This will not be a long chapter but I wanted to get something out as I know I will be too busy over the next few weeks between Christmas, New Years, Birthdays, Anniversary, oh and by the way our third grandchild is due any second down in SC.

Gibbs turned to the couple and smirked. "If you can manage to be without your children for another day, they can stay with us until Monday. Enjoy your anniversary!" With that, he took off with the precious cargo. Tony and Ziva looked at each other, somewhat stunned.

"I do not know. That is two days you won't see them." Ziva began.

"Well, technically, one day and two nights since I wouldn't see them much on Monday anyway. Hey, we don't have to decide right now. Besides, I have other things of my mind." Tony bent to kiss Ziva's cheek, aware that they were outside and in full view of any neighbors who may be lurking about.

Ziva patted his chest and pulled him back inside. "Dinner first, and then you may have your dessert." She teased.

Tony closed and locked the front door, laughing at her sense of humor and adventure. "Let me guess: Ziva a la mode?" Ziva leaned in and kissed him deeply, rubbing herself up against him.

"You may rub things on my body my love, but it will not be ice cream."

Chapter Twenty-six: "When one door closes…"

April 21, 2015- Tim and Abby's Home, North Arlington

"Blow out the candles! There you go, good job!" Abby squealed and clapped her hands as Annabelle Kyla and William Luca McGee looked wide eyed and baffled at their mother's ravings. The twins looked around the room at the grinning faces, not quite sure what should be expected of them, but since everyone else was happy they figured they should be happy too.

The newly-christened one year olds clapped their hands and giggled at Abby's antics, excited to see their Mommy jumping up and down and making funny noises with her mouth at the huge, colorful cake. Belle reached out and grabbed a small chunk of the yellow birthday treat and crammed it into her mouth, smearing icing all over her face.

Gibbs smirked at the mess that he was very happy he would not have to clean up. He wrapped his left arm around Mimi's waist and brought her close. "They're all getting so big." He murmured softly. Mimi looked at him in surprise, noting the almost wistful look on his face. She looked back at the little family, knowing it was complete.

Abby and Tim had mentioned casually that there would be no more McGee babies forthcoming. Tim had even offered to get a vasectomy, but Abby had vetoed the idea and herself had her tubes tied just three week prior. After their month long standoff, Tim was afraid she was going to back out of the procedure, thinking maybe she and Tim would not be together forever and she might want a family with some other guy. Abby had firmly disabused him of his wild thoughts, explaining she has been angry at him but she still loved him.

McGee's insecurities about Abby's commitment to him were a blow to her and she vowed to never allow doubt to enter his mind again. She had after all refused to leave his side and give up on the idea of a relationship together when he had been so severely injured in the blast three years ago at the Navy Yard.

Mimi sighed in relief as she saw the way the two leaned into each other and kissing frequently to the point of general annoyance to all in attendance. She turned her thoughtful gaze to Tony and Ziva standing in the corner with their children. Karina had long shed her baby appearance but Jack was all chubby toddler. Mimi's eyes crinkled with laughter as she watched Jack kick his legs back and forth in protestation of being held captive in his father's arms, when he wanted nothing more than to be in the middle of that cake. Privately, Mimi thought that Karina resembled her mother more in appearance than Jack did, but the little boy was all Ziva in temperament: feisty and stubborn. More often than not, he could be found getting into some sort of "trouble" that required his rescue and caused panic in his parents.

Mimi recalled the day when Jethro had thought he had "lost" the baby when in fact he had only crawled into a kitchen cabinet. That same sense of adventure and exploration still existed in the little boy and Tony or Ziva often relayed to her and Gibbs what they referred to as the "Continuing Adventures of Jackson DiNozzo." Tony caught her eyes on them and smiled wide, enjoying the antics of the birthday twins.

