Author's Note: I don't own anything!!
"All right! See you later! Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!" An slightly tipsy but very happy Tony DiNozzo exited the party and headed for his car. Tony had enjoyed the party, seeing his old friends from the Baltimore Police Department was always nice but now it was time to go home and get some rest.
Christmas Dinner was the next day at Ducky's house and Tony wanted to be well-rested. He arrived home and brushed his teeth, changed into some old sweats and climbed into bed. He slept peacefully until the sound of chimes woke him. He opened his eyes, and he was very aware of a slight draft. Tony pulled the covers up around his shoulders and rolled over. His eyes grew wide when he saw a red-head standing next to his bed, and for some reason she was wearing Abby's clothes.
"Hi Tony." The woman said in a soft voice.
"Santa got my letter!" Tony said with a grin as he sat up.
Tony peered around the woman and looked at the doorway to his bedroom.
"Anthony...what are you looking for?" The woman asked.
"I guess Santa only got half of my letter." Tony said with a slight frown.
"What?" The woman asked.
"Well...I don't want to sound unenthusiastic but if Santa got it right a brunette and a blond should be arriving any minute." Tony said with a wicked grin as he sat up and pulled the covers off of him.
Shannon sighed and rolled her eyes. Kate had warned her about this.
"I'm not here for that." Shannon said dourly.
"Darn." Tony said as he shuffled out of bed.
"Wait a sec...then why is there a strange woman in my room? By the way why are you wearing Abby's clothes?" Tony asked.
"She dressed me." Shannon said simply.
"Oh cool." Tony said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Wait a moment...that still doesn't explain why you're here." Tony said defensively.
"Tony...my name is Shannon, I'm here to take you on a little trip." The woman said with a grin.
"I don't do drugs but thanks anyhow." Tony said as he headed back to bed.
"Not that kind of trip. Kate was right about you." Shannon said in a whisper.
"How do you know Kate?" Tony asked as he whirled around.
"We're both dead." Shannon said simply.
"Oh my God....you're not...no way...you can't be...you belong to the boss-man." Tony said as he stared wide-eyed at the redhead.
Shannon began to worry. Tony looked as if he might faint.
"I do. I mean I did, until the accident of course." Shannon said softly.
"It was no accident, you were murdered." Tony said as he stared at Shannon, and he noticed for the first time that she was slightly transparent.
"I prefer not to think of it like that...especially for Kelly's sake." Shannon said once she knew Tony had figured it out.
"So what are you doing here?" Tony asked again.
"Tony...your life hasn't been quite right lately. I'm here to help you out. We're going to go on a trip, some things may change, and some may not. You will find out at the very end that this is all up to you." Shannon explained as she snapped her fingers.
Tony watched as a Christmas scene from his early teens played out before him. His whole family was assembled in the large family room of their country estate. His brother Joey was sitting on the floor next to their mother, Tony was helping his father distribute Christmas presents.
Raquel DiNozzo was sitting in a large comfortable chair, dressed in her holiday best. A black skirt and a sequined red top. A red silk scarf was wrapped around her head.
"It's her last Christmas." Tony whispered as he looked at Shannon.
"She never let on, we never knew. She had to have known, she had to have been in so much pain, but she never said a word." Tony remembered.
Suddenly a squeal of delight broke through Tony's thoughts. He looked up to see his mother holding a beautiful blue and white dress. Harold DiNozzo had brought it home from London after his most recent business trip. She had seen it in a fashion magazine and had fallen in love with it. He knew it would probably be his wife's last Christmas and he wanted to make her happy.
"She loved it so much...we buried her in it." Tony said as he tried to fight back tears.
"Tony...I lost my mother when I was young. It's so hard." Shannon said sympathetically as she snapped her fingers.
Tony was frozen solid with fear. He knew exactly where they were and he didn't like it at all.
"I love you Jeanne." Tony whispered as he handed Jeanne Benoit a small red box.
"Tony! It's lovely!" Jeanne said happily as she admired the charm bracelet.
"Wait...that's not the best part. Let me explain." Tony said as he gently lifted the bracelet from the box and clasped it on Jeanne's wrist.
"The helmet is for the time we went rock-climbing, the film reel is because you put up with my incessant movie quotes, the heart is because I love you..." Tony trailed off, explaining the significance of each charm.
"And this one?" Jeanne said as she pointed to the small house-shaped charm.
