One Just Like You

"Sweet little beautiful. One just like you."

July 4th 2019

"Ima! Daddy! Hurry! We gotta go to Grampa Gibbs!" Tali was waiting impatiently by the front door with her overnight bag. Tali had one bag at Senior's house and was taking one to Gibbs' house so she had whatever she needed when her parents went to the hospital. The DiNozzo family, including Senior, was celebrating America's birthday at the Gibbs residence with Abby, Ducky, the McGees, the Palmers, and the rest of team Gibbs. Meanwhile, Tony was in the bedroom with Ziva, helping her get her shoes on.

"Ziva, are you sure you still wanna go to this today? I mean, it's your due date and you said you've been having contractions." He pulled the strap of her sandal behind her heel and sat next to her on the bed. "The others would understand if you wanted to stay home."

"No Tony, I want to go. It would be good for Tali. Besides, this happened with Tali and I didn't have her until two days later."

"Yeah but she was almost a week early. This one's coming today Ziva!" Ziva just laughed and pat her husband's knee.

"Tony, just because it is my due date does not mean the baby will be born today. I have heard of women who go almost a week past their due date." Tony's eyes went wide in shock at the news.

"A week? A week! Zi that's too long."

"Yes well, tell that to your child and my uterus!" Ziva snapped at him. He began rubbing her back and placed a kiss on her temple.

"I'm sorry honey. It's just, I guess the first eight months flew by and now that's we're in the final stretch I'm getting impatient. I can't wait to see and hold this little one." Leaning into his embrace, Ziva picked up his hand in hers and placed a kiss on his palm.

"I know. I am sorry for snapping at you. I am just ready to not be pregnant anymore. I had forgotten what it was like to be pregnant in the hot months. And I too am very ready to meet our son."

"Daughter." They smiled at each other, each set in their beliefs on what their new baby would be. Ziva was just leaning in for a kiss when Tali's impatient yells came from the living room again.

"Ima! Daddy! Let's go!" The couple smiled and shook their heads, grabbing a quick kiss before walking, or in Ziva's case waddling, to the door. Tony grabbed their hospital bags, just in case, and Ziva grabbed the bag they were responsible for for the cookout which included chips and napkins, as the others didn't want her to bring anything heavy or that she had to cook when she insisted on bringing something.

The Gibbs Fourth of July party was exactly what the DiNozzos needed to keep their mind off of Baby DiNozzo. The annual affair included the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, and now turkey burgers per Ziva's request, and plenty of water games to help beat the heat. As it started getting dark, sparklers were brought out for the kids, and kids at heart, to enjoy. Tony helped light one for Tali, loving how her face lit up at the bright colors, before turning to hand one to Ziva. However, the look on her face made him pause.

"Ziva, is everything okay?" One hand was placed on her stomach and her face was scrunched up in pain.

"Tony, I, I think I need to go to the hospital. Now." Shocked, he was frozen in place for a moment before a hand squeezing his broke him away. He immediately put the sparkler out and helped Ziva up from her place on the lounge. Gibbs immediately glanced their way and Tony signaled they were leaving, knowing the older man would understand and planning to send him a text later when there was time. Tony ushered Ziva out to the car, thankful he had the foresight to leave their hospital bags in the car when they got to Gibbs' house.

"Okay c'mon Zi. I gotcha." Holding her hand, he helped her get situated in the passenger seat before rushing around to the driver's side, immediately grabbing her hand again. He paused before starting the car, looking over at his wife. "Oh my gosh Zi this is it." She just smiled and shook her head, ready for the worst part to be over with.

"You mean this isn't it?" Tony questioned the doctor. They had arrived at the hospital over three hours ago and, after Ziva being examined, it was determined she was not in active labor after all.

"I'm sorry mister DiNozzo. Your wife was experiencing contractions but she is only dilated one centimeter. It looks like it could still be a while and, whether that is one day or one week, we will not know for sure. Please, keep an eye on her and keep track of her symptoms. If she experiences any of these," Tony accepts the card from the doctor and looks over it, "please call me and if her water breaks, bring her to the hospital immediately."

"Will do doctor, thank you." He shakes the doctors offered hand before slipping back into the room. Ziva was just starting to wake up. "Hey sleepy head, welcome back." Exhausted, she had fallen asleep shortly after the doctors were done with her and, since nothing was happening yet, Tony offered to rely the information to her so she could sleep a little longer.

"What is happening Tony? What did the doctor say?" She tried stifling a yawn but was unsuccessful as Tony came to sit next to her on the bed.

"Sorry Zi, this isn't it. Doc says you're only dilated one centimeter and to come back when your water breaks." Ziva's face fell as Tony reached to caress her cheek. "I'm disappointed too sweetcheeks. I wanted to meet our little one today. I mean, how fitting would it be to have our baby on July fourth?" He laughed, getting the smile out of Ziva that he was looking for. "On the plus side, we can go home now. Sleep in our own bed."

