Chapter 2: Happy Birthday, Ima; 11 November
The family celebrated Ziva's birthday on Monday 11 November since they all had the Federal holiday off. They spent a good part of the day in the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian. Ziva had chosen the destination for the family outing. Tony drove to the Metro Station and they used the train to get to the museum.
Anthony and Tony spent much of their time at the museum wandering in the television and entertainment displays. LJ was fascinated by the interactive exhibits; all of the children went to the two interactive rooms multiple times. Tali and her sisters spent much of their time in the period costumes, music and art related exhibits. Ziva traded off with Tony on which children each watched over.
About an hour before closing, Tony reminded the family that they planned to leave at 1700 and catch a train back to the station where they left the van. When LJ groaned, Tony reminded him about the birthday cake and ice cream at home. He grinned at his Abba, "ICE CREAM, and presents!"
Ziva smiled at her little boy; LJ would eat ice cream any time they would let him. His favorite food was ice cream and Grandpa Gibbs often indulged his youngest grandchild. "Ima, we have lots of presents for you," LJ informed his mother. The other children shushed their little brother, reminding him that the gifts were supposed to be surprises for Ima.
"Okay," LJ skipped to the doors to go to the Metro station, "My brain just got too excited for Ima's presents to keep it inside." Tony shared a grin with Ziva; LJ had some of the most creative ways to explain things. They always enjoyed his reasoning, often trying not to laugh out loud.
The family rode the Metro to their station and as they arrived at the station, Tony sent a text to Gibbs that they were on the way home to change clothes and then head to the restaurant where he had dinner reservations. Tali sent text messages to Aunt Breena, Aunt Delilah and Aunt Abby. Gibbs replied to Tony that he had the presents and cake at the DiNozzo house for later.
When Tony pulled into the driveway, he reminded the kids that they had thirty minutes to get dressed for dinner. He turned to Ziva, "Thirty minutes enough for you to get ready for dinner out?"
Ziva nodded, "Where are we going?"
Before Tony could reply, the children answered together, "It's a SURPRISE, Ima!"
Gibbs was already at the house and dressed for dinner. He would be driving the family minivan with the kids and Tony would be taking Ziva in his truck. The plan was for Gibbs to leave before Tony and Ziva so that he could help make sure everyone invited to dinner was at the restaurant before Tony brought Ziva inside.
Anthony helped LJ get dressed, especially with tucking in his dress shirt and making sure his tie was straight. Tali zipped up her sisters' dresses and they in turn helped her with the zipper on her dress. The five went together to find Grandpa. "We're ready, Grandpa," Tali spoke for her siblings and herself. "Should I let Abba know that we are leaving?"
Gibbs nodded and handed Tali his phone, "Text him." To the others, he motioned them to follow, "Let's go!" Tali sent the text to Abba and followed the others to the van.
As she stood in front of her closet, Ziva had asked Tony what the attire would be for the evening. "The boys are wearing ties and the girls are wearing dresses. I am going to wear a suit with a tie. That black dress by your left hand would be good." Tony loved looking at Ziva in that black dress that had just enough cling to her curves to show off her body and a low cut V-neck. "I think you should wear your infinity jewelry; it goes well with the dress."
Tony looked at his phone to see the message from Tali, via Gibbs' phone. "Gibbs and the kids are headed out. It's just you and me, Zi." He moved closer and snaked his arms around her waist nuzzling her neck. She purred into his embrace and leaned back against him. "If we didn't have others waiting for us to get to the restaurant, I would take advantage of the time alone," Tony whispered into her ear. He turned her to face him and locked his lips on hers. "Ani ohev otcha, Zi. Yom huledet sameach! Happy birthday!"
"Toda, Tony. Ani ohevet otach," Ziva pressed against her husband. "Let us go before we are distracted!" She smirked at him and patted his cheek; he returned the smile with one of his thousand watt grins, the ones saved only for her. "Quit tempting me, crazy man!" Ziva leaned against her lover.
Tony grinned again, "Now who's doing the tempting?" He released his embrace and took his wife's hand in his own. "Your chariot awaits, Princess Ziva. I am at your service." He waggled his eyebrows at her and she giggled.
