Chapter Twenty-Five
CHRISTMAS EVE
"I don't want to get up ever." Tony groaned as he stretched out beside Charlotte who wasn't very awake herself.
"I can't imagine why not." She barely mumbled; the TV they had fallen asleep to still playing softly in the background.
"Because it's Christmas Eve and this bed is warm." Tony sighed out with childlike annoyance as Charlotte scooted closer, whispering, "And?"
"And it's Christmas Eve." He stressed. "All the family is getting together, most of them haven't seen each other
in months, and they've had all that time to stew over the bad behavior and stained carpet from last year's get together."
With some of the calls he had answered over the years it was safe to say, "Those kinds of conditions bring out the mother load of crazies."
"Well they're just going to have to find a way to stay sane today because you are not available to help them."
"I'm not?" Tony quirked a brow at what almost sounded like a warning in her voice.
"Nope" Charlotte shook her head no as she pulled the covers just a little tighter under her chin. "You, I, and the little guy have other plans."
"Oh really?" Tony's question got nothing more than a raised brow, so he furthered, "Like what?"
With a devilishly wicked smile she promised, "You'll see."
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"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!" Abby all but cheered as she bound over to them.
"You are welcome Abby." Ziva assured as she was wrapped in a, too tight for the injuries she had so recently collected, hug.
"Easy Abby" Tim warned as he caught a slight flinch from Ziva; she was still on medical leave and it was only because of her stubborn persistence that she was here now.
"Sorry" Abby pulled back apologetically.
"There's nothing to be sorry for." Ziva swore, sending a stern look in Tim's direction as she asked, "So how can we help?"
"Well for starters there are tables to be bused, plates to be fixed, and cups to be filled." Abby began speaking as
she started back through the dining hall, the other two following automatically. "The sisters might need some help
in the kitchen too; last years' turnout was nothing compared to this." The number of diners alone had their meager "staff" overwhelmed.
"I'll start on clearing the tables." Tim announced quickly; more than willing to take
the most tedious task for himself so that Ziva wouldn't even think about over exerting herself.
"Then I suppose I will go and find the coffee pot with my name in it." Ziva stated simply as she moved
to find the refreshments table; leaving Tim and Abby in slight amusement and a bit of confusion.
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"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when you said we had other plans." Tony groaned behind a ridiculously over stuffed grocery cart.
"Which is exactly why I didn't tell you what those plans were." She offered as she smelled some fresh mint.
"But a dinner party Charlotte? No offense but I'm not exactly host material and I didn't think you were the kind of girl that liked playing hostess." They were in for some serious trouble if she expected him to put on his best every holiday and mingle like all the other uptight hypocrites.
"I know, I know," Charlotte swore. "But you don't know my parents the way I do." She dropped the mint back down as she moved to his side. "One stuffy dinner party tonight means they'll leave us alone tomorrow and if it goes good enough they might even stay off of our toes for the next few months."
"Just one?" Tony prodded as he mulled over her reasoning.
Her parents were suspicious of him and the fact that he'd been virtually imaginary until a few months ago when Charlotte, not so smoothly, mentioned him and their grandchild in the same sentence. She clearly didn't want them to know the exact circumstances in which things happened and he was okay with that seeing as he was less than proud of them.
"Just one," He was clearly on the edge of a decision; one she couldn't help but guide along with the largest of pouts. "I promise."
"Alright" He surrendered.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you" She gave him the biggest hug her protruding belly would allow.
"It's nothing" At least it was nothing he could resist.
He couldn't very well tell her no when she was all but begging. "Let's just get this over with."
With a sigh she moved back to the mint, she'd work on his attitude later.
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"What do you think you're doing!"
Ziva stopped in startle as she answered, "Tossing out the trash?"
Within seconds McGee was pulling the trash bags from her hands and chastising, "With broken ribs Ziva" as he tossed them in the dumpster.
"Tim it is my ribs that are broken not my arms or legs!" She defended as she leaned against the alley's brick wall.
