Once the girls opened their bags, Tony and Tim dug into theirs as well, pulling out the same bracelet, with silver accents. "I know you two will probably put up a fuss about me giving you something like this, but I have one as well." Gibbs held up his right arm, showing leather and silver on his wrist."
Ziva looked at the inscription. "Love and Family"
"It's beautiful, Gibbs. I will cherish it always."
Gibbs smiled. "I think you will cherish it more when you read what's on the other side." At that, all four of them turned their bracelets over. A collective gasp came from the group, then four sets of eyes looked at Gibbs, wanting confirmation that what they were reading meant what they thought it did.
"There are no rules."
Vignette Two: "A Very DiNozzo Christmas- Part Three"
Ziva and Abby both ran to Gibbs and smothered him in hugs. Gibbs placed a kiss on each of their cheeks. "I want my girls to be happy. Who am I to say who you can or cannot be with?"
He smiled at Ziva and looked at Tony. "Looks like you already got some jewelry, Ziver." Ziva reached up to her earrings, smiling.
Gibbs walked over to Tony. "Two cups. Keep them full. I know you can do it." Tony shook his hand. "Thanks Boss."
Gibbs turned to McGee. "I never worried about you Tim. You are the only level-headed person in this motley group. But things can change, events can bring people together." Tim found himself glancing at Abby. Gibbs smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey boss, who's that other bag for?" Tony pointed to the lone bag still sitting on the desk.
"For Duck, who do you think? Haven't you noticed how he perks up when that new woman in legal walks through the bullpen?"
Tony looked shocked. "No, I never noticed that. Did you?" He asked Ziva. Ziva looked just as surprised. "I guess my attention was elsewhere."
McGee coughed at that, and Abby snickered. "Ok, that's all I wanted to say. Let's get back before Duck starts singing some obscure Scottish folk song." They all laughed at that. Slowly, they all left the library, somewhat reluctant to end the moment they had all just shared. Just as they were leaving the room, Tony turned to Ziva. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her deeply. Seeing her smile, he took her hand in his, proudly walking out together as one.
Tony and Ziva entering the room holding hands were picked up first my Ducky. "At last! You two have finally come to your senses!" He turned to Gibbs. "Or perhaps it is you who was the one to come to his senses." Gibbs smiled at his long-time friend, but didn't take the bait.
The commotion immediately caused Abby to rush over to them. "I knew it, I knew! How could you keep this from me? Come on, let me see it!" Ziva and Tony looked at each other, confused. "See what, Abby?"
"Oh you!" Abby grabbed Ziva's left hand. "Oh…" She looked up, slightly embarrassed, but mostly sad. Ziva pulled her hand away, not exactly embarrassed but a little uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry; I just thought, after all this time, that, well you know, maybe…"
Ziva managed a small laugh. "Abby, it has only been since May."
Abby looked at them with shock in her eyes. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Ziva, Tony: It has only been eight years." With that, she returned to where her brother was talking to Tim.
They both watched her leave, their mouths slightly open in surprise. Then Tony started to chuckle. "Well, you have to admit, she is kind of right. Our relationship started the minute we met."
Ziva smiled, remembering when they met. Tony was scanning the room. "Hey, where's my Dad?" He had trouble keeping the panic out of his voice. They both looked around. Finally, Ziva touched his arm and pointed to the piano. His Dad was seated on the bench, playing Christmas carols. Singing along were Breena, Ducky, Jimmy and Breena's mother, Barbara.
"Well, that's a Kodak moment." Tony mumbled.
"I did not know your father also played."
Tony looked at her. "Ziva, my Dad is a very complicated man. Just when you think you know everything you possibly can about him, BAM! He reveals something new."
"Like Father like Son?" Ziva asked, her eyebrows rose. Tony shook his head. "I don't think I am as complicated as he is. Challenging, perhaps." He looked seriously at Ziva. "Do you think you are really up to this challenge?" He wanted to make sure she knew exactly what she was getting into. As much as it scared him to ask that question, he felt he had no choice.
Ziva searched his eyes. "Am I not also challenging, more than most? Really, Tony after eight years? How can you even ask?" She kissed him deeply, wrapping her arms around his waist. Tony's hands automatically grabbed her hair and soon they were so wrapped up in each other, they forgot where they were.
Only the wolf whistles and clapping got their attention and caused them to look around, their lips still attached to one another.
"Get a room!" Tim yelled out, causing the room to erupt in laughter.
Tony and Ziva reluctantly broke apart, although their arms were still around each other's waist. Neither looked embarrassed, though their faces were slightly flushed. Tony searched out Gibbs, wondering what his response was.
