Disclaimer: I disclaim, but I sure would like to own that hot piece of man-candy, Damon Werth.

Thank you guys for convincing me that this was a story worth pursuing. I just wasn't too sure about it because amnesia's a fairly popular subject. Hell, even the show's done it (Hiatus) but I couldn't help but wonder so many things. Especially Tiva things. The good news is that I finished my other story, so I can devote all my attention to this one. The bad news is...um, like Ziva, I can't remember.

Sorry, bad joke and certainly in poor taste...

(Update: Yeah...I screwed up on my math. Just correcting it now. See, I IMDB'd Cote de Pablo and saw that she was born in 1979. For some reason, my head computed that as 40 instead of 30. Totally my bad, NYT-who doesn't have PM so I can't tell her myself-and I think Tony's eyes are green-blue, but I could be wrong...)

Chapter Two: In For A Wild Ride

(yes, this was inspired by a certain reviewer)

I smile, seeing Tony walk through with a hesitant expression on his face. He looks older, but much more handsome than I remember. It has been five months now.

No. It has been more now.

Ten years. I can barely register that fact. That means that I missed all of my thirties. I am forty now.

"Oh God, I am forty," I say aloud with a horrified look on my face and Tony laughs, despite himself. He looks so handsome when he laughs and I feel the warmth of his presence surge through my body like soda bubbles rising to the surface.

"No, you're thirty-nine. You won't be forty for awhile. It's only February," Tony explains, "Or have you forgotten your own birthday too?"

Tony is right. My birthday is later in the year, in August. I still feel like it is only seven more weeks to my birthday, before I turn thirty. I was so dreading turning thirty and now I am nearly forty? I fear to look in a mirror now.

"Oh, well then at least I will be able to remember a few months of my twenties." I manage to joke, though it is a terrible one. He smiles anyway, sitting down.

"Thirties, Z." He corrects, smiling, "And the more you age, the prettier you are anyway."

I laugh despite the cheesiness of his comment. Then I pause, realizing what-or rather, who-is missing from this picture.

"Where are McGee and Gibbs and Abby?" I ask, frowning, "And Ducky and Jimmy?"

Tony nods, "McGee and Abby are both at home, but they're coming by later. They were pretty worried about you, Zee. Gibbs is currently midair in an airplane flying from Baja to here. Jimmy's at NCIS, but he sent flowers and he's worried, of course."

"Ducky is with him?" I ask when Tony falls silent

"Ducky…Ducky had a heart attack about two years ago. We all took it pretty hard." Tony explained lightly, "Gibbs retired a while after that and I became team leader."

I nod dully, trying not to dwell on it. That is the only way I can deal with grief now, "Ducky is dead. Is anyone else dead?"

Tony pauses, glancing at me, "You remember Jenny?"

I nod, her pristine blue eyes staring up at me from the pool of blood, "And Michael." I stare at Tony, "I forgive you for that, Tony. I had time to think about it…"

I think back on these lonely nights in my apartment in Israel. It wasn't Michael's company I wanted, but Tony's. He was the best at making me feel happy and full of laughter. I missed that terribly and after time, I could even see why he killed Michael. But that didn't mean that I approved. But after a while, I just missed him.

Many times I thought about calling him only to hang up. It was a relief to get that mission from my father, even if it turned into a suicide mission.

"Many times, I thought about you and I was-I thought-" I hesitate, knitting my brows, "I don't remember too much about Africa, only that I wished I might be able to see you again to say that I forgive you for Michael."

Tony smiles warmly at me, "Thank you, Ziva." He squeezes my hand lightly and I feel a bloom of warmth everywhere. I have never felt it before, but my body greets it like an old friend.

"Saleem…" I hesitate, "Saleem isn't?" I put a hand over my stomach, where there is no bump, but a faint scar that I have no memory of receiving.

Tony shook his head, "Gibbs killed Saleem ten years ago when we came in to rescue you. And this-"

He rests his hand over mind and the same tingles of warmth shoot all over me again, yet I feel almost used to it, as it if it only my body responding to him as it has done time and time again.

