Ziva fidgeted through half of her session before finally getting up to pace. Devon watched with mild concern. She hadn't been this agitated in awhile.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"I am not allowed to go to the gym anymore," the Israeli murmured, still traveling from one side of the room to the other.

Devon raised an eyebrow, knowing how important that outlet was for her patient. "Why is that?"

Ziva shrugged distractedly. "I am almost eight months, many things are no longer safe."

"How do you feel about that?"

She stopped moving and frowned at her therapist, then slowly took a seat once more. "It is...disconcerting to have the gym taken away from me now. It has been a security cover for three months and I am not quite sure what to do without it.

Dr. Andrew's looked thoughtful. "Is there anything you are still able to do?"

Ziva nodded slowly. "Yes. Swimming is okay."

"So have you been doing that?" Devon inquired.

Ziva played with a piece of hair. "I go every day, but being in the water is not the same as taking my frustrations and feelings out on the punching bag, or sparring with Duke."

"Maybe not, but it's safer for you and your baby Ziva," Devon said gently. "Do you think you can make it work for two more months?"

The woman sighed. "I feel already as if I have been pregnant forever. Two months sounds so far away."

Devon's smile was compassionate. "Many expectant mothers feel that way. But Ziva, your baby will be worth all the sacrifices and all the waiting. Do you believe that?"

Ziva's expression was a mixture of sadness and hope as she laid her hands on her growing belly. "It is what keeps me going."

"Hold onto that then," Dr. Andrews encouraged. "You'll make it."

NCIS

Later that night Tony and Ziva sat at her small kitchen table, enjoying a vegetable and chicken stirfry over thin rice noodles. Ziva ate each piece separately while Tony shoveled large forkfulls into his mouth and went back for seconds. Ziva shook her head.

"Have you eaten at all today Tony?"

He stopped with the fork halfway to his mouth. "I uh...missed lunch because Gibbs sent me and AP out on that interview. I'm pretty sure he was timing me, no way to stop and get anything."

She smiled. "It is a good thing I made extra then."

Tony grinned. "You know I love your cooking Zi."

"Next time it is your turn to cook for me," Ziva reminded him.

"My pleasure. It's nice to be able to make more than just Italian now."

"You are a good learner," she commented as she rose to take her plate to the sink.

Suddenly she stopped and pressed a hand to her side, sighing in what sounded like exasperation. "Hakatan, we talked about this. Ima does not like when you kick her in the ribs." She frowned. "It is very uncomfortable."

Tony around and laughed. "Lectures before she's even born Zi?"

Ziva glared at him. "Maybe you should try being pregnant and see how much fun it is."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Uh...pass. I'm pretty sure there's a reason God only lets women do that." Tony shrugged. "We'd probably just mess it up somehow." Ziva started doing dishes and he joined her. "Hey, what was that you called the baby?"

She looked up at him. "It means small one."

"Little one?" Tony asked to clarify, but Ziva wasn't worried about semantics. He handed her his plate and grabbed a dish towel. "That's cute, that you talk to her."

Ziva stopped for a minute, realizing that this might have been the first time he'd heard her say anything to the baby. "I think it makes me feel less alone." She looked down at her bump. "And I wanted her to know my voice."

Tony tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "You're gonna be such a good mom Zi," he whispered.

Her smile was faint. "I hope you are right. A baby is too precious a gift to mess up."

Tony watched her for a long moment, wondering if maybe this time they'd both get it right.

NCIS

They were watching a movie Thursday night, sitting comfortably together on Tony's couch. Suddenly he paused it and the next thing Ziva knew he was down on one knee beside her holding a small box. Her eyes widened.

"Ziva," Tony began, "I've loved you for a year. It's taken me months to find the courage to ask you this, but...will you marry me?"

Not sure what she was feeling, Ziva started to shake her head, worried that it was just a pity offer, that Tony thought she needed someone to look after her.

