Chapter22, The Big Five O: November 2029
A/N Happy birthday to Cote de Pablo!
Ziva's 50th birthday; Tony knew he wanted to make the day special for his ninja. Unfortunately, her milestone birthday did not fall on a weekend as his had. Hers was on a Monday, and also a Federal holiday as Veterans' Day fell on a Sunday. The long weekend did present a much different opportunity from a regular party, though. As Tony thought about possible ways to celebrate, an idea formed, and the more he thought about it, the better it seemed. How he made it happen would be a challenge, but that just made him more determined.
Early in May, Tony enlisted Gibbs' help first. "Boss, um, Dad, I want to make Ziva's birthday special for her." Tony was getting more comfortable with calling Gibbs 'Dad' since his 60th birthday party last year. "We have enough room at the farmhouse in Israel to have the family stay there, and if needed, we can also have people at the Haifa house. Do you think Tim and Delilah, and Jimmy and Breena would be willing to go? How could we get a single flight for all of us? Should we ask Leon and Abby?" Tony was thinking out loud.
Whack! Head-slap! "Slow down, Tony. Before you go planning a flight, you have to get the others on board with the trip." Gibbs was sure he and the McGees would go, but not so sure about the others. Tony and Tim had become bonded as brothers, and Tim also considered Ziva a sister. "Start by asking the others if they would go. Count me in for sure."
~TIVA~
Over the next few days, Tony asked Tim and Delilah if they would be able and want to go to Israel for an extended weekend to celebrate Ziva's 50th. Both were immediately agreeable and excited. Jimmy and Breena were excited, but had to check about taking time off. Leon could not take the time off, but Abby said that she might be able to go; it depended on when Kayla and her family would be arriving for Thanksgiving and an extended visit. Leon approved the time off for Ziva, Tim, and Jimmy.
After the undecided family checked schedules, Jimmy and Breena were able to take the time off, but Abby would have a houseful with out of town family. They would need to book a flight for sixteen people to fly to Tel Aviv on a Wednesday or Thursday and return the following Tuesday or Wednesday. Tony checked online and found a great deal on the tickets with Lufthansa at about seven hundred dollars per person in business class, leaving DC on Wednesday 7 November and returning on Tuesday 13 November. He even found a whole section of business class seats that would allow them to sit together. Tickets were purchased. The DiNozzos had current passports as did the McGees. Jimmy and Breena had passports, but Tori and Charles needed them. Tim used a favor with one of his contacts to help expedite the process.
Once school had started, Tony had talked to all of the nine children's teachers and gotten the go ahead for plans to have school work that would be missed made up or taken with them. Tali (10th) and Tori (9th) were in high school at the same magnet school for science and math. Anthony (7th), Charles and the McGee twins (6th) were in middle school, but at two different schools. The youngest three were all at the same elementary school (4th and 2nd.)With the holiday and a teacher workday on the Friday before, the kids would only miss three days of school.
The last preparation was to have rental vehicles in place for each family when they arrived in Tel Aviv. Tony found a van for his family, a minivan with a wheelchair lift for the McGees and a small SUV for the Palmers. Gibbs declined a vehicle of his own, saying he would hitch a ride with his kids!
The final part of the plan, getting everyone to the airport for the outbound flight, proved to be the biggest challenge. Tony would have to tell Ziva that their immediate family would be going to Israel. He wanted the rest of the family to be a surprise when they got to the airport. Also, knowing the children would all be excited about missing school and travelling overseas, he had to get the adults promise not to tell their kids the destination until they were at the airport. In the end, it worked out just fine, but Tony worried that John, Katie, Tori or Charles would spill the beans at one of the weekly family dinners. He had not told his brood that anyone other than their immediate family would be going on the trip.
On the day of departure, the DiNozzos were ready to go at 0430 and headed to the airport to catch the early morning flight. The McGee family picked up Gibbs and the Palmers went in their own vehicle. As Tony checked his family in and checked baggage, Jimmy and his family came in behind them. Ziva had a look of shock and Tony wished he had been able to capture a picture of it. When the McGee family and Gibbs came through the doors, Ziva turned to Tony with tears in her eyes and gave him a hug and kissed him. "Tony, this is way more than I ever expected for my birthday. THANK YOU!" He grinned at her and gave Gibbs the thumbs up.
