Laughing ZIva and Ivan ran around the backyard chasing Tali and Phillip, much to the toddlers happiness, calling "we're gonna get you guys" happily. Giggling Tali and Phillip ducked through Ziva and Ivan's legs which made Ziva and Ivan groaned dramatically before they started chasing them again for a while before Ziva grabbed Tali and playfully tossed her into the air saying "I got you Natalia!" happily while Tali happily giggled in her sisters arms while Ivan happily tossed Phillip onto his shoulders, making the little boy giggle happily. Smiling Ziva kissed her sister's head as she placed her on the ground saying "okay, it's time you took a nap Natalia" making Tali frown saying "I'm not ti…" "nope, come on Akiva will have my ass when she sees this" Ziva said crossing her arms over her chest while she looked down at her baby sister.
Groaning Tali made to argue when Phillip happily sat down next to her saying "tired" his eyes drooping slowly making Tali sigh as she plopped down next to Phillip before Ziva and Ivan picked them up and carried them quickly to Tali's room for their nap before they slumped down on the couch as Akiva walked into the house saying "hi guys" smiling at the two kids on the couch. Smiling slight Ziva waved saying "hi Akiva" while Ivan stood up and hugged her saying "hi momma" making Akiva smile and kiss his head saying "how was your day guys?" tussling Ivan's hair while she looked up at Ziva on the couch.
Waving lazily Ziva said "the usual, yours?" making Ivan smirk as he walked up to her while Akiva looked at her saying "good, Talia sleeping?" looking questioningly at the little girl. Glancing at Ivan Ziva said "yes" motioning to the hallway while Ivan wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Nodding Akiva placed her bag on the floor next to the door and joined them on the couch as Ivan switched on the TV.
They were still sitting on the couch an hour later when the smell of smoke caught their attention which made Akiva say "stay here" before she quickly left to go inspect the smoke while Ivan and Ziva looked at each other with frowns on their faces. Scowling when Akiva didn't return ten minutes later Ziva said "I'm gonna go check, stay here" quickly running to the door while Ivan called "Ziva, momma said… come on she's gonna kill us" but followed her out nonetheless as they quickly rushed out of the house. Looking up at the big black smoke cloud that came from the direction of her house which made Ziva quickly rush in its direction where she and Ivan were met by the site of massive pile of burning furniture and clothes and other stuff Ziva recognized as her mother's.
Akiva was still talking to a drunken Eli when Ziva could be heard calling "IMA!" which made her turn around to the voice where she saw Ziva running to the burning mass while Ivan just stood there stunned. Sighing Akiva quickly vanished to Ziva and was just able to stop her from touching the burning flames but had her hands full when Ziva started struggling and yelling "IMA!" as she tried to get to the flames. Sighing sadly Akiva gently grabbed Ziva's face and made her look her in the eyes softly saying "it's gone Ziva, she's gone" which made tears roll down her face as Akiva hugged her to her chest.
Staring at the flames with tears in eyes Ziva looked at her mother's burning treasures for a while before her breath caught in her throat when her eyes fell on a photo of her smiling mother which made her lose it as she instantly slipped into dragon mode, that pushed Akiva away from her with shock evident on her face. Growling with tears still running down her face Ziva walked up to the flames which made Akiva called "Ziva don't!" concern evident in her voice but Ziva ignored her and kneeled down and picked up the burning photo from the burning mass before she stood up and vanished from the scene while Akiva sighed sadly saying "Ziva…" sadly as she slowly stood up.
Turning to Ivan Akiva looked at him saying "come here little boy" beckoning the stunned boy over. Looking down Ivan slowly walked up to her saying "I'm so…" but trailed off when Akiva enveloped him in a hug saying "let's go home" silently leaving as Ivan clutched her shirt, crying into her shoulder, as she walked home wondering where Ziva went.
Akiva was sitting on the living room couch an hour later with a sleeping Ivan in her lap when a smiling Aliyah came into the house saying "Hi honey... what's wrong?" his smile replaced with a frown as he stared at his silent wife. Inhaling Akiva blinked slowly saying "Ali we have problem" blankly as she turned her gaze to her concerned husband, who nodded saying "okay, what's wrong?" concern evident in his voice as he sat down next to her on the couch. Sighing sadly Akiva said "Ziva's missing" "what, why?" Aliyah asked panic evident in his voice as he looked questioningly at his wife. Rubbing her forehead Akiva said "she walked in on Eli burning her mother's stuff" sadly. Sighing Aliyah cupped his face saying "and we just got her back, this is bad" "why doesn't she ever listen?" "what?" "I told her to stay in the house but she never listens" Akiva said leaning back into the couch as she stared at the ceiling.
