Only a few left now, which is sad, but these are some of my favorites, so it's not so bad. Thanks, as always to my awesome beta, AliyahNCIS, for all the work done on these one-shots.

12: Precious

Light, / warm and heavy as pure gold / and angels sing softly / to the new-born babe.

Tony had seen many unpleasant sights in his years; first as a cop and then as a NCIS Special Agent. More blood, guts, and severed limbs than he cared to recall. But the moments he wanted to remember were relatively few. The scene before him was one of them. He was watching intently, trying to ingrain the sight into memory.

His wife Ziva lay in a hospital bed, dark hair plastered to her head with sweat, exhaustion clear in her eyes, but the largest smile he could ever remember seeing on her face. She was gazing down into a small pink bundle she cradled against her chest. He moved from his place leaning against the doorway where he had stood since returning from telling their family the news. Standing beside her, he followed her gaze to the tiny face peaking out of the pink folds.

The skin was a light olive, the hair dark and beginning to curl. A small round nose, and a tiny pink mouth graced the baby. He tentatively reached out his right hand and stroked the right cheek with the tip of his finger. It was as soft as a petal against his skin. A tiny hand reached out of the blankets and five little fingers wrapped themselves around his larger one. Something in Tony's heart melted at the touch of this miracle nestled in his wife's arms.

"Would you like to hold her, Tony?" Ziva asked, her eyes moving to his.

He didn't trust his voice, so he just nodded. He lowered his arms and Ziva settled his daughter into them. He lifted her up and cradled the little girl against his chest just as Ziva had done, being careful to support the baby's head. He bent his head down and kissed her on the forehead. He found his voice again and asked, "What are we going to name her?"

They had been tossing names about for days. Just when they had thought they were settled on one boy and one girl name, one or both of them would change their minds or one would hear a different name they liked and the cycle would begin again. Debating, researching meanings (mostly Ziva), looking for movie references (mostly Tony), or checking to see if any family or person who had died strangely had carried the name in question (both of them). A few had passed all stages but none had been right.

"I think we should call her Avigail Adaiah," Tony whispered looking into the dark eyes of his new-born daughter.

Ziva looked surprised. "That is Hebrew for…"

"Father in Rejoicing." Tony finished. "It suits her, don't you think?"

Ziva smiled at him, her eyes soft. She was just about to ask why he had chosen the middle name when they were joined by the exuberant entrance of none other than the namesake of the little girl, Abby herself.

"Oh! Let me see her! Gibbs said you two had had enough time and I could come see the baby now!" Abby couldn't seem to stand still, shifting from one foot to the other, holding a black gift bag in her hands. Tony exchanged a look with Ziva, and carried the newly named Avigail over to the excited Goth.

Abby set down the bag and extended her arms, and as Tony carefully placed her in the waiting embrace he said, "Here she is Abby, little Avigail."

Abby looked up at him, green eyes wide. "You named her after me?" she gasped.

"Yes and no," Ziva answered from the bed. "It means 'Father in Rejoicing' in Hebrew. Tony picked it out."

"I love it!" Abby said, grinning down at the baby. "Hi Avigail! I'm your aunt Abby, and you and I are going to be close, I can tell. Oh! I almost forgot. Here, take her back. I have a present for her." Tony took her back, watching, amused.

She fished the present out from what seemed half a package of black tissue paper. She produced a stuffed hippo wearing a red cape with black bats on it and a tag saying 'Super Bert'. Tony had to laugh. Ziva chuckled as well, along with the rest of the group who had now entered to hospital room. Gibbs stood at the back, arms crossed across his chest, a rare grin on his face. Tim was standing next to Ducky and Palmer, matching smiles on each face.

It was Ziva who finally spoke. "It is perfect Abby. Thank you."

"You are very welcome," Abby replied.

Many pictures were taken that day. The ones that would become the favorites were a picture of Avigail and her new toy, Ziva and her daughter, Tony and the baby, the new family all together, various member of the team and friends who had come to welcome the baby girl, and a single picture of Gibbs expertly holding the child, eyes soft, Avigail looking straight back at him.

When all had left and the room was quiet, Tony again sat on the bed next to his wife who was again holding her child. Ziva now asked the question she had meant to ask earlier. "Why did you choose the name Adaiah for her middle name? She has two 'A' names now." Her voice was soft and curious, not accusatory.

Tony answered her, voice equally low. "Because of what it means."

Ziva smiled gently. "And what does it mean?"

"You mean you don't know?" Tony was surprised. He'd gone with something Hebrew on purpose, wanting to reflect his wife's heritage.

She shook her head slowly. "I have not heard that particular name before."

Tony grinned, looking down at his little girl with eyes full of love. "It means 'Precious'."

Light, / warm and heavy as pure gold / and angels sing softly / to the new-born babe.

Short and sweet. Reviews would be lovely!