After Chaya's one o'clock feeding, Ziva brought both baby and bassinet downstairs separately. She set it up beside the counter so Chaya could sleep while she worked in the kitchen. Ziva felt like cookies and quickly threw together her favourite - chocolate chip oatmeal. While the first tray was in the oven, Ziva went through both freezers and made a list of what meals were remaining.

The oven beeped and she quickly switched trays, letting the cookies solidify a little before moving them to a cooling rack. Going through the cupboards, Ziva decided they were in serious need of a shopping trip to restock, but she found enough ingredients to throw together a lentil casserole. It had to wait until the cookies were finished but once the pan was in the oven, Ziva took advantage of the quiet to relax on the couch with a plate of still warm cookies and her new book.

When the door opened shortly after four pm just as the casserole was coming out, Ziva was startled. "Tony, what are you doing home?"

He waved a sheet of paper at her. "I'm instituting Tony hours thanks to my collection of comp time." Tony crossed the room to kiss her. "Mmm, smells good Zi." Turning around, his eyes lit up. "Hello beautiful! Aren't you a good girl sleeping so nicely for Mommy?" Then Tony's gaze narrowed. "How did the bassinet get down here?"

Ziva shifted from foot to foot. "It was not that heavy."

"Three weeks Zi, three more weeks that you are not supposed to lift any more than our six pound baby. What part of that was hard?"

She frowned. "Why are you so upset?"

"You could've tripped!" he ranted. "What if you fell down the stairs and got hurt? You couldn't call for help, no one would be around to get Chaya. Good grief Ziva, I just want you to be safe, is that too much to ask?"

Ziva walked over and laid her hand on his heart. "I was careful Tony. And I am fine. You do not always have to protect me."

Her soft words drained his anger. "But it's my job. I wouldn't care if I didn't love you. And I love you so much it scares me. Please follow the rules Ziva, even if it's just for me."

She pulled his face down and their lips met. "For you then," she whispered. "I would not have you worry any extra."

Even if it did interrupt their moment, Tony was glad when Chaya woke and he got to lift her up for a cuddle while Ziva went for her nursing pillow and a glass of water. "Hi sleepyhead," he cooed as she scrunched up her face and started sucking on her fist. Tony swayed gently back and forth. "This is my favourite part of the day princess. Nine hours is a long time to be without you and Mommy." He sighed. "I love you Chaya, you are my greatest treasure."

Tony turned around to see his wife standing by the couch smiling. "I hate to interrupt, but it is time for her dinner."

He sighed and reluctantly handed her the baby. "It's not fair, I want to share this part too."

Her eyes scanned him briefly. "You are missing the equipment." Tony was still sulking so she tugged him down close beside her on the couch. "Here, I will let you help." He put his arm around Ziva and she took his other hand, allowing him to support her breast as she brought Chaya to her. It took a couple tries to get a good latch because Tony had only watched before, not participated in the process. But finally it worked and Ziva suddenly realized what she'd done. "Tony," she said softly, "let go."

He jerked his hand back and Ziva felt a flush of embarrassment creep into her cheeks. "Sorry," he muttered, averting his eyes. His hand fell uselessly to his lap and Ziva bit her lip.

"It is so easy to forget. I do not know how to be normal any more." She took his hand and put it on her knee. "But I am not afraid to have you touch me."

Tony met her gaze and bent to kiss their baby's head. "It gets harder to stop every time you give me more freedom, every time I get to do something we haven't done before. You don't know what you do to me Ziva."

She tensed and swallowed. "And I cannot know, not yet." Ziva caressed Chaya's soft hair. "Even when she is six weeks..." she shook her head. "I do not want you to hope for something that may not be possible for a long time."

Tony pressed a kiss to her temple. "I've learned how to be patient sweetheart, I've had eight months of practice. And if it's another year," he closed his eyes at the thought of ten and a half more months sleeping beside her and only sleeping, "before you can handle intimacy, that won't change anything. I love you and I'll tell you a thousand more times until you believe it - I will wait for you."

Ziva lifted her face and his mouth met hers. Then she switched Chaya to her other breast and Tony got more practice helping. They sat down to supper once she was full, clean and asleep and were just starting dishes when the doorbell rang. Ziva looked at Tony and he shrugged. "I didn't invite anyone." He dried his hands on a dish towel and opened the door. "Boss." His eyes flickered between Gibbs and his redhaired companion. "Hi Celeste."

