A/N: Sorry, forgot to put this in the last chapter. And as always, thank you guests for reviewing, I appreciate it. If you want to leave a name so I know who you are, that would be nice, and if you want to sign in so I can reply, that's even better :D
Guest reviewer from Ch 78: Thank you so much for your lovely comments :) Your review put a smile on my face. I'm glad you think the story could actually happen, that is the idea. I wish I could've put more M&A in, but they weren't speaking to me as much as T&Z and G&C, so I did what I could. There will be some of them at the end tho, promise :) Wow! That is a very high compliment, I feel very special now. Lol...I'm not sure if Z is ready for that Faith Hill song, but it would be nice. I always love the idea of Tony singing to his girls, so I use it whenever I can. Thank you. You're not the first person that's asked about the Only In My Dreams universe lately and I have to say I'm still up in the air about it. I'm not sure if I can get back into it, and I'm not 100% sure if I want to. I'm considering it, but I can't say yes or no at this time. I'm glad you liked it to. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Guest reviewer from Ch 79: A&M have their baby shortly before the end of SMH. Lol...yes, T&Z will eventually get to enjoy each other the way a married couple should, but that's all I'm saying about it :P Can't make any promises about the nightmares. This is may very well be an experience that Ziva has to carry and deal with in some degree or another for the rest of her life. Thanks for reviewing!
Gibbs opened his eyes, blinking slowly at the sunlight. The first thing that registered was not being on his couch but in a comfortable bed, then his arm around the warm body nestled against his. He frowned for a moment because sometimes the memories were so vivid he couldn't tell the difference. But the short curly hair of his companion made it clear that he was not laying in bed with Shannon.
The sun reflected off the new familiar ring on his left hand and for the first time in ages, the thought of Shannon didn't pierce his heart like a dagger. He'd let her go finally, because she would've wanted him to love again, to be happy, and on this the first day of his new start, Gibbs felt that it might be possible this time. Plus, Celeste deserved his whole heart this go around, where she'd only gotten fragments of it before.
With his mind fully in reality now, Gibbs pulled Celeste a little bit closer and tried to just enjoy the change. It wasn't long before she stirred and he felt the pause as she too remembered yesterday and the commitment they'd again made to each other, with their eyes wide open this time, not blind to the challenges they'd face. Gibbs held still and kept his breathing even, wanting to see what she would do.
He felt more than saw her soft smile, then Celeste's fingers gently traced his ring and she leaned back into his chest, pure contentment in her sleepy voice. "I know you're awake."
Gibbs kissed her neck and rested his chin on her shoulder. "When did you get so smart?"
She rolled over to face him. "I know you Jethro."
He slid his fingers into her hair. "Yeah," he admitted, "you do. Hope you know what you're getting into."
Celeste barely had to move to touch her lips to his. "I do. And I don't expect it to be easy, but loving you will be worth it."
Gibbs smothered her mouth with his, beyond thankful to be getting a second chance with this woman. It had been years since he'd truly felt love and been capable of giving it back, but Celeste was showing him how much he still had to give. When he pulled back, she couldn't stop the smile.
"Is that what I get for telling the truth?" Her eyes twinkled. "My my, that's pretty good incentive."
Gibbs lifted her hand, kissing the gold band again adorning her fourth finger. "I love you Celeste Casey." She was keeping her maiden name this time because of her work and also to make it different from their first marriage.
Celeste stared into his eyes. "You can say that to me anytime handsome."
Her fingers flirted with his chest hair while Gibbs kissed her wrist, slowly making his way up her arm. When her eyes slid closed so she could focus on the sensation his mouth evoked, Gibbs pulled her flush against him, immediately reminded that they hadn't bothered with clothes before falling asleep hours earlier.
"Did you enjoy last night?" he murmured in her ear and Celeste was surprised enough to move back from his touch so she could see into his eyes.
"I thought that was a given."
