I am sooooooooooo sorry (times that by 12 and you get how sorry I am) that I couldn't update earlier! I have been away on holiday, with no wifi :( I know, I am a sixteen year old girl, it was hard.
"So Mr and Mrs David- DiNozzo, you have passed all of our background checks, and I take it you have deposited the correct amount into our account?" An elderly woman, with greying brown hair which was pulled back into a practical bun, simple clothing, a cross around her neck and lines on her face from laughter, asked. Her name was Hilda Burwitz and had moved to Jerusalem from Berlin ten years ago for missionary work, they had previously spoken on the phone.
"Yes we have," Tony replied eagerly. They had been in her office for over an hour, originally they had been going over paper work but had begun chatting and had gotten on splendidly. It was a small room, with faded walls and second hand furniture but it was covered in photos, drawings, certificates, postcards, letters and more, they had all been stapled to her wall. Tony guessed some of the photos were of some of the orphans she had managed to get adopted, in their new homes, many of them were very touching. The sound of children playing outside could be heard; the grounds were originally a school, but had been brought by a German church and converted into a orphanage, but the school was still functioning as a place of learning for the residents.
Hilda beamed at the couple, who sat as close as their chairs would allow them to each other, hands linked, smiles on their faces that refused to go away. "Perfect then!" She leant down and pulled out a file, flipping it open there was a photo of a newborn baby girl, along with a few ones of her when she was older, she read aloud from a piece of printed paper. "Gavriella," She paused, glancing up at the couple, "No written last name, but I guess that's now David- DiNozzo," She added with a grin, "Father unknown, Mother died after she gave birth to Gavriella due to it being a complicated labour. Her birthday is the 7th of September, she was born in 2013, so she is just under two years old. She enjoys singing and dancing, and wants to be a puppet maker when she is older."
Ziva squeezed Tony's hand, "She sounds perfect, what languages does she understand?"
"Well, most of these children are adopted into English speaking countries, to make it easier we all try to teach it to them, so they all at least understand it, from memory she speaks it quite well, but that will improve even more, in as soon as a few months. Do you speak Hebrew?"
Ziva nodded, "Yes I do, he doesn't though."
Hilda quickly scrawled down something on a bit of paper she had been adding to every now and then, probably notes of Gavriella's new parents. "That's good, I ask you to please let her still live with her culture, allow her to learn Hebrew throughout her life, it says here you are Jewish?" Ziva nodded, "Yes well please observe some form of Jewish ways, organise her a bat mitzvah or something like that."
"Of course," Tony agreed.
Hilda smiled, pushing forward a sheet of paper, "Then please sign along the dotted lines, then we can go and meet Gavriella." Ziva and Tony gazed at each other for a moment, before she leant in and gave him a reassuring peck on the cheek, whilst they signed. Hilda grinned and led them down the narrow hallway. "It is recreation time so she is probably in her dorm room having a nap." She explained as she took them outside, into a courtyard full of children running around and playing.
"Will many of them be adopted?" Tony asked nervously.
Hilda's smile softened slightly, "Many, not all of them. But with funding from our adoptive families once they turn fifteen they can go on exchange trips to England or America, it has really helped to boost their self esteem if they aren't adopted. Also they all receive tuition, which actually sets them above many children their age with families." She opened the door to a small building, with a small, handmade sign with 'Princesses' written above the door, with little flowers and a crown painted around the frame. Hilda led them down a series of hallways, open doors revealing cots, cribs, beds, some with little girls asleep in them. She paused outside a door, "Gavriella shares her room with five other girls, all aged either two, three or four. Thankfully we passed all the others on our way over, so she is alone." She knocked gently on the door, "Gavi, wake up honey," Hilda cooed softly.
Tony and Ziva stopped in the door way, Gavriella, their daughter, sat up in her cot, curly hair a mess, food smudged on her cheek. She rubbed her hazel eyes with a small, chubby hand and stood, fingers curling around the rail that encased her small crib. A smile was already playing on her face.
"Hey Gavriella," Hilda grinned as she picked the girl up easily, gently bobbing her up and down in her arms. "Sorry to wake you honey, but I want you to meet someone." The toddlers eyes settled on the couple as they slowly walked into her room. She reached out her hands for one of them to hold her.
Hilda gently eased her into Tony's open arms, "Hey there squirt, I'm your new Daddy, and the ninja next to me is your new Mummy." Gavriella gurgled, and grabbed Tony's short hair in her fists, pulling with surprising force. "Ouch!" Tony yelped sending her into fits of laughter.
Ziva took her from Tony, as he rubbed his head tenderly, "Shalom tataleh, I'm Ima," She softly kissed her forehead.
"Ima!" The girl cried out happily, she wrapped her short arms around Ziva's neck, finding her necklace. She fiddled with the Star, "Pretty," Gavriella murmured.
"Just like you sweety," Tony gushed back, looking up at Hilda, who had tears in her eyes at the touching meeting. "She's perfect Hilda." He stated.
"I can see that," The elderly woman replied happily. She went over to a small cupboard, pulling out a even smaller bag, "She doesn't have much, but it'll do until you two can go shopping. There is two sets of pyjamas, she's wearing one of them, a few dresses, shoes, socks, undies, a hairbrush, toothbrush, her drawing pad and," She dug around the covers of her bed, "Azzy the turtle!" Hilda cried out as she held out a small, well worn, faded and loved toy turtle.