"That does sound nice Tony. You call Gibbs and I will get dressed." She leaned her head up to meet his mouth, patting his cheek and getting up from the bed.

"Do you need help?" At Ziva's shake of the head, he stepped out into the hall and walked to the waiting room to call Gibbs. As usual, the phone only rang once before he answered in his usual gruff voice. "Hey Gibbs, so uh, looks like it was just a false alarm tonight. We're gonna pack up and head back home. We'll stop by and pick up Tali on our way."

"Nah, she can stay here DiNozzo."

"Yes boss."

"Not your boss DiNozzo."

"Eh, old habits die hard I guess." After a short pause he remembered the other reason for his call. "So uh, could you let the others know? I'm gonna call Senior next but Zi's really tired and-"

"I got it DiNozzo. You get Ziva home and take care of her"

"Thanks Gibbs, for everything." Gibbs just hung up, leaving Tony to call Senior quickly so he could get back to Ziva. His phone call with Senior wasn't as quick as he liked, the man asked too many questions, and when he finally got back to the room Ziva was laying on the bed with her shirt on but her pants and shoes still laying on the floor, fast asleep. He shook his head and went to their bags, grabbing an extra cotton dress Ziva had packed. Working carefully so as not to wake her, he gently removed her top and replaced it with her dress before slipping her shoes on her feet. He grabbed their bags and placed them by the door to be picked up by a nurse and taken downstairs. Tony picked her up from the bed and placed her in the wheel chair that she had been graced with upon entering the hospital. Ziva's eyes fluttered open as soon as she was placed in the chair and thanked Tony as he wheeled her out of the room.

They arrived home just after 2:00 in the morning, both exhausted. Ziva had questioned him when he didn't make the turn to Gibbs' to pick up Tali but he reassured her that she would be staying the night there so they could get some sleep. The couple dragged themselves in the door, leaving everything else in the car to be collected in the morning, and curled up in bed, both knowing this may be the last full night of sleep in a while.

July 8th

"C'mon Ziva, we're gonna be late for your appointment."

"Do not rush me Tony!" Ziva yelled from the bedroom. After getting home from the hospital early Friday morning, their weekend as uneventful on the baby front and the longer Ziva stayed pregnant the more irritable she became. She finally came out of the bedroom wearing a long skirt and a shirt that barely covered her bump and would slide up every time she moved. He gave her an appreciative once over before sticking his foot in his mouth.

"Do you really think that shirt's appropriate to wear in public?" If looks could kill, he would be a dead man with no evidence to his murder.

"You try being 9 months pregnant in the middle of summer and tell me how hot you are!"

"I'm sorry Zi. I didn't mean – I can't imagine what you're going through right now. You look beautiful and I was wrong to question your outfit." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. As he pulled her in for a hug he could feel the tears hitting his tee shirt. "Hey, what's wrong babe?"

"I am sorry Tony. I know I am being irrational."

"No, no. Hey listen to me." He tilted her head up to face him. "You are being perfectly rational. Like you said, you're 9 months pregnant, 4 days past your due date, and it's the middle of summer. You should be able to wear whatever makes you comfortable without your idiot of a husband commenting on it." Ziva leaned up to press a soft kiss to his lips and he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, wiping her tears away.

"You are so sweet Tony. Thank you, for everything."

You are so very welcome Zi. Now, let's go. Dad's upstairs with Tali now and we need to be there in 20 minutes."

They made it to the hospital with just minutes to spare and got taken back to the Doctor's office right away. Ziva was seen by the nurse and then got situated to wait for her doctor to arrive. Dr. Thomas came into the room 15 minutes later followed by the same nurse that Ziva had just seen.

"So Ziva, Nurse Tammy noted that you're now at 4 centimeters dilated so if you'd like, we can admit you now and get this labor process started." Tony looked down at Ziva who was nodding her head enthusiastically.

"Yes please Doctor."

"Well then, let's have a baby."

July 10th

Unlike with Tali, Ziva's progression was extremely slow with baby DiNozzo number two. She was admitted into the hospital at 2 PM on Monday and was going into her 36th hour of labor when she suddenly felt the need to push.

"Tony!" She yelled across the otherwise quiet room. At his wife's panicked voice, Tony bolted upright on the hospital couch and rushed over to her side.

"What is it Zi? What's wrong?" He looked her over quickly, not seeing anything of immediate concern.

"I have to push!" He looked puzzled for a second before his sleep addled brain caught up to her words.

"Oh. Oh my gosh! I gotta call the nurse!"

"Hurry!"

After a long labor, two hours of pushing didn't seem that difficult to finally bring their baby into the world. Born at 3:17 AM, weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long, Isabella Ariane DiNozzo was their perfect little baby girl.

"Aw sweet little, beautiful, perfect all-American girl."

Disclaimer: I have never been pregnant before nor am I a doctor so all knowledge about birth from this chapter comes from hearing stories from friends and relatives and watching TV… The events of this chapter are inspired by my sister's first baby being born and Rachel's birth on Friends.