Chapter 6
AN: Thank you so much for the support. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, LEAVE A REVIEW/COMMENT
AN2: As I have said, let me know what episodes you would like me to address. Hope you like this chapter.
IM AN OFFICALLY ON UNI BREAK SO UPDATES WILL BE DAILEY.
Again, sorry if the Hebrew is wrong, blame Google Translate
A couple of weeks have passed since the Gibbs family camping trip and ever since Kelly and Ziva have been enjoying their summer. While school may not be in session Shannon has continued her teaching, and the progress Ziva, Kelly and Gibbs are making in their respective lessons is clear.
It is a Wednesday morning, which also happens to be Kelly's sixth birthday, and the two Gibbs sisters are in their room. While Kelly is playing with toys on the floor Ziva is just sitting on her bunk, watching her.
"It is gong to be so great. Pops, Gramps and Nan are going to be here soon. I can't wait for you to meet them," Kelly says, and in response Ziva just makes an um sound. "Zizi? What's wrong?" Kelly asks, looking at her sister, as while Ziva being quiet isn't strange her responding to something without words is.
"Nothing," Ziva responds, even though it is a lie.
"Zizi, come on, I know you better than that," Kelly says, looking up at her sister. "What's wrong?"
"What if they do not like me?" Ziva asks, in a quiet voice, as while Kelly, Shannon and Gibbs all seem to like her the rest of the family is another matter altogether.
"Oh Zizi," Kelly says, getting up and climbing up to Ziva's bed. "They are going to love you, because you are amazing, and my sister," Kelly says, putting an arm around Ziva's shoulder.
"I hope so," Ziva admits, it being hard for her to do so. "Back home we give cards at dinner, I would like to give you now," Ziva admits, knowing that they usually gave at dinner as it was when there was a chance Eli would show up.
"Okay," Kelly says, and once she does Ziva reaches under her pillow and pulls out a handmade card which she gives to Kelly. "Thank you Zizi," Kelly says, with a smile, and she opens the card inside she finds, in carefully written letters,
Happy Birthday to my little sister Kells.
Love Zizi
"I love it!" Kelly says, before hugging Ziva tightly.
"KELLY, ZIVA, COME HERE PLEASE!" Shannon yells from downstairs.
"COMING MOM," Kelly yells back, as she and Ziva break apart.
As they break apart Kelly climbs down the bed and to the ground while Ziva stands and then jumps down, landing perfectly.
"Weren't you scared?" Kelly asks, looking at her sister in amazement.
"No," Ziva says, as her father made her do things a lot scarier, and the two girls head downstairs.
When Ziva and Kelly walk into the living room they find Shannon walking into the room from the kitchen,
"Good, there you are. Pop, Gramps, and Nan should be here soon," Shannon tells the girls.
"What about Daddy?" Kelly asks.
"Daddy is at work, but he will be home by dinner," Shannon says, and even though Ziva knows Eli isn't like Gibbs she can't help but remember all the times her father disappointed her, and she doesn't want that to happen to Kelly.
"Okay," Kelly says, and as she does Ziva, Shannon and Kelly hear the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
"That's someone now," Shannon says, walking further into the living room. "Come on," Shannon says to the girls, and the three of them head outside, Ziva feeling more nervous with every step as there is a part of her, that sounds suspiciously like her father's voice, which says, they're going to hate her.
"POP!" Kelly yells as she, Shannon and Ziva walk outside and the three of them see an older man, Jackson Gibbs, get out of a car, and so Kelly runs towards him.
"Oh, it's good to see you," Jackson says, picking up Kelly, and hugging her tightly.
"Missed you," Kelly tells her grandfather as because her father won't go to Stillwater she doesn't see her grandfather much.
"Missed you too," Jackson responds, putting Kelly down as he and Kelly walk back towards Shannon and Ziva. "Shannon, you're looking lovely as usual," Jackson says.
"Thanks Jack, it's good to see you," Shannon says, as Jackson kisses her cheek.
"And this must be Miss Ziva," Jackson says, squatting down in front of her. "נָעִים מְאוֹד." Jackson tells Ziva, after talking to Shannon on the phone he taught himself that phrase in Hebrew to help Ziva feel more comfortable around him. (It's nice to meet you.)
"It is nice to meet you too," Ziva says, smiling back at Jack, feeling comfortable, and as she speaks another car pulls into the driveway.
"GRAMPS! NAN!" Kelly yells happily, and she hurries to the passenger side.
"Kelly, it's so good to see you, Sweetie," Joann says, as Kelly hugs her.
"Wow, you're so much bigger," Mac says as he gets out of the driver's side.
"I'm six now," Kelly says happily. "Come meet Zizi, she's my sister," Kelly says excitedly, as she pulls her grandmother towards Ziva and Shannon.
"Hey Mom," Shannon greats. "This is Ziva," Shannon says, putting her hands on Ziva's shoulders, in a supportive way, as she knows Ziva is nervous.
"Hi," Ziva says, trying to hide how nervous she is.
"It's nice to meet you, Ziva, we've heard great things." Mac says, in a comforting way.
"Hello Ziva," Joann says, smiling at the young girl.
"Let's go inside, I don't know about Joanna and Mac, but I've got presents," Jackson says. Even though it is Kelly's birthday he has got a couple of presents for Ziva as well as he didn't want her to feel left out.
"PRESENT!" Kelly says excitedly, Jackson nods, and everyone heads inside.
