Here we go! Chapter 30! Enjoy! :-)
I DO NOT NCIS or anything related to it…just thought you should know!
Kate stared at the ringing phone motionless, feeling her heart race. She looked over to Tony who remained asleep as the phone continued to ring. Taking a deep breath, Kate got up and retrieved the phone receiver.
"Hello?" answered Kate, voice shaky.
"Hello, Agent Todd?" The sound of the judge's voice sent chills down Kate's body.
"Yes, this is Agent Todd."
"This is Judge Ames from Family Court."
Kate could barely speak. "Yes, how are you, your honor?"
"I'm well. I'm sure you have anxiously been awaiting this phone call?"
"You have no idea!"
"Well, I had a very in depth conversation with Mr. Combs and Ms. Lee after you all left and I want you to know that I commend you for all that you have done for Arissa over the past nine months. It takes in very special person to care for a child they don't even know and to do so when you are starting a family of your own? Well, I can't say that I could have even done that!"
"Thank you, your honor."
"I hope you understand the position I'm in Agent Todd. It's my job to ensure that Arissa is placed somewhere where she can not only thrive but live the most normal, happy life she possibly can. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing my job."
"I understand your honor."
The judge let out a heavy sigh. "I have decided to…"
Kate felt her knees buckle under her as she listen to the judge speak. "Okay. Well, thank you for everything, Judge Ames."
Kate hung up the phone as she slowly lowered to the floor and cried in her knees. Her mind was flooded by the thoughts of everything that had occurred over the last nine months. She thought about the day in which Arissa first entered into their lives. The day they found her balled up in the back of that shower, face covered in blood. She recounted how Arissa wanted nothing to do with her and how her rejection made Kate feel completely unprepared for motherhood. It never crossed Kate's mind that the little girl who made her call into question her ability to be a mother would become part of what made her a mother and now it all came down to a simple phone call.
Kate wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to compose herself before she got up and walked over to the sofa where Tony and the three children rested.
"Tony?" whispered Kate as she tried to wake her sleeping fiancée.
"Huh?" moaned Tony, still asleep.
"Tony, wake up!"
Tony blinked his eyes as he began to wake up. Coming to his senses, he studied Kate's face. "Kate, what's wrong?"
"The judge called, Tony."
Tony tightened his grip around Arissa. "Oh no. What did he say?"
Kate couldn't speak. She couldn't find the words to say.
Arissa began to wake from her sleep. "Hi Mommy," yawned the little girl as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"Hey sweetie," replied Kate, trying to contain her emotions.
"Mommy, you crying?" Arissa looked at Tony. "Daddy, why Mommy crying?"
Tony rested Arissa's head on his chest gently kissing her light brown hair. He knew he had to be strong for both Kate and Arissa but he was having a hard time keeping it together. "It's going to be okay."
Kate let out a heavy sigh. "Arissa DiNozzo doesn't sound too bad, does it?"
Tony looked at Kate, unsure of what she said. "What?"
"I mean, you're legally her father so she should have your last name."
Tony's eyes lit up. "He finalized the adoption?"
Kate smiled and nodded yes.
"Yes!" shouted Tony, causing the twins to wake up, crying.
"Tony!" exclaimed Kate as she took Aiden off of Tony's chest, settling his cries.
"Sorry!" smiled Tony as he sat up bouncing a crying Alex in his arms.
"What finalized mean?" asked Arissa.
"Finalized, means that you are now our daughter!" replied Tony to the little girl.
"The judge say you my Mommy and Daddy now?"
"He sure did!"
Arissa couldn't contain her happiness as she jumped off the sofa and started jumping up and down. "Yea! I have a real family! I have a real family!"
Tony took Kate in his arm and kisses her. "Congratulations, Kate! You have a daughter!"
"We have a daughter!" replied Kate.
With Arissa's adoption finalized, Kate and Tony could now focus on their upcoming wedding day that came quicker than expected.
The day of the wedding, Tony was a bundle of nerves as he paced back and forth in the waiting area of the church.
"This is it! This is the day I've waited all these years for! Today I make Caitlin Todd, my wife. I'm having a hard time believing this is actually happening. I'm doing the right thing here, right?"
Alex and Aiden laid in their carriers bright eyed, kicking their arms and legs as their father walked back and forth talking to them.
"I'll take that as a yes!" smiled Tony at his sons who were wearing a pair of baby tuxedo pants and black shirts with a tiny red tie to match their father's. "Today's the day, guys! Daddy's going to marry Mommy! I know I should have probably done that before you were born but better late than never right?"
