Sitting at the breakfast table the next morning with Ziva and Ivan Aliyah asked "Ivan isn't your father worried about you not returning home last night?" looking questioningly at the boy continuing to eat his food. Shrugging Ivan said "my father doesn't really care, so no I don't think so anyway Ziva ready to go?" turning to Ziva next to him ignoring Akiva and Aliyah's questioning gaze. Downing her juice Ziva nodded saying "sure let's go" sliding out of her chair heading to the door before sighing when Akiva called "Ziva?!" turning to the voice Ziva said "bye" before grabbing her bag following Ivan out of the house as realization dawned on Akiva who said "Oh my that's what she meant" "what are you talking about, honey?" "Last night Ziva said something that didn't make sense to me" "what did she say?" "He is just like us, I didn't understand it at the time but" "now you do, what did she mean?" "That his father doesn't care just like ours, Aliyah, I'm going to school bye" Ari said grabbing his bag before quickly exiting the house as Aliyah and Akiva shared a look of concern.
Still sitting in the kitchen an hour later Aliyah said "I'll do some research about Ivan and then we'll make a decision, okay honey?" kissing Akiva's cheek before disappearing from the house just leaving Akiva and Tali to their own devices.
Akiva was walking around with Tali in her arms when she saw Ziva and Ivan sitting under a nearby tree softly talking among them. Walking up to them Akiva asked "shouldn't you two be in school?" leaning against the tree staring down at them, leaning back against the tree Ziva said "break time" shielding her eyes from the sun as Ivan said "Hi Akiva, nice to meet you again" which earned him a fond smile and a nod from Akiva before she asked "and you're allowed to sit all the way out here for break time, Ziva?" looking questioningly at the little girl. Sighing Ziva said "the fucking sun is burning my eyes let's head back Ivan" standing up heading back to the school yard while a stunned Akiva stared after them.
Snapping out of it Akiva yelled "Ziva, don't swear like that!" only getting a wave from the girl as she continued on her way to the school while Akiva sighed heading back to the house with Tali still in her arms.
Ivan kept visiting after school almost every night for almost a month until Akiva and Aliyah said "well little boy, let's get you a room, okay?" giving him the room on the left of theirs, it had greenish walls with a couch, bed and desk which earned a happy smile from Ivan as he hugged them both saying "thank you very much, I appreciate, I really do" proudly before turning to Ziva saying "what do you think?" looking expectantly at the girl next to him. Smiling slightly Ziva said "I like it" sitting down on Ivan's bed as Akiva and Aliyah just observed their interaction, smiling proudly Ivan jumped onto his bed saying "my bed is better than yours Ziva admit it" smugly.
Rolling her eyes Ziva said "yeah but my couch is better than yours now stop jumping and let's take a nap, I'm tired" turning on her side away from Aliyah and Akiva before saying "Ivan move your ass, I'm tired!" motioning with her hand making Ivan laugh as he laid down next to her saying "you're bossy old lady" "the only old lady here is Akiva and yeah she is" Ziva said blindly pointing to the woman in the doorframe making Aliyah and Ivan laugh at Akiva's indignant expression at being called old and bossy.
Shaking her head Akiva said "Ziva, stop swearing" rolling her eyes when she realized Ziva was already asleep, smiling Ivan said "thank you again, it re…" "No worries little man, get some sleep, okay?" Aliyah said kissing his and Ziva's head before stepping back watching as Akiva did the same saying "holler if you need me" before they both exited the room as Aliyah asked "is Ziva swearing now?" getting a nod Aliyah said "well it could be worse" "how?" "She could be drinking or smoking or even doing drugs but swearing is not high on my worry list, how about you honey?" Aliyah said leading Akiva to the living room as she said "not much but where is she learning these words, I don't swear and neither do you so where?" "Ari swears like that" Aliyah said smirking knowingly while Akiva just sighed as they sat down on the living room couch moments before a cursing Ari came stocking into the room saying "I'll be in my room" disappearing down the hall as Akiva yelled "Ari, no swearing in this house!" the sternness evident in her voice.
"Ziva you need to concentrate" Akiva called through the microphone at the panting girl in the dark room next door. Rolling her eyes Ziva said "that's what I'm doing, Akiva!" throwing her arms into the air. Sighing Akiva said "do it again, we're not leaving here until you improve this, so concentrate, ZIva" "then we are never leaving, what do you want from me?!" Ziva yelled glaring at the window above her. "I want you to try, you're not trying, Ziva concentrate" Akiva said keeping calm while Ziva was losing it, "I have been trying, what the hell have I been doing for the last hour, picking my nails?!" Ziva yelled slamming her fist into the chamber wall.