~TIVA~
The flight was uneventful and connections went smoothly. The family arrived in Tel Aviv late at night and went straight to the farmhouse. All were tired, and quickly sorted out the bedroom assignments. Gibbs and the four boys had one wing, with LJ sharing a room with Grandpa; Tim and Delilah had the queen bed in the second wing and the three younger girls in the second bedroom. Jimmy and Breena had the queen bed in the third wing, and the two older girls shared the second room. Within an hour of arrival at the house, all except Tony and Ziva were asleep. Tony was too wound up with the success of his plan to sleep and Ziva was still awed at how he had put it all together. They lay in the king bed in the master suite, Tony on his back with his arm around Ziva as she curled into his side and put her head on his chest (always over his heart.) He traced circles on her arm with his fingers and ran his hands though her curls. She placed a hand on his chest as they talked about the upcoming five days.
~TIVA~
Gibbs was the first up on Thursday morning. He quietly went to the kitchen and hoped to find coffee and a coffeemaker. He checked the cupboards, the freezer and the refrigerator and was surprised at the fresh food. Tony had really done a fantastic job of making sure this trip went smoothly. (Tony later told him that via Adam Eschel, he had arranged for the groceries to be there on Wednesday, waiting for the family to arrive.) He found the coffee and set it to brew. Looking over the food while the coffee brewed, he decided to make pancakes, eggs and sausage for breakfast for the whole family. He got everything ready to go, so as the individuals staggered out of their rooms, Gibbs made each one a breakfast to order. He kept the coffee brewing and his own cup full. Since Tony and Ziva had purchased a dining table that would seat eighteen, the entire group could sit together for the meals. Tony and Ziva were the last two to awaken. Gibbs fixed their breakfasts as they sat with the others. The kids were getting antsy, so they were allowed to excuse themselves from the table to get dressed for the day.
The adults sat at the table, enjoying family time and discussing what sights they wanted to see. The boys checked for permission from their parents and went outside to explore the yard and olive grove. Tali and Tori took the younger girls out to the orchard. The two older DiNozzo children showed their siblings and cousins all of the places they had explored on their prior visit to the property. LJ had been too little to remember.
Gibbs, Tim, Tony, and Jimmy cleaned up from breakfast as the three women moved out to the porch. The sound of children playing and laughing could be heard from the yard and trees. Ziva smiled, and finally made her peace with the place where she had entered the world. Delilah and Breena had been talking about something, and had asked Ziva a question. She hadn't heard them, and when she realized that they were talking to her, she turned. Both noticed the tears immediately. Ziva smiled, "Happy tears, girls, happy tears!" Tony had come out the door as Ziva said that and he went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Without any further communication, he knew she had made her peace with Eli at last and his touch told her that he understood.
~TIVA~
The family spent the rest of Thursday visiting the sights in Jerusalem. Anthony took pictures of everything with his camera, especially of his Ima smiling and playing tour guide. The Old City, the Western Wall, and the Biblical Zoo were hits with all of them. The whole group fell silent at the Wall, and left deep in thought. Ziva then led them to Yad Vashem and each was humbled by it. LJ held his Grandpa's hand, lost in thought. For Ziva, the visits to the sites that were an integral part of her heritage were cathartic, and for the first time since she was a child, she felt at peace with her past. She leaned on Tony and whispered to him that this trip what exactly what she needed.
To lighten the mood, the family moved on to the Machane Yehouda market. Thursday was a busy day at the market, but they found lots of things to try, fruits and bread to buy, some places to get a meal and other shops and vendors. Each one left with a bag of treats and souvenirs.
~TIVA~
On Friday, Ziva felt a compelling urge to have a traditional Shabbat dinner. She baked Challah with help from Tali and Delilah. She roasted chickens and prepared side dishes of vegetables, rice and potatoes. She sent Tim and Tony to buy wine and put each of the children to work on tasks to prepare for the dinner. Her own five, already versed in Shabbat traditions even though it was not a regular occurrence in the DiNozzo household, helped their cousins and aunts and uncles.
At sundown, Ziva called the family to the table and explained the rituals and prayers for Shabbat. Tony, the DiNozzo children, and Gibbs were well-versed in the traditions. As Ziva began reciting the blessings, her children, Gibbs, and Tony gave the responses. The others followed along as best as they could.
During the meal, Delilah and Tim both commented that the ritual had been very moving and healing for them. Ziva smiled, and made eye contact with Tony. Both remembered their first Shabbat together and how Tony had said the rituals had a calming and peaceful effect on him.