Times I do not remember.

"-Is ours." He says with no trace of irony in his voice. His voice is impossibly deep and my heart is racing as I nod.

I'm having Tony's baby.

I'm having Tony's baby.

He sits down and I stare at him, looking at all the lines I don't remember. But it is Tony. The curve of his mouth, the dimples, the blue eyes, the faint dimples, these are all Tony DiNozzo. The only thing out of character is the limp hair which looks like it hasn't been assaulted by products or even shampoo for a few days. And he smells like stale coffee, alcohol, and cologne, the last done to cover the fact that he hasn't showered in a while.

"How long have I been out?" I ask

"Three days," Tony says softly, twisting his wedding ring. I do not have one on my hand. Everything suddenly goes blank in that micro-second before I am able to refocus myself, allow myself to understand that Tony is married to another woman.

She probably isn't as pretty as I am.

"Are you married?" I ask, my voice half an octave higher. He notices and chuckles.

"No. Not anymore. Got a divorce and this is just…force of habit." He doesn't take it off and I wonder who he was married to. I wonder why they divorced.

For a fleeting second, I think of the only girl Tony's claimed to love, Jeanne. But that's ridiculous.

"Who?" I demand and he chuckles, staring at me

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Pulling out his wallet, he takes a picture from it and hands it over to me. "This was taken a few years ago." He mutters, leaning back into his seat.

I take the picture from him and have a jolt of surprise. It is me with Tony. My arms are wrapped around his neck as we laughingly smile at the camera. Tony's blue eyes are looking at mine, a big smile on his face. I almost cannot believe it. But yet, it is there before me, like truth.

And our rings are prominent. Mine glints on one hand and I stare at my face, surprised to see such a broad grin on me. I don't smile in pictures. At least I haven't in a long time. Michael could never coax a genuine one out of me, though I tried to explain that I simply can't smile in pictures, only pose and pretend as if I am.

And now I am smiling as if I have no cares in the world. A real smile.

I stare at Tony, amazed, "I married you and then we divorced?"

Tony nodded, bringing his hands together and flipping his thumbs up and down, "We've been divorced for about fourteen months now."

"Why?" I demand

Tony took a deep breath, "We…we just grew apart."

I nod, able to accept that. Tony and I would not be able to get along indefinitely. I don't think.

We argue too much.

"When did we get married?" I question further, trying to fit this in my mind.

"Eight years ago. The divorce papers were finalized fourteen months ago. This baby was conceived when we were drunkenly celebrating our divorce anniversary."

I nod again, "I'm going to be a mother in seven months." I process this statement slowly, still unused to the idea.

After all, it took me six months to wrap my head around the idea that I was almost forty and unmarried. My mother certainly didn't help in that respect. But now I was forty-nine with an illegitimate baby and divorced from a lapsed Catholic. I wonder if I still talk to my mother.

Tony nods, "Yeah. Again."

I stare at him, confused. What does he mean by again?

He sighs, knowing that I am confused. His eyes are glassy, as if he is not quite disappointed, but something I cannot identify.

"We have three kids together," Before I can process this, he continues in a rush: "David Timothy DiNozzo was conceived the day that Ohio State won the Rose Bowl. Sophia Jenny DiNozzo came along two years later and you told me that two was enough. But I surprised you with a vacation to Paris and we had Donald Tal DiNozzo. David's six, Sophie is four and Tal is twenty-eight months old. We separated when Tal was two months old and you gave me papers when he was just starting to teeth."

Tony pauses, as if withholding something, but I cannot even demand to know the rest of the information. It is too unreal.

I shake my head, not able to believe any of this.

"You are jerking my chain, Tony. I cannot be a mother. I would not forget my children." I say firmly and my heart is racing. Tony notices it and he leans over, his hand squeezing mine,

"Hey, hey, don't worry." He smiles at me warmly and I soften, "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. They're happy that you're alive and I'll help you. I'll help you remember."

