A/N: And here is chapter 2! I kinda like this one, though be forewarned, it is extremely fluffy. And kinda cliched. But totally them (or at least I think so). This is dedicated to anyone who has a birthday (today, next month, yesterday, last week, etc.) Peace and love and Happer Easter (and Happy Passover) Kit.
DISCLAIMER: I highly doubt the Easter Bunny will bring me rights to NCIS. However, Easter Bunny, if you are listening, feel free to bring along some plot bunnies :^).
XXXIX.
39 candles extinguished on the white expanse of homemade cake, smoke curling in grey tendrils towards the ceiling. She never thought she'd get to see this and he didn't either. She didn't actually think she'd live this long, he'd just she miss it. (Though she promises to never miss his birthday.)
He fumbles with the key, muttering in the darkness of the hallway as it deflects off the lock for the fourth time and launches out of his hand, jingling delicately when it hits the floor, bouncing next to his shoe. He sighs, stooping down to retrieve it as the scratching sound of the lock being unlatched sounds from the opposite side of the door. And he is bathed in the warm glow of the apartment lights and her.
"Shalom," she greets smoothly, arching one eyebrow in wry amusement at him crouching on his front stoop.
"Breaking and entering, Zee-vah?" he asks, straightening up.
She smirks, stepping aside to allow him entrance. He brushes past her and she closes the door after him with a soft click before sauntering past him as he takes off his suit coat. She pauses at his kitchen doorway, leaning against the post, and informs him, "It is not breaking and entering if you have a key . . . ."
"Yeah yeah yeah," he says, kicking off his shoes and depositing them next to hers.
He walks into the kitchen only to find the she isn't anywhere in sight. "Ziva?"
And the lights shut off and he is plunged into darkness. "Ziva?" he calls again, this time more desperate, this time more alarmed. He catches his foot on the corner of the cabinet, which sends him nearly airborne as he utters a yelp and hobbles over to a chair, feeling his way blindly. "Zi-"
"Stop shouting, Tony. I am here," her voice floats from the adjacent room, calm and utterly unconcerned. He sighs, massaging his throbbing toe, asking, "Do we have a flashlight?"
"We do not need a flashlight, Tony."
"Ziva-" but his words die in his throat because she appears in the doorway, her face illuminated by the inferno glowing in her hands. The inferno, he realizes, being his birthday cake, which she has apparently, meticulously, adorned with the correct number of candles. All thirty-nine of them.
And her voice is melodious as she sings 'Happy Birthday' in her sultry alto. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Tony. Happy birthday to you." She places the cake (and the subsequent conflagration) before him, biting back a laugh at his shock. "Surprise," she whispers, kissing the top of his head. "Now make a wish and blow out your candles before they get wax all over the cake."
"You think I'm going to be able to blow out all these candles?" he teases. And Ziva responds to this by setting a fire extinguisher on the table next to the cake. Which makes Tony laugh and suck in an audible lungful of air before exhaling theatrically, sending the candle flames dancing and sputtering out into oblivion.
"Very nice," she compliments, leaning over the table and flicking the light switch. And now he realizes that there are several party favors occupying the airspace above them, half a dozen blue and green latex balloons floating around a big helium-filled foil duck.
He points upward as she cuts the cake, "What's up with the duck?"
And she shrugs delicately, sliding him his plate. "It was either the duck or an odd yellow sponge wearing pants. At least the duck was cute."
And they are quiet for a moment, sampling her culinary expertise.
"Mmm," he moans, "This is fabulous. You remembered."
"Your birthday or your fondness for red velvet cake?"
"Both," he clarifies, taking another bite, savoring the flavor. Her cooking was devilishly good, why he thought her baking would be any different, he knows not.
She sets her fork down, shifting in her seat to face him better, placing her palm against his cheek. "I never thought I'd get to see this," she whispers.
And his lips twitch upward in a grin and he agrees, "I thought you'd miss it this year." And next year. And the year after that.
"I never thought I'd live this long," she confesses. "I never thought I'd get to see this. Someone I love actually live past thirty. . . . I promise I will never miss another birthday." And a small tear escapes down her cheek and she smiles at him, wholly and utterly happy. "What'd you wish for?" she wonders, running the heal of her hand over her face, being them back into the present.
He leans forward, brushes his lips against hers, once, twice. "If I tell you what I wished for, it won't come true, Ziva." And she rolls her eyes, properly chastised for her erroneous attempt to corrupt his birthday wish.
"Do you want your present now?" she asks innocently and he nods, frowning slightly when she gets up and disappears into the other room. So he stands up and makes to follow her, but only gets as far as the middle of his kitchen before she materializes in the doorway, hands behind her back, that mischievously playful glint shining in her eyes.
Ziva takes five strides and is standing before him, his ocean eyes alight with curiosity.
"Yom huledet same'ach, ahuv sheli," she purrs and in one fluid and graceful movement, her hands appear from their previous concealment, and brush against the crown of her head before falling to her sides once more. And he blinks in surprise before his face breaks out in a slow, dazzling smile.
Because resting atop her head is a shiny silver bow.
He takes her into his arms, holding her close to him, breathing her in as she buries her face in his shoulder.
And he whispers sweetly in her ear, "Whaddaya know? My wish came true."
....................../)/)........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... . NC..................(., .)_ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... IS..................(")(") )0........................................................................................................................................................................................................................