Rifiuto: Non Miriena

This couldn't be-

"You are not real." She choked out, but she soon found the woman pressing a firm kiss to her palm.

"Yes, I am, Ziva." But Ziva shook her head, closing her eyes, not wanting to believe that her greatest heartache was suddenly alive; she told herself this was a dream, and when she opened them, she would be in bed beside Tim, safe and sound. But when she did open her eyes, the woman still there. "You're not dreaming, Zivaleh. Neither of us are." Then, she pulled something from beneath her blouse; a Star of David necklace, identical to Ziva's. Eli had given one to each of his daughters on their sixth birthday, with their names engraved along the back of one of the triangle sides.

The woman turned the pendant over, showing the back of the star and the engraving.

Talia.

She choked on a sob, covering her mouth with her hand. The woman nodded, tears in her own eyes as she wrapped Ziva in a hug. Slowly, the officer slipped her arms around the woman, letting her tears get the better of her. "I have missed you, sister." She whispered, pressing a kiss to the damp hair. Small feet soon rushed towards them, and the pair broke apart, to see two children, a girl and boy, standing with a man.

"Talia, sweetheart, who's-"

"Is this her?" The girl asked. Talia nodded, tucking a dark curl behind her ear.

"Ziva, these are my children, Esther and Benjamin, and my husband, Michael." She gave her family a smile. "This, is my sister, Ziva." Michael looked confused.

"I thought your sister was-"

"We all had that impression." Tim replied, returning. He'd dashed across the street to call Gibbs, and finally returned, surprised to see the man and children. "Zi, who-" She shook her head, only choking out,

"Tali..." Tim nodded, reaching out to take her hand before he stopped.

"You were the woman at the café... the... the berry..."

"Pie. Yeah. I..." She shrugged, unable to find words. After a moment, Ziva turned to Tim.

"What did Gibbs want? Is Asher okay?" Tim jumped, startled to find her back to business.

"Asher's fine, Zi. But we need to get back. Gibbs wasn't too happy to find out we'd let the evidence get away."

"She is gone, Gibbs. I do no think Kate will mind." She watched him take a seat at his desk, and after a moment, got up, grabbing the sketchpad. "I found this," She handed it to him, presenting it like a precious jewel. "but I have a feeling she would of wanted you to have it." She gave him a small smile. "See you in the morning." Then, she grabbed her things and left, rushing downstairs to meet Tim and Asher in the parking garage.

They had agreed to meet at Tali's place, down in Alexandria. After rushing home to change, they soon found themselves waiting on the doorstep; it was a nice, two story home in Old Alexandria, the kind of place Ziva imagined living in as a child. "Maybe we should go-" She started, as the door opened, and Tali poked her head out. She grinned, opening the door and stepping aside to allow them to enter. As soon as they stepped into the foyer, Tali wrapped her arms around Ziva in a tight hug.

"Come on. You need to meet the rest of the family." The living room was spacious, beautiful, and Tali didn't waste any time in proper introductions. She went to the sofa, where her children were sitting, looking through a photo album and knelt beside them. "Do you two remember the couple we met today?"

"The two that fell in the fountain?" The girl asked. She nodded.

"Yes. Well, that woman is my older sister."

"Auntie Ziva? But... but you said she was dead." Ziva struggled to hold back a sob, as the realization dawned that both girls had been lied to for the majority of their adult lives.

"I know. I thought so too. But she's not. She's here, and she wants to meet you." Tali stood, turning to her sister. "Come meet your niece and nephew." Slowly, Ziva stepped forward, but Asher's holding tight to her hand stopped her. She turned back.

"What is it, my angel?" She asked, kneeling in front of her son. The boy's green eyes flicked to the other woman, before returning to his mother.

"Who is she?" Ziva bit her lip.

"That... that is your Doda Tali." Asher's brow furrowed, confused.

"But you said she died." Gently, Ziva took her son's face in her hand.

"I know, my angel. And for years, I thought she was. But I was wrong." She pressed a kiss to her son's head before getting up and going to her sister.

"Esther, Benjamin, this is your aunt, Ziva." Tali took her hand, squeezing gently, before giving her a small smile. Ziva returned it, before looking at her niece and nephew and feeling fear climb up her back.

"It is nice to meet you." A moment passed, before the girl got up and threw her arms around Ziva's waist.

Dinner was filled with stories of growing up, of their various lives after their supposed deaths. Now though, they sat in the living room, and over coffee, told the story that linked Tim to both sisters. Benjamin looked at Tim, confused. "So... you're our uncle."

"Not quite. Asher is our son, but Ziva and I aren't married. But..." He glanced at her, and she bit her lip, taking his hand and perching on the arm of the chair. "But we are engaged." Tali's mouth dropped.

"What? Why didn't you say anything to start with?"

"Because it is a... technical engagement." Ziva said.

"Technical?" Michael asked. "How can an engagement be technical?"

"We were... discussing naturalization, and Tim told me that you can shorten the wait to three years if you are married. I jokingly asked if he was proposing, and he..." She glanced at him. "He told me it was just something to think about. And I told him that my answer would... would always be yes. So, if you would like to get technical about it..." She stopped, blushing.

"Technically, we are engaged." Tim finished for her. She turned to him, grinning, before leaning over and capturing his lips in a kiss.

"Really?" The pair broke apart to see Asher bouncing in his seat. "You are engaged? Really Abba?" Tim nodded, glancing at Ziva.

"Yeah. We're engaged. Wh-" But he choked on the question when Asher launched himself at his father, climbing onto his lap and wrapping his arms around his neck.

"Toda, Abba! I love you!" Tim chuckled, glancing at Ziva.

"I love you, too." He whispered, pressing a kiss to his son's head. He then glanced at Ziva. "I love you, too." She smiled, mouthing the words back to him.