Chapter 3
AN: Thank you so much. I have exams this week, so I'll be updating every second day. After this week is over I should be able to write more (as I am on break) so hopefully updates will increase)
AN2: As I have said, let me know what episodes you would like me to address. Hope you like this chapter.
Again, sorry if the Hebrew is wrong, blame Google Translate
Despite the late time they all went to bed Gibbs, Shannon and Rivka all woke up early. While the two young girls are fast asleep the three adults are in the kitchen making breakfast for the girls, and themselves.
"Did you sleep well?" Shannon asks curious.
"Better than I have in a long time," Rivka admits. "Thank you,"
"You really don't have to thank us, I'm just glad you were able to get some rest," Shannon admits as she could tell that her friend desperately needed that.
"Rivka, if it is okay with you I was thinking I would take Ziva and Kelly to the park after breakfast, give you and Shannon a chance to talk, and catch up," Gibbs offers.
"I think Ziva would really like that, she has not been to a park in a while," Rivka admits, and as she does Ziva who is on the couch, stirs.
"Ima?" Ziva asks, as she wakes up, and Rivka hurries over to her.
"אני כאן, זיוה." (I am right here, Ziva) Rivka says, sitting down on the edge of the couch, and the young girl sits up, and looks around.
"איפה אנחנו?" Ziva asks confused. (where are we?)
"America," Rivka tells her daughter. "את זוכרת שסיפרתי לך על החבר הוותיק של אימה?" (Do you remember me telling you about Ima's old friend?)
"Shannon," Ziva answers, and as she does Gibbs and Shannon walk over.
"Ziva, this is Shannon and her husband Gibbs," Rivka says, switching to English for Gibbs's sake. "Can you say hello?"
"Hello," Ziva says, though she is clearly nervous not surprising considering she is not even seven yet and has gone through a hell of a lot in the last six weeks.
"It's really nice to meet you Ziva, your Ima has told me so much about you," Shannon says, with a comforting smile, wanting to make the young girl as comfortable as possible.
"Nice… too meet you too," Ziva says, her accent strong, and as she speaks everyone hears footsteps and Kelly hurries into the living room.
As Kelly runs into the living room she looks around and is clearly confused by the two-extra people in the room.
"Mom? Daddy?" Kelly asks confused, and so Shannon walks over to her.
"Kelly, do you remember me telling you about my old friend Rivka?" Shannon asks curious.
"From when you lived in Israel, yes," Kelly says, with a nod.
"Well this is Rivka and her daughter Ziva, she's just a little older than you," Shannon explains knowing that Ziva is eight months older than Kelly.
"Hi," Kelly says, waving at Ziva, with a big smile on her face. "Do you like Horses?" Kelly asks curious, as she knows all her friends do and so she hopes Ziva does too.
"Yes!" Ziva says, her entire face lighting up as she loves horses.
"Mommy can I show Ziva my room?" Kelly asks curious, looking excited.
"Okay, but just be quick, breakfast is almost ready," Shannon tells her daughter.
"Okay," Kelly says, sticking out her hand for Ziva to take, which the young girl does after looking at her mother, who gives her an encouraging nod, and the two girls run upstairs, both smiling.
"I have not seen Ziva smile like that in a long time," Rivka says, glad to see her daughter looking so happy.
About ten minutes later Ziva and Kelly are both up in Kelly's room happily playing with all of Kelly's horse toys which they are both sharing.
"Have you ridden a horse before?" Kelly asks curious.
"Yes," Ziva says after a minute's pause, it taking her time as she has to translate the English. "I Pony ride with my sister," Ziva explains, speaking slowly to make sure she says the right words, as even though Tali was only three, they road ponies a lot.
"Where is your sister? Is she here?" Kelly asks curious.
"No. Tali… got hurt….she did not wake up," Ziva says sadly.
"I'm so sorry," Kelly responds, and she gets up, walks over to Ziva and hugs her. As they hug Ziva stiffens for a moment, but then quickly relaxes into the hug. Once she and Ziva break apart Kelly picks up one of the horses, a soft toy version of a horse that is the same color as Ziva's hair, "This is Chestnut, I want you to have him," Kelly explains, handing the toy over to the slightly older girl.
"Why?" Ziva asks, clearly confused.
"Because when you miss Tali, you can hug him, it will help" Kelly says, like it is the most natural thing in the world.
"Thank you… Kells," Ziva says, thinking that that is Kelly's name, and even though it is not Kelly loves it.
"We're friends, friends give each other things. Because you are my friend I will call you ZiZi," Kelly tells Ziva in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"Okay," Ziva says, completely not understanding why Kelly is calling her something different, but she likes it.
"Kelly, Ziva," Gibbs says, knocking on the door to Kelly's room, "Breakfast is ready," Gibbs says to the two of them, and they both get up and head downstairs, Ziva not letting go of Chestnut as they go.
About an hour later the Gibbs' and the two David women have all eaten. Shannon is upstairs with the two girls while Gibbs and Rivka are downstairs, waiting for Shannon to return with the girls so that Gibbs can take them to the park.
