Holly positioned the right half of the banner on the wall directly across from the front door. Her parents were due home from their vacation that day and Holly had been planning a huge celebration. She planned the celebration months ago and it was originally supposed to take place on the real anniversary. Then about a week before the anniversary, Tony announced that he was surprising Ziva with a two week luxury vacation in Paris. Nothing that Holly could do would even begin to compare with what Tony had planned. Apparently he had been scrimping and saving, and planning for this anniversary since before they were married. Stuff like that is why Holly loved her dad. She remembered when she turned sixteen her dad acted like he forgot her birthday. Holly tried to brush it off but then her dad announced that he was giving Eliana, her old bike and that everybody else would be going to the movies that night but Holly would need to stay home and wait for the cable guy. She ended up getting so mad that she took the city bus to Gibbs's house instead of taking the school bus home. When she got there, there was a cherry red mini cooper parked in the driveway. Just like the one that Ziva used to have. She asked Gibbs about it and he said that the car was hers. It had all be planned. That was nothing compared to what Tony had done for Ziva.
"Does this look good?" Chris asked.
"It's perfect." Holly assured.
"So are we all ready?" Chris asked.
"I just have a few things to take care of when they are on the way here." Holly explained.
"So I should go pick Noah up from my dad's?" Chris asked.
"Go" Holly replied.
"It's just me!" Nate called stepping through the front door.
"How was school, Nathan?" Holly asked.
"I got an A on my Science Fair. It is automatically entered in the school fair." Nate explained.
"Congratulations little dude." Chris replied.
"That is amazing Nate! I am so proud of you!" Holly cried.
"Thanks guys but it's really no big deal. Anyone with a seventy five or higher is eligible and ninety or higher is automatically entered." Nate explained.
"That is a huge deal, Nate." Holly replied.
"Where's the crazy hippie?" Nate asked.
"Still at work." Holly replied.
"When is she do back?" Nate asked.
"Twenty minutes or so." Holly replied.
"And when are mom and dad due home?" Nate asked.
"It's going to be a couple of hours at least." Chris replied.
"Their plane is due to land in an hour but I don't know if it's on time and after they land they have to get their luggage and car. Plus it's a half hour drive from the air port." Holly added.
"I am going to get a head start on my homework then. Unless you need help." Nate replied.
"We are good." Holly assured.
After Nate went up to his room Chris left to pick up Noah. Holly took advantage of her time alone and went upstairs. She stepped into "Noah's room". She was still struggling with the grief when the family moved and her therapist had suggested moving Noah's things into one of the rooms at the new house and making a room for him. It was supposed to be temporary to ease the transition but Tony took comfort in the setup as well and it ended up sticking. Though the room had since begun to double as a guestroom/work-space. It for the most part looked just like the room where Noah had spent his thirteen years. Even with the love and accommodations her family made for her. It was still hard for Holly to cope with her brother's death. Mainly she struggled with special occasions, such as today or at the birth of her son. Times like today she really needed her beloved family.
"Soul sister! Soul brother I am home!" Eliana cried.
"How was your day?" Holly asked.
"Purely magical. How was yours?" Eliana replied.
"It was good." Holly replied.
"Where is my soul brother?" Eliana asked.
"Finishing his homework." Holly replied.
"Heard anything from mom and dad?" Eliana asked.
"No but I am guessing about an hour and a half." Holly replied.
"Wonderful!" Eliana cried.
An hour passed and their still was not a word heard from Tony or Ziva. Chris arrived home and brought McGee and Delilah with him. Willy was computer club but would be dropped off at the DiNozzo house afterwords. Not long after that Abby arrived, followed by Jimmy and Jamie. Breena had, had a cancer screening that afternoon and she was always anxious afterwords. Though everybody was sure that it would be negative. Gibbs was the last to arrive but he had been putting the finishing touches on Tony and Ziva's gift. Not long after Gibbs arrived Nate came downstairs.
"Where are mom and dad?" Nate asked.
"Not arrived yet." Holly replied.
"Really? I checked flight tracker and their plane landed two hours ago. Have they called you or anything?" Nate asked.
"No but I am sure they just forgot. They are bound to be jet-lagged." Holly replied.
"Plus cellphones are so wasteful and should only be operated in emergency situations." Eliana added.
After hearing Nate's revelation about the flight landing. Holly stepped into the kitchen and began to heat up the appetizers. She had cooked everything the night before but almost everything needed to be reheated. She was reaching for a can of artichokes to finish off the spinach dip. When she heard her phone ringing. She hastily rinsed her hands and then dried them on a dish towel before picking up her ringing Samsung Galaxy 15.
"Hello?"
"Holly it's me."
"Oh dad! I was just putting dinner in, are you going to be back soon?"
"We are about five minutes away but I would take the dinner back to your place. Ziva is really sick and she is just going to go to bed."
"Oh well I could keep it over here for you and just get pizza for Chris and me. I have food for Noah and he can't have dinner because it has tree nuts in it."
"No Ziva can't handle smells. I was going to make soup for us. Something hearty but not too smelly for me and the kids, and plain broth for Ziva."
"OK just let me know if you need anything."
"Will do but we should be fine with the kids. Besides I don't want you to risk Noah getting sick."
Holly wished her father well and then hung up. She turned off the microwave and re-wrapped her leftovers. She put the still cold leftover back in the fridge and took the warm food into the living room with her.
"Everybody I have some bad news. My dad just called. Ziva is sick and they just want to be alone. I am going to have to reschedule again but I will let you know as soon as Ziva is feeling better." Holly explained.
"Tell Ziver to feel better." Gibbs replied.
"We understand." McGee assured.
"Poor Ziva" Abby sighed.
"I hope that she is better soon." Jimmy added.
"Just send her good energy and she will be fine." Eliana added.
"What's wrong with her?" Nate asked.
"I don't know. Tony just said that she was feeling sick and she would just be going to bed as soon as she go home." Holly explained.
A/N: Ziva's health will be a main concern of the next couple chapters. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.