A/N - this chapter contains the discussion of the spanking of a toddler... if this is a problem for you... don't read it...
The spring of senior year was not only academically busy but socially as well. Prom Night was fast approaching. Steven and CJ had been discussing whether or not they would attend the big event. Ainsley was dating another senior, Mark, and had already bought their tickets.
Ziva over hearing one of the young couple's discussions about their prom attendance decided to put her two cents worth in.
"Of course you want to go to your prom!" she exclaimed as CJ finished telling Steven that she had little interest in the gala evening.
"Not of course Mama, I don't think I want to go" CJ face screwed up in disbelief at her mother's intrusion to their conversation. Steven not really caring either way remained a quiet listener.
"It is the grand finale of you high school career. It is your chance to dress up like a princess and …" she didn't get to finish her tirade before CJ cut in.
"When… have I EVER wanted to dress like a princess?" CJ asked sarcastically tipping her head to the side and raising her eye brows questioningly.
"Well… that may not have been the best… reason but if you do not go than years later you may regret it" trying a different angle.
"I am not going to regret not going. Really I think I'm more likely to regret being part of it. I'm not the kind of person to do the "thing" that everyone else does… I'm kinda on the fringe.. on the outside… We don't really fit in with everyone else … and we'll only have Ainsley and Mark to hang with and well… visiting with them is next to impossible these days as they are generally suction cupped together at the mouth" rolling her eyes.
"I'm just saying. Please think about it. I did not get an opportunity to participate in such an event. You are lucky you have the chance." Having said her piece, somewhat passively aggressive, she turned quickly hair flying out behind her as she left for the kitchen.
Steven and CJ watched her dramatic exit before resuming their discussion.
Over the next few days Ziva hinted over and over again how much she wanted CJ to attend the prom. With only 2 weeks before the dance CJ and Steven bought tickets to their senior prom. Guilt that she was passing up an opportunity that meant so much to her mother that Ziva had not been able to participate in lead to the decision.
The minute she told her parents she was going, she regretted doing it. They went sort of crazy. That was the only word CJ could think of to describe their behavior. When they passed her in the kitchen or hallway they would exclaim "our little girl is all grown up". Really? CJ thought to herself, you think going to prom is what determines how grown up I am.
It wasn't only their words that were driving CJ up the wall it was their actions as well. Both Tony and Ziva insisted on going with her to try on dresses. It was bad enough she had to wear a dress to this stupid thing but she had to shop with the pair of them and their "Aw… look at her.." comments as well. By the end of the afternoon CJ was fit to be tied. She'd never tried on so many dresses and shoes or looked at so many accessories in her life. Actually the more she thought about it she couldn't recall ever having worn a dress since she was physically able to dress herself. Her suggestion that she wear some sort of pant suit was quickly dismissed. The short yet still reasonable black dress that was laying in the trunk of the car had taken 4 and half hours to find but in the end was something all three thought they could live with. Shoes were quick and easy as black went with black and it was Ziva that insisted she buy the clutch purse.
Leaning against the rear passenger side window as the three of them drove home CJ closed her eyes and hoped beyond hope that this was a good idea. It still didn't feel right. As the family drove silently home CJ recalled the last time she'd worn and a dress and just how disastrous that was.
Flashback
Tony lifted a 2 year old CJ out of the bathtub and quickly wrapped her in a towel. Carrying the bundle across the hall and into CJ's room he explained why they were all getting cleaned up and dressed fancy for the day.
"We're going to my cousin's wedding" Tony explained again.
"What a wedding" CJ asked as he dried her off and left her sitting on the small toddler bed while he got clothing from her drawer and closet.
Tony explained to the best of his ability what a wedding was and as he finished each explanation CJ would ask Why? He had gotten onvher underwear and socks while the discussion occurred and was about to put on a frilly little pink dress when CJ finally realized what he was doing.
"I not wearing that" she pointed disgusted at the garment hanging in her father's hand.