"May we come in Tony?" Dumbly he stood back, noting their linked hands. Gibbs let go to hug Ziva, who looked happy to see both of them.

"Shalom Abba," she said, kissing his cheek.

Gibbs' gaze was drawn to the bassinet. "She asleep?"

"Until eight o'clock if we are lucky. Why?"

"Two and a half hours," he said gruffly, dropping onto the couch. "Get out of here."

Tony grinned. "Free babysitting again? What did we do to deserve this?"

Gibbs glared and Celeste put her hand on his arm. "It's always nice to get out of the house for awhile. Enjoy it."

This time the parents had no arguments and quickly grabbed cell phones and keys and said goodbye. They got out on the front porch and looked at each other. "So, what do you want to do?"

She shrugged. "I am not cleared for what I want to be doing."

Though their previous conversation had made it quite clear that intimacy would not be an option any time in the near future, that was still the first thing that popped into his mind. Tony cleared his throat. "Yeah, no twelve mile runs for you for awhile yet Ninja."

Ziva slid her fingers between his. "I like when you call me that."

He kissed her knuckles. "Oh hey, I have an idea!" Tony led her to the car. "Get in."

Ziva laughed. "Where are we going?"

Tony grinned. "You'll just have to wait and see."

Rolling her eyes, Ziva gave up trying to get an answer out of him and settled back to enjoy the drive. They ended up on a quiet back street at a small bar. Ziva's brow furrowed but she let Tony take her hand and walked inside with him. Tony nodded at the bartender who was also the owner, and his attractive daughter. A detective he knew from Metro PD sat with them and it was obvious that the daughter and the detective were more than just friends.

Tony pulled out a chair for Ziva at the first table they came to and returned to the bar to order a couple virgin drinks. Max, the bartender, raised an eyebrow. He'd seen the agent in before and the man usually went straight for the good stuff. Tony chuckled and leaned against the bar.

"New parents," he explained, looking over at Ziva. "Our daughter is almost three weeks old."

"Well, congratulations," Max smiled, setting the drinks in front of him. "First round's on the house."

"You're a good man Max," Tony grinned, going back to his wife.

They sat and sipped their drinks, staring at each other and basking in the atmosphere. Then the owner's daughter pressed a button on the CD player and beckoned for her detective friend to join her. Tony and Ziva watched the look on his face, laughing at how smitten he was. The two started dancing, attraction evident in their every move.

Seeing how comfortable they were together, how much they reveled in each other's company, Tony waited only a minute before standing and offering his hand to Ziva. She took it and let him draw her across the floor. The bar was mostly empty now and Max stood back, drying glasses and keeping an eye on the couples dancing like they were the only ones in the room.

A slow song came after the first more upbeat one and Tony slid his arms around Ziva's waist. She rested her head on his shoulder and they swayed gently in small circles, ending with a sweet kiss. Behind them the detective whistled and Tony pulled away with a grin. "I'd keep your comments to yourself Hoiyt, it works both ways y'know."

The woman by his side chuckled nervously and patted his arm. "We're just friends."

"Very good friends," the detective added.

Tony looked down into Ziva's eyes. "Yeah, that's what we used to say too. Next thing I know we're wearing rings." He turned back to the other couple. "Don't waste time pretending, it's not worth what you lose."

They returned to their table and Ziva smirked. "Playing matchmaker Tony?"

"Just sharing the wealth of my experience with the undeserving commoners." He played with her fingers. "Seriously though, I've known them a long time and they're just as bad at hiding their feelings as we used to be." Tony kissed the back of her hand. "Figured I may as well give them a shove in the right direction."

Ziva glanced back at the detective and the woman who were sharing another dance. "I hope they listen. To miss out on being loved is a great tragedy."

They stayed a little longer but soon Tony's watch announced that it was time to go home. Reluctantly he stood and dropped a couple bills on the table. "Ready?"

She looked down at her chest. "I can feel it is almost time to nurse her again. We better go."

They stalled for a few minutes on the front porch when they got back to their house. Tony took his time kissing his wife and Ziva returned the favour, leaving them both breathless. He leaned his forehead on hers. "You're teasing me."

Her eyes sparkled. "And you are enjoying it." Then she turned and went inside.

