A/N: This is the last chapter of this story. Thanks to all who read and reviewed, favorite and followed.

Jethro and Ziva

Seven Years Later

"Ziva, we're going to be late. Come on!"

Two pairs of small feet came clambering down the stairs followed by their mother who was just pulling on her sweater.

"It is a five minute drive to the school. We will not be late."

"Ziva, it's the first day. There will be tons of parents there. Let's go."

"Will you please relax. Take a deep breath, Jethro."

Ziva leaned into him and kissed him quickly on the mouth. Meanwhile two boys with new backpacks on their shoulders were milling around the front door waiting on their parents to get it together.

"We could walk there quicker," Jacob whispered to his little brother.

"I know," responded Sam who was starting kindergarten this morning while his older brother was going into second grade.

"Okay you two ready to go?"

"Yes, daddy. Can we go in the truck? Please!"

Jethro looked at Ziva. She was a stickler for seatbelts but it was only a few blocks to the school. She gave him a slight nod and a smile.

"Sure, we can squeeze in just this one time."

Ziva checked them over one last time then herded everyone to the car. It was the first day of school in a new school and she was undoubtedly more nervous than either of her sons. Jacob regarded himself as an expert on school having finished first grade last summer. He had talked to his brother so much about school that Sam was sure he knew all about it already. Aside from getting new backpacks and lots of new, fun school supplies neither child seemed all that taken with the excitement of a new school year. After all their lives had already seen a lot excitement and change in the last five years.

When they arrived at the small elementary school, Jethro and Ziva walked with the boys into the school and saw them to their classrooms. The mood in the school was almost festive as most of the parents were there even for the older kids. It was a tradition that the parents who could manage it came the first day and when the kids were settled in their classrooms the parents spent some time in the cafeteria having coffee and donuts and getting reacquainted after summer break. The Gibbs boys were new to the school so Jethro and Ziva took advantage of the time to meet some of the other parents of kindergarteners and second graders.

On the way out of the school Ziva reached for Jethro's hand and squeezed.

"Could we take a drive before you go to work?"

"Sure. Where would you like to go?"

"The lake. I'd just like some time alone with you this morning."

"Zi, is everything alright?"

He reached for her and she moved over to sit beside him.

"Yes, I just want some alone time."

Jethro didn't push the issue even though he was sure there was something on his wife's mind. He remembered a couple of first days of school for Kelly. Maybe Ziva was just feeling strange with both her boys in school all day now. It was just one of the many changes they had gone through in the past couple of years.

When they got to the lake, Jethro parked near a walking trail and they both got out of the truck. Hand in hand they started down the familiar track that circled the small lake. There were benches every once in a while and soon they came to one that was in a sunny spot. Ziva stopped and pulled Jethro down beside her. She leaned into his side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

After a few minutes Jethro realized Ziva was crying.

"Hey, Ziver what's the matter?"

"I think it just all catching up with me. So much has changed and with Jacob and Sammy both in school it's just hitting me I guess."

"Are you unhappy with what we've done, Ziva?"

Ziva straightened up and looked at her husband. The look of concern on his face startled her.

"Oh god no, Jethro. I am very happy with our life here. I love you and our boys with all my heart. I think maybe I have not taken time to process everything in the past few months and today it just hit me. I am very happy with you Jethro, never doubt that."

"Okay. Let's just sit here and enjoy the sunshine for a while. I love you, Ziver."

The couple held onto each other and let the past few years float past them on the morning breeze.

Jethro and Ziva were married just a month after he proposed. Her pregnancy progressed perfectly and Jacob Paul Gibbs was born seven months later. He was the most perfect little creature Ziva had ever seen. She held him and studied him for hours. When it was time for her to go back to work she could hardly bear to leave him at home with a nanny. After a few months back at work Jethro suggested one night that she consider working part time. That meant leaving his team of course but he could see her heart was no longer on her work; it was at home with Jacob. The Director was able to move Ziva to a position in the Intelligence division where she worked three days a week at the office and Mondays and Fridays from home. It was a perfect arrangement and Ziva and Jacob thrived together. Jethro was sorry to lose her on his team but honestly was thrilled she was no longer in the field. Even if it meant training a new agent.

