Chapter 22 – Bring on the Wonder
2 Months Later…
Temperance hadn't been charged with anything for shooting Agent Freeman, seeing as it had been self defense. Her head wound had also healed quite nicely. Tim had also recovered from his shooting and had been cleared for duty the previous month. Ari had returned home two days after he had lost Vance, with apologies to Booth and Jethro. He and Dana were still staying with Ziva and Anthony, despite Anthony's many protests.
Ziva groaned and lifted her head from the toilet. It was the day of her wedding and she was as sick as a dog. She had the faintest hint of what might be causing it, and if she was right, she knew that it wouldn't last all day. Ziva hauled herself up off the floor and brushed her teeth quickly. She knew that Dana would be back soon to get her and take her, Abigail, and Temperance to the salon to get their hair done. She hurried into her room and pulled on sweats and a button down shirt. Anthony had already taken her dress and other various assorted items to the church, where she would be getting dressed. All she had to do was get her hair and nails done. Another wave of nausea surged through her, but she fought it off. While she was ecstatic that she might pregnant again, she wondered why it couldn't have come at a better time?
Ziva was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of a knock at the door. Knowing that was Dana, Abigail, and Temperance, she yelled through the apartment.
"Come in." She heard the sound of a door opening and then several people moving around.
"Ziva, are you ready?" Dana called from the hallway. Ziva slipped a pair of flip flops onto her feet and walked out to where everyone was congregated.
"Yes, I am ready," Ziva said.
Anthony paced nervously. He was in his old bedroom at the mansion and he was nervous as hell. He knew that this was what he wanted, he'd waited this ever since the first time he took Ziva out, but now that the day was here, second thoughts were clouding his mind. A knock sounded at his door and he looked up.
"Come in," he called. Jethro opened the door and came in.
"How are you feeling?" Jethro asked. Anthony smiled nervously and chuckled.
"Nervous," Anthony admitted. Jethro sat down on the edge of Anthony's bed and motioned for him to do the same. Jethro took a box out of his pocket and held it out to Anthony.
"I know you that already have your wedding bands picked out, but I thought that you might like to give Ziva your mother's," Jethro said. Anthony took the box from Jethro and opened it. Sitting in the crease of the box was his mother's wedding band. Anthony smiled at the memories it brought back.
When his mother was alive, every night before bed she would put on lotion. She would take her rings off one by one and hand them to Anthony carefully. Anthony would sit very still on the bed so he wouldn't drop them and patiently wait for his mother to be done. She would then take the rings back from Anthony one by one. When she had replaced them all on her fingers, she would kiss him on the cheek and tell him that she loved him.
"Thanks," Anthony said quietly, looking over at the man he had looked up to as a father. "This," Anthony trailed off. "This really means a lot to me." Jethro smiled and put his hand on Anthony's shoulder.
"How bout I take you out to lunch while the girls are getting ready?" Jethro asked. Anthony smiled.
"Sure."
Ziva looked at herself in the mirror. Abigail and Temperance had helped her get dressed while Dana put Lila in her dress. The hairdresser and makeup artist had done an amazing job. Her hair had been twisted up and pinned in various places so her curls looked volatile and sexy. Her eyes were shadowed with a pale pink, as well as her lips. He dress hugged her curves in all the right spots, and as far as she could see, she still didn't have a bump yet. Feeling someone squeeze her hand, she looked away from her reflection and saw Temperance next to her, fussing with her veil.
"Are you nervous?" Temperance asked. Ziva smiled and nodded.
"What does it feel like?" Ziva asked,
"It's the best day of your life," Temperance replied. Ziva smiled again and was about to speak, but was cut off by a knock at the door.
"Come in," Dana called without looking up. The door opened and Ari looked around the corner of the door.
"Ladies," Ari said as he walked into his room. "I was wondering if I could have a moment alone with my sister." Abigail and Temperance smiled at Ziva before grabbing their bouquets and leaving. Dana paused before leaving to kiss her husband, and then Ziva and Ari were alone.
"Are you nervous?" Ari asked. Ziva nodded.
"Yes, does every bride feel this way?" Ziva asked. Ari smiled and motioned for Ziva to sit next to him on the couch. Ziva did carefully, so as not to muss her dress, and she leaned onto Ari's shoulder.
"You look beautiful," Ari said. "Like your mother." Ziva blinked back tears.
"I wish she was here," Ziva said. Ari took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"But she is here with you," Ari said. "She and Tali are in your heart. She would have been proud of you, you know that, right? Ziva nodded and Ari pulled her in closely. They stayed like this until a knock sounded at the door and Dana poked her head in.
"We're ready," she said. Ziva stood up first, wiping her tears away and Ari followed, holding his arm out for Ziva to take.
Anthony stood nervously at the end of the aisle. He had previously been rocking back and forth until Jethro had clamped his hand on Anthony's shoulder; a sure sign that if he continued, he would be head slapped in public. Jethro stood behind him as his best man, with Tim and then Booth next to him. Anthony looked into the pews and could see an older man with Parker, Eliza, and Max. He concluded that this must be Temperance's father, recruited for babysitting duty. He could also see Ducky sitting with Jimmy and a few other mob people. On Ziva's side he could see Temperance's team from the Jeffersonian sitting about midway. Ziva had started getting to know them and they had all become fast friends.
Anthony turned his attention towards the door as the organ began playing the wedding march. Abigail appeared first, followed by Dana and Temperance. The music rose and then Ziva appeared on Ari's arm. Anthony's face broke into a smile. She looked beautiful. He turned to sneak a glance at Jethro, who was beaming proudly like a father would. Ari escorted Ziva down the aisle in time to the music. They finally reached the alter and Ari lifted Ziva's veil over her face and kissed her on the cheek. Ziva then turned towards Anthony and took his hand.
The service was short, the vows standard, but the whole room could see the love that was reflected in Anthony and Ziva's eyes. After the service was over, the required pictures were taken and then they got into the limo and headed for the reception.
Anthony and Ziva had a limo to themselves and once they were situated, Ziva snuggled into Anthony's side. Anthony popped the cork off of a champagne bottle and poured two glasses and handed one to Ziva. Ziva studied the glass and then handed it back to Anthony.
"I can't drink," Ziva said. Anthony looked at her, a confused look on his face.
"Why? Because you'll have to go to the bathroom later? Don't worry about that, isn't that what your bridesmaids are for?" Anthony said.
"No," Ziva said, a teasing smile on her face. "Because I'm pretty sure that women who are expecting are frowned upon for drinking." Anthony looked at her, to her stomach, back to Ziva's face. Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"Really?" he asked with the excitement of a little kid who has discovered a puppy under the Christmas tree. Ziva smiled and nodded. Anthony looked back down at her stomach and tentatively placed his hand on her stomach. Ziva placed her hand on top of his, the other wiping away a tear that had strayed down her cheek. Anthony looked back up at Ziva and took her face in his hands and kissed her.
"I love you, Ziva DiNozzo," Anthony said after they had pulled away.
"And I love you," Ziva replied.
Awwwww..... they're married, FINALLY! Come on people, please review. I know you're reading, you can't hide from me!! I see you, hiding in your computers.... not reviewing! REVIEW!!
