Welcome to the fifth, yes, FIFTH, installment of my "Life" Series: "Life As I Saw It"; "A Life Worth Waiting For"; "A Life Full of Surprises"; "Life As It Was Meant To Be"; and now "In My Life". This story continues immediately after the ending of "LAIWMTB". To start the ball rolling, I thought I would do a Cliff's Notes version of my NCIS universe, to make sure everyone understands where our beloved characters are in this life.

The DiNozzo Family

After a head injury in which Tony has a "vision" of a life with Ziva, he finally gets his act together and they become a couple. Just as the Harper Dearing case is about to come to a head, Ziva discovers she is pregnant. They are both injured in the explosion and there is concern over Ziva's pregnancy, but all is well. On July 22, 2012 Tony and Ziva are married in a civil ceremony at Walter Reed Hospital so Tim, who was very seriously injured in the explosion, can attend.

In Tony's "vision" he and Ziva were living in a home in the same neighborhood as Gibbs. While driving to his Boss' home, Tony accidently stumbles upon the house, finding it for sale and in need of repair. Impulsively, he decides to buy it and it becomes his and Ziva's home as he had imagined it.

After some complications, Ziva gives birth to Karina Lee DiNozzo on December 26, 2012 and on April 12, 2013 Tony and Ziva have a "real" wedding at the same venue they were married at in his "vision". They also adopt a dog, a tan and white rescue Sheltie named Bridget.

In late July, Ziva is shocked to discover that she is pregnant again, as the antibiotics she took in early June when she and Karina had colds rendered her BCP ineffective. This time the pregnancy is uneventful and she gives birth to Jackson David DiNozzo on February 27, 2014.

When Tony is hit by a car while chasing a suspect in April, his bout with the pneumonic plague brings about complications no one had anticipated. His time in the field is placed in jeopardy. The solution presents itself when Gibbs decides to retire and Tony is promoted to Team Leader. At the same time, Ziva is offered a job change as well and becomes the new head of the Intelligence Analysts Desk. In July, Tony officially takes over as Team Leader, with Gibbs as a member.

A planned vacation to England in August to see the family home he inherited from his mother's estate reveals that Tony, and Jack, are the only other males in the Paddington line, after Tony's cousin Crispian, and one day Jack will be the Baron of Paddington.

The Gibbs Family

During and after the Harper Dearing case, Gibbs comes to realize that he can't dictate the hearts of the members of his team. His own feelings of family are tested when he meets the Nurse Practitioner taking care of Ziva when she is placed on bed rest while pregnant with Karina. Mimi Allen intrigues him from the start although it is her daughter Lily that he meets and forms a bond with first. After hearing Lily mention her father briefly, Gibbs realizes he knew him when he was in the Gulf War and was actually there when he was killed. This brings an unusual bond between them all.

Gibbs spends Christmas with the DiNozzo's and because of Ziva's condition both Mimi and Lily are there as well. Gibbs asks Mimi out and they agree to get together after Ziva has the baby, which is the next day. By the end of January, they are dating steadily. By April, Gibbs realizes that he loves Mimi and asks her and Lily to come live with him. Mimi is shocked, but admits that she loves him too and agrees. Coming with Mimi is her blue merle Sheltie Bailey who quickly becomes an important member of Gibbs' family.

Mimi asks Gibbs to come to Florida and have Thanksgiving with her, Lily and their family. He agrees and proposes to her in front of her family. They are married on New Year's Eve 2013 in their home in North Arlington and spend their honeymoon in New York, staying at the apartment Tony inherited from his mother's estate. On their last night, they have an "accident" (a broken condom). This concern is brought to the fore as Mimi is taken hostage while working at Walter Reed by a grieving Marine private who blames her for the deaths of his wife and unborn child. In the midst of the rescue, Mimi is accidently shot by the suspect, her temple grazed by the bullet.

Because of this injury, Gibbs is forced to mention the possibility of Mimi being pregnant. Lab tests reveal that she did indeed conceive but only time would tell if the pregnancy would remain viable. Six weeks after their "accident" Gibbs and Mimi take a home pregnancy test and the results come back positive. They try to keep it a secret from everyone but the team becomes worried that something is seriously wrong with Mimi, so Gibbs tells them the truth. Lily is upset at first but comes to accept the inevitable. In the meantime, Gibbs has officially adopted Lily as his daughter, making her now Lily Elizabeth Gibbs.

At sixteen weeks, Mimi has an amniocentesis and they find out that the baby is just fine and is a boy. They decide to name him Andrew George, after Gibbs' mother Ann and Mimi's mother Georgia. Because of Tony's accident and concern over his lung issues, Gibbs makes the decision to retire and stay home to care for his son. After discussing it with Vance, Gibbs offers Tony the Team Leader position and Vance offers Ziva her own promotion.

