I AM NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM
CHAPTER ONE: GABRIELLA ISABELLA PADDINGTON - DINOZZO
Born on the hottest day of 1970, in a hospital room surrounded with doctors, nurses, family, and friends, he weighed ten pounds, and it took his mother two days to deliver him without any drugs. She held her son in her arms for the first time that July morning, smiling into his emerald green eyes, and gently stroking his thick head of dark brown hair. Weak from delivering him, she knew this encounter wouldn't last long. As she kissed him, her husband asked what she wanted to name their son. Gazing up towards her husband, she smiled and announced his birth name for everyone in the room.
After spending three days in the hospital with his mother, they finally went home. Gabriella stepped out of the car and walked into a spacious 45 room mansion with her son in her arms and announced to Anthony Donald DiNozzo that they were finally home. She placed her son in his own crib, and placed a handmade blanket she made herself over him as he slept. Sitting down in the rocker, she gazed at him and sang the only lullaby she knew by heart.
I'll be lovin' you, always
With a love that's true, always
When the things you've planned
need a helpin' hand
I will understand always
Days may not be fair, always
that's when I'll be there, always
Not for just an hour, not for just a day
Not for just a year, but always
I'll be lovin' you, always
With a love that's true, always
When the things you've planned
need a helpin' hand
I will understand always
Days may not be fair, always
that's when I'll be there, always
Not for just an hour, not for just a day
Not for just a year but always
The song originated in 1925, and has been a part of their family of songs for fifty years. She learned the song from her mother, who sang it to her every night until she died at the young age of 35.
Anthony was a quiet baby; he never fussed, and never made life unbearable for his parents. He fed when he needed to be, and slept throughout the nights. His mothers' angelic voice would soothe him immediately whenever he got restless, cranky, or hungry. Her arms enveloped him like a warm blanket on a cold winter's night. Protected, safe, and loved.
His Mother Gabriella is a young beautiful woman who stands five feet ten inches tall, with a slim figure, and long legs. Her eyes are like two emeralds splashed into a pool of angelic love that you rarely see in anyone else. Delicate heart shaped face, with a bow shaped mouth, when she smiles the whole room lights up and the sun shines brighter just for her. Waist length golden strawberry blonde that cascades over her shoulders in wavy layers of thick soft hair. She could easily have been a fashion model, but choose instead to be a Teacher. Her wardrobe reveals her artistic style that everyone comments on where ever she goes.
His Father John stands at six foot three with a body to die for. He knows how to dress in the most expensive and snappy suits, since he is a full time Lawyer. Athletic, Strong, and physically fit, he had a workout fit for a Marine, and under those clothes he sported a six pack, and all muscles. With Sapphire blue eyes that seem to see right through you, and sporting a head of thick brown hair, John knew he looked good and wasn't afraid to show it off.
Gabriella and John have a marriage that works, even thou a lot of people have complained that he is never home, Gabriella doesn't mind. They married two years before having Anthony, and one of the rules the marriage lives by is that John spend three weeks a year at home, leaving his work at the front door. Content on having such a busy and hard working husband, she relishes the fact that he is home for 2 weeks during Christmas and a week in July to celebrate their anniversary, and all three of their birthdays, plus three extra days to relax.
Throughout the 344 days that Gabriella is left on her own to run the mansion, raise their son, and work as a teacher, she has found her own routine on taking care of her life without her husband around. She has arranged play dates for her son at the mansion and at other parents homes, she is involved in bake sales, craft sales, art sales, auctions, fundraisers, school rallies, teacher meetings, parent meetings, carnivals, fairs, birthdays parties, parties of different kinds, and so much more. Her life devoted around being a teacher and mother.
Gabriella loves teaching the very young everything about life, she teaches Grades 1 – 5 at a Elementary School in New York, NY, only a five minute walk from where she lives. Anthony enrolled and began pre – kindergarten at the young age of 3, and is at the same school his mother teaches at.
