I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer.
Tony was sitting in the lounge room watching the TV with Ayla and Pippa when there was a knock at the door. Tony untangled himself from the twins and went to open the door. He opened the door and saw India, Bella and Jaz standing at the door with their parents.
"Hello Tony," the girls and their parents said.
"Hey Girls, Ladies," Tony said flashing them his DiNozzo grin. He stepped aside to let them through the door. Bella, Jaz and Indi had their bags as Tony was taking the girls to the airport so they could fly to Perth for their tournament and then onto Queensland.
"Thanks for doing this Tony," Bella's mum Zahlia said. Zahlia was like Ziva and came from Tel Aviv. Ziva and Zahlia had been good friends while they were living in Tel Aviv because like Ziva, Zahlia came from a broken family. Bella loved her Ima and she often had stories about Ziva.
"That's fine," Tony said. "The girls are going to have fun and I'm just glad the tournament is going to be televised so we can watch it without having to fly over there cous I have no idea how the twins and Sam would go on a plane," Tony said.
"Dad, we flew here," Liv said. Tony rolled his eyes.
"Yes but it wasn't a public plane. That was Eli's plane," Tony said.
"Oh yeah, I forgot Saba let us use his plane when we flew here…oh well," Liv said as she walked down the stairs and into the foyer where everyone was standing. Bella, Indi and Jaz grabbed all their bags and walked back upstairs and into Liv's room so they could dump their stuff.
"The girls are really looking forward to going to Perth and Queensland," Bridget, Jaz's mum said.
"I think it's good that they get to share a room again," Holly, Indi's mum said.
"Ha yeah they're not going to get any sleep and I feel sorry for Sharelle, Bianca, Tegan and Geva who have to put up with them and Madi will be just as bad as Liv, I can almost guarantee that," Tony said with a smile. Zahlia, Holly and Bridget laughed. They knew that when their girls got together there was always a lot of talking and not a lot of sleeping.
-NCIS-
Tony walked the girls into the airport where they met up with the other Junior Vixen girls and the Melbourne Vixen girls. Bella, Jaz and Indi walked over to the group and Liv looked up at her dad.
"I'll miss you baby girl," Tony said. Liv hugged her dad. This was going to be the longest she had ever been away from him. Yes he had had to go away but it was never more than a week and she was spending a week in Perth and 12 days in Queensland.
"I'm going to miss you too daddy," Liv said. "I'll text you and ring you every day. Promise," Liv said holding out her pinkie finger. Tony smiled and took her pinkie with his pinkie. His baby girl was never too old for pinkie promises.
"Good girl," Tony said. "Madi has a few of your birthday presents but your main one you will get when you get home," Tony said. Liv nodded and hugged her dad.
"Don't have too much fun without me," Liv said with a smile. "I love you," Liv said.
"I love you too baby girl. Now go, have fun and have a win," Tony said. Liv nodded. After a final hug the two split and Liv walked over to the group. Madi wrapped her arms around her and smiled. Tony had already talked to Madi and asked her to keep an eye on his daughter. Madi knew that it was the longest they had been away from each other and was going to keep an eye her niece.
-NCIS-
The girls arrived at their hotel and when Bianca and Sharelle got them checked in they caught the elevator to their floor and then split and walked into the hotel rooms. They had an hour before they were going to the netball stadium for training.
Bianca, Tegan, Madi, Sharelle, Geva, Indi, Liv, Bella and Jaz walked into their hotel room to see all the beds already set up in one of the rooms. They each claimed a bed and then started to unpack. After unpacking the girls got dressed in their Junior Vixens singlets and shorts before putting their shoes and socks on and walking the few hundred meters to the netball stadium where they were going to be playing.
The girls walked in and there were 4 other teams training. Sharelle talked to the person in charge and found out what court they were on. After finding out they were on court 4 the girls went for a run before coming back and passing the ball in their pairs. After that the girls started some of their court play ideas.
After another 2 hours of training the girls finished and all sat down on the court while Sharelle and Bianca talked to them. The other teams that were there were shocked when the Melbourne Vixens trained with the Jnr Vix girls. None of them knew that the girls were the Melbourne Junior Vixens.
"Okay so girls that was a pretty good training," Bianca said. "You girls worked hard and everything we said you tried to change. You girls did well and if you play like that tomorrow you girls will put up a fight against every team and have a good chance of winning," Bianca said. The girls nodded and smiled.
"Let's go back, have some showers and get ready for tea," Sharelle said. "We have reservations at the hotel's restaurant and need to be ready by 7pm," Sharelle said. The girls all stood up and headed back to their hotel room.
