A/N: I apologize if the prologue was too confusing. It was just meant to be brief peek into the future and provide a bit of foreshadowing. The first regular chapter is set two months after the wedding and the story will continue from there. A long first chapter to help make up for the long delay...
Thursday afternoon, September 23, 2010…
Tim sighed in resignation as he heard Tony end a phone conversation. The senior agent had taken advantage of Gibbs's absence and called a realtor. With both Gibbs and Ziva away from their desks, Tim was a captive audience. The junior agent was certain Tony was about to share all the sordid details of the DiNozzos' prospective house hunt.
"So, Probie, I guess you heard that. I was talking to a realtor. Director Vance recommended her…"
At least I won't go into sugar shock listening to this, Tim thought silently as Tony arrogantly pontificated about the housing market and interest rates. Much to Tim's disgust, Tony did not cease the lecture after taking a bite of a King sized Hershey bar. Tim fleetingly thought of reminding his teammate it was bad form to talk with your mouth full but decided it would be a wasted effort.
Tim loved his teammates and he was glad they were happy together but the syrupy sweet love fest since their wedding in July had been difficult to endure. And marriage obviously hadn't brought any improvement to Tony's manners that might compensate Tim for tolerating the ongoing sappiness in the bullpen.
Tim longed for the days when Tony and Ziva were less open about their personal relationship. And while he would never wish for the couple to have true marital discord, the younger man sorely missed their bickering. Disregarding his nagging sense of guilt, Tim secretly hoped house hunting would cause some friction to disrupt their newlywed nirvana.
Surprisingly, when Ziva entered the bullpen a few minutes later, she greeted Tony in a manner reminiscent of the days prior to the couple finding marital bliss.
"Eat this," Ziva ordered placing an apple on Tony's desk and skillfully snatching his half eaten candy bar from his hand.
With stunned indignation, Tony glared at the fruit as if it were a poisonous snake coiled to strike.
"An apple? You're kidding me. Seriously? A green apple? What's up with that anyway? Did Mother Nature forget to finish it? I don't eat half done fruit. Return the chocolate, Ziva," Tony demanded reaching for the stolen candy.
"You need to eat more fruits and vegetables, Tony. Green apples contain more fiber than red apples," Ziva admonished holding the chocolate bar well out of Tony's reach.
"Alright, that's it! I have had it. You are way over the line now, Wifey. You started by making me eat all those grilled, steamed, broccoli filled dinners you cook. Now you wake me up at the butt crack of dawn every day to run. And do I get a big breakfast as a reward? Ohhh noooo, you force me to do the healthy smoothie and fiber cereal thing every morning. You've ordered lunch for me every day for the past two months and I don't even remember the last time I had a cheeseburger. It. Stops. Now."
Rolling her eyes, Ziva sighed impatiently as Tony's rant continued.
"I mean it, Ziva. I'm done with this. You hear me? I'm drawing the line at interfering with my snacks. If I want a candy bar in the middle of the afternoon…," Tony began indignantly before standing, defiantly growling, and taking a huge bite of the candy bar while it remained in Ziva's hand.
Ziva grimaced with disgust as drops of chocolate laced saliva dampened her fingers. She slammed the offensive bar down onto Tony's desk.
"Fine, Tony. Eat your candy. I was only trying to prevent you from having scrawny sperm," Ziva sighed with frustration as she grabbed the apple before returning to her own desk.
Ziva's use of the phrase "scrawny sperm" instantly riveted Tim's full attention to the bickering couple. It was beyond his wildest hopes. Oh, this is going to be so good, he thought trying to squelch a smile.
"What the hell? Oh, no, no, no. I promise you, there is zero chance of DiNozzo sperm being scrawny," Tony arrogantly assured his wife.
"Studies have shown that men who do not derive the majority of their antioxidants from fruits and vegetables have scrawnier sperm. I am simply trying to prepare us for a healthy pregnancy, Tony. But if you do not wish to have strong sperm…," Ziva spoke as if reasoning with a child.
"You've got nothing to worry about my little Fertility Nazi. My sperm are the super heroes of sperm. We're talking the mightiest of the mighty here. I'll have you pregnant the first month you're off birth control. Guaranteed," Tony confidently promised.
Tim could only marvel at Tony's sheer stupidity. Calling his Mossad trained wife of Jewish heritage a Nazi seemed suicidal. The young agent eagerly anticipated a meltdown followed by physical violence. Instead, Ziva's subtle attack on Tony's manhood proved to be equally entertaining for Tim.
"I do not know, Tony. We have had unprotected sex in the past and I did not get pregnant," Ziva taunted.
"We maybe had unprotected sex like one time when you were on antibiotics that may or may not have made your pills ineffective. There's no actual evidence to prove a connection. You should know. You researched it like an obsessed woman until your little monthly visitor arrived. Besides, we used a back up," Tony argued dismissing her assertion.
