AN: Hello :) Music this Chapter is as follows, "The Buffalo Hunt" by John Barry from Dances With Wolves Soundtrack, "Falling in Love" also from Dances with Wolves Soundtrack, "All I've Ever Needed" by Paul McDonald & Nikki Reed, "Finale-Little Prince" by Chorus, Douglas Gamley & Orchestra of The Little Prince Soundtrack, "Skin" by Zola Jesus, "Chevaliers de Sangreal" by Hans Zimmer, and "Now We Are Free" by Hans Zimmer. Whew! Lots of tunes! Enjoy your fluff!- Wild
"Hello Ziva." Kevin smiled widely with a hint of nervousness to his tone and then flashed his eyes towards Liat beside her. "Hello Liat." He greeted her with the same smile, taking in the sight of his two sisters, both pregnant and smiling back at him for the first time with the knowledge that he was their half-brother.
"Hello Kevin." Liat smiled already blinking back tears. She'd been told of how Kevin had been so instrumental in her rescue. How ultimately, it was his history and connection to Julia that they were able to find her and get the meetings in the first place. She owed a great deal to him as well. Before Ziva could react, Liat stepped forward quickly and wrapped her arms around him, surprising him as she hugged him tightly. "Thank you for helping to rescue me." She cried softly with a smile and then kissed his cheek. "For introducing us to my beautiful angel." Her eyes flashed to Julia who was smiling at them.
"I am glad that you are safe now. Both of you." Kevin smiled more widely looking at both Ziva and Liat.
"Thank you, Kevin." Ziva smiled and stepped forward, hugging him for the first time as well and crying. "I could not have done any of this without you."
"I'm just glad that I was able to help." Kevin smiled nervously when they parted and took in the sea of faces all looking at him for the first time since realizing he was in fact, the infamous M.C. Cyber Terrorist as he'd been called.
"Thank you, Kevin." Tony stepped forward with a smile, giving the man a solid hand shake as did the rest of Team Gibbs and Malachi.
"So what are you up to these days, Kevin?" Gibbs asked with a smile and raised eyebrow.
"Well, Julia has given me a job offer I couldn't refuse." Kevin smiled over at her, obviously very happy with whatever that offer was.
"I had him stashed away in Europe for the last couple of months until I knew it was safe." Julia smiled proudly. "He works for me now."
"Which means I'm free. As long as I work for The Phoenix the others have no control over me anymore." Kevin explained with a wide smile. "I get to work on the good side again." His eyes flashed between Julia and Ziva and Liat. "I get to work with you guys, in the new Council."
"Perfect." Ziva gasped quietly staring at her half-brother and really studying him for the first time. He looked different to her. No more glasses, his hair was slightly longer with a little curl and his smile seemed brighter. "You look good, Kevin. I am so happy that you are here." She reached her hand out and squeezed his fingers.
"I'm happy to be here." He smiled, "And I brought something special for the rehearsal dinner if that is okay with both you and Tony?" His eyes flashed between them. "I think you're really going to enjoy it."
"Sure." Tony shrugged with a smile, imagining that whatever it was, it was likely good coming from Kevin given the look on his face now. "Are you going to do a stand up Improv routine with McGee or something?" He chuckled.
"No," Kevin laughed with him shaking his head. "Something much better."
"Are you going on the cattle-drive as well?" Ziva asked anxious to talk to Kevin and learn more about him and his life now that he was standing before her. She and Tony were leaving right after their wedding for their honeymoon in Paris and then would be coming right back to work. She didn't know when she would get this chance to speak with him again.
"I am, if that's okay?" He asked seeing the look in her eyes with a shy smile. "Kind of always wanted to do this sort of thing as well."
Julia knew what Ziva was thinking and worried about, "Don't worry. Now that he's working for me and with us, you will have plenty of opportunities to really get to know each other and spend time together soon." She smiled easing both of their minds.
"Good." Ziva sighed with a smile. "Then I hope you have fun. With this wild bunch, it is sure to be a thrilling adventure." She laughed softly looking at all the faces around her.
Another cowboy slowly dismounted and walked slowly towards the front of the group and smiled.
"Hello Asa." Liat smiled at him seeing him for the first time since London and he her.
"Hello Liat." He greeted her with a wide smile looking her up and down and taking in the size of her belly now in her third trimester. "Wow…" He smiled and shook his head softly, "You look incredible." He took the last couple of steps and kissed her cheeks. "And very happy." He smiled pulling back and flashing his eyes to Malachi extending his hand to shake. "Malachi." He nodded softly.
The two of them had seen each other a great deal more, having to work together in Israel and though their roles in Liat's life had switched, there wasn't a great deal of awkwardness as most would suspect given the nature of their relationships before. Each man had always known how the other felt about Liat and how Liat felt for each of them. It was why, Asa had given Malachi the opportunity before he proposed to Liat to make his move, knowing the deep connection the two had. When stepping back and re-evaluating what had happened, he couldn't be upset or angry with how things turned out. It seemed meant to be. Especially with the baby. And especially now, in seeing Liat looking so radiantly happy in a way that Asa had never seen her before. "I am happy for you both." He smiled again softly with a head nod and then moved on to greet the others.
"Ziva," He smiled widely and kissed her cheeks. "You are glowing! A radiant bride you will be." He looked at her own beautiful baby belly and the smile on her face. "Congratulations and thank you, for asking me to be a part of your special day. I am honored." He held his hand over his heart and gave them both a slide head bow. "Tony." He extended his hand with a smile. "You are looking incredibly fit!" He took in Tony's appearance and patted his now flat abs teasingly, "Have you been working out for this wedding?" He teased.