-NCIS-
Tony was sitting at the kitchen table with Jake, Sam, Ayla, Pippa and girlfriend Cleo. They were having homemade pasta that Cleo had kindly made. It was a lot quieter than normal as Liv was away in Perth. Jake laughed and Tony, Sam, Ayla, Pippa and Cleo turned and looked at him.
"What's up bud?" Tony asked.
"Just thinkin' about how quiet it is without Liv," Jake said with a small smile.
"It is isn't it," Tony said with a sigh.
"Daddy," Ayla said. "This is the longest Livi has been away from us." Tony nodded. He felt it and his kids felt it to. It was going to be a long couple of weeks without Livi DiNozzo.
-NCIS-
Tony walked into his bedroom and saw Tishler asleep on his bed. He smiled and walked over to his side of the bed and sat down. He looked at the photo sitting on his bedside table. It was a photo of Ziva hugging a five year old Liv and a seven year old Jake.
It was one of Tony's favourite photos. He smiled and sat it back down on his bedside table. He was going to miss seeing his baby girls smiling face every morning. He couldn't wait till her first game. He, Cleo, Ayla, Pippa, Sam and Jake were all travelling to QLD for her first game.
Tony got into his pjs and climbed into bed. He gave Tishler a pat and snuggled into bed thinking of everything he has lot but everything he has gained. He changed jobs and met the love of his life. He married her and had 5 beautiful kids with her only to lose her. He moved to Melbourne, to get away from all the memories. He now has a beautiful home in Melbourne with his beautiful kids but has given up his NCIS home and family.
-NCIS-
The next day the Junior Vixen girls were woken up and went down to have a good healthy breakfast. They walked down and sat at the biggest table there was. It was a round table in the centre of the room reserved for them as they had the biggest number of people.
The girls all sat down and ordered their breakfast and started talking about the day ahead. They were playing seven games today and they wanted to win them all.
"Okay so we have seven games today and I won't you all to work on the things we worked on yesterday at training and the days before. You girls have worked really hard and we know you can do it," Sharelle said.
"You need to take everything with you today. Liv that means taking all of your dresses because I can see you are the most injury prone on our team and will probably have blood rule at sometime. Also girls if there is a blood rule it means you have to swap dresses so make sure you have your spare dresses," Bianca said.
Liv laughed. Bianca was probably talking about how the other week at training they were doing boxing and the boxing bag came back and hit her in the head giving her a black eye. Liv laughed at the memory and smiled.
"Okay so after breakfast we go back up to our rooms, get dresses and organised and then we will walk down to the stadium and get ready for our first game," Sharelle said.
"What about tape?" Bella asked.
"Dolton is staying in room 456 and has all the tape and things and will be coming with us today so you can get use to having him there. He will come to your our room Bells, so if anyone else needs to get things tapped then you need to come to our room dressed and ready to play," Sharelle said. Bella nodded.
The girls all ate their breakfast and were back in their rooms getting dressed and ready. The girls were dressed and ready to go when Dolton walked into their room. The girls lined up and got ready to get tapped. Bella got her ankles tapped. Indi got one of her ankles taped. Liv got her shoulder and ankles tapped as she was always put her left shoulder out. Most of the other girls didn't need to get tape but Sharelle and Bianca knew that that would change during the year and season.
When the girls were all ready they grabbed their bags and put their shirts and jumpers on and began to walk down to the stadium. When they got their Bianca and Sharelle got them signed in for the day and got a draw on who they were playing and where they were playing.
"Okay so our first match is against a school team," Bianca said. "And we are on court 4." The girls all made their way over to court 4 and began getting warmed up and organised. The Melbourne Vixen girls helped their junior team get warmed up and ready to play their first match as a team.
"Okay so girls jumpers off and we'll put your bibs on and get ready to play," Sharelle said. "This is where we are going to try new things before we get into our proper matches but come finals we will be playing our strongest seven girls. Today we are starting with Aria in GS, Liv in GA, Bella in WA, Darcie in C, Isabelle in WD, India in GD and Jazmine in GK," Sharelle said. "So those girls if you can take your tops off and put them into your bag or give them to your Melb Vix girl to hold onto for you. Liv give yours to Tegan please," Sharelle said. Liv nodded and handed her top to Tegan.
The girls took the court and were ready for when the other team was ready. Liv looked at saw that her GD was massive. She looked to Bianca, Sharelle and the Melb Vix girls with her eyes wide. The others laughed and Liv smiled as the girl stood next to her even though she was terrified with how tall she was.
The umpires started the game and it was off. It was the other's team's first centre but they did not get the ball as it was intercepted by Liv who had put hands over the ball. The girls cheered as they had started off well. They just hoped they would end as well as they started.
At half time the score was 13-0 and Sharelle and Bianca decided to make some changes.
