Two updates in one day after months of nothing? I don't have much of an explanation. I promise I haven't forgotten or abandoned this, I was just caught up at the beach all summer.
Enjoy and let me know if anybody out there is still following this ;)
jae
Fifteen
Reality resumes at the crack of dawn the next morning, arriving in the form of two very rushed federal government employees and one very cranky toddler.
Abby and McGee had come to call at around zero six hundred, dressed haphazardly and carrying a half asleep Todd, desperate for the dynamic duo to watch the McGodson while they rushed to the Navy Yard and of course, to Gibbs' aide. With two members of Team Gibbs down, demands like this from their fearless leader were only to be expected.
Ziva had been roused from slumber first, and had made it to the door long before Tony would even wake. McGee had thrusted the squirming toddler into her arms with their hasty explanation and a quick promise to try to collect him soon. Ziva didn't have much time to panic about this sudden reunion, for Piper came ambling down the hallway drowsily, and claimed Todd's attention once they saw each other. Fast forward to one hour later, and that was how Ziva found herself making the two pancakes and reacquainting herself with her nephew.
oOo
Laughter and the sounds of breakfast are what eventually wake Tony, and he stumbles down the hall to the kitchen, this time of morning still too early for the very Special Agent even after years of working for Gibbs. His typical morning grumpiness evaporates, however, once he reaches the kitchen and sees what all the commotion is.
Piper and Todd are chatting animatedly at the kitchen island, seated side by side, sleeves rolled up. Ziva's back is to them as she hovers over something cooking on the stove top. He's not standing there long before the back of Ziva's neck tingles in that oh so specific way it does when Tony's gaze is on her, and she looks over her shoulder, throwing him a small smile at his disheveled appearance.
"Boker Tov," she says warmly, just as Piper exclaims, "Daddy!" and Todd says "Uncle Tony!"
Tony smiles and enters the kitchen, stopping at the kitchen island and resting his elbows on the counter. Ziva turns off the stove, picking up a plate of pancakes and coming over to set them on the counter beside him.
Bumping his shoulder with hers, she quips, "We have a visitor this morning. So it called for pancakes, I thought."
Tony grins and sets about helping her serve up breakfast to the kids.
"Great Idea. And for what do we owe the pleasure of our favorite nephew's company?" He asks, pushing a plate of cut up pancakes each under Todd and Piper as Ziva swiftly braided back Piper's hair.
Todd muffles out something over a mouth full of pancake, and Piper giggles.
"Uncle Tim an' Aunt Abby had ta work on somethin' 'mportant," Piper tells him emphatically.
Ziva finishes tying her hair back and smooths her hand over her head before walking around the counter to claim her cup of tea.
Taking a sip, she regards them, eyes teasing.
"That is because they do very important work, yes?"
Todd and Piper nod vigorously with stuffed mouths and Tony and Ziva share a smirk. Swallowing, Piper looked at Tony curiously.
"Daddy, how come you and momma don't work no more wif Uncle Tim an' Aunt Abby?
Ziva's face went blank as she looked at Tony surprised. Swallowing roughly over the guilt, Tony paused before answering.
"We've just been taking a vacation, 'cause we love spending time with you." he chuckled nervously. Ziva remained silent, eyes downcast as she examined the counter, and Tony reached for her hand and to squeeze it quickly.
"Oh," Piper said simply, and smiled as she continued demolishing the rest of her pancakes.
Tony cleared his throat uncomfortably, exchanging a guilty look with Ziva, who's expression was dangerously blank as she broke eye contact, turning her back to him and clearing the dishes to the sink in silence.
Once the kitchen had been cleaned up, and twenty minutes had been devoted to removing all sticky remnants of breakfast from little hands and faces, Tony's attempts at eliciting a smile or full sentence from Ziva had failed repeatedly before he finally backed off in favor of a shower, knowing it was best to let her come to him.
oOo
He has just succeeded in pulling his shirt over his head when he hears the bedroom door open and shut softly. Glancing up, he sees Ziva leaning against the door, arms behind the back and her face neutral.
"The kids are watching the ah, movie you mentioned they loved, with the little fish that is lost. Memo, or Fabio."
"Nemo," he corrects automatically. "That will keep them entertained for a while."
Ziva smiles thinly. "That was the plan," She takes a deep breath.
"We need to talk."
Tony smiles tightly, scratching his head nervously before gesturing to the bed.
"Take a seat, Ninja."
She smiles a little at that, pushing herself off the door and coming to rest on the edge of their bed. Tony sits down beside her and regards her warily.
"What's on your mind?"
Clasping and re-clasping her hands, Ziva looked down as she began,
"I think . . . that it is time for you to go back to work. To the team," she releases a breath, then looks up to meet his eyes, "I think we need to start trying to regain a bit more normalcy. We both have to accept the fact that this may be all that I remember; all that comes back. It is not fair to the team, nor Gibbs, or Piper, or us." she breaks off then, trying to smile but only succeeding in a grimace.
Tony swallowed over the lump in his throat, taking one of her hands in his.
"Ziva, you're going to get it all back, you've already remembered so much-"
"Tony," she interrupts, chuckling without humor, "It's been quite some time. I think it would be best if we just try to adapt in case things are . . . permanent. Okay?"
Tony can only nod wordlessly, squeezing her hand tighter. Ziva jerks her head in a sharp nod, and her eyes, finally betraying her, spill with a few tears and she wipes them away, quickly.
He wastes no time pulling her to him then. Ziva goes willingly, and they spend a few silent moments reveling in the comfort of one another's presence.
oOo
Of course it's her who breaks the silence, some time later as they lay with each other at the end of the bed.
"Tomorrow. I want you to go in tomorrow."
He sighs, turning his face into her hair and inhaling the scent of her shampoo.
"You gonna be okay with munchkin?" he asks, resigned, voice muffled by her curls. He knows she's made up her mind.
The hand she's trailing lazily up and down his arm pauses, and she's silent for a few moments before she murmurs,
"I think we are going to be just fine."
He kisses her head softly, and hears what she doesn't say; that she isn't just talking about her and their daughter.