"Monthly visitor?" Ziva mouthed sarcastically to a wide eyed Tim while shaking her head in irritated disbelief before she turned back to Tony.
"I missed a pill as well. And our back up was not entirely reliable. We had unprotected sex for sixteen days. Perhaps if your sperm had been stronger, I might have become pregnant," Ziva disagreed.
"That missed pill was nothing. You doubled up on pills the next day. Getting you pregnant would have been like trying a prison break at Leavenworth. Trust me, Ziva, no scrawny sperm here. Just big, brawny guys waiting for their chance to bust their way in as soon as those little eggs of yours get out of jail," Tony assured her.
"You are impossible," Ziva groaned with frustration.
Tim involuntarily allowed a loud, contented sigh to escape bringing a halt to the couple's discussion. Like parched earth at the end of a long drought, Tim was soaking up their irritable bantering. The welcome return of friction between his teammates had far outweighed any embarrassment the topic of conversation might have normally caused him. Tony and Ziva both turned to their teammate with questioning expressions.
"You're bickering. The honeymoon is finally over. Thank God," Tim explained with a gleeful smile.
"Our private discussion is none of your business. You shouldn't even be listening to this adult conversation, Little Timmy. Now study those phone records, young man," Tony ordered Tim in a condescending tone.
"O-kay…so when you're talking to your realtor you want me to eavesdrop and be impressed but when you're talking about your scrawny sperm, then I'm supposed to ignore you?" Tim questioned sarcastically.
Tony glared at Tim's use of the word scrawny. Before Tony could assault the younger man with an equally insulting comeback, Ziva interrupted.
"You told him we are looking for a house?" Ziva asked Tony.
"You just told him we're planning to get pregnant," Tony pointed out.
"Is anybody gonna tell me where we are on this case?" Gibbs barked as he returned to his desk.
The team had been assigned what might have otherwise been an open and shut accidental drowning were it not for the decedent's distant relation to a Marine colonel. As a favor to the officer, Vance had asked Gibbs' team to review the civilian coroner's accidental death ruling. Twenty-five year old Christopher Medik had been out bar hopping with friends. Although no one could pinpoint the exact time, at some point the others had noticed Christopher was no longer with the group. A week later, the young man had been fished from the Chesapeake Bay.
The three agents rushed to update Gibbs. Tim was still reviewing Medik's phone records from the night of his disappearance. His phone activity had ceased shortly after midnight. This was consistent with the theory that the young man had gone into the bay soon after separating from his friends.
"Talked to everyone who was with him, Boss. Nobody remembers anyone following them or paying attention to Medik. Of course, most of them have alcohol induced amnesia," Tony told Gibbs.
"Abby found a print on Medik's watch that matches a woman who was not listed among the group that night," Ziva added saving the best information for last.
Upon hearing they might have a potential witness, Gibbs sent Ziva and Tony to interview the woman.
"Glad the bickering's back, McGee?" Gibbs asked grouchily questioning Tim's grin that still remained after Tony and Ziva left.
"Oh, yea, Boss," Tim sighed happily until he realized Gibbs was scowling.
"Um, you know, because, uh, all that sunshine and light was distracting and all. Made it harder to work but I'll have no problem doing that now. I'll just get right back on these phone records…," Tim stuttered before focusing his full attention on his computer.
Saturday morning, September 25, 2010…
Keeping his eyes focused on the road ahead, Tony reached across the console of his Mustang with his right hand and gently squeezed his wife's left knee. Without any conscious thought, his fingers automatically began to drift across her smooth caramel skin and tease the hem of her skirt.
"Tony," Ziva growled with feigned sternness.
Tony turned briefly to grin at Ziva and confirm the amusement he heard in her voice. His breath caught for a moment as he was stunned once again by her beauty. She'd cut a few inches off of her hair after their wedding but it was still long enough to swirl softly past her shoulders. The fall morning had dawned with summer like warmth and Ziva wore a casual, short-sleeved dress and sandals. It was an outfit that revealed far too much skin to ever be worn on the job and she reserved it solely for weekends.
"It will be a long day if you begin this early," Ziva warned her voice more serious.
Tony's arrogant smirk triggered an eye roll from his wife. Sometimes Ziva wished her husband had not learned her body and her heart so well. He knew his affection and attentiveness during the day would lead her to aggressive love making tonight. If she were inclined to be fair, and at the moment she was not, Ziva would have admitted she was wearing the dress to provide Tony with just such an opportunity.
Ziva reached for Tony's hand and clasped it tightly in her own unconsciously sighing with contentment and a hint of edgy excitement. Glancing her way once again, Tony smiled with patient indulgence.
