***
It is the middle of January when I have to bid my goodbyes to the team again, but this time I'm nowhere near as anxious. I'm actually excited to go back and share all my gossip with Jess and all my other friends. The twins are due at the end of February but we are all aware of the fact that she could go into labour at any time so I've got myself on standby to come home as soon as it happens.
"Let me know all the developments with the wedding!" I say.
"Don't worry, I wish you could stay and help!" Ziva says emotionally, this hormonal side of Ziva is something that actually scares me.
"Don't worry, you've got my email address and there's always face book!" I laugh, but this makes her cry even more. She sobs into my father's shoulder as I get on the train.
"Take care now," my father calls.
"You know I will!" I say as the train leaves them behind.
***
Jess is already there when I get up to our room.
"Hey!" she says bounding over to me. "How was your Christmas?" she asks.
"Very entertaining!" I say.
"Really? How are the wedding plans going?" she asks me.
"Speaking of which…" I say, "Do you reckon I'd be able to find three other string players so I get a quartet for the wedding?" I ask .Jess shrugs.
"I'm sure you can…just put up an advert in the lobby and see who gets back to you" she advises.
"and I also want our chamber choir group to get together and so some stuff too, is that ok?" I ask. I put our chamber group together when I first started and it's been quite a success.
"Great, I'm gonna keep it a surprise though!" I tell her, she laughs.
"You devious thing!" she says. "How are the twins?" she asks.
"Driving Ziva crazy!" I say.
***
A month later, my cell phone wakes me at the ungodly hour of 2am. The caller ID is Gibbs-suddenly I'm bolt awake.
"Gibbs?" I say in a hushed voice as not to wake Jess. I stumble into the bathroom and shut the door so I can talk more openly.
"Sorry to wake you but there's been a hitch" he tells me. My heart is in my throat.
"Ziva was hurt at a crime scene, she's gone into labour" he says quickly.
"What! Is she ok?" I ask frantically.
"Yeah, some idiots were crowding around the crime scene and bumped into her and knocked her over. The doctors have said the twins are fine but they are coming now…you're father is in a bit of a state…how soon can you get here?" he asks, I don't think I'm going to be able to get there any time soon.
"I'll get the first flight out" I say, hanging up. I rush back into the room. Jess is sitting up in bed rubbing her eyes.
"What's going on?" she asks.
"I've got to go, Ziva's gone into labour!" I say, throwing some clothes into a back pack.
"Really!" she says excitedly.
"Yeah, she got hurt at a crime scene" I tell her, "Look, I've got to go now…I'll call my tutor later when I get there but would you be able to explain to someone why I'm not here?" I ask, she nods.
"Of course" she says. I'm out the door in minutes.
The next flight from JFK to Reagan International is 5:30. I sit around for ages in the airport waiting for my flight to be called. I call Gibbs again
"Hey, how are things going?" I ask feeling so helpless sitting in an airport miles and miles away from them.
"Good, Ziva's doing great!" he says.
"I hope I don't miss the birth" I say.
"You'll get here when you can, that's enough…they understand that" he says. My flight is called as we speak.
"Gibbs, my flight has just been called, I'll see you soon…which hospital?" I ask.
"Bethesda" he answers quickly. I hang up instantly and rush over to the gate, I show the flight attendant my boarding pass and walk quickly down the carrier onto the plane.
As soon as I get out of Reagan International Airport I hail a cab.
"Bethesda Navel Hospital" I say quickly.
"You hurt miss?" the guy asks me. I shake my head.
"No…my mom is having twins right now! I have to be there!" I say "Put your foot down!" I instruct, he does what is asked of him.
Within ten minutes I am racing down the corridor until I come face to face with Gibbs, Ducky, Abby and McGee.
"Any news?" I say completely out of breath. My father emerges from a near by room holding a tiny bundle of white blankets. He looks at us with tears in his eyes, for a moment, I think something bad has happened but then I realise.
They are tears of joy.
"Bethany! You came!" he says.
"Of course I did, I wouldn't miss this for the world" I say.
"Who have you got there, then?" Gibbs says.
"This is Noah Jethro" he says proudly revealing the tiniest, cutest little face. He stared at the strange faces surrounding him.
"He's beautiful!" I say, brushing a finger across his soft brown hair.
"The nurses are just cleaning Rebekah over" he says.
"How's Ziva?" Ducky asks
"She's tiered but she did great boss!" My father says emotionally through tears, he too looks exhausted.
I sneak into the room and leave the others to peak at Noah. I enter the room and a nurse goes to stop me.
"Who are you?" she asks me.
"I'm her step mother, my father told me my little sister was in here" I say, the nurse steps back smiling.
"Bethany?" Ziva calls, she is holding Rebekah. She is such a natural.
"Hey, congratulations, you've reduced my father to tears!" I laugh. She laughs too.
