G
Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend, you have been the one for me. Our hearts broke at this. Soulmates live on in hearts. ~ Debbs
When the words reached his ears after they left his coworkers mouth, it was as if an arrow had pierced his soul. Blood ran cold, heart stopped beating, and yet it was breaking..no...no God please it..it can't be true. Oh my god...No it couldn't be, not her. This can't be happening! God please no. His whole world, his reason for living, gone.
...but it wasn't.
'Tony..Don't worry Tony...
Ziva?...
We will be okay..I'm here...
Ziva...
Protect Tali..Bring our baby to me...-Flames then an explosion-TONY!'
"NO!" Tony DiNozzo bolted upright in his bed. He was topless but had on dark green plaid pj pants. He was sweating, his skin shiny as tears immediately came to his eyes, breathing heavy from the dream, more like nightmare. He wiped his eyes, taking deep breathes and sniffling to keep his nose from dripping, soon reaching for a tissue. Swallowing, he raised his head then laid back down on his bed with a sigh, his heart fresh and broken, the deepest it's ever been, the lump in his throat painful from when he had screamed earlier that day, red faced and fists clenched as he had yelled at the sky and crumbled to his knees. When this had happened, he was in the park...one of Zivas most favorite places to jog as she was surrounded by nature..a place of peace for her, calm and serene...But in that moment, in that place, it gave none for him. He breathed easier now despite tears still in his eyes. "Ziva." He murmured. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked out loud quietly as he stared at the ceiling. He couldn't wrap his head around it. 'Ziva did not need a man to complete her. She was quite capable of raising Tali on her own.' Director Oli Elbaz of Mossad, her words went through DiNozzo's mind. It can't be true...she would have told him. Wouldn't she? She would have tried to contact him, send him an email, call, heck even old fashioned snail mail in a letter, a single picture, something..anything. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock. It was 5:37am...and he began to hear sounds coming from the baby monitor he had gotten. Getting up he went out of his bedroom to the living room where Tali, Zivas daughter lay..his daughter..God he was so scared of messing it up. "Hey Tali. Shh, shhh shhhh. It's okay. Daddy's here." He said soothingly as he picked her up. He had put down a half folded cushiony sleeping bag and surrounded it with pillows in his living room. It wasn't exactly ideal but he didn't know what else to do. She had fallen asleep so fast and had her mother's head scarf grasped into her hands. It smelled of Ziva. Tony would try to do the best he could to keep it from getting dirty, as the smell was a comfort to their little girl. Their baby...Baby. How he wished he could have been contacted from the start. Why didn't she? Sure Ziva must have been scared of rejection and unsure of what to do, not exactly knowing how to be a mother, but to do it without him..that was what he was also upset at.
He gently swayed and rocked Tali in his harms as she clutched onto the scarf. It always seemed to have a calming effect. If it got washed Zivas scent would be gone, another little thing would be lost forever. Something so simple. Though their little one barely knew him, Tali wrapped her little arms around his neck, soon her cries became sniffles and small whimpers. Tony waited a couple minutes before he went and carefully sat on his couch. Once he was comfortable, Tali curled herself into him, her head under his neck. She knew who he was. He was her abba, her daddy. She was sole dependent on him. He gently kissed the top of his daughters head. Her hair curly and soft. "I love you Tali." The little toddler looked up to him then pointed to the picture. "Ima..Want Ima." DiNozzos heart broke. "I know you want mommy...I do too. So much I do." It was so hard for him to not just break down then and there. Tali is too young to understand, her mind not able to comprehend what death was. All she knows is that her mother has gone away. DiNozzo had realized that when Tali was first brought to his place, when she had ran about through his whole apartment and when she finished she had looked bewildered and confused, sad even though she didn't cry...she was looking for her. Searching for her mother. Like hide and seek. Only to turn up empty handed. Tali had become a little frustrated and had moved her arms up and down in a fake hit against nothing but air. Her hands little fists and then she just went back to her father and grandfather. The little girl rubbed her eyes and pointed to the picture again. "Ima..Ima." She repeated. Tony a heart ached as he just cuddled her closer. But the longer he held her she seemed to turn from being quiet to being fussy. Tali made little sounds of unpleasantness and squirmed in his arms some. "Ima..wan-Ima!" She began calling louder, Tony trying to hold her as she moved in his arms to get away from him. DiNozzo then just set her down and immediately Tali went over o the wall where the shelf was that held the picture. "Ima..I-Ima!" Her little arms were raised up and her hands grasping as she glanced back at her father. "Abba..Ima!" Tony got up and then held the picture for Tali to see after he pent onto his knees. "There, see? Ima, and Abba. That's mommy and daddy...we were in Paris. Ziva loves Paris." "P-..Pars." Tali spoke. DiNozzo smirked at her attempt to speak. "Paris." He repeated. "Par-as." She said more louder and she reached out her hands and Tony let her hold the picture herself.
