They got a case the moment they stepped off the elevator Tuesday morning and there was no need for Gibbs' usual call of 'grab your gear' because McGee was following him and Tony and Ziva hadn't taken theirs off yet. As usual, Tony and Ziva and Gibbs and McGee drove in two cars to the crime scene. Tony took advantage of the time alone and threaded his fingers through Ziva's. She smiled briefly and put her hand to her hip, checking for both knife and gun, which were still where she'd strapped them before leaving the house.

Once at the location where a man lay face down in the creek, things fell seamlessly into place as if nothing had ever changed. "DiNozzo, perimeter," Gibbs barked. "McGee, bag and tag. Ziva, sketch and shoot." She raised an eyebrow, perhaps wondering whom she was supposed to shoot, and he glared. "Pictures. Don't make me smack you David."

Tony opened his mouth to protest the use of her maiden name, but with a glance at Ziva he knew they both realized two DiNozzos on the same team was not likely to work and it would be easier to keep them separate. So he sighed, clamped his lips together, and got to work.

They spent the day chasing leads and interviewing people on their suspect list. After returning from one of those meetings, Tony dropped his backpack onto his chair and grinned. "The wife did it."

Ziva crossed her arms and stared at him. "You are telling me that tiny woman forced a grown man twice her size into a car, took him down to the creek and somehow got him to the ground, holding his face in the water until he drowned?"

Tony's expression fell. "Well, I didn't say she did it alone."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Tell me how and we'll bring her in."

The senior field agent sat down slowly. "Uh, right. On it Boss." And just like that the team was back to normal.

Several hours later however, when the bickering and flirting had turned into intense stares across the bullpen, Gibbs got fed up. "Hey! Keep your eyes to yourself."

Tony grinned and dropped his gaze to his keyboard. Ziva's lips curled up and she too averted her eyes. That they were deriving great pleasure from the situation was clear. McGee squirmed in his chair. "I'm going to see if Abby needs help." He left before he had permission to go but Gibbs didn't blame him. Tony and Ziva married were definitely worse than Tony and Ziva as partners pretending they didn't feel more.

Ziva left first that night and Tony stared longingly after her before taking McGee with him to pick up a potential killer. Three hours later they'd run out of leads and Gibbs checked his watch, then finally gave up and send them home. Gone were the nights they could work until ten or eleven or later on a case. Abby simply couldn't be on her feet fourteen hours a day anymore and Tony and Ziva had a family, it wasn't fair to make it impossible for them to spend time with their daughter. For once work would have to come second.

NCIS

Tony was relieved to find Chaya still awake when he got home. Ziva kissed her husband and handed him the baby. "I do not like leaving without you."

He took a seat on the couch. "Chaya needs to have one of us around. This way we both get to see her at night." Tony leaned down and kissed his daughter's forehead, smiling when she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. "That's right princess, go to sleep. Mommy and I will be here when you wake up." He reached for Ziva's hand. "How was she?"

Ziva shrugged one shoulder. "Very fussy for awhile. She woke up early from her nap and nothing would calm her except laying on my chest. She fell asleep, so I did not move until her next feeding." She sighed. "She is probably very confused. One day she has us all to herself, the next she is left with a stranger and only sees us a few times during the day."

Tony didn't like the tone in her voice. "She'll get used to it Zi, we all will."

Ziva sat up and glared at him. "I do not want to get used to it! I do not want another person raising my child. It is not fair. Even if I took a year off I still would not be ready to let go."

Waiting out her rant, Tony stroked Chaya's tummy. "It sucks for me too Zi. I never thought I'd have a daughter, that I'd be wearing a wedding ring. So getting you back as my partner means I hardly ever have to be without you, but I miss out on her."

Ziva slumped back into the cushions. "I hate this. But I think...our jobs are so important Tony, do you think Chaya will understand?"

He swallowed. "As long as she knows she comes first. That we love our jobs but we love her more. Chaya will always be our first priority. If she's sick, if she had a bad day, if she has a school play or dance recital, if she just needs to take a day off from life, we'll be there for her, that nothing else is more important."

