Nothing could ever be more gratifying to watch than a young child a few days before celebrating their birthday. From the ear to ear grins, the excitement radiating off their small eyes and the eager wishes of hope to get the toy they had been wanting for quite some time, children have always been enthusiastic about their birthdays.

Ponies, big kid bicycles and even a visit from the heroic Bat-man had been put on Ty's list for his birthday. Although, Isabella had insisted on the pony when she kept throwing her stuff horse at her brother while he decided what he wanted for his special day. As much as they could to their son's demands, Tony and Ziva tried their hardest to complete all of the items on Ty's list. The joy that it would bring to see his face on the day of his birthday, heartwarming to both of his parents.

Tony was put to hard work in order to find the perfect bike for Ty while the kids and Ziva were gone all day. He wanted to find a bike that was cool and represented everything that Ty liked, but of course… safe as well because he wouldn't want his darling wife pissed off for buying a bike that lacked protection. Hell, he'd buy their little one a hundred helmets and find him an awesome, lime green bike, complete with a shiny kickstand. Something all the ladies at pre-school would drool over when he rode up.

Okay…maybe he wasn't going to ride up into preschool on his new big kid bike because Ziva would never let that happen. But, he was going to be a little heartbreaker like his Daddy; that was for sure.

Visions of Senior bringing home his first bicycle without training wheels flashed through Tony's mind as he wandered along in the toy store. Senior had brought him a stunning shiny red bike, kickstand included. His mother reprimanding him on the lack of helmet included with the surprise to which Senior remarked that their son was never going to learn how to deal with pain if he didn't experience a few scrapes. Perhaps, not the best advice or idealistic comment from a father, but it sure did sharpen up little Dinozzo Jr.

The toy store was filled with wondrous products, some that Tony even thought of buying for himself to play with. Toy guns' were thrown into the cart as he walked along, a little extra surprise for when Ty would get his James Bond tuxedo that Ziva had already bought.

As he passed the Nerf gun aisle, Tony browsed for a moment at the multiple products in front of him. Oh yeah, they could all have fun with these. He picked up three guns, flinging them into the cart before picking out a small, pink Nerf gun that was perfect size for Isabella. He chuckled to himself at the thought of Ziva sprinting through their house like the ninja she was, Nerf gun in hand. The woman in the aisle beside him, glancing at him weirdly.

He continued on to the bike aisle, cruising through the little girl bikes because Isabella was just too young for one and besides, wasn't her birthday just yet. Not that Daddy's little girl didn't have him wrapped around her finger. Next time they came to the toy store, if she wanted a bike…she would get a bike.

Green, yellow, purple, blue— there were hundreds of bikes with different colors and designs to choose from. A few Sesame Street designed ones and Tony kept looking to see if there was anything age appropriate for Ty when he spotted one. A black bike, yellow bats printed across it with an imprint on the seat of Batman. This, this was the one. It wasn't too big of a bike, only came up to Tony's knees which was a great size for Ty. There weren't any training wheels on it like the one Ty had at home so, he couldn't consider this bike to be for a baby. It was ideal.

Tony looked for a worker at the store to help him find out where to get the box for the bike, one that he and Ziva would have to put together while the kids were asleep. After buying the bike and remainder toys in the cart, Tony headed on his way home.

When pulling in the driveway, Tony's phone began to vibrate and he looked at the caller, sighing.

"Hello?" He answered, listening quietly to the person on the other end talk, "Yeah, yeah— no, I understand." Tony sighed deeply, allowing his frustration to be heard over the phone before hanging up. Dropping his phone, he hit the steering wheel with his fist a few times and covered his face with his rough palms.

-x-

"Tateleh, stop ripping the wrapping paper," Ziva warned, watching her daughter take a piece of the wrapping paper and slyly try to rip it with her tiny fingers. Isabella glanced up at Ziva as if she wasn't doing anything wrong before going back to work at the paper in her hand. "Bella, Ima can see you," Ziva laughed, taking away the paper from her daughter's hands and picking her up, setting her in her lap. "Here, you can help me add the bow when Daddy is done,"

"Bella, is Mommy spoiling all the fun?!" Tony joked, taping up the sides of the wrapping paper that he neatly had folded.

"No, Mommy is simply saving Mommy and Daddy from the little shreds of wet paper that they would have to clean up after Bella went to bed," She snickered, kissing the toddler in her lap on the cheek.

Isabella stared attentively at the bows in her mother's hand, hitting them gently and watching the ends sway. Ziva took one of the bows, plopping it on top of Bella's head. The little girl furrowed her brows together, taking a moment to realize that the item that was just in front of her was now gone and that there was a gentle weight on her head. Her little chubby hands reached up slowly causing her mother to chuckle because of how cautious she was to finding out what rested above her. Once her fingers had found the bow, she squealed in delight and brought the bow back down in her hands and Ziva tickled her belly.

"And, there!" Tony shouted after Ziva shushed him for being loud while Ty slept. "All done!" The proud father smiled after he finished wrapping the Batman bike in paper.

"It looks fantastic," Ziva agreed, helping Bella place the bows on top of the bike handles. "Yay!" She clapped quietly with the little girl. "Your brother will be so excited. But now, I think it is somebody's bed time," She warned and the little girl began to pout.

"Goodnight, sweet pea." Tony kissed the little girl on the cheek and gave her a quick hug before Ziva headed off with her into the hallway.

He exhaled and set the bike in the closet, hidden away so Ty would never find it before his birthday in two days. Making his way back out to the kitchen, he grabbed a drink of water from the fridge and sat down on the kitchen table. Moments later, Ziva appeared and joined him.

"I was wondering where you had gone," She broke the silence that now filled the house, "I was going to ask if you wanted to join me in the shower," Her arms wrapped around Tony's neck and she questioned what she saw in his eyes, "What is wrong?"

"Can we talk?" Tony asked, his voice hesitant and the worry swept over Ziva's face.