Title: Baby Assignment

Chapter: 11

Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of the original characters from the show, they belong to the writers of NCIS.

Author's note: Hey, I am sorry that it took so long to update, but it's been crazy lately and the teachers assigned four major projects on only the second day of the new semester so I've been busy. I hope that this chapter is worth the wait and that you do enjoy it, I promise that the dance is coming soon! Thank you all so much for reading and please let me know how I'm doing and review, enjoy!

Ziva walked into the mall with Abby and spotted their friends. Ziva and Abby made their way over and smiled, Abby greeted them all with a huge smile, "Hey guys!"

Smiling and offering "heys" in return, everyone turned to greet them.

"I was thinking that we could all go to Stacey's first, I heard that they just put out a whole new selection of dresses!" Melissa began.

Everyone nodded and they made their way into the busy store. It wasn't long before Melissa and Abby were in the changing room, leaving Ziva with the other girls to wait.

"So Ziva, we really have to pick you out a dress that will shock Tony's mouth wide open." Rachel began, unaware of Melissa's promise to Tony that nothing would be said.

Ziva turned, her eyes wide in shock, "Why would we want to do that?"

Everyone grinned, "Oh come on Ziva, we're friends, you can tell us! Plus, he totally loves you too!"

Ziva smirked, "I do not know what you are talking about."

She began to turn away to hide the blush on her face but the other girls wouldn't spare her, "Ziva." Rachel began. "We know that you love him, just like we know he loves you. So now let's get past all the 'he loves me, he loves me not' stuff and get you to together!"

Ziva refused to give in, "I really don't understand, Tony and I are friends."

The others just rolled their eyes, "Oh come Ziva. We all know that you're more than friends! You two are always staring at eachother when you think no one is looking. Plus, you should have seen the way Tony was acting when he saw Matt ask you out in the cafeteria, he slammed his tray down and practically knocked a bunch of kids over as he stomped out of the room. I'm surprised you didn't notice him with all the noise he was making. Then, he slammed his locker shut and basically bit Melissa's head off when she tried to talk to him. I know because I was going to see if he was okay myself, but she beat me to it. Oh! And get this, after Tony apologized to Melissa for being so mean he said 'I'm sorry I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you, it's not your fault I keep refusing to accept reality, guess after what I just saw I don't have much choice anymore.' Now try and tell me he doesn't love you back."

Ziva merely stood at them in awe, unsure of what to say, but before they could continue Melissa came out. She had overheard the last bit of the conversation and hurried to put on the dress so sheh could interrupt them, "Hey guys! How does this look?" She asked while twirling around.

After several approving comments Melissa smiled, "I'll think about it, but I can't buy the first dress I try on!" Thinking of how to secretly tell the others not to say anything more, Melissa continued, "I really want to shock Matt. I'm just glad that Tony promised he wouldn't say anything to him, I'd really hate it if someone else told him about my feelings. I mean, even if he likes me back, I'd want him to tell me himself, not be forced into it by his best friends." She twirled one more time to show them her dress, giving a meaningful look the other girls for good measure. She smiled when they seemed to get her point. "I'll be out in a few."

She disappeared into the changing rooms, and Ziva turned to the group of girls.

"What did you mean?"

Everyone hid their smiles at the hope that was evident in her voice. Rachel was the first to speak up. "It's nothing Ziva, I'm sorry but I was just trying to see if you liked him."

Ziva felt her heart fall, "Oh."

For a moment there she thought they were serious, she thought that Tony may actually love her back. Mentally kicking herself she forced herself to ask, "So, I guess you like him?"

Rachel was clearly shocked, "Me? No! I mean… I think he's a great guy and all, but we've already tried dating, didn't work out."

Ziva noticed that Rachel was blushing and smirked, "So you're sure you don't like him?"

Rachel nodded, "Why?"

Ziva merely smirked, "Nothing. I just thought by the way that you were blushing that you liked him."

Rachel blushed more but shook her head, "He likes someone else."

Ziva's smirk disappeared, "He doesn't like, he loves some one else."

Rachels' eyes widened in shock, "You mean he told you?!"

Ziva nodded, "Yes, of course he did."

Rachel waited for Ziva to continue, but when she didn't Rachel prompted, "So…."

"What?" Ziva asked, clearly confused.

Rachel rolled her eyes and began, "Well??? How did you react?"

Ziva shrugged, "Why should it matter to me if he is in love, it's his life, not mine."

"Well, it affects your life too." Rachel answered.

Ziva furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean, how does this affect me if it is Tony who loves some girl."

Some girl! Rachel thought, She doesn't know it's her! Searching her mind for any excuse she began, "Well, I know that, it's just that he's your friend, so it affects you too."

