Hey! Hope you like it :) Sorry it's so short, I thought I would post this before I fell asleep again :/ Had a long day...

Extra long chap next time *offers pinky finger*

Chapter TwentyOne

'' Gibbs?'' called Ziva as she descended his basement stairs. Since Ziva had been sick, Gibbs had been extremely quiet. She stopped on the bottom step, resting on the banister.

'' Gibbs? Are you alright?'' asked Ziva.

'' Yeah.'' said Gibbs, running a sanding block along a thin strip of wood.

'' Are you sure?'' quizzed the Israeli, watching Gibbs' hands move.

'' Yeah, did I stutter?''

Ziva chuckled. '' No, but I - along with Abby, Tony and McGee- have noticed that you have been very quiet. This isn't because of the coffee, is it?''

'' No...''

'' Did you know part of my Mossad training is being able to spot when someone is lying?'' said Ziva.

'' Ziver.''

'' It is not your fault, Gibbs. I read online that many things can make a pregnant woman feel ill; freshly cut grass, petrol, blood,'' Ziva laughed '' Even coffee and pasta. I would not worry. I will be drinking coffee as soon as I give birth.''

'' No, you won't.''

Ziva looked at him, her brow furrowed. '' Why not?''

'' Breastfeeding. It's not a good idea to drink caffeine when you're breastfeeding.'' said Gibbs, blowing excess sawdust off of the wood he was working on.

'' And who says I am going to breastfeed?'' asked Ziva, a hand on hip. She was feeling a little braver, as she left the safety of the stairs to stand on the basement floor.

Gibbs looked at her, an eyebrow raised, making Ziva sigh. '' Have you even thought about it?'' asked Gibbs.

'' Not really. I guess I will get to that decision later?''

Gibbs nodded, watching Ziva fiddle with the tools on Gibbs' tool bench. '' Got something on your mind, Ziv?''

Ziva looked at Gibbs. '' Several things, actually. I heard a rumour that you opted for tea instead of coffee, is this true?'' asked Ziva, her face serious but Gibbs could tell she was joking.

'' Yeah, it's true.'' said Gibbs. '' Just don't tell Ducky, he'll give me a lecture on brewing or something.''

'' I hope that change isn't because of me.'' said Ziva quietly.

'' Just tryin' to make you more comfortable, I can drink coffee at home.''

Ziva hummed and she perched herself on the tool table. '' That is not all on my mind.'' said Ziva, looking down and picking her nails.

'' You are worried that because my baby made me have a bad reaction to coffee, that the baby is not yours.'' said Ziva.

Gibbs stopped sanding to look at Ziva, he fixed her with a stare, but Ziva ignored it.

'' I should have been stronger.'' said Gibbs.

'' Gibbs, you are strong. None of this was your fault. We have discussed this.'' said Ziva, moving towards him. She reached out and rest a small hand on his forearm. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

'' I've ruined your life.'' muttered Gibbs.

'' Not really.'' said Ziva. '' I have always wanted children. It is just ahead of schedule, that is all. Besides, it might not be yours.''

Ziva squeezed Gibbs' forearm gently before turning on her heel to leave. '' When you are ready to talk, Gibbs...'' said Ziva, her voice trailing off as she climbed the stairs. Gibbs nodded, despite the fact that she wasn't there.

'' Gibbs... A few weeks ago you turned this conversation down. I was trying to think why you were so closed up. I thought that maybe you were just being Gibbs, but I have been thinking.''

'' Dangerous, Ziva...'' said Gibbs, his throat closing up.

'' About you, about your life before NCIS, about your wife and daughter. I know what the other two are feeling, even though it isn't in detail. I need to know what you are feeling. Do you want this child to be yours?'' asked Ziva, her eyes on the spot where she saw her brother lying.

'' I don't deserve another child.'' said Gibbs so quietly that Ziva almost didn't hear.

Ziva stood up straight and she glared at Gibbs. '' Excuse me?''

'' I don't deserve another child.'' said Gibbs, a little louder.

Ziva scoffed. '' You are being ridiculous. Why do you not deserve another child?''

'' Because, I let her get killed.''

'' Seriously? I can not think of a man more worthy to have a child than you.''

Gibbs scoffed, but Ziva was having none of it.

'' Gibbs, you throw yourself neck deep into any case involving a child, you deny yourself sleep until the threat is behind bars. You have a way of making people, adult or infant, feel safe. Gibbs, you are perfect father material, even the way you are with Abby is enough...'' said Ziva, trailing off.

Gibbs looked up to see Ziva regarding him with an angry look. '' You okay?''

'' Never say you are not good enough, Gibbs. You are more than adequate to be a father. You were protecting your family from potential terrorists and attacks. You cannot be everywhere at once. I would be proud to call you the father of my child, Gibbs.'' said Ziva, her last sentence spoken softly.

Gibbs looked at her, his sapphire irises meeting her fiery mocha ones. '' Ziver, I don't need a pep talk.'' he said, walking over to her. He rest a hand on her face and kissed her temple. '' I wouldn't mind being called the father of your child.''

Ziva smiled and nodded. '' Now, don't you feel better after that talk?''

'' No.'' said Gibbs, his hand on the small of Ziva's back, leading her up the stairs.

'' So, what are you working on? It looks a little too small to be a boat.''

'' Secret.'' said Gibbs, grinning at Ziva's groan.