Some surprises in this chapter. Hopefully good ones, and hopefully everyone is still enjoying the story. Review if you can.

It had been two weeks since Gibbs had put the mummy case on hold. Two long weeks that had allowed them to close two other cases and visit Haven three more times. And yet they still didn't know anything new. They were making friends at the various Haven locations and if the vibes they felt sometimes were accurate perhaps a few enemies. Ziva shared Gibbs' frustration that they were essentially nowhere. But this Saturday morning her frustration had shifted to something altogether different, her clothes. At just over ten weeks pregnant her body's changes were just starting to become noticeable unless you watched her try to get dressed.

As she had planned she'd shifted her style from form fitting jeans and shirts to looser cargo pants and tops. That had been fine until she'd realized she was wearing the same few shirts all the time. Which was why on this Saturday morning, she was at a shopping mall an hour's drive from home. Gibbs had offered to come with her but she'd decided to enjoy some time on her own. He'd nodded and with a mysterious smile said he had a project to work on anyways. She knew that meant a day spent in his basement and she made a note to bring him home more beer.

She'd almost put off the shopping, the past two weeks hadn't allowed a lot of time for them to spend together. The cases they'd worked had kept them busy and a few times Tony had dropped in on Gibbs unexpectedly. Gibbs didn't mind and neither did she but having him walk in on them would have led to far too many questions. She'd spent time with Abby and with Ducky. She'd met with him twice to run blood tests and get a baseline weight. Ducky had informed her that healthy pregnant women needed only basic care and from all the reading she'd done she'd decided that the least amount of intervention during her pregnancy was the choice she wanted to make. She had laughed telling Ducky that he was much like a midwife, believing in the less is more approach. Tomorrow Ducky planned to come to her house and try and listen for the heartbeat, at around twenty weeks she would have an ultrasound. For now though she was healthy but growing out of her clothes.

The lingerie store had been her first stop. She'd seriously indulged, buying new bras and underwear that while comfortable were still sinfully sexy. She'd even thrown in a few new nightgowns that would grow with her. Her curves especially her breasts were fascinating to Gibbs, he would spend a fair amount of time tracing them with his hands and eyes. Her stomach showed just the hint of a curve but he kissed it every chance he got. The thought brought a smile to her face; if the guys knew just how sweet he was he'd never live it down. She was still smiling as she nearly ran into a woman she recognized all too well.

Ziva didn't bother to hide her shock, instead she watched it mirrored in the other woman's blue eyes. "Jeanne, I'm sorry I didn't see you." She watched Jeanne swallow quickly and then oddly enough smile back at her.

"Hello Ziva, I didn't see you either." Jeanne felt a shiver run down her spine, how did she want to handle this? Ziva was a formidable woman and the sight of her brought back painful memories but seeing her was also an opportunity.

Jeanne's response was far friendlier than Ziva would have expected, in fact seeing her at all was unexpected. "You are back in the area then?" she would have thought Jeanne would excuse herself and leave yet the other woman watched her closely seemingly unable to walk away.

Jeanne took in a deep breath knowing she could lie, but also knowing that wasn't why she'd come back. "Yes, for a little while at least. I don't know how long I'll be staying." She fiddled with her purse strap, switched the bag in her hand to the other, stalling until finally she looked at Ziva and spoke again. "Can we talk?"

Ziva knew whatever Jeanne wanted to discuss would involve Tony, it wouldn't be an easy conversation and one Tony might not appreciate but there was something in Jeanne's demeanor that had her nodding yes. "We could get something to eat." She gestured to the café attached to the mall just a few yards away.

Jeanne glanced over then back to Ziva, "That would work."

In moments they were seated and had placed their orders. Ziva watched Jeanne take a nervous sip of her water, then play with her napkin until finally she looked up at her. "My father was not a good man."

To anyone not watching Jeanne's face the statement would have bordered on the ridiculous. But, Ziva was watching her and she saw the depth of that comment. It was that somewhere in the past few years Jeanne had registered just how bad her father had been what kind of man he had truly been. That truth had finally sunk in and she'd accepted it. "Yes he was, because of him many people died and more." Jeanne nodded at her, eyes free of tears a woman accepting the reality she had fought against before.