"Well actually I have." Tony smirked unable to stop his sideways glance at Ziva. "I like to call it the Ziva David Second Trimester Fitness Plan." He winked at Malachi and heard Jack start chuckling on his horse, knowing exactly what that meant. "She really knows how to whip me into shape. Using muscles, I didn't even know I had." He added quietly and the others including Ziva laughed softly with them shaking their heads at the madly in love couple.
"Well you look fantastic, my friend." Asa smiled widely. "Love looks good on you both." He winked back at Ziva this time.
"We should get going." Julia smiled at them all. "A long day of riding up the mountain a head of us and teaching all the newbie's how to actually ride." She laughed softly and moved towards Ziva, smiling and cupping her face gently with one hand and intent eyes speaking quietly. "I will take care of them. I promise." She smiled giving her quiet vow to both Ziva and Liat to look after their family.
"I trust you." Ziva answered her with a smile, trusting Julia as she would a sister now with her life and her family. "Have a good time. I want to get a photo of the group before you go and after." Ziva chuckled softly as Julia stepped back and started mounting her horse again.
Tony sighed turning to Ziva and wrapping her in his arms with a smile. "I will miss you."
"I will miss you too. I love you and please be careful." Ziva cupped his cheeks and looked intently into his eyes, "Listen to her, okay?" She nodded towards Julia and saw Tony smile.
"I promise, that this time. I will listen to her." Tony nodded with a sheepish smile, having learned his lesson about trusting Julia. "I'll see you in three days. Have fun with Liat, Annika and Katherine. I can't wait to hear the stories." He laughed softly, still having yet to meet the now infamous 'Aunty Anni' as the kids called her.
"You too." Ziva smiled and kissed him soundly. Tony stepped back and kissed her belly, saying goodbye to Sarai.
*The Buffalo Hunt
When everyone was mounted and looking incredible Ziva took their photos and watched with Liat as they began to ride off into the sunrise.
"I am very jealous." Liat said after a few moments, hearing the group's laughter across the valley as they moved into the trees. "I want to go." Everyone already sounded like they were having a blast on this adventure.
"I want to go, too." Ziva wrapped her arm around Liat's shoulder with a smile and small laugh. "Next year." She looked at both of their large baby bellies.
Julia had told them to expect their arrival back in the main valley, near sunset on the third day. It was with raging smiles and high anxiety that Liat, Ziva, Annika, and Katherine now waited with the babies in the vast field of green to spot the group coming over the horizon. They could hear them coming before they saw them. The loud bellows from the cows and the calls from the cowboys of 'hey and ho' as they moved the cattle echoed around the mountains as did the thundering sound of thousands of hooves on the move.
"Wow…" Liat's eyes were wide with a smile when the truck end gate that she and Ziva were sitting on with Annika and Katherine began to shake beneath them, signaling the approach of the horses and thousands of cattle.
"It really is something to behold." Katherine smiled with pride and awe in her voice, cuddling a sleeping Rafe to her chest while Annika was doing the same with Jillian.
"I can't believe she can do this. Still does this." Ziva shook her head with a smile thinking about all that Julia did and still made time to work on her ranch.
"This is her piece of normal, Ziva. Much like you, still wanting to work as a member of Team Gibbs at NCIS…even though, technically, you are their boss now holding a seat on The Council." Katherine smiled softly at her.
"I get it." Ziva nodded fully understanding now, why Julia still did these things when Katherine had put it in such a way.
"These things are important, in keeping you grounded." Katherine added softly with a smile to both she and Liat, imparting words of wisdom. "It is why I love spending time with my family in such ways. Family keeps you grounded."
"Yes, they do." Ziva agreed with a raging smile in thinking about Gibbs, still having the ability to make her shrink when she stepped out of line and she wouldn't want it any other way.
"And here they come!" Annika smiled passing Jillian carefully over to Liat so she could take photos of the massive and breathtaking approach.
Rapidly, Liat and Ziva began scanning for signs of Tony and Malachi and smiled each when they found them both; looking entirely sexy covered in dust and grime and sweat and actually appearing as if they knew what they were doing now on horses and with the cattle to their great astonishment. As they scanned the faces of each person from their group, everyone of them was wearing a raging smile and laughter with pride they had accomplished such a thing.
Ziva was moved to tears when she saw Tony riding beside his father, first shaking each other's hands at a job well done and then leaning over carefully to embrace with wide smiles at doing this together. When they both spotted her, their smiles grew even wider and Tony waved, galloping forward quickly and pulling his horse up for a quick stop beside them in the truck where they were now protected by the several hundred cattle now thundering past.
"Welcome back, Cowboy." Ziva smiled at him finding him incredibly sexy in this moment with tanned skin, covered in grim and wearing those sexy chaps and boots looking so confident now on horseback when he looked like a nervous wreck just three days ago and leaving. "Did you have fun?" she asked softly seeing from the smile lighting his face, he'd had the time of his life.
"That may have been the most entertaining and fun time, I've had since I was a kid." Tony beamed with a raging smile and looked over to the others with pride hearing and seeing McGee and Abby working together to round up a few strays and send them in the right direction. This adventure was the only Bachelor Party that Tony said he wanted. Spending time, outdoors with his best friends and family, doing something that he'd always dreamed of and having a blast. Only one thing was missing, Ziva. "I wish you could have been there." He looked at her with sad eyes and a smile, "We have some hilarious stories."
