A/N: I have good news. I have now written far enough ahead to start posting 2x a week again. So starting today, we will go back to the original schedule of Tues/Fri new chapters. Thanks so much for all the reviews and support. There is so much more coming for this family and I can't wait for you to see all of it! :) ~Aliyah

Ziva woke up an hour after laying down to discover her husband missing from beside her. Peeking in on Chaya who was still sleeping peacefully, she went looking for Tony. She found him in the kitchen stirring something in a frying pan. "Hey," he smiled as she ran her fingers through her messy hair. He loved when her curls looked wild and untamed, like in the early days.

"Hi." Ziva moved closer to investigate what he was making. "Breakfast?"

Tony checked the clock. "More like lunch by now. You must be starving." They'd been so focused on Chaya and sleeping the last couple days that food had been forgotten, but he knew both of them, Ziva especially, needed to eat.

She looked surprised, as if she'd only just realized they'd missed a couple meals. "I am."

He glanced at her chest then quickly away. "Uh...how are you feeling?"

Ziva grimaced. "I am dreading her next feeding."

Tony nodded at the fridge. "I've already got diapers chilling."

Ziva walked up behind him and slid her arms around his waist, holding him lightly because her body was quite sore at the moment. "You are the best."

He flashed a grin. "I aim to please." Flipping the omelette onto a plate, he added a sprinkle of cheese and a slice of toast, handing it to her with a kiss on the cheek. "Your breakfast, m'lady."

Ziva sat on one of the stools at the island. "Are you having one?"

Tony joined her, pushing a bowl of fruit towards her, and set down his own plate. "I put peppers in mine but left yours plain, just in case."

Her brow furrowed. "In case what?"

He chuckled. "In case our three day old baby doesn't want milk tasting like peppers."

She smiled. "Have you thought of everything?"

Sitting beside his wife was too tempting and Tony didn't even try to resist kissing her. "I hope so," he whispered.

They enjoyed their meal and time together and were startled out of their silent communication of looks and touches when the phone rang at one pm. Tony grabbed it. "DiNozzo residence."

"Good afternoon Tony," came Grace's familiar voice.

He grinned. "Hi Nonna, are you coming to visit?" He listened and looked at Ziva. "Yes I cleared it with my wife, she's looking forward to seeing you." She spoke again and he nodded. "Fifteen minutes? Okay." Glancing around, Tony winced. "Uh, don't expect much - we're in pjs and the house in a little...lived in at the moment." Grace's answer made him laugh. "See you soon."

Ziva waited until he returned the phone to it's stand. "It is a good thing I showered this morning."

Tony lifted his shirt and sniffed it. "I'm beginning to wish I had too." He frowned. "When was the last time I took a shower?" His hand scraped over the stubble on his chin. "Or shaved?"

Ziva searched her memory and shrugged helplessly. She couldn't remember if he'd been clean shaven at any point yesterday or not since Friday. "Yesterday, maybe, for the shower. The days and nights are kind of blending together."

Tony bit his lip. "I think I'll go grab a quick one before Grace comes. That way at least we know I'm sanitary."

She put their dishes in the sink. "I will work on my blanket until she gets here, there is not much left."

"Alright." He kissed her again and Ziva smiled. Nearly a month and she still wasn't used to this, to loving him, but she was glad for a lifetime stretched before her to cherish these moments.

When the doorbell rang at quarter past one, Ziva set aside her crocheting and Tony appeared on the stairs cradling a sleeping infants in his arms. Ziva opened the door and smiled. "Grace, welcome."

The older woman stepped inside and hugged Ziva carefully. "How are you?"

She glanced back at her husband and daughter. "Tired and sore but very happy."

Tony was next and Grace leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I won't stay long but I just had to come and meet this little angel." Her arms formed the shape to hold the baby that Tony handed her as carefully as a great treasure. Chaya barely stirred and curled up tighter.

"Oh, what a sweet thing you are!" Grace whispered, sitting down in the nearest chair while Tony moved to Ziva's side. They watched with proud, tired smiles as their friend blinked back tears of joy at their baby. "You are a miracle little one," she informed Chaya. "Mommy and Daddy have been waiting a long time to meet you."

Grace ran one fingers along Chaya's arm and leg, caressing her sleeper covered foot. Finally she looked up at Tony and Ziva. "She's so precious."

"She is," Tony agreed, his arm around Ziva. "It's hard to remember what life was like without her."

