A/N: I am not a fan of Senior. The implied emotional abuse of Tony as a child and teen, and even his behavior towards his son on the show tell me that leopards do not change their spots. However, Tony would be willing to name his child as the 3rd, just to prove to Senior that the generations from Tony forward are better than the original. (A sort of "in your face" dig at Senior.)
Chapter 8, Christmas With the DiNozzos: 2016
Tony arrived at the airport about twenty minutes before Senior's plane was scheduled to arrive. He took a seat near the baggage claim area where his father would emerge from the gate. He sent a quick text to Tim, telling him Senior was due to arrive and that he would Skype after Christmas. Tony wished Tim and Delilah a Merry Christmas and received the same greeting in return. He told Tim that he would send pictures after Christmas that could be shared with the team.
Tony watched as the first group of travelers came down the stairs to baggage claim. He scanned the crowd for Senior, and finally spotted him walking and chatting with two women who looked young enough to be his daughters. Some things never change, Tony thought. Senior spotted Tony and waved. He had a carry-on bag over one shoulder.
"Junior. Where is Tali?" Senior looked around for his granddaughter.
"Home. I thought it would be better to come pick you up alone in case your plane was delayed." Tony tried to change the subject by asking, "How much other stuff do you have? What should I look for on the baggage carousel?"
"Nothing else, son. I can only stay until midnight, an important deal has opened up in Kuwait and I have a four a.m. flight." Senior didn't even sound sorry. Tony swallowed the hurt and turned to go out to the car.
They arrived at the flat about thirty minutes later. As Senior followed Tony off the elevator, Tony stopped and turned to his father. "Dad, I have to tell you something before we go in."
"Who is she, son? Did you meet her here? Senior always seemed to paint his son's relationships in a negative light. Again, Tony swallowed the hurt.
"No, Dad, you know her. There is no one else it COULD be, if you think about it. Ziva is in there with Tali." Tony watched his father's reaction. "And, Dad…"
Senior cut him off by walking in to the flat as Tony opened the door. Tali was sitting on the sofa with Ziva, reading a book. They looked up as the door opened and Tali buried her face in Ziva's side. Senior strode over to Ziva and Tali. He put a small wrapped gift on the table in front of them and nodded to Ziva as if dismissing her.
"Hello, Tali. Do you remember me? Do you remember Grandpa? I brought you a present."
"Grampa Gibbs? You not him." Tali looked around her mother's side and eyed Senior warily. She looked at the brightly wrapped gift and then buried her face in her Ima's side again. Tony bit back the anger and hurt, reminding himself that he could put up with Senior for the next few hours.
"Zi, Dad's leaving at midnight to catch another flight." Tony looked at Ziva, hoping she would understand his unspoken message to tolerate the short visit and they would be rid of Senior shortly. Ziva stood up to greet Senior, who stepped to the side, and met Tony's gaze. He drew strength from her and turned to Tali. "Come, princess and we will visit with Grandpa together."
Tali moved to her Abba's side, taking his hand, as her mother went to get the tea she had prepared. Senior sat on the sofa where Tali and Ziva had been reading, and looked at his son. Tony felt like he was being inspected, and wondered if he would pass Senior's expectations. He doubted it, from experience, nothing he had done had been good enough for his father.
Ziva returned with the tea and cookies, and broke the silence by asking Senior if he wanted orange pekoe or green tea. Senior looked at Ziva, and then asked Tony, "What do you have to drink, son? I could use a whiskey." Tony rolled his eyes, and Ziva placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew he was getting upset and hoped she could let him know she was going to help him keep from telling Senior off in front of Tali.
"We don't have alcohol, Dad. Have some tea." Tony gritted his teeth and hoped there wouldn't be a scene. He didn't want to upset Ziva nor Tali. Senior took the cup Ziva offered him and placed it on the table.
Ziva handed Tali a juice box and poured tea for herself and Tony. She sat in the chair next to Tony, as Tali sipped her juice. "Cookie, Ima? Pweez, Abba?" Tony looked at Ziva who nodded, and then picked up the tray so Tali could choose a treat. She again eyed Senior and quickly looked away. Senior glanced at his watch and then at his phone.
"Junior, I need to get back to the airport soon. No, don't get up. I'll call a taxi." Tony was relieved and angry at the same time. Just like Senior to brush him off yet another time.
Ziva took Tali to the kitchen, giving Tony time with his father. Tears dropped silently down her face as she wiped Tali's face and hands. Tali noticed the tears, and patted her mother's face. "No cry, Ima. Love you, Ima." Tali wrapped her arms around Ziva's neck. Ziva kissed her daughter's curls.
In the living room, Tony seethed. He wanted to tell Senior off, but for the sake of his family, he held back. Senior's phone buzzed and he stood up. "My cab is downstairs. Been good to see you Tony and to see my granddaughter. Be careful, son, that you don't get hurt again." The last part was said loud enough for Ziva to hear. With that, Senior walked out of the flat. Tony shut the door behind him and leaned against the door. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Ziva came up behind him and touched his shoulder. He turned towards her and she opened her arms. He fell into her hug and sobbed on her shoulder. Tali, who was now between her parents, touched his face, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "No cry, Abba. Love you, Abba."