I stare at the card next to the purple irises. That must be my child's card to me. Tony follows my glance and smiles,

"That's Sophie's handiwork. She loves to color." He explains unnecessarily, "Especially with her mother."

I can understand the wording now. It is alef-mem-alef: Imma. She has addressed it to her mother.

I take a shaky breath, comforted by him, despite his unattractive smell of not having showered for a week.

"Get some sleep." He whispers and I nod, my eyes closing as if he was a genie.

I feel him give me a scratchy kiss on my forehead before he leaves.

Jeanne wrote out the paperwork and glanced at her watch. Tony was supposed to call her soon.

Huffing a sigh, she took the next folder, thinking about how annoying it was that Ziva had to come between her and Tony. Tony was so confused now, when it was clear that Jeanne was the only one for him. Ziva was a pretty girl and all, but not right for a man like Tony DiNozzo.

And yet, Tony was standing vigil by her bedside as if she was.

Jeanne convinced herself that it was just their connection to each other-their children. Otherwise, Tony would be able to be with Jeanne without feeling so conflicted. As it was, he insisted that they stay just friends. He wasn't ready for a real relationship. Not so soon after the divorce.

And he hadn't slept with a woman for almost two years. Not since the day Jeanne anonymously mailed pictures of her and Tony to Ziva. It'd been a smart move on her part, especially since she had the photos lying around her house from her father's 'spies'.

Ziva would move on from Tony. In fact, she had, judging from the handsome man Tony complained about excessively. Except in front of their children, as per Ziva's request. Tony did anything Ziva asked, even if he pretended he wasn't. It irritated Jeanne.

As for Jeanne, she'd tried to move on, but couldn't. All the men didn't add up to Tony DiNardo.

And after a few years, it didn't seem to matter so much to her. He was still Tony, even if he had a different last name. He did love her. Jeanne knew that. He lied to help her move on, but it hadn't worked. Tony, who took so long to say those three words, loved her.

So she moved back three years ago, only to discover that her perfect man was married. Ziva seemed to tolerate her, but Jeanne could tell that Ziva didn't like her much. However, Ziva wouldn't stir the waters and Tony didn't mind being her friend. So Jeanne worked at Bethesda, at first content with friendship.

It became more and more difficult however, but Tony's loyalty never wavered. Not until that night she went to a bar with him and they had a few drinks. Happy and drunk, she kissed him and he responded for a few seconds.

Then he pushed her away, saying he couldn't, he was married.

Angry, Jeanne sent the incriminating photos to Ziva anonymously. And it worked. Ziva divorced Tony, insisting that they part amicably, for the sake of their children. Tony had the kids on the weekend and Jeanne adored them. She didn't adore their mother, but she liked the idea of having a ready-made family with Tony.

Her phone rang and Jeanne picked up, "Hello Tony,"

"She woke up. Doesn't remember the last ten years," Tony explained, his voice rough, "Coffee?"

"Of course." Jeanne hung up, knowing that he would already be in the coffee room. Tony was only a floor below her.

Weary, Tony glanced over at her, sipping his coffee. She got her own cup and sat next to him, smiling concernedly at him.

"So she doesn't remember?" Jeanne started, unsure of what this meant

Tony nodded, "And she's pregnant. Two months along,"

"Whoa." Jeanne took another sip of her coffee, "Damon's?"

Tony made a face and shook his head, "Mine. We were drunk and sad and…" Tony trailed off, "It can't be Werth's. Ziva's only been dating the guy for..." Tony trailed off, not sure how long it'd been.

Ziva had been friends with Damon since before their marriage after all. Hell, Tony used to share beers with the guy at summer barbeques.

Jeanne nodded slowly, "So it could be either yours or his. Did you tell her that she's dating him?"

Tony scoffed, "He only came in to see her once. Once this whole week!"

