Just as an aside, the chapter titles are all proverbs and quotes, some of which are directly or indirectly related to the chapter itself.

XIII. Family quarrels are bitter things. They don't go by any rules. They're not like aches or wounds; they're more like splits in the skin that won't heal because there's not enough material.

Tim sat down at the table opposite Abby. He nodded to the waiter as he brought over their usual meals and drinks. "Oh God." He sighed.

"What?" Abby grinned.

"Tony and Ziva are going to have a baby." He said fearfully.

"I know, it's so exciting!" She squealed.

"It's going to be the spawn of Satan." He looked at her, his brow furrowed.

"No, it's going to be the spawn of Tony and Ziva." She rolled her eyes at him.

"You're right." He laid his napkin across his lap. "It's going to be ten times worse."

"You're overreacting, McGee." She smiled and shook her head.

"Two wrongs don't make right, Abby. With just DNA that child will be bad enough, but being brought up by the two of them, I can't go near any surface that might have superglue on it."

"It is going to be the cutest baby ever, McGee." She grinned.

"I will agree with that." He laughed. "You think this will make Tony grow up?"

"Yes. He's going to have a baby, which is a huge responsibility."

"But it's Tony. He's more juvenile than a six year old." Tim argued.

"You don't think he'll grow up?" She frowned as she speared her fork into a piece of lettuce.

"No. He may act like it, but he won't."


"Boss, can't you send a helo out for us?" Tony begged down the phone.

"Nope."

"We're going stir-crazy in here." Tony hissed. "I don't know how long Ziva's gonna last."

"DiNozzo." Gibbs sighed. "There's nothing I can do. Apart from being bored, everything's alright?"

"Yeah. We're doing just fine." Tony groaned, nudging the curtain open and peeking out. "Are you getting anywhere with the case?"

"Abby and McGee don't think that the Lieutenant wrote the encrypted file on his computer."

"Well, do they know who did?" Tony asked, covering his face with his hand.

"They've gone to lunch." Gibbs said, and Tony could almost hear the shrug in his voice.

"They've… They've gone to lunch? They have gone to lunch whilst we are stuck in this cabin!"

"Tony, just keep the girls safe." Gibbs hung up and Tony resisted the urge to throw the phone across the room. Barely.

"I thought you said I have anger issues." Ziva chuckled from behind him as she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his cheek.

"You do." He turned around to face her. "I don't. I just don't like being in this cabin more. Your hair looks nice today." He tucked a strand behind her ear.

"I would say the same for yours, except it looks like a…"

"Porcupine?" He laughed.

"Yes." She nodded, looking at their entwined hands on his chest.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He tilted her chin up, frowning at her expression.

She inhaled and looked into his eyes. "Is this going to work, Tony?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean?"

"You and me, Tony. And a baby." She sighed. "It is not exactly a recipe for a…a…what is the word I need?"

"I don't know, but I don't think I like it." He said, stroking her cheek. "I love you, Ziva, and you know that I don't take things like that lightly, not when I mean it." He held her chin to stop her from looking away. "I know this is big…"

"Tony, you and I know nothing about children. The only things in this world that I know about are guns and knives and torture techniques, and you are…well what do you know about serious relationships and raising a child, Tony?"

"Well, I know it's something that you have to work on together, and I know that we can get though anything if we try."

"I just… What if it does not work out? This is not something that we can just abandon when it goes wrong."

"Who says it's going to go wrong?" He looked at her seriously.

"Our track record, Tony. Neither of us have ever had a relationship that has actually worked out."

"Well, if either of us had had a relationship that worked out then we would never be having this baby, ok. This is a good thing. Please see that." His eyes pleaded with her as they stood together.

"Mina needs feeding." Ziva swallowed and turned away, leaving Tony to slide down the wall and sit on the floor by the window. He held his head in his hands, biting back tears. What had just happened? He had no idea. He felt a small presence beside him and he looked up to see Elsie sitting next to him.

"My daddy always said 'Worse happens at sea'." She patted his knee with her small hand.

"Your daddy sounds like a very wise man." Tony nodded.

"Why are you and Ziva fighting?" She asked.

"It's complicated." He snorted.

"Are you going to marry her?" She asked innocently.

"I don't know." He sighed and shook his head.

"But you said you love her."

"I do. But sometimes it's more complicated than love."

"I can't see how. If you love her then that should be enough." Elsie smiled.

"The world seems so much simpler through your eyes." He shook his head. "I wish it was enough."

"Then make it enough."

"I don't know how, Elsie. I don't think I can." He smiled sadly, stroking her hair.


"Why are you and Tony unhappy?" Elsie whispered to Ziva as she clambered out of the bath and into the towel that was being held out for her. Ziva wrapped the towel around the child's body, stunned by the question.

"What makes you think we are unhappy?"

"You're not talking to each other."

"You are very observant." She sighed.

"He loves you. Do you love him too?"

"Yes. But love is a very complicated thing." She buttoned up Elsie's pyjama top.

"Either you love him or you don't." She frowned.

"And I do."

"Then why aren't you happy?"

"Because sometimes love is not enough." She smiled. "Come on. Bed time." Elsie sighed dramatically and Ziva laughed, picking her up and carrying her through to the lounge.

"I'm not tired." She laughed.

"You will be in the morning if you don't go to bed." Tony ruffled her hair. "Do you want a story tonight?"

"No thank you." She yawned.

"That yawn tells me that you are exhausted." Tony laughed. "Who's gonna tuck you in tonight?"

She paused and looked between the two of them. "Both of you please." She grinned.

"I do not think that it is necessary for both of us to tuck you in." Ziva shook her head.

"Please?" She pouted.

"Ok." Tony tapped her nose. "Come on then." She hopped up from where she had sat on the sofa, slipping her hands into Tony and Ziva's.

"Sleep well." Ziva smiled, kissing the top of her head as she pulled the covers up to the child's chin.

"If you get cold, just come and find us, okay?" Tony sat on the edge of the bed. He held his hand out for a high five and grinned when she met his hand in mid air. "Go on, get some sleep."

"Night night." She smiled as they walked out of the room, flicking the light off.

"Ziva, we need to talk."

"Nothing to talk about." She replied, not looking at him.

"Yes, there is." He snapped.

"Elsie and Mina are asleep, do not shout." She said. "You can sleep if you want, I will stay awake."

"No, you were awake last night. It's my turn." He held a pillow and blanket out to her. "Anyway, you have a child growing inside you. You need to sleep."

"Tony, I…"

"Ziva." He cut her off. "Sleep. Please?" She took the bedding from him and laid it out on the sofa. "Thank you." He sat and watched her plait her hair and brush her teeth.

"Are you going to stare at me all night, Tony?" She asked, slipping under the blanket.

"If it keeps you safe." He shrugged.

"That is not the reason you are supposed to be awake. The reason that you are awake is to keep the girls safe." She said, turning away from him. She closed her eyes and exhaled, doing her best to fall asleep quickly.

Tony sat and watched her sleep, finding her rhythmic breathing calming.


"Boss, I have just gone through all the food we have here, and we are running low on supplies." Tony whispered into his phone, holding Mina in his arms.

"DiNozzo, there a reason that you're calling me at 0300?"

"Well, Mina woke up, so…"

"Tony, what supplies do you need?" Gibbs asked and Tony could hear something clatter.

"You're gonna send a helo out for us, boss?" He asked, excited.

"Something like that." Gibbs chuckled. Tony listed the rations that he needed and then frowned. "That all, DiNozzo?" He asked sarcastically.

"Er, yeah, boss. There a problem with that?"

"I'll see what I can do, Tony."