Chapter three- Food

There was no denying who Tali DiNozzo belonged too, not even a small doubt. The young girl was full of fierce determination something so clearly developed from her mother but it was her love of food that made her a DiNozzo. From the minute she was born she wanted feeding, sucking heartily to get as much as she could. Her eyes would almost pleased with Ziva to produce more. Ziva was laugh and tickle her tummy, telling her how much she was like her Abba. At night she would wake like clockwork for her feed, and in the morning bright and early waiting for Ziva to come get her. Now she was a little older, still breast fed by Ziva. As she got older her eyes would follow anyone eating. At dinner she would watch us Tony and Ziva ate pasta, or potatoes, chicken, fish or veg, anything was appetising to Tali DiNozzo. Her little hands would seek the goodies, unfortunately for her she was still too young to have anything. Ziva however had decided to try her on some mashed banana. Tali was just about sitting up by herself, at least for a moment before toppling over. She was currently sat in her highchair, strapped in securely, her eyes following Ziva as she moved about the kitchen.

"Oh Tali baby…you are so your fathers daughter"

"Goo…ahh" She babbled as though trying to communicate.

Ziva smiled and sat next to Tali, a bowl of mashed banana in her hand.

"Let's see how you feel about this hey"

Ziva spooned a small amount onto the plastic cutlery, bringing it to Tali's mouth. The tiny girl's eyes lighting up, her mouth gapping greedily. Ziva chuckled as Tali eagerly took the banana in her mouth, mushing it around her gums and lips, loosing some down her chin. Before Ziva could scoop it back into her mouth, her chubby little fingers were at her lips, pushing anything she missed into her mouth.

"Is that nice motek?"

"Ummm ma mam mm"

Ziva took another mouthful to her lips, laughing as she once again took it all in, smushing some around her face for good measure.

"Your just as messy as your father"

"I heard that" Tony muttered as he walked into the kitchen.

"Well it's true, look at the state of her"

Tali looked up at her Abba, as he went to kiss her head, changing his mind as he took in her smushed banana face. Bits even in her hair.

"You look like your enjoying that Tali"

Tali ignored her father, eyeing up another spoonful from Ziva, her hands reaching out happily.

"She's got your lack of patience" Tony laughed as he just about escaped a hit from Ziva.

"I have patience"

"Course you do babe"

Ziva rolled her eyes and went back to feeing Tali until the bowl was empty.

"All gone baby"

Ziva held the bowl up to show Tali who just grumbled. Ziva decided to leave the bowl on Tali's highchair tray so she could play with it.

"Did you speak to your dad?" Ziva asked heading over to Tony.

"Ah huh"

His affirmation was cold, Ziva knew Tony and his dad had a somewhat, fragile relationship at times. Things had been better between the two for a long time, Senior even coming to spend time with Tali not long after she was born. Unfortunately upon his return to New York he met a woman, almost twenty years his senior, and had since lost interest in Tali and Tony. Ziva knew it bothered Tony especially as Tony was determined never to be like his own dad.

"Tony you know what he's like"

Ziva said softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist while Tony cut and onion.

"I know Ziva but I thought he had changed…he just can't resist"

"You know you were once a ladies man like him" Ziva chanced, giving him a kiss to his neck.

"And I changed"

"I know you did, your dad is just set in his ways"

"It's no excuse for forgetting your granddaughter"

Ziva snuggled closer behind Tony, kissing up his neck to nibble on his earlobe before leaving a kiss behind his ear.

"He lives in New York Tony, he will never be on the doorstep…he will always be the same. I think you need to just accept that that is who he is and know that you are nothing like him"

Tony sighed and sniffed.

"Are you crying?" Ziva asked as she moved to look in Tony's eyes.

"No it's the stupid onion" Tony moaned as he blinked trying to clear his blurry eyes.

Ziva new it was the onion but guessed a small part of Tony wanted to break a little too. She pulled him into a hug, holding him for a while while he sniffled away his onion tears. She caressed his head, running her fingers through his hair and releasing him of some tension. She then began laughing over his shoulder as she noticed Tali.

"Talieeee" Ziva giggled as she elongated her name.

Tony turned to see what Ziva was laughing at. Their little baby was sat happily in her chair, head thrown back as she pushed the bowl into her face, licking at any scrapes of mushed banana that was left.

"See I told you she's your daughter"