Jeanne nodded, "Well Tony, you didn't exactly make him feel welcome." She pointed out and Tony exhaled

"I guess." He scoffed, "I would've stayed." He muttered

Jeanne decided not to point out that he did stay, and broke one of their standing dinner dates to do so. But she wasn't complaining. She wouldn't nag him like Ziva did. She would be a better wife to Tony.

"What does she know?" Jeanne asked, glancing at Tony

"Everything up to ten years ago. I told her that we got married, divorced, had three kids, Ducky died, Gibbs retired…" Tony trailed off, "She took it in stride, but it was stressing her out. Especially the kids. She didn't believe me at first,"

Jeanne nodded, "Well mothers aren't supposed to forget their children, Tony."

Tony nodded, "It's hard though. She can't be stressed because of the pregnancy and yet she's completely stressed." He laughed shortly, gazing at her, "She's sleeping now."

"You should go home," Jeanne suggested, "Shower. See the kids. I bet the kids miss you, Tony."

Tony nodded, "I talked to them this morning, but they're getting more worried about Ziva. They want to see her, especially Sophie."

"You should see them. They haven't seen you all week. And it's not fair to Abby and McGee to have five kids on their hands, is it?"

Tony chuckled, "No, I suppose not." He glanced at his watch, "She should be out for a few hours anyway. It won't matter." He stared back at Jeanne, "Thanks for listening to me."

Jeanne chuckled back at him, "No problem handsome. Let me know when you want to get a drink,"

Tony nodded, getting up, "I'll go shower. Ziva was making a face when she smelled me." He smiled sadly, "You know, I had this stupid thought."

"What?" Jeanne smiled

Tony laughed, "I can make her fall in love with me all over again. And this time I won't screw up." He shook his head, "Crazy, right?"

Still half smiling, he walked away and Jeanne stared at him, her mind racing.

I woke up and looked at a man with the broadest smile on his face. He laughed, shaking his head,

He looks so familiar to me, but I cannot place him.

"How is it that even all busted up and banged, you still look prettier than any other girl in my mind?"

I laugh nervously, feeling uncomfortable as I clearly know this man, but I am having the hardest time placing him. He has dark blue, nearly piercing black, eyes and big shoulders. He was very attractive and interested in me, apparently. His name is on the tip of my tongue.

"I'm Damon Werth. We've known each other for a while, but I never much liked our first meeting." He confessed, "So I'm sort of relieved that you forgot how I punched you in the eye."

I wince inwardly, recalling his enraged face. I remember now, the powerful man who bellowed like a wounded beast. My heart had gone out to him then, and it was good to see that he was looking better now. Much better.

This was Damon. We'd been interested in each other, but it never amounted to anything except good friendship.

"You caught me on the wrong end of a 'roid rage." He explained, "I was-"

"Dishonorably discharged." I smile, happy to place him, "I remember the punch."

He groans and we both laugh. I admire his dark blue eyes and the way that the shifting light makes them bright blue, like ice crystals.

"We met for coffee a few times." I say softly, "But you were…" I pause, searching for the right word, "Not ready?"

He nods, "You insisted on keeping in touch during my rehab. And after that, you and I met up for coffee a few times to catch up on our lives. But the timing was always wrong for us. I was stuck in my past and you were with Michael Rivkin at first."

I laugh, able to believe that statement. I could even remember laughing with him over coffee and proudly showing off a picture of my boyfriend. We last met up a few weeks before Michael was killed. He showed me a picture of a pretty blond haired girl too, but I've lost her name.

I wonder what Michael and Damon would've thought of each other. They're very much alike.

"Maggie." I recall with clarity and he nods, smiling at me.

"Yeah, I was dating a Maggie for a while. But uh, we broke up. I can't remember why, but I met other girls and you fell in love with Tony. After a while I got married and had my own daughter, Grace." He explains, quite succinct, "My wife died when Gracie was born, so I've been raising her myself."

I nod, able to believe that.

