A/N: To answer a question...

Shayu26 - Tony went back to work on a Friday. I figured it would be an easier way to work Ziva into him being away instead of immediately having her face a week of doing everything on her own.

Having been tipped off by a very nervous senior field agent, McGee made it to the lab just in time to see Tami scurrying out, an odd look on her face and he assumed she was running for cover from Abby's ire. Letting out a breath, he steeled himself against what he was about to find and stepped inside. Abby whirled around to see who dared to disturb her and glared fiercely at him.

"I hate her!" she said vehemently and he winced.

"Hate is such a strong word Abbs."

Abby crossed her arms. "Well, I dislike her more than just a lot. She's trying to steal Gibbs!"

Tim considered his next words very carefully, realizing that between Ziva coming back and taking a lot of Gibbs attention, them being married and getting pregnant, and the hormones, she wasn't thinking very clearly and logic probably did not play any part in her emotional response to a new person in Gibbs' life.

"Is that what she said?" he asked, knowing her reaction could go either way.

Abby's eyes flitted around the room. "No. But it's what she's doing no matter what she says. Did you know she just lives around the corner from him?" she demanded.

That was news. Tim shook his head. "No, can't say I did. Don't you think Gibbs would say something if it was worth worrying about?"

Her gaze darkened. "She's probably convinced him to keep it a secret from us, why else wouldn't he tell?"

McGee rubbed his forehead. "Gibbs...he really doesn't share that easily Abby, maybe he's just not ready to make any announcements yet."

"He has us," Abby said, stabbing her finger into the air and echoing her words from the hospital, "what does he need her for?"

"Everyone should have someone to come home to, someone to sit on the couch with after a long day, someone to talk to," Tim pointed out.

Abby stomped around the lab in the knee high boots she was still wearing, her lab coat flying behind her. "He could talk to me!"

McGee risked getting closer and put himself in her path. "Yeah, but then who would I come home to?"

A flicker in her eyes made Tim wonder if he was getting through. "I don't want things to change Timmy."

"Hey," he put his hands on her arms and drew her against his body. "Nothing's gonna change Abbs, nothing important. Gibbs is always going to be Gibbs and he'll always love you best out of all of us. Even having an extra person around isn't going to affect that."

"It already has," she said grumpily, but she was beginning to listen to reason. "I miss him Tim."

"So tell him," McGee encouraged, kissing her nose. "He may be Gibbs, but he might not realize you want him around just as much now even though we're married."

"Yeah," Abby sighed, "maybe I will."

He hugged her carefully. "And if it's any consolation, I love you."

Her smile came back and she kissed him in the middle of the lab with no witnesses and no regards for Gibbs' 'keep it out of the office' order. "Thanks Tim. I love you too."

NCIS

When she was changing Chaya later that afternoon, Ziva touched her belly button gently. "I think it is time for your first bath hakatan, what do you think of that?" Chaya looked up at her with those trusting blue eyes and Ziva lifted her until their faces were even. She brushed her nose over the baby's and smiled. "It seems we are in agreement."

With the infant held securely in one hand, Ziva made several trips to gather everything she needed and set up shop on the towel lined diningroom table. Setting Chaya in her swing, she laid out a clean outfit and diaper, q-tips, washcloths, a comb, and her hooded bunny bath towel.

Filling the tub with a few inches of water, Ziva brought it back to the table and put a small towel in the bottom so the baby wouldn't slip. Testing the water with her elbow, she found it to be comfortable and brought Chaya over. Quickly stripping the little girl of her diaper, Ziva slid her into the tub, keeping one hand around her.

For a moment Chaya just lay there while Ziva poured cups of warm water over her body. Then her legs kicked out and made a splash, which seemed to startle her, but she didn't protest so Ziva took it as a good sign. Going by both information she had read and a little video she'd watched online, the new mom dipped a cloth in the water and wiped the baby's eyes, then used to q-tip to get into the folds of her ears.

Next, much like the first sponge baths, she washed Chaya's face, talking to her softly as she did so. Ziva got under her chin where milk sometimes spilled and moved to her belly. Drawing the washcloth slowly over the baby's skin, she smiled and made faces and cooed to Chaya, pleased that the baby seemed to be enjoying her first real bath.

