Everyone was sitting at the breakfast table staring at Ziva as she silently and blankly sat at the table eating her breakfast. Frowning Aliyah waved his hand in front of Ziva's face, scowling when the action didn't even warrant a batted eyelash from Ziva as she just almost robotically continued eating. Scowling as well Akiva asked "is this normal, Ari?" looking questioning at the boy who was also staring at his sister stunned, shaking his head Ari said "No, she usually snaps out of it after a few hours" waving his hand in front of Ziva as well also getting no reaction.
Finishing her breakfast Ziva pushed her plate away before slipping out of her chair heading for the door silently only saying "school" when Akiva asked where she was going, hearing this caused Akiva to jump out of her chair rushing after her calling "Ziva!" finally catching her half way out of the gate, wrapping her arms around Ziva who was just standing there as stiff as rod Akiva kissed Ziva's head carrying her back to the house with Ziva's head on her chest.
Walking into the house Akiva saw Ari taking his school bag while Aliyah with Tali in his arms walked him to the door saying "let's just try to keep it normal okay buddy" patting his back before turning to his wife saying "let Ziva go to school honey, she's just trying to keep it normal, she'll come out when's she's ready, okay?" looking at the girl in Akiva's arms, sighing Akiva nodded placing Ziva on the ground saying "see you later guys, behave okay?" as she kissed Ziva and Ari's foreheads before watching as Ari took Ziva's hand leading her from the house.
It continued on like this for a few months when suddenly while they were sitting in the living room watching TV Ziva said "I don't like the color of my room" staring at the TV as if she hadn't talked at all, hearing the raspy voice they all turned to her staring at her stunned. Feeling their stares on her prompted Ziva to turn her attention to them saying "what pink isn't my color, it irritates me" staring at them as if she hadn't seen them in months. Snapping out of it first Akiva said "you spoke" earning a look from Ziva that said 'no shit Sherlock', chuckling Akiva said "why your ro…" "That is why it irritates me" Ziva said returning her attention back to the TV as Akiva nodded understandingly while the rest just continued staring at her stunned.
Ziva was still looking at the TV when Tali rushed to her saying "Ziva, you're here, I've missed you!" hugging her sister happily while Ziva awkwardly returned the embrace saying "Hi, little sister" looking very uncomfortable as Ari and Aliyah enveloped her in a hug saying "you're back" smiling happily while Akiva joined in saying "Glad to have you, Ziva" kissing Ziva's head smiling before frowning when she felt Ziva just standing there ram rod stiff looking uncomfortable.
Pulling away Ziva said "please" glancing at them sideways as she moved away from them not wanting to be touched. Frowning Aliyah moved to hug Ziva when Akiva said "it's okay, Ali don't Ziva doesn't want to be touched at the moment" placing her hand on Aliyah's shoulder stopping him from touching her. Sighing Ziva looked at them tiredly saying "I'm sorry" before heading to her room silently ignoring all their concerned expressions.
Sighing Aliyah sat down on the couch saying "what's wrong, this behavior is starting to worry me?" rubbing his forehead, sitting down next to him Ari said "she is building her walls" "walls?" "She's burying this in the back of her mind, in a few days she'll just act like…" "So she'll return to normal?" "I don't know, we've have to wait and see" Ari said staring at the floor while Akiva picked up Tali saying "I'm going to make dinner" disappearing into the kitchen with the little girl while Ari and Aliyah just stayed in the living room silently staring at something in the room.
Walking down the hall lazily with her backpack on her back Ziva looked down at the floor living in her own world until a small boy around her age with light brown hair and blue eyes ran into her making them both fall to the ground as Ziva called "what the fuck?!" in shock. Panting heavily the boy jumped up saying "sorry!" running away as three older boys came around the corner yelling "there the bastard is!" angrily which made Ziva move out of the running hoard as the boy disappeared around the corner.