He frowned. "Not necessarily. Not when it's been sixteen years since the last time."
Celeste slid her hand down his arm. "Last night was wonderful Jethro." She tilted her head. "But it was different."
Gibbs wasn't sure what to make of that statement. "Different how?"
"In a good way," she assured her husband, the word new to her again. Her eyes were soft. "You didn't hold anything back." There was an unspoken question and Celeste tried to explain. "A woman knows when she's being given all of you." She shrugged. "Last time Jethro, you seemed almost afraid to really love me, so I got your body but not your heart. This time," her smile brightened, "this time I know that you're not afraid to let yourself love me."
His eyes shadowed. "I hurt you last time."
They'd promised to be honest, even if it was painful, so she nodded slowly. "It's hard to be alone when the one you want is in the same room. I couldn't understand why you pulled so far away. But I know now and that's why I know this marriage will be different."
"What else should we change this time around?" Gibbs asked, wanting to get the serious stuff over with so they could possibly get back to indulging in a little more physical pleasure.
"A honeymoon," Celeste said promptly, "away somewhere. We never really got a proper one in '92."
Gibbs smiled slowly. "You want me to leave DiNozzo in charge?"
"He's man enough now," she pointed out.
He propped his head up. "Yeah, Tony's grown up a lot in the last year."
"So can we?" Celeste pressed. "It doesn't have to be now, but maybe after Abby has the baby, around our three month anniversary?" She touched his face. "I have a feeling Grampa duties are going to be pretty popular for awhile."
Gibbs laced their fingers together. "What did you have in mind?"
Her expression showed a great deal of thoughtfulness. "Will you take me out on the water somewhere? I've watched you build boats Jethro, I'd like to see you sail one."
He loved the subtle ways she was trying to get to know him deeper than the last time. Thinking about it, he nodded slowly. "I think that can be arranged. Anything else?"
Celeste bit her lip. "Somewhere with dolphins?"
Gibbs kissed her. His wife had had a lifelong obsession with dolphins, one of her biggest dreams was to go swimming with them. And even though he knew she'd managed it on her own during their time apart, he wanted to experience that with her, to see the joy on her face as she got to do something she'd wanted since she was a little girl.
"Deal. Sailing and dolphins, I'll see what I can do."
She rewarded his willingness with a long, slow kiss. Just as he was dragging her into his body, wanting to make it more than just a kiss, Celeste rolled out of his arms and got out of bed. He stared appreciatively at her unclothed form, but when she pulled on his shirt to cover herself, his stomach tightened.
Celeste turned to smile at her husband but stopped, catching something in his eyes. She sat down on the bed and reached over to him. "Jethro? What's wrong?"
He sighed and wiped a hand down his face. "Shannon used to..." Gibbs gestured at the shirt and she understood.
"Did you want me to change?"
While he appreciated the offer, Gibbs finally shook his head, making another decision. "No, it's okay. I think I just need new memories to replace the old ones."
"I don't want you to feel like you have to forget the time you had with Shannon." Celeste looked sad and Gibbs realized that he didn't want her to have to tiptoe around Shannon's memory, afraid of ruining something he cherished.
"I'm not going to forget Les, I can't. We had ten years and a daughter together." He tipped her chin up. "But you're my wife now, I love you, and you deserve for me to live here in our present not back in my past."
Celeste scooted over the covers and wrapped her arms around him. Gibbs knew how much she loved hugs and he held her tightly, his body language reaffirming his words. It was a long time before she wanted to move and he had no complaints. When she pulled back, Celeste smiled a little coyly.
"So, breakfast?"
Gibbs brushed his fingers over her hair. "I was kinda thinking you and me, bed all day."
She laughed. "Were you now? Well, I'm hungry, but if you help me make some food, you may just get your wish."
He was up in a flash and grabbing his discarded boxers. "Lead on then m'lady, I'm at your service."
