Chapter Seven- First Word

Ziva stood at the bathroom sink as she cleaned her face, noticing the bags under her eyes. She was exhausted. Tali was usually a good sleeper, she would usually wake one or twice for a feed and settle down again easily. Recently though Tali was crying in the night, not necessarily for a feed just seeking Ziva or Tony's touch. Neither could figure out what was wrong or why her sleep was being disturbed. They had phoned Tali's doctor for advice, but she simply suggested it was a faze. Unfortunately for Tony and Ziva it meant their already sleep deprived nights were becoming worse. Not to mention since Ziva breastfed she did most of the getting up. Tony had suggested pumping so he could bottle feed, which Ziva did for outings, but her stubborn nature had insisted she could feed Tali straight away if she got up. Plus with Tony working Ziva wanted him to sleep.

"So I reckon Tali will be talking soon" Tony called from the bedroom.

Ziva remained at the sink, rubbing moisturiser into her skin.

"I bet any money she will say Dada or Abba first"

It had been decided at home they would refer to themselves as Ima and Abba. Ziva had been keen to maintain some of her heritage, using Hebrew words around Tali and singing lullabies in Hebrew. Tony however often slipped up, referring to himself as dada, or daddy…even using mama or mummy when talking about Ziva. Ziva knew he was unaware of it, he was just lost in the moment but it made Ziva a little sad.

"I swear she almost said Dada when I put her down"

"Tony all babies babble words that sound like Dada, doesn't mean she has said it or will say it" Ziva replied failing to hide the bitterness in her voice.

Silence filled the other room for a moment. Ziva carried on with her nightly routine, dragging it out and hoping the current topic would be dropped. She was not just sad that Tali may not use Hebrew to refer to her but also that her first words would very likely be dada. Ziva knew it was silly of her, but Tali had crawled for the first time into Tony's arms, and then walked for the first time to him. It was irrational and probably a result of her hormones but Ziva had really been hoping Tali's first words were Ima…or mama.

"Wanna place a bet on what she says first?" Tony called out again.

Ziva didn't respond.

"She is a daddies girl…I think I stand a better chance of…"

"Tony please drop it"

Ziva's voice was harsh as she snapped at Tony, a hint of uncontrolled emotion causing her voice to crack slightly. She hoped Tony missed it but the silence and sounds of him walking towards the en-suit told her he didn't.

"Hey what's wrong Ziva?"

How could she be so upset over this, she knew Tony meant well. He was an amazing Abba and she was just being selfish. Her thoughts filled her head, leaving her with tears welling in her eyes, a couple escaping down her cheeks.

"Zi?"

Tony edged closer, wiping the stray tears and pulling Ziva into his arms. Her exhaustion evident as she collapsed against him.

"I am sorry Tony"

"Babe talk to me?"

Ziva shook her head against Tony's chest, embarrassed to reveal her reason for crying. The last thing she wanted was to make Tony feel bad. She told herself she was being ridiculous.

"Ziva…come on what's wrong?"

Tony pulled back so he could capture Ziva's chin between his thumb and finger, forcing her to look at him.

"Talk to me"

His soft green eyes bore into Ziva, making her slightly weak at the knees.

"It's silly"

"No it's not, not if it's upsetting you" Tony assured.

Ziva sighed, her eyes trying to avoid Tony's but he quickly regained her focus with a soft kiss to her lips.

"I just wish that Tali would say my name first…I know it's so silly but she crawled to you first and walked to you first, I just want something first." Ziva admitted sadly. "I also wish she would say Ima…I know you use mama and dada but I really wanted Tali to have some Hebrew words"

Tony smiled warmly, his arms wrapping around Ziva and holding her close to his chest. He rubbed soft circles into her back, placed kissed in her hair and held her protectively. He loved the softer side to Ziva.

"I can't promise you that her first word will be Ima…we can encourage her but I can't promise…what I can promise is I will use only Abba and Ima when we are at home. I am sorry i've slipped up with it, It was intentional."

