sottaceti con il gelato / pickles with ice cream

Disclaimer: These characters are the creative property by the writers of NCIS and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended. Only the plot belongs to me.

Author: TLC

Rating: M

Word count: 1, 292

Prompt: Stomach Kiss (AU)

Summary: Ziva scares the hell out of Tony with a surprise. (Season 11 AU)

Tony yawned with exhaustion as he dumped his bag on the kitchen bench and turn the lights back on, he would never admit this out loud but he was actually starting to feel his age. It's been a long 4 months since he left Israel so Tony thinks he's earned the right but god – he missed her. So, so much that he can't go to sleep without seeing her face.

Still, he knew that Ziva hadn't made the decision to leave the team, Gibbs, Tony and her home lightly. He had to respect her decision, even though he was miserable as hell.

Probably why he didn't even hear the soft sounds of footsteps coming up behind him as he looked through his fridge for a beer.

"Tony?" She greeted hesitantly.

He froze, literally half way bent down reaching for stubby and every muscle in his body stiffened.

"Please… Look at me."

He had to close his eyes at the sound of her voice; he couldn't help but smile even at the uncharacteristic shy tone. Ziva – shy, never!

He spun around to face her, only standing a few feet away and smiling gently at him.

"Ziva." He whispered breathlessly.

"Hello Tony."

He was striding forward before he knew it, gathering her in his arms, and smothering his face into her mess of curls.

"What are you doing here?" He murmured, unable to help himself.

She didn't answer right away, but a muffled sniffle caught his attention. His heart raced up in worry, "Ziva?"

Ziva sighed and she looked almost nervous, "I have some news."

"Okay," He reluctantly detached himself from her, she was looking back up at him but her face was pale and tired. They moved simultaneously to his couch where he could spot a few of her bags near the TV. She sat down close to him, in touching distance but he could feel the walls she built around herself when she was vulnerable.

"What is it?" He asked when she doesn't say anything further.

"I am sorry to just come here without some warning but I made this decision in the spur of the moment and… I am sorry, Tony and I hope you can one day forgive me."

He sat up straighter – alert – with concern, "Ziva? What happened? Did mossad find you?"

She smiled at him fondly, "Yes but that is not the news I wanted to tell you."

"Okay, well I'm listening. My beautiful Dinozzo ears are alert and waiting."

Ziva laughed, her nose crinkling adorably. She doesn't say anything for a moment just stared searchingly at his face but her eyes shined with tears and Tony almost wanted to shake her words out of her.

"I am pregnant, Tony."

He stared at her, wide-eyed, trying to process her words and what they meant and then… "Pregnant," Tony said his voice quiet as a whisper.

She was a little breathless and a lot tearier when she continued, "And I want it. I want this baby," Tony startled at 'baby' and her shaky voice, "I did not think I would. I had never thought that having a child would be in my future but… I want it and it is yours, Tony. You might not be ready for it and that is okay! You do not have any obligation to us but I am keeping it. That is my decision and I needed to tell you this." Ziva laughed bitterly at herself, "I almost did not want to tell at you – I must admit. I have put you through so much still I cannot be selfish with this."

He reached for her hands, their fingers intertwined; his brow furrowed with thought and his heart kept beating as if was about jump from his chest. There were so many thoughts going through his brain.

Ziva was pregnant and it was his. Was Tony ready for this? To be a father?

He loved Ziva, undeniably, unconditionally and he would die for her but he had to think about the baby too, right? What was best for his or her future? How far along was she? Does he want a boy or a girl? But if it's healthy – that's all that matters, right? Will he marry Ziva – no, will Ziva let him marry her? Would they raise the baby in Israel or here with the team? The team, god, Abby was going to flip and Gibbs well he loved kids and Senior always talked about becoming a grandfather and –

"Tony? Please say something." Ziva said interrupting his chaotic thoughts.

God, Ziva always knew how to take him in surprise. He had no idea how this was going to play out but he did know two things – Tony loved Ziva.

And he was going to be a father. A father to a baby – a tiny little human being that's like half him and half Ziva and he was going to love the hit out of this kid.

"So," Tony coughed into his fist, "Have you started getting any weird cravings cause I've heard of some traumatising stories."

Ziva smiled, teeth showing and everything. "Well, I do sometimes want to eat sardines at four in the morning."

"Gross." Tony commented, his hand hovered about her stomach in question and now that he was paying attention he could notice the small protrude bump. Ziva nodded in consent and he let his palm settle on her.

He looked back up at her from staring at his hand on her belly to find her looking at him. He could only gape at the fond expression on her face, she was crying and even Tony had to admit his eyes were stinging with unshed tears.

"You'll be an amazing mother, Ziva. And if you let I want to be a part of this."

"But are you ready to raise a child Tony?"

"I really don't know but I love you, Ziva. You know that and we're going to have a baby – together."

"I would like that." She cried them (pregnancy hormones?) even as she smiled, and she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck pulling him down for a hug.

It wouldn't be later that night that he finally worked up the nerve as Tony sat on the floor between Ziva's legs on the couch watching random commercials on TV. Her fingers were threading through his hair, curling the strands as she hummed thoughtfully under her breath.

"So, um… Have you been to the doctors yet?" He finally asked.

She patted his head reassuringly while she answered him, "Yes, both me and the baby is healthy."

"Okay, okay that's good so if my maths right you've gone through the first trimester?"

"I have."

"Then you should know the sex of the baby right?" He asked hopefully, tilting his head up at her.

"I do." She said, amused.

He huffed, frustrated, "Aren't you going to tell me?!"

Ziva laughed, cupping his face in her hands, "A girl. We are having a girl, Tony."

"We're going to have a daughter?"

She firmly nodded.

He moved around, kissing both of her knees on either side of him then slid the edge of her shirt up over her swelling stomach until it bunched up underneath her breasts. Ziva pulled his hands up to rest on top of her belly, his fingers warmed at the touch of her skin.

Smiling, Tony bent down pressing his lips to her bump. Ziva laughed as he kept on leaving soft kisses all over her stomach.

"Tony?"

He pressed his cheek on to her stomach, practically in a daze, "Hm, yeah?"

"You are going to be a great Abba and I – "She faltered, her voice cracking.

Tony smiled up at her, "I know. Me too."

A/N: Just saw episode 24 for Season 13 and cried for like 2 hours. I needed this. And reviews that would be nice. :)

Extra note: Who else is raging against the fact that they killed Ziva off?