva, you look pale?" asked Tony worriedly
"i think I'm going to be sick" ZIva replied leaping up form the sofa and running into the bathroom. Tony went after her and rubbed her back while she was violently ill into the toilet.

"Maybe you should go to the dr?"
"I'm fine Tony, lets go"


4 days later

"Hey Tony, we found the girls cousin!" Mcgee told Tony as he entered the Bullpen
"Where is she?"
"Ziva is just picking her up form the police station, metro cops picked her up form an abandoned house yesterday, she's been asking for Nadia since and as soon as they heard she was involved in our case they had to turn her over" McGee said proudly

"good work Mcgee" tony told him
"hows Ziva"Mcgee inquired
"Ok, but she's still being sick every 5 minutes"
"maybe she should see a Dr" Mcgee suggested
"Thats what i said, but since when has she ever done what she told"

"I'll go get Nadia from Abbs"
"you better bring a cafpow" Mcgee warned
"why?"
"she's in a bad mood":
"why?"
"Her bowling got cancelled"
"is that all? Tony said astounded
"Is that ALL! Bowling is the highlight of Abby's week, she's crushed"

Tony picked up a cafpow and headed down to Abby's lab

"hows it goin abbs"
"not so good tony, the nuns cancel....."
"so i heard, where's Nadia"
"I'm here" she said Jumping out from one of Abby's cupboards"
"were playing hide and seek" Nadia announced
"We found Grace, ZIva will be here with her any minute"

Tony took Nadia back up to the top floor and she sat on the other side of Ziva's desk, standing on a chair, never taking her eyes of the elevator.

PING, the elevator sounded

"Gwace!" SHe shrieked and ran over to meet her older cousin at the lift, who was accompanied by a quesy looking Ziva.

Grace had longish, wavy dark brown hair and was wearing jeans and a top with sandals.
"Nadii !!" Grace called back. Nadia ran over to her and leapt up into her grip securing her arms around her neck. she nestled into Grace and wouldn't let go.

"i missed you gwace"
"i missed you to Nadi" Grace said hugging Nadia tightly
"wheres mummy and daddy?"
i don't know, but these guys will find them" Grace assured her
"i know that" Nadia replied

Grace sat on a chair on the other side of Ziva's desk, Nadia still had her arms around her big cousins neck.

"thank you so much" Grace said to Ziva and Tony "for everything"
"thats ok this is the best part of the job" tony said

"I'm sorry" said Ziva excusing herself to be sick again

When she emerged from the bathroom Gibbs was there.

"You should go to the DOctor"
"I told you I'm fine its just a beetle"
"i thin k you mean a bug
"same difference"
"it wasn't a request Ziva, it was an order now go"

Ziva was sitting driving herself to the doctor when her head bgan spinning.

Whats wrong with me? she thought. then suddenly her heart sank to her stomach, she did some calculations in her head. No please no? she begged for she was 3 days Late for her period.

"Ms David, Dr Harley is ready to see you in room 12" The nurse said
"thank-you" Ziva said and got up, walking as slowly as possible to room 12, dreading what the doctor would tell her

"Hello, you must be ZIva David"
"Yes"
"I'm Dr Harley"
"Hi, how are you?"
"good thanks but it would seem you aren't"
"Yeah for about a week and a half i've been really nauseas"
"so you've been throwing up"
"yes several times a day"
"I think i'll take a blood test, do you have any other symptoms?"
"I've been really tired as well"

30 minutes later

"Ms David your results are back"

Ziva walked into room 12 again where Dr Harley was examining a clipboard.
"So whats wrong with me?" Ziva asked
"nothings wrong with you Ms David, but your pregnant, congratulations"

Ziva put her head in her hands and sat in silence for almost 5 minutes. How could she be a mother, she'd never had any maternal instincts, she didn't go all goo-gaa over baby's like most women her age.

"i take it this isn't the best news Ms David"
"I'm not ready for this, I'm not ready to be a mother"
"Are you with the father?"
"yes i am, but we didn't plan this, were not ready to be parents"
"you need to tell him, here take some of these pamphlets, they might help"
"you think a few pieces of paper will help me!" ZIva said storming out of the doctors office

She got into her mini red cooper and sped out of the parking lot. SHe didn't know where she was going, but she did n=know she needed some time alone to try and deal with this. SHe couldn't get an abortion, she'd never do that but she certainly wasn't ready for motherhood.

Ziva was overwhelmed and couldn't handle it anymore she let go of the steering wheels as she fainted, her head bashing onto the horn and beeping loudly. A red corolla smashed into the side of her car, knocking her unconscious just as she was about to come round.

