Thanks again for the great reviews. Glad you-all are liking it so much. May not update again until after next week-out of town for a convention. A few minor references to eps already aired. No spoilers….

Chapter Eleven "This child wants out now!"

By the time Ziva was admitted to OB and settled into a labor room, the team had arrived. They were only allowed to visit two at a time. Gibbs sent McGee and Abby first.

"Yea!" shouted Abby, as she entered the room. She covered her mouth and her eyes went large. "Oops, sorry. Forgot this was a hospital." She tiptoed over to Ziva and Tony.

"How are you doing?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Abby, you do not need to whisper. And we are fine." Ziva shifted in bed. "It is early yet, we may be here a long time."

Tony paced around the bed. "Do you need anything Ziva? Are you comfortable? Should I…" Ziva held up her hand.

"Tony, there is something I would like very much for you to do for me." Ziva said sweetly.

Tony knelt by the bed. "Anything! What is it?"

Ziva pointed to the chair. "Sit down and be quiet! You are driving me into the wall!" She muttered something in Hebrew.

Abby smirked. McGee had been standing hesitantly at the door. Now his face went white. "If this is how it's going to be from the start, I can't wait to see what happens when it's time for the baby to be born," he thought to himself, smiling slightly.

"What are you smiling at, McGooGoo?" Tony pouted.

Ziva cleared her throat. "Ok, I think another contraction is starting…" She leaned forward and tried to breathe through it.

Tony jumped up and began massaging her lower back. Unconsciously, he synchronized his breathing with Ziva, breathing through the contraction as if he was having one himself.

Ziva leaned back, contraction over. She smiled at Tony.

"Thank you, Tony. That helped a lot. You must have remembered that from the classes." She looked at him expectantly.

Tony didn't think he remembered it; it just seemed like something he should do.

"Yeah, I must have remembered that," he lied.

Ziva chewed on a few ice cubes, and looked at McGee.

"McGee, you can come in you know. You do not have to stand by the door."

McGee looked nervous. "You know, actually, I think I'm going to go see if Ducky would like to come see you." He practically ran from the room.

"Didn't take McGee to be such a wimp about babies," Tony laughed. "What is he going to do when you guys have one?"

"Tony!" both Abby and Ziva admonished him. Abby looked innocent. "Why would you think that McGee and I would, well, you know, have a, you know..."

"A baby?" finished Tony. Tony just flashed his big, DiNozzo smile. Abby narrowed her eyes at him.

"Uh oh," Ziva sat up again.

Tony looked alarmed. "Another contraction? That came a lot faster than before."

Ziva was perspiring, struggling to keep her breathing even. "It...is...also…stronger." Finally, the contraction ended. Ziva lay back against her pillows, clearly tired.

"Maybe I should call the nurse," Tony said. Just then, the L & D nurse came into the room.

"Well, that was a good contraction. Let's do a little peek to see how things are coming."

Tony looked confused. "How did you know she just had a contraction?"

"We have an external monitor on your wife. It is very similar to a heart monitor. It makes wavy patterns that measure the strength and length of the contraction, and how often they occur." She pointed out the door.

"We can see it on our monitors at our station."

"Well, I'll just be going," Abby excused herself. "We'll all be waiting, in the waiting room, you know…waiting." Abby turned and bolted from the room.

"Ok, Ziva. I'm going to put the head of your bed down, and I need you to bring your knees up and spread your legs, just like when you were examined in the office." The nurse turned to Tony.

"You can help support her legs if you like. It can be a real strain on the back to hold this position."

Tony nodded, and helped Ziva bring her knees up. The nurse's head disappeared for awhile. Ziva grimaced as the internal exam ensued.

"You doing ok?" Toy leaned down to Ziva's face. She looked into his eyes.

"It is just a little uncomfortable." She murmured.

The nurse straightened up. "You are progressing very nicely, Ziva. In fact, things are moving faster than we earlier anticipated. You are already 7cm dilated and 80 per cent effaced."

Tony shook his head, "What does that mean?"

"It means, Tony," Ziva held his hand, "That our child will be coming sooner than we thought, yes?" Ziva looked at the nurse.

She nodded. "I know you have a lot of family out there. I suggest you let one more come see you. Then we can give you the epidural."

Ziva waved her hands, "I do not need any drugs for the pain. I have been through pain far worse than this. I can handle it."

"She's not kidding," Tony told the nurse.

The nurse smiled. "Oh, I've heard that one before. This is a military hospital, remember." She left the room.

