A/N: I am so sorry this took so long. I was kinda stuck as to where to start this next part, but then it came to me the other day and everything fell into place after that. :) (And I had to write a fic for an exchange of sorts that was due this week, so that impeded my plans a bit, too.) But it's here now, and we just have the epilogue left! Crazy! This chapter is like the ultimate in fluff, but I'm justifying it by the fact that they're in that stage of their relationship. ;) Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 19
The next morning, McGee stretched his arms over his head and sat up in the recliner provided in Ziva's new hospital room. He rubbed at his eyes and yawned, then looked over at Ziva's bed. She was still asleep. He smiled at the soft smile on her face and stood up. He walked over to her bed and gazed down at her, brushing his fingers over her arm. The thought crossed his mind to wake her, but then he decided otherwise and stepped away from the bed and toward the door, glancing back to make sure she was still asleep before he opened it and stepped out.
The hallway was quiet, as it was only around 7 and visiting hours hadn't started yet, and few of the patients were awake. He walked down to the large glass window that looked into the nursery, gazing at the infants inside. A nurse noticed him and walked out, smiling as she took off her cap. "Which one is yours?" she asked.
McGee smiled and glanced at the floor. She wasn't his child, but it was easier to act as though she was, and besides, he thought of her as his now. The thought made him feel a bit guilty, but he couldn't help how he felt. "Liora David," he said after a moment, finding the baby and pointing at her. "Right there."
"Oh, she is beautiful!" the nurse said. He followed her as she went back inside. "Here. I'll give you a moment with her, just daddy and daughter." She walked to the back of the nursery, and McGee looked down at Liora, trying not to let her words affect him.
Liora rolled over when he approached and looked up at him with big, brown eyes, and McGee couldn't keep the smile from his face. "I know you're just a little baby," he started, his voice soft, to maintain the private moment, "but you look just like your mommy. And you know, I know you don't understand any of this, but even though I'm not your real daddy, I still love you. So much." He reached down and brushed his hand over the baby's head and she wiggled her legs, making him grin.
As he was talking to her, Ziva appeared in the doorway. She almost interrupted, but then she heard his words and stopped, hoping to keep herself hidden until he was finished. The pause made her take a step forward, but then he started talking again.
"And you know why I love you so much, Liora?" he said, and Ziva found herself holding her breath. "Because of your mommy. You see, I'm not your real daddy, but I want to be, because I love your mommy, maybe more than I've loved anyone else."
Ziva couldn't hold back the gasp she let out at his words and he turned, his eyes wide. "Ziva. Hey. Sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving. You were still asleep . . ." He trailed off at the expression on her face and realized he needed to acknowledge what he'd just said to Liora. "I wanted to tell you to your face, not have you overhear, but . . ." He shrugged. "It's true. I love you, Ziva."
She didn't say anything and McGee glanced at Liora before walking towards Ziva, his expression worried. Ziva met his eyes, then smiled, allowing herself to fall against him and her arms to go around him. He let out a sigh of relief and returned the hug, squeezing her a bit and just waiting for her to say something.
Ziva remained quiet for a few more moments, soaking in the words she had known to be true, but not knowing how to process. She blinked a few times and then let out a deep breath, considering her response before pulling away and raising a hand to McGee's face and trailing it along his jawline. "I cannot . . ." she started, and McGee's face paled a bit, so she grabbed one of his hands and squeezed it as she continued, "imagine anyone else but you being here right now. With me. And my daughter." She let out a shaky breath. "Our daughter."
McGee thought he was going to lose consciousness with her words. He shook his head, unbelieving. "Ziva . . ."
She placed her hand against his chest, giving him an intense look. "I mean it. You did everything any father would have done throughout my pregnancy, and for what? You did not need to do any of it, but you were there, every moment, and that makes her as much your daughter as she is mine." She pressed herself against him again then, needing to be close to him, and said quietly, "And I love you, too."
McGee's face lit up at her words and he lowered his head to press a kiss to her hair. They shared a quiet moment before Liora interrupted them with a loud cry. Ziva automatically untangled herself from McGee's embrace and walked to her daughter, lifting her up and shushing her while holding her against her chest.
The nurse from earlier came out then, asking, "Would you like to take her back to your room now?" Ziva nodded and the nurse okayed it, sending them off with a smile.
They walked back to Ziva's room in silence and McGee held the door open for Ziva, allowing her to enter before following her, watching her settle back onto the bed, her gaze on Liora the whole time. "She looks just like you, Ziva," he said, and she smiled, then glanced up at him.
"You think so?" she asked, studying her daughter's face.
He continued to gaze at them. "She's too beautiful to be anyone else's daughter," he said, and though Ziva ducked her head bashfully, she couldn't keep the smile from her face.
McGee walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in and kissing Liora on the forehead, then turning to Ziva and doing the same. "I'm so happy, Ziva," he murmured, and she gave him an amused look. He returned the look and laughed. "What? I am! I mean, I wish the situation were different, but . . ."