The little girl then moved away from her father...then did something unexpected. She raised her arms up and, in pure toddler fashion, slammed the picture to the ground. "Tali! No!" Tony came over, upset at what his daughter had just done. "Tali why'd you break it?" He said, his voice upset but not raised loud. He didn't want to scare her. He carefully picked her up and took her to the couch. "You stay right there while I clean this up. Okay? I don't want you to get hurt." The father said, pointing to his little girl to stay sitting. He then sighed and turned, walking away and going to his kitchen, and got out a broom and dustpan from the closet that was on the adjacent wall next to it. He returned and began sweeping up the glass and other bits, trying to make sure he was being thorough. As he was sweeping up the edge of the broom caught the frame that was on the floor..and something seemed to move out from under it. DiNozzo stopped and bent down, then he gently picked up the frame and held it sideways, his body seeming to freeze and his eyes stuck in a trance as they gazed upon...a piece of paper. It was folded and he pulled it out from the frame, gently setting it on the ground again. "Ima." Tali's voice broke Tony from his trance and he looked to his daughter. Then back to the paper in his hand, noticing now that it felt a tad heavier than it should. Then back to Tali. Then back to the paper. Then to his daughter again. Again to he paper in his hand, he was almost afraid to open it. Then back to Tali. Then to the paper aga-WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND CONTINUE?! Tony swallowed and then gently unfolded the paper in his hand. Out dropped a couple of pictures. But he held onto it because there was a disc. A cd or DVD he wasn't exactly sure...but he decided on DVD. "Moo-ee." Tali spoke again and Tony came near his daughter. He knew she most likely knew more hebrew but it seemed Ziva had tried to teach her some English as well. At least that's what came to his mind. "Tali..this is what you were trying to tell me?" He marveled as she only simply nodded, those same dark brown eyes that were the spitting image of her mother's, plus the curly hair but more his shade, skin tone a bit of both. "Ima." She only said as she touched the disk. Tony smiled hen picked her up and hugged her, which caused Tali to giggle and laugh in high pitched squeals.
The father went over to the DVD player and turned everything on while Tali stayed on the couch, fidgeting. He then put the mysterious disk in and soon a video was playing. His heart skipped a beat and his breath hitches as she appears on the screen. Her dark eyes and long wavy hair. She appears to be sitting down at the table at the farmhouse. "Ziva." Tony barely managed to whisper as tears automatically came to his eyes and a lump in his throat. Tali pointed to the screen. "Ima!..Ima!" The little girl quieted when her mother began to speak. 'Tony...I am not exactly sure how to, to tell you that, something, something has..happened.' She took a breath to calm her nerves. 'It is not necessarily a bad thing, but a good thing. But to be honest I am scared. Terrified actually. Because I don't know how this process is going to work out. And also how you will handle it. It has taken me a while to even get to this point.' His lover swallowed. 'But something, wonderful, has happened.' A smile came to her face, and a few tears. Next she didn't speak, just stood up and turned sideways. And there it was. Her belly. Looking to be about 5 or 5 and a half months. How was he supposed to know what a woman looked like at every stage accept the beginning and the very end. Tony licked his lips and looked down at the photos that came from the paper also. 'I hope you get the sonograms. We are having a little girl Yakiri-darling.' The video went dark but was still playing. Next it showed Ziva further along, at least 7 months now and she was showing off the baby's room. The crib, the toys, dresser, changing table, and she continued to speak of her feelings and thoughts and fears and joys. 'I wish you were here with me Tony. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you or become reminded of you. I am regretting my decision to stay but with the current situation I also don't know if you will even accept it.' "I do accept it." Tony automatically spoke. Responding on impulse, his heart aching at seeing the expressions in her eyes. Though she smiled sometimes the eyes portrayed and couldn't hide her sadness.
