Epilogue
One month later . . .
"Ooh, I like this one. Look at all the space! And that kitchen!"
"Yeah, and look at the price. I don't think so, Ziva."
"You are the one who clicked on it, Timothy."
McGee turned and gave Ziva a dirty look. "What did I tell you about calling me that?"
Ziva gave him an innocent look. "That you love how it sounds when I say it?" she responded, giving him a smile she knew he couldn't resist. She pointed at the computer screen again. "Now, I said I wanted a large kitchen. And as many bedrooms as we can afford." She turned her attention to the monitor, taking control of the mouse and scrolling down the page, trying to ignore the stare she could feel boring into the side of her skull.
"What is the deal with the bedrooms, Ziva?" McGee asked. "You keep saying at least three, if not more. I mean, I get having a guest room, but . . ." He trailed off as he noticed a slight blush tinge her cheeks, and he smiled to himself. "You want to have more kids, don't you?"
The sound of Liora crying saved Ziva from answering and she jumped from her chair, rushing into the small room in her apartment she'd declared as a nursery. McGee stood up and followed her, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her pick up and soothe the crying baby. Once Liora stopped crying, she looked up at McGee. "What?"
He grinned. "You can admit it, you know. You love the idea of having a house full of children, all running around, being royal terrors. That's probably how you were at that age, huh?"
She pushed her way past him as she exited the nursery, elbowing him in the stomach as she went, and headed back for the desk where they'd been house hunting. But before she could sit down, McGee captured her in a hug from behind, pressing a kiss to her exposed neck. "I think it's adorable," he murmured. "And you know you're not alone."
She wrenched herself from his grip, turning and holding Liora to her shoulder and patting her back as she smiled at McGee. "You want more children?" she asked. She smiled at him. "You have only experienced this one for a month." She glanced down at her daughter, smiling.
"Well, she's been great, and if I get to see the look you get on your face when you look at her, I'd have ten kids with you," he said, and she grinned at him.
"Only ten?" she teased, and he rolled his eyes, but smiled.
"As many as you want, Ziva," he corrected, and Ziva leaned in to give him a kiss, and he accepted it, but then broke away, saying, "But we have to be realistic about the house. I want us to get a place together, but . . ."
"It is a bit soon, yes?" Ziva said, nodding. "I realize that. I just . . ." She let out a sigh and ran her hand along the back of Liora's head, leaving McGee to give her a concerned look.
"What?" he asked.
She shook her head. "This is all I have ever wanted. A family of my own, a home. I just want something I know will last, that cannot be taken away. I just thought that a new house . . ."
"Hey." McGee spoke softly, putting his hands on her shoulders. "It doesn't matter if we're living together or not. I'll always be here for you, and Liora. A house isn't going to change that."
Ziva smiled, lowering her eyes. "I know," she said. "I just want to go to sleep next to you every night . . . and have you there to change diapers at 3 AM."
McGee groaned and Ziva laughed. "Well, let's get back to it, then," he said. "Buying a house is a long process, so it doesn't hurt to get started early."
Ziva leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "That is what I love about you."
He grinned. "How rational I am?"
Ziva's grin grew wider. "Nope. How I can talk you into anything." She giggled and headed back to the computer, but not before McGee swatted her playfully on the butt, making her let out a shriek and making Liora laugh. The child's reaction made them both pause and Ziva turned to McGee, a look of amazement on her face. "Did you hear that?"
McGee grinned at her. "Yeah, she thinks it's funny when I punish you for being naughty."
Ziva narrowed her eyes at him, but couldn't keep the smile from her face. She opened her mouth to respond when a knock on the door halted her thoughts. "You are lucky, Timothy," she interrupted, walking to answer the door. When she opened the door, her expression changed to surprise. "Gibbs. I was – we were not expecting you. Did you need McGee for . . ."
Gibbs shook his head. "I'm here to babysit," he said, and Ziva blinked at him, still uncomprehending.
"I did not . . ."
"Nope," he agreed. "Had nothing else to do, figured you could use a break."
Ziva smiled. "Gibbs, that is very . . ."
"Go on, get outta here," he interrupted, and Ziva gave him a wide-eyed look as he strode into her apartment.
"But what are we going to do?" Ziva asked, too shocked by the sudden change of events to think coherently.
"Uh, Ziva?" McGee said, and she looked over to him. He gave her a knowing smile. "I'm pretty sure we can think of something."
She stared at him, then realized what he was implying. "Oh! Oh. Right. Of course." A smile snuck onto her face as she thought more about it, and Gibbs rolled his eyes.
"Alright, I really don't need to know the details," Gibbs said, and turned to Ziva, holding out his hands. "Give me the baby." She stared at him for a moment and he gave her an incredulous look. "I've taken care of kids before, Ziva."
"Yes, I know," Ziva said, shaking herself from her thoughts. She handed Liora over, dropping a kiss on her head before backing away, still looking a bit unsure.
Gibbs smirked. "McGee," he said, and the younger man looked up at him. "Distract her."
"Ah, yes Boss." He walked over to Ziva, nudging her elbow. "Come on, Zee." She remained staring at Liora longingly, until he jingled his keys, catching her attention.
"You're right," Ziva said then, suddenly in a hurry to leave. "She will be fine. Ah, you know what to do if there are any problems." She turned to McGee, grabbing his hand, and Gibbs spoke up as she dragged him to the door.
"Don't stay out too late," he said. "Got an important project I'm working on at home."
