A/N So, sorry for the randomness. This is the second to last chapter, trying to wrap things up. I know it seems fast, but major writer's block has set in, so it's either this or nothing at all.
As soon as the men responsible were convicted, which didn't take long, Ziva and Tony went to speak to Vance. Ziva spoke before Vance could, stepping up to the desk.
"Director," she began. "All parties involved in the Mason case have been found guilty."
"Good," Vance said, looking between the two of them. "Though somehow I don't think that's why you both came to see me."
"Yes," Ziva continued, staring at Vance, her back defiantly straight. "We require a leave of absence to deal with recent events." It was as if the room stood still. They had all been acting on an unspoken agreement to ignore whatever relationship was happening between Tony and Ziva, and they would act like nothing was going on. Now Ziva was dragging everything into the light.
"I see…" Vance said slowly. "How much time are you thinking of?"
"At least a month for me," Tony said.
"I will be taking more time," Ziva chimed in.
"Oh?"
"Yes. I will take the same month, but I will be unavailable for fieldwork when I return." Vance raised and eyebrow. "And later, I will require maternity leave."
Vance was momentarily frozen on the spot. He, like many others, had long suspected Ziva and Tony of having more than a strictly professional relationship, however as they were two of his best agents, he chose to refrain from investigating too deeply. Here they were shoving the evidence in his face. He recovered fairly quickly, reclining back in his chair, fingers together.
"You two realize of course, that in light of this, I cannot allow the two of you to continue working together on the same team," Vance stated. They both nodded.
"As contrary to my nature as it seems, I would prefer something in a more administrative setting," Ziva told him. Vance nodded and stared contemplatively at his entwined fingers.
"Office David, you will be reassigned immediately. DiNozzo, you will stay at your current position. As for your leave request, your month starts now."
Ziva and Tony wasted no time, they hopped on a plane the very next day to London where the vast majority of Tony's family was vacationing. To Tony's surprise, they a took immediately the Ziva, especially Tony's father, who rather approved of ruthlessness.
A few days into their stay at the DiNozzo's rented mansion, they announced Ziva's pregnancy. Everyone was shocked, but all expressed their excitement nonetheless. The next day, all of Tony's female relatives threw Ziva a baby shower. When she asked Tony how they pulled it off so quickly, he said "That's how it goes when you have money out the ears".
A week later, Tony and Ziva left to take some much needed time alone. They hit a few beaches, but the majority of their time was spent with each other and planning. They did receive a letter from Ziva's father who had heard about the pregnancy and wished to be involved. Ziva was tempted to let Tony send a photocopy of his middle finger in response, but in the end just ignored the letter. When the month was up, Tony was surprised to actually feel a bit refreshed.
Gibbs and McGee had struggled with the absence of two of their team members. No replacement seemed to do well, and they eventually were all kicked out. Vance threatened to stop gibing Gibbs agents if he kept driving them out after two cases. Gibbs just shrugged.
They were both grateful when Tony resumed active duty, though he did confide in them that he seriously considered not returning.
"Why?" McGee asked, alarmed at the prospect of having to train more replacements. "Isn't it women who are given maternity leave?"
"I already missed out on one..son's…life. I don't want to miss anything else." Gibbs said nothing but clapped Tony on the shoulder before returning to work.
Ziva returned the same day tony did, though the team only saw her momentarily. She was reassigned as what Vance called a 'consultant', though no one but the two of them seemed to know what she was consulted on. She also oversaw proficiency tests for hand to hand combat and firearms. It wasn't as exciting as field work, but Ziva found herself strangely okay with that.
Time seemed to shoot by, at least to Tony. Ziva grew steadily bigger, and it seemed like she went from finding out she was pregnant to suddenly ready to burst. Ziva, of course, saw things a little differently. She felt every random craving, mood swing, the back pain and the morning, noon and night sickness. Feeling the baby kick has been exciting at first, but as soon as it decided that her bladder was its own personal soccer ball, she grew weary of that, too. She was beyond ready when the nine months were up.
Around 11 PM on March 25th, Tony walked into the hospital's waiting room to announce that Hannah DiNozzo had entered the world.