Gibbs/Allison Series:

Choosing Between Old & New # 5

By: MChakotayParis (R. Mason)

Chapter 15

Ziva David

When Ziva asked Ali want she wanted to do, unsurprisingly she mentioned cooking, but after talking for a few minutes Ali finally asked quietly.

"Ziva, I know this sounds sort of stupid but could we start simple, I mean expect with Daddy and Papa, or you and Tim I've never done any cooking or baking. I'd like to be able to bake some cookies or even a cake for them sometime by myself"

"Sure Ktantonet, I'd be happy to help you learn how to bake, and I've even got the prefect cookbook for us to start learning. What would you like to learn how to bake first?" asked Ziva

"I was thinking a cake, you sort of as a celebration of me finally excepting Ali as an essential part of my life" said Ali softly

"I think that's a wonderful idea sweetheart, do you want it from a mix or scratch?"

"Scratch please, and I was thinking a white of yellow cake with my chocolate icing and a cream cheese filling"

"Sounds wonderful, I'll come over Saturday and we can make out our shopping list and then go shopping, after that we can start baking, how does that sound?" asked Ziva

"Sounds wonderful Ziva thank you"

So on Saturday when Tobias and Gibbs woke Ali it was a very excited little girl they found, as they entered her room Ali was already awake sitting up waiting for them

"Ali, how long have you been awake?" asked Gibbs as he came over and put down her bedrail while Tobias got Ali a dry diaper and then came to stand behind Gibbs.

"Only a few minutes Daddy, I promise. I woke up and just couldn't get back to sleep so I just waited until you and Papa came in. I didn't get up Daddy, honest" said Ali as she looked at both men

"I can see that princess and were not mad, just concerned that you didn't get enough sleep last night. Are you sure you feel alright?" asked Gibbs as he sat down on the edge of Ali's bed

"I'm fine Daddy, really can Ziva still come over please…oh please" asked Ali looking from one man to the other

"Of course baby girl, now lay down so I can change your diaper then we can fix breakfast. Ziva should be here in about an hour or so" said Tobias as he changed places with Gibbs and started changing Ali, as he was finished he stood up then moved away so Gibbs could help her up

"There you go princess, now what would you like for breakfast?" asked Gibbs as he held out his hand for her.

"Can we make pancakes with fruit on top Daddy?" asked Ali as she took Gibbs hand and got out of bed and then headed towards her closet.

"Sure thing baby girl, get dressed and meet us downstairs and we'll start breakfast" smiled Gibbs as he watched Ali choose her clothes and then head towards the bathroom.

Ten minutes later Ali bounced down the stairs dressed in one of her play sets. Since she knew she and Ziva were going to go out shopping today she'd chosen one of her more adult play sets. Choosing a dark purple tee-shirt dress with a lilac tank top and matching Capri pants, so as she came down stairs both Gibbs and Tobias had to smile. She really looked cute while still an adult.

Ten minutes into their breakfast foray Ziva arrived and with a squeal Ali ran to the door throwing it open and then standing in front of the women bouncing

"You came, you came Ziva" called Ali as she stood excitedly in front of the woman

"Of course Ktantonet, I remember I told you I was coming this morning. Are you still fixing breakfast?" asked Ziva as she put her arm around Ali's shoulders and lead her back into the kitchen.

As the two women entered the kitchen they saw both men trying to work around the mess that Ali had made trying to "help" them fix breakfast. She really wanted to help and learn but sometimes she just got so excited that she made a bigger mess "helping" than was needed. Ziva knew that if Ali had a recipe to follow that she did better so she added to her mental list making breakfast as one of the things to teach Ali.

Five minutes later breakfast was finished and the three of them ate in the dining room while Ziva enjoyed another cup of coffee, after offering to help with the cleanup of the kitchen she pulled out the basic cookbook and showed it to Ali. After flipping excitedly through the book, they found the basic cake recipe and wrote down all the ingredients and then headed to the store.

