Rifiuto: Non Miriena

She groaned softly. Her back was killing her. Slowly, she perched on the edge of the bed, and gently, cradled her belly. Since she'd hit the thirty-sixth week two weeks before, Gibbs and Vance had put her on maternity leave. Not that she minded; at this point, she was even too big to sit behind her desk and do paperwork. "Two more weeks, and you'll be here." She whispered, lost in thought.

"Ima?" She looked up, Asher was standing next to her; it was a national American holiday, and so the schools were closed for the week, but the boys kept busy entertaining themselves with board games and coloring books and Disney movies.

"What is it, my angel?" She held out a hand, and slowly, the boy took a seat beside her on the bed. Asher bit his lip.

"Do... do you think I will be a good big brother?"

"Of course you will be a good big brother, my angel. Where did you get the idea that you will not be?" He shrugged, his dark curls falling over his forehead. "Asher, talk to me." Slowly, he lifted his head, meeting his mother's eyes.

"I just... the baby is a girl. I am not friends with any of the girls in school." Ziva chuckled, pulling her son close.

"Oh, Asher Malachi, my angel. It does not matter if you are friends with girls or not, what is important is that you are good to her, because she is your baby sister. And she is going to be looking to you to be an example for her. You know Abba and I are raising you right, and it is up to you to set that example for her when she comes into the world. Abba and I are counting on you and Liron to be there for her, to protect her when we cannot, and look after her when we ask. Okay? Can you do that for us?" The boy thought a moment, before nodding. She smiled, pressing a kiss to his head. "Good."

"Ima?" Asher slowly pulled away, and after a moment, reached to touch her tummy. "Can I... feel the baby?" Ziva nodded, gently pulling her shirt up and taking her older son's hand.

"Her head is down here." She gently guided her son's hand below her belly, and he turned to her, confused.

"Why?" Ziva sighed.

"Because she is getting ready to be born." He opened his mouth, but Ziva continued. "Do you remember your brother's birth?" The boy nodded. "It will be just like when Liron was born."

"And I can help?" Ziva nodded, reaching up and gently brushing his curls off his forehead.

"Of course, you and your brother may help. Abba and I would not have it any other way."

"Asher is afraid he will not be a good big brother." Tim turned to her as he pulled off his shirt.

"What?" She nodded, enjoying the sight of the tattoo on his back. "You're kidding?"

"No. He told me today that he is afraid he will not be a good big brother because he is not friends with the girls in his class." As Tim joined her, he pressed a kiss to her lips before slipping into bed beside her.

"That is absolutely ridiculous. It doesn't matter if you're friends with the girls in school; what matters is that you watch out for your little sister like he and Liron are going to have to. I looked out for Sarah from the moment she was born."

"And I did the same with Tali." Ziva added. "But he is convinced she will not want him as her big brother." Tim rolled his eyes and turned off the light. Ziva lay her head on his chest, thinking. "He wanted to know if he could be there when she is born."

"Why wouldn't he be there? He was there when Liron was born, of course he'll be there when she's born."

"I think it is just anxiety. He is nervous about the baby, and he is afraid-"

"That he won't be a good enough big brother to her." Tim finished, pressing a kiss to her head. "I know his fears. I had the same when Sarah was born. But I loved being a big brother, always have, always will. They'll learn. It'll take time for both of them to get used to having a baby around, but once they do, they'll be fine. They'll pick up being big brothers in no time. Asher did when Liron was born." Ziva nodded, eyes closing slowly.

Tim slipped out of the room, heading down the hall. Asher was sound asleep, and Tim gently perched on the side of the bed, watching his son sleep. Gently, he reached out, brushing his curls off his forehead. "... Abba?"

Tim smiled softly. "Just came to check on you, sweetheart. Ima mentioned that you're scared of becoming a big brother again." The boy nodded, meting his father's eyes with his own sleepy green ones.

"What if... I am not... good... brother?" The boy yawned, and Tim chuckled gently.

"Oh sweetheart, it won't matter to the baby if you're a good big brother, just as long as you're there for her. That's what's going to matter- that you're there for her and helping take care of her and teaching her and looking out for her. That's all she's going to care about, that her brothers are there for her. It's going to be your job and Liron's job to protect her when Ima and I can't. Understand?" The boy nodded.

"But-"

"No buts, Asher. You're a wonderful big brother; you've been wonderful with Liron, and you'll be wonderful with the baby when she finally comes. No one- not Ima, not Liron, not the baby, not me, not anyone else- is going to think less of you if you make a mistake with the baby, because you'll be there for her. And trust me, you'll be amazed at how much she'll rely on you as you grow up." He pressed a kiss to his son's head, Sarah's face flashing before his eyes. "Trust me, sweetheart, I know."