PS. Since it's officially tomorrow, I couldn't wait any longer to post this. Welcome to Three Years Family.

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who replied to the last chapter of Six Months Home. It was an honour and a privilege to share that journey with you and now this story will bring everything to a close. It seems fitting that we end Remnants of Somalia with a two chapter story, when it began with just a one-shot. Thank you everyone so much!

Just a note - I have messed with at least one canon event to make it fit into my timeline, hope no one minds too much! And at the end of the chapter will be my replies to the unsigned-in reviews left for Ch 94. You are all in my heart, ~Love always, Aliyah

It was nine o'clock on Friday night and Tony DiNozzo sat in a Bethesda hospital room holding a miracle. The baby stirred and Tony looked down, setting the rocking chair in motion again. "Hey little man, it's okay, Daddy's here." He dragged one finger softly down his son's cheek and sighed. "You know, almost exactly three years ago today I never thought I'd get the chance to be a dad again." Tony swallowed, remembering the hurt of that night when his wife finally spilled her secret. "When Mommy told me what Dr. Mandy said, Daddy was very sad. I loved your sister so much that I couldn't imagine never having another child to share that love with. And yet here you are, Benjamin Anthony Dante DiNozzo, seven pounds, four ounces, three weeks early and absolutely perfect."

Tony lifted the baby higher so he could kiss his forehead. He stared at his son, unable to contain his joy at now, finally, having a child that was his and fully theirs, parts of him and Ziva combined to make this brand new little person. But despite all that Tony found that he couldn't think of Chaya any differently. She would always be his daughter, his first, the little princess who taught him how to be a daddy and not just a father. He didn't love his son better, he just loved them both because they were his children.

Leaning his head back, Tony thought back to the end of February, when they first started to get the inkling that something wasn't right. Quietly, so as not to disturb his sleeping wife from the rest she so desperately needed still, he began to tell Benjamin the story of how they got to this moment.

NCIS

"Now, there's something you need to know about Mommy Ben, she never gets sick. She's like Grampa that way. She never gets the flu or a cold or anything. But partway through the winter she wasn't feeling well, even if she wouldn't admit it." He chuckled. "Then one morning I knew she wouldn't be able to make into work."

"Zi, Ziva." Groggily Ziva forced her eyes open as the gentle shaking on her shoulder continued. Tony's concerned face met her gaze. "Hey there beautiful," he smiled, "just wanted to let you know you don't have to get up. I called Gibbs and told him you needed a sick day."

Struggling to prop herself up, Ziva aimed a rather lackluster glare at her husband. "I am not sick."

Tony's quiet chuckle didn't help matters. "I hate to break this to you ninja, but spending a couple days with your head over the toilet and feeling so crappy you can't get out of bed means you are."

"Aargh!" Ziva groaned and slumped down, burying her head in the pillows. She opened one eye to protest. "Chaya-"

He cut her off. "Zi, I've spent three years learning to be her dad. I'm pretty sure I can handle a few days without your direct supervision."

She made a face and mumbled something that sounded like, "Work?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "We can handle things without you Zi, but just for a little while." He brushed a kiss to her cheek. "I don't want to miss my partner too much."

With less reluctance than usual, betraying just how miserable she actually was, Ziva gave into the sleep tugging at her heavy eyelids. The last thing she heard was Tony's whispered, "I love you."

NCIS

A couple weeks later Tony came back from getting groceries early one morning to find Abby, McGee, Haven and Sammy over. The couple sat on the couch with coffee they'd helped themselves to and both girls were playing with Sammy on the floor. Chaya looked up. "Hi Daddy."

Tony frowned at his friends. "Did we have plans?"

Abby shook her head. "Not until Chaya called an hour ago to tell us Ima was sleeping and Daddy was gone." She looked at the little girl 'reading' a book to her favourite pet, her soft brown curls framing her face. "I asked if anyone was with her and she said yes, Challah was sitting beside her."

Tim shrugged. "But we didn't think a stuffed bunny was good enough company and came over. I was worried something might be wrong with Ziva."