"Almost there," he told her referring to the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet their real estate agent for the first time.
Without waiting for a response, Tony continued, "Can't believe I finally got you to take the plunge. You just wait. You're not going to believe what we can get in this market. It's the perfect time to be a first time home buyer. We'll qualify for an FHA loan and…"
Ziva tuned her husband out as he began yet another lecture on the housing market. Instead her mind drifted to the internet searches she had secretly done over the past couple of weeks. Floor plans and decorating ideas swirled in her head and her excitement grew along with the strength of her grip on Tony's hand. His whimper brought her back to reality.
"Sorry," she mumbled loosening her hold but Tony's answering grin reassured her she hadn't really hurt him and he not only understood but shared her eager anticipation for their house hunt to officially begin.
"Gibbs would give us both head slaps, yes?" Ziva imagined acknowledging that they were both ridiculously antsy.
"Settle down, DiNozzos," Tony responded in his best imitation of Gibbs's growl causing Ziva to smile.
It was a smile Tony had seen frequently since their wedding day two months ago. Although Tony and Ziva would never acknowledge it, Tim's depiction of them as sappy honeymooners had not been unfounded.
The couple had perhaps faced less adjustment than most newlyweds. Their years as partners and friends combined with their ordeal just a year ago had forced them to a level of intimacy most only achieved after months or years of marriage. Some never reached it. Without the usual friction that often accompanies the initial blending of two separate lives, Tony and Ziva had spent their first weeks as a married couple in a state of wedded bliss.
The joy in Ziva's eyes on the couple's wedding day had only faded on a few rare occasions over the past two months. Those difficult moments were usually the result of her acknowledging and processing more residual emotions from the past. The recent anniversary of her rescue from a terrorist training camp in Somalia had triggered a dark episode. It had grieved Tony to learn Ziva had spent her first days of freedom huddled terrified and alone in her room at the Navy lodge as she struggled to come to grips with her survival. They had faced the pain from it together, though, and their relationship had grown stronger along with Tony's confidence as a husband. He was secretly proud of his ability to chase the pain from his wife's eyes.
"Let's go find your dream house, Mrs. DiNozzo," Tony teased as he shifted the Mustang into park.
When the couple entered the coffee shop, they almost overlooked the woman they intended to meet. Nothing about Molly Kathryn McKenna resembled a real estate agent. Rather than a suit or conservative dress, she wore a full length, brightly patterned skirt paired with a salmon colored pheasant blouse that was cinched at the waist. Her belt was made from brown leather and decoratively adorned with bisque trim in artistic shapes and patterns and it perfectly matched her cowboy boots. Her fingers and boots both appeared to be permanently stained with oil paint and her long, thick, light chestnut hair was held back with a paisley scarf rolled into a headband. Her wrists and neck were adorned with jewelry made from hand painted wooden beads and Ziva noted that she wore no watch.
Molly, as she immediately asked them to call her, was a self described artist who sold houses only to support herself and her teenage son. Despite her hand made clothing and jewelry, she did not project the image of a stereotypical hippie or nature lover. Her vibrant personality and musical voice caused Ziva to feel the woman was more suited to being a character in a children's television show than a real estate agent in Washington D.C.
"I just love first time home buyers. You must be so excited. Let's sit for a few minutes and tell me more about…well, you!" Molly gushed.
Three hours later, Ziva's eager anticipation for house hunting had been eclipsed by the reality of what the couple could afford. She stared in horror at the dining room before her and then sighed with deep frustration. Large, bold, navy blue and maroon flowers with dark forest green stems and leaves covered every inch of available wall space. The wallpaper atrocity was exacerbated by elaborate and ornate window treatments created from matching fabric. Even the seat cushions on the chairs and the placemats on the table boasted the same jewel toned floral pattern and the carpet matched the deep green of the flower stems.
"This is hideous," Ziva complained under her breath with her arms tightly crossed across her chest.
"It is a bit over done…and dated," Molly agreed with a sardonic grin having overheard the comment.
Ziva's glare merely deepened. She was becoming aggravated with viewing houses and rapidly losing confidence in Molly. Ziva had trouble believing that Director Vance had liked this woman much less recommended her to Tony. It must be an accident that the Vances found a tasteful home with this woman helping them, Ziva thought.
"If it had hardwood floors and a neutral wall color, what would you like about it? Is it the size you were hoping for? You said you like to cook and want to entertain. This table seats twelve. Do you need this much space or would something smaller work? What about the butler's pantry? Cool? Don't care?" Molly fired off questions rapidly and cheerfully.
Tony could see Ziva's emotional temperature rising and quickly intervened by feigning a stabbing pain in his eye from the wallpaper. It won him a small smile but Ziva clearly remained frustrated.
