Zafirah sits up, and crawls onto Ziva's lap. The back of her head rests against Ziva's sternum. Abby moves towards them, with a smile on her face, and a bag in her hand. She stops in front of Ziva.
"Hi."
"Hi," Zafirah yawns.
Abby pulls out what's in the bag. She hands the book to Zafirah, "I heard that you like the zoo. I thought you might like a book about the zoo."
Zafirah doesn't respond.
"I thought she talks," Abby looks at Ziva.
"She does, she just woke up, though. Give her a minute."
"Zafirah, tell Abby what your favorite animal at the zoo is."
She smiles, "Zebra," she answers, with a smile. She looks at Abby, and then to Tony. "Zebra?"
"What about the zebra?"
"No, Zebra," Zafirah points to the seat of the couch.
Tony retreats, and returns with her toy zebra.
"Zafirah, this is Abby," Ziva introduces them.
"Hi, Abby," she chirps.
"You're very cute, do you know that?"
She looks up, past Abby, "Daddy?"
"Yes, Zafirah?"
"Go to zoo?"
"No, Zafirah. We're not going to the zoo."
"Please," she begs.
"No," he puts his foot down. She puts on her pout-y face.
Abby squats on the floor, next to her, "Maybe I could read you a book about the zoo, instead."
"'kay," she nods.
Ziva slides her legs onto the floor. Abby takes a seat next to her. Zafirah crawls onto her lap. Abby opens the book. Zafirah points at the animals.
"Monkey."
Abby turns the page, she points to another animal, "What's that?"
"Elephant."
She turns to the next page, "What about that?"
"Lion."
"That's a mean looking lion."
"Abby? Zebra?"
"I think there is a zebra in this book," she thumbs through the pages, until she comes to the page. She points to the picture, "See."
"No," Zafirah shakes her head.
"No? What do you mean no? That's a Zebra, isn't it?"
"No, giraffe."
"Oh," Abby turns to the next page.
"Zebra," Zafirah announces.
"Why do you like Zebra's so much, Zafirah?"
"Z," she answers.
"What does she mean by that?" Abby looks at Tony, and Ziva in confusion.
"Z, zebra. Z, Zafirah."
"Do you know anyone else who has a name that starts with Z?" Tony questions.
Zafirah smiles, "Mommy."
"Mommy doesn't start with a Z," Tony points out.
"Ziva," Zafirah answers.
"Oh. You're right."
"Daddy?"
"Huh?"
"Go potty."
"Ok," he bends down, and picks her up. He carries her out of the room, on his hip.
Abby looks over at Ziva.
"What?" Ziva questions.
"You need to have her tested."
"For what?"
"Her I.Q.," Abby clarifies.
"Why? We know that she's smart."
"She is gifted."
"What are you saying?"
"There are special programs for kids like her."
"She is too young to be in a special program. Abby she's not even two. I am not going to put her into school. She is too young, even if she is a genius."
"It's your call."
"You don't agree with me?"
"She is your kid, not mine. It's your choice, not mine."
"I just want her to be a little girl. I want her to get to be a kid."
"I understand that."
"Good."
"Ziva?"
"Huh?"
Abby smiles, "She's cuter than I imagined."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything. I just didn't know what to expect."
"You didn't use software to attempt to generate what she would look like?"
"I did, but none of it turned out like her."
"She's perfect."
"Ziva? Can I ask you something?"
"Yes," she nods.
"Why aren't you staying home with her? Why are you working? Don't you want to take some time off?"
"I will, just not right now."
"Why not? I would think that you would want to bond with her."
"I do."
"So then why are you working right now?"
"Tony is off with her."
"And?"
"He is bonding with her."
"You don't think that the two of you can be home at the same time, with her?"
"I am afraid that we will start arguing."
"At some point she is going to see you argue."
"Not now."
"Ziva, she needs you as much as she needs him."
Ziva doesn't reply.
"You don't agree?"
"She's daddy's little girl."
"Are you jealous?"
"No."
"Then what is the problem? What are you afraid of?"
She shrugs, "I don't know. I guess that I am afraid that any minute I am going to wake up, and this is all going to be a dream."
"It's not a dream. She's real."
"I know."
"Ziva?"
"Yes, Abby?"
"No matter what choices you made, this is not your fault."
"Then who should I blame? There is no one else to blame. I made the choices that took her away from me, from us. That was my fault."
"No, it wasn't all you," she reminds her.