Tim woke to the sound of birds chirping and a pleasant warmth on his face. He was on his side, facing the window, feeling well-rested and warm, buried under a host of blankets. He was about to whip them off but heard the strong force of the air conditioner in the window running full blast. He realized he was shirtless, wearing, only a pair of pajama bottoms and not remembering dressing into them, trying to recall what he had done the previous night. A smile lurched below the surface and he could not understand why the perpetual weight he had carried for the last couple weeks seemed to have lifted.

He raised his arms above his head and launched into a full body stretch when a gentle arm wrapped around his chest. His heart skipped a beat and he froze when he recognized her scent. His heart immediately began to hammer against his chest as he turned to look into her face.

Her voice was strained with concern, "Timothy, it feels like your heart is going to slam its way right out of your chest. Did you have a bad dream?"

Tim's eyes welled with tears, admiring her exquisite face. He regained his breath, laying back, unable to speak.

"Honey? What's wrong?" She leaned over him, searching his wet eyes, confused. When he didn't answer, she pulled him into a tight hug, nuzzling her nose against his bare shoulder, her throat tightening.

"Ziva?" His voice came out in a sob but he didn't care.

She whispered in his ear. "It's okay, it was just a bad dream, baby."

Tim spoke into the crook of her neck, "Ziva? I'm, I'm s-s-so...con, confused." He blushed when he realized he was stammering as he tried to control the sobs brewing in his chest. Try as he may, he could not stop the tears from streaming down his face.

Ziva lay him back down looking into his face, placing a hand on his forehead. "Dear, what is wrong? Tell me. Are you sick?"

"I don't know. I think I had a dream...but it was all... long and so real...I don't understand."

"Would you feel better if you talked about it?"

"I remember it so clearly but... it was such a horrible dream, I can't describe ...it, but... you're okay! I can't tell you how... this makes me feel!"

Ziva smiled at his enthusiasm. "Of course, I am okay. Why wouldn't I be? Come here hon, let me hold you until the last traces of the nightmare disappear. It must have been so bad...you look terrified." She guided him in front of her chest, then pulled him close, as he sat back, while she stroked his hair. "Maybe it has something to do with how high I like to keep the air conditioner when I sleep-"

Tim's eyes grew heavy enjoying her gentle touch but was too excited to sit still, "Uh...no, you don't understand how...I'm too happy to-" He turned and rose to his knees to pull Ziva into a fierce, bear hug. He pushed his face into her neck breathing in her scent, enjoying the silkiness of her hair against his cheek. "I never thought I'd see you again. I can't believe you are in my arms, Ziva!"

She pulled his face from her neck, holding it and looking into his eyes. "Tim. I've always known you have loved me; I've never had any doubts but...your eyes, ...they are so full of endearment and devotion right now...you really do love me... don't you?"

He pulled her to his chest and all he could manage was a whisper, "Ziva...more than anything."

Ziva giggled, "And don't forget about our daughter."

He pulled back with a huge smile. "And our daughter." He rubbed her belly, beaming. He wiped his face and rubbed the back of his hand against his nose, as he broadly smiled with a sniffle.

She cupped his face, "Are you okay now?"

He nodded, "Now I am...come on, let's get up; we can't waste another minute of our time together-"

She laid her hands on his chest, caressing it with her thumbs, "Hold on, Tim, it's only six a.m., and it is the weekend. I was hoping we could enjoy some more time in bed..., yes?" Ziva lay back stretching her arms wide, wagging her eyebrows.

Tim laughed out with no inhibitions to stop his exuberance, generating a giggle deep from within her belly.

"Tim, baby. I just want to hold you, so close." Ziva coaxed.

He dropped back into the bed by her side pulling her close so he could hear and feel the strength of her heartbeat.

xxxx

Tim stood in the kitchen in just a pair of jeans finishing a bowl of cereal looking around the room. He was still deep in thought trying to process the latest series of events, and too excited to think clearly. Ziva had convinced him it would be a good idea to purchase most of the baby necessities that day, so she was in the bedroom getting ready for their shopping excursion. Tim placed his empty bowl in the sink then pulled on a flannel shirt that had been draped over a nearby chair. He slipped it over his arms then hesitated when he spotted the sonogram of their baby attached with a magnet on the refrigerator door. He pulled it out from under the magnet, looking at it in awe. His legs grew weak so he stepped back till he reached a chair, falling back onto it, while keeping his gaze on the photo.

