Chapter 21: A Day at the Beach
It had been a great time for Tony and Ziva. No less challenging now with a total of five children. Three boys and two girls. And speaking of the number three...Three years have passed. That's right. Little Cameron James and Alessandrya Rose DiNozzo are little mobile 2 year olds, with surprisingly a nice big vocabulary, thanks to Ziva, and Abby. Jordan is now 5 years old and though shy she has been doing very well in the starting of preschool. Danny at age 8 and Joshua, age 10, have also excelled in schooling as well as their favorite sport. Soccer. The family has had their moments. Times of sleepless nights and cleaning up messes of all kinds that the three younger children have gotten into, but at the end of the day it was getting tucked in and goodnight kisses, sometimes even a lullaby before bed. The boys still had their own room, the twins in the nursery, Jordan's room had transitioned from the nursery to her own room, which was originally one of the spare bedrooms upstairs on the opposite of the nursery room. Downstairs was the boys bedroom and another guest room and also a study. But with the way things might go as the kids get older will be to add onto the house or move into a bigger one. The DiNozzos have talked about it but nothing had been decided...yet. Financially things weren't that bad and after maternity leave Ziva had gone looking for small jobs hear and there. Waitressing, teaching at the shooting range, yard work, etc. she helped out in cases here and there, the team always happy to see the kids that were brought along.
It is a nice sunny day so the DiNozzos decided to travel and they went to a beach and swam in the ocean, grandpa Gibbs came along as well to spend time with the kids. He was currently away getting lunch for the group. Ziva was sunbathing, getting a nice tan as she laid in her black bikini, reading a book. Since having the twins she will always have a little bit of belly, but she didn't mind. She smiled as she watched Tony with the older boys, splashing and running around. Jordan was making a sandcastle, Alessandra helping her. Cameron was wading in the water when he spotted something moving in the shallows. Something small, he reached for it and gently picked it up. He gazed up. "Abba look what I found." Tony paused at hearing his youngest son and went to him. "Hey Cameron, what have you got there?" The boy smiles and holds his hand up, to which his father squints as he looks closer. "That looks like a baby octopus son. You better put it back in the water so it'll be safe okay?" Cameron nodded. "Otay-okay abba." The boy smiled of cuteness, that is until his father turned his back, then little Cameron shifted his gaze to his twin sister...his grin changing to one of mischief. It wasn't long before a cry filled the air. "AAAAAAAHHH! It's eating me! Get it off! Get it off! PAAPAAA! IMMAAAA!"
Ziva startled and looked up from her book to see Alessandra running in a panic, swiping at her shoulder. "Alessandra come!" The frantic child came near, tears coming from her eyes as Ziva inspects her arm, Tony coming near from the beach. "It looks like an octopus." The father sighs and closes his eyes as he then turns to look out at his son, who tries to look as innocent as possible. Alessandra grabs onto her father, distracting Tony only a moment because by the time DiNozzo looked back, their son had took off running. Gibbs had just returned with lunch and set it down near the spot when he saw Cameron running past. "Hi Sabba, by Sabba!" He called. Gibbs looked to him. "Cameron where you going?" Gibbs then saw Tony running passed in just his swimming trunks. "Hi Gibbs!" He said then called out after his son. "CAMERON JAMES DINOZZO! WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!" Gibbs just licked his lips then went to the site and watched the girls. Jordan looked to the tall gray haired man. "Cameron put an octopus on her." Gibbs then nodded. "Oh." Little Cameron had just found a hiding spot in some bushes, he was catching his breath but quieted his breathing when he heard his father. "Cameron!" Tony came by, a tad out of breath as he whipped his head around this way and that. "Cameron where are you?" The boy watched his father as Tony sighed and then, kept right on going. He smiled and chuckled to himself, letting out a breath and carefully slipt out from the plants. He took a few steps, leaning down and sort of sideways in a sneaky motion, making sure his father was gone, then turned around...only to come face to face with his mother. She stood tall, her hands on her hips. "Going somewhere little man?" Cameron swallows then his mother motions for him to come to her. Young Cameron James hangs his head and does as he is told. Following Ziva back to the beach.
