Chapter Twelve

I groaned as I heard Avery's cries. It was barely five and he usually didn't get up until six. Ziva stirred beside as she rolled out of bed.

"I got him." She yawned.

"Sure." I said as I rolled over and buried by face into her pillow.

"Can you watch him real quick while I get changed?" Ziva asked as she stood next to the bed and rocked Avery who was happily babbling.

"Yeah." I said as I rolled on my side and Ziva placed Avery down next to me. "You're awfully happy." I said as I kissed Avery's cheek. I arranged his little body so his head was on the pillow next to mine.

"Gah." Avery smiled as he grabbed my nose.

"Is Mommy gonna take you on her run?" I asked with a yawn as I opened my eyes to look at him. He squealed and kicked his arms and legs. "You like running this early?"

"Dlah." He answered.

"One day, you'll understand the importance of sleeping in." I laughed as I kissed his temple and inhaled his baby scent.

"We'll be back soon." Ziva said as she leaned over Avery and kissed my cheek.

"m'kay." I said as she scooped Avery from the bed.

"Get up, Tony." Ziva said about an hour later as she threw a pillow at me.

"Time?" I groaned as I flipped on my back to look at her.

"Six fifteen." Ziva said as she placed Avery on my chest. "Watch him while I shower."

"Okay." I yawned as I pulled the covers around Avery. "How was your run?" He blew a raspberry at me in response. "That good?" I laughed as I pulled the cover over his head and pulled them back quickly. He squealed and laughed hysterically.

"Tony?" Ziva called from the shower concerned. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, just playing." I smiled as I pulled the blanket over his head and pulled it back again earning another eruption of giggles. "I love you Avery." I smiled as I leaned up and kissed his forehead.

"Your turn." Ziva said as she exited the bathroom wrapped in just a towel.

"My turn for what?" I yawned as I watched her comb her wet hair. "You sure you don't want to get dried off in the bathroom?"

"Why?" Ziva smirked. "Am I bothering you, Tony?"

"Bothered is part of what I am." I groaned as I removed Avery from my chest and laid him on his back propped up against the pillow.

"What is the other part?" Ziva asked obviously confused.

"Hot and bothered." I laughed as I pushed a damp strand of hair from her face. "It's an expression."

"Oh." She laughed as she wrapped her arms around my neck and peaked over at Avery who was content to lay on the bed. "Still hot and bothered?"

"Getting worse." I said as she kissed me lightly.

"Shame." She teased as she kissed me softly again and walked to the bed to get Avery. "I'm going to feed him."

"Guess I'll get a shower than." I groaned.

Amazingly we made it to work on time. I had to bring my breakfast with me because I decided that making out with Ziva was the better option than sitting at the table while she got to play with Avery.

"Morning." Tim called as Ziva and I entered the squad room.

"Morning." Ziva smiled as she set Avery's carrier on the floor by her desk.

"Mornin' Probie." I said sitting at my desk and flipping my computer on. "Where's Gibbs?"

"Haven't seen him." McGee said and I looked to Ziva who was paying attention to the man and woman coming down the stairs from the catwalk.

"Ziva." Both directors said.

"Director, Director." Ziva said looking at Jen then looking to her father. "Is there something you needed?"

"I was hoping we could speak," he started and glanced over to me. "in private."

"Maybe another time, I have work to do." Ziva said with a hard look in her eyes.

"Officer David, please." Director Shepard said with a serious look. "We can talk in my office."

"Then let's go." Gibbs said as he came up behind them with his signature glare and a cup of coffee.

"There is no need for you to join Agent Gibbs." Jen said as Gibbs and Ziva's dad engaged in a staring contest.

"Like hell." Gibbs said and Eli laughed.

"Agent Gibbs, please, there is nothing for you to worry about." Eli said with a stupid smile. "I am just here to talk with my daughter and meet my grandson."

"Like hell." I said repeating Gibbs' words causing all four to look over at me. "You heard me."

"Agent DiNozzo, I do not really think your opinion matters." Eli said.

"And why is that?" I asked standing from my desk to join the crowd that had formed.

"It is not your concern what my daughter, my officer does with her life or her son's life." Eli said staring at me.

"Don't you mean, officer than daughter?" I growled as I stood between Gibbs and Ziva. Smiling on the inside as Ziva shifted closer to me.

"Tony." Ziva said in a low voice, almost a growl.

"Perhaps we can take this somewhere more private?" Jen offered.

"Yes, would you like to join us Agent McGee?" Eli mocked as he looked to Tim who vigorously shook his head in the negative.

"Can you watch Avery please Tim?" Ziva asked sweetly as she walked to her desk and picked up his carrier.

"Sure." Tim smiled nervously as she set the carrier down next to Tim's desk.

"He will not be trouble, he will sleep the whole time." Ziva laughed as we all headed up the stairs.

"Like his father." I heard Tim mumble.

"Watch it McGoo." I laughed and Gibbs gave me a warning look.

"So what's all this about?" Gibbs asked as Jen sat behind her desk and Eli stood next to her as we stood staring back at them.

"Your director called to inform I had a grandson." Eli said and I felt Ziva tense beside me. "I was upset you did not call to tell me yourself, Ziva."

"I guess I just forgot." Ziva said, she really had been spending too much time around me.

"And the director said his name is Avery? That is not a very good Hebrew name." Eli criticized. "Avery David, that does not sound right."

"It sounds fine, but that is not his name." Ziva said in a tight voice and Gibbs took a sip of his coffee to conceal his small smile.

"Oh? What is his name then?"

"DiNozzo. Avery Matteo DiNozzo." Ziva said with a proud smile.

"DiNozzo?" Eli asked with wide eyes. "DiNozzo as in him?" he asked pointing to me. "Him?"

"Yeah, me." I said wanting to slap Eli's hand.

"Ziva, what were you thinking?" Eli sighed. "I knew he was coming over-."

"Because you were spying on me!"

"You were spying on us?" I asked. I was genuinely disgusted by the thought of Eli or any one else spying on Ziva and I, doing anything, especially in bed.

"I was keeping an eye on my daughter." Eli said. "Unfortunately you were part of that." He said and looked to Ziva. "Ziva, how could you let this happen? To get pregnant by an American, especially someone like him."

"What or who I do with my life is not your concern." Ziva said and I couldn't help but smirk slightly.

"No, but your job is." He said and looked to Jen. "And it seems you may not be as useful as a liaison officer any more now that you are single mother."

"She's not a single mother." I clarified.

"Agent DiNozzo, please." Eli said. "Your director is concerned and so am I."

"She just got back from maternity leave yesterday." Gibbs roared surprising us all. "And all she did was sit at her desk yesterday."

"Why are you here? To recall me back to Israel?" Ziva asked.

"No, you are still under contract with NCIS for another year or so." Eli said and pulled a paper from his jacket pocket. "But after that you and your son will return to Tel Aviv, yes."

"Avery will not be going anywhere." Ziva said as she eyed the paper in Eli's hand suspiciously.

"You would leave him in America with a father that is not his?" Eli asked as he unfolded the paper and laid it out on the desk.

"What?" Gibbs, Ziva, and I asked.

"What are you talking about, you did not even know who his father was until now." Ziva said as she picked the paper up and read it several times.

"What does it say?" I asked nervously.

"That Michael Rivkin is Avery David's father."