The screen changed again, and this time there was commotion going on. It didn't take long to guess what was happening as Tony saw what appeared to be some nurses and a doctor in a hospital room. "Ne'eyy!" Tali said as she pointed to the screen again. Tony looked to see Ziva standing near the edge of the hospital bed. Her hands gripping the sheets as sweat seems to be coming from her body, her shoulders her highest point as her head was bent down, eyes shut tight against the obvious pain she was experiencing at that moment. Tony nodded to his daughter and cuddled her as he saw another lady which he guessed was Zivas Aunt Nettie. She was similar despite being older. But her skin was lighter despite having dark eyes and hair. The older woman was rubbing Zivas back and gently talking to her in Hebrew, Ziva responding back in grunt like whimpers until the pain subsides and she leaned back up again, letting out a long breath and a tired smile coming to her face as she looked to her aunt. 'You're doing great Ziva.' Aunt Nettie had said and the heavily pregnant mother to be nodded but sighed. 'In a sense it's good that Tony is not here because I would be threatening to kill him.' Again the screen change and Ziva was now in the bed, breathing heavily and her body shaking, her skin shiny with sweat. 'I'm going to kill him for all this pain he's putting me through!' She ranted. Aunt Nettie was holding Zivas hand and wiping sweat from her brow. Then the doctor gave her the nod and Ziva bore down with all her might, giving multiple good pushes and resting between and then pushing again when she was told to. It wasn't long before the baby's head was visible...then the shoulders...'Come on! I can't do this much longer! Aaaaughhhh! Tonyyyy! I can't do this alone!' "I'm right here Ziva. I'm here honey." Again Tony spoke to the screen. He was just so caught up into it that he couldn't help it. And then a smile came to his face and tears pours from his eyes at hearing it...Tali's crying wail. The newborn was placed onto Zivas chest and the mother was crying and holding her, automatically putting the baby to her chest and within minutes the baby was having her first feed. A couple more minutes passed, and Ziva began to sing, smiling down at her daughter.
And after that, the video ended. Tears were coming from Tony's eyes. It was quiet. Tali looked up at her father and raised up her hand, gently touching him on his chin. "Abba." Tony smiled. "Yeah that's right Tali. I'm your abba..your daddy." Tali blinked. "Da'ee." She tried to say. The father had to chuckle and smile at her effort. He caught himself looking at the sonograms again. "I can't believe I missed this. I'm sorry I did Ziva. I'm sorry I wasn't there." Tony dried his eyes again as a lump formed in his throat. He was glad of this great gift Ziva has given him. Her child, their baby. Tali. Tony turned the photos around to see if there were dates on them...and there wasn't, but something else. There was a number written on one. ~'C-23'~. He gasped, memories instantly coming to his mind.
Flashback
~A hotel room, in the city of love, thee Eiffel Tower seen through the window. Then the view is unstructured by the curtains being closed by a woman's hands. The lights dim and the brunette smiled, staying where she was as she felt a presence come behind her, a voice talking smooth and sexy, into ingot deep and with both parties full of want, what better than to run with it. Taking in each others scent, the sounds both made as their lips meet over and over, eyes closed, deep breathing, and passionate lovemaking began, slow at first and the clothes came off as well as some of the pillows and blankets from the bed. After a while things speed up and got hotter, sexier as both bodies were covered in sweat, different positions being made and used, the force and desire the man to move his hips faster till he was pounding and the woman's moans and cries edging him on until release came for both and she clamped down around him and both held onto each other. After they came down from their high, it started up again, and again, and again...~
"Abba!" Tony was brought out of his vivid memory when Tali had called at him. DiNozzo blinked and shook his head briefly and then looked to his daughter, a smile tugging to his lips. "Hey, are you ready for a trip Tali?" He asked as he knelt down to her level and his daughter giggled, her hands playing at the end of her pajamas. "Par-ee?" She questioned and Tony nodded. "Paris yeah. We're going to Paris. And hopefully we will find Ziva there." He said as he picked Tali up and she curled into him. This surprised Tony as she didn't really know him on a personal sense, just through pictures, but at the same time it felt right. This little human being was proving to be a constant supply of joy. He then went to he's bedroom and set Tali down on the bed. He smiled to discover that she had gotten sleepy during the brief walk and he decided that her being asleep would work to his advantage. She groggily moved on his bed and went right to his spot, plopping down in her little toddler way and laying her head on the pillow as she lays on her tummy. DiNozzo smiled with pride and love for his little girl and took out his phone, snapping a few pics before he set about his room and began getting out clothes and putting them in a suitcase he'd pulled out from the closet. After getting other items he then quietly left the room and got Tali's go-bag ready. He decided he might need a few more things like maybe a small pack of diapers and maybe he'd get her another toy or two to be entertained on he flight, but other than that he felt confident he could make the trip with his daughter without her being board or getting fussy.
