Five Years, two weeks later

"Special Agent Alkynes!" Jamie said with a smile into her phone. Being a newly wed was great.

"Wait, slow down," Her expression grew more serious. She was currently leaving the crime scene with Tony and McGee. Ducky and the others had left moments ago.

"I'll be right there," She hung up.

"What's up?" McGee said.

"Kelantan wants me," Jamie explained. "Shelby got called to the guidance counselor. You can let me out here. My car's down there,"

"Does anyone know where Bert went?" Abby asked Ducky as she walked into autopsy a little hesitantly.

"I believe your son ran off with him…" Ducky replied, searching the table for something. "I think he needs a little attention," There was a shriek of laugher from the hallway. Abby ran out in the direction of the noise. Another fit of laughter, from high up the stairs this time. She ran up the stairs and found Bert sitting at the top of the first flight.

"Gabriel?" Abby called, picking up the stuffed hippo. No answer. She entered the bullpen and found him standing there staring at someone very familiar.

"Mommy, who's that?" the toddler whispered. Abby almost screamed in surprise. There was Ziva, casually sitting at her desk as if she had not been gone these past five years, four days, and three hours…Abby winced internally at her accuracy.

"You need to explain yourself," Abby said coolly as Gabriel ran off with Bert again, forgetting about his question. Ziva looked at her.

"I have nothing to tell you," Ziva said casually. "I merely went abroad and now I have returned. What more is there to say?"

"Maybe you should tell me why you left without saying goodbye!" Abby shouted. "You just walked out of there and didn't even look back…you don't even look sorry," Ziva said nothing. Abby started to say something else, but instead her control slipped away and she broke down into sobs.

"I'm…I'm sorry," she cried out between fits of tears. "I just missed you so much!" She ran off to her lab. Gabriel looked up, forgetting about his game for a moment.

"Mommy? Why are you crying?" he asked. Ziva looked over at him, then back at Abby's retreating form.

"That went well," she mumbled sarcastically.