Chapter 14 – You only know the half of it
It was Christmas eve and they all clinked their glasses together in a toast while wishing each other a merry Christmas, Gibbs, Jackson, Ducky, Abbey, Tim, Sarah, Tony and Ziva all sat around Ducky's dining room table while enjoying a Christmas feast, Palmer had gone back home for Christmas
"I never thought I'd get to see all the people you work with at once Leroy"
"Dad, what have I told you about calling me Leroy"
"That is your name that is what I will call you"
"Speaking of names, Ziva, what are you gunna call the baby?"
"I do not know yet Abbey"
"You don't even have any ideas?"
"We haven't really thought about it"
"That's the most exciting part Ziva" Abbey said over excitedly, they had all finished their dinner and were sitting and talking, drinking wine, Ziva drinking sparkling apple juice
"How about we open presents", said Ducky, they had drawn a secret Santa, Abbeys Idea of course, they all gathered in the living room, Ducky sat in an armchair next to the tree, while the others found their seats among the many other lounges in the room
"Who wants to go first?" Tony said looking around the room wearing one of his smiles, everyone looked at Abbey before she had a chance to start jumping up and down
"Me, I do!"
"Go on Abbs, who was yours for?"
"You Gibbs", Abbey walked over to the tree and picked up a red box with a bow on top, "Here you go Gibbs", Abbey handed him the box and gave him a peck on the cheek, he opened it to reveal a bottle of his favourite bourbon
"Hahaha, how'd you know I was out Abbs?"
"You go through that stuff like, a bottle a day, OK, Tony your turn"
"Hmmm, who's the lucky winner", Tony stood in the middle of the room and spun around with his eyes closed and arm extended right to the tip of his index finger pointing in every direction, before coming to a stop on Sarah, "Congratulations Sarah, merry Christmas"
Tony had got Sarah a small silver bracelet with a gold clasp, it was simple but beautiful, next McGee gave his present to Ducky, a new bow tie and a golf club, Ducky had misplaced his 7 iron, after that it was Sarah's turn, Sarah had Abbey, she gave her black mini skirt and ripped leggings, Abbey loved them, Jack had given McGee a new typewriter, a lot better than his one and much easier to use, Ducky gave Tony a nice silver watch with a blue face, Tony was very impressed, Ziva gave Jack a Jacket, Tony helped her pick it out, it looked very nice on him, last of all Gibbs pulled out a small purple box with a ribbon from his pocket and handed it to Ziva on the lounge beside him
"Merry Christmas Ziva", Ziva opened it and there was a thin silver band with words engraved on the inside, 'Life is a Voyage that is homeward bound', he whispered in her ear, "You always end up in the right place, no matter which way you choose to go"
"Thank you Gibbs", Ziva slipped the bracelet onto her wrist
"Who wants desert?" Ducky said amongst all the chatter, they made their way back into the dining room and ate, then watched a baseball game that was on TV, Gibbs and Ziva stood in the entrance from the kitchen to the lounge room side by side watching the others light banter and cheering
"Thank you Gibbs, for the bracelet, it's beautiful"
"You're welcome, and I meant that, the message, whatever it is you're so worried about, don't be"
"What makes you think I am worried?" Gibbs gave her a look that said 'you're not fooling anyone'
"You have so many people here that love you Ziva, if you need something all you need to do is ask"
"I know"
"Tony told me about the day care centre"
"What about it"
"I can give you time off, finish early, long lunch breaks, unofficial sick days, you can't let her spend her childhood in a centre"
"I do not need them"
"Every day you spend at work, that's one less day you spend with your daughter"
"If you are speaking from experience Gibbs, you don't need to tell me"
"You never know how much time you get Ziva"
"It is better to not get attached"
"What is this about?" he stood up no longer leaning against the wide door frame and turned to face her
"I do not expect to be given much time Gibbs"
"I know you've lost a lot Ziva, the people close to you, but that was a long time ago, in Israel, suicide bombings, sniper attacks, missiles, they don't happen every day here"
"I lost my family once, why should this one be any different"
"Are you listening to yourself Ziva?"
"I don't expect you to understand"
"No, I don't understand"
"I killed my own brother Gibbs, what does that say about me as a part of a family"
"You don't think you'll be a good mum, is that it?" Ziva winced at the word mum, she still couldn't quite grasp the idea
"No"
"What then Ziva, what is it"
"I was responsible for Tali and look what happened there"
"What happened to Tali was not your fault, there was nothing you could have done"
"I should have been there, I should have protected her"
"It was a bomb Ziva, you would have died too"
"If I had of been there that bomb never would have been detonated" Gibbs' expression changed slightly
"Ziva..."
"You only know the half what happened that day", Ziva walked away into the lounge room and sat down next to Tony resting her head on his shoulder and pretended to watch the game
At around eleven everyone headed home, they all said goodbye, and merry Christmas thanking each other for gifts and organizing get togethers in the short holiday period they had before finally walking out the door
"That was very nice of Ducky, it looks like a very good watch" Ziva said as she sat down on the lounge
"I know, and your bracelet too, I never knew Gibbs had such good taste" he said joining her
"What would you like to do tomorrow?"
"I suppose a family lunch is out of the question, seeing as my father is God knows where and yours is busy running Mossad"
"I doubt that the two of them would get along anyway"
"It's be fun to see what happens though, if we put them in a room together"
"I know you are not entirely fond of your father but surely even you would not want the man dead"
"It would be nice though, to spend Christmas with family"
"Yes"
"Speaking of family, do we have a name for the new addition?"
"Not yet, any ideas?"
"A few I guess, but I don't know of you want meaningful, or anything like that?"
"Shoot"
"OK, Isabella, Shaylee, Daniella, Ellie, I know they all sound like pretty names, but that's the best I got"
"No, I like them"
"But not enough"
"I Like Shaylee the best"
"You do have a name don't you"
"I have an idea"
"Come on spit it out"
"OK" Ziva took a big breath, "Erin"
"Hmmm, Erin, I like Erin"
"We will not decide yet though, we will wait"
"OK, but Erin sounds nice, oh, or..."
"Or?"
"What about Talia?" Ziva choked on the apple she was eating, then she looked up at Tony beside her
"You would...Talia?"
"Yeah, she was your sister, it's a nice name, why not" Tony swore he saw a tear threaten to roll down Ziva's cheek
"Consider it added to the list"