A/N: I' m here to announce another change in the posting schedule. I've had a lot of time to write in the last week and a half so I will be posting Mon/Wed/Fri this week :) Surprise! Lol...enjoy! Thanks for sticking with this guys. ~Aliyah
Chaya had fed four more times by mid-afternoon and Ziva flopped back on the pillows, watching the little girl who had fallen asleep on the bed after having her diaper changed. She frowned. "I am tired of being in bed!"
Tony, just returned from disposing of the dirty diaper, paused. "Okay." He pulled on a shirt and Ziva stared at him.
"Just okay? What does that mean?"
He walked over to kiss her and gathered up his sleeping daughter. "I have an idea. I'll take Chaya so you can shower and get dressed because you'll feel better in something that's not pjs. Meet me downstairs when you're ready." Tony kissed the baby's head. "She can sleep in the swing for a bit." Ziva opened her mouth to say something but he grinned and shook his head. "You'll see Zi, just meet me downstairs."
Since his surprises had not been bad yet, Ziva decided to trust him and nodded, moving a little less slowly than the day they came home as she looked for an outfit to wear and got ready to shower. Tony meanwhile, wasted no time getting busy. Carefully depositing Chaya in the swing set up behind the diningroom table, he went through the fridge and got out everything he needed, then retrieved the picnic basket from the garage. Checking to make sure the baby hadn't stirred, he began putting together a generous lunch spread.
Leaving the sliding door open so he could hear Chaya if she cried, he took a couple thick blankets and laid them down under the large maple tree near the back of the yard. The basket and several pillows followed, along with a couple of Chaya's toys and her baby blanket.
On his way back inside, Tony studied the back of the house, trying to envision the covered porch he and Ziva had talked about when they found patio furniture the day they'd gone shopping for baby stuff more than a week before Chaya was born. This summer would be too busy, with a new baby and his plan to finish the basement, but maybe he'd talk to Gibbs about starting it next spring and see how much the older man thought it would cost. They'd have to do some careful saving between now and then, until the mortgage was paid off.
He made it to the kitchen just as Ziva came downstairs looking very nice with her hair half pulled back in a clip, wearing black yoga capris and a bright blue nursing shirt. That she was sporting short sleeves and bare feet, her olive skin free of make-up, was just a bonus.
Tony swept her into his arms and twirled her around once before taking over her mouth for a long, deep kiss that left them both breathless. Her eyes twinkled. "I think I like how you say good morning."
He didn't bother to remind her that her morning was long gone. Instead he fingered a piece of her hair and smiled. "How are you feeling? Because you look beautiful."
The expression on her face clearly thought he was lying and she shrugged. "Tired, but not as sore. Being in something other than pyjamas helps." Ziva raised an eyebrow. "What is the surprise?"
Tony gently lifted the still sleeping baby and let her settle on his chest before moving. "Come and see."
He took her hand and led her out into the sunshine and through the soft grass over to the spot he'd created under the tree. Ziva took a deep breath and turned her face tot he sky. She stopped and Tony left her while he lay Chaya on the blanket and tucked a thin receiving blanket around her.
Ziva looked at him when he returned. "Thank you. It is so nice to be outside."
He slid his fingers between hers and kissed her again. "Anything to make you smile sweetheart."
She arched one eyebrow. "Those are brave words Senor DiNozzo. What if my smile comes at a price?"
Tony wrapped her in his arms. "It would still be worth whatever I had to give."
Ziva swallowed and pulled back to trace his face. "You are spoiling me again."
He dropped a kiss on her nose. "Part of my job." Tony caressed her cheek and looked towards the lounge chairs he'd set up, complete with the dark blue cushions they'd picked out. "Want to relax for awhile?"
She bit her lip. "I am more hungry than tired."
Tony walked backwards over to the chair holding Ziva's hands. They both sat and he opened the lid of the picnic basket. "Ta-da! Sandwiches, salad, fruit, vegetables, water, green iced tea - anything you want."
She stared at the food and back at him. "Tony..."
"It's okay Zi, I like doing this."
After a glance at Chaya who was sleeping like a rock, Ziva pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth and sighed. "Thank you."
Needing her, he took a kiss, savouring the softness of her lips. "I could get used to this being my reward."
She pushed at his chest playfully and shook her head. "If you keep stealing my breath, you will have to earn that kind of kiss."
It was in his eyes that he would do whatever it took and she suddenly didn't know how to respond. Her smile was just a glimmer but Tony understood and handed her a sandwich. "DiNozzo five star catering service is at your disposal."
