Author's Note-Long chapter not that I think any of you will complain. The next chapter is the fiftieth in this saga therefore I thought I'd save the wedding for that one. Also thanks to aknh I have corrected Ziva's idiom in chapter five. Keep it up guys. xx
"Hello?" Abby questioned empty air as she let herself into the apartment, as instructed, closing the door behind her. "Ziva?"
"Bedroom, Abby." She followed her friend's voice to find her stood in profile to her mirror; her top was bunched just below her breasts to expose her bump.
"You've grown again." The Goth smiled from the doorway.
"I know." She smiled. "I think my bump has fallen."
"You mean dropped." Abby corrected gently before coming up beside her friend and touching her bump lightly. "Yeah, maybe a little. That just means the baby's engaging doesn't it?"
"I think that is what she said yes." Ziva winced and Abby immediately took her hand away.
"Sorry." Ziva shook her head before releasing the tension on her face and opening her eyes.
"It was not you Abby, the baby is getting stronger lately and their kicks are getting harder." She smiled and pulled her top back down. "Are you hungry?"
"I could eat." Abby smiled back.
"How about we order in? This is definitely Tony's baby I have been craving pizza for three weeks." The two women chuckled. "There is a menu on the counter. I shall be out in just a minute."
"Okay." Abby said before bouncing out of the room in her usual happy fashion. Meanwhile Ziva rested both hands on the top and bottom of her bump.
"You had better not kick me when I am marrying your daddy tomorrow." She scolded gently. "Mummy will not be impressed."
She was half way through her second pizza before Ziva spoke again.
"How are you and Tim?" Abby put down her slice and licked her fingers.
"We're good. He asked me to move in with him last week." Ziva smiled broadly.
"And?"
"And we're looking for a bigger place for the two of us." Abby replied shyly.
"I am really happy for you two Abs." Abby smiled and took a bite of pizza. "Have you two thought about getting married, having children?"
"We have discussed it." She replied after swallowing. "Children are a fair way off yet but marriage may happen soon."
"I am glad you two have finally got it together. I always thought you and Tim would beat Tony and me."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I never thought he would propose to me. I know that it was not the reason but I do believe that my getting pregnant was the catalyst that made him pop the question yes?"
"You two are so perfect together. I can't wait to see you both tomorrow." Ziva smiled. "I can't wait to see Gibbs in a suit." They both giggled. "And you will look stunning in your dress Zi."
"Thank you Abby. Oh just think, in eighteen hours I shall be getting married." Abby laughed. "What?"
"I don't think I have ever seen you this girly before. I like it." Abby finished her pizza and got up to wash her hands. "Hey Ziva?"
"Yeah?"
"When are you coming back to work?" Ziva finished her last slice and, taking the boxes with her, joined her friend in the kitchen.
"Tony and I have three weeks leave for our honeymoon. It then depends when I give birth to when I come back. I technically go on maternity leave two days before we are supposed to go back so, we will have to see." Abby poured herself a glass of water.
"Aren't you going to miss the baby when you come back?"
"Of course I will, but it will make coming home to them that more rewarding."
"I still think it's going to be a boy." Ziva laughed.
"And Tony is insistent that we are having a girl. We will see who is right soon enough."
"When are you due?"
"Two months tomorrow." Abby's eyes widened just a touch.
"Yikes, not long at all then really?"
"Not long indeed. I cannot wait though. I just want to hold our child now."
"I can't wait to meet baby DiNozzo either. He will be the most beautiful child in the whole world."
"We still do not know that he will be a boy."
"That he will be a boy?"Abby laughed.
"Oh shhh, it was a slip of the tongue yes?" Abby nodded.
"Do you want it to be a girl?" Ziva thought for a moment.
"I do not mind so long as he or she is healthy." Abby scoffed.
"That is a cop out default answer." Ziva chuckled.
"It is the truth: I honestly do not mind which gender our child is as long as it is healthy. Now." She yawned. "If you do not mind, I am going to have a shower and go to bed. Where did we decide you were sleeping in the end?"
"I was going to take the sofa bed. Do you mind if I watch a film or something before I go to bed?"
"Of course not. I am a light sleeper so if you need me come and get me, okay?" Abby nodded. "Good. I shall see you on my wedding day Abby."
"See you on your wedding day Ziva." She giggled happily before pulling out the bed and settling in for the night.
Tony took his bag out of the back seat and followed Gibbs into his house.
"I can't believe I'm getting married tomorrow." Gibbs smirked, hanging the groom-to-be's tux on the door frame.
"No, me either. You're gonna have to grow up fast DiNozzo."
"I know boss. I'm doing it. Ziva and that baby are my world; I'll never do anything to let them down." Gibbs smiled genuinely.
"I know, Tony. I know how much you care for those two." He passed the younger agent a beer from his fridge and a pizza menu. "I have nothing in the fridge." Tony laughed into his beer bottle.
"Do you ever boss?"
"No, not usually."
Three hours later, the two men were eating and drinking heartily.
"What time's McGee getting here in the morning?"
"Seven. That gives us three and a half hours to make you presentable. We need to be at the venue by half ten." Tony finished his pizza and got his phone out of his pocket. "What's up?"
"Zi's text: just about to put myself and our baby to bed, he/she is being very restless. I shall see you on our wedding day. I love you." Tony smiled to himself as he read.
"I shouldn't have kept you two apart for so long." Gibbs sighed regretfully.
"If you hadn't, we wouldn't have been getting married. We would have slept together once or twice when she first arrived and then that would have been it. Rule twelve made us develop a relationship, to learn to love ourselves and each other, enough to try to make it work. As much as I hated you for it in those first few years, I thank you now Gibbs." The silver haired agent smiled broadly.
"I always told you the rules were there for a reason." The two men chuckled before Gibbs took out the pizza boxes and Tony text Ziva back. "Hey DiNozzo?"
"Yeah boss?" He put his phone back in his pocket before addressing him.
"Go to have a shower and go to bed."
"It's only quarter past six boss!"
"There's a TV in the guest room. You can watch a movie before you go to sleep but I don't want Ziver riding my ass tomorrow because you've been up half the night."
"But…"
"Now, DiNozzo."
"Yes dad!" Tony moaned before trudging upstairs with his sports bag.
"I sometimes wish I was Tony, I really do." Gibbs sighed before descending the basement steps.