She leaned against his shoulder. "I never knew you would be so good at this, that you would have so many answers. But you are right." Ziva kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Tony chuckled. "I can only hope I have as many answers when Chaya starts asking why the sky is blue and how caterpillars turn into butterflies and why all the worms come out when it rains."

Ziva chuckled. "I think your answers will be more fun than McGee's. He and Abby knew the scientific answers, but a three year old wants everything to be magic."

He got the feeling she'd never had that luxury as a child and he was glad their daughter, at least, would have the chance to just be little.

NCIS

While waiting for Ziva to come out of the bathroom, Tony paced nervously back and forth at the end of their bed, thinking. Many little things that might've originally needed to be worked through had kind of slipped under the radar in the wake of having a newborn and adjusting to their life together.

Ziva changed in the same room with him when Chaya was feeding every two hours around the clock and she was too tired to care if he saw her in her underwear. Tony had been sleeping without a shirt since before the baby was born and in just boxers starting when she was two weeks old. And once the weather got warmer, Ziva's t-shirt and capri pant pyjamas became a tank tops and shorts without even a thought. But tonight was different. Tonight he had plans to test Ziva's 'okay' from Saturday and she how willing she really was.

He laughed at himself, finding his anxiety amusing. "Come on DiNozzo, you got this. You already married the girl, just man up and ask." But Tony was still pacing when Ziva opened the door, rubbing lotion into her hands. "Uh...hi." Yeah, you're gonna sweep her off her feet with that eloquence, his inner voice scoffed.

Ziva looked at him curiously. "Who were you talking to Tony?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh...no one. Just me."

She chuckled. "I hope it was a good conversation." Ziva made a face and sat down on the bed. "What?"

His eyes darted around the room. "What do you mean?"

She gestured to him. "That. You are so nervous you are practically sweating."

Tony swallowed. "Right. So uh...remember that talk we had Saturday night?" Ziva visibly tensed but he rushed ahead. "I was wondering if we could...try something."

Ziva closed her eyes and resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself for protection. "What kind of something?" she asked in a small voice.

The bed dipped as he joined her, hooking their fingertips like months before when that was the most she could handle. Tony tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Will you come to bed without pyjamas? In just your bra and underwear and let me touch you?"

Her heartrate sped up and Ziva looked away, remembering the night she bared her scars, the first time since being undercover that he'd put his hands on her mostly naked body. He'd been gentle then, she had no reason to think now would be any different. She'd been too busy all day to think about not having therapy, but now Ziva knew she would miss the decompression time, especially after tonight. This was the moment Devon had mentioned, when Tony would ask for just a little bit more and Ziva knew what her answer had to be.

Slowly she nodded and stood, hesitating before lifting the tank top over her head and letting her shorts drop to the floor. Tony knew what a struggle it was to be this exposed, knew the reason she kept her eyes closed was so he wouldn't see the fear that lay in the chocolate depths.

He led her to the bed and once she got in and lay down, Tony went to his side, moving close to Ziva but not touching. Brushing his fingers over her hair, he took a breath, embarrassed for what he had to say next. "I promise Ziva, not to do anything that scares you, but you're going to have to tell me if something does. And I..." Tony stopped and let out a breath. "I want you to be prepared to feel my reaction to touching you. It's awkward, but I won't be able to help it, not like this."

Ziva met his gaze and tried to smile. "I know Tony, and I cannot say that it will not affect me, but I trust you and we have to start somewhere."

Tony swallowed and slid closer, knowing it wouldn't take long for his body to respond to her nearness. He started simple, caressing her arms from shoulder to fingertip, then holding her against him while he traced gentle patters on her back, smoothing his fingers across her scars. When he moved below her bra strap and got to her lower back, Ziva stiffened, so Tony stopped moving and just kept his arms around her, tucking his head into her neck.

