Hope my fellow Americans enjoyed their 4th.
Chapter Two
"I remember just fine." Tony growled. "And I'm pretty sure what happened between us should've stayed between us and not hurt our kid and friends."
"What do you care, Tony?" Ziva sighed. "We both got fresh starts, we have both moved on and are happy."
"No, Ziva, you got the fresh start. You got our baby, a new job, a new town, and a new home." Tony glared as he stepped closer to her and dropped his voice lower. "I got an abandoned engagement ring, an empty house, and all our confused friends."
"I did not know I was pregnant when we broke up." She stated as she glimpsed to the children to make sure they weren't watching.
"Who gives a shit!" Tony yelped. "You still knew and didn't tell me."
"Aren't you even concerned about his conception?" Ziva diverted and Tony gave her another 'who cares' look. "Despite your sincere dislike for condoms we were still careful."
"Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy." Tony said unamused. "We were as far from abstinent as two could get."
"In that alley, against a brick building is where he was conceived. That angry rage after we broke up." She explained but Tony still seemed uninterested.
"Who cares? This isn't 7th Heaven, Ziva." Tony hissed. "I don't think Thomas will care where he was conceived. I don't think he'll even want to know. The point is you were pregnant and didn't tell me."
"That much is obvious, Tony." Ziva hissed as she went to walk away from him but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.
"Then let me rephrase." He seethed as he stepped closer to her. "My problem is why didn't you tell me."
"I had already established myself in Annapolis and at the academy. In that short amount of time I had actually made friends." Ziva tried but Tony glared harder and practically growled at her.
"Bullshit." Tony said as he backed her against the wall. "Why, Ziva?"
"Because I did not want to." She rushed out and Tony immediately stepped back, as if he'd been slapped.
"I don't give a fuck if you wanted to." He said softly as his face fell.. "I still had the right to know."
"Know what?" Lauren asked confused.
"Nothing, sweetie." Ziva smiled gently and then looked to Thomas. "Hungry Thomas?"
"Yes." He nodded as he stepped closer to his mother and glared at Tony, whose face was red.
"I bet dinner's almost ready." Lauren smiled as she bounced her way into the kitchen.
"Mommy?" Thomas asked softly as he looked up at Ziva.
"Yes, love?" she responded as she ran her hand through his dark hair.
"Can we still go swimming tonight?" he smiled sweetly.
"If the pool is open, of course." Ziva laughed as she glanced to Tony who was intently watching the interaction between mother and son. "Why don't you go see what Lauren is up to."
"Okay." Thomas said as he disappeared en route to the kitchen.
"He seems like he's a good kid." Tony smiled gently as he looked back to where Thomas went.
"He is." Ziva stated. "He is also very smart."
"I bet." Tony laughed as the kids came back and pulled them towards the kitchen for dinner.
Dinner went on without a hitch. Thomas and Lauren talked mostly, telling different stories about their schools and friends. Jen mentioned that she was a lawyer and Ziva almost choked on her chicken as she tried to suppress her laugh. Tony didn't talk or look at Ziva and Ziva didn't bother talking or looking at him either.
"Thank you for dinner, Jen." Ziva smiled as she shifted some of Thomas' half sleeping weight.
"Thank you." Thomas mumbled as he snuggled into his mother's neck. "It was good."
"Well, thank you Thomas. It was a pleasure to have you, both of you." Jen smiled as she looked to Tony who was still staring at Thomas. "Tony?"
"Yeah, glad you could make it." Tony smiled and Ziva nodded.
"Have a good night." Ziva smiled as she opened the front door and Tony followed her out.
"Momma?" Thomas asked against her neck.
"Hmm?" Ziva asked as she walked down the driveway towards where the taxi should have been waiting for them.
"Does the hotel have a night light?" he asked, honestly concerned as he pulled his head from her neck and looked at her with wide, tired green eyes.
"Yes, hunny." She laughed and kissed his cheek.
"Where's the taxi?" Thomas asked as he looked at the empty street.
"I'm driving you home." Tony said as he dangled his keys. "Well, to your hotel."
"You said the taxi was here." Ziva glared as she shifted Thomas.
"I lied." Tony said as he unlocked his Mustang and shifted the driver's seat forward so Thomas could get in the back. "Come'on, Ziva, at least I won't charge you."
"It is fine, Tony, I will walk." Ziva smiled as she turned from Tony.
"I'm not going to let you walk back to your hotel holding a seven year old." Tony growled and Ziva glared back at him. "Just get in the car. At least you can get Thomas to bed quicker."
"I'm not tired." Thomas pouted then soon contradicted with a yawn.
"Please." Tony said as he motioned to the car.
"Okay." Ziva said as she listened to Thomas continue to yawn.
"Where to?" Tony grinned as they pulled out of the driveway.
"The Omni." Ziva said as she looked back to Thomas who was marveling at the car. "Thomas Zane, do you have your seatbelt on?"
"Kinda." He giggled as he quickly reached for the seatbelt.
"Thomas Zane." Tony tried in a whisper to himself. Ziva looked at him curiously and Thomas hadn't heard.
"This is a cool car." Thomas said, a sudden energy jolt having hit him.
"Thanks." Tony grinned proudly as he glanced up in the rear view mirror to the little boy.
"You should get a car like this, Mom." Thomas said as he rested back against the seat.
"Do you not think the back seat is a little too small?" Ziva asked and Tony laughed.
"Well, I guess." He sighed as he quieted and watched the scenery go by.
"Here we are." Tony said as he pulled up to the front of the hotel and got out.
"What are you doing?" Ziva asked as she also got out and watched Tony lift a sleeping Thomas into his arms.
"Helping you." Tony grinned as he gave his keys to the valet and took the ticket. "You shouldn't be caring around a little boy, not with your back."
"My back? What about your back?" Ziva laughed as Tony followed her up to her room.
"Mine wasn't fractured, it's just knots." Tony said as he felt Thomas snuggle into him. "Whoa." Tony gasped as they entered the room.
"Thomas is a bit messy." Ziva laughed. "Like a tornado. That is why I call him Taz, sometimes."
"For Tasmanian Devil or Tony and Ziva?" Tony teased but Ziva glared. "Which bed?"
"This one." Ziva said as she removed some of Thomas' toys and pulled the covers back so Tony could lay him in the bed.
"Mommy, what about swimming?" Thomas asked softly as Ziva removed his shoes, socks, and jeans.
"We will go tomorrow." Ziva smiled as she kissed his forehead and pulled the covers back over him. "Go to sleep, my love."
"Light?" he whimpered as he looked around the room.
"I will turn it on for you." Ziva laughed.
"Love you." He sighed as he snuggled into the comforter.
"I love you too, Thomas." Ziva whispered and kissed the tip of his nose.
"Can we talk now?" Tony asked as he watched Thomas sleep. "Without screaming at each other?"