It was a beautiful Sunday morning and the DiNozzo's were quietly relaxing at home after their trip to the Zoo the day before. Ziva had decided to surprise Tony and Ben by baking cookies this morning and she set about gathering all of her ingredients; happy that both Tony and Ben were not under foot like they often were whenever she baked.
Ben was out back playing on his swing set whileTony was in his den entering game piece codes into his computer when he heard the phone ringing. He paused to listen after he heard Ziva answer the phone from the kitchen and immediately wondered why Gibbs was calling. He was certain they were off rotation this weekend so he knew it couldn't be work related. Upon hearing Ziva say goodbye, Tony quickly stuffed his game pieces into an envelope he kept hidden in his desk and closed out the Monopoly web page just in time as Ziva made her way into his den.
"Tony that was Gibbs on the phone, he wants to stop by this afternoon; he says he has something he wants to talk to us about".
"Did he say what it was"? Tony asked as he covertly slid the envelope under a magazine sitting on his desk.
Ziva pretended not to notice and answered, "No, I asked and he said it was nothing to worry about".
Tony sat back in his chair and sighed, "I bet it has something to do with you being pregnant again. I kinda got the feeling when we were at his place a few days ago that he wants you to consider retirement". Ziva thought back to that night and shook her head agreeing with what Tony said.
Ziva heard the oven timer go off and headed back to the kitchen to check on her cookies. Tony followed her as the smell of peanut butter cookies flowed through the house making him suddenly crave a glass of milk. He watched as Ziva placed her oven mitts on and pulled the first dozen cookies from the oven. Tony took in a big whiff of the heavenly aroma as Ziva placed the cookies on the counter to cool. He reached for one and Ziva slapped his hand, "They have to cool for a few minutes". Tony let out a frustrated breath and went to the refrigerator and poured himself a glass of milk and then sat down at the kitchen table waiting for Ziva to bring him some cookies.
Tony took a sip of his milk as he watched Ziva prepare the next batch of cookies to put in the oven. He smiled at her as he watched her thinking that only Ziva could look so damn sexy wearing oven mitts. She could feel his eyes on her and asked, "Why are you grinning at me like that"? Tony took another sip of his milk and said, "It suits you". Ziva asked, "What does"? Tony gestured towards the cookies and the whole house in general. "This, all of this; you do so much for me and Ben and you make it look so easy". Ziva continued pressing her fork into the cookie dough and smiled, "It is easy to do something you love, especially when it is for the people you love". Tony tapped his fingers on the rim of his glass as he pondered Ziva's reply. "How do you feel about making this your full time job", Tony asked catching Ziva off guard. Ziva opened the oven door and placed the next batch of cookies in the oven and set the timer for 11 minutes. Ziva picked up her spatula and lifted two warm cookies off of the cooling rack and placed them on a small plate and brought them over to her husband who was looking at her waiting for an answer. "I will not lie; it is something that I have been considering for awhile now, especially now that we are having another baby". Tony took a bite of his cookie and said, "If it is what you want, I think you should do it. Ben is getting older and will be starting school in a few years, I think it would be good for him to have you home; You know how crazy our work schedule can be, this way at least one of us would be there when he comes home from school or needs to go to sports practice or scouts or anything else he might want to try".
Ziva smiled as she listened to her husband ramble on but the smile turned into a frown as she said, "There is also another reason we need to consider this". Tony looked at his wife and saw the all too familiar look in her eyes that was always there whenever they discussed the dangers that came with being NCIS Special Agents. It was a combination of sadness mixed with fear and Tony hated that look on her. "Yeah, I know", Tony answered hoping that Ziva could not see the sadness in his own eyes. Ziva wiped her hands on a dish towel and came to sit with her husband at the kitchen table. Ziva took a bite from one of Tony's cookies and the two sat quietly for a minute or two, each of them dreading the up coming conversation that lingered in the silence.
Tony offered Ziva some of his milk but she declined. He then said, "Every time we go out in the field together, we are doubling the risk that one of us will be hurt". Ziva nodded in agreement and said, "But I feel better knowing that it is me who has your back". Tony traced an invisible pattern on the table and when he looked up he saw tears in Ziva's eyes. He reached his arms out to her and she immediately came to him seeking the comfort she knew she would find there. "What's wrong Zi"? Tony asked as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Ziva sniffled and Tony handed her a napkin, "Thank you", she said as she wiped her eyes and nose. "Damn hormones, the same thing happened when I was pregnant with Ben", Ziva let out a small laugh at her own expense. "Yeah, I remember, you were a real mess at times", Tony said as he remembered all the times Ziva had cried at the drop of a hat while she was pregnant the first time. He hugged her tighter and said, "I don't know what we would do if we lost you". Ziva placed a hand lovingly on her husband's cheek and said, "You would carry on for our children's sake". Tony let out a deep breath and said, "Yeah, and I know you would do the same if something were to happen to me". Ziva caressed Tony's cheek with her hand and nodded that she would.
The oven timer went off interrupting the tender moment. Ziva got up to check the newest batch of cookies and Tony decided he had better check on Ben, making sure his son was behaving himself. Tony saw that Ben was happily playing with his trucks in the sandbox and decided he would finish his conversation with his wife before going outside to play with his son.
Tony walked back into the kitchen and leaned on the counter watching Ziva bake a new batch of cookies. He reached for another one but this time Ziva did not stop him. "Would you be mad at me if I asked you to quit your job and stay home with the kids"? Tony asked as he tossed the hot cookie from one hand to the other. Ziva handed him a paper towel and said, "Put that down before you burn yourself". Tony did as instructed then licked and blew on his fingers to cool them off. Ziva smiled at him and said, "Why would I be mad"? Tony shrugged his shoulders saying, "I don't know, it's just that I know how much you love your job and I would never want you to give it up just because I am scared that one of these days you might not come home". They had this conversation more than a few times before. They had taken all the standard precautions and had drawn up a will right after Ben was born giving Gibbs guardianship should something happen to the two of them. They had life insurance and money set aside for Ben's education as well as a trust fund made up from money inherited from Tony's grandparents and Ziva's father. Financially they were in a good place. But how do you prepare emotionally for the possibility that one or both of you may leave for work one morning and never again return home? Tony and Ziva had yet to discover the answer to this question. Ziva stopped what she was doing wanting to give her husband her full attention, "I think I could get used to the idea of staying home with the children". Tony looked at her surprised, "Really Zi, you're not just saying that to make me feel better"? Ziva reached for a plate and handed Tony a cookie saying, "I am sure, but don't expect me to turn into one of those women from one of your stupid movies that only lives to please her man". Tony pretended to be disappointed and said, "Come on Zi, you know I would give anything to come home from work and find you vacuuming the house wearing pearls and high heels like June Cleaver". Ziva asked, "Who is June Cleaver"? Tony looked at her shocked, "June Cleaver, from Leave it to Beaver, 1950's classic sitcom starring Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers as The Beaver".
Ziva continued her baking as Tony described some of his favorite episodes, "There was this one time when Beaver and his friend Larry climbed up this billboard and got trapped in a giant cup of soup and had to be rescued by the fire department and…"
A/N Please review and let me know what you think. I promise that the next chapter will reveal what Gibbs has on his mind . This chapter was necessary because I needed to make it clear that Tony and Ziva have deep concerns regarding their jobs and the welfare of their growing family. I would appreciate hearing back from you guys and I also would like to know if the new baby should be a boy or a girl. I am leaning towards a boy because I think it would be fun to write about a house full of DiNozzo men and poor Ziva trying to cope. I think maybe 4 boys and then a little girl for Ziva. Let me know what you think.
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