Author's Notes: I got my puppy Mia yesterday, yay! She's adorable and very well-behaved, I love her so much already and so does my sister :). Thanks to my reviewers: mia58 (Simon doesn't have an active part in the story since he he dead, but he is Nathan's biological father so he still matters in some way. Why didn't Eve kill Ziva indeed, you won't find that answer in this chapter but soon enough :). Glad you liked Toyn and Ziva last chapter), mwah47 (Thanks!), Leobold1 (Yeah Spike is an interesting character. And what do you mean by you've "got a hold on Eve"? And it'll be a wait, I'm only releasing small snippets of Eve at the moment, but son enough more background will be known. And Ari brought Nathan the pencils for the reason of being a b'day gift and a possible tool, but he did not arrange the kidnapping or assist in the abduction...but you're right, that doesn't mean he wasn't involved someway), M E Wofford (Yay, Fornell fan. Glad the flashbacks did some explaining. Also some more Nathan/Gibbs moments, eh? I'm sure I can establish that...Ironically there is some in the chapter after this one, a lot actually), NCISislikecupcakes (Thanks, heh), unknown (This if is a very long way from ending, but I'm sure it'll have a happy feel to it when it does. Glad you like all the Tiva and Tony/Nathan moments as well as the way Ziva's starting to open up as there is a bit more of it in this chapter), Ziny-DiNozzo (thanks, :). More about Eve/Eva will be known soon, as for Simon...not for a little while again) and Nepeace (Thanks and you're welcome!)
Of course, also thanks to: Amber-chick (I really really enjoy your rambling and long reviews!!! Eve did not turn against Mossad, not in the true sense of the phrase, but can't say more than that for now. The "why" reason for the kidnap of Nathan from Eve's part will be hinted more and revealed soon enough. She does have a temper, yes. Glad you loved the Tony/Nathan bonding moments and you're right with your comments. Haha. Eve is indeed the codename for Eva, but not because she hates her heritage, but all kidnappers in this group have one (Spike, Bruce, Kenny and Jack). I put Jenny back in because of the Jibbs and I do not believe that Vance would have a heart enough to let Nathan stay at NCIS in a way Jenny might. Bruce went after Nathan because it's his job to take the boy but he went against their plans and indeed...why? What could come of it? Nathan is no good to the kidnappers dead before his purpose is carried out, but Eve did save them...Bruce never intended to kill the boy. I loved all your comments and I'm greatful for your thoughts, also just to varify: Ari never met Simon in any shape or form. And Nathan is building something in Gibbs' basement, not just helping with the boat although he does that as well. And I really wanted to use the flashbacks to show how Ziva came across Simon, how she let her guard down and most importantly: his unfulfilled promise to be there for her. Ari's eagerness to shoot him is one of my fave lines, :). Yay, I can name a character after you! It wasn't until on the way home with my pup that I figured out who and I think you'll like her but she won't be seen until a lot later, looking at past chapter 70), Debook210 (Working through the Tiva and not just having them rush things or skim over things that are important parts of a relationship is what I aim for in my fic, glad you agree. I'm sure I can work in Tony/Nathan/Gibbs moment, not sure when though. I also have some Ziva/Abby bonding later if you're interested :). You're wondering why Ziva kept the baby aka Nathan? I won't go into detail as I may explain it in the fic later but it's mostyl involving the fact she wanted to be a mother, the man was wrong and the timing was wrong but a baby was something she though she could never deserve/have and she was against aborting/adopting him out. Loved the comment at the end), and Immirose (The review made sense, heh. I too felt Ziva's outburst was needed, there is only so much she can take, even as a Mossad Asassin. Tony somehow knew what to do and offered himself as a way for her to release. The fruit obsession Spike has is indeed interesting, as you'll find out later. "one step forward two steps back" is the perfect way to describe Tony and Ziva's relationship. Fornell fan yay but I for one do not like Sack/Slacks but he make make an appearance later.
Okay, sorry about the long-ness of the A/N but I have to thank me reviewers and answer questions! On with the chapter even though it is a bit shorter than usua. Updating again soon. Enjoy!
Chapter twenty-five: Trustworthy confessions
It was the following day that the small, slowly-establishing family made their way back home. Gibbs had not filled Tony or Ziva in on the details of his interrogation with Jack or the fact that the man was still locked in the interrogation room until he was up to talking…but the couple had more things on their minds anyway.
