A/N: This first part is a direct continuation from Ch 9, right after A&M leave.

So, it looks like I'm going to be posting whenever I feel like it now, I can't seem to stick to the schedule, lol :P It'll be roughly every other day :) Thanks for keeping up!

PS. I hope everyone was able to see Ch 9 because I think the website went down shortly after I posted it. Good old FF, bailing just when we need it, lol. Thanks for all the comments, please keep it up! You guys make my day, so glad you're still enjoying the story!

~Aliyah

Hebrew translation:

boker tov ktantonet - good morning precious

beseder yashan - sleep well?

Tony leaned against the counter and dragged a towel over the last plate while Ziva drained the sink. She turned around to face him, smoothing out a damp dish cloth over the empty rack. "What are you thinking about Tony?" He'd been far too quiet since Tim and Abby had left.

He sighed, placed the plate on top of the others in his cupboard and looked down, bracing his hands on the edge of the sink. "I want to be happy for them Zi, but I'm still a little ticked at them for not telling us." Tony glanced over at his fiancée. "She's like my little sister, but she got married and I couldn't even hug her and say congratulations and tease her about being stuck with McGeek forever." He dropped his head. "Now I'm going to be an uncle and there was almost a whole month when I didn't know about it."

Ziva watched him with gentle probing eyes before moving over to stand beside him and let her hand fall slowly down his back. It was such a normal yet intimate moment, one he imagined happened between husbands and wives all the time. But they weren't there yet and his breath caught at the care she conveyed in one simple touch. That Ziva let him have his thoughts and feelings without telling him to let it go or that he was wrong, and didn't feel the need to fill the silence with words meant just as much.

He finally met her brown eyes again. "What about you Zi? Aren't you angry at being left out? You were worried about them for awhile."

She shook her head. "I am relieved that there is no reason to worry. And though I care for Abby and McGee a great deal, sometimes I was using concern for their relationship as a way to hide how I felt about you."

Tony turned around and slid down to sit on the floor. With a bit of maneuvering, Ziva joined him and curled her hand around his forearm. "How did you feel about me Zi?" he asked, more focused than curious.

She played with the hair under her fingers, rolling with the shift in subject. "For a long time I did not know how to feel. You were always there, trying so hard to be everything that I needed when even I did not know what that was. Our lives were so entangled it scared me. I could not find the separation and after the night I danced, I was not even sure I wanted one." Ziva ran her pointer finger experimentally over his empty ring finger.

"You confused my emotions because there was too much distance between my head and my heart to sort it out." She shrugged. "And yet somehow we ended up here. I can plan missions and move undetected through a crowd of people, but I cannot explain this."

Tony folded her long, graceful fingers around his. "Why did you stop fighting me Zi? When did you decide to let me love you?"

Ziva smiled faintly. "I stopped fighting because I suddenly realized I did love you and I did not want that to change." She skimmed her knuckles down his cheek. "You had been loving me for so long Tony, that I did not know any different. But I knew I wanted it - I wanted your touch and your words and the way you looked at me, telling me everything just the way you always had. We never needed to talk to understand one another."

Tony chuckled. "McGee used to complain about us having eye sex in the bullpen. I think it made him uncomfortable."

Her eyes darkened. "You do not look at me that way now."

"Hey," he tilted her chin up, "it's not because I don't find you beautiful or attractive or sexy or desirable. You're the hottest woman I've ever met and you make even bare feet and yoga pants look classy."

Again he was reminded that Ziva used to always walk around in bare feet before, but he hadn't seen her feet bare yet in six months. The idea that he knew now what she was hiding did not make him feel better. She was still watching him though, waiting to hear, wanting to understand and believe him, so Tony went on.

"And it's not because I don't want you in a physical way, because I do. But that Tony DiNozzo you used to know? He grew up a lot and realized there was a whole lot more to relationships than sex, a whole lot more to love than stolen looks and forbidden touches, as fun as they are."

Tony smirked and rubbed his thumb over her lips. "But you can be sure that when I know being with me like that doesn't scare you any more, I'll be making up for lost time with lots and lots of flirting and teasing and starting stuff I know we can actually finish, okay?"

Ziva nodded, not really trusting herself to speak as the future unfolded before her in his words and promises. Then Tony went back to the start of their conversation, wanting to settle one last thing. "How are you doing with Abby being pregnant babe?" He laced their fingers together, not sure which one of them he was trying to comfort but wanting to keep the contact with her skin.