It was around 11:30am when he was at the airport and Tali was awake and already had breakfast. They were sitting in chairs by the big window, waiting for their flight. The little girl was a bustle of energy and with the language barrier, DiNozzo was finding it a little challenging to keep his daughter still. He played tag a few times and then he'd scoop her up in his arms and tickle her, but maybe it's best she get her energy out now so during the flight Tali won't be as jumpy. "I wonder if your mom was like this as a toddler because I'm guessing you got all her metabolism." 'Attention, Airline Flight B56, section A is ready for boarding. Thank you for your attention.' Came over the speaker. Tony looked to his daughter. "That's us sweetheart. Do you know what we're doing? We're going up in the air." The father pointed to the sky out the window as other plains were taking off. Tali giggled and made an airplane noise like a propeller with her lips, moving around with her arms outstretched. Tony smiled and miniced her, making plane noises as they went to their spot in line, then picking her up and holding his daughter. Tali curled her head into her father, averting her face from the other flight passengers and being shy to be so close to them. Soon they were on the airplane and the flight was off the ground and on its way to Paris, and, Tony hoped, to Ziva. He'd planned on going straight to that same hotel where they had stayed. He prayed she was there. Or at least there would be another clue that would lead him to his lover and mother of their child. He didn't exactly know what he would say to her. He loved her so much, but at the same time he was angry that she kept Tali from him, and the pregnancy to begin with, and to let him believe she was dead, he felt like he had died too. Like it was the end. Nothing left to fight for, or to live for. But when Tali came along it all changed. And he was grateful that she was showing him the way. He wondered if Ziva had im-pressed upon her daughter in some way. Like, help abba find Ima? Something like that. How do you trust that your little one can relay a message of that much importance? Either way it had worked. DiNozzo looked to Tali now and she was playing with her toys and chewing on a cookie snack from being on the flight. He smiled at her as she cuddled her doggie. Kalev, she had called it.
Hours passed and Tali was asleep. Tony was holding her against his chest as the little girl had insisted she sleep in her fathers lap. A noise came up and it was announced that the plane would be on its way to landing in Paris-'Thank you for flying with us.' Within a couple minutes DiNozzo could feel the plain turn and then it was starting it's decent. After a while the airplane bumped a couple times as they experienced some turbulence on their way down. "Abba?" Tali looked to her father with scared eyes, waking at the notion and the sound. Tony held her close as she clung to him, nuzzling for comfort. "It's okay baby. The airplane is just landing. We're gonna be fine." He assured his little girl, who clung to him. After 10 minutes their flight had landed in Paris. Thanks to McGee, after DiNozzo had called him to inform his friend that he landed safely, the agent was able to get him into the same hotel room that he and Ziva had stayed in when they went to collect Nora and take her to the states. Tony didn't know if Ziva was going to be there or if there would be another clue, he just prayed it would lead to her...the love of his life, mother of his child...and when he found her, he would never let go or leave her again. They were going to be together. As a family. Of course there was going to be talk and explanation for all of this, but he knew he'd eventually forgive Ziva for putting him through hell once again. An hour later after going through customs and retrieving their luggage, a trio to the restroom and Tali having a snack of fruit, they were in a cab on their way to the hotel. Tali looked out the window at the city as they drove, the people on the streets, all the displays and landmarks. The cab reached its destination and Tony payed the tip and stepped out, having Tali hold his one hand, and with the other he got his daughters baby bag strapped over his shoulder as well as his suitcase. It was quite the load. Tali was a little bouncy and fidgety, trying to contain her excitement. They got to the lobby and were escorted to their room, which they had to take the elevator. Tali tried to push the buttons as they went, Tony stopping her hands from reaching them as she looked to him with a slight pouty/annoyed face. The father couldn't help it as a smile tugged at his lips, recognizing this expression from her mother when he wouldn't let her drive or other certain things.