"I will remember that later tonight!"
At the restaurant, Ziva's favorite Italian restaurant, Tony parked the truck next to the family minivan. He had spotted the other family members' vehicles parked in other areas of the lot. He turned off the engine and looked at Ziva. She smiled at him and he was temporarily overwhelmed with the love he felt for her.
"What, Tony?" Ziva took his hand in hers.
"I… it's just… god, Zi, I love you so much. How did I deserve your love?" Tony pulled their joined hands to his lips and kissed Ziva's hand. He pulled her to him and fused his lips on hers. His stomach growled, and both laughed. "Let's get some food!"
Tony reached to the back seat and picked up a brown paper bag. He moved around to Ziva's door and pulled a corsage of yellow and red roses and carnations out of the bag. He pinned it on her dress, kissing her yet again. He held out his arm for her and led her to the entrance as she tucked her arm into his.
"DiNozzo birthday party," Tony told the hostess. She motioned for the couple to follow her. As they approached the private party room, Ziva could see her extended family inside.
Tony motioned for Ziva to enter first as the family yelled, "SURPRISE!" Ziva smiled as she looked around the table to see the extended family: Gibbs, her children, the McGee family, the Palmer family, Abby, Ellie and Clay, Leon Vance, Kayla, Nick, Jack, and Jimmy's new assistant, Kasie. The only one missing was Jared; he was in Germany.
Abby bounced over and wrapped Ziva in a hug, "Happy birthday, Ziva. I love you, sister!"
"Air, Abby! Toda," the family laughed as Ziva hugged Abby back. Everyone knew how Abby hugs almost literally squeezed the air out of the recipient. Tony led Ziva to her seat at the head of the table and then sat next to her.
The waiter for their room walked in to stand by Tony, "Are you ready for the food, sir?" Tony nodded and the wait staff started setting up the buffet table.
As the food was brought in, Tony tapped a spoon on his glass of water. The family looked in his direction. "Tonight we celebrate the forty fifth anniversary of the birth of my beautiful, incredible, sexy and wonderful wife, my soulmate, my forever." Tony picked up his wine glass, "To Ziva; happy, happy birthday and many more, my love!" He raised his glass as the family raised theirs. He put his glass down and pulled Ziva to him, kissing her with all the love he felt for his better half. He broke the kiss long enough to tell the family about the buffet meal.
"Enjoy the buffet of pizza, spaghetti, veal marsala, eggplant parmigiana, chicken saltimbocca, grilled veggies, and lasagna. The beverages, including wine, will be refilled as much as you want. And remember to save room for dessert of ice cream and cake back at the house afterward."
Tony pulled Ziva to him and kissed her once more, then led her to the buffet. She kissed him before picking up a plate to fill, "Toda, Tony; this looks wonderfully delicious!" She moved closer to him and whispered into his ear, "And so do you!" She locked gazes with her soulmate, their eyes speaking their love for the other.
"Come on, Ima! I'm hungry; you can kiss Abba later!" Anthony was behind his Abba and he was hungry. The family laughed and Ziva and Tony moved through the line, followed by the rest of the family. They all enjoyed the meal and the family fellowship. Most of the food was eaten and there were only two containers of food for Tony to take home, one of the eggplant parmigiana and a small container of lasagna.
The entire family headed back to the DiNozzo house after dinner. Gibbs started the coffee maker and Tony brought out dessert wines and soft drinks. LJ kept asking about the ice cream and cake. Tony reminded him that Ima had presents to open first and then they would have the cake. He had LJ and the other children follow him to the kitchen to carry the presents from them out for Ziva to open with the gifts from the extended family.
The kids put their wrapped packages on the coffee table in the family room with the other gifts. Tony kept the ring box in his pocket for last. Ziva started with the gifts from extended family. Abby had given Ziva a gift certificate to her favorite book store. Ziva hugged her sister and thanked her.
She opened the gift from the Vances next; she noticed Kayla grinning as she opened the box with a paisley scarf and scarf clip. "Toda; Kayla, did you pick this out?" The young woman grinned at Ziva and they shared a hug. Ziva hugged Leon as well.
