Spoilers: 'Under Covers'
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"Who's Sistine's father?" inquired Tony.
Ziva looked up at him through her lashes, "You are, Tony,"
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"What?" asked Tony, not at all angry or loud, as not to wake up the sleeping Sistine.
Ziva looked around, as if to make sure that no one was listening; and they weren't.
Gibbs, Kelly and Jen were so involved in their conversation that they wouldn't notice if the Earth fell off its axis.
Tali was typing on her laptop, and had silver headphones leading towards her iPod.
Kate and Ari were sitting on the couch talking about what they would do for Miriella's birthday, not that it was anytime soon. Ari had one hand enclosed with Kate's, and the other was absent-mindedly playing with her hair.
No one paid any attention to the trio on the sofa.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else," whispered Ziva, and went to stroke Sistine's hair but found that Tony was already doing that.
"We can go upstairs, we'll have some privacy." She suggested after an awkward silence.
Tony nodded mutely, and suggested: "Do you want me to carry her?"
Ziva hesitated, as if unsure whether to trust him with her, no their, daughter. She nodded and passed along the snoozing girl, and led him up the stairs.
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When they arrived at Ziva's bedroom, Tony was surprise to see the room not decorated with knives and guns, and torture devises that only she would be able to use.
It was, instead, painted a turquoise blue, with one wall a deep brown. In the center was a wrought iron king bed. The comforter was the same turquoise as the room, and had a light lime green detailing with accent pillows in the same color and black.
Surrounding the room were pictures of them; of all of them. There was one with Ziva and Abby dressed up for Halloween. Ziva was wearing a black mini-skirt and a shirt with skull and crossbones on it. She did everything but where pigtails. Abby on the other hand was wearing cargo pants, a leather trench coat, and a T-shirt that Ziva had lent her. When they came into the yearly Halloween party everyone had to take a double-take as they looked at the pair. In the photo they were standing back to back with their arms crossed. Tony smiled; he had remembered taking that photo and never remembered giving a copy to Ziva; only Abby and himself. He knew that she really did care.
Next to that photo was another, one of himself and Ziva. They must have been distracted, or not have known that their picture was being taking. They were facing each other, their noses barely touching. They were staring each other down; Ziva with her hands on her hips, and Tony with his arms crossed. Ziva had a smirk on her face that, even though he could not remember the conversation now, indicated that she had won.
A third picture finished up the lineup. It was a picture of all of them; of Jenny, Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, McGee, Abby, and Ducky. Abby was sitting on the corner of what he could now see was McGee's desk. Jenny was on the other side of the desk, with her arms crossed. Gibbs was next to Jenny, and was wearing an honest smile. It was a rare occasion. Tony was sitting in a chair in front of the desk. His knees were spread out and he had his hands in his lap, and a smile that clearly said 'I know something you don't'. Ziva was standing behind him, and her arms were looped around her neck and clasped in front.
He turned to face Ziva, who was sitting on the bed, looking down at her hands. He gingerly placed Sistine on the bed, and sat down himself, preparing himself for the conversation that was destined to come.
"Do you remember the first time we were undercover?" Ziva spoke after an awkward silence.
"Yeah," Tony replied as he smiled, memories from the events that had taken place there came flooding back to him. They both agreed it would be a one-night stand. It was a chance to relieve some stress. And when he tried to tell her that he wanted more, she cut him off, and changed the topic.
Ziva's eyes narrowed; she knew what he was thinking. She slapped his arm and said: "Tony! You have such a one-lane mind!"
Tony chuckled, "It's a one-track mind Ziva,"
"Whatever," Ziva muttered, and Tony signaled for her to continue.
"When I told you that I was on protection, I was not lying. But, like every other birth control, there was some risk. And then, when I told you I was pregnant? I was not lying either," Ziva confessed
Tony put his hand on hers in an attempt to comfort her. "Ziva, I would've supported you. Both of you. I would have wanted to be in my daughter's life. I still do,"
Tears started to make their way down Ziva's face and she tried desperately to hide them from Tony.
Tony wrapped his arms around, and he turned her around, and Ziva buried her face in his chest until the tears subsided.
He then lied down, his arms still wrapped protectively around her as they joined their daughter, now curled up to Tony, in the land of dreams.
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So what did you think?
Was it good, bad, or just plain ugly?
-Alyss
PS – I lied; I didn't develop Josie in this chapter. Sorry! :-)