It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Stafford, Virginia. The forecast had called for sunny skies with temperatures in the low 80's, perfect weather for a trip to the Zoo Tony thought as he looked out his bedroom window.
Ziva watered her plants while Ben and his friend from next door played in the backyard while Tony was installing new batteries in the smoke detectors upstairs. Tony had just finished changing the batteries in the fourth bedroom that also doubled as Ziva's sewing room. He looked around the room imagining how it would look as a nursery for the new baby. The only other two options were his den downstairs or the guest bedroom that had its own bathroom. Tony did not think a nursery needed its own bathroom so it looked like Ziva would have to give up her sewing room. He was quite certain his den was safe because there was no way Ziva would want the new baby sleeping downstairs while everyone else was upstairs.
He went downstairs carrying his ladder and bag of batteries so he could take care of the first floor smoke detectors next. Ziva came in from outside and was getting the boys something to drink when Tony asked, "What room are we going to use for the new baby"? Ziva finished pouring the apple juice into sippy cups and thought about it. "Well it seems the only two choices are the guest room or my sewing room". Tony nodded in agreement; secretly happy he was not going to have to fight for his den. Ziva continued, "I guess I could move my sewing things into the guest room, we hardly ever use that room anyway". Tony remembered the last time that room had been used was when Eli David had surprised them with an unannounced visit and was killed a few nights later while dining with the Vance's. Tony had come so close to losing Ziva that night and he can still remember the gruesome scene as if it were yesterday.
FLASHBACK MAY 2013
Tony was home alone with his 8 month old son while Ziva and her father were having Shabbat Dinner with the Vance's. Tony and Eli were not on good terms and Ziva understood her husband's reasons for not wanting to share a meal with the man. The call came from Gibbs, "Tony you need to get to the Director's house right away, Eli David is dead and your wife needs you". Tony ran upstairs and lifted a sleeping Ben from his crib and not wanting to take the time to put the baby in his car seat, he held the baby in one arm as he drove to the Director's home. He arrived a few minutes later and met Gibbs and McGee out front. He pushed passed them still cradling his son in his arms and stopped in the doorway as he saw his wife rocking her dead father in her arms crying hysterically in Hebrew. Gibbs took the baby from his arms and silently nodded to Tony to go to his wife. Tony held Ziva as the paramedics worked on Jackie Vance and he thought, "This could have happened at our home, my wife and son could have been killed".
END OF FLASHBACK
Tony could see that Ziva was reliving the moment again and he pulled her in for a hug. "I'm sorry to have dredged up some bad memories", Tony said as he ran his fingers through her hair. Ziva placed a hand gently on the side of Tony's head and said while looking into his green eyes, "It has been more than three years, I am at peace now". Their moment was interrupted by the sound of a fight in the backyard. Ben and Brian were fighting over a toy truck, each pulling on one end saying they had it first. Tony said, "I'll handle it", and he went out back to separate the two before things escalated. A few minutes later he had it all worked out and made the two shake hands and say they were sorry to each other.
The morning had passed by without further incident and Ben asked if Brian could come to the Zoo with them. Tony told Ben no and both boys started to cry, hoping to get their way by shedding a few tears. Tony told Brian it was time for him to go home and he took the boy by the hand and delivered him next door. Brian, Sr. was working on his car in his driveway when he saw Tony bringing Brian, Jr. home. "What did you do to my kid DiNozzo"? Tony smiled and said, "Very funny Brian, he wants to go to the Zoo with us but today is not a good day". Brian, Sr. wiped his hands on a shop towel and said, "Ah yeah, Karen told me about the new B-a-b-y and that you were telling Ben this afternoon", then he shook Tony's hand congratulating him. Tony knelt down and ruffled little Brian's hair, "You can go with us the next time okay buddy"? Brian nodded his head yes as he sniffed back the tears and with that Tony crossed over the driveway back to his own home and family.
Ziva was getting Ben ready for his trip to the Zoo. He was wearing a red and white stripped t-shirt under a pair of denim overalls. She was trying to decide on sandals or sneakers and decided on the sneakers since Ben would likely be doing a lot of running around and climbing at the Zoo today.
When she had him dressed and ready to go they went downstairs and found Tony sitting at the table putting new batteries in his digital camera. "Are you guys ready"? Tony asked as he saw Ben and Ziva enter the kitchen. Ben looked at his daddy and saw that he was wearing his Ohio State cap and ran upstairs to get his hat. A few seconds later Ben returned wearing a smaller version of the same hat. "Look daddy we the same", Ben said pointing to his hat. Tony stood up and made the block O symbol and Ben did the same and when Tony said O-H Ben immediately replied, I-O. Tony smiled and picked Ben up saying, "That's my boy". Ziva just shook her head thinking they were both a little nuts.
They arrived at McDonald's a few minutes later and Ziva immediately began her surveillance; she looked for the obvious things at first that usually got her husband in trouble and that was pretty women and food. She looked around thinking, "Hmm, this might be a little harder than I thought". She watched as Tony helped Ben take his shoes off and told him to go play. As Tony kept an eye on Ben, Ziva continued to check out her surroundings. The girls at the counter were just that, certainly too young for her husband to flirt with. "It has to be the food then", Ziva thought to herself. Then she saw the giant Monopoly sign and remembered Tony's obsession with this game. She remembered one of the first cases they worked together when they were on a stakeout and Tony ate three meals a day plus snacks at McDonald's for 8 straight days just so he could get the game pieces. He of course made himself sick and Gibbs had to pull him off the case and replace him with Special Agent Balboa. That had been the first time she had ever seen Gibbs head slap Tony and she laughed to herself at the memory.
