Author's Note: Well hi there! First of all, thanks for reading. If this is the first story of mine you've read, please take just a moment to check out my very short profile. Second, if you have read stuff of mine before, this may be a little different. There will be two separate timeframes running simultaneously in the story. The current one shall be in normal font, the earlier one in italics. Also, any conversation which is bolded indicated the characters are speaking in Hebrew. I think that takes care of the important stuff, hope you enjoy!

Muse's Note: Hiya! For the record, AJ is requiring me to let you all know that all of the fluffy meaningless bits of this story are completely my doing. That said, all that angsty and plot ridden stuff is all her. Also, because this is a more serious fic and I am addicted to fluff, we will be publishing the occasional oneshots while we work on this story. That combined with the fact that summer is the busy season at the farm supply store where we work means we may sometimes go several days without updating. We do hope to post a minimum of twice a week (or once plus a oneshot). I guess that's all for now. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: If I really had NCIS to play with my ideas would be on TV, not the interwebs.

Rating: I'm going to say T for now, but that may change later as this will be, in part, a case fic and, in part, a romance fic.

Pairings: TIVA with some possible hints at McAbby.

The sound of crying jolted her awake. It only took a moment for her to identify the noise and push herself out of bed and to her feet. She exited her bedroom and quickly took the couple of steps to the next door down the hall. She pushed it open and crossed to the bed. Gathering the crying child in her arms she hugged him close and rocked gently back and forth.

"Shhhhh. It was just a dream. It wasn't real. You're safe here, Ori."

After a few moments the boy's crying quieted. She sat him in her lap and reached for a tissue to dry his tears. "All better, pitzl?"

He snuffled and nodded and she set him back on the bed, pulling the blanket over him. She bent to place a kiss on his forehead then shifted, ready to stand. His small hand shot out and grasped hers and she turned back to look at him. "What is it?"

"I'm scared. Will you stay with me?"

Her gentle smile was answer enough and he moved over to make room for her to lie down next to him as he yawned widely. "Goodnight, Ori."

His hand settled back into hers as his eyes drooped. "Goodnight, Ziva."

"Ziver, DiNozzo, grab your gear."

Tony exchanged a quizzical look with his partner as he grabbed his bag. "We got a case, Boss?"

"We don't. FBI does. They need an agent that speaks Hebrew." Gibbs was writing something on a piece of paper and didn't look up as he answered.

"Then what are you sending me for?"

Gibbs tore the paper from the pad and crossed to his senior agent. "Because, DiNozzo, I don't know what they need her for, and I don't know the agent in charge. She's going to translate. You're going to watch her six." He presented the piece of paper and a set of keys to the younger man.

"Got it, Boss. Watching her six. On it." Tony quickly took the items and headed for the elevator, Ziva falling into step beside him.

In the elevator he quickly read the sheet of paper. It contained an address and a name, nothing more. He assumed that the address was where they were expected and the name that of the case agent in charge.

They made the drive to Arlington in relative silence. He wasn't sure what was on Ziva's mind, but Tony was confused. He was sure that the Bureau would have to have at least one agent who spoke Hebrew in the DC area. How could they not? So why were they asking for his partner?

The question weighed on him so heavily that he couldn't resist the urge to ask it. They had arrived at the address, an apartment building, and been quickly introduced to Agent Jason Fielding. He was still shaking Tony's hand when the question had popped out. "Why are we here?"

Fielding, to his credit, seemed to understand Tony's apprehension. "The only agent fluent in Hebrew I could track down is a rather large, imposing looking man. In this situation, I felt that having a woman speak with our witness would be a much better idea." He turned then and led them not into the building, but around the back to a small courtyard.

There, surrounded by toys, a young boy sat idly on the grass. "His name is Ori Kedar, four years old. This morning, his father didn't show up for work. A coworker was concerned when he also didn't answer the phone and came by on her lunch break. Found the door to their apartment unlocked and the boy alone inside. His parents are the fifth Israeli couple in the area to go missing in the last two weeks. They've only been in the US for two months. He doesn't seem to speak any English. The father's coworker said he was fluent but had mentioned his wife wasn't so they probably only spoke Hebrew in the home. We need to know if he saw anything."

Tony was watching Ziva out of the corner of his eye. He knew being involved in this case would be hard for her and he was suddenly glad Gibbs had sent him along. She had listened to Fielding's briefing, but now she was focused on the young child. After a moment of silence, she dropped her bag at her feet and removed her gun, handing it to him.

She approached the boy slowly, sitting down where he could see her. "Hi, Ori. My name is Ziva. Can I play with you?"

Ziva smiled sadly as she watched Ori sleep. It sometimes amazed her when she realized it had only been seven months since she'd met the boy. Seven months and her entire life had changed. And soon it would all be changing again. Exactly how, she wasn't sure. But, after next week, her life, and Ori's, would finally be able to move forward.

In the last eight years, her idea of family had been shattered and redefined time after time. Hopefully, this would be the last time. Hopefully she would be able to show Ori the true meaning of mishpacha.

AN: I know this is short but it's really just mean to be a prologue. Will get the next chapter up no later than Friday.

Translations:

Pitzl: A term of endearment for a small child

Mishpacha: Family