Jeanne had taken far too long to understand what her father was and it had cost her. "Have you ever lied to someone Ziva for a case, because of your work?" She had to wait for Ziva's answer when their food arrived and she thought perhaps Ziva would ignore her.

Ziva sucked in a breath feeling the pain in the question and at the same time tasting the irony of it. "Yes Jeanne I have, more times than I care to admit. Those lies hurt people, sometimes people I cared for but I knew that my reasons for lying were just and so I accepted that it was what I had to do."

Jeanne picked at her food, digesting instead Ziva's words. "I wrote him a letter telling him he could come to me but…." She stared down at her plate feeling shame "That is why I lashed out at him, one of the reasons anyways."

Ziva knew from her tone that Jeanne wasn't making excuses simply explaining what she had been thinking at the time. "He told me about the letter, he was very drunk and I doubt he remembers that he did but if we are being honest Jeanne you didn't ask him to come back you were trying to punish him. You forced him to choose between his family, his life's work and a woman that yes he loved but he also knew hated him. If you had really loved him you would not have forced him to choose. You wanted him to hurt as you were hurting and he didn't let you."

Ziva's words were brutally truthful and all she could do was nod, when Ziva looked surprised she managed a smile. "I can't deny you're right. It took a long time but the more I learned about my father, about what he'd done and what was required to catch him I knew that I was wrong."

Ziva frowned, "You had every right to be hurt Jeanne you know that, Tony knew that. It was just…"

Jeanne waived a hand in the air. "Yeah, how has he been?"

Ziva knew she was walking the line of trust that came with being Tony's friend but her gut told her to take the risk. "He has changed some since you knew him. He is still funny but also more serious if that makes sense. He is quieter a lot of the time; it is hard to put into words. Why are you asking?"

Jeanne looked at Ziva forcing herself to say the words even though they still hurt to admit. "I miss him. I don't have the right but even now after all this time, I do. It's not something I like admitting especially to you but I came back because I want to see him again. When I ran into you I thought maybe you could tell me how he would react, if I should bother." She shrugged pushing her plate away food barely touched.

Ziva glanced down at her own plate and saw nearly every bite gone, Gibbs would have been thrilled. Sighing she tried to decide what she should say. "It has been a long time Jeanne and I do not know how fair it is for me to talk about Tony behind his back." This time she saw did see tears in Jeanne's eyes, she tried to hide them as she drank from her water glass but they were there. "Why now Jeanne."

Jeanne gave a bitter laugh. "Because it isn't just now, it's been all along. Even when I hated him I still loved him and I spent years trying to get him out of my head out of my heart but I've come to the point that I know I will always love him. Do you have any idea what it's like to love someone like that?

Ziva did know and that was likely the reason she decided to give in a little. "I cannot tell you what to do Jeanne and I will not betray Tony's trust but I will tell you that if I were you I would go to him. I do not know how he will react, we are friends but still." She thought back to the look on his face that day outside the interrogation room. "Do you think you have truly forgiven him for what happened?"

Jeanne thought for a minute on how to answer, the pain still came when she thought of his betrayal but she understood it now, understood even that it was possible he hadn't intended for it to go the way it had. "I don't think forgive is the right word. I think I see he was in an impossible position that he didn't know what to do about. I think he lied that day when I asked him if any of it had been real. Maybe that's just hope on my part but the fact you're willing to talk to me tells me a lot. If he hated me I doubt you'd give me the time of day." She watched Ziva fight a smile briefly but say nothing.

"It is Saturday if we are not working on Saturdays he volunteers at the local youth group teaching basketball. I do not know what he has planned for tomorrow." Jeanne nodded at her.

"Do you plan to tell him you saw me, warn him?"

Ziva had been thinking just what she would do, "I will give you a little time Jeanne but I will not lie should he ask for some reason. Also you should know I do not believe he is dating but I cannot be sure. We all have private lives and we do not always share them." And yet another understatement.