"I'm sure you do." Ziva laughed looking at the dried patches of mud on Tony's shirt and on others as well that indicated something must have happened to end up looking like that. "And I can't wait to hear them." She leaned over the side of the truck, standing so she could reach his mouth and kissed Tony soundly. "I love you." She smiled so happy to see him so happy.
"Yee-haw!" Tony smiled when they broke apart and then winked at her, clicking his tongue and his horse took off again to finish the job with the rest of them.
*Falling in Love (repeat)
"So then Junior comes flying around the corner screaming," Anthony was telling a story as they all sat around the large campfire later that night having a cookout and sharing the stories from the adventure with Ziva, Liat, Annika and Katherine and everyone in tears from laughter, "I can't stop this horse!" He laughed recanting Tony's story, "And he heads straight down the embankment and drops his reins. Lara is screaming, 'lean back Uncle Tony!' as the one nearest to him and telling him what to do." They were nearly rolling in laughter.
"And then E.J. comes flying after him down the mountain from no where!" McGee took over when prompted to by Anthony as he was laughing too hard to continue.
"She was like The Lone Ranger," Tony smiled in awe as they all nodded with big smile and made E.J. blush and look down into her plate of BBQ.
"She was! She just leaped over this huge fallen tree at full speed on her horse to pull up along side Tony's and grab the reins as they were both heading towards the cliff's steep drop off into the river!" McGee was excitedly telling the tale.
"And then Asa, swoops in along the other side and turns both of our horses reaching for the other rein!" Tony added as they had all been collectively telling these tales. "The pair of them saved your fiancé, My Love." Tony smiled and kissed Ziva. "Who knew that Erica Jane Barrett had such mad skills on a horse!" He laughed softly shaking his head and teasing her.
"Well, I did grow up on a farm in Ohio, Tony." E.J. shrugged with a smile.
"And Asa!" Tony smiled shooting him a glance as well. "Those two by far were the best of our group on horseback. Pure natural. They were riding circles around us." The others nodded in agreement while E.J. and Asa shared a smile looking at each other. "They're a good team."
Liat noticed something immediately in that shared smile across the fire, seeing the way that both Asa and E.J. looked at each other and then quickly looked away. A flame and a spark and a slow smile spread across her face at seeing something that wasn't there before.
"And then on the way back, we hear this enormous sound like thunder and Julia gets this look on her face." Tony plowed ahead in the story telling with a raging smile. "The river that we'd crossed on the way up the mountain had turned into a raging river on the way back with the warm weather melting the snow. What had been belly deep on our horses on the way up had become level five rapids overnight. There was no way we were going to be able to pass." He shook his head with a smile. "We're all scared, hell the cattle and the horses are scared…everyone is dancing around and not knowing what to do to cross now…And Julia just rides up to the edge on Moses," His eyes widen and his eyebrows nearly hit his hairline, "Yes, her horse's name was Moses! And she holds her hands up and pushes back and all of the sudden the water starts to back flow!"
"Like a massive wall that is building!" Abby adds with equally wide eyes at never having seen Julia's abilities before in her life before this moment.
"And the river literally separates! Like Moses parting the Red Sea!" Schmeil joins in with an astonished wide smile as well, and now it is Julia who is the one blushing in the dark at this story.
"She holds back this entire raging river with her hands and the rest of the river bed just empties. All the way down to the stones. Nothing!" McGee smiles in awe as well. "And she tells us to move the herd across while she holds the river back!"
"It was amazing…unlike anything I have ever seen!" Anthony smiled in awe looking across the campfire at Julia who was sitting in Jack's lap, everyone still dirty and in their clothing from the ride.
"The wall of water she was holding back was growing. Thirty feet then forty as we moved by." Tony smiled with exaggerated hand gestures, "This went on a long time! I mean it took at least an hour to get all of the cattle across with so many of them and we were moving them as fast as we could!"
"And soon it was getting to be too much backflow so she arched the water over us! Forming a giant tunnel under this bridge of flowing water!" Malachi smiled joining in and wrapping his arms around Liat from behind. "It was the most breathtaking and surreal moment…like a flowing rainbow of glacial blue water in slow motion arching over our heads."
"And then finally, we got them all across and to higher ground and Julia comes across as well, still holding back the water and then slowly starts letting it go. Like a dam opening!" McGee is just as enthused in telling the story. "A little water at first and then whoosh! She just let it go! Dropped it back into the riverbed!"
"It was like a tidal wave went shooting down the valley!" Abby's eyes were wide and smiling.
"The most magnificent thing I have ever seen, Child." Schmeil looked at Julia with awe and a brilliant smile. "You are truly a gift from God."
Katherine smiled with pride at her daughter looking around to all the smiling and nodding faces now all staring at Julia and agreeing with this kind old gentle soul in Schmeil about his assessment of Julia.
"I am glad that you all had such a good time. You are more than welcome now, to come back any time as we'd appreciate the help." Julia smiled deflecting the attention once again from herself and standing, pulling Jack up behind her. "I had a wonderful time. Thank you." It was late and everyone needed to start heading to bed. "I wish you all a very good night's sleep. You've earned it. Tomorrow is a big day." She smiled over at Ziva and Tony, "Rehearsal dinner and lots of fun."
