A/N: Hebrew translation:

tinoket - baby girl

ahuvati - beloved

ktanotnes - little miracle

Ani ohev atach - I love you

When Ziva woke up in Tony's bed for the second time that week, she was confused. She didn't remember falling asleep, nor how she got upstairs. Ziva frowned and slowly rolled to her other side to check the time. Before her eyes made it as far as the clock though, she caught a whiff of Tony's scent on the pillow and turned her nose into it, breathing deeply. It was enough to put a smile on her face.

Just then there was a gentle tap on the door and Tony walked in, carrying breakfast on a tray. "Mornin' beautiful," he grinned. "Sleep well?"

Ziva slowly pushed herself up and nodded, brushing messy hair out of her eyes. "I did." She looked confused. "I do not remember how I got here."

Tony set the tray down and sat on the bed beside her, looking at her carefully, as if trying to gauge how much she remembered. "You were pretty out of it."

"Did I walk up stairs?" she asked.

He looked a little embarrassed. "Uh, no. I...I carried you."

Ziva's eyebrows jumped up. "Tony, I-"

"Weigh less than most women who aren't pregnant," he stated firmly. "I'm not gonna say it was easy or that you're light as a feather, but I'd be surprised if you're more than one-twenty."

Ziva looked away and crossed her arms. "That information is private."

But she knew he was right. Mandy had expressed concern more than once about her lack of weight gain, but there was little she could do to change that fact. She'd been only just over one hundred pounds when they brought her back from Somalia and even now her pregnancy weight was almost half baby and fluid and placenta. Tony did not need to know that, Ziva reasoned, he would only worry more.

Then the numbers on the clock captured her attention and she looked back at him. "It is after ten!"

He leaned in to kiss her, morning breath and all. "Weekends are for sleeping in Zi." Tony nodded towards the tray. "Hungry for breakfast?"

There was orange juice, toast with strawberry jam and a bowl of sliced fruit. "It looks wonderful," Ziva commented, then narrowed her eyes. "We are not supposed to be playing house for three more weeks yet Tony," she reminded him.

His expression was supposed to be innocent. "Can't we practice a little?"

She considered his argument and had to smile. "I suppose. But only for today."

Tony kissed the back of her hand. "Okay."

They chatted for awhile, with Tony sharing her food here and there. It felt like a glimpse into the future, a preview of what things would look like when they were married. Ziva cherished every second because she knew today was special somehow, even if nothing spectacular happened. They were together, that was enough.

Finally Tony leaned back on one hand. "So, what do you want to do today?"

Ziva took a bite out of a bright red strawberry and shrugged. "I did not have plans. What are you thinking?"

"Well..." he looked a little sheepish, "I'm really not that great at grocery shopping by myself."

Ziva rolled her eyes and leaned back with a knowing smile. "Have you been living off take out again Tony?" Hardly possible when they spent almost every spare hour together outside of work and usually made meals side by side in the evenings at one of their places.

"No, no," he protested quickly. "But my cupboards are starting to look like Old Mother Hubbard's." Seeing her forehead wrinkle because she didn't get the reference, Tony shrugged. "They're kind of empty."

"Very well," Ziva agreed. "I will take a shower and then we can do an inventory of your kitchen." A look of surprise crossed her face. "I guess that will soon be my responsibility," she said quietly.

Tony tipped her chin up. "No babe, not yours, always ours. None of our life together should be obligation. We'll be partners in this just as we are at work."

Ziva grinned wickedly. "So you will quote movies when things get tense and I will take the vacuum cleaner out when it will not work?"

His face mirrored hers. "I'm sure you've got some crazy, household appliance take down tactics you can use."

"Hmm..." she drew the sound out, "we shall see." Then she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "It was very sweet of you to bring me breakfast, thank you."

Love flowed from Tony's gaze. "What can I say Zi? You deserve to be spoiled once in awhile. Well, actually more than that," he decided, "but I wouldn't want you to get used to it. Spoiling should be a surprise."

