A month after Tali was born Tony and Ziva returned back to work. Though it was a lot earlier than most first time parents would, they felt better having a normal schedule. Plus Abby loved the thought of having Tali while they were in the field.
"Let's get you dressed tateleh." Ziva cooed as she lifted Tali out of her crib. She picked out a cute little white onesie that Abby had gotten made for her that said, "Agent in the Making" and a pair of pink pants with white socks. And a sparkly headband with a pink flower on it.
"That's cute." Tony said as he walked in with the diaper bag.
"I thought it would be cute for her to come to NCIS with it. Not to mention Abby will love it." Ziva said happily.
"Here. Let me take her and you go eat." Tony said taking Tali from Ziva's hands.
"I am not hungry Tony." She protested.
"Zi you barely ate anything last night. You've got to be hungry. Go it's not that much. Just some eggs and bacon and pancakes." He told her.
"Not that much?" She grumbled under her breath. Ever since she had Tali she hadn't been able to fit into her old clothes very well and she was cutting down on meals and working out more. Desperate to loose the baby fat. She walked down the stairs and sat at the table. She picked at her food. Eventually finishing it.
"See that wasn't horrible." Tony chuckled as he walked in with baby spit-up on his jacket. Ziva giggled.
"I should've mentioned I had just fed her." She laughed.
"That would have been nice sweet cheeks." Tony said playfully.
"We'll go clean up you smell like hurtled milk." Ziva said wrinkling her nose.
"It's curdled milk Ziva." Tony corrected with a million watt smile.
"Whatever Tony go change before we are late." Ziva gripped taking Tali in her arms.
"Are you ready to see everyone again Tali?" Ziva asked the small child. Her little brown eyes gazed up at her happily as gurgling noises came from her little mouth. Looking down at her daughter in amazement wondering how she had gotten so lucky to have such a beautiful child.
Tony came back with a new jacket on and grabbed Tali's bag. The family of three headed to the door and loaded up in the car.
Ziva let Tony drive seeing as how they now had Tali with them. After everyone was buckled they set off. Tony reached over to hold Ziva's hand.
"Well we can say bye to our hearing once we get there." Tony chuckled.
"Yes Abby will be very happy." Ziva agreed.
"I can't to see McGee. I bet he's been sitting at my desk again." Tony pondered.
"Oh Tony." Ziva said rolling her eyes.
"It's true. Wonder how they have done with out us." He said.
"McGee and Bishop are creditable agents Tony I am sure they have been fine under the watchful eyes of Gibbs." She reasoned.
"Good point. Can't get away with anything with that man. He always knows everything." Tony shuddered.
Ziva laughed as they pulled into the familiar parking lot. She swaddled Tali in a fuzzy blanket and the three headed inside.
The familiar ding of the elevator announcing their arrival.
Tony grabbed Ziva's hand and gently tugged her along towards their desks. So far they were unnoticed.
"I wonder when Tony and Ziva are coming back." McGee said.
"Tim they'll get here when they get here. I'd be more concerned being in Tony's desk. You know what he will do when he finds out you were in his desk." Bishop said munching on a bag of Cheetos.
"I told you." Tony whispered to Ziva. She rolled her eyes at their childish tactics. Walking ahead of Tony.
"Ziva? If you're here then that means Tony is too." McGee stuttered falling out of Tony's chair.
Ziva laughed. "Hi to you too McGee." She said.
"Hey McKlumsy I'm not gonna gripe at you for being at my desk for that grand exit." Tony teased.
"Hi Tony." Bishop said warmly. Things between them had been better since Ziva's return.
"Hey Ellie where's Gibbs?" Tony asked.
"Right here. Grape your gear. We have a dead petty officer." Gibbs said rushing through with two cups of coffee. He kissed Ziva on the head and said "Welcome back Ziver." And handed her a cup of coffee.
"Shalom Gibbs. I'll just run Tali down the Abby and meet you in the parking lot." She said heading off to Abby's lab.
Ziva got in the elevator and smiled at Tali.
"You get to spend the day with Aunty Abby. She's a little loud but you'll get used to it." Ziva told her. Her big brown eyes gazing up happily. The elevator stopped and Ziva covered Tali's ears as she heard the blaring music.
"Abby!" She yelled.
But the happy goth kept dancing along to her music. Ziva walked a little closer and yelled again.
"What? Oh! ZIVA!" She screened turning the music off and engulfing Ziva in a hug.
"Abby not to tight." Ziva warned, for she was still holding Tali.
