Author's note: This chapter is a little more on the fluffy side. And I pray that I can keep them in character for the most part. Again, I own nothing but Chelsea. If I owned more, Tony and Ziva woulda been hitched with their sixth or seventh child on the way. Sorry if I am lat updating, my lap top power cord has decided to die and it will be Wednesday before the new one gets here.

It was about 9:30 when Jenny brought Chelsea down to Abby's lab. McGee didn't even notice until he felt a pair of arms wrap around his knees.

"Hi Chelsea."

"Hi daddy." she said as he picked her up.

McGee stared at her. His feelings were crazy. This beautiful child called him 'daddy' and he liked it. A lot.

"Why don't you take her home McGee." Jenny said, stroking Chelsea's back as she snuggled into McGee's arms.

"I only have one bedroom and not much room." McGee said sadly.

"Stay with me."

McGee was certain it was Abby's jaw that hit the floor.

Nope. It was his.

But who could blame him. Ziva David just asked him to stay at her home.

"I have three bedrooms." she explained, putting her long curls in ponytail, "I bought the house as-is and there is a little bed for a child."

Jenny and Abby had been watching this exchange intensely. It was better than cable.

"Alright."

Jenny and Abby let a breath of air out.

"You both get Chelsea settled. We will deal with everything in the morning." Jenny said, "I'll deal with Jethro."

McGee and Ziva merely nodded in her direction. Ziva led him out of the lab talking about her apartment.

"It may take a few hours for that to sink in." Abby said after the elevator closed.

Jenny just chuckled, then froze.

"A few hours for what to sink in, Jen?"

McGee had to admit, he expected Ziva's apartment to be different than it was. It was homey, comfortable. He knew in the back of his mind he thought her home would be more of a torture chamber, with guns and clubs hanging on the wall.

"I do not bludgeon house guests, McGee."

McGee knew his ears were turning red. He should have remembered that she would be good at reading him.

"Where do I put Chelsea to bed?" he asked, changing the subject.

Ziva looked at the little girl asleep in McGee's arms. It looked, sort of, natural.

"Zee?"

"Oh! Of course!" Ziva said, leading him to a child's room that had been left furnished.

After settling Chelsea, McGee ventured into Ziva's kitchen where she was cooking something on the stove. He was startled at the sight of her so domesticated.

"Isn't a little late to be cooking?" He asked, sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"This is what I do if I am not tired." she said, continuing to stir whatever she was making.

McGee knew she was a good cook. He had been to dinner with the team at her house before, but had yet to see her cook.

Until now.

"I can tell you are thinking hard." Ziva said, pouring the contents of her pan into a strainer, "I can see steam coming out of your ears."

McGee chuckled, some of the tension he was feeling fading away.

"Smoke," he said still smiling, "smoke is coming out of my ears."

"Oh, whatever." Ziva said, setting the drained noodles back on stove, "What were you thinking about?"

"Chelsea." he lied, well sort of, because she was on his mind as well.

"You like her." It wasn't a question.

Taking a plate of pasta, he ventured into the dining room, followed by Ziva. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes. Suddenly, McGee let out a soft growl of frustration.

"Am I crazy?" McGee asked, his eyes desperately seeking answers.

"Huh?" Ziva was actually startled.

"Am I crazy to want to be a father!?" he said, standing and starting to pace, "Is it crazy that I want to be Chelsea's father!?

Ziva stared at him, a little stunned by McGee's out-of-character explosion. McGee took her hesitance as a negative answer.

"Oh god." he said, pacing faster, "I am stupid. What was-"

"McGee!" Ziva exclaimed, cutting him off, "You would be a wonderful father and it is not crazy! I want to be a parent too!"

Now it was McGee's turn to be stunned. He knew by the look on her face, she hadn't meant to reveal that last sentence.

"Some pair we are." he said.

Ziva nodded in agreement, actually exhausted from revealing such a thing. They ate the rest of their dinner in a mutual silence. They didn't even wish each other good night. They were buried in their thoughts.

McGee felt something shaking him awake.

"Daddy?" came a soft voice.

McGee opened his eyes a crack to see the clock. 2:23 am. He closed his eyes again.

"Daddy?"

Who the hell is calling me 'daddy' at 2:23 frickin am?

"Daddy!" the voice cried out louder.

Then it all rushed back to him.

"Chelsea?" McGee grumbled, sitting up.

The little blond climbed up on his bed and snuggled to him.

"What's the matter Chels?" he asked her, stifling a yawn.

"Bad dream." she said, burying her face in his shoulder.

At first McGee was sort of stuck as what to do. Then he remembered how his mom made his bad dreams go away.

Rubbing her back, she fell asleep in no time. Not having the energy to put her back to bed, he fell asleep holding her.

Ziva's alarm clock went off at 4:30 as it did everyday. Ziva felt 'off' the whole day if she didn't go for her 5 o'clock run. She threw on her running outfit and shoes and headed to the kitchen. She froze when she heard snoring.

She almost had reached for her gun when she recalled who was there. She couldn't help herself, so she peeked into McGee's room.

The sight she saw was so heartwarming, she actually felt the threat of tears. Chelsea was snuggled in McGee's arms, and it wasn't lost on Ziva how strong McGee was holding her, as though he would never let her go.

As Ziva started jogging she realized something.

He may not let her go.

And Ziva was pretty sure she could never lose that little girl either.

PHOOMPH!