This is actually a scene that I have had rolling around in my head for a long time but didn't know what to do with it... till now. I always hoped that the series would end with something like this for Tony and Ziva.
The end.
(or the beginning, really.)
November 2019
Tony pulled into the driveway of his house. It was late and had been a long day. His team had finally wrapped up a particularly difficult case involving some home grown terrorists. Tony longed for the comfort and rest of his bed and the arms of his wife. He unlocked the door and made his way into the house. The clock on the stove read 1 am and Tony groaned. He made his way down the hall towards his bedroom when he heard a sound coming from the other room. He walked quietly to the half open doorway and pushed the door fully open and stopped.
He stood in the doorway, watching Ziva rocking, singing a soft melody to a whimpering bundle of blankets he knew to be their 4-week-old daughter Tali. He watched, mesmerized by the sight before him. His beautiful wife, the love of his life, holding the precious miracle that neither of them thought they would ever see. She looked so peaceful. Her sweet voice filled his ears. It was an old Israeli lullaby. The baby was no longer moving or making any sound and Tony assumed that she had drifted off to sleep. He quietly made his way into the room and stood beside Ziva, looking down at their little princess. "Hey," he breathed as quietly as possible as to not wake the baby and incur Ziva's wrath.
Ziva looked up, searching for her husband's eyes, and smiled. Tony found everything he needed in that smile. She carefully stood up, placing the baby in the crib. She stood there for a moment, watching the rise and fall of Tali's chest. A content smile graced her lips. Tony came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his lips finding her cheek. Ziva relaxed back into him, letting him support her. The last four weeks had been wonderful yet exhausting for her. Tony knew that it would be very difficult for Ziva when her maternity leave was up and she returned to the NCIS linguistics department. They stood there for a long while, just holding each other, the only sound the steady breathing of the sleeping infant. Tony thought that there was nowhere else he would rather be than here with Ziva in his arms, watching Tali's peaceful slumber. This is where he belonged. He pulled her closer still, tightening his grip on her as she nestled back in to him. He could feel her warmth radiating through his shirt. "I love you," she whispered into the darkness. Tony responded with a single word, "Always."
There we have it folks. Ziva got her peace, her family, and her permanence. Tony got his family and he got her. Also, Ziva ended up back at NCIS... sorta. Thank you all for reading and the reviews. Much love in these hard times lol. (I should NOT be this invested). Reviews are welcome.