Okay here it is. The next chapter. Hope you like it. I'm feeling a little NCIS-ed out. Don't get me wrong, still love Tiva and the show and such... but I guess this season is just getting old. I thought the first half was amazing of this season, then there was some blah in the middle... this past episode started picking up pace... and now I don't know. I guess the summer break will help me get the mojo back. And it's coming at the right time since I'm starting to get fed up with the writers... yeah just had to vent. Sorry. Don't let me change your opinion. I guess Obsession just rubbed me the wrong way and I'm still a little sore over it. But no worries, I won't stop writing.

Disclaimer: I obviously Disclaim

Abby snuck into the room quietly, slinking into Tony's side of the bed and laying parallel to Ziva. When she realized that Ziva hadn't noticed her presence, or she was ignoring her, she decided to make herself known.

"Hey Ziva" Abby greeted softly, letting her head roll to the side and folding her hands over her stomach. She studied the dark outline of the Israeli's body against the faint light of the moon.

"Abby?" Ziva questioned in surprise as she shifted her body so her back was no longer facing the Goth. Abby only answered with a smile as she examined the traces of tears on Ziva's face.

"Uh huh. Hi, just thought I'd come keep you company. Ya know, since it's only 7 o'clock and the clubs aren't exactly hopping yet." Abby explained calmly with a reassuring smile as she wiped away some tears from Ziva's face. Unfortunately, reassuring and convincing were not the same thing.

"You are my babysitter." Ziva reiterated with a sigh, moving her gaze to the wall behind Abby's head. Abby nodded slowly as she reached out for Ziva's hand and held it in the space between their bodies.

"Yeah, sorry. So, food, distraction or talking?" Abby urged gently with a squeeze to the hand she held in hers. With Ziva it was hard to predict what she wanted, so Abby waited patiently for an answer. Ziva closed her eyes for a moment, and Abby could see the muscles twitch with indecision on her face. This was worse than she had thought when she got the call from Tony.

"I did something horrible, Abby." Ziva sighed as a rogue tear trickled down her cheek. Abby responded with a sad smile but said nothing. She knew there was nothing to say at this point, and she could just lend an ear.

"I slept with another man, while carrying Tony's child." Ziva elaborated and Abby could hear the anguish and guilt in her voice, "I knew I should not have and I knew that when Tony found out it would hurt him, but I did it regardless because I was hurting. It was so spiteful but I did not care."

"Ziva..." Abby mumbled softly, for the pain in Ziva's voice pained her as well. Abby gave her hand a tight squeeze.

"No, Abby. After I told Tony that he would be fathering a child and we fought, I called a former boyfriend. I knew that it was a misunderstanding and we would soon makeup but I wanted instant gratification because I felt like he did not want us or me" Ziva crackled, her vision blurred with tears of shame and guilt. Her eyes flickered across the shadowed wall as they refused to focus on anything. Ziva's mind was racing and her heart picked up pace with it.

"Hey!" Abby insisted tugging Ziva closer to her body so she could hold her, "Tony doesn't want you to hate yourself because he doesn't hate you. Forgive yourself, Ziva. Tony's not angry at you; he just needed to get his thoughts straight. I know because he told me. He's gonna be back first thing in the morning to take you to your appointment. That, my friend, is a man who cares and doesn't want you beating yourself up."

Silence filled the darkness as Ziva meandered over Abby's words. She still couldn't help it. Her heart ached and she didn't deserve any of the good treatment she received. The thought of the pain she had caused Tony starting back after Jeanne made her throat constrict with guilt. They had fought so much but he kept coming back.

"This is too hard." Ziva croaked, but continued when she only got a confused expression from Abby, "A relationship with Anthony DiNozzo is impossible"

"What are you talking about, Ziva? I wasn't even aware you were trying a relationship but he's changed. He's ready to be serious. He's been ready, just been waiting for you!" Abby pushed; her eyes wide with disbelief. Her friend was giving up on a relationship before it had a chance to bloom. A relationship that had proved to be withstanding of all the once Mossad assassin could through at it. It would survive.

"I know this, Abby, and we are merely friends. I mean, I willing hurt a man I care about deeply. There is something wrong with me if I could do something so cruel to such a beautiful man. He saved my life, and I have made his nothing but hell." Ziva replied through the thick tears forming at the edge of her eyes. She tried blinking them away but it just made them trickle down her face. Abby released Ziva's hand and took her face in both of hers, much like Ziva had done so many years ago to her.

"Ziva David! He's not giving up on you, so don't you dare give up on yourself! Listen, you can't go back and change anything that you did, but what matters is you regret doing it. You regret hurting Tony. So move forward, but move forward with Tony. You are so made for each other!" Abby scolded, but she was right. Ziva nodded in Abby's hands, earning her a dazzling smile of pride.

