Senior placed another glass of wine in front of Ziva, as Tony walked toward the bathroom. The small restaurant was quiet. Schmeil had gone to the bathroom some time ago, but Ziva was not yet worried. Part of dining with Schmeil was these long bathroom breaks. For fresh air, the old man claimed. These breaks had gotten longer as he aged, the alcohol having more of an effect.

"We should toast," Senior said, as he took his seat opposite Ziva. Presenting her with new were drinking the night away.

"L'Chaim," Ziva offered, holding up her glass.

"Saluti," Senior replied, as he raised his own glass. They clinked. Ziva smiled. A full moon of a smile.

"And, I should formally welcome you to the family," Senior said. Still smiling. Their whole table, had smiled for the entire night, like fools. Happiness was a drug, and they were all high.

"Thank you," Ziva said. "Tony and I are very happy."

One didn't need a detective badge to figure that out. Both Tony and Ziva were all smiles.

"Truth is you were family, before Junior put that ring on your finger," Senior declared.

Ziva nodded. Her ring glisted in the evening sun. She watched as Tony from across the restaurant, as he motioned to the restaurant patio, perhaps in search of Schmeil.

"This last year it has been very good," Ziva said. An understatement.

"I wanted to thank you," Senior said, as he took a sip of his wine.

"For what?" she asked.

"For everything," Senior said, with the trademark DiNozzo grin. "I know you've always been there for Junior, even before you got together."

Senior did air quotes as he said 'got together'. Ziva rolled her eyes.

"Tony and I were not always kind to each other," Ziva admitted with a sigh.

Ghosts that she thought she had buried bobbed to surface. She cursed herself, couldn't she just let happiness wash over her.

"Maybe not," Senior declared, "But, you've kept my boy out of trouble."

"We always had each others backs," Ziva said. They had ran into the fire together, guns blazing.

"He is so happy now," Senior said. "I know I haven't always been there, but I know he was very unhappy for a while."

"We both work very hard on being happy," Ziva said, as she craned her neck, watching for Schmeil or Tony. She checked her watch, Schmeil had been getting air for a while.

Happiness was a choice. They grabbed it with two wide open hands.

"I know," Senior said. "I know it's selfish, but I've been happier these last few months too. I really didn't think I would be, after what happened with Linda."

Ziva nodded.

"I am glad," Ziva said, her voice softening.

"I know my renting Junior's apartment was your idea," Senior said. His voice cracking. "I really wanted to thank you for that. I imagine Junior had his reservations."

Ziva nodded, remembering the difficult conversations they had about the current situation. So far Tony's fears were unfounded.

"I do not want to play referee between the two of you," Ziva said.

"Of course not," Senior replied.

"And you should know, if something were to happen between you two, I would take Tony's side," Ziva said. The drink talking for her.

Senior swallowed thickly. The truth stung.

"Junior always says you are protective," Senior said, with a smile. Trying to diffuse the situation. "Now, I can see it in action."

"I hope it never comes to that," Ziva said. "I know Tony is glad you two are getting closer."

Senior nodded. He was glad too.

"I can't undo the past," Senior said softly. "There are times when I wish I could."

"He is not asking for that," Ziva said softly, "I think we would all like, if the past did not impact the future."

The future. How she wanted to grab it with both happy hands?

"Junior says you two want to have children," Senior said, as he finished his drink. Ziva swilled her glass, still half full.

He had thirty-odd years on Junior, and nearly forty-years on Ziva, but had out-drunk them both. Good ol' Schmeil was at least a drink ahead of him.

"Yes," Ziva said, showing Senior a full beam of a smile. "We would like that very much."

Senior smiled. For a second both of them imagined the same scene. Curly haired DiNozzos, with tiny hands, quoting movies on the playground.

"Catherine, would have really loved you," Senior said.

"Tony thinks that too," Ziva said, as she ran her hands through her hair. A nervous tic. "We talked about it once."

"I'm glad you two talk about these things," Senior said. "Junior needs someone to talk to."

"We do have some secrets," Ziva said, with a half smile.

"But you talk about the important things," Senior said, letting out a breath. "I've been around this particular block a few times, and being able to have those difficult conversations, they can make or break it."

Ziva nodded. A serious look on her face.

"We would like to be those people, who make it," Ziva said looking down at her lap. "He makes me very happy. I did not always think I deserved to be this happy."

Senior frowned at the seriousness of it all.

"You do," Senior said softly. "Both of you do. And I hope you will be."

She looked up, offering a smile.

"Shall, we have another toast," Senior asked, matching her smile and getting up. Ziva swatted him down.

"Yes," she said, getting up, and fishing out her wallet. "But it is my round."

Schmeil watched the night sky as Tony came up behind him.

"Ziva's wondering where you've gone," Tony said, as he stood next to Schmiel. The height difference noticeable.

"She is used to my wanderings," Schmeil said. He patted the space on the bench. "Sit."

"Are you okay?" Tony asked. There was a heaviness in the older mans expression.

"Okay?" Schmeil said, a smile erupting over his face. "I am overjoyed. My Ziva has found love. She is so happy. I do not think I have ever seen her smile so much, not even as a child."

Tony imagined Ziva a smiley child with wild curls. Would their children look as cute?

"Yeah," Tony said. "She's really happy, we're really happy."

"In truth, she has been all smiles for months now," Schmeil said. "I could feel them even through the telephone."

Tony nodded. Schmeil told no lies.

"I am very proud of her," Schmeil said, beaming. "Of both of you."

"She's amazing," Tony said, as he looked through the window, to see Ziva and his father smiling. "I just hang on her coattails."

"No," Schmeil whispered. "You are both doing so well."

Tony nodded, as he watched Ziva place a hand on Senior's shoulder, and walked toward the bar.

