I don't know exactly if the date (26th of May 2015) is correct, but I tried to count the years since 2009 so just go with it, if I'm wrong! Enjoy!
THREE YEARS LATER
It had started with guilt. The guilt that Ziva had felt because she hadn't been able to give Tony what he, what they both really wanted. A child. It turned out the events of Somalia had scarred her internally, making it impossible for Ziva to conceive and give birth naturally. Initially she had been fairly depressed for weeks, having to repaint the children's room from a colourful and playful scene, filled with animals and other cartoons, sell the cot they brought together, but slowly had realised it wasn't the end of the world. Tony had helped her through it, they both helped each other. Then one night in April, Ziva rushed into the living room, laptop in hand, interrupting Tony who was watching the latest instalment of Fast and Furious.
"Tony turn that off," She demanded, sitting down on the couch next to him.
He paused it, "What is it?" Finger still dancing over the play button on the remote, Ziva sighed and grabbed it, turning the TV off. "Hey I was watching that!" Tony cried, then he saw how serious Ziva was, his smirk left his face.
Ziva paused, not quite sure how to say what she wanted to, "Do you still want a child?"
The question caught Tony off guard, "Yes, of course I do," He was suddenly curious of the laptop Ziva had with her, "Why?"
"I found a website, it's a adoption agency." She turned the screen around.
Tony was stunned, hundreds of young children, from infants, toddlers, kids, even teenagers, were facing him. They were all Israeli. "Is it based in Israel?"
Ziva nodded enthusiastically, "When I was younger I wanted to adopt lots of children, from poor places around the world. I just remembered about the thought last week." She leant into Tony, scrolling down the photos, clicking on one of a young girl. "Her name is Gavriella, her parents died in a bombing, she is two," There were a few more photos, one of her holding up a drawing, Tony guessed it was either a tree or a horse, "It says she loves to draw and sing." There was another one of her dancing in a sunny courtyard, "And to dance."
Tony couldn't speak, he had never even thought about the option of adoption, now there was a perfect young girl, waiting for parents, waiting for them. He took the mouse, clicking on the photo of her, enlarging it. She had messy, sandy brown hair that was in pigtails, large hazel eyes, tanned skin, grubby hands and a toothy, infectious smile. She was perfect. "Yes," He managed to squeak out, he took a deep breath, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Where do we sign? This is perfect Ziva!" His eyes were pricked with tears, he turned to his wife, "I love you so much."
Ziva smiled, her own eyes had tears, "I love you too," She leant in and kissed him briefly, "Should I phone the agency?"
"If you aren't then I will!" He cried out, Ziva laughed, grabbing the phone and sat next to him, dialling the number carefully.
There was a pause, Ziva put the phone on speaker, "Hello, St Mary's Orphanage, Hilda speaking," A older, slightly European accented woman spoke.
"Hi, my name is Ziva David-DiNozzo, me and my husband Tony cannot have children, I am from Israel and we found your website online." Ziva paused, "We are interested in adopting Gavriella."
There was a squeal of delight, "That is wonderful news! Where are you currently living Mrs David-DiNozzo?" Tony squeezed Ziva's hand in excitement.
"In America, DC to be precise."
"Are you able to provide money for plane fares then for the three of you?" Hilda asked.
"Yes of course, we can pay anything you need us to," Ziva grinned happily to Tony.
"Ok perfect, what is your email address so I can send you the forms you need to fill out, then there will be a background check, you will need to come to Jerusalem where we are based for an interview with the head staff here. Then you can meet Gavriella and if all goes to plan you will have a daughter by May!" She said excitedly.
"That is perfect, we can't wait!" Ziva laughed with glee, they exchanged emails then hung up.
There was a pause as the couple digested what just happened, "Do you think we rushed that?" Ziva asked nervously, "We didn't exactly think too much about it."
"Some things you are not meant to think about too long, I learnt to swim by Pop throwing me in the deep end of the pool. He jumped in with me and I knew I was safe. We have each other, we'll be fine."
"Wow Tony, that was pretty wise." Ziva laughed.
