Chapter Nine

Ziva bounced Tali on her hip, nervously talking to her in a high pitched child friendly voice. Her free hand brushing back the mess of curls that fell over Tali's ears. A twisted knot was building in Ziva's stomach. Today was her first day back at work. She was excited and ready, having greatly missed the thrill of being in the field and satisfaction of solving cases, but the thought of leaving Tali left Ziva feeling sick.

"Hey babe you got your stuff?" Tony asked as he bumbled down the stairs.

"Yeah it's by the door" Ziva muttered.

Tony knew Ziva was worried about leaving Tali, in honestly he was too. Sure he had been back at work for months but he always knew he was leaving Tali with her mother, now she was being left with someone completely new. Over the past few months Ziva and Tony had been interviewing plenty of prospective nannies. It had taken a while but eventually they fell upon a young women called Loren. Jimmy and Breena had been able to help out, having gone through the process with Victoria. Loren was a friend of the young girl that helped out with Victoria, she had been warm and welcoming, instantly clicking with Tali too.

"Zi…Tali will be okay" Tony assured, despite his own fears.

"I know, I just don't want to hand her over, what if she needs us?"

"Babe she will get used to Loren, she seemed happy with her when she met her."

"I know but we were both here too"

"I know it's tough, I feel horrible leaving her but she will get used to it, besides your not going back full time"

"I am still working four day's Tony, I only take Monday's off, plus I will always be on call if needed"

"It will be okay"

Tony tried to sound confident but he could sense Tali was nervous just as much as Ziva. It was as though she knew what was coming. She had been extra clingy the past few days, and especially fussy that morning.

"How is she doing?" Tony asked, as he stroked Tali's cheek.

"She started crying after I fed her, the only think soothing her was her dummy. She's rarely used that" Ziva sighed.

Tony brushed his fingers through Ziva's hair, trying to relax her, hoping it would in turn ease Tali's tensions. The three stood in a warm embrace a while longer when a knock at the door separated them.

"That will be loren"

Tony went to greet Loren, stoping to chat with her for a minute before bringing her over to Ziva and Tali.

"She is a little fussy this morning" Ziva informed.

Tali took one look at Loren and nuzzled further into Ziva, her little fists bunching Ziva's shirt into her hands.

"Hey little pickle, what's up with you today?"Loren cooed.

Tali wasn't interested, she groaned and fussed, twisting in Zivas arms unhappily.

"Come on Tali, Ima and Abba will just be at work. We will be home later for cuddles" Tony tried as he tickled Tali.

The young girl continued fussing, kicking her legs wildly. Ziva and Tony leant in to give kisses and cuddles but Tali was having none of it. Ziva put Tali down on her matt surrounded by her toys while she went to grab her bag. Tali saw this and pulled herself up at the coffee table.

"We really need to get going Loren, everything she needs is out, there is milk in the fridge, and I have written a list over there just in case." Ziva informed.

Loren smiled warmly, not minding one bit that Ziva was being over protective. She understood completely.

"Thanks guys, we will be just fine here, Tali will settle I am sure"

Tony and Ziva nodded, both now holding their bags. Tali looked over on unsteady legs, reaching out and crying for her parents. The sobs took over her body until she was almost screaming. It killed Tony and all Ziva wanted to do was scoop her up but they were already late.

"Guys we will be fine, she will calm down" Loren encouraged as she approached Tali.

Tony and Ziva nodded, calling out I love you's, their hearts crumbling at their crying baby as they turned and headed to work.

Loren spent the first half an hour trying to sooth Tali. Her cries and screams persistent and unrelenting. She had crawled over to the front door, banging against it as hard as her little hands could, sobbing and calling for Tony and Ziva. It killed Loren too but she had worked with lots of children and knew it was always a tricky start. After half and hour Tali had worn herself out, falling asleep at the door. Loren scooped her up, careful not to wake her and put her in her crib. Tali slept for a little over an hour before waking, whimpering from her crib.