Ziva shook her head and accepted the food. Between them they managed to devour most of the contents of the picnic basket. Breakfast had again been waived in favour of sleep. Finally they lay back and looked up at the leaves. Tony turned on his side to watch his wife.
"Zi? Why don't you take a nap? She'll probably sleep for another hour."
She closed her eyes without a hint of protest and he draped a light blanket over her. Then he lay on his stomach on the blanket, propped up on his elbows and watched his daughter sleep. Chaya twitched and made funny noises, even pursed her lips as if she was nursing.
Tony chuckled, wondering what she was dreaming about. His eyes caressed the tiny girl who weighted maybe five and a half pounds at the most. He brushed his finger over her palm and the grasping reflex connected them. Tony kissed her fist. "Hold on as long as you can baby girl, I promise I won't let go."
When Ziva woke up as Chaya started stirring, she had to smile at her husband. He was stretched out beside the baby, his finger caught in her grasp, fast asleep. Ziva knelt beside them and slid her fingers into his hair. "Tony..."she said softly, drawing out his name. He shifted and murmured something she didn't catch. Ziva smirked and leaned down to kiss him and the man was instantly awake to return the gesture.
"I'll play sleeping beauty any time you want to wake me up like that," he offered as soon as he could think again.
Ziva shook her head and lifted their daughter into her arms. Chaya immediately turned her head to nuzzle Ziva's shirt. She looked at her husband. "Be my pillow?"
Tony grinned. "Wouldn't miss it."
With pillows supporting his back, Tony leaned against the tree with his knees propped up and Ziva and Chaya in the space between his legs. Ziva unhooked one side of her bra and exposed her breast through a slit in the nursing shirt for Chaya to latch on. Ziva relaxed in front of him and Tony just enjoyed holding them.
He kissed Ziva's neck and she smiled at him, reaching her arm behind his head and tilting hers to the side, giving him better access. Surprised and thrilled to be granted more freedom, Tony kissed his way down her neck and across her shoulder, sliding one of the sleeves down and pressing his lips to an old burn scar. Ziva tensed and dropped her arm, cradling Chaya close and keeping her focus on the baby.
Disappointed, Tony moved the sleeve back up to cover her shoulder and put his arms around Ziva's waist. She shook her head, pushing his hands away and Tony sighed, knowing he wouldn't get an explanation until Chaya was finished eating. Ziva deliberately loosened her tight muscles and they sat in silence thinking separate thoughts until she gave him the baby and fixed her clothes.
Chaya burped with hardly any encouragement and Ziva lay her back on the blanket, rubbing her tummy until the little girl's eyes started getting heavier. Then she returned to kneel between Tony's knees and kissed him, holding his face between her hands. "I am sorry," she whispered on his skin.
Her husband's eyes begged for an explanation, why she had rejected his touch when she seemed to be enjoying it. Ziva looked away. "My clothes were always removed by force at the camp, or under order. I need to not feel that way again. If you want to touch me, I have to be the one adjusting my clothing."
Tony swallowed hard and kissed her soundly before wrapping her in his arms, securing her against his chest. "I won't rush you Ziva, I wasn't trying to. I thought you wanted me to."
Ziva met his eyes. "It was a reflex," she admitted. "Sometimes I forget. But I enjoyed your lips on my skin."
He gave her a half-grin. "I can guarantee a repeat some other time, but I'm good for a massage now."
She looked at him for a long moment before returning to her previous position and Tony knelt behind her to get the right height. He pressed his thumbs into the muscles between her shoulders and slowly worked his way down. When she had enough, Ziva simply leaned back and Tony changed positions to hold her. Words didn't seem necessary and it was suppertime before they went back inside.
NCIS
Shortly after three am Thursday morning, Tony and Ziva finally crawled back into bed. It had taken more than fifteen minutes for them to calm Chaya enough that she comforted, and another quarter hour after that before she settled down to sleep. Ziva suspected it was gas and had tried some methods she'd read about to help.
They'd only had about three hours of sleep so far and the couple were ready to embrace it again. Tony checked his watch as they curled up comfortably under the covers and smiled. He kissed behind Ziva's ear. "We made it."
She frowned without opening her eyes. "Mmm?"
He chuckled. "It's after three, Chaya is a whole week old and we survived."
A smile tickled the corner of her mouth and Ziva buried her face deeper in the pillow. "We will not see two weeks without sleep. Good night."
Tony wasn't ready to close his eyes yet. "I want at least ten thousand weeks with you."