"Okay, so ignoring the nineties décor gone wrong, a big dining area is a must have right? For all those future family holiday dinners you're planning? That butler pantry thing is pretty cool. I can see you, apron on, pushing a little cart through there like an airline stew…hey!" Tony grinned sheepishly as he dodged Ziva's half-hearted punch to his stomach.
Molly smiled at the couples antics and waited patiently as Ziva thoughtfully looked around the room.
"The space is nice but we do not need a room this large if there is a second eating area in the kitchen. I do not care about the pantry," she revealed without enthusiasm.
"All this food talk is making me hungry. Let's take a lunch break," Tony suggested but the two women ignored him.
"I'm sensing that by entertaining you meant casual gatherings. Is having a separate dining room really what you need or would you prefer a large, open family area with room for a table at one end?" Molly wondered thinking aloud.
"Room for the big screen is top priority. And I need lunch. Feeling a little weak here. Seriously, if I pass out, maybe you could just pour a little juice…," Tony repeated pretending to be faint with hunger.
"A media room is high on your list. Got it," Molly interrupted teasingly showing Tony her notes.
Tony pretended to study the clip board Molly carried but the realtor's point was not lost on him. She had copious notes about his likes and dislikes and little written under Ziva's name.
"Lunch," Tony repeated more emphatically making a point of his own.
An hour later, the three sat at an outdoor café. As Tony had hoped, the break had provided a distraction and a chance to learn more about Molly. Through the course of the conversation, the woman had at least managed to earn Ziva's respect.
Tony and Ziva learned that Molly was a single parent to an eighteen year old son who was a senior in high school. She had raised her child alone after her husband had deserted them for a less restrictive lifestyle with a much younger woman. Selling real estate and illustrating children's books covered Molly's living expenses and her son's tuition at a private fine arts school but her true passion was painting. The rugged coastal areas of New England, and especially weathered lighthouses, were among her favorite subjects.
Molly had asked Tony for a list of the couple's basic requirements for a house earlier in the week. She knew they planned for this to be the only home they ever purchased and they needed a flexible floor plan that could grow and change along with their life. Her goal today had been to show them a variety of homes in their price range so she could begin to understand their tastes and preferences.
Once Tony and Ziva had finished their interrogation of Molly, she skillfully turned the tables determined to learn more about the couple's lifestyle and needs. The lunch ended the same as the morning had. Tony did most of the talking and Molly felt as if she knew very little about Ziva's desires other than her obvious preference for sleeker, more modern decor.
Later that same evening…
"No! Miiiinnnne!" four year old Gracie Cooper screamed at her almost six year old brother.
"Ow! Gracie pinched me!" Aidan protested hoping to draw one of his parents into the living room to intervene.
"One needs a spanking an' one needs a hugging an' one's on the way," probationary NCIS agent James Cooper sang to his wife, Ashlynn.
Tony and Ziva had just finished an early pizza dinner with the young family and the four adults sat at the Coopers' kitchen table talking while the children played in the living room.
Seeing Ziva's expression of bewildered horror, Ashlynn quickly explained James's song, "More of his old style country music in case you couldn't tell by that horrible twang. Loretta Lynn, I think."
James, who had been raised near Waco, Texas by his grandmother, had inherited a well-known fondness for vintage country and western music. Despite his inability to carry a tune, he often sang the songs from his childhood aloud.
"Sissy Spacek won Best Actress in 1981 for portraying Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter. Loretta Lynn was actually in the audience that night," Tony supplied as if that would somehow make it more meaningful to Ziva.
The conversation was once again interrupted as the screaming in the living room escalated and it became apparent the fight was becoming more physical.
"It's your turn, Mommy. I broke it up last time," James told his wife.
Ashlynn rose quickly. She started for the living room but then turned suddenly and bolted down the hall.
"Oh, nice move, Lynnie. Way to use morning sickness to get out of referee duty," James called teasingly as he moved rapidly to the living room.
"Reality check?" Tony teased Ziva as she stared down the hallway where Ashlynn had disappeared.
"Eat as much pizza as you wish, Tony. You will not need strong sperm for some time," Ziva deadpanned.
Shortly after coordinating the DiNozzos' wedding, Ashlynn had learned she was pregnant with the Coopers' third child. Tony and Ziva had been witness to their friend's morning sickness and uncharacteristic moments of irrationality and moodiness several times since then.
Ashlynn sighed as she returned to the kitchen a few moments later, "I knew pizza was a risk but it smelled soooo good I just couldn't resist. The same thing happened with spaghetti a couple of days ago. I'm two for two on anything tomato based making a return appearance. It was the same way when I was pregnant with Aidan but not so much with Gracie. Maybe that means it's another boy."
