When she slips back into consciousness that morning, the warmth that encircles her has little to do with the sun that glows amiably from behind her eyelids.
She lays there, adjusting to reality, as the memories from the prior night come back to her. Her thoughts drift to Tony and she's conscious of his warm weight and increasingly familiar presence resting close to her. She registers his breathing, noting that he's awake, and her register of another presence precedes the small, warm hand that lightly touches her cheek by seconds.
"Piper," Tony's soft murmur warns, as if afraid to shatter the stillness that still surrounds this morning.
The touch from the small hand caressing her face becomes, if possible, even more lighter.
"Momma sleepin' late." Piper observes in a hushed tone.
Ziva's mouth betrays her, twitching in a smile that's threatening to break across her face. She can tell from Tony's tone that he caught the action, but he doesn't indicate to the little girl he noticed.
"Mommy was up late last night, principessa," he murmurs knowingly, "she'll wake up soon."
She feels Piper shift closer as her tiny hand strokes her cheek and face.
"Ani Yoda'at. Heard cryin.' Momma have bad dreams again?''
Ziva says a silent prayer that she is already feigning sleep to cover for how her body freezes at the question. She can almost hear Tony's brain kick into overdrive as he flounders for an answer for their very perceptive daughter. After a pregnant pause, he decides to answer the question with one of his own.
Keeping his voice light, he replies curiously.
"Now how d'you know that, munchkin?"
"Sometimes I hear ya's when I wanna come sleep in your bed," Piper says absently, as Ziva feels her hands begin to play with her hair. "But momma's 'kay, ken? We makes her feel better?" Piper's hands still their activity and Ziva again fights the small smile that her words trigger.
She hears Tony let out a small breath in what she assumes relief for an easy conversation.
"That's right, principessa." He chuckles, and she feels his weight shift from next to her. She feels Tony's warmth radiating off him as his face, covered in stubble, grazes the skin of her cheek and ear as he presses a light, warm kiss to cover her threatening smile.
"Daddy! Momma sleepin', r'member?"
His throaty chuckle reverberates against her at Piper's indignant exclamation. She feels him retreat, and his weight leaves the bed. Piper shift closer again, and Tony's footsteps pad across the bedroom as he continues to address Piper.
"Now keep an eye on your mom while I take a shower; No funny business." He says sternly.
Piper's small hands move into Ziva's hair again, twirling the curls around her small fingers.
"Momma makin' special breakfast, ken?' Piper questions very seriously. Ziva covers a wince as Piper pulls on a knotted curl and hears a soft oops! escape the little girl before she gently pats Ziva's hair in apology. The bathroom door creaks as Tony's answer comes from across the room.
"Of course, Sunday is always special breakfast," he reminds her mock-seriously, and Ziva smirks at his helpful hint. She hears Tony shut the door, and she counts no less than five seconds before his deep falsetto begins singing a song that's familiar but one she can't quite place.
Piper giggles at his antics, and Ziva feels her shift closer and her hands leave her hair.
"I know you's awake, Momma," Piper's voice sing-songs.
Ziva awards her with a smirk, and Piper let's out a triumphant noise, reminding Ziva strongly of Tony.
"Boker Tov, tatehleh," Ziva murmurs, finally opening her eyes. Piper sits cross-legged before her, her hair a messy halo around her face, donned in a white undershirt and soft pink sweatpants.
She gives her a toothy grin, and Ziva's sure her heart must be melting.
"Mornin', momma. I told daddy you were awakes." She says with exasperation. She crawls over, sitting herself on top of Ziva, smiling down at her.
Ziva laughs, trailing her hands over Piper's little legs until she reaches her exposed feet, tickling them lightly.
"I was, you are very observant, my love," She chuckles as she watches Piper squirm dramatically, laughing at the touch.
"Momma, stop," she laughs, grabbing Ziva's hands. Ziva surrenders, and their laughter subsides. Piper stares down at her thoughtfully, and she releases one of her mother's hands to grasp the Star of David pendant exposed on Ziva's neck. Ziva observes her face, smiling slightly at how strongly she resembles Tony when he is thinking deeply. She feels her heartbeat increase when she realizes how much more comfortable she's become in these recent days, and how sitting here, with her daughter, is just as easy as breathing.
