Warnings: Spoilers for "Child's Play". Long response/rant to guest reviews below.

A/N: Closing up this mini arc with Ziva and moving on to the next. Time for Katie's first Thanksgiving is approaching! Kind of funny to be writing about Thanksgiving when it is 80 degrees outside, but it's almost done :)

Now, to respond to "Guest" review. I'm curious as to why you think now I've gone the same route as the producers and made Ziva a Mary Sue. I've written her since the beginning of the story how she was portrayed in Season 6 and Season 7. Was she Mary Sueish there, oh yeah big time! But to say that the last SEVERAL chapters have ruined the story for you is ridiculous. First off, I inserted Ziva back into the story the last TWO chapters. Second, it was a good story until I RUINED IT? Excuse me, it's my story. I can write what I want. Third, sickening? I don't know how to even respond to that so I won't. As appalling as this might be to you, I like Ziva and was disappointed what the writers did with her character, so I've written some of the things I wanted to see. The Cryor backstory was taken directly from canon, I just bent the reason why Ziva went to Somalia. So, because she took that mission to protect an innocent baby makes her a Mary Sue? Guess what...I have a feeling that Gibbs, Tony and McGee would take a mission like that if Eli had given them the ultimatum. Does that make them Mary Sues as well? And to tell me that you aren't going to read anymore... that isn't going to make me stop writing the story the way I want to write.

To second "Guest" review. I'm sorry, but I'm not changing the summary. It is not a Tiva story. And others have complained? You mean "Natalie" from the very first chapter? THAT was months ago and I put a label in the summary that it wasn't Tiva, since then NO ONE but you has questioned whether or not it was Tiva. It would be more misleading if I labeled it Tiva because I have no intention of hooking Tony and Ziva up and that wouldn't be fair to people who do like Tiva stories. So if you don't even like a Tony and Ziva friendship than I guess this story isn't for you. But again, not going to change my summary over your one complaint. But to say it is WRONG of me to not change the summary is jumping to conclusions because only I know where the story is going. Again, if I changed it to TIVA that would be even more misleading.

Sorry to everyone else, but I'm getting tired of these drive by snipes on my stories because I don't write characters the way people want me too. Usually I delete them but I've had enough and felt I needed to respond this time. *Sigh* They really do make it difficult sometimes to keep writing, but I'm going too because I know that there are many more people enjoying the stories than bashing them :)

Gibbs pulled his truck up to Tony's house and shut the engine down. He looked over at his passenger. "Are you sure you're up for this? It's been a long day."

Ziva sighed and reached for the handle on the door. "This is something I have to do Gibbs."

"Okay. I'll wait out here if you need me."

She smiled but she doubted she was going to need him. It was nice to know that after everything she had put the team through, they still cared and wanted to help her. But she had to do things on her own and make her own path with the help of others that were completely separated from NCIS. Which was the whole point of leaning on the counselors and support groups back at the shelter.

Carefully she made her way up to the front door of Tony's house and rang the bell. Her stomach churned with anxiety. What if he was angry she had shown up? What if he didn't want to talk to her? The support group she had joined at the shelter and her therapist both told her that she needed to make peace with her past before she could embrace her future. "Hello, Tony," she greeted with a smile when he opened the door.

Tony was surprised to see her. "Ziva? What are you doing here?"

"Is it alright if I come in for a few minutes?"

"Yeah...sure."

Ziva stepped inside the warm house and waited until he had closed the door behind them. "I wanted to...apologize. I know that everything that happened back in May...you were just doing your job. And I was...I was angry. At everything. I never should have questioned your abilities as a field agent."

Tony's brow furrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. He was confused why she was here, months later apologizing, but given what he knew about the shelter she was staying at, he had a feeling this had something to do with her therapy. "Everyone makes mistakes, Ziva. Even you."

"I grew up not being able to make mistakes. Making a mistake was life or death. It was ironic that my mistake to let you and the others become my friends almost killed me," she replied, sadly.

"You mean taking the mission to Somalia so your father would lift the hit?" he asked.

Ziva shook her head. "My father never put the hit on you. That was Michael. When I confronted my father about it, he told me that he didn't know who I was loyal to anymore, NCIS or him. He was furious when I admitted that Gibbs and the team had been better family to me than my own flesh and blood."

Tony was now more confused, he was about to question her on it when Kaitlin demanded his attention. He moved into the living room and took the baby out of her playpen. Turning about he found Ziva standing in the entrance. Ironcially the same one that Rivkin had died in back in May. The blood stains were all out of the wood by now and everything that had been broken in the fight had been repaired, but the memory would always linger for him.

She was looking at the baby, thoughtfully. "Can I?" she requested, gesturing for Tony to hand Kaitlin over. He gently transferred the little girl into his former partner's arms and Kaitlin smiled at her.

"I think she likes you," Tony said softly.

"Or...she is just like her father and uses her smile to charm people."

"Good point. Maybe she does."

Ziva studied the pretty baby's face and it only solidified her decision to go on the mission to kill Saleem. Tony would have been devastated if he lost his little girl.

"If your father didn't order Rivkin to kill me...then why take the mission to Somalia?" Tony asked, bringing them back on topic.

"He gave me a choice. To finish what Michael had started, to prove my loyalty to him or he would...he would make sure that my American friends would suffer," she recalled, fighting her tears. "He threatened to take Kaitlin away from you, make her disappear."

Her words were like a hammer on his heart. Eli David had the means. He would have made it happen at any cost. And Tony never would have seen Kaitlin again. It would have destroyed him and the team. "There...there had to be some other way, Ziva!"