"Yes. You wear fancy clothes to weddings." Tony said in his sing song voice knowing what that look and tone in his two year old generally meant.
"I not go to the wedding then" CJ explained sliding of the bed and walking towards the door still only half dressed.
"Oh Ho little lady" Tony stepped between the exit and his child. "We need to get this on you so that we aren't late I still need to have a shower." Picking her up with his free hand he made his way to the bed and sat down. Setting her carefully between his knees he held her gently with his legs as he used both hands to open the neck of the dress for her to put her head through.
This is where things got kind of ugly. CJ squirmed, kicked, pushed and pulled in every effort to avoid the pink ruffles from touching her in any way. Tony in response tugged, pulled, pushed, pinned and yelled in and effort to get the child in the dress. Five minutes later CJ was less dressed as one of the little white socks was now on the floor.
Tony took a few seconds of a breather before chasing after CJ who had managed to escape. He had taken down steroid enraged felons yet he couldn't get a small child into a dress. Catching up to her in his own room Tony scooped up the toddler and headed back to her room where he'd left the outfit.
This time he set her in front of him just as he had before but this time he was a little less gentle and had her arms pinned to her sides with his knees. CJ realizing she was trapped put on a final burst of resistance and made another run for it. This time she ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. Before Tony got there she had nestled her way into the cupboard under the sink and was wedge as far in as she could get.
Finding her quickly Tony tried to dislodge his daughter, his patience wore thinner than thin he was no longer in the mood to play games or reason.
"Caitlyn Jennifer you get out of that cupboard right NOW!" he said firmly through clenched teeth.
The child just shook her head no. Pushing farther into the cupboard.
"You have to the count of three to get out of there or I will spank your bottom when I get you out" Tony threatened quickly running out of time as well.
"ONE…" he waited for a few seconds to see if she would budge "TWO…" again he waited. CJ for her part just looked at him through the U bend in the piping while he counted "THREE". "That's it" he said with a finality he didn't really feel he had control of. Climbing into the cupboard himself he used his left hand to glide her out and the right hand to grab her arm. Once he had a good grip he used his left hand to protect her head as he lifted her out of her corner and dragged both himself and her back out of the cupboard.
CJ's kicking and flailing was now in full toddler tantrum mode and she added screaming to her repertoire of actions. Tony sat on the edge of the tub set the half naked child across his lap and applied five decent swats to her backside. The screaming quickly turned to crying and her legs stopped kicking while her arms tried to protect her now very sore backside.
Standing himself and placing the now crying child on his hip he marched back to the bedroom while scolding. "You will put on that dress and you will listen to daddy. Do you understand?"
Pouting through her tears CJ whined "You meanie".
Ignoring her petulant tone Tony resumed his post at the edge of the bed and was finally successful in getting the dress over her head and her arms through the appropriate holes. He replaced the lost sock and finally after 15 minutes of fighting he had an appropriately dressed child. He handed her off to her now ready mother as he quickly hopped through the shower and got dressed in a suit.
Ziva had left CJ in the living room playing quietly with some toys while she packed the gift into the car and a few other things they would need for the day. So when the two parents arrived simultaneously in the living room to retrieve their daughter they were shocked to find her dressless once again. Tony's growl could be heard downtown while Ziva simply went to wait in the car.
Taking a deep breath Tony gathered the offending dress and his daughter and without putting the two together walked out to the car.
Ziva watched as her steaming husband buckled the half clothed toddler into her car seat and threw the dress on the seat beside her. Her eyes questioned him and he whispered "she's likely to fall asleep on the drive there an before we wake her up we can get it on then". Ziva had to suppress the giggle that so desperately wanted to escape, she hadn't been the one fighting so the whole scene seemed quite humorous to her.
A faint laugh fell out of CJ as she remembered the rest of that day. The number of times she'd disrobed and the number of times Tony fought to redress her. This time she would reluctantly but still willingly get into the dress they had bought.