Tony was just about to turn the corner when he saw ZIva's car smashed on the Side of the road. He parked his car on the sidewalk.
"ZIVA!!"he yelled running towards the car. He phoned 000 (911), then went over to the drivers seat where Ziva was sitting unconcious. He dribbled some water over her face, she still didn't stir.

The ambulance arrived and Retrieved Ziva from the car, dinozzo leaning over their shoulder the whole time.
"will you be riding in the ambulance with her?"
"yeah" said DInozzo swinging himself up into the ambulance beside Ziva.

3 hours later.

Ziva had woken up and Dinozzo had been beside her, holding her hand when she did.
"Tony" she muttered"Its ok ZIva I'm here" he said putting her hair behind her ear.

Dr Harley had been called into the hospital because he was Zivas GP.

"Ms David"
"how are you feeling?"
"ok" said Ziva softy, begging that she hadn't harmed her unborn baby.
"I'm afraid we will have to run a few more tests to make sure the baby is ok but its looking good..."
"Excuse me, what baby?" said Dinozzo puzzled
"Um maybe you two need some time alone, i'll come back in a few hours"

"Ziva?" Tony said, picking up her hands in his
"Tony... i'm pregnant"
"Why didn't you tell me" said tony softly, caressing ziva's face
"i only found out this morning, I crashed on the way back from the doctor" ZIva told him tears forming in her eyes
"Shhh, its ok Ziva
"No its not" said Ziva sitting up "i'm not ready for this, i'm not 'mum' material, i have no idea what to do with a baby, were not ready to be parent!"
"You don't have to know everything Ziva, we'll do this together, i'll always be there for you, your assuming your gonna have to do this on your own, your not!, its our baby and we can do this together as a couple"
"i'm scared tony"
"i am too Ziva"
"Not about that stuff, i mean i am but i'm scared about the baby"
"what about it"
"i hope its ok, i was soo stupid, i shouldn't have tried to drive i was still upset"
"you didn't know that would happen ziva, its not your fault"
"What it i hurt the baby tony?"
"It doesn't matter Ziva" Tony assured her "get some rest, you'll need it, i'll be here when you wake up"

2 hrs and 30 minutes later

Dr Harley came back in.
"are you ready"
"yeah"
"we'll take you in to have an ultra sound, ok?"
"ok, can tony come?" asked Ziva nervously
"of course" Dr Harley said smiling at them

A nurse wheeled in the ultra sound machine. Ziva lifted up her top reveiling her ever so slightly swollen abdomen.

Tony sat beside Ziva, holding her hand while Dr Harley spread a gooey gel over Ziva's stomach and began to move the ultrasound device over her. Ziva nervously squezed Tony's hand.

"everything looks fine" SHe said. Tony and Ziva both sighed of relief.
"were gonna be parents ZIva" said Tony looking lovingly into ziva's eyes

"I'm scared tony"
"i'd be surprised if you weren't ZIva, I'm scared too"
"what of"
"stuffing up the poor kids life"
"your going to be a great dad tony, its myself I'm worried about"
"why, you'll love them and thats what counts"
"I'm not maternally inclined, or nurturing or any of those other thing that mums are"
"Come on Ziva, your gonna be great, trust me"
"what do you even do with a baby?" asked ziva
"I dunno, but we'll find out... together"

1 week later.

Ziva was packing up her stuff and Tony walked into the room.
"ready to go?"
"just" said Ziva putting her toothbrush in her bag. Tony picked it up.
"i can carry it tony"
"no heavy lifting now your pregnant ziva" said tony with a smirk
"fine"

Back in the car Dinozzo and Ziva were having a heated conversation.

"we do not need to tell everyone at NCIS yet, i'm only 1 month pregnant, anything could happen"
"fine but as soon as you hit 3 months were having a cake"
"only you tony" said Ziva with a chuckle

Sure enough 3 months later Ziva and Tony were sitting in the car, a cake in the back seat.
"please let me drive tony"
"no i don't want to injure the baby before we get there" said tony
"tony!" Ziva exclaimed looking upset and hurt
"i meant the cake"
"oh, fine you drive then" said Ziva chucking him the keys

"Shots abby" said Ziva
"unfair!" Tony whined
"i'm not facing Gibbs"
"what and you think i am" He argued

When they arrived Ziva ran straight down to Abby's Lab.

"whats the rush Ziva?"
"nothing"
"you look like you have something to say"
"i do"
"well spit it out
"I'm pregnant"
"oh my god Ziva, congratulations" Said Abby running forward for a hug which for once Ziva accepted.