Rachel sighed in relief when Ziva simply replied, "Whatever."

It was easy to see that despite the way Ziva was desperately trying not to let her feelings for Tony show, she wasn't happy he loved some one else. Rachel smirked to herself at the irony of it all, Tony finally tells Ziva he's in love, he just won't tell her with who. Rachel chuckled to herself thinking; It's just like they say, 'Let's take this one step at a time.'

~~~NCIS~~~

Ziva sighed as she sat down across from Tony in the cafeteria the next day at lunch. "It's finally over. We don't have to hear another baby cry for a very, very long time."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Oh come on Zee, it wasn't that bad!"

Ziva scoffed, "Oh says you! I'm the one who took him home with me every night and was forced to wake up constantly to make the STUPID DOLL stop crying!"

Tony smirked, "He was probably making you pay for losing him."

Ziva glared at him, "Like I told you before, I didn't lose him; I knew exactly where he was."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure… Whatever, I believe you, really I do!"

Ziva glared at Tony, sensing the heavy sarcasm in his voice. Abby came bounding up and interrupted them, "Hey guys! Can't wait for tonight!"

Ziva turned and smiled at Abby, "Hey Abby! I know I can't wait, I don't know why, but I woke up with a weird feeling this morning, like some how today is going to be really great!"

Tony forced his hands to stay where they were, not allowing them to fidget nervously while thinking about what he was going to do tonight. "So, did you guys buy dresses yesterday?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

Ziva and Abby looked at him, clearly shocked that a guy would ask about clothes. Abby spoke up first, "Yeah we did! I love both of them, mine is black and Ziva's is dark green. I love my dress, even though I'm still not sure how Ziva talked me out of buying one with skulls on it."

Ziva simply smirked, "You look very nice in this dress Abby, and if I recall I only mentioned that Tim would agree with me on the dress choice, you were the one to make the final decision."

Abby blushed furiously, and when Tony raised an eyebrow she blushed even more. "It's just that Tim has good taste in clothes."

Tony and Ziva exchanged a knowing look but decided to leave it at that. Abby was thankful for the break and began rambling again, "Oh! Tony you should see Ziva in her dress, she looks SO pretty, I bet that everybody is going to be looking at her."

Both Tony and Ziva blushed, but thankfully Abby didn't notice. "I mean she looked good, and not just good, but good good. Oh and I am sure that you will look great in your suit too! I guess that it really doesn't matter what everybody is wearing though, the dance itself is going to be great. I really can't wait!"

Tony and Ziva's eyes met and they both smirked, Abby always was enthusiastic.

Tony was done eating so he picked up his tray, "Well, like I said, I will pick you guys up tonight, at eight and eight-fifteen, sorry Ziva but I will be driving, the last thing I need today is a car crash."

Ziva glared at him and Tony smirked while walking away, not minding at all that her eyes followed him out of the room.

~~~NCIS~~~

Ziva stared into the hall mirror and pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.

She was quite pleased with the way that this had turned out, her dress fit perfectly, and it ended just above her knee to allow free movement but still look good.

Also, it was dark green, the colour which looked best on her and her hair flowed freely down her back. She hadn't even needed to style it, the natural body in her hair allowed her to simply brush it and be ready to go.

She was extremely nervous though, she had bought this dress in hopes of impressing Tony, hoping that he would finally notice her, but she was wondering now if she was being too desperate. No guy, especially Tony, liked a desperate girl hanging on them, so she didn't want to appear needy.

Even though she knew Tony didn't look at her in that way, and that nothing would ever happen between them, she couldn't help but hope.

Gibbs walked in the hallway and saw Ziva fixing her hair, he frowned a little at the dress she was wearing, but realized that she was growing up, and there was nothing he could do about it. "Don't stay out too late tonight okay?"

Ziva looked at him and nodded, "Okay Dad."

Gibbs smiled, as much as he didn't like seeing her this grown-up, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful his daughter was. He swallowed the small lump forming in his throat, "So how are you getting to the dance?"

Ziva looked at him, "Tony's driving me and Abby there and back, that way we don't have to walk or have our parents drive us."

Gibbs gave his daughter a knowing look, sure that the smile on her face wasn't due to the fact that they'd be saving gas. "Good." He muttered, meaning it in more way than one. He walked towards the living room, but paused in the doorway. "You look good Ziva."

Ziva flashed him a smile, "Thanks Dad."

He pretended he didn't see her blush as he smiled kindly and walked into the living room.

Ziva turned back to the mirror, wondering if it was a bad idea for Tony to drive them. At that moment a car horn honked outside, signalling Tony's arrival.

Well it's too late now… Ziva thought, she took a deep breath before stepping outside.

Thanks for reading, please review and I hope you enjoyed it, sorry for the wait!