Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Thanks to JonnyP86 and Tiva-McAbby-Densi-Neric-4ever for reviewing 19; Sazzita for reviewing 20 and 21; mcgeeksgirl for reviewing 21; and Reader for reviewing 18, 19, 20 and 21.

His father did to him what Abba did to you, only instead of shoving him down the stairs, he beat him with a fireplace poker. Repeatedly. And he endured it. But why? For what reason? Her heart screamed the true answer, as her hand subconsciously ghosted over her stomach, in an old habit she couldn't quite break. For you, of course. For you and the baby he didn't even know existed.

Ziva quickly climbed to her feet, wiping her eyes dry as the apartment door opened and Sarah stepped out. "Oh, Ziva. Sorry, I didn't... I didn't mean to scare you." The Israeli shook her head, giving her a small smile.

"No, you are fine." She sniffled. Sarah watched her for a moment, before moving to go.

"Well, goodnight." Ziva nodded softly to her, moving open the door when Sarah turned back. "Um, Ziva?" As the young Israeli turned, Sarah threw her arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug. Ziva's eyes widened in shock, and she awkwardly patted Sarah's back. The younger girl took a deep, shaky breath, whispering, "I know that Asher was unplanned, but he is the best thing possible that you could have done for Tim. And I know it basically ruined your life, but Timmy is so happy to have you and Asher in his life, and he deserves it; you both do. You're good for each other. Timmy gave you a beautiful gift, and you've given him one in return. Don't take it away from him, Ziva, please. You deserve to be happy, and you'll make each other happy. I know you will."

When she pulled away, Ziva gave her a small smile. She watched the other woman disappear down the stairs before going into the apartment to find Tim sitting on the sofa, lost in thought. The tea he'd made earlier sat cold on the table, but he didn't notice. When she shut the door, he looked up, green eyes filled with worry. "How did it go at Gibbs'?" She took a deep breath.

"Ari is dead. I had no choice." She dropped onto the sofa beside him and lay back, swallowing. Glancing over at him, she reached for him. "I know what your father did to you, Tim. I heard everything. And I am so sorry." He sighed, shaking his head.

"Old history. It doesn't matter now. What matters now is the present, and-" He glanced towards the bedrooms. "And our son." She gave him a small smile, as he reached down and gently laced their fingers together. After a moment, she shifted closer, laying her head on his shoulder. They sat in silence for several minutes, before Tim looked at her. "I'm sorry, that it came to that. Having to kill your brother. But you are not completely alone; you have Asher and I, and your mother-" She shook her head.

"Ima is dead. Killed in the same Hamas bombing that took Tali from the world. They found her body first."

"And Tali?" He swallowed, thinking of the ten-year-old with the curled pigtails, blue overalls and pink sneakers with the heart stickers. She was adorable, following Ziva around wherever she went; asking all sorts of questions and playing games with Sarah. It didn't seem right, that a child with so much promise had such a short life.

"They never found her body. But a blast like that... for anyone to survive, it would be a miracle." She swallowed. "My siblings and my mother are all dead and buried; I am all but dead to Eli... Asher is my only link to my past, and it is only for him that I remember." She snuggled close, nuzzling into his shoulder, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I have no home in Israel; no place to call my own. But I also have no place to call my own here. Our things do not arrive until next week, and even then, I do not know if I will be accepted here, if our son will be accepted here." She sighed, sniffling. "My home is gone. My life is gone. I think, that I have never known loneliness more than at this moment." She snuggled even closer, not to pressure him into anything, but because she was desperate for some sense of comfort, of companionship.

Tim gently squeezed her hand, thinking. This was the girl he remembered from that night in Tel Aviv. The Ziva everyone saw was just a front; deep down, the young woman was a cuddler, desperate for some sense of compassion and love- a love her father had always denied her. He had spent that night whispering softly to her and caressing her, making soft promises that, thanks to their parents, he wouldn't be able to keep. They had whispered of building a life, a home together...

He turned, watching her silently. "What if..." He stopped. He shouldn't even be considering this. He barely knew this woman, yet... Yet you share a child. You created that little boy sleeping in the other room. Like it or not, she is the mother of your son. Maybe this will be the first step into getting to know the girl you left behind, and falling in love with the woman who took her place.

"What if what?" She asked softly, staring down at their hands. His fingers were long, beautiful. She had never seen a man's fingers as long as Tim's, but then again, she had never been involved with many men, not since Asher's birth. As soon as they found out she had a son born out of wedlock, they ran, not wanting to risk contamination. She had never kissed another man, let alone done anything else. They never let it get that far. And the only man she wanted had been ripped from her as teenagers, and he now sat beside her again, after all these years, and yet she was too scared to do anything but hold his hand, for fear he too would run.

Tim took a deep breath, staring down at her face, watching as his words escaped his lips and made their way towards her brain. "What if... we got a place. Together."

She sighed, closing her eyes and nuzzling his shoulder. "That would be nice."

He watched, paying careful attention to her beautiful features as the words entered her head and finally, after several silent minutes, penetrated her brain. Her dark eyes opened and her head snapped up in shock. "What did you say?"