Ziva narrowed her eyes and looked at Tony. "Does she think I am not capable…oh-oh-oh…."

This time, Ziva didn't care who heard her yell out. Tony never heard Ziva make such a sound as the one came out of her mouth. He wasn't even sure it sounded human. She was crushing his hand, almost bringing Tony to his knees.

"Ok, ok, that's right; yell through it, don't worry about how loud and terrifying you sound. You're doing great, Ziva." Tony was almost in tears from the pain in his hand.

Finally, the pain subsided. Ziva collapsed against the bed. "That was…"

"Ready for that epidural?" Tony asked innocently. He caressed her cheek.

"You know, it doesn't mean you're weak or anything. Maybe it would be better for the baby if you weren't in so much pain." Tony pushed a damp lock of hair back from her face.

Ziva looked at him, "Maybe, for the baby's sake…"

"Exactly what I was thinking," Tony kissed her lightly on the lips. "Have I told you today how much I love you?

Ziva shook her head. "Have I told you today I am ready to kill you for getting me in this way?" Tony laughed.

"I was wondering when that was going to come out. So it's all my fault, hmmm?"

Ziva smiled tiredly and caressed his cheek. "Thank you."

Tony looked surprised. "For what?"

"For loving me, for being with me, for getting me this way…" she giggled.

There was a slight knock on the door. "Are you decent?"

Gibbs poked his head around the door. Ziva and Tony smiled and beckoned him to come in.

Gibbs took Ziva's hand and kissed her on the top of her head. "How are you doing?"

"It is going well. The baby will be here soon."

Gibbs straightened up. He walked over to Tony and shook his hand. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. The emotions in his eyes said it all.

"On it, Boss." Tony nodded. He understood exactly what Gibbs was communicating to him.

"You've got a family now, DiNozzo. Treasure it; protect it."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "Because if you don't I will kick your ass!" Tony got that message loud and clear as well.

Gibbs kissed Ziva again. "Next time I see you, I expect to see my grandchild!" Gibbs smiled and left the room.

Tony mulled over that one for a new minutes.

"Tony!" Ziva shouted. Tony jumped up. "I'm getting the nurse." Before he could move, several nurses entered the room, as well as the OB.

"Ok, Ziva. It's now or never for the epidural. What's your pleasure?"

Ziva looked at Tony, who tilted his head and gave her his best "you know what I think" look. Ziva sighed.

"Yes, ok. Let us get it over with."

Tony left the room, not really wanting to watch someone stick a big needle in Ziva's back. He wandered back to the waiting room. Everyone jumped up when he came through the door.

"So soon?" Ducky declared.

"Nah, just sticking some big-ass needle in her back. How twisted is that? You have to inflict pain to get rid of pain. I will never understand doctors." Tony grimaced.

"Ah," said Ducky, "They are giving her an epidural. Very wise choice, Anthony. She will be able to conserve her energy better."

Ducky looked at Tony, "However, I am very much surprised that our Ziva consented to the procedure. She is so…"

"Stubborn?" Tony finished.

Ducky smiled, "The word I am more inclined to say is 'proud.' She has always had this unnecessary desire to prove how strong and invulnerable she is."

"Helps when you know someone has your back." Gibbs interjected. "You've been good for her, Tony. She's been good for you."

Tony didn't know what to say. To hear Gibbs admit how proud he was, meant more to Tony than he cared to admit. Just as he was trying to come up with a mature response, he was interrupted.

The nurse poked her head through the door. "All done."

"Bye!" Tony trotted back behind the nurse, and headed back to their room. Ziva has lying with her head slightly elevated.

"How do you feel?" Tony grabbed her hand. Ziva made a face.

"It was not pleasant, but once the medicine was in, it was ok." She frowned. "I do not have much feeling in my legs."

Tony looked alarmed. "Is that normal?"

"They said it would happen, so do not worry. Oh ok, here we go again…"

This time Ziva breathe through the contraction with much less effort. She was much calmer.

"That was much better! No pain?" Tony asked.

Ziva shook her head. "It is hard to describe. It is still uncomfortable, but it is like, ah, a pressure, yes. Not so much like being stabbed repeatedly with a knife."

Tony had a look of horror on his face. "I think I could have done without that imagery." He looked thoughtfully at Ziva. She looked peaceful, calm. He cleared his throat.

"Ah, Ziva, now that you are feeling pretty good, I was wondering if I could ask you something."

Ziva looked at Tony dreamily. "What?"

"Do you remember how things were between us two years ago?"