There are three Schools – one for boys, one for girls, and a High School, Rhode Island Military Academy accepts children from age 3, to age 14. Taking them from Pre – Kindergarten to the end of Grade 8. Once they graduate from the Academy, they have a choice of either attending Military Academy High School, or another High School of their choice. Gabriella works at the Girls Military Academy across the street, and Anthony goes to the Boys Military Academy.
The School gives you the Military Mentality, Leadership qualities, Discipline, Hard work, team work, physical fitness, and the smarts to live a life either in the Military or in Law Enforcement. John DiNozzo went to the same School his son now attends. They also learn Spanish, German, American Sign Language, French, Italian, and English.
She taught her son and her students' music, art, English, reading, writing, history, geography, science, language, physical education, and so much more. Gabriella arranged field trips for her class, as well as separate field trips for the school, and others for just herself and her son. She relished the opportunity to teach the very young everything she could about the world around them. Gabriella was praised for her hard work devotion and dedication to higher learning for the young.
While her son went on play dates, and did his own bunch of activities, Gabriella formed her own group of friends to do things with, to get away from the every day grind of being a teacher and mother. She played tennis, went bowling, horse back riding, in the winter she went down hill skiing as well as cross country skiing, and skating, on top of that she swam daily in her in ground pool at the house. Other than being very physically active, Gabriella arranged to have one night a week called "girls night", where they sat around playing card games and chatted.
His Mother taught Anthony how to swim; he became a part of the swim team that met at different houses, learning to swim as a team and individually. He also became just as physically active as his mother, joining in different sports with his friends; he became an active participant in ice hockey, down hill skiing, and cross country skiing in the winter, baseball, basketball, soccer, football, and tennis.
Together they worked at teaching everyone about being a humanitarian. They volunteered at homeless shelters, and arranged for them to have three meals a day. They gave the homeless food, shelter, clothes, a job, hope, love, and most of all a friend. They reached out to hospitals, and gave the children toys of every kind. They spent time with the children, the elderly, and very sick giving them their time, patience, love, and friendship. They held after school assignments for the students who needed more one on one time to learn a subject they were struggling in. They did everything in their power to help make their small part of the world a better place for everyone.
Anthony grew up to be an independent, intelligent, responsible young boy. He absorbed information like a sponge, his mind like a trap, never forgetting what he learned. He remembered people's names, their birthdays, and the conversations they had at any given time. He developed a photographic memory and used it to form a better understanding of the world around him. He had an uncanny knack of figuring out puzzles, and mysteries. He learned to relax, and found his trade mark smile that would disarm the toughest people he met.
Anthony had a knack at finding bullies, and would protect the victims. He would determinedly stand up to those bullies, and wouldn't back down from a fight. Staring hard into their eyes, unflinching, unwavering, unmovable, and barely breathing, he waited for them to step down. Eventually they would, and turned away in shame, and walked away in defeat every time. The victims would always gap at Anthony, and wonder how he was able to do that, when no one else dared to. He would take them out for a meal, and invite them back to the house; they have instantly found a friend.
When Anthony wasn't doing anything, he was still busy doing his own thing. He relished the opportunity to spend time in their vast library, and read books of his fathers, while listening to classical, jazz, and opera music on the record player. He missed his father and found it comforting, and close to him whenever he spent time in the library, and could easily spend days in there if it wasn't for his mother keeping an eye on him.
The library held 5,000 books, and Anthony read every one of them by the time he turned ten years old. He knew the contents of every book just by looking at the cover, and could quote pieces, the page it was on, and what the book was about. From reading he made up his mind to become a member of the law when he grew up. A lawyer like his father, or maybe a cop, he wasn't too sure just yet.
Anthony would rise at 5:00 every morning and go for a swim in their basement pool, before heading up for a shower, and getting ready for the day. He would meet his Mother in the dining room at 7:00 am sharp for breakfast. They would chat about anything that they wanted to talk about that day, before leaving at 8:00.
No matter what was going on during their day, the morning was theirs. Breakfast took on a whole new meaning for mother and son, and they both relished that time together. Depending on what was going on that day they would arrive back home either together or separately between 8 and 10 pm. After having a quick bite to eat, Anthony would do his homework before going to bed, and Gabriella would do her own work, and then relaxed listening to records well into the night, while doing crocheting, quilting, knitting, painting, writing, or weaving.
