Reaching home Akiva laid Ziva down on the living room couch saying "I'll go make dinner" patting Ziva's head gently before heading to the kitchen as the others slumped down onto the couch turning on the TV while Aliyah picked Ziva up laying her down on his chest as he laid down kissing Ziva's head saying "Ari, put it on sports, I think there some basketball on" placing a protective hand on Ziva's back. Aliyah and the others were still watching the game an hour when Ziva jumped up saying "I'm starving" rushing to the kitchen in search of food as Aliyah just laughed following her to the kitchen.
Reaching the kitchen Aliyah saw Ziva climbing into the food closet while Akiva just leaned against the counter with amusement evident on her face as she observed Ziva's actions. Smiling Aliyah pulled open the door to reveal Ziva scaling the compartments trying to get something at the top which made Akiva and Aliyah laugh as Akiva pulled the little girl off asking "what do you want, Ziva?" "Those cookies, up there" Ziva said pointing to the top where a bag of chocolate cookies lay, chuckling Aliyah got the bag saying "there you go, baby girl but not too much momma is almost done with dinner okay?" smiling brightly when Ziva nodded saying "thank you" happily eating the cookies still in a now stunned Akiva's arms.
Seeing the stunned look on Akiva's face Aliyah realized his mistake but only shrugged taking one of Ziva's cookies who seemed to be in her own world while Akiva just shook her head before being stunned again when "so, you're our mother now, Akiva?" Ziva asked still eating her cookies. Smiling nervously Aliyah said "only if you want Akiva to be, Zevy do you?" glancing at his stunned wife, shrugging Ziva said "I don't mind but I don't speak for the others, so want some?" holding out the bag of cookies to a stunned Akiva while Aliyah smiled brightly and proudly before paling when "Momma?" Ari said leaning against the doorframe with Tali in his arms and Ivan at his side "well it has a nice ring to it, how about you Ivan?" "I don't mind, Tali?" "Momma, I like it, Zi?" Tali said holding out her hand to Ziva.
Sighing Ziva held out the packet to Tali saying "help yourself, Natalia" leaning out of Akiva's embrace almost falling to the ground had it not been for Akiva's hand on her side, smiling brightly Aliyah said "well, it's settled then, momma, what's for dinner?" smirking at Akiva's stunned expression which quickly turned into an amused one as she said "stew" "I'm not eating that" "then you can go hungry, Ali" "mean woman, Ziva please promise me, you won't be like her" Aliyah said playfully glaring at Akiva who just shook her head before smirking proudly when Ziva said "why not, Akiva's not a push over?" continuing to happily eat her cookies while Aliyah reluctantly nodded taking more of her cookies giving it to the others before taking one for himself saying "you've gone to the dark side Ziva" which only earned a smirk from Ziva while Akiva just chuckled at her husband's antics.
Ziva, Ari and Ivan were playing ball inside the house while Akiva was at work and Ali was tending to Talia. Jumping onto the couch Ivan yelled "over here, Ari!" getting the boy's attention as he was in the middle of fending off Ziva as she tried to steal the ball from him. Smirking Ari playfully shoved Ziva away as he threw the basket ball to Ivan before being tackled to the ground by Ziva while Ivan moved to catch the ball, Ziva was still struggling on the floor with Ari when a large crash was heard moments before "Oh my" pausing Ari and Ziva turned to Ivan only to see the boy standing in front of a few broken shards of glass with the ball in his hands.
Jumping up Ari called "please tell me, that's not Akiva's vase, please?!" walking up to the boy who was smiling sheepishly at them saying "I think it is, what should we do?" worry evident in his voice. Rubbing his forehead Ari said "Ziva let's clean this up, nothing happened, right?" kneeling down next to his sister as they started picking up the glass as she said "right, Ivan get rid of the ball" motioning to the back door blindly. Nodding Ivan quickly tossed the ball out of the door before joining Ziva and Ari on the floor picking up the glass.
"Where is my vase, Ali?" Akiva asked pointing to the spot on the coffee table where it use to stand as she looked questioningly at her husband who just shrugged asking "didn't you move it, honey?" glancing at the kids who was just sitting there as if Akiva hadn't spoken. Frowning Akiva said "no I didn't, did you guys move it?" confusion evident in her voice, turning to the woman Ari said "no" before returning his attention seemingly to the TV as Akiva stood up heading to the hall to search for her vase making Ivan start to fidget uncontrollably until Ziva grabbed his hand trying to calm him down.
They were still sitting in the living room an hour later when a scowling Akiva came into the room prompting Aliyah to ask "honey did you find it?" "No, you guys sure you didn't move it?" "No, we didn't?" Ari said looking her straight in the eyes, rubbing her forehead Akiva sat down on the couch staring at the floor asking "where could it be?" before leaning down closer as something white and sharp caught her eye as it was wedged between the floor and the foot of the coffee table, pulling it out Akiva sighed saying "I found it" prompting everyone to turn to her while she stared at the three kids sitting on the couch as Aliyah asked "correct me if I'm wrong but your vase didn't look like that, honey" pointing to the shard of glass in Akiva's hand.