"Good Girl, now what would you like to eat?" Abby praised, releasing Ziva and sitting up in the bed, but she turned when she saw the look on Ziva's face. "There's something else, isn't there?"

Ziva didn't look up at Abby so Abby sat back down and took Ziva's hands in hers. She tipped her head downward to get a better look at the Israeli's face.

"Abby... I have no doubt that Tony loves this child. He is rather affectionate towards the baby and consequently affectionate toward myself... but in the way that Gibbs is affectionate towards you. He is just… very careful. He is cautious to touch my belly or talk to the baby, though I can see he wants to. I think he is afraid of me… or doesn't feel anything for me… it is stupid forget it." Ziva revealed without looking up and Abby was shocked. She had never seen her open up so much about her feelings, but what she said made sense.

Since Ziva was put on bed rest Tony had treated her so carefully and comfortably and they had seemed to have settled into a content rhythm. Though, Abby could see where Ziva had gotten the impression she had. Abby had just seen it as Tony taking care of her, but obviously Ziva was looking for some way of knowing Tony's feelings. And the only way for any of this to be resolved was for them to talk... but Abby didn't know when that might happen, so she just reassured her friend and made her dinner.

Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo entered the unlocked house of his boss and made a beeline to the basement where he knew the home owner would be. He took well placed steps down the wooden staircase to avoid making unnecessary noise. Without a mere greeting he walked towards the workbench and dumped out a jar, filling it to the rim with Bourbon. He took a large swig, grimacing and turned towards his boss.

"Evening, Anthony" Gibbs acknowledge without looking up as he continued sanding the boat.

"'Ey, Boss. How's it going?" Tony replied with a forced grin. The younger man emptied his glass down his throat before refilling the jar. Gibbs watched him and raised an eyebrow at the speed the man was already downing the alcohol.

"I've heard there's some bars around here somewhere if you plan on getting sloshed." Gibbs commented shortly. He didn't appreciate his senior agent coming to his home, getting drunk and then becoming his responsibility.

"Ziva threw out all the beer and put the expensive wine in a lockbox at my place, not that I know why since we haven't spent anytime at my place." Tony continued, ignoring the annoyance obvious in the older man's voice, mostly because he had noticed a hint of concern.

"Are you going to tell me why you're here?" Gibbs prompted, putting down the tools and approaching Tony.

"Ziva's been sleeping around... Okay, so it was just once but still." Tony began rambling, "And I know, I know, I know. I shouldn't be bothered by it, because it's not like we're in a relationship or anything. I mean, she can do with her body whatever she pleases, I guess... but that's the thing. It's not just her body anymore... I mean that's my kid, Gibbs."

Gibbs sighed. He didn't want to hear about his agents' sex lives. He often made a point of not getting involved with their personal lives all together, but that was blown to shit long ago. His team was a family; his family.

"You jealous? Or do you feel betrayed?" Gibbs asked, abruptly interrupting the silence. Tony seemed lost in thought, "Both? Neither? Listen, DiNozzo, I know you love her and all, but does she know?"

Tony stared at his superior with astonishment, completely bewildered. He ran a hand through his hair trying to form complete thoughts and coherent sentences. He did love her but was it so blatantly obvious? He had ever only implied it, never finding the words. And it had only been the once; in Paris, but somehow Gibbs knew. Should he deny it? Play stupid? Gibbs knew and he wasn't angry or screaming or slapping.

"Pick your jaw up, DiNozzo. You weren't hiding it very well." Gibbs scoffed, with a light smirk on his face. Tony grinned back as he shook his head, still in disbelief.

"You got me there, Boss. I'm just confused... the fact that she had a boyfriend before Paris just changes things" Tony explained.

"What does it change? That was the past, she broke up with him and she's with you now. She had a lapse of judgment a month ago... but that's over." Gibbs tried to reason but Tony shook his head in disagreement.

"It changes everything, Gibbs, it just may change everything. I don't know how I feel about her anymore. I don't know the paternity anymore. Besides, we're not together. We never were, so I guess it's not like she cheated on me... though it feels that way." Tony huffed as he paced, trying to make the knots in his stomach settle and the clouds in his mind to clear up. He just couldn't find the words to say what he was feeling.

"You think she's lying to you, DiNozzo? If she says there is no doubt in her mind that you are the fath..." Gibbs began trying to convince.

"I trust her, boss. She's always had my six, but I just doubt that she knows for sure." Tony interrupted, holding up a hand for emphasis.

"Well, then this is a conversation you need to be having with her. You can stay the night if you wanna." Gibbs offered with finality. Tony nodded slowly. It was a conversation he had to have with Ziva, but they were both so strong willed that the conversation never seemed to make it all through. They would only get so far in before someone's walls would go back up, usually Ziva's.