"Goodnight, Julia. Jack." Everyone smiled and said their goodnights as they excused themselves from the group gathered outside the Cabin site where they were all staying.
Annika had already taken the children back and put them to bed while Katherine and William lingered with Jack and Julia, enjoying the story telling, smiles and laughter. They excused themselves with Jack and Julia and the four of them headed back to the main house together.
"So everyone of you had a good time?" Ziva asked looking around to all of their smiling guests still sitting around the fire and in no rush to move.
"The most fun I've had in years, My Dear." Ducky smiled widely at her. "Thank you for this adventure!"
"I agree, Ziva." Schmeil chuckled, the first to move and stand coming over to kiss her goodnight. "My old heart was in need of some thrills." He laughed as did everyone else.
"I think its safe to say, we all had a fantastic time." McGee smiled from ear to ear. "And it was definitely more City Slickers than The Magnificent Seven." He chuckled looking over at Tony that he'd called this adventure correctly.
"I think Boss is ready to retire and move out here permanently." Tony smiled at Gibbs, "He was totally Clint Eastwood out there, Ziva. You should have seen him."
Gibbs smiled and looked down blushing in the firelight and shook his head, "I'm just glad you didn't take a header off the cliff before your wedding, DiNozzo." He chuckled shaking his head at the memory.
"I was totally doing The Return of the Man from Snowy River down that embankment!" Tony smiled proudly that he'd done exactly as Lara had instructed in his panic and leaned back as he was demonstrating now sitting on his log with arm up as the man had done in the movie.
"Yeah, you looked like you had it all under control." Malachi laughed shaking his head, "Thank God E.J. and Asa saved your skin or I'm afraid the rest of us would have been skinned ourselves by Ziva if they hadn't!" His eyes widened as he laughed looking from Tony to Ziva.
"Nah, I'm sure The Phoenix would have caught me in her mental net and levitated me over the edge of the cliff." Tony smiled with a shrug, trusting that Julia would have never let him plummet off the cliff to his death. "I just got one helluva ride and story to tell now." He laughed softly. "Now I know why the horse was named Motor!" He added and everyone roared with laughter again. "Though I am, very grateful to the Dynamic Duo over there for saving my hide. Thank you." He smiled again with hand over heart across the fire towards E.J. and Asa who were sitting beside each other. "All those years of watching Bonanza paid off for you, Asa. You're one helluva Israeli Cowboy!"
"Thank you." Asa smiled softly but the pride in his eyes was evident.
"And you look pretty good in chaps, too." Tony smiled at him with a teasing wink and another roar went through their group.
And this time, both Liat and Ziva saw the way that E.J. looked at and smiled at Asa while he blushed under her gaze.
Ziva's eyes slowly glanced to the side of her to see if Liat was seeing what she was seeing as well and if so, what her reaction would be. To her great surprise, Liat was smiling while looking right at them. Liat felt Ziva looking at her and slowly turned her head to look at Ziva, sharing a knowing glance that both recognized the sparks between Asa and E.J. now. That something was happening between the two, though they both looked to be purposefully ignoring it at present.
*All I've Ever Needed (repeat)
"Did something happen between Asa and E.J. on that mountain?" Ziva asked Tony with a smile lying beside him in bed later that night.
"What do you mean?" Tony asked with curious smile and enjoying the feel of Ziva's naked skin pressed against his own, having missed her the last three days.
"Something is different between them. The way they look at each other and the way they interact. You haven't noticed?" She asked slightly amused and not surprised. Tony was still on Cloud Nine from his adventure.
"I don't think anything happened per say," Tony smiled in reflection, "But now that you mention it, the first night on the mountain, they had their sleeping bags lying side be side around the fire and were talking and laughing a great deal. I didn't think anything of it given that's how we were all positioned, so closely together. But the next morning, they were laughing and talking again…riding beside each other all day and worked as a team most of the time. Julia had paired us up…and she paired them up the first day." Tony smiled more widely, "Do you think she's playing matchmaker?" His eyes widened, "That she knows something about Asa and E.J. that we don't?" He wondered given Julia's ability to see the future and how she'd paired those two specifically, over and over, even though everyone else was switched constantly.
"I don't know." Ziva smiled more widely at hearing this, "But likely." She was quiet a moment thinking about them. "They are kind of perfect for each other."
"I was just thinking that." Tony laughed softly. "They have a lot of the same interests."
"And think about it, Tony. How good of friends they became when we were all working together to get Liat back. Liat is really her best friend." Ziva smiled thinking about the two who sat together on the other side of the Bullpen wall, and all of their Girls' Nights Out together before Liat realized she was pregnant. "E.J. and Asa kind of gravitated towards each other to lean on during that time… sharing their grief over Liat's disappearance." She thought about those months and the mission to Iran.
"They always sat together on the plane rides." Tony smiled in thinking about it now. "And in the truck."
"And on the floor of that little room in Afghanistan." Ziva smiled thinking about all of their interactions. "How many times did she fall asleep against his shoulder?" She thought as those images raced through her mind and how comfortable both E.J. and Asa were with each other. "And how well they worked with each other on our mission. Reading each other's minds and just knowing what the other wanted and to do without having to talk about it. It just came so natural."
"That's how they were working the cattle." Tony smiled softly playing with Ziva's fingers, "Like they both knew exactly what the other was thinking." He paused for a moment and kissed her forehead as she lay on his shoulder. "How do you think Liat will react to this? Her best friend and her ex-fiance as a potential couple?" He sighed.