"We try," Tony whispered.

"I have been thinking about Rivka often during this trip," Schmeil said, after a quiet moment.

Tony nodded. Waiting for more.

"She would have loved all of this," Schmeil continued. "She always wanted to go to Italy, and she would have loved all of history. She would have loved everything."

"Even me?" Tony joked.

"She would," Schmeil replied, nodding with certainty. "She would have liked how different you and Eli were."

Tony swallowed thickly.

"Rivka, was so afraid that Ziva would end up like him," Schmeil continued. His eyes getting glassy. "Even when Ziva was a child, Rivka could see how Ziva would idolise him, and how he would just leave her. She was so afraid Ziva would end up like him, or marry a man like him."

"She hasn't," Tony said, even though Eli's clutches went beyond the grave.

"For a while, it seemed like she would," Schmeil admitted, running his hand under his nose. "After Rivka was killed, she was so angry, and then we lost Tali so soon afterwards. I really worried that Ziva was lost too."

Tony swallowed thickly. He knew parts of this tale, from Ziva's point of view. She had distanced herself from Schmeil, not wanting to upset him, and also not wanting his judgement. Ziva and Schmeil had reconnected after Ziva had come back from that summer, with Ziva wanting a connection to Israel that was not her father.

"She got so caught up in her father's world," Schmeil said softly. "It seemed like Rivka's words had been a prophecy. A prophecy that came so close to being true."

Tony nodded. The conversation was heavy, making him gasp for air.

"I mourned for Ziva, especially when we were told that she was lost for good," Schmeil whispered. His eyes were watery. Tony knew what Schmeil was talking about, that summer. "I grieved for her. I grieved for the life she never got to live. I grieved for Rivka and her prophecy."

"She came back though," Tony said.

"She did," Schmeil said, as a fat gloopy tear fell down his face. "I am not a man who believes in miracles, but that day when she called, I came close."

Tony swallowed thickly. There was so much pain, with so much joy.

"Ziva told me, that you two got closer again, after that," Tony said.

"We did," Schmeil said with a smile. "I am sorry, I did not want to be the rain cloud on such a sunny day."

"Is that why you came outside?" Tony asked.

"Yes," Schmeil admitted, with a heavy sigh. "When you have lost so much, it is hard not to think of these things, even when there is so much joy."

There would be a lot of empty seats at the wedding. You do not get over the loss of someone, you only get through, Ziva had said once upon a time.

"I am so very happy for both of you," Schmeil said, turning to Tony, and flashing a teary smile. "I am looking forward to your wedding, I have been told that DiNozzo's know how to party."

Tony nodded. His own eyes getting glassy. The past would not stop them from having an amazing future.

Ziva appeared in the doorway, leaning on the terrace. Her face flushed after the last glass of wine.

"My Ziva," Schmeil said, as he offered out his hand. Ziva moved toward him.

Tony got up, and squeezed Ziva's hand as he walked past, waving at his father through the window. The old man should not be left alone.

Ziva sat down next to Schmeil, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. The cool evening air hitting her.

"How much did you hear?" Schmeil asked, in Hebrew.

"I have been thinking about them too," Ziva admitted, slipping into Hebrew. Half-answering Schmeil's question. "It is hard not too, even with such celebration."

There was so much joy, in the these last hours, but the ghosts had stepped out from the darkness as the sun faded away.

"Your mother would be proud of you," Schmeil said. Ziva's own eyes sprigged with tears. "So proud."

"I wish she could be here," Ziva said softly. "I wish she and I could bicker about dresses and place settings. I wish that she could tell me to hurry up and give her grandchildren."

Schmeil laughed. Ziva laughed too. Both picturing Rivka, older than she ever got to be, with grey hair and bossing Ziva around. Rivka and her wild opinions

"She would have done that," Schmeil said, remembering Rivka and her opinions. "Are you and Tony are talking about children?"

"Tony and I, are going to wait until I am done with my degree," Ziva said. "Though if the universe has other plans, we will welcome them."

"She would have liked that," Schmeil said.

Both knew that Rivka mourned for that masters degree she never started. Rivka was trapped in domestic drudgery, with a husband that was never home.

"I wish I could have called Tali, when Tony proposed," Ziva said, as a tear ran down her face. "She probably would have squealed down the phone, not caring that it hurt her voice."

Schmeil laughed, their shared imagination painted such a vivid picture. Tali had always been so excitable. Ziva joined him in the laughter. It tasted so sweet.

"I am glad you are here to celebrate with us," Ziva said, swallowing thickly. "I am also glad for this. For having a moment to think about who were a missing. I have not always allowed myself that."

Ziva smiled. Schmeil smiled. Teary smiles.

"But, it must only be a moment," Schmeil declared. "You and Tony have too much living to do."

Tony and Senior waved from inside the bar, urging them back inside. Ziva and Schmeil waved back.

"Yes," Ziva declared. "We all do."

"We should get back to the party," Schmeil declared. "I need to make a toast."

"There have been a lot of toasts," Ziva replied. She had only noticed the light-headedness when she stepped outside.

"But this one is important," Schmeil said, with a huge smile as Ziva offered out his hand to help him up. He stood up, gripping her forearm, as they stood, still for a moment. "We need to toast, to you and Tony, and your future children. And the wonderful life you will lead."

Ziva turned slightly to face Schmeil, a huge full-beam of a smile on her face. Schmeil smiled back.

With that they started to walk. One foot in front of the other. Walking back to the land of the living, with the ghosts looking on.

A/N:

I don't own a thing.

Thanks so much for all the love, reviews and faves, I'll get to replying to those soon. I'm glad everyone enjoyed the proposal.

To those, who are celebrating Happy Easter, or Happy Passover. You can thank the Easter break for the extra update.