Celeste slid her arms around his neck and teased his lips with hers. "Mmm...that might be a dangerous offer."
Gibbs' hands rested on her hips. "I'll take my chances." And he would, this time he really would take every chance he got to love her. They both deserved to make their marriage work this time.
NCIS
Ziva slipped out of sleep slowly Sunday morning a few hours after her daughter's first feeding. The bright sunshine brought a smile to her face before she even opened her eyes, and then another sensation froze her. Tony was laying flush up against her back, his arm encircling her like always, but something was different this time. Instead of being draped across her waist, his arm was higher up with his hand cupping her breast and fingers moving slowly over it, even in sleep.
She bit back her reaction to the way it felt right, for his hands to be touching her like that, and concentrated on her breathing. Finally she put her hand over his, stilling the movement. "Tony," Ziva whispered, trying to determine if he was awake. He barely stirred, so she pinched him.
Tony buried his head in her neck and groaned. "Good morning to you too."
Ziva waited for the moment the situation would dawn on him and could practically hear the seconds counting down as he woke up and realized what had happened. He tensed and started to withdraw his hand. "Zi..."
She rolled over and looked into his eyes. "It is alright for you to touch me ahava." She kissed the scruff of his jaw and put her lips by his ear. "I like the way your hands feel on my body."
Tony captured her lips then, one hand sliding into her hair while the other worked under her shirt to caress the soft skin. Ziva shifted herself further under her husband, enjoying his warm weight, and he slid his hand into her shorts to rub her backside over her underwear. Arching into him, Ziva ran her own hands down his back and over his boxers, fleetingly wondering if this was the time she didn't make him move away.
Just as his lips were drifting down her neck, Chaya woke up and started babbling to herself. They both sighed in disappointment because the few minutes they had left before she cried weren't nearly enough to continue the exploration they were taking such delight in. Tony moved first and Ziva blew a piece of hair out of her eyes, not brave enough to discover what he was hiding behind that unreadable expression.
She leaned up and kissed him again, then slowly got up to attend to her daughter's needs. Tony watched her go and let out a breath, thinking that maybe a shower was in order before he saw his wife again. Ziva hadn't pushed him away this morning, hadn't asked him to stop. Did that mean he was allowed to hope, finally, that she would soon be ready? Perhaps he'd get his answer tonight.
NCIS
Lina and Claire came over for a playdate later that afternoon and Tony answered the door. "Hi Lina, welcome."
She stepped inside carrying her almost six month old baby on her hip. "Shalom Tony, I have heard so much about you. This is Claire."
Tony bent down and took her hand. "Hello Claire, it's very nice to meet you."
Ziva came down the stairs holding Chaya against her and grinned at the sight of her friend. "Lina, I am so glad you could come today."
The other woman kissed Ziva's cheeks. "Thank you for having me. It has been too long. I miss our talks."
Tony grinned. "And that's my cue to bow out. Excuse me ladies, I'll find something to occupy myself elsewhere."
Lina and Ziva exchanged looks and Ziva caught Tony's arm as he turned. "Stay yakiri. Darling. I think Lina would like to get to know you as well."
Giving in because he hadn't really wanted to leave anyways, Tony took a seat on the couch and watched as the moms laid both girls under floor gyms to play. The babies contentedly kicked and waved and reached for the items hanging over them, though Claire's movements were more focused and coordinated than Chaya's.
Tony watched them. "It's like getting a glimpse into our future," he commented. "Two months and Chaya will be doing all that stuff."
Lina's eyes were fixed on her daughter. "They never run out of ways to amaze and terrify you. The first time Claire rolled over all I could think about was what would have happened if she'd been on the couch or bed or her changetable and I'd turned around for a second. It is no wonder they say mothers need two pairs of eyes."
"And extra hands," Tony added, rubbing Ziva's leg. "Although my wife is much better at multitasking with a baby in her arms than I am."