"She's just sleeping," Abby tried to reassure him, but Tony dumped the bags on the island in the kitchen and took the stairs two at a time. Ziva never just slept until ten o'clock in the morning, that was not a good sign. He entered their room and sat on the bed beside her, brushing his hand over her hair.

After three years Tony's touch was as familiar to her as her own name and she embraced it rather than shying away from it. She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily, then frowned. "Tony, is something wrong?" The worry in his eyes was deep.

"Do you know what time is Zi?"

She shook her head and turned to look at the clock, pushing herself up. "It is after ten!"

"I know." Tony kissed the back of her hand. "This isn't like you. Three years and I've never known you to stay in bed this long unless neither one of us is getting up."

Her lips curved upwards and she slid her fingers into his hair. "Is than an offer Mr. DiNozzo?"

He rolled his eyes. "I wish. We've got a kid who's awake and company downstairs." At her confused look he elaborated. "Chaya called Abby and McGee and reported your still-in-bed state. I went out for groceries and ended up taking longer than I thought. They came over so she wouldn't be alone."

Ziva pressed her lips to his cheek. "I am sorry."

"I'm concerned Zi. Will you please make a doctor's appointment?" Ever since the issues she'd had during her pregnancy with Chaya, he never felt totally secure about her health. She'd been fine since giving birth, but there was always the lingering anxiety in the back of his mind that he could still lose her somehow.

"Alright." She pushed back the covers and slid her feet to the floor, stopping to kiss him before she put on her robe. "Now, let us go see about brunch for our friends."

NCIS

Mandy walked into the exam room a week later with a smile on her face. "Ziva, you're a little early for your yearly check-up, is something wrong?"

Ziva rolled her eyes. "Tony is being overprotective again. I was sick last month, and very tired a couple weeks ago. I made the appointment so he would stop worrying."

The doctor chuckled. "That husband of yours is something else. Of course, when he's come so close to losing you more than once, I don't blame him."

"Neither do I."

"Well," Mandy glanced at the chart in her hand, "I'm going to have to take some blood samples and send them away. I know Tony thinks you're invincible, but you are allowed to get sick just like anyone else. For the tiredness though we might be looking at a low iron problem or something else entirely. Hopefully your blood will be able to tell us all sorts of interesting tales."

Ziva chuckled and rolled up her sleeve. "You are beginning to sound like Ducky."

"Someday I'll have to meet that man. The way Chaya talks about him, he's an absolute saint."

Ziva shook her head. "Ducky spoils her sour, just like Gibbs does. I supposed the first grandchild is always treated that way."

"You'd never know it. She's the sweetest little thing."

"Yes," the mother agreed, thinking of her daughter, "she is. But I do believe Tony will always be her favourite person."

"I know some moms that might be jealous," Mandy related, sliding the needle into her patient's arm, "but you look like you've just been given some unimaginable present when you say that."

Ziva's eyes showed only love. "There is no greater gift than to watch someone love your child. Even better when that man is your soulmate, but chose to be her father."

Mandy clucked her tongue and labeled the last vial, pressing a piece of gauze over the needle hole. "Three years and you guys still act like newlyweds. I want whatever love potion you're using."

"Hmm," Ziva commented. "We have learned the hard way to take nothing for granted. Every moment is something to cherish."

"I'm going to make you talk about Tony and Chaya every time I have to take blood, you didn't even flinch," Dr. Meyers told her proudly.

Ziva looked down at her arm in surprise. "I guess there are more important things on my mind."

NCIS

Tony got home from work one Wednesday in early April and dropped his backpack on the floor, glad to be done. He grinned at Chaya sitting on the couch with Challah, all her attention on the TV screen. "How's my princess?"

Chaya turned to him with her brightest smile. "Hi Daddy!"

Sweetest words ever spoken, Tony mused, sitting down beside her and leaning over to kiss her dark hair. "Whatcha watching?"

"Simba 2," she responded, holding up two small fingers. "I'm Kiara."

He rested his arm on the back of the couch. "You would make a very good lion I think C, just look at that mane of yours."

Chaya shook her curls and held her hands up like claws. "Roar!"

Tony chuckled. "Did you have fun with Mommy today?"