Gibbs officially retires from NCIS on September 3, 2014, and on September 20, 2014 Mimi has an emergency cesarean after Drew, as he is called, unexpectedly turns and gets stuck, and being eight pounds six ounces, Mimi can't deliver him naturally. Mimi also has bleeding that can't be controlled and they end up doing a sub-partial hysterectomy at the same time.

Jemima "Mimi" Lydia Monaghan Allen is a fourth-generation Floridian, the youngest daughter and child of James Thomas and Georgia Claude Monaghan, born January 14, 1971, and was named after an ancestor from the 18th century. She married her High School sweetheart Noah Allen in 1989, before he went on his first overseas tour as a Marine. He came back before a second tour and in late March 1991 he was killed in Afghanistan. One week after his death, just seven weeks after they had last seen each other, Mimi discovered she was pregnant. Lily Elizabeth Allen was born on November 26, 1991. Mimi raised her daughter as a single parent, going back to school to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She moved to DC in 1999, and started working at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Her father is 94 years old and a WWII Veteran. Her mother has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing facility in Gainesville. She had an older brother who passed way three years ago from cancer. Her two older sisters, Amanda and Sophia, live in Florida.

At the time they met Gibbs, Lily was a Nursing student at the University of Florida in Gainesville. After meeting Gibbs, Tony and Ziva, and especially after a day and overnight sleeping party with Abby, Lily decides to change her focus and study Forensics. With Abby's help, she transfers on full scholarship to George Washington University in DC. After an end of semester night of partying in August of 2013, Lily and three friends are broad-sided by a drunk driver. Lily, who hadn't been drinking suffers a broken ankle. Her friend Sean is slightly more injured and the accident brings them together.

Lily heals well and works at NCIS on internship. She becomes increasingly needed as Abby is placed on bed rest while pregnant with twins. Vance officially offers Lily a permanent place at NCIS, starting in the first cross-training program of all of the alphabet soup starting in January 2015 after she graduates with her Master's degree.

In the meantime, Sean had been accepted at MIT and is working with Homeland Security on a special program. Before he leaves for school in the summer of 2014, he asks Lily to marry him. She considers his proposal but ultimately turns him down, wanting to stay and finish her schooling and to remain at NCIS. They agree to remain as a couple, and are content to see where there relationship takes them down the road.

The McGee Family

During the Harper Dearing case, Tim takes Ducky's words that "there are loved one who should not be taken for granted" to heart and finally confronts his feelings for a certain Forensic Scientist. Abby agrees with his sentiment and they begin seeing each other. The explosion at the Navy Yard thwarts their plans as Tim is injured severely when a shard of glass gets lodge near his spinal cord and the resulting swelling and inflammation causes him to be paralyzed. Abby is also injured, getting glass in her eye that ultimately requires her to need an intraocular lens transplant.

Tim at first feels he is too damaged and tries to dissuade Abby from being with him, but she refuses to give up on him. After he is discharged from rehab, they all but live together. At Thanksgiving when Jimmy and Breena announce that they are expecting, Tim and Abby both become introspective. They have a frank talk about their relationship and Tim brings up children. Abby convinces Tim that she is happy and wants a life with him. During one of his physical therapy treatment, Tim is able to move his toes. This encouraging news changes the focus of his therapy and by Christmas he is able to stand with assistance. He asks Abby to marry him before the holiday, after getting her brother's, and Gibbs', permission. They hold off on setting a date until Tim's physical issues are resolved.

After Jamie Palmer's birth on the 4th of July, Tim and Abby re-visit the children issue and they decide to go ahead and try to get pregnant, even if it happens before their wedding which they had finally decided would be September 14, 2013.

In August, Tim and Abby are asked to watch Karina while Tony and Ziva have to take an unexpected out of town trip. This is actually a ruse, a plan hatched by Tony and Gibbs to give Tim and Abby a chance at parenting. The long weekend is a huge success, not the least of which is that they find a home for sale directly behind Gibbs' home and Tim decides to buy it.

After getting a scant, short period in August, Abby is devastated and the news that Tony and Ziva are expecting again adds to her gloom. But when they return from their honeymoon in San Diego, Abby is convinced she is pregnant but worried about her symptoms. One positive pregnancy test and ultrasound later, it is revealed that Abby was actually pregnant in August and that the couple are expecting twins, a boy and a girl. Two days before Jack DiNozzo is born, Abby is placed on forced bed rest because the muscles and ligaments in her pelvis have stretched to a point that she is no longer supported while standing or walking. On April 20, 2014, Abby gives birth to William Luca "Will" and Annabelle Kyla "Belle".