"Just hear me out," he said, holding up and hand and cutting off her refusal. Tony took a deep breath and let it out, looking right into her eyes. "Since the first day you walked into NCIS Ziva David, you have captivated me. You were my partner, my friend. We teased, we taunted, we flirted, we nearly drove each other crazy. We were never together, but we were always jealous just the same."

"We've had our moments where I wondered if there could be something between us. But then Michael," he looked down, not wanting to bring up the bad parts they'd already forgiven each other for in his proposal, "and you leaving." He paused. "I never realized how much I needed you until you weren't there every day. Losing you was like losing the most important part of myself, and I wasn't me again until we got you back."

Tony swallowed, feeling a flicker of hope at the sheen of tears in Ziva's eyes. "For months I've watched this little kid grow inside you Ziva," he looked fondly down at her protruding belly. "I've gotten to be there for all the firsts. The first one you told you were pregnant, seeing your first ultrasound and hearing the baby's heartbeat." He shook his head, still in awe remembering that moment.

"You were so excited the day you told me about the first kick, and let me put my hand on your stomach a month later so I could feel it from the outside. I was there the first time you had one of your crazy cravings, even if a banana and chocolate sauce is something I'd eat with you." Tony closed his eyes, trying to say it all just right.

His eyes caressed Ziva's face and he put one hand on her pregnant belly. "Every time I've touched your bump or talked to your baby I've wanted to say 'I love you', to say 'Hi, I'm your dad." Tony shrugged, self-conscious when Ziva looked startled. "I've been there for it all Ziva and I feel like I should be this baby's dad. I want the baby to know my voice, to feel safe with me. If you will let me Ziva, I want to be your husband and this baby's father. I promise to love you and he or she until the day I die. Please Ziva, will you?"

Even after he poured out his heart and asked her, Ziva still shook her head, blinking back tears. "I do not want you to marry me because of the baby." I want you to marry me because of me, her inner self, so long starved of affection and worth, cried.

Tony panicked for a second. He knew he was losing her and with her, the chance for everything they could be. He had to fix this fast. Moving to sit beside her again, Tony let his love for her show in his eyes and the expression on his face became even more tender. He held her hand tightly.

"Ziva, don't you see? If I thought you could've handled hearing it, I would've said 'I love you' the day we brought you home. I would've married you then - demons, nightmares, scars and all. Knowing what I know now, what we've been through together these last seven months, I would still have you. I love you Ziva, I want you, I have for years."

He sighed, caressing her bump gently. "For the baby you're carrying to become ours as a result of you being my wife is just the biggest bonus ever."

Through her tears, Ziva laughed, real joy lighting her eyes for the first time in a long time, and finally she did something Tony had dreamed about. She took his hand, kissed his palm and smiled. "Yes," Ziva whispered, "I will marry you."

Tony leaned close to kiss her softly, still one of the first times he'd dared to do that, even after six months. But for her he didn't mind being patient. Opening the blue box, he took out the gold ring and slipped it onto her finger, a pink heart shaped diamond surrounded on either side by perfect white diamonds. He pointed to the unique stone.

"That's for our baby Ziva," Tony choked up when he said the word he'd been thinking secretly for months, ours, "I just know she's going to be a girl. And the other diamonds are us, her parents, so she'll always be loved and protected."

Ziva stared down at the ring, completely overwhelmed. Tony tipped her chin up and their lips met for the second time. He slid his fingers along her cheeks and into her hair. He'd never touched her like that when they'd kissed before and somehow it felt more possessive. His lips sought hers again and again and while it felt amazing, finally Ziva couldn't take any more.

She pulled away and Tony's glazed eyes quickly focused, apologizing before he squeezed her hand in remorse. As much as she could with seven and a half months of baby getting in the way, Ziva curled up and turned into Tony's shoulder, burying her face there to hide her tears while he held her, murmuring softly against her hair.

"I love you Ziva," he whispered, feeling the freedom to say those words for the first time. "Don't worry if you can't say it back yet. I just hope that someday you'll be able to."

She was quiet for several beats of his heart, then Ziva sat up again and put her hand on his face, smiling up at him. "I can say it now Tony, I have known for awhile that the words are true." She took a deep breath, finding courage she didn't really need because she didn't have to be brave for Tony. "I love you."

