Rifiuto: Non Mirena

Thanks to mcgeeksgirl for reviewing 29, 30 and 32.

"We wanted to talk to you both." Tim and Malachi shared a glance. The four sat outside at a local cafe, talking over coffee.

"About... what?" Malachi asked, swallowing nervously. Tim had a suspicion he knew what the conversation was about.

"Our daughters." Eli replied, and Tim sighed. Yep, he'd had this conversation with Eli the day before.

"What... about your daughters?"

Rivka chuckled, noticing how nervous Malachi was, and she reached out, patting his hand. "Nothing to worry about, Malachi. We just want to make sure you intend on taking care of Talia."

"Why wouldn't I? I love her. Just like Tim loves Ziva."

Rivka's eyes lit up, and she turned to her son-in-law, a small smile on her face. "Tim, can I talk to you for a moment, alone?" The agent nodded, getting up. As he joined his mother-in-law, he heard Malachi ask,

"He is coming back, right?"

She slid her arm through his as they walked towards the fountain in the center of the park across the street. "Relax, I understand that things haven't been ideal for you and Zivaleh since the accident, and amnesia is a horrible thing to go through."

"So... why do you want to talk, Rivka?" She took a seat on the edge of the fountain, turning to face him once he sat down.

"How many times have I asked you to call me Ima?" Her voice was soft as she reached up, brushing her thumb over his cheek. He blushed.

"Sorry, Ima. I... don't-"

"I know, Tim." They sat in silence for several minutes, before Rivka continued. "Thank you, Tim, for marrying my daughter. You've given her a life she never dreamed possible. You've given her a son- a beautiful little boy that is going to be out in the world soon." She reached out, resting a hand on his knee, stopping the nervous bouncing that seemed to happen when he got nervous or stressed. "And once that baby is born, he is going to look to you. I know how you think of yourself, Ziva told me. She's worried about you- worried that you're putting so much stock in trying to remember that you're repressing the memories trying to come back."

He sighed. "She shouldn't be worried about me. Amal is going to be here in ten weeks, if she's worried about me, that could send her into labor-"

"Tim," Rivka reached up, taking his face in her hands. "Ziva knows the risks, okay? But Amal is perfectly healthy. She's worried about you because you're her husband. She loves you first. Yes, she loves the baby, but that baby has not been married to her for four years; that baby has not shared a bed with her, and bought a home and slid a wedding ring on her finger. That baby is the product of your love, your passion- the passion you and my daughter share made that little baby growing in her."

"But-"

"All she wants is to know that her husband is okay. She can live with the fact that the amnesia took away your memories of her, that it took away important memories of her and your life together, but what she can't live with is you beating yourself up because you don't remember, because you may not be exactly the same man she married. Timothy, my Zivaleh accepts you as you are- before the accident, after the accident, it doesn't matter to her. You're her husband, she loves you."

"She doesn't- I don't deserve her-"

"Ziva doesn't see it that way. She sees herself as the luckiest woman in the entire world, to have a beautiful man like you in her life and in her bed every night. She's blessed, knowing that the baby she carries inside her is yours."

He lowered her gaze, unsure of how to respond to that. A moment passed, before he glanced at his wedding ring. The beautiful band shone in the sunlight, and there was a tiny diamond in the center. It winked at him, and after a moment, he lifted his hand, studying it.

"Never doubt an Israeli about diamonds."

Ziva now wore her rings on the chain around her neck, because her fingers had swelled with the pregnancy, but her wedding ring held the same tiny diamond in the center. "The... the diamonds in our wedding rings-" Rivka nodded.

"They belonged to Eli and I. After you picked out the wedding rings, Ziva asked if she have the diamonds from ours. Why are you asking?"

Tim bit his lip. "I... no reason." Rivka nodded, knowing her son was lying to her but deciding to let it slide.

"Tim," She took his hand, squeezing gently. "if you ever need to talk- about anything, you know that you can always call Eli and I. We'll listen. I know it seems as though Eli doesn't care, but he does. His daughter's happiness is at stake, and his son-in-law is... well, let's just say, that he couldn't have picked a better man for Zivaleh if he tried."

Tim snorted softly. "I just... I guess I'm just worried that my memory will get worse instead of better-"

"You're memory can only get better, Timothy." Rivka replied, reaching up and stroking his cheek. "Yes, as you get older, your memory will fail, but for now... for now, your memory can only get better. And you are doing better, Tim. I've watched you this last week and you... you are making wonderful progress."

"Really?" Rivka nodded, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. "Because it doesn't feel like I'm making progress. It feels like I'm getting worse."

"You are doing fine, sweetheart. Just remember to have faith."