John DiNozzo travelled the world as a highly paid and respected lawyer who brought justice to those who couldn't get it. He brought hardened criminals to their knees begging for their life and freedom, and knowing it was fruitless under the watchful eye of DiNozzo. He is relentless in his pursuit to do his job to the best of his ability. Street smart and wise beyond his years, he is a role model for all, and would go into the law history books as one of the best in law enforcement at that time.
John took the time every year to be home for 21 days in total to spend some time with his family. He knew it wasn't much, but he also knew his wife and son understood better than anyone why he felt compelled to get out there and do his job. The first day fell on July 1st, their anniversary, and then six more days in July that covered their birthdays, and three extra days to relax. And he ended the year with 2 weeks celebrating Christmas.
John is proud of his son, and reminds him so much of himself. He once felt bad that he was missing out on his sons' life, but Anthony put him in his place telling him that John has taught him so much with all the books he has read, and keeping track of all the cases he's undertaken. According to Anthony, John has been a great role model, and would love to become his father one day.
45 rooms had to be tended, and the DiNozzo household had its' own maid, chef, valet, driver, pool man, and gardener. The house itself is owned by Mr. John DiNozzo. With three floors, and 15 rooms on each floor, the house stands proudly in ivory white shingles, and red bricks. The landscape that surrounded the house looked professionally done with trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, herbs, and a walkway that takes you to the porch, driveway, and the back of the house where a deck is.
Walking through the front doors, you enter the foyer with its' own walk in closet that has cedar floors, and violet walls trimmed in gold. A huge staircase stood in the middle of the room, and it took you both upstairs and downstairs, above them hung a chandelier. All around stands an open concept of the home, and you could go anywhere and end up where you wanted to be. All the rooms connected and become one floor.
To the left is the living room, open bar, family room, the dining room, ending at the back of the house with the kitchen and pantry. To the right of the foyer is the bathroom, his office, her office, and living room. The floors shone with cedar wood, and the walls are painted with several of colors of the rainbow, each color represented the warmth of the room. The furniture a combo of his and hers, that suited the family perfectly.
In the spacious kitchen, are additional rooms that spread out and become one at the same time. Walking to the left you would enter the laundry room; to the right of the kitchen you would enter the game room. And strait ahead is the sunroom that would take you out to the backyard.
In the Basement there is the spacious movie room, library, music room, in ground pool room, change room, bathroom, storage room, bomb shelter, vault, walk in freezer, walk in fridge, 2 underground garages, a bedroom and a kitchen. Upstairs on the third floor are the 7 bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms. The remaining room is a second storage room.
Two of the seven bedrooms are Gabriella's and John's, and Anthony. In his parents room they have a king size deep brown wood bed with a headboard that has a round mirror in it, and a footboard that has a unique design that his mother has made herself. There are two night tables on each side, with two different kinds of dressers, one is tall and slim, and the other is wide with a large mirror and small shelves on top of it. They have a walk in closet, and a second room that has a spacious bathroom with their own Jacuzzi and own shower, with two sinks, plenty of cupboards, and drawers, and one toilet.
Anthony graduated from his baby furniture to a big boy bedroom when he turned three years old. He started walking at 1 years old, and started talking when he turned 18 months. His bed room consisted of navy blue walls with oak wood furniture, a single bed, a night table, one wide dresser with a long mirror on top of it, a walk in closet, and his own bathroom.
Every year they celebrated every holiday, special occasion, and season the same. It became a very organized routine that both mother and son loved, and John felt content with his wife handling everything. February is Valentines, and is spent with cards, candy, and showing the world that they are loved. When the Spring Break comes in March, mother and son head out for a week of field trips of their choice. In May it's Mother's Day, and Anthony makes it extra special for his mother by doing something extra special every year. Then in June Anthony sends his father something special in the mail, and made sure he got it in time for fathers' day.
