A/N: Hehe, this is one of my favorite chapters yet. Those who have been waiting for some REAL McGiva may be pleased with this one. ;)

Chapter 12

A few days later, McGee and Ziva left work early, headed for the Lamaze class McGee had arranged for them. Tony had his head perked up, trying to pick up on some of the details they were keeping rather hush hush, but neither of his teammates revealed anything about the class, aside from the fact that they were going to it.

As they entered the elevator, Ziva turned to McGee with a smirk on her face. "How much do you want to bet that Tony will try following us to the class, to get incriminating photos or something equally as embarrassing?"

McGee grimaced. "Don't say it out loud, Ziva. It might come true."

She laughed and pressed the button for the main floor. "Do not worry. I am sure everything will be just fine."

"You're right," McGee said, choosing to be optimistic. "We'll go and I'm sure nobody will even notice we're there . . ."

They left NCIS and arrived shortly at the studio where the class was being held, and walked in with a bit of trepidation – they may have been federal agents, but this was completely unchartered territory.

A friendly looking woman in an olive green and brown prairie skirt and loose-fitting tan tank top walked from where she had been standing behind a couple working on their breathing techniques. "Hello," she said, her voice soft and smooth. "I'm Annabelle. You must be Tim and Ziva?" Ziva nodded and Annabelle's smile widened. "Welcome. Have a seat wherever you like and I'll be right over."

They looked around the room, noticing various couples lounging on the floor on large pillows that had been scattered across the room. Ziva nudged McGee's hand and pointed to a somewhat secluded spot in a far corner and he followed her suggestion, following her over and helping her get into a seated position before kneeling beside her.

"What am I supposed to do?" he whispered, and Ziva shushed him, as Annabelle was approaching.

Annabelle kneeled in front of them, gracing them with another warm smile. "I'm so glad Doctor Jefferson recommended me. I understand you were having some early pains?" Ziva nodded again. "Alright. That's to be expected." At that, Ziva glanced over at McGee, who fought the urge to stick his tongue out at her, settling for crossing his arms over his chest instead. "From the history he gave me, I have some specified ideas for your problems. Tim." She looked over at McGee, whose eyes widened. "If you could sit behind Ziva and support her, that would be wonderful."

He looked doubtful. "Uh, sure." He shifted from his position next to her and sat cross-legged behind her, waiting for the next course of action, but Annabelle shook her head, smiling.

"No, no, allow her to sit between your legs. Be one with her," she said, and McGee raised an eyebrow, but did as he was told, feeling Ziva scoot backward to rest against his chest. Annabelle nodded. "Good. The next step is the breathing."

McGee could feel Ziva getting restless and took the opportunity to put his arms around her, resting his hands on her belly and whispering in her ear, "Just listen to her. It might help."

Ziva swallowed and nodded, unable to stop the tingling she felt in her stomach from his closeness. He was being so gentle, caressing her swollen belly, his breath warm and even by her ear. At last, she felt relaxed enough to speak and said to Annabelle, "Okay, I am ready. What is the next step?"

"Take a nice deep breath," Annabelle ordered, and Ziva did as she bade, and both women had to hold their laughter in check as McGee did the same. "And let it out." They both did so and Annabelle nodded. "Alright, now I want you to continue doing so, this time keeping your eyes on your abdomen. This is important in order to relax you. You may find that this works especially well before bed."

Ziva nodded and took her eyes off Annabelle and focused on her stomach, watching it rise and contract with every breath she took in and let out.

The door opened and Annabelle looked over her shoulder at another couple who had entered, then reached over and placed a hand on Ziva's thigh. "I will return shortly," she said. She got up and walked away, leaving McGee and Ziva to continue the deep breathing on their own . . .

. . . Several minutes later, McGee snorted and opened his eyes, looking around the room at the other couples, most of whom were looking in their direction with amused expressions on their faces. "Ziva?" he whispered, and the only response he got was a loud snore. His eyes widened and he quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, which forced her to open her own eyes and reach up to remove his hand.

"What . . .?" was all she got out as she rubbed her eyes, then looked around at the other couples and Annabelle, who was hiding a grin behind her hand. She let out a sigh. "I do not think this is going to work."

"Yeah, me either."

After they left the Lamaze class, apologizing for falling asleep to Annabelle, who assured them it was fine and perhaps there was another method that would work better for them, McGee turned to Ziva. "Well, that was a bust," he said, then glanced at his watch. "It's still early. What do you want to do?"

Ziva studied him for a moment, then her lips turned up in a devious grin. "I think we should . . . go for ice cream!" She jogged down the stairs of the building to where McGee's car sat and he shrugged to himself.

"Ice cream," he repeated. "Of course." He followed the path she had taken, finding her waiting anxiously in the car. He looked down at the keys in his hand, then shook his head, figuring it was best not to ask.

As he got into the car and opened his mouth to ask where it was she wanted to go, she spoke before he could say a word. "That little place over on 16th Street," she said, buckling her seat belt.

McGee turned the key in the ignition and followed her lead with the seat belt, saying, "Ah, yeah, what's it called again?"

"Sweet Dreams," Ziva fairly moaned, closing her eyes in joy at the thought of the treat that was soon to come.

McGee watched her reaction, then nodded. "Right." He pulled out into traffic and they were at the ice cream shop in a matter of minutes.

Ziva jumped out of the car as soon as he parked, not even waiting for him to enter the shop. When he got into the shop, he found her perusing the menu with a serious expression on her face. "Important decision, huh?" he said seriously, mocking her.

