Chapter 37, Ziva Turns Seventy: 2049
Ziva's seventieth birthday was a Friday. Tali, Anthony and Tony spearheaded the plans with Tim and Jimmy pitching in to help. Anthony had made digital copies of many of the photos from the Haifa house of Ziva as a child when he and Katie took their family over to Israel in the summer of 2049. He also had taken several pictures of the Haifa house, the olive grove, and the new farmhouse. He put together a slideshow that would play on monitors during the party.
Tim and Tony had found the perfect location to have the party in Annapolis. Ellie, Tali, Breena and Beth had chosen the decorations and flowers, using bold colors and jewel tones. Ziva knew they were planning a party, but she did not know many of the details. Tony and Tim had kept it secret that John, Rivka, Adam and Brian were coming in from Atlanta, as well as Abby and Leon from New Mexico.
As Ziva and Tony were finishing lunch on the day of the party, the doorbell rang. Tony, knowing who it was, asked Ziva to answer the door. She opened the door to see Abby and Leon standing on the front porch. Abby threw her arms around Ziva, still giving her bear hugs. Ziva was glad to see her friend, and she wiped a few tears from her eyes. Tony came up behind them and grinned. He and Leon shook hands and as Leon hugged Ziva, Abby wrapped her arms around Tony. "Abs, air!"
Tony went to the car to help Leon with their bags, as Ziva showed Abby pictures of the family in the living room. Tony and Leon put the bags in the bedroom where Leon and Abby would be staying, and went to join the women in the family room. Abby showed pictures of Jared, Tori and their four children, and then Kayla's family. Kayla's stepdaughter had just made Leon and Abby great-grandparents in September.
The four friends visited together and shared memories. About two hours after Leon and Abby arrived, the doorbell rang again. Ziva looked at Tony, and he nodded at her to answer the door. He heard her gasp as she opened the door to Tim with John, Rivka, Adam and Brian in tow. Tony and Tim helped John get their things into the two rooms where they would be staying while Ziva and Abby cooed over Brian and hugged Adam and Rivka. Adam told them all about the flight from Atlanta.
The family visited together briefly and then all got ready for the party. Tim had brought a change of clothes, since he would be taking the Atlanta family to the party. Leon and Abby had a rental car and would drive themselves over.
Tony watched as his ninja put on her sapphire blue dress. She put on the infinity necklace, bracelet, and earrings that he had given her many years ago. She looked beautiful, and he said so. After helping her zip up the back, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "Happy birthday, beautiful." She leaned back into his embrace. "Toda." He turned her towards him and kissed her lips.
Tony's shirt coordinated with her dress. With his slate gray suit and pale gray tie, Ziva could not keep her eyes off him. To her, he was and always would be eye candy. She squeezed his hand as they walked out into the family room. Tim took pictures of everyone, and the group headed out to the cars to go to Annapolis.
Once there, Ziva was surprised by how many people had been invited. There had to be close to a hundred people, including her family. She beamed when all five of her children came up to her to escort her to her chair: Tali, the NCIS agent and translator on the international desk; Anthony, the director of the graphics department at a network affiliated television station and co-owner of one of the largest photo studios in DC; Rivka, computer systems manager for a large bank in Atlanta; Beth, business manager and co-owner of Slater's Funeral Home; and LJ, a partner in a major architectural firm in the DC area.
As they escorted Ziva, the spouses and grandchildren lined a red carpet, each handing her a rose as she passed: Chaim, Forensic Analyst at NCIS with Levi, 12, Elijah, almost 10, Noah and Elisheva, both 7; Katie, third grade teacher, with Anthony, 11, Kelly and Shannon, both almost 9; Charles, mortician and co-owner of Slater's, with Rebecca, 4, and Robert, 21 months; John, assistant professor of computer science at Georgia Tech, with Adam, 5, and Brian, nine months; and Savannah, four months pregnant, with Jessica, 2.
She felt the presence of her Abba of the heart as she beamed at each and every one of her family. Tony held her chair for her to be seated and then sat next to her. Tim was emcee for the night. He called for everyone to quiet down and then introduced Ziva. "Family, friends, put your hands together for the honoree of the night, my sister of the heart, Ziva, also known as Ima and Savta." Ziva stood up and the group applauded. Tim seated them and had Anthony start the slide show.
"From her birth in Tel Aviv, Israel, to her childhood, to the US where Ziva has been a part of my family for many, many years. Enjoy this slide show, showing Ziva through the years." Everyone oohed and aahed at the pictures of Ziva as a baby and toddler. Tony nearly choked on his water when the picture of a four-year-old Ziva with skinned knees, a ballerina tutu and a bow and arrow, along with a fierce look on her face showed. He would have to ask Anthony where he had found that picture.