Continuing downwards, Ziva swiped the cloth down her skinny little legs and turned her carefully to do her back. She worked her way down to the baby's toes and played a quick game of 'This Little Piggy,' changing the words as she saw fit. Lastly she cleaned Chaya's bottom from front to back to prevent infection.

Before doing her hair, Ziva lifted her daughter out of the tub and wrapped her in the pink towel, then held her with the baby's back along her forearm and her feet tucked into Ziva's elbow. Holding her head over the tub, Ziva used a mug to pour water over Chaya's hair. She rubbed a small amount of baby shampoo onto her head and then rinsed it off. Picking up the rounded comb, she pulled it softly through the baby's hair, having read that the action would stimulate her scalp and make it less likely that she would develop cradlecap.

For the whole process Chaya never made a sound. She was calm and collected and clearly enjoying the one on one attention. With her bath completed, Ziva laid the baby on the table and gently patted her skin dry, making sure to get between all her fingers and toes before re-diapering her and putting Chaya in a fresh outfit. Then it was time for a feeding and back to bed for baby, but Mom stayed up to get a few things done.

After washing the dishes that had again accumulated in the sink, Ziva turned on the TV to the old movie channel and settled in, greatly determined to finally complete the project she'd started a month ago. By the time the music played and the couple kissed at the end, Ziva's yellow blanket was finally done. She'd even added a white border around the edges, which finished it quite nicely.

Feeling very pleased with herself, Ziva held it up to examine it closely before leaving it laying over the arm of the chair to show Tony when he got home. He walked in the door just as she was bringing Chaya downstairs after her last pre-midnight feeding. Instantly his face lit up and he reached for the baby.

He nuzzled his face against hers and kissed her cheek. "Hello beautiful girl, Daddy missed you today. I'm not used to being so far away." Tony cradled her in one arm and held out the other to hug Ziva. He tucked his head into her neck, breathing her in. "Hi."

She smiled. "Did you miss me too?"

His response was to kiss her breathless and even then he still didn't want to let go. "You bet." He twirled a piece of her hair around his finger. "Wish I could take a year off to spend with you guys."

Ziva placed her palm on his cheek. "I am very used to having you here. It was strange to be alone."

Tony looked sad but swallowed it and forced a grin. "I'm yours for the next two days." He rocked Chaya slowly, watching her eyelids flutter. "So, what did I miss?"

Ziva took his hand and led him towards the stairs. "I will fill you in after. Now it is time to get her ready for bed."

He heard some tell-tale noises coming from Chaya's bottom and made a face. "Home five minutes and I'm already changing a diaper?" Tony shook his head. "Who knew I would miss even that?"

This time Ziva picked a book while Tony got Chaya taken care of. Since she'd already fed and was fast falling asleep, they switched places and Ziva began reading a story called Something From Nothing, while Tony sat in the rocking chair holding his daughter. He liked listening to his wife's voice, intent on regaling Chaya with the sweet tale also came with a lesson. Chaya seemed to know her mommy's voice and turned her head towards Ziva as if she was listening quite carefully.

When the story was over he didn't want to put her down but he had to, kissing her soft head. Then Ziva looked at him with longing in her eyes. "Come downstairs with me, for a little while?"

He waited until they were on the couch before kissing her, and then it was more than one because he just couldn't get enough. Tony pulled his wife beside him and wrapped her securely in his arms. Ziva almost purred and closed her eyes, snuggling into him. He sighed. "I've waited all day to hold you."

She opened her eyes. "And I have wanted all day to be held. We make a good team."

Kissing her hair, he got comfortable. "Okay, fill me in."

Ziva smiled. "Chaya had her first bath today."

Tony frowned. "We've given her baths before."

"Sponge baths," Ziva clarified. "But this time I put her in the tub with water since we no longer have to keep her belly button dry. I think she rather enjoyed it."

He made a face. "I'm sorry I missed that. My turn next time?"

"If you are here."

Not entirely pleased with her answer, he continued. "What else?"

Her face took on an expression of satisfaction. "I finished my blanket."

Tony sat up a little. "Yeah? Good for you. Where is it?" Ziva looked towards the chair and Tony pulled the bright rectangle towards him, holding it up. "Nice job Zi, are you happy with how it turned out?"

