Disclaimers: NCIS, the rights to the show and its characters do not belong to me. No money was made by this.
Spoilers for S8 finale.
Pairing: Ziva David/Ray Cruz romantic pairing
It started out as a punishment for Dylanne (x Lost Hero x on here) and then took a life of its own. I don't really want to label this crack (it's more the title and chapter headings that are crack than anything else, I think), but it's full of cliché and drama. And Ziva/Ray. Also, Tony doesn't get away too good.
NCIS Special Agent Ziva David took a deep breath and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before slowly turning around and surveying the area. The tables had been arranged, the wedding planner was supervising a couple of last minute changes, like placing the name cards on the plates rather than over them.
This was it. By tomorrow evening, she would be a married woman. She, Ziva David, would have said 'I do'. And to think it had all started as some sort of flirt to make her forced vacation in Miami more fun and less boring…
As if he had sensed her thoughts, her fiancé walked up and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck gently. She felt herself relax and melt back into his arms, the tension drifting away.
"You alright?" he asked, his voice soft in her ear, and she found herself draw a shuddering breath.
"Nervous. But in a good way." she admitted, smiling slightly when his hand came up and he held out the blossom of a white rose to her. She carefully took it and inhaled the soft scent, happiness washing over her. The chirping of her cell phone brought her out of the cocoon Ray had woven, however, and she groaned slightly before leaving his arms to walk over to the windowsill where she had planted her purse upon their arrival. Ray didn't follow her but went to talk to their wedding planner instead. She watched him shortly, the grin on his face and the happiness in his eyes making her heart flutter, before she opened her cell to find a text from Abby, informing her that she would be with them shortly. Ziva swallowed thickly, running her hand through her hair before grabbing her purse and walking over to her fiancé and brushing her lips across his in a soft kiss.
"I was just telling Mr. Cruz that there may be a small problem with the seating, since you informed me of three more people attending this morning." Amber turned to her, and she felt Ray's hand squeeze hers in a not-so-comfortable way. She didn't tell him about that little fact. Oops.
"I know it's short notice. But one of them is my father. I do not want him at our table, though. I was thinking more like, the NCIS table. That way, Tim can have an eye on him." Ziva explained.
"So, who're the other two?" Ray questioned, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Malachi Ben-Gidon. You met him in Israel, remember?"
"You invited Mossad to our wedding?" Ray's voice went up and she flinched slightly.
"No. I invited a friend, and he only just got back from an op, so he could not tell me for certain if he was going to make it before today. Ray, he is one of my oldest friends, I really want him here, if not at the wedding itself. Plus, he will be able to keep an eye on my father." she told her fiancé, her eyes making it clear she was not going to back down on this one. When Ray sighed and nodded once, she smiled at him and kissed his cheek, leaning into his side.
"Shall I put Mr. Ben-Gidon at the NCIS table, then?" Amber asked and when Ziva nodded, made a quick note on her clipboard.
"Which leaves guest number three. Who's that?" Ray questioned.
"Tony." Ziva softly whispered, and she felt Ray kiss her temple and brush over her hair affectionately. "I know he hasn't been easy to deal with, lately, but he apologized, and he used to be my best friend. I just… I don't want this day to happen without him." she admitted, tears brimming in her eyes. Amber quickly excused herself to give them some privacy, and Ziva turned her head into Ray's chest, letting him rub her back and hold her close. When they had announced their engagement, Tony had flipped. It wasn't unlike him to sulk and pout and whine, but this time, he had really outdone himself, and it had caused a great rift between him and Ziva, his behavior almost leading to the point where she doubted their friendship could ever be repaired. It wasn't that he wanted Ray's place, that much she had gotten out of Abby, who was more used to Tony and his moods. It was more like her not telling him before they announced it to the rest of the team. And maybe she should have told Tony before Gibbs and McGee and Abby and Ducky and Palmer, but at the time, she had been so happy that she simply hadn't considered his mood and reaction to the news.
"If you want him here, I'm sure we will find a seat for him. Even if it's at the bar." Ray softly told her, kissing her gently.
"Sorry to interrupt." a chirpy voice cut them off, and Ziva smiled against his lips before taking a step back and hugging Abby as a greeting, who then shook hands with Ray. "So, everything settled?" the Goth asked her, bouncing on the balls of her feet slightly.
"Yes. You have my cell number, call me if you need anything. Even if it's just to hear my voice." she turned to Ray, hugging him again and seeing Abby glance at her watch pointedly.
"Will do. I love you." Ray murmured against her lips.
"Love you, too." she returned, kissing him a last time before allowing Abby to pull her out of the room and hotel to her hearse.
"Abby!"
"Bad luck to see the bride 24 hours before the wedding, you were cutting it really close." Abby told her when she held open the door for her. Ziva got in, rolling her eyes.
"I told you, I do not believe in this… hocus pocus."
"Superstition. Hocus Pocus is magic." Abby told her when she started the engine.
"Whatever it is, I do not believe in it." Ziva insisted, throwing her purse on the backseat. "We need to stop by our place, I need to grab my bag." she informed Abby when the landscape of Virginia sped past.
"Your dress is at my place, so is your makeup and toiletries. I can give you PJs." Abby offered.
"I would love to wear my underwear tomorrow, Abby." Ziva laughed, reaching over to gently squeeze Abby's hand. "So, what do you have planned for tonight?" she asked, watching as Abby took the exit for Silver Springs.
"Breena and Sarah are coming over and we are going to play some games involving dirty stories and lots of alcohol." the Goth grinned at her shortly, and Ziva felt her hart speed up in her chest. Oh shoot.
"Um, Abby… Is there a way to play these… games without the consumption of alcohol?" she asked, trying to sound casual. Abby threw her a quick glance.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you'll be able to stand tomorrow." she shrugged.
"Abby-"
"It's more fun with alcohol. Loosens the tongue. And you can hold your liquor, I know that, so there's no need to worry." Abby interrupted her, cursing softly when another driver cut across their lane.
"It's not that I don't know how to handle my liquor. I just…" Ziva began, rubbing her sweaty palms against her jeans.
"You just what?" Abby asked, turning to look at Ziva when they reached a red light.
"I shouldn't drink. At all." Ziva admitted, bitting her lip.
"Why shouldn't you- Wait a second. Are you telling me that he knocked you up? You're pregnant?" Abby asked, her green eyes wide. Ziva found herself nodding and flinched at the happy shriek Abby let our before she leaned over and hugged her tightly to the orchestra of blaring car horns.
"Geez, calm down!" Abby shouted, sitting back in her seat and hitting the gas pedal, a grin on her face. "Did you plan this? I mean, I know you like kids, but I thought you two wanted to wait…" she asked, and Ziva shook her head.
"We did. Wanted to wait, that is. We haven't told anyone yet, so please, try to keep this to yourself. Especially around Tony."
She saw Abby bite her lip and inwardly groaned.
"Abby, I know you are best friends. And I know you don't want to lie to him or keep things from him. But my friendship with Tony is on the stones right now, and if he finds out you knew before him, he is going to be so mad. Again."
"Rocks. On the rocks." Abby softly corrected her and sighed. "I won't tell him or bring it up or anything. If he asks, though…" the Goth told her, and Ziva knew that was all she was going to get. So she nodded.
"Thank you, Abby." she smiled at her, turning to watch the road again. It didn't take long to pick up her belongings from the house she and Ray had bought two months prior, and when they were on the road again, Ziva quickly texted him that the air was clear and he could come home, feeling a pleasant thrill of excitement run through her body. A glance at the clock told her it was just another 22 hours until she was Mrs. Ziva David-Cruz. She couldn't wait.