Gibbs just rolled his eyes. He shrugged. "Keep it out of the office, DiNozzo, David. Other than that, have fun; just not in front of us."
The party broke up at midnight, ringing in Christmas together as a group. Slowly, the revelers made their way home. Tony went and collected his Dad, who was having a spirited conversation with Ducky about golfing. "Time to head out, Dad. You may be still going strong, but Ziva and I would like…"
"No need to finish that thought, son." Anthony, Sr. responded, a devilish glint in his eye. "Tomorrow, Christmas Brunch at your apartment, your 'less than permanent domicile.' I already have everything we need."
Tony shook his head. His Dad constantly arranged things to accommodate what he wanted to do. They said their goodbyes to Ducky and headed out. Tony walked his Dad into the hotel lobby.
"I can make it from here, Jr. Only had one drink. By the way, the earrings look absolutely beautiful on Ziva."
Tony smiled. "Goodnight, Dad. What time do you want us to pick you up?"
Sr. grinned. "Is nine too early?" Tony groaned, but shook his head. "Nine it is. See you in the morning."
"Merry Christmas, son." Tony stopped and turned around. "Merry Christmas, Dad." He left the hotel lobby and returned to the car, and Ziva.
She caressed his cheek. "You are smiling. Things are good with your father?"
"They are today, Ziva. They are today."
Christmas Morning
Tony woke up to something pulling on his hair. He started to wipe it away, but once he realized it was a hand, he grabbed it and turned on his side. "Good morning, sweetheart." He smiled as he kissed her.
"Sweetheart? You have never called me that before." Ziva teased him.
"That's because I never felt like I had the right to before." He paused for second. "I do have that right now, don't I?" He looked a little worried."
"I will let you know if you do anything I do not feel you have the…right to." She sat up. "But do not call me "Sweetcheeks. That is used during ops, and therefore means nothing. Did you know that McGee called me Sweetcheeks once?"
Tony sat up at that. "He did not! When?"
Ziva laughed. "Oh, it was the first year we worked together. He was trying to get my attention and 'Ziva' was not working so he called me 'Sweetcheeks'. I am sure he remembered it from when we were undercover. It meant nothing then, and it means nothing now."
She straddled him. "Now, 'Hairy Butt' on the other hand; that does mean something because it is true." She laid a trail of kisses down his throat, ending at his stomach.
"You're not stopping there, are you?" Tony's voice was a low growl. Ziva looked at him, then gave him a deep kiss on the lips. "Yes, my little hairy butt, because we need to go get your father."
Tony moaned. "Dad! What time is it, anyway?"
Ziva looked at the alarm clock. "It is 7:30. We have to time to shower and get ready to be there by 9."
Tony grinned. "We can save time by showering together." Ziva laughed at the hopeful look on his face.
"I doubt that, but I will let you join me anyway." She got up in one fluid motion and headed toward the bathroom. She turned and looked at him. "Are you coming?"
Tony jumped out of bed as if a jolt of electricity had just gone through him. Ziva laughed.
Finally dressed and ready to go, Tony handed Ziva her new earrings. "Wear these. My Dad will appreciate it." Ziva looked at Tony, smiling softly. She took them from his hand and placed them in her ears. Together, they put their new bracelets on each other's wrist. Holding hands, they left Ziva's apartment and headed to the Adams Hotel.
Tony went into the lobby to find his Dad sitting comfortably in one of the chairs, surrounded by bags. "What in the hell is all this?"
"Good morning to you, too, Jr. Brunch! Help me with these, won't you?" Tony groaned as he picked up several of the bags. "What have you got in these? Rocks?"
"Where's Ziva?" Sr. asked as he sauntered out of the lobby, carrying one small bag. "You know damn well where she is. She's in the car, waiting for us, which will be in about an hour considering how much this stuff weighs."
"Ziva!" Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. opened his arms as he saw Ziva get out of the car, clearly expecting her to give him a hug. He was not disappointed. "You just saw me last night!" She teased him. She looked over at Tony, alarmed. "What is all that?"
"Brunch." Tony muttered through gritted teeth. Stifling a laugh, she went over to him and relieved him of a couple of the bags.
"Thank you!" He breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly loaded the bags into the trunk of the car.
"Everybody comfy?" Tony asked. Ziva was struggling to maintain her composure. His Dad was in the back seat, enjoying being chauffeured around. Twenty minutes later, they were parked in front of Tony's apartment building.
"Thank God I don't live more than two flights up." Tony muttered to Ziva. "We can always make more than one trip, if this is…too much." Ziva offered sweetly.
Tony looked at Ziva in alarm. "Are you challenging my manhood, David?" Ziva eyed him up and down. "I most definitely am not."