She didn't want to look at him because he could read her like a magazine. "It is easy to be happy for them and I think it will be good for Abby and I to share the experience, in part. But when I think about never...not knowing what it is like to get pregnant by a man I love and share my life with already..." Ziva shrugged. "Yes, it is hard." She was hoping he would focus on everything she said, not just the word she stumbled over that almost gave away her secret.

In true Tony fashion he enveloped her in his arms and sighed into her hair. "I'm so sorry we were late Zi."

She pushed away from him, holding his face between her hands. "I will not let you keep feeling guilty about that Tony!" She glared fiercely at him, if only to get her point across. "We all made our choices last year, we cannot change them." One hand fell to his heart. "Stop blaming yourself Tony and remember that I am alive today because you came."

With her other hand she took one of his and pressed it to the front of her belly where the baby was practicing his or her kicking skills again. "Do not regret this Tony, because neither can I. As hard as last summer was, this baby gave me a reason to be alive, and she gave me you. For that I am grateful."

It didn't take more than a few seconds for Tony to absorb her words and she knew what he wanted and maybe needed before he leaned forward. Ziva met his mouth with hers, gentle and comforting and whatever else could be said in that sort of kiss. Tony's hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer, and Ziva allowed it when he deepened the caress, wanting more of her than he usually got.

But he didn't completely shatter the lines that stood between them, pulling back for a breath so he could kiss her slowly one more time. Ziva's eyes were still closed when he stopped and she held onto the feeling of being so cherished for as long as she could.

They sat on the floor staring at each other, sharing months of missed conversation in their unwavering gaze. Then Tony finally helped her up and drove her back to her apartment. He kissed both Ziva and the baby goodnight and wished with everything he had that it was the end already of their four week wait. He was so tired of saying goodbye to her.

NCIS

When the elevator doors opened Monday morning, Abby was surprised to find herself sharing the car with Ducky and Jimmy. "Morning gentlemen," she smiled brightly and raised one eyebrow. "Either you two are late or I'm very early, I never see you at this time."

"We're running a bit late I'm afraid Abigail. Mr. Palmer took a wrong turn."

"I was only following your instructions Doctor," Jimmy protested, cut off by a scowl from Ducky.

Then his eyes fell to Abby's hand and he almost choked, coughing to cover. "Did you do anything exciting this weekend my dear?" the medical examiner managed to ask.

Abby shrugged. "Not really. Tim and I had dinner with Tony and Ziva on Sunday, but that's about it."

Ducky's gaze hadn't left her rings. "I don't suppose you got married at some point over the last forty-eight hours?"

She looked at her hand as if she'd suddenly remembered that she was wearing them. "Oh, that. Um, yeah. McGee and I. Five months ago," Abby spluttered, cutting her sentences up into little pieces. She'd forgotten there were others left to share their story with and she hadn't planned on doing it alone.

Both men gaped at her and Abby glared at Dr. Mallard's assistant. "Stop staring like that Jimmy, I don't have any new tattoos."

The elevator opened suddenly at her floor and Abby got off. She remembered one more thing and quickly spun around. "By the way, I'm pregnant. Bye." She waved at their shocked expressions as the doors slid shut and closed her eyes in frustration.

"Not exactly my best moment, but they had to know sooner or later. I'll call that one the shock value way of doing things," Abby muttered to herself. Walking into her lab, she stopped at the sight of Gibbs standing by her computer. "This better not be bad news." She was not in the mood for more drama today.

"You won't like it," he warned.

She put her things away, shrugged off her jacked, slipped a white lab coat on over her Android Lust t-shirt and faced him with crossed arms. "Let's get it over with."

Gibbs dropped a small stack of files on her desk. "Individuals qualified in Forensic Science." He pointed one finger at her. "You need an assistant."

Abby's mouth fell open. "Do you remember what happened the last time?"

He shrugged like it was of no consequence. "Get to pick your own this time."

She rolled her eyes. Yeah, because that is sooo much better. Not! "Gibbs!" Abby started to protest, but her boss slash father's stare was aimed directly at the still barely noticeable roundness of her midsection. She sighed in resignation. "Well, at least if my body is found in the Ballistics Lab, you'll know who to blame."