He moved the tray out of the way and put his hand on Ziva's bump. "Want to go shopping with Mommy and Daddy Chipmunk? It's gonna be lots of fun. I'll buy you all that sweet stuff Mommy has been craving lately." He chuckled. "I think you're taking after me."

The words left his lips and Tony froze, realizing when he'd just said. Ziva, still trying to get used to hearing him talk about them as 'mommy and daddy' to the baby, was just as shocked. But recovering quicker, she continued on as if his last comment hadn't been heard.

"She will have to come whether she wants to or not," Ziva pointed out. "She is kind of attached for now."

Tony, slower to get his tongue working again, coughed. "Uh, yeah, right." But he wasn't okay and Ziva could tell. They were so bad at hiding from each other these days.

"Look at me Tony," she requested softly, firmly, waiting. Finally his eyes came up to meet hers. "You have accepted this baby as your own child. You have named yourself Daddy. You have been here for it all and you have loved her. She will grow up adoring you, following you, copying everything you do. I think she will look like me, but she may end up being just like you ahava. It is alright to think and say that, even if it is not your DNA that helped to form her. Please do not look so sad."

It was another moment when Ziva wasn't sure if love alone would be enough for Tony, or if he would always look at her baby and see something missing - him. Tony sighed and closed his eyes, then leaned down to kiss the top of her belly.

"Your mommy's pretty wise sometimes baby girl." He looked up at her. "How do you always know what is right to say?"

Ziva shook her head slowly. "I never know what is right Tony. I never know how to make this okay for you, how to make this normal, like we are really a family." She touched his cheek. "But my heart is what I listen to and in my love for the two of you I find what we both need to hear. I love you," she whispered, "I want that to be enough."

Tony closed the space between them and kissed her with more feeling than he'd allowed himself before. "It will always be enough Ziva," he spoke the quiet vow against her lips. "We're going to make this be okay, somehow, I promise."

She let her lips find his again briefly, and it was only the second time she'd led the kiss. Tony let himself enjoy the change even as Ziva put both hands on his face and pulled away. "I believe you," she said softly, "you keep them now. We will do this together." Then she smirked and pushed at his chest. "Now go away, I want to shower."

Tony moved back. "Yes ma'am." Escorting her to the bathroom and handing her the go-bag that had mysteriously found its way into his trunk, he left her with one final gift. A brush of his hand down her hair, one of his signature half-grins, and three of her favourite words. "I love you Zi," he whispered, and was gone.

Refusing to allow herself thought of a day fast approaching when Tony might not feel the need to take his leave just because she was going to get into the shower, Ziva undressed and gratefully placed her body under the hot spray. Thinking to take her time, she was annoyed when fatigue crashed over her before she'd even finished applying the body wash. Ever the stubborn one however, Ziva pushed through - washing and conditioning her long hair, and just enjoying the peace of the steam filled shower.

But soon she could not ignore the feeling any longer and reluctantly turned to shut off the shower. The movement was too quick and her legs buckled, sending Ziva crashing down on one knee. Bracing herself with one hand, she stayed where she was, needing a moment to slow her racing heart. The near fall scared her because it could have easily been worse. Her free hand found her wet, taut belly and Ziva was relieved when the baby kicked and she knew he or she was okay.

A knock on the door got her attention and Ziva flipped the water off to better hear if Tony spoke. "Zi?" he called from the other side. "Ziva? Hey, I won't come in but uh...I thought I heard something fall. Are you okay?" Maybe she'd just dropped a bottle and he was over-reacting, but his gut said otherwise.

She sighed. "I am fine Tony. I will not be long."

Having said that, Ziva still did not rush through getting dried, dressed and doing her hair. She came out of the bathroom in casual jeans and a white t-shirt that stretched over her bump, with a loose gray sweater hanging open over top, still plaiting her hair into a braid that hung over one shoulder. An anxious looking Tony met her before she'd gone three steps.