Everyone, well at least the two young couples, was meeting at the DiNozzo residence for a photo op before the four teens went out on their own for supper before the dance. The whole bizarre hoopla seemed so unnecessary to CJ but she plastered on her happy face and smiled for the camera. Steven was the ultimate gentleman and had brought his date a wrist corsage and had offered his arm for her to take.
Steven drove off slowly and carefully as all the parents stood on the front lawn waving.
"Boy I thought that would never end" CJ slouched in the front seat.
Dinner was something these friends had done many nights before so it didn't seem out of the ordinary but the fact that they were at a bit fancier restaurant and there were other couples scattered around made it seem at least a little special.
Arriving at the dance hall CJ took a deep breath and stuck pretty close to her date. Photos were taken in front of the "Knight to Remember" themed backdrop. The glitz and glamour were not CJ, nor were they for that matter Steven, Ainsley or Mark. But they friends found a table, got drinks and sat down to watch as others entered.
The music played and they danced for a while. Spending more time talking than dancing they all decided that having spent and hour and a half they'd seen enough and left. All four had convinced their parents that prom night meant no curfew night and so with hours left before they were expected home they needed some place to go. Walking downtown they found and open arcade and spent some time putting quarters through the machines, laughing as the little battle ships on the screen exploded and planes crashed.
They soon found themselves in need of more adventure and headed into an all night pool hall. Renting a table they set up game after game. This was more their pace. The talked, laughed, made plans and discussed the dresses and suits of the other prom attendees. As midnight approached the clientele at the hall started to look a little questionable and the four headed to the car. They hit a drive through and then made their way to the park they used to use for biking the trails. This time however after having consumed all of their snacks they got picnic blankets out of the trunk and found secluded spots to enjoy the company of their dates. Cuddling under the heavier of the two blankets far enough away from their friends CJ and Steven made love under the stars. Being that they shared this type of intimacy on several occasions it no longer had any feeling of awkwardness or unease. Sharing each other's body had become another part of their relationship.
It was well into the night that Steven dropped each of his friends on their own doorsteps. CJ was last and they kissed passionately before she made her way up the front walk and into the house.
Seeing as it was 3 am CJ hadn't expected a welcoming committee and so was startled when he father called out to her from the darkness in the living room.
"Hey Dad you didn't need to wait up you know" CJ offered a little hurt that he'd felt it necessary to check up on her.
"I know, just wanted to make sure you got home safe and sound" he replied, but his tone suggested to her that there was more than that.
Striding casually over to his side and then throwing herself down on the couch almost crushing his hand he had resting at his side she asked "What's the real reason you stayed up?"
He looked at her in the darkness and could barely make out her features in the almost negligible light. Trying to sound as relaxed as possible he asked "So where did you go after the dance?"
"All over I guess, we walked around down town for a while, went into a few places, had a snack at a drive through and then headed to the park. We visited mostly." CJ said shrugging her shoulders. Her ease of conversation and completely laid back attitude suggested to him that he didn't need to ask the next question but had to anyway.
"You left the dance early, any reason?"
Furrowing her brow, she turned to look him in the eyes "ya, we were bored and the music was so loud we couldn't talk… why'd you ask?"
"Something happened after you left the dance and well with your reputation and complaining about the prom you were first on their list of culprits."
"Oh, well whatever it was it wasn't us" she answered pushing herself to a stand using his outstretched knee.
He assessed her complete lack of reaction to mean she really didn't have anything to do with it and so he called out "night peanut".
"Night Dad" she was most of the way up the stairs before curiosity got the better of her and she poked her head back around the corner "what happened after we left?"
Tony's lips curled upwards, if he'd had any doubts about her involvement they would have disappeared immediately. CJ would never have returned to ask a possibly damaging question if she'd been even the slightest bit guilty. "Someone filled all the balloons that were released at the end of the night with water instead of air… I guess it made a huge mess" Tony explained.
"Oh… that would have been a good one" CJ said out loud but mostly to herself as she headed up to bed.