Jacob was barely one year old when Ziva got pregnant again. Jethro seemed unnaturally proud of himself the night Ziva gave him the news. She was excited and happy but also a bit apprehensive about having a two year old and a baby.

"You'll be fine, Ziver. You're a natural and Mrs. Green will be thrilled to have a baby in the house again."

"I know. It's just a surprise I guess."

"Really? Because I don't remember us being very careful about precautions. We talked about another little one all along. Are you okay with this?"

"Of course I am. I'm thrilled really."

Eight months later Samuel Jackson arrived early one morning. Again, he was just as perfect as his brother and Ziva spent hours cuddling him and watching him. While Jacob had his mother's curly dark hair and eyes, Samuel was the spitting image of his father with light brown hair and striking blue eyes. Both boys were healthy, happy babies who ate well and slept through the night by the time they were a month old. Jacob was very taken with his little brother and to this day was protective of him. Sammy followed Jacob everywhere and much to their parents' delight the boys were best friends.

Life continued as always for the Gibbs family after Samuel was born. Ziva returned to work and Jethro was still in charge of the MCRT. His work hours were not as bad as when Ziva was on the team because now he had someone to go home to and Tony was more than capable of leading the team in Jethro's absence. The boys were growing and the family was thriving as Jacob entered kindergarten two years ago. That first day of school was the last really good day the family had for a long time.

During the second week of school Ziva's father suffered a serious heart attack and she flew to Israel to be with him. Eli survived but Ziva was gone for almost a month. That was a difficult time for them all but Jethro managed with the help of Mrs. Green and the team. He talked to Ziva at least three times a week but since they had not been apart for more than a couple of days since they were married her absence was very hard on him. Ziva was his anchor and his light. Now he had the boys and that helped tremendously but they did not take the place of his wife. Luckily, he was exhausted most of the time between work and his sons so when he fell into bed at night he usually slept pretty well.

Ziva finally returned and things improved for several weeks. Unfortunatley, that was to be short lived.

On the Monday before Thanksgiving Jethro and his team were out on an investigation that went terribly wrong. To this day Ziva did not know all the details of what happened that day. All she knew for sure at the time was that her husband was very nearly dead, Tim was shot but not badly injured and Tony was knocked unconscious. The bad guys didn't get far before they were caught by the backup team but by then the damage was done.

Ziva was working at home that day and when the call came from the Director she sensed something was drastically wrong. She was right.

"Ziva, there should be an agent in your driveway right now. Jethro has been shot and is on the way to Washington Trauma."

"How bad is it?"

Ziva was having trouble breathing but very shortly her training took over and she went into agent mode.

"It's bad, Ziva. They were ambushed and Gibbs got the worst of it. Go with the agent who's there. Ducky and I will meet you at the hospital."

"Right."

Ziva hung up and gave Mrs. Green a quick summary of what was happening.

"Don't worry about the boys. I'll get Jacob from school and we'll be here whenever you get home. I can stay as long as you need me to."

Ziva hugged her and ran out of the house. When she got to the hospital, Jethro had already been taken to surgery. She was joined by Director Vance and Ducky and Abby in the waiting room. Aside from a minor gunshot wound before they were married, Jethro had managed to avoid anything more serious than a black eye for the last several years. Apparently, today his luck had run out.

Jethro had three gunshot wounds but he doggedly hung on, clinging to life through three surgeries and ten days in the ICU. Ziva did not leave the hospital for three days refusing to leave Jethro's side. Eventually, Ducky persuaded her to go home to shower, eat and see her children. The boys were still young enough that she could pass this off as a sort of adventure telling them daddy was working and mommy was helping him. She had no idea what she was going to tell Jacob if his father didn't come home. Jacob adored Jethro and imitated him in almost everything he did from the way he chewed to the way he walked. Ziva refused to believe Jethro would not survive and come back to her. He was her life and as much as she loved her children she knew life without Jethro was not something she wanted to contemplate.