"Jeanne...I'm ready for this...let's move in together." Tony whispered as Jeanne Benoit leaned down and kissed him.
"I was actually happy with her. I would have done it too you know. Settled down with her. She's the only one I can honestly say that about." Tony said as he watched the past float by him.
"I know." Shannon said as she snapped her fingers.
"Thank-you for remembering." Ziva David said in a measured voice. She loved it, and Tony was very thoughtful, only a few bakeries made the special pastries she loved so much, and she could tell by the ingredients label that Tony had gone to extra care to make sure the dessert had been made Kosher.
"You're welcome." Tony said with a hesitant grin. It wasn't quite the reaction he'd been waiting for, but Ziva was always the calm one.
"Well...I know you have friends to hang out with...candles to light...good food to eat. Enjoy night number eight." Tony said as he walked away from Ziva's apartment and headed back to his car.
"What the Hell was I thinking?" Tony muttered. He still felt stupid even two years later.
"You wanted something different. Something that Ziva can't give. If you love her you will accept it in time. She doesn't show emotion in the way most women do, but she deeply appreciates your kindness." Shannon explained.
"I was so stupid...expecting the film finish where she invites me in and I sweep her off her feet for a fabulous kiss. I should have known better. It was just a box of pastries after all." Tony said dryly.
"Just because she doesn't verbalize it doesn't mean she does not have feelings Tony." Shannon said as she stared at Tony and smirked.
"Sounds like you have some experience...with a partner who maybe doesn't share so well." Tony said with a laugh.
"Fifteen years." Shannon said with a giggle, and she snapped her fingers.
"Expect two more." Shannon said as she drifted off and left Tony standing in his living room.
"Hey stranger." A familiar voice whispered.
Tony stood there in disbelief. Paula Cassidy was standing in front of him.
"Hey Paula." Tony said sheepishly.
"Long time no see." Tony said as he stared at her. She was transparent like Shannon, but she was wearing an ugly white dress that looked like something from an old movie.
"Uniform issue." Paula said as she looked down at the gown.
"Holy crap...you can read my mind." Tony muttered.
"It's never been that difficult. I figured out in Cuba that it's a rotating schedule. Football, women, work, women, movies, women, drinking, and women." Paula teased.
"Okay, let's get a few things straight." Tony said as he stared at Paula. Even though she was only a spirit it was so good to see her.
"What's that?" Paula asked as she smiled at Tony, he was just as handsome as ever.
"Okay drinking comes way before work, and you forgot to add the part about getting the boat out of the basement." Tony said with a laugh.
"I've always wondered that. Shannon doesn't even know." Paula said dryly.
"Wait...you're in Heaven and you don't even know? My gosh, Gibbs really is a mystery man." Tony teased.
"One more thing...if we are hanging out, you're not going out in that!" Tony said as he pointed at Paula's gown.
"Don't even try to get me into an Ohio State jersey...I'm a UCLA girl!" Paula shouted as Tony headed to his bedroom.
"How about this?" Tony said as a red-spaghetti strap dress dangled from his fingers.
"Tony! You still have that!" Paula exclaimed as she reached for it and took the dress from him.
"Yeah...I found it smashed in between some couch cushions. I was going to return it to you but just as I got the chance you..." Tony trailed off.
"Died." Paula said.
"Yeah." Tony said quickly.
"Don't worry about insulting me, I know I'm explained.
"Close your eyes." Paula instructed Tony.
For once in his life Tony was obedient and listened. He wasn't really sure if it was a bad idea to not listen to a ghost and he didn't want to find out either.
"We're good." Paula said as Tony opened his eyes.
Paula looked stunning in her red dress, and somehow she managed to have on a pair of heels that matched perfectly. Tony stared at the shoes in disbelief.
"Christmas magic." Paula explained as she snapped her fingers.
"Eeewww!" Tony said as they stood on a beach in Florida.
"It's all old people!" Tony added in disgust.
"I know." Paula said as she folded her arms and waited for Tony to get the hint.
"Oh great." Tony muttered.
"He's still your father." Paula reminded Tony as he watched his father from afar.
"He disowned me." Tony retorted.
"Doesn't mean he still doesn't love you." Paula tried to explain.
"Wow! Who is that?" Tony let out a whistle as a young blond woman walked up behind his father and placed a kiss on the older man's cheek.
"Meet mistake number seven." Paula said blandly.
"Harold DiNozzo, the ony man I've ever met with more wives than Gibbs." Tony joked.
