CJ called Steven's office. Her only words to him before she hung up were "It's time". The speed with which Steven signed out, drove home and met his wife at the door to their apartment was record breaking. He had spent the last eight and half months listening to stories of CJ's birth and had absolutely no interest in being in Tony's shoes and having to deliver his own child.
The speed with which he drove to the hospital was unprecedented and he hoped that there were no cops on route. CJ only tried once to get him to slow down but the wild look in his eyes told her that nothing she said would change his pace.
Steven's wide eyes and panicked expression was one that CJ had seen many times in the past but not for many many years. Taking his hand and squeezing CJ gazed deep into his dark eyes and smiled. Steven instantly calmed returning the loving squeeze.
A very short time later Lily Jane Arnott was born weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. Mom and baby were doing well when Steven called both sets of grandparents. It was less than an hour before the room was full of family. Each person taking a turn to snuggle with the new born infant before she was taken by the next waiting family member. That was until the patriarch of the NCIS family strode into the room. He walked up to Tony who now held in his arms his granddaughter and without a word passed her to his lifelong mentor and surrogate father.
Taking the tiny girl in his arms he held her so that he could look into her already large dark eyes. The crowd of people stood statuesque and silent as they watched him gently kiss the little forehead. They listened intently as he whispered into her ear. No one but Lily Jane heard his words of love and affection. No one dared to ask for a turn to hold the baby but instead watched as he carefully wrapped her in a blanket and rocked her to sleep in the chair in the corner. Slowly the room emptied leaving the new parents, Tony, Ziva and Gibbs alone with their new addition.
As the light faded through the window the older man stood and handed Lily to her grandmother. He couldn't believe that the young woman he'd taken onto his team reluctantly was now a grandmother, what did that make him he wondered. The four of them parents and grandparents with the baby made a picture perfect scene. He couldn't be happier regardless of what he might be.
Before he left he took CJ into his arms, held her tight as he whispered "Congratulations my angel, she is perfect and wonderful and I hope she is just like you."