Hope you enjoy - this is my favorite chapter!

Chapter Three

He had the ring cleaned but decided not to have it sized just yet, wanting Ziva to see it first. On this particular weekend, Tim made reservations at their favorite restaurant, asking for a specific table. It was the same restaurant and the same table where they'd had their first date. He knew Ziva would figure it out, she was a trained investigator after all, but that was ok. They enjoyed their dinner, reminiscing about that first date and how nervous each of them had been, anxious that it go well. After they finished their dessert, Tim took Ziva's hand, "Zi, how about we go for a walk? It's a beautiful night and the moon will be shining on the river."

Gathering her wrap, she'd learned to always be prepared as Tim liked to surprise her, Ziva took Tim's arm and they left the restaurant, strolling down to the river walk. And there on a bench facing the water, the nearly full moon shining brightly, Tim proposed marriage to his love. It wasn't the first time he'd asked but Ziva had always said it was impossible with her position in Mossad.

Now things were changing and Tim wanted their commitment to be part of the change. So did Ziva and smiling at her love, she whispered her response. Grinning with happiness, he pulled a small box from his pocket and placed it in her hand. Smiling, she slowly opened the box and gasped as she saw the ring; it was beautifully matched to her and her personality. She'd never seen one like it before, it was perfect. He put it on her finger and they kissed. After they came up for air, they walked back to the Porsche and headed home to celebrate their engagement.

Sunday morning Tim invited his dad over for breakfast, wanting him to know before the others. Gibbs was immediately suspicious but decided to hope for good news. When his son opened the door at his arrival, he knew from the grin on his face. He pulled his kid in for a hug and then gave him a kiss. "Where's my daughter-in-law?"

"I am here Gibbs!"

He hugged and kissed her too and then pulled back. "So, is there a ring yet?"

Ziva gave him her hand and he admired the new addition. "It's beautiful!"

He tapped his son on the back, "Good job son!" He turned back to Ziva, "I'm so glad, Zeever, now you'll always be my daughter!"

When they told him the story of the ring, he got a little teary and held his kids close. "Sarah's ring, I can't believe my dad and the others did all that." He looked at Ziva, "From Sarah Hoines Baxter to Anne Baxter Gibbs to Ziva David Gibbs, from one century to the next, that's a tale I will proudly tell my grandchildren."

They had a simple breakfast and Gibbs didn't stay long as they'd see each other at the family dinner late that afternoon. Before he left, they called Jack and told him the news. He wept when Ziva told him she was wearing Sarah's ring and again when his grandson told him the story of Maisie taking him to the safety deposit box and showing him all the rings.

XXX

They purposely arrived late to dinner at Gibbs', wanting everyone to hear the news and see Ziva's ring at the same time. Tim was flummoxed to find the door locked, but his dad opened it, grinning at them. "About time!"

"Dad, I thought we…" That was as far as he got as he and Ziva were pulled into the house and Gibbs whistled, "Everyone, eyes and ears here please!"

The newly engaged couple grinned at their family and held up Ziva's hand with the ring. "We're engaged!"

The ensuing wave of noise made Gibbs glad he'd thought of the ear plugs he was wearing. With the entire family in attendance, including Tim's godparents, both of his grandmothers, aunt, uncle and cousins and of course Tony, Ducky, Jimmy and Breena, the decibel level was dangerously high. It only subsided when the Admiral, after exchanging a look with Gibbs, gave a piercing whistle. When most of the crowd cringed and fell silent, Gibbs nodded his thanks to Tim's godfather and then laughing, addressed the mob, "Everybody outside!"

XXX

Two months later

As she stood in front of the mirror combing her hair, Tim gathered Ziva into his arms. "Today's the day!"

She nodded into his chest. "I am not looking forward to this. I know in the end it will be worth it but today will be difficult."

Tim nuzzled her neck. "I know sweetie; try to keep the big picture front and center."

She nodded again as she remembered the day she'd started the ball rolling on the changes that were happening in her life, shortly after they'd returned from the beach vacation. With Tim's help, she'd searched for employers in the DC area where her talent, experience and skills would be a good match and would allow her to work on a visa. Once they had the list, she'd updated her resume, figured out cover letters and sent it out.

While she waited for responses, the family helped her practice for job interviews. Having gone straight from school to Mossad and then brought to NCIS by Jenny Shepard, Ziva had never been on a real job interview. Sure, when she'd been undercover, but not when she actually cared about getting the position. When Tim first ran through a practice interview with her she reacted as if she was being interrogated; they worked on it and then realizing they needed more varied help he enlisted the others. Sarah and Damon, both having been on many interviews, were of particular help and Gibbs, Tim, Rob and Tony played various types of interviewers. Geordie declined, although he sat in on some practice sessions, as he said it had been too long since he'd been on a job interview. When she began receiving responses, Ziva was nervous. She'd spent her entire adult life in Mossad and NCIS, leaving both agencies at the same time was more frightening than she would admit.

