Over the next few months Tony and Ziva had established a comforting routine that worked for them and for Gibbs. They had never mentioned their connection again and everyone believed it was over. This was supported by their current fights at work. Gibbs really thought they didn't like each other that much and Tim was happy to have Ziva as an ally against Tony's evil jokes. They had even talked about made up girl- and boyfriends to convince the others. It resulted with Tony buying a negligee and showing it to McGee, telling him he would date a sexy, married woman on her birthday. When he told him at the end of the day that the date was canceled McGee didn't seem too surprised when Ziva invited Tony for dinner. She had been picking on him the whole day.

When the night fell and they went to sleep Tony and Ziva were soulmates and lovers. They went to bed early. Eager to meet each other in their dreams and discuss the day or life or simply enjoy themselves.

Tony walked in that night with a big grin on his face. Ziva looked up from the book she was reading. He had hated it, because he was not able to read in his dreams. He had complained about her reading until she started to read to him. It was a whole new experience. The stories were so much more detailed than his movies, even though he had to work much harder to distract her from a book than a movie.

"It's a girl." He announced went over and hugged her.

She smiled at him but she felt a little jealous. He had spent so many time with Wendy lately. "Let me guess, you already got a name for her." She said as soon as he let her out of his embrace.

He sat down next to her on the couch: "Well I have my personal list. Wendy… well… I don't know."

"What's the matter?" Ziva asked if Wendy would try to do anything that could result in taking Tony's daughter away she would have to answer to her.

"Oh it's probably nothing but she seems so… distracted. I think she doesn't really care about the baby."

"Maybe she's just scared. This will be a big chance in her life and she'll be a single mom even if you'll participate in your daughter's life."

"Why are you defending her?" Tony asked annoyed.

"I'm not. I'm just saying that she might need some time."

Tony nodded: "Okay but there is something we need to talk about. I want you to be in my daughter's life as well. We are in some kind of a relationship and I want her to grow up with you and with me. And just for the record I want to have children with you, too."

Ziva started to laugh: "You do know that our relationship is only in dreamland? And that I'm just 22 years old."

"I didn't say, I want children right now, but be prepared." He announced: "And we will figure something out about the other thing. Now wanna hear my babyname hitlist?"

"Sure."

"Okay first I thought of Angeline but then I thought Kelly would be good choice. I also love Luana and Antonia. But I think I want to call her Kate."

Ziva smiled: "That sounds wonderful."

NCISNCIS

It stayed like this. They did not talk about their relationship again. Maybe they both were afraid to bring up that subject. He informed her about Wendy and the baby in his dreams. Ziva always listened to him and supported him. But over the months he really wished they could have a relationship.

On a cold Friday Tony was alone at home and preparing for bed. It had been an exhausting long day and he was eager to go to bed and meet Ziva.

But as he got into his pyjamas he heard a knock at the door. He cursed and went to open. Nobody was there but looking down he saw a small basket.

NCISNCIS

Ziva had just brushed her teeth as somebody knocked at her door. She looked at the watch. 10 pm. Why would anybody want to visit her at this time on a Friday night?

When she opened the door she found Tony. He looked helpless and… there was a baby, wrapped in towels in his arms.

"Um… can I come in?" he asked.

Ziva stepped aside and pinched herself. It hurt, so this was not a dream.

"Tony?" she asked as he went into the living-room.

He turned around and handed her a card.

Dear Tony,

This is your daughter. Name her whatever you want and don't look for me. I don't want to see you or the child ever again.

Wendy

Ziva looked up from the note and stared at Tony for some moments. They baby began to cry.

"What am I going to do?" Tony asked shocked.

Ziva was not sure if he referred to the whole situation or the crying. But she went over and took the baby from him.

Then she went over to the table and put it there. Carefully she unwrapped the baby from the towels. "Oh Tony we need to get her to a hospital. She can be not older than a few hours."

The baby had not been washed after birth. Ziva was no expert in this but she sure knew that no doctor would've left the umbilical cord about 8 inches long.

Tony almost panicked: "Is she sick?"

"No, I think she just needs to be checked out. Come one, I'll drive." Ziva said.

"Oh no, you don't. She is just born I don't want to end her life now."

NCISNCIS

The nurses in the hospital were very friendly and took immediately care of Tony's daughter. They asked if he wanted to be there when they washed her. Of course he wanted. Ziva just wanted to sit down and wait for him to return as he grabbed her arm.

"You are coming with me. They'll show me how to bath her and so on; I don't think I will be able to memorize that alone."

Ziva nodded and followed him. He still seemed so shocked by the fact that Wendy had not called him, when their daughter was born. Or that she had not gone to a hospital or that she had left him alone with this little thing.

The nurse, who had introduced herself to be Mrs. Fredrick, didn't ask who Ziva was or why he wanted her there, she just showed them how to take care of the baby.

"She really is beautiful. What's her name?" the nurse asked.

"Kate. Kate Tali DiNozzo." Tony said.

Ziva looked at him; he never mentioned that he would name his daughter after her sister. But this was not a good time to confront him about that.

"Well little Katy, here is your Daddy again." The nurse said to the baby and handed her over to Tony. Kate was now dressed in a clean romper suit. It was all taken care of. "She is in very good health. Please tell me how she was born." Mrs. Fredrick said and led Tony and Ziva into her little office.

Tony started to explain and they saw the nurse's face fell. As he finished she seemed to be pretty angry but not at them.

"I suggest you two take one of our baby-care courses. Don't worry those are not like the ones in highschool. The people there will help you with the first steps. Many parents think they come in handy."

Ziva opened her mouth to tell Mrs. Fredrick that she was not going to be a parent to that child but Tony simply said: "Yeah we would really like to take a course, right darling?" he said looking at Ziva.

Ziva was simply flabbergasted and that did not happen a lot. There she was. A Mossad officer working at NCIS. A tough woman and all of the sudden her partner had decided to make her his child's mother. They would have to talk about that. Later.

NCISNCIS

It was now late at night and Tony was pacing his living room. The hospital had lent him a cot for little Kate and she was now asleep in his bedroom. Ziva sat on his couch watching him.

"How could she do that? How could she leave her child behind!" he cursed.

Ziva bit her lip: "Um… maybe that's my fault."

He stopped and looked at her: "How could that be?" he asked confused.

"Well… I threatened her… You know after she said you'd never see your child I… uhm… I waited for her at her way to work and told her if she keeps the baby apart from you I would hurt her." Ziva admitted.

Tony was stunned: "What…?"

"I told her that I would cut the baby out and bring it to you."

Tony had to sit down after this confession.

"But it worked. She called you and… … … I only tried to help." Ziva said in defense.

Tony looked her into the eyes: "Did you love me back then?"

It was the first time he asked that.

"Yes." Ziva whispered.

"You realize that it could have easily brought me and Wendy back together. The whole pregnancy. So many hours we have spent together."

Ziva nodded.

"And you still did it because you wanted me to be with my child?"

"Yes." She said again and suddenly felt his lips on hers. It was the first time this happened in reality.

Tbc

As you might have noticed, the part with the pregnancy is pretty short. I just didn't want to go on about Zivas feelings towards the situation. And to be honest I wanted Wendy to be out of the way. So now Tony and Ziva and try to solve the next problem :D