"Please go to work," Ziva whispered on the Tuesday, when she woke to find Tony bringing a cup of tea into the bedroom.

"I'm sick," he said, offering her a fake cough. He was surprised how easily it had been to call in sick. No residual guilt.

Sick for the second day in a row. Gibbs' gut must be in overdrive, wondering why his loyal St Bernard was skipping school. Not that his head had been in the game, for a while now.

Ziva studied the time on her phone, as she flicked through the pointless notifications. She had slept later than she wanted too, again. She was just so tired.

"I do not like you hovering," Ziva said, as she slowly took a sip of the tea.

"I wanna be there, when you find out," Tony replied. "I told you, we'd face this together."

"That I have anemia," Ziva bit back. "We do not need to find that out together."

A part of her regretted telling him, having watched his excitement build over the weekend. She had tried to be the voice of reason, repeating all the reasons why it was just anemia, and she was a little run down. She could not bear to see his hopes soar, and then watch them fall back to earth, when reality set in.

Still, when she had found herself feeling nauseous while Tony cooked dinner on Sunday, she had started to wonder. She had been on the lookout for other symptoms too. Could it really be so easy for them? Surely, she did not deserve it to be so easy. She had done so many horrible things.

"Yeah," Tony replied, hoping it was the other thing. The thing they were not talking about directly. "I'll head straight to the pharmacy and get the iron supplements."

"I will call you," Ziva said. "The minute I hear back."

"I've already called in," he said. He was so sure, that there was more than anemia going on. "We can spend the day together. Maybe get started on that wedding planning."

Tony had taken the Monday off as well, and spent far too many hours on Pintrest, while Ziva tried to study. Both of them had been distracted, and both of them had been afraid to talk about it. Not wanting to jinx it.

She stopped, sipping the tea, and found herself holding onto the bed. Dizziness. That was new. The anemia must really bad this time.

"Of course, we might have to change some things," he said, studying her face. The coloured had rushed out. "You okay?"

"Dizzy," she muttered, closing her eyes. "It will pass."

He stroked her hand. She took a couple of deep breaths. The spell dissipated as quickly as it had come on.

Her phone buzzed, then let out a shrill ringtone.

"Ziva, speaking," she said slowly, noting the number was from her doctors office.

Tony could only watch from the otherside of the bed, as Ziva spoke slowly and carefully.

"Yes," she said. "What does that mean?" "Oh, okay." "Of course, thank you."

Her eyes got fuller. Glassy. A smile dawned on her face. A huge full smile.

"That was the doctor," Ziva whispered, a tear slipping down her face. "I do have anemia, but that is common at this stage of the pregnancy."

He let out a breath. He'd wished so hard that it had come true. Everything stopped for a moment. A smile crossed his face, reaching up to his ears.

"You're pregnant," he whispered. Not sure if this was really happening. His own eyes getting glassy. "We're going to have a baby."

It was really happening.

"Yes," she said nodding. His arms wrapped around her. Not to tight.

"Are you okay?" he asked, as they pulled apart.

"Yes," she said softly. Still digesting the news. "Maybe. It is such a surprise. I did not think it was really a possibility."

She was so certain falling pregnant, would be an impossible feat. She feared that Tony would grow to resent her, when she could not give him a family.

"Might have to rejig the five year plan a bit," he said, taking her hand. Maybe they would not renew the lease. They might not buy a house, but they should probably rent somewhere larger.

"I did not think it would be this easy," she admitted. "I was told it would be very hard."

The delay in treating the infection may impact future fertility, her doctor had started, but she had not really listened. Children were a maybe. She was still focusing on each day. Still trying to banish the night terrors, and gain the weight she'd lost. She had always believed she did not deserve children, maybe getting such an infection had only confirmed that universe did not think she deserved children either.

"Well, I've always been the wildcard," he replied. Always beaten the odds.

"The doctor said my HCG levels are on the lower end of where they should be," she whispered, scared to admit the possibility that this might go wrong. "They are going to monitor that."

"Okay," he whispered. "It'll be okay though, right?"

He was begging the universe not to take this away from them.

"Will it?" she asked, as she took another sip of tea. She was so uncertain. "The baby will be born during Spring Semester, I will need to defer a semester, or maybe two."

