The next morning Ziva woke up to the beautiful sight of her baby daughter lying in her hospital bassinet. She was wide awake but quite content to lay there in silence taking in the world around her. Ziva smiled as she sat up slowly and watched her.
"How long have you been awake hmm?" She reached out to gently stroke her cheek making her turn to face her. "Well hello there Angel." Ziva smiled. "You have my eyes Alaigha, yes you do. I know you met a lot of people yesterday but the smallest one was your big brother. He has his Papa's eyes but you have mine. I do believe you shall grow up to look just like me." Unbeknownst to mother and daughter, Tony watched from the doorway with the biggest of smiles. He silently entered the room and went to stand the other side of his daughter. Ziva only startled a little before returning her gaze to the newborn.
"You called her Alaigha." He smiled, picking up and playing with his daughter's hand. "Does that mean we agree?" She nodded.
"I like it." She paused, her gaze flitting from Tony to Alaigha. "I was wondering about middle names." She was slightly shy and Tony picked up on this immediately.
"Oh? What about them?"
"Do you think she could have more than one?" Tony looked at her funny.
"Depends what they were." He said at length. "Which ones were you thinking?" Ziva looked up at him quickly before dropping her eye line back to the baby.
"Jennifer and Tali." Tony smiled sadly. "Well Tali has always been on the counter and, well, I think Jenny would have liked it."
"Table." She rolled her eyes at him. "I think she would." When Ziva looked up at him, her eyes were brimming with tears. "Oh Sweetheart." He rounded the bassinet and embraced his wife.
"I miss her." Ziva murmured into his shoulder.
"I know, I know." Ziva pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes.
"Does this mean you agree?" Tony kissed her gently.
"I agree. Alaigha Jennifer Tali DiNozzo-David it is."
"Leia for short." A huge smile sprung forth on his face. "What?" She asked nervously.
"Leia, as in Princess Leia, as in Star Wars?" Tony watched in despair as the reference went straight over her head. "I am making you watch Star Wars when we get home Zi." After they were visited by Ducky, Jimmy and Breena and Abby had brought Oscar up, very close to weeping tears of relief that Alaigha would be coming with them, Ziva was discharged and Tony drove all four of them home.
Once Tony had pulled the the car onto the driveway, Ziva rounded to the back of the car and opened Oscar's door.
"Little sister's sleeping Ima." Ziva smiled at him.
"She will do that a lot my darling. She is growing." She unstrapped him and hoisted him onto her hip. "Come on, let us go home yes?" He nodded gently and Ziva walked to the other side of the car and unhooked Alaigha's car seat, carrying them both to where Tony had opened the door for her. She smiled at him in thanks before he followed her into their home.
Several hours later, Oscar was sleeping peacefully, half way through his afternoon nap, and Ziva was sat on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table, with Alaigha lying on her thighs. She was making all manner of expressive faces at her, while making her wave her hands all over the place. Tony smiled as he placed a glass of apple juice on the table beside her feet.
"You're besotted huh?" He smiled at the baby, who gave both of her parents a rather funny look, before sitting down beside them. Ziva chuckled before picking up Alaigha and putting her in Tony's arms.
"It is hard not to be. She is just so perfect. How did we make anything this perfect?" Ziva gushed, stroking her finger up and down Alaigha's arm. Tony smiled, remembering the day that they had brought Oscar home and she had asked the exact same question.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: with you as a mother, she could be nothing but." He gently kissed her. "Now, shall we put her in her crib?" Ziva smiled.
"I guess we probably should." She sighed contentedly. "Our family is complete." The family spent the rest of the day taking pictures and enjoying being together. Oscar very quickly got used to his baby sister being in the house and started to become just as besotted as his parents.
The next day, Gibbs delivered another handmade rocking chair, the back of which was emblazoned with 'Alaigha'. As she had with Oscar, Ziva spent most evenings sat in the chair, watching her baby angel sleep.