"But uh, two years ago, your son and Gracie were put in the same preschool class," Damon grinned, "Gracie's a tomboy, so she became best friends with David and we saw a lot more of each other. Really became actual friends,"

"I can see that." I nod

"You were always in love with Tony and I never messed with that. So we stayed just friends and uh, after the divorce you really leaned on me." He hesitated, "Uh, we started fooling around, but uh, then you got pregnant and that changed everything."

I frown, "Wait,"

Obviously, I told Damon that I was pregnant. So…was he the father?

"Too stressed?" Damon asks, looking at me worried and I am comforted, at least by his clear honesty. Tony hadn't been telling me everything, but it was clear that Damon was not hiding anything.

"No. Um, this is your baby?" I place my hand on my abdomen, confused,

Damon sighed, "You don't know, actually. You fell in bed with Tony and regretted it afterwards and came to me. One thing led to another and…" He trailed off, too much of a gentleman to finish his sentence.

I chuckle, wiggling my eyebrows.

Blushing, of all things, Damon laughs softly, nodding, "We spent a lot of time in my bed for about three weekends. And then you started throwing up and stuff…" He hesitated, "We didn't use a condom the first time, so you figured it had to be me, but I think you wanted it to be me. And I kind of want it to be me too," He admitted, gazing at me.

I feel dizzy and very confused. Why do I hate Tony so much? Wouldn't I want him to be my kid's father, since he has three other kids with me?

"Hey…Z-oh. Hi, Damon." McGee says slowly, standing in the doorway, half unsure if he should be coming in. His suit jacket has a bit of baby puke on the lapel that he hasn't noticed yet.

He looks different, much to my surprise. He's got his hair in a more attractive cut and his face is blunter in some places. There are laugh lines and wrinkles where I've never seen them before, but the baby blue eyes are all McGee.

"Hey Tim." Damon greets McGee easily and I relax, feeling better about Damon's identity as my…boyfriend? I suppose.

"Are you my boyfriend?" I ask him bluntly, struggling for words

Damon paused, "We never really defined our relationship, Ziva. Our kids thought we were just friends and yours were barely getting over the divorce."

I glance over to McGee, "Am I married to Tony, divorced, and now dating Damon Werth?"

McGee nodded slowly, "But I don't know details. You talk to Abby about it. With me, we just discuss what dolls to get for our girls."

"I have girls with you too, McGee?" I ask, overwhelmed and wondering why I have turned into such a slut.

"No!" McGee laughs, "Well, technically you are my daughter's godmother and I'm your daughter's godfather, but we've always called them our girls."

I nod, relaxing, before I soften, "You have kids too?" Granted I knew that from the baby-puke, but it was quite another thing to hear McGee talk so casually about girls. Girls I didn't know and yet it appeared that I should. Especially if one was mine-Sophie.

Sophia Jenny DiNozzo.

It's clear that we named her after Sophie Rainier and Jenny Shepherd. It's a pretty name and I wonder what the face behind it looks like.

McGee nods and glances toward Damon, "Yeah, yeah I do. I've got a picture in my wallet."

"I should go." Damon adds quietly. I smile and watch him leave, feeling like a giggly little girl. He is, after all, very handsome. I've always thought that.

But I am very confused about this baby.

McGee sits down, chuckling, "You know, I never thought I'd see the day where your photographic memory failed you and Ziva David forgot something. Of course, given the fact that it was ten years of your life…" He trails off, grabbing his wallet, "So uh, I have two kids with Abby."

I clap my hands, "So you did marry Abby. What was the wedding like?"

McGee's smile softens, "We had it in the front of Ducky's house. Abby always liked that house and Gibbs officiated. There were corgis just everywhere," He shook his head, "There weren't that many people…like twenty tops. But it was a nice wedding, except for the part where my sister got so smashed on Abby's Caf-Champagne that she took off her top and practically accosted Tony." McGee laughed, "Gibbs had to restrain you while my father got Sarah somewhere to sober up,"

My smile fades, "Ah."

