Tony DiNozzo remembered the first time he met Ziva David it was burned in his brain. She walked in looking for Gibbs. She was young, beautiful and flirtatious. Tony was in a bad place his partner Caitlin Todd had just been killed. The suspect Ari Haswari was Ziva's half brother. That was ten years before and now the woman he hadn't seen for almost three years stood on his doorstep. Why was she here? Ziva stared at Tony not knowing what to say. The last time she had seen him she had sent him away. She was lost, broken and headed for a breakdown. Now here she was feeling not dissimilar.
"Tony I know this must be a shock and I am sorry to interrupt your evening but I must speak with you. If I may."
Tony felt a sense of disbelief. He wanted to slam the door in her face but he couldn't. Even after all this time his sense of loyalty seen him opening the door to let her in. Ziva stepped in to the immaculate apartment nothing had changed here. However a whole lot had changed on her side of the world.
"Would you like a drink?" Ziva nodded relieved that he was being civil. "Tea please if you have it." Tony never told her he had replaced the special brand she liked. Just in case.
She settled on his leather sofa scanning for signs of a woman. There were none.
"I've just broke up with someone if that's what you were wondering." Ziva flushed scarlet. Obviously her ninja skills had abandoned her.
"That is not my concern Tony. However I have news that may shock you and I suggest you sit down."
Tony felt rage boil thru him it was too much. "What the hell Ziva you show up after almost 3 years no word. No contact no nothing and try to order me around. Newsflash honey I'm not your sap anymore. You're lucky I didn't leave your ass on the street."
Ziva's cell rang. She answered in Hebrew but Tony understood quite a bit. Who was she talking to and who was ok?
"So Ziva who is Aviva? What is she to you?" He stood smirking feeling terribly proud of himself.
Ziva very carefully placed her cup down and stared at him. "Aviva, Tony is my daughter and yours."
Tony stared at her in disbelief and began to laugh. "Really Miss Dah-veed you almost had me there. Bravo." Ziva stood up tapped her IPhone and showed Tony a picture of an unbearably cute and beautiful toddler. She had dark, springy curls. Green eyes and most disarmingly the DiNozzo grin. Tony felt choked with rage and emotion. That beautiful little girl was his daughter. He was a DAD? Tears pricked his eyes.
"Why Ziva? She's beautiful she looks like me, like both of us. Why would you keep my child from me?"
Ziva felt tears blind her eyes. There had been reasons but now seeing Tony so devastated she couldn't justify them.
"Are you just going to sit there? Drop a mother of bombshells on me and say nothing? No explanation!"
"Tony it is a long and very complicated story. Aviva is with my aunt Nettie at the hotel. What would you like to know if you flip thru my cell there are lots of photographs. She is a beautiful, pleasant child. She has your nature. She was born June 3rd, she is 18 months old."
Tony stared at a photo of his daughter about six months old. She was seriously adorable. She had a teddy bear next to her that twice her size. He felt overcome. He had missed so much of her life.
"So Aviva, pretty name." Ziva smiled.
"Yes Aviva Elizabeth DiNozzo." Tony felt choked she carried his mother's name.
"Aviva is Hebrew for Spring and your mother's name of course. She is walking and speaking many words. She likes to sing." Tony swallowed at her radiant smile. Pure love lit up her face. Their child.
He had been saying recently he never thought he would have a family and he had a beautiful daughter who he hadn't known existed. He stared at Ziva she was as lovely as ever. Thinner, her hair longer.
"So when do I meet my daughter? I should of met her two years ago on the ultrasound but no her mother sent me packing and kept her existence a secret".
"Tony will you please sit down there is much to tell you. Since before my pregnancy our lives were at risk from Parsa and the last two years have been spent hiding from one thing or another."
Tony felt his mouth open and close rather like his goldfish Kate and Ziva.
"Parsa, Mishnev and now someone else. Tony our lives are in danger that is why I am here. Aviva and I need your help."
Tony felt his heart sink he sat down unsteadily. He had only just found out he had a daughter and now her life was in danger? Even though he hadn't even met her yet that beautiful little face a perfect combination of himself and Ziva had stolen his heart. Nothing would happen to her he would make certain or die trying. Tony had been feeling restless lately yearning wanting something he couldn't put his finger on. He had split from Zoe Keates after a year long relationship it hadn't felt right. His ex Jeanne Benoit had also recently reappeared connected to a case. She however had moved on and married. If having this beautiful child in his life was what he had been waiting for he was more than ready to embrace the change with open arms. Ziva looked at Tony watching the thoughts swirl. He had taken it better than she had hoped. Well so far.
"Ok mommy spill. Start from me leaving you on that goddamn tarmac." She swallowed maybe not.