"Shh," she said, waving her hand in his general direction and nearly smacking him in the face. After another moment of studying the offerings, she stepped up to the counter.

"Hi, what can I get you?" a perky young brunette named Brianna asked.

"I will take the Whopper of a Sundae," Ziva said, as McGee's eyes widened. "And can you put brownie pieces and cherries on top? Oh, and gummi bears."

"Will that be all?" Brianna asked, not reacting at all to the rather gluttonous request.

"Yeah, sure you don't want some pickles on there, too?" McGee asked, and Ziva shot him a glare before turning back and giving Brianna a warm smile.

"That will be fine, yes," she said, then stepped aside, giving McGee a look that said he should step up to the counter. He gave her a confused look and then looked up at Brianna, who was giving him an expectant look. He glared at Ziva before stepping up to the counter.

"How much?" he asked.

"$7.28," she responded, and McGee dug into his wallet for the money. She took it and gave McGee his change, then turned to make the sundae.

McGee turned back to Ziva, stuffing the change in his wallet. "You better be glad you're pregnant," he mumbled, and Ziva smirked at him.

"You would buy anything for me, no matter if I were pregnant or not," she said, poking him in the chest and then running her finger down until her hand rested on his stomach. He raised an eyebrow at her and they held each other's gaze for a few moments until Brianna's voice interrupted them.

"Here you are!" she said, and Ziva let her hand drop from McGee's stomach, moving it to her own instead as McGee walked to the counter to retrieve her ice cream.

"Man, this thing is gigantic!" he said as he returned to her side, handing her the massive treat. Her eyes twinkled as she took in the sight of the sundae, and McGee let out a sigh. "Ziva, you are really going to regret eating that by the time you get halfway through it."

"You underestimate how much I can eat at once, Tim," she muttered, nearly drooling as they left the shop.

"It's not that," he said, opening her door for her. "There's just so much . . ." He sighed again, knowing it was pointless to try to reason with her. "Fine. But don't get mad at me when your stomach hurts later."

Ziva stuck her tongue out at him as he shut the door, muttering to herself, "We will see who is right."

. . . A few hours later, Ziva moaned as she lied down on her couch, while McGee sat in an end chair. "I feel like I am going to be sick," Ziva groaned, holding her stomach.

McGee just shook his head and continued to flip through the magazine that had been sitting on her coffee table. "I told you," he said, and she raised her head to glare at him.

"And you are being very supportive." She attempted to sit up, then hissed and grabbed her side, doubling over in pain.

McGee glanced up, then dropped the magazine as he saw she was genuinely in pain. "Ziva? What's wrong? Is it the contractions again?" She nodded and he dropped to his knees in front of the couch, eager to help any way he could. "Okay, the doctor told me something else that could help, but I need to make sure you're okay with it first."

"I do not care, Tim. Whatever it is, just do it!"

"Okay, okay. Um, we need to get you into your bedroom," he said, and Ziva managed a laugh.

"That is what they all say," she said.

"Come on, Ziva." She finally relented and took McGee's hand as he pulled her up from the couch, and he slipped an arm around her waist to help her walk to the bedroom.

Once they were inside, McGee led Ziva to the bed and she lied down, then said, "What now?"

"Doctor Jefferson suggested massaging the area," he said, then sat back and waited for her response.

She rolled over and looked at him. "Oh."

"If you're uncomfortable with it, or would rather someone else . . ."

Ziva reached out and grabbed his hand, directing it to her side. "No, no, I trust you. And I need relief now."

McGee nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "Okay. Let me get on the bed so I can reach easier." He released her hand and climbed onto the bed next to her, waiting for her to give him further instructions. "Where is the pain?" he asked softly.

"Here," Ziva said, holding her left side. "And a bit on the back."

McGee nodded, even though she was facing away from him, then realized he had a problem. "Uh, Zee? I'm gonna have to have you take off your top." She froze in place and he started to retract his statement. "We don't have to do this . . ."

"No, please, it's okay," she said, then rolled onto her back, meeting his eyes. "Can you help me with my shirt?"

"Yeah, sure," he said softly. He started at the bottom of her shirt, rolling it up until he reached her arms. He tried to ignore how soft her skin was under his fingers, and then once the shirt was off, the way her breasts rose and fell as she breathed. He looked away and Ziva rolled over, saving him for mere seconds, until he found he had to touch her bare skin again.

McGee lowered his hands to Ziva's back, sucking in a breath at the heat of her skin on his palms. He knew this was bad, that he shouldn't be having these kinds of feelings for a friend, someone who was possibly his best friend, especially when she was pregnant, but he couldn't deny that he was. And her being pregnant with another man's baby didn't matter to him. It never had. This other guy wasn't here, he was. And when the time was right, he'd let Ziva know he didn't ever plan on leaving.

He continued the massage, as Ziva pressed her face into her pillow, resisting the urge to roll over and kiss him right then. She didn't know yet when she would approach it, but she knew that something would tell her when.

His fingers were firm, yet gentle, as he kneaded the tension from her side, feeling the muscle beneath his hands loosen in his palms. Even once he knew her pain was gone, he kept on, not wanting to lose the connection with her soft skin. And Ziva didn't tell him to stop, either, as she nearly melted into the mattress, enjoying everything about the situation.

The massage continued and gradually lessened in intensity as for the second time in a week, McGee and Ziva fell asleep side by side.

A/N: Was that satisfactory? ;) Hehehe. Unfortunately I will not have another chapter ready to post tomorrow night. You will have to wait until probably this weekend. :) In the meantime, visit me on FB or Twitter or NFA and bug me or send me PMs. I like to chat. Haha. :)