A/N: Well. As you all have probably seen on the CBS website…::sniffles::…Tiva is in danger of extinction. Unfortunately, they're bringing in a new girl. I don't know what this means for Ziva, but they need to put an end to the silliness, buy my plotline, and marry Tony and Ziva now. Like, literally, now. I am extremely upset by the producers' blatant abuse of Tiva powers. To prove to you that I'm also not in favor of some short blond chick taking our man (Ziva's and mine and whoever else wants to marry Tony..) there will be a long delay in updating The Time. Consider it a position of defiance! I refuse to fuel the obliteration of Tiva. I fully refuse. It goes against my genetic code. Oh, yes, speaking of genetics, I hope to update Wait For You shortly, since that supports Tiva. But, regardless of that, back to the issue at hand—the addition of the blond bimbo is only going to make me more apt to update this one! Support of Tiva. Screw you, CBS, I want my Tony to be with Ziva. Well, no, I want him with me, but you know what I mean.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances do I own any of the complete malarkey that CBS is trying to feed us. New NCIS agent? What? Blond? Who? No, I own Lacey and that's it, and she's not in this. Because guess what? I own her and I told her to run out to California. Literally running. Because she's not welcome here anymore.
Real Disclaimer: I do not own some of the vows. I only take full credit for the vows that Ziva and Tony wrote for each other. The dress is from Alfred Angelo. Send me a question in a personal message if you want to see it; by all means, you should! All of the bridesmaid dresses are from Alfred Angelo as well. The music Palmer and Marjorie (my own creation, by the way) are playing is the making of their respective owners and not I. Anything else you recognize is either mine or CBS's.
Four days. That was all that was left and both partners felt the pressure. The florist began calling to settle delivery times. The cake decorator sent their bills and Ziva paid out of pocket. Tony's tailor kept nagging him about fittings and re-fittings, just in case 'the skinny one' (which was, of course, McGee) 'lost any more weight'. Gibbs, too, was laying it on thick with the workload, conveniently forgetting that the assignment was their work and doling out more paperwork to keep their minds alert.
In reality, Gibbs knew that Tony and Ziva were running through every possible diversion for the wedding, trying to figure out some way to postpone it a day or two. They were nervous. It wasn't just any old assignment, and their boss knew that. Hell, Leon had even seen it.
The entire month had filled the silvery-haired man with memories. He'd been through four weddings total in his lifetime, although the third was an elopement. Gibbs remembered how stunning Shannon had looked in her white wedding gown. The other three were black and white in comparison to her vivid image in his mind. And then Kelly's face swam to the front, smiling. He had to bite back a small, sad smile while he wondered what she would look like now. What if this was her wedding? What if he were walking her down the aisle, instead of Ziva?
At least the Reynosas had paid for what they'd done to Gibbs' family, as had the drug-lord's ballsy daughter and son.
The widower subtly watched Ziva, his blue eyes falling on the diamond engagement ring on her left hand. It looked old, perhaps Tony's mother's, and Gibbs couldn't help wondering if maybe this wasn't just an undercover assignment. Was this for real? There wasn't any other logical explanation for Tony giving Ziva a treasured family heirloom, so there must be ulterior motives that Gibbs hadn't thought of before.
In his defense, he knew all about Tony's feelings for Ziva (and hers for him). Even when he had announced, a couple of days ago, that during Ziva and Tony's absence, there would be a temporary agent—EJ Barrett—filling in, he didn't turn heads. Showed them the picture; nothing from Tony, and nothing but a little bit of tension from Ziva. Jealousy? Territory issues? What was it that made the partners tick? Gibbs was certainly going to try several routes. He had ninety-six hours before the ceremony. Actually, by now, it was down to about eighty-nine. But that was one thing about Marines.
They never gave up.
"I am panicking," Ziva murmured, watching her appearance in the mirror start to take on a different look altogether. "I never panic. Why am I panicking?" Abby touched her shoulder gently, staying out of the hairstylist's way as best as she could. The women made eye contact until the Goth smirked.