"You and Tony fought for the rest of the party, but we saw you making out by the time Abby declared that she was ready to leave. We spent our honeymoon in Baghdad,"

I look at McGee in surprise, "Oh, is it a tourist destination now?"

McGee shakes his head, "No, I mean, the war's pretty much over now, of course, but uh, I had to go to Baghdad and Abby supported that. We only spent two days there before flying to Greece for the remainder. I think Katie was conceived on the airplane ride there, over international waters." He mused thoughtfully

I nod, remembering how dejected McGee looked when he realized that he missed his chance to go to Iraq because of Tony. It'd been cruel of Tony to do that, but Tony is Tony. Was Tony.

And now I am not certain of just who Tony is.

"So," McGee pulled a photo out of his wallet, much as Tony does, "I have two kids with Abby. Caitlin Sarah McGee is your daughter's best friend. They're about five months apart."

I smile, realizing that he's named Katie after my predecessor, Kate Todd. It is a pretty name. And I chuckle, seeing the picture. There is a cute little pixie with dark brown hair and electric blue eyes that remind me of Abby's. I miss Abby.

But it is no wonder that she is not here if she has adorable children like these keeping her at home.

Little Katie has McGee's cherub cheeks and her hair is up in ponytails, Abby-style, as she proudly holds a little boy in her arms, beaming cutely. The baby, for he can't be more than a few months old, is bald with the same blue eyes and a big smile on his face like he's just ready to conquer the world. It reminds me of the look in McGee's eyes just before he starts talking about jetpacks.

"And this little boy is adorable." I add, smiling at McGee, "He looks like you."

McGee smiles, "Jethro Zev McGee. I wanted to nickname him Jetpack, but Abby refused so we compromised on Jett."

"You named him after me?" I ask, touched

McGee nods, "We liked it better than Jethro Anthony. Plus Tony's hoping Jett wants to be called JZ McG when he's older,"

I hesitate, staring at the picture again, "What do-" I pause, "What do my kids look like."

McGee smiles, "They're cute kids. Tal is pretty much all you. I don't even see a little bit of Tony in the little guy, honestly. He's just this little Buddha, silent and with the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen. If he isn't throwing knives soon, I'll be astonished,"

I laugh at McGee, heartened by his description.

"Sophie, she uh, she looks a lot more like Tony, but she has your face and definitely the same stubbornness. She has this lisp though and thinks that Hebrew, Spanish, and English are the same language, so it can be a challenge to understand her sometimes. I think she's started in on German too, but I'm not sure."

I chuckle despite myself, "She'll sort it out."

McGee rolls his eyes, "That's what you say, but she's a good kid. Has her heart in the right place." He smiles warmly, "And uh, David, of course. You know, I helped you deliver him."

I look at him with surprise and laugh warily, "You did?"

He nods, "Well, Ducky was on the phone giving me instructions, but it was just you, me, and the backseat of my Porsche on one of the hottest days of summer. We were stuck in some of the worst traffic of my life and the baby was coming." McGee shook his head, "You screamed at me to pull over, I called Ducky, and within two hours, I was holding a little boy in my arms, completely stunned."

I chuckle, "That is too unbelievable not to believe." Hesitating, I glance at him, "Where was Tony?"

McGee chuckled, "He was at NCIS, doing the work of three agents with Gibbs. I had to stay with you because it was my shift. Gibbs didn't like you alone so he would send me or Tony there in shifts,"

McGee looked back at me, "He was on your cell phone, right next to your ear the whole time. And we saw him in the helicopter twenty minutes later. They airlifted you and David to the hospital and Tony left me with a promise to get my backseat cleaned up. But the leather was ruined and there was nothing that could be done, so I just sold it."

I chuckle, "David DiNozzo. That is an interesting name."

Clearly it is my last name and Tony's too. They even kept the pronunciation correct, for which I am grateful.

Am I still Ziva David? Or am I Ziva DiNozzo? I think it is the first, as the nurses call me Ms. David.

