Paris, France : Family First 13x24
Author's note : Ladies and gentlemen, Mesdames et messieurs, may I present to you the final chapter of Hotel rooms ! It has been a real challenge for me, considering it was my first multi-chapter fic and the first time I wrote an entire story in English. I would like to thank everyone who has read, left reviews, favorited or followed, thanks a lot for your support !
This last part takes place after the finale of season 13, Family First. There are a few spoilers for this episode so don't read if you haven't seen it ! (are there still people who haven't seen it?)
I hope you'll enjoy it ! And maybe I'll see you again in another fic...
Paris, France
When their plane landed in the City of love, Tony took his sleepy daughter in his arms and made his way quickly out of the crowded airport after retrieving their luggage. As it was still early in the afternoon in France, he decided to take a walk and show Tali some of the most famous monuments before going to the hotel . The room wouldn't be ready before six pm anyway. Father and daughter enjoyed the Parisian atmosphere, the gardens, the fountains, the music from the small restaurants. Tony was amazed to see her with stars in her eyes, contemplating the city he had always loved so much. She seemed happy. The past few weeks had not been easy. The young girl had lost her mother and met her father for the very first time while he learnt about her existence. That was a lot to bear for a two-year-old child. She missed her mother and asked for her regularly, still not used to her absence. But still, she had a force, an extraordinary energy that he admired everyday and which reminded him of her mother.
« Abba ! Abba ! Look ! »
The little girl interrupted his thoughts as she ran toward him, beaming, showing him her tiny finger for him to see something on it.
-You found a ladybug Tali ! Look how cute it is... You will be lucky !
-Ladybug ?
-Yes, a ladybug, that's it. »
Hypnotized, Tali kept looking attentively to the small insect until it flew away.
« Gone, she said sounding disappointed
-Maybe it wanted to go home, you know
-Maybe hungry ?
-Maybe ! answered Tony laughing.
He couldn't help but notice his daughter looked a lot like him sometimes.
-Well, we have to go to the hotel now, he added standing up, come on princess ! »
Tali joyfully took his hand and followed him in the Parisian streets, oblivious to her father growing anxiety.
As they entered the hotel he remembered so well, he felt sadness and nostalgia overwhelming him as the memories flooded back. He felt the urge to run away as fast as he could, taking his little girl with him, far away from all these memories that were hurting him so much. But he had to do this. He had promised himself to do it. He checked in, noticing that the receptionist was not the same than last time. Still, she wasn't better at speaking English and he had a bit of trouble to make himself understood. But the big smiles Tali was addressing the young woman seemed to help her relax a bit and everything went well.
He didn't remember the elevator was so slow or maybe it was that he couldn't wait anymore. He had a premonition, a hunch that he had to come back. So one night when he was watching Tali sleep, he booked two tickets to Paris and a room, the same room they had shared years ago.
He felt Tali tug his hand as she exited the elevator. Taking a deep breath, he followed her, stopped in front of the door and took his time to unlock it.
As soon as the door opened to reveal the small room, he smelled the fragrance : orange blossom and jasmine and something inexpressible, something that was definitely hers. And he knew, long before he heard his daughter yell « Ima » and saw her run toward the person he less expected to see here. Or maybe if he was honest to himself, that was what he had hoped for when he booked the trip, an irrational hope that he had followed nonetheless. The young woman was holding her daughter tight, rocking her softly and whispering soothing words. Time seemed frozen. Tony had not moved and was still next to the door, their luggage on one arm, Tali held to her mother who kept her in her arms, stroking her hair.
Then, Tali turned toward her father :
« Look Abba, Ima is here ! »
The Israeli looked up, and finally, their eyes met. Tony could feel his heart explode, all the emotions he was feeling mixed up. He let the travel bag fall to the floor and didn't bother to close the door before walking toward her while she put Tali down and did the same. They stopped inches apart, lost in each others eyes, incapable of pronouncing a word. Slowly, he reached for her cheek and stroke it lightly as if to feel that she was real. He let a small smile crept on his face and suddenly he was hugging her, holding onto her, letting his hands run in her hair, on her back, holding her even tighter than it thought possible. He could feel her hugging him back. Not wanting to be left apart, Tali chose to hug their legs and they laugh lightly.
« Ziva, he whispers after what felt an eternity, I am never letting you go again. »
She chuckled and moved back to look to his face, cupping it with her hand.
« I missed you a lot Tony »
She smiled shyly. She was as beautiful as always. He smiled a bit more and he slid a hand on the back of her neck to pull her toward him again, his lips finally meeting hers in a tender and loving kiss. She kissed him back, tears of joy silently escaping from her eyes.
Tali who was beginning to feel really bored, decided that she would explore the room and climb on the bed.
« Abba, look ! Tali is tall ! She said when she arrived on top of it making her parents turn toward her.
