Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Soft giggling reached Tony's ears as he shuffled into the bullpen then next morning. A quick look around, but he found himself alone. Another giggle soon reached his ears, and he turned, to see Tim and Ziva on the catwalk with Jenny and Asher. "What are they-"
"Special Agent DiNozzo, Special Agent Gibbs, my office, now." Tony turned as Gibbs entered, and promptly headed to the stairs. Once they reached Jenny's office, they found that Abby, Ducky, Palmer, Sarah, and a mysterious young woman were there as well. He turned to Gibbs, who glanced at the two children with the woman and her husband and shrugged. "Special Agent McGee and Officer David have an announcement they would like to share."
"You're having a baby!" Abby cried, bouncing in her seat. Gibbs glared at her and she stopped, as Ziva shook her head.
"No. We are not... doing that out of order again." She replied, glancing at Tim. He pressed a kiss to her lips, wrapping her in his arms from behind.
"You wanna tell them, Asher?" Tim asked, glancing at his son. The boy looked up at his father.
"I can?"
"You're our son, this is as much your news as it is ours." The boy bounced on the balls of his feet, giggling.
"Abba and Ima are getting married on Friday!" Silence reigned for the first few minutes after the announcement; Sarah broke it quickly, though, once the words sank in.
"Timmy? Really?" He nodded as Sarah rushed him and threw her arms around his in a tight hug. Ziva had thankfully stepped out of the way to avoid the sibling collision, but that didn't mean she didn't miss her own. She felt Tali's arms wrap around her from behind, and she turned, wrapping her arms around the younger woman's neck.
"What made you change your mind?" Tali whispered. Ziva thought a moment. "I am ready. So is Tim."
"Tali, it is just going to be a small gathering. I do not need a white dress for a small gathering. Besides, I am no longer a virgin. I have not been a virgin since I was seventeen." She dug her heels in, refusing to set foot in the small bridal shop in Georgetown. Gibbs had offered use of his backyard for the small ceremony, and everyone agreed to pitch in with refreshments and decorations. Tali, of course, insisted on getting her sister's dress. And Ziva, of course, was resisting.
"You still need a dress. Now, come on, Zivaleh! Don't be so stubborn!" She finally succeeded in tugging her sister into the shop. "It doesn't have to be fancy, just a light little dress for an outdoor wedding." She turned, going to the clerk. "Um, excuse me, I was wondering if we could look at a couple dresses?" The woman beamed.
"Of course. When is the big day?" Tali shook her head, showing her ring.
"Not for me." She glanced behind her, grabbing Ziva's wrist and tugging her back to her side as the other woman snuck towards the door. "For my sister. She's getting married on Friday." The woman glanced at Ziva, before glancing back at Tali and then returning her gaze to Ziva. She took in the other sister's wild curls and petite, slender frame.
"I think I have just the thing. Let me go get it." She rushed off, leaving the sister's alone. She returned minutes later with a dress in a plastic bag, and gestured for Ziva to follow. With a push from her sister, Ziva did, soon finding herself in the dressing room, with the woman unzipping the bag and removing the dress. Sighing, Ziva reluctantly undressed and allowed the girl to help her into it, her back to the mirror. "Okay, go ahead and turn around, see what you think." Slowly, Ziva did as told, facing the mirror.
The dress was short; the skirt coming just to her knees and strapless, with a sweetheart cut. The bodice was covered in delicate scalloped lace, and there was a wide emerald green sash that went around the bodice, just beneath her breasts. The skirt's hem was covered in scalloped lace, like the top, and it left her beautiful tanned skin exposed.
"Well, what do you think?" Ziva swallowed and turned to the girl, her eyes darting to the door. "Let's go show your sister."
Tali looked up as Ziva came out, and she couldn't hide the grin as Ziva stopped in front of her. "Oh Zivaleh, you look beautiful." Her sister swallowed.
"It looks okay?"
Tali nodded. "Perfect."
"Is it scary? Marriage?" Tali stopped, turning to Ziva. The sisters were walking to a small coffee shop, planning on spending some time not discussing the upcoming wedding. But apparently, Ziva couldn't get her mind off it.
"Not really, no. Honestly, I thought giving birth was scarier than getting married. But then again, I was eleven, what did I know back then? The only birth I had ever witnessed was Asher's." Ziva chuckled softly.
"But is it worth it, Tali? Giving yourself to another person? Changing your name?" Tali followed her sister into the coffee shop and up to the counter.
"You seemed to think it was worth it when you and Tim slept together and conceived Asher. Besides, I thought you would be excited to change your name. You know how much trouble that name has caused us- all of us. You, me, Tim. I rejoiced when I changed my name." They sat at a table near the window, with the sun coming in to splash across their skin. Ziva sighed.
"I am... just so used to being alone. I am so used to not having anyone but Asher in my life. What if Tim wakes one morning and realizes that we are not worth it, or that he threw his life away?" Tali reached out, taking her sister's hand and squeezing.
"You have to stop thinking that way, Zivaleh. Tim loves you. Both of you. He always has, he always will."