Eventually Ziva slipped her hands under his arm and over his shoulder to rest on his back. She kissed his collarbone and Tony took that as a signal to continue. He hesitated to touch her even over her underwear, so Tony hooked Ziva's leg over his hip and gave her a moment to get used to the position, then ran his hand from her knee down to her ankle and slowly back up.

But it was too close and pressing into him too much. Ziva bit her lip and pushed away, softening her resistance with a gentle kiss. And as Tony nudged Ziva onto her back and started at her collarbone, working his way down, he quickly realized that she was tired of talking. Because every time something bothered her, she simply sought his lips, needing to know the difference between right now and before, when it had been other hands on her body that had no intention of being careful.

He took things slow, noting the places that made her uncomfortable and finally sliding his fingers into her hair and molding his mouth to hers, both thanking her for allowing him this freedom and to reassure any of her fears that were still present. Ziva smiled but seemed glad to get out of bed and put her clothes back on. She settled down on her side and Tony didn't push, waiting until his body calmed down before cuddling up to her and kissing behind her ear.

"I love you Zi." She didn't say anything, she'd been mute since he'd asked to touch her, but her fingers moved over the back of his hand in a familiar pattern and that meant almost as much as hearing the words out loud.

NCIS

By Wednesday afternoon the case was closed and to everyone's dismay, Tony had been right about the wife, which meant they got to listen to him gloat until Gibbs shut him up with a stinging headslap. That night was supposed to be Girl's Night but because Ziva was back to Ops now, they moved it to Friday night and had decided to go out for drinks after Ziva finished at the gym, which in their case meant No-Caf Pow and tea. Being pregnant and breastfeeding meant they had to change their definitions of what used to be a fun way to hang out.

Tony left early to get Chaya, taking an unguarded moment to kiss Ziva goodbye. Once at home, he started supper even though it would be hours before Ziva got to eat it. He was just putting his first solo try at quiche in the oven when Chaya woke up with a start and immediately began crying.

Checking his watch and frowning because it was an hour and a half too early for her to be hungry, Tony wiped his hands and went to the carseat, kneeling down to unbuckle his daughter. "Hi princess, what's the matter?" She cried louder and he chuckled. "Aw honey, it can't be all that bad." Lifting her out, he checked her diaper, but no problems there. She'd just eaten at five and wasn't due for another growth spurt until three months.

Uncertain what else there was, Tony started walking the floor, bouncing Chaya a little and swaying back and forth the way she usually liked, but that didn't help. Running his fingers up and down her spine had little affect and even laying skin to skin only calmed the infant briefly. Running out of ideas, Tony was ready to call someone for help when suddenly he remembered the last time they couldn't get her to stop crying and Ziva played the piano.

Taking Chaya with him, he went upstairs to the spare room and looked under the bed for his guitar. He hadn't played in a couple years but surely he could remember enough to appease a baby. Moving them to the nursery, Tony clipped Chaya into her bouncy seat and retrieved the Mommy blanket to tuck around her. That almost instantly made things better, but Chaya was still upset and Tony brushed away a tear on her cheek.

"Oh, don't cry sweetie, Daddy's here." He took a minute to tune his guitar and then wracked his brain for the right song to play. One came to mind and Tony started picking out the chords, his voice low and soothing as he sang.

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day./When it's cold outside I've got the month of May./I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way?/My girl, talking about my girl. My girl, my girl."

Chaya's wide eyes focused on him and Tony continued singing. She watched, silent and transfixed as he moved to What a Wonderful World. The baby was fast asleep again by the time he got to You Are My Sunshine, but Tony strummed softly and whispered the words to her anyway.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine/You make me happy when skies are grey/You'll never know dear, how much I love you/Please don't take my sunshine away."

Leaning forward, he kissed Chaya's forehead. "I love you C, you'll always be my sunshine."

Carefully carrying the sleeping baby downstairs, Tony checked supper and collapsed on the couch, startled when a full scale invasion of team members walked in the door shortly after seven. "We've got ninety minutes," Gibbs announced, heading downstairs with McGee. "Manning will let us know when she leaves."

