AN: Two Chapters going up back to back. Lots of music that really adds to these scenes. 'Portuguese Love Theme' by Craig Armstrong from the Love Actually Soundtrack.; 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole , 'Marry Me' by Train, 'This Years Love' by David Gray , 'What A Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong, 'Forever' by Chris Brown, 'Good Life' by OneRepublic, 'Life is Beautiful' by Vega4.
"Oh, Ziva," Liat smiled with tears in her eyes of happiness, "You look so beautiful." She gasped softly watching as Ziva turned in front of the full-length mirrors in her wedding gown.
"Stunning." E.J. smiled widely with a radiant grin.
"Just gorgeous." Abby sighed with a smile holding Liat's bouquet of flowers along with her own as Liat finished helping Ziva tie the satin ribbon in the back of her dress.
Ziva and all of the Bridesmaids had spent the morning getting ready at