John arrives home in the early hours of July, 1st while everyone is still asleep, and would sneak into their bed, so that when his wife woke, he would be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. After making sweet love, they would get up and head downstairs for breakfast with Anthony. Then they would get the house ready for the fourth of July party, as well as the three other parties that week. During lunch John gives his wife his present, Anthony gives them both a present, and Gabriella gives her husband a present. That afternoon is devoted to just John and Gabriella, while Anthony does his own thing, giving his parents privacy together.
On July 2nd, the DiNozzo family celebrates Gabriella's birthday, with a huge party held at the house. Then on July 3rd, John celebrates his birthday the way he always wanted to, at the house with his family, and nothing else. Independence Day falls on July 4th, and the house is once again full of people, and laughter as it seemed that everyone from New York arrives to celebrate. Then on July 5th, Anthony celebrates his birthday with a party, cake, and presents at the house. On July 6th the family relaxes on the deck, playing sports together, and enjoying each others company. Then John packs up and leaves on July, 7th, his week at home has come to an end until next time.
Gabriella and Anthony decorate the house for Halloween, and give everyone a wonderful treat. Then they go all out again for Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving. And before they know it it's December again, and it's time for Christmas. They decorate the house, and wait for John to return for two weeks.
John arrives home on December, 18th, with presents galore for his wife and son. He unpacks, and relaxes with his family in the dining room helping them with Christmas. After dinner, the family spend the night watching Christmas movies. On December 19th, Anthony does his own thing while his parents have the day to themselves. Then on the 20st, the house is once again alive with people, as everyone shows up for the annual Christmas Party they host every year. John, Gabriella, and Anthony clean up on the 21st, and John spends the 22nd with his son, while his wife does her own thing. The DiNozzo Family and the Paddington Family arrive on the 23rd, and Christmas Eve arrives the next day with presents, dinner, midnight mass, ending the evening with John reading "The Night before Christmas". Christmas Day is devoted to the children; everyone opens their presents from Santa, and checks their stockings, before having breakfast at the dining room table. After getting ready for the day, they head out and help the homeless make their Christmas special. They end the day early, and go to bed at a decent time. Everyone leaves to head back home on December 26th, and they clean up on the 27th. The family put away the Christmas decorations on the 28th, and on the 29th, they set up the house for the New Year's Eve Party. On the 30th, John relaxes doing his own thing, and then on the 31st, the house is once again alive with people as they celebrate the end of one year, and the beginning of another. John leaves on January 1st, to go back to work.
In January 1981, Gabriella got run down with an illness she couldn't shake. She refused to go to the doctors insisting that she was fine, and just needed more rest. Her appetite diminished, and her weight started going down, as her clothes started to get loose. Everyone around her saw that she was very sick, but she either refused to believe that she was ill, or simply ignored their protests. The simple fact was she was scared to death of doctors, and hospitals, especially the dreaded "C" word since her mother had died from it.
Gabriella collapsed at work, and was rushed to the hospital with her son at her side. Anthony immediately placed a long distance call to his father, to inform him that Gabriella is really sick. After a battery of tests it was confirmed that Gabriella has Uterus Cancer. She had the option to get help or not, she chose not to, and was discharged. Back home she told everyone that she worked too hard and slept too little, and wasn't eating properly. Never once did she utter to anyone that she has Cancer.
Gabriella struggled through February, and most of March. When the March Break came they didn't go anywhere, instead Anthony told his mother that spending the week at home doing nothing would be a nice change. In April she couldn't hide it anymore. She is very thin, throwing up, very nauseous, very exhausted physically. She was forced to inform her friends and family that she had Cancer.
In May Gabriella made the decision to quit Teaching after being a teacher for 15 years. She also considered on giving up her charity work since it was to exhausting for her. After some thought, she decided to keep going for a little while longer. There was a huge "goodbye" party for Gabriella in June, then that chapter was done.