She nodded. "I will put it on her crib tonight. I am glad to have that task accomplished." Her fingers found the back of his hand and Tony treasured the letters she drew. "How was your day?"

He shrugged. "Paperwork mostly. Then this evening we got pulled in to assist on another team's case, which is why I'm home so late. Oh, and Abby and I may just have found a really great way to get ourselves fired."

Ziva looked at him, her expression wary. "Do I want to know?"

Tony ran his fingers through his hair. "We umm...sorta went over to talk to Celeste and find out what's going on with her and the boss."

Shock took over her face. "I hope you are joking."

He shook his head. "At this point I wish I was. I'm not sure we'll make it through Monday unscathed."

"Was there a reason you chose today for your investigation?" Ziva questioned.

Tony sighed. "I only went along because I was afraid of what Abby would do without supervision." At Ziva's look he rolled his eyes. "Okay, and I was curious too. But it didn't turn out the way I thought. Now Abby's hurt, Celeste is probably going to tell Gibbs and I'm wishing I had a way to be invisible for awhile."

Ziva leaned into him and kissed his shoulder. "Perhaps Gibbs will spare you for my sake." She was quiet for a moment and then pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket. "I found this when I was making the bed." Ziva opened it and looked over the words again, though she'd read them several times since the morning. She looked up at her husband. "Do you mean it?"

Tony nodded, stroking her cheek softly. "Every word honey, I just wanted you to remember."

Ziva smiled. "Thank you. To see how you feel in writing...it means a lot."

He tried to keep a straight face, but inside he was thinking, If you liked that, just wait until you see the rest of the letters. Tony wondered if she would cry when he finally let her read them. The old Ziva didn't cry, his Ziva was a different story.

She yawned and he rubbed his eyes, letting out a chuckle. "We're a sorry pair, can't even stay up until ten."

Ziva relaxed against him. "Only because we, or at least I will be up at twelve to feed her again."

Tony rubbed her arm. "How old does she have to be before we can give her a bottle? I'd like to help."

She shook her head and touched his cheek. "During the week you will have to go to work in the morning Tony, it is I who can get up with her and sleep as much as I want during the day."

"That's not sharing," he grumbled, chafing at the responsibility of balancing work and family.

"You can help as much as you want tonight. Now come," she stood up and tugged on his arm, "I am ready meet the sandman."

Figuring she was close enough to the actual saying, Tony followed his wife to their room and fell asleep shortly after they climbed into bed. Holding her was still his favourite way to nod off and for her part, Ziva didn't complain a bit.

NCIS

It was late by the time Gibbs knocked on Celeste's door, but he hadn't seen her since Monday, when she'd accompanied him to Kate's grave to leave a flower. She drew him out about his former agent, hearing stories about her and Tony, listening to his accounts of how they worked together to haze McGee, reminiscing about the traits of hers that he'd admired and finding underneath all that the guilt he still felt over seeing her killed in front of him and not being able to stop it.

For hours she held his hand and leaned against him while his mind revisited the past of six years ago. Her presence had been the balm he needed, her wise words what he wished he could believe. That time together had been extremely emotional and for a man that didn't show that side of himself often, very draining. So when he said he needed some time afterwards, Celeste was neither surprised or judgmental. She simply told him to come over when he was ready to be company again.

She opened the door and smiled, hugging him before he even got inside. Without asking she poured him a mug of coffee and Gibbs accepted it, knowing she was always trying to balance which dependency she was going to feed - caffeine or alcohol. He kissed her before taking a sip and she leaned into him.

"I missed you." They sat down on the couch, her fingers slipping between his. "Hard day?"

He shrugged. "Not really, mostly paperwork."

"Tony was back to work today." A statement, not a question and Gibbs wondered how she kept track of everything.

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Putting up pictures, watching the clock, whining all day about missing Ziva and Chaya." He shook his head. "Those two are something else."

Celeste examined her fingernails. "He and Abby make an interesting team."

Gibbs frowned. "Since when?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "Since they came over today to find out what my intentions towards you are."

His eyes darkened. "That's crossing a line." In his head he was already thinking of punishments and lectures to dish out first thing Monday morning.

