Okay, before you get confused let me explain. I hated hated hated the chapter 10 that I posted however long ago that was. I just couldn't keep writing forward because it felt so very wrong. I know it's been forever and I would apologize but there's a rule against that. I have plenty of reasons, but at this point you'll probably think they sound like excuses. Anyway, I'm back and hopefully will be updating more often but no promises. I rewrote chapter 10 (which you are about to read now) and it feels like what I wanted it too. It feels right now. Hopefully y'all will agree that this chapter 10 is better than before. No real new information, just reformated, polished and I changed the flow of conversation. So, I'm not dead but I am rambling. Onward bound.

Disclaimer: I have disclaimed many times that I do not own NCIS or the characters, but that's a given since this is fanfiction.

Ziva sat in Tony's chair, typing at his computer rolling her eyes at the man's behavior. He sat on the floor in front of her with a notepad in hand, writing and talking on his phone. When he wasn't busy talking on the phone Tony talked to the baby while working. Ziva thought he was acting rather bizarre but let him do whatever he pleased. McGee had been forced to take a sick day when it was discovered he caught a nasty case of the flu and Gibbs was no where to be found. It was a boring day of only paperwork so he was clearly doing whatever he could think of to entertain himself; taking the slow paced day to tell the unborn child about every member of the team.

Ziva looked up when she heard a woman call towards her softly seeming unsure of herself. She appeared young, maybe early 20s, with natural blonde hair and a nervous demeanor.

"Can I help you?" Ziva asked as the woman glanced around the bullpen.

"Um, I'm looking for AJ? I mean... Anthony DiNozzo? I was told that this was his desk..." She began still looking unsure until a head popped up from beside Ziva. Tony's face lit up and he jumped over his desk and hugged the unidentified woman. Ziva's brows knit together in utter confusion as she watched her partner with an unknown female.

"Jackie? My God, it's been forever! God!" Tony mused as he spun her around in a quick circle before setting her back on her feet, but not releasing his grip on her for another long moment. He seemed to study her face with great determination and importance. He grinned down at her features, satisfied with having had them memorized.

"AJ! You've gotten so old!" The woman, now known to be Jackie, responded with an equal amount of enthusiasm in her voice as Tony. She beamed upward at him, with admiration and adoration in her eyes. Ziva bit her lip, unsure of what to think of this young woman; the way she was looking at Tony made her feel uneasy- and maybe, if she were being honest with herself, a bit jealous.

"What exactly were you doing behind that desk, AJ?" The blond asked with a twinkle in her eyes as he followed her gaze to Ziva. His cheeks flushed and he shifted his weight awkwardly.

"Ziva David" the Israeli-American stated robotically as she stood from her seat and thrust out a hand, as way of introduction. Jackie took it and shook it slowly, as she examined the other woman with a measured glance, eyes lingering on the 20 week bulge. On her thin, petite form the baby bump made Ziva look much more pregnant than she actually was.

"I was tying her shoe..." Tony lied awkwardly though the women paid him little attention, completely engaged in a stare-off. Ziva would not be the first to look away.

"Congratulations, Ziva. You people are close to your co-workers, huh?" Jackie insinuated with a quirk of her brow. Ziva narrowed her eyes at the poorly masked inquiry of their personal relationship. Who was this woman and why did she feel it her right to question her and Tony's relationship? And if she and Tony did have a personal relationship, why would it be of any interest to this woman? Ziva felt judged, attacked and annoyed.

"So, Tony, is this an old girlfriend or an illegitimate child?" Ziva quipped after a few moments of silence, in which Ziva had stared down the stranger. She had tried to keep the malice from her voice, but couldn't help coming off a bit rude. She felt like an animal whose territory was being invaded. She felt defensive, like she had to protect what was hers. This was her bullpen, her team, her Tony.

"Ziva, she's 14 years younger than me" Tony stated incredulously as if that were an answer. The implied obvious deduction of this statement did not bypass Ziva. His assumption that she should know the answer to her own question made her itch; as if 14 years is too great an age difference between lovers or a teenager could not conceive a child. He turned to look at the former Mossad operative and was met by a sour scowl.

"I do not believe that answers my question." Ziva replied coolly, though Tony could easily identify the venom in her words. He was tempted to roll his eyes at her but Jackie interrupted his thoughts.

"Are you the current girlfriend?" Jackie replied cheekily. She smiled knowingly at the jealousy evident on Ziva's face. It seemed like an obvious answer to her previous implication.

"No, I am his partner." Ziva replied instantly, without hesitation. Tony's face dropped slightly at her answer. Technically the conversation never came up what their official relationship was, but he had been hoping that he was more to her, especially after his previous confession about his feelings. Knowing Ziva, though, this could easily be a jab at his insecurities, or an attempt to hurt him. Jackie looked at her skeptically but accepted the answer for now as her curiosity switched to another topic.

"Oh? What ever happened to, hm, Kate Todd? I liked her. She really knew how to keep AJ- uh, Tony- in line. That's the kind of woman he needs. Someone strong willed enough to keep him in check. They had great chemistry..." Jackie babbled unbeknownst to her the looks exchanged between the partners. The subject of Caitlyn Todd was a sore one and Ziva felt a stirring sensation of discomfort and guilt.

