Chapter Nine: The second unexpected gift

Surprisingly enough, even though the waitress took her time, Ziva, Jenny, Abby and Cynthia had their food within twenty minutes of ordering, and it was all fresh and hot. The drinks arrived soon after, having being made to perfection.

When the waitress placed the coffees on the table, Jenny smiled her thanks to the waitress and dismissed her. Ziva took one whiff of the caffeine smell and felt herself becoming nauseous, her stomach bubbling up a storm. Standing up abruptly, she placed her hand to her mouth and ran off in the direction of the bathroom. Abby stood up and followed her, the soles of her platform boots echoing on the stone tile floor.

Abby burst into the bathroom not much after Ziva had disappeared into it, only to hear her emptying the contents of her stomach into the last of the three toilets.

"Ziva, are you okay?" Abby asked, rushing to her side. Ziva sat back against the wall, tilting her head back, accepting the toilet paper from Abby to wipe her mouth.

"I feel awful," she moaned, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. "I felt fine until the coffees arrived and I could smell them; the scent made my stomach turn."

"Churn," Abby gently corrected. "Do you need a dink of water?"

Ziva shook her head. "No, but can you help me up?"

Abby nodded, offering her hand. She led Ziva over to the basins once she had steadied herself. "Wash your face and rinse your mouth out," she directed. "You'll feel a lot better after you do that."

"Thank you, Abby," Ziva whispered, before leaning on the counter and staring at herself in the mirror.

"Do you know why it happened?" the scientist asked.

Ziva shook her head again. "I have not eaten anything since Tim and Tony made breakfast, so maybe something from that was bad?"

Abby smiled gently. "I don't think so," she said. Both women stood silently, thinking their own thoughts. "Zee," Abby eventually said. "When was the last time you had your period?"

Ziva looked strangely at her friend. "Why?" she asked slowly, stretching the word out on her tongue.

"Do you and Tony use protection?"

The assassin shrugged. "Most of the time, but I guess since the doctors cleared us, we've been too caught up in the moment to wrestle with condoms." She paused for a moment. "Do you think I am pregnant?"

Abby bowed her head and nodded. "Yeah, I do. It would explain why you keep wanting to jump his bones, why you're so tired, your jealousy of Jenny; yes I did notice that; and why you've been eating more bacon than you normally do."

Ziva stared at her in disbelief. "Oh my god, you're right!"

Abby smiled.

Suddenly, without warning, Ziva burst into tears. "We are not ready for this! We have barely been engaged for a week; do you not think this is happening a little too fast?"

Abby sighed and pulled her into a hug, being careful not to crush her. She rubbed her friend's back comfortingly. "You two are perfectly ready for this, plus you have nine months to get used to the idea of being parents; but if you want, I can do a blood test to confirm it?"

The tears subsided after a minute. "You won't tell anybody? Not even Tim?"

Abby smiled and nodded. "I promise, no one will know until you tell them."

Ziva smiled and nodded, wiping the remnants of the tears from her face. "Okay then, thanks Abby."

"You are more than welcome," she continued to smile. "Now, shall we go join Jenny and Cynthia?"

"Only if you get rid of the coffee," Abby began to pout. "Because your next Caff-pow's on me." The scientist smiled.

"Are you coming now?"

Ziva shook her head. "I'll be out in a minute; you just make sure the table is clear of coffee."

Jenny had a concerned look on her face when Abby returned alone. "Is Ziva okay?"

Abby nodded. "For the most part, she just thinks the smell of our coffees disagreed with her stomach."

"Is everything okay?" the waitress that served them before approached the table.

"Yeah, our friend just took offence to the smell of the coffee; could you make us three coffee thickshakes, extra strong, instead please?" Cynthia asked, smiling sweetly.

"Sure, not a problem," the waitress smiled as she walked away. Ziva walked up moments later.

"Are you feeling better?" Jenny asked. Ziva nodded. Slowly, the conversation started up again, and the four women enjoyed the company of each other

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After returning to Tony and Ziva's apartment that night, Tony suggested they check out the new house Mossad had given them.

Once they reached the entrance to the gated community, Tony, Ziva, Abby and Tim in the first car, Cynthia, Gibbs and Jenny in the second, all stopped and got out to admire the setting before actually crossing the threshold.

"Wow," Tony breathed. It looked nothing like the gated community he had grown up in. This one was friendly, colourful and had many children and their pets playing in a nearby park while their parents watched from a nearby gazebo. It looked to the group like everyone was happy and welcoming. Tony was the first to comment.

"Is this too good to be true?" he asked, mainly directing the comment at Ziva. He grabbed her hand firmly in his; her other held the keys they would need to enter the community and the house.

"Seems like it," she replied softly. "Come on," she tugged on his arm, pulling him towards the guard house on the other side of the driveway. "I think we need pass codes or something to get in; we might as well get them now so they can visit," she gestured to the people behind them.

Tony nodded. "Anything for you, sweetcheeks."

The guard looked up as they knocked on the window; he opened it for them, a confused look on his face. "Can I help you?"

"Yes," Tony began. "We're moving in to the community soon, and were wondering…"

"Name?"

"Anthony DiNozzo," he answered, unfazed by the guard's rudeness.

The guard scanned his list. "Ah yes, here you are," he paused for a moment to grab an envelope from the pigeon holes behind him. "Here are your access codes for the main gate, access code for your house security system, and a list of important phone numbers for the neighbourhood. We have bi-monthly residents meetings, which you will be informed of the details closer to the date. Also here are your application forms for the local schools and child care facilities, as well as a map of the community. Welcome to Capitol Heights, Mr DiNozzo."

Tony smiled at the man. "Thank you. Are we right to go in now, my family and I would like to look at our new neighbourhood?"

The guard nodded. "Just enter your code at the box before the gate and it will open for you, closing after the last car has gone in; enjoy your night."

Tony and Ziva shared a look and a shrug, before turning back to their family.

"Well?" Gibbs asked. "What did he say?"

"We can have a look at the information once we reach the house; I need to use the bathroom," Ziva announced, sliding into the passenger seat of the car. "Are you coming?"

They all rushed, not wanting to be left behind.

Tony deliberately drove slowly through the community, wanting to get to know the area before he started to tear through there at high speeds like he wanted to.

The drove through immaculately groomed tree-lined streets, passing another park and multiple other non-residential buildings on the way, before reaching the opposite side of the community where the house was located.

As they parked side-by-side on the driveway, Abby gasped.

"Tony, are you sure we're at the right house?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "This is the address Abraham gave me, why?"

"Tony, have you not seen the size of our house?" Ziva asked.

He shook his head. Ziva pointed over the front hedges. "Wow."

The group exited their cars and gathered together in front of them, all looking up.

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Yeah, it's an exclusive gated community. And yeah, everyone's been checked out by Mossad. And yeah, I have the chant "Sex, drugs, rock and roll" in my head. Don't ask why...

Oh, is there still anyone actually reading this, coz I seem to only be geting 3 reviews from the same people: you know who you are, and thanks.

Currently watching Tony freak out in 'Bounce'... hilarious!