Okay, I'm really sorry to have to say this, but since I've had to deal with these types of reviews, I want to respond.

I KNOW Cote de Pablo made a choice to leave NCIS, and I completely understand that the decision was hers alone to make! I still am sad to see her leave, I do hope she might return, but at the same time it is my right to write fiction on this site as I wish. The story is labeled as a Tony/Ziva story, so if you don't want to, don't read it!

Okay, vented annnd... onto the story!

Three Years Later…

The NCIS elevator door gave its signature "ding" as it opened to admit a dark-haired woman carrying several large paper bags accompanied by a tall security guard. As soon as she crossed the threshold agents began greeting her with great enthusiasm.

"Heeey Ziva, how's life?"

"Ziivaaa, long time no see!"

"I swear Ziva, you look more and more gorgeous every time I see you!"

Ziva greeted as many agents as she was able to while attempting to maneuver to the extremely familiar location. The commotion had drawn plenty of attention, and within seconds Tony had appeared by his wife's side. Looking up, he flashed her accompanying security guard a quick grin before sliding his hand around Ziva's shoulders.

"Thanks for bringing her up, Terrell. I'll take her from here. I'm sure we can manage her if she gets too crazy." While Tony slid some of the bags Ziva carried off of her arm, she rolled her eyes in annoyance, reached down, and slid a foil-wrapped package into Terrell's hand. He grinned.

"More of your cookies? You spoil me. Thank you Ziva." Terrell rested a beefy hand briefly on her shoulder before nodding to Tony and leaving the way he came. As they stepped up to the bullpen, Ziva stopped, as she often did, memories of her past days on the team coming back to her.

Since Ziva's return to Amercia, the former agent had taken a few months to find a new path and soon settled on an old love of hers- cooking. Using some of her father's assets and taking culinary classes, Ziva had opened her own deli between the Navy Yard and the Hoover building. Within four months, thanks in part to the agency network, her business was booming. Of course, Team Gibbs had provided more than its fair share of business. It was vastly different from her previous life, and yet she was immensely satisfied with it.

Eventually Ziva was brought out of her recollections by the rustling of paper as Tony began to rummage through the bags without any ceremony. Letting out a loud sigh, Ziva shoved him out of the way. "My husband, the gentleman. Hello Tim, Ellie. How are you two today?" Ziva embraced each agent as she spoke.

"Doing better, now that you're here Ziva." McGee responded cheerfully. Tim had been incredibly supportive of Ziva's decision to leave NCIS and enter the culinary field, although Ziva suspected that even after three years he still missed having her around, despite the fact that she saw the team nearly every weekend.

Ellie Bishop was just as pleased to see Ziva, although their relations hips had been uncomfortable and uncertain to begin with. Bishop had continuously worried about the fact that she had taken Ziva's position on the team (not to mention the former NSA agent's quirks making it difficult for the more serious Ziva to relate). Ziva, meanwhile, had no idea how to approach the newest agent and, perhaps, was (not that she'd ever admit it) a little jealous of Bishop as well as uncomfortable. However, after a few months and more than a few late nights, the two had eventually become fast friends.

Continuing to keep Tony's hands as far from the food as possible, Ziva began to parcel out cardboard boxes of food to the team as Ellie gave her a quizzical look.

"Did you hire a new assistant, Ziva? I though you didn't have enough people to leave on Friday."

"We don't," Ziva replied, tossing a handful of paper napkins in Tony's direction, "but I was finally able to purchase that new industrial freezer that I wanted and the men installing it needed almost all of the kitchen space. So I closed for the day and decided to bring you all some lunch."

"She's lying, of course." Tony said through a mouthful of roast beef sandwich. "She can't stand to be away from the magnificent stud that is me for too long." Tony's head snapped forward slightly and he winced as Gibbs' hand connected to the back of his skull with an audible smack.