Lina shifted to face them. "So Tony, I've heard a lot about you. Tell me something I don't know."
He leaned back with his customary grin firmly in place. "When I grow up, I want to be Magnum."
Lina's eyebrows drew together and she looked at Ziva for clarification. "It is the character from an old TV show, his favourite," she explained in Hebrew.
Crushed that his joke had fallen flat, Tony cleared his throat and tried again. "I can't draw. I like thunder, movies and long walks on the beach - if there was one in DC. I'm a man of many words but few secrets, and I love my wife and daughter more than anything in the world."
Lina smiled. "You are very candid. But you did not need to tell me the last part, it is all over your face whenever you look at them."
He slid his fingers between Ziva's and met her eyes for only a second. "Good." Then Tony returned his attention to their guest. "Tell me about growing up in two different countries, that must've been challenging."
She did, recounting her childhood in Spain and her young adult years in Israel - where she'd chosen to stay even after her parents left because she fell in love with a young man named Adam and decided her home would be wherever he was. "So for now home is America," Lina finished, twisting her wedding ring around, "but I look forward to returning to Israel."
That was news to Ziva. "You are going back?"
Lina's expression softened. "That is where my heart is Ziva, and men like Adam are needed there." She glanced at Claire. "Though we may spend some time in Spain as well, so our daughter will learn both cultures." There were Israeli embassies all over the world where her husband might find work.
"When?" Ziva demanded.
Lina shrugged. "It could be months, it could be a couple years, but we will go back." She leaned over and touched her friend's hand. "Don't worry, I will tell you when the time comes. Besides, Claire was born here, I would want her to know this country as well."
The conversation continued, making the playdate more for the adults than their children in the end. Then one of the babies giggled and it set the other off and the room was filled with the echoes of infant laughter. Lina and Ziva just watched, unable to help joining in, but Tony thankfully had the presence of mind to grave the camera and catch some of it on video. Finally it was time for Lina and Claire to go and after saying goodbye, Ziva came up behind Tony and put her arms around his waist.
"I will feed Chaya, but then I need to go out and pick up a few things. May I leave her with you?"
He turned and captured her lips. "If you're sure you don't want company."
"Not this time." Ziva had no wish for an audience, this shopping trip was special. "I will not be long."
Tony slung his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the couch before getting Chaya. "I'll pick a movie while you ladies get settled."
Less than an hour later Ziva stood outside a store in the mall, gathering her courage before she went in. Finally she walked through the doorway and looked around, surrounded by racks of attire she'd once thought she would never have need for again. A flash of green silk with black lace caught her eye and Ziva moved closer, brushing her fingers over the slippery material. An image of Tony's face popped into her mind and she knew he would love to see her in something like that. Holding it up to herself briefly, Ziva's eyes widened at the length. To wear a garment that short would take almost as much nerve as what she planned to do while in it.
After a moment's hesitation, she laid it over her arm and continued her perusal. Getting ready to have sex with her husband meant she could not shy away from anything that went with it, so she made a mental note to stop by a drugstore on the way home and pick up a few other supplies. Continuing to wander through the store, she found several other things to try on, and spent more than an hour examining her reflection in the dressing room mirror. In the end Ziva had a hard time deciding what to get - some outfits made her feel too exposed and others did not portray the right image - but finally she settled on a few things she hoped she would soon have a reason to wear often, for both their sakes. Tony had been patient long enough.
NCIS
That night Ziva stood by Chaya's crib longer than usual, watching the baby sleep. Tony put his arm around her waist. "Whatcha thinking?"
Ziva barely touched her daughter's curls. "That someday moments like these will only be memories, and I do not want to forget."
He kissed her neck and stayed with her, basking in the peace he felt having both his girls safe and happy. Eventually Tony followed her back to their room and sat on the bed looking up at her. "So this morning..." he could see her fight to stay relaxed when he brought up the topic, "what was that?"
