Happily Ever After

6 Months Later…

Ziva stood in front of the full length mirror, her mind wandering aimlessly. She had heard that most brides spent their wedding day in a nervous tizzy, but she felt perfectly calm and in control. Abby and Jenny had helped her get herself and Ava ready for the ceremony and they had left a few minutes ago. Now all she had to do was wait for her father to come get her. Her father and her aunt had flown in from Tel Aviv to be at the wedding.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Ziva adjusted her veil and then turned to the door.

"Come in," she called, and was surprised to see Gibbs walk through the door. She had been expecting her father.

"How do you feel?" Gibbs asked as he shut the door behind him.

"Calm," Ziva said, a small smile on her face.

"Not nervous?" Gibbs asked and Ziva shook her head.

"You know, when Shannon and I got married, she kept me waiting at the altar for twenty minutes before she finally calmed her nerves," Gibbs said, smiling in remembrance.

"Okay," Ziva admitted, "maybe I am a little nervous." Gibbs opened his arms, offering Ziva a hug, which she accepted.

"I'm so proud of you," Gibbs said. "You've changed so much. You'll be a great mother and a great wife."

"You know, I've always thought of you as a father figure," Ziva whispered.

"And I've always thought of you as a daughter," Gibbs said, pulling away from Ziva and wiping the lone tear that was making its way down her cheek. "I've gotta go, DiNozzo is waiting," Gibbs said, hugging Ziva one last time and then leaving. A few seconds later, Ziva's father appeared in the doorway.

"Are you ready, Ziva?" Eli asked.

"Yes, Aba," Ziva replied, walking towards her father. He held up his hand and pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Ziva. "What's this?" Ziva asked, studying the envelope.

"Your release papers," Eli said. "Now that you have a husband and daughter, I hardly think it appropriate that you be recalled back to Israel. I spoke with Director Shepard yesterday; you are now an official NCIS Special Agent." Tears welled up in Ziva's eyes and she quickly wiped them away.

"Thank you, papa," Ziva said, using the name that she hadn't used since she was seven.

"I want my daughter to be happy," Eli said.

"Toda, papa, toda," Ziva said.

Tony stood up at the altar fidgeting nervously. He saw Gibbs sneak up the side of the church and take his place behind Tony, but tony didn't bother to ask him where he had been.

"Nervous?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah Boss, a little," Tony replied. He smiled as he felt Gibbs's hand connect with the back of his head.

"Better?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, thanks Boss," Tony said. Just then the organ started playing and everyone in the church stood up and turned towards the double wooden doors in the back of church. The doors opened and Abby's niece, who was acting flower girl, walked through the doors shyly, followed by Abby who was carrying Ava and then Jenny. Tony heard Gibbs's sharp intake of breath when he saw the redhead enter the room. Ziva had picked a marine blue color dress that came to a stop just above the girls knees. The neckline was pleated and they had thick straps, and Jenny had left her hair down and it was full of tousled curls. Tony smirked to himself; he had known that it would be a matter of time before those two stopped fighting it.

Tony was knocked out of his thoughts by the sight of Ziva. His face lit up when he saw her. She was wearing a strapless dress with glittering beads sewn onto the bodice. Her skirt swirled gently around her legs and the train dragged delicately behind her. Jenny had arranged Ziva's hair into a low, side, curly ponytail and had pinned a white rose into place. Her veil hung over her face alluringly, driving Tony mad with desire. Ziva's father led her down the aisle to the altar and lifted her veil. The smile on her face was brilliant as she looked at Tony and Tony could feel his face stretch into a wide smile of his own. Tony helped Ziva up the stairs and left his hand twined loosely with hers.

"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two people in holy matrimony. Who gives this woman away?" the preacher asked.

"I do," Eli said from his seat in the front pew.

"And do you give her away freely?"

"Yes," Eli answered.

"And who gives this man away?"

"I do," Gibbs said.

"And do you give him away freely?"

"Yes," Gibbs answered.

"If anyone knows a reason why these two should not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," the preacher said. Abby turned towards the guests and glared at them, daring them to say anything. The preacher continued.