"Thank you for this, I did not think to bring something warmer for Ziva," Rivka says, as the truth is she wasn't able to get anything for her and Ziva except for a couple of photos of her, Ziva and Tali, some money, and one change of clothes for each of them.
"It's okay. Ziva's about the same size as Kelly, one of Kelly's jackets will be fine for her," Gibbs explains.
"Thank you," Rivka says again. "Where is the park you are taking them?" Rivka asks curious.
"Just down the road, I think Ziva will enjoy it, Kelly always does," Gibbs explains, and before Rivka can have a chance to respond Ziva and Kelly run down the stairs, with Shannon right behind them.
"Ima?" Ziva asks, walking over to her mother. "מה הולך לקרות?" (what is going to happen?)
"מר גיבס ייקח אותך ואת קלי לפארק, כדי לשחק." (Mr Gibbs is going to take you and Kelly to the park to play) Rivka explains. "הישארי עם מר גיבס וקלי, והקשב למה שמר גיבס אומר לך." (Stay with Mr Gibbs and Kelly and listen to what Mr Gibbs tells you." Rivka explains to her daughter.
"כן אמא." (Yes, Mum) Ziva responds.
"Okay, let's go, Girls," Gibbs says and once he does he, Ziva and Kelly leave the house.
"Ziva will be okay with Jethro, Rivka," Shannon assures her friend, who nods.
After a few moments of waiting Rivka and Shannon head into the living room and both sit down on the couch.
"Rivka, about what you said last night…" Shannon starts to say.
"I meant it, Shannon. I did not just say it because I was exhausted," Rivka admits. "I have been thinking about this since Tali was killed. I have been thinking about what is best for Ziva, what will give her the best life, and I believe that is with you and Gibbs," Rivka admits.
"But what about you?" Shannon asks her friend.
"I will go back to Israel and try to find out exactly what happened to Tali," Rivka admits. "It will be dangerous, and I will have to move places every few days, that's no life for Ziva, and cannot allow Eli to get to her," Rivka admits, as she can see, with perfect clarity, what Eli will turn Ziva into as she has seen it happen with Ari, and she cannot allow that. "Shannon, I know people who Eli does not know, some of them helped me get here, but you are the only one I trust to look after Ziva if I cannot," Rivka explains.
"And I'm honored, Rivka you are my best friend. So, if you are sure about this then of course Jethro and I will look after Ziva, I just want to make sure you are sure about this," Shannon admits, as while she knows Rivka wouldn't have made the decision lightly she still needs to make sure Rivka is sure.
"I love my daughters more than anything, and I've already lost one," Rivka says, her voice breaking. "Shannon, Ziva watched as her sister died, she watched strangers die, she has grown up in a war zone, has been hurt, and disappointed by her father who has already started to turn her into a weapon. I do not want that to be the rest of her life," Rivka admits, knowing that if that is Ziva's life then it will be short, and painful. "I do not want to leave her, it will break my heart, but it is what is best for her. I did not come to this decision easily," Rivka admits. "Please Shannon, give my Ziva the home and life I cannot," Rivka requests.
"I will," Shannon promises, leaning forward and taking her friends hand. "Rivka, I will look after your daughter. I will make sure she always knows about you, and her heritage. I will give her the best life I can, but I want you to continue to write, as much as you can," Shannon explains.
"I will," Rivka promises, having no idea that it is going to he impossible as within a few months she will be just like her youngest daughter. "I would like to go through these forms with you, they will make everything legal, if doing so by using what are called, gray areas," Rivka explains as she talked to a lawyer friend of hers.
"Okay,"
About an hour after they left Gibbs, Kelly and Ziva all return back to the Gibbs house, both Ziva and Kelly still having energy even though they have spent the last hour running around and becoming closer.
"Daddy Zizi and I are going to play in my room," Kelly says, as they run into the house.
"Okay Princess," Gibbs says, with a smile, and while Kelly and Ziva hurry upstairs Gibbs heads into the living room where Rivka and Shannon are.
"Gibbs how are the girls?" Shannon asks, as she sees her husband.
"Good, they're both upstairs. They really enjoyed the park," Gibbs explains, kissing Shannon's cheek, before looking between Shannon and Rivka, and realizing they have come to a decision.
"Let's talk downstairs," Shannon suggests, not needing Gibbs to say anything to know what he has realized, and the two of them head down to the basement.
"You said we'd take in Ziva, didn't you?" Gibbs asks once he and Shannon are in the basement.
"I did," Shannon confirms. "Jethro, Rivka doesn't want to say goodbye to her daughter, all she wants is for Ziva to be safe, to have a better life than she can give her. I can see it on her face it is killing her to do this, but all she is thinking about is what's best for Ziva," Shannon admits, wanting Gibbs to understand.
"And you think with us is the best thing for Ziva," Gibbs says.
"I do. I know it's a lot for us to suddenly have another kid, but Gibbs this is the right thing to do," Shannon admits.
