Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Ziva swallowed, the biscuit a lump of stone in her throat. Siobhan had asked her to stay for dinner, and the two had talked about their various experiences growing up. When Ziva had left, Siobhan had sent some of the leftovers with her, saying that the girl needed a good homecooked meal every once in a while. Ziva had thanked her and hurried back to the cottage before climbing into bed and snoring as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Now, she sat on the bed in her room the next morning, going over everything she'd gathered since starting this adventure. Since learning that Fiona had worked at a pharmacy when Kathleen died, it was looking more and more like Fiona had gotten rid of Kathleen, yet she couldn't prove it. She picked up the slip of paper in the box, and lay back against the pillows, confused.

"L.J. Gbs. L.J..." She struggled to think of what the two letters could stand for. A moment passed, before she gathered everything into her bag and slung it over her shoulder before leaving.

She hadn't meant to return to the house, but her feet had led her there. Taking a deep breath, she glanced around, her gaze landing on the swing- where the last photograph of Kathleen with her children was taken. She swallowed, pulling the photograph out of her bag. As she made her way towards the swing, something made her stop.

Childish laughter.

She turned back, to see the swing swaying gently back and forth. After a moment, she removed her bag and set it down with the photograph and took a seat on the swing. She took a deep breath, reaching up to grasp the medallion.

"Ma! Máthair! Mams! Come play!" Childish laughter filled the air, and she stood, glancing out the window. Timothy stood in the yard, waving to her. "Mams, come play, please!" She watched Timothy rush from the window, heading to the front of the house. A moment passed before she rushed from the window, down the stairs and out of the house, unaware that her sister-in-law was following, camera in hand.

As she stepped outside, she saw her children at the swing. Timothy was pushing Sarah on the swing, but the little girl leapt from the swing as it was coming back to her brother, and rushed to her. "Mams!" She knelt, accepting the small arms that went around her neck. A laugh escaped her throat as she swung her daughter within her embrace, stopping and pressing a kiss to her head. Sarah giggled, her gaze going to something at the gate. She turned, her daughter in her arms, to see a younger man in making their way towards them. She shifted Sarah on her hip, as Timothy rushed towards them, hiding behind her legs.

She smiled when she realized who it was. The man wore Marine fatigues- United States Marine fatigues. He looked to be about thirty, with dark hair and the brightest blue eyes ever seen. He carried something in his hands, that he pressed into her palm when he got close. "Leroy. 'tis been a long time."

"Kathleen, how are you?" He nodded to her, before going towards her and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Sarah buried her head in her shoulder, peeking at him with one eye; Timothy peeked around her legs, watching the man with curiosity.

"Best as I can be." She glanced down at her children. "Timothy, Sarah, say hello." Both hid, shy around the strange man. "You know Mr. Leroy. He works with Da, remember? He made yer beautiful furniture." The children continued to hide, until Timothy stepped around his mother. Slowly, he held out a small hand, looking up at the man with wide green eyes. He swallowed, frightened.

"Hello, Mr. Leroy." He whispered. The man glanced down at the boy, before kneeling to his level. Timothy scurried back behind his mother before realizing that the man had knelt down to his height. Slowly, he returned to the man, watching him. At nine, he was still cautious around strangers, mainly because he was so close to his family. The older man gave him a small smile, his blue eyes watching the child as he held out a hand.

"Call me Gibbs." He replied, as the child took his hand and shook it. The man's hand was rough, calloused, due to the wood he worked miracles on. Timothy licked his lip, nervous, before he whispered,

"Mr. Gibbs." The man chuckled, standing when he released Timothy's hand. He turned to her, watching as she set Sarah back on her feet. The girl rushed to join her brother behind their mother's legs. By then, she'd opened the package he'd given her when he first arrived. She gasped; it was the box she would later hide within the false bottom of her desk.

"Oh Leroy, 'tis beautiful. Ye made this for us?" He nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Just as John requested. The wedding knot took a little longer than expected, but I wanted to get it right." She shook her head.

"'twould have been perfect no matter what, Leroy, thank ye." He nodded. "And it fits both rings?"

"Yes, so that when you renew your vows, they will safely housed within." Her eyes widened as she opened the box, revealing the red velvet cushion before closing it.

"And once our vows be exchanged again, I will keep my mother's rings within, so that Timothy and Sarah will have them in a safe place." She went to him, wrapping him in a hug. "Thank ye, Leroy. 'tis perfect." The marine wrapped her in a hug, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"You're welcome, Kathleen. It's the least I can do for you."

She pulled away, staring into his eyes. "Ye can look after my babes when I am gone." She whispered, holding his face in her hands. "Ye are my stepbrother, after all, and if something happened to John and I, I would trust no one more to look after and raise my babes than ye."

Ziva's eyes snapped open, and she looked around. After a moment, she quickly rummaged around in her bag, pulling out the box and the slip of paper. "L.J. Gbs." Swallowing, she grabbed a pen, turning the paper over and quickly jotting down,

Leroy J. Gibbs