Jethro finally left the ICU after ten days but was in the hospital for another two weeks before he was finally able to go home. Even at home he was barely able to get around and slept downstairs for another two weeks. Jacob and Samuel were overjoyed at seeing their dad even if he couldn't play ball with them or go for walks. They contented themselves with watching television together and when Jethro was able he read them stories. As his strength gradually returned he taught Jacob card games and he and Sammy colored and did puzzles together.

After three months of hospitals, convalescence and rehab, Jethro finally returned to work. Much to his surprise he found his heart was not in it anymore. He missed Sammy with whom he had spent so many afternoons in the past two months. He missed Ziva who had been home with him at least part of every week while he recovered. He missed Jacob running in the house after school to tell him what he'd learned and show him his latest drawing.

One night as they were getting into bed Jethro dropped his bombshell.

"I'm thinking of retiring."

Ziva stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. She had sensed he wasn't all that glad to be back to work but figured he just needed time to get past his brush with death. It may not have been the first time he was injured but it was certainly the closest he had come to dying.

"Are you serious, Jethro?"

"Yeah. We'd be fine money wise and I think maybe it's time."

"Why now?"

"That was too close a call in November. That was a routine case that never should have gone sideways like it did. I don't want to risk it anymore. I have too much to live for Ziva. I don't want to put you and boys through that, or worse, again."

"I want you to be sure, Jethro. Do not do this for me or for the boys. You have to be absolutely sure. I know you love what you do. It has been your life for so long."

"It's not my life anymore. You, Jake and Sammy are my life. I want to enjoy them while they're little. I want us to have lots of time together. I've earned that, I think."

"I couldn't agree more. I would love it if you were home more but what would you do? You cannot just sit home."

"I've got an idea. Sure you want to hear it?"

Ziva was intrigued. Jethro had a gleam in his eye she had not seen for a while. His recovery had been very difficult; painful and challenging both physically and emotionally. Tonight though he had a light in his eyes she had missed seeing.

"Yes, I want to hear your idea. You seem excited."

Jethro sat on the bed and pulled Ziva down beside him. He settled against the headboard and she sat crossed legged by his side. He reached for her hands and gave her a smile. She could hardly wait to hear what he had to say.

"I talked to my dad last week and he's ready to retire and sell the store. What would you think of moving to Stillwater and running the store? I mean I'd run the store and you'd do whatever you wanted to do or do nothing except raise our boys."

Ziva was stunned. Never in a million years would she have guessed Jethro wanted to return to his boyhood home. She didn't know what to say.

"I see I've surprised you. Ziver, I have been thinking for a while about raising our boys in a small place away from all the craziness here. A place where I can teach them to fish and hunt. Where they can ride their bikes up and down the street and be safe. I had a lot of time to think about things lying in bed all those weeks. You and our boys are the most precious things in the world to me and I want us to have the best life we can possibly have. Will you think about it? You don't have to answer tonight, just think about it. If you don't want to move we'll stay here and do something else."

Ziva looked at his face and knew she would soon be living in a small town in Pennsylvania. Jethro had not been this happy and excited about something for a long time. As good as their lives were before he was shot, she had sometimes sensed they were going through the motions. Now she could see a way their family could really embrace life and make it something special for the children and for themselves as well.

"Jethro, I do not need to think about it. I see on your face how much you want this and that is enough for me. I think it would be wonderful for the boys and for us too. And we would be there for your dad. The boys could actually grow up with at least one grandfather around. Yes, we should do this. But are you sure you will be happy as a storekeeper?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Thank you Ziva. I adore you."

Jethro pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. The kisses got heated and before long Ziva slipped out of her sleeping clothes and divested Jethro of his as well. Their lovemaking was slow and sweet that night. Afterward as they lay together Jethro ran his finger down her arm and kissed her softly on the mouth.

"There's something I want to tell you."

"More? Really?"

"Yeah. I want you to know that I am only here because of you. I heard you talking to me in the hospital. For a long time in the beginning I thought I was going to die."

Jethro saw her swallow and close her eyes. They had never talked about that day in any detail but he needed to say these things.