Ziva leaned on Tony's chest as Grace held Chaya and just savoured the moment. It was a great thing to watch another find the same delight in her child that she and Tony did. Several minutes later the clock struck one-thirty and right on cue Chaya started to wake. Having forgotten about that part in the excitement of having a guest, Ziva's eyes widened and she looked at Tony.

He read the concern in her expression - she hadn't nursed in front of anyone besides him. "I'll get a blanket."

Tony hurried upstairs to grab the required items, and Ziva watched as Chaya turned her face towards Grace. The older woman shook her head. "I'll give you back to Mommy love, I'm afraid I don't have what you want." Once the baby was settled in Ziva's arms and making her hunger more apparent, Grace touched Ziva's shoulder. "I'm just going to use the bathroom. Take your time."

Tony returned with a receiving blanket and the nursing pillow and Ziva adjusted her pyjama top. It was excruciating when Chaya latched on and Tony hated seeing the pain in her eyes and be unable to do anything about it. That she was hurting was not evident in her voice as she spoke softly to her daughter. He was relieved to witness her relax a few minutes into it and knew the discomfort had eased somewhat.

He draped the blanket over Ziva's shoulder and chest, covering both breast and baby, and Grace looked around the corner to make sure it was safe before she returned. She shook her head at the way in which Tony observed his wife. She almost didn't want to interrupt.

"You look like a boy with his first crush," Grace commented and Tony looked at her.

"That obvious, huh?"

She laughed. "You couldn't hide it if you tried."

He shrugged. "Wouldn't want to anyways."

"No, I didn't think so." Grace watched them for a moment. "So, how is parenthood?"

Ziva sighed and tried to smile. "Can you ask again when I remember what it feels like to sleep?"

Grace chuckled. "Yes, I can imagine that would make it more difficult."

"I did not know how much I would love her though," Ziva continued softly. "None of the inconvenience means anything now that she is here." Tony kissed her temple and glanced between them.

"No two people deserve this more." She turned her watch around. "Thank you for letting me come, but I think I'll leave you to your routine. Call me when you're feeling up to company."

"Tony is back to work after next week," Ziva pointed out. "Come then."

"I will. Goodbye and good luck."

Tony saw her to the door and returned to sit with his wife. "Was that kind of awkward? I wasn't thinking about the timing."

Ziva shrugged. "It was not so bad because she wasn't watching when Chaya started and I did not mind since she could not see. I do not know how I will feel in front of others or outside the house."

"At least we'll never run out. No trying to get milk at the store for a two am feeding," Tony pointed out.

Ziva rolled her eyes. "It will be better then things are not so uncomfortable." Chaya finished on one breast and Ziva switched her to the other side, desperately needing the relief. Her breasts were so full before Chaya nursed that she thought they might explode if she did not get the milk out.

Tony took Chaya for a diaper change before it was time to go back to bed and after getting the chilled diapers for his wife's bra. Ziva followed him up the stairs wearily. She's been up less than two hours but it seemed like much longer. Tony found her curled up around a pillow when he returned to their room. He drew the blanket up to her shoulder and crawled in, landing on his back. He was asleep before he could move to hold her. At the moment, it was the only thing that mattered.

NCIS

Even after a couple solid hours of sleep before Chaya needed her again, Ziva was far from alert when she left the baby with Tony to be burped and went to the bathroom, then slowly descended to the kitchen to heat them up something to eat from the multitude of single portions stacked in their freezer.

She left the food on the desk in the spare room and returned to their bedroom where the sweetest sight awaited her. Tony was wandering the floor, rocking Chaya gently. As he stared into her beautiful eyes, he was singing, "Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love with you./Let me hear you whisper that you love me too./Keep the lovelight shining in your eyes so blue./Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love with you."

Ziva wished for a video camera. He laid the baby down and turned, looking only mildly self-conscious about being caught. "Hi."

"I think you are smitten Tony." Ziva's smile drew him in like a magnet and he wove their fingers together.

"Not only by her." The comment earned him a look he wished he could capture and hold onto forever. But he settled for just a taste of her lips before they retreated to the other room.

They ate dinner together, Ziva on the bed and Tony at the desk because he was less likely to make a mess on a hard surface. It was nice just to talk, not to have to rush, because they were almost guaranteed two hours before their little milk machine wanted Mommy again.

Ziva set her plate aside when the food was gone. "We cannot just keep sleeping all day because she is."

Tony pursed his lips. "I think we can, at least for the first week or so until we get used to a night's sleep being so broken up. And Mandy insisted you rest for two weeks, remember?"