"Ziva," Her annoyance was clear, but he just couldn't help himself. "I know I've been driving you up the wall and I'm sorry for that, but I just don't want you straining yourself is all."
"If I begin to feel overwrought or strained in any way you'll be the first to know alright.
But until then could you please just give me the space to breathe without worrying that the way in which I've done it will upset you."
"Have I really been that bad?" He cringed at the thought as he rubbed his snow dampened palms down his jeans. He really should have grabbed his gloves.
"Just a little" she offered slyly as she tried to save him some embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I just… I…"
"I know" Ziva assured earnestly. "It's been a stressful time for everyone as of late but let's not forget what time of year it is. Tis it not the season of gratitude and selflessness?"
"It is" Timothy agreed as he moved closer to Ziva.
He couldn't help but wonder if the chill of December's air got to her the same way it was getting to him. "But it's also a time of giving."
"Hinting at presents are we?" She teased as she tucked her hands under her arms.
"Actually," Tim stressed as he unzipped his coat enough to reach into his shirts pocket. "Since you mentioned it, I do have something I want to give you."
"Timothy please don't." She wasn't sure if her heart was closer to stopping or exploding.
"No Ziva," His mind was set and he was going to make himself heard. "A little while ago I asked you something which you've yet to answer and I've been thinking about it a lot since then. I've come to realize that maybe you haven't replied because instead of questioning I stated it so here is me reiterating." Without hesitation he went down on bended knee into a slushy pile of snow. "Ziva will you- And it's not because I believe in some ridiculous ideals because I don't. And it's not because I want to demonstrate my masculinity or any machoistic crap either because we both know you could take me on your worst day. Hell, it's not even because I want to tell the rest of the world your mine though I really kind of do." Her slight chuckle calmed some of his shaking nerves. "It's just because I want you. Not the unrealistic illusion of some kind of happily ever after or a forever together. All I want is a promise from you, to promise to you that what we have we won't let go of easily. I want to swear to God and to whomever else that'll listen that I love you and that I'll stick around and do my damnedest to make things work even when times get rough." He couldn't help but pause as her stare all but pierced him. "Ziva, I'm not expecting some huge change from you. For all I care you'll never do the laundry and we'll only ever eat take out." She didn't even blink and it had his nerves racing once more. "All I want is to hear you promise that you won't give up on me either. So Ziva," With nearly numb fingers he opened a little blue box. "Will you marry me?"
"Tim I…" His speech wowed her. Never before had someone proposed to her without the thought that it would be a fix all, get out of jail for free card. "I don't know what to say."
His heart sunk a little as he suggested, "How about yes?"
"No" Immediately she watched his face fall. "I mean I'm not saying no I just…"
"You just aren't saying yes." He relented as he stood.
"I…" For about two weeks she'd been mulling over this question, yet she still couldn't find herself with words to answer. "I'll do it Tim."
"You'll do it?" He was beyond skeptical. "Ziva, this isn't one of those things you compromise on. I don't want to feel like you're taking one for the team. I'd rather never get married at all then feel like you did it out of guilt, or duty, or even pity."
"It wouldn't be pity." That she could assure. "I'm just… scared I guess."
"Of?" He absently tucked the jewelry box back into his pocket.
"Everything you just said that wouldn't happen." It sounded silly even to her.
"And it won't. I don't have any preconceived notions that I want to force you into. I just want you," He sighed as he took note of his freezing leg. "which is exactly why I'll give you more time to think about this without feeling rushed or obligated." He offered a slight smile as he assured, "No matter the answer I promise I'll still be here."
His words rang through her ears until he was gone from her sight, a closing door announcing his departure.
What was she doing?
Before long she was opening that very door and entering the back hall where she could still see him walking a few feet away. "Tim!"
He didn't turn around immediately but when she was sure that he was going to, she slowed her pace.
What was she doing?