She took a deep breath and forced a teasing smile. "Do I really kiss you so little Tony, that you cannot recognize making out when it happens?"
For once he decided to be the serious one. "That's not what I meant. Why didn't you ask me to stop?"
Ziva could not meet his eyes and picked at an invisible thread on her shirt. "Because you have been patient long enough."
Tony tried hard to breathe normally. "Look, usually I'm not too bad at reading between the lines, but let me make sure I'm hearing you right. Are you saying you're ready to have sex with me?"
Ziva rubbed her forehead, trying to stick to her decision when every instinct was screaming at her to run, to get out while she still could. "Ready might be too strong a word," she answered finally and saw his face fall. Ziva touched his cheek. "But I am willing to try."
Tony's expression struggled with whether or not he was allowed to hope. "So now what?"
She held out her hands. "Now we have a shower and go to bed. I think we still need some time to explore before we do anything new."
Ziva was promising what she could and Tony wasn't about to turn her down. Once in the bathroom, they stripped and got in the shower, washing each other first and leaving the fun stuff until after. When her hair was rinsed clean, Ziva faced her husband and stood on tiptoe to kiss him, enjoying his attention until she was ready to touch him. Over the past week she had gotten more used to bringing Tony pleasure with her hands and was glad she could do that much for him, at least.
By the time they made it back to bed, Tony was more than ready to take his turn and see how far he could get with her. He'd taken things slowly since her flashback the previous Sunday. Now he could gently rub her inner thighs from knee almost all the way up before Ziva would put her hand over his to stop his progress. Tonight Tony continued the process, and knowing he wanted to get her comfortable with more, Ziva guided his hand over the inside of her leg, pausing the closer they got to the area that was her most vulnerable point. He waited but she shook her head. No, she could not handle any more tonight, even if the warmth in her lower abdomen that sprang from his touch disagreed. So he kissed her lips and let her leave to get pyjamas on, aware that patience and love had gotten him this far and if he continued with both, they would eventually make it exactly where they needed to be.
NCIS
Gibbs brought a mug of coffee into the bedroom Monday morning and sat down beside his sleeping wife, leaning over to kiss her. Celeste was curled on her side with one hand tucked up near her face, she looked beautiful. Her eyes opened slowly and she smiled. "Well, this is a nice way to wake up."
He handed her the coffee and brushed his fingers through her hair. "Back to the real world today Les. You said you wanted to get an early start."
She sipped the steaming brew and looked him over, noting his damp hair. "You should have woken me earlier, we could've shared."
Gibbs met her mouth with his and kissed her slowly, then shook his head. "Never would've made it to work."
Celeste smirked. "Can't handle temptation huh? You're good for my ego Jethro."
"Take you up on that offer some other time," he promised.
"I'll hold you to that." Celeste lifted her left hand, letting the sunlight catch her ring and make it sparkle. "How long before they notice?"
He snorted. "Seconds. McGee would be the last. I'll let you know."
Her eyes shadowed. "Should we talk to Abby together?" Although she and the Goth were making progress, Abby's pregnancy hormones made nothing a certainty and this was a big change they were asking her to accept.
Gibbs shook his head. "I'll let her get mad at me first, if she's going to. You two will work it out eventually."
Celeste chewed on her bottom lip, wishing she had his confidence. "I hope so." Then her expression cleared and she set the mug aside to brush her lips over his again and share a hug before he left. "Good luck."
He chuckled. "Gonna need it." On his way to the door Gibbs turned back. "Really like having someone to wake up to."
"Every morning," she promised. "I love you."
"Love you too," he replied, leaving before he was tempted to stay.
Tony and Ziva were the first ones to show up at work and they dropped hands before entering the bullpen, which was Gibbs' domain. Tim was right behind them and checked the clock, looking puzzled. "Tony, since when are you early?"
