Rifiuto: Non Mirena

Week Twenty-Six

They didn't speak to each other for a week. And by the time they did, Ziva's twenty-sixth week had begun, on the heels of a three-hour long conversation- Ziva admitted that she was just as scared as Tim was, and he apologized profusely for the way he'd acted the week before.

He looked up from filling the tea pot. "You okay?" She nodded, giving him a small smile.

"Yeah, just... just starting to feel Braxton Hicks, that's all." A moment passed before Tim nodded, setting the kettle on the burner and turning it on. He leaned back against the counter, watching her as she sorted through all the scrapbook materials on the table. Once she was done, she stood-

"Whoa, easy." Ziva looked up to find Tim having rushed to her side; he met her gaze, worry in his eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just... stood up too fast." He nodded, satisfied that she was okay. "So, picture?"

He chuckled softly. "Let me get the camera."

Ziva followed him into the living room, undoing the buttons of her blouse. By the time she joined him, she was in nothing but his sweats and her bra. After the photos were taken, she made a beeline for the sofa, sinking into it with a sigh. Tim chuckled as he joined her, helping her to put her feet on the pillow resting on the coffee table. "Relaxed?" She turned to him.

"As good as I can be with this... lump having taken over my body." She giggled, running her fingers over her belly. "But I do have more energy, so I guess that's a plus. Jeanne said that it'll start going down when I start the third trimester."

"Which starts after this week." She cocked her head at him. "The third trimester starts at week twenty-seven and lasts until week forty. What?" She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Nothing." They sat in silence for several minutes before she moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "We start Lamaze class after my checkup next week."

"And?" She looked up at him.

"I'm nervous." He pulled away.

"Why? You're not nervous about anything-"

"But this is different." She sat up, shifting fully to face him, her hands moving to her belly. "Once we start Lamaze, then..." She bit her lip. "Then that means there are only... three... four months left and then Amal will be here. And... and soon I will be forty weeks and... and he will be coming..." She swallowed. "He will be coming out... and I will have to give birth, I will have to push him out of me... Tim, I can't do that... I can't give birth... I can't push another human being out of my body, I don't know how, I..." She choked on a sob. "He... he just... he needs to stay in, he... he needs to stay inside me, I... I don't mind. I... don't mind being pregnant, I can get used to it... I just..." But she didn't finish her ranting and worrying, because Tim had grabbed her face, brushing his lips firmly against hers.

When he pulled away, he met her gaze. "You okay?" Slowly, she nodded, her teeth sliding out to worry her lower lip. He kissed her softly, one hand moving down to rest against her belly- "Is that your navel?" She nodded, following his gaze.

"Yeah, it is." She sighed. "I feel like an overcooked turkey." They shared a glance before she burst out laughing. "And I probably look as though I'm wrapped too tight in cellophane, with all these stretchmarks. Honestly, I don't see how any woman can look beautiful, least of all-"

"You are beautiful. How many times do I have to tell you that?" He asked, reaching out and brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. Over the last few weeks, Tim had slowly opened up; the videos had helped, as had Ziva's stories, though his memories weren't fully back, and nowhere near completely regained, Tim could now recall details to visits to Israel- not specific visits, though; as well as details on dates they'd had and certain parts of holidays they'd spent together. Though the memories of their wedding and the time leading up to the accident still hadn't returned, it was getting better.

But what thrilled Ziva to no end was the fact that he no longer kept away from her; maybe because she forced him to have contact with her and Amal- though he didn't talk to the baby, he did talk to Ziva, and she knew the their little boy could hear his father's voice, that he could recognize his voice. She had also started noticing that whenever she mentioned Tim at all, the baby started to kick and move with enthusiasm.

She grabbed his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm before allowing him to get up. "You're going to meet Sarah for lunch?" He nodded, pulling on his jacket and grabbing his wallet.

"You want to come?" She shook her head.

"No, I think I'll go upstairs and take a shower and then... try and take a nap. With any luck, our baby boy will let me get some rest." He nodded, going to her and helping her to her feet before pulling away. "Have fun. Give Sarah a kiss for me." She grabbed his wrist before he could dash off to the door. "Hey." He turned back to her, brow furrowing. "Kiss me. Please, Tim." He hesitated briefly before pressing a quick kiss to her lips. She let him go, settling for the display, knowing that while he'd gotten to the point where he was starting to get comfortable touching her, he still wasn't comfortable kissing her- despite the number of nights they made love.

Once he was gone, she glanced down at her belly. "What do you say, ahuva? A quick shower and then a nap?" The baby shifted. "Sounds good to me too."