"I think honestly, she's happy about it. She saw the same looks between Asa and E.J. during the campfire tonight and she was smiling, Tony. I think she wants them both to be happy, even if it's with each other…maybe, especially…with each other. She loves them both." Ziva smiled thinking about how Liat felt for both E.J. and Asa. "She would want them to be happy."
The held gazes, smiles and intense looks continued throughout the fun of the next day between Asa and E.J. and it became clear to Liat, Malachi, Tony and Ziva who had all discussed it and then took great notice, that both Asa and E.J. seemed to be purposefully avoiding it when those moments did happen.
They had just finished watching Kevin's gift to Tony and Ziva, an entire 'movie' of their lives together at work captured on spy cameras at their desks, through their computer web cams and from several other angles of all the special moments over the years that led them to this day. The original intent may have been for Ziva's father's nefarious reasons in spying on her, but the end result ended up being a beautiful film of their lives, capturing all the long stares, loving smiles, laughs, hurt expressions, fights and longing looks of love. A beautiful testament of their love for the last eight years as it had grown. The moments that drew the loudest laughs, came from the shots of McGee's reactions to what was happening before his eyes and it was only then, that Tony and Ziva realized how obvious they really had been over the years.
Everyone stood and applauded loudly in the end for the happy couple who were kissing in front of those cheering them on with thunderous applause. Everyone had happy tears in their eyes or streaming down their faces, that in this case, true love had finally won out.
Ziva was crying with a raging smile as she hugged Kevin fiercely for his work on the movie of their life, having turned something nefarious from their shared father into one of the most beautiful things of her life by capturing their falling in love in living pictures on film.
When this movie had ended they took a small intermission before Ziva's surprise for Tony. Each taking the time to refresh and in this case, Ziva stepping into the restroom to wipe her tear trails and freshen up her make-up while E.J. was doing the same. Liat, Abby and Agent Borin had all just left the same room, leaving Ziva alone with E.J. for the first time all day and evening. She knew this was the opportunity she'd been waiting for all day.
"Are you having a good time?" Ziva asked staring into the mirror at E.J.'s reflection with a smile.
"I am having a fantastic time." E.J. smiled while wiping the corners of her eyes from crying happy tears. "Why?" She asked seeing the look on Ziva's face and the slyness in her grin that there was more to this question than first appearances.
"You and Asa seem to be hitting it off rather well." Ziva smiled forging ahead with her bluntness as E.J. had opened the door.
"Ziva," E.J.'s posture dropped immediately as did her smile and she turned shaking her head and staring at the floor, "It's not like that."
"Why not? Maybe it should be? You're both single. Free to date each other if you'd like." Ziva smiled crossing her arms over her chest and resting them on her belly.
"I would never do that to Liat. She's my best friend. I could never do that to her." E.J. sighed deeply and shook her head slowly still unable to meet Ziva's penetrating gaze.
"She's the one who suggested it." Ziva smiled and watched E.J.'s eyes dart up at lightening speed.
"She did?" E.J. asked quietly and clearly astonished. "When?"
"This morning. She noticed the difference in the way you look at each other and we all agree, we think you might just be perfect for each other." Ziva smiled more widely enjoying the look on E.J.s face and her mouth handing slightly ajar completely stunned.
"She is not angry with us?" E.J. asked concerned about how Liat would feel if she and Asa did pursue something.
"No," Ziva took a step forward and reached for E.J's shaking hand with a smile. "She loves you both, very much. And she wants you both to be happy. If that is with each other, she is not angry. If you are waiting for her blessing, you have it. Ask her."
E.J. took a deep breath and then looked down, shaking her head. "I am not even sure he feels enough for me in that way to try, Ziva."
"He does." Ziva smiled knowingly, "I have seen enough to know, he does. He is looking at you now, the way he used to look at Liat. I do believe, Erica Jane Barrett, that Asa Abrams is indeed falling in love with you." She laughed softly again with the look on E.J's face. "I think there is something good there. And you know Gibb's Rules about wasting good?" She asked with a deep smile, "And in taking things for granted?"
E.J.' laughed shaking her head that Ziva was now preaching Gibbs Rules to her. "Yes, I know them well now."
"Okay, so then follow them. Look at where the Rules of Engagement have led Tony and I?" Ziva smiled with a slanted brow. "Who knows…maybe this time next year, it will be your wedding we're all gathered for." She winked at E.J. and leaned forward quickly kissing her cheek and then laughing as she walked away, leaving E.J. standing their still stunned.
"So what is this surprise?" Tony asked with a smile as Ziva sat beside him in front of the massive outdoor movie screen again set up for their outdoor reception.
Everyone else had taken their seats again as well and Tony's eyes flashed over to where McGee was now scooping popcorn into red and white stripped theatre buckets with a smile as it was being freshly popped in the old fashioned cart. "We're going to watch a movie?" Tony guessed with a widening smile realizing what this was.
"Yes." Ziva smiled with a soft laugh passing Tony his own bucket of popcorn and laughing softly when he dove right in, making 'nom, nom, nom' noises again and causing the children sitting around them to giggle and laugh once more at his antics.
"So what are we watching?" Tony smiled at her, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Father of the Bride? Four Weddings and a Funeral?" He asked rapidly and slanted his eyebrow with the last making her laugh again. The entire evening had been nothing but fun, smiles, laughter and tears.
