Hi! I apologize for being so long in updating. I'm going to try to keep working on this at a faster rate now that July is done.

Thanks to all the reviewers - Troubled-Angel-26, Sarai, his-red-head, Hetwaszoietsals, Loads of Randomness, Suzy Q1068, DS2010, Fan, Guest Who, and Fashionista-girl. Special thanks to fiftyshadeswritergal for proofreading. :)

Enjoy!

After snuggling time and a short nap with Mama which helped Ziva wake up a second time in a much better mood, the toddler was ready to face the day! She chattered to Mama while getting dressed in her red pants and navy long-sleeved top with the pretty rainbow on the front.

She squirmed around trying to look at Mama while her pants were being pulled on, a difficult feat due to ... busy little feet that wanted to run and play!

"Iddy and Benny!" Ziva declared joyfully.

"Yes, you're going to see your friends today."

Ziva tilted her head at one of her favourite words. "Friends" reminded her of somone else.

"Abby?"

"No, Abby doesn't go to daycare, silly baby!"

"Not baby! Big!"

Jenny laughed indulgently at the indignant little scowl as Ziva tried to push her curls out of her eyes after pulling the shirt on had mussed them.

"Oh, I don't think you're allowed to get too big. I love you so much just as you are, perfectly tiny."

Ziva looked at Mama blankly. What was that supposed to mean? Mama said such silly things sometimes!

"Big!" she insisted before turning to her dresser and hopping up and down, trying to reach the top drawer for herself. No luck, just like yesterday and the day before. "Socks! Up!" she ordered.

Jenny rolled her eye's behind the "big" girl's back at the demand before lifting her up in the air and holding her so that she could take a look at her sock collection.

"Dese!" she announced, selecting the yellow socks with navy and purple polka dots.

"Good choice," Jenny praised, settling the little girl back down on her lap and pulling the socks on while Ziva wiggling her toes and giggled with fascination. Jenny set Ziva on her feet and watched her run around in a little spiral around the room as if "testing" the socks.

"I fast!"

"You sure are! How about we go downstairs and get you some breakfast so that you can have energy to run all day?"

Ziva catapulted herself into Jenny's arms and excitedly kissed her Mama's cheek before cheering "Yeah!"

...

Gibbs knocked on the door. He had decided to stop by with some pre-daycare muffins and coffee for his favourite redhead. He hoped that the chocolate chips would be sweet enough to cancel out any bitterness from some of his less ... kind comments the previous night

Jenny opened the door in surprise.

"Jethro? Why ... what are you doing here?"

"I stopped by with breakfast."

Suddenly there was a tiny colourful commotion down at knee-level as Ziva made her presence known. Gibbs looked down at the tot and was surprised by the impressive scowl. He really had not known that such a big frown could fit on such a small face.

"Good morning, Zive..."

"Bad Mittew Dibbs!" she shrieked, her "righteous indignation" having returned full-force when she heard his voice.

"Ziva!" Jenny scolded, embarrassed. She tried to hush the little enforcer.

"Bad Mittew Dibbs! Bad! Bad! Bad!" Ziva insisted, standing her ground in a way that rather impressed Gibbs despite his confusion over the situation.

"What'd I do?" he asked, but it was only met with a look that clearly said "you know!" as Ziva went into a superior silence.

"She woke up this morning and got scared thinking that I was still gone," Jenny offered in explanation.

Gibbs breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that the toddler's consternation was so easily explained. She had a legitimate reason and he felt sorry for her, thinking of how scary that would be to the little girl who absolutely adored her mama.

"That must have been scary," he said, crouching down to be on eye level with the little spitfire. She drew back a little at the "intrusion", hugging her Mama's leg for emotional support. "But I bet that you were a brave, big girl," he continued. He could see the little look of pride on Ziva's face as she settled down.

"Big!" she sniffled victoriously. She straightened, making the most of her diminutive stature. "Mitter Dibbs" had appeased the toddler's anger.

But ...

"No take Mama no mowe!"

"No promises there," Gibbs said softly, but then amended to, "But maybe we could take a trip to the park, the three of us, next time instead."

Ziva's focus, now that her anger had evaporated and a park had been mentioned, immediately wandered to what Gibbs was holding in his hand.

"Yummy?" she mumbled, suddenly shy again.

"If you like chocolate chips...!"

"Yay! Eat! Me hungwy!"

Gibbs looked up at Jenny. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Chocolate chips? You couldn't go at least for blueberries?"

"Why would I when chocolate chips are your favourite?"

Jenny rolled her eyes up a little but not all the way.

"True," she conceded.

"HUNGWY!"

"You are quite the little mood-downer, aren't ya?" Gibbs chuckled, reaching down and scooping up the ornery child who immediately felt consoled. If she was in his arms she could reach that paper bag of yumminess! He handed Jenny the two coffees to reduce the risk of combining hot beverages and a tiny being of wiggles.

Jenny received the coffee with a pleased smile and led Gibbs to the table. "Come sit down. We can eat together, then I'll run Ziva to daycare."

"No 'cawe!" Ziva protested, kicking a little as Gibbs settled her into her booster chair. She did not want to leave when Mister Gibbs was there for a visit!

"But daycare's where Izzy and Benny ..."

"Go 'cawe! Go 'cawe! But ... hungwy fiwst!"

...

:) I'll try to update again soon. :D