"Because, silly," Abby joked. "You're marrying Tony DiNozzo." Ziva had to admit that while the woman was right, it was difficult to take her seriously because of the fact she didn't look like the Abby she had always known. For once, she wasn't wearing an inch of black (excluding her hair, of course) and her makeup was—for the most part—completely natural: a small amount of eyeliner, a touch of peach-tinted silver eye shadow, blush, bronzer, and nude lipstick. She wore silver and clear cubic zirconia jewelry, and her hair was swept up in a curly up-do and pinned in place with rhinestone-studded bobby pins. Abby was Abby, just a more grown-up, sophisticated, non-Goth version with a rhinestone-studded, silver-leaf-laden, white rose, orchid, and gardenia mini-bouquet.
Nina popped her head into the room, her blue dress making her dark brown eyes stand out and her skin glow. "Tony looks smashing." Taking one look at Ziva, the woman said, "Oh, and Ziva, so do you!" She, too, held a bouquet.
"My hair is not finished yet." She had decided to put her hair in a half-do, with loose curls cascading down her back. A tiara was now being clipped in place and molded to the crown of her head. "And then makeup, and—Oh, Nina, what am I doing?"
Ziva's cousin crossed the room toward her and crouched beside the bride's chair, resting her elbow on the wooden arm. "Ziva, you are getting married. And it is about time, too, because you are twenty-eight, after all." The former Mossad agent stared into the mirror, watching her hairstylist put the finishing touches on her hair. "When Tony came for Chanukah, I swear that I have never seen you so happy in my life. You really opened up, and I could see that he cared a great deal for you. That he cares a great deal for you." Ziva swallowed hard.
Nina had to try a different route. "Look, Ziva…go out there today and pretend no one else is in the place but you. When I married Adam, you know how painfully shy I was. I pretended that I was just walking down the aisle toward him. Not one other person was in the synagogue, only Adam and Ima and Aba," she explained. "So when you walk down the aisle on Special Agent Gibbs' elbow, do the same thing I did. Because, quite frankly, Tony is the only person who matters today. Not me, not Doctor Mallard, not Special Agent McGee, not Eliana, not the preacher, not—"
"Oh, no!" Ziva blurted. "The preacher!" It all came rushing back to her. This was an undercover assignment. She was supposed to watch out for the preacher. Of course he mattered; of course she needed to pay the man some heed. Certainly, she had to make it look as though Tony was the main event, but in reality, this was all a trap for Reverend Kessler. She remembered when she and Tony had met with him, or at least the first time. For at least three weeks, every other day she and her partner were in the preacher's quarters, discussing the ceremony, choosing readings and songs, and then discussing family and planning to raise one.
But the very first time she saw Kessler, she had known something was very wrong with him. From the way his eyes openly grazed her body—to which Tony, too, had bristled slightly—to the way he talked about family and humanity's duty to 'go forth and multiply', there was something about the man that was just upward of disturbing, and it had haunted Ziva from that day forward.
Now sitting here, awaiting the moment Ducky would come in and collect her, she felt somewhat sick to her stomach. She didn't hear Abby tell Nina that it was just nerves. She didn't hear Nina insist that Ziva looked ill. She didn't even hear the makeup lady ask her to tip her head back.
"A honeymoon is not something to be taken lightly, as I am sure you both understand." Kessler's voice rang out in her head, only showing through an apparition of his wide, almost-too-toothy grin dissolving into her memory. "There is something oddly satisfying about imagining the love and devotion a bride and groom show each other in those few days after their souls are bound. They are worshipping God, and all of Creation, in that one, single act." Ziva shuddered, recalling the rest of the man's speech. "You see, Tony, your duty is to protect your wife—body and soul—from all harm. And Ziva, your duty is the same—you must protect Tony from all bodily and otherwise harmful things in the world. How else is a better way of doing that than consummating your love, consummating your marriage and the vows you will make at the end of the month?"