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened, Tali following her father to the room and as soon as it opened she bolted inside, going to each and every little room, calling out for her mother. "Ima...Ima!...Ima! ...Ima?...Ima?" After exploring the place the little curly haired brown eyed angel returned to her father, looking sad and defeated. DiNozzo picked her up when she reached for him and he realized once again that she wasn't just exploring. She was searching. Their escort had left them after they walked in and it was all Tony could do to not cry then and there. He had tried to not get his hopes up in case Ziva wasn't behind that door, but with Tali in tow he couldn't help it. He had held his breath, and to come hear and find he place empty and devoid of the love of his life..yes it was a bit of a let down. "Hey, it's okay Tali." DiNozzo said as he looked to her. "It just means we have to see if we can find another clue." "B-use clues?" Tony nodded and smiled. "That's exactly it Pumpkin. You're so smart." He kissed her forehead and Tali hugged his neck. They had been watching all the kids shows like Blues Clues, The Magic School bus, and Sesame Street. So far it's expanded Tali's vocabulary of English words. At least she was trying to speak English more. Tony broke into song as he gently bounced Tali as he held her. "We are looking for Blues Clues, we are looking for Blues Clues." "Kalev." She said and Tony looked to her. The jet lag must be catching on, he noticed as Tali rubbed her eyes. "Okay, how about I look for clues while you take a nap." But Tali shook her head. "Lo, I hep-No I help." Tony smirked as she leaned forward, indicating she wanted down, so Tony set her down and he put his thinking cap on. "Come on Ziva..what did you leave for me to find?" He spoke out loud to himself as he leisurely moved in a circle about the room. Eyes searching over every inch of the room they were currently in. For some reason his hunch lead him to the bedroom. He opened the door and Tali followed, going and looking out the window at the view. Tony went and opened all the drawers of the dresser and began searching. He didn't even know what kind of clue she would leave. It could be anything. A note, a neckless, a burned phone, carving on wood. "Well, there's nothing in here." He said as he closed through the last drawer after a very there ugh search and he turned around. "Did you find anything kiddo?" His eyes became wide when he saw no one there. "Tali?..Tali where are you?" He called as he looked about the room. "Abba, abba!" Came a muffled but excited cry. Tony heard his daughters voice and he walked to the other side of the bed...and he smirked as he saw Tali's ankles and feet sticking out from under the bed, wiggling away. "Abba un'er ear-daddy under here!" Tony got down on his knees and then turned on his back and shimmied his much larger body under the bed. He looked at his little girl. "What did you find baby doll?" He asked as he called her another nickname. Tali turned her body so she mimicked how he laid under the bed and pointed to one of the little beams...and there it was. "A cell phone." DiNozzo whispered and grabbed it.
It was a flip phone, and when Tony flipped the top, and there was a small piece of paper with a number. 'Oh God..please lead me to Ziva.' He silently prayed. He and Tali scooted out from under the bed. "Ima." Tali clapped excitedly and was bouncing up and down. DiNozzo licked his lips and then called the number, putting the phone to his ear. He heard ringing on the other end. He barely took a breath, and then..."Hello?...Tony?" DiNozzo almost broke down as a painful lump came to his throat. "Zi-Ziva?" "...Tony..Oh Tony." "My God Ziva...I can't even..I mean, ..I-". "Ima?" DiNozzo became distracted as Tali called to him, gently tugging on his arm as she reached for the phone. "Ima? Peese Ima!" "Is that Tali?" Tony nodded. "Yeah. Yeah she's right here." DiNozzo put his phone on speaker. He sniffled and whiled his eyes and nose as he heard Ziva begin to talk to her daughter, her baby. He can't fully imagine what she must be feeling to be away from her. God he wished she would have contacted him from the very beginning. It wasn't as Orli had said. There was proof of that in the DVD and he was sure she had possibly even tried to write or email him. He could completely understand at the beginning being unsure but later..? Why keep this from him? All will be explained in due time as he focused again on the here and now. "Ima..Ima wuv you!" He heard his daughter say, and Zivas response to it, so new, so, motherly..caring and gentle and yearning. Oh how she must have cried herself to sleep at having to be separated from her little one, her baby. Tony could hear the emotion in her voice, the desperation, and the relief knowing everything was okay. "Ima come!" Tali said excitedly. DiNozzo heard Ziva sniffle as he was sure she was whipping tears from her eyes. "I'm coming tateleh. I'll be there as soon as I can okay Yakiri." Tony smirked. "Just drive safely Sweet-Cheeks. We don't need to see a high speed chase from the cops on the six o'clock news." He could sense her smile when she responded, her voice full of emotion and love. "I promise Tony..I'm on my way."