"Are you ok? Gibbs said you were hurt" I ask. Ziva shrugs.
"I'm fine, I just got knocked" she said offering her finger to Rebeka who took hold of it in a firm grasp.
"They are absolutely beautiful, Ziva" I say, Rebekah looks just like Noah, I suppose it's a good thing they are boy and girl otherwise none of us would ever be able to tell them apart.
"Here, do you want to hold her?" she asks me. I nod as she lifts Rebeka into my awaiting arms.
"She's so light!" I say surprised.
"That will change!" the nurse laughs. Ziva yawns.
"You need to get some rest, Ziva" the nurse says.
"I know" she says her eyes shutting.
"I'll come back in a little while and show you how to breast feed ok?" she says but Ziva is already flat out.
"She's one tough cookie" the nurse says referring to Ziva. I know that she doesn't know the half of it. "If you like, you can take her outside to meet the others, I know your parents brought quite a crowd with them!" the nurse says.
"Thanks" I say, she opens the door for me and leaves Ziva to get some peace.
"Aww, baby number two!" Abby squeals.
"Dad, they're perfect!" I say
"Good job Tony" McGee says ruffling Noah's hair a little.
"Thanks Tim" he says, they shake hands.
"You did good DiNozzo" Gibbs says patting him on the shoulder.
"They don't look anything like what that software program came up with" McGee says.
"What are you talking about, McGee?" Gibbs asks sternly, McGee looks like a deer caught in head lights.
"Er, nothing boss" he says. He is saved when Gibbs' cell phone starts to ring.
"Gibbs" he says wandering off down the corridor.
"Can I hold one?" Abby says. I pass Rebekah to her.
"Aww, Tony I could just eat her!" Abby says. My father looks horrified.
"Dad! She's joking!" I laugh.
"Sorry guys, Vance wants our asses back in work" Gibbs says rounding the corner.
"Gibbs! How can I possibly go to work now!" Abby moans.
"That includes you DiNozzo!" he says, My father's jaw drops.
"Just kidding, Tony" he says with a smile.
"Tony, we promise we'll come by later!" Abby says. They all head down the corridor towards the exit. Soon it is just my father and myself out there with Noah and Rebekah.
"Let's go and see if Ziva is awake" I say.
We both go inside and she stirs when we enter. She opens her eyes groggily.
"Hey, how are you feeling, sweet cheeks?" he asks brushing her hair out of her face.
"Like I just gave birth…twice" she says. I laugh.
"Thank you" I hear him tell her.
"What for?" she asks in response.
"For this, for making me the happiest man right now" he says before kissing her passionately.
"I love you so much" he says breaking from the kiss for a moment, resting his forehead on hers,
"I love you too!" she says kissing him passionately in response. They stay looked in a passionate embrace for several minutes, myself and my brother and sister instinctively know not to disturb them…it's been an emotional morning and it's not even midday yet.
Now I truly know what perfection is.
***
I find it difficult to return back to New York several days later. Ziva and the twins were discharged two days later and are doing marvellously. Abby and myself have planned a belated baby shower for when I get back for the Easter vacation.
"I'll see you soon!" I say.
When I get back to New York and crowd of my friends greet me desperate for pictures and info.
"Several people have said they'll do the quartet thing with you" Jess tells me on the way to the canteen.
"Great!" I say
"What were you thinking of doing with the Chamber choir" she asks me.
"I was thinking along the lines of Theatre and Jazz and stuff, not classical like we usually do" Jess nods in approval.
"Sounds great, have you sorted your mid term recital yet?" she asks spooning a forkful of pasta into her mouth.
"Yeah, it's a music theatre module so I'm doing 'thank you for the music' from Mamma Mia, 'if you were gay' from Avenue Q and 'Somewhere' from West Side Story" I say.
"Cool, who did you manage to rope into the Avenue Q one?" she laughs.
"Well, I have someone in mind but I haven't asked them yet" I say.
***
"No way! Bethany the answer is no!" he says, I huff with impatience.
"Please, McGee you'd be perfect!" I say
"Oh Great so you think I look gay!" he says.
"No, I just think your great at acting, please…I'll pay all your expenses!" I say.
The is a long pause on the other end of the line.
"Please!" I try one last time.
"Oh, ok. Is it in front of lots of people?" he asks.
"Well parents are invited and the other members of my class will be there but it won't be many people…please, my future here depends on you!" I say,
"Why can't you find someone who actually does music theatre?" he asks,
"Because I know you will be better than any of them!" I say.
"Ok, when do you need me?" he asks me.
"Oh don't worry, I've already cleared it with Gibbs, Your all coming up to visit me that weekend. We can practise then! Thanks McGee you're the best!" I say quickly hanging up before he can change his mind.