"Hey! I'm not the idiot everyone thinks I am!" He cried out, making Ziva just laugh even more.
26TH MAY 2015
They had applied for a month and a half of leave from work, Ziva had suggested they stay four days in Tel Aviv, see the sights and visit some friends before flying to Jerusalem to meet Gavriella. They walked out of the airport terminal, hand in hand, as a older woman with a caring face approached. Tony recognised her as Ziva's Aunt Nettie, she had come to the wedding but had to leave a few days after for personal reasons.
"Zivaleh! It's so good to see again!" The woman wrapped their arms around each other, embracing for a few moments, they pulled away, Aunt Nettie kissed Tony on the cheek affectionately, "And you too Anthony! I hope you've been good to my niece!"
Tony laughed, "Of course I have been Nettie!" They grabbed their bags, informing the chatty Aunt of the past three years together. Nettie drove them to their hotel to drop off their bags, Ziva had wanted to stay with her Aunt but there wouldn't have had been enough room.
"Are you children hungry?" She asked.
"A little, plane food is never great," Tony replied, happy to see how much Ziva was smiling, he had missed that smile when the found out they couldn't have children naturally.
Nettie smiled, "Of course! How about we go to Olek's?"
Ziva perked up, "Olek's? I haven't been there since I was a child!" She glanced at Tony, "It is a cafe run by a older man Olek, he is lovely, I knew him growing up."
Tony smiled back at her, "Is the food good?"
"It makes mine look like a cheap imitation."
They arrived at the cafe, a smiling, overweight man with a receding hairline and a grey moustache approached, "Ziva dear! Time has blessed you well!"
They hugged, "Thank you Olek, this is Tony DiNozzo, my husband." The two men smiled and shook hands.
"I knew there was a reason you hadn't come back to Israel, my you look like Rivka!" He added, tenderly.
Ziva smiled also at the comment, "You remember the usual?"
"How could I? You had it everyday after school for eleven years!" He laughed, leading them to their seats, "I assume you want it doubled?"
"Please."
"Oh and I'll have some tea and gluten free latkes please Olek," Aunt Nettie chipped in.
"Of course!" Olek smiled as he shuffled back to the kitchen.
"He seems nice," Tony mused.
"He is nice," Ziva echoed.
Aunt Nettie smiled, "Now Zivaleh, you must tell me, why are you visiting? Bit late for a honeymoon."
Ziva glanced at Tony, who nodded his head, giving her permission to tell her dear Aunt, "Well I cannot have children." She said simply.
Nettie gasped, "Oh tataleh, I'm so sorry!" She reached out, they held hands over the table.
"And a month ago I found a website, it was an adoption webpage for an orphanage in Jerusalem, on Thursday we are flying there to adopt a two year old girl, Gavriella." Tony handed Nettie a small photo of the girl.
The woman tenderly stroked the photo, "She is beautiful, you will both be blessed for doing this, I am so proud of you motek," She looked between both of them, "Of the two of you, what you have accomplished together."
They all shared a moment, as their food came; two servings of latkes, a medium bowl filled with steaming lentil soup and two cups of iced chocolate for Ziva and Tony, then a smaller, separate dish of gluten free latkes with an apple sauce and a tea for Aunt Nettie.
Ziva made Tony have the first try of the soup and potato pancakes, "Oh dear lord this is beautiful! Like seriously Ziva when you said this was good you weren't joking!" They Israelis both laughed as he proceeded to all but inhale the food around him. Making sure though however that he left some for Ziva. They talked for well over an hour, the couple telling stories of their wedded life, Nettie accounting for many stories of Ziva's childhood, much to her embarrassment.
Aunt Nettie personally insisted she drive them around to see all the sights, even though Ziva knew the way she agreed, it was good to have family to care for you for a while. She inwardly smiled at the thought that she now had a family, those years of not knowing. The doubt, the constant thought of if she got injured and had to be be taken care of afterwards, who would do it? She squeezed Tony's hand, they now had a family.
One step away from a family! Btw I found a really good online recipe for latke with lentil soup, it was amazing! So I wasn't kidding when Tony said it tasted good! Read and Review!