Once a month both he and Ziva took one day off work to spend with their daughter separately. Chaya looked forward to her Mommy days - which included outside things, creativity and cooking - and her Daddy days - full of laughter and zoos and movies and popcorn - with equal enthusiasm.

"Uh huh," the little girl nodded. "We baked cookies and had a tea party and went outside to count flutterflies and played on the swings and now a movie!" She said it all in one breath like Abby would.

Tony chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Sounds like quite the day. I bet you're all tired out now." Chaya gave him what Ziva called her 'Gibbs' look' and he shook his head. "Never mind, you've got more energy than a whole jar of jumping beans."

She giggled and then quickly focused back on the animated lions. They watched together for a few minutes before Chaya looked at him, her brown eyes wide with innocence. "Mommy cried today."

Tony froze but tried to speak casually. "Really? What happened? Did she get a hurt?"

"No," Chaya said, not elaborating further.

"Hey munchkin, where is Mommy?" Tony questioned.

Chaya pointed behind her. "Outside."

Tony got up and headed through the sliding glass doors in the diningroom and out onto the covered porch Gibbs had helped him build last year, complete with swing. Ziva was sitting there with her head resting back, staring into the distance but seeing nothing. He sat down carefully, not crowding her space. "Zi? What's wrong honey?"

Ziva pushed the swing with her foot and rolled her head to look at him. "You are home early."

He shrugged. "Closed the case, Gibbs let us go. I wanted to see my girls."

She was silent for several seconds. "Does it still hurt that we could not have any more children Tony?"

He hated the way she said it in past tense, leaving no hope whatsoever, even if there wasn't a reason to have any. Tony clenched his jaw to keep the emotions in check. Lately Ziva had been bringing up things he thought were forgiven and forgotten. When he put that together with how she had been sick recently and so tired the past few weeks, Tony started to worry, remembering what it was like before Chaya was born. He never wanted to see her that weak and fragile again.

"Only if I think too much about it," he answered honestly, knowing she wouldn't let him get away with any less.

Ziva slid her hand over his and spoke softly. "It does not have to hurt anymore."

He sighed. "I know babe. We've got Chaya and she's a pretty special kid. You know I love her with all my heart."

She chuckled. "No Tony, you do not know because I have not told you yet."

Tony looked at her smile, watched thoughts flit through her eyes and made a face. "Told me what?"

Ziva leaned up to kiss him and put her hand on his cheek. "I am pregnant."

For a full five seconds Tony stopped breathing. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he couldn't even think. Then a grin burst across his face and he grabbed Ziva's arms, almost shaking her. "Pregnant? Batu'ach?" You're sure?

She laughed. "I would not get your hopes up if I was not sure ahava. Are you happy?"

His eyes widened. "Are you kidding me Zi? How could I not be happy? This is our dream!"

Ziva flung her arms around his neck and he held her tightly. "Yes my love, it is one I never thought would come true."

Tony finally let go of his wife only to take possession of her lips for a long kiss. "How?" he asked finally.

Ziva raised an eyebrow. "Do you not know Tony? Surely you have heard of the bees and the bunnies?"

He choked on a laugh. "'Birds and the bees' ninja. And yes, I'm aware of the biology. But I thought..."

She nodded in understanding. "Mandy was almost as surprised as I was. I suppose I should have recognized the symptoms, but I did not put them together when I was carrying Chaya either."

"How far along?" Tony asked, sliding his hand over to rest on her stomach. He was so glad to be getting to experience it all, from when she knew about the baby right up until his or her birth. It was different this time because he hadn't technically been Chaya's dad until three weeks before she was born, even if he'd acted like it for months before that.

"A blood test does not give dates Tony. I have an appointment on Monday for an ultrasound. Since I am not feeling ill anymore though, I am probably several weeks at least."

"Have you told anyone else?"

Ziva looked offended. "Of course not. I wanted you to know first."

He slid his arm around Ziva's waist and pulled her back against his chest, kissing her neck. "Are you happy?"