Alex began to become fussy. Tony picked him up and cradled him in his arms. Gentle bouncing his son up and down in his arms, Tony reached into the diaper bag Kate had packed for him and pulled out a bottle. Placing the bottle in Alex's mouth, Tony smiled as the baby started to suck down the milk. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in!" shouted Tony.
Gibbs walked in wearing a tuxedo with a black shirt and black tie. "You ready to get this show on the road, DiNozzo?"
"Yeah, I just need to feed Alex first or we'll never hear the end of it during the ceremony. You mind feeding Aiden?"
"Sure!" Gibbs took the baby out of the carrier causing him to fuss. "There, there, Grandpa Gibbs has got you!" Gibbs quietly shushed the baby as he placed a bottle into his mouth allowing him to eat. "Just came from seeing the girls. Abby did a really good job picking out their dresses! They look very nice!"
"What about Kate?"
Gibbs just smiled as he continued to feed the baby in his arms. "I know you don't hear this from me often, Tony, but I'm really proud of you. You have really stepped out these past few months."
Tony smiled at Gibbs. "Thanks, Boss."
"Do right by them, Tony. Make them your priority. What you and Kate have only comes once in a life time, don't abuse it."
"I won't, Boss." Tony laughed to himself. "Bet you never saw this coming? Kate and I getting married? Having a family?"
"I don't believe in coincidence, DiNozzo."
There was a knock at the door as McGee entered the room wearing a suit similar to Gibbs'. "Um, someone wants to see you, Tony!"
McGee stepped to the side as Arissa walked in. Tony couldn't help but smile as the four year approached him in her white and red flower girl dress. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail allowing her hazel eyes to shine while a single white flower rested to the side of her head.
"Hey sweetie!" said Tony as he sat down with Alex to be eye level with the little girl. "You okay?"
"Yeah! I just wanted to see you, Daddy," smiled Arissa. "You and Mommy getting married, Daddy!"
"I know! Are you ready?"
"Yeah! Don't I look pretty?" asked Arissa as she twirled her dress.
"You look beautiful!"
Arissa smiled as she gave Tony a big hug and kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?"
"Because I happy! I love you, Daddy!"
"I love you too!"
There was another knock on the door as Abby entered. "Hey, everyone is set! We ready to go?"
"Yeah! Just got to put me and the boys' jackets on!" Tony handed baby Alex to McGee. "Burp him for me will ya?"
McGee smiled as he placed his nephew over his shoulder gently patting him on his back to burp.
"Come on, Rissa. Let's get you ready!" said Abby, reaching out for Arissa's hand.
"Okay, Auntie Abby!" exclaimed Arissa, taking Abby's hand and leaving.
"Come on now, you don't want to keep your guests waiting," said Gibbs as he finished feeding and burping Aiden before helping to put on the twins' tuxedo jackets and heading out the door behind Tony and McGee.
Inside the church, Gibbs stood next to Tony watching as he fidgeted waiting for the start of the ceremony.
"Tony, would you relax!" ordered Gibbs as he watched Tony.
"Sorry, Boss! I'm just nervous!"
Gibbs gave Tony a slap on the back of the head.
"Thanks Boss!"
The priest took his place at the front to the altar.
The music started as the doors in the back of the church opened and there stood a smiling Arissa, holding a basket of flowers in her hand. She walked in pace with the music as she dropped flowers down the aisle. As she made her way to the front, she couldn't help but run up to Tony, hugging his leg tightly, before running to take her place on the other side of the altar. Tony smiled as he looked up to see Ducky and Rachel standing in the doorway. Ducky looked rather handsome in his black tuxedo matching Gibbs', while her walked arms locked with Kate's older sister who looked beautiful in her red satin bridesmaid dress with an accompanying jacket.
Next was Palmer who was accompanied by a stunning looking Ziva. Tony was shocked at how womanly she looked in her red satin form-fitting dress with her dark hair lying gently against her shoulders. Even nerdy Palmer looked distinguished in his tuxedo. Abby and McGee appeared in the doorway both in all black. McGee held Aiden to his right side as Abby held Alex to her left side. The two adults smiled at each other as they interlocked arms and made their way down the aisles. The church filled with "awes" as the attendants admired Tony and Kate's twins. Arriving at the end of the aisle, Tony kisses each of his sons on the forehead before Abby and McGee handed the twins off to Kate's mom, who sat in the front row, and then took their places.