"No," Ziva shook her head with a smile and tears already welling in her eyes. "Last fall, we had decided to start sharing things with each other, of a more personal nature…things, that meant something…the post elevator us. I shared with you, what I do every year on Tali's birthday to remember her and why I was upset about not being able to make it to the opera. And you did the most wonderful thing for me, Tony. You brought the opera to me." She started her story and everyone was listening intently, some already with tears in their eyes at having heard this part of their history before and how it helped bring them together.
"It was also during this same case we'd been working on, that you shared with me, the photos of your mom and revealed that it was because of her, that you had come to love the movies so much." Ziva smiled and a single happy tear rolled from her eyes as she saw them welling in Tony's. "I know how much you miss her. And wish that she could be here with us now, to be there tomorrow when we say 'I do.' But I thought, that for tonight…maybe if we all watched this with you, and maybe if you closed your eyes…it would be like you were that little boy again at the movies…and maybe your mom is here with you." She cried more silent tears through her smile and saw them start falling from Tony's eyes.
Tony understood, having his own words repeated back to him from that night he gave the Opera and Tali back to Ziva, she was doing so now with the movie and his mother.
*Finale- Little Prince (repeat)
The movie began on the screen in front of them and instantly, Tony recognized the score.
"We're going to watch The Little Prince?" Tony asked in a near whisper, having not watched that movie at all since the last time with his mother.
Ziva nodded with a small smile and Tony inhaled a soft breath with a slow smile started spreading across his face, so overwhelmed with emotion. "Ani ohev otach, Ziva David." He smiled speaking quietly. "You are perfect and I couldn't love you more if I tried." He had been thinking about his mother a great deal lately, wishing she were able to see him get married to the woman of his dreams; the mother of his child and the love of his life. The idea of watching it with Ziva, surrounded by the people he loved was perfect. Carefully, with tears of joy streaming down his cheeks and hers, he cupped her face and kissed her lips while everyone cheered again around them.
When the movie was over, everyone cheered again through tears as the pilot flew off into the night sky saying goodbye to the Little Prince amongst the stars and the moon in the sky and Tony leaned over and shared another sweet kiss with Ziva. "Thank you." He smiled with blurry eyes and a big smile, "For knowing exactly what I needed. I did feel her with us." He ran his hand over Ziva's baby belly, "And I know she will be there tomorrow, too." He kissed her lips again.
"Tony," Julia smiled walking up to the couple who were still gazing into each other's eyes several minutes later, "I'm sorry, but I have to steal your bride-to-be away now. It's tradition. She's coming with me."
Ziva would be staying at the main house this evening under Julia's roof as the tradition went that the bride and groom would not see each other again until Ziva was walking down the aisle towards him.
"I will miss you." Tony smiled brushing the backs of his fingers gently down Ziva's cheek and staring into her beautiful eyes.
"I will miss you." Ziva smiled blinking back new tears and reached up to pull his face down gently to kiss him goodnight. "I'll see you tomorrow, Anthony DiNozzo."
"Ani ohev otach, Ziva David." He whispered against her lips blinking back tears as well and realizing that was the last time he would ever be able to call her that again as after tomorrow, she would be Ziva DiNozzo.
"I love you, Tony. Sweet dreams." Ziva smiled and stepped back, taking Julia's hand as she led her away.
Tony stood staring after them, watching Ziva look back over her shoulder and smile as she walked off with Liat and Julia.
Anthony and Gibbs came to stand beside Tony, both with quiet smiles watching Tony watch Ziva go.
"Your mother would be so proud, Junior." Anthony smiled wrapping his arm around Tony's shoulders watching Ziva go into the house and disappear. "You were always her, Little Prince. And you have turned into a fine man. I am proud of you."
Tony's smile spread across his face. Not saying anything, he turned and hugged his father tightly and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Dad." He whispered into his ear.
"I love you too, son." Anthony smiled hearing Tony and feeling the swell of pride.
When Tony was finished hugging his father he turned and hugged Gibbs tightly. "Thank you, for everything." He held Gibbs tightly, "I love you." He smiled over his shoulder, so grateful for his second father in life who had taught him so much.
"I love you, too, kid." Gibbs smiled, "And I'm proud of you, too." And he was, so very proud of the man that Tony had become.
"All set?" Julia asked making sure that Ziva and Liat were settled into her spare room for the evening. Liat was going to be staying with Ziva who was too nervous to stay alone.
"Yes," Ziva smiled back at her anxiously and wringing her hands. "There is one thing…" She fidgeted nervously with her Engagement ring and heart pounding.
"What is it?" Liat asked seeing the wave of nerves go over Ziva's face and hoping she wasn't suddenly having cold feet about getting married tomorrow.
"You've changed your mind?" Julia asked quietly seeing the same look in Ziva's eyes and understanding.
"Yes." Ziva answered with a small smile and tears already flowing seeing that Julia understood what she meant.
"You don't want to get married now?" Liat asked with wide-eyes and gasped quietly looking between the two.
*Skin
"No, it's not that." Ziva smiled shaking her head. "I want to marry Tony more than anything, its just…I've changed my mind about the scars." She sighed deeply trying to calm her nerves. "If you are still willing, Julia…can you please remove them?" She'd made up her mind. Tomorrow was her wedding day and she wanted to start a new life with Tony, leaving the past behind. She hadn't even told Tony that she'd come to this decision. She wanted it to be a surprise when he saw her for the first time tomorrow in her wedding gown.