~TIVA~
On Saturday, they decided to stay home at the farmhouse and have a day of relaxing and rest, in essence, observing Shabbat. The children played and explored in the olive grove and orchard more and Tali and Anthony led them on a hike to the back of the property to the hill overlooking Tel Aviv with its spectacular view. At lunch, Ziva shared stories of her childhood and playing in the olive grove with the family. She even shared stories about Eli, some making her eyes tear up. She told of her sister Tali and her joyfulness and love of life. Many of the stories were new to the DiNozzo kids and they sat spell-bound as their Ima told her stories. Tony held Ziva's hand or placed his hand on her leg or shoulder in support and she drew strength from her rock, her soulmate.
Darkness had fallen and Ziva told one last story about playing hide and seek in the olive grove in the moonlight with Ari and Tali and some of their friends. When she got to the part where she told how she silently dropped out of the tree in which she was hiding behind the others who were looking for her, she did the very same thing she had done on that night long ago. She had very quietly gone up right behind the others and yelled "BOO!" and scared every one of them. Her rapt audience around the table jumped as she yelled, and then they all laughed.
~TIVA~
On Sunday, the family went to the Haifa house and the Haifa beach. They packed a picnic lunch for the whole group. Tony had found a place in Haifa to rent a motorized wheelchair that could go over sand, so that Delilah could enjoy the beach also. The weather cooperated and the children were able to run barefooted in the sand. They ate lunch on the porches of the Haifa house. When they went back to the farmhouse, the whole lot of them was tired and just about asleep.
The adults stayed up a bit longer, sharing some wine, talking and making plans for their departure early on Tuesday. Jimmy remarked that they all seemed much more relaxed than when they left DC and got several nods of agreement. "Thank you, Tony, for this awesome family get-away," Jimmy raised his glass to Tony.
Gibbs raised his glass, "And let's not forget the reason we're here and celebrating. Happy birthday, Ziver. Happy birthday, Jimmy and Tim."
"Hear, hear!" Tony wrapped his arm around Ziva, and pulled her into him. He kissed her and then tickled her. She laughed and the others couldn't help but join in.
Tim stood up, holding his refilled wine glass up, "To family, this wonderful, whacky and wild family. I wouldn't trade a one of you." The rest raised their glasses in toast.
Jimmy stood, "To the family who CHOSE each other, some of us no longer on this Earth, rest in peace Ducky. I love you all."
"Hear, hear" was murmured by the rest.
"To Abba, the one who brought us all together; to Tim, Delilah, Jimmy, Breena, Abby, Leon, Ellie, Clayton, Nick, my sisters and brothers. And most of all, to the one who is my everything, my soulmate, my love, Tony." Ziva had tears running down her cheeks as she toasted each of them, and especially her best friend, her lover, her Tony.
~TIVA~
On Monday, Delilah, Breena and Gibbs left after breakfast, saying only that they had an errand to run. Tim and Jimmy went hiking with the all of the children, leaving Tony and Ziva at the house alone. She was putting dishes away from the dishwasher as Tony cleaned countertops. He was wiping a spill off the stove, when Ziva came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. "Have I told you lately how much I love you, Mr. DiNozzo?"
"Why, no, Mrs. DiNozzo," Tony turned around to face her, "You'll just have to show me." He grinned at her and locked his lips on hers. "Mmmm, you taste good."
Ziva took Tony's hand and led him to the master suite, and closed the door. "And just what did you have in mind to show you?" She grinned mischievously. Tony kissed her again and the desire burned like fire between them. She pulled him to the bed, and the passion grew. They made love hungry for the other's touch and intimacy. As they lay in each other's arms after, Ziva looked in Tony's emerald green eyes. He looked back, slowly swimming in the mesmerizing chocolate orbs that had captured his heart, his soul, his body, and his mind. "Thank you, Tony, for this birthday trip, and for being on my six for half of my life. Ani ohevet otcha."
"Ani ohev otach," he replied softly and pulled her into another kiss. "Yom huledet sameach."
~TIVA~
Ziva and Tony were sitting on the porch, cuddling, and watching the children play hide and seek with Tim and Jimmy in the olive grove when Gibbs, Delilah, and Breena returned with a birthday cake for Ziva (happy 50 on 12 November), Jimmy (happy 52 on 14 November) and Tim (happy 52 on 15 November.) The family had their main meal for the day at lunch time, and the birthday cake for dessert. After the dinner, they began to pack up for the trip back home. After a lighter meal in the evening, all of them went to bed early, so that they could be ready to head to the airport early in the morning to catch a 0655 flight.