Abby was enjoying a pleasant dream of Ziva when she was awoken by gentle shacking. She set up. A familiar hand covered her mouth before she could speak. She looked at Jenny, who looked worried. Jenny removed her hand slowly, sure Abby knew to stay quiet.
"Go to the girl's room and stay there," she whispered. She handed Abby a glock. "Take this and keep my girls and you safe." Abby nodded. Jenny lead out of the room. She faced down the hall as Abby retreated to the nursery. Once she was sure Abby was into the room she headed downstairs. Abby looked into the cribs. The girls were fast asleep. Her girl however was suddenly very active. Abby rubbed her belly.
"I guess you have your mommy's since for danger. It's okay. Aunt Jenny and the agents outside will keep us safe."
"I do not think so," a thickly accented voice said from behind. Abby spun around. A masked man stepped through the door with a gun aimed at her. "Do not move." Abby put her hands up.
"Please..." Abby said.
"Do not speak." He stepped closer. Abby stared at the gun in fear for the small lives around her. "You will...uh..." His eyes went wide before he tumbled to the floor. Abby looked up from his body expecting to see Jenny but instead found a younger woman with thick brown hair and familiar features. She was about to speak when Jenny rushed into the room, gun at the ready and two agents behind her. Their guns were also trained on the woman.
"Wait," Abby cried. "She saved us." She pointed to the man on the floor.
"I am unarmed except for a few knives," the woman said with a thick accent. "I was sent to protect you by Lady Balian." She turned to face Jenny with her hands raised. "My name is Tali Balian."
"Ziva's dead sister," Abby asked.
"I can explain everything but we must leave. There are more coming. They are expecting this man with you in his custody."
"Alright," Jenny said. "Abby, get Justine. We're going back to Quantico." Tali lowered her hands after one of the agents took her knives from her leg holster. Together they left for NCIS.
Ziva set in her room. She held a picture of Abby in her hand. She was trying not to cry. She was dressed for their betrothal dinner. It was a black evening gown that she was not comfortable in but Amos insisted. She looked up when Alia came into the room. Alia sat beside her on the bed. She looked down at the picture of the odd woman. She smiled.
"She is oddly beautiful," she said. Ziva nodded.
"Her oddity was what first attracted me to her. She was so different but just as fierce as any battle hardened solider I'd ever met." Ziva chuckled. "She has on more than one occasion reminded me that she could kill me, very painfully, and leave no forensics evidence." Alia laughed.
"You would fall in love with someone just as scary as you." They laughed. Their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. Ziva quickly shoved the photo under her pillow.
"Come in," she called. Eli stepped into the room. He was dressed in a suite. He smiled at them.
"How are my girls," he asked. They smiled at him.
"Good, papa," Alia said. She moved over to let him sit between them. He smiled at Ziva, taking her hands.
"I am so proud of you, Ziva. Amos will make a good husband. And you will make a beautiful bride. I have a gift for you." He pulled a rectangle box out of his pocket. He opened it to reveal a gold necklace with a star of david pendent. Ziva forced the reaction she knew her father would want. She gasped as she touched the pendent.
"It's beautiful, papa." She let Eli fawn and put the necklace on her. He speaks a little longer. Ziva nodded appropriately. Finally they left her room to head downstairs.
Ziva stood at her father's right. Amos stood at his left. They were getting ready to start dinner. The last of the guest had arrived. Suddenly the room fell silent in a wave. Ziva looked up as one of her father's men rushed over to whisper in his ear. She looked past him and froze.
Ziva watched as her mother walked over to them. She flashed a smile in her usual way. She embraced her daughter. Ziva hugged her back. She searched her mother's eyes after she pulled back. Livia gave her a reassuring smile.
"Livia," Eli said. "I didn't know you would be here." Livia turned to face him. She was much shorter but her presence more than made up for that.
"I was not invited. MY own daughter is to be married and I am not invited to her celebration."
"Forgive me, Livia. I thought you were out of touch. The last I heard you were on a dig."
"Yes. However you know there are ways to contact me."
"How did you come to know of the event," Eli ask. Livia smiled.