For once Ziva was glad he couldn't see her face, because her guard was down and there was still things she didn't want him to see. "Yes," she whispered, pressing both hands lightly below her belly button. "It is such a gift to carry life inside me Tony." She shook her head. "I have missed that feeling. And even if it is many weeks yet before the movement is noticeable, I still have that part to look forward to."

"I love you," Tony murmured into her hair, and they sat like that until Chaya's movie was over and she came bouncing out and scrambled up between them for a cuddle. Then, with very little coaxing, she got Daddy to push her on the swings and help her hold onto the monkey bars. Ziva watched her husband and daughter together and rubbed her stomach gently.

"You will be born into so much love hakatan," she told her unborn baby. "I hope you will always know that you are a nes, a miracle that we should never have gotten." Playing with her Star of David necklace, Ziva sent up a silent prayer of thanks to the God who made miracles possible.

NCIS

Thursday morning Tony and Ziva dropped Chaya off at daycare where she made a beeline for Haven and only gave a passing wave of hello to Aria, who stood nearby supervising a block tower building project. They walked into the bullpen holding hands as usual, and were glad to find the whole team there, minus Ducky, Jimmy, and Tami. "Good morning Team Gibbs!" Tony bellowed, doing his best Robin Williams impression.

Ziva stayed by his side and met Gibbs' eyes, then Abby's. "We have news."

Everyone was instantly alert and Tony grinned for all he was worth. "Ziva's pregnant!"

Only Gibbs, who knew how impossible that announcement should be, compared the joy in this moment to the uncertainty that came with the last one. He was at Ziva's side in seconds, enveloping her in his arms. "Congratulations," he whispered, kissing her cheek. "You deserve this." Tears shone in her eyes and Ziva knew he understood some of what she was feeling.

Abby was next, propping her hands on her hips. "Copycat," she teased, not knowing that this might never have happened.

Ziva hugged her, feeling the roundness of Abby's six month baby bump pressing into her. "This is getting to be a habit," she chuckled.

Abby's smile only grew brighter. "At least our kids will always have someone to play with."

McGee stepped forward to shake Tony's hand and embrace Ziva. "That's awesome news."

She held him tighter. "This one is special Tim."

He looked into her eyes. "I know Ziva, and I'm so happy for you."

Once the well-wishes had been made, Gibbs sent Abby downstairs and gave McGee a job before motioning to Tony and Ziva to follow him to the alcove. He surveyed both for a moment. "Same rules as last time. You can roll out with us and do interviews until you start showing, then you're at your desk and you stay there until the doc decides it's time to go. Got it?"

Ziva nodded and exchanged glances with Tony, who cleared his throat. "We're gonna need an extra agent to cover Ziva's field duties." Gibbs sighed and rubbed his face. Temporary agents were such a hassle. But Tony wasn't done yet. They'd been waiting for an opportunity to do their friend a favour for a long time. He shrugged. "What about Matt? He's already familiar with the team and I know he'd jump at the chance to work with us again." And spend even more time with his lovely wife, he added to himself.

Gibbs nodded slowly. Collins was family now, even if he and Tami were only cousins according to Abby. He could handle having the man around for a few months. "Good idea," he muttered. "I'll go talk to Vance."

A minute later he was barging into Vance's office. Leon looked up. "I suppose common courtesy is too much to ask?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Old habits."

The director shook his head. The agent was a hopeless cause. "What can I do for you?"

Dropping into a chair, Gibbs leaned forward. "Need a temporary agent assigned to my team."

Leon chewed on his toothpick. "Seems to me I've heard those words before."

Gibbs nodded. "Same reason."

Vance sighed. "You don't like probies."

"Got a suggestion," Gibbs offered. "Agent Collins."

The director raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. I have heard that he and Agent Mason don't get along so well. Maybe we can offer him some sort of perk." Leon shuffled papers on his desk and found when he was looking for. "I have both a senior field agent and a team leader spot opening up in the next six to nine months. Matt can have whichever one Tony doesn't want."

Gibbs didn't see Tony leaving the team anytime soon and even though his own retirement was still years away, he assumed Tony would take over as team leader of the MCRT once he was gone. But Vance didn't need to know all that. "Fine with me."