Jeanne felt pain slice through her at the thought of Tony with someone else but it was a reality she had already known was possible. "I know and if he is with someone else then I will wish him well, and at least we'll have a better bit of closure than last time." She gathered her things and stood. "Thank you Ziva. I know you had no reason to talk to me, to even trust me enough to sit down with me but I appreciate it."

Ziva watched her walk away and wondered at the wisdom of not calling Tony, would he be angry when he found out she'd known about Jeanne being in town? All she could do was hope he would understand. She felt her phone vibrate and saw a text from Gibbs.

Miss you

She smiled and paid her portion of the check, as she walked out of the café she texted back.

Miss you too, taking longer than I thought. Dinner tonight?

His quick reply made her giggle. I'll warn Tony off dinner is a go, hurry.

Will do make sure dinner is pizza she knew that would make him laugh, an almost obsession with pizza had been a trend lately.

As she walked through the mall she spotted a maternity clothing store. She was far from needing them yet but she wandered in anyways. The mannequins sported gently swelling bellies that made her pull in a breath at the thought of her body growing with Gibbs' child. A soft blue shirt with a cascade of ruffles caught her attention. It reminded her of Gibbs' eyes, making her wonder if their child would have blue eyes. She was so lost in thought she nearly jumped out of her skin when the sales lady cleared her throat to announce her presence.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you." She took a step back the fierce look on the other woman's face startling her.

Ziva tried smiling even though she was still shaken from being startled; it wasn't like her to be so caught off guard. "No it is okay I was just lost in thought." She'd taken a risk in coming into the store, if anyone from Haven was watching her they would wonder. Luckily there were two pregnant women at NCIS that she was casually friendly with to explain why she would have come in.

"When are you due?" the look of confusion on the dark haired woman's face had the sales lady taking another step back.

Ziva shook her head playing a part, lying when she wanted to shout the truth. "Oh I am not shopping for me but for a few friends. I would like that blouse but I am not done looking." Ziva strolled through the shop, realizing she had made the woman uncomfortable but also knowing it was a necessity. As the saleswoman took the shirt behind the counter she found something she hadn't been looking for at all but it was perfect. It was a band of fabric that went around her stomach allowing her to wear her pants unbuttoned giving her extra room but allowing her to stay covered. If the mannequin was anything to go by it would resemble the popular layered look. She picked out a few in different colors and then added one more blouse. As she approached the counter she saw the woman watching her. "These will be good gifts yes? They are not very close friends but I want them to have something nice." She didn't have to work at being convincing just believed what she was saying. Rule seven was a rule to live by in her line of work.

"Yes, these will be very nice. Would you like them gift wrapped." She saw the woman smile and it was amazing how it changed her face.

"Yes that would be perfect, do you have bows?" Ziva decided the bigger the bows the better anyone watching would be convinced and the second shirt she purchased would indeed be passed on to one of her coworkers, the other had already received a gift from her earlier so the lie would fit should anyone be asked. When the woman was done she left the store carrying a very large bag stuffed with bow laden packages. Glancing at her watch she hurried to the next shop where she would buy what she had actually come for, clothes just slightly larger than what she was wearing now, if she chose carefully they would last her for a while.

Gibbs had been waiting for Ziva until he'd run out of sandpaper. A quick trip to the hardware store had, led into a stop for ice cream which she liked after pizza. He wasn't surprised when he let himself in the house and he heard the sounds of her in the bedroom. Stuffing the ice cream in the freezer, he made his way up the stairs stopping abruptly in the doorway of his room. Ziva stood completely naked in front of the full length mirror he'd bought her a few weeks earlier. Instantly he was aroused, need slammed into him as he watched her hands trace over her skin. It was a damn fine way to come home. He knew what she was seeing, why she looking at her body so carefully. Her worries over the changes were valid, the faster she grew the less time they had. But whenever he looked at her he felt pride in every difference.

"Are you just going to stand there watching me Jethro?" Facing him she recognized he was already aroused.

"Thinking about it, Like watching you, especially when you're doing that." She smiled and reached for the robe at the foot of the bed.

"No." Gibbs felt his body harden even further when her hand instantly stilled and she waited. Stepping close his hand drifted to her stomach, the skin taunt and smooth hiding a precious secret. "You're worried."