The music changed, as everyone focused their attention to the back of the church. There stood a pissed off looking David staring straight at Tony. The anger in his face slowly faded to a smile as Kate took her place next to him wearing a simple white satin dress with a red accent around the waist. David leaned over to place as soft kiss on his daughter's cheek before the pair began their procession down the aisle. As Tony watched Kate approach him he could feel the tears swelling up in his eyes. She looked so perfect. Arriving at the end of the aisle David gave his daughter a hug before taking her hand and placing it in Tony's. He placed a hand on Tony's shoulder looking him in the eyes, giving him a smile and an approving nod. A firm shoulder squeeze let Tony know that just because he was marrying Kate didn't mean he still wouldn't kill him. David took his seat allowing the priest to begin the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of one Anthony DiNozzo, Jr. and Caitlin Lauren Todd. As I look upon this couple the script from 1 Corinthians comes to mind: Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends. Usually, I feel the need to counsel couples on the true meaning of these words, but as I gaze upon Anthony and Caitlin, something tells me they know far too well the meaning of this scripture and I have no doubt that these words will guide them in their future. So let's get to this shall we?"
Tony and Kate looked at each other and smiled.
"Anthony and Caitlin, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"
"Yes," replied Tony and Kate together.
The priest looked towards Tony. "Anthony, do you take Caitlin to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?"
"I do," said Tony with a smile.
"Caitlin, do you take Anthony to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?"
"I do," replied Kate.
Tony turned towards Gibbs who handed him Kate's wedding ring while Kate retrieved Tony's from Abby.
"Kate, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," stated Tony as he slipped the ring over Kate's finger.
"Tony, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," said Kate as she placed the ring on Tony's finger.
"Traditionally, in a Catholic ceremony, I would ask the couple if they accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church. Well Caitlin and Anthony have clearly already made that vow!" said the priest as looked upon the twins who sat in their grandparents' lap. "So they asked for me to bond them in a different kind of vow. You see they recently received the news that their adoption of Arissa finalized, officially making them her parents!"
Arissa smiled at Tony and Kate, as she sat between Kate's parents.
"They wanted to use this occasion to not only unite them as husband and wife but also to unite them as a family! Arissa will you come and join Caitlin and Anthony?"
Arissa walked over and stood between Tony and Kate in front of the priest.
"Arissa, do you take Kate and Nozzo, to be your Mommy and Daddy to hug and kiss in goods time and bad, through little brothers and cartoons, all the days of your life?"
"Yes!" replied Arissa as she smiled at her parents.
Tony turned to Gibbs who handed Tony another ring attached to a necklace. Tony took to one knee as he looked at the little girl.
Tony ran his hand over the side of the her face that barely showed a sign of the scars that had first brought the child into their lives and smiled, trying to conceal the emotions he was feeling.
"Mommy and I want you to have this," said Tony as he placed the necklace around the child's neck. "Can you read what it says?"
Arissa looked at the ring that hung on the necklace seeing her name engraved on the outside of the silver band. "Arissa D…D…Di…"
"DiNozzo," smiled Tony.
"DiNozzo! That's my name now!"
"Yep! You're a DiNozzo now! We had Alex and Aiden's names along with me and Mommy's put on the inside. We want you to have this ring as a symbol of how all of us will always be a family."
"A real family?"
"Yeah, a real family."
Arissa hugged Tony tightly, nearly causing him to loss his balance and then hugged Kate just as tight.
"Thank you!"
"No, thank you."
The priest smiled. "In front of God and all your family and friends, I now pronounce you husband, wife and family! Anthony, you may kiss your bride!"
Tony smiled as he wrapped his arms around Kate's waist kissing her for the first time as his wife. The crowd stood up and cheered. So much had happened in nine months and now here they stood, Tony and Kate DiNozzo, a happy, married couple and parents to not two but three of the most amazing children.
Unlocking from their kiss, they turned and faced the crowd, smiles a mile wide across their faces. After hugging their friends and family, Tony and Kate took Alex and Aiden from Kate's parents then they each took Arissa by the hand and the five left the church, as a family.
Do For Love
A SportyLovatic FanFiction
Well, there you have it! The End! I seriously enjoyed writing this and reading all of your wonderful reviews and comments. I am greatly thankful for all of you. You don't know how much your kind and wonderful words have inspired me. I set out to right a complete fanfiction this summer and I have done just that! We should do this again! For one last time, I have to ask, what do you think? As always your reviews and comments are welcomed :-)