"Uh, of course, Boss," McGee responded, as Ziva continued to tug on his hand. "We'll be back before bedtime." Ziva pulled him out the door then and Gibbs grunted to himself as he walked into the nursery.
"We'll see about that," he said, lowering himself into the rocking chair he'd made. He rocked back and forth a few times, letting out a satisfied noise. "Not bad, Jethro." He looked down at Liora then, smiling at how she stared up at him with her big brown eyes. "You're one lucky little girl, you know that? Nothing bad's ever gonna happen to you. Your mom won't let it happen, Mc- aw, hell, he's basically your dad – won't let anything happen, and you can bet I'm gonna do my best to keep you safe." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his eyes showing the pain he still felt for his own daughter. "I don't want either of them to ever go through that. Never." He fell silent then, continuing to rock in the chair, until Liora fell asleep. It didn't take long for Gibbs to join her.
McGee unlocked the door to his apartment, or tried to, as Ziva couldn't keep her hands off him, suddenly having forgotten her worries about leaving Liora for the day at the thought of having some alone time with McGee.
"Ziva, would you stop for two minutes so I can open the door?" he mumbled, and she backed off with a pout. "Thank you." He grinned as he found the right key and stuck it in the lock. "You certainly got over leaving Liora quick when you figured out what I had in mind."
"Well," Ziva huffed. "It is not often that we have time to ourselves, what with work and then the baby . . ."
He unlocked and opened the door, then turned to her. "I know. So I say we make good use of our time." He raised an eyebrow at her, suggesting what she had only hoped he would suggest.
Ziva suddenly turned bashful, as they hadn't actually taken their relationship to the next level yet, despite McGee practically living at Ziva's apartment and being a surrogate father to her child. "I thought we'd never have the chance," she said softly.
"Never say never, Ziva," McGee responded, leaning in to kiss her as he shut the door behind them.
. . . Hours later, the couple laid together in McGee's bed, McGee's arm wrapped around Ziva's shoulders and her head resting on his chest. She pressed a kiss to his skin and murmured, "I'm so happy Gibbs came over."
McGee laughed and Ziva smiled as she felt the rumble in his chest. "Yeah, me too. It's kinda awkward that he figured out what we were gonna do . . ."
Ziva snorted and lifted her head, looking him in the eye. "We have been together for long enough, Tim. I think he knew it would happen eventually."
"Yeah, well, it's still kinda awkward that he basically sent us off to have sex . . ." he said, but quickly shut up at the look Ziva was giving him. "You're right. We deserve it."
Ziva laughed and rested a hand on his stomach. "That we do," she agreed. She was quiet for a few moments, then let out a sigh. "I miss her."
McGee laughed again. "That just says you're a good mom."
She smiled and nestled into him again. "I am going to have to find a good daycare, or a nanny, something for when I go back to work." She held tighter to him. "I am worried."
"About going back to work?" He felt her nod against him and petted her hair. "Don't be. It'll be the same as it always was, and we'll find someone responsible and great to take care of Liora . . ."
"That's not it," she interrupted, wrapping her entire body around him. He sensed the change and hugged her closer, frowning as he did so.
"What then?" he asked.
"What if something happens to one of us at work?" she said, her voice soft, more vulnerable than McGee thought he'd ever heard her. "I finally have what I have always wanted. I don't want to lose it."
"You won't, Ziva," McGee responded, rubbing her back. They laid in silence for a while longer, then McGee broke the silence, saying, "We should go, let Gibbs get back to his latest project."
Ziva laughed against his chest and sat up, stretching her arms over her head and yawning. "What do you think he is making now?" she asked.
"A date for Tony?" McGee suggested, and Ziva cackled to herself.
"I doubt that," she said, standing and pulling on her shirt. "Tony is far too picky. Gibbs would be busy the rest of his life trying to make her perfect."
McGee reached over and pulled on his jeans, then stood, zipping them up. "Ah, yeah, good point." He turned to her. "You ready?" She nodded and he put his shirt on, then smiled at her. "Let's go."
"We're home!" Ziva called out as McGee unlocked the door and they stepped back into her apartment. She was greeted by crying, then mumbled swearing, as Gibbs stumbled from the nursery, his eyes bleary.
"You woke the baby up, Ziver," he muttered, bouncing Liora against his shoulder.
"I don't think the baby's the only one we woke up," McGee mumbled, closing his mouth at the dirty look Gibbs sent his way.
"I'm sorry, Gibbs," Ziva said, walking to him and taking Liora back, cooing at her and shushing her. "I was just excited to see my darling again."
Gibbs rubbed at one of his eyes and smiled down at them. "Yeah, I can see that." He watched them for a moment, then said, "Alright, I've got a basement waiting. Have a good night, you two."
McGee moved to stand next to Ziva, holding up one of Liora's arms and making her wave as Gibbs made his way to the door. "Bye, Bossman!" he said in a squeaky voice, imitating what Liora might sound like and making Ziva laugh.
Gibbs opened the door, then looked back at the trio, smiling at the image, one that reminded him so much of himself years ago, with Shannon and Kelly. He stepped out, nodding to himself, and as he closed the door, said to himself, "Yep, Ziva, you've found your safety."
THE END!
A/N: Thank you all for joining me on this journey! Though this "story" is done, stay tuned for "missing scenes" and future fics in the life of Tim, Ziva and Liora. :) You have been the most wonderful reviewers ever! I love you guys!