"Okay so this is going to be the team this half," Bianca said. "Lily in GS, Aria in GA, Serena at WA, Carla at C, Kayleigh at WD, Olivia at GD and Grace at GK," Bianca said.
"Wait!" Liv said. "GD?" She asked making sure she had heard correctly. Sharelle nodded and Liv smiled. She hadn't played GD since she was younger.
The girls went back on the court and Liv had a massive grin on her face. They were playing and the GA Liv was playing on was getting really rough. Liv was going for an intercept when her player elbowed her in the face. Liv still got the intercept but the whistle was blown and Liv looked at the umpire.
"Contact GA and GD blood rule. Liv felt her nose and pulled her hand away to revel blood. Liv walked over to Sharelle while Bianca clarified with the umpire what she wanted. Bianca walked back over and over to Liv's bag. She grabbed her second dress.
The game had to keep going so they put Indi back on the court. Madi went with Liv to get her changed and make sure everything was okay. Madi walked into the change rooms with Liv.
"How is it Livi?" Madi asked. Liv showed Madi after she had washed the blood away. Madi nodded happy with how it was looking.
"Looks good," Madi said. Liv nodded and changed into her second dress. After that they both walked back to where the girls were playing.
"Hey Liv, how is it?" Tegan asked handing her, her shirt back. Liv put her shirt on and showed Tegan. Tegan, much like Madi nodded her head.
"Back on the court next game?" Tegan asked. Liv nodded her head.
"Hell yes!" Liv said with a grin. Tegan laughed and put and arm around Liv's shoulders. Liv finished watching the game which they won 32-1. The girls cheered as they had won their first game together as a team.
"Well done girls," Sharelle said. "We're really proud of how well you played as a team."
"Congratulations girls. Now go warm down and we have a half hour break before your next game," Bianca said. The girls did as they were told and warmed down. The girls then walked into one of the change rooms where they dumped their bags and sat down on the floor in a circle.
"How good of a first game was that?" Aria asked.
"It helps that we have all played together in Academy Squads," Bella said with a smile.
"Yeah I think it does. It was such a good game though. Liv you little freak, playing in GD," Indi said with a grin. Liv laughed.
"I reckon I could swap spots with you Indi. You play GA and I'll play GD?" Liv said with a grin towards one of her best friends. Sharelle had walked in with a few of the other Melb Vix girls.
"Nope Liv, you're staying in GA. The team for the next game is Aria GS, Liv GA, Darc WA, Bells C, Carla WD, Indi GD and Jaz GK. We are playing the Perth Academy team so it will be a toughie," Sharelle said. The girls nodded and got ready for their second match.
"Girls please just take what you need so drink bottle and towel and Liv, take your other dress…the one without blood on it," Sharelle said with a smile. Liv laughed and grabbed her dress, drink bottle, towel and her Powerade and then followed the girls out to wait for their second game.
-NCIS-
After their 7 games the girls came away with 7 convincing wins. They were sitting around the hotel room and they were playing truth or dare.
"Livi, truth or dare?" Aria said.
"Truth," Liv said with a smile.
"Okay, what has been the biggest thing in your life that has changed you?" Aria asked. Bella and Indi looked at Liv carefully. They knew what she should say but weren't sure what she was going to say.
"Well I picked truth so I have to tell the truth. The thing that has changed me the most was when my Ima was murdered," Liv said sadly. "I was 7 and it was just Ima and I at home and someone broke it. The person who killed her was not happy that Saba had released Ima from Mossad so easily when she fell in love with dad. He and his family had decided that Ima and him would get married but did not tell Saba or Ima," Liv said with a tear in her eye.
"He came in and Ima was in the bedroom. I heard rustling and ran upstairs to see what was going on and Ima was lying on the ground in a pull of blood. The guy who had stabbed her was still on top of her. I ran to where Ima and Dad kept the gun and I grabbed it and walked back into Ima and Dad's room. I let off two shots and they hit him in the arm," Liv said. Tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks. Madi was sitting on one side of her and Bella and Indi on the other.
"He ran and I ran over to Ima. I dialled 911 and then sat with Ima. It was too late though and Ima had already passed away. Dad came home and I was still with Ima. I had to testify and tell them what I had seen and done. Two days later they caught the guy and Saba 'took care' of him. That's the thing that has made me who I am and I guess I just want to be like Ima," Liv said. Everyone sat and looked at Liv in shock.
How had she gone through all of that? They each gave her a hug and ended the game there. Sharelle and Bianca decided they needed an early night and sent them off to bed. Sharelle and Bianca walked over to the other room and all the Vixen girls were shocked with what Liv had gone through.
I was born to be somebody. Ain't nothing that's ever gonna stop me. I'll light up the sky like lightning, I'm gonna rise above, show 'em what I'm made of, I was born to be somebody, I was born to be, and this world will belong to me.
