Wednesday Ziva skipped Ops because she was still sore from her own workout the day before. Duke wasn't thrilled but figured one day wouldn't matter much. They got out of work in time for a late supper, so it was a complete surprise when Gibbs and Celeste showed up an hour later.

Ziva opened the door and let the couple in. "Chaya is sleeping right now if you were hoping for a visit. But she will be up in half an hour."

Gibbs jerked his head towards the window. "Go take a walk. We know where the bottles are if you're not back in time."

Tony looked puzzled. "But it's not the fourth." The glare he got sent the younger man running for the door. "Right, thanks Boss!"

He and Ziva set out at a brisk pace for their favourite park just out of the neighbourhood and around the corner. As they started out on the path, thunder rumbled overhead and the skies opened. Tony tried to tug Ziva out of the downpour but she didn't move, instead lifting her face and hands to the sky. She smiled at him.

"I like rain."

Tony stepped closer, blinking away the water dripping from his forehead. "I remember." He held out his hand. "M'lady."

Ziva curtsied. "Why thank you sir."

At the edge of the park they danced in the rain, completely drenched and completely delighting in it. Laughing, they kicked off their shoes and Tony chased Ziva across the grassy expanse. She was quick as a deer but he finally caught up to her under a large tree. They stared at each other for a long moment and then came together, their lips eagerly seeking the other's mouth. Tony's hands cupped Ziva's face and hers were splayed over his back as they stood there kissing while rain streamed down their faces.

After awhile, Ziva stood with her back to Tony's chest, his arms across her shoulder and waist, just watching the thick curtain of rain that covered the park. Finally it dwindled to a light shower and then just the occasional drop here and there. The couple retraced their steps and found their sandals before beginning the slow, soggy journey home, hand in hand.

Tony and Ziva walked in the door with clothes and hair plastered to their bodies, grinning like fools. Gibbs rolled his eyes at them and gave Celeste a look. "Newlyweds."

But Celeste's quick glance at her ring finger and a tap on her watch reminded him that they would soon fall into that category again, if he kept his promise. He laced their fingers together and smiled slightly. No way he wasn't going to follow through. It was a day he greatly looked forward to seeing.

NCIS

Thursday marked Chaya turning three months old and the new parents left work early to spend time with their elated baby. When Chaya woke up Tony zoomed her around the livingroom like an airplane, eliciting laughter he couldn't get enough of, finally landing her in Ziva's arms. He knelt and kissed her cheek. "Three months old princess, I can't believe how fast you're growing."

Chaya clapped her hands, her newest trick, and Ziva adjusted her shirt to feed her baby. Her fingers traveled down Chaya's arms and legs. "She is starting to get a little chubbier now. She was such a skinny newborn for so long."

"Must be all that healthy breast milk," Tony cooed, tickling her feet until the little girl squirmed. Ziva smacked his hand away and shook her head, but he wasn't easily distracted this time. "And ten pounds the last time we weighed her, right? That's almost double what you were when we brought you home sweetie. Gosh," he sprawled out on the floor at Ziva's feet, "time goes so fast!"

After Chaya finished eating, Tony and Ziva laid on the floor with her, watching the baby kick at the dangly toys on her floor gym and pointing out all the pretty shapes and colours. Later, they put her on her tummy - which still wasn't her favourite, but after two months of practice she was used to it - and took turns rolling different sized balls to Chaya and helping her reach for them. At last the baby gave an angry squawk and turned her head away from them, her signal that she'd had enough.

Tony and Ziva got her ready for bed, complete with bath, and put her down for the night. Making the most of the time they now had together before going to sleep, the couple retired to the couch to relax. Ziva was stretched out on the couch with her head pillowed on her husband's lap as she read and he watched a movie. The peace of knowing Chaya wouldn't wake until six-thirty the next morning made it easy to relax, even if Ziva would be up at five am for her run.

Not too many minutes later, Tony paused the movie, his eyes becoming intent on their study of one of her brown curls wrapped around his finger. Ziva put the book down. "A nickle for your thoughts?"

He gave her one of his half-grins. "I didn't realize the price had gone up." With a sigh, he ran his finger over her rings. "Does it ever bother you Zi?"

She shifted to face him a little more. "You will have to be more specific than 'it' Tony."

He still hadn't looked at her. "Right. Uh...so I kind of just realized that November will be your thirtieth birthday."

Ziva's expression was confused. "You did not know how old I am?"

Tony tried to cover his discomfort by wiping his eyes. "The subject never really came up Zi. But that means," he shook his head slowly and finally met her gaze, "you were only twenty-two when you came to NCIS."