"It does not matter," Ziva said, moving a hand to cover his. "I am happy, too." She let out a content sigh, then said, "I suppose I should do my motherly duties now."
McGee looked at her in confusion for a moment, then his eyes widened in realization. "Oh! Uh . . ." He stood, motioning at the door. "I can . . ."
Ziva gave him an innocent look. "Or you could stay," she said, her words betraying the expression on her face.
McGee had the decency to blush before he resumed his position on the bed.
"Ooh, I can't wait to see her!" Abby bounced up and down in excitement at the elevator doors as Gibbs pressed the button to take them up to Ziva's hospital room the next day. "What do you bet she has a ton of hair? Like, dark and curly, just like her momma's."
"Man, can you imagine having something that hairy inside you?" Tony commented, grimacing at the thought. "And then having to push it out? Gyah, glad I'm not a woman." They stepped into the elevator and Gibbs pressed the number for Ziva's floor.
"I think we're all glad of that, DiNozzo," Abby said, leaving Gibbs to roll his eyes, though he couldn't keep a slight smirk from his face.
"Personally, I am glad you've come to see how much our female counterparts endure to bring us all into this world," Ducky said, smiling softly. "Perhaps you will not be so hard on Ziva now that you have a better understanding of what she has gone through?"
He shrugged. "Eh, someone needs to do it, now that McLover is permanently on her side." They exited the elevator and made their way down the hall to Ziva's room. "Might wanna knock before we head in, make sure we're not interrupting anything."
"Ya think, DiNozzo?" Gibbs muttered and Tony smirked.
They arrived at the room and Abby peeked through the window, saying, "Good call, Tony," before stepping back and letting him look in. He grimaced as he caught McGee and Ziva in the middle of a romantic kiss, McGee's hand gently cupping Ziva's face.
"Did not need to see that, Abbs," he said as he stepped back, and Abby grinned, leaning forward and rapping on the door.
Inside the room, McGee pulled away from Ziva, glancing over at the door only briefly before returning his gaze to Ziva.
"Oh, yeah," Abby commented before they opened the door. "So completely smitten."
Tony pushed the door open then, saying, "So how's the baby ninja?"
"Not to mention the momma ninja," Abby added, grinning.
"Why don't you come see for yourself?" Ziva said, her face glowing as she looked back and forth between the team and Liora.
Abby scrambled over to the bedside, gasping as she took in the tiny person in Ziva's arms. "She's so beautiful, Ziva!" she said, reaching out and running a finger over the baby's dark hair.
"Would you like to hold her, Abby?" Ziva folded the blanket around Liora back a bit and held her up and Abby happily took her from Ziva's arms, walking over to join the other three men, as Ziva and McGee watched, smiling.
"When will you be returning home, Ziva?" Ducky asked, looking up from tickling the little girl's belly.
"Tomorrow, the doctor says," she responded, and glanced at McGee, who smiled at her.
Tony grinned as he watched the exchange between his partners. "When's McLover moving in?" He caught the dirty look from Gibbs out of the corner of his eye and coughed, muttering, "Yeah, you're right, awkward question." He covered the tense moment with a DiNozzo Smile, saying, "We'll all be there for the homecoming."
McGee raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, I'm sure you will be."
Tony's mouth dropped open and he closed it automatically as Gibbs slapped him on the back of the head. "Got it, Boss! Too many personal questions!" He clenched a fist and Ziva laughed, earning her a glare from Tony, which she returned, but couldn't keep the mirth from her eyes.
"Aw, Tony," Abby said, gently rocking Liora in her arms, "cheer up. Think of it this way – now you have another girl to work your charms on."
Tony's smile slowly returned as he met Ziva's gaze again, waggling his eyebrows. She simply shook her head.
Liora suddenly let out a cry and Abby shushed her, walking back to where Ziva sat and handing her back. "I think that's a sign that we should get going, you know, let the three of you have some quality family time."
"Abby . . ." Gibbs warned, but McGee nodded at him, signaling he wanted to say something in response.
"No, it's okay," he said, glancing at Ziva and then at Liora. "She's right."
Abby beamed at his words and poked Tony in the side, as he wrinkled his nose at her. "Well, it's been fun! Uh, let us know what time you're planning on getting home, okay?"
"Abby . . ." This time it was McGee who gave the warning, but she was already pushing Tony out the door, tossing out a, "See ya tomorrow!" over her shoulder.
Ducky followed them out, but Gibbs stood in place, not moving. McGee met his eyes. "Boss?"
He walked over to them, meeting Ziva's gaze. She was trying hard not to look worried, but failing. "I'm glad you two found each other," he said, and Ziva relaxed, looking relieved. He tilted his head a bit. "And the baby's pretty cute, too." He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Ziva's forehead then, saying, "You did good, Ziver."
And then, he was gone.
Ziva looked up at McGee and he smiled down at her, before leaning down and pressing another kiss to her lips. The thought hit him then that he would be able to do this every day for the rest of his life if he so chose, and he knew then that Liora truly was their light.