John came home on July 1st to the realization that his wife was sicker than he first thought, as he met her for the first time since Christmas. He wondered how long she would be around before the Cancer would take her life. He watched her go through a very hectic week of parties, and a part of him felt proud that she wasn't letting the Cancer control her life. Their son celebrated his 11th Birthday without a party, giving his mother an extra day to relax. It was his choice, but he never made it seem like it was for her benefit.
Gabriella made the choice in August to leave the full life she has lived for twenty years. At the young age of 35, Gabriella was loosing the battle, and was dying quicker than she ever thought. Her mother had died after fighting Uterus Cancer for two years. She started spending more time in bed, doing her crafts, and sleeping.
Anthony took up the slack for his mother; he attended the annual meetings to set up the following year with charity events, fundraisers, school rallies, carnivals, fairs, bake sales, craft sales, auctions, and parties of all kinds. He also ploughed ahead and started grade six without his mother at his side every moment of the day.
In September Anthony was there for the annual fall carnival, and hosted the fundraisers and auctions that were held at the School. Besides going to School, doing his homework, and helping others with their work, and doing community projects, he also took care of his mother. Every night he sat with her and talked about his day, read to her, and listened to music with her.
October saw the School do a Halloween Party, and a School Rally that was organized, run, and hosted by Anthony DiNozzo. In November he went all out for Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day. And then it was Christmas time again. Anthony made sure that nothing changed as all the annual parties would be held at the house, and he organized in helping the homeless, the children, sick, and elderly.
John arrives home on December 18th with presents; he unpacks, and snuggles in bed with his wife as she sleeps. Anthony busies himself getting the house ready for the annual Christmas Party that will be held in two days. Once in a while during those two days, John would come down and help his son. Anthony made sure that the party was a success, even though his mother was too weak and sick to attend. Anthony spent the 21st and 22nd cleaning up, and getting ready for the family to arrive on the 23rd. Anthony didn't mind that his father spent most of his time with his mother.
Christmas Eve is once again spent with presents, dinner, and Christmas Mass, all hosted by Anthony. The evening ended with Anthony reading "The Night before Christmas". Then Christmas Day was the same as always, with Anthony leading the show instead of Gabriella. The relatives packed up and left on the 26th, leaving the house quiet. Anthony cleaned up, packed up the Christmas decorations, and got ready for New Years on the 27th.
On December 28th 1981 at 3:00 in the morning 35 year old Gabriella Isabella Paddington - DiNozzo died in her sleep with her husband of 14 years and her 11 year old son at her side. Anthony made the calls, informed everyone that she had passed away, he arranged for the funeral to be held on 30th. There wouldn't be a memorial service. The New Years Eve Party still went on as scheduled, hosted by Anthony.
Not knowing what to do with his future without his wife, John did the only thing he could do, work. He packed up, said goodbye to Anthony, and went on his way. The guests arrived at 6:00 pm on December, 31st for the party, Anthony was ready for them dressed in a tuxedo and looking dapper. His father had left earlier that day.
10,000 people stood around the large house, talking amongst themselves, and thinking about Gabriella. Anthony stood, and got everyone's attention at 9:00 that night and began his speech; he didn't have a chance to make earlier.
"Thank you for coming tonight, my mother would be proud and honoured that you were able to make it. Tonight is the end of a legacy that Gabriella has held for two decades, a humanitarian at heart, and a teacher no one will ever forget. She taught us so much about the world, and about ourselves. Gabriella followed in her mother's footsteps at the young age of fifteen, when her mother died from the same Cancer she died from at the young age of thirty five. For twenty years Gabriella made miracles happen for so many people."
"My Mother's favourite song she sang to me is called "always". It's from 1925, and her mother sang it to her right up to the end. Then she carried on that tradition and sang that song to me right up to the end of her own life. And I'm sure I'll find myself singing that song to my own children one day. Lets open up the floor and see if anyone wants to talk about Gabriella."
After an hour, Anthony sat at the piano, and began playing a song he knew by heart, he dedicated it to his mother Gabriella Isabella DiNozzo. He sung the words as well, and as his sweet angelic voice flowed through the house along with the soft music of the piano, people wept as they remembered one of the best ladies they've ever known.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?