She still didn't understand. "It is not like I kept it a secret."

"No," he sounded frustrated now, "but you didn't exactly advertise it either. Gosh Ziva, you didn't act like you were twenty-two." Tony's face became incredulous. "Do you know what I was like at twenty-two?"

Her lips curved into a smile. "I may be able to guess." When he didn't respond Ziva sat up and moved to straddle his lap, making it near to impossible for him to ignore her. She linked her hands behind his neck. "What is really bothering you Tony?"

"I'm a lot older than you," he said slowly.

Ziva raised one eyebrow. "I did the dossiers on the team for Ari, I am perfectly aware of your age."

Tony frowned. "And that doesn't bother you?"

She made a noise in her throat. "It is not like you are twenty or thirty years my senior Tony, I do not think twelve is so bad." Ziva tilted her head. "Why is this coming up now?"

His eyes traveled from her face to her torso, then followed the tan skin of her arms as far as he could without turning his head. They lingered on the scars etched into her forearm and Tony kissed them gently, his hands moving to grip her hips lightly.

"You've seen more in thirty years than most people see in a lifetime." His voice was soft, his expression earnest. "And I feel like you should be at least my age, but you're not. That night we stood outside your hotel and watched the rain fall I wanted you, because you were beautiful and exotic and hot and mysterious and you intrigued me." He made a disgusted face at himself. "I just didn't realize I was lusting after a girl barely old enough to be finished college."

Ziva traced his familiar features with gentle fingers. "It was not all your fault." He didn't believe her so she tried to explain. "It was my job to get close to all of you, to learn what I could and pass that information on to my brother." She shook her head.

"I was not a child Tony. I had been using my body to get what I wanted and needed for longer than you probably want to know. I was taught to use my looks and appeal as a tool, to treat my sexuality the same as any other weapon." Her eyes darkened. "Men with far less integrity than you used to have had fallen for my act, but," she ran her finger over his lips just before she kissed him, "you are one of the only ones who did not take advantage of it because of what I could have offered."

"I wish I'd seen more of you," Tony admitted, then hastened to clarify when a sly look began to steal across her face. "Not like that Zi. I mean," he closed his eyes briefly, "I saw everything when we were undercover, but that's not what I'm talking about."

"Perhaps you should elaborate," she replied, trailing her fingers through the soft hairs at the back of his neck.

Tony nearly groaned. She was sitting in his lap and touching him like that and now she wanted him to concentrate on something serious? He let out a breath and made sure to focus on her face, and not what she was wearing underneath her lazy day clothes. "What I'm trying to say is that I wish I had seen you more as a person with hurts and feelings and a history, instead of a sexual object, albeit a dangerous one, that I wanted to play with. You were a flame I wanted to touch even if I got burned. I didn't care about the consequences."

Ziva considered his argument. "You see me now," she said simply. "Who am I?"

Tony leaned towards her a little, letting their foreheads touch. "You are Ziva DiNozzo. Still my butt kicking ninja with mad skills but also my wife, and mother to our beautiful daughter." He nuzzled her cheek, whispering in her ear. "And I do believe well on her way to becoming my lover as well."

Pulling back, he noted the way her eyes dropped and continued. "You're an American citizen with less than six months left before your probation is over and you will officially be a Special Agent with NCIS, not that that was ever in question." Tony tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "You are a daughter, a sister, a beloved friend, and if I do annoy you too much, I realize you can still easily kill me with a paper clip or some other innocuous item." He captured her lips for a few quick kisses before finishing his list. "And you are the woman I love." Tony smiled at her. "Did I forget anything?"

Her eyes held just a glint of teasing. "I think you covered all the important points."

Tony nodded slowly. "I did leave out crazy driver and fabulous cook. Oh, and the best partner I've ever had. You I can trust to watch my back, McGeek I'm not so sure about."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I think you see the best even when you should not." Ziva was thinking about a hot day in September when he was sitting tied to a chair in front of her, lips parched by heat and thirst, looking at her like she was a mirage or a dream instead of real.

"Hmm," he murmured against her hair, "I think it's my job to see the best parts Zi. Maybe I'm biased because I love you so much, but everything I see is the best stuff, there isn't room for anything else."

She sighed against his skin. "How did I get so lucky?"

"You're not the only one," Tony said quietly, content to hold her like this for as long as she wanted.

Ziva brushed her lips over his neck before sitting up. "I think that since you have been so nice, we can take a bath before bed."

Tony's eyes widened. "You're sure?" Baths and showers were new for them, but if she was offering, he wasn't going to say no.