She shook her head. "No. I had burned my bridges with NCIS. I...I was ready to die."

"Don't play the martyr," Tony snapped. "There were other ways and you know it. But you chose not to use them, why?"

"There was nothing in my heart but hatred and death. It seemed...it seemed fitting."

"Fitting?" Tony nearly shouted. "Your father is a monster, Ziva."

Ziva let her tears fall down her cheeks and she pressed one into the baby's soft head of hair. "I know," she said, softly. "If...Tony...when I came to NCIS...my intentions were to never spy on any of you. I came here to get away...from Eli. I...allowed him to suck me back in after Jenny died."

Tony took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Ziva...I..."

"It is fine, Tony. You do not have to say anything. It is done and the past. We have to make peace with it."

"Peace. Have you found that yet, Ziva?"

"Getting closer everyday."

"Really?"

"Yes," she said, shyly, "I have...I have made a friend in Baltimore. His name is Derek."

Tony quirked a small, teasing grin, because he really couldn't help himself. "Just a friend, Ms. David?"

Ziva blushed. "For now, yes. Maybe it will be more later."

"Good. I'm happy for you."

"I should...I should probably go. Gibbs is waiting for me to take me back to Baltimore. And...the team was handed a case today so I know he is busy," Ziva said. Quickly she gave the baby a kiss and handed her back to her father. She smiled at both Tony and Kaitlin. "Shalom."

Tony repeated the phrase and went to hold the door for her open. "Hey," he said as she walked back towards the car, "you don't have to be a stranger you know."

Ziva opened the door to Gibbs' truck. "I know," she replied, still smiling as she got inside. Gibbs started the truck up and they were on their way again.

"Do you feel better?" the lead agent questioned.

"Yes," the former Mossad operative replied. "Now everyone can move on, not just me."

"Uh-huh," Gibbs said. "But you don't have to be a stranger, DiNozzo's right. Just because that Mossad part of you is gone, doesn't mean you do not have friends here."

Ziva sighed and looked out the window at the passing scenery. "I think it is best that I keep my distance, for a little while at least. The wounds are still fresh and they need proper time to heal."

Gibbs nodded and let out a small sigh. "First step was clearing the air, what's the second step, Ziva?"

"Starting my life over," Ziva responded, smiling as she thought about Derek and his two year old son. Her anger had stemmed from wanting a family so badly that she blamed everyone, even down to a small infant. Now, she had a chance to have that family, to fall in love and be happy. And she had given Tony the same chance. She prayed he would find a nice woman and take it.

Kaitlin had discovered the art of splashing while in the bath tub. Right now she was making it difficult for her father to wash her hair and bathe her. By the time Tony was done his shirt was soaking wet and they both smelled like Baby Magic.

Tony was too preoccupied with the thoughts of Eli David threatening to take his daughter away from him to really notice or care. He loved the job, but he loved his daughter as well, and he was going to have to take even more action to make sure she was safe. Wrapping her into a fluffy towel, he carried her back into her bedroom.

She babbled away quite happily while her father dried her off and changed her. When he was done he sat her up on the changing table and combed her hair. Kaitlin looked up at her father while he did so and gave him her best grin. Tony chuckled thinking back to what Ziva had said, about his daughter using her smile to charm people like her father did.

"Well, whatever works, right?" he told the baby as he finished up with her hair. Gently he lifted her off the changing table and went to sit in the rocking chair. He found one of her favorite books and began to read. He was halfway through Good Night, Moon, when his cell rang. "Sorry," he told the baby, "I have to take his. Rule three."

Gibbs wasn't on the other end, like Tony was expecting, rather it was McGee. "Just...everything okay? We haven't heard anything so...we're assuming that no news is good news...right?"

Tony chuckled. "Yeah everything is fine. Had a rather exciting day for being home."

"Tell me about it. Wait...did Ziva come talk to you too?"

"Yeah."

"Oh...so you know...you know about her father?"

"That he's a ruthless, heartless, bastard? Yes. I know."

McGee paused and Tony could hear him fiddling with something in the background, probably a computer. "Are you...are you okay? I mean...she told you that her father was going to...well...pretty much make it like Kaitlin didn't exist."

Tony looked down at the baby in his arms, at her expectant look while he finished up his phone call. Was he okay? No. Not really. He'd been told that a tyrant had threatened his child. But there was nothing he could do about it now. It was in the past and thankfully, the Navy Seal team had done their job and gotten Saleem, while NCIS had done theirs and quietly erased all traces of Ziva from that camp. Eli coming after Kaitlin now would be pointless. Unless of course he wants to hold something else over NCIS' head, Tony thought, as a knot in his stomach tightened. "No," he told McGee. "I'm not okay. Because...it's never truly over with Mossad, now is it?"

"Vance knows. If NCIS ever has to work with Mossad again, he's going to keep that in mind, Tony," McGee replied. "Everyone is going to make sure she's safe...alright? She might be your daughter but...well...we all love her."

"Aw, did you hear that, Katie," Tony cooed at the baby, "Uncle Timmy loves you."

Kaitlin grinned and sucked on her thumb. Tony gave her a little kiss on her nose and she giggled. He suddenly did feel better, because somehow he knew McGee was right. Gibbs especially would make sure nothing happened to his daughter. And it was nice to know that he had Vance on his side. With a little sigh he thanked McGee for calling to check on them and gave his partner permission to tell Abby.

After he had hung up he went to the front of the book and started reading all over again, "Good night, moon..."