The Awakening

A/N: I don't own anything from NCIS… just this plot.

Ziva sat under the protection of the wooden frame of a boat in progress. Angry tears long dry left salty tracks down her cheeks. Tenderly, she placed a delicate hand on her belly.

"I will love you, Hakatan sheli." She said aloud.

The sound of the door opening and closing brought Ziva out of her musings.

"Gibbs, I just wanted…" she said, turning toward the stairs. "Oh, it's you."

Tony cautiously made his way down the stairs to Gibbs's basement. Ziva's angry eyes flickered between his face and the bag in his hands.

"Ziva, listen, I wanted to talk." He said softly. "I didn't exactly get the chance earlier."

"So you can inflict more pain? Please leave Tony." She huffed, turning her back on him.

"Ziva, please." Tony begged as he turned her around to face him. "Just give me a chance."

Seeing she wasn't going to look at him directly, he just jumped in to plead his case.

"I want to be there…for both you and the baby. I want to be a better father than my dad was for me." Tony said, reaching out to brush the skin of her stomach before deciding against it, dropping his hand.

Ziva stared at him stunned for a few moments before throwing her arms around his neck. Tony reciprocated the hug, snaking his arms around her waist and holding her securely to him.

"Thank you Tony." She whispered into his ear. "I do not think I would have felt comfortable doing this without you."

"Yes you could have." He admitted, pulling away. "You're the strongest person I know Ziva David."

Ziva's gaze fell to the bag still in his hands. Tony followed her line of sight and reached into the bag, pulling out a little pink box.

"I just thought we should be sure." He shrugged, handing her the box.

"A pregnancy test?" She asked.

"I didn't want to get my hopes up." Tony admitted softly.

Ziva reached out and cradled his cheek in her hand, gently running her thumb across his lips.

"Toda."

"Prego."

Ziva dropped her hand and climbed the stairs, heading to the bathroom.

Gibbs entered his home and was greeted by his Senior Special Agent pacing outside the restroom.

"Have you spoken to her?"

"Yes, and she's forgiven me I think." Tony answered as he glanced toward his boss. "She's taking a pregnancy test now to be sure."

Gibbs nodded and sat on his couch to wait for the results. Five minutes later, a very frustrated Tony started banging on the door.

"Zeevah! It's been over ten minutes! Come on out!"

"DiNozzo! Sit your ass down!" Jethro scolded, head-slapping his agent.

The argument, however, was cut short by the soft clicking of the bathroom door unlocking and opening. Ziva emerged slowly, clutching the little white stick tightly in her hand.

"Well?" Tony questioned anxiously.

Unshed tears glistened in her eyes and a wide grin broke out on her face as she held out the test for him to see. "Positive!"

Tony smiled widely and picked her up, twirling her around excitedly in a circle.

"Mind if I cut in?" Gibbs asked from behind them.

Jethro pulled the Israeli into a congratulatory hug, pouring as much love as he possibly could into the embrace. Slowly he pulled away and kissed her cheek.

"Mozel tov." He said, using the small amount of Hebrew he knew.

"Toda." She smiled before turning to Tony.

Her smile quickly fell when her eyes landed on Tony kneeling before her on one knee.

"Marry me Zee?" He asked, holding her hand.

Ziva retracted her hand quickly as if she'd been burned.

"I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"No. No you don't. You're only saying this because I'm with child!" she explained as she pulled him up off the floor.

"But I…" Tony started to protest.

"No, I will not take this from you after already throwing this child upon you." Ziva said. "Wait until after the baby is born. If you still feel the same way, ask me then."

Leroy Jethro Gibbs looked upon the scene in utter shock. What had he gotten himself in the middle of?

"Thank you for your hospitality Gibbs, but I must return home." Ziva said to him, abruptly pulling him away from his thoughts.

He watched her leave and then looked back to his senior field agent. Tony stood with an expression similar to that of a kicked puppy.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs barked. "How about a glass of bourbon?"

Tony numbly followed his boss to the basement and sat down hard on the stairs. How had things gone from great to awful in a matter of seconds?

"Just give her some time." Gibbs said wisely as he handed the man his glass. "Even I could see you two love each other."

Hakatan sheli ---My little one in Hebrew

Toda--- thank you

Mazel tov----- congratulations

prego---- you're welcome in italian.