Half an hour later
A knock, knock, knocking came from the door to the room. Tony looked up and Tali immediately got up from playing with her toys on the floor and ran to the door as fast as her little legs could carry her, her father following, trying to keep the emotion down and level, but how could he? To hear that the woman you love so deeply is dead, to hear she's gone, plus throwing a child into the mix that you never knew about...it's a lot to take in. Tony knew he and Ziva would be having a talk, a very serious talk and he just prayed they would work is out. And he was sure his partner felt the same way despite this huge emotional overload turn of events. Tali reached up for the doorknob and then pulled it open-"IMA!" "Tali! OH TALI!" And there she was right before his eyes. The love of his life, his Ziva. Mother of their child. Ziva had dropped to her knees as she had entered, her face scrunched together as she cried and held onto her baby tightly, Tali's arms wrapped around her mother's neck as both spoke to each other and Zivas arms wrapped around her daughters body and also running her fingers through the curly hair that was the color of her father. "I missed you so much Tali..you're so beautiful. You've gotten so big." She was smiling and talking to her little girl as tears rolled down the mothers cheeks and the end of her nose. She looked up, and Tony was standing before her, causing the mother to slowly rise to her feet, holding her daughter to her chest. Ziva opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out at first as tears were in both her and Tony's eyes. Immediately the woman felt guilty about what had happened so she tried to explain. "I-I know what you're going to say, Tony. How could I do this to you, and to our daughter, make you believe that I was dead. To never tell you about Tali."
DiNozzo swallowed and slowly walked towards her, noticing Ziva stepping back as he stepped near. "You did tell me. Granted it was late, but I watched the video. You were amazing. And I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. To be with you and to help you. I would have been there. I should have been there." Ziva sniffled as she nodded. "Yes you should have...I-..I tried to send letters, but they came back unopened, emails didn't work, I c-couldn't..I couldn't bring myself to call you but-But he reason is because I-" "Was because you realized you were being monitored." Ziva paused and nodded. "Yes. I knew I was in danger..that we were in danger. And as much as I wanted to call you and talk to you, and tell you that I needed you, that I was scared and lonely, at times I felt that I couldn't do it...it killed me, over and over again to stay away until the threat was gone. So until then I had devised a plan for Tali, for us. Orli assured me she would bring our daughter to you to ensure her safety. And she did." While the mother was speaking she and Tony had moved to the couch and say down, Tali not letting go of her mother still. She was a little squirmy but she wasn't fussy at all with being in her mother's embrace. "Look, you can shout at me, scream, I will understand your anger towards me and the decisions I made and-" Ziva froze as she was quieted with a single touch of Tony's finger to her quivering lips. He lifted up her chin so her dark eyes looked into his, another single tear going down her right cheek. Tony leaned forward. "You're just as beautiful as the day I saw you." And with that statement he brought their faces together and their lips meet into the most beautiful kiss you can imagine. After their kiss Tony and Ziva touched foreheads, a sign of a complete trust that is absolute. "No more despair." Ziva closed her eyes, swallowing as she still tasted her lover, father of their child..and perhaps more in the future. That thought brought a smile to her lips and she continued to take in Tony's words as he gently spoke to her. The love evident in his voice. They looked to each other. "We're gonna be a family Ziva. Weather it's here in Paris or back in the states..anywhere you want to live, we will make it happen. We'll have a home, a new life, and the rest will be on its way."
I'm so bad at updating my fanfics. lol I know you know already. I say it just about every time and apologize every time. Hope the stories are still keeping you entertained and reading. Thanks to all who have written reviews and stuck with me through the long process.