She walked over to the table in the play land area of the restaurant and sat down with Tony. "Why don't you go order our lunch, I will keep an eye on Ben", Ziva said as she handed Tony her debit card. "Okay Zi, what would you like? They have salads, chicken or fish if you don't want to eat a burger". Ziva thought for a moment and decided, "I will have a Big Mac, it's been years since I have eaten one". She really didn't care what kind of burger she had but she did notice that Tony could get two game pieces if she ordered a Big Mac and seeing the smile on her husband's face told her she had made the right decision. "Okay, you save the table and watch Ben, I will be right back", Tony said as he went to place their order.
He returned a short while later with two Big Mac value meals and a cheeseburger happy meal for Ben. "Look mommy, I got toy", Ben said as he held up his plastic toy for everyone to see. Tony opened Ben's milk and inserted the straw for his son as Ben took a bite of his cheeseburger. "Look Ziva, I got Ben apple slices instead of fries", Tony said doing his best to point out that there were some healthy choices to choose from. Ziva could only nod as she took another bite of her burger, she did not know if it had something to do with her being pregnant but she did not remember these burgers tasting so good.
Tony made sure to collect all of his game pieces while Ziva watched him. He assured his wife that he has only been here a few times, a lie he would soon come to regret when just two days later Ziva would find his hidden stash of game pieces while dusting the den.
They made it to the Zoo a little over an hour later. Ziva applied sun screen on Ben's face and arms as the three year old squirmed trying to get away from her. "Hold still Ben", Ziva said as she looked to make sure she had not missed any exposed skin.
They made their way through the gate and Tony studied the map, "Okay Ben what do you want to see first, Monkeys and Gorillas or Lions and Tigers". Ben thought about it and said, "Lions and Tigers. Tony looked at the map again and said, "Okay to the right it is then", as he led his family down the path towards the lions and tigers.
It was a perfect day for the animals at the zoo to bask in the sunlight and most of them could be easily seen sleeping or playing within their enclosures. Tony had taken some great pictures of Ziva and Ben looking at the animals and Ziva had made sure to capture several great shots of Tony and Ben together as well.
When the DiNozzo family finally arrived at the Elephant exhibit Tony and Ziva were relieved to see that the baby elephant could easily be seen standing alongside its mother. Ben laughed when the little elephant rolled in the dirt stirring up quite a dust cloud. "Look daddy, he playing", Ben said as Tony held him up to see better. "He sure is Ben, looks like fun doesn't it"? Tony asked. Ben nodded in agreement and then Tony said, "Ben mommy and I have something we need to talk to you about; how about we get some ice cream and we can sit and talk, okay"? "Okay daddy, can I have chocolate"? Ben asked as he waved goodbye to the baby elephant. "Sure Ben, you go sit with mommy and I will be right back", Tony said as he went to buy the ice cream; Tony returned a few minutes later holding three chocolate cones. They were lucky to have found a bench that had a perfect view of the elephants; it sat near the top of a small hill and they could easily see down into the elephant enclosure, even if other people stood in front of them closer to the fence, their view was still unobstructed.
Tony observed the enclosure and began pointing out all of the different elephants within the enclosure. Now he did not know which elephants were related to whom but he made up quite the elaborate tale explaining to Ben that the medium sized elephants were the brothers and sisters to the baby elephant and that it was their job to help the mommy and daddy elephant teach the baby elephant all kinds of things the baby needs to learn so he can grow up to be a big elephant like them. Ben smiled as he watched some of the elephants play in the water and he asked, "Elephants have families just like peoples do"? Ziva smiled at her son and said, "All animals have families, just like people". Ben needed a little bit more convincing so he asked, "Lions too mommy"? Ziva smiled at her son and said again, "Yes Ben, all animals including lions".
Tony decided this was the moment to tell Ben and he looked to Ziva who gave him an encouraging nod. "We're a family Ben", Tony said pointing at the three of them and we just found out that mommy is going to have another baby and do you know what that means"? Ben shook his head no. Tony smiled and continued, "It means that you get to be a big brother and help us teach the new baby all kinds of things. "Just like the elephant's daddy"? Ben asked. "Yep, just like the elephant's", Tony answered. Ben then asked, "Where is baby now"? Ziva took Ben's tiny hand and placed it on her stomach saying, "The baby is in my tummy until it is big enough to come out". Ben then asked, "Where is baby going to live"? Tony laughed and said, "In the house with us". Ben looked surprised and very excited, "Can baby sleep with me in my room"? Ziva and Tony shared a look with each other, neither of them had anticipated Ben taking the news this well. Ziva answered, "The baby will have its own room just down the hall from you". Ben thought about this for a moment then asked, "What kind of baby is in your tummy mommy". Ziva smiled and answered, "We do not know yet if it is a boy or a girl, what would you like the baby to be Benjamin"? Ben thought about it and said, "I want baby to be a lion because elephants are too big to live in the house".
Tony and Ziva stared at Ben then at each other before both parents burst out laughing and had to explain to their three year old that elephants have elephant babies and lions have lion babies and humans have human babies.
Ben was a lot less enthusiastic upon learning this new bit of information and thought that a baby lion or a baby elephant would be a lot more fun than a regular human baby. Tony held Ben's hand as he led his family towards the polar bear exhibit and was telling Ben all of the fun things he could do with a new brother or sister, none of which Ben seemed too excited about. "You're going to be a great big brother Ben", Tony said looking down at his son. Ben looked up at his father and said, "I try daddy but I not sharing my toys".
A/N Please send me a review for this story and let me know if I should keep going.