Chapter 38, And Even More Family: 2050 - 2052
Jackson Anthony DiNozzo entered the world on 11 March 2050 at 1843. Ziva and Tony had taken Jessica for the day when Savannah had started having contractions. LJ had taken her to the birthing center and Ellie had come to be with them. LJ sent Ziva a picture of Savannah and Jackson, which she shared with Jessica.
"That is your baby brother, motek. Jackson is his name. You may see him tomorrow." Ziva watched as the little girl absorbed the information and clapped her hands. She smiled at her Savta.
"He's tiny, Savta. Where is Daddy?" Jessica looked at her grandmother.
"Your Daddy is taking the picture. He will be here to get you in the morning." Ziva explained. "Saba is making macaroni and cheese for you. Let us go get some dinner, yes?"
Jessica took her Savta's hand and they went to find Tony and dinner.
~TIVA~
When John and Rivka called Tony for his birthday, they announced that they would be adding to their family in December. Ziva and Tony were as happy for grandchild number fourteen as they had been for the first one. Adam and Brian were doing well and Adam told his Saba that he wanted another brother.
On 10 December 2050, Abigail Erin McGee was born at 1300. Tim had flown down to Atlanta on the eighth of December to help John with the older two. Ziva and Tony had agreed to care for Sherlock and Watson while Tim was in Atlanta.
One morning when they had stopped by Tim's apartment to feed the cats, Sherlock met them at the door, meowing. Ziva called for Watson and shook the treats jar. No Watson. Tony went looking for the ginger tabby and found him in the tub, looking sick. Ziva grabbed a towel and wrapped the cat in it and they took him to the vet.
After the vet examined Watson, the cat was taken into surgery to remove a blockage in his colon. Three days later, Watson was back to his usual self, albeit a bit careful with his movement due to his surgical incision. Tony had sent messages and pictures to Tim during the process, and the cats' blog for the next two weeks was about Watson's surgery and recovery.
At Christmas, Ziva added two more stockings to their display: one for Jackson and one for Abigail. Tony counted the stockings as Ziva hung them from the fireplace mantel; there were a total of twenty six just for their immediate family, plus Tim, Jimmy, Breena, Abby, Leon, Ellie and Clayton. Ziva then took out the stockings of the family who were no longer alive, adding Ducky, Gibbs and Delilah to the others.
Each person also had an ornament for the tree. As the children had left home and started their own families, Ziva had given each one his or her ornaments collected over the years, but kept one from each child. She had added an ornament for each grandchild, and that year she added two. Thirty four ornaments for family plus the ornaments she and Tony had for their years together, forty six each, made for plenty of ornaments on their seven foot tall tree. In the years when family was at their house, Tony and Ziva put up the tree. In the years when family was scattered across the country, they put out just the stockings. Christmas 2050, all but Tim and the Atlanta family were at the DiNozzo house for Christmas. A Skype call brought them together for part of the morning as gifts were opened and greetings exchanged.
The DiNozzo family room was a sea of flying paper, children laughing and squealing in delight at gifts received, and parents trying to keep the kids from making too much of a mess, while keeping up with who got what from whom. Ziva reveled in the sound of the children, all fourteen grandkids plus her five adult kids; this was the true meaning of family and celebrating the season. Tony came up next to her, "A penny for your thoughts."
"I am just enjoying the moment, with our grandchildren and children. The sounds of the little ones make me happy." Ziva nestled into Tony's embrace. She could not ask for a better Christmas present than having her family together, even if six of them were on Skype from Atlanta.
~TIVA~
Tony and Ziva spent New Year's Eve and their anniversary at home, quietly enjoying the day and each other. Thirty four years married and forty five years plus together, more than half of their lives on each other's six, best friends, lovers, their world complete together. Tony helped Ziva prepare their dinner of olive chicken and salad, which had become a tradition with them. He poured them each a glass of wine as she served the chicken to plates. She put the plates of food on the table, and turned to Tony. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him, "Happy anniversary, my love."
Tony sealed his lips on hers, and drew her close. "Maybe we should eat our dinner so it doesn't get cold? Save this for dessert." He kissed her again and they sat down to eat. After they finished dinner, they took the rest of the wine to their bedroom. Tony set the bottle and glasses down on a small table in the sitting area of the master suite. He took Ziva's hand and led her to the bed, kissing her with each step.
They lay together, cuddled into each other, skin to skin contact, and stared into each other's eyes. Tony knew he would never tire of losing himself in Ziva's chocolate brown eyes, where he saw the love and years of togetherness reflected back. Ziva lost herself in the gorgeous emerald green eyes that she loved so much, seeing love and years of being together. She gently kissed Tony's lips. "I love you so much, Tony."
He returned the kisses, "Ziva, you are my life. I love you."
~TIVA~
Tony and Ziva spent two weeks in the house in Chile around his birthday, and also visited the houses in Israel in the fall of 2051. LJ and Savannah announced their upcoming addition to the family in October, due date in April. With the family scattered for Christmas, Tony and Ziva spent part of the holiday in Paris, ringing in the New Year in the Paris flat.