Ziva's eyes shot daggers at Tony. "Why are you asking me such a stupid question, now?"

Tony held his ground. "Ziva. My brain is two years ago, remember? I think I am holding up well, but there are so many things I just don't get." He took a deep breath.

"Such as?" Ziva voice sounded menacing.

"My last memory of "us" was, well, not quite hostile, but not good. A lot of things had just happened to each of us. Not together, but individually. We usually helped each other through it." Tony gathered his thoughts.

"When I told you I called it quits with Wendy, quits for good; you seemed really happy. Then you started pulling away. No more movie nights. No "in your face' teasing. You seemed distant."

"Then when Gibbs sent us to Cartagena, you actually referred to me as dead weight. Dead weight!" Tony shrugged helplessly.

"I want to know what happened. But more importantly, I want to know how we fixed things between us."

Ziva's eyes were filled with tears. "Tony, that was a long time ago."

"Not to me!" Tony didn't mean to raise his voice. He took both of Ziva's hands in his. "Please, just explain this to me."

Ziva looked down. "Yes, when you told me that Wendy was no longer in your life, I was happy. Finally, you had made peace with your past and you could move on. Just as I had made peace with my past."

Ziva looked hurt. "And what did you do then? Nothing! You sat on your hairy butt and continued life as Tony DiNozzo, heartbreaker of women. After all we had been through; after all of the obstacles in our way, we finally had our chance…"

Tony's eyes open wide. "You backed off because…"

"Because I thought you did not share my feelings. That I had been wrong, that I had misinterpreted what you were feeling, for me."

"Oh my God. Ziva." Tony murmured. "I, I…"

He looked at the wedding band on his finger. "Ziva, I do know what I was feeling at that time. I knew you were angry at me, but I didn't know why. And I didn't know how to fix it. Of 'course I had feelings for you. Hell, I fell for you the minute I met you. But, as you said, obstacles, timing…"

Tony searched Ziva's eyes. "What changed? What turned things around for us?"

"Not now, Tony." Ziva warned.

"But…"

"No, I mean another contraction is coming!"

Ziva panted through her contraction. "That was stronger than the last one." She took Tony's hand. "Do we really need to talk about this now?"

Tony looked uncomfortable, "Yes, I don't know why, but it's important for me to hear this."

Ziva sighed. "Well, it was not long after you hurt your head." She looked at him. "The injury you think you just had."

She looked lost in thought. "You were different somehow, afterwards. Almost sad. Of 'course, I was worried, so that gave me the incentive to get close to you again. You seemed to perk up, but still seemed very thoughtful; no, I do not think that is the right word. Thinking? I do not know; something was on your mind."

Ziva chewed on some more crushed ice. "The Space Shuttle made its final flight over DC, before it went to the Smithsonian out in Herndon."

Tony looked confused at this piece of news. "OK. Good to know."

Ziva laughed. "Tony! It was a very big deal. The Shuttle was going to fly in DC airspace! It was the last chance for everyone to see it in the air."

"Oh, I get it. That's actually kind of cool."

"Yes, well, we could have gone to the roof to see it. But for some reason, you talked me into taking a cab down to the Mall to see if from there."

"So, you and I caught a cab at 9:30 in the morning, and ended up at the Monument for Washington."

"The Washington Monument," Tony corrected her.

"Whatever! Anyway, there were many people all over the grounds, looking in the sky. Suddenly, we heard a woman yell, "There it is!" We looked up and saw it come in from the Potomac toward the Mall. It was flying so low, it looked like it was landing."

Ziva smiled at the memory. "I was very excited. This was an important part of American History that I was witnessing. It came back for another pass, and suddenly you grabbed my hand and we ran toward it, laughing, like we were going to catch a ride. The Shuttle made four passes, each one lower than the last. You could see the individual tiles. It was amazing!"

Tony was amused and charmed by Ziva's exuberance. She looked up at him. "After the last pass, we just spontaneously hugged each other, it seemed so natural. You took both of my hands in yours, and then…"

"And then?" Tony was holding his breath.

"You kissed me. Not like before, when we playing or having sex. It was different. It was sweet; gentle…it was the most beautiful kiss I have ever had." Ziva closed her eyes, remembering the moment. "After that, we look at each other and said 'we need to talk.' We both started laughing and I think we both knew then that everything would be fine."

"I guess we talked," Tony commented.

"Oh, yes, but that is for another time, because right now, I think this child wants out!"

Tony jumped up. "Now?"

"Now!"