After pouring a ginger ale and grabbing some crackers, Ashlynn returned to the table.
"If I can't trust you to not to hurt each other then you'll just have to stay where I can watch you," James said nonchalantly as he escorted two sad faced children to the kitchen.
"Daddy, am I in time out?" Aidan asked contritely.
"No but you have lost your privilege of playing in the living room without an adult," James conceded as Aidan smiled triumphantly.
"May you please let me sit with you?" the little boy asked Ziva hopefully.
Certain of his welcome, Aidan edged his way onto Ziva's lap without waiting for an answer. Ziva was thrilled. With a joyful look, she snuggled the little boy close.
"Got any apples?" Tony asked Ashlynn as Ziva shook her head indicating she would explain later when the children weren't present.
As Ziva held Aidan, it did not escape Tony's notice that her smile was genuine again for the first time since meeting their realtor earlier that morning. He felt a twinge of guilt but not enough to erase his frustration with his wife's stubbornness. From his perspective, her expectations and requirements for a house were completely unreasonable and totally inconsistent with their plans for the future.
"So how was house hunting?" Ashlynn queried innocently.
"Oh, it went great. We accomplished a lot. We found out Ziva hates harvest gold counter tops and floral wallpaper," Tony joked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Replacing counter tops was one of the easier projects we've done but taking down wallpaper is a bear. I don't care how easy it is to peel when you start, there's always that one piece that refuses to come off," James responded.
"I say if you can't get it off in the first ten tries, then it's never coming off and just texture and paint over it but Mr. It Must Be Done Right disagrees. That's why he peels and I paint," Ashlynn teased her loving tone taking any sting out of her words.
"We will be purchasing a new home or one that has already been updated," Ziva said firmly attempting to end the discussion.
"Yea, because we refuse to consider the possibilities. A little sweat equity will get us a lot more house for the money," Tony countered.
"We know nothing about home improvement, Tony," Ziva bit back irritably.
It was clearly a discussion Tony and Ziva had begun earlier. Ashlynn smiled in amusement.
"Oops! I think I stirred up a hornet's nest," she joked with her best Texas accent.
Tony ignored her and continued passionately, "It's called using your resources, Ziva. Hello! We have friends who are expert do it yourselfers."
"Yes, friends who are expecting a baby and do not need to spend their time…," Ziva began having forgotten everyone but Tony.
"I'm not just talking about James and Ashlynn. Abby builds houses with Habitat. And don't forget our fearless leader is the king of wood working," Tony smirked triumphantly.
"You expect Gibbs to help us renovate a house? You are being completely unrealistic…," Ziva began raising her voice.
"Yea, well, at least I have a little imagination," Tony countered matching her tone and volume.
"Be kind or you going to time out," Gracie interrupted with hands on her hips and her expression stern.
"Yes, ma'am," Tony teased as he reached for the little girl and began to tickle her.
"Game time," James announced hoping to derail the argument.
The kids bolted for the living room knowing they would be allowed to return now that Tony and James would be in there as well.
"So does Eli still think the Yanks can pull it off?" James asked Tony as the two men followed the younger Coopers.
Tony and Ziva's father, Eli David, maintained an ongoing dialogue about baseball. When James's favorite team, the Texas Rangers, began showing signs of possibly clenching their division title, Tony had brought James into the discussion via texts and emails. The three men had a good natured disagreement over the New York Yankees' chances of making it to the World Series.
"Why don't we just call the old ba…baseball fan and ask," Tony smirked sarcastically.
Tony caught himself just in time as he realized the kids might overhear his favorite nickname for his father-in-law. It was not a word their mother considered G-rated.
"It is the middle of the night in Tel Aviv, Tony," Ziva called after him irritably.
"Yea, I always forget to adjust for that pesky time difference. I wake Pops up every time I call, darn it. It annoys the heck out of him," Tony bragged sarcastically once again altering his vocabulary to be child friendly.
"I believe he actually enjoys talking to him," Ziva lamented to Ashlynn after lowering her voice so the men would not hear her.
"I don't know about Tony but James can talk sports with his worst enemy. It must be a guy thing. Does it bother you?" Ashlynn wondered.
"Tony believes his Eli management plan is working," Ziva shrugged referring to an agreement Tony had made with her father after their wedding.
Tony had proposed that Eli follow a set of rules regarding how he treated the couple and especially Ziva. In exchange, Tony pretended to support Eli in his efforts to restore his estranged and difficult relationship with his daughter. In truth, neither Tony nor Ziva trusted Eli and Ziva had not truly forgiven her father for sending her on the mission that led to her imprisonment in Somalia. The agreement allowed Tony to carry the burden of communicating with Eli and limited Ziva to dealing with her father only when and if she chose to do so.
"What do you believe?" Ashlynn persisted.