"Which ones?" Julia asked softly with a slight smile, taking hold of Ziva's hand as it was shaking.
"All of them." Ziva answered quietly as tears slipped down her cheeks. "All but one…" she reached up and placed her fingers over the single bullet exit wound that had come through her chest and narrowly missed exploding her heart. The one that matched Tony's, and reminded her of this second chance they were getting and not to take anything for granted.
"I understand." Julia nodded with a smile, knowing exactly why Ziva wanted to keep that one small scar over her heart. "Do you want me to heal what's under this then too?" She asked softly, trailing her fingertip slightly over the exposed scar on Ziva's chest from her Open Heart surgery.
"You can heal my sternum?" Ziva asked with widening eyes and trying to blink back tears. Right now the bones had been fusing but were still held together by wire.
"Yes, if you want me to. It will be more painful, but it won't last long." Julia smiled softly at her, "I will repair all of the damage in your chest…the bones, your aorta and lung…as though it never happened except for this single scar to remind you." She once again laid her fingertip on Ziva's scars. "A true fresh start."
"Okay," Ziva sighed nervously and nodded her consent.
"Okay." Julia smiled with a nod. "I need you to change out of that beautiful dress and leave your shirt off. I need to change out of mine as well." She looked at both of their curious narrowing eyebrows of confusion. "This one is going to be a little messy because of the wiring for us both. Not to worry. It will be fine. I just would hate to ruin beautiful clothing, over temporary bleeding."
"This is going to make you bleed too?" Ziva asked quietly with widening eyes of realization, remembering that Julia actually took on whatever injuries she healed temporarily and seeing her body bleeding out when she'd saved Tony flashed through her mind. Immediately she started shaking her head, no, changing her mind.
"Ziva, this is nothing. I will repair very quickly. It won't be like last time, I promise." Julia palmed the side of Ziva's face and held her eyes intently with a reassuring smile. "I promise." She could see the absolute fear in Ziva's eyes in remembering. "I promise." She nodded again and then let her hand fall away with a smile. "Give me five minutes to get out of this dress and I'll be back."
*Chevaliers de Sangreal
Ziva took deep breaths, in and out as she sat on the edge of the bed anxiously wearing just her pajama pants and running her hand in furiously fast circles over her baby belly trying to calm her nerves. Liat was sitting beside her doing the same thing with her own belly, both had pounding hearts even as they held each other's hands waiting for Julia to return.
True to her word, exactly five minutes later Julia appeared again with Katherine and Annika beside her; all wearing their pajamas and smiling softly at the nervous young women on the bed before them.
"You ready?" Julia asked with a soft smile, handing a glass mason jar in her hand to Katherine who set it on the nightstand.
Ziva nodded, afraid to speak and afraid to even ask what the glass jar was for.
Julia nodded at Annika who went into the bathroom and came out with a three towels.
"Okay, Ziva." Julia smiled at her, "I'm going to have you sit on the edge of the bed, just as you are. I'm going to heal these scars first." She ran her fingers around Ziva's electrical burn scars that wrapped around her chest and looked like tiger claw marks. "And then I will heal your lung and aorta and finally, I will heal your sternum and this scar." She ran her finger gently against that scar. "Okay?" Ziva took another deep breath, still not speaking and nodded. "Liat, I'm going to have Annika sit beside Ziva and hold that arm when I say so, okay?" She instructed not wanting Liat to be this close to Ziva given how pregnant she was. "My energy overflow could start your labor, and though you're close… not ready yet." She smiled more widely at Liat who nodded in understanding and stood, leaning down to kiss Ziva supportively. "Katherine is going to hold your other hand and arm when I say, okay?" She looked this time directly into Ziva's eyes. "I haven't healed anyone since my re-awakening, but given how quickly everything else is coming now regarding my abilities, I can only imagine, this will be the same." Ziva nodded again still silent as nerves were eating her alive. She'd lived with these scars since they were inflicted years ago and now letting them go, was terrifying as it was exciting.
Julia took one of the beautiful white fluffy bath towels and spread it carefully over Ziva's baby belly with a smile. "It's going to be okay." She tried to reassure Ziva again. "It will be over before you know it." She added quietly laying the other towel on the ground in front of her and then pulled her own t-shirt pajama top off over her head, now bare and exposed and naked from the waist up just as Ziva was, which only fascinated Liat and Ziva more having never seen this before from Julia and their hearts started pounding more loudly in their ears.
They knew that Julia had experienced unimaginable horror in torture, having been through the same things and more then Ziva had endured, including the electrocution; but her beautiful tan and bare skin before them now was flawless, perfect and glowing. Her body had healed itself and taken away those scars. Soon, Ziva's would look the same and that is what she tried to focus on.
"Okay," Julia nodded at Annika and Katherine sitting on either side of Ziva and both women took hold of each of Ziva's hands. "I'll be quick." Julia palmed Ziva's cheek again with a smile and then let if fall, instead palming Ziva's rib cage just below her breasts and over the electric burn scars.
Ziva watched as Julia's eyes once again flickered with the gold pools in her dark depths swimming and coming to life. The warm tingle from the contact of her hands immediately heated up and began to tingle across her skin. Julia's hands started to slide slowly around Ziva's flesh and around her chest, erasing those scars right before their eyes and Liat gasped with hand over her mouth in astonishment to see this happening once more.