"Hey Tali" Loren said softly as she approached the baby.

Tali moved back from the bars, plonking herself back down to her bum and pulling her stuffed doggy to her chest.

"You want some food?"

Tali rubbed her sleepy eyes as she focused. It was clear she was unsure who this woman was, but she was obviously hungry. She allowed Loren to lift her up, a little fussing and she settled on Loren's hip.

"Let's get you something to eat little one"

Loren took Tali to the kitchen, placing her in her chair and removing the dog from her arms. Tali whimpers and fussed some more, groaning as she tried to escape the chair but soon calmed down when Loren presented her with some food. She had made a simple pasta, placing some on the tray of Tali's chair. Tali eyes the food cautiously before bringing it to her mouth. Smacking her lips together and smushing some of the food around, Tali managed to eat it all. Her face now completely covered in tomato sauce.

"Let's get you all cleaned up, then we can play"

Ziva sat at her desk, her mind struggling to focus on the job. Gibbs had told her off more than once already before trapping her in the elevator and talking to her as more of a father. He had calmed her mind a little, but told her she needed to stay on the ball for her own safety. He revealed he had done the same thing with Tony when he had returned to work. Gibbs ended his lecture with a kiss to the temple and the two returned to work. When Ziva got back to her desk she checked her phone to see Loren had text. At first she panicked but soon realised it was just a happy update and picture of a messy Tali.

"Loren said everything okay" Ziva said across to Tony

"Good, I told you it would be"

"You were worried to" Ziva muttered before returning to her work.

"DiNozzo, with me" Gibbs snapped.

"Where we going boss?"

"Interrogation"

The man of few words marched off with Tony leaving Ziva and McGee alone.

"So Tali was fussy this morning?"

"Yeah a little…she's been growing clingy lately, I think she could sense our nerves"

"I'm sure she will grow out of it, they go through fazes don't they?" McGee asked.

"Yes but doesn't make it any easier" Ziva laughed.

Later that afternoon Ziva and Tony retuned home, their faces breaking into smiled when they saw Tali happily playing on her matt, babbling away to Loren.

"Hey baby" Both exclaimed in unison.

Tali turned to see her parents, her eyes going wide with excitement. She pulled herself up to her feet, stumbling a little but walking over to her parents, arms extended happily. Ziva grabbed her, pulling her into her arms and kissing her all over. Tony squeezed in too, landed some kisses of his own.

"Did you have fun motek?" Tony asked.

Tali just giggled, placing open mouth kisses on Ziva. She wriggled wanting down and quickly padded over to her toys again.

"How was she?"

"She was great, she cried herself to sleep when you guys left but after a nap she was fine. We have been playing all afternoon. She had some pasta at lunch and mushed peaches. I didn't think she needed a bottle yet, she hasn't seemed bothered." Loren explained.

"That's okay, she can have one after bath time" Ziva replied.

"I best get going then, I will see you both in the morning"

"Thank you so much Loren"

The adults said there goodbyes and Ziva joined Tali with her toys. She missed her so much and wanted a little time to just play. Tony made a quick dinner and Tali had a little. Ziva then took her up for a bath, changed her diaper and put her in fresh pyjamas. She loved this part of the evening, cosying up with Tali as she nursed, the intoxicating smell of a clean baby filling her nose. Ziva hummed a Hebrew lullaby as Tali's eyes became heavy. Tony came into the nursery to join his girls, helping Ziva cover back up before kissing Tali's head. The little girl was curled in Ziva's arms, slowly drifting to sleep. It took a little longer than normal for her to finally fall asleep, before Ziva gently placed her in the crib. Tony and Ziva stood together, arms wrapped around one another as they watched their sleeping baby for a while.

"It's tough this parenting thing" Tony whispered.

"Breaks your heart in more ways than one"

Tony smiled leaving a delicate kiss on Ziva's cheek.

"We got this Zi"