WARNING: brief mention of some Jewish traditions. I hope it doesn't offend anyone. I tried to keep it as brief as possible, but I'll be honest- I don't really know what I'm talking about. It just wrote itself. I have tried to do some research but if it isn't accurate, or there is something really offensive, please tell me in the reviews and I'll change it!


Ziva was 2 hours late for work. She had had to abandon the car and walk since it had snowed heavily the previous evening. To make matters worse, she had been forced to take Tali with her since the pre-school was closed because of the bad weather. The four year old skipped excitedly beside her mother, chatting about seeing aunty Abby and Grandpa Gibbs and her cousin Kennedy. Ziva had laughed at that. Abby's daughter, Kennedy Rose McGee, was only five months younger than Tala, and the two had become best friends immediately. Kennedy took after her dad- she was very quiet and rarely spoke, preferring to use sign language or make eye contact to get her point across. Thalia and Kennedy delighted in talking in sign language, since neither Ziva nor Tony used it, except perhaps a few key words and names.

Tali was a good mix of her parents. She had Tony's impeccable sense of humour, particularly when it came to pranks, and Ziva's skill with weaponry. She had started karate last year and was already by far the best in her year. Unlike either parent, Tali was incredibly trusting. She would talk to strangers without a second thought and was perfectly happy to stay in the company of someone she had just met for hours on end. This had resulted in the little girl almost being kidnapped six times in her short lifetime, but despite everything, Ziva took comfort in her daughter's trusting nature. When she had first had Tali, she had panicked that her daughter would turn out just like her, or even Ari. She pictured her baby all grown up, ruthlessly shooting without a second thought.

"Ima," The little girl interrupted Ziva's thoughts, "Do you haf' my headphones? Kenn'dy's asleep and I want tah list-en to music please!"

Ziva smiled and handed Tali the set of headphones and the iPod she carried everywhere. Whilst most children could be pacified with a toy or sweets, Thalia wouldn't go anywhere without her music. Although Ziva refused to let Tali start piano lessons until she turned five, the youngster had already begun to show her musical genius. She listened to music anywhere, and was always humming a tune or tapping a rhythm out on the table. Almost every night, Tony or Ziva would sing her lullabies until she fell asleep; the little girl preferring to hear music over any story. She had discovered Tony's baby grand piano that lived in the spare bedroom at the age of two and had taught herself basic melodies that she heard on the radio or that her parents sang to her. She had a beautiful voice. Ziva could listen to her daughter sing for hours.


"C'mon Kenn'dy! I'm hungree, and Aba's in M'TAC so we haf tah find ima!" Tali explained patiently to her friend. The younger girl rubbed her eyes sleepily and stared blearily after her excitable 'cousin'. After a long discussion about what relation the girls would have to each other, they had settled on one of cousins. It made sense seeing as Tali already called Abby 'Aunt Abby' and Kennedy referred to Ziva as her 'Aunty Ziva', although neither child had ever mentioned the fact that they were cousins. Tali had picked up very quickly that she was not actually related to Gibbs, Abby, Tim, Jimmy, Ducky, Jenny or Kennedy and had made it clear that the titles were simply because she didn't have any living aunts, uncles or grandparents, since Tony's father had passed away soon after she was born.

Although it was strictly forbidden to the girls, Tali and Kennedy had snuck into Abby's lab a hundred times. They had followed Gibbs, who knew over a thousand different shortcuts and secret hiding places that he used to sneak up on his team and find out information they hadn't wanted him to overhear, so it was easy to slip down the stairs and choose a spot.

'They're talking about us' Kennedy signed, looking worried. Tali nodded.

Listen! She signed back as they turned back to where Ziva and Abby where having a whispered conversation.

"Have to tell her…too big…she'll notice…new baby…" Ziva was saying, glancing nervously down at her stomach.

Kennedy and Tali exchanged confused glances. Ziva kept turning away so they couldn't lip read all that she was saying and Abby's music meant that many of the words were lost in the wall of sound. Thankfully Abby was facing them, so they could tell what she was saying. She wasn't so good at whispering anyway.

"I'm worried that Kennedy will stop talking altogether with a new…" Tali cringed as a new song started which was even louder and Abby's last words were lost. At that moment hands grabbed them and pulled them out from underneath the table where they had hidden.

"Ima!" Tali squealed as she dared to peer out at the woman holding her and laughing. Ziva smiled and hoisted her daughter onto her hip. She would have to reinforce the rule about Abby's lab, but now wasn't the time.

"Would you like to be a big sister, Tatelah?" She asked the little girl in Hebrew. Tali thought about it for a moment and then nodded, not really understanding the question. Ziva smiled and tried to explain, using English this time,

"Aunt Abby and I are going to have a baby." Kennedy looked up from where she was snuggled into Abby's chest in confusion. She began hastily signing to her mother, a small frown on her face.

You and Ziva are having a baby together?

Abby laughed out loud and passed the message onto Ziva who laughed too.

No! Mummy is having one baby with your daddy, and Aunty Ziva is having another baby with Uncle Tony Abby signed back, saying the words out loud for Ziva's benefit. Thalia grinned.

"I'm gonna be the bestest big sister mummy!" She boasted.


Do you want a brother or a sister? Kennedy signed to Tali, who shrugged. They had crawled under Ziva's desk to play, since the entire team were out following a lead.

I want a brother she decided eventually. You're like my sister-cousin-best friend person! If I had a sister, I'd have to share you. How do we ask for that?

Me too! Mummy gives me what I ask for if I ask nicely enough Kennedy suggested.

Who do we ask? Tali responded. Kennedy shrugged. The girls thought for a moment, before Tali had an idea.

Daddy says that when mummy was scared I might die, she asked HaShem to protect me. We could pray to him?

The young girls closed their eyes, scrunching their faces up as they both thought the same words over and over again-

Please give me a little brother. I would love him with all my heart.


Thalia looked up from her daughter, fast asleep in her arms, and gazed at her husband who lay beside her on the bed.

"I'm glad Kennedy asked for a brother, James. I don't think I could imagine a world without you in it." She told him as they lay together- mother, father and daughter. Together at last.