When Julia had finished with those scars, she nodded for her mother and sister to hold more tightly as she was going deeper. She lay one palm over Ziva's damaged lung and the other around the back, holding that damage between her hands and repairing both sides from the bullets path.
Ziva was gasping feeling the slow burn start rising inside of her as her lung singed and crackled and came back to life without the scar tissue. When Julia slid her hands over to repair her aorta, the tears began filling Ziva's eyes with the sensations and burn inside and gasped loudly as she finished.
Without saying anything, Julia moved both hands to the front of Ziva's chest and laid her palms directly over Ziva's sternum and scar and the two women held more tightly, knowing this was the most painful part.
Ziva inhaled a soft sob with body shaking as she felt the first wire pulling through her bone and then coming out of her skin.
"My God…" Liat and Annika gasped at the same time watching as Julia pulled the metal wire, still tied and in a loop out of Ziva's chest and it fell to the floor on the white towel she'd spread out.
Their eyes widening considerably to see the flesh wound that was dripping blood on Ziva's chest close and heal immediately before the same wound appeared on Julia's chest. She repeated this process quickly over each wire until all five had fallen bloody to the ground between them. The same bright red stream of blood was flowing down Julia's chest, between her breasts as it was flowing down Ziva's in removing the wires. As Julia's hands moved down the scar also was disappearing until she finished and pulled back.
"All done." Julia gasped herself with a smile and her flickering golden eyes started to go back to normal. She leaned forward quickly on her knees, lifting the towel lying over Ziva's belly and wiped the blood trail away from her chest revealing beautiful, perfect and scar-less skin. The only scar on her body remaining, was the one Ziva asked her to leave; the bullet wound over her heart that matched Tony's.
*Now We Are Free
Only after Ziva's skin was wiped free of the blood did Julia pick up the towel that was left and clean her own blood trail away. "See, no harm." She smiled showing her flawless skin once more to Ziva and Liat. "I'm perfectly fine." Julia took a deep breath and stood, gathering up the towel and metal rings from the floor and reached for the glass Mason jar. "Sit here for a few minutes. I don't want you to get light headed."
"Julia, are you okay?" Katherine asked reaching out to touch her arm and ever the concerned mother herself. Seeing Julia bleed under any circumstance would never be okay with her. The sight made her' own skin crawl and her heart pound madly to see her child in pain no matter the situation.
"I'm fine." Julia smiled and leaned over, kissing Katherine's cheek. "I will be right back." She headed immediately into the bathroom and they heard the water turning on, within a minute she was back again.
In her hand was the small jar and as she shook it, the metal rings clanged around inside, freshly washed and cleaned with antibacterial soap and free of any blood residue. "I thought you might like to keep them. Your reminders of what you survived, but no longer need in your body." She smiled handing the jar to a still astonished Ziva.
"I don't know what to say." Ziva shook her head slowly looking at the pieces of metal in the jar, still with their tight surgical knots in place and perfectly formed where they'd held her sternum together. Her eyes flashed down to her chest now free of the large incision and moved to stand, wanting to look at the rest in a mirror.
Julia was putting her t-shirt back over her head and smiled when Ziva turned and looked at herself for the first time in a full-length mirror.
Ziva's body was now completely free of torture scars for the first time in years. Beautiful, perfect, flawless, radiant tan skin was all that was left behind.
A slow smile started spreading across her face as the silent tears began falling faster and faster as she turned and held her arms up to see the band of scars once wrapping around her body were gone.
"Thank you." She caught Julia's gaze in the mirror and smiled. "Thank you." She cried and turned quickly, engulfing Julia into a tight hug and cried, sobbing in relief to finally be free of the last physical remnants of her torture. "You are an angel..." She cried softly inhaling a sob thinking about how much of a weight she felt lifted from her soul in this moment and not realizing how heavy it was to carry until she was free. "Thank you!" She cried again as the others looked on in tears as well with smiles on their faces seeing the two women embracing in such an emotional moment for Ziva.
"You are most welcome," Julia answered her quietly with mouth near Ziva's ear and tears in her own eyes to feel the relief washing through Ziva in this close of contact, picking up on her emotions and knowing how much it meant to her to be free of the last vestiges of her torture. "Now…you are free." She smiled and kissed Ziva's head before pulling back and cupping her face. "Are you okay?" She asked smiling.
"Yes." Ziva answered with a smile from ear to ear and wiping at her tears. "Now, I will feel like a beautiful bride." She inhaled a soft sob.
"Tony already sees you as the most beautiful woman in the world, Ziva. Scars and all, he only ever saw you." Julia reassured her with a smile. "You have always been gorgeous to him and everyone else."
"Yes, but now I feel it." Ziva emphasized with a smile and tapped on her chest, indicating her soul. She always believed Tony when he said she was beautiful, even with the scars. But every time she saw them, it was bittersweet as she saw what she endured and what she survived all in one.
"I know." Julia nodded with a smile, understanding completely as having been there. "Now you are free." She repeated again, emphasizing the, you, and it was then that Ziva and the others finally understood what she meant by that.
"Yes." Ziva smiled more widely and hugged Julia again, "Thank you."
"You are welcome." Julia laughed softly returning the enthusiastic embrace. "Now, you need to get some sleep. A very big day tomorrow."
"Yes!" Ziva pulled back wiping at her tears with a raging smile, even more excited for tomorrow now if that were possible. "I can't wait to see Tony."
Julia smiled, "You will take his breath away."
AN: Sorry guys, no update Monday. Still traveling!