"What am i going to do?"
"what'd you mean Ziva?"
"I don't know how to look after a child"
"Nobody does, you learn it as it happens, you and tony will do this together Ziva"
"i know, thats what he keeps saying" said ZIva sitting down on Abby's stool.
"You are going to be a great mum ZIva, your so protective, and even though you don't show it i know you care so much about everyone, your friends and your family"
"thanks abbs
"so how far along are you?"
"3 months"
"Have you told Gibbs yet?"
"Tony is now"
"so you got the easy job"
"i knew you'd take it well"
"take it well? I'm ecstatic!!"

"Boss, i have something i need to talk to you about"
"so do i" said Ziva, coming up behind Tony and taking his hand
"We have something to say"
"And..." Gibbs said
"Ziva and my are having a baby"
"congratulations, now get back to work" Gibbs said, slapping Tony on the back of the head.
"Hey what was that for"
"knocking up my best agent!" Gibbs said
"your best agent" said DInozzo, scoffing and puffing out his chest
"yes Tony, his best agent" Ziva said
"who will be doing desk work for the next 6 months" GIbbs added
"what!!" Ziva exclaimed
"Take it up with the director, she'll agree" Gibbs reasoned

Later that day

"we better head off ZIva" SAId Tony
"Fine" said Ziva Crabbily

Back in the car Ziva was still in a bad mood.
"Ziva, sweetcheeks, whats up"
"i hate being pregnant, i'm soo fat"
"Ziva, your beautiful, your hardly showing at all, i love you so much ZIva, you can't help getting bigger, and i love you so much i couldn't care less how big you are"
"Tony, did you ever think you'd settle down and have kids?"
"I guess i always assumed i would one day, i never thought it would be now, but now seems right, did you ever think you'd have a family"
"No I'm not that kind of woman, i haven't been planning my wedding since i was 5 when i was a little girl i was playing with my brother outside, shooting my first gun, learning self defense, i was never interested in sewing or cooking or any of that MUM stuff, maybe i thought one day i would but not now""
"come on Ziva, just because your a mum doesn't mean you have to do any of that, and i know you won't be a stay at home mum, i don't expect you to, i told you, were doing this together as equals, you wouldn't be ZIVA if you did any of that, i love you the way you are and so will our baby"
"I guess"
"don't worry we have 6 months to get ready"
"i know"
"are you excited Ziva?"
"I don't know how to feel Tony, i feel amazed that our baby is growing inside of me, I'm excited to meet it but i'mnot so excited of the prospect of motherhood, how about you Tony"
"i'm nervous, i'll stuff this up bigtime, but i'm excited to meet our baby"
"i was thinking tony so you want to know the sex?"
"I dunno, i hadn't really thought about it much"
"i don't know either"
"what about names"
"I was thinking if its a girl i'd like to call her Tali, after my little sister, what do you think?"
"i think its beautiful, what about boys?"
"I don't know but i have a feeling its going to be a girl"

When they arrived back at Tony's apartment, he looked around.
"Ziva i think we might need a bigger place, i mean i only have one bedroom and i don't think we want to be sharing with our baby"
"Why not, most people do, how else are you supposed to hear them crying"
"you actually want to hear them crying?" said tony raising his eyebrow "you obviously know more about this than your letting on"
"I might have been doing some reading"
"so what do you think Ziva, Maybe we should buy a bigger flat or a little house or something"
"Ok, i guess we do need a bigger place, i mean the baby will need its own room when it gets bigger"
"exactly, we could pop into the real estate agent after work tomorrow"

"I'm soo lucky" Ziva said looking into Tony's eyes
"Why do you say that"
"I'm with you and i'm going to have our baby"
"I love you Ziva" SAid Tony coming up behind ziva and putting his arms around her slightly rounded belly.
"I love you too Tony"

Ring ring
"Ziva can you please get that" Tony said from the shower
"sure"

Ziva picked up the home phone.
"Ziva David speaking"
"Hello this is Berthseda Naval hospital calling to confirm your ultrasound at 11am this morning"
Ziva swore under her breath, she'd forgotten all about it.
"Hello, are you still there" The nurse on the other end asked
"Yes"
"and you'll be attending your appointment?"
"yes"
"thanks i'll see you then"
"goodbye

"Who was it?" Tony from the bathroom
"The hospital" Ziva called back
"is everything ok?" Said Tony worriedly
"Yes everything is fine, i have my first ultrasound this morning"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tony said
"i forgot, if they hadn't called i wouldn't have even turned up to the appointment" Ziva called back
"what time is it?"
"11am, so we could take an early lunch?"
"yeah sound good" said Tony emerging from the bathroom wrapped in a wet towel.