Tony almost dropped the bags he was carrying, but managed to get to his front door. "Keys, front pocket." Ziva smirked and reach inside his pocket to retrieve the keys. She slowly withdrew them, looking deeply into Tony's eyes the entire time.
"Miss David, I do not know what you are playing at, but all I can say is...you are doing a damn fine job at it." He gave her a quick kiss, before she unlocked the door and he stumbled in with his packages.
"You can just put those in the kitchen. I will go through them." Sr. said. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Ziva asked.
"You should take her up on it, Dad. Ziva is an amazing cook."
Sr. looked at Ziva with a sparkle in his eye. "Really? Well, I may take you up on that offer. But first I have some preparations to make."
Ziva looked at Tony, amused. He just shrugged, indicating this was just another day in the DiNozzo household.
Tony went into his bedroom, and tossed his bag on the bed. He would figure out doing laundry later. He looked around. He made sure before he left for Ziva's that his place was clean and worthy of Ziva staying there overnight. "Tony!" His Dad's voice interrupted his musings.
He walked out into the living room, to see his Dad and Ziva standing there. His Dad handed him a large glass with a bubbly orange liquid inside. Tony smiled. "Ah yes. How could I have forgotten the Mimosa's?"
Taking the glass from his father, he turned to Ziva, who was holding a glass but was clearly confused what it was, and why they were drinking alcohol at 10am. "Mimosa's are a delightful mixture of orange juice, champagne and some other sweet liqueur. In our family, it is Grand Marnier, though many use Triple Sec."
"It's a traditional Christmas Brunch drink for our family, but it is served at every restaurant brunch I have ever been to. Clearly, you can't do this every morning, which makes it all the more special."
Tony looked at his drink. "I don't remember the last time I had one of these." Ziva smiled at him. "Well, I have never had one, so this will be a new tradition that I have learned." Tony put his hand around her waist.
"A toast!" Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. raised his glass. "Here's to remembering those who cannot be with us, to the wonderful memories of things we used to share, and to creating new wonderful memories to talk about many years from now. Oh, and may this be the first of many more toasts to come!" He winked at Tony, making sure he understood his meaning.
Tony felt his eyes smart when he realized his Dad was talking about his mother and his future with Ziva. He agreed with every sentiment his Dad just expressed; he just hoped his honest and hopeful words did not scare Ziva too much.
He looked at her and was surprised to see her eyes glistening as well. Of'course, she had lost far more family than he had, and she was probably remembering them as well. He tightened his hold on her waist, giving it a little squeeze. She turned to him, looking at his face, reading his thoughts and knowing he knew what she was thinking.
"Here! Here!" Sr. finished his toast, the last few moments that Tony and Ziva experienced lasting only seconds, though it felt like a lifetime. As one, they raised their glasses. Tony and his Dad took healthy sips, while Ziva sampled the drink carefully. Smiling in surprise, she turned to them. "This is delicious! Although I can see that you would not want to drink this as your usual morning beverage." She took a braver sip the second time. "How many of these can you drink before…"
"You pass out?" Tony laughed. Sr. looked at Tony. "Looks like we got a convert, Jr." He clinked Ziva's glass. "Welcome to the club, Ziva." Ziva laughed. "You still did not answer my question."
Tony considered it. "The way my Dad makes them? I wouldn't recommend more than two if you want to maintain your faculties. If I can get him to cut the alcohol, you can probably manage three, maybe four. I'll cut you off before you start doing anything embarrassing."
"Oh, thank you, Tony. I am not interested in losing my faculties or doing anything embarrassing, but I can certainly entertain the thought of having one more of these drinks."
Three hours later, the three sat or rather, slouched on the sofa. "I do not think I have ever eaten as much food as I have this morning." Ziva mumbled. Sr. let her make the Eggs Benedict. Tony sliced up the various fruits and cheeses. Sr. served up the smoked salmon, which Ziva enjoyed as lox and bagels. There was caviar, various breads and rolls, a decadent pecan chocolate cake and so many other dishes that they could have fed an army.
Tony had his head resting on Ziva's shoulder. "Between last night and today, I don't think I am going to eat for another week." Sr. sat up. "What are you talking about? Dinner is at seven!" At that, Tony and Ziva groaned.
Sr. laughed. "Well, if I can't get you interested in food right now, maybe a little Christmas cheer will perk you up."
"Isn't that what we've been doing? Spreading Christmas cheer?" Tony asked.
"And right to my hips." Ziva mumbled.
"No, I am not talking about that kind of Christmas cheer." He got up and rummaged around until he found what he was looking for. He came back to the sofa with two wrapped gifts.