Celeste tilted her head to the side. "I'm not sure. They clearly care for you a great deal, Abby especially, and from what I gather you haven't been too open about what we're doing." She raised an eyebrow. "Do they know anything about us?"

He made a noise in his throat. "Only what they discovered at the wedding, that you're my 'mysterious redhead'. At least they have your name now."

She dropped her hands into her lap. "Are you going to tell them?"

Gibbs harumphed. "None of their business."

Celeste laughed. "They're family Jethro, sooner or later they'll want to know."

"Later's fine with me," he said flippantly, catching the expression in her eyes. "Stop that. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of our relationship. But curiosity won't kill them and I don't see a need to make this public knowledge yet. Though they are going to hear from me about it."

She sighed. "Don't be too hard on them, they're only doing it because they care about you."

"And they're all too nosy for their own good."

Celeste leaned her head back. "I may have given Abby another reason to hate me." His gaze became wary and he just waited. She sighed. "I think I was too honest with her, too harsh in my wording. I started out by saying that I have no intention of taking anyone's place and then told her I at least deserved her respect, if nothing else. But what I maybe shouldn't've blurted out was that she doesn't have exclusive rights to your heart. I was trying to show her that you have room to love all of us, your family and me. Did I go about it the wrong way?"

Gibbs rubbed his fingers over her leg. "No good way to tell Abby something she doesn't want to hear. Harsh maybe, but it's the truth. Wrong time to have the conversation though, she's even less rational than normal with the pregnancy hormones."

"Yeah, that's what I thought of after I opened my big mouth." She chanced a look at him. "Want to dump me now and just get it over with?"

He snorted. "Not an option. You'd have to work a lot harder than that to get away from me. I'll talk to Abby and DiNozzo on Monday. Don't beat yourself up about it Les." Celeste had a habit of doing that when she realized she'd made a mistake, he'd been trying to break the habit for years.

She put her hand on his arm. "Go easy on Tony, I think he came as moral support only. He said some things to me after Abby stormed out. He's really changed Jethro."

"Yeah," Gibbs agreed. "When I remember how he came to us - cocky as heck and so full of himself that there wasn't room for anything else - it's hard to believe he's the same man."

"Ziva's done wonders for him," Celeste noted, curling up against his side.

"It's amazing the influence a good woman can have on the man she loves."

Surprised to hear him say something like that, Celeste realized he was probably not talking about Tony any more. But neither of them had said the 'L' word yet and she wasn't about to make him uncomfortable about the slip. So instead she laid her hand over his heart and they sat together in the quiet, just being. Tonight being together was all they needed.

NCIS

Saturday morning Timothy McGee woke up and rolled over to kiss his wife. Abby was laying on her side, curled up around her pillow. She smiled at his greeting and opened her eyes a little. "Morning."

Tim pushed aside the covers and leaned over to place a kiss on her belly. "Good morning Baby Beta, did you let Mommy sleep last night?" He laid his hand over the slowly growing bump and froze when something hit his hand.

Abby rolled her eyes. "Well it looks like someone is up. No such thing as sleeping in for babies in progress, huh?" When McGee didn't answer she looked at him. "Tim?"

He blinked rapidly to avoid breaking down completely. "I can feel it Abby."

She stared at him. "What?"

McGee grinned for all he was worth. "I can feel our baby."

Abby sat up slowly and pressed her hands over his, joy radiating through her. "This is your daddy, baby," she whispered before pressing her lips to Tim's.

His arms came around her and it became several kisses - slow, languid and loving - as they expressed their pleasure over this new development. For a long time they lay in bed with Tim's hand resting on Abby's abdomen. This was his baby and McGee didn't think he'd ever get enough.

NCIS

Tony and Ziva's day began at seven am with Chaya's first reasonable hour feeding and then Tony took her so Ziva could shower. When she finished it was his turn and he came downstairs to find his girls outside in the yard, staring intently at the strip of dirt where Grace had helped them plant flowers three weeks ago. Watching Ziva wander along her flower bed, Tony was drawn back to that bright and sunny April day.

Grace arrived in early afternoon carrying a basket full of seed packets, trowels, gloves and wearing a sun hat. Tony opened the door to let her in. "I hope you're ready to work hard young man," Grace teased, pointing a small hand shovel at his chest, "because your wife and I are on a mission."