Ziva laughed softly and rolled over to face him. "That is almost two hundred years Tony, I do not think we will get that far."
He made a face. "Five thousand?"
"You will be lucky to see one hundred my love, let alone one hundred and forty years of age. But you are getting closer."
Tony sighed. "What's three thousand weeks?"
Ziva put her hand over his heart. "It is a lifetime Tony, fifty-seven years."
He lay down finally, a satisfied smile gracing his face. "Fifty-seven years. That's what I'm shooting for then."
She kissed him. "Go to sleep." It was an order. Ziva returned to her side and waited for Tony's breathing to change before she relaxed. The man would drive her insane one day, but after a month with him, Ziva was certain even sixty years would still not be long enough. She was afraid to miss even a moment of being loved like this.
NCIS
It was after lunch before Ziva made it into the shower and Tony took their reluctant to fall asleep daughter downstairs to follow through on an idea. "You're one week old today princess," he informed the baby, "so it's about time you saw your first Disney movie."
When Ziva came down less than twenty minutes later, she raised an eyebrow at her husband, who sat on the couch holding Chaya with Little Mermaid playing. "What are you doing?"
Tony glanced at her, sure the answer was obvious. "Watching a movie."
She eyed the sleeping baby. "I see."
He snorted at her tone, which was entirely unbelieving. "You wait Ziva, it will be her favourite. You'll see."
"Yes," Ziva said slowly, "but in three years she will not remember the first time she saw it."
Tony ignored her and slouched down further, settling Chaya on his chest. "Don't pay attention to her baby girl. You're a DiNozzo and we can absorb movies subconsciously."
Ziva rolled her eyes and went to heat them up some chicken with vegetables and rice. She traded Tony his plate for the infant and once Chaya was in bed, they switched to grown-up fare - more of the new SWAT TV show Tony had purchased a few weeks ago.
After lunch they did dishes and took a nap following Chaya's next feeding. Just like that the day was drawing to a close and supper was eaten as twilight fell.
NCIS
For the day marking one month since he and Celeste had decided to give their relationship another try, Gibbs told his ex-wife they had plans and instructed her to dress up. When he walked in the door wearing a suit and tie, his mouth fell open at the silky blue dress that hugged her curves and drew all his attention to her eyes.
Slipping a matching wrap over her shoulders, Celeste smiled. "You're catching flies Jethro."
He snapped his mouth shut and cleared his throat. "Wow."
She chuckled. "You may have to expand your vocabulary a bit, but I'll take it."
Gibbs tipped her chin up and kissed her. "Nice colour."
Celeste pulled back and grinned. "That's a start. So, where are we going?"
He tucked her hand into his elbow and led her out. "Can't tell you."
"A surprise?" Celeste got in the car when he held the door and smoothed her dress. "Now I'm intrigued."
Gibbs drove them to an upscale restaurant and watched her eyes shine when she realized there was dancing as well. "Oh," she breathed, "we haven't been dancing since..."
"Our honeymoon," he finished for her, remembering. It had been bittersweet and far too soon after losing the girls to be able to really enjoy it. But for Celeste he had tried.
They were led to a small, intimate table and Celeste looked through the menu for something she'd never tried before. Gibbs admired her bravery and excitement for new things. She finally closed the cloth covered book and leaned her chin on her hands, watching him knowingly.
"You're getting steak."
He crossed his arms. "Hard to go wrong with steak."
Celeste rolled her eyes. "But it is a little boring, always getting the same thing."
Gibbs grunted. "I want adventure, I'll try yours."
She smirked. "If you ask nicely, I might even share."
The food was exquisite, the company familiar and enjoyable as Celeste insisted on teasing him the entire meal. Finally their plates were cleared and she looked longingly towards the dance floor. "Jethro..."
He was already in front of her, holding out his hands. "Dance with me Les?"
It was her best smile. "I'd love to."
Gibbs led her out into the center and drew her close - one arm around her waist, the other holding her hand over his heart, just like they used to do. They swayed gently to the music and occasionally he spun her out slowly and brought her back, finally linking both hands behind her. Celeste's came to rest over his shoulders.
"I want to tell you Les, but everything changes when I say those words and I don't want to rush this."
Celeste stilled and looked into his eyes, knowing immediately what he was trying to convey. She appreciated the care he was taking, how he was trying not to mess it up and knew that it would be worth the wait. Trailing her finger down his cheek, she smiled.
"I can wait. That you want to feels like a promise of its own."
