Tony lay awake in bed early Sunday morning. The sound of birds chirping and singing happily outside the bedroom window signaled that another day had begun. However, this was not just another day, this was Mother's Day and Tony wanted it to be perfect for Ziva.
Tony quietly slipped out of bed, he left a note on his pillow and made sure to close the door behind him. He made his way down the hallway towards his son's bedroom. Tony sat on the edge of Ben's race car bed and smiled at his little boy. Ben was clutching his stuffed bear under one arm and had the tip of his thumb dangling just out of the corner of his mouth. It saddened him to think back to his own childhood, especially the years just after his mother had passed. His own father could not understand the need for a boy to have a stuffed bear to keep him safe through the night or that thumb sucking was not a sign of weakness. Tony could never imagine putting hot pepper sauce on little Ben's thumbs before bedtime each night to teach him not to suck his thumb.
Tony looked around the bedroom and realized that he had created for Ben the kind of childhood he wished he had; right down to the Magnum PI Ferrari bedroom set. Tony loved his father but there were times while growing up that he feared him as well and he hoped with all his heart that Ben would never feel that way towards him.
Tony shook his head, forcing the unhappy memories away. After all, this was not a day to be sad; this was a day to celebrate the woman who made him both a husband and a father or as he liked to think, a better man.
"Hey Ben, time to wake up", Tony said as he rubbed comforting circles on Ben's back.
"Morning daddy", a still sleepy Ben replied.
"Time to get up, we need to get mommy's surprises ready for Mother's Day", Tony said as he pulled the covers back and helped Ben sit up.
Ben wiped the sleep out of his eyes and continued to hold his Teddy Bear close while Tony got him out of his pajamas.
"Okay Ben, here's the plan", Tony said as he kneeled in front of his son. "We need to get cleaned up and dressed before mommy gets up, then we need to get her presents ready to surprise her".
"Yay, presents", Ben screamed. Tony immediately covered Ben's mouth hoping he had not woken Ziva.
"Shhhh…we need to be quiet or it won't be a surprise", Tony said as he placed his finger to his lips knowing that Ben understood what that meant.
The two made their way into Ben's bathroom where Tony had his razor and toothbrush already set up. At first he was going to give Ben a quick bath then shower himself but then he had a better idea.
"Hey Ben, how would you like to take a shower with daddy"?
"Can I have my bubbles in shower?"
"No but you can use daddy's big boy soap."
Tony could tell Ben was a little hesitant and decided to take a different approach.
"It will be fun Ben, you know taking a shower is like having it rain inside the house".
"Rain inside the house", Ben said as he looked at the shower in wonderment.
"Yeah, come on it will be fun", Tony said as he picked Ben up and moved towards the shower.
"Wait daddy, we still has our underwear's on", Ben said pointing out the obvious.
Tony didn't know how Ziva would feel about him showering naked with Ben so he decided to play it safe, plus he did not want to go through the uncomfortable questions that happened the last time Ben accidentally saw him naked.
Tony always the quick thinker answered, "We can pretend we are in our bathing suits".
"Okay daddy we petend", Ben mispronounced.
Tony held Ben in his arms and the two stepped into the shower. Tony moved to lower Ben so he could stand on his own but Ben would not have it. "No daddy I scared", Ben said as his grip tightened around his father's neck.
Tony began to think this was not such a good idea. "Okay Ben, I won't let go but I need to turn the water on so I can make it rain".
Tony turned his back to the shower head while shifting Ben to his right arm and with his left arm adjusted the water temperature. He then held Ben with both arms and slowly turned around allowing the water to wash over them. At first Ben was scared but after a few seconds he began to have fun, especially when Tony began a game pretending they were lost in a big storm. While Tony made the sounds of thunder and lightning he washed the both of them and before Ben knew it, the shower was over and Tony was drying them both off.
Tony looked at his cell phone to get the time, he knew that Ziva was now up because he had set the alarm in their bedroom to go off ten minutes ago. He had left Ziva a note telling her to wear her Sunday best and to meet him and Ben in the kitchen at 8:00 am. Ziva had no idea what Tony had planned since he had been permanently banned from the kitchen on this and all future Mother's Day's after his last two attempts to prepare breakfast in bed for her resulted in a visit from the fire department and a trip to the emergency room.
In the other bedroom Tony quickly dressed Ben and himself, then the two of them went out to the garage to retrieve the presents. Tony unlocked the tool cabinet and handed Ben the gift wrapped perfume and the special gift from the jewelry store. "Be careful with these Ben", Tony said as he handed the items to his son.
"Okay daddy I be careful", Ben said as he held the items tight.
"Let me take the flowers and candy, now we can go and set everything up for mommy's surprise", Tony said as he led them back into the kitchen.
At precisely 8:00 am Ziva arrived in the kitchen to find Tony and Ben standing side by side, dressed in identical suits holding gifts and flowers.
Tony nudged Ben's shoulder as he apparently forgot he was supposed to say something.
"Happy Mother's Day mommy, I love you", Ben said as he ran to Ziva handing her his Mother's Day card. It was a children's card featuring a mama bear with her cub and the caption read, 'Happy Mother's Day Mommy! I love you beary, beary much'. Ziva smiled at the card and loved that Ben signed the card in his own toddler scrawl. Tony took Ziva by the hand and led her to the table and had her sit down.
"Happy Mother's Day Ziva", Tony said after placing a tender kiss to her cheek. He first gave her the candy, then the flowers and perfume and saving the best for last he gave her the jewelry. First Ziva opened the card, it was only three words, "I cherish you". Then she opened the gift; it was a ring with a beautiful imperial topaz stone, signifying Ben's birth month of November. Ziva could tell that the ring was designed to add other birthstones for additional children over time. She loved it.
Tony and Ziva shared another tender kiss only to be interrupted by Ben saying, "I hungry now". Tony took Ziva by the hand and said, "Since you have banned me from my own kitchen, I was forced to make other arrangements. This year my lovely bride we shall be dining at The Adams House Hotel, where very reliable sources have told me they serve one hel….I mean one heck of a brunch".
Tony picked Ben up and Ziva looked at both father and son and said, "You two are absolutely adorable, you even have the same shoes. I have to get a picture; Abby is going to love this".