***
The semester goes by so fast the weekend before Easter vacation arrives quicker than I could ever have imagined. Gibbs, McGee, Abby, my Father and Ziva and the twins are coming to watch me in my mid term recital and I'm so nervous about it.
"I can't wait to meet your little brother and sister!" Jess tells me.
"I can't wait to see them either, the last time I saw them they were only four days old. That was three months ago" I say
"Gosh! It's gone so fast!" Jess says. I nod in agreement. Suddenly I see the gang in my eye line, I start waving frantically.
"Hey over here!" I yell.
When they finally reach us I rush to the double stroller to see Noah and Rebeka.
"Hi guys!" I say into the pram.
"Hey Gibbs, thanks for coming all the way out here to see me Gibbs" Gibbs says jokingly.
"Hello" I say giving him a hug.
"It's good to see you" I tell him.
"How about a hug for your old man!" my father says opening his arms to me. I give him a tight hug.
"You came" I say
"Of course I did, I can't wait to see Probie's first ever performance on stage!" he says, Ziva whacks him in the stomach. I laugh and give her a hug.
"Ziva, you look great!" I say, "How are you?" I ask.
"Good, I'm great!" she says.
"Abby!!!!" I say giving her a hug. I pull away.
"Guys, this is my room mate and friend, Jess…Jess, this is the team!" I say introducing her to everyone and vice versa.
"I heard so much about you guys!" Jess says "Especially you two!" she says looking into the pram.
"Congratulations, both of you" Jess says to my father and Ziva.
"We got one more surprise for you" my father says.
"Dan?" he calls.
"Dan!" I repeat, I see him for the first time in nearly half a year. He has been in California studying Medicine. I run to him. He picks me up in his strong arms and spins me round. I kiss him passionately on the lips.
"Oh my God what are you doing here?" I ask absolutely stunned.
"Well, I couldn't really afford a plane ticket home, but your father helped me out, I came to see your recital" he says smiling.
"Oh my god!" I say again, "I cannot believe it!" I laugh with joy. Everyone came here…for me.
"Come on, McGee, lets go practise" I say taking him by the arm.
"We're gonna go back to the hotel, we thought we'd just come by to let you know we were here" Gibbs said.
"It's nearly time for the twins' feed" Ziva says.
"Ok, lets go" my father says putting his arm around her and taking the buggy from her.
"We'll see you later, McGee!" My father laughs.
"Brake a leg, McGee!" Abby says.
"Not you too!" McGee says, Abby smiles seriously and McGee calms down a little.
"Come on lets go!" I say.
***
"It's quite simple McGee, Honestly." I say.
"I know, I learnt all the lines you gave me and I've been listening to the song" he tells me.
"Good, then what's the problem?" I ask. He looks at the floor.
"Is it because of the team?" I ask "They think you're really brave for doing it" I say reassuringly.
"Is it because you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of Abby?" I ask, McGee looks at me.
"Oh McGee! Does she know how you feel? I promise you it will be fine!" I tell myself more than him.
"It's the first item, it will be over before you know it" I say trying to sound as confident as possible for McGee's sake.
***
The curtain goes up.
"This is going to be good" Tony mutters to Noah who gurgles back at him.
"Tony be quiet!" Ziva shushes him. McGee is sitting centre stage alone.
***
The pit orchestra below me begin the intro and I bravely walk on stage, the lights on the stage make it impossible for me to see who is in the audience.
"Hi Tim!" I say.
"Hi Beth" McGee replies, he's a much better actor than he gives himself credit for.
"Do you know what happened to me on the Subway this morning?" I say in character.
"Er no, no I don't" he replies starring into his book prop.
"Well, I met this guy who was so hot, and I think he'd be good for you" I say.
"Did you just say guy?" he asks.
"Don't worry, It's nothing to be embarrassed about" I begin.
"But I'm not gay!" McGee says in character, I swear I can hear a snigger coming from the audience.
"Oh come on Tim, you shouldn't be ashamed…I just think we should be able to talk about stuff like this…" I say, McGee stands up.
"I don't need to talk about…" he stutters in a fluster. He has the character just how I wanted.
"Ok…" I say preparing for my start, "But just so you know…" I take a deep breath.
"If you were gay,
That would be ok,
I mean cos hey!
I would like you anyway
And I know that you
Would respect me too
If I told you today
That I was gay…but I'm not gay" I sing as animated as possible. I stare at McGee trying to urge a reaction, it's all part of the script.
"What!!!" McGee yells. This gets a laugh from the whole audience.
"If you were queer,
I'd still be here,
Year after year,
Because you're dear to me,
And I know that you,
Would stick by me too
If I told you today
Hey guess what! I'm gay…but I'm not gay"
"I'm happy, just being with you,
So what does it matter to me,
What you do in bed with guys?" a stretch the last phrase.