Anthony's photo studio partner was the photographer for the evening. She snapped several candid photos, including one of Tony reacting to the picture of Ziva. Many of the candids were captures of moments between Tony and Ziva or between Ziva and one of the children or grandchildren.
The dinner buffet included roast beef, grilled chicken, pasta, mashed potatoes, seven different vegetables, dinner rolls and salad. Ziva and Tony led the line through the buffet, followed by family and friends.
After dinner, Tim took the mic again, leading a "roast" of Ziva. He took Ziva's hand and led her to the podium. "Ziva, I have known you almost as long as Tony. You were a partner on the MCRT and then you became family. Leroy Jethro Gibbs, our father of the heart, knew what he was doing when he brought you into the family. You are my sister of the heart, and you have had my six for a long time. I love you, sister. Happy birthday, Ziva." He kissed Ziva's cheek and she hugged him tightly.
Jimmy, Breena, Ellie, Clayton, Leon and Abby reminisced about NCIS as they toasted Ziva. Tali, Anthony, Rivka, Beth and LJ came up as a group and shared "Ima" stories and hugged their Ima. Chaim, Katie, John, Charles and Savannah followed as a group and gave a tribute to their Ima-in-love. Tony went to the mic last.
"Ziva, the love of my life, my best friend, my better half, and my partner forever, you have been by my side for so long, I can't remember a time when you weren't there. Happy birthday and I love you." Tony pulled Ziva to him and locked his lips on hers. He looked into her chocolate brown orbs, and it was as though no one else was there. She gazed back into his emerald green eyes, the ones that had been on the other side of her gaze for most of her life now, and she forgot time and place. It was the two of them, in their own world, as it always had been. She stroked his face as she returned the kiss.
The music for dancing started, and couples took to the floor as the elder DiNozzos held each other's gaze. "Happy birthday, sweetcheeks," Tony whispered, "May I have this dance?" Ziva nodded and they moved out to the dance floor.
Tim asked for the second dance, and then each of Ziva's sons and sons-in-love shared a dance with her. Tony danced with his daughters and daughters-in-love. As Leon passed by with Ziva and Tony was dancing with Abby, Ziva smiled. "I love this family. Thank you, Abba Gibbs."
~TIVA~
The whole family gathered at the DiNozzo house the following day, spending time together and filling the house with love, laughter and fun. Tim took the older grandchildren over to visit Sherlock and Watson. The kids loved playing with the cats and getting to write on their blog, with Tim's help.
As the day was winding down, Tony and Ziva looked at their family, little ones sleeping on parent's shoulders or in their laps, and raised their wine glasses in a toast to Gibbs. The younger families all said their good nights, and went home to put sleeping children to bed. John and Rivka got Adam and Brian settled in to their beds and said their good night to Tony, Ziva, Leon, Abby, Jimmy, Breena, and Tim.
The seven long-time friends talked and laughed in the family room, sharing memories. Around 2300, Breena and Jimmy headed home. The other five stayed talking and reminiscing until almost 0300, when Tim fell asleep on the sofa, and Leon and Abby said good night and headed to their room.
Ziva put a blanket over Tim, as Tony turned off lights, and the two went to their room. Tony shut the bedroom door. Ziva took off her clothes to get into her nightwear. Tony came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her when she was in her underwear and bra. "You know you are still my sexy ninja," he whispered in her ear, and then nibbled her neck. She leaned into his embrace, and purred. He helped her out of her bra and panties as she turned and slid his boxers down, kissing him and feeling the fire ignite. He took her hand and led her to the bed.
As they lay cuddled into each other after, tracing lazy circles and spirals on each other's skin, Tony spoke softly, "I love you, my beautiful, sexy, ninja wife. Zi, you are the best thing ever in my life."
"Love you more, Tony. You are my everything. You complete me." Ziva kissed Tony softly and stroked his face. They fell asleep in each other's arms as they had done for most of their lives.
~TIVA~
Christmas was quiet, as Jimmy and Breena headed west. Charles, Beth, Rebecca and Robert went with them to visit Jared and Tori and their four kids. They would also visit with Abby and Leon. Chaim, Tali and their four went to Israel; LJ, Savannah and Jessica went with Ellie and Clayton to Oklahoma. Anthony, Katie and their three went to Atlanta to spend Christmas with John, Rivka, Adam and Brian.
Tony, Ziva and Tim spent part of Christmas helping at a soup kitchen sponsored by NCIS retirees. Afterwards, Ziva heated up a small pan of lasagna for their dinner. During dinner, they made a Skype call to Atlanta.
~TIVA~
Tony and Ziva spent New Year's Eve and their anniversary at home. They had their traditional meal of olive chicken and vegetables with wine. The couple retreated to their bedroom, kissing and undressing each other as they went.
They left for Chile for a month on 3 January.