The Palmer Family

Because of the devastating events at the Navy Yard, Jimmy asks Breena to move up their vows so he can return to DC to help out. The sudden and unexpected heart attack that Ducky suffers adds to the stress.

At Thanksgiving 2012, Jimmy and Breena announce that they are expecting and on July 4, 2013 Breena gives birth to James Edward Donald Palmer, Jamie for short. At Gibbs' retirement September 3, 2014, Jimmy reveals to Ziva that Breena had suffered a miscarriage in August but refused to talk about it.

Ducky Mallard

After his near-fatal heart attack in May of 2012, Ducky finally returns to work at NCIS. The news that Jimmy and Breena are expecting brings the unexpected news that he would be his "grandfather". As Abby goes part-time and then placed on bed rest during her pregnancy in 2014, Dr. Ellie Black returns to NCIS to fill in. She has known Ducky for many years, and her return sparks an interest in Ducky. By October 2014, they are declaring themselves as a couple, having dinner with Tony and Ziva to celebrate.

That brings us up to date. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. And now, without further ado, here is the next installment: "In My Life"

Gibbs put the pictures back up on the wall and stared at them for a few moments. Yes, life had been cruel, ripping away the two things he had loved more than his own being. But then Fate has a funny way of righting things. Gibbs was not a believer in the supernatural, but he couldn't deny the unusual set of circumstances that had brought Mimi and Lily into his life. Call it what you will, but Gibbs recognized it for what is was.

He poured himself a very tiny amount of bourbon and raised his glass upward. "Thank you." He murmured softly. Downing the alcohol, he put the glass down and headed for the stairs, where his life was waiting for him; his life as it was meant to be.

Chapter One: "Scary Things"

Tim watched his wife nervously as she browsed the internet, a fierce determination on her face. He knew that this day would come, and while he wasn't exactly dreading it he was anxious about how it would all play out.

Since July, Abby had been on a mission. Tim had at first ignored her attempts to make him become an active, willing player. But as the day in question loomed closer, even Tim knew he was only delaying the inevitable.

As he sat at their dining room table, listening to Abby chatter excitedly, he tried to match her enthusiasm. But try as he might, the very idea was scary to him. Not because it was dangerous or really scary; after all, he had been known to partake in such activity in the past. But it had always been his choice, his decision.

But in this, Abby held all the cards and he was a passive participant. Because in two days, he and his family would don matching outfits for this important milestone in their lives:

Will and Belle's first Halloween.

Tim was just as excited as Abby was for his children to dress up in cute little costumes, and he was looking forward to proudly taking the babies around their lovely neighborhood to experience their first night of gathering cavity-laden treats: the first of many he mused.

Not that they would have any clue what was going on. Let's be honest: this night was for Abby. And Tim, he supposed, although Halloween was not his favorite time of year but that was a work-related sentiment. But when Abby started stressing over this night of adventure in July, Tim knew that he was in trouble. Little did he realize at first that his role would not be limited to escorting his children to their neighbor's places of residence.

"Abby, I have no problem dressing up. I've worn many a costume, at parties, in my life but to dress up in the same costume the kids are wearing and prance around the neighborhood? What are you thinking?" Tim was horrified when Abby announced that he and Abby would also be wearing matching costumes as they took the children out.

"It will be fun, Tim! You'll love it, so don't be such a whiny-pants." Abby declared, dismissing his embarrassment.

Tim even appealed to Gibbs, asking him to pull Abby aside and talk her out of this notion. Gibbs only shook his head and hid his smile. He could well imagine Abby's excitement over Will and Belle's first Halloween. As for Drew: well he would only be five and a half weeks old, so he would not be going out.

But Mimi did get a little outfit for him, which Gibbs chuckled at. It was a sleeper that was camouflage colored. She found some little boots that resembled the boots Marines wore.

Once Tim realized that Gibbs was not going to intervene in his behalf, he turned to Tony and Ziva. He should have realized that would have ending up being a pointless venture. As soon as Tony heard what Abby had planned, he immediately decided that their family would also dress up in matching outfits. The only thing that made him feel better was Tony's face when Ziva announce they would all be dressing up as ballerinas, in matching tutus.

"Got it!" Abby punched "enter" and sat back in satisfaction. Tim sighed heavily.

"Should I even ask?" He balanced Belle on his knees, chuckling as she gurgled in delight at "standing" on her toes.

"It's a surprise, Tim and you will love it. I promise!" Abby stood up and went around the table to put her arms around her husband. Tim patted her arm.

