Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the reviews, I really do appreciate them and reading your thoughts. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter, and c'mon, do you really think I'd have let Ziva loose that baby? Also, thank you all so much for being so patient with me, there just aren't enough hours in the day. And the name of this chapter, I know it sucks and probably doesn't really fit, but hopefully the content will make up for it.
Jmmarshall1692: I have a thought as to how to incorporate Eli into a chapter, and since it has been suggested I will put it in. It will probably be a little further down the road but I'll try my best to incorporate it.
13NCISgirl: Thank you for the well wishes on exams :) They're still a couple of weeks away but uhh, studying has already begun.
Betherzz: Wow! Poor you, I hate that your first pregnancy was so high risk but glad everything worked out :) Sorry that a couple of your pregnancies didn't make it to term :( I will definitely have to see how I can incorporate this bit of knowledge into the story, and no, I've never been pregnant. I don't have my own children yet, I just have everyone else's.
NCIS Lover: Depending on the sex of the baby I will see what I can do about the name.
Once again, thanks soooooooooooo much for the reviews, I really do love reading them and getting them. Let me know what you think of this chapter please.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the precious, and rather absent as of late, Tali.
"DADDY!" Tali screams as the door opens and Tony walks in, his arm wrapped around Ziva's shoulders. Tony untangles his arm from around Ziva and bends down, catching Tali as she runs into his outstretched arms. "Daddy home, Daddy home!" Tali squeals with delight as she buries her face into his shoulder, her little arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Tony's heart melts at seeing his little girl so happy to see him, but as her grip becomes tighter around his neck he is almost positive that she has spent far too much time with Abby.
"Yeah Princess, Daddy is home. Have you been good for Mommy and Leah while I've been gone?" Tony asks as he places a kiss on Tali's cheek. Tali looks up at Tony for a moment, her smile reflecting the identical one that is plastered on his face, and she then buries her face in his neck once again.
Tony, with Tali still in his arms, helps Ziva, who argues about needing assistance, over to the sofa. He then places Tali down on the sofa beside Ziva and Tali then snuggles up to her mother, Ziva wrapping her arms around Tali. Tony smiles at the two then turns to Leah, telling her that everything, and he emphasizes everything, is all right. He thanks her for staying with Tali and for helping so much the past few days, he pays her and then walks her out. When he turns around from the door he can't keep the smile off his face. Tali is beside Ziva, her head resting on Ziva's stomach as one of Ziva's hands run through Tali's curls, the other resting on top of her stomach.
"Why are you smiling?" Ziva asks, her eyes never leaving Tali as she speaks to her husband. Tony chuckles to himself, his wife's ninja skills still sharp as ever.
"Because I have the most beautiful wife and daughter in the entire world!" Tony gently sits down beside Ziva on the sofa, not wanting to accidentally bump against her tender side.
"Yep!" Tali smiles at Tony, the smug, and slightly cocky, tone in her voice all Dinozzo as she flashes an equally pure Dinozzo grin at both of her parents. Both Tony and Ziva laugh at their daughter, Tony for a moment completely shocked by his daughter's overly confident attitude.
"Way to be modest Tali," Tony teases the little girl, reaching across Ziva to tap Tali's nose. Tali giggles, burying her face in Ziva's side to escape the tapping of her father's finger.
"I have told you, she is all you." Ziva widens her eyes to emphasize her statement. Tony narrows his eyes at her slightly, a questioning little smirk on his face
"And I say she's just like you." Tony does not give Ziva a chance to argue, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. For a moment the two allow themselves to give into the kiss, momentarily forgetting that their daughter is sitting beside them.
"Daa-DE, MOM-MUH!" Tali's voice is a mixture of a whine and frustration at being ignored as she kicks her legs back and forth against the sofa. Tony and Ziva turn to face their little bundle of noise, both giving her surprised looks. Tali smiles at her parents, giggling at the looks on their faces.
"C'mere Princess," Tony says to Tali as he holds his hands out to her.
Tali willingly goes to her father and he carefully lifts her over Ziva, settling her in his lap. Tali snuggles into his arms, leaning her head back against his chest. Tony places a kiss on the top of Tali's head then pulls Ziva closer to him, and she too places her head on his chest, her face right beside Tali's. Tali turns her head slightly, her eyes meeting Ziva's. Ziva leans over a little, her side coming in contact with Tony's and she takes in a sharp breath, her side proving to be very tender. Ziva can feel Tony's body tense, worry immediately washing over him.