Upon returning home, Ziva sunk back into her mothering role, feeling a bit better that two kidnappers were now caught and suffering somewhat under Gibbs. Tony was preoccupied with Nathan having discovered a TV show called Pokémon, amongst various other children shows that he insisted on owning or seeing while Ziva cooked in the background. The adults were thankful that Nathan (while still being as observant as he was) did not see past his natural child's innocence long enough to notice the tension between his mother and the man he wanted as his father. But it was only a matter of time before his senses that he inherited from Ziva picked up that something didn't feel right as he was talking to Tony late that afternoon.
'And then he breathed fire and…you're not listening to me' Nathan frowned as Tony turned away from him to glance over at Ziva where she was busy cleaning.
'I am' Tony insisted, having only lost his concentration for a moment.
'No, you're not' Nathan replied, crossing his arms in annoyance and he felt a bit rejected. 'You're lying and you're worried' he said.
'David genes' Tony grumbled before taking a breath and tried to think of how to rectify the situation as Ziva was clearly not coming to his rescue due to slipping into yet another daydreaming trance. 'Nathan, it's been a long week' Tony started as the boy stared at him, awaiting a reasonable explanation as to why the man he idolized and wanted as his father wasn't listening to him as he told him something he considered to be exciting.
'I know' Nathan nodded when Tony said nothing else, thinking he was awaiting a reply.
'I was listening to you, I just…' Tony frowned and wondered how parents always knew what to say but then had to remind himself that he wasn't a parent, just a substitute. 'I have a lot on my mind' he decided to say.
'Okay' Nathan sighed and shrugged. He didn't like it but he did understand because he too was still flashing back to what had happened recently. 'But why are you worried?' he then sounded fearful as he knew that look on Tony's face.
Tony stared over at Ziva and scratched his head for a moment. 'Um, because your mother is cleaning too much' he replied, which wasn't overly true but he was prepared this time and hid his lie from Nathan.
Nathan climbed upwards on the couch and peered over the top to look at his mother.
'I think she's just sad because the bad man came into our house and tried to hurt us' Nathan said wisely. 'We should cheer her up' he decided with a nod and was hopping off the couch before Tony could stop him. 'Mama!' Nathan grinned and hugged her around the middle, knowing that when he was happy she was too and how much she loved his hugs.
'Is something wrong?' Ziva asked as she hugged her son back and felt a bit warmer if not happier with his embrace.
'You're sad. Tony and I are going to make you happy' Nathan told her, turning to look up at her but Ziva had glanced over at Tony.
'Is that so?' Ziva asked her son, looking away from Tony again. 'That is very kind my love, but I am fine' she kissed atop his head and it occurred to Tony that those words were probably amongst the only lies she had ever told her son.
'Are you sure?' Nathan asked, not too convinced. 'Tony thinks you clean too much'.
Ziva cast a small glare at Tony as she ruffled her son's hair. 'Well if Tony helped me then I would not have to do it all'.
'I'll help!' Nathan jumped in at the chance to be important.
Tony watched as Ziva turned to busy her son with a few chores and smiled; even though he had no idea why…just watching those two together made him feel as though all the stress of the past few weeks was worth it.
Tony awoke that same night and turned on the lamp that sat atop his bedside table on his right. He turned over and noticed two things: Nathan wasn't in their bed and Ziva was pacing back and forth.
'I did not mean to wake you' Ziva apologized right away and stopped pacing.
'What's wrong?' Tony asked as he noticed that it was after 2am.
Ziva stared at him for a moment but said nothing but noticed the look on his face as Tony sighed heavily and turned the light back off before lying back down in bed, turning to face away from her. While Tony had been thinking and realizing his feelings, Ziva had been all jumbled up and confused, which was why she was up all night, having sorted them out.
She cursed in Hebrew quickly before climbing onto the bed and she turned Tony back over so he was lying on his back with her leaning over him slightly. He was rather surprised by her actions but didn't show it and just stared at her moonlit face.
Ziva bit her lip, fidgeted slightly and then took a breath. 'I love you' she said, closing her eyes briefly and knew she probably should have given a speech or explanation to her sudden confession but it would delay her response and allow time for her to back out of it.
'You don't have to say that' Tony replied, feeling she was saying it because she was worried about their relationship or felt that she had to since he had unofficially given his own confession days ago.