"Good," Leon nodded. "I'll talk to Agent Collins later today and take care of the transfer paperwork, if he's happy with that."

Gibbs stood. "Thanks," he said, and left, but that was still more than Vance usually got and the man chuckled.

"Agent Gibbs, grandchildren are making you soft."

NCIS

Gibbs got home from work that night and Celeste met him at the door as she had every night for the last three years, with a hug and a kiss and an expression on her face that made him so glad they'd finally gotten their second chance. She pulled back and raised an eyebrow. "Are you smiling?"

He framed her face with his hands and leaned in again, coaxing her lips apart. Celeste's hands caressed his back slowly and she was smiling when he let her breathe again. "Mmhmm."

She chuckled, the light in her eyes something he loved to be the cause of. "What's the occasion?"

"We're getting a grandbaby."

Celeste's eyebrow drew together. "Jethro, I know that. You-" She stopped and stared as a thought occurred to her. "Tony and Ziva?" she whispered unbelievingly.

"Yup. Those two always were against the odds."

Celeste was still trying to take it all in. "She's pregnant?"

"At least three months as close as she can guess."

Tears gathered in her eyes and she tried to blink them back but a few escaped. His thumbs tenderly brushed them away. "I knew they deserved a miracle," she spoke the words softly, then threw her arms around his neck again. "I'm so happy for them."

Gibbs cradled her against his chest and kissed her neck. "Me too Les, me too."

NCIS

The following Monday afternoon Tony and Ziva sat in an exam room waiting for the doctor. Mandy came in and smiled. "I never thought we'd be doing this again."

"Us either," Tony agreed. "But I'll take it."

"Ziva, you know the drill for an ultrasound. I'm assuming Tony doesn't have to leave the room this time?"

She chuckled and squeezed her husband's fingers before unbuttoning her pants and laying down on the table, rolling her shirt up to under her bra. "No, I do not think that will be necessary."

As soon as he wouldn't be in the way, Tony scooted as close as possible and Ziva smiled, holding out her hand for him to grasp. Mandy squeezed some gel out of a tube and slid the transducer slowly over Ziva's flat abdomen, watching a grainy picture appear on the screen. She told them where to find each body part and then started doing measurements and making notes so she could find out how far along Ziva was while the parents listened to the fast whooshing of their baby's heartbeat. Even though she'd heard that sound before, tears still escaped from Ziva's eyes as she thought about the miracle this child was, and Tony leaned in to kiss them away.

"We're gonna have a baby Zi," he murmured, and she laughed, placing her palm on his cheek.

"I love you Tony, I am so glad to be sharing this with you."

Their lips met and it took Mandy's, "Ahem," to break them apart. The doctor smiled and printed a picture before shutting everything off and giving her patient a cloth to wipe the gel from her stomach. "Okay," she began, "you're roughly twelve weeks pregnant Ziva and it looks like I can set a tentative due date of October eighteenth, which means you probably conceived around the middle of January." Ziva's eyebrows rose in interest and she looked at her husband. Mandy chuckled. "I'm not going to ask." She scribbled something on her pad and handed the prescription to Ziva. "Pre-natal vitamins. At least we can get them into you a little earlier this time. Any questions?" The couple shook their heads and she stood. "Okay then. I'll see you in a month."

Tony and Ziva made their way out of the office slowly, fingers linked. Ziva leaned into him and Tony kissed her hair. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

She smiled and met his eyes. "Paris?"

"Timeline fits. Bet Gibbs didn't know he'd be getting a grandkid out of that trip."

Ziva elbowed him. "I do not want to think about Gibbs and that in the same sentence."

Tony made a face. "Good point. So are we going to tell Chaya?"

Ziva shook her head. "Six months is a lifetime when you are three. Let us wait until I am showing and you can feel the baby before we try to explain pregnant to our three year old."

"Or until she gets curious like her dad and says something entirely tactless when she notices the change."

Ziva rolled her eyes. "Chaya is three, not six, I do not think she will see a difference for awhile. Remember that I was over five months with her before anyone could tell."