~TIVA~
Christmas Eve, Tali would not go to sleep. She kept popping up as soon as her parents thought she was asleep. Finally, Tony set up his laptop in her room and put Finding Nemo on, hoping she would fall asleep before long. Ziva was wrapping presents in their room as Tony set up and decorated the small tree they had bought. He put Senior's gift under the tree. Ziva brought out some wrapped gifts, and he went back with her for the next armfuls.
As Ziva arranged the gifts under the tree, Tony dug in his dresser to get the box he had under his socks. He pulled out the small velvet box, opening it to view his mother's engagement ring. He was planning to give it to Ziva at midnight. He slipped the box into his pocket and returned to the living room. At eleven fifty five, they had finally gotten everything arranged and set for the morning. Tony pulled Ziva into an embrace as they surveyed their preparations for Tali's first Christmas with both parents. He kissed her and stroked her cheek.
"Ziva, I'm sorry about Senior. He was such an ass yesterday, I wanted to tell him off and send him packing." Tony still could not believe how his father had acted. "He didn't even talk to you, did he?"
Ziva hugged Tony tighter and whispered, "Forget Senior, we do not need him to make our family happy. We have each other and we have Tali. I know it hurts you every time he does things like this, but it is out of your control. He will never know what a wonderful and caring man his son is." Tony smiled; his ninja always knew how to help with the hurt from Senior.
He took Ziva's hand and led her in front of the Christmas tree as the clock showed midnight. "Merry Christmas, Ziva." As she watched him pull something from his pocket, he got down on one knee.
"Ziva David, I love you with every cell in my being. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He held out the ring and looked in her eyes, as she gasped.
"Yes, yes, yes, oh, yes, Tony!" He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up and kissed her. She deepened the kiss and brushed a tear from his eye. "DiNozzos don't cry, so that was not a tear," she smiled as she said it.
"I am crying and I am happy. Oh, Zi, you complete me and I am so happy; happier than I think I have ever been in my life." Tony wiped away the tears on Ziva's face as she looked into his eyes. She leaned her forehead against his and felt so loved.
"You complete me, Tony." They stood this way for several minutes in the quiet of the night, until Ziva spoke up again. "We had better get some sleep, because your daughter will be waking up before we know it and then the fun begins!"
Tali woke them up at six that morning, "Ima, Abba, up, come see!" She bounced on their bed in her excitement. As soon as they showed Tali that the presents were for her, she ripped and tore and threw paper everywhere. They were careful to hand her only one present at a time, and between them, they got several good pictures and videos of Tali opening her gifts. Only two gifts remained, the one from Senior and one that Tony didn't recognize. He picked up the gift in question and saw the tag in Ziva's handwriting. "To Tali, with love from Uncle Gee." He handed the gift to Tali and told her it was from Uncle Gee. She looked around, "No Unka Gee."
"Uncle Gee could not be with us this year, Tali, so he sent you a present." Ziva explained to her little girl. "He asked me what you would like and he sent it to you for Christmas. The next time we Skype with him, you must tell him thank you." Tali tore into the paper, and let out a squeal when she saw the box.
"Like Unka Gee's! My 'puter like Unka Gee's." Tali held the box up to show her parents the preschool computer learning toy. "Love Unka Gee!" Tony had videoed the entire unwrapping, and planned to send it to Tim later in the day.
~TIVA~
Later that evening, after the flat had been cleaned up and Tali put to bed, Tony and Ziva sat down at the laptop to Skype with Tim. Tony had sent a text the day before asking Tim for a good time to visit with both him and Delilah. Tim's face appeared on the screen and then Delilah's. "Merry Christmas!" "Merry Christmas to you, too." The two couples exchanged greetings and then Tony let Tim know that he had e-mailed the video of Tali opening her gifts. Tim nodded, "we just finished watching it before you called. She is growing up fast, guys."
Ziva smiled and Tony grinned. "What?" Tim swore they both looked like the cat that caught the canary. Delilah looked at Ziva, and then nudged Tim.
"Congratulations, you two. When is the big day?" Delilah had spotted the engagement ring. Ziva smiled again and held up her left hand so the two on the other end could see it better.
"My Mom's ring," Tony added. "No date yet, but soon. We have another surprise." He looked at Ziva, and she said, "Tali is going to be a big sister."
"Congratulations, again." Tim was very happy for his friends. "I just wish we could be there to give you both hugs." Delilah nodded her agreement. Tony had his phone and was frowning at the screen. Ziva turned to him and as she did, Tony said, "Aha!"
"What do you say we meet in Reno on New Year's Eve and you two can be our witnesses on New Year's Day? And then we can collect those hugs in person." Tony had found flights for all of them and just had to have Tim and Delilah's okay to hit "Purchase Tickets."
Ziva's mouth dropped open. Was he serious? "Really, Tony?"
"Yep, just say yes and the tickets and hotel are ours."
"Yes!" Ziva's heart blurted out her response before her head could think about it.
"Yes!" chorused Tim and Delilah. Tony tapped his screen and the plans were set.
"I'll e-mail the ticket and hotel info to you, Tim. You should get to Reno about two hours before we do."
The four chatted some more and then said their good nights, excited at the plan to meet in Reno in six days. They ended the call, and Ziva turned to Tony. "Have I told you that I love you?" Her smile matched his grin.