"Are you really okay?" he asked, touching her face gently because it made him feel better.

"I fell," she whispered, not looking at him. "In the shower, I fell because I got so tired." Tears shimmered in her eyes when brown met green. "Tony, I do not think this is normal."

Ziva looked like she was going to cry, immediately putting Tony's protective instincts on full display, and he drew his arms around her body, holding her against him. A few wet drops fell on his shirt and Ziva hated the hormones that made her such a mess.

Tony crooned nonsense into her hair until he could feel her calming down, then he pulled back and tipped her chin up. "Fell how Zi?" He needed to know.

She wiped her face and gestured to her leg. "On my knee. It was lucky that I did not land in such a way as to injure the baby."

He nodded slowly, his throat thick. "Yeah," he managed, "I'm glad you're both okay." Tony considered the options and decided they had no choice. "We have to make sure that doesn't happen against Ziva." She opened her mouth to protest, but his mind was made up.

"What if you'd been at the apartment? What if I wasn't around? What if you had gotten hurt?" He shook his head. "Three weeks it too long for me to worry about what might happen." Tony raised an eyebrow. "Getting something that will help keep both of you safe is not weakness Ziva, it's smart."

Her heart agreed before her head and Ziva gave in. She drew her fingers lightly across her belly. "I do not know how much longer I can do this," she admitted.

"Seven weeks Ziva," he said quickly. "Only seven, and I'll be here whenever you need me."

Too weary to argue and drained already at the prospect of a shopping trip, Ziva changed the subject. "Let us go see how bare your cupboards are."

Tony let her drop the issue and once downstairs, he lifted her up to sit on the counter while he opened all the cupboard doors so she could see and wrote down everything she named. He tried to insist on a forty-five minute nap before they left, but Ziva shook off his concern, knowing the tiredness came in waves and she would soon feel more like herself, for a little while at least.

They left hand in hand and spent half an hour in the grocery store to re-stock Tony's food supply. Then a stop at Target for a bath stool Ziva could use in the shower. Of course, while they were there he had to add a variety of snacks to his junk food stock. "For movie nights," he explained when her expression disapproved.

When they got back to his house, Tony suddenly remembered that laundry needed to be done. He ran upstairs to collect his dirty clothes, together they sorted them into piles based on colour on the livingroom floor, and he put them in the washing machine. Finally he popped in a movie and settled into the overstuffed chair to the right so Ziva could have the whole couch.

Against her wishes, the spent woman fell deeply asleep and woke hours later when the afternoon was nearly over. Tony had just finished mopping the entry/kitchen/diningroom floor and came over when he noticed her stirring. "Hey," he said, sitting down beside her and sliding warm fingers into the thick hair that had come loose from her braid, "how're you feeling?"

Ziva shrugged. "I am hungry."

Tony grinned. "Yeah, we kind of skipped lunch. Anything in particular you want for an early dinner?"

She thought seriously about his question and finally came up with something. "Chicken alfredo? I will make a salad."

"Unless you just want to play princess," he suggested with a grin, "and I'll be your faithful servant and wait on you hand and foot?" Ziva's look clearly expressed what she thought of that plan and he chuckled. "Yeah, I didn't think so." Tony held out his hands to help her up. "Okay, up and at 'em then." He gallantly led her into the culinary center of the house. "My kitchen is yours."

Working side by side in the quiet room, filled only by the sounds of food preparation, was possibly Tony's favourite part of the day. When they did things together he was never more sure that they belonged like this - partners always, in every sense of the word.

The dryer beeped and Tony hurried over to get the clothes out before they wrinkled. Ziva stepped into his place - watching the sauce and stirring pasta until he returned - without even being asked. They were that good. Her creation was an apple salad tonight, dripped with raspberry vinaigrette, and as soon as it was done she made her way to the couch to start folding clothes while he put the finishing touches on their main course.

