Ziva's Wedding day- October 7th 2017
This was it, the day she had been waiting for. After months of planning, preparing, fretting, and several bumps in the road it was finally here. Ziva stood in front of the mirror in the bridal room, hair done in loose curls, waiting for Abby to finish unzipping her dress and help her into it. After the dress was on and Abby was busy zipping and buttoning Ziva in to the dress, Ziva couldn't help but feel the rise in her pulse. She looked at herself in the mirror, a bride. The dress was beautiful. It had taken several trips to various bridal shops before finding this particular dress, with Abby's help of course. It was a strapless sweetheart neckline and the dress hugged her curves perfectly with a jeweled ribbon sash around her waist before flowing away slightly at the knees. She ran her hands down the front of the dress, feeling the soft material spanning across her stomach. She took a trembling breath.
Abby stepped back and squealed. She chattered on about the dress and what a fairytale it all was but all of this was lost to Ziva. Her mind was on the man that would be waiting at the end of that aisle. That day came to her mind vividly, it was the day that she was finally sure about this whole thing. She had left Tony's apartment around five. She drove around for a few minutes before deciding to take Tony's angry words to heed and go for a run. She went back to the hotel room to grab a change of cloths, careful not to wake Tristan. She watched him sleep for a small moment, a mixture of love and confusion racing through her veins.
She had set out to run in the small park that had been one of her favorite places while she was still living in DC. She ran for what seemed like an eternity, a mixture of adrenaline and emotion pushing her on. She did her best to clear her mind, concentrating on the feel of the pavement as her feet came down to meet it and the warm summer breeze blew on her face. She counted her breaths, willing them to tell her the answers to questions she was afraid to ask herself. The farther she ran the more she knew. A feeling of elation sprung up inside her as the realization and clarity she so desperately desired settled in her mind. She sprinted to the car and tore out of the parking lot, heading for him.
A smile formed on her face at the memory of what followed next. She remembers the confused look on his face as she excitedly flew into the room a quarter after 7 and into his arms. She remembers the smiles and promises reaffirmed. She remembers the kiss that sealed her fate. How could she have ever doubted her love for him?
From the dressing room she could hear the sound of the guests arriving and being seated as a soft sweeping melody filled the air in the garden where she was to be married. It was a perfect 72 degrees outside and the garden was beautifully equipped with fall flowers and trees whose leaves were just starting to change. Ziva looked at the clock, fifteen minutes to go.
Abby must have caught the nervousness on her face because she was immediately in front of her. "Are you ok Ziva?"
"I am fine Abby," she replied with a small smile before taking a shaky seat on the couch against the wall.
"You don't look fine. Are you nervous? You're not about to pull a runaway bride are you? Because I don't think he could handle that… You can't do that to…"
"Abby," she cut her off, "I am not going anywhere. I promise. I made a promise and a commitment and today I will fulfill that… I love him. I will not be backing out of this."
She looked up at Abby who had a satisfied look on her face. Ziva couldn't help but think how pretty Abby looked as well. Her hair was up and she had a deep purple dress that matched the fall color scheme perfectly. Anne, a friend of Ziva's that she had made while in New York, came into the room at this time in a matching purple dress. They took a moment to laugh and talk and just relax before it was time to walk down the aisle. This time with her friends did wonders for Ziva's nerves.
Five minutes till two a soft knock came from the door. Gibbs poked his head in. "It's time to line up. May I have a moment with the bride?"
Abby and Anne stepped out of the room to join McGee in the entranceway to the garden, closing the door behind them. Ziva gave a shaky smile to Gibbs. He came to stand directly in front of her. "You sure about this Ziver?"
She nodded her head slowly. "I have never been more sure about anything in my entire life. It is just a little nerve-racking," she said with a small laugh.
"Good. I don't think he would survive it," he responded, leaning in and kissing her on the forehead.
Ziva looked up at Gibbs, meeting his eyes. She could see the love in them. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to ease her nerves. She opened them again, looking at Gibbs. "Just don't let me fall or pass out or anything, alright."
Gibbs gave a laugh, shaking his head. "I promise," he said softly.
It was time now. Abby was already making her way down the aisle as maid of honor, followed by Anne and Tim. Now it was her turn. The doors closed for a brief moment, allowing her to step behind them, ready for her big entrance. The doors opened and she tightened her grip on Gibbs' arm. The crowed all had their eyes on her, but she had her eyes on the only other person that mattered. He was looking at her like she had always dreamed someone, someday would. It was that same look in his green eyes that she had seen for all these years; but today, today it was different. Today it was stronger. It was sure. It was the look of a man that loved with all his heart and soul. It was the look of someone looking forward to a bright future.
Gibbs held true to his word as he began to walk her down the aisle. Ziva was sure he was the only thing keeping her from floating away or sinking into the ground. As they made their way to the front she thought once more back to that day just a few months ago. She thought of the look on his face as he opened the door when she had once again showed up pounding on it. She thought of how different that look was after she pulled away from the very exuberant kiss she had thrown on him. She thought of the look on his face when she had told him she loved him. That she had picked him. It was a look not too unlike the look he had now. It had taken them eight years to find the strength to talk about their feelings and four years to finally get it together. It had taken all of thirty minutes for them to decide they wanted this forever and for Tony to drop to his knees. It had taken a little over four months to plan the wedding (they had decided to keep the date of her original wedding because she had already made a deposit on the garden). And now, after all that time, it took her three minutes to make it up the aisle. She now found herself standing in front of Tony, a wide smile on his face.
Gibbs leaned over and whispered in her ear, "love ya, kid," before kissing her on the cheek and taking his place in front of McGee. She handed her bouquet to Abby and took Tony's outstretched hands. Her hands were trembling in his. He looked at her, concern ghosting on his features. He squeezed her hands and breathed, "you ok?"
"Never been better," she whispered back, squeezing his hands and looking into his eyes. She fell into the deep pool that was his eyes. She poured herself in to that look, giving all the love and admiration she had.
The ceremony passed quickly, most of which she could not focus on. It was then time for the I do's. The preacher cleared his throat and Ziva and Tony looked up at him, realizing that he was talking to them. A small laugh came from the crowed.
"Do you, Anthony Dinozzo Jr., take Ziva David to be your lawfully wedded wife: for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse for the rest of your life?" he repeated, amusement obvious in his voice.
"You bet!" Tony responded, giving Ziva his Dinozzo grin. Ziva smiled at his somewhat juvenile antics.
"And do you," the rabbi started (they had a mixed ceremony), "Ziva David, take Anthony to be your husband: to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse as long as you live?"
Ziva smiled, tightening her grip on Tony's hands. She had never known an answer more than she knew this one. "Always."
I love, love, LOVE this chapter. It is by far my favorite and I literally had goose bumps while writing it. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.