At the time, Tony and Ziva had considered him a socially awkward man, who meant well (other than the knowledge that he was also a potential murderer) but often said things that others would never think of voicing. After the meeting, the Senior Field Agent had addressed the fact that Kessler had almost seemed as though he were visualizing Tony and Ziva sleeping together. Ziva had quickly walked from the room and down the hall to get tea from the break room, and for the rest of the day, she hadn't let Tony—much less anyone else—touch her (nor had she looked in any mirrors). Reverend Kessler gave her a feeling of unrest. He made her uncomfortable.
So now, sitting in the Bridal Lounge, preparing to walk down the hall in a form-fitting gown and made to look like a queen, only to be met at the end of the aisle by the man who made her nauseous (as well as the other man who made her smile through it all) to say Ziva grimaced would be the understatement of the century. But even so, she stayed, tilting her head back to let the woman do her makeup. She couldn't drink any more tea, or she would, of course, be compelled to excuse herself from her own wedding to go to the ladies' room. She would just have to calm her 'jitters' the old fashioned way.
I am marrying Tony. I am marrying the man I love. He proposed, and I love him, so I am marrying him. Anthony DiNozzo. I am marrying Anthony David DiNozzo.
Eliana skipped over to her, grinning widely, looking both adorable and beautiful in her silver and blue flower-girl dress. With the little girl by her side, and with that mantra going through her head, she was able to finally relax.
Palmer began the chords of Rubenstein's Romance on the ivory and black piano keys, with Marjorie on the harp, as guests began to trickle in and take their seats, all females escorted by Ducky and Tony's friend from Ohio State, Joe. Both were wearing their black suits with the faintest of silver pinstriping, single orchid boutonnieres, and matching sapphire vests and ties. Both looked smashing.
When everyone was seated, the Reverend Kessler made his procession down the aisle, accompanied by Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. When he reached the front, Tony and McGee stood and walked up to the arbor, watching everyone who was walking up toward them and shaking the preacher's hand. The Senior Field Agent glanced around and then rubbed his nose out of pure nerves; the seats were filling up and the ceremony was minutes from starting.
Eli and Lucy (who had decided to come, after all, from Tony's constant begging for the entire month) walked toward the front of the room, followed by Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. (with his new fiancé, no doubt). They led their dates to their seats and sat down as well.
The wedding party then began their processional, with a swift change in music; Palmer didn't miss a beat in moving into Canon and Gigue in D Major as Ducky and Ziva's second bridesmaid, Rose, entered the aisle. They split at the front, Ducky going right and Rose going left, and standing in their row of seats. Joe and Nina followed them, and then Eliana (who earned herself smiles and pleased gasps from each of the guests).
And then Abby set foot in the aisle, catching McGee off guard. For a moment, he forgot that it was, in fact, Forensic Scientist Abigail Sciuto, because she was dressed so…unlike the Abby he knew. But he loved this one just as much, and couldn't help his grazing eyes as he took in her appearance.
As if on cue, everyone turned their heads and stared down the aisle, waiting to see the bride. Jimmy rose a key and smoothly played the starting chords of the infamous Wedding March. As Gibbs led Ziva down the aisle, she seemed to glide on air. She held a stunning bouquet, similar to her bridesmaids', and a veil softly covered her face. It felt like it all was just happening so fast; before she knew it, she was halfway down the aisle, Gibbs' elbow firmly looped through her own. He said something, but she wasn't paying attention; her eyes were focused solely on the man in the tuxedo at the end of the aisle.
Tony's mouth went dry the second he laid eyes on Ziva, as he had expected would happen. McGee nudged him, but he was so numb he didn't feel it. All he could do was watch her, his mouth slightly gaping, eyes trained on hers but subconsciously taking in her entire dress. The top of it hugged her curves, right down to mid-thigh, with a softly asymmetrical design—the entire thing was covered in subtle, sequined, silver flowers and vines, trailing down the skirt but fading away. At the end of the bodice, the skirt swept out, giving her the allusion of a modern-day princess-mermaid. The lacey skirt had a substantial train, but followed behind her. A single-stone pendant hung on a thin, silver chain around her neck, and she had a pair of stunning silver chandeliers hanging from her earlobes.