The first week in which she had an interview scheduled she felt sick and nearly canceled but Tim helped her see that she was just nervous. Nervous! Ziva David had never been nervous about anything in her life but she kept her head straight and went for the interview. Afterward she told Tim she was glad there was more than just the one company interested in speaking with her because she was sure the interview had gone badly. By the end of that week she'd had three more interviews and freely admitted she hated the process. Laughing, Tim told her that no one looking for a job liked the process, it was a necessary evil.

When the first company she'd spoken with asked her to come back for a second interview, she was at first amazed and then scornful that they would be interested in someone who'd done so poorly in the interview. Tony was over for dinner that night and he laughed so hard Tim was afraid his lungs would seize up. When she was offered a job after the second interview, she asked for time to discuss it with her fiancé as there was some travel involved. In the meantime she was called back to a second company for another interview. As this was the company she'd hoped would hire her, she immediately accepted the position offered to her.

That had happened a week ago and she would be starting her new job the following week. Today was one of the days when she had to remember the 'big picture' because everything was starting to happen too fast. She was chanting 'big picture' to herself as she walked into Vance's office. She stood in front of his desk as she told him her news.

"Director, I have resigned from Mossad effective today. I have accepted a position here in DC with Global Security which I will start next week." She took a breath, "I've also started the process of becoming an American citizen. I hope when that happens I may come back to NCIS? "

Vance stood and shook her hand. "Yes, Ziva, I'll welcome your return once you've attained citizenship. This is indeed the end of an era. I'm glad you're able to stay in the area; we'll miss you here at the agency but I'm pleased that you and Tim have figured out a way for you to stay and not leave the family. Thank you for your years of service to this agency; I know it hasn't always been easy but it has been appreciated. The best of luck to you – I won't say goodbye because I know I'll see you at the next barbecue! "

She smiled and nodded at him as she left his office. Tim was waiting for her downstairs with her personal belongings. She stopped at her desk, remembering her first day and the guys not wanting her to sit at 'Kate's desk'; now she opened a bottom drawer of the desk and put something in, next to the small item of Kate's she'd found and left there years ago. As Tim waited, Gibbs and Tony appeared from around the corner and stood with him.

She patted the desk and said to her family, "Whoever comes next, let them sit here. Neither Kate nor I will mind." Already having a hard time losing their teammate even if for a very good reason, the three men nodded and together the four of them turned and walked out.

XXX

Ziva enjoyed the few days between leaving NCIS and starting her new job. She spent it puttering around the apartment, trying her hand at cooking new dishes and generally relaxing. When she walked into her new place of employment on Monday, she was touched by the plant sitting on her desk. It was a new one but the same species as the plant she'd kept on her desk at NCIS for several years. She knew without looking that it was from her former team and was grateful once again that they'd become a family.

She kept in touch with her Aunt Nettie and through her knew that her father was under house arrest, that the investigation had found him guilty of violating Israel's charter; of threatening their allies and using agency resources for personal reasons. He had been heavily fined but as his work as Director had for many years been exemplary, as evidenced by their continued existence, he was not sent to prison. The committee concluded that the fine, 12 months house arrest, closely monitoring his movements for an unspecified time after that, stripping him of all power, his security clearance and banning him from any future government positions was punishment enough.

As Ziva settled into her new position, she began to relax and contemplate a happy future with Tim. While she continued her citizenship classes in the evenings, the two started planning their wedding. Both wanted a simple ceremony and reception with family and a few friends. Ziva had a good idea of what she wanted for her wedding dress and spent hours online looking at designs. On the weekends, she gathered Sarah, Claire and sometimes Maisie and Penny when she was in town and they visited every bridal shop in the DC Metro area. In the meantime, they'd set the date, October 11th.

Ziva picked that date because, as she told Tim, "That was the day I joined Gibbs' team, the day we first met as partners, not adversaries. I remember you were so kind when you were all still mourning Kate."

Tim smiled as he kissed her, "So you're saying Fate brought us together on Oct. 11th and we should honor it?" She hummed her reply as he continued kissing her.

In regards to the wedding, they found they agreed about nearly everything, it was the type of ceremony and the location that caused some discussion. As a little girl Ziva had dreamed of a traditional Jewish wedding but with the deaths of her mother, sister and brother and her estrangement from her father, she no longer had any interest in it. Tim worried that her anger with her father was coloring her decision and he wanted her to remember their wedding day with happiness, not regrets that she hadn't followed her childhood dreams.

"Sweetstuff, I'll go to class, learn whatever, do whatever I have to for a Jewish ceremony, it's not a problem!"

"No Timothy, it is not that, my love. I would be the only one; no one else there would understand."

Tim took her hand, "We have time. The family could learn; you know they would, I would."

She kissed him, "You are so sweet, but no, it is no longer what I want or need, I am sure of that."