"I don't want to hurt you but I need to say this."

"It is okay, Jethro, go ahead. We should have talked about this long ago."

"When I got shot I knew it was bad. I couldn't move and pretty soon I couldn't hear anything and it was all dark. By the time the ambulance got there I hurt so bad I just wanted it to stop. I thought about you and the boys and I figured I wasn't going to see you again. Then it was all black. Later I saw Kelly and Shannon and I wanted to go with them because it was light and they looked happy. Then I heard people yelling and lights and then nothing for a long time.

I heard you talking then. I felt you touching me and saying you loved me. I knew you were there Zi and I wanted so bad so see you. Sometimes it hurt so much I couldn't stand it and I wanted to let go but you kept calling me and kissing me and begging me to come back and I couldn't leave you. Ziver, if you hadn't been there I would have given up even as much as I wanted to see the boys again it was too hard to do on my own."

Jethro was drained and couldn't go on. He closed his eyes and Ziva snuggled into this side wrapping her arms around him. Tears stung his eyes and he didn't try to stop them.

"Thank you for coming back, Jethro. I will always need you and love you. Thank you for fighting. You are the best man I have ever known and I don't want to imagine my life without you. You are right, we need to change our lives for the better and concentrate on living and enjoying the gifts we have been given. You have more than earned that."

It took some organization and creative planning but within the year Jethro had retired from NCIS and the family prepared to move to Stillwater at the end of the school year. Selling the house was something Ziva worried would be especially difficult for Jethro. He convinced her he was ready to let go. He reminded her it was just a house; wherever they were together was home. Probably what made it easier was that the first person the realtor brought over was a young Marine wife, Suzanne Johnson. She and her husband who was deployed in Afghanistan, had a three year old girl. The husband was due home in July and they wanted to move into their own home. Jethro gave the young woman a tour of the house and at the same time learned about her husband. He was on his third tour of duty and had not been home much of his daughter's life. Mrs. Johnson told Jethro her husband's hobby was woodworking and that pretty much sealed the deal. When he showed her the basement she was thrilled to see it was a workshop space. After she left, excited about the house, Jethro told the realtor he wanted to know what the couple could comfortably afford and that was to be the selling price if they wanted the house. A week later Jethro received a call in MTAC from Captain Johnson in Afghanistan. They discussed the details of the house and at the end of the call the deal was done.

Jethro and Ziva moved to Stillwater at the end of June after school was out for the summer. Through the wonders of technology, Ziva was still working for NCIS as a consusltant. She worked primarily from home of course but traveled to DC for a few days every quarter for more hands on consulting. This arrangement worked just fine for everyone. Jethro and the boys usually accompanied her to DC where they stayed in a hotel or with Ducky and caught up with old friends. It was the best of both worlds.

Jackson was thrilled to have Jethro and his family in Stillwater. Jethro and Ziva found a wonderful old house that would keep Jethro plenty busy with projects for a long time. Jethro kept the store open and Jack continued to be there every day just as he had for so many years. With his son and grandsons and Ziva in town he suddenly wasn't all that ready to retire after all.

Jacob and Samuel were excited to move to a small town and see their grandfather every day. They loved having their dad home all the time and were soon spending all their time outdoors playing and exploring just as their father had done as a young boy. Once again the family was thriving.

Jethro felt Ziva moving against him and realized they had been sitting on the bench in the sunshine for almost an hour. He needed to get to the store before his dad sent out a search party. He turned carefully and kissed Ziva.

"Hey, we better get going. Dad will be looking for me and you have a conference call with Leon in thirty minutes."

"Oh, gosh I think I fell asleep. I was dreaming about the night you told me you wanted to retire."

"Yeah, I have been remembering all the stuff we've gone through since I was shot. We've made a good life for ourselves haven't we?"

"Absolutely. This was the best possible thing we could have done, Jethro. The boys are so happy here and I love it too. Do you miss NCIS?"

"No, not at all. I miss the people sometimes but we get back there often enough that it's not an issue. This is where we belong, Ziver. I love you."

END