Twenty minutes later Ziva and Ali returned from the store and went into the kitchen to organize their supplies and items. After that they followed the recipe and forty-five minutes later they were putting the cake pans in the oven. Then they started on the cream cheese filling and icing and by the time they were finished the cakes were done. As Ziva helped Ali remove the cake pans from the oven, placing them on baking racks, they started cleaned up the kitchen.

As they waited for the cakes to cool, they went into the living room and worked on one of Ali's puzzles until Gibbs and Tobias came in calling that it was lunch time. After fixing a quick lunch of sandwiches and seasoned fries, Tobias put Ali down for her nap with the promise that they could finish their cake after she got up.

During Ali's nap Ziva spoke with Tobias and Gibbs telling them what Ali had told her about wanting to make the cake so together the three of them planned a special dinner and got all the ingredients while she was asleep. It was one of Ali's favorite meal, lasagna, a green salad and garlic bread.

By three-fifteen everything was ready for Ali and Ziva to fix dinner and Ziva asked Tobias and Gibbs if she could wake Ali. After getting their approval Ziva headed upstairs and knocked softly then opened Ali's door. Ali was still asleep, lying on her side with her pacifier in her mouth and her "Puffalump" in her arms. As Ziva dropped her bedrail Ali turned over and looked at Ziva smiling around her pacifier as she removed it from her mouth and placed it on the nightstand by her bed.

"Ziva, you came back" called Ali as she sat up and put her arms around the woman's neck

"Of course I did Ktantonet, now will you let me change you or do you want me to call Gibbs or Tobias?" asked Ziva as she removed Ali's arms from around her neck and laid her back down on the bed.

"I want you to Ziva, and then may we finish the cake?"

"Of course, and if you wish we can even fix your favorite dinner"

"Really we can! Ohhhh thank you!"

After that Ziva quickly got Ali's supplies then changed her and then watched as the women almost danced to the bathroom to redress. After five minutes Ali reemerged and the two women headed down stairs and back to the kitchen to finish the cake.

As Ziva took the cakes out of the pans Ali gets the bowls of filling and icing out of the refrigerator. After bringing a cake stand to the counter Ziva helped Ali placed one of the cakes on the platter then showed her how to evenly smooth the filling on the cake, after that they placed the other cake on top and with Ziva's hand guiding her Ali spread the icing on the sides of the cake then the top.

As they finished Ziva let Ali lick the bowls clean then helped her clean up the kitchen, after that she took Ali outside to help her run off the sugar she'd just consumed. After spending the next two hours outside Ziva and Ali returned inside and after a quick change settled down to start back on working on Ali's puzzle. At dinner time Ziva and Ali started boiling the lasagna noodles, as they cooked Ali and Ziva browned the meat then made sauce. When everything was ready Ziva carefully showed Ali how to layer the noodle, sauce and ricotta cheese until the pan was full finally putting a layer mozzarella cheese on top. After placing the pan in the oven they started on the salad cutting and tossing until they had a large bowl of fresh green salad.

As they set the table the timer for the lasagna went off and they prepared the garlic bread. As Ali called Tobias and Gibbs to dinner she proudly helped Ziva carry the lasagna into the dining room, placing it in the middle of the table. After that dinner was consumed with lots of talk and complements for both Ali and Ziva, as Ziva cleared the plate Ali carefully carried in her cake.

"Daddy, Papa. Ziva helped me make this as a celebration for me finally totally accepting Ali" said Ali as she carefully placed the cake on the table.

It was a beautiful two layer cake with chocolate icing with the words "Welcome Back Ali" written on it in shaky but cursive script. Ali had practiced for almost ten minutes before she felt confident enough to finally write on the cake and she was very proud of how if finally turned out. As she stood by the table she beamed, not only had she made dinner for them, and it was good, but she'd make from scratch a cake with her own hands.

Gibbs and Tobias sat watching her for a few minutes then both quickly got up and engulfed her in a two-way hug squeezing her between the both of them.

"We're so very proud of you princess, and you know now that you're learning to cook you can help us anytime you want in the kitchen" said Gibbs as he looked down at his daughter.

