Rifiuto: Non Mirena

Week Thirty

"Oh my God, look at you!" Tim watched as the youngest David wrapped her sister in a hug before pulling away to rest her hands on her belly. "Oh God, Ziva, you're so big!" Ziva blushed, resting her hands on the top her belly, as her sister gently brushed her fingers over the older woman's stretched skin. "The last time we saw you, you were still trying, and now you're pregnant! Honey, congratulations!"

Tim leaned against the far wall of the living room doorway, drinking in the sight of Ziva's parents, younger sister and future brother-in-law. The girls' older brother, Ari was in London, a doctor at one of the hospitals, and so wasn't here to visit. But Tali, her fiancee Malachi, and their parents had just gotten in. Ziva wrapped the younger girl in a hug, rubbing her back. "I'm so glad you're here, Tali. It's so good to see you- to see all of you."

Tali pulled away, turning towards the living room; her dark eyes lit up when she spotted Tim. "Tim!" Though Tali was four years younger than Ziva, the two women could have passed for identical twins. She had the same dark eyes and small, upturned nose Ziva possessed, and was roughly her sister's height and build as well. But that was where the differences currently ended- at DNA. Tali had chopped her hair into a pixie cut that surprisingly fit her small features, and streaked it with mahogany highlights. She'd filled out, much like Sarah had, possessing a curvier figure than when he'd seen her last.

He gave her a soft smile, allowing her to wrap him in a hug. "Hey, Tali."

"You remember me?" She asked, pulling away, dark eyes lighting with excitement. Slowly, he nodded.

"Watching the videos of our visits helps too." She grinned, wrapping her arms around him again. "It's good to see you again."

"You too, Tim." When she pulled away, Malachi gave him a quick hug. He then turned nervous eyes to Rivka and Eli, Ziva's parents. Eli made his way towards him, holding out his arms. After a moment, Tim stepped into his father-in-law's arms.

"It's good to see you again, Timothy. How is your memory?" The younger man pulled away.

"Doing better, but still not fully back." Eli nodded, taking his son-in-law's shoulders.

"Keep focusing on my daughter and grandson, they will help you through this. Especially since he will be here soon." He turned back to Ziva, who was in Rivka's arms. "How many more weeks until our grandson makes his entrance?" Tim quickly did the math in his head, but it was Ziva that spoke up.

"Ten, Abba." She went to Tim, slipping her hand into his and grinning at her husband. Tim returned the smile, relaxing once his wife was by his side. Though he remembered Ziva's family- the memories were there, but scratchy, distant- he still felt uneasy around them. Even though they weren't new to him, since the accident, they were, even though he'd known them for years.

When they settled in the living room with coffee; Ziva stayed close to Tim's side, knowing the nervousness he was feeling, and Rivka sat on her other side. "How long are you going to be here for?"

"Two weeks, if that's okay, Zivaleh." Eli replied. "Give us some time to enjoy our children before they become parents."

"Of course, Abba, that's fine. You can give my husband some tips on being a father." Ziva reached up, brushing her fingers through Tim's hair before resting her forehead to his briefly. She groaned softly, her free hand moving down to her side. "Oh," She took a deep breath, glancing at her family. "He's starting up again with his stretching."

"Is he an active little boy, Ziva?" Tali asked, wrapping her arms around her knees as she shared the ottoman with Malachi. Her sister nodded.

"Very active. He hardly ever stops." She rubbed her side, releasing a soft breath. "Easy, Amal. I know, you're excited because Savta and Saba and Auntie Tali and Uncle Malachi are here to visit, but that doesn't mean you can-" She groaned. "Excuse me." She stood, shaking her head. "I swear, I've spent the last two days in the bathroom because he's pressing on my bladder."

Rivka chuckled softly. "I remember those days; I cannot tell you how relieved I was to not have to go to the bathroom every five minutes once she was born." She turned to Tim, who studied her silently. A small smile played on her lips, and he bit his lip.

"You look like Ziva. You're her mother, right?" She nodded, reaching over to take his hand.

"How have you been, Timothy?" He swallowed.

"It's been... difficult, watching her grow and... having no memory of the baby or of our wedding and marriage, but..." He stopped, turning to the others. "It's getting better. Watching the videos helps, and hearing Ziva's stories and... and looking at pictures kind of helps, but... but there are days when I wonder if I'm going to be in this amnesia fog for the rest of my life."

Rivka squeezed his hand. "It will get better, Tim. You are already making progress. When I talked to Ziva a few months ago, she said you wouldn't even touch her or the baby because you didn't remember them, but now you're holding her hand and from Ziva said, touching her belly and talking to the baby." She reached up, brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. In that moment, Tim saw every bit of his wife reflected in his mother-in-law, from her heart to her very soul, and it seemed to calm the panic in his mind, if only briefly. "Have faith, my son. Have faith."