Ziva entered the room already in mid-sentence, not attuned to Tim's vulnerable state.

"-if we head over to Wexler's on Washington Blvd, first; we can grab lunch at that place you like so much...um, Tim?" He was unaware of her presence, his shirt wide open and hair disheveled as he held the photo of their baby, stuck in a trance as he studied it. "Honey? You haven't combed your hair yet, I know how you sometimes forget to-"

"We are really going to have a little girl, Zee?"

She came up behind him, placing a kiss on his smooth-shaven neck then running her fingertips up and down its length, enjoying his soft, warm skin. She stepped closer to him, her arm wrapping around his chest, as she leaned against his back. "If all goes well, yes we are, babe." She reached under his shirt to wrap her other arm around his waist, her hands splayed over his chest and stomach, warming him. "This is all still sinking in, huh?" She kissed the side of his face, then spoke softly into his ear. "You know, you already broke down when we were having the ultrasound done. I feel sorry for the first guy who asks this little one out on her first date."

Tim softly snorted. "Date? What's a date? Dates will never exist in our home." She hugged him then ran her hand over a part of his belly that caused him to cringe.

"Tim! I'm sorry, did I touch your wound?"

Tim hesitated, then moved his fingertips over an area on his lower belly, acknowledging a newly-formed scar. He suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded when a recollection of the previous night flooded his memory. His eyes looked across the room, blankly, as he tried to remember what had happened. He could remember the park...the tunnel, Jethro and Tony; then the fleeting glimpses suddenly vanished as if they had never existed.

"Tim, what is it? You look like you did this morning."

"This is from a knife wound? But when?"

"Tim..why are you asking me? You are acting as if you don't remember."

"No...I, uh-"

"That must have been a really bad dream you had, it seems to have thrown you for a hoop." She pressed her soft lips against his stubbly cheek.

"Loop...but you were very close-"

"I am getting better-uh-" Ziva flinched, trying to stifle a small burp, pressing her palm against her mouth, then daintily trying to cover it by clearing her throat. Tim turned to face her, "Uh, oh. Morning sickness?" He could see her complexion turn a chalky white.

Ziva quickly nodded, then abruptly ran towards the bathroom. Tim followed, but she waved him off, "No, Tim! I'm fine, I can handle this by myself!"

"But-" She entered the bathroom, shutting the door in his face. "Ziva?" He heard retching then grimaced, leaning back against the door. "Zeevs?"

He decided to ignore her wishes and help her if he could, so he entered finding her kneeling; her upper body draped over the side of the bowl along with her hair, also hanging down over the sides as she forcefully threw up. He gently pulled all her loose hair away from her face, tying it into a neat ponytail. His touch was so tender that the uneasiness she was feeling abated, substantially. He kneeled beside her, rubbing her back. "There you go, sugar muffin, are you feeling better?"

Ziva looked up, and Tim frowned in sympathy.

"Please...don't say sugar-" She leaned over and finished emptying her stomach.

"Oops, sorry." Tim stood and wet a washcloth. He touched her chin to lift her face, "Are you done?"

Ziva nodded sheepishly, "I think...so. Tim?"

"Mmmm, hmmm?"

"Thank you, you are very good at this."

Tim answered her with a sympathetic, lopsided grin. "Thanks." He ran the warm cloth over her lips and cheeks then tossed the washcloth into the sink. He stood, then lifted her, carrying her to the couch and laying her across it. He softly nudged her shoulder to boost her up so he could sit under her upper body, cradling her as he caressed her forehead. "I bet you'll be glad when these days are over."

Her eyes were closed, relishing his attention. "Some things about it, yes. Can I have a minute to rest before we head out?"

"Sure." He took advantage of the time to marvel in her face's beautiful features; stroking her hair as she fell into a light sleep. He couldn't stop smiling as he watched her breath. He trailed a finger over her face, holding in a laugh when her mouth twitched.

Many nagging, unexplained questions gnawed at him but as for now, he chose to wallow in the ecstasy of being with her. He let her soothing breath lull him to sleep, as he thought, what had he done to get her back?