Tony laughed. "Since I have a wife to kick me out the door and a daughter to get to daycare on time." He dropped his backpack on the floor and glanced at Gibbs, who was standing up and leaning over his desk, scrawling his signature on reports, and stared. A heavy silver ring with 'Semper Fi' engraved across the top adorned his left ring finger. Assuming it was probably some special Marine Corps thing, Tony nonetheless couldn't resist making the joke.
"You get married again Boss?"
Gibbs looked at his watch - less than a minute - then glared fiercely at his senior field agent. "Better be the last time."
Tony and Ziva exchanged shocked looks and McGee simply stared before Tony's voice started working again. "So wait, you did get married?" Gibbs rolled his eyes and Tony took the lack of argument as an affirmation. "Well, to who?" he sputtered, hating to be left out of anything.
Ziva crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow. "Who do you think Tony?"
It took a minute for the light to come on and then his mouth fell open. "Celeste? You married Celeste? Wow, wait until-" he stopped and cleared his throat, wanting to avoid getting headslapped. "I mean, congratulations Boss."
Gibbs grunted and headed for the back elevator before the rest of his team could echo the sentiments. The walls in this building had ears and if Abby heard the news from anyone else it wouldn't be pretty. As it was, her reaction was impossible to predict. When he got out at the lab, Gibbs caught Tami's eyes and jerked his head towards the door. "Take a break."
Her expression indicated a still healthy fear of the legendary Agent Gibbs and she hurried away. Abby walked out of her office wearing knee length maternity shorts and a red and black checkered shirt stretched over her bump. "You didn't have to scare my assistant away."
"Need a minute."
She stopped and stared at him. "Why?"
He sighed. "Wanted you to hear it from me first." Gibbs held his left hand in front of himself and waited.
Abby's eyes widened and she dropped the papers she was holding. "Is that what I think it is?" He nodded and her eyes flashed. "What, so now this is payback? I didn't tell you about my wedding so you left me out of yours?"
"Abs," Gibbs tried, but she wasn't done yet.
"I can't believe you got married and didn't tell me! I know Celeste and I aren't best friends or anything, but I thought you'd at least let me know when things got serious. But no, I don't find out until you're already married!" She was pacing, her words and gestures getting bigger and louder with each point. Finally she turned on him, hurt pooled in her green eyes. "I used to be your favourite Gibbs, now I don't know where I stand." Abby swallowed, restoring to ASL for the last thing she was thinking. I feel like I'm losing you.
Gibbs shook his head, replying in kind, which was easier than talking anyways. Never. You're my girl, my heart. You taught me to love again Abby, no one was ever supposed to get that close. But you did and I should have said thank you a long time ago. He stepped closer. I love you Abby, that's never going to change. And I'll always have time for you, but I need Celeste in my life. She's been around a long time and she knows me better than anyone. Everyone should get a second chance at love lost. He paused. You did.
Abby blinked back tears. "I've never heard you say that much before."
"I wanted you to understand."
She bit her lip and arched an eyebrow. Celeste knows you better than anyone? How?
Gibbs wasn't sure he'd ever planned to tell any of them the whole truth, but the time seemed right. "This is the second time Celeste and I have been married."
Her jaw dropped but she quickly worked through the details. "Oh my gosh," Abby whispered, "she was your first ex-wife."
"She was," Gibbs confirmed shortly, "but it was too soon after losing the girls and Celeste paid the price for that. We've been friends for fifteen years and she knows everything. We stopped keeping secrets a long time ago."
Abby swallowed. "Wow. Umm, congrats, I guess." She stared at him a moment before throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry Papa Bear. I'm happy for you, really." Abby pulled back and her face lit up. "We should have a party for you guys! A post-wedding shower or something. How about Wednesday?"
He smiled. "Sounds good. If we don't have a case." Gibbs put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "Thanks Abs."
"I love you Gibbs," she whispered, watching as he left. Abby sighed and went to her computer to start the day, wondering if it was possible for anything else to change.