He made one last try: "Why don't we do this? We'll have a civil ceremony here and then plan on having another wedding, a traditional one, at least to renew our vows, in Israel on our anniversary. Your Aunt Nettie would be there."

Ziva smiled, "That is a very good idea, Timothy McGee!"

The next challenge was a location and Tim found the perfect spot by accident. While on a case, he and Tony were canvassing witnesses and came across a botanical garden with a beautiful glen and gazebo that would be beautiful for an afternoon wedding and reception. As they drove back to the office after talking to the witnesses, Tim remarked, "That place is beautiful!"

Tony looked at him, "Yeah? Not like you to get excited about a pretty landscape."

"Thinking we could have the wedding there and that big terrace would be perfect for the reception."

"Huh, yeah I guess it would be nice, didn't really pay too much attention."

Tim made a noise and Tony laughed at him, "Come on man, I'm not the one getting hitched!"

"First chance I get, I'm gonna call or look online and see if they do weddings."

"Great! Beats Gibbs' backyard."

Tim started to give him a look and then tilted his head in agreement, "Yeah, we'd have to do some serious work out there. We want simple, clean and elegant, not backyard barbecue."

"Ducky's yard is more formal."

"Yeah, but he and Gram are getting married there at some point; I don't want to copy them."

"Or have them copy you."

"Huh? Oh yeah, guess you're right!" They were back at the Navy Yard by then and hurried inside to update Gibbs.

Two days later when they'd cracked the case Tim took a break before he started working on the case reports and looked online for the garden. When their website listed them as a site for weddings, he did a fist pump and grinned. "Hey DiNozzo, want to go back to that garden with me after we get off work? They do weddings but I want more details."

"Uh, shouldn't Ziva be going with you?"

"She's working late tonight. Come on, it'll be fun."

"Fun…I don't think so but I'll go with you just because I'm a good friend."

Tim opened his mouth to say something and then just grinned. "You're right, you are!"

"We're taking the Porsche."

"Yeah sure, have to drive back by here on the way home anyway, I can drop you off."

"For a sweet ride, yeah, I'll be your wingman with the wedding people."

Later as they stood in the gardens with the manager of the place, Tim looked around. "Look Tony, I can just imagine us standing at the gazebo, everyone behind us. And then the reception up on the terrace, like I said."

The manager smiled, "Yes, that's our favored setting. How many guests will you be expecting?"

Tim squinted, thinking, not noticing his squint was pointed in Tony's direction. "I think with everyone, there'll be about 25 or 30? You think that's right?"

Tony looked at him and did a rapid calculation. "Yeah, that's about right. People from work…what about the new place?"

"No, too soon and no need to schmooze."

"So yeah, that's good."

"All right, so shall we say 30 then gentlemen? It's always better to plan for more."

The two men nodded, that made sense.

"Now, what kind of ceremony are you having? Formal, casual?"

Tim responded, "I'll be in a tux, so formal."

"I see. And you sir?" He was looking at Tony.

"Uh, a suit at least."

"You're not wearing the same thing as your groom?"

Tony stared at him, repeating the words "your groom" to himself; then he looked at Tim and they stared at each other for several seconds before they got it.

"Oh no no, it's not us together… no it's…I'm marrying my girlfriend…fiancée Ziva, she's just working late tonight; Tony is our friend, our partner."

That still sounded strange but Tim snapped his mouth shut. Tony had turned away and Tim could hear him trying to stifle his laughter.

Tim added, "Not that there would be anything wrong with it if we were a couple!"

Tony turned, "I'm a great catch, McGee."

Tim rolled his eyes and turned back to the manager. "Sorry for the mix-up. I'll be wearing a tux, my bride will be wearing a formal wedding gown."

"That's fine; that tells me what kind of setup you'll likely want for the reception." He looked at his clipboard, "Now, what about music?"

Tim realized he was being asked to make decisions without Ziva's input. "You know, why don't we do this? My fiancée hasn't seen the place, why don't we come by and take a look together, meet with you then?"

Tim promised to call to schedule their meeting and the two men rolled away in the Porsche. Tony laughed all the way back to the Navy Yard and Tim just shook his head. "That was weird!"

When he caught his breath, Tony agreed, "I guess I should have realized what he was thinking when he asked me what I'd be wearing! I mean, who cares what the guests wear?"

"I just figured he meant you as part of the wedding party."

"Yeah?"

"Well yeah, Tony, I'd like you to be my best man."

"Me? Really? What about your brothers?"

Tim shook his head, "Ziva and I are marrying each other but you're still our partner, always going to be part of the "Three Musketeers". That means best man." He paused and then looked at Tony with a mischievous look in his eye, "Or I guess you could be Ziva's man of honor."

"Um…no no thanks. I'd love to be your best man, Tim. But you know that means I'm in charge of your bachelor party."

"Yes and Geordie will be your second on that, so I'm not worried." Tony made a face at him and they laughed.