At that point Tony returns. "Ziva! Honey I can't find-" "I got him." She said simply before her husband could finish, leaving him standing there out of breath and dumbfounded for a moment before coming and laying on the big beach blanket, lying on his back, his chest heaving. "Ahuvi are you alright?" His wife asked once she sat the boy down next to her, Alessandra on her other side. Tony nodded then made an Oof sound when Jordan came along and just saw that since her abba was at her level, she took the opportunity and went and sat on his belly. DiNozzo looked to his adopted daughter as she smiled down at him, small bits of water falling from her straight hair, her brown eyes happy. But then she looked to Cameron and pointed at him, pouting. "Bad Cameron." Then to her father. "Good Abba." She leaned down and kissed him..then laid on top of him, her head to one side. This made Ziva chuckle as some of tired Tony's air came out. "Ooh Jordan your getting heavy." Then Gibbs came by and DiNozzo started up. "Hey boss. Mind helping me here?" The silver haired fox smirked, gently shaking his head, then went and scooped up Jordan into his arms, making her laugh and tickled her but held on as she giggled and squirmed. "Sabba Lo! That tickles!" Tony sat up and looked to his son. "Cameron...You know what you did was wrong." The two year old nodded, looking down. Ziva tilted her head sideways. "What do you say to your sister for doing what you did?" Cameron looked to Alessandra. "I sorry." His sibling looks to him then leans over...then smacks him on the back of the head, Cameron reacting just like his father. Then the twins smile and start giggling, which soon turns to full blown laughter.
Danny and Joshua came over. "Man I'm starving." The oldest commented as they all sat down and Ziva began getting out the food and playing it. "Now hold onto your napkins so they don't blow away." ...And what does Jordan do? She lets it go, watching it then pointing. "Ima look, it's a bird." Ziva turned to see, quickly identifying the napkin. "Jordan. Here's another one. Don't let it blow away." The little girl smiles, nodding enthusiastically. "Okay." Gibbs smirks and Tony smiles. "Thanks for getting us lunch boss. Let me give you some gas money." But Gibbs shook his head. "Nah you keep it Tony." DiNozzo looked to his boss then he and Ziva exchanged glances, Ziva licking her lips briefly and giving a subtle nod. Tony got the message and then glanced back to Gibbs. "Well if you don't mind," he leans forward and places the cash into Gibbs front shirt pocket. "I'm just going to pay you anyway...you see, me and Ziva kind of wanted to-" he paused but quickly recovered, feeling his head become hot. "Wanted toooo, have some, alone, time." Gibbs stared a moment, his mouth open slightly in a sideways smirk then his eyebrows rose and he nodded. "Sure...go. Have some, fun." He responded. "No need to blush." Tony made a face. "DiNozzo men don't blush." Gibbs just shrugged his shoulders and took a bite out of his sandwich. "Could've fooled me." He commented. Tony looked back at his wife, spying her shoulders slightly bouncing as she was shaking her head and trying to stifle a giggle. Within half an hour the group had eaten and everything was cleaned. "Ima can we go swimming some more?" asked Cameron. At their brothers question the rest of the children added in their agreements and looked expectantly at their parents. DiNozzo looked to Gibbs. "It's alright with me. Your Ima and I are going to go take a walk for a bit so that means that Sabba Gibbs is going to watch you." At this news the kids cheered and seem to dog-pile their grandpa as he was sitting on the large beach blanket, so much that he had to stop himself from falling over. Ziva intervened, pulling off Joshua and Cameron. "Come on children, be careful with Sabba Gibbs." The silver haired fox shook his head. "It's fine Ziver." He said, admiring her maternal side. It was always gentle and warm but both parents disciplined and taught their children kindness and love, respect for others and good morals that they were taught. And also got advice from Gibbs, Ducky, and Palmer.
Ziva looked to her father figure. "So you are okay with watching them-?" "Ziva I said go have fun...I got this. How hard can it be." Gibbs reassured the concerned overprotective mother. Ziva smiled then she and Tony walked off side by side, hand in hand. Jordan saw her parents walking off. She looked to Gibbs. "Where they going Sabba?" The older man gently bounced her on his knee. "For a walk. Sometimes parents need some alone time for themselves." Jordan put on her thinking face. "Like a time out?" Gibbs chuckled. "Naw. It's like...you guys ever have quiet time or something at home." Alessandra nods. "Oh ken-yes, we do. During that time we wead/read or dwaw/draw quiet. Well Jordan, Josh an Danny do but me an bwover-brother, Ima has us take nap." She explained. Gibbs nodded, smiling as the child talked to him, sometimes saying a W sound instead of an R. "She has you take naps huh. Well I take naps. I like naps." He tickles Jordan and she giggles. "We go swimming now?" Gibbs shakes his head. "You have to wait a half hour first. Then you guys can. Until then, let's play..,I Spy." Danny smiles. "I love that game! I go first!" But Cameron James frowns. "Lo I wanna go first!" Danny crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm older than you."