He kissed her then, expressing in touch what he couldn't with words, and they were lost in their own little world until the song changed and Celeste realized they might have an audience. So Gibbs held her close and Celeste rested her head on his shoulder, thinking she could never get enough of this.
NCIS
During Chaya's seven pm feeding, Ziva looked over at Tony. "She is a week now, I think we need a routine."
He rolled over on his side and propped his head up with one hand, touching Chaya's feet until the baby squirmed and curled up away from his touch. Ziva glared and Tony shrugged. "Sorry, can't resist. What kind of routine were you thinking?"
Ziva shrugged. "I am not sure, but we can start with a bedtime one to help her learn the difference between day and night."
"Like a bath and putting pjs on and feeding her in the nursery and reading a story?"
She nodded. "Yes, I like that. And when Chaya is a bit older, we can have a wake up feeding and put her to bed at the same time every night."
"Works for me." He held his arms out when the baby finished. "Come here princess, Daddy will burp you and check that diaper while Mommy gets bedtime stuff ready."
By the time Chaya was burped and changed, Ziva had the sponge bath necessities gathered and they took turns washing their baby. Tony left Ziva to get Chaya in a clean sleeper while he emptied the tub and smiled when he heard her talking to the baby in Hebrew. He'd been kind of slacking off on his language lessons since the baby was born, but Tony knew he needed to get back to them. He didn't want to be left out of that part of their lives.
After Chaya was dressed, Tony and Ziva carried her to the nursery and Ziva got comfortable in the rocking chair while Tony selected a book from the shelf and took the stool. "Corduroy Bear," he began and turned to the first page, slowing Chaya the pictures even though she was falling asleep and probably couldn't see them from a little over a foot away.
Ziva smiled as she listed to Tony read, as dramatic with bedtime stories as he was describing his beloved movies. Chaya was lost in dreamland before the last page and Ziva lay her in the bassinet, watching her eyelids flutter as she settled. Tony came up behind her and put his arms around Ziva's wait, nuzzling her neck.
"Time for a you and me hour?"
She turned around and kissed him, noting that the action was now as natural as drawing her next breath. "Is that more important than sleep?"
He captured her lips again, answering the questions with a gesture rather than words, but he still wanted to clarify. "Most definitely."
"Then yes," Ziva smiled, taking her husband's hand.
Downstairs Tony put on a Will Smith movie and Ziva found her pregnancy and newborn book. They sat close on the couch, engaged in separate activities but very aware of each other. At one point Tony leaned forward, caught up in the action and Ziva idly began rubbing her hand up and down his back.
The heat from her touch electrified Tony's body and though his eyes stayed glued to the screen for safety reasons, all his senses were tuned to his wife. His physical reaction to her almost embarrassed him and Tony knew if she were every to really touch him, his self-control would snap and things would be over before they started.
Ziva felt his tension and frowned, setting down her book. "Tony?"
He shook himself and glanced at her. "Huh?"
"Why are you so on edge?" Tony make eye contact and Ziva sat up. "Do you want me to work out the knots?"
He forced a chuckle. "No offense Zi, but I don't think you touching me is going to help matters any." Tony knew the moment his words made sense because Ziva jerked her hand away as if his shirt was on fire. He sighed. "I can't help it, I don't think there's ever been a moment when I wasn't attracted to you."
She looked down and swallowed. "I wish life could be fair Tony. I wish I did not need you to be so patient." Their eyes met briefly and hers were troubled. "I cannot give you what you want."
Tony let out a breath and took a moment to calm down before reaching for her hands. "You're what I want Zi and you've already given me such a gift by becoming my wife, by building this life with me." He kissed her fingers. "I don't want you to have to be careful every time you touch me, and I don't want to stop you from getting comfortable enough to do that without a second thought. But just know that sometimes I might need space and sometimes I might act tense even if I enjoy what you're doing." Tony brushed his knuckles down her cheek. "I don't want to scare you honey and sometimes it's hard."
Ziva acknowledged his words and understood better than she wanted to. Though their hands remained joined, her thoughts were centered on how unfair it was that Tony still had to wait when it had already been months and they were married and in love. But overcoming her fear was not a simple matter of deciding it would happen, and right now the day when she didn't dread intimacy still felt a thousand years away.
Less than ten minutes later Ziva stood and left to go to bed early. Tony stayed up with the movie playing in the background but his attention was on his wife. Just once he wanted things to be easy, he wanted their love not to feel like a burden when things got hard. But in life he rarely got what he wanted and even though he had Ziva, there was so many things that had to wait.