"I am who I am, Eli. Just as you are who you are." Eli nodded.
"I would introduce Ziva's choice, Amos. He is a good man. He comes from a good family." Amos stood proud as Livia's eyes fell on him. He hid well the fact he felt like he was a school boy again, being chastised by his teachers.
"We will see," she said still looking at him. She turned to Eli. "Shall we go to dinner?"
"Of course," Eli stepped aside to let the women go first. He said nothing when she took his chair. His only reaction was to put Amos a seat down. So dinner commenced.
"So, Ziva, how was your time in the US," Livia asked.
"I enjoyed it very much. I got the chance to work with a very good team and became close to them."
"Will you invite them to the wedding?"
"No," Amos said. Mother, father, and daughter all gave him looks. He returned to his dinner.
"I would like to. Gibbs and my team were very good to me. Made me feel like family."
"Your family is here, Ziva," Eli said.
"Her blood is here, Eli," Livia replied. "We have not been a family for some time."
"Livia...that is why I wanted Ziva to come home. I want us to be a family again."
"Yes, threatening her sister and forcing her to return against her will is a good way to develop a family dynamic, Eli." Livia shook her head. "You have not changed. You still choose force before any other option."
"My forceful nature is what keeps this country safe."
"Yes, but not your family. Or have you forgotten how our 14 year old daughter was killed in a bombing in the streets of this country."
"I have not forgotten Tali."
"I will not let you kill Ziva either."
"I would never..."
"Not physically, Eli, no. You would kill her soul and heart. A slow death. A living death. Like Ari."
"Is this why you came to accuse me of killing our children?"
"No. I came to do what I should have done a long time ago. Protect our daughter from you." Livia stood. Every head turned toward her as she rose. "I am Lady Balian and the mother of Ziva David. I deny this marriage. I do not believe Ziva truly loves this man and I will have my daughter marry for love." She turned to Ziva, bending down to whisper in her ear. "She is safe, Ziva. Amos cannot hurt her. Make your choice." Ziva stared at her mother as she stood up. She soon stood herself.
"I do not love Amos. I will not marry him." She was surprised when her mother took her hand in her own hand. They quickly left the table and exited the room. Eli and Amos stood and followed. They caught up with them in the foyer.
"Think about what you are doing Ziva. You know what this will mean," Amos said. Ziva and Livia both glared at him.
"If you harm my daughter or anyone she cares for I will personally see to your slow and painful demise, Amos. I am nesichah. Royal. Remember that when you threaten the house of Balian." Eli looked at Amos. He stood, throwing down his napkin.
"You dare to threaten my daughter," he demanded. "After all I have done for you. For your family."
"What about what I've done for you, Eli," Amos said. "I've done some very distasteful things in your name. I wanted what I was due."
"No matter what you have done Ziva was not part of your dues."
"So you betray me as you betrayed Ari," Amos demanded. "We both killed people we cared for, for you."
"Who did you kill," Ziva demanded. Amos looked at her.
"He killed Tali." They turned to see Alia and Joseph walking down the stairs.
"Alia," Eli said.
"No. I refuse to be a pawn in your political games any longer, Papa. Not when I know no matter how much I love you you will one day throw me away like all your other children."
"You killed, Tali," Livia asked in a whisper.
"He killed her to keep Ziva from leaving," Joseph said. "Tali was leaving Eli's house to stay with you when she was given the choice. Ziva loved Tali more than anything. She went to someone she thought to be a trusted friend. Someone she told that she was torn, but she would go with Tali."
"Mika, told you about that," Ziva asked.
"Ziva, please..."
"He ordered Amos to have Tali killed and make it look like a rebel attack. That would spur Ziva to vengeance and give her reason to stay and train. To become his warrior."
"Ziva..." Eli reached out for her. Ziva reacted instantly, slamming him into the near by wall. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gripped his throat.
"You killed her...for...politics...I should kill you. I should send you to god to judge you for what you've done. Tali. Ari. And who knows how many more. You are a soulless monster and I will never forgive you." Ziva released him. She took Livia hand and left the compound with Alia and Joseph.
Hope you liked the update. More to come soon. Promise. Review please. :)