Staring on after the boys Ziva sighed rubbing her forehead while Ivan jumped over the railing with his heart beating in his throat as he frantically searched for escape route. Seeing no exit a few moments later Ivan reached an abandoned alley way and frantically searched for help as the three boys started smirking while they narrowed in on him. Hyperventilating Ivan backed up against the wall looking panicked at the three boys before he shrunk into a ball when the big boys towered over him.
Preparing for the oncoming hit Ivan closed his eyes and gritted his teeth only to reopen his eyes moments later when no punch came only to be met by the site of Ziva standing over him while the three boys laid knocked out behind her. Smiling slightly Ziva held out her hand to him asking "alright?" kindly which made Ivan take her hand saying "thank you…" "Ziva" "Ivan, nice to meet you" Ivan said once he was on his feet. Nodding Ziva turned and left saying "good bye" which made Ivan rush after her calling "don't you wanna…?" "no, I'm going home" "well do you wanna hang out?" Ivan asked off handedly which made Ziva stop turn to him asking "do you know who I am?" "yes Ziva, you just told me" "no do you know who I am?" "yes, you are Ziva David, I am Ivan Aliwai, do you wanna know anything else?" "no, your father…" "yes, so did yours" "yes, where do you live?" "at home" "okay, wanna come hang out at my house?" "sure" "okay, let's go get my brother and go" "cool" Ivan said as he and Ziva walked back to the school to go to Ari, who was waiting for Ziva at the gates of the school.
Aliyah and Akiva were waiting at the house for Ziva and Ari a week later when Ziva, Ari and an unknown boy walked into the house laughing, frowning in confusion Aliyah asked "who's your friend, guys?" motioning to a boy with brown hair and blue eyes with a natural tanned skin like Ziva, smiling Ari said "Ziva's new friend, Ivan Aliwia" placing his arm around the boy's shoulders, hearing this caused Aliyah and Akiva to stare at Ziva questioningly, feeling their stare on her Ziva frowned asking "what are you staring at, I'm allowed to have friends, aren't I?" anger evident in her voice stunning Akiva and Aliyah.
Smiling sheepishly Ivan walked up to them saying "Hi, Miss and Mister Sirca, I'm Ivan nice to meet you" holding out his hand to the two stunned people. Blinking Aliyah shook Ivan's hand saying "Hi, little man, I'm Aliyah not mister Sirca, okay?" tussling Ivan's hair smiling fondly at the boy before turning his gaze to Ziva who walked past them saying "I have homework to do, Ivan when you're done first door on your left" disappearing into the hall while Ivan shook Akiva's hand who said "Akiva, nice to meet you, Ivan" patting his head before watching as Ivan almost ran to Ziva's room, raising a stunned eyebrow Aliyah asked "what was that, Ziva doesn't talk like that?" disbelieve evident in his voice.
Rubbing her forehead Akiva said "I don't know but it won't stand, I'll talk to her later" glancing at the hall before standing saying "I'll make dinner" heading to the kitchen silently.
When Akiva opened Ziva's door a few hours later she saw Ziva sitting with her one leg propped up to her chest on her couch while her one arm hang loosely over the armrest staring at Ivan who was sleeping on her bed, feeling Akiva's stare on her Ziva said "you here to scold me about earlier?" still staring at Ivan's sleeping form on her bed. Nodding Akiva leaned against the doorframe saying "Ziva I understand you're upset but you don't talk like that to us, do you understand me?" the sternness evident in her voice as she stared at Ziva. Sighing Ziva nodded saying "I'm sorry" glancing at Akiva for a moment before returning her gaze to Ivan.
Frowning Akiva asked "something on your mind, Ziva?" looking questioningly at her, placing her head on her hand Ziva said "his just like us" motioning to the sleeping boy. Looking confused Akiva said "what?" the confusion also evident in her voice, sighing Ziva shifted laying down on the couch saying "never mind, I'm tired goodnight" wrapping her arm over her eyes making Akiva sigh saying "goodnight, Ziva" turning off her light before closing the door as she exited into the hall.
Leaning against the door Akvia asked "Ziva where have you gone?" softly before heading to the kitchen saying "Ziva's sleeping let's eat" joining the others at the kitchen table.