"Are you really admitting to me, that you almost told me?"
"More than once."
"More than once?"
"Yes."
"In the plane, and when?"
"At least three other times."
"Three? Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why were you with him? If you knew that you were pregnant?"
"I don't..."
"Did he know?'
"No."
"Did you plan on raising her, with him?"
"I... no," she shakes her head.
"You didn't?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Maybe, because he was too much like my father. His life was his job, and...I wanted more, for her."
"Was he part of the reason you didn't tell me?"
"Yes. I knew if you knew, then you would never let me be involved with him."
"Because he wasn't a good guy."
"Because you were already jealous, enough, as it was."
"I see. Ziva?"
"Huh?"
"Why didn't we ever try to..."
"Because it would have crossed a line."
"A line, that we already crossed."
"We were, we are partners."
"So it could never work?"
"That is not what I'm saying."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't think either of us were ever willing to try. It would be too complicated, if things ended badly."
"You think that they would end badly?"
"I think that they would end."
"Why? Because you couldn't stand to be around me, that much?"
"No, it has nothing to do with you."
"What does it have to do with?"
"Me. I am not an easy person to be with, in case you haven't noticed."
"Maybe not."
"I think that it is best that we didn't try."
"Does that mean that you're not willing to try, ever?"
"Never is a long time," she admits.
"What does that mean?"
"Maybe, one day, a long time from now. Definitely not now."
"Why not?"
"The timing is terrible."
"The timing is never going to be perfect."
"We have enough to deal with, right now, without adding that into the equation."
"I..."
She cuts him off, "Let's deal with one thing, at a time."
"You're right. We need to focus all of our energy, on her. She deserves our undivided attention."
"Yes, she does."
"Ziva... I have to confess something."
"Please..."
"Just hear me out," he cuts her argument off.
"Ok," she nods.
"I'm glad that you're her mother."
"And why is that? Of all of the possible candidates?"
"Because if you weren't her mother, she would just be a normal little girl."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment? I can't tell."
"Yes, it is. Normal is fine, for some people. I just... it wouldn't be the same if she was just normal, or average. She's extraordinary, and it makes me love her even more."
"I see."
"And she's got your smile."
"Why does that matter?"
"Because I love that smile."
"You love that smile?"
"On you, it's rarely seen, but when it is, it's impossible to ignore."
"I'm glad, that she has your sense of humor."
"You mean you're glad, because she actually has one, unlike you," he answers shifting from their serious conversation.
"Ha, ha, very funny."
"I thought so."
Ziva looks at the sleeping girl, in the backseat. Her head leans against the side of the carseat. A blanket covers her lower half. Rose is tucked in the seat, beside her. Her face is perfect. Nearly perfect, void, for the pacifier in the middle of it. Ziva turns around, and looks at Tony, she shoots him a look. He keeps his eyes on the road, but feels her eyes boring through him.
"What, are you thinking?"
"Where did the pacifier come from?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you give it to her?"
"At the aquarium?"
"Yes."
"No. I didn't. I thought that you did."
"Is it even hers?"
"Yeah, she only has two. A purple one, and a white one. She must have gotten it out of her bag, when we ate lunch."
"They've got to go."
"Got to go? Why?"
"I can't stand them."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"We can work on it. I don't think it will go over well, but we can try."
"She's too big for one, anyway."
"She's a baby."
"It has to go."
"Good luck with that."