"You look nice," Ziva commented, watching Azalea slide into the passenger's seat of the car.

The fourteen year old plopped her backpack in her lap, shut the car door, and returned her mother's leveled gaze with one of her own. They engaged in a short staring contest before Azalea used a measured voice to say, "Thanks."

Ziva took in her outfit: the flowing knee length skirt, the V-neck top, the hair flower. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. "Is there something going on at school today?"

"No."

"Is there a boy?"

"Mom!" Azalea threw her head back against the headrest. "Can we please just go?"

Biting her lip so as not to laugh at the blush staining her daughter's face, Ziva put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. Once they were on their way down the road and she had composed herself, she continued to press for information. "So what is his name?"

Azalea threw her a sour look, but answered grudgingly. "Jayden."

"Jayden," Ziva drawled, testing the name on her tongue. "And how do you know him?"

"From math and gym," she said, and turned slightly in her seat to face her mother a little more. This was the sign Ziva always looked for when attempting to extract information from her daughter; it was what Azalea did before giving in. "He's really cute and sweet, Mom."

"Are you sure about that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes! I talk to him every day!"

As they came to a stop at a red light, Ziva took a deep breath and played with her wedding ring. "I am sure… that what you say about him is true, Azalea. It's just that when it comes to men, you often need to have your guard up."

Azalea shook her head, pinched the bridge of her nose, tried to be patient- and did manage to proceed gently. "Mom, we're fourteen. I know… stuff happened with you and some guys, like, a long time ago, but that isn't what this is. We're just kids. It's fine."

The light turned green, and Ziva drove through the intersection. She didn't speak again until they had pulled up to the school, and by then Azalea was glancing worriedly at her. Ziva put the car in park and smiled. "There are good men in the world. It is possible that Jayden is one of them."

Azalea smiled and slung her backpack over her shoulder as she prepared to hop out. "Like Daddy."

"Yes," Ziva said, and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "You do look nice, Aza. Tell that boy 'hi' today."