Chuckling dryly Akiva said "yes, when I left this morning it didn't look like this either, now tell me who did it?" glaring at the kids making Ivan start to fidget again prompting Ziva to squeeze his hand in an attempt to calm him down as Ari said "what are you insinuating?" glaring right back at Akiva who just continued to glare, turning her gaze to Ziva Akiva said "Ziva, you know my rule about lying, don't you?" looking knowingly at the little girl who nodded saying "I do" subtly squeezing Ivan's hand as Akiva continued glaring as she asked "did you break it?" "No" "Ziva" "what, I said no" Ziva said motioning with her hand irritation evident in her voice while Akiva said "well one of you did, now tell me who did it, Ari?" "No" "don't lie to me Ari" "why the fuck would I lie to you?!" Ari almost yelled before sighing as Akiva got in his face saying "you don't talk like that in this house, do you understand me?!" the warning clear in her voice.
Pinching the bridge of her nose Akiva said "I'm not mad, I just want to know what happened to my vase, so tell me please?" calmly, glancing at Ziva, Ari and a nervous Ivan moved to say something when Aliyah said "honey, don't worry, I'll get you a new one, okay?" "it's not okay, they're lying, Ali" Akiva said staring at the kids. Smiling sadly at Ivan Ziva said "it was an accident, we were playing with the ball and it accidentally knocked it over, I'm sorry" her voice sonic, "you were playing with the ball inside the house?" "yes" "why did you lie to me, you know how I feel…" "I didn't lie, you asked me if I broke your vase, I didn't" "then who did?" "I did, I tried to catch the ball and it slipped out, I'm sorry" "…" "he didn't lie either, you never asked him if he broke so no lying here" "Ziva" "what, I'm stating the fact…" "stop being a smart ass Ziva" "oh mother whatever do you mean?" "Ziva" "Yes?" "stop being sarcastic" "why do you think I'm being sarcastic, Akiva?" "don't play with me" "wouldn't dream of it, now are w…" "Ziva be quite!" "whatever" Ziva said glaring at the coffee table while Akiva was glaring at her.
Sighing Akiva rubbed her forehead as Aliyah tried to calm everyone down saying "well, now that it's sorted, what's for dinner, honey?" looking expectantly at his wife who said "ZIva go to your room" pointing to the hall, scoffing Ziva jumped over the back of the couch saying "gladly" before disappearing around the corner as Akiva growled in irritation. Rubbing the back of his head Aliyah said "Ari, Ivan why don't you guys go to your rooms as well, I'll come get you for dinner, please?" motioning to the hall Akiva was still glaring at, scoffing Ari stood up saying "Ivan let's go" walking away as Ivan almost ran to catch up saying "this sucks" "no shit Sherlock" "Ari, what di…" "whatever!" Ari yelled before slamming his door close while Akiva inhaled deeply in an effort to control her temper.
Standing up Akiva said "I'm gonna make dinner" before disappearing into the kitchen as Aliyah just slumped into the chair sighing in stress.
After finishing dinner Akiva walked down the hall to Ziva's room to get the little girl while Aliyah went and got the boys, pushing the door open slightly Akiva saw Ziva sitting on her couch opposite a tall black hared man saying "why the hell are you preaching to me as well, Kiria, it seems to be the only thing people are doing now a days, sure seems that way with Akiva" sighing as she leaned back into her couch, scoffing Kiria said "you be should be more understanding Ziva, she has to look after you now, that makes you her responsibility, do you think she enjoys it" "sure seems that way, she been doing it a lot, where is the woman who use to spring me from that awful curtsy classes, that I spent hours with talking to about knives and hey I know she has other things to do now but she didn't have to become a preacher you know" "she's not preaching, Zi…" "what the hell do you call it, then?" "I don't know but you shouldn't judge her, she's only doing what's she thinks is right" "and what would that be?" "Ziva, you are still young and even though you are extremely independent you need someone to help you with the things you lack like manner…" "screw you, Kiria" "see point proven, anyway" "I get your point" "good, you're not as stupid as you look, Ziva" "you're lucky we're friends, Kira" "oh and why is that?" "because I would've wiped that freaking smug smile off your face, already" Ziva said earning a chuckle from the dragon as he said "yeah, young lady violence is never the answer" "you sound like an old woman, Kira" "Ah, insulting, little girl" "don't be such a prude" "do you even know what that means?" "funny, go the warden will probably coming soon, so try and stay out of trouble please?" "who's the preacher now" "still Akiva, on second thought why don't you stay for dinner?" "why?" "because she's probably going to kill me so I can use you as a shield, what do you think?" "been mouthing off again, Ziva" "I don't know what you're talking about" "sure you don't, no wonder Akiva has taken to preaching, Ziva you are really being mean to her" "what, me?" "seriously, it's a wonder she hasn't taken up drinking, cut her some slack man, at least she is trying, don't let what your father did cause you to drive away those who actually care, okay"