Bringing her hand up to smooth Piper's unruly hair down, she regards her curiously.
"What is troubling you, tatehleh?"
Piper's eyes focus on hers again before she responds.
"Daddy loves you lots, Momma." She says simply.
Ziva can feel her face betray surprise, and before she can formulate a response, Piper continues.
"He says nots to worry 'bout you, cuz you are super ninja, but i don't think he b'lieves that, cuz he aways worries 'bout you." She releases her grip on Ziva's pendent and spreads her hand on the bed besides her head to lean down and kiss her.
"Loves ya, Momma."
Perplexed, and overwhelmed by the unfamiliar feeling of being too perplexed to respond, she hugs Piper tightly to her, and the little girl snuggles into her side with practiced ease. They lay there quietly for a few minutes, as though the little girl is aware that she needs a few minutes to fight the lump in her throat and keep her emotions in check.
After several minutes, though, the spell is broken when Tony's voice spontaneously bellows a chorus of a new song. Laughing, the two shift to look at each other, and Piper sits up and regards her with expectation.
"We gon' have breakfast soon?"
Snickering, Ziva pokes her tummy.
"Is somebody very hungry this morning?" She chuckles, finally sitting up and throwing off the covers. "Let's go start now while your father is in the shower."
Piper scrambles off the bed and onto the floor quickly, grabbing her discarded stuffed dog that had definitely seen better days, before rushing toward the door.
"Ken!" she giggles, "Race ya, Momma."
Abandoning the warmth of her bed, Ziva moves toward the door to the hall, drumming her knuckles lightly on the bathroom door when she hears the water shut off.
oOo
He hears their laughter echo down the hall as he makes his way to the kitchen. Smiling, he approaches the doorframe, and leans against it as he takes in the activity before him.
Pipers tiny legs swing from her perch on the counter as she watches Ziva observantly pour batter into the frying pan on the stove top.
"Slow, Ken?" Piper questions.
Putting down the bowl, Ziva smiles at her, nodding.
"Ken, very good."
Piper smiles in response, and Ziva lifts her from the counter and against her hip with easy familiarity. He smiles proudly at the action, relieved to see how comfortable she is with their daughter.
Turning to place her on one of the barstools, Ziva finally notices Tony observing them. One of her dazzling smiles replaces the fleeting look of surprise on her face as she speaks to Piper.
"Look at who is clean, tatehleh."
Piper giggles as Ziva sets her down in her chair, and smiles at Tony.
Mirroring her smile, he greets his daughter in return.
"Hey, munchkin." Walking over to take a seat next to Piper, he throws at Ziva,
"Ninja senses on the fritz, Zi?"
Her eyes narrow both in confusion and suspicion, aware that she is being insulted. She ignores the jab, and busies herself cutting up Piper's breakfast into small pieces before coming around to place the plate in front of her. Tying Piper's hair back in a braid, she regards Piper conversationally.
"Your father must not want our special crepes, tatehleh." She says lightly, smiling at him mischievously. Tony smirks at her, and Piper turns to look at him. Grinning, she offers her fork to him.
"Daddy you wants some, ken?"
He grins appreciatively, accepting her fork and groaning dramatically as he samples the small serving.
"Delizioso." He confirms, and gives Piper her fork back. Ziva comes to stand next to him, while Piper happily continues eating.
Though she seems much more relaxed than he anticipated after the events of last night and this morning, he can still see the strain that mars her otherwise beautiful face. He reaches out his hand to grasp hers, pulling her closer to him. She concedes, smiling softly as she leans against his chair.
"You good?" he murmurs softly.
Ziva smiles, her gaze falling on Piper. Reaching out to move a few stray strands of her hair, she nods, still smiling affectionately at their daughter.
"Yes. I think I am getting the hang of ... things." She turns her gaze back to him, giving him a hesitant smile.
Tony smirks, and tells her seriously.
"You realize I didn't tell you what special breakfast was? And I'm willing to bet munchkin there didn't tell you either."
Ziva searches his face for any trace of humor, and her mouth widens into one of her rare, free smiles when she realizes he is serious.
Tony smiles at her proudly, and squeezes her hand.
Leaning up to capture her lips, he whispers,
"Not bad, ninja."
Piper watches both of them, giggling in appreciation.