How would she manage an infant, and her course load? Where would they put the child in the apartment? Questions buzzed in her head.

"We'll manage," he said confidently. He'd make sure they managed. Even if he never slept again.

"How?" she replied. "It is not like I could bring the baby to NCIS, so I can go to class."

"I'll have the desk job by then," he said. He was waiting to hear if he had the second interview for FLETC. "You won't be doing any of this by yourself."

"What about school?" she asked. "I want to finish my degree."

He knew part of the concern was because her mother never started her masters, because she knew Eli David would never be Mr Mom. Rivka David had been trapped in domestic drudgery, watching her brilliance go to waste. Ziva refused to let that be her.

"You will," he said. "I'm not gonna be one of those Dad's who leaves you to it. It'll be Daddy Daycare everyday with me."

"You have this all worked out don't you?" she asked.

"I've been thinking about this a lot, even before you told me you were late," he said, with a slight smile. He'd been imagining Tony and Ziva plus one for a little while now. Those images keeping him sane through long stakeouts, and late nights. "Yeah, things might not be to plan, but we're gonna be fine. Not better than fine. Things are going to be amazing."

Tiny hands. Tiny baby socks. Innocent laughter. It was going to be all theirs.

"You really think so," she asked. Feeling her eyes prick again. Tony had already gotten on the train, and she was standing at the station, not sure what to make of it all. She was so afraid to permit herself happiness. What if all got taken away?

"I know so," he replied.

"You are not scared?" she asked. He once so afraid of children.

"I'm freaking out a little," he admitted. "But I know we'll be fine. We've got a little while to prepare. I'm really excited too."

"Really?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm excited to see what wacky combination our genetics make. I'm excited to see this little person grow. I'm excited that we'll be able to give Baby Autopsy Gremlin a playmate. Our kid will be way cuter of course."

He was also glad, that someone as dependable as Jimmy would be a few months ahead of him the Daddy journey. He needed a buddy in this.

"Thank you," Ziva whispered.

"For what?" he asked.

"Being so calm," she replied.

"Not usually something I'm known for," he admitted. "And I'm sure I'll have my freakout down the line."

Things were all still very theoretical. Ziva showed so few signs of pregnancy. He suspected his freak out, would come as the due date got closer, and it became a hell of a lot more real.

"Maybe you should go to work," she said, wanting some quiet time to come to terms with it all. "You know now. Gibbs will not be impressed by all this time off."

Gibbs would get it, he hoped, once it all came to light. Family first, the older man had told him once. Two cups.

"I'd be in too much danger of spilling the beans," he admitted, already picturing Abby's excited reaction when this all came out. The goth would probably scream loud enough to set off alarms at NCIS. "Besides, I need to make sure you eat something."

"I'm not hungry," she said. Was this normal, she wondered. There was so much she did not know.

"I'll make you something small," he replied, offering her a concession.

"Let's not tell anyone for a while," Ziva said. "It is still very early days."

So much could still go wrong. Her risk of miscarriage was higher than most, even without her out of whack hormones.

"We'll have to tell them eventually," he said, still buzzing with excitement. "Even McOblivious will notice a baby bump. And even if we managed to hide the whole pregnancy, we won't be able to hide a baby for very long. I've been told they're not the quietest of creatures."

"I mean until it's safe," Ziva said. "The doctor did say my HCG levels were a little low, and with my history."

"That'll fix itself right?" he asked. He hoped so. Would the universe, be as cruel as to take this away from them? "It'll be okay."

"The doctor said they will monitor it," Ziva replied, trying to keep her tone neutral. "I did not prepare for this pregnancy. You are supposed to take all the vitamins before you start trying. I have had alcohol. I have had soft cheese."

He was fairly certain his Mother had smoked and drunk through her pregnancy, and most people did not plan for pregnancy. People had been having babies for milenia without prenatal vitamins. The two of them had survived a hell of a lot, surely their child would be made of hardy stuff.

"It'll be okay," he assured both her and himself. Desperately trying to banish any doubt. This was a happy moment. The universe was not going to inflict suffering on them. Surely not. "What do you want me to make you?"

"Toast, maybe," she offered, still not really hungry, but knowing he wouldn't let up until he fed her. "I should get up."

"No," he said. "I'll bring it to you."