Ziva picked up her wallet, cell phone and car keys.
"Tony are you ready yet?"
"Almost" said Dinozzo smiling widely into the mirror
"You take more time to get ready than most women i know"
"Its called taking Pride in your appearance"
"And i don't?"
"Yes you do, you look beautiful everyday, but for some of us it doesn't come naturally"

Ziva and DInozzo arrived in the bullpen just before Gibbs.
"can someone take this sample down to Abbs" McGee asked
"why don't you do it yourself McGee" Ziva asked
"I'm..."
"up to level 13 on super sprinter" Said Tony in awe, coming up behind McGee
"Please Ziva, i've gotta see this"
"No! i have some paperwork to do"
"Come on Tony, i'll pause the game till you get back"
"if you pause it you could just go yourself" Tony sighed "But you don't trust me? do you McGee, you think i'll un-pause it, loose and then you'll have to start again"
"Tony just go" Ziva insisted
"Fine, but only cause i wanna see Abbs"

Tony walked into Abby's Lab.

"whats up Tony?"
"McGee asked me to bring you this sample"
"thanks Tony, you look a bit nervous?"
"Ziva's got her first ultrasound today, i mean she had that one after the crash and they said the baby was fine, but i mean she was only one month, now we'll actually be able to see the baby you know"
"your gonna be such a great dad Tony"
"I just want to be better than my'n ever was, i always want to be there for Ziva and the baby"
"I know you will tony"
"Thanks Abbs"
"oh before you go Tony, are you gonna find out the sex"
"i don't know we haven't really thought about it"

"hey Ziva?" said Tony walking back into the bullpen
"yes" Ziva replied
"Do you wanna know the sex of the baby" Tony asked
"I don't know i can't decide" Ziva told him
"me too" Tony agreed

"Ziva, its 10:30, we better go"
"ok, See you McGee" Ziva said
"goodluck guys" Mcgee told them
"THanks probie" Tony replied

Ziva and Tony arrived at the hospital and quarter to 11 and they sat in the waiting room, flipping though magazines.
"Ms David?"
"Here" Ziva said
"Dr Harley is ready for you in room 21"
"thanks"

Tony put his arm around Ziva and they walked towards room 21.
"Hi How are you?" Dr Harley asked
"good thanks"
"your feeling better than the last time we saw eachother"
"yeah, allot better thanks"
"Here take a seat and i'll be back with the nurse in a second"

Once again the nurse put a gooey gel on Ziva's rounded belly.
"Do you want to know the sex?" Dr Harley asked
Ziva looked at Tony.
"Its up to you Ziva"
"i don't know"
"how about you don't find out, then if you change your mind you can call the hospital and they can tell you"
"sounds good" Tony said

"ok, there's your baby" said the Dr pointing out the shape of a tiny baby on the ultrasound that was curled up , moving around slightly.
"oh my god" Tony whispered
"Tony, i think i want to know"
"yeah me too" Tony agreed "We want to know the gender"
"Congratulations, your expecting a baby girl"
"a girl" Tony whispered, mesmerized by the picture on the screen. "a little girl"
"are you excited yet Ziva?"
"Yes, i can't wait to meet our little girl"
"should i print out some pictures"
"yes please" Tony said " a few copies

THe nurse wiped the gel of Ziva's stomach and she sat up.
"here are your pictures, check into reception on the way out and make your next apoinment"
"will do" Tony replied, walking out with Ziva, both of them smiling happily.

“Hey, how’d it go?” McGee asked as they walked back into the bullpen, arms around each other.
“Great!” DiNozzo exclaimed
“Boy or girl?” Gibbs asked walking into the room
“Girl” Ziva answered
“Congratulations you two” Gibbs said “But we have a crime scene, Dinozzo, McGee, gear up and get the van, address is 43 Prince st”
“That reminds me, we never found the little girls parents did we?” Ziva said sadly
“No but were about to”
“Who’s been looking after her?” Tony asked
“Her Uncle and cousin, her aunty disappeared last week”
“What am I doing”
“Going to collect statements from the girl, her uncle and cousin”
“Their address?”
“31 Maple Lane, I’m gonna come as back up”
“Why?” Ziva asked “I’m just collecting statements”
“The suspect is the uncle”
“WHAT! Why would he kidnap his wife and her sister and her husband not to mention his own daughter”
“He has a mental condition, he was discharged from Cleveland Mental hospital when his daughter was 5”
“But that was 8 yrs ago” Tony argued
“They say a tiger lever loses its stripes” Ziva said
“I think you mean a leopard never loses its spots”
“What’s the difference?” said Ziva crabbily
“Anyway Ziva, you’ll go in to collect a statement from each of them, you also need to analyse all their behaviour, if he seems unstable we will have to attempt to remove the kids from the house in the next few days”

Tony and McGee got into the car and Tony started up the engine, they drove for a few miles in very awkward silence.
“So your gonna have a girl”
“Yeah”
“I Think you’ll be a great dad Tony” McGee said
“Thanks it means allot McGee, I’m sure you will be someday”

Gibbs and Ziva were heading to a small suburb not far away from NCIS HQ. It was quite picturesque actually, lots of small and large houses in tidy little streets, kids playing in the front yards with the neighbours and a few schools with mural’s painted on the brick walls of the buildings. Gibbs pulled up outside a little pale blue house with a beautiful flower garden out the front and a white picket fence. It looked like something form a fairy tale.