Tony watched her deftly match socks, hang shirts and crease pants and grinned, loving everything about this night. "Look at us being all domestic," he teased. 'I knew we were going to be good at this married stuff." Ziva rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide the smile playing on her lips.

The meal was shared with loving glances and lingering touches, and Tony stared at Ziva in amusement as she had helping after helping of salad, devouring it like candy. They did dishes, switching between washing and drying, and when Ziva insisted on scrubbing the upstairs bathroom so she felt like she had done something useful today, he wisely didn't question her declaration. Tony simply toted the vacuum cleaner up with them and took care of a month worth of collected dust in the others rooms while she worked.

Finally Ziva emerged from the now sparkling bathroom attached to his room, and he could see her energy was depleted again. "Why don't you take a bath?" he suggested. "Now that the tub's nice and clean, you may as well enjoy it."

She didn't seem sure, biting her lip as she looked around the room. But the pull of a nice relaxing soak won her over and she nodded. "Very well. I will not be too long."

Tony shrugged. "Take your time, I've got Magnum to keep me company." A new season had just been released with extra special features and he was pretty excited. It would keep him busy and occupied for awhile.

Ziva smiled faintly and gathered what she needed for her bath. Tony wasn't offended when she locked herself in the room, settling back to enjoy his show. That she was here was simply enough for now. Complete trust would come when they said their vows and shared this space for real. He was pretty sure he smiled through the entire first half hour. It was something he just couldn't help. At this point, he didn't even want to.

NCIS

Ziva sat submerged in a tub full of warm water, bubbles covering the surface and her head leaned back against a rolled up towel she'd nestled in the corner. She closed her eyes and let herself relax. Her baby moved and Ziva smiled, opening her eyes to run both hands over her belly.

"Daddy is right tinoket, seven weeks does not seem so long until we get to meet you."

She caressed the little bumps she could feel at the bottom of her belly. The baby had taken a liking recently to laying with his or her back facing out. Ziva personally thought it was because she and Tony enjoyed getting to touch their child and because the baby liked all the free backrubs.

"You are my little miracle, ahuvati, my ktanotnes."

Scenes from Somalia threatened at the edge of her memory, but she refused to let them ruin this moment and how she felt about her baby.

"We are survivors, nitsolim," Ziva whispered, cradling her belly protectively. "I am so glad that I am not alone, that I was not alone even in that camp when I thought I was, that I brought you home with me. Without you," she shuddered at how different things might have been for her and Tony if not for her pregnancy, "we would not have all this. And I need your daddy's love more than air."

She closed her eyes and remembered when she first came back. "Sometimes I think it kept me alive, even before I knew he cared that way." Ziva took a deep breath, admitting it out loud for the first time. "Ani ohev atach," she whispered, feeling a tiny foot pressed against her skin. This part she would definitely miss when her child was finally born.

The water was growing cool and Ziva grudgingly got out and dressed in her pjs that were Tony's clothes before she realized the mistake. She shrugged, deciding to wash and bring them back rather than change again. Leaving the bathroom, Ziva was surprised to see Tony sitting in the middle of the bed, staring at the TV that sad on the dresser. She'd expected him to watch his show downstairs.

He looked over and smiled, trying not to appear too pleased that she was wearing his clothes again. Pressing his luck a little further, Tony held out his hand. "Zi? It's not too late yet, want to watch an episode or two with me?"

Finding it very hard to say no to his pleading green eyes, Ziva crossed the room and snuggled against his side, curling into his warmth. Tony tucked his arm around her and completely missed the opening sequence because he was far too busy memorizing the scene they were a part of. This was what happiness was, Ziva in his arms.

Halfway through the second episode, both Tony and Ziva had fallen asleep on each other, wrapped in peace like a warm blanket. It wasn't planned and it wasn't the best way to spend a restful night, but it was them and it was perfect. Sleeping together this way was exactly how to keep bad dreams away.