Oh my god! Sorry for the late update, pleasing keep reviewing as consistently!
Oh, and a VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Can you guys come up with a ship name for Maddy and Jake?
-Vi
"Madison Clearwater-David."
David. Madison Clearwater-David.
My daughter.
I applauded as Maddy stood and took her "diploma". It was just a certificate for passing middle school and all that. I glanced over at Tony, who had insisted to come, even though Maddy said it was "no biggie."
Maddy stood up, dressed in a beautiful strapless black dress that Abby had bought for graduation. Maddy told her not to go through the trouble, but she still bought it, anyway.
She shook her principal's hand and went to stand with her other graduating classmates. I recognized Jake, standing amid the crowd of eight graders, smiling as Maddy came to stand by him.
It went on for about another half hour, until finally the principal announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, our graduating class of 2012."
There was applause. Cameras flashed as beaming parents went to stand by their child. Hugs and hand-shaking and cries of "See ya next year!" filled the tiny auditorium. Maddy fought her way through the crowd to me and Tony.
"Hey there." I smiled. I hugged her, and she hugged me back.
"Congrats, Mad!" Tony said, embracing her after me. She threw her arms around his neck.
"Thanks for coming, Tony!" She cried.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He said with a wink.
We were pulling out from the school, Maddy in the seat beside me.
"So…high school." I said slowly.
She shrugged. "I finished the paperwork during registration in spring. So I'm ready. At least, paperwork wise."
"What does that mean?"
"Ziva, I'm…I'm kind of scared." She said softly.
"Don't be, tateleh. You will do fine." I looked her square in the eyes. "I know you will."
"Thanks, Ziva." She said, staring out of the window.
"Gibbs is throwing a summer barbeque party!" McGee announced, sprinting into the bullpen.
"What? Gibbs-party-barbeque- what is the relationship here?" Tony asked.
"It's also a bit of a grad celebration for Maddy." McGee said, looking over at me and Maddy, who was perched on the file cabinet behind my desk.
"Are you serious? Gibbs is throwing me a party?"
"What's wrong with throwing a party?" Gibbs said, suddenly bursting around the side of the bullpen.
"AAAGH!" Maddy yelped. She fell off the file cabinet.
"Well, no need to fall over yourself there, Maddy." Gibbs said with a grin.
Tony snickered. Maddy came up and gave him a stony stare.
"Whoa, Zi. She got your death glare." He said, backing up a little bit.
We both stared at him.
Gibbs walked past our desk. "Down, girls." He muttered with a grin.
"Pizza's here!" Gibbs shouted from the back door. He emerged holding a stack of three boxes.
"Alright!" Maddy and Tony cried, reaching for them.
I stayed in my seat. Gibbs' back yard had a certain charm to it. It was a little woodsy, with a small thicket of trees behind it. He had a fire set up and some lawn chairs surrounding it.
Maddy apparently had challenged McGee, Tony, and Abby to a pizza-eating challenge. "First one through the slice wins!"
"Ready…set…GO!" Gibbs cried.
Me and Ducky simply watched the eating contest.
"What a charming young lady." Ducky said with a smile as he watched Maddy murder her slice.
"Actually, she is usually more civilized." I laughed, looking at her. "She has really bounced back."
"I can tell, my dear." He said, studying her with interest.
McGee looked up to Abby. "Do I have any sauce on my face?"
Abby giggled. "Only in this general area." She said, motioning around his entire face.
He laughed.
Maddy took a napkin, and gently wiped off Tony's face. "There. At least I can see your face now." She said.
Tony smiled. "Thanks."
Gibbs stood back up. "Hey, Maddy?" he asked.
"Yes, Gibbs?"
"Congrats, sweetie." He said, and he hugged her.
"Thanks, Gibbs." She hugged him even more tightly, and a tear fell from her eye.
"Watch it, kiddo. I need my ribs." He choked.
She let go of him. "Whoops."
Yeah, yeah, yeah…short chapter. Please review anyway!
Latest next one will be up is Thursday!
Love you all, and don't forget the question and to REVIEW!
-Vi