"She sure as hell isn't comin' around for your manners DiNozzo. Show more respect when your wife is kind enough to bring you lunch. Hi Ziver." Without missing a beat, Gibbs leaned over and gave Ziva a quick peck on the cheek. Before Ziva had a chance to reply to his greeting, there was a familiar squeal of delight and the former agent was side-tackled by Abby, cheerfully chattering to her friend. As Ziva extracted herself from Abby's exuberant hug, she noticed Ducky and Jimmy following the forensic scientist, both smiling broadly. They too embraced Ziva and enquired of her health, well-being and general livelihood. Satisfied by her answers, Ducky, Jimmy and Abby gladly accepted their lunches and began to eat with gusto, all except for Ducky, who launched into a long-winded story about an interesting encounter with matzo-ball soup eaten in, of all places, Iceland. As Ziva settled into a chair pushed towards her by Gibbs and began eating her own lunch, a sense of contentment washed over her. It felt good to be at the Navy Yard again, although it was as a visitor and not an agent. As she settled more comfortably into the chair, Tony rested a hand on her arm and squeezed gently, leaning his head towards hers.

"When can we tell them?" he murmured to her.

"Patience. Let Ducky get to a stopping point. I miss this." She rubbed his hand in response. Tony nodded, but she could feel the excitement of the pent-up news rising off of him. She too was anxious to spill the news, but if there was one thing Mossad had taught her well, it was extreme patience. She could wait.

Eventually Ducky's story wound down and while he paused to eat, Ziva stood up and faced the group.

"Everyone, Tony and I have news we wished to share with all of you." Ziva drew in a breath and looked at her husband, who gave a huge, enthusiastic smile and inclined his head slightly, winding his fingers into hers. Rubbing the scar on her lower chest (a relatively new habit she had picked up when nervous), Ziva broke the news.

"Tony and I are having twins."

One heartbeat. Two.

Abby's shout of joy shattered the silence, followed by yet another body-slamming hug that nearly succeeded in knocking Ziva out of her chair.

"Oh my God, you're having twins! I can't believe it! Well, actually, I can- you did say it, right? I don't think I had that many CafPows! to be making this up…"

"Abby…" Ziva's voice was muffled from within the depths of Abby's hug. Oblivious, the forensic scientist continued to prattle on.

"No… I've only had three today, it usually takes eight or nine to get to imagining things, so you are having babies! Not a baby, but babies… wow, I'm going to have to go shopping to spoil…"

"ABBY."

Abby's mouth clamped shut and released her friend with a sheepish smile, still bouncing all the while.

"Sorry Ziva, I just got a little… carried away. Congratulations Ziva and… TONY!" As if just remembering the "other half" of the equation, Abby was bounding over to Tony's desk and was soon lavishing him with the same bone-breaking treatment. Tim, who was standing behind her, shook his head with a small smile.

"I think she may have had more than three Caf-Pow!s today. Congrats Ziva. I'm really happy for you and Tony." Tim also embraced his former partner and, once Tony was free, shook hands with him. Ellie, Ducky and Jimmy also expressed congratulations at the news and then Gibbs stepped forward. Ziva looked up at the man who had been her father figure and more since the moment she had joined the team and wondered what he had to say. For several moments everyone fell silent as the old Marine's face remained impassive, and just as Ziva was starting to worry, his stern face cracked into a warm, if small, smile and in a low, gentle voice he said, "Hmph. Looks like I'll need to start buildin' a crib and some furniture. Congrats Ziver." Ziva emitted a low sound, almost a sob, and pressed herself into Gibbs' chest, wrapped in his embracing arms. "Thank you Gibbs. Thank you." she whispered. He gave her a gruff snort, pecked her cheek, and then went over to Tony, lifting his hand as if he was going to give his senior agent a smack on the head. Tony winced until Gibbs' hand struck his shoulder in a pat and growled "Congrats DiNozzo. Do not mess this one up." Tony chuckled and agreed with the statement and went to stand by his wife, draping a hand around her waist and pulling her close.

Content, Ziva laid her head on Tony's chest and looked out over her adoptive family. A warm feeling started deep in her chest and spread throughout her entire body. Resting a hand on her belly, Ziva couldn't help but to reflect on everything that had happened in the last few months. She had gone from alone and depressed to back with family and happier than she could ever imagine- and now she and Tony would be adding to the family.

Maybe it wasn't the movies, but she had found her happy ending.

Okay, it's done! Thanks for all the reviews (the kind ones anyway), and I'll return to Irreplaceable as soon as possible. After I finish that, I hope for a crossover story, and yes, it will feature Ziva as a team member.

Yeah, sure, you becha!