A little while later Ziva and Kelly are in the living room, with Mac and Jackson, playing with their new toys as the adults watch on. While her girls are playing Shannon has headed into the kitchen to get more tea, and shortly after she is joined by her mother.
"Taking in another child is a big deal, Shannon," Joann tells her daughter.
"I know, but I'm glad I did," Shannon admits. "Rivka was desperate Mom, and Ziva deserves to have a life where she isn't always in danger or being forced to become a weapon," Shannon explains, as since taking in Ziva she has learnt that Rivka was right, and Eli had already started to train Ziva to become what he wanted her to become. "She's my daughter, and I love her," Shannon reveals, completely meaning what she is saying.
"Have you heard from, Rivka since she left?" Joann asks curious.
"No," Shannon answers, pain in her voice, "The longer I go without hearing from her, the more certain I am is that it will be bad news," Shannon explains, though she hopes for Ziva's sake that it is good news, she is conflicted. While she knows how much it would mean to Ziva to have Rivka back, and how good it would be for her to be with her mother again at the same time she doesn't want to say goodbye to Ziva, as like she said, Ziva is her daughter, but what it comes down to is she want's what's best for Ziva, even if that means she has to say goodbye.
"I'm sorry," Joann admits.
"So am I," Shannon admits, and she collects the tea and heads back into the living room.
Hours later Gibbs has returned home, and the entire Gibbs family have had dinner together. Even though it is pretty late, and Mack and Joann are asleep in the spare room while Shannon is also in bed, Ziva and Kelly are both still awake as they are building model planes with Jackson in the living room.
"How many sweets have you two had?" Gibbs, who has come up from the basement, asks Ziva and Kelly as they work with Jackson.
"A little," Kelly answers, not looking at her father.
"I think it's a little more than a little," Gibbs comments. "And I also think it's time you two go to bed," Gibbs says, as he realises how late it is.
"But Dad!" Kelly objects.
"Gibbs!" Ziva objects too, and as this is the first time Ziva has objected to something she has been told to do Gibbs is almost tempted to let them continue to do what they're doing, but he knows he has to be stern.
"But nothing, it's getting late. You two should have been in bed a while ago," Gibbs says, looking between the two young girls, knowing that Shannon said they could stay up a little while with Jackson, but it is well past that.
"Leroy relax, it's summer," Jackson tells his son.
"I know, but Kelly and Ziva still have a bedtime," Gibbs explains. "You can both pick this up tomorrow, Pop is staying for a few days." Gibbs reveals. "But now you both need to brush your teeth and go to bed," Gibbs says, looking between the girls and giving them what will be known in the future as, 'The Gibbs Stare'.
"Yes Dad," Kelly says, with a sigh.
"Yes Gibbs," Ziva responds, her tone being one like what a solider sound like when responding to orders, which hurts Gibbs as it seems like Ziva takes one step forward and then one step back.
"Night Pop," Kelly says, standing up.
"Goodnight," Ziva says, and both sisters get up and head upstairs, leaving Gibbs and Jackson in the living room.
"That was a bit harsh, Leroy," Jackson tells his son.
"There are rules in this house," Gibbs tells his father.
"They're kids, Leroy, let them be kids," Jackson says. "Isn't that why you wanted to give Ziva when you took her in?"
"We wanted to give her the life she deserves, a better one, but that means making sure she has structure, and rules, but still knows that she is loved and apart of a family," Gibbs reveals, knowing exactly what to say as he has given it quite a bit of thought. "That's what Shannon and I agreed to," Gibbs says, before heading back down to the basement, needing to relax a bit before heading to bed himself.
Upstairs, Ziva and Kelly have both brushed their teeth and gone to bed, but rather than sleeping they are both lying wide awake in their respective beds.
"Did you have a good birthday?" Ziva asks her sister curious.
"Yeah, I really did," Kelly confirms. "Did you like Pop, Gramps and Nan?" Kelly asks curious.
"Yes," Ziva confirms, though she felt more comfortable around Jackson than Joann and Mac, though she isn't sure why.
"They liked you too," Kelly assures her sister, who smiles. "Are you excited for horse-riding this weekend?" Kelly asks curious as for her birthday she, Ziva, and Maddie are spending all weekending horseback ridding with Gibbs.
"Yes!" Ziva says, sounding excited.
"it's going to be soo fun, and Maddie's sleeping over, it's going to be great," Kelly says, sounding excited.
"Yeah, it is," Ziva confirms.
"I know you Miss your Ima, and Tali," Kelly reveals. "But I'm glad you have become my sister," Kelly admits.
"I do miss Ima, and Tali," Ziva confirms. "But I am also glad to be your sister," Ziva reveals, and once she does both sisters drift into silence, and before long they are both fast asleep, with smiles on their faces.
After his conversation with his father Gibbs found himself needing to calm down before heading to bed and so he headed to the basement to do the one thing that always helps him to relax, work on his boat.
After about an hour of working on his boat Gibbs finally decides that it is time to head to bed and so he stops what he is doing and heads upstairs. Once he is upstairs, instead of heading straight to his and Shannon's room he heads to Kelly and Ziva's.
Walking into his daughters' room Gibbs heads over to the bunkbeds. Once there he tucks Kelly in and kisses her head and then proceeds to do the same thing to Ziva. After he is sure that both his girls are sleeping sounding Gibbs heads out of the room and to bed, feeling like, because of the amazing family he has, that he is the luckiest man on the planet.