“This is the house?”
“Yep, get the notepads and pens from the glove box” Gibbs told Ziva “And here, stick this on one of your buttons”. Gibbs Handed Ziva a silver button, she peeled the backing off and stuck it over the button on her jeans.
“If you get in trouble, press it, it calls my pager”
“Ok”
“Good luck”
“Thankyou but it is not as if I need it, its just another set of interviews”
“Be careful, Dinozzo will kill me if something happens to you”
“I will, could everyone stop worrying about me, I am pregnant but I’m not an invalid”

Ziva got out of the car notepad and pen in hand and walked towards the house, Grace’s father emerged from the house.
“Hello, I’m officer David from NCIS”
“What do you want?” he asked grumpily
“I’m here to collect statements from your daughter, niece and you in relation to the disappearance of your wife”
“So go ahead”
“May I come in?”
“No, here is fine”
“All right then, where were you yesterday, all day”
“At work, at my construction company”
“Where were Grace And Nadia?”
“Nadia was at preschool, Grace was at school and she walked by the preschool and picked up Nadia on the way home”
“Do you know anything about your wife’s whereabouts, or that of her sister and your brother in law?”
“No, all these disappearances have been so sudden, no-one knows when they’re gonna happen, its creepy” he said with a shiver
“Can I see the girls?”
“They’re around the back”

Ziva walked around the back and let herself into the yard.
“Ziva?” Grace said
“Hello, I here to ask you some questions about what happened to your mum”
“Aunty Em, went away”
“where to Nadia” Ziva asked, sitting down on a bench in the yard. Grace looked at Nadia warningly
“I don’t know” Nadia said. Ziva Turned to Grace,
“If your know something, you need to tell me, your dad can’t hurt you, we can protect you, but we’ll never find your mum without your help” Ziva said softly
“He’s not my dad” Grace said fiercely
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t talk here, I think he’s listening to us, you’ll never get out, you should never have come!”

“NADIA, shut up!!!, don’t tell the bitch anything!” Grace’s ‘father’ yelled. Grace pulled Nadia close.
“Leave, he’ll hurt you”
“I’m not leaving you here, I’m taking you with me” Ziva told them. She pressed the button on her jeans and heard a car door open and shut in the street. Ziva drew her gun.
“Grace can you put Nadia on your back, go around the side and get into the silver Mercedes parked in the street, lock all the doors and keep out of sight” Ziva told Grace passing her the keys.
“I think they’re in the trapdoor in the pantry” Grace yelled while running around the side of the house

Ziva smelt smoke coming from the house. She entered the door and saw Gibbs struggling through a blanket of smoke spreading quickly through the house.
“They’re here under a trapdoor in the pantry?” Ziva yelled to Gibbs across the noise.
“GO, Go back to the car, it’s to dangerous!”

Ziva knew Gibbs was to far away from the kitchen to reach it in time.
“Get the father!” Ziva yelled at him and trudged towards the kitchen. She flung the pantry door open and saw a trapdoor, padlocked shut. This of course was no obstacle for a highly skilled mossad agent. Under the trapdoor was 2 women and, no that couldn’t be right, 2 men. One of them looked almost identical to Graces so called father.

Ziva dragged them all one by one out the trapdoor, one of the men was not as weak as the others and he helped her. They got them out the back door and Ziva, flipped up her cell, called Gibbs who had the ‘dad’ in custody waiting transport back to NCIS. The girls were waiting in the car. Gibbs had called an ambulance, which was on its way for the 4 prisoners. Ziva then called Tony and Mcgee who immediately raced there from the crime scene.

“Tony!” Ziva said when he arrived
“Are you ok?” said Tony putting his arms around Ziva.
“I’m fine”
“Are you sure?”
“I am fine Tony stop worrying”
“I’m asking the paramedics to check you out anyway, your pregnant and you just dragged 3 fully grown adults form a burning building!”
“Okay” Said Ziva

The paramedic came over and gave Ziva the all clear.
“You need to rest, let’s go home early, get take away and rent a movie”
“I do not think Gibbs will agree with that,” Ziva said
“Who cares” Tony said walking with Ziva towards the car

“How does ‘the cone-heads’ sound?” Tony asked
“Stupid” Ziva replied “how about this?” She said holding up ‘the rabbit proof fence’.
“An Australian classic” Tony said “let’s get it”

Later that night
Tony walked into the lounge room with 2 plates of Chinese take away.
“Thanks” Ziva replied. They sat side by side on the couch and Tony put on the rabbit proof fence.

