Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Ziva wrapped her coat tighter around herself, waiting as Tim leashed Jethro. She'd come over that Friday after work for dinner; they'd gotten back into their routine dinners together, and both found the conversation always turning to Ziva's pregnancy. They'd sit on the sofa and watch a movie or talk softly. Kisses were shared often, and Ziva found herself spending more and more time at Tim's place and less and less at her own. Though they hadn't talked much about after the baby was born, both were enjoying the bliss of watching their child grow, preferring to focus on the present than the future. The future would come soon enough.

As they returned to the apartment, Ziva asked, "Do you... think any more will show up in the case?" Tim glanced down at her, pulling out the key to unlock the door before answering.

"Considering that we haven't been able to find any tangible link between the three besides pregnancy... I don't even want to think about it. Not tonight. Not this weekend." He said, as the door shut behind Ziva and she pulled off her coat. She accepted the cider Tim had quickly made, giving him a smile as she took a seat on the sofa.

"Well, maybe we will get lucky and a link will show up next week." She said, putting her feet up on Tim's coffee table. He chuckled, kissing her softly, until he heard the ping on his laptop, signalling someone on Skype. He quickly pulled away and got up, going over and rejecting the offer. Ziva noticed, but didn't say anything, instead, she got up, heading back to the bathroom. Once she was gone, Tim accepted the request, and glared at his companion.

"What have I told you about interrupting me when I have company over?" She glared mockingly at him, and he glared back.

"Oh please, since when do you have company over? And why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?" Tim scoffed.

"I'm not jumpy."

"Oh, yes you are. Or as Penelope would say, you're jumpier than Tinkerbell on Captain Hook's ship in Neverland."

Tim rolled his eyes. "So how's Japan?"

"Oh my God! I understand why you loved it so much, Timmy! It's absolutely amazing! You know, I went downtown today, and I actually ran into geisha. Like, real live geisha! With the makeup and the kimonos and the rituals and everything! They were so-" But Tim's gaze had drifted, seeing Ziva enter the kitchen. "Tim? What's wrong?" Without saying a word, she grabbed her coat and fled. "Timmy! What's the matter?" But he didn't respond, instead he fled after the hormonal Israeli, chasing her down the stairs.

"Ziva!"

"How could I be so stupid? To think that you wanted to be a part of the baby's life, and my life, when you have already moved on and have a girlfriend!" She cried, heading down the stairs. Tim grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Girlfrie-" She nodded.

"Yes. You go to lunch on Fridays, I have seen you-" She started, but Tim chuckled, cutting her off. "What is so funny?"

"Ziver, I don't have a girlfriend. The girl I take to lunch on Fridays and who I was Skyping with is my little sister, Sarah. She's in the process of moving to Japan for work, and so when she's back Stateside, we go out to lunch to catch up. Otherwise, we Skype." As he talked, he'd led her back up the stairs to the apartment, and stopped her in front of the laptop. Sarah McGee smiled back at her, waving.

"Hey, Ziva! How are you?" Ziva began to tear up, and turned, burying her face in Tim's shirt.

"I feel like a donkey's butt." Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Um... okay..."

"She means horse's ass." Tim corrected. Ziva choked on a sob.

"Yes, that too." She said, looking up at him.

"Timmy, is Ziva okay?" The younger woman watched them, concern flashing in her green eyes. He glanced at his sister, before saying,

"Actually, Sar, that's what I've been meaning to tell you. Ziva's pregnant." Her eyes widened.

"Congratulations, Ziva!" The Israeli gave her a small smile of thanks, sniffling. Tim turned back to his sister.

"And I'm the father." Sarah chuckled, before her brother's words sank in.

"You're... wait... you two... oh my God! Timmy, you're going to be a daddy!" She didn't notice the uneasy glance the two shared. "Congrats! When's the wedding? I'll be there, I swear!" He swallowed the lump in his throat.

"No, no, Sarah. No wedding. Just... just a baby. Ziva and I... we're just having a baby together. That's all. It's strictly a Friends-With-Benefits thing." Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Timmy, you're having a baby. A baby. The benefits went out the window a long time ago. You got Ziva pregnant-"

"It was planned, Sarah!" Ziva cut in. "We planned this pregnancy. I wanted a baby, and Tim was willing to help." Sarah whistled, shock in her green eyes.

"Congrats, either way. I just hope you two know what you're doing."

"She's right, you know." Ziva looked up, from her mug. Since Sarah had signed off, they'd taken seats at the kitchen table, unsure of what to say to each other. "We did this, knowing what would happen, and now we have to face it. Whatever benefits we'd planned, disappeared a long time ago. We have to face the facts that we're going to be parents." She nodded.

"It is your decision. If you want to back out, you can. I would not blame you." He shook his head, taking a seat beside her. Tim reached out, taking her hand.

"No. I'm not backing out. You want me in this baby's life, and I'm going to be in its life. I'm not backing out. Not now. Not ever."