Rifiuto: Non Mirena

"I'm ten weeks today, Tim. Ten weeks and... and two days, Jeanne says. He's... he's growing... he's growing strong and healthy like he's supposed to." She sniffled. "I know that it's way too early to tell, but... but a part of me just... just knows that we're having son. That... that you gave me a little boy. I just know it." She reached over, taking his hand and resting it against her stomach. "I have a tummy, Tim. It's small, but... but it's there."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead, turning the volume down on the video so as not to wake his wife. Eventually, though, he stopped the video and took it out, getting up and putting it away. He then ran his gaze over the other videos, pulling one from the stack.

Week Twenty

After a moment, Tim removed the DVD and slipped it into the player before grabbing the remote. The image that came onto the screen wasn't another visit to his hospital bed. In fact, it wasn't a visit to the hospital at all.

It was video of a sonogram.

The well-known side images that every parent saw when they looked at the sonogram of the baby within the uterus. He could see the baby's nose and lips, and his little hand as he stretched within Ziva's belly. The video lasted for several minutes before it switched, and suddenly, Tim was looking at his son's tiny face- he could see the baby's closed eyes, the tip of his nose, his small lips...

On the video, the baby shifted, stretching his arms and legs, and Tim choked on a gasp as the baby put his thumb in his mouth.

"It was very clear that we were having a boy, but..." He turned as Ziva came into the room, joining him on the sofa. "But I wanted her to tell me, so that I could tell you that we had a baby boy growing in my tummy." She looked up at him, reaching up to gently thumb his lower lip. "At first, you couldn't see anything... just the gestational sac... and suddenly, there was a little bean of a baby... and then suddenly... suddenly, there was this little baby."

She snuggled close, her hand moving down to caress her belly. "I wish I could have been there."

"But you're here now, ahuva." She leaned up, kissing him softly on the cheek. "Regaining your memory is just going to take time." She yawned, settling against him.

"You should be in bed, asleep."

"Sleep would be wonderful, if my body would let me." He chuckled softly, getting up and helping her to her feet.

"Well, since you can't seem to sleep and neither can I, how about find something to occupy our time?" She raised an eyebrow.

"As long as you let me be on top instead of lying beside me this time-" He laughed, going to the stereo and putting a CD into the player.

"I don't mean that." She furrowed a brow.

"You to dance with me?" He nodded, and she sighed. "Tim, ahuva, that is sweet, but you are not going to be able to get your arms all the way around me-" But he rested a finger to her lips.

"Just hush." Then, he took her hand, spinning her around until she was facing away from him. He then slid his arms around her middle, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he pulled her closer. She reached down, lacing their fingers together as they began to sway gently to the music.

"We used to do this a lot, before the baby."

"Hmm. I remember." She looked up at him.

"You remember?" Tim nodded, meeting her gaze.

"Bits and pieces, but they're coming back. That's good, isn't it?"

"Oh, sweetheart, absolutely." Ziva squeezed his hand. "Things from our marriage?"

"Some... there are... still large gaps, and I don't remember the accident or our wedding, but..."

"But you're remembering. The amnesia's getting better, slowly, but it's getting better." She nudged her nose against his chin as they continued to sway, before he leaned down, kissing her softly. The baby kicked hard against their hands, and Ziva laughed. "I think Amal likes this- dancing. I think it relaxes him, the swaying." She yawned, nuzzling into him.

When the music stopped, Tim pulled away. "Come on, let's go to bed." She sighed.

"I told you, I can't sleep-"

"Then we'll do something else."

They slipped into bed fifteen minutes later, and spent the time talking softly together. Ziva snuggled into Tim's chest, lacing their fingers together and resting them on her stomach. Amal kicked against his parents' hands, and Ziva groaned, sitting up. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Tim chuckled, propping himself on his elbow. He reached out, gently rubbing her belly. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but you have eleven weeks left."

She sighed. "I know. I just... I guess I'm just... tired of being pregnant. I know that's a horrible thing to say, but..."

"Not at all. You have every right to be. You're growing our son, it's got to be exhausting."

She flinched as the baby kicked hard against his father's hand, and after a moment, Tim leaned down, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of his wife's stomach. "Shh, hush, baby boy. There's no need for that at this late hour. Ima needs her sleep, sweetheart. And you moving around isn't letting her get any rest." He continued to gently rub her belly, talking softly until the kicking seemed to stop. Ziva looked at her husband, mouth hanging open in shock.

"Wh... how... when... why didn't you think to do that weeks ago?"