"And then only if you wore something form fitting. With a sweatshirt on I could still barely tell at seven months."

He was flattering her, seven months had been entirely noticeable, but she let him. "Then I think we have nothing to worry about," Ziva finished. "Come, Gibbs expects us at work."

"And I'm stuck with Junior again," Tony groaned.

Her brow furrowed. "Did you change his name?"

Tony shrugged. "I figured that after three years he's graduated from Assistant Probie. Matt's not so bad, but it's you I want as my partner."

Ziva stood in front of him with her hands on his face. "And you shall have me, in every way except in the field."

He smirked. "Is that an offer Mrs. DiNozzo?"

She pushed him away and got in the car. "Keep it up," Ziva warned and Tony clamped his lips closed to keep the dirty joke in. He did not want to have his intimacy privileges revoked. Going around to his side, Tony settled in and took Ziva's hand, kissing the back.

"I love you."

Her lips curved into a smile. "That does fix many things." Ziva touched her lips to the corner of his mouth. "I love you too." In that moment Ziva knew she would never get tired of their new normal.

And now...replies:

E (Ch 94) - Well, I'm so glad you found the story, I'm glad it was a highlight for you. Wow, that's really sweet, I'm glad you think so highly of SMH, that means a lot to me. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to write FF for, but I'll do my best with what is still in the works. I'm happy everyone seemed to like the ending, I wasn't sure if leaving them feeling hurt would give people a bad taste at the end, hence the warning. I'm so glad you decided to review for the last chapter, I'm always happy to meet new people. You're welcome, thank you for following! :)

Guest (Ch 94) - I'm glad to hear it. It did kind of feel like everything got wrapped up, I wanted to leave them in a place without too many loose ends. Tony is the sweetest thing! Chaya is very lucky to have a daddy like him. Oh, shoot! Y'know, no matter how many times I read over a chapter, it seems like I always miss something. I'm glad you mentioned that I used the wrong name, at least I can fix it in my hard copy. I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. Thank you so much! :)

Guest (Ch 94) - Your first review? Wow, I'm totally honoured! Aww...that's very sweet of you to say, thank you. Gosh, whenever someone re-reads I always feel like that's the hugest compliment. Mmm...good, since reflecting real life was one of my most important goals. I loved being able to add Grace to 'the family' at the end, originally that wasn't supposed to happen. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! :)

Sarah (Ch 94) - lol...because a couple of people mentioned it, I went and looked up word counts and played around with a calculator last night. If SMH was a book, it would be roughly 1000 pages! Isn't that crazy?! I was shocked when I saw the final word count. I can't believe it's over either, I really miss it. Glad you liked the ending, even if it was a little sad. haha, no, it's probably safe to say that even going on very little sleep, Abby does not run out of energy. I loved being able to add Grace in, I think she makes a lovely addition to the family. And I waited so long to get A&C to that point where Celeste was finally family, and even Matt and Tami made the cut. I'm glad too, that Ziva told Tony, even if she waited far longer than she should have to tell him. I'm not sure it would have been easy to tell at any point, but it's harder when she kept it from him for all that time. I'm glad you liked it, thanks. You're welcome, it was my privilege to get to write this story and share it with you guys. Well, I guess I'll see what people think when I start posting Never Again somewhere around October. I'll see what I can do with Snapshots, but I should add that it's mostly a T&Z focused selection of moments, altho the others do make the occasional appearance. Thanks for reading and reviewing Sarah, it's been great to have you along for the ride! :)

Aspenxo (Ch 94) - I'm really glad you enjoyed the story. It was so weird for me to post that final Chapter on Friday and mark the story as complete. Sometimes when I was writing it I wasn't sure we'd ever get here. Thanks again for reading and reviewing!

Elizabeth (Ch 94) - Really? Wow, thank you! That's very sweet of you to say. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I started it because I couldn't find a post-Somalia story that really got into Ziva's life and how that experience changed those around her. It's a tough subject, but I tried hard to do it justice. Thank you very much! :)

ADR1989 - I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Snapshots will give you a better look of how T&Z&C interact as a family, I'm excited to start posting that one. Thanks so much for reviewing! :)