Jethro Leroy DiNozzo was born on 19 April 2052, the fifteenth grandchild of the DiNozzo family. Ziva and Ellie were present at the birth, while Tony and Clayton watched the two older children. Jessica was hoping for a sister, but she was still happy with her new brother. Jackson was too little to have a preference, but when he found out he had a brother, he clapped his hands and yelled, "YEAH!" Tony had videoed the little boy's reaction and sent it to LJ.
~TIVA~
All of the DiNozzo children and their families were in DC for the Fourth of July holiday and Tony's birthday. John and Rivka and their three children stayed with Tony and Ziva. The weather cooperated and the family was able to cook out both days. Tim set up the video cameras and Anthony and others took pictures. They used the backyard for family group photos. The shot of Tony and Ziva with the fifteen grandchildren was a favorite: Levi at 15 the oldest, with his siblings, Elijah, 12, Noah and Elisheva, almost 10; Anthony, 14 and his sisters, Kelly and Shannon, 11; Rebecca and Robert, 7 and 4; Adam, almost 8 with his siblings, Brian, 3 and Abigail, 18 months; and Jessica, 5, Jackson, 2, and Jethro, nearly three months.
During the party, Tali went inside with Anthony to get more ice and soft drinks. Tony and Ziva came out of their room, holding hands and kissing each other, Ziva giggling like a kid. Tali looked at her brother, who had the same mortified look as she did. Ziva and Tony looked at their oldest two and smiled.
"I-MAAA" Anthony didn't know what to say, as it was clear to both him and Tali what had just happened with their parents. Tali rolled her eyes, "AB-BAAA!"
"What?" Ziva smiled at the two, "I am almost seventy three years old, and your Abba is eighty four. So what if we have sex on his birthday? It is just like any other day!" Tony smirked at them, and kissed Ziva on the lips.
"Scarred for life!" Tali and Anthony said together, handing Ziva the ice bucket and going back outside quickly.
"I will never stop wanting you, Tony," Ziva whispered as he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.
After the party for Tony's birthday wound down, Ziva and Tony called New Mexico to wish Leon a happy birthday. Leon had been in a wheelchair for about six months due to problems with his knees and hips. Abby wheeled him to the computer for the Skype call. He wished Tony a happy birthday and joked about their ages. Leon was one year shy of ninety.
Tony and Ziva could see that Leon was tiring so they wrapped up the call, with Abby promising to keep them updated on Leon's health. After the call, Ziva told Tony that she was worried that Leon would not make it to his next birthday. Tony shared the same concern, and they agreed to do whatever Abby needed if he were to pass. The next day, they shared their concerns with Tim, who also agreed that he would be there for Abby when she needed support.
~TIVA~
Tim got a call from Abby on 21 July, telling him that Leon had slipped into a coma overnight and was now on twenty four seven care. Abby broke down while talking to Tim and he promised her that he, Ziva and Tony would be in New Mexico within the next day. Tim called Ziva and they arranged to fly to Albuquerque. Abby had called Kayla and her husband after Tim and they drove over from San Diego.
Jared and Tori met Tony, Ziva and Tim at the airport and took them straight to Leon and Abby's house. "It's a matter of hours now," Jared let his father's friends know the status. He led them inside to where Abby was sitting with Leon. Each one hugged Abby, and she thanked them for coming.
Ziva, Tony and Tim took turns sitting with Abby, leaving the room discretely when Kayla arrived to say her goodbye to her father. Ziva, Tony and Tori also made sure there was plenty of food for Kayla and family and kept Abby fed, not that she ate much. Kayla and Kyle stayed with Jared and Tori, who had borrowed a condo from a friend.
On 23 July, at 1235, Leon stirred, and briefly opened his eyes. He smiled at Abby and she took his hand in hers. He saw Tony, Kayla and Jared near Abby and smiled at each one. He then looked at Abby, and spoke his final words, "I love you, Abby; thank you for twenty four years by my side." He closed his eyes and his breathing slowed. Abby had tears running down her face as she placed her cheek on their joined hands. Jared and Kayla wept silently while hugging each other. Tony signaled to Tim, Tori, Kyle and Ziva that the end was near and the four of them came into the room. Ziva wrapped her arms around Tony, and they held each other as tears streamed down their faces. Tim put a hand on Abby's shoulder and she acknowledged his presence by squeezing his hand with her hand that was not holding Leon's.
Leon's breathing stopped and his hand went slack in Abby's. She let out a wail and sobbed. All but Tim left the room to allow her some time with her husband's body. Tim stayed discretely in the background but he felt a need to be in the room for Abby. He understood her feelings of emptiness and the loss of a spouse.
The funeral was held two days later in a small chapel in the New Mexico desert. Abby leaned on Jared and Kayla for support and the three of them mourned the loss of father and husband. Jared gave a very moving eulogy which had all of the NCIS family in tears. He thanked he father's friends from DC for their support and presence.