Gibbs' kiss to her forehead hardly even began to soothe her frustration. "Paperwork day unless something comes up, lots of time to take a look through those and see if anyone catches your eye."

Abby hugged Bert tightly to her chest. "It'll be worse than having an intern around," she complained. "At least I know they'll go away in a week. We're talking months here!" She gazed forlornly around the room. "I'm going to miss my lab."

Gibbs gave in and hugged her. "You've got at least four months left before you have to think about saying goodbye," he reminded his black-haired girl. "And it's not a punishment Abs, but some of the chemicals you play with are not safe for babies."

Her resolve to be stubborn crumbled at his gentle words. "I hope I haven't messed it up already."

"Everything is going to be fine," Gibbs promised, and she believed him because she wanted it to be true.

While she was thinking, he left silently and her comm link with Autopsy beeped to life. "Abigail," came Ducky's familiar brogue, "I think Mr. Palmer and I are entitled to a bit more explanation regarding your...announcement."

Abby hid her smile behind Bert. "Sorry Duckman, that was a bit abrupt."

"Well?" the older man prompted.

She twisted her rings around and began the story, anything to ignore those files a little longer. "He asked me in October..."

NCIS

Monday morning Ziva woke to a text when her phone beeped. Rolling over, she was surprised to find it was already after 7am. She reached for her cell and flipped it open, smiling at the message from her fiance.

First day without my partner :( Miss you already, love you - T.

It made her feel appreciated even if she didn't like being reminded that she was officially banned from work until eight weeks after the baby was born. With almost eight weeks left in her pregnancy, the time she would be off seemed interminable. But at least there were wedding plans she could work on, packing she could do as she prepared to say goodbye to her apartment, and baby things to organize. Hopefully it would keep her busy enough not to dwell on missing the team.

Slowly pushing herself up, Ziva laid a hand on her belly. "Boker tov ktanonet," she murmured to the baby. "Beseder yashan?"

Getting showered and dressed took longer than usual, especially when she wanted to look professional today. Her doctor's appointment wasn't until two o'clock, but before that Ziva had a few very important errands she needed to run. After breakfast and straightening her hair, the newly minted American citizen drove to the nearest Social Security Administration office with her certificate of naturalization to update her social security record.

The process was lengthy but Ziva hadn't expected it to be easy. Next on her list was taking her completed application for a United States passport to a passport agency she'd found online. Again it was a long wait and a lot of questions to be answered. By the time she left the building, it was nearly time to go see Dr. Meyers.

While she waited in the exam room for her doctor, Ziva just leaned over to lay on the table and rest for a few minutes. Only awake for seven hours and already she wanted to go back to bed, it was very unlike her. And that was exactly what Mandy thought when she walked in the room to see Ziva laying there with her eyes closed. Alarmed, she closed the door and walked over to put her hand on her patient's shoulder.

"Ziva? Is everything alright?"

Forcing her eyes open, Ziva managed a smile. "I am fine Mandy."

The other woman rolled her eyes. "Now why don't I believe that is the whole truth?" She glanced at the empty chair by the table. "Where is your human lie detector when I need him?" Mandy eyed the expectant mother seriously. "Want to run that by me again?"

Ziva sat back up and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I have been very tired this weekend, or maybe it started on Friday, I am not sure. It was a stressful day despite everything working out just fine."

Dr. Meyers grinned. "Yes, I guess I should say congratulations and welcome home." She raised an eyebrow. "You did take maternity leave like we talked about, right?"

With a slight frown, Ziva nodded. "I am to return in sixteen weeks, once the baby is two months old."

Smiling sympathetically, Mandy sat down in one of the chairs. "It really is for the best."

"I will do anything for my baby," Ziva reiterated, "but it has not sunk in yet that I am away from my team for such a long time."

"I am sure there will be lots to keep you busy between now and May eighteenth." She raised an eyebrow. "Remember that I am expecting him or her to be early. I wanted you off work because you really could go into labour at any point during the next eight weeks." A critical glance at Ziva's file creased a frown across Mandy's brow. "If you make it past thirty-five weeks, I'll be impressed."

"I am very stubborn," Ziva assured her and the doctor laughed.

"You may be, but babies come when they feel like it and what you think or want has absolutely no effect. It's why I always hesitate to give a due date. No one ever tells a baby when it's time to be born unless a c-section is scheduled."