The joy in his eyes made it worth all the uncertainty Ziva felt, saying those words and really meaning them for the first time. She could read it in the way he looked at her, that Tony wanted to kiss her again, but right now she couldn't handle any more and it seemed that he knew that, because he didn't even try to move.

She took a deep breath and laid her head on his shoulder. The desire she felt when he touched her was something she didn't know what to do with. After Somalia Ziva never expected to feel wanted again, much less to want anyone back. Now she loved Tony, she trusted him, but they still had a long way to go before she was ready for more.

Tony held her so carefully, savouring the freedom to have his arms around her like this. Finally he chuckled and threw on that teasing grin she loved and tilted his head to look at her. "You're not just saying yes because of the piano, are you?"

Ziva wanted to laugh but the idea was too serious to her. "No," she replied honestly, "this is what I want." It was remembering Tim's question from months ago that made her realized she'd finally figured out the answer.

NCIS

Looking down at the ring on her finger, Ziva hated to ruin their joy with reality, but if Tony was going to become her husband, there was more that needed to be said. "Tony," she began quietly, not looking at him yet, "are you sure you want to make this offer?" Ziva sighed. "There are things you may not have thought of."

His heart dropped and the hurt was evident in his voice. "You said yes Ziva. Please tell me you're not trying to get out of it now."

Her head jerked up in surprise and Ziva saw his fear and vulnerability and tried to soothe it with her touch, a gentle hand on his face. "No Tony, I do not want to get out of it. I said yes because I want this. I need you, I love you. But..." her voice faltered.

"But what Zi?" Tony demanded, ready to shake her if she didn't start making sense soon. She shifted against him and Tony could feel the tension in her body. When she spoke, her words were quiet.

"How long are you willing to wait?"

"Wait?" Tony frowned. "To marry you? Not long, before the baby comes. Is that a problem?"

Ziva leaned her head forward so that her long wavy hair fell in front of her face, hiding her expression from him. "Not to get married. To be...together." She struggled to get her point across using innocuous words.

Tony got it and his arm tightened around her. He pressed a kiss to her hair. While he'd admit to having thought about sleeping with Ziva on more than one occasion, he got less joy out of the idea since she'd told him part of her Somalia story the day Ducky informed her she was pregnant.

"Oh Zi, I'll wait for you, I promise."

Finally she looked at him, sadness written on her face. "But how long Tony?" she pressed. "We are together now. In truth, we have been together for months. We have slept in the same bed and yet you have never tried to touch me." Ziva paused, weighing her words and continued in a softer tone. "I am not even sure if you want to, but you have been with many women and it cannot be easy to wait."

Tony chuckled. "Oh yeah. Believe me Zi, I want to touch you, to be with you. But before I didn't want to make you more afraid, and now you have my promise that I will wait until you're ready."

She sighed. "It is not so easy for me to think about." Ziva turned to him. "You have never physically hurt me Tony, and it is you I have trusted with my darkest moments since I returned. But I have not willingly had sex in almost a year, since before I left NCIS." She wrapped her arms around her baby bump protectively and her voice got quieter. "And I have never been with someone I love, not like you. I do not know what it will be like, what to expect, or when I might be ready. Are you sure?"

Tony settled his lips gently on her cheek for a long moment, letting his actions be his answer. "I'm sure Zi," he whispered, looking into her eyes. "You're all I've ever wanted. No matter how long it takes, I'll be here."

Ziva's lips curved into a smile. "I love you Tony."

He held her close. "I will never get tired of hearing that. And I will never take it for granted either." Cupping her face in his hands, Tony leaned his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes. He sighed, like a burden had been lifted and grinned. "I love you too."

NCIS

After the momentous change that had occurred in their lives over just a few minutes, finishing the movie seemed anticlimactic. So Tony convinced Ziva they needed to go out for ice cream to celebrate. With their spring coats on and shoes instead of boots now that winter was finally over, the couple walked hand in hand to a small ice cream parlour four blocks over from Tony's new house.