She next turned her attention to Ducky and Ellie, the newlyweds of the group. That they had decided to get married was not a huge shock, but they did it so quickly it made everyone's head spin. Ducky had proposed and by the end of the week it was a done deal, a very quiet affair at the Courthouse with Jethro as his best Man; Ellie's sister Beverly as her attendant; Jimmy and Breena as the witnesses and as many of the extended family that could come and squeeze into the small Judge's chamber. Ducky was beaming and so content that many of the team wondered if he might seriously consider retiring now that he had such a fulfilling and happy private life.

Mimi kissed the soft head of her own baby, missing her other "baby" who was presently in Georgia learning to be all things NCIS. Unlike Quantico, Lily had the freedom to call, come and go as she pleased and generally have a life as long as she was at all times present when required. Mimi and Jethro were happy with the weekly calls they had been receiving, knowing that the majority of her free time was probably spent in communication with Sean. But Lily did comment on some friends she had made and was hanging out with, so Mimi was quite content with the situation all things considered. She turned her attention back to the festive table were pieces of cake were being smashed by little fingers.

Since it was a weekday and they all had to work tomorrow, the party was a far more low-keyed affair than perhaps Tim and Abby would have wanted for their children's first birthday celebration. But Abby was a purist and insisted that the party held on the day of the event being celebrated, so the group of friends gathered that Tuesday after work at the McGee home.

Tony glanced as his watch and smiled apologetically at Tim. "Sorry to bust up the party, but we need to get the kids to bed." Tim nodded in understanding and after they made the goodbye rounds, he walked them to the door. Daylight savings time had made its appearance again, so the sun was still low in the sky. The late April weather was pleasant and the DiNozzo family enjoyed the walk around the block to their home, admiring the blossoming trees of their quiet neighborhood. It had just been a little over three years ago that Tony had stumbled upon this home in his imaginings, and began the journey that was now his life. He had often thought in the past what his life would be like if he hadn't suffered that blow to the head that had set the course for the future he was now enjoying, but no matter where his musings led him he couldn't imagine a life without Ziva and their children.

Tony bathed Karina and put her to bed as Ziva handled Jack. He smiled as he watched his wife brush his son's long locks that would be much longer before they ever saw a pair of scissors. He understood the need for ritual and rites of passage, but he was a little concerned at how much more hair Jack would grow before he reached the age of three and officially entered the ranks of childhood in the eyes of the Jewish community. Ziva would just pat his cheek and tell him to not worry about it.

Tony always found it to be in his best interest to follow her advice.

"Stan's replacement will be in tomorrow, yes?" Ziva asked softly as she settled into her own nightly ritual of brushing her hair and moisturizing her body. Tony was lying on their bed and watching her self-ministrations through heavy lidded eyes, enjoying the view.

Stan had been chasing a suspect and zigged when he should have zagged. The resulting broken foot was going to keep him out of the field for four weeks. Stan was majorly pissed at himself but has grateful that it wasn't worse than it was.

"Tony?" Ziva looked at her husband, who was smiling softly at her. She shook her head knowingly and crawled over to lie next to him.

"Hi." She kissed him on the lips, bringing him somewhat back to the present. Tony stroked her hair, his finger caressing her cheek. "You are so beautiful." He murmured. Ziva chuckled, knowing she would not get any coherent comments from Tony for the remainder of the night.

May 30, 2014- NCIS

Tony checked his watch, knowing the Gibbs family should be home by now. It had been a very rough couple of weeks for Mimi, and by extension Gibbs. The middle of the month found Mimi flying home to sit vigil with her family as her dad's long life finally closed its pages. For three days, Mimi and her two sisters Mandy and Sophie were at his side at the hospice, watching each breath and fearing it would be the last. When that final exhale came, it was a bittersweet release for the siblings. They were crushed to lose their father, but at peace that he was now without pain.

As they went to the Alzheimer's unit to try to explain to their mother that her husband of almost seventy-three years was gone, they were stunned to hear from two of the nurses that she seemed to know.