"Eli is complying with Tony's rules. It is his reasons for doing so that concern me. I will never trust his motives," Ziva replied stoically as if she were reporting the facts of a case.
With the guys now distracted by the baseball game, Ashlynn asked softly, "So did today totally suck?"
It was at that point that Ziva's wall of irritation finally fell and her expression became one of dejected misery.
"We argued all day. I expected it to be fun and it was not. Our realtor was unconcerned. She showed us several houses so she could begin to understand our preferences. We have very different ideas about what we want," Ziva admitted.
"What did Tony think about it?"
"He got to spend the day talking about what he likes with an attentive and doting audience. He loved it and Molly, the realtor, thinks he is cute," Ziva groused.
When Ashlynn's eyes narrowed, Ziva quickly added, "She is motherly."
"Ah. Speaking of motherly, have you talked to Lucy yet about moving in with you?" Ashlynn asked referring to the couple's older neighbor who had become a surrogate parent to them.
"No. Tony has a foolproof plan," Ziva explained sarcastically with an eye roll before adding, "Lucy's lease is finished at the end of November just as ours is. We have said nothing but she is free to move when we do."
Lucy was another point of contention between the couple. Both agreed they wanted Lucy to share a house with them. Ziva wanted to talk with the woman immediately but Tony had different ideas about how to convince the extremely independent senior to give up her apartment and live with them instead.
"You know, I was just joking earlier. James and I really had fun redecorating this place. We got to make it our own," Ashlynn shared but Ziva looked unconvinced.
"You really hate the idea, huh?" Ashlynn surmised when Ziva did not verbally respond.
"Hate is a strong word," Ziva replied with a small smile.
Ashlynn merely waited patiently for Ziva to elaborate.
"I am not certain we have the time or skill for renovation but Tony wants the most square footage possible in our price range," Ziva explained her frustration evident.
"Maybe you can compromise on something that just needs cosmetic changes. New paint can make a huge difference and that would be easy. The hard part for us was not buying this house until after we had kids. We would never have gotten anything done if it wasn't for our neighbor. She liked to borrow our kids for the day. You won't have that problem if you get all the work done before you get pregnant," Ashlynn said in an encouraging tone.
Ziva still appeared skeptical. Ashlynn studied her friend closely before carefully changing the line of questioning.
"Is it the first time you've disagreed about something major?" Ashlynn wondered her voice filled with sympathy but also a hint of amusement.
"We disagree often," Ziva countered defensively.
"About work stuff maybe but what about at home? Have you even argued once about anything real since the wedding? Seriously, you guys have been the sappiest, most ridiculously happy newlyweds I've ever seen. You've taken the honeymoon phase to an entirely new level. It's actually been almost annoying to be around you," Ashlynn asserted.
Ashlynn meant to tease but Ziva's expression immediately became emotionless. Ashlynn knew her friend well enough to realize that was an indicator Ziva was masking genuine hurt.
"Oh, crap, I'm sorry! Please just ignore me. Seriously, that was the pregnancy hormones talking. It's been great to see you so happy. Really. Nobody deserves that more than you. If you want to know the truth, I'm jealous. And grouchy. I can't keep anything down but that sure hasn't stopped me from outgrowing all my clothes. You know, you really might want to re-think the whole pregnancy thing. The first trimester sucks," Ashlynn complained.
Ziva was flooded with guilt as she studied Ashlynn closely. The young mother looked very tired and a bit sad. Her hair was in a sloppy ponytail and her face free of makeup. She was wearing yoga pants and an NCIS t-shirt that was many sizes too large for her. Ziva had been too caught up in her own frustrations to realize her friend was struggling.
"You are having a difficult time," Ziva observed stating the obvious.
"Poor James can't do anything without irritating the crap out of me. And my sweet little Aidan has become Mr. Kindergarten Attitude. I've put him in time out for smarting off more this week than I have his entire life up until now. He actually called me a stupid mommy and tried to hit me the other day. At least James put a stop to that. And Gracie's, well, she's Gracie. It's just me and her all day until we pick Aidan up from school so I'm sure you can imagine how that's going with me like this. I just want a nap. Or a beer. I don't know. I'm healthy and I have a beautiful family but some days I wish I could be back doing the newlywed thing again like you. Well, except for the part where my husband decided to join the Marine Corps and got shipped off to Afghanistan. See what I mean? Don't get pregnant, Ziva. Don't do this to yourself."
Ziva listened to Ashlynn's irrational rant with surprising patience and sympathy.
"You need a break, yes?" Ziva asked not expecting an answer.
Within five minutes, the two women were in Tony's car. Ziva had secured Tony's keys and a promise that the two men would pause the baseball game long enough to put the children to bed on time. Ashlynn didn't question what threat the former assassin had made to get that agreement from their husbands.