Rolling her eyes Akiva said "calm down, Zi…" "Stop telling me to calm down!" Ziva yelled before growling when Akiva said "I'll tell you whatever I want, now calm down and do as I say" "I'm done, let me out of here" Ziva said ripping the monitor tags off of her chest, inhaling deeply Akiva said "Ziva, replace those tags, we're not done" before watching as Ziva growled before scaling the chamber wall helping herself out saying "I'm done" landing on her feet before heading to the door as Akiva calmly said "Ziva, I will not tell you again, get back in there we're not done yet" watching as Ziva pulled open the door saying "I'm done with this shit" walking out before closing the door again as Akiva appeared in the hall saying "Ziva…"
"I'm going to the showers" Ziva said ignoring Akiva as she walked away down the hall while Akiva just silently stared after her softly saying "you'll have to move on sometime, Ziva" before closing her eyes sighing as she said "what am I going to do with you?" "With who?" "What are you doing here, Ali?" Akiva asked glancing at her smirking husband as he walked up to her, kissing her cheek Aliyah said "well hello to you too, honey" earning a chuckle from Akiva as she said "Hi love" kissing him on the lips.
Leaning his forehead against Akiva's Aliyah asked "Honey, what's wrong?" concern evident in his voice, sighing Akiva said "Ziva…" "Where is she?" Aliyah asked glancing around looking expectantly for Ziva before frowning when Akiva said "she's in the showers, she's refusing to train" leaning her head against the wall. "Oh, why?" Aliyah asked frowning as he looked intently at his wife, shrugging Akiva's said "Only she knows the answer, Ali but let's go find her" taking his hand leading him to the showers to go find Ziva.
Ziva and Ivan were lying on the couch lazily staring at the TV that Saturday when Akiva dressed in her training gear walked into the living room saying "come on Ziva, let's go train" motioning to the door. Looking up Ivan said "it's Saturday" a slight frown evident on his face, smiling Akiva said "Yes, Ziva usually trains during the week but she's been slacking so we'll make up for it on the weekend so Ziva let's go" before frowning when Ziva didn't move from her spot on the couch, she just sat there staring at the TV. "Ziva, come on let's go" Akiva said pointing to the door, glancing at the woman behind the couch Ziva said "I'm tired" returning her gaze to the TV as Akiva said "I don't care, let's go you're falling behind" the irritation evident in her voice.
Scoffing Ziva said "I don't care either, I'm tired so leave me alone, I don't want to train" monotone as she continued staring at the TV before growling when Akiva picked her up carrying her out of the house saying "Ivan, you can come if you want to" as she ascended the steps.
Reaching the training room a few minutes later Akiva placed Ziva on the ground saying "Ziva, you've wallowed in self pity for the last month and neglected your training and I've allowed it but enough is enough, you need to move on, okay?" staring down at the girl in front of her, sighing Ziva sat down on the ground saying "stop preaching to me, I'm not going to apologize for my feelings, you don't know how I feel so leave me alone, I'm tired of this shit, it has no purpose" staring at the ground.
"I'm not preaching and you're right I don't know how you feel but I know that shutting down because of what happened is not healthy, would your mo…" "Don't, she's gone, they're all fucking gone so don't mention them, I'm here and if I want to wallow in self pity I will, who gives a shit!" Ziva yelled glaring at Akiva from her position on the ground. Kneeling down Akiva moved to place her hand on Ziva's shoulder when "don't fucking touch me!" Ziva growled slapping Akiva's hand away as she continued glaring at Akiva who just sighed saying "Fine, wallow if you want but we're training so stand up and let's begin" a slight bit of sadness evident in her voice.
Rolling her eyes Ziva returned her gaze to the ground saying "I'm not tri…" she was interrupted when Akiva shoot a ball of fire at her, burning her shirt. Growling Ziva looked at her burning shirt saying "great, fucking great, I liked this shirt" glaring at Akiva who just stared at her. "I know what you're…" Ziva started but was interrupted when Akiva shot another ball of fire at her electing another growl from her before she inhaled deeply closing her eyes as another ball was launched at her.
Smirking Ziva's eyes shoot open as she raised her arms to the air saying "Wave of Fire!" moments before a wall of flames enveloped her body making her seemingly disappear as the ball of fire Akiva shot at her clashed with her wall. Inhaling deeply Ziva said "Vacuum" as the flames around her started disappearing as she inhaled it for a few moments before leaning down on all fours blowing out as she yelled "Volcano!" as the flames burst out of her mouth at Akiva who just smirked crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at the flames approaching her before her eyes widened as Ziva appeared above her yelling "Bolt of lightning!" as a ball of blue lightning shot out of Ziva's hands at her along with the flames.
Snapping out of it Akiva form 2 hand signs saying "Ice armor!" as she was enveloped by ice just as the lightning and fire struck her while Ziva vanished from site. After the fire and lightning disappeared moments later Akiva appeared with her ice amour still surrounding her but it was filled with cracks and holes as it began peeling of off Akiva as Ziva said "leave me alone, I'll be here Monday, ready to train to your heart's content" slipping out of the training room as Akiva stared on after her.