"She's a gold digger." Paula said.
"Duh." Tony replied.
Tony watched as the blond woman walked away, and Tony's father retrieved his cell phone from a nearby beach bag. He watched from afar as the man scrolled through his contacts list. Tony saw his father stop, look longingly at the phone, and then with a pained expression Harold DiNozzo put the phone back in his bag.
"Three guesses." Paula whispered.
"Me." Tony said right away. His father had attempted to call him, but had chickened out at the last minute.
"Someday...when he has the courage, it will be different. When that day comes, you need to be prepared." Paula explained as she snapped her fingers.
"Not again." Tony groaned as they stood in the living room of Ziva's apartment.
"Shannon's view is different than mine." Paula reminded Tony, knowing that he had already seen the past.
Ziva David was sitting on her couch in comfortable sweats and a hooded sweatshirt. Her phone was resting on the arm of the sofa, and she waited patiently. One phone call she almost didn't dare hope for, and another call she knew would come for sure. Ziva's face lit up and she was delighted as she answered the phone and began hurriedly speaking Hebrew.
"She wants you to call. She won't make that first move. She's too cautious, and so unsure of herself. If this is what you want you're going to have to make that decision." Paula said as Tony stood there, wishing he were cuddling on the couch with Ziva. It would have been fun, he decided that a long time ago. Sharing Hannukah with her, and then for her to share Christmas with him.
"I don't think I can." Tony said softly as tears began to sting his eyes.
Paula snapped her fingers and they returned to Tony's bedroom.
"I have to go." Paula said quickly, knowing that time was running short.
"Paula, it was good to see you again." Tony said as he waved.
"Likewise." Paula said as she disappeared completely.
"She's dead...and you're still a pervert." Kate Todd announced proudly as she made her way into Tony's room.
"My dream is coming true." Tony said as he realized that Kate Todd was finally in his bedroom.
"You're going to have so much coal in your stocking." Kate replied.
"Well hello to you too Kate...hey long time no see..." Tony said in a suddenly serious voice.
"Tony it is good to see you, but what would my visit be without a little good natured teasing?" Kate asked as she smiled.
"You're right. We bot thrived on it." Tony said, just happy to be near Kate again, even if she was transparent, and the situtation was temporary.
"Let's go." Kate said as she snapped her fingers. Tony would be the hardest one to convince, and she needed all the time she had.
Tony found himself standing in a luxury hotel suite that he had never seen before. A large bed was covered in an elegant red and gold satin comforter and underneath the comforter he could see that two people were having a very good time.
A wave of thick curly hair surfaced and Ziva lay back down, resting her head on a pillow. A handsome man with dark hair and a deep tan curled up next to her.
"I love you Mrs. Rivkin." The man said as he kissed Ziva's lips.
"And I love you Mr. Rivkin." Ziva said as she kissed him back.
"This is the best honeymoon and Hannukah present I've ever received." Ziva said with a contented sigh.
"I told you that this was the perfect time for a wedding. All of our friends back in Tel Aviv to be with their families, you protested saying that you would be far to busy and stressed with the move, and Hannukah and being re-assigned to Mossad. I did as promised, and I made it all work out for the best." Michael explained as he kissed Ziva passionately.
"Michael!" Ziva said with a delighted giggle, a happy tone that Tony had never heard before.
"No! Enough!" Tony yelled as he looked at Kate pleadingly.
Kate was surprised, the short glimpse had been enough to scare the daylights out of Tony. She snapped her fingers and they returned to his bedroom.
"Who is he?" Tony wondered angrily as he paced back and forth.
"Tony...I can't be sure, they don't tell us everything. I do know that what I saw was genuine love. Everlasting I'm not sure, but it's definetly genuine. If you think you have something better to offer you might not want to waste time." Kate said as she could see the pain in Tony's eyes surface.
"Thanks Kate." Tony said, knowing that for once he should take Kate's advice.
"I have to go now. Our time is almost up." Kate said as she began to drift off.
Kate, one more thing." Tony said as Kate spun around to look at DiNozzo.
"Yes?" She asked with a small smile.
"My mom...her name is Raquel DiNozzo. I'm not so sure of the rules, or how it works up there...but if you find her, if you can find a way to see her or let her know...just let her know I think of her every day." Tony said sweetly.
"I will." Kate promised as she disappeared from sight.
Tony fell back into his bed, and even though he was a man with a lot on his mind he fell asleep quickly.
Up Next: McGee!