Ziva's stomach did somersaults at the love she held for the man holding her. She pulled back and took his face between her hands, her thumbs grazing so day old stubble.

"I know it's ridiculous…"

"Know it's not" Tony assured again.

Ziva leant in and kissed Tony softly. He was right, they couldn't predict Tali's first word but they could encourage her. Deep down Ziva didn't mind what Tali said first, she would love it to be Ima but in all honesty she just wanted Tali happy.

"Can we go watch her sleep before we go to bed?"

"Of course we can…and how about you pump while we watch her. Let me do the first feed tonight sweetheart"

For once Ziva didn't argue, she just took Tony's hand and followed him to the nursery to watch their baby girl peacefully sleep.

Three days after their discussion on Tali's first words, Ziva overheard Tony playing with Tali in the nursery. The two were sat playing with various noisy toys that drove Ziva insane. She smiled and just listened, edging a little closer but not so she was seen.

"Listen Tali I need a little favour" Tony said, his voice high and animated which caught Tali's attention.

Tali looked at Tony and waves a rattle about.

"I need you to practice saying Ima, okay baby"

Ziva's heart swelled listening to Tony. She wasn't sure it was possible to love him anymore in that moment.

"Look at me Tali…can you say Ima?"

The little girl cocked her head to the side and stuck her tongue out.

"Right I forget you have my attention span sometimes" Tony laughed.

Ziva covered her mouth with a hand to stifle a laugh too.

"aaeh mma ah" Tali gurgled in-between chewing a toy.

"I..m…a…" Tony sounded.

"Eh eh"

"Hmmm"

"ah ah…oo" Tali babbled happily.

Tony ran a hand down his face, laughing when Tali copied him.

"Come on Tali…Ima, Ima, Ima…I…M….A"

Ziva almost chocked laughing, listening to Tony from behind the door. He always sounded so funny when he used baby talk.

"It's two syllables Tali..come on try for me"

Tali seemed more interested in her Toys, shuffling between bum, crawling and a few more unsteady steps to move about the nursery. She continued to move around, bawling away various sounds.

"You going to come join us in here?" Tony called softly.

Ziva frowned, not realising Tony had known she was there, he couldn't see her.

"How did you know I was here?" She asked as she stepped into the room.

"I'm a very special agent Ziva"

Ziva chuckled, she couldn't get away with much around Tony and visa versa. As Ziva entered and went to sit with Tony, Tali turned around on wobbly legs, her stuffed doggy Kelev in her arms as she pointed at Ziva.

"Ima!"

Tony and Ziva both gaped in shock, grabbing onto each other unable to believe what they just heard.

"Ima Ima!" Tali exclaimed again, giggling happily at herself.

Her little legs wobbles and she fell forward, still attempting to point at Ziva before deciding crawling was a much faster form of moving right now.

"Ima" She cried again as Ziva pulled her into a tight cuddle.

"Tony she said it, she said Ima!"

Tony laughed and brushed away the tears falling from Zivas eyes.

"I know, she's so clever"

Tali seemed very proud of herself, smiling happily at her parents even helping Tony wipe Ziva's tears.

"Oh Tali baby" Ziva sobbed.

"Ima"

"Yes that's right baby girl"

Ziva was ecstatic, taking deep breaths to control her sudden emotions. She kept Tali close in her lap but shifted her to look at Tony.

"You want to try Abba?" Ziva encouraged.

Tali frowned and looked between her parents, her lips pursed in thought. She kicked her little legs about and giggled happily.

"A…B…B…A" Tony tried.

Tali took one look at Tony and grinned a cheeky DiNozzo grin.

"Aah ahh…Gib..ba ba..Gerr..ba ba"

Tony and Ziva stared at each other.

"What did she just say?" Tony questioned.

"IBS!" Tali exclaimed, smiling at her achievement.

Tony's face was contorted in a scowl while Ziva fell about laughing, Tali joining in too.

"Oh Tony…I think you owe me fifty bucks"