"Dad! I told you no gifts!" Tony sat up straight. He did not want his dad spending money on him, especially in light of the change in his own financial circumstances.
"My choice, Anthony. I will always do what I want to do, whether you approve or not. I would have thought you knew that by now."
Ziva sat up as well, chuckling a little. She was more than a little interested in what Tony's father was going to give him. Tony had mentioned previous gifts before and they had lacked a certain degree of…knowledge about his son's interests.
"This is for you son." He handed Tony what looked like a shirt box. "Although I am sure you will want to share it with someone…special." Tony's relief that his Dad had bought him a shirt was short-lived.
"Go ahead. Open it." Tony eyed his Dad warily, then looked at Ziva. She just raised an eyebrow, almost daring him to do it.''
Sighing, he carefully undid the wrapping paper, revealing a shirt box.
"Thanks, Dad. I'm sure I'll like it."
"Jr! What happened to your detective skills? You would never assume a shirt box had a shirt in it if you had found this at a murder scene."
"Please tell me this is not from a murder scene."
"Tony." Ziva's soft voice was not quite a reprimand, but she was telling him to get over it and open the box. Reluctantly, slowly, he lifted the lid off of the box. After digging through mounds of tissue paper, he came across a large envelope.
Alarm bells were going off in his head, but he opened the envelope and pulled out several sheets of paper. After looking through them, he looked up at his Dad, confused.
"Dad, this is…"
"Yes, I know. Airfare and lodging for two weeks in London. It's open-dated, so when you go is up to you and there is no expiration date. I thought maybe you would like to see where your mother grew up, maybe meet some distant relatives, although that is totally up to you what you do on your trip. You can stay in your hotel room for the whole two weeks as far as I'm concerned."
Tony was speechless. "There are two airline tickets here."
"Yes, well I thought you might like to take someone with you when you go, again totally up to you." Tony knew he meant Ziva, and if Tony ever took this trip, Ziva is the only person he would consider taking with him.
"I don't understand. How can you…" Tony hesitated. He didn't really want to go into his father's financial situation with Ziva present, and he didn't want to ruin this day by bringing up such a sore subject.
"Uh, never mind. Thank you. It's far more generous than I expected and probably deserved." He stood up and gave his Dad a hug. Sr. hugged Tony hard, almost clutching at him. "I love you, Anthony." He whispered in his ear. "I love you too, Dad." Tony whispered back.
Pulling apart, Sr. turned to Ziva. "Now, you didn't think I forgot you, did you?" Ziva looked shocked. "Oh, no. You do not need to give me anything. Being able to spend this holiday with you has been a gift itself."
"Ziva, you are a gracious and special young lady. I have not seen my son this happy since; well to be honest, ever. I have something I want you to have. It has a special meaning to me, and I can't think of anyone more special than you to give this to."
Tony sucked in his breath, realizing what his father was doing. He watched as his father handed Ziva the wrapped jewelry case. Ziva smiled and grinning at Tony, ripped off the wrapping.
Tony laughed. "Ziva likes to get right to the main event."
Ziva was staring at the velvet box, not quite feeling the same panic she felt when Tony handed her the much smaller box. But she knew instinctively that whatever was inside this box probably belonged to Tony's mother.
Tony watched her carefully, suddenly worried that this was all too much too soon. He placed his hand at the small of her back, massaging it in little circles. She looked at him and realized he probably knew what was in the box. She also realized that this belonged to Tony's father and not to Tony, so if he had had any misgivings about Ziva receiving it, he had lost the fight. That actually brought a smile to her face.
Taking a deep breath, Ziva slowly opened the hinged box. As with the earrings, she gasped. She looked at Tony's father. "I cannot accept this. It is…far too much."
Sr. took the bracelet out of the box and placed it on her wrist. "Of'course you can accept it. It is mine to give to whomever I want to have it. Well, technically, it belongs to Tony." She looked at Tony when he said that. He smiled softly at her.
"But I talked him into letting me hold onto to this. He didn't know I was going to give it to you, just to someone special. I gave this to Tony's mother on our first wedding anniversary. I had it made to match the earrings her parents gave her." Ziva's hand instinctively went to her earrings. "As I told Tony, Meg was my beautiful precious pearl. And you are my beautiful radiant pearl. Please accept this gift, from the bottom of my heart."
Ziva eyes were filled with tears, slowly making their way down her cheeks. "Jr., your lady is crying. I think you need to take care of her."
I told you this Vignette was taking a life of its own. One more part, and then on to Vignette Three. Thanks for the great reviews and encouragement. And I am working hard to finish my next chapter for "A Life Worthy Waiting For." Cheers!