"He's gone." Eric told Sophie. "That's what she said to me when we were bathing her. She knows, Sophie; She knows." The sisters found Georgie in bed on her side, clearly depressed and not engaging them. Still feeling the need to tell their mother of his passing, Mimi pressed a kiss to her cheek and tearfully told her that her husband had died.

"Why?" She wailed, bringing fresh tears to the room. No one could explain to the heartbroken woman who could barely remember her life, yet somehow knew that the man she had loved and married had been taken from her. She closed her eyes to the world and refused to eat, joining her husband a scant five days after his passing.

Mimi was devastated, as were the whole family. Lily was heartbroken to lose the only grandparents she had ever known. It was especially hard on Mandy, who had taken care of their father in her home and who visited their mother on a daily basis. "What am I going to do now?" She cried to her sisters. "All of my time was spent taking care of Mom and Dad."

"It's time for you to take care of you." Sophie took her sister's hand and pulled her into a loving hug. The joint funeral at Bay Pine Veterans Cemetery in Seminole was moving, with bagpipes for Mom and full Military Honors for Dad. The three plus hour drive back to Gainesville was full of laughter and stories of growing up in the fifties, and sixties.

Mimi felt slightly left out, as most of her formative years were in the seventies, but she had heard the stories so many times she felt that she had lived them as well. As they pulled into the driveway, Mandy gasped. "The owls are gone!"

Four owls had taken up residence at their home the night their dad had taken ill. His cremains had remained at their home, and then joined by their mother's urn; until it was the day of the funeral. It had been otherworldly yet comforting to have these astute creatures stand guard until they had been laid to rest.

Gibbs had gone down to Florida as soon as it became aware that Mimi's Dad would not be coming home. They had now been gone for over two weeks, but were returning today. The loss in the Gibbs household had resonated with all of them, as they each considered their own parents and their mortality.

Tim had reached out to his father, "the Admiral" and was looking forward to spending some time with him this summer. Abby's parents were both deceased, but she invited Luca and his family to come visit them from Louisiana. Lily would be taking a few extra days off to spend time with her "Grampy", knowing now how precious and precarious life was. The elder Gibbs had stayed in the McGee household while Mimi and Jethro were in Florida, and Abby adopted him as her own, just as Gibbs was her "adopted" father.

Jimmy and Breena were making plans to bring her mother up for a prolonged visit so that Jamie would be able to spend more time with his grandmother. Even Tony had called his Dad and asked him to come for a visit next month. No, no special reason, Dad. Would just like to see you…

And Ziva? Ziva cried for Mimi and Lily and Drew, for the loss the two women felt and for the lives the baby would never know. She made no attempt to reach out to Eli; her mind had been made up in February that he was to be no part of her life or take part in the lives of her family and loved ones. Life goes on, and death is a part of life. As sad as this loss was, it was inevitable. Tony did not push her, and frankly he was just as glad that these events did not bring a change of heart.

Tony looked up as the object of his thoughts exited the elevator. The smile on her face as her eyes met his brought him out of his funk. He rose and met her halfway, snaking a hand around her waist. "Are you ready to head home?"

Ziva nodded and looked in the general direction of her desk. "I just need to get my things." Tony let her go, and began to shut down his own work station. As they walked back toward the elevator Ziva rested her hand on his arm. "We need to make a stop on the way home." She sent him a blinding smile and stepped into the car when the doors open.

Tony frowned and looked at his wife, wondering at her odd behavior. "Did I miss something?"

Ziva's smile widened, if that was possible. She flipped the switch on the elevator and kissed her husband.

"No…but I did."

And I will leave you with that. It was extremely difficult to write of the deaths of Mimi's parents, as I am Mimi. My mom did not die until five days before the first anniversary of my dad's death, but other than that it is exactly as it happened, owls and all. Thanks for your support throughout this series and for the rest of my stories. It's not done yet, but it is getting there. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.