Seeing her beloved toy Gavriella perked up from her sleepy state in Ziva's arms, "Azzy! He's my turtle!" She huffed, reaching out to her friend.
Hilda laughed, "I know Gavi, here you are," She handed the stuffed turtle to her waiting arms.
"He is missing a eye, will you fix him Ima?" Gavriella asked, still sleepy she was leaning her head against Ziva's shoulder, curled up in her arms.
Ziva felt tears prick her eyes, she didn't have to check to know Tony was the same, "Of course baby." They left the small room, bag and daughter in tow, there was a reception where they had to sign again their names.
"Before you leave," Hilda said, holding up a digital camera, "A photo with the happy family?" They all smiled, Tony reaching his arms around his two precious girls, as Hilda held up the camera, "Smile!" There was a click, "OK, we can email you that if you like." She went over to a computer, connecting the camera, and printed off the photo. She smiled and took it over to the opposite wall, pinning it in the centre, along with hundreds of other couples, all smiling as they held or stood next to their new child, some of them had more than one with them. Hilda pointed to one, a older pair, with four teenage boys, "The Abrams, such a lovely couple, came looking for one, left with four! Would you like that emailed?"
"Please," Tony replied, "Also you mentioned that many families donate to fund the trips to the UK and US, can we do the same?"
"Of course! It's the same account as the first one, just send us a quick email to let us know. Also if you ever plan a trip back here, please drop by, I love to keep in touch with our large family!"
"Will do Hilda," Ziva gently agreed, eyes never leaving the girl in her arms, they all hugged.
"Bye Gavriella, you enjoy America OK? Be a good girl, make me, your parents and Israel proud," She gently whispered as she held the girl briefly, tears falling down her cheeks.
Gavriella arched up and tenderly wiped them away, "Don't cry, please?"
Hilda laughed slightly and rubbed her eyes, "Sorry darling, I'll miss you."
"I love you Hillie," Gavriella stated as she tightly hugged her, both Ziva and Tony thought she wouldn't want to let go, but she did. She reached out to her new parents, Hilda happily obliged to hand her back. They were jumbled out to a rental car that Ziva and Tony had picked up whilst they were in Jerusalem, they moved quickly, trying to avoid the tears from falling. Ziva gently placed Gavriella in the booster seat in the back, Tony sat next to the sleepy toddler, whilst she opted to drive, as she knew the city better. They drove the short journey to their hotel, Tony tenderly stroking Gavriella's curls, Ziva watching in the rear view mirror.
"Do you think we are ready for this Tony?" Ziva asked as she parked outside the lobby.
Tony glanced up at her reflection in the mirror, "Ziva I'm sure that-"
"Ima, what is that?" A soft voice interrupted, Ziva spun around to see that Gavriella had woken, and was pointing a chubby finger against the glass window at the hotel.
"That's our hotel tataleh, it is where we stayed before meeting you. We just need to get our bags, we have a plane ride to catch tonight, back home, to DC," Ziva explained slowly. They had partially wanted to stay longer, but were too excited to start their family in America and couldn't wait.
"Where is DC Dada?" She asked again, eager to learn all she could.
"In America Gavi, it's our new home," Tony gushed, clearly unable to take his eyes of his daughter.
She paused, then accepted what he said to be true, "OK." Tony smiled as he undid her booster seat, hoisting her up into his arms, Ziva grabbed her bag from the car boot, they made their way together up the steps of the lobby.
The bellman who opened the door for them smiled, "What a beautiful family you have sir," Tipping his hat towards Tony.
Tony squeezed his wife's hand, the other still securely holding Gavriella to his chest, "I know," He grinned back. They made it up to their room, unlocking the door to find a overjoyed Aunt Nettie waiting for them.
"Ziva! Tony! I am so sorry, I just decided to wait," She gushed happily, spying the toddler sitting in Tony's arms. "So this is the beautiful Gavriella?"
"Ima who is that?" The girl asked quietly, face uncertain as if she was still deciding wether or not to like the older woman. "She looks like Hillie."
"Tataleh, this is, "Ziva paused, "Your Safta," Tony gave her a quizzical look, "Your new Grandma."
Nettie's smile broadened, "Oh she is just precious! You'll have a hard time with boys when she's older!" She laughed, holding out her arms, "May I?"
"Please, she's small, but you do feel it after a while," Tony grinned, handing the girl to her new Grandmother, glad that she wasn't going to be known as Gavriella's 'Great Aunt'. It would be easier to leave Eli out of her life as much as possible, he knew Ziva agreed, feeling he didn't deserve to be even sent a Christmas Card.
Nettie swayed the girl gently back and forth, humming a soft tune, Gavriella leant away from her, studying her face intently, "I like you." She finally said.
She laughed, "Well that's good!"
Both Tony and Ziva laughed, Ziva finally glad to have a family, maybe she was getting a happy ending after all. Tony was so overjoyed to be able to have children with Ziva. The first few months after they found out she wouldn't be able to have kids had been similar to post- Somalia. He had to coax he to eat the tiniest mouthful, she would often just sit, gazing at her scars, even the nightmares had come back. It seemed like the fairytale lifestyles which he had watched in movies were finally coming true for him.
YAAAAAYYY! A new baby for the David- DiNozzo's, and this way Ziva keeps her AMAZING body! Not sure if Safta (ladyd10 message me if it isn't) is the correct term for Grandma, I just Googled the term, it was all I could think of as to how to find out. Anyways, hope you enjoyed and have forgiven me for my absence! REVEIW!