Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Childish laughter greeted her as she returned to the bullpen; the others were watching silently as Asher slowly peeled apart his NutterButter, licking off the peanut butter before eating the cookies. "Well, what is this?" Both looked up as she stopped by Tim's desk, hands on her hips in mock surprise. The boy held out another cookie.

"They are cookies, Ima! With peanut butter!" Ziva raised an eyebrow.

"I can tell. You know how? You have peanut butter all over you." She went to her son, painting him with kisses as the boy giggled.

"Ima!" Tim sat back, watching the two of them. How could he have missed this? How could he have possibly missed these last eight years of his son's life? Hearing his first word, teaching him to walk, helping him learn his letters, how could he possibly have missed all of that? He understood, but still, she shouldn't have had to suffer alone. When Ziva looked up, their eyes locked, and she gave him a soft smile before it was replaced with worry.

"Tim, can we talk?" He nodded, but she looked around, finally moving around the desk and taking his hand. She pulled him to his feet, and then ruffled Asher's hair as they left the bullpen. "You stay here, my angel." Once they were gone, Asher turned to find everyone watching him. Suddenly self-conscious, he ducked his head, until Sarah's voice broke the silence.

"Hey, you like peanut butter, right?" He looked up into Sarah's green eyes and nodded. She grinned. "Have you ever tried it on a pizza?"

Once the bathroom door closed, Ziva turned to Tim. "What's so important that we had to leave the bullpen, Ziva?" She sighed, taking a deep breath. "Ziva, you can tell me. You're the mother of my son, that was a big enough secret. Anything else is... miniscule compared to Asher." A moment passed, before she met his gaze.

"Ari called me. He... he wants to... to see Asher." Tim sighed, turning away, but Ziva grabbed his hand. "He wants to meet at your apartment, and see his nephew again. He wants to let Asher know that he was never always the man Gibbs turned him into. That there was once good in him. That he once gave life instead of taking it. Tim," She reached up, turning his chin back to her. "He brought our son into the world. He delivered Asher. My brother... my brother was good once too, Tim. He was not always the killer my father turned him into. Please."

The young agent through a moment, weighing the options. "Fine. But I am not leaving you two alone with him." She gave him a small smile.

"Toda."

Tim had left the news on; the smell of chicken filled the small apartment. He had pulled a couple books off the shelf, looking for one he'd lost, and left them on the table. At one point, he glanced into the small living room and found Asher reading through them. "Are you sure a meal is a good idea, Ziva?" He asked, stirring the pasta. She nodded, sipping her tea.

"It is customary... somewhere in Israeli law, to break bread." Tim snorted softly.

"Well, then, are you sure chicken is kosher?" She chuckled.

"Depends. Was it slaughtered by a shochet?" Tim raised an eyebrow, confused. She shook her head. "Never mind. I have never been very good at keeping kosher; especially when I was pregnant. I craved bagels with orange slices and pickles." Tim winced.

"I don't like pickles." She laughed.

"I do not either. But it is what I wanted, so-" She stopped when she noticed Tim's attention stray to the living room again. "He loves to read."

"But The Great Gatsby?" She nodded.

"He is brilliant; he reads everything he can get his hands on. When he was small, I would take him to the small library in Be'er Sheva, and he would sit for hours, in a corner of the library, reading book after book. He makes up his own stories as well." Before Tim could say a word, a knock sounded, and he rushed to get it. He didn't hide the surprise to find Ari on the other side, and after a moment, stepped back to allow the other man entrance. As soon as he stepped inside, Asher looked up, dropping the book and climbing off the sofa.

"Shalom, Tim-"

"Ari Dohd!" Tim watched in silent shock as his son rushed towards the other man; Ari knelt down, embracing him once the boy got close enough. He watched as the man who killed Kate lifted the boy off his feet; no longer was he staring at the cold-blooded killer, but the kind, gentle doctor, who had helped his sister through labor and birth, who had delivered their son. He watched in silence as Ziva went to him and kissed his cheek.

Dinner was quiet at first, but once things loosened up, the conversation flowed slowly. Asher told Ari of all the fascinating things he'd seen in America in the last twenty-four hours, and told of how Tim had introduced him to Nutter Butters, the boy's fascination that they were cookies. Eventually, Tim found himself loosening up around the older man, seeing not of the killer Gibbs was obsessed with, but the doctor that had looked after Ziva while she was pregnant, that had protected her and cared for her after the two young lovers were forced to part. Tim made it very clear that he wouldn't let anything harm Ziva or Asher, and that he'd give his own life to keep them safe.

By the time dinner finished and Ari went to leave, Asher had attached himself to his uncle, and all but sobbed when Ari went to leave. The older man knelt down, taking the boy's shoulders. "Listen to me, Asher. Your Abba is a wonderful man. He is a strong man, and he will do all he can to keep you safe. You have to stay with Ima and Abba."

"But I do not want you to go-" Tears filled the boy's eyes and gently, Ari wiped them away.

"I have to. But I came here tonight because I wanted you to remember that I was not always the man they accuse me of being. There is still good in me. There was always good in me. And you are part of the reason why. Okay?" He nodded. Ari pulled the boy into a hug, whispered softly to him and then pressed a kiss to his head. Then, he stood, turning to Tim and Ziva. "I am glad you finally found Asher's father, Zivaleh. Good. You and Asher need Tim. Keep them close, Zivaleh, and never let them go." He pressed a kiss to her cheek and then turned to Tim, smiling softly. As he pulled the man into a hug, he whispered,

"This is why I spared you that day."