"It was originally going to be Anthony David DiNozzo, but you insisted on changing it to Timothy David DiNozzo, so after arguing for three hours, you both agreed on David Timothy DiNozzo." McGee paused, "I remember Tony threatening to call him Day-vid instead of Dah-veed if you didn't agree to Anthony David DiNozzo, but he gave that argument up quickly and won a minor victory in not having a son who shares my first name."

I roll my eyes and McGee continues with a grin,

"Tal was also supposed to be an Anthony, but Ducky died and she was born on the anniversary of your sister,"

I nod, "I do not think I would've named this one Anthony either. That is, if I could remember everything. But I don't." I frown

McGee shook his head, "You don't."

"Why did I divorce Tony?" I ask him

McGee sighed, "Truth be told, I don't know. You never told me and Tony didn't either. Abby might know though. She's planning to come by tomorrow with laptop that has about a gig's worth of pictures on it."

I nod, "I hope that is a lot. My doctor says that photos should help jog my memory."

McGee chuckles, "It's a large amount." He pauses, "Tony's a good guy, Ziva. He's always been one and he still is, so don't worry about that."

I nod, "And Damon?"

McGee hesitates, "Well, Tony's my friend so I have to hate Damon. But he makes you happy, Ziva. And he's good with the kids, especially Sophie, who can be difficult. And he loves the boys, because he doesn't have any boys of his own."

I nod, still processing. I am processing a great deal these days.

"Are you getting stressed? Tony told me I couldn't stress you out."

"No, no the more news I receive, the less stressed I get, because it's like I know more, so there's less questions." I pause, "But sometimes I only get more questions. Like with these kids…and Tony. I have so many questions about Tony."

"I have answers about Tony." Tony's deep voice spoke from the door. He smiles and my heart does a flip. Now that he's cleaned up a bit, he looks handsome. Not that he didn't before, but there's something almost magnetic about him now.

McGee smiles, "Hey, you look clean."

Tony does his mocking laugh and takes a seat next to McGee, looking at me with warmth.

"How are you, Zee?" He asks softly

I sigh, "I'm confused. Damon came to see me. He says this is his baby."

McGee starts, "Huh?"

Tony laughs shortly, "No Ziva, that baby is mine, just like all your other babies."

"She's pregnant?" McGee asks in a soft voice and I nod

"Two months." Tony said shortly, "And two months ago, I was with her, having some very R-rated fun."

"Damon says that he had similar fun with me that weekend. Apparently I left you crying and upset." I counter, frowning

McGee nods, "That makes sense. You and Tony had kind of an ugly divorce."

"We try not to do it in front of the kids though," Tony adds quietly, "But uh, Ziva, I know that's my kid in there."

"I don't." I told him and McGee stops, glancing at the machine

"Whoa, her stress rate's jumping Tony."

Tony leans over, alarmed, "You're right, Ziva. We don't know…but I want it to be my kid,"

I frown, "Why? We are divorced."

Tony nods, "I never wanted that. You asked for it and I gave it to you because…" He sighed, "I don't know. Stupid pride, I guess." He leaned back, staring at me, and I felt naked to his touch, "You asked me once if I believed in soul mates."

"You told me it was an old eighties song." I remind him, remembering the moment

He laughs, "Would you believe me if I told you that I did? And that I know you're mine?"

I hesitate, "I don't know,"

"Go to sleep, Ziva." McGee interrupts us kindly, "You're getting stressed and that's not good for the baby." He stands up and forces Tony up as well, both of them leaving. McGee, I can tell from his prickly state, is going to yell at Tony. I wish I could see it, but I've a feeling there's plenty of time for that.

My mind fades back into sleep as I dream of babies.

"Are you actually doing what I think you're doing?" McGee demands of Tony who sighs sheepishly

"I love her Tim. You know that. This is like a second chance,"

McGee laughs shortly, "Ziva losing her memory of her children is a second chance? She's pregnant, and that kid might not be yours!"

