She loved to cook. The aromas of the kitchen had always reminded her of her mother. Long days spent cooking meals that would be devoured in minutes. Helping to cut the onions and other vegetables. Leaning family recipes that were handed down generation to generation. Singing along to her mother's humming melody.
She had always loved the way her mother would oh so gently need the dough. How she always seemed top smell of bread, and spices. She would always remember how her mother would kiss her fingers after a meal was prepared and cooked. Just like the cooks on the television shows they would watch together.
Standing in her own kitchen in Washington D.C. Ziva couldn't help remembering these things. She pulled out pats and pans, mixing bowls, and spoons, setting them on the counter near the stove. She took out all the ingredients; Self-raising flour, superfine sugar, cocoa, salt, melted butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla. And pulled a stool over to the counter.
"Tali." She called.
A little girl around five or six came bounding into the room. She had Dark brunette curls, green eye, and a golden Star of David necklace that matched Ziva's one. She ran over to the stool and climbed up. "What are we making?" she asked glee evident in her voice.
"Chocolate cake." Ziva said as she began to crack eggs, showing the little girl what to do. She helped Tali pour the right measurements of each ingredient into to the mixing bowl. When they were putting the flour in Tali though it would be funny to throw some in Ziva's hair which cause a flour war. After the two were completely covered in flour and laughing they decide it was time to continue. Ziva got out a mixer and placed her hands on top of Tali's hands as the mixed the ingredients together. Once that was completed Ziva began to pour the batter into a pan.
"No! I do it!" Tali shouted pulling Ziva's hands away from the bowl. Tali took the bowl and poured the batter into the pan getting a good portion of it on the counter, but enough into the pan that the cake would be a good size. Ziva place the cake in the oven and Tali stood in front the window trying to watch the magic of cooking happen.
"How long?" Tali asked looking up at Ziva.
"35 minutes, my sweet."
"That long!"
"Yes, while we wait why don't we clean up?"
"Okay!" Tali said as she jumped up onto the stool and began to move dirty dishes to the sink. Ziva started to wipe down the counters as she began to hum a melody.
"Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up!" Tali sang to her mother's melody. Giggling the two girls finished cleaning up the kitchen and Ziva began to clean off her self and Tali. Since they were still covered in flour.
"Honey, I'm home!" A male voice shouted from the door way.
"Aba!" Tali squealed as she ran to the door.
A loud thud was heard and an ompf as Tali jumped into her fathers arms.
Ziva chuckled as she remained in the kitchen and waited for the cake to be done.
As the man carried Tali back into the kitchen answering all of the little girls questions about his day the oven beeped signaling that the cake was done.
"Cake!" Tali shouted as she jumped out of her fathers arm and ran to her mother's side as she pulled the cake from the oven. She went to touch the cake when Ziva said, "Don't touch, Tali. It is too hot. You would burn yourself."
"What did you to make today?" Tony asked as he strolled into the kitchen and kissed his wife. Placing his hand on her stomach where a baby bump was present.
"Chocolate cake, Tony." Ziva replied smiling at her husband of eight years.
"Mmm!" Tony replied as Tali attached herself to his leg.
"Airplane, Daddy! Airplane!" She shouted as Tony walked into the living room with her attached to his leg.
Ziva watched as he picked her up and pretended to fly her around the room. It was one of her favorite things to do. Watch father and daughter bond. She didn't know how she ever got so lucky.