"Okay, Jacqueline, either tell the nice ninja who you are or just shut up." Tony silenced the woman with his uncomfortable whisper laced with sadness. She nodded slowly before giving Ziva a confused smile, unsure of what had made the atmosphere so suddenly thick- and thick in a way different than the verbal sparring exchanged just moments before.

"I used to be his sister." Jackie shrugged slowly. Ziva's features twisted with even more confusion as she looked to Tony for an explanation of some sort. As far as she knew a sibling was a permanent title. Tali, after all, hadn't suddenly stopped being her sister, only because death parted them.

"English isn't her first, second or third language, Jack," Tony explained to his ex-step-sister before turning to clear things up for Ziva, "Jacqueline's mom married my dad when I was, uh, fresh out of college. Our parents got divorced 4 years later; longest one of my dad's marriages since my mom. We got along real well and stayed pretty close. I even picked her up at a party when she was 15 and beat up the kid who tried to get her drunk and mess around with her. No one screws with my temporary little sister."

"Sister? I should not have been snarty, Tony. It is a pleasure to meet you, Jackie." she sighed with a more relaxed smile and stepped out from behind the desk, only adding a glare towards Tony when he muttered 'snarky or snotty'. Jackie smiled genuinely, dropping the turf-war, seeing Ziva do the same. Jacqueline could be challenging but she wasn't malicious. Clearly Ziva had been reassured that she wasn't a threat and Jackie didn't have to be on the defense if Ziva wasn't.

"Nice to meet you too, Ziva. Out of all of my temporary siblings Tony was my favorite. He actually seemed generally interested in getting to know me and having a relationship. He would take me out to movies at least once a month, but we saw each other at least 3 times a month. Now it's been about, oh gosh, 5 years at the least since I've seen him. I've been studying abroad." Jacqueline babbled on. Ziva followed the conversations all the while sneaking glances at Tony. Part way through her explanation of how she and Tony had kept in touch, Tony caught his sister by the arm to silence her. She looked up at the man expectantly.

"Hey, Jack, we really gotta get back to work. You call me tonight though, kid, got it? We'll meet up for dinner and catch up." Tony instructed affectionately as he pulled the girl into his arms for a hug and kissed her temple. She nodded against him and shot a grin up at him. He smiled back and released her. Ziva watched on with a shy smile on her face as Tony treated the young woman like a jewel. Ziva felt a warmness spread through her as she caught a glimpse of the type of father he was going to be.

Ziva and Tony watched Jacqueline turn and wave after entering the elevator. After a moment the two turned towards each other.

"Why didn't you just piss on me, Ziva? Wouldn't that have been an easier way to mark your territory?" Tony sighed, the annoyance hardly hidden in his voice. Ziva glared up at him. She did not mark her territory because she was not the insecure type of woman who needed to do such a thing. She crossed her arms and leaned back against her desk. Besides, Tony was not her territory; she was just having his baby. She snorted at herself at her own denial and stupidity, yet sobered quickly, starring off into the distance.

"Are you ashamed, Tony?" Ziva asked suddenly causing Tony's eyes to widen then return to their normal size. He sat on the desk beside her and took her hand into both of his. He knew exactly what she was alluding to.

"Never, Zi. But what was I supposed to do? We never talked about how we were going to do this, especially at work. Isn't it inappropriate to introduce my colleague as 'Ziva David, the woman having my baby'? And what about you? You're the one that told Jackie that you're not my girlfriend." Tony assured her. Ziva nodded, slowly digesting his words. She was being irrational; he hadn't denied the child was his. He hadn't even been asked. She didn't even know what she wanted to be to him, anyway, or what she was.

"I did not know I was your girlfriend. Tony, we never discussed it." Ziva mumbled refusing to make eye contact as she fiddled with his fingers. He pulled his hands away and before she could slink away at his abrupt actions, he grabbed her face and pulled it to his. With her cheeks cradled in each of his hands and his thumbs brushing the shorter hairs away from her face, Ziva leaned into the touch and moved her lips in rhythm with his. The kiss was slow and shallow, neither willing to push anything further –they were at work after all. They both were perfectly content with the sweet, loving gentleness of the kiss and were unwilling to sacrifice that. Ziva's hands rested on each side of his torso, just above his lowest ribs, and as he stepped back from her, his lips slowly becoming lighter against hers, she leaned towards him. With each step back, she took one forward, afraid to lose the comfort of his touch.

Tony slowly pulled his face away, one last attempt to pry himself back from her so he could speak, and before she could counteract he lifted his head and stood to his full structure. Her eyes opened to reveal disappointment as she looked up at him questioningly.

"Be my best girl, Zi" Tony whispered. The use of the phrase threw Ziva off for a moment but she regained momentum as her brain registered his facial expression. He was asking her to be his girlfriend. Ziva slowly nodded her head as she stood on her toes to kiss his lips softly.

"Tony? I am not wearing shoes." Ziva stated simply. Tony laughed, remembering how she had kicked them off behind her desk an hour ago. More than likely, Jackie had seen through the lie.

Better right? Please tell me it's better! Now that this no longer weighs down my mind I can move forward. I'll start chapter 11 very soon. I have so many ideas for the near future and distant future of this story and I can't wait to finally get them on paper.
Also, you may think it's weird that Tony decided to talk like an old man at the end there, but I think it's cute and goofy and dorky. Just saying. Leave some love, please? I could really use it.

Love,
Luna