The younger brother went forward and a staring contest ensued between them. Gibbs watched their behavior, Cameron definitely had Zivas features when upset, mouth tight, staring daggers from his dark brown eyes, chin raised as he looked to his older brother, his competition. Gibbs then raised his hand. "Best two out of three." Joshua frowns. "For what?" "Rock paper scissors." Gibbs replied. Danny and Cameron nodded in agreement. First round was Caneron, next was Danny, then it came to the tie breaker...and Cameron won out. "Yaaay! Okay. I spy something...white." His twin sister spoke up. "Is it clouds?" Her brother shook his head. "Lo." Jordan then went. "That umbrella over there." Again still it wasn't it. Danny went next. "Your hat." Cameron began to giggle as none of them had no clue what he picked. "Well then what is it?" Joshua asked. Cameron pointed to Gibbs. "It's Sabba Gibbs' hair." The kids stated at their second grandpa then they all busted out laughing.
Two hours had passed and Tony and Ziva returned to the beech site. Hand in hand, both very happy and content. Upon crossing the sand, hearing the waves of the sea, so vast and full of life, they paused to admire the beauty of it together, sitting side by side on a sand dune, the breeze gently tugging at Zivas hair. Tony glanced at her and then moved from her side. "Don't move." He said. "The light is perfect." Ziva furrowed her brow in question when he reached into his pocket and then smirked when he pulled out a camera. "Oh Tony I look terrible." She said, pulling her shirt closer as the breeze blew. Both having changed clothes since their...'alone time' together. Ziva in a white tank top shirt with a knot tied at the bottom, dark peachy orange shirts and brown sandals. Tony had on a pinkish t-shirt and off white shorts and also sandals. "You look beautiful, Zi." DiNozzo smiled as he put the device to his eye, looking through the lens. "Now hold still." Click. "Beautiful. And another." Ziva giggled and posed, raising her arm over her head, the edge of her fingers in her hair and she smiled. Click. "Nice one. Now one more." Ziva then shook her head. "No I'm good. How about I take one of you." This time Tony went in the negative. "Naw. I'm not as good looking." Zivas eyebrows rose as he came near and sat next to her. "Really...this coming from the man who's head would turn at every new female FBI agent during joint cases? Especially the bikini contest?" Tony looked to her in pause, wondering. "Hey that was before I meet you. I was still partners with Kate Todd then." Ziva looked to her husband. "She was a good agent wasn't she."
DiNozzo nodded. "I'm only sorry that her death was at the hands of my half brother." DiNozzo looked to his wife. "Yeah...but then I never would've meet you, honey." Ziva locked eyes with him, getting lost in his gaze after a few seconds, both slowly leaning into each other...then...their lips meet, eyes closed, hands touched and caressed. After they pulled apart Tony smiled. "I love you Ziva DiNozzo." His wife smiled and leaned into him, cuddling. "And I love you, Mr. DiNozzo." Hey rise from heir spot on the sand dune and head to the sight, recognizing the big beach blanket. Upon reaching it though Tony can hardly hide his smile, taking out his phone, to which Zivas eyes widen and she tried to stop him. "Tony don't. Do not do it." She hisses as DiNozzo holds his hand out of her reach. "Oh come on it'll be great. So no telling McGeek. He's always the first to cave." "I can hear you, DiNozzo." Tony and Ziva looked down to see Gibbs...well, only his head...the rest had been buried in the sand. Zivas hand goes to her mouth and she bends down. "And you asked the question how hard it could be." If Gibbs could he would have shrugged his shoulders. "You're kids are true DiNozzos." Ziva then smiled. "I'll dig you out." Click Click. "Tony put that down an help me!" DiNoszo put his phone away. "Yes dear!" Tony says and helps Ziva to unburry Gibbs from the sand. Gibbs looks to his two agents. "Not, a word."
I sure hope this chapter was worth the long wait. Please review and comment if you wish. Missing seeing Cote like no ones business. I get so worried. Also Michael Weatherly's new show #Bull starts next week-Sep 20th at 9pm after the season 14 premier of NCIS, which I will not be watching though I might tune in during the supposed episode Robert Wagner. Don't know much. Right now I don't trust CBS to do the right thing but they have been know for surprises before. But I say great caution. ~SarahW
Oh and to a critic from the previous chap, I DO do research before writing my chapters. During the scene and the water birth I even put it in there that Tony wondered about why Ziva acted that way. It was just because of all the pain and what was happening to her she just freaked out for a sec. Panicked. The human body can usually handle pain of 25 units. During labor and delivery-birth, a woman goes through 50 units of pain. It's the equivalent of 25 bones breaking in your body all at once. Granted I don't always do research, hence why I do the family and having kids thing more than cases in my stories. Thank you. :) hope you keep reading and sorry if bye one small part was unrealistic and just flat out stupid. Maybe it was, but I'm still going to write my way. Glad you're liking it. :)