The slide of his rough fingertips across her skin had her responding strongly enough she had to work hard to focus on his words. "Yes, only because we have not made any progress."

Gibbs grinned and cradled the barely there curve of her stomach. "I'd say we've made a lot of progress."

She leaned into him, his clothing grazing sensitive nerve endings as it brushed against her skin. "True, but you know what I mean." She watched him slip off his shirt, felt him pull her into his arms making it even more difficult to speak. "I have been thinking that even if my pregnancy does become public knowledge that does not mean we are prevented from working on the case. Everyone knows I am in a relationship they will not be surprised. I will not be able to go out in the field anymore but I doubt that will upset you. As for Haven we cannot know how anyone there will react but it is possible it will not make any difference at all." She knew he assumed it would make her a bigger target but she didn't completely agree.

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah I thought about that too, but Vance will know." He knew she hadn't forgotten that felt her nod her head against his chest. With just a few steps he led them to the bed sliding out of his clothes as she slid between the sheets. He wanted her but he needed to talk to her more, the words weren't coming easy.

"What is it Neshama?" she heard him sigh then shift her until they sat face to face her body wrapped around his. The arousal was there but something even more important read through his body language.

"This goes against everything we've been trying to do and even against my rules but.." he stopped letting his hands play at the softness of her hips. "I want Ducky to know I'm the father." He heard her indrawn breath, felt the shock as it made its way through her. "This isn't a decision I will make without you but, I will tell you why it's so important to me. I didn't tell him about Shannon and Kelly. We've been friends for years and I trust him more than anyone I know except for you. It hurt him when he found out I hadn't shared that part of my life with him. I don't want to make that mistake again."

Ziva smiled letting her fingers tangle with his. "And…"

Gibbs found her warm brown eyes, saw nothing but understanding and continued. "And I want to be part of this with you. I don't want to miss out like I did before."

"Did you think I would object that I wouldn't be happy that this is what you want?" she saw him grin and shake his head.

"No, but it's still a risk."

"It is but one that is well worth it." Glancing down at him she almost held back her next words but needed to know if he felt the same. "I have this feeling that it will not matter soon anyways. My gut says we don't have much longer before people start finding out. I do not intend to tell anyone and I cannot say why I feel this way, it is just a feeling."

Gibbs sighed and held her hands tighter. "Glad I'm not the only one. Been having the same feeling. We'll have to be careful if it happens to keep the knowledge from anyone at Haven."

Ziva laid her body across his content for the moment to listen to his heart beating beneath her cheek. "We will do whatever it takes Jethro, we will find out what has happened to the missing couples, we will find who did it I have faith in our abilities."

He stroked her hair feeling the same confidence she did, his own perhaps strengthened by hers. "From your lips to God's ears Ziva, as long as you stay safe nothing else matters." His arms wrapped around her holding tight.

Ziva felt his love wash over her. "As long as we stay safe Jethro you are just as important to me." He nodded against the top of her head clearing his throat and she knew he was trying to reign in the same emotions she was. Rescuing both of them she changed the subject. "I ran into Jeanne Benoit today."

His hand stilled as it was about to delve into the curve of her hip. "Where?"

"The mall I went too. I know how you feel about coincidence but she was too surprised to see me for it to be anything but." He shifted them into a sitting position focusing on her. "She admitted to me she is here because she wants to see Tony."

Gibbs didn't bother to hide the concern he felt but couldn't put into words. "What did you say to her?"

Ziva rubbed her fingers across his palm loving the feel of the callouses, knowing she always would. "She was not sure how Tony would react to her return, if she should see him. I told her if I were her I would make the effort." At his look she took in a breath. "The other day Tony and I were talking and I got the impression he still thinks about her, misses her. I did not tell her that just that I thought it was worth the risk."

Gibbs clenched his hand in her hair; he knew which conversation she was referring to. He suspected that the comment she was thinking about had more to do with how Tony felt for the woman in front of him than Jeanne but he kept that to himself. He knew Tony still missed Jeanne, anyone who knew Tony knew it but still her return made him worry.

