He was a father.
A father.
Forty-five minutes after the three babies had been delivered, Ziva, now stitched up, was lying in a regular hospital bed with Tony at her side. Already the newborns' appetites had taken over, and Caitlin, who was the last one to feed, was now happily nursing at Ziva's breast, while Tony rocked Tali and Isaiah.
Looking down at his two children, Tony couldn't help but feel amazed at the fact that these tiny human bundles, each 15 inches long and weighing 6 pounds, had completely and utterly stolen his heart. Isaiah, who was now peacefully asleep, had his mother's looks- her olive skin and dark hair- although his was no more than soft fuzz covering the top of his head. However, his eyes, when they had been open, were completely his father's- forest green. But Caitlin and Tali were the opposite of their younger brother. Where Isaiah looked like Ziva, Caitlin and Tali had inherited their father's lighter skin and his dirty blonde hair, although, like their brother, their hair was little more than peach fuzz. Caitlin's eyes, however, where the same chocolate brown of Ziva's eyes, but Tali's, oddly enough were a bluish-grey.
Caitlin finally finished her meal, and was making soft contented sounds as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Ziva turned to Tony.
"You should probably call Abby. She will be very angry if she doesn't get to see the babies soon." Tony chuckled and handed Tali and Isaiah over to Ziva, and then headed out into a family lounge. Pressing Abby's speed dial number, he wasn't surprised to hear her pick up on the first ring.
"They're here!" the Goth squealed into the mouthpiece. "I'm in the parking lot, I'll be right up with McGee and Gibbs!" Without waiting for an answer from the amused Tony, Abby hung up. Tony headed back to his wife's room. Three minutes later the tornado of pigtails that was Abby came rushing into the room, followed by a very flustered McGee and a much calmer Gibbs. As soon as Abby saw the babies, her hands flew up to her mouth, and Tony could see that she was trying her hardest to contain a squeal of joy.
"Oh, Ziva, they're beautiful!" she finally managed. "Can I hold one?" Ziva nodded her permission, and after taking a seat, Abby gently picked up Tali and rocked her. Gibbs then came over, and after getting Ziva's permission, picked up Caitlin, while McGee just stood near the bed and looked on, not quite sure what he should be doing.
"Congrats, Ziva, I'm proud of you. What are their names?" Gibbs asked as he rocked Caitlin. Ziva smiled.
"Gibbs, you are holding Caitlin Adi. Caitlin, of course, after Kate Todd, and Adi means "jewel" in Hebrew. Abby, you have Tali Jennifer- for my sister and Jenny. And this is Isaiah Jethro- Isaiah means 'Yahweh is salvation', and Jethro- well, I think you all know where that name comes from." Ziva said. Tony glanced up at Gibbs, who had bowed his head slightly.
"I'm honored, Ziva" he said quietly. "How are you feeling?"
Ziva shifted a little. "Sore" she admitted. In a quieter voice she said, "but very, very happy." Gibbs nodded his understanding. Just then Tali gave a tiny yawn, causing Abby's eyes to widen.
"Oh my God, Ziva, I have the world's most beautiful godchildren!" the Goth whispered, careful to not wake the three. "They're all so small, and so cute, and so peaceful, and… and… and… oh Timmy, I want one!" she finished with a soft squeal.
At this, Tim's eyes widened, and Tony had to stifle a laugh- the junior agent looked absolutely petrified. Seeing the look on his face, Abby smiled knowingly and passed Tali over to McGee. At first Tim looked a little nervous as he carefully held the newborn, but then Tali shifted and grabbed his shirt in her tiny fist, never once waking up. As McGee looked down at the tiny baby, his nervous look vanished, and a soft, caring one replaced it on his round face. It was clear that he was smitten.
"Tony, Ziva, thank you for letting me be their godfather." Tim whispered, never letting his eyes leave Tali's face. "It really is an honor." Ziva smiled.
"I would not have it any other way." she replied. Tony gave Tim a wink, and out of the corner of his eye, noticed that Ziva was starting to blink rapidly- a sign that she was getting tired. Gibbs noticed as well.
"Alright, anyone who is not the biological family of the triplets needs to leave. Take today off; go home and get some rest. We'll come back tomorrow. Abs," he grunted to the Goth, who had taken Tali back and was looking very unhappy, "that means you have to give Tali back. You'll get plenty of chances to hold her, but right now Ziva and Tony need some rest." Abby pouted, but reluctantly handed Tali over to Ziva, after giving the newborn a kiss, and then left with McGee. Gibbs waited until the two of them were gone, and then turned back to the couple.
"Congrats, you two." he said. "And… thank you for allowing me to become a grandfather."
…..
A few days later, Tony was sitting next to Ziva as she fed Tali. Caitlin and Isaiah were already fed and were now asleep.
As Tony watched his middle child nurse, he realized that something about her was bothering him. It took him a while, but he finally pinpointed it. When Caitlin and Isaiah were nursing, Ziva had been singing to them in Hebrew, and they had kept their eyes on her the whole time. Tali, however, did not. Rather than watching her mother's eyes, Tali simply looked straight ahead into her mother's chest.
Tony quickly realized that he wasn't the only one watching Tali- Dr. Cantor, who was checking up on the couple, was also gazing at the newborn with a slight frown on her face. When Tali finished nursing, Dr. Cantor gently took her from Ziva's arms so that Ziva could re-button her blouse. However, when Ziva was finished, rather than handing Tali back, Dr. Cantor said something to a nurse, causing the woman to hurry off. Seeing the concerned look on Ziva's face, Dr. Cantor gave a quick smile.
"You will get Tali back, Ziva, but there is something I want to see. Something just does not look right here." Just then the nurse came back with a small flashlight, and Dr. Cantor handed Tali back to Ziva.
"Can you hold her out flat? Yes, just like that." Dr. Cantor turned on the flashlight and shined the beam into the infant's eyes. Rather than flinching and turning her head away, Tali simply stared blankly up at the light, and Tony noticed that her pupils did not dilate. Seeing this, Tony felt an uneasy feeling growing in his gut. Dr. Cantor tsked, shutting off the flashlight, and then carefully brought her finger close to the infant's eyes. Tali didn't react. Dr. Cantor pulled back with a sigh.
"Ziva, Tony, I am sorry to have to tell you this, but I believe Tali is blind."
Cliffy! hahahahahahaaha! (Although, if you've already read this, you know what's going to happen.)
But yes, after having to change the triplet's birth, I had to re-do this chapter and part of the next.
Enjoy!
Yeah, sure, you becha!