Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS
Gibbs sat down in his basement, taking a break from the work he was doing, even though it was Christmas Day. Leyla had invited him over for dinner with her and Amira, but that wasn't until seven pm, and it was barely one. After pouring some Bourbon, he reached over and picked up the giftbag that Ziva had dropped off the other day with Tali. Gibbs liked seeing them. They hadn't seen each other since Thanksgiving, and Tali had grown quite a bit, even in four short weeks. Gibbs and Ziva spent some time catching up, mainly on what had been going on in Ziva and Tali's lives, though Tony had been keeping the whole of Team Gibbs apprised of all major goings on.
Gibbs had never been one for presents, not since Shannon and Kelly has passed away. It almost seemed pointless to him. Over the years he had managed to get Abby and Ducky to stop buying him birthday and Christmas presents (unless it was Bourbon). Ziva had never given him one before, so he was a little surprised when she handed it to him. However, despite his own aversion to presents, Gibbs enjoyed making and giving them, especially to people he loved. This year he had made some wooden animal toys for Tali and an extension to Amira's tree house/ climbing frame.
Gibbs took the present out of the bag and unwrapped it. It was a frame, the photo it contained was one of himself, with little Tali on his lap. It had been taken at Tali's naming celebration. The Gibbs in the photo was smiling.
Memories wafted into Gibbs' mind. It had been a happy day. Tony, Ziva and their friends and family could not stop smiling. Leyla and Amira had also been invited. It had also been some time since Gibbs had seen both of them, though that was simply due to everyone having busy lives. Amira chatted Gibbs' ear off with everything that was going in her world; school, karate lessons and her friends. Leyla sat next to him, also listening to her daughter, though she knew everything already.
Gibbs would often think about what his life would have been like if Kelly had survived the car crash. What would she be like? Where would she work? Would she have a family of her own? Would he be a grandpa? Gibbs knew that Ziva and Tony wanted him to play a 'grandparent' role in Tali's life, as he had played a father figure in theirs. But he looked at the three DiNozzo's and it felt like a sucker punch to the gut, knowing that he would never see his own little girl experience the things that Ziva was experiencing.
Gibbs put down the photo and his glass of Bourbon. He climbed the stairs and grabbed his coat and car keys. Perhaps he would give Amira her present a little earlier than planned.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Ziva picked up the last present from under the tree and handed it to Senior. It was Christmas day and Ziva, Tony, Senior and Tali had spent the past thirty minutes unwrapping presents. Tali had the most presents, the three adults opting for a sort of secret Santa, minus the secret part. Tony had given Ziva a beautiful pair of earrings that she had seen a couple of months ago. Senior had given Tony tickets to a local film festival that took place in the summer. It was now Senior's turn. He opened one end of the wrapped present and pulled out the object. It was a frame. He flipped it over.
'Oh, my dear' he said softly, giving Ziva as gracious smile. The photo in the frame had been taken by Bob at Tali's naming celebration. Ziva was standing in the middle, holding Tali. Both Tony and Senior were standing behind her, Tony on her left, Senior on her right. All four of them looked very happy.
'It's wonderful' said Senior getting up and hugging Ziva. Senior had come back to DC for Christmas, after a brief stint in New York after Thanksgiving. He had arrived on the 22nd December, in time for the end of Hanukkah, which ended on Christmas Eve.
A lot had happened in the last four weeks; Tali's first Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. This year they weren't planning on doing a lot to celebrate. Tali was only six-months-old and wouldn't remember any of it. That hadn't stopped Tony from buying two onesies; baby's first Hanukkah, baby's first Christmas. Or stopping Ziva from taking a million and one photos for the past four weeks.
Next year would be different. Tali, first of all, would be eighteen months old. Tony and Ziva would also be married by then.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Tony and Ziva walked over to Tim. He had been talking with some of his father's old Navy colleagues.
'Hi Tim' said Tony, giving his friend a hug. 'You OK?' Ziva hit Tony on the shoulder as if to say, why would you ask that. Tim smiled though.
'I'm alright actually. The strange thing about Dad being ill, is that we got to spend time together we wouldn't normally have done.' Tim smiled sadly, remembering the past few weeks of his father's life. The Admiral had passed away a couple of weeks ago. 'Thanks for coming guys. And the meals Ziva.' When they had found out about Admiral McGee dying, Ziva started cooking almost immediately, dropping meals off at Tim's the next day.
'We know what it is like, Tim' began Ziva. 'To bury a parent. It is not easy.' The three of them stood in silence for a moment. They shared so much in common when it came to their parents, in particular the relationships all three of them had with their fathers. That being said, in the last few weeks of the Admiral's life, he and Tim had spoken a little bit more with each other, and Tim felt like he was a in a good place with regards to his father's death. Tony and Senior had become closer in the last year, and Ziva had started to see Eli in a slightly different light. Since becoming a mother, Ziva was starting to realise that Eli did love her, Ari and Tali. He just didn't know how to show it.
'We do have to go though' said Tony. 'We need to relive the babysitter.'
'You could have brought Tali with you' suggested Tim.
'We could have' said Ziva. 'Except Tali is going through a giggling phase, along with drooling a lot. We thought that a giggling six-month-old baby, might not be a good idea at a funeral.'
'Well, Ziva thought that' added Tony, trying to make a light joke, and automatically wondering if it had failed massively. However, Tim smirked slightly. He pulled Ziva into a hug.
'Thanks for coming again guys.' Tony and Tim hugged as well. 'And thanks for the food Ziva.'
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
With Christmas and New Year over, everyone trudged back into the office. It was still quiet when Tony walked back to his desk from the bathroom that morning. Walking past Gibbs' desk, he spotted something new on it. Nipping behind it, Tony realised it was the photo that Ziva had told him she was giving Gibbs for Christmas. The one with Gibbs holding Tali and looking very happy. Gibbs had tucked it away in the corner, next to the partition. Tony knew from fourteen years of working with the former Marine, that he only reserved space for very important photos.
Just then Gibbs came back in from getting coffee.
'DiNozzo, what are you doing?'
'Nothing boss. I just noticed…' Tony tailed off. 'Um, thank you for Tali's toys. She loves them. Constantly playing with them.' Tony made his way to his own desk as Gibbs smiled to himself. There was silence once again in the bullpen.
The day progress normally, Ellie turning up a couple of minutes later. Tim had taken a few more days off to help mother with his father's estate. It was a quite day, no new cases. Just lots of paperwork.
It was at the end of the day and Tony was packing up to go home when Gibbs stopped by his desk.
'Boss?'
'Thank Ziva for me, will you?'
'Will do Boss.'
Hope you enjoyed reading. Thank you for all the love and support