"Tony" Ziva whispered
"what is it are you ok?" Siad tony anxiously
"i think the baby kicked" said Ziva, taking Tony's hand and moving across her pregnant belly to the left side where she felt the baby kicking, Tony felt it too.
"Oh my god, its our little girl"
"i know" Ziva said

Ziva got up to get a snack and stood for a moment looking at the picture of the ultrasound that they'd put up on the fridge.

"Hey Tony?"
"yeah"
"you know how we were talking about getting a bigger house, we never actually went to look?"
"Well in the paper yesterday there was an add for a house in the street that you found the girls families today"
"can i see?" Said Ziva returning to the lounge. Tony took a newspaper clipping from his bag and handed it to Ziva

Beautiful, uniqe 3 bedroom home

5 minutes walk from the beach, friendly street.

3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
large kitchen
Separate dining room
Large family room
large backyard
LIbrary/study

open day

Later that night
Tony walked into the lounge room with 2 plates of Chinese take away.
“Thanks” Ziva replied. They sat side by side on the couch and Tony put on the rabbit proof fence.

"Tony" Ziva whispered
"what is it are you ok?" Siad tony anxiously
"i think the baby kicked" said Ziva, taking Tony's hand and moving across her pregnant belly to the left side where she felt the baby kicking, Tony felt it too.
"Oh my god, its our little girl"
"i know" Ziva said

Ziva got up to get a snack and stood for a moment looking at the picture of the ultrasound that they'd put up on the fridge.

"Hey Tony?"
"yeah"
"you know how we were talking about getting a bigger house, we never actually went to look?"
"Well in the paper yesterday there was an add for a house in the street that you found the girls families today"
"can i see?" S

Tony had just got out of the shower and was pouring himself some cereal when he heard angry hebrew cursing coming from their bedroom. As he got closer he heard small objects being kicked around the room.
"Ziva, honey are you ok?"
"NO!!"
"Whats up?"
"My pants don't fit!"
"Hey Ziva, its ok, you can wear something else, you can't expect to wear the same clothes through the whole pregnancy"
"I''m sorry" said Ziva going to pick up a pile of books she'd kicked across the room.
"Hey Ziva its ok" Said Tony coming up behind her and putting his arms around her tummy.

Ziva put some different pants on and they got into the car to drive to the open house.

It was perfect, Ziva could imagine them living here with their baby.
"its perfect Ziva whispered to herself"
"He Ziva come and look at this!" Tony called from down the corridor. Ziva looked into the door and saw a nursery. It was painted yellow and had trees with bluebirds siting in the branches painted on the wall. Ziva looked away, they weren't ready for this, they were only 26, how could they raise a baby together. I know Tony's going to be a great but what about me? Ziva asked herself
Tony must have read her mind.
"Ziva you are gonna be an amazing mum, trust me"
"i don't have much choice do i?" Ziva replied looking into Tony's hazel eyes.
"So what do you think of the house?"
"Its perfect Tony, but we can't afford this" SAid Ziva longingly
"Its ok ZIva, i've been saving for a few years now i have alot of money in the bank, we can do this"
"are you sure?"
"of course i am" Tony said "This is gonna be our home


3 months later

Ziva walked awkwardly into the kitchen in their new house, she was 6 1/2 months pregnant and very crabby. Tony was already up and was sitting eating a bowl of cereal.
"Hey honey" Tony said "whats up?"
"being pregnant sucks"
"so i've heard"Tony replied "Come here" he opened his arms and walked over to Ziva and wrapped them around her.

"Are you excited Tony?"
"I am the most excited i've been in my life" Said Tony grinning widely
"I am too, i wasn't sure how i'd deal with this all but its grown on me"
"i love you soo much Ziva" SAid Tony "I love both of you more than you could possibly imagine"

1 month later

"Ziva when are you gonna go on maternity leave, this is gettin Crazy!" Dinozzo argued
"i'll go when i feel like it, if i stay at home i'll only drive myself crazy, paperwork is better than dieing of boredom"
"good point" said Dinozzo
"i'd interrogate if Gibbs would let me"
"you know thats too dangerous"
"Everything is tpo dangerous for me! i can't do anything!"
"Hey Ziva thats not true"
"Yes it is and you know it, apparently the only thing I'm capable is sitting at a desk"
"Ziva as soon as you have the baby i know you'll be straight back to work out in the field so please don't get upset, i hate it when your upset" He said coming over and kissing her on the forehead.

i month later

Ziva had finally agreed to go on maternity leave, It was only 2 weeks till the baby was due and she had finally reached the nesting stage. She'd set up the nursery and bought too many baby clothes. But just because she was on leave didn't mean she kept away from the office. Today she was going in too visit.