Her heart was racing nearly as much as her mind.
Change was inevitable and no matter how hard he assured otherwise things were going to change.
She had to tell him this; explain her reasoning as to why.
She couldn't go on like this; not when every day she dragged it out hurt him a little more.
She just had to be honest to him and herself once and for all.
"Ziva?"
Suddenly she was next to him and that alone scared her. "Timothy"
He had no clue what to say; there was nothing left on the subject and her gaze let him know that she was definitely going to be mentioning 'The Subject'. But he didn't let her know that. Instead he played dumb, "What's up?"
Words were lost on her.
In a time when she needed them most they betrayed her, and she feared that he'd do the same.
Her fears always seemed to get the best of her, but she presumed it was because they were few and always founded.
"Ziva? Are you okay?" She looked like she was ready to cry, or punch him, he wasn't absolutely certain.
She nodded though she knew she wouldn't be in a moment, "Timothy?"
The full first name thing was starting to unnerve him. "Yes?"
"Marry me?"
"Wh… What?" He made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a surprised laugh. "Ziva are you…"
"Completely out of my mind?" She offered emotionally. "I think so, but I'd be more so if
I didn't at least try to build on what has been the best thing to happen to me in a very long time."
"Are you sure?" He didn't believe it.
"As sure as I'm ever going to be." She couldn't help but feel slightly awkward.
"And you're not just doing this for my sake?" Mere moments ago she was completely indecisive.
"I am doing it for your sake," She admitted as she looked down to her twisting fingers. "But I'm also doing it for mine. I need this," Her gaze met his as she realized, "And you know that."
"And you're absolutely positive?" He had to be sure that she wouldn't be changing her mind in twenty minutes time.
"Completely" She offered a slight smile.
"Then," He fumbled in his pocket for a minute before stating, "I guess this is yours."
She couldn't help but stare at the ring he was swiftly placing on her finger. "I'm going to be Mrs. McG…" But before she could finish the thought he was lifting her off of her feet and into an all-consuming hug. "You're going to be Mrs. McGee" his eyes were shining brighter than the sun.
"That I am" She wrapped her arms around his neck as he settled her back to her feet.
"I promise you won't regret it." He swore as he rested his head against hers.
"I know I won't." She assured as she leaned in to give him a kiss. "Now let's tell Abby we have to be going."
With a lightened heart he offered another kiss before asking, "To my place or yours?"
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"You look amazing" Charlotte gushed as she got sight of Tony straightening his tie.
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" He questioned as he glanced over to the oven where the product of their shopping trip was now resting.
"I look like a hefty bag someone stuffed a giant basketball into." She huffed as he moved closer and she turned from the stovetop.
"If this is what hefty looks like," He made a show of getting her to turn as he admired the view. "I can't wait for the Ziploc."
"You are completely incorrigible." She shook her head with a laugh.
"Don't I know it," He grinned. "But seriously, you look gorgeous Charlotte."
"Thank you" She offered as she ducked her head.
"Am I detecting some shyness here?" Tony laughed as he strived to recapture her attention. "If you're not careful you'll pass it on to the munchkin."
"If he inherits even half of your personality he'll need as much of my shyness as he can get." She swore as she placed a tender hand over a ridiculously stretched stomach.
"Now none of that taking after me business," Tony directed his attention to the baby as he placed a hand over hers, the other beginning an attempt to coax a response. "You take what your mother gives you and run with it."
She hated the way he seemed to depreciate himself. "I'll be a proud mother if he takes after you Tony."
"I'll be a prouder father if he doesn't." With that he began to pull away.
"Tony" But the doorbell was soon cutting her thoughts short.
"I'll get it" he announced as he straightened his tie; an all too cheesy smile being put firmly in place.
"Go on" With a sigh she renounced herself to his feelings; she just hoped they'd change with their son's arrival.
He offered her a kiss on the cheek in what might have been a silent 'forget it' as he left her with, "I've got parents to impress after all."