The redheaded teen at the counter looked up and grinned when they came in. "Welcome to Scoops, what can I get for you?"

Tony peered into the first freezer while Ziva wandered slowly down past the others, looking at all the choices. "What do you recommend?"

Sam, as his nametag announced, looked back at the board behind him. "New York Cherry Cheesecake has been pretty popular lately, my sister had two scoops of it earlier."

"Why not?" Tony declared, in the mood to be happy with anything.

"Bowl or cone?" The teen questioned.

"Sweetheart," Tony got Ziva's attention, "are we staying here or going for a walk?"

She tilted her head to the side, smiling softly at his use of the endearment now that he could get away with it. "Let us go to the park, yes?"

He grinned. "Fine by me." To Sam he said, "Cone, waffle please."

"Coming right up." Sam pressed two generous scoops into a dark waffle cone, then handed it to Tony. "And for the lady?"

"Orange sherbert, just one scoop," she decided. Then she smiled. "Do you have any strawberries?"

Sam nodded enthusiastically. "I've got any sundae topping you want." He raised an eyebrow. "Just strawberries?"

Tony shrugged and glanced at Ziva's bump. "Cravings," he explained and Sam acted like he understood because he didn't want to ask.

When Ziva reached for her waffle cone, Sam caught sight of her ring. "Wow, that's nice. How long have you guys been engaged?"

Tony handed over a bill to cover their ice cream and a generous tip and slid his fingers between Ziva's. "Since about an hour ago."

Sam rang everything in and offered Tony his change, which he gracefully refused. "No kidding! That's awesome. Congratulations!"

Both of them smiled and Tony nodded at Sam, pleased as punch that someone had noticed so soon. "Take it easy." He held the door for Ziva and they were quiet as they ate walked and ate their desserts.

Once at the park, Ziva tugged him towards the first bench she saw. Tony liked feeling like they were on a date, and shielded by the shadows he tipped her chin up for a kiss. Ziva's hands came up immediately and she pushed on his chest gently, keeping him away. Seeing her expression, Tony frowned and touched her cheek.

"What's wrong Zi?"

Fiddling with her engagement ring, Ziva fixed her eyes on his. "Tony, you are acting as if this is all okay now - kissing, touching. You are trying to put your claim on me and I understand. But," she looked away, "nothing has changed."

Tony's face was a myriad of emotions before he settled on confusion and mild disbelief. "Nothing has changed?" he repeated. "Ziva, in an hour everything has changed."

"Tony," she said quietly, putting her hands on his face to make him focus, she needed him to really hear her, "I love you. I have gotten used to your touch. And I," Ziva coloured but still admitted the truth, "enjoy being kissed by you. But I only said yes an hour ago and I feel like everything is happening too fast. I can only handle...expressions of love in small doses, not all the time."

Tony sighed. He should've realized his proposal wouldn't fix anything for her, but somehow he thought it would make more okay. He lifted her hand and kissed the back. "You're right. I'm sorry Ziva. I've just waited so long to have more freedom with you, to show you how much I love you."

Ziva shook her head. "You have spent months showing me Tony. Tell me now. Hold my hand. Kiss me sometimes. I am sorry it is not so easy as you had hoped. I think I will still be needing so much of your patience."

He pulled her close to his side and slipped his arm around her. "Whatever you need Zi," he whispered, feeling the words as a promise. No matter what he wanted, Tony knew he had to do what was best for her. He just wished that the rest of his dreams didn't still seem so far away.

It was so hard to let Ziva leave that night, to hold her for a moment and then watch her walk away. Even knowing he'd see her tomorrow didn't seem like soon enough. Tony stayed up late, wandering through his house, seeing Ziva in every corner of every room. He couldn't wait until the day when it was their home together, instead of just his. He was ready to share a life with her, ready to not be alone anymore. But who knew that a month could look like a whole year stretching before them, until Ziva was his in everyone's eyes and they could go home together, as husband and wife?