NCIS

Early Thursday afternoon Ziva decided it was time for her and Chaya to go for their first walk together. Instead of turning down the street, Ziva headed out of the neighbourhood, to the larger park she and Tony had found the first time they were kicked out of the house. The park boasted lots of trees, a paved path, benches, water fountains, a small pond in the middle, and lots of large open space perfect for picnic or playing frisbee. Ziva set out at a brisk pace on the path and did three circuits before beginning to tire.

Finally she sat on a bench beside another mom with a stroller and started in surprise when the woman began speaking to her child in Hebrew. Turning, she couldn't resist asking. "At medebar Ivrit?" You speak Hebrew?

The woman spun to face her. "Ken." She held out her hand. "Shmi Elina, kara oti Lina bevakasha." My name is Elina, please, call me Lina. She smiled at her daughter. "Zot Claire." This is Claire.

Ziva smiled. "Shmi Ziva, ve'bar sheli Chaya." My name is Ziva, and my daughter Chaya.

Lina looked interested. "Hashem yafa." Beautiful name.

Ziva leaned forward. "Na'im me'od Claire. Bat kama at?" Nice to meet you Claire. How old are you?

Lina chuckled. "She is almost three months old. And yours?" (A/N: Sorry, ran out of Hebrew phrases but you can just assume that as long as Lina and Ziva are talking, it's in Hebrew, not English.)

It felt so good to be speaking Hebrew with someone again. "Chaya is three weeks today."

"I remember what that's like. How is she sleeping?"

Ziva ran her fingers through her hair. "Three hours between feedings but I never feel rested no matter how many naps I take."

"That'll pass," Lina promised.

Ziva leaned back. "Are you Israeli?"

Lina shook her head. "Spanish actually. Although my parents were Spanish and Israeli, so I spent half my life in each country. My husband Adam is Israeli also. He works here in the Israeli Embassy." She made a face. "Long hours. Sometimes it is hard to be alone so much and America is much different than either Spain or Israel."

"It is nice to talk to someone who understands," Ziva commented.

"I'm glad we met Ziva," Lina said. "Maybe we could be friends."

"I would like that."

Lina checked out Ziva's ring. "What does your husband do?"

Ziva smiled. "He is a federal agent, as am I, but I am on maternity leave for five more weeks."

Lina's eyebrows jumped up. "That's so soon for you to go back!"

The other woman frowned. "Yes. I am not happy that she will have to be in daycare. But there is one in our building, so I can still breastfeed her."

"That's good," Lina nodded. "That's what I'm doing with Claire and I think it's the best way." She bent down to kiss her daughter. "It is nice that she is starting to be more alert now, I enjoy playing with her."

Ziva glanced at Chaya. "I suppose I am looking forward to that part, but maybe after we are both sleeping through the night."

Lina laughed. "I know it seems like it lasts forever, but that stage will pass. Claire was six weeks when she decided she could go more than three hours without being fed at night."

"That gives me hope." Ziva checked her watch. "I think we should go, she will be hungry very soon."

Lina shook her head. "Stay Ziva, feed her here. It's one of the advantages of being her food source." Ziva hesitated and Lina nodded knowingly. "You haven't nursed in public yet."

"No."

"You have to remember that no one is looking at you even though it feels like everyone is watching. What you're doing is normal and natural and you can do it anywhere. Just try it," she suggested. "If you're too uncomfortable I won't protest again."

Chewing on the inside of her lip, Ziva sat down and began getting out what she would need. She fumbled a bit getting herself ready and as soon as Chaya opened her eyes, Ziva got the baby situated. It was terribly awkward at first but soon Lina distracted her with conversation and afterwards the two ladies went out for a late lunch. Lina nursed Claire in the restaurant and sat there looking relaxed and content. Ziva hoped that someday she would be that confident again.

Ziva was waiting when Tony came home, excited to tell him about her new friend. "It was so good to talk to another mom who understands, to hold a conversation in Hebrew. She was a nurse before she had Claire and she has lived in Israel." Ziva took a breath and Tony loved to see the happiness in her eyes.

"I'm proud of you Zi, that's great."

Ziva tilted her head to the side. "Lina is the first friend I've ever had outside the team, not including Grace or Duke."

He trailed his fingers through her hair, the revelation hitting him hard. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't realize."

She shrugged. "It does not matter. At least I have one now."

"Yeah." Tony pulled her into his arms. "I'm glad." There were so many things he hadn't thought about and hearing that truth for the first time, Tony wondered how much else he'd missed.