"I just want to get my head on straight before I face her again, boss." Tony agreed as he trudged up to the guest room where he knew he would be spending his night. He lay awake on the bed for what seemed like hours trying to change his stream of thought. He twisted the situation every which direction just to readjust his feelings on the manner. He had to change his view, if the next conversation was going to work out in any way. And then it knocked him in his head what was screwing him up so bad. This family he had newly acquired, the family with Ziva, may not be his.

Ziva stepped out of the shower to the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. For a moment she allowed herself to believe that it was Tony cooking, but with the events of the previous night fresh in her mind she knew better. She wrapped a towel around herself then wound her hair into a tight bun so she wouldn't have to bother drying it. She took a few minutes to dress herself, finding a pair of maternity jeans and an OSU shirt thrown carelessly beside her dresser.

"Hello Abby. You made breakfast?" Ziva spoke up as she entered the kitchen and her senses were assaulted with the smell of caramel, or was it cinnamon?

"You doin' better this morning? I made monkey bread! Have you ever had it?" Abby bounced as she dropped open the oven door and with oven-clad hands removed a pan.

"Bread made with monkeys, Abby?" Ziva questioned with shock laced through her voice. She peered over her friends shoulder to better view the breakfast food.

"Of course not!" Abby exclaimed before responding to the knock at the door. She opened it, smiled and came back to the kitchen with Tony in tow.

"Morning, Sweet cheeks" Tony greeted as he loosely gripped Ziva's arm and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. Her eyes dropped to the ground and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Tony..." She begged and he gently pulled her into a hug, resting his chin at the crown of her head.

"I know, Ziva. We'll be okay. I'm sorry I left last night, and you should know I wasn't mad. I wasn't leaving you, Ziva. I just didn't want to say something I didn't mean. I needed to talk some things through, but I've got it straight now." Tony mumbled into her hair and felt her body relax against his.

"I am sorry, Tony. I never meant to hurt you." Ziva insisted pulling him closer to her body. He nodded against her and she swore she heard the words 'I know' repeatedly. Tony glanced over his shoulder at Abby, whom was making tea for Ziva, and escorted the Israeli to the living room, sitting her down on the couch.

"Listen, Zi. I freaked out last night. I started having doubts that the baby was mine... and it hurt. Because I want that baby to be mine so so very badly and I'm so excited and happy..." Tony began rambling, with a suppressed smile leaking onto his face, but Ziva didn't look up to see it.

"You want a paternity test, yes?" she prompted softly, the crack in her voice just barely noticeable to the untrained ear. Tony's eyebrows fell together in empathy, as he shook his head from side to side.

"No, I'm not asking for any proof. I just want you to know that I'm not going anywhere, no matter what. See, I realized last night that it hurt more to walk away from you than anything that happened in the past..." Tony explained excitedly, pausing to keep the courage, "I love you, Ziva"

Ziva's eyes widened before her face softened and the corners of her mouth lifted. She reached out her hands to Tony's and squeezed one as she held his gaze.

"I don't expect to hear it back, yet. Don't say anything you don't mean." Tony warned as he watched the muscles in her face twitch with indecision.

"Tony, she is yours. Scott is sterile." Ziva laughed and she pulled his face, a hand on each cheek, towards her and placed a ginger peck against his nose. She did love him too, but she couldn't say the words. However, she figured, this admission could be almost as good.

"Guys! Are you gonna eat the breakfast I made you? It took a while!" Abby called from the kitchen causing the couple in the living room to laugh and enter the kitchen.

"Thank you, Abby. This looks delicious!" Ziva exclaimed taking the plate that Abby offered as well as the tea.

"No problemo! You two sort things out? Kiss and makeup?" Abby asked happily as she bounced around the room. Tony grinned back at her and shrugged his shoulders.

"In a sense" Tony replied, eyeing Ziva adoringly. Ziva made a point of not looking up, as she squirmed under his gaze.

"Abby, this is very good. There are no monkeys in it though, correct?" Ziva teased lightly. Abby kissed Tony's cheek, then Ziva's before pointing her finger playfully at Ziva.

"Oh you" She scolded with a laugh before taking her bag and bopping out of the apartment. Tony leaned forward and placed a feather-light kiss on Ziva's lips, causing the most electric shock she had ever felt to jolt through her nerves. She grinned back at him. An unspoken mutual understanding that whatever happened, happened and they would take whatever this was, slowly.


Soooooo, I had a bad week. I don't want to get into it and it's totally not life threatning. I just am feeling slugish and blah and angry at the world. But I totally love you guys... so return the love?

Critiques please. What do y'all think? Getting sick of me? Because I have a couple other fights in mind. (no worries, we all know that they have explosive personalities and I don't think their relationship would be all puppies and rainbows, but like any healthy relationship they work through it.)

Love,
Luna