Sorry it has been soooooooo long since I last posted for this story (and a little bit since I have posted in any story). I'm getting back into school and hoping the craziness will settle down enough to even think of writing for fun. The good part is that quintawrites (formerly fiftyshadeswritergal) helped me proofread several chapters for this story so I have a bit prepared in advance.

Thanks to all who reviewed since last time. I am grateful!

Now, enjoy some Ziva and Mama time!

...

Ziva ran to meet Mama at the gate around the daycare playground.

"Mama! Mama! Mama! Wook!"

Jenny looked down at the dimpled toddler grinning up at her.

"Oh, what do you have?"

"Fwowews!"

Jenny smiled at the wilted dandelion surrounds by a few dry pieces of grass. It was quite the bouquet.

"Are they for me, baby?"

"Yeah! Fow you - my Mama!"

Jenny's heart melted a little bit more at the toddler's loving words. Grubby fingers, a sticky face, a broken leaf shedding it's fragile frame through messy curls - this was her little munchkin who she loved with all of her heart.

"Ready to go, sweetheart?"

"Uh huh!"

...

Jenny loaded Ziva into the car after the careworker made sure that Ziva got a scrubbing with a wet wipe to make her presentable to the outside world. She had originally planned on taking Ziva straight home, but she was suddenly struck by the notion that it would be fun to take Ziva somewhere as a surprise. She considered her options carefully, then her face lit up as she remembered a little place that she had been before. It was probably the best place in the world to take a child ... and she was going to take Ziva - her child - there right now. While the toddler had played at daycare, her adoption papers had been finalized. In a week the two of them would go before a judge to make the proceedings official.

This was a day to celebrate.

"Mama! We go home!" Ziva commented from the back seat as the drove past their normal turn off to the house.

"No, we're not going home right now, sugar cookie. We're going somewhere else."

"Me cookie? Whewe? Me eat it!" Ziva jabbered, fixated on the phrase.

I should have known that would be her focus.

"No, no cookies. We are going to go find a different surprise."

"No cookie?!"

Jenny sighed. Sometimes this toddler way of seeing the world was difficult to cope with when all you had was an adult mind for interpretation.

"No, no cookies," Jenny repeated, looking in the rearview mirror to judge Ziva's mood. Her little face was crumpling and wrinkling and turning red as she got into the mood to cry. "Hey, hey, hey! Baby girl, don't cry! Mama said we're going to go find a new surprise."

Her blood pressure went down a little when Ziva's crinkles began to even out as the toddler's eyes widened in curiousity.

"Suwpwise?"

"Yes, a surprise!"

"Suwpwise!"

"Yes. Are you excited?"

"SUWPWISE!"

"Yes, darling," Jenny replied, wincing a little at the excited squeal from the backseat. At least it was happy rather than the screams that often came from that quarter. She pulled into the parking lot to sounds of Ziva happily singing "Suwpwise, suwpwise, Mama suwpwise, suwpwise," over and over again to herself in a satisfied hum.

"We're at Happy Dreams," Jenny explained, going around and unbuckling Ziva from her car seat. "It is a toy store, And there is a kid's cafe inside so we can get a lovely little snack after we choose a new toy for you. There is an outside eating area near a fish pond and I think you'll like seeing the gold fish and frogs back there."

Jenny watched the big eyes get bigger and bigger as Ziva clutched to her while looking around as they entered the store. An ice cream menu on one wall, a window looking out on a lovely seating area in the back, and baskets and shelves and sand trays and hanging displays showcased toys for busy little hands.

"Down!"

Once Ziva scrambled out of Jenny's hold she was headed for the nearest basket of stuffies. Jenny caught up and watched as Ziva found a stuffed ostrich. It was a ridiculous mix of yellow and pink and blue pastel fluff and a long neck and legs, but Ziva seemed instantly enamored. She kept the ostrich with her while she wiggled and danced and played from one display to another. Still, every time Jenny tried to convince her that another toy might be more fun, the ostrich was hugged tightly while Ziva gave her an indignant head shake. They finally reached a face down between the ostrich stuffie and a plastic tea set with beautiful flowers on the side. Ziva held on to both stubbornly.

"Only one toy today, Ziva," Jenny said firmly.

Ziva shook her head and her face was a clear indication that such a serious decision was going to result in some sort of meltdown ... likely leading into a tantrum.

"What about we take a snack break?" Jenny suggested. "It's almost dinner. Want to bring ostrich?"

Ziva peeked up at her Mama.

"Snacky?"

"Yes," Jenny said consolingly. A toy store staff member was nearby and Jenny motioned them over.

"Can I have the tea set placed on hold for a birthday gift for my toddler?" she whispered.

"Most definitely," the staff member, whose name card read Hannah, assured her with an understanding smile after silently reading the situation. She crouched down and got on eye level with the slightly overwhelmed Ziva.

"Hey, sweetie, what's your name?"

"Zizi."

"Well, hello, Zizi. I'm Hannah. That's a nice ostrich there. Are you going to take her home?"

"Uh huh!"

"That is wonderful! Today all little girls named Zizi get to choose one toy to take home and all the other toys have to stay here. So I'm going to borrow the tea set and put it in a safe place. Is that okay?"

Ziva considered that information, then relinquished the tea set although her arm was still securely around the ostrich. Hannah smiled and pointed to the ostrich.

"Do you want to buy your ostrich now?" Hannah asked, giving Jenny a confirming look. Jenny nodded and smiled.

"How about it, baby? Want to make sure your ostrich is yours forever?"

Ziva nodded, smiling like a little sunflower.

...

More soon!