"I'm sure I will, Abbs." Tim wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.

Halloween, 2014

"Are you almost ready, Ziva?" Tony called from their living room. He looked at Karina and Jack, smiling in glee at their costumes.

"I don't think I can make it down the stairs, this dress is too narrow." Ziva called out from the top landing. Tony looked up and sucked in his breath.

His eyes traveled down the long black dress, hugging every curve of his wife's body. "You look amazing." He finally said.

Ziva rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but that isn't going to help me get down these stairs. I think maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." She frowned.

Tony chuckled. "Here, I'll help you." He looked at Karina. "You just wait with Jack, ok Punkin?"

Karina put her hand on Jack, as if that would keep him from climbing out of his stroller. "I watch Jack, Daddy." She nodded solemnly.

Tony gave her a quick kiss and bounded up the stairs. Ziva looked quizzically at him. "So, what is your plan?" Tony smiled mischievously.

"I thought I would put you on the bannister and glide you down." Tony put his hands on her slim waist.

Ziva's eyes bugged out. "I don't think so, nice try Tony."

Tony chuckled. "I was just kidding. Here…" Tony swept her up in his arms and carefully started descending the staircase.

Ziva held her breath until they reached the bottom. "Thank you, Tony. Next year if I have a costume such as this I will get dressed down here." Ziva patted his chest, smoothing out the large lapels of the pin-striped jacket.

"You look very handsome, Gomer." She kissed his lips seductively.

"Not Gomer, Gomez!" Tony was appalled that Ziva would think he was dressed as Gomer Pyle. "And you are Morticia, Karina is Wednesday and Jack is Pugsley." Tony's idea that they all dress up as the "Addams Family" was inspired.

Ziva tight black gown and the long black wig; Karina in pigtails and a black dress with a Peter Pan color and Jack wearing a striped shirt and shorts: Tony gazed at his family lovingly. He was particularly proud of his own outfit, topped off with the famous Gomez moustache.

"I wonder what McGhoul ended up wearing? He was so crazed about having matching costumes. How weird is that? He used to dress up all the time with his gaming buddies." Tony shrugged.

Ziva smoothed out Karina's dress. "Well, from what I understood it was not the idea of dressing up, but not being able to choose what he was wearing. Who knows what Abby came up with?" She chuckled, and straightened up. "We better go. We will want to be back in time for the older kids when they come around."

They were going out earlier, like all of the parents with very young children, in the daylight. The older kids would wait until seven or eight o'clock before they ventured out.

Like last year, Tim and Abby were hosting a "Horror House" but it would not be open until they returned from their own circuit with Will and Belle. Tony and Ziva and the kids would be the "hosts", inviting the unsuspecting victims to enter the McGee "home". They could watch Will and Belle while Tim and Abby were involved in acting out their parts.

Like last year, Lily would be helping out. Jimmy was off-limits this year, having his own rambunctious child anxious to trick or treat. Ducky offered his services again. And Stan and Melinda also volunteered, deciding to bring Lizzie to the North Arlington neighborhood for her own night of ghoulish adventure.

Tony and Ziva started out, stopping at each home and delighting in the response their costumes elicited. Tony caught sight of a couple wearing dark costumes and pushing strollers. "Hey, I think I see Tim and Abby. McGee!" Tony's face lit up in surprise when they both turned and he saw at last the costumes Abby had picked out.

"Well, if it isn't Batman and his family!" Tony grinned. Tim was dressed as Batman, Abby as Batwoman and Will and Belle were Batboy and Batgirl respectively. Tim had a huge smile on his face.

"Look at you, McManlyman, with your bulging muscles!" Tony kidded him. Tim's costumes had a chest plate with massive pectorals and sculpted abs, large biceps and quadriceps. "And here you thought Abby was going to make you dress up as one of the 'Teletubbies'!"

Tim laughed and acknowledged his fear. "Well, I had no idea what Abby was planning and I am not too proud to admit that I was worried." Tim put his arm around his wife. "But she did a good job. You guys look awesome!" Tim complemented their costume choice.

"We tried to get Gibbs dress up as Uncle Fester." Tony deadpanned. Ziva snorted and covered her mouth. Tim and Abby looked amused.

"I can well imagine his response to that." Tim chuckled. Tony rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah, it took a week before the pain subsided." The friends continued their trek around the neighborhood, ending up last at Gibbs and Mimi's home. Like last year, they were on the front porch, dressed up in matching outfits.

This time, they were all dressed in fatigues. They were surprised to see Mimi dressed that way, but they loved Drew's little outfit. Mimi burst out in applause when she saw them coming up the sidewalk.

