Chapter 5 – December 2019

Jimmy hugged his friend before she headed onto the waiting aircraft for the flight to Paris. "Take care of yourself and your family, Ziva. We will talk soon; you do know that Tony and I have a bi-weekly gaming night?"

"Yes. And I will let you know when I have arrived in Paris," she returned the hug.

"Oh, Tony also promised me that he would let me know when he had you in his arms for real and forever," Jimmy grinned at her. "You are ready for this, Ziva. Go home to your family."

Ziva headed to the ramp to the aircraft, "Thank you for everything, Jimmy, and especially for being such a great friend. We will talk soon." She waved as she disappeared from his view. A small bottleneck of passengers was at the entrance to the jet. Ziva was glad that she had a new supply of medication for her anxiety, thanks to Doctor Cranston. She'd taken one of the pills about three hours ago, knowing she would be among a throng of people and that she would be confined inside an aircraft for a bit over eight hours. Breathe.

She found her seat in the premium business class seats; a perk of having the director of NCIS pull some strings to book her flight to Paris. The seat was large, looked as though it reclined to almost flat for sleeping, and the best feature of all was that it was partitioned from the other seats. She had a window on the left side of the plane. Ziva stowed her go bag in the compartment built-in to the seating area; the seat was comfortable and roomy. Perhaps this flight wouldn't be so bad after all. Breathe.

After the seatbelt light went off, Ziva relaxed by partially reclining her seat. She gazed out the window at the darkening skies and the Atlantic Ocean below. A flight attendant offered her a choice of beverages and asked if she wanted a meal or a snack. Ziva chose a bottle of water and the salad with grilled chicken breast; she also was given a bag of pretzels and two large chocolate chip cookies that were individually wrapped. She tucked the pretzels and cookies in her go bag for later and enjoyed the meal.

After the food, the cabin lights were partially dimmed for travelers to enjoy the in-flight entertainment or to relax and perhaps sleep. Ziva pulled a paperback book from her bag and started reading the new novel from one of her favorite authors; Tim had remembered her reading preferences!

Soon the words ran together and Ziva's eyes closed in sleep. The book slid from her grasp, and she rolled on to her side, hugging the small pillow that Kasie had given her for the flight. The roll-shaped plush pillow was designed to support the neck and head in a typical airline seat; Ziva had a real pillow, a sheet, and a blanket in her upgraded seat. The pillow from Kasie had a geometric shapes design in purple, blue, and green printed on the covering. Not something that Ziva would have picked for herself, but a gift is a gift. The pillow would most likely end up in Tali's room. Kasie had been a surprise, but a nice one. The new forensic scientist was quirky, intelligent, and funny. While Ziva had not really had much of a chance to get to know the woman, what interactions she did have had been all good.

The voices started whispering in her brain.

'You are damaged goods…'

'What sort of mother abandons her child?'

'How could he love you; you have hurt him so much…'

'They have forgotten you…'

Another voice, talking over the others, caught her full attention.

'Ziva, you are stronger than the voices. You have won your fight and now you deserve the rewards,' Ari's face was visible, and he was smiling. The Ari she loved and who was the best big brother she could have wanted. 'They are waiting for you to come home, Ziva. You are ready.'

Ziva shifted position, 'I am not so sure. I have been on my own and looking over my shoulder for three- and one-half years. I…'

'STOP. No more excuses, Ziva. Your family needs you with them. Tali knows that you are coming home to her and Tony. Start now to make memories with them,' Rivka's voice was stern. She glared at her oldest daughter, 'Have we not helped you to the endgame? You are free to be with your family, to be the mother Tali needs, to be the partner Tony needs and wants from you. To be loved by your child and by a man who values you and deserves your love.'

'Ken, Ima… but…'

'NO MORE!' Eli sounded so much like the Mossad Director Ziva had come to resent. His angry tone got her attention and then some. 'Zivaleh, have you not learned from me? Family is the most important thing in life. I learned too late; you still have many years ahead of you with the family you choose. Embrace the life you can have; be happy.'

Eli smiled at his daughter, the one he would never admit to anyone but himself was his favorite child. 'You deserve your happiness, Ziva. It is the least that I can wish for you for the remainder of your days on Earth. A good man who loves you, a daughter who will thrive with two parents that love her. Maybe more children…'

'Abba, you are not supposed to tell… remember that all we can do is make certain that Ziva is open to all possibilities for her future,' Tali grinned at her big sister. 'You, achot, are the one who can set our family's destiny back to a positive one. Your offspring will be unaware of the David curse and will have full lives, happy lives, Ziva. You have the chance to redeem all of us!'

Ziva looked into her sister's eyes and sighed, 'I do not want that responsibility. All I want is to love and be loved. Is that too much to ask?'

'Oh, Zivaleh, can you not see that is all we want as well? What your sister means is that the next generation and those that follow them will not have to spend their lives looking over their shoulders or waiting for the next sad news. They will be free from that…' Rivka hugged her eldest. Ziva smiled and leaned into the warmth of her Ima's hug. 'You have the choice now to put your family on that path. It is time for you to go home.'

'Home as in with your family that you have chosen; not a physical place, which I think you have learned, but anywhere you can be together,' Eli added and wrapped his arms around Ziva.

'We are always with you, Ziva, in your heart…' Tali's voice trailed off as the images of her family of the past faded.

A voice brought Ziva fully awake and aware, "Ma'am, we will be landing in about fifteen minutes. Please put your seat in the upright position and fasten your seatbelt for the descent. I hope you enjoy your stay in Paris."

"Thank you." Ziva prepped for landing as she slipped the pillow and book into her go bag and fastened her seatbelt. She glanced out the window; daylight was just starting to creep over the horizon. She leaned back and closed her eyes one last time. Thank you, Ima, Abba, Tali, and Ari, for helping me on my journey.

"We are at the gate; you may begin gathering your belongings to depart the aircraft. Thank you for flying with us and enjoy your stay in Paris."

Ziva took a deep breath and steeled herself for the sea of people about to pass by her seat. She would wait until most of them had deplaned before she got up. She had her coat, the go bag, and a purse to carry unlike most of the other passengers. The few items from the airline that she could keep were shoved into the go bag as well.

"Have a good day," the flight attendant was cheery as Ziva exited onto the ramp to the terminal. She followed the signs to baggage claim and arrivals, trying to ignore the throngs of people. She entered the area where waiting families could greet their arriving loved ones. For the most part, it was clearing out as she skimmed the faces looking for one familiar one.

Their eyes found the other at the same time; Ziva's heart fluttered as she looked at the man who had captured her heart. They moved towards each other, grins growing with each step.

"Ziva," he whispered when they were within arm's reach.

"Tony," she reached out a hand to touch his chest, wanting to be certain he was real. As his arms pulled her to his chest, she let out the breath she had been holding unconsciously. "I…"

Tony fused his lips to hers, cutting her off. She relaxed into his kiss and savored the moment. When the couple broke for air, she caressed his face.

"I cannot believe this is true…" she looked around. "Where is Tali?"

Tony brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, "At home with Dad. I have to warn you that they are probably planning something to welcome you home…" He grinned at her, "I am never letting you out of my arms again, just so you know." He leaned in for another kiss.

As they again broke for air, he added, "I love you, Ziva David."

"I love you more, Anthony DiNozzo," she let the tears roll down her cheeks.

'We are always with you…' both heard the voices of family past as they linked hands and headed to the exit, to home and to Tali.