Ziva nodded, then lay down on her back so Mandy could take measurements and check the position of the baby. After coming for so many weeks, she was well used to the routine. Dr. Meyers got to work, chatting the whole time to fill the silence sometimes broken by Tony and Ziva's banter or quiet conversation.

Pressing on Ziva's abdomen, Mandy tilted her head as she tried to discern which way the baby was facing. A smile spread over her lips. "Ziva, give me your hand." Puzzled, she nonetheless did as asked. Mandy ran Ziva's fingers across the side of her belly. "Do you feel that?"

Frowning, Ziva did it again. "It feels like little bumps."

"That's her spine Ziva," the doctor said quietly. "She's curled up with her back against this side, which means her arms and legs are facing more into your body. If you feel a lot of kicks aimed at your ribs or kidneys in the next little while, that's why."

In awe, Ziva rubbed the spot again slowly. "I cannot believe I can feel parts of the baby so clearly from the outside."

"It's nothing to worry about," Mandy clarified, "she's very protected in there. Don't be afraid to touch little feet you feel pressed against your skin or rub her back. It's something your baby will respond to after birth as well, if you do it often. The same with your voice, if he or she has heard you talking a lot."

"Sometimes I think Tony may talk to her more than I do," Ziva revealed, her smile soft as she continued to follow the line of her baby's back.

Dr. Meyers turned towards the drawers on the far wall to get some supplies she needed, allowing the tender moment between mom and baby. When she returned, she noted the apprehensive look Ziva gave the empty blood vials and sealed needles.

"Not your favourite, I know," Mandy sympathized, "but you being so tired concerns me. I want to have your blood iron level checked and run a few other tests to see if we can figure out what's going on." Sitting up, Ziva submitted to having her blood drawn with reluctance and let Mandy take a look at several other things as well before she was declared free to go.

"I'll know more next week when the results come back," the doctor told her as they left the room, "but for now just take it easy Ziva. Growing a baby is hard work and requires a lot of energy. Enjoy the chance to relax now that you don't have to work."

The Israeli-American woman smiled and returned to her car. She sat in the parking lot, trying to figure out what to do now. But fatigue was pressing at her eyelids, so going home quickly became the only option. Back at her apartment Ziva changed into pyjama pants and a t-shirt before crawling into bed. She sighed in relief as her weary body found a haven between the sheets. Nestling into her pillow, Ziva closed her eyes and let the sleep take her away.

NCIS

Later that evening Ziva was still in her pjs, sitting on the couch with her laptop on the cushion beside her, critically examining each image she clicked on. The sound of a key being inserted into the lock perked her ears up and she quickly saved the page and shut it down.

Tony pushed the door open slowly and peeked inside. He smiled when he saw her. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Ziva retorted, raising one eyebrow. "Do you make it a habit of sneaking into women's apartments?"

Her tone indicated that his answer better be in the negative. Tony shook his keyring and chuckled. "Only when she gives me a key."

"Oh." Ziva smiled and looked away, immediately earning Tony's curiosity. He joined her on the couch.

"Why do you look so guilty?"

She feigned innocence. "Maybe this is how I look."

"Nope." Tony shook his head. "Not buying it. You're blushing Ninja. What were you doing on that computer?"

Ziva leaned back against the cushions and got comfortable. "Looking at wedding dresses."

His eyes lit up. "Can I help?"

Her look of shock almost made him laugh. "Is there not a rule about that?"

He sighed dramatically. "Well, yeah technically there is, but since when have we ever followed the rules Zee-vah?"

Ziva tilted her head to the side and thought about it. "You have a point."

"So can I see?" For one moment he actually thought he'd won.

Amusement sparkled in her eyes. "No."

Tony's shoulders fell. "You're teasing."

"You have never found that to be a problem before," she shot back, loving that they could be so light-hearted and playful with one another.

"Okay fine, you've got me there." He put his hands on her arms and leaned over to kiss her cheek in greeting, since he'd been preoccupied the second he'd walked in the door. Ziva turned her face just in time for his lips to catch hers. It was only a short kiss, but Tony appreciated the permission she was slowly granting for more to be okay between them.

Then something registered and he pulled back, staring down at her arms like he'd never seen them before - once really didn't count. It had been five months since the last time her skin had been bared for him to see and Tony was as shocked as if he'd walked in the room to find her in nothing but a towel.