'I want to' Ziva insisted. 'Because it is how I feel' she said. All the confusion gone as she knew it was true, and it showed in her eyes along with her loving expression.
Tony sat up in the bed and stared at her, his face now dimly lit by the moonlight as well. He knew he should say something but he just acted on impulse and pulled her into his arms, kissing her full on the lips and the pair lay back down, still locked in a passionate, heated kiss. As they parted Tony kissed down to her collarbone and then atop her head as she rested against him, feeling the pressures of their relationship fading.
But after another ten minutes Tony knew that Ziva still could not get to sleep and he asked her why, hoping that her declaration of love meant that she was opening up.
Ziva looked upwards at him and caught that hopeful expression, which encouraged her to tell him, to finally open up to him in some way that she could.
'I have been thinking…about the past and there is something you should know' Ziva sighed, sitting up and Tony soon copied. 'You have asked me to trust you, and I do but you were right…it is hard for me to trust a person as in Mossad there is only one person to rely on: yourself. I could not let others know what I am thinking, feeling…or even to let my guard down for a second as it could be the difference between life and death' she said, lowering her gaze. 'I learnt that in training but also the hard way; with Simon'.
'Simon?' Tony echoed, wondering who this other man was but didn't like the mention of another man moments after she told him she loved him.
'I met him about eight years ago' Ziva said softly.
'Oh, so he's…' Tony did the math.
'Yes, Simon was Nathan's father' Ziva nodded and it was then that Tony came to realize how little he knew about Nathan's father other than that he was dead, but he'd also never actually asked.
'I was myself with him' Ziva said, staring at the small amount of bed that separated them. 'I let him into my heart…' she said, feeling the emotion swelling inside her but she forced it away. 'Only to lose him'.
Unaware to the couple inside their bedroom as they discussed the man that brought about his existence, Nathan was heading towards their room, having woken up and wanted their safety. But on his way Nathan was pulled from his sleepiness as he overheard the conversation from the partially ajar doorway.
'You won't lose me' Tony told Ziva, reaching for her.
'You cannot promise that' Ziva told him, which was true…especially with their jobs.
Tony decided to change tactic and rephrased. 'I will never leave you for as long as we have this connection that we do now, like McGeek does with his computers…I will also do right by Nathan as well, because he is just as important to me now' but Tony's promises went no further as the bedroom door was pushed open and Nathan ran into the room, climbed onto the bed and hugged Tony tightly.
As the pair sat there hugging, Ziva was worried about how much Nathan had overheard as Tony's last words had obviously motivated him to run to him like that. But while she thought of the more worrying things, Tony was feeling rather warm to Nathan's hug…the same way that he felt warm when he kissed Ziva. It was like an establishment of a deep connection, of love or caring strongly for another. It brought Tony to a decision that he never in a million years thought he'd ever make…that while the boy he was now holding no longer had his biological father, Tony was going to try and be a good substitute. And that shocked Tony because it meant he saw his and Ziva's relationship as long term.
Ziva noticed his shock but joined him as he lay down in the bed, holding the now-asleep Nathan between them. But she spared only a second before questioning him to the look on his face he just had.
'We should get some sleep' Tony replied, hating the hypocritical guilt inside him but he could not bring himself to voice his decision aloud…not yet. Tony flashed his usual charming grin at her and leaned over Nathan to give her a quick but soft kiss on her lips before whispering into her ear.
'And just to make it official…in the chance that someone will make a movie about this one day…' he joked but then turned serious. 'I love you' Tony kissed Ziva's cheek and moved back to his side of the bed and closed his eyes to get some sleep, still feeling the young boy that was cuddled up beside him.
Author's Notes: 1..2..3..awww! Heh, I really hope I wrote this realistically, because I tried so hard and debated heaps of times if I should make it later or not but given the situation, I believe it was kinda called for and it's important for this fic to progress. I am usually someone who HATES "i love you" "I love you too" first confessions and it is still rather early but there is a child involved and these pair have been through a lot, I hate feeling a little hypocritical, although Tony did unofficially say he loved her last chapter with the "love is supposed to conquer all" speech. Anyway, enough of my rambling...please review and I will update about Wednesday.
-Mel
P.s I think it's fair to say that the Tiva is really establishing strongly now :)