Author's Note-In case anyone was worried, When The Past isn't on hiatus and I am working on it, the next chapter is just giving me some trouble. I envisage it being finished and uploaded by the weekend though so no panicking needed. Also, anyone watch Castle? I've just uploaded a Castle story called Nevaeh, feel free to read that if it tickles your fancy. Meanwhile however, read, review and enjoy this :D NYLF xx
They were bringing their tiny baby home for the first time, it called for a commemoration
Ziva slid the key into the lock and opened the door, slowly pushing it open before making her way through to the living room.
Jethro followed shortly after, the baby bag slung over his shoulder while their tiny three day old daughter slept in her car seat in his right hand.
Ziva smiled warmly as Jethro gently sat the car seat down before dropping the bag beside the couch and flopping onto it.
Ziva chuckled at him before ever so gently lifting out the sleeping infant and pulling her close, cradling her securely into her chest.
Once the baby was settled in her arms, Ziva lowered herself slowly to sit beside her husband.
"Home sweet home." Jethro sighed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, bringing her into the side of his body.
Ziva hummed contentedly, her eyes not leaving their daughter.
"She won't disappear y'know?" Jethro joked softly.
"Hmm?"
"If you stop looking at her." He laughed, smiling down at the tiny bundle in his wife's arms.
Ziva chuckled.
"Sorry, she is just so perfect. I cannot stop looking at her."
Jethro smiled.
He knew the feeling.
He had struggled to keep his eyes on the road rather than watching the two most important women in his life sat in the back seat.
"Glad you're happy Ziva." Jethro sighed, tucking her in closer while his other hand came across him to gently play with his daughter's minuscule fingers.
Ziva smiled up at him.
"I am holding our child Jethro, how could I possibly be anything else?"
Jethro kissed her softly until they were interrupted by the beginnings of a cry from the little person between them.
"Embarrassing you already Gabby, huh?"
Jethro shook his head at his wife, both of them chuckling.
"We are sorry Gabriella, we will stop now." Ziva murmured, gently bouncing the baby in order to try and soothe her.
Jethro chuckled.
"Three days old, we're already wrapped around her little finger."
Ziva laughed.
"How could we not be Jethro? I am wrapped around yours."
Jethro looked at her with a start.
"You are?"
Ziva laughed.
"Of course."
Jethro smiled.
"She looks too much like you to not have me under the thumb."
Ziva's laughter faded into a soft loving smile before she carefully held her hand over her daughter's eyes, so as not to embarrass her further, and kissed Jethro quickly, making him laugh.
"I cannot believe we are home."
She shook her head, gently stroking her finger down Gabby's cheek.
"Glad we are though." Jethro murmured, entranced by mother and daughter.
Ziva nodded.
"Mhmm."
Jethro chuckled before pulling the baby bag onto his lap and rifling through one of the many, many compartments until he found what he was looking for.
His fingers closed around the velvet box he had stashed in there earlier and he quickly pulled it out, wedging it between the side of the couch and his leg before putting the bag back.
"Say Ziva?" He started softly.
Ziva slowly tore her eyes away from the hypnotic blue of her daughter's before facing him.
"Yeah?"
Jethro smiled.
"Can I take her for a moment?"
Ziva nodded and carefully placed their baby into her daddy's arms.
Jethro smiled down at his daughter before carefully laying her half on his lap, half in his arm, so she was angled upright enough to watch her mommy and so he had one hand free to retrieve the box.
He gently placed it on his wife's knee with a smile.
Ziva smiled at him softly.
"Jethro. You have already given me something for her birth; you do not need to keep spoiling me."
Jethro shrugged.
"You said on our wedding night that you needed to work off all the money I was spending."
Ziva nodded, not entirely sure where he was going with this.
"Well ya did that, and then some, with four hours of labour. Now I need to work off that by spending more money."
Ziva rolled her eyes at him.
"You are sweet."
He smiled widely, making her laugh.
"Good. Now open it so Gabs can go back to sleep."
Ziva looked down to find Gabby's eyes following the light shining off her bracelet on her wrist.
Ziva chuckled, gently tapping Gabby's nose, making her go cross eyed for a second, making both her parents laugh.
"Okay." Ziva smiled, lifting the box into her palm.
Her eyes flitted between her husband, her child and the box before she finally opened it.
She gasped, tears springing in her eyes.
A rose gold letter G sat before her.
"Oh Jethro."
"Didn't know what we were gonna have, let alone call her, when I brought the last one. Thought you had to have her initial on it somewhere. It's from both of us."
Ziva laughed, despite the tears filling her eyes.
"It's beautiful."
She kissed him deeply before lifting Gabby out of her father's arms and kissing her sloppily and hugging her gently.
"Thank you baby girl." She husked in her ear. "Mommy loves you so much Tateleh."
Jethro smiled.
"You gonna let me put it on?"
Ziva smiled and shifted Gabby into the crook of her arm before extending her wrist to her husband.
Jethro slipped on the charm with no fuss, he was getting quite good at it now, before kissing her hand and letting it go.
He gently smoothed his hand over the back of his daughter's head.
"Got her one too. Bracelet and charm. Thought we could start collecting for her, it'd be a nice present when she's older."
Ziva nodded, fighting yet more tears, as she hugged Gabby closer.
"I love you both so much." She murmured, locking eyes with Jethro.
"We love you too."
Ziva smiled.
"Come on, maybe you should have a nap once we put Gabby to bed."
Ziva nodded, allowing him to take the baby while she got up.
Ziva sang softly to her daughter as Jethro carefully laid her in her bassinet beside their bed, thanking anyone and everyone that this was their new reality.