Three hours later Ashlynn grinned happily around a spoonful of frozen pistachio chocolate chip yogurt topped with multi-colored gummy worms. Ziva grimaced in mock disgust at her friend's selection while sipping her own mango smoothie. Apparently, the pair's first stop at Ziva's favorite Kosher deli had been the magic cure for Ashlynn's morning sickness. The young mother had initially been wary of the cup of the tea and bowl of carrot and orange soup Ziva had insisted the pregnant woman needed. Ashynn had bravely tried it, though, and had been so pleased with the results that she had purchased a case of the tea bags and convinced the deli owner to share the soup recipe.
After the deli, the two had gone shopping for maternity clothes. Ashlynn had been trying to hold out for colder weather hoping she could stretch her existing wardrobe through the milder fall. Since it was her third pregnancy, her baby bump had appeared much quicker than she had anticipated, though. With Ziva's encouraging influence, Ashlynn had decided to buy jeans or skirts and three quarters sleeve shirts that could be paired with boots and jackets or sweaters as the temperatures dropped.
"Thank you for this," Ashlynn said sighing contentedly as she sat her empty yogurt cup on the table.
"Shopping for maternity clothes was much more enjoyable than searching for a house," Ziva replied.
"It's only your first time to look. House hunting is a process. Is that really what's bumming you out? Just being frustrated about finding a house?" Ashlynn asked.
Ashlynn was one of the few friends Ziva truly trusted. The native Texan had grown up with an abusive father and she had openly shared the impact it had on her life and marriage with Ziva. Her willingness to be vulnerable and honest had led to a more intimate friendship than Ziva usually experienced. Lucy and Abby were the only other women who had attained that level of trust with Ziva. Ziva hesitated, afraid to voice the nagging doubts she held deep within.
"I thought Tony shared my dream for the future but our desires for a house are very different," Ziva admitted softly.
It became obvious that Ashlynn was attempting to mask a smile.
"What?" Ziva questioned irritably.
"You have been on a honeymoon for the past two months, haven't you? I guess I'm being too blunt if I say welcome to marriage, huh? Most of the friction you'll have for the next fifty years is going to be over different expectations. Are you doubting your decision to marry Tony?"
"Of course not," Ziva countered a little offended.
"I didn't think so. I'm not trying to make of light of how you feel…," Ashlynn began.
Ziva's expression softened along with her friend's tone as Ashlynn continued.
"Believe me, I've been there. I thought I'd marry James and we'd do the double-income-no-kids thing in a cute little rented condominium for a couple of years and then we'd buy a house and start a family. One boy and one girl exactly two years apart. Instead, James needed to be a Marine and go hunt Taliban after nine eleven. My cute condo turned into a series of itty, tiny base apartments that didn't even have dishwashers and all the relocating wreaked havoc on any chance I'd have a career. And then we decided I should get pregnant before he deployed to the Middle East the first time. I wanted his child in case he didn't come back. And Aidan was only five months old when James came home on leave and left me with a bonus baby we hadn't planned."
"And now you are having a third child," Ziva observed.
"Yea, and you want the honest to God truth? I'm not doing this for me. Not that I'm not happy about it but like James says, I'm great at having babies and lousy at being pregnant. Both my deliveries were easy but all forty weeks before stunk. I don't ever feel good. I just…I wanted James to have a chance at the whole experience, you know? He deserves it. He missed so much with Aidan and Gracie. I think he would've rather waited until after his deployment to start a family but I didn't want to be left alone so he agreed to it."
"You are making a sacrifice," Ziva surmised.
"Not really. More like a compromise. That's how it works if you make the relationship the priority and the circumstances just…I don't know…the circumstances. James is the love of my life and the best man I know. We're going to do this together no matter what life throws at us. That's how it works. You have that with Tony too. Don't let the small stuff get you off track. You guys will figure out a compromise because at the end of the day, you want the same thing really. You want a house you can make a home in."
Ziva was too lost in thought to respond. Perhaps Ashlynn was right. Ziva had not questioned the blissful happiness she had felt for the past two months but she was feeling its absence keenly now that reality had intruded. It made her wish she could relive the weeks since her wedding day and savor each joyful moment. It was eye opening to see it from her friends' perspective as well. It made Ziva wonder if perhaps she and Tony had lived in their own insulated world without realizing it.
Tony sighed with resignation when he entered the bedroom after brushing his teeth. Ziva sat in the middle of their bed wearing boring cotton pajamas. She had seemed less irritable after her outing with Ashlynn but he suspected tonight was going to end with conversation and not sex as he had hoped.
"Having a baby on board is doing a number on Ashlynn, huh? Wouldn't want to be James even with the pregnancy boobs," Tony joked facetiously as he joined Ziva.