Tony scoffs, "It's mine." He shakes his head firmly, "I know it's mine, McGee. I know it like I know that Jett puked on you again this morning."

McGee frowns, "How-"

"Baby puke on your shoulder, Probie." Tony cuts him off, "I love her, McGee. And she loves me. I just have to make her remember,"

"She hates you, Tony." McGee points out lightly

"She hates me for a reason she doesn't remember. A reason I never understood fully," Tony shot back, "But she's always loved me. Otherwise, we would've have found each other that night two months ago."

McGee turned back to Tony, "Why did she go to Damon, Tony?"

Tony sighed, staring in the window where Ziva was sleeping, "One minute we were cuddling and the next, she got out and I tried to follow, but she hid my clothes." Wry smile on his face, he sighed, "Damon was just in the right place in the right time."

McGee frowned, "I'll have to ask Abby." He turned back to the room, "I can stay with Ziva for the rest of today. I know that the kids really miss you, Tony."

Tony sighed and glanced at his watch, "Well, I just rushed straight here. I didn't realize she'd be awake." He nodded, "I promised Sophie and David I'd take 'em to the park." He pats Tim on the shoulder, "Thanks McGee."

McGee nods, watching Tony leave. Even his advanced mind cannot calibrate exactly how Tony plans to win back Ziva David, his supposed soul mate.

Okay, I had Damon written into this three weeks ago, when I first posted the thing. I was meaning to post this on Sunday, because I like Sundays. But after tonights NCIS episode that would be way too generic. Plus I swear, I was so sure they were going to do a story arc with Damon. Little did I realize that he was only stirring the waters for Tiva to boil up like bubbles. Didn't Tony look a little too gleeful after he thought he got rid of Damon?

I mean, I know I shouldn't. I really, really do, but there is something about that Damon Werth. I noticed him in Outlaws and In-Laws, and I just KNEW he'd be perfect for this. And I was right! Unfortunately the NCIS writers had the same idea. Although I suppose this is good at the same time, because now at least everyone who reads this will have a better idea of just who Damon Werth aka Corporal Punishment is. God he's so attractive in a such a primal way...I just want to stare at him...a lot. I don't even mind keeping him around for a few episodes and it is amusing to see Tony jealous. Loved the ending where he offers to drive Damon home himself.

After all, I had to suffer through Tony and Jeanne for like half a season before I could watch the tv screen without having a pillow to my face...Isn't it FAIR then, to at least ASK to have some hot man candy stick around for an episode or two?

Oh I do hope Ziva really does see him later. Do you think the fact she didn't say anything to Tony means she will???

UPDATE: I'm sorry to whoever hates Damon Werth. I happen to love him. Not as much as Tiva though, so don't worry. But this fanfiction won't be containing any Damon-bashing...I can't make any promises about not having any Jeanne-bashing, but I will certainly keep her relatively in character. I can't do the same for Damon because he's still a very mysterious entity. I mean, I do have Corporal Punishment and Jacknife recorded right now, but I can't making any promises about keeping him Damon, as he's so little known, you know? At first I was going to do some random dude, but then I was flipping back through episodes and I noticed the attraction between Ziva and Damon. And then, as if FATE was speaking, I saw him in Outlaws and In-Laws. I just knew he was perfect for the kind of guy I was going for.

*blinks* Right. So uh, read and review Blank. I think I'll probably update this on Sunday. I like Sundays. Rhymes with Funday (and so does Monday as one reviewer pointed out, but I, like Garfield, hate Mondays).

And for anyone who came over from Finding the Words, thanks so much for sticking around to read another piece of my work. They can certainly attest to the fact that I do finish fanfic stories...even if my updating skills leave something to be desired. And if you're desperate to read something else, you could always read my other recent piece of (completed) fanfic, Finding The Words, starring a crossover between NCIS and Bones. And I can say with great authority that it is a pretty good crossover, as far as these things go...