Ziva rolled her eyes. "I do not want to stay in this house forever!"

He caught one of her hands in his. "Not forever, but let's give it a few more days." She looked defeated and he kissed her fingers. "It's been a really long five weeks Zi, you've got a lot of strength to get back. You're not a failure if you take it easy for awhile."

Ziva fought the incredible urge to pout and at last muttered, "Fine."

"You don't believe me," Tony could see it, "but it's true." Until it was time for Chaya to eat again, Tony played on his computer and Ziva napped. After Chaya nursed and Ziva took care of her aching breasts, Tony was in charge of the baby while his wife called Gibbs.

"Gibbs," he answered.

She smiled. "Hello Abba."

"Ziva." Celeste looked up from where she relaxed in his arms, her raised eyebrow a question about pausing the movie. He nodded and waited to see what his daughter wanted. "Everything okay?"

Ziva sighed. "Yes." She didn't say any more and Gibbs was confused.

"Why did you call?"

She thought for a moment. "To hear another voice."

He smiled, remembering what it was like with a new baby and feeling like he and Shannon were the only ones left on earth. It was very isolating. "Sick of Tony already, huh?"

"No." Ziva sounded like she was trying not to cry. "He is being too nice and it is wrong that I just want to hit him or scream."

"That'll pass." Gibbs paused. "Well, maybe not the wanting to hit him part, but feeling alone and housebound. Try to get outside every day even if you just sit on the front porch. Let Tony take care of Chaya for a few minutes if you need a break."

"I should not want a break from her." Ziva's voice was quiet and miserable and Gibbs wished he was there to give her a hug.

"You've been taking care of that baby twenty-four/seven for months Ziva," he said gently. "You had to deal with morning sickness, kicks at all hours of the day or night, your body changing and being worn out. Tony is Chaya's dad, it's his turn." She sniffed and he felt awful. "Go find your husband and get a hug honey, you don't have to explain your tears."

"I love you Gibbs," Ziva whispered and hung up.

"I love you too," he sighed into the silence.

"Is she okay?" Celeste asked because she cared.

Gibbs dragged one hand down his face. "She will be. But Ziva isn't used to feeling overwhelmed and this is hard."

Ziva dropped the phone and left the room, nearly running into Tony in the hallway. He saw the tear tracks and frowned. "Hey, Ziva, what's wrong?" But she shook her head and threw her arms around his neck. Tony held her, gently rubbing her back. "Oh Ziva, it's okay." He could feel her shaking as she wept onto his shirt. Holding her tighter, he kissed her hair, having to guess at what the problem was. "I love you, we're in this together."

For a long time they stood there because Ziva refused to let go. Finally she pulled away, touched his cheek and applied the gentlest pressure of her lips, much like in the bathroom after Somalia. Then she went downstairs without a word, leaving Tony feeling hollow because he didn't know how to help.

He shook himself and grabbed the phone from the spare room, wandering into the nursery as he dialed. A familiar voice answered and just the sound made him smile. "Hi Abs."

"Tony!" she squealed and he could picture the grin on her face. "How are you? How's Ziva and Chaya? When can I come see my adorable niece?"

Tony chuckled. "We're still getting the hang of things. You won't believe how tiring it is to take care of a newborn when all they do it eat, sleep and dirty diapers."

She giggled. "So can we come over? It's been two days and I'm dying to see you guys."

He sighed. "Not yet. We really need this week to figure out how to be a family. Maybe next weekend though, if that works for you."

Abby's pout could be heard through the phone line and she sighed heavily. "You know that's like, six days away, right?"

"I know," Tony commiserated, "but I think you'll understand when it's your turn."

She thought about that. "Okay. But remember we're here if you need anything."

Tony smiled. "Just hearing your voice helps Abs, trust me."

"Good." He heard muffled voices and Abby came back. "I gotta take Sammy out, but McGee wants to talk to you."

"Okay. Say hi to the team for us."

"Will do. Bye!" The phone switched hands and McGee came on.

"Tony, how's parenthood?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Exhausting. Chaya sleeps like, seventeen hours a day, but only in one or two hour snatches. It's worse than working an overnight case because we just get to taste real sleep and she's up again."

McGee was quiet a moment. "Do you guys need anything?"

Tony shook his head. "Besides sleep, which isn't going to happen for months probably, we're okay. Just need some time to get used to this new routine, I guess."

"How's Ziva?"