"I can make my own breakfast," she declared, even though it was closer to lunchtime. "I am not delicate."

"No," he said, his voice strained. "Let me doing this for you. Please Ziva, let me take care of you, especially for the next eight months."

He was practically begging to be let in, to be able to help. It made her chest ache.

"Okay," she said letting out a breath. "But do not coddle me."

"I promise," he said. "Do you want some more tea?"

"No," she said. "Water please."

"I read somewhere that peppermint and ginger are good for nausea, I'll buy you some tea today," he said.

She wondered when he had read that, she had only told him about the possibility of pregnancy on Friday night.

"I have not felt that sick," she said. "Not yet."

A memory flashed for a moment. Her and her mother driving to Haifa. Ziva's feet kicking in the car seat she was trapped in. Her mother dramatically pulling over, and throwing up on the side of the road. Then her mother got chubbier over the summer, but still spent a lot of time holding buckets to her mouth. Her father started talking about Ziva having a little brother. That winter between her birthday and Hanukkah a little sister was born, and her mother stopped gagging while cooking dinner.

Would she suffer from constant nausea like her mother did?

"Still, it's good to be prepared right?" he replied.

She nodded. Knowing then, that Tony was going to be insufferable for the next eight months. Breena had told them how ridiculous Jimmy had been, and Ziva knew that once Tony was able to tell people, he and Jimmy would be bouncing off of each others nervous Dad energy.

"Do you want to get married before or after the baby?" she asked, as he made his way out of bed. There were so many decisions that would be made in the next eight months. Big and small.

"Let's not stress ourselves out," he said walking toward the door. "It's all just trimmings. We don't have to make all the decisions at once."

"No," Ziva said, stretching out into the empty space of the newly vacated bed. She had slept for hours, yet she was still so tired. Was this what the next nine months held? Constant exhaustion, before she even had the baby.

The baby. A baby inside of her. An everyday miracle, one she was so sure would never be granted to her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Tired," she admitted. "Very tired."

"Maybe, you'll finally get into naps," he said, as he leant on the bedroom door. "What about emotionally?"

She blinked at his question. Honesty was something they had pledged, as they entered the unchartered waters of a relationship. Still old habits die hard, and she was afraid. Afraid of her feelings. A tiny bit afraid of his reaction. He was so happy. She felt like the riptide, bringing him down as he tried to bob along, the choppy sea that was their life.

"I feel overwhelmed," she said, just as he crossed the threshold. "So much is about to change. What if we are not ready?"

It was not like either of them knew how to do this.

"I don't think anyone is ready for all of this," he offered, stepping back into the room. "Don't worry, by the time Junior makes his or her grand entrance, we'll have all our ducks in a row."

She stopped for a moment, wondering if the thing swimming in her was to be a boy or a girl. Not that it mattered. It only made it seem more real. Would it have her nose or his? Her dark curls, or his fine sandy hair? Would the baby have her gift for languages, or his love of movies? Maybe it would have both.

"It does not feel real yet," she admitted. "I did not think this would happen, not like this."

"You're gonna be an amazing Mom," he said.

Mom. How strange that sounded. Would her American child call her that? Mommy. Mommy. Mom.

"You are going to be a fantastic father," she replied. She was absolutely certain of every word she was saying. Even so early in the proceedings he was doing so well.

"I'm not gonna make my Dads mistakes," he said. His voice heavy. "I don't know what I'm gonna be like as a Dad, but I won't be like him."

He wouldn't make her Dad's mistakes either, but he did not need tell her that.

"I know," she replied. He finally walked toward the kitchen. She was surprised as a feeling of calm washed over her, it was all going to be okay.

No, it was going to be better than okay. They were going to have a baby. Things were going to be joyful.

A/N: I don't own a thing.

Like I'd leave you hanging.

I will admit in the plan for this fic, Ziva was just supposed to just have anemia. So that does mean this fic will have a few more chapters. I'm sure you won't complain.

Did I play it a tad fast and loose with medicine/pregnancy? Yes. I did do a quick google, but I know its not entirely accurate.

Are we up for more bumps in the road? Yes. It wouldn't be these two without that.

Also, in reply to some of the guest reviews. In this universe I killed Aunt Nettie. Thanks to everyone for all the lovely reviews. It really means a lot.

Next chapter in two weeks.