"Opps. Forgot. And I get this cutie today." She said happily.
"Yes you do. I have left a few bottles and formula. Plenty of diapers and anything you may need. She naps. At 10 and again at 2 usually. Oh and please do not turn the music up too loud. She is still little and her ears are sensitive. Also make sure you feed her every two hours. And make sure she does not kick off her socks. She does not like them but her feet will get cold. And-"
"Ziva!" Abby said quickly. "Tali will be okay. Go with Gibbs. We'll be here when you get back." Abby laughed taking Tali out of Ziva's arms.
"Sorry Abby it is just hard to leave her." Ziva said softly.
"I get it but you better go. Wouldn't want to make Gibbs mad. Say bye mommy Tali." Abby said lifting Tali's little hand, making her wave at Ziva.
"Goodbye tateleh." Ziva said kissing her head.
Ziva headed to the elevator and out to the garage. To find Tony waiting for her with a bright smile.
"Ready sweetcheeks?" He asked.
"Yes Tony." Ziva said.
"We'll be back before you know it. She'll take a little nap and never know we were gone." Tony assured her.
"Okay Tony. You should let me drive. We will get there faster." Ziva said.
"No way Ziva. No ninja driving today." Tony said as he pulled out of the parking lot. Causing Ziva to laugh.
Month after month this was their routine. And each week Tali was bigger and more and more of her personality was showing.
It was now one day till Tali's first birthday and everyone was excited.
"Just say Abby." Abby plead to the small child. Only to receive a small gurgling sound. Abby kept trying not noticing that Ziva had walked in and was watching in amusement.
"Tali." She sang.
"Ima." Talking squealed grasping the air trying to get closer to her. Abby sat her down and watched as the little girl gracefully ran into her mothers arms.
"She just won't say my name." Abby laughs.
"Oh she just learned how to say Tony's name yesterday. He was ecstatic." Ziva chuckled.
"Where's Abba?" She asked Tali.
"Abba?" Tali asked.
"That is so cute!" Abby exclaimed.
"Tony actually fell out of his chair last night when he heard her say it." Ziva giggled.
"Oh I wish I could've seen it." Abby said between laughs.
"Here." Ziva said handing Abby her cell phone. Abby giggled as she watched Tony fall out of the chair.
"Ziva! She just said my name! Did you hear her?" Tony as he got up from the ground. Fallowed by the sound of Ziva laughing.
"Showing that to everyone huh sweet cheeks?" Tony asked as he walked into Abby's lab.
"Abba!" Tali said happily. Tony smiled and reached out to Tali.
"Hey sweetheart." Tony said kissing her head.
"All done up stairs?" Ziva asked.
"Yep. All set to go home." Tony said happily as Tali laid her head on his shoulder yawning. "We'll see you tomorrow Abs." He said kissing her head.
"Bye guys." Abby said quietly as Tali was falling asleep.
----------------------------
"Good morning tateleh." Ziva cooed.
Lifting Tali out of her crib. "Happy Birthday baby." She said a she changed her diaper, and sat down in the rocking chair.
"I can not believe it has been a whole year since you came into this world." Ziva said rocking her daughter slowly.
"And Abba got here just in time too. You know he has always been good at that. Even before we were together." Ziva told her.
"Oh Tali if only you knew how silly your Abba really is. When I first came to America, to NCIS, your Abba was scared of me. And of course Grandpa made us partners. Then we became friends, and secretly fell in love with each other. It was not until we had an undercover op in Paris that we admitted our feelings." Ziva said remembering the trip fondly.
"I love when you tell that story sweet cheeks." Tony said tiredly.
"I know." Ziva said smiling at him.
"Well let's go set up. Somebody decided to turn one today." Tony said rubbing Tali's back softly.
"Yay. Birthday cake and presents and a very loud Aunt Abby." Ziva giggled.
"Alright. They should be here within the hour." Tony said setting Tali in her bouncer.
They prepared for the party and soon everyone arrived. Hugs and presents were passed around and everyone sang happy birthday to Tali. She sat and smiled at everyone the whole time.
Everyone was laughing and having a good time Until they Hurd a happy little
"Pa." From Tali. As she pointed to Gibbs in the doorway.
"Pa!" She said smiling.
"Hey Tali." He said picking her up from Ziva's lap. "Happy birthday kiddo." Gibbs said planting a kiss on her head.
Everyone smiled at the sweet moment.
"Everyone's name but mine!" Abby whined. Causing everyone to laugh.