It was nice to know they cared. "It's been a rough day. Between nursing difficulties and the drop in hormones, she's feeling kinda overwhelmed and a little teary. I'm not really sure what to do Tim," he confessed.

"Don't be far away," McGee advised. "I've watched you guys for six years Tony. The only time things go wrong is when you don't share the same space or have those crazy eye conversations. Touch her, talk to her, say 'I love you' a thousand times if need be, but don't let her pull away."

"Thank you ," Tony teased, secretly grateful for the third party insight. "Look at you being all profound."

Tim chuckled. "Yeah, only when it's not my life I'm talking about." He glanced around to make sure his wife was still out of earshot. "Abby on pregnancy hormones is intimidating."

Tony laughed. "Welcome to your next five months McGee. You might want to ask for a temporary transfer to Siberia."

"Nah," McGee decided, "I'd hate to miss out on the fun, even if it is like playing with matches in a room full of dynamite." The door slammed and Tony heard Abby's voice.

"Have a good night Tim, and thanks."

"Anytime. Call us if we can help."

"I will." Tony hung up and took a deep breath before going downstairs.

Ziva was sitting on the couch, intensely focused on the yarn in her hands as her fingers and the small metal hook added stitch after stitch to the yellow blanket. He sat down beside her and reached over to still her movements. "Zi," he whispered, "come here, please."

Her eyes flitted all over the room before stopping to rest on him and Tony saw the war waged in her gaze before she dropped her project and decided to be vulnerable with him. In a way they hadn't done in months, Tony laid down on the couch and pulled her back against his chest. A throw pillow supported their heads and Ziva tugged his arm across her shoulders, holding on tightly.

He brushed back her hair and kissed behind her ear. "Talk to me honey."

She sighed. "It is not just you and me anymore Tony. We are us now, we are parents and a family." Ziva pressed back into him and her voice was very quiet. "I am afraid to lose this."

Her words shocked him. "This? You and me? Why would we lose it? I think it's only going to get better and be more from now on."

She shook her head. "We have Chaya now. What if we get so caught up in the baby that we forget about each other?"

"Never gonna happen," Tony said firmly. He turned her face towards him and Ziva rolled over, staring into his eyes, desperately needing the reassurance. But he couldn't find the words and kissed her instead. He parted her lips gently, drinking her in, his fingers weaving into her hair. Ziva's hand fisted in his shirt and she tried to get closer. He almost lost it when she whimpered into his mouth and Tony had to break the kiss.

He was breathing hard, trying to get his heartrate down and wishing so hard for the freedom to do more than just kiss her. It was a struggle, because even though he knew the noise she made was involuntary, that she hadn't done it to test him, Ziva made him want her without even trying and Tony wasn't sure he wanted her to stop. But what he wouldn't give for nothing keeping them apart.

Tony sighed and rested his forehead on hers. "I'm not going anywhere Ziva, I love you. We're not going to lose us, I promise. I'm not letting go."

He felt tears on her cheeks again but somehow he knew they were tears of relief, not sadness. In her eyes he read everything she couldn't say and for a long time their locked gazes were their only communication. Then Tony needed a break and got up, coming back with two bowls of smartie ice cream, kissing her after the first bite just to see her smile.

She pointed her spoon at him. "Eat your own ice cream." But the life was back in her eyes and it was worth the frustration of being so close but so far away from being able to have her.

They were back upstairs before Chaya woke up and ready for bed so they could go to sleep as soon as their baby did. An uncomfortable nursing session for Ziva and a clean diaper from Tony later, both parents were under the covers and spooned together in their favourite position. Ziva was drawing her finger over the back of his hand while they drifted off and finally Tony had to ask.

"You've been doing that for months Zi, does it have a meaning or do you just like touching me?"

She looked back over her shoulder with a coy smile. "I do like touching you," Ziva agreed, "but you are missing the point."

He started paying more attention when she slowed down the motion of her fingers and repeated the pattern very deliberately. "It feels like letters," Tony realized and she kept doing it. I...L...Y. ILY. ILY over and over. "I love you?" he guessed, swallowing hard and wishing he'd caught on sooner. She'd been saying it all along and he never knew.

Ziva grinned. "I hope that is not a question."

"Is it the answer?" She nodded and met him halfway for the kiss she knew was coming.

"I love you Tony," she whispered into his neck before rolling over.

Tony held her close, gratitude welling up in his heart. He could hardly believe he was really here with Ziva and Chaya, that this was real. But it was and nothing could ever be better than right now.