Wow! Thankyou so much for the follows and the reviews. To the guests that said this is a copy of other fics I'm trying my hardest to make this different, so bare with me.

Night had now fallen. Gibbs hadn't left the still sleeping Zivas side, unwilling to leave his young charge for even a few seconds. The team had been supplying him with coffee via the nurses that were coming and going.

Abby was getting restless, ever since she learnt of the situation she'd been desperate to see Ziva, she was super excited - sure it sucked that her friend was now a toddler but nobody could deny that she'd had a rather crappy childhood. She had a chance to re-do it now though, with Gibbs acting as her father it was sure to be great. They both deserved this, which is why Abby was so positive. The waiting was getting on her nerves though, she wasn't allowed into the hospital room till Ziva had woken up. She was a little worried how the small child would react, after all she wouldn't know any of them. At least she'd understand what they were saying though, Ziva told her ages ago that her mother had insisted on both English and Hebrew as a first language, making her a very young bi-lingual speaker. Luckily for them.

"How are we going to explain this to her? Who we are and where she is?". Tonys voice held all of the uncertainty he was feeling about the situation. The most likely outcome when Ziva awoke would be a confused and screaming child wanting her parent's - which wasn't an option.

"We tell her that her parents were caught in an explosion and she's staying with us now." Vance had entered the corridor just in time to hear Tony, luckily he'd already thought everything out.

"She's two, she won't understand that!".

"Agent McGee, she is Eli David's daughter, she understood the dangers of her country before she could even walk. She's going to be smart for her age, if her old doctors notes are withstanding. And I know for a fact that she was told from the moment she was speaking of the possibility of being sent away if something happened to her parents. I highly doubt we'll have much of a problem."

The team were shocked at this information, so Ziva had been brought up knowing straight away about death? Maybe this was a good thing, she'd have a chance of a fun childhood with Gibbs, the chance to actually act like a child. Plus she's have all of them to play with her, take her places, spoil her and most importantly she'd have their unconditional love. Whilst Tony and Tim were processing the directors words Vance made to head into the room containing the now shrunk agent. Abbys sharp eyes noticed the bundle of papers in his hands as he past her, "Sir, what are those?". The shock of his answered reply left all three of them stunned. "Adoption papers". With that he headed through the door, closing it behind him.

As he entered the room his eyes were drawn to the little girl snuggled under the sheets. She'd rolled onto her side, drawn her knees up to her chest and had stuck her thumb in her mouth. He smiled at the sight, then averted his eyes to the man next to the bed. His eyes were closed, head leant back on the chair, yet he retained his grip on her other hand. Anchoring himself to the small girl.

"Leon." He should have known that he wouldn't be sleeping, not when he was in unfamiliar surroundings with so many people coming in and out. One glacial eye opened to squint at him, eyebrows raised questionably. Vance moved forward till he was beside his team leader, setting the papers down on the sleeping child's bed.

"You sure you want to do this Gibbs? It'll be a lifelong commitment raising her, you'll have to reorder your life for her. Are you willing to do that?"

At his question Gibbs sat up, his gaze unwavering, "Wouldn't have said it if I didn't want to do it, director."

"Well that's good enough for me". He picked his discarded papers up and handed them to Gibbs, pointing to four points on the page he ordered "sign here". He handed his pen to Gibbs, who took it and signed the relevant point without questioning just what he was giving his signature for.

"She's officially yours now Gibbs, congratulations", Leon pointed to the header of the page that stated: Adoption papers. A large smile overtook Gibbs face at the unexpected surge of pride and love he felt upon learning what had transpired. Leon then pulled another piece of paper from behind the other, it was a petition of name change.

"The relevant people have been made aware of what's happened, they've all signed contracts that prevent them speaking about it to anyone else. However saying that I'm thinking it'd be alot safer for Ziva if you suddenly turn up with a Gibbs rather than a David - it's your call".

Gibbs thought this through, obviously Ziva would be around ncis, people would know within the building who she was by her first name, but they could pass it off to outsiders that she'd been named after Ziva the agent. This would be more believable if her last name was different. With these thoughts in mind he filled out the forms, officially giving Ziva his last name. She was 100% his now. Jesus. He officially was a father, his eyes were drawn to the gorgeous little girl whose hand he held so tightly, Ziva was now his daughter. Officially family.

Vance lingered for a few minutes before disappearing with the forms, on his way out he asked Abby to go pick up some clothes for Ziva, in all likelihood she'd be released tomorrow. All they had that fit her was her current attire - an open backed hospital gown. Abby left in search of the perfect first outfit, leaving Tony and Tim to recline in the chairs and slip into a restless sleep.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A soft whimpering brought Gibbs back into the land of consciousness.

"Mummy, Aba".

The soft wail coming from Ziva broke his heart a little, he moved closer to her, bringing his hand up to stroke her hair.

"Shhhhhh sweetheart, your okay, your safe now".

He purposely used the word safe, Vance had already filled him in on the planned explanation as to why the young child was suddenly in the care of people that she couldn't remember ever knowing. Zivas scared brown eyes met his own, her face displaying every ounce of fear that she felt at finding herself in a strange room with a strange man.

"Mummy!"

She was slowly becoming hysterical, leaving a dismayed Gibbs floundering at how to handle this. He slowly sat down on the bed beside her, carefully pulling her struggling form against his side, softly stroking her hair.

"Oh sweetheart. I know your scared." Ziva, whilst still crying, raised her face to look up at his own, intently listening to this kind stranger. "Mummy and Aba were hurt badly. So bad that they can't come back. They wanted you to be safe so they sent you here, to America. I'm Gibbs, your going to live with me now princess". Ziva seemed to consider his words before leaning heavily against him, her small fists coming up against her face as she cried harder. They sat Like that for minutes, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed. His hand slowly rubbing her back, offering her comfort. Once she'd cried herself to the brink of exhaustion she looked up at him. He had a kind face, she thought. "Mummy and aba awre dead awrent they?"

His first thought was that her English was very good for a two year old, her pronunciations making him internally grin, however her words were saddening. The understanding that she seemed to possess shocked him, even though Vance had explained that she'd been raised knowing of the possibility of her parents been killed. As sad as this was it could work to make the transition into her 'new' life alot easier. He pulled her onto his lap and nodded his head. She heaved a huge sigh and snuggled into him, tears soaking into his shirt.

Words muffled against him, she asked, "what is yowre name?".

"Gibbs."

"Am I living wivth you fowrever?"

"Until your a grown up."

"hmmph, tats a long time."

Her declaration made him smile, glad that she was taking this so well, Vance had been right, she was a smart kid.

"It is huh".

"Mmmmm", she pushed away from him, bracing herself on her knees and looking straight into his eyes, her own were puffy from her tears.

"Doest tat mean your gonna be my daddy?, your not allowed to be aba doe!"

The absolute seriousness of her words caused him to laugh, she looked quizzically at him, waiting on his answer.

"I'm gonna look after you, if you ever want me as your daddy, I will be." He hoped his answer was what she wanted, he didn't want to upset her.

"A daddy, not aba?".

"Yep if you wanted I'd be daddy, not aba".

"Ise got a aba, but you could be ma new daddy ibbs". His heart surged with love for the tiny girl on his lap, overcome with emotion he pulled her into a tight embrace. Her tiny arms carefully returned the hug, head squished to his chest. She decided she liked her new daddy.

So guys, that's the second chapter, hoped that was okay. Remember to leave a review and let me know your opinions. Also one of the stories that inspired me : when Ziva regresses written by Fee4444 is still ongoing and is absolutely brilliant, so I suggest you check that out :) until next time xx