If Tony could have ravaged her where she stood, he would have long before he even had the thought. When Gibbs and Ziva reached him, the bridal party stood up around the pergola, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Abby grinned, taking Ziva's bouquet and inconspicuously squeezing the other woman's hand. She retook her place with the other bridesmaids and watched silently.
Reverend Kessler stepped forward and proclaimed, "We bring these two souls together today to be joined in the state of holy matrimony; if any person here can show cause as to why these two people should not be, speak now or forever hold your peace." Ziva and Tony turned and stared at Gibbs, who just twinkled his blue eyes at them and shrugged. The preacher then nodded and asked, "Who gives this woman to this man?"
Ziva expected a problem to arise; she always had, since her conversation with Eli earlier that week. She hadn't known that he would even be coming to the wedding until four days prior to the ceremony, and she simply had no qualms about not asking him to give her away. Gibbs was her boss, but also her pseudo-father, and she felt much closer to him than any other father-figure she could have chosen—even her biological dad. Besides, Eli had really upset her during Chanukah, and she was still on the border of forgiveness. Ziva was much more comfortable being given away by Gibbs, rather than Eli Davíd.
So, when Gibbs, Ducky, and Abby stepped forward and said, "We do", she was reduced to near tears—of joy.
"Excellent." To everyone else, Reverend Kessler said, "Everyone, you may take your seats." The bridesmaids, groomsmen, and Gibbs went to their chairs and obeyed. "Let us begin this ceremony with a short prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us all here today for such a miraculous and beautiful celebration. Watch over us through the joining of these two souls, and bring them much joy in the moments to come. Amen." He was joined with a resounding 'Amen', most predominantly Aunt Lucy's.
Kessler smiled widely. "Now, I have only known Ziva and Tony for about three weeks, but I have no reason to believe that this is a shotgun wedding. From their description of their relationship, their love has been nurtured and manufactured over several years." Several people chuckled, mostly McGee and Lucy. "They work together for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and as I have heard, have had to deal with their boss's rule about dating in the workplace."
Ziva flushed; she hadn't known that their statements at prenuptial counseling would be on-the-record.
"It isn't anything to be ashamed of! In fact, not many people are lucky enough to find a man or woman in their lives that they can share such a strong sense of understanding, compassion, and honesty with." Kessler nodded at them crassly and Tony squeezed Ziva's hand. "They deserve marriage." Ziva had to bite her cheek to stop herself from snorting.
The preacher looked down upon the couple with reverence. "Tony DiNozzo, have you been brought here out of your own free will, without coercion or other force?" Tony nodded and said he had, and the question was then turned on Ziva. For a moment, Ziva thought she was going to burst; of course they'd been brought here of their own free will, but also because they had a choice—do the assignment, or lose their jobs. The choice was theirs and they made it. And Kessler, one of these nights, was going down.
"I was."
"Then we shall proceed!" Kessler beamed at the group and then turned his attention to his couple. "I understand that you two have written your own vows. Tony, I ask you to say yours to Ziva now."
Tony took a deep, somewhat shaky breath and squeezed Ziva's hand, staring into her eyes. "I didn't think I was going to like you, you know." Ziva stared up at him in confusion, but a smile flickered on her face that was mirrored equally by him. "When you joined the team, I thought you were boyish, and violent, and just a little bit crazy." Here, the man chuckled, as did the bride. "But I also thought you were beautiful, and I still do. You and I have something so different and—although we've had to hide it—" He jokingly glared at Gibbs, who held up his hands in mock-surrender, before his eyes snapped back to Ziva's. "—You're different and special that I don't know what category it is, entirely, but I've loved every second of it.
"I could spend forever with you, just watching movies, and eating popcorn, and talking about the stupid things we did that day. I know I'm a big kid sometimes but you're one of the few people who really understand me, and I really want to thank you for that. And now, I understand you a lot more, because of spending Chanukah in Israel with you and your family." Tony bowed his head at Eli, Lucy, and Nina and then looked back at Ziva, who was blinking back tears. "I would spend every minute in Israel if that's what it took to be with you." The groom paused, as if debating whether to say the next few lines. "I would traipse across the desert to get you if I had to. That will never change." And then a deep breath. "I love you, Ziva."