"I am fine Tony, I promise." Ziva assures him, and he immediately relaxes. Ziva then returns her attention to Tali, kissing her daughter on the forehead.
"Mama." Tali smiles as she reaches her hand out to Ziva, cupping Ziva's face with her small hand. "Daddy." Tali then says, her other hand reaching up and touching Tony's face. Tali then rests her head back against her father's chest and faces forward, her eyes focusing on the singing monkey that is on the television.
Tony and Ziva glance at one another, their eyes locking as their hearts melt at the sweetness of their daughter. Tony leans down; brushing a gentle kiss against Ziva's lips then places another kiss on Tali's forehead. Ziva smiles at her husband and daughter then snuggles closer to Tony, her head rests on his chest as she tucks one hand under her head, the other snaking around his torso, pulling him closer to her. Tony smiles at his wife and daughter, both close to sleep as they stare at the TV, some strange purple monkey dancing through the alphabet. Tony then allows himself to relax, happy to have finally returned home to his amazing wife and daughter.
"Tony, wake up…Tony!" Ziva's groggy voice startles Tony from a deep slumber, her hand against his chest as she shakes him. Tony's eyes quickly fly open, his eyes immediately turning to her; fear that something is wrong grabbing a hold of him.
"Are you ok? Is it the baby?" Tony sits straight up, his arm immediately wrapping around Tali at the same moment as Ziva's arm shoots out, bracing Tali back against Tony so she doesn't hit the floor.
"I am fine, I just do not think either of us will have appreciative backs in the morning if we are to sleep on the sofa all night." Ziva's voice is thick with sleep as she speaks, her chin resting on Tony's chest as she looks up at him through tired eyes. Tony blinks a few times, trying to keep his eyes open and nods, his back never forgiving after a night of slumber on the sofa after being kicked out of bed or falling asleep watching a movie.
"I'll take her to the nursery," Tony says as he stretches one arm over his head, the other still wrapped around Tali protectively.
"She can sleep with us tonight," Ziva says through a yawn as she sits up, beginning to stretch but stopping as she realizes it isn't such a good idea.
Seeing his wife rethink an everyday action Tony is quickly to his feet, maneuvering Tali to where her head is now resting on his shoulder. He then holds his hand out to Ziva and is met by a glare, his wife never one to accept a man's outstretched hand, but whether it is the late hour or discomfort she finally accepts his hand. Tony helps her to her feet, noticing as she gingerly touches her side. Ziva feels Tony's eyes on her and looks up, concern etched in his face. Ziva offers him a small smile and gently places her hand on his face, her thumb stroking his cheek. She then takes his hand and leads him to the bedroom.
Tony first places Tali in the middle of the bed then quickly hurries over to Ziva. He takes the edge of the sheets away from her as she begins to turn them down and is met by a questioning look. Tony shakes his head at her and her independence then turns the cover down for her. She climbs into bed, lying down and wrapping her arms around Tali. Tony gently places the cover around her after she has gotten into bed, and he then heads to his side of the bed, getting under the sheets as he snuggles closer to his daughter and wife.
"I love you," Tony whispers to Tali as he places a kiss to her cheek. Tony then looks at Ziva, her eyes focused intently on him and Tali. "I love you too." Tony brings his hand to her cheek, pulling her into a gentle, quick kiss.
"I love you too. I missed you; I have missed this!" Ziva places her hand on top of Tony's as his hand continues to rest on her cheek, her head motioning toward him and Tali.
"Me too," Tony says simply, kissing her once more.
The two then settle into bed, their hands entwining and resting on Tali. Tony watches as Ziva allows sleep to overtake her, and continues to watch as his wife and daughter sleep peacefully. He smiles when one of them snores, realizing for the first time how much he has come to seek comfort in the noise that at first had kept him awake for hours at a time. Now though the noise means that the woman he belongs with, and the little girl he couldn't live without, are tucked safely in bed beside him. Tony steals one more glance at his wife and daughter before he too succumbs to sleep, happy to be back where he belongs: at home with his amazing wife and daughter.