The Palmers gave Ziva a new waterproof Bluetooth headset for running. From the McGees, Ziva got another bookstore gift card and an autographed copy of Tim's newest Gemcity novel, to be published the following month. Ellie and Clay gave her another bookstore gift card, as did Jack. Nick's gift was a music download gift card. Ziva thanked her family of the heart for the gifts and turned to the gifts from her children.
LJ nudged his gift towards his Ima, trying to get her to open his first. Tony noticed and quietly reminded the little boy that Ima would choose the order to open the gifts. He sighed and sat next to Ima, hoping she would choose his gift first.
Ziva had pity on her youngest and picked up his gift. When she unwrapped the beautiful bracelet, she smiled at LJ and hugged him before putting the bracelet on her wrist. "Toda, LJ. Ani ohevet otach, motek!" LJ grinned and signed 'I love you' to his Ima.
Ziva picked up the other small box, similarly wrapped as LJ's gift. Anthony grinned. Ziva opened the earrings from her oldest son and pulled the boy into a hug. "Toda, Anthony. I see they match the bracelet from LJ."
"I love you, Ima!" Anthony grinned at her as she put the earrings on for all to see.
The next gift Ziva chose to open was the big box from Beth. When she pulled out the blue robe, she put it on and Beth ran over and hugged Ima. "Happy birthday, Ima; I love you!"
"Toda, yaldati. Love you more, Beth."
Rivka grinned as Ima picked her present next. Ziva unwrapped the matching slippers to the robe and put them on her feet. "Thank you, Rivka. Ani ohevet otcha, yaldati."
Rivka hugged her Ima, "You're welcome, Ima. I love you too." Beth was right; hugging Ima in a fuzzy robe was really nice!
Tali grinned as Ima picked up the gift she bought. She was secretly glad her gift was the last one. Ziva opened the knife and gasped. "Tali, it is beautiful! Toda!" Tali hugged Ima and grinned at her Abba.
"Yom huledet sameach, Ima. Ani ohevet otcha." Ziva held up the knife for the family to see. Gibbs pulled Tali into a side hug.
"Ya done good, Tals," he said softly and Tali's grin got wider. Tony smiled at his oldest and her Grandpa. She and Gibbs had a special relationship; Gibbs would always have a special place in his heart for his oldest grandchild.
Tony reached into his pocket and pulled Ziva to her feet. "Zi, every day I remind myself how much I love you and how lucky I am that you chose me. Our family means the world to me. Yom huledet sameach, Ziva. Ani ohev otcha, my Ninja." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and then handed her the small box.
Ziva unwrapped the box carefully; she wanted to save the wrapping paper with the two blue bears and a heart on it. Only she and Tony knew the special meaning behind the bears. She opened the box slowly and started crying. "Oh, Tony. It is gorgeous. Toda, my love; toda raba." Tony took the box from her hand and removed the ring. He slipped onto her ring finger in her right hand. Ziva showed the ring to the others.
"Each day with you and our children is a gift that I treasure. I love you so much, Ziva." She reached up and wiped a tear from his cheek and locked her lips on his. The rest of the family looked away as the kiss lingered until Gibbs cleared his throat.
"I believe we have cake and ice cream for everyone," he said, motioning for the kids to help him bring the cake to the table. The family sang happy birthday to Ziva and LJ asked her if she needed help to blow out her candles. Everyone laughed as Ziva gave her youngest a look and then blew out all eight candles on the cake.
"Why eight candles?" Abby asked Tony.
"One for each of us…" Tony started to reply.
"And one for the family! I get it!" Abby gushed. "Like Ziva's ring!"
Tony and Ziva shared a gaze; only they knew the true significance of the eighth candle. They both would carry the love for their first child forever, taken from them before they had a chance to know him or her.
Their moment of reflection was cut short by Tali handing her mother a cake knife, "Make the first cut Ima so we can serve the cake!"
"And Grandpa can serve the ICE CREAM!" LJ added dancing in a circle around his Ima and Grandpa. "Yeah, ICE CREAM! Ima, you can have a birthday every day!"
A/N Happy birthday to Cote de Pablo!