"Your costumes are great!" She laughed. Karina scrambled up the porch steps to be with her Grandpa and Grandma. "Grandma pretty." She announced after kissing Mimi. Mimi picked her up and hugged her.

"And Karina is very pretty! Look at your pigtails. What a big girl you are." She kissed her cheek. Karina beamed in delight.

Bailey jumped up and down in excitement of seeing his family. He had his own camouflage coat on. Drew looked at everyone wide eyed. Ziva tickled his belly.

"Don't you look handsome, young man?" She cooed to the baby. Drew yawned and sucked on his fist.

"Oh, my, guess someone is bored with all this folderol and fiddle-de-de." Mimi joked. "Here, he's probably getting hungry." She stood up and took her son from Gibbs. Karina followed her into the house, so Ziva went in as well. Gibbs looked at the group remaining outside.

"So what's the plan for the rest of the night?" He jerked his head behind him to indicate the McGee house nestled behind his own.

"We have everything ready to go, Gibbs. It will be so cool, just like last year. Well, almost like last year." The year before, Ned Dorneget had played an active role in their planning and execution of their horror house. He was missed this year, and not just for this event.

Tony lost his grin, knowing Abby meant Dorneget. He was still having trust issues and had been placed on medical leave. A decision would need to be made soon regarding his future at NCIS.

Tony shook those sobering thoughts from his mind as he focused again on the three children in front of him. Jack was babbling a mile a minute at Gibbs, who was nodding sagely at Jack's description of the nights events. Will and Belle would chirp in occasionally with their own opinion. All in all, it was a very noisy group.

"Wow, we could wake up the dead." Tony looked around to make sure they weren't actually disturbing anyone. But everywhere he looked there were shrieking children and parents yelling after their kids to stay with them. Tony relaxed and shrugged as his concerns.

Ziva and Karina sat on the sofa with Mimi as she made herself comfortable with Drew. "He has gotten so big, Mimi." Ziva said softly, touching his little hand.

"Drew so big." Karina nodded in agreement.

Mimi grimaced. "As if he wasn't already big to begin with but actually he hasn't gained that much weight since birth, less than a pound." She smoothed his blond hair.

Ziva rubbed her temples, sighing. Mimi looked at her in concern. "Are you ok, Ziva? Do you have a headache?" Mimi asked.

Ziva looked at Mimi, surprising her with her own look of concern. "I have been having very bad headaches lately, Mimi. I…I am worried." Ziva clenched her hands together. Karina could sense her mother's anxiety and cuddled close next to her. Ziva soothingly rubbed her back.

Mimi frowned. "Are you feeling ill? Do you have any other symptoms, like dizziness or nausea?" Ziva shook her head.

"No, I am only having the headaches. Nothing seems to help." She rubbed her temples again.

"Have you said anything to Tony about this?" Mimi inquired. She could well imagine that Ziva hadn't said anything and probably still wouldn't have if Mimi hadn't noticed Ziva's actions. Ziva's guilty look answered her question. She sighed and turned her attention back to Drew.

"Why don't you come over tomorrow and I'll check you out. There is too much going on tonight, and I am guessing you don't want any one poking their noses in. But if these headaches are as bad as you are suggesting, you need to let Tony know. If nothing else so he can entertain the babies when you are having them."

Ziva considered what Mimi had just said. "Do you think it is something serious?" She looked slightly pale.

Mimi shrugged. "You could be suffering from migraines. But we'll talk more about that tomorrow. I can't really say what's going on until I examine you, Ziva. But don't let it concern you just yet. Stress can bring on headaches as well." Ziva nodded.

"Ok, then I will see you tomorrow. And I will tell Tony."

"Tell Tony what?" Ziva looked up in alarm at Tony standing in the foyer. She got up from the sofa, placing Karina next to Mimi and Drew.

"It is nothing, Tony. We will talk later." Ziva gazed into his eyes, imploring him to leave it for now and to trust her. Tony regarded her silently, concern reflecting back from his face.

"It better be nothing." Tony mumbled under his breath. "Are you ready to go, Punkin? We have a horror house to attend." Karina clapped her hands and wrapped her arms around his legs. He scooped her up, laughing.

As he turned to go, he looked at Mimi. She just looked back at him, giving nothing away. Sighing, he put his arm on Ziva's shoulder and led his family to their next destination.

And there is the first chapter. Not overly long since I took up so much space with my "Previously on…" Please review and let me know what you think. Welcome back, enjoy the ride. Not much to say about "Ziva's farewell" except that I my low expectations were met. Thanks to Alexindigo for catching my error with "Wednesday's" (not Tuesday's) name. Wednesday was a take-off on Tuesday Weld, the actress.