Tony's jaw dropped. "You got Duke involved?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Needed a lookout."

He rolled his eyes. So much for a secret. They disappeared downstairs and Tony turned awkwardly to the redhaired woman waiting by the door. "Celeste, I'm s-"

She stepped forward and put her hand on his chest. "I know you meant well Tony, you're forgiven." Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Jethro wasn't too hard on you, was he?"

He shook his head. "I expected worse. At least I still have a job," Tony chuckled.

She shooed him towards the basement. "Go, I'll keep an eye on your little girl."

Tony hesitated. "Supper is in the oven too. The timer is set, do you mind...?"

Celeste smiled. "I'll take care of it. Good luck with your project."

He grinned. "Thanks." As much as he missed having Ziva around at night, they now had built in time while she was at the gym to work on the basement. It was coming along nicely and he couldn't wait to finish and show Ziva. Tony only hoped she liked it as much as he thought she would.

NCIS

True to his orders, Duke texted Gibbs when Ziva left Ops and they packed up everything and got out of there in a hurry. Tony was surprised when they came upstairs to see Celeste burping Chaya. His eyes widened and jumped to the clock. "Oh man, her eight o'clock feeding, I totally forgot."

Celeste handed over the baby. "I found the bottles, we got along okay."

He smiled, rubbing Chaya's back. "Thanks."

Gibbs and McGee left with the promise of returning Friday when Girl's Night would give them extra time to work, and shortly after they pulled away Ziva's car drove in the lane. Tony was upstairs changing Chaya and heard her voice. "Be right down!" he called, gathering the now clean and changed baby into his arms. At the bottom of the stairs he kissed Ziva. "Good workout?"

She smiled. "It feels great to be doing something again finally. How was Chaya?"

"Fussy like you said," Tony reported, pushing her towards the kitchen for food. "Honestly, I think she misses you." Ziva raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. "The Mommy blanket helped but you might have to sleep with it again so it still smells like you. I think she's just adjusting to day care and not always being able to breastfeed even if she's getting breast milk."

Ziva reached for her daughter and cradled Chaya against her chest. "I am sorry tatelah. We will have some time together tonight, I promise." She kissed the baby's head. "I miss you too." Sighing, she looked at her husband. "Why did no one tell me this would be so hard?"

He put his arms around her. "Probably because you never would've done it. I'm sorry Zi."

Ziva leaned into him. "She can have me now. That will have to be enough for both of us."

In the end, Ziva had to lay Chaya in her bassinet so she could eat supper, but when the baby cried at nine-thirty, Tony did dishes instead of going upstairs with them, giving his wife some time alone with her daughter. She settled in the rocking chair and undid her nursing bra, pleased when Chaya latched on right away and started sucking.

"Is that better hakatan? You just needed Ima, hmm?" She smoothed her fingers over the baby's soft curls. "I wish I did not miss so many of your feedings. I wish I had cherished them more when I had you all to myself for those weeks." Ziva kissed Chaya's hand. "We will look forward to the weekend, yes? And I hope nothing will interrupt our time together then."

Tony didn't join them until it was time for Chaya to be burped and changed, and then it was only to say goodnight. The timing for a story would have to be reworked to fit this new schedule. Once in their room and ready for bed, he turned to Ziva. "Will you let me hold you again, like last night?"

She shivered but agreed, wishing she could find pleasure in her husband's touch, but being so close to naked put her on edge and Ziva had a hard time forcing herself to relax. After his hands had touched her whole body except for mostly avoiding the private areas and Tony kissed her again, Ziva sighed. "I want to enjoy this Tony, being close to you, but it has been too long and I do not know how."

He swallowed and swept his fingers over her forehead. "You learned how to be afraid in that camp, and what to fear. Let me teach you that what you remember from Africa doesn't apply here with us. I want to show you that I'm safe Zi." Ziva nodded and tucked her body against his, needing his comfort. Doing something different was a start, but Tony desperately wished that every little step didn't have to hurt so much.