She swallowed back any hesitation, because they had to overcome this barrier she shielded herself with at some point, and nodded. "Yes, I am sure." And because she knew what he was thinking, Ziva put her mouth by his ear. "You have shown that you love me more than any of the physical things." She laid her cheek against his. "I trust you."

Those three words were so significant, that she could trust him with her body, her memories, her scars, her fears and feelings. And Tony had absolutely no intentions of doing anything tonight that would make her question that trust. He'd been right in the beginning - Ziva really was worth so much more than any pleasure they would ever share together. This was just one more step in the right direction.

NCIS

Friday afternoon Abby left Tami in charge and made her way upstairs, hoping for a few minutes alone with her husband. Instead she came upon a scene that stopped her in her tracks. An attractive blonde woman stood at Tim's desk, far too close in her opinion, staring at him with big blue eyes as McGee explained something to her. The woman replied and put her hand on his arm and Tim laughed.

Tears welled in Abby's eyes as she spun around and ran for the elevator. What she couldn't have known because she didn't stay long enough, was that the blonde was a witness and Tim was explaining how it would work if they needed her to testify. As soon as she touched him, McGee eased back subtly and brought Abby into the conversation, his facial expression and tone making it clear that he was very much in love with his wife. But she'd been too shocked to read their lips and she left too abruptly.

McGee wasn't aware of anything that had happened, so he was rather perplexed when he arrived in the lab to pick up Abby, only to have Tami tell him she'd taken a cab home. Hoping she wasn't sick and wondering why she hadn't told him she was leaving, McGee hurried back to the house.

"Abby," he called as soon as he got in the door. There was no answer so Tim began checking all the rooms, his concern growing with each minute that passed. He found her in the baby's room, now painted and decorated and just waiting for furniture to be assembled. She was holding a stuffed blue giraffe and looking very solemn.

"Abby, why didn't you answer me?" Tim turned her to face him and saw tear tracks dried on her cheeks. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"I saw you," she said quietly.

He frowned. "Saw me when?"

Her finger jabbed into his chest. "Don't play all innocent with me McGee, I saw you flirting with that blonde bimbo. What, are you tired of me now after all this time? I get that I'm not as attractive anymore with all this extra weight, so I guess I can see why you'd want to cheat. But did you really think I wouldn't find out Tim?"

Abby's rant had completely blindsided him. He grabbed her arm. "What are you talking about? I haven't looked at another woman since we got back together. How could you even think that?"

The tears started again and she faced away, throwing the toy at him. "She touched you Tim! And you were smiling and laughing and it was so sweet it was sickening!"

"How can you even think I'd want to cheat on you Abby?" McGee demanded. "After everything we've gone through, after almost nine months of marriage and eight years of knowing each other, now you decide not to trust me? I would never go behind your back. Geez." He scraped his fingers through his hair and stared at her.

Abby crossed her arms. "I don't believe you. I saw you with my own two eyes, but now I can't even look at you. Go away!"

"Abbs," he implored her, holding out his arms, but her expression hardened.

"No! Don't talk to me, don't touch me, just get out. Get out!" she shrieked when he didn't move.

Hurt, angry and feeling out of control, Tim spun on his heel, ran downstairs, grabbed his jacket and left. As soon as Abby heard the door slam, her hand covered her mouth and the other fell to her round belly, feeling the baby kick within her. "Oh no," she whispered, "what have I done?"

NCIS

At Ops that night Duke was waiting with a frown on his face, blocking the entrance to the training studio. "Heard you went AWOL on Tuesday."

She raised an eyebrow. "How could you possibly know that?"

Duke shrugged. "Because your husband cares enough to cover his bases. He called to see if you were here."

Ziva shook her head. "I never even thought to come here. Tony found me before I could get further than the Navy Yard."

"Need to talk?" he offered, unable to imagine what she was still fighting through to get her life back.

"No," Ziva answered, "I have talked enough to last me several lifetimes. What I need is to work out."

"Thought you told me Tony built you your own place," the trainer pointed out, walking with her into the relatively quiet gym.

"That is for off days, for when I need stress relief and cannot be here. But this is the place that was my refuge when I first came back and this is where I can practice and sharpen my skills."

A smile spread slowly across Duke's face and he bowed. "Is that so? Well then, we are honoured with your presence. Alright David, let's find an empty room. You and I are going to work on our stick fighting techniques." He laughed. "Then I'll let you loose on the guys, if you still have some fire left."

She nodded, glad he understood. "Thank you."

He smirked. "Don't thank me yet, wait until we're finished."