"Akiva use to argue back, just one of the many things she doesn't do anymore, Kiria" "why don't you tell her?" "because I know she's busy, she's raising four children, what do I tell her Kiria, why aren't you the same anymore, why aren't you spending time with me anymore, that would be hypocritical and I'm not that selfish" "yeah and you think acting like this, is making it easier for her, having to wonder what is wrong with you every moment of everyday, that is being selfish, Ziva" "I'm struggling to adjust, so forgive me if I don't just jump to it, Kiria" "Ziva you need to open up to people" "what are you my shrink?" "well you certainly need one" "well thank you but I don't need to open up to anyone, what goes on in my head is my business and unfortunately yours but I won't be sharing" "Ziva, you are drowning, you cannot go on like this, the walls will eventually break what then?" "you take bricks and build a new one, I'm what and who I am and nothing is going to change that" "when did you became so cold?" "Ari always said I had a frig for a heart, proven" "I guess it's true what they say" "and what would that be?" "even the sharpest fangs can be covered by a really good smile" "yeah, and just because a dog doesn't bark, doesn't mean it can't bite" "you smile brightly but your eyes are dead Ziva along with your heart" "yeah they probably are where my mother is, you know I found out, the bastard didn't even give her a grave Kiria"
"Oh Ziva…" "don't they are gone but we'll be seeing them so…" "No you won't Ziva" "how long have you been standing there Akiva?" Ziva asked glancing at the woman leaning against her doorframe, walking up to the girl Akiva asked "why do you talk like that?" sitting down in front of Ziva on her bed. Glancing at Kiria Ziva said "I don't have an answer, Akiva" looking Akiva straight in her eyes, nodding Akiva said "well, you should stop, because you won't be joining them soon, do you understand me?" earning a slight chuckle from Ziva who just nodded saying "whatever you say, Akiva" looking at the serious expression evident on Akiva's face. Nodding Akiva said "okay, have you calmed down now?" "Yes, I have" Ziva said nodding lazily, standing up Akiva held out her hand to Ziva saying "let's go, dinner is ready" before watching as Ziva took her hand sliding off of the couch as Kiria stood up following them out of the room.
Reaching the kitchen moments later they were meet by the site of Aliyah talking to the boys as they occasionally nodded, sitting down at the table Ari rolled his eyes asking "done preaching now, old man?" irritation evident in his voice as Ivan looked at the man behind Ziva and Akiva asking "who's that?" pointing at the man, following his gaze Aliyah smiled saying "that's Kiria, Ivan, Hi Kiria long time no see!" walking up to the man while Akiva and Ziva sat down at the table. Joining the table moments later Kiria asked "how's Triton, Ali?" wrapping his arm around Ziva's shoulders, smiling brightly Aliyah said "his great we finally completed the black ice technique it's awesome, I'll show you later, my friend" "how come you only finished it now, Triton is the black ice dragon, shouldn't it come natural to you guys?" "don't be a spoiler, anyway how's Vulcanica?" Aliyah said raising his eyebrow suggestively as Akiva rolled her eyes saying "Ali" motioning to the kids, he was about to apologize when "Ali, we'll talk later, away from you know who" Kiria said subtly motioning to Akiva before winching when Ziva elbowed him saying "you don't practice what you preach" "because I fall under the rule of do as I say not as I do, Ziva" "fucking hypocrite" "Ziva!" "Wh… sorry" Ziva said silently returning to her food earning five raised eyebrows from the people surrounding her.
Snapping out of it Ari smirked saying "did you just back down Ziva?" mocking her, making Ziva bite her lip as her eye began to twitch but she managed to retain her attention on her food stunning them more but Ari just kept going saying "what, little sister, chicken?" "Ari, stop aggravating her" Akiva said smiling at the little girl as Ari slumped into his chair saying "sissy" under his breath as he glared at her. "Ziva, you going to eat that?" Ivan asked motioning to her plate still kind of full as she ideally played with it, shrugging Ziva pushed her plate to him saying "enjoy" earning a bright smile from Ivan as he started stuffing his face again.
"Zevy, why aren't you eating?" Aliyah asked tentatively as he glanced at his wife before turning his attention to Ziva as she said "I'm tired, Aliyah" smiling slightly at the man. Smiling Aliyah said "wanna go lay down, baby girl?" "may I?" "Sure, come on I'll take you" Aliyah said leaning forward and picking up the girl, smiling when she laid her head on his shoulder saying "goodnight guys" as Aliyah carried her to her room while the others just waved and smiled.