Kessler watched on as Ziva collected herself. "Ziva, I will now ask you to say declare your vows to Tony."
The woman squeezed her eyes shut, as if remembering, and then they popped open. When she spoke, there was a gentle firmness to her voice. "In his Twenty-Ninth Sonnet, Shakespeare wrote, 'When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,/I all alone beweep my outcast state/And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries/And look upon myself and curse my fate.' This really …" She swallowed hard. "…Sums up our relationship, I think." Tony nodded as she went on, "You have saved me countless times and have showed me how much you care about me. I want you to know how much I care about you.
"I think the first time I realized it was when we first went undercover together and were taken hostage. I saw that you wanted to protect me and could keep yourself calm and focused despite dire circumstances. That was the first time we were tied to chairs, but even so, I feel I learned much about you that day. The second time was in Somalia; you saved me, Tony, for which I can never say thank you enough. We faced each other, as well as our fears, and with Tim and Gibbs, and we left as a family. But you are different; you are not just family…you are Tony." A smile formed on Ziva's face and she paused. "And that is why…I love you."
It was Tony's turn to blink back tears. Both could tell that the other's vows were from the heart; no one else had to know. No one else had to see that, although the wedding was a hoax, their feelings were real. No one could tell. It was their little secret, and if anyone knew, that wasn't the couple's problem. It was a wedding, after all.
"Ziva, Tony, it is time to exchange the traditional vows that you selected," Kessler instructed. "Ziva, when I finish, please say 'I do'." Ziva nodded. "Do you, Ziva, take Tony to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness, and in health; to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." She watched Tony with warm, chocolate brown eyes. The groom's eyes twinkled down at her and he ran his thumbs over her knuckles.
"And Tony, please say 'I do' when I finish." Tony nodded. "Do you, Tony, take Ziva to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness, and in health; to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
Huskily, Tony managed to say, "I do." He flexed his jaw, a contagious smile spreading across his face as well as the gem-like quality his green eyes had taken on. He shot her a silly look and then his face went to being completely placid. Thoughtful, but blank at the same time.
"At this time, we will exchange the rings."
Ziva felt herself trembling. This was really happening. Forever. True, it was undercover, but the marriage license was real, as were the vows. And once the rings were on their fingers, she wasn't sure she'd want to take them off. Abby tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around, the previous-Goth pressed the simple, gold band into her palm.
"Ziva, please repeat after me," Reverend Kessler murmured. "With this ring, I thee wed."
She slipped the ring onto Tony's finger, softly, but firmly, saying, "With this ring…I thee wed." A breath caught in Tony's throat and he took her wedding band from McGee's outstretched fingertips. It was stunning, similarly cast as her engagement ring. He said the same words, and then laced his fingers with hers.
"What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. With the power vested in me by God and the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you man and wife," Kessler proclaimed. Turning to Tony, he bowed his head. "Tony, you may now kiss the bride—we know you've been waiting since she got here!" Those congregated laughed, and even the couple had to let out a small chuckle.
Tony raised a hand to Ziva's cheek, and she raised hers to his. It seemed like forever as he dipped his face to meet her own, and her eyes fluttered shut. Their lips met and it felt like the first time they had ever kissed. In a way, it was their first kiss—their first kiss as a married couple. It was gentle, but hard; innocent but passionate; short, but long. It seemed to last decades, until finally he pulled away. Everyone was cheering; Abby stared at them knowingly; McGee looked confused and Gibbs just watched on, staring at them approvingly.
"Everyone, I present to you Mister and Missus Anthony David DiNozzo!" The final chords of the Wedding March played and Ziva and Tony, grinning, made their way down the aisle. Cameras flashed, petals flew, and before they knew it, they were standing in the lounge sucking face.
Weddings.
A/N: Another chapter, another day in the life of Tiva. Thank. Goodness. Hey, so, basically, there's a few more chapters! This is turning into full-length! Bah! So expect the reception next, guys!