If Ziva knew her trainer, that sounded like a challenge.

NCIS

Shortly after ten pm, just as Tony and Ziva were getting ready for bed after their shower, the phone rang. Tony flopped back on the bed and glared at it. "If that's a case, I'm going to shoot someone."

Ziva chuckled. "He will just call back if you do not answer."

Groaning, Tony reached for the offending object. "DiNozzo."

"Tony?" came Abby's tearful voice, and he jolted upright.

"Abby? What's wrong?"

He heard more crying and wanted to shake the receiver. "Tim's gone. I waited and waited but he never came home. I'm worried." Abby sighed. "We had a fight. He's probably drinking somewhere."

Tony rubbed his face. McGee had hardly touched alcohol since Somalia, if he went on a bender tonight, it wouldn't be pretty. "Why me Abs? Why not Gibbs?"

"Because Tony, I want him alive," Abby explained indignantly. "Will you look for him, please?"

He was already pulling on his pants. "On my way. I'll let you know when I find him."

"He's not answering his phone," Abby added, a fresh wave of tears streaming down her face. She'd texted him twenty times at least trying to apologize, but not one was returned.

"Go get Sammy Abs, it'll help to have someone to cuddle while you wait. I'll find him."

"Thanks Tony." Abby hung up and he turned to his wife.

"When I get my hands on him, Probie is dead," he muttered.

Ziva kissed him. "I will wait for you. Keep me noted."

He chuckled but didn't bother correcting her. "I love you." Shrugging into his jacket, Tony grabbed the keys and left.

For nearly two hours he drove around the city, checking every bar and club and place he could ever remember hanging out with McGee or the team. Finally he remembered an obscure little place Tim had mentioned one of his gaming buddies liked. Tony found his friend sitting at the bar, head down on his arms and several empty shot and drink glasses surrounding him.

"Hey!" he snapped, Gibbs-slapping him with enough force to make McGee jerk forwards. "What the heck are you doing? Your thirty-two week pregnant wife is worried sick and I've been looking for you for hours." McGee's eyes drooped and Tony glared. "How drunk are you?"

"Not 'nuff," Tim slurred, trying to set one of the shot glasses back upright and failing.

"Let's go," Tony ordered. "We need to get you home."

"Abby doesn't want me," McGee declared. "Didn't do anything wrong, but...hates me now."

"Oh brother." Tony closed his eyes. He'd forgotten how depressed Tim got when he was wasted. He grabbed the other man's arm. "Come on McPlastered, time to leave."

"Don't wanna go back!" he cried pitifully. "Don't wan' her to loo' at me like...betrayed her."

Tony hauled McGee to his feet and found his wallet in the pocket of his jacket, tossing several bills onto the counter, and helped his friend out. Once they were in the car, Tony pulled out his cellphone. "Hi Abs. Yeah, I've got him." He glanced over at McGee. "Sorry, he's not in any condition to see you right now. He can stay with me and Ziva tonight. We'll send him home in the morning." He smiled. "You're welcome. Me too. Night."

McGee looked like he was ready to cry. "She doesn't wan' me back?"

"Get a grip McGoo," Tony ordered. "You can see your wife when you're sober."

Tim lapsed into silence then and Tony rolled his eyes but refrained from commenting. McGee had pulled him out of some pretty deep dark places when Ziva was gone, more than once. It was time he returned the favour. When Tony dragged McGee up the stairs and into the house, Ziva's eyes showed relief but she held up a finger so he wouldn't speak as she wandered the kitchen, a portable phone held to her ear.

"I know you are feeling hurt right now Abby and believe me, the hormones only magnify everything, but we are talking about Tim. The man has loved you longer than Tony and I have been partners. Think about what you saw, think about the man you know. I am confident you will come up with the right answer." She smiled patiently at Tony, who was settling McGee on the couch. "Yes, they are here now. We will. Get some sleep Abby. Good night."

Hanging up the phone, Ziva sighed. "Shall we compare stories?"

Tony took off his jacket. "I've been dealing with drunk and depressed. I'm guessing you were talking down hysterical and emotional?"

Ziva filled two glasses with water and brought them to the coffee table, returning for aspirins which she set in Tim's palm. "You will need them." He swallowed the pills without comment. "I was trying to return logic to Abby's emotional state, but I am not sure if it was a success." Nudging up the glass McGee held, Ziva encouraged him to drink more. He finished three glasses of water before she was satisfied.

"It is a start. Now McGee, can you tell us what happened?"