Walking Kiria to the door Aliyah moved to say something when Kiria said "Ali, you should check, Ziva's having nightmares" "what?" "she's not sleeping, so just keep an eye out okay?" Kiria said patting a frowning Aliayh's shoulders, nodding Aliyah said "okay, thank you for telling me, my friend see ya later" waving to Kiria as he descended the stairs before heading into the house and straight to Ziva's room.
Reaching it moments later Aliyah smiled fondly at the site of Ziva calmly sleeping in her bed as she clutched her pillow, he was about to leave when Akiva walked up to him asking "what's wrong?" subtly checking on Ziva as she looked questioningly at her husband, kissing her check Aliyah said "Kiria says she's having nightmares and isn't sleeping so I came to check on her" smiling sadly as Akiva sighed leaning into her husband.
They were about to leave a few moments later when ZIva shoot up in her bed panting and gasping as she glanced around the room bewildered looking like she didn't know where she was which prompted Aliyah and Akiva to rush into her room saying "Ziva, you okay?" concern evident in their voices. Being startled by the sudden intrusion Ziva grabbed her chest almost hyperventilating until Aliyah pulled her to his chest saying "it's okay baby girl, we're here, Shhh" rubbing soothing circles on her back as he kissed her head trying to calm her down.
Succeeding in calming her down Aliyah asked "you okay, baby girl?" sharing a look of concern with his wife as Ziva just clutched his shirt not responding at all, frowning Akiva asked "what's wrong, sweetheart?" stroking her hair gently as she looked questioningly at the little girl's back. Growing concern when the little girl didn't show any sign of responding, Aliyah pulled slightly back to get a better view of the girl's face, what he saw very nearly broke his heart Ziva was lost she just sat there staring into the dark like a porcelain doll which scared Aliyah prompting him to say "Honey, look" turning the little girl to her so that she could see.
Seeing the blank expression elected a sad sigh from Akiva who said "Oh Ziva…" but they were interrupted when Ivan and Ari came running into the room yelling "Ziva, Austin Po… what's wrong?" stopping dead in their tracks as they saw Akiva and Aliyah's sober expressions. Sighing Akiva said "Ziva clocked out" "what, why?" Ari asked rushing to his sister's side as Aliyah said "we don't know, we think it was nightmares" clutching the girl to him as Ivan joined Ari at Ziva's side.
Standing up moments later Akiva said "Ali bring Ziva she can bunk with us tonight" heading to the door as Aliyah stood up with the girl clutched against his chest before following his wife to their room to lay Ziva down.
Ziva was laying between Akiva and Aliyah later that night when she finally snapped out of her head back into reality but being too afraid to go back to sleep Ziva slipped out of bed and left the room to go to the living room. Reaching it Ziva silently turned on the TV with no sound and blankly stared at it as she tried to pass the time until morning.
Ziva was still sitting there an hour later when "what are you doing out of bed, Ziva?" Akiva asked as she stared at the little girl from her position in the doorframe, turning to the voice Ziva said "couldn't sleep, you?" turning her attention back to the TV. Sighing Akiva picked her up from the couch saying "well you have to try tomorrow's gonna be a long day, okay?" heading back to her and Aliyah's room with the little girl in her arms who just sighed laying her head on Akiva's shoulder.
Laying Ziva down in their bed a few moments later Akiva said "Ziva try to sleep okay?" laying down next to the girl as she nodded staring at the ceiling, sighing Akiva closed her eyes and seemingly drifted off to sleep as Ziva continued staring at the ceiling, her eyes wide open. Shifting around in an attempt to get comfortable an hour later Ziva sighed before sitting up saying "this is not working" softly to herself before she made an attempt to climb off the bed which was quickly stopped when someone grabbed her leg saying "where are you going?"
"I can't sleep" Ziva said trying to get her leg free so that she could go but was stopped when Akiva picked her up saying "come on" as she pulled Ziva to her chest before leaning back against the head board saying "are you having nightmares Ziva?" gently stroking Ziva's back as Ziva laid her head on Akiva's chest, listening to her heart beat as she said "yes" shocking Akiva with her honesty, nodding Akiva said "is that why you can't sleep?" "yes" "does this happen a lot?" "yes" "when does it happen?" "every time" "every time?" "I close my eyes" "what is it about?" "I don't remember" "well I was proud of you today" "when?" "when you didn't let Ari's taunts get to you" "even after I swore?" "yeah well we're gonna have to work on that but yeah, I was sweetheart" Akiva said kissing Ziva's head, sighing Ziva snuggled into Akiva's chest saying "I'm sorry" "what for, little girl?" "for making your life difficult" "what, Ziva you don't have to apologies for that, I understand that your struggling but if something is bothering you, you should tell me okay?" "okay"