Walking into the house an hour later Akiva was meet by the site of Ivan, Aliyah and Ari staring at her stunned at her appearance, shrugging Akiva said "Ziva" looking down at her burnt and torn clothes as Aliyah asked "what happened?" concern evident in his voice, chuckling Akiva patted his cheek saying "Training, don't worry love" as she headed to the hall asking "Where's Ziva?" disappearing into the hall as Aliyah said "I haven't seen her today, honey I thought you said you two were training?" following her down the hall and eventually into their room as Akiva said "We were but after this" motioning to her clothes "she left so I don't know where she is" pulling off her shirt while Aliyah sat down on the bed looking worriedly at her asking "what are we doing, honey, are we really what they need?" rubbing his forehead while Akiva continued changing her clothes.
Buttoning her fresh shirt Akiva said "Ali, we're all they have, we can't give up on them but Ziva is never going to be the same little girl she was, none of them will be, we just have to deal with what we have, they'll settle we just have to show them that we won't leave them, okay?" looking up at her husband who just smiled sadly saying "she's never going to be the same, is she?" looking close to tears. Smiling sadly Akiva sat down next to him saying "No but she'll come back with time we just have to be constant in their lives, even Ivan, okay love?" kissing his cheek as "Ziva what the hell happened?!" pulling away Akiva said "let's go, love" standing up as Aliyah took her hand as "Ziva, what the fuck is wrong with you?!" sighing Aliyah said "let's go" opening the door for Akiva before following her out.
Turning to head to the living room they saw Ziva staring at them blankly as she walked to her room before disappearing into her room saying "my fucking shirt's ruined, thanks" before closing her door. Frowning Akiva kissed Aliyah's cheek before heading to Ziva's room saying "Ziva…" pushing open Ziva's door. Sighing Ziva sat down on her bed staring at the pink wall saying "what now?" not looking at Akiva who was standing in her door staring at her, tightening her jaw Ziva said "would you stop staring at me?" turning her gaze to Akiva glaring at her in irritation.
"Ziva, where the hell is your manners?" Akiva asked irritation and anger evident in her voice, scoffing Ziva said "that's rhetorical, isn't it?" returning her gaze to the wall as Akiva closed her door saying "Ziva look at me" getting no response "look at me!" Akiva commanded before watching as Ziva lazily stared at her. Rubbing her forehead Akiva sat down on the couch staring at Ziva who growled saying "stop staring at me, please, you all keep looking at me like I grew a second head stop it!" glaring at Akiva as well. Sighing Akiva leaned back into the couch saying "What's wrong with you?" staring at the opposite wall as Ziva turned her gaze to the ground asking "what are you talking about?" "don't act dumb, the swearing, rudeness and being disrespectful, that's not the Ziva I knew" "the Ziva you knew still had her family, not a dead mother and an useless father, Akiva" "Yes I know but it's almost been a year, don't you think it's time you move on, I mean you're even neglecting your training, you haven't spent a useful hour in training since you came out, Ziva" "well, I've kind of been mourning, I hear it's the natural thing to do, isn't it?" "And the sarcasm, can you please try and give a truthful answer?" "what do you want me to say, the people who said they never leave me just left me on your doorstep, with nothing not even an explanation, how would you feel, I highly doubt you would just 'move on' Akiva" Ziva said glaring at the floor now.
"No, I wouldn't but at some time I would eventually move on, I understand that you're upset but that is never an excuse to act the way you have, you're not the only one suffering here, Ari and Talia are suffering as well and they need you to be there for them, we are a family now, we have to look after each other because no one else will, so stop this okay we all have to move on eventually, understand?" Akiva said looking at Ziva who was just sitting there staring at the floor. Sighing Ziva collapsed back onto her bed saying "I've been selfish" wrapping an arm over her eyes while Akiva just smiled at her bluntness.
Standing up Akiva sat down next to Ziva on her bed saying "okay, little girl, so no more swearing, rudeness and being disrespectful, understand me?" patting Ziva's leg looking at the girl with her arm still over her eyes, nodding Ziva said "understood but can you all please stop staring at me, it's irritating" looking at Akiva out from under her arm as she nodded saying "okay, going to take a nap or join us in the living room?" looking questioningly at the girl.
Smiling Ziva said "I'll take a nap" as Ivan came rushing into the room asking "Ziva, come on w…" but trailed off when he saw Akiva staring at him, prompting him to say "Sorry, I'll just wait outs…" "Ivan, come on in" Ziva said amusement evident in her voice as the boy smiled sheepishly at Akiva who just stared at him. Smiling Ziva said "I'm going to take a nap, want to join Ivan?" as the boy stood next to her fidgeting under Akiva's stare, leaning forward Ivan softly asked "what's wrong with her?" motioning to the staring woman, biting her lip Ziva said "just ignore it she'll leave eventually" softly as Akiva playfully glared at her before saying "I'm going, see ya later guys" patting their heads before leaving the room as Ivan joined Ziva on her bed saying "anyway, you okay?" smiling at Ziva fondly.
Smiling Ziva patted his cheek saying "I'm good now get some sleep I have an idea" "do tell" "later, I'm tired" Ziva said smiling at Ivan as they both slowly drifted off to sleep.