Ziva's thoughtful expression transformed to an angry glare and Tony instantly realized his mistake.
"Hey, those were James's words, not mine. Not like I could've noticed anything with her practically swimming in that shirt anyway. Why was she dressed like that? Is she fat already? I thought it took awhile before…," Tony's voice faded as Ziva's glare hardened.
"When I become pregnant, it will be best if you do not talk," Ziva ordered.
"For the whole nine months?" Tony protested incredulously.
"Yes," Ziva told him emphatically although there was now a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"That's impossible, Princess. I can't go nine months without saying I love you," Tony replied magically sounding simultaneously sarcastic and charming.
"You could not endure nine minutes without talking," Ziva challenged unmoved by his flirtation.
"Hey, I've got plenty of endurance, thank you very much. Want me to prove it?" Tony smirked arrogantly.
"Perhaps later," Ziva replied softly her demeanor changing.
"Here's an idea," Tony suggested matching her more serious tone.
When Ziva looked at him expectantly, he added, "How about I prove I can shut up for nine minutes and you talk about whatever's really bothering you?"
Ziva hesitated for a moment knowing her words were likely to upset Tony.
"I think perhaps I am not yet ready to buy a house."
Tony tried to keep the impatience out of his voice but failed miserably.
"Okay, the first day of house hunting didn't go that well, I'll give you that, but that's no reason to call it quits. Just because we might have to do a little updating to get what we want…"
"I do not want to fight about this again. I do not want to fight at all," Ziva told him firmly.
"We are not fighting, Ziva. This is not fighting. We are discussing and debating," Tony clarified.
Seeing her skeptical look, Tony conceded, "Alright, let's face it, Probie is right about us. We're bickering. That's us. We bicker. It's what we do. I'm not seeing the big deal here."
"We bicker about chores and your diet, Tony. We do not bicker about our future," Ziva protested trying to sound irritated but revealing she was close to tears instead.
When she realized Tony was not fooled, Ziva groaned with self-loathing, "I am a girl."
"And I'm more than okay with that," Tony teased trying to lighten her mood a little.
The entire conversation was puzzling to Tony. Since when was Ziva worried about a little disagreeing? From the moment they had met, she had enjoyed contradicting and annoying him. Now she seemed almost afraid of it. This was completely out of character.
"Come on, what's really wrong here?" Tony asked trying to sound more patient.
"I do not know," Ziva sighed.
"You aren't pregnant, are you? PMSing?"
"Contemplating murder…," Ziva added to the list of possibilities in a hard voice.
"My bad. Shouldn't have gone there," Tony admitted sheepishly and waited patiently.
"I am happy. I have been happy in this apartment with you. I suppose I thought house hunting…I do not know what I thought but I did not expect that we would disagree so much. Do we want the same thing, Tony?" Ziva asked suddenly switching tactics and questioning him aggressively.
"I think so," Tony defended taken aback by her change in demeanor.
When she didn't respond, Tony added in a gentle voice, "We want a place we can call home for the next fifty years. A house with enough room for us and a couple of kids and for Lucy to have her own space. We want a big room for family stuff and having friends over. We want a yard so the kids can play and you can have that dog you want."
Ziva's expression softened as Tony reminded her of all the conversations they'd shared about their hopes and dreams.
"We're not disagreeing about our future, Ziva. We're just debating about the best way to get it. Listen, I've got an idea. If the process is stressing you out, why don't you just let me look at houses alone and weed out all the dogs? When I find something I think will work, then you can look at it. That'll be more fun for you, right?"
Seeing her skeptical look, he added, "Anything that needs more than just new paint, I'll cross off the list."
"You are trying to fix this. You cannot fix everything, my love," Ziva reminded him tenderly.
"Not everything but let me do this, okay? Deal?" Tony asked giving her his best puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, we will try your idea," Ziva agreed more susceptible to his pleading than she would ever consciously admit.
"You still don't look happy," Tony noted studying her with his best investigator face.
"I was not prepared for the honeymoon to be over," Ziva revealed.
"Wait a damn minute! Who said the honeymoon is over? The honeymoon is NOT over," Tony asserted as he lunged for her.
They landed flat on the bed in a heap of tangled limbs with their faces just mere inches apart.
"Don't say over when you talk about us. We might be moving to the next phase but nothing is over," Tony declared in a much more stern voice than he normally used.
With those words, he finally earned a genuine smile from his wife.
"I expect you to endure for at least twenty minutes," Ziva commanded as she reached for the waistband of his sleep pants.
"What's my record again? Five in one night?" Tony boasted proudly as his fingers began to trail teasingly along Ziva's inner thigh.
"Four," Ziva declared with a glare.
"It'll be five after tonight, Princess."