Tim began mumbling something about a blonde witness and it being all Gibbs' fault. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to defend himself. "I di'n't mean to laugh. When she touched me I moved. We were talking 'bout Abby, why wouldn't she listen? I don't wanna lose her. I don't wan' anyone but her." He slumped over on the couch and buried his face in a throw pillow. "She hates me and I didn't even do anything wrong."

"You know how Abby is," Tony joked as Ziva stroked Tim's hair like she would a child. "She'll be over it by morning, you'll see."

McGee gave his friend a dirty look, suddenly lucid enough to be profound. "How would you feel if Ziva made you leave?" he asked, frowning. "Go away. Don' try to help, jus' let me be miserable."

Ziva draped a blanket over him and Tony removed his shoes. "Goodnight McGee." A trash can was placed by the couch in case his stomach rejected the alcohol before he made it to the bathroom, and the couple walked upstairs slowly. Undressing for bed a second time, Tony and Ziva gravitated towards the center of the mattress and Ziva curled into her husband's embrace. After a moment of listening to him breathe, she propped her head up on one hand and tapped his cheek lightly.

"Stop that," she commanded.

Tony shifted his gaze to hers. "What?"

"I know when you are thinking bad things. McGee's question jangled you but do not worry. I can never see anything so bad between us that I would ask you to leave."

He rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Bet that's what Abby thought six hours ago too."

"Tony." Her tone was a warning. "I have not seen you google any girls since I have been back. You are a different man and I love you. Now please stop those thoughts."

Tony stroked her cheek with his thumb and leaned in to kiss her gently and sweetly, with no attempt at anything more. "I love you," he whispered hoarsely. Ziva lay her head on his chest and drew lazy circles on his collarbone as she listened to his heartbeat and waited for sleep to come.

NCIS

The next morning after Chaya's nine-thirty feeding, Ziva slipped quietly downstairs to check on McGee. He was sitting on the couch, holding something in his hands. Bringing water and pills with her, she joined him. Tim smiled gratefully and swallowed the aspirin, his pounding head reminding him what a stupid move it was to go to a bar while upset.

Ziva touched the small black and white picture gently. "When is this from?"

McGee sighed heavily. "Wednesday. He looks perfect."

She raised an eyebrow. "He?"

Tim shrugged. "Abby wants a boy, I guess I picked it up."

"You will be a good father McGee. You know how precious a gift this child is," Ziva reassured him.

"Not if his mother isn't speaking to me," Tim replied bitterly, tucking the ultrasound scan back in his wallet.

Ziva rubbed his back. "I will take you home McGee. You and Abby need to talk."

He glanced toward the stairs. "What about Tony?"

She chuckled. "He will sleep until someone wakes him up. Chaya will not be hungry again until this afternoon. Come Tim."

Reluctantly McGee pushed himself up off the couch and fumbled with his shoes, then followed Ziva out to her car. Their drive over was very quiet and when she pulled int the lane, he put his hand on the door latch and hesitated. "What do I say?"

Ziva's smile was sympathetic and she touched his arm lightly. "Perhaps you will not have to say much."

He nodded. "Thanks Ziva. Thank Tony too."

"I will. Good luck."

Taking a deep breath, McGee got out and walked slowly up the steps. He opened the door and saw Abby perched on the livingroom couch. She jumped up and they just stared at each other for a long moment before she flew into his arms. "Timmy I'm so sorry. I don't know why I said all those things. I didn't mean them. I didn't want you to go."

Tim's hands crept up to her face. "I didn't...I wasn't flirting with her Abby, I never even noticed until she touched me. But I swear I moved even if you didn't see that part. And I told her about you, that my wife worked in the lab and we're expecting a baby. The only one I see is you Abbs, I promise."

She leaned in and kissed him, the baby bump between them keeping her further away than she preferred. He tasted like mouthwash and was slow to return the gesture. "I saw all the wrong things when I walked in right then." Abby sighed and clutched his jacket. "Ziva asked me a lot of questions last night and I didn't have to think very long to find the answers. I'm sorry Tim, I don't care if it's breaking a rule. I shouldn't have accused you no matter what I thought I saw. I know you better than that."

"I don't want to be with anyone but you Abby," McGee said in a choked voice. "It hurts that you could lose faith in me so easily."

Tears pooled in her eyes. "How do I fix it?"

Tim wrapped her in his arms. "I don't know. But I know I'm not going anywhere while we figure this out. You can't get rid of me that easily. I won't leave you again."

Her husband's words were exactly what she wanted to hear, but Abby's heart was in turmoil because he was hurting and it was her fault. How was she going to make it up to him?