She wasn't as big as most women were in their final weeks of pregnancy but the doctor said she was fine. She was glad she wasn't as big as a beachball at least she could make her way around reasonably comfortably. She had a small overnight bag packed for when the baby did come. the doctor suggested it, that way when the time come they'd ahve one less thing to worry about.

"what are you doing here Zi?" Tony asked
"home is soo boring, so i came in to visit
"i don't think its a good idea to be driving at this stage Ziva"
"whatever"

Ziva walked towards the bathroom, she opened the door. her heart fluttered. did my water just break?she asked herself, she looked at the tiled floor that was covered in 'water'.

She waddled back into the bullpen where McGee was searching through a database for a profile matching a ciminal they were looking for.
"McGee, where is Tony?" Said Ziva trying to keep calm
"In interrogation, why?"
"I think my water just broke"
"Oh my god!" said McGee jumping up form his seat "what do i do!!"
"can you call Tony?" Said Ziva breathing deeply, the time had finally come, 2 weeks early. that was ok though, the Dr had said she probably would be early by the looks of the latest ultrasound.

"Tony!"
"what is it Probie?" Tony asked from the other end of the line
"Ziva's water just broke"
"i'll be right there" Tony replied, hanging up before McGee could respond

"Zi are you ok?"
"i'm fine", Tony helped her up "Could you drive me to the hospital?' Ziva asked
"are you joking Ziva, you don't need to ask" said Tony scoffing

He helped her into the car and sent Abby to their house to get the bag they'd prepared.
"well the time has come" aid Tony breaking the awkward silence
"i'm nervous tony"
"i'd be worried if you weren't" Tony replied "But i'll be there with you the whole time"

Ziva made a small pained noise,
"are you ok?" Tony asked worriedly slowing down the car
"I think i just had my first contraction"
"Were almost at the hospital"

WHen they arrived Tony helped Ziva into reception where the nurse got him to fill out some forms.
"We're going to take Ms David to room 112 so when your finished some up and meet us there"
"But i want to be there with her" Tony asked shocked, ZIva looked nervous too
"Its ok Mr Dinozzo, she won't have the baby for a few hours at least, she's only in the early stages of labor"
"finished" said Tony putting down his pen. He was a quick writer
"Then follow us"

Tony and the nurse helped Ziva into a wheel chair. Tony held Ziva'shand as the nurse pushed the chair into an elevator.
"Is this your first?"
"Yeah" said Tony
"Don't worry, i'm sure everything will be fine, you look more nervous than Ms David"
"Yeah i guess i am"
"I'm ok Tony, stop worrying" Said Ziva looking to Tony's Haze eyes, but he could tell she was nervous.

The nurse set up Ziva in a room where she'd have to wait untill she was fully dialated.
Ziva was squeezing Tony's hand extremely forcefully as each contracion came and went and Tony was right there beside her the whole time.

"Alright Ms David, your almost fully dialated, we'll wheel you into the delivery suite"

Ziva squezed Tony's hand again as she got another contraction.

1 hr later

"Ok Ziva, one more push should do it" the Dr said, Ziva squezed Tony's hand as she gave on hard push. Then Her and Tony heard the piercing cry of their newborn daughter. Ziva leant back exhausted.
"Would you like to cut the umbilical cord Mr Dinozzo?"
"sure"

"Here you are" said Dr Harley handing Tony a bundle of white sheets, he pulled the blanket away and saw a small pink face staring back at him, it was the happiest moment of his life.
"Tony? can i hold her?" Ziva asked
"of course" said Tony placing their bundle of joy into Ziva's welcoming arms. Ziva kissed her daughter on the forehead.
"i love you" she whispered and brought her daughter close to her chest rocking her gently.
"Have you got a name yet?" the nurse asked. Tony looked at Ziva, then back to the nurse.
"Tali"
'does she have a middle name?"
"what do you think Ziva?"
"i Was thinking May, Tali May Dinozzo-David"
"Sounds perfect"

Later that Day.