"I love your heart, I always have," Gibbs says, smiling at the love of his life. "You're right this is the right thing to do, and Kelly already loves her, we can give her a better life, and we will," Gibbs says, pulling Shannon into his arms and kissing her.
About twenty minutes after their conversation in the basement Gibbs and Shannon, who have spent the last twenty minutes going over details with Rivka, have headed up to Kelly's room. As the door is open Gibbs and Shannon see, as they approach, Kelly and Ziva happily playing together and getting along like the best in friends. They are getting along so well that if Gibbs and Shannon didn't know better they would have been sure that the two young girls have known each other for a lot longer than a day.
For a few moments Gibbs and Shannon watch the two girls, before Gibbs reaches out and knocks on the door, causing both girls to look up at them.
"Ziva, your Ima wants to talk to you downstairs," Shannon explains.
"כן, שאנון."(Yes, Shannon) Ziva responds, before getting up and heading downstairs.
"Kelly, Daddy and I need to talk to you," Shannon says as she and Gibbs walks over and sit down on Kelly's bed, "Can you come sit with us?"
"Is everything okay?" Kelly asks concerned.
"Everything is okay, Princess," Gibbs assures his daughter.
"Kelly, Ziva is going to live with us for now on," Shannon reveals, as she starts to play with her daughter's hair.
"Does that mean Ziva will be like my sister?" Kelly asks, sounding excited, and both Gibbs and Shannon exchange looks.
"Yeah, it will be like that," Gibbs confirms.
"Can Ziva share my room?" Kelly asks, looking excited.
"If you'd like," Shannon says, knowing they have a spare room, but if Kelly wants Ziva to share a room with her then that is fine, they can always change things later if needed, especially if Ziva doesn't like it.
While Gibbs and Shannon are talking to Kelly up in her room Rivka and Ziva are downstairs in the living room sitting on the couch together.
"זיוה אני אוהבת אותך יותר מכל." (Ziva I love you, more than anything) Rivka says, knowing that this has to be the place to start the conversation as it is very important that Ziva knows that.
"גם אני אוהבת אותך, אמא." (I love you too, Mum) Ziva responds, like it is the most natural thing in the world, but finding something odd about her mothers behavior. "אמא, מה קורה?" (Mum, what is going on?" Ziva asks confused.
"זיוה, אני חייבת ללכת." (Ziva I have to go away) Rivka says, her voice serious. "אני מוכרח לגלות למה טלי מתה, לברר מה אבא שלך ידע על אותו יום." (I have to find out why Tali died, find out what your father knew about that day.) Rivka explains to her daughter.
"אוקיי, מתי אנחנו עוזבים?" (Okay, when are we leaving?) Ziva asks, not understanding what her mother is really saying.
"אנחנו לא עוזבים, זיוה, אני הולך לבד." (We are not leaving, Ziva. I am going alone) Rivka explains and as soon as she does Ziva gets a horrified look on her face. "זיוה, אתה תישאר עם גיבס, שאנון וקלי." (Ziva, you are going to stay with Gibbs, Shannon and Kelly) Rivka explains. "הם עומדים לתת לך חיים טובים, את סוג החיים שמגיע לך." (They are going to give you a good life, the kind of life you deserve) Rivka explains as she reaches out and ruffles Ziva's hair.
"כמה זמן תיעלם?" (How long will you be gone for?) Ziva asks, becoming upset as she doesn't want to be separated from her mother.
"אני לא יודעת, זיוה." (I don't know, Ziva) Rivka admits, hating that she is causing the look of pain that is on Ziva's face and so she gets an idea. "אבל אני רוצה לתת לך משהו." (But I want to give you something) Rivka says, as she takes the gold star of David necklace from around her neck. "קיבלתי את זה כשהייתי בת שתים עשרה (I was given this when I was twelve) Rivka explains, as she shows Ziva the necklace. "זה מאוד מיוחד לי" (It is very special to me) Rivka says as she puts the necklace around Ziva's neck. "אני רוצה שיהיה לך את זה ולדעת שלא משנה כמה רחוק אני חתיכה ממני תמיד יהיה איתך." (I want you to have this and know that no matter how far away I am a piece of me will always be with you) Rivka tells her daughter, fighting to keep her voice from breaking.
"אל תלך, אמא, אל תעזוב אותי." (Don't go, Mum, don't leave me) Ziva begs, getting upset as she hugs her mother.
"הו זיוה, זה משהו שאני צריכה לעשות." (Oh Ziva, this is something I have to do) Rivka says as she kisses her daughters head) "ללא שם: אבל אתה הולך להיות בסדר, Gibbs ו שאנון הולכים לקחת ממש טוב לך. (But you're going to be okay, Gibbs and Shannon are going to take really good care of you) Rivka promises, as she knows that without a doubt.
"אני אוהב אותך אמא." (I love you Mum) Ziva says, through her tears.
"גם אני אוהבת אותך, זיוה שלי." (I love you too, my Ziva, soo much) Rivka says, as she once more kisses her daughters head and Ziva just clings to her mother, not wanting to let her go.