He grinned. "Yes ma'am. Ziva and I already staked out the spot she wants for a flowerbed. She's been a slave driver all morning." At the older woman's look he clarified. "She pointed, I staked and I got to play with the shovel. Don't worry Nonna, I'm making sure she rests. I've left her in the backyard with a book and a glass of lemonade. Want some?"

Grace smiled. "Please. I haven't had time to make my own yet." Then she walked right through the house and out the sliding doors to find Ziva. The younger woman was sitting on a blanket on the grass, looking beautiful and content in cotton capris and a brightly coloured gypsy top.

"Hello Ziva." Grace leaned down to hug her friend, checking out the work that had already been done. Tony had turned the grass under, leaving a strip of rich topsoil just ready for planting. Grace took a seat on Ziva's blanket and pulled a folded piece of paper from her basket. "This was the plan I came up with, let me know if you want to change anything. I remember you wanted very colourful flowers, hopefully low maintenance. These are our options."

Ziva studied the sketch and the name of seeds and bulbs Grace had brought. Coneflowers in orange and pink, snowdrops, dark purple and yellow crocuses, yellow and white daffodils, daisies, tulips in pink, yellow, purple and red, dark pink and purple superbells, jasmine, lavender, pink armeria, red and orange marigolds. "You have brought all the colours possible!" she exclaimed, pleased beyond words at the selection. "Thank you Grace."

"It was my pleasure Ziva. And," she held out her keys to Tony, "if your husband wouldn't mind, there are a few surprises in the backseat of my car."

Curious, Tony took the keys and returned in three trips with small lilac bushes, two butterfly bushes in purple and dark pink and three small rosebushes all in pots and ready to be transplanted. Ziva's mouth fell open. "Grace, it is too much!"

The older woman disagreed. "I am thrilled to have a part in bringing joy to your backyard."

Tony grinned. "You are so much like my nonna you have no idea. Thanks."

She chuckled. "You can thank me after you've spent a few hours digging and planting and sweating. Then we'll see if you still feel the same way."

He brushed off her comment and played landscape architect for awhile as Ziva and Grace discussed where to put the bushes before laying seed packets and bulbs out in the order they wanted. Then came the manual labour part where he had to plant all of the living things. The women sat side by side on the grass and chatted while working with the small trowels to plant seeds and bulbs.

It was a few hours later when they all stood back to admire their work. Grace put her hands on her hips. "I know it doesn't look like much, but in a few weeks you are going to have all the brightly coloured blossoms you can handle."

Ziva walked over to touch the soft hanging flowers on the butterfly bushes. "Thank you for this Grace, I will have a reason to smile every time I come outside now."

"Then my work here is done," Grace said, smiling.

They persuaded her to stay for an early supper and when she wasn't looking, Tony slipped a couple of twenties in her purse, to help offset the cost of what she'd brought. They both hugged her goodbye and Ziva made her promise to return to see the product of her work when it was all visible. That day Tony was never so thankful that he'd met Grace McPherson. Seeing Ziva smile was worth everything.

It was that smile he saw now and Tony strode over to find the cause. Ziva heard him coming and turned. "Tony, they are growing!"

Sure enough little green spikes were poking up through the dirt. The lilac bushes, thanks to some careful care, were beginning to show their tightly closed clusters of flowers and even the rose bushes sported buds not quite ready to show off. He slipped his arm around her waist. "It's going to be beautiful out here. I'm glad you and Grace came up with this idea."

Ziva looked down at her baby. "I can just see her in a couple of years, running around in the backyard as you chase her and tiny fingers exploring each and every flower." She leaned against him. "This still feels like a dream Tony."

He kissed her temple. "Maybe it always will Zi, but that's what makes it so special. We've had to work really hard to get here, we have no idea what it's like to take our love and our life together for granted. Most people will never know what that's like. I think..." Tony sighed, "I think it's a gift."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "I know that you are mine."

Tony bent to kiss Chaya's head. "It's hard to imagine life getting any better than this." Ziva slipped her fingers through his and they walked slowly back inside together. The day had just begun and it was off to a wonderful start.