-Wow ! I am impressed ! he exclaimed playing her game
The small girl laughed and throw her arms in the air for her father to catch her. Ziva was moved to see how well they get on, how easily they had built a strong relationship in just a few weeks. They really had a special bond.
« Ima crying ? Tali noticed. Ima is sad ?
-No Tali, she answered with a smile, I am very happy to see you two, these are tears of joy. »
Her daughter frowned and seemed to try to understand. Tears were when you are sad. But her Ima was happy. And she pretended that special tears existed, tears of ...joy ? She was interrupted in her reflexion by her father's stomach rumbling.
« Abba is hungry ! She burst out laughing. Time for pizza !
-Some things never change..., said an amused Ziva
-Ladies, if you would follow me, I know a little restaurant down the street... »
Dinner went smoothly and they were soon back to their hotel rooms. They put Tali to bed without forgetting to give her Kalev. They watch their daughter fall asleep.
« She's beautiful, Tony whispered
-She is.
-Looks a lot like you.
-But she has your eyes.
She turned toward him and taking a deep breath she added :
-I am sorry Tony. For not telling you. I didn't want you to give up your whole life because of me, of us and then, when I figured out you had the right to make your own choice... I was afraid of your reaction, afraid that you would hate me.
-So you decided to keep silent again... Until this bastard showed up and tried to kill you.
-I saw an opportunity.
-You made us think you were dead. God Ziva ! We all believed you were dead ! Can you imagine what you've put us through ?! And the team, he realized, they don't know you're alive. You have to tell them !
-I am so sorry, Tony. I... It was the only way for Tali to be safe. If I am alive, she will never be.
-And what now ? You will spend your life in hiding ? He asked sarcastically.
-I thought maybe I could...change my name ?
-Oh really ?
-Yes, you know, maybe, well if you agree... I could, she hesitated
He was watching her expectantly.
-...become Ziva DiNozzo ?
He hadn't seen that coming. He was so surprised he had lost the ability to think or speak.
-But if you don't agree, that's alright, I'll find another solution, she tried to reassure him, but couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice, It is just... it was... convenient.
-I... Wow, Ziva ...of course I agree ! I just...I mean, three hours ago you were dead and now we are getting married. Calling it an unexpected turn of events would be an understatement. Abby will have a heart attack when she'll find out.
She let out a small laugh, relieved to hear him joke.
-So you are okay with it ?
-Well, yes...If it's convenient
-I don't want it only because it is convenient...
-Oh yes ? Why else ? He asked, pretending to be surprised.
-Well, she played along, maybe...because I love you ? And I want the three of us to be happy together.
He grinned, genuinely happy.
-That's lucky ! Cause, guess what ! I happen to love you too..., he finished, pressing a light kiss on her lips.
-Indeed, very lucky.
-So...soon-to-be Mrs DiNozzo, will you dance with me ? He asked, charming as ever.
-What ? There is no music Tony...
-So… ? »
Smiling, she let him take her hand and pull her toward him. He wrapped his arms around her waist while she placed hers on his shoulders and they began to swing quietly, lost in each other's eyes. After a while, she let her head rest against his chest, listening to his heartbeats, allowing herself to relax now that she was in his arms. There would still be things to sort through, explanations to be made, but this could wait until tomorrow. Now, they were enjoying the moment, enjoying each other's presence.
« Is that Deep Six on your nightstand ? Tony asked, intrigued as they were preparing to go to bed
-It is.
-You're reading McGee's book again ?!
She blushed.
-Actually...Since I chose to stay in Israel, I have read it regularly. It reminds me of when we worked all together. It made me feel like you were all with me. And I know I pretended that it was nonsense, but the way Tim portrayed me... it was quite accurate.
-Seriously ? So you were already head over heels for me back then , he teased
Ziva could see he was enjoying this way too much.
-Oh come on, as if you weren't
-What me ? Head over heels for you ? Nah, sorry, not at all.
She looked at him and weeing he couldn't hold back his laughter, she threw a pillow at him.
-You were never a good liar, Tony »
« Ima ? a sleepy Tali asked as she saw her mother walked past her baby bed
-Yes ?
-want to sleep with you on the big big bed.
Ziva looked at Tony.
-It is okay with me, he told her.
-Well, Ziva said, lifting her daughter, just for tonight, because it is a special night »
She took the little girl to their bed and settled her in the center of the bed, next to her. Tony turned off the light and came to lay on the other side hugging them both.
« The family is reunited, he whispered, holding the two women he loved most in the world in his arms, I love you...
-Tali loves Abba, Tali loves Ima, Tali answered before falling asleep almost immediately.
Ziva's hand came stroking his cheek before she answered in a breath :
-I love you too »
And with the pale light from the moon, he can see her smiling and her eyes shining with joy tears. At the moment, they know they couldn't be happier.
The end
So here we are, it is all over ! It is quite strange for me... I apologise for all the mistakes that I did in those four chapters and I hope you liked it. And to finish, I have two words for you :
Thank you !