"She has changed Jethro from what Tony told us about her I see that she is different." She yawned trying to stifle it with the back of her hand.

"Did you tell Tony?"

"No, I told her I would give her a little time to figure out what she was going to do but that I would not lie either. I did mention where he plays basketball."

Gibbs chuckled at her, and again when she yawned for the second time. "Well then I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Now how about a nap and when we wake up I'll show you just how much I missed you." The lazy nod of agreement was all he needed and together they drifted off to sleep.

Tony dragged the towel across his neck, wiping off the sweat that had gathered there. He high-fived the last of the young men he'd been shooting baskets with and sank into a chair drinking a bottle of water. He took a minute to roll his neck, working out the kinks then leaned back to stare at the park that surrounded the youth center. He would guess that this would be one of the last few Saturdays he'd be able to take the guys outside before the weather turned. Running a hand through his hair he stared off into the distance watching a couple pushing a stroller. Like Ziva's mystery man and Gibbs having a new woman in his life it hurt. He'd been alone a long time, filing any spare time with everything he could not to notice that he was far from having anyone of his own.

It was a sad day when Tony DiNozzo felt sorry for himself yet that was exactly what he was doing. Sitting in a park watching life pass him by, if Gibbs had been there he would have smacked him. Shaking his head he looked up as a shadow passed over him and felt his stomach fall to his knees. He actually broke out in slightly hysterical laughter. He was going crazy, seeing things and thinking about things that didn't exist in his world any more. He was certain he was delusional until she spoke.

"Tony…" Jeanne recognized shock when she saw it; he sat perfectly still watching her like he fully expected her to disappear. When she spoke he blinked and stood up abruptly. It was physically painful to see him again. He looked very much as Ziva had described him the same but not. He seemed bigger as though he was spending more time in the gym than when they'd been together. There was a touch of grey in his hair that hadn't been there before and the lines in his face were slightly deeper. But, still as handsome as she had remembered.

Tony was a man of words, he could fill any silence with any person but now when it mattered all he could manage was her name. "Jeanne?" she moved a step closer to him and he unconsciously stepped back. He wanted to reach out to her, touch her make sure she was actually real instead he reached down and grabbed his bag, twisting the towel in his hands. "What are you doing here Jeanne?"

This was exactly the Tony she'd expected to encounter but still it was a sharp contrast to the man she had known. The one she suspected was more real than his undercover work should have allowed. Pressing her hands together she stayed quiet long enough he was forced to look at her. "I missed you."

Tony dropped his bag, lost his grip much like he thought he might be losing his grip on reality. Her blue eyes threatened tears but she was fighting them. She was standing looking far too beautiful, trying to be strong. He was certain he was going to wake up any second find himself staring at the sky and find out he'd been smacked in the head by a stray shot. To be certain he reached out touched her hair, sliding the strands between his fingers just as he'd gotten into the habit of years ago.

Jeanne couldn't stop the sob that slipped form her throat, knew it startled him when he stepped back again. The loss of his touch even such a simple one made her want to call out his name. Instead, she waited patiently for him to say or do something. She didn't have to wait long in seconds he was staring down at her. "What does that mean Jeanne, you miss me? You want what? Another apology ?" His hands held her arms not hurting her but forcing her to look at him.

"I want to talk Tony, more of an explanation then you gave me, and the truth about what happened between us." She expected more anger instead she watched him close his eyes, heard him sigh harshly.

"Where are you staying?"

She gave him the name of the hotel she was staying at. Felt his hands stroke the skin of her shoulders. She recognized the battle he was fighting with himself; she had fought the same one for a long time.

"Fine, I'll be there at eight." He waited for her to nod in agreement; when she did he let her go, grabbed his bag and walked away. Only when he reached his car did he lock himself in and let the breath he'd been holding in free. Harsh gasps had his head pressed against the seat while he tried desperately to regain some sense of balance. A glance at the clock told him he only had a few short hours to prepare himself to face her again. Forcing himself not to look back towards the park where he'd left her he drove for home wondering if he was brave enough to grab for the second chance seemingly in front of him.