Noting his uncharacteristic silence and following the direction of his gaze, Ziva suddenly felt naked without a long sleeved shirt and made a move to get up and change. But Tony's hand on her arm stopped her and he pulled her back beside him. "No, don't, please," he said softly, letting go before she saw him as a threat.

"I did not mean for you to see-" she started, but Tony stroked her hair and leaned close.

"Shh, it's okay Ziva, you just caught me off guard." He slid his fingers lightly over the marks on her forearm. "They look a lot different now."

Although the scars were still very visible, they'd lightened considerably, no longer as dark as they had been in October. The ends of each cut, shallower than rest, had already started to fade into her skin and Tony wondered what the rest looked like, even though he had nothing to compare them to. This was the most he'd seen of her since before last summer.

Ziva touched her skin experimentally, scrutinizing the lines, and shrugged. "I do not look at them very often. I know they will always be there, so I try not to care."

Taking them right back to that night in his bed when she first pulled up her sleeve to show him, Tony leaned over and brushed his lips over the cuts that no longer hurt. He looked up to meet her eyes. "I don't care about the scars Zi, you don't have to hide them from me. The only reason they matter is because they remind me that I got you back, that you survived." He tilted his head to kiss her lips again, soft and slow. "I love you sweetheart, nothing will change that."

Her posture relaxed and he thought he heard her whisper, "Thank you." Then she took his hand and slid it over to rest against the side of her belly. "Move your fingers over that spot there," she directed him and Tony obeyed without understanding what he was doing. It was an easy way to change the subject, by getting his focus on the baby. Just like Mandy had, Ziva smiled. "Do you feel that?"

He made a face. "All those little bumps? Yeah, what about them?"

Ziva lifted her palm to his face. "That is the baby's spine Tony, you are rubbing her back."

Staring down at her stomach in amazement/reverence, he repeated the motion gently over and over. "Can you feel that Chipmunk?" he whispered, totally into the moment. "That's Daddy's hand baby girl. Wow," he looked up at Ziva and grinned. "And I thought getting to feel her kick was the coolest thing ever." Tony bent to kiss her belly and couldn't stop the satisfied smile that seemed permanently plastered on his face. "Thanks for sharing that with me."

She intertwined their fingers. "You will hold her when she is born and tell her stories when she asks what it was like before she came out, I do not want you to miss anything that you might one day want to share with her."

He wanted so badly to kiss her again but Tony knew he was already pushing her limits with two in not so many minutes. He looked down at their hands all tangled together. "So you had your appointment this afternoon, right? How did it go?"

Ziva rubbed her eyes. "Mandy did several tests and took some blood samples to send away, she does not like how tired I am any more than you do."

"Did she have any theories?" he wanted to know.

Ziva shrugged. "It is possible that my iron is low, Mandy also said that growing a baby takes a lot of energy, maybe all pregnant women feel this way when they get close to the end."

Tony leaned his head back. "Did you get to the pool today?"

"I had too many things to do," she explained, feeling the lack of exercise acutely. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Did you nap today?"

She frowned. "You are full of questions."

Tony kissed her knuckles. "I'm just catching up on my Ziva news. This is the first time in months when I haven't spent at least twelve hours around you at work, I want to know if I'm missing anything."

Frustrated with what felt like weakness, Ziva nodded. "For a couple hours I think, it seemed to help."

"Can you schedule your next appointment later in the afternoon?" he questioned. "If Mandy's giving you those test results, I really want to be there."

She agreed without debate. "I would want you there."

"Good."

Ziva rolled her eyes. "You can stop worrying about me now."

He shrugged lazily. "Yeah, I could. Maybe when I'm dead."

She didn't like the way that sounded and frowned at him. "Is that what it would take?"

Tony began tracing his fingers up and down each of hers. "I worry because I care. If I didn't worry, it would mean I don't care. And if I didn't care about you than I would most certainly have to be six feet under. That's the only way you're going to get me to stop."

She flipped her hair over one shoulder. "I will keep that in mind for later."

The teasing was a way to keep things from getting too serious and Tony read between the lines, offering to throw together something for dinner as he stood up. Knowing he would do it anyways, as he seemed particularly interested in making her eat something since he realized she'd skipped lunch at the office one day, Ziva agreed and watched Tony take over her kitchen. This was the new normal and sometimes it felt like a whole new world. But she wouldn't trade it for any thing in the one she used to know.