AN: Sadly, my lovelies, we have come to the end. While I am greatly saddened, I am also looking forward to moving on to the next story. Also, I got a call today (28 hours after my interview when they said 1-2 weeks) informing me that I got the job. Which means I have one month and 8 days of being a part time employee with the freedom to bum around writing 2-3 days and several evenings a week. So I am going to try to bust out at least a couple of ficcies in that time. I hope you will all continue to read my work, just be prepared for slower updates!
MN: I am rather sad that I won't be getting to spend as much time with all of you once she starts this job. Hopefully we can find more time to write then she expects! Thanks again to all of you for reading. Now, on with our conclusion!
He was grumbling under his breath as he rushed through the door to his office, hurrying straight past his assistant. He was late. He hated being late. He didn't like walking in unprepared and that was exactly what he was about to have to do. A combination of traffic and flat tire had delayed his commute by nearly an hour.
Judge Gilbert Williams exchanged his coat for his robe and exited his office. His assistant was at his side in a moment, a file in her hands. She matched his pace down the hallway, heading for his courtroom as she spoke. "All parties for the DiNozzo adoption are waiting."
DiNozzo… Why did that sound familiar? He was fairly positive he'd never had a case with that name before but the name was not at all common and he was sure he had heard it before. He took the file then paused at the door to the courtroom to compose himself.
As he took his seat, recognition hit him like a load of bricks. Before him was not just a couple trying to adopt, but a small army. He opened the file and scanned the front page. Apparently, Ziva David had married her partner six months ago, although she had kept her own last name, likely due to work. What had been, a year earlier, a petition for a single adoption was now one for the couple to adopt the young boy standing between them.
He fought to keep the smile off his face as he looked out into the courtroom. He recognized the faces of the rest of the couple's team, along with a man who could only be DiNozzo's father and a woman who shared the same complexion and dark hair as David. An aunt possibly? The man was cradling a sleeping infant that Williams could only assume was the couple's daughter.
"Nice to see you all again. I see you have taken my advice about settling your life."
David nodded back at him in earnest. "Yes, Your Honor."
He read on in the file, sharing the highlights aloud. "Married six months ago. Your daughter is healthy. Purchased a home. Ori is most of the way through Kindergarten. Mr. DiNozzo's father has moved locally to help look after the children when you both have to work late. Your husband is joining your petition for adoption and the various social worker reviews I have here are beyond glowing. I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised."
He watched as her husband squeezed her hand and she smiled at him. "That said, I can see absolutely no reason to drag this out any longer. Your petition for adoption is granted. I'll sign off on everything today and get it filed. You'll be able to get a copy of the paperwork on Monday."
As he stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, Anthony couldn't help but smile. At that moment his son was sitting in an armchair, his daughter in his arms and Ori perched on his knee. It hadn't taken long for him to realize that Tony was going to be a much better father than he had been. A better husband too.
It had taken his son three months to convince the lovely Ziva David to marry him. In fact, she hadn't finally agreed to it until she was holding their daughter in her arms just hours after giving birth. They had kept the ceremony small when they'd wed another three months later, limiting it to just family and holding it in Gibbs' back yard.
Everyone who had been present that day was now comfortably crowded in Tony and Ziva's house, celebrating the finalization of Ori's adoption the day before. In true family fashion, everyone had brought something to share and they had been talking, eating, and laughing since around noon.
"I think he's doing better than the pair of us combined ever managed to, AD."
Anthony turned to Gibbs' voice behind him and accepted the outstretched beer. "I know he is. How did a couple of guys as screwed up as us managed to make a man like that out of him?"
Gibbs smiled and shrugged. "Pure luck, I guess."
They watched in silence as Ori slid from Tony's lap to go play with Tim and Jimmy. Abby took the opportunity to snag baby Jenny from Tony's arms and Ziva, in turn, took advantage of the moment to sit on Tony's lap and brush a quick kiss across his lips.
Anthony looked back at Gibbs and raised his beer bottle. "To family."
Gibbs nodded and raised his own bottle. "To family."
AN: I know this was supposed to be up yesterday but I spent the day with my mother, sister-in-law, nephew, and little bro. Then I had to clean up the house because for the second Sunday in a row, I am getting a last minute visitor (not JenJen this time though). Then, not gonna lie, I got caught up in a story by Jelenamichel (check her out on my favorite authors, her stuff rocks) until I fell asleep. So, I'm sorry.
MN: I second all of what she said and would like to add that it's not too late to make a suggestion for our Criminal Minds fic. Also, for whenever we do our next NCIS fic, what would you like to see? Throw some prompts at us folks! As always, thanks for taking this ride with us. We love you guys!