"Marriage is a sacred union, entered into by two people who wish to show their commitment to each other." There were a few chuckles among the guests who knew Tony. "The couple before us today has decided to write their own vows. Ziva, would you like to go first?" Ziva looked at Tony and smiled.

"Tony, you cannot even begin to fathom how much you truly mean to me and how much you have changed my life for the better. Four years ago I could have never imagined myself getting married and having a child and yet here we are. You bring out the best in me and you gave me an extraordinary gift; a little girl. I almost lost you and that was hard for me, especially under the pretense of having to raise a child by myself, but you came through and woke up, and you have no idea how often I thank God for that. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and only you," Ziva said. There were tears in her eyes and she silently thanked Abby for remembering waterproof eyeliner and mascara. Tony looked a little misty eyed as well.

"Ziva, you know that I also would have never imagined myself to one day be a husband and father. In the past I have not always been the best friend and we've had out moments, but we pulled through. You put me through hell every day, worrying about you, and wondering whether I'm going to have to go home one night and tell out little girl her mother is gone, but you always manage to gracefully give in when I try to protect you. The people who know me best know that I have never been particularly strong at the idea of commitment, but you bring out the best in me and I was to spend the rest of my life with you, and only you," Tony said, tears now really coming out of his eyes.

"The rings?" The preacher asked and Gibbs produced the two rings that Tony had given to him before the ceremony. "Anthony, take the ring and place it on Ziva's finger and repeat after me; with this ring, I thee wed." Tony took the ring from Gibbs and slid it onto Ziva's finger.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Tony said, looking directly into Ziva's eyes. Ziva smiled and tried to blink the tears out of her eyes. Ziva took the other ring from Gibbs as the preacher told her what to do.

"Ziva, take the ring and place it on Anthony's finger and repeat after me; with this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed," Ziva said as she placed the ring on Tony's finger. Tony squeezed her hand and then dropped his hand to his side, their fingers still entwined.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DiNozzo," the preacher said and Ziva's father got up and placed a glass wrapped in a cloth napkin under Tony's foot which he promptly smashed. "You may now kiss the bride." Tony wrapped his arms around Ziva, dipped her low, and thus, they shared their first kiss as a married couple.

4 Years Later…

Ziva was on the floor playing with her two year old son, Aaron, when her daughter, Ava, ran into the room.

"Mummy, look what Pápa got me," Ava exclaimed, presenting her mother with a stuffed replica of Tinkerbell.

"Wow, why did Pápa get you that?" Ziva asked.

"For preschool, if I get lonely, I can hug her and think of you and Pápa and Aaron," Ava explained to her mother. Ziva smiled and ruffled Ava's hair. She mostly looked like Ziva, except for her hair and her eyes. Although her hair was curly like her mother's, it was the light brown shade of her father's and her eyes were a startling green color that pierced your very soul and made you fall in love with her.

"Did you have fun at work with Pápa?" Ziva asked as she picked Aaron up off the floor and took him to the kitchen to clean him up. Ava followed behind.

"Yes, Auntie Abby did my hair," Ava proclaimed.

"I noticed," Ziva said. "Anything else?"

"Pápa put glue on Uncle 'Gee's keyboard," Ava said, causing Ziva to roll her eyes. Just then Tony walked into the kitchen, scooping Ava up into his arm's as he did.

"Can't you ever behave yourself?" Ziva asked as she kissed her husband.

"Nope," Tony answered, a wide grin on his face as he ruffled Aaron's hair. Tony then placed his arm around Ziva and Ava leaned out and wrapped her one arm around her mother.

"Anî ohevêt otchâ," Ava said, stumbling over the words.

"Ti amo," Ziva and Tony replied, looking into each other's eyes.

And there's the end. Thank you to everyone who stayed on the ride with me and for all of the supportive reviews!! Reviews are a writer's best encouragement! There might be a sequel, but I haven't decided yet, and if there is one, it will take place really far into the future. Please review this one last time!!

Much Love, Vamp!

Anî ohevêt otchâ – I love you (Hebrew)

Ti amo – I love you (Italian)