Ali was clinging tightly to his waist with her head on his chest "Thank you Daddy, Papa" whispered Ali

"Uhmmmmm I don't know about anyone else but I'm dying for a piece of this cake" said Ziva as she looked at the trio, they were truly a very close knit family once she was proud to say she was a part of

"Oh sorry Ziva, do you want to cut the cake?" asked Ali as she broke away from Tobias and Gibbs and went back to the table

"No Ktantonet, that honor should be yours" said Ziva as she looked at each man, then Ali.

At their small nods Ziva handed Ali the knife then helped her cut the cake, showing her how to cut the perfect cake wedge. As she carefully placed the first piece wedge on a plate she beamed as she handed it to Gibbs, then cut another one for Tobias, then Ziva, serving herself last like the perfect hostess.

After everyone's cake and coffee were finished Tobias and Gibbs allowed Ali and Ziva to go into the living room telling them that they would clean up the kitchen. By the time the kitchen was clean Ali and Ziva had their comforter and puzzle board out and were happily working on the floor in front of the fireplace. The rest of the evening was spent with Tobias and Gibbs on the couch watching television and Ali and Ziva working happily on their puzzle.

At bedtime Ali went upstairs happily with Tobias to go to bed calling from the upstairs banister "Thank you Ziva, I had a wonderful time"

"So did I Ktantonet, sweet dream" then waved a Ziva disappeared into her bedroom with Tobias.

Gibbs watched as Ziva gathered her coat then turned back to him.

"I just wanted to thank you for coming Ziva, it really meant a lot to Ali, to all of us actually that you would spend the time teaching her to cook"

"She's family Gibbs, besides it reminds me of good times with Talia"

"Uhhhhh I'm sorry if being with her brings back sad memories Ziva" said Gibbs softly

"It doesn't Gibbs, only the good times and happy memories of another little girl I got to spend time with and teach to cook. So now I teach Ali, and make more happy memories with her"

"Well thanks again for coming, and next time if you want let us know what you need and we will have the supplies here"

"I will do that, Good night Gibbs" said Ziva then left.

Gibbs stood at the door watching her until she got into her car and pulled away then closed the door and headed upstairs. It had been a very enjoyable evening with their two girls.

Ziva's actually spent more time with Ali then the other's since after her success with dinner and the cake she asked Ziva to come over at least once a week after work and help her learn to bake or cook something new. In the weeks that followed Ziva taught Al how to make a very hearty beef stew, a pot roast and a whole roasted chicken which each member of the team got to share with them at different times. As for the deserts Ziva taught Ali how to make chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal and gingerbread cookies along with an apple, cherry and a banana cream pie.

Ali even asked Ziva and Tim how to show her again how to make an omelet and once again surprised Tobias and Gibbs with breakfast in bed, this time asking permission before and sending them back to bed while they cooked it. Tim and Ziva had come over on a Saturday and after getting Ali changed and dressed the pair happily went back to bed to wait on their daughter.

Ten minutes later Ali knocked then carefully carried their tray into the room, each man smiling as they saw the grin on her face. They did have to admit that the food smelled delicious and after working with Ziva several times Ali had become a decent cook.

"Here you go Papa, Daddy. Breakfast in bed as promised" called Ali as she gently placed the tray on the bed between them.

"There's enough food here to feed an army princess, why don't you stay and join us?" said Tobias as he looked at the tray. The two plates were full of half an omelet each along with fresh fruit and a couple of croissants each"

"No thank you Papa, Tim and Ziva said I needed to give you your privacy so you could eat after working up your appetites" answered Ali with a smile, then leaned over and kissed each man quickly on the cheek then left.

"I think we may need to have a talk with those two about watching what they say in front of Ali" said Gibbs with a slight blush as he reached for a coffee mug.

"Oh give it a rest Jethro; you know Ali's not as naïve as she makes out. She is after all nearly sixty-two years old, I'm sure she has a vague idea of what we do in here when were alone"

"Just so long as she keeps it a vague idea" replied Gibbs then dug into his breakfast.

Tobias smiled at his partner then started eating his own breakfast as well, finishing up then going downstairs to start their normal Saturday routine with their daughter and extended family.