The nurse had come in to help Ziva give Tali a feed, and Dinozzo was on the phone to NCIS.
"Hey Gibbs"
"Hey DInozzo, how are they"
"MOther and baby doing just fine"
"good to hear, when will you be back?"
"i think i'll take then next week off"
"ok, Abby wants to know when she can come to visit"
"ANytime she likes" Said Tony, hearing abby squelling in the background "I gotta go but i'm guessing i'll see abby soon"
"you'll be seeing all of us very shortly"
"see ya boss"
"bye"

"They're coming to visit" Announced Dinozzo going over and sitting next to Ziva on the bed
"Ziva, she's soo adorable"
"i know, i'm glad"
"why, wel i mean you wouldn't want an ugly baby but.."
"I was afraid she would be all wrinkly and ugly like some baby's are" Ziva said "When i was a child, i went to visit my aunty in hospital after my cousin was born and she was so awful looking, i had to lie through my teeth telling my aunty how beautiful she was"
""I wasn't worried about that" Tony replied "Any child of ours would be good lookin"
"But she's so perfect Tony, i can't believe she's ours" SAid Ziva fondly, rocking little Tali to and fro.
"May I?" Tony said reaching for Tali
"of course" said Ziva resting Tali iin his arms
"i never thought i'd be able to even hold a baby but as soon as she was in my arms it just came naturally"
"i know, wheneer i hold her just feel as though i know exactly what she needs"


"can we come in?" asked a high pitch voice from the doorway
"COme in Abbs said Tony handing Tali back to Ziva and walking over to greet their guests. Gibbs, Ducky, McGee, Abby, Palmer and Lee. All burden with gifts. Abby spotted Tali, straight away and ran over to her.
"would you like to hold her Abbs?" Ziva asked smiling
"would i ever!, whats she called?"
"Tali" said Ziva handing her bundle of Joy over to her best friend
"oh my god, she is soo beautiful!, and I'm not just saying that!"Abby squealed.

"She has your eyes, DInozzo" said Gibbs looking over Abby's shoulder into the big hazel eyes beneath the blanket.
"But i think she has Ziva's face" McGee commented "luckily"
"i heard that probie!" Dinozzo said

Abby handed Tali to Ducky who commented on her looking very healthy, then Ducky passed her to Palmer, who passed her to Lee who passed her to Gibbs who attempted to pass her to McGee.
"Come on McGee" Gibbs said trying to give her to him
"No its ok, i'm not really a baby person"
"Come on McGee" DInozzo encouraged "if i can do it, i'm sure you can"
"Ok" McGee finally agreed scooping up Tali, he was a natural.
"see probie, its not as hard as it looks" Dinozzo commented. Then eagerly took him back from McGee.

"oh i almost forgot" Abby said "i brought your bag"
"thanks" said Ziva taking it from her "can i have Tali back now?"
"coming from the woman who thought she'd suck at being a mum" Tony said proudly "she never takes her eyes off her"
"so when are you being released"
"In 2 days" Said Ziva
"When will you be back at work?" Gibbs asked
"i dunno, at first i only wanted to take like 1 month off, i thought i would be soo eager to get back to work, but now i'm not"
"well see how you go, you could start off doing desk work, then you could bring Tali in with you" Gibbs suggested
"yeah thats sounds good"
"congratualtions you guys" Gibbs said
"thanks"

Tony and Ziva finally had a moment alone with their new baby.
"I never knew i could love someone as much as i love you and Tali" Tony SAid caressing Ziva's face
"I know Tony, i never knew what love was until i met you, now it has taken a whole other step with Tali"
"She's so beautiful" Said Tony Taking Tali from Ziva and looking into her big Hazel eyes
"I know She's perfect" said Ziva running her finger along Tali's little Rosy cheek.
"SO are you ready to go home?" Tony asked
"Of course, i am so sick of this awful hospital food, i can't wait to eat a home-cooked meal"
"Lets go then"

Tony picked up Ziva's bags and Ziva put the tiny little Tali in the capsule and they walked to the car side by side.

1 week later

Ziva was sitting in an armchair breast-feeding Tali and Dinozzo was in the kitchen coking up a storm, Ziva had been teaching him to cook, he was actually pretty good. He left the water to boil and came and sat of the arm of the chair. Ziva had just finished feeding Tali
"How are my two favorite girls?" Tony said, kissing Ziva on the forehead
"Good Tony, could you take Tali i need a rest"
"Sure" Said Tony taking Tali and bouncing her up and don on his lap.

When Tony and Ziva has first brought Tali home from the hospital they didn't know how they'd cope, Tony was afraid he'd mess up the poor kids life, or worse, drop her and Ziva had been anxious about motherhood full-stop, how could she and Tony look after this baby that 100% depended on them being competent parents. But they'd adjusted well, Tony was taking 2 weeks off work and Ziva was taking 3 months.




Watch out for my next story in this series all about Ziva and Tony dealing with a terrible 2 yr old and wondering whether they should have another.