Sighing Aliyah rubbed her forehead saying "I'll go look for her…" "No she'll come back when she's ready" "hopefully" Aliyah said sadly as he mimicked his wife's position on the couch before he sat up when a small yawning boy and girl came shuffling into the living room as Tali asked "Where's Zi?" while she groggily rubbed her left eye. Smiling sadly Aliyah said "Zevy went for a walk, she'll be back later Tali but why is Phillip here, baby girl?" picking the two toddlers up and setting them down in his lap. Yawning Tali laid her head on his chest saying "he… play… me" tiredly as she slowly drifted off to sleep while Phillip sat in Aliyah's lap wide awake with a smile on his face.
Raising an eyebrow Akiva looked at the smile boy asking "Phillip where is your brother?" looking questioningly at the little boy in Aliyah's lap. Smiling brightly Phillip said "Gin is at market with Bell so Zi said I could play with Tali" proudly as he started playing with Aliyah's thumbs while Akiva sighed saying "what did you two do today?" half knowing the answer. Smiling Phillip said "Zi and Ivy play with us in yard until you come" proudly with a bright smile as he looked at the older woman. Shaking her head Akiva tussled his hair while Aliyah chuckled sadly.
It wasn't until around midnight later that day when Ziva finally returned to Akiva's house with the photo still clutched in her hand. She was about to head to the hall when a lamp was turned on to reveal Akiva sitting in her reading chair looking straight at her which made her sigh saying "goodnight Aki…" "No sit down" Akiva said pointing to the living room couch. Sighing Ziva collapsed onto the couch while Akiva stood up and joined her on the couch asking "wanna talk about it?" making Ziva chuckle slightly saying "why?" as she stared at the ceiling. Sighing sadly Akiva said "how are you feeling?" turning to the little girl so that she could observe her reactions. Inhaling Ziva said "I feel fine…" "mmm, Ziva be honest with me" Akiva said sincerely. Sighing Ziva said "I don't know what to feel Akiva" "okay, are you angry?" "a little" "sad?" "a little, why did he do that?" Ziva asked looking questioningly at Akiva, who sighed saying "I don't know but people grieve in different ways Ziva, so that might be the way he grieves" looking straight at the girl next to her, who nodded slightly.
"what did you take Ziva?" Akiva asked looking questioningly at the girl, who looked at her hand that still clutched the photo. Sighing Ziva released the photo and unfurled it slowly saying "a photo" sadly, showing the slightly burned photo to Akiva, who smiled sadly saying "okay, do you want to frame it?" looking questioningly at Ziva. Shaking her head Ziva said "no, I'll just keep it" pushing it into her pants pocket while Akiva nodded saying "okay, have you eaten yet?" "no but…" "okay, come on" Akiva said picking Ziva, who groaned, and heading to the kitchen as Ziva said "I can walk you know" smirking at Akiva, who just raised an eyebrow saying "really?" making Ziva chuckle as she laid her head down on Akiva's shoulder making Akiva smile as she walked to the frig.
Sitting down on a kitchen chair with Ziva in her lap Akiva watched as Ziva stuffed her face with her food, stew, for a few minutes before she looked up at the living room when Aliyah and Ivan walked into the living room looking around for her which made her smile saying "Ali?" making the man look at her with a bright smile when he saw the little girl in her lap. Smiling Aliyah sat down next to them with Ivan in his lap saying "hi baby girl" happily while he kissed Akiva's cheek. Swallowing Ziva smiled slightly saying "Hi Aliyah" before returning to her food which made the others chuckle while Ivan smiled sadly at her. Glancing at Ivan and seeing the smile on his face made Ziva swallow pushing her half empty plate to him saying "here" smiling fondly at her friend, who smiled saying "full?" making Ziva smirk saying "yes Akiva is trying to fatten me up for her stew" making Ivan and Aliyah laugh while Akiva smiled shaking her head at Ziva's words.
Ziva was laying in her bed later that night crying when Ivan sneaked into her room saying "Zevy are you alright?" softly as he walked to her bed while Ziva quickly dried her eyes asking "Ivan what are you doing here?" softly with the tears evident in her voice. Smiling sadly Ivan softly said "move over" gently shoving her for emphasis which made her sigh and shift over before pulling back her covers so that he could climb in saying "bad dream?" as Ivan climbed in next to her. Smiling sadly Ivan said "no I'm cold" making Ziva chuckled slightly saying "really?" "yes" "where's your shirt?" Ziva said playfully poking Ivan's bare side. Poking Ziva back Ivan said "shut up" crossing his arms over his chest while Ziva chuckled. Smiling sadly Ivan pulled Ziva to him saying "snuggle up, it's cold" wrapping his arms around Ziva's shoulders as Ziva snuggled into his side saying "fine" the sadness evident in her voice.
Sighing sadly Ivan said "I have a photo of my mother" sadly making Ziva looking up at him questioningly saying "Really how does she look?" expectantly. Smiling sadly Ivan said "I'll show you my photo if you show me yours" looking challenging at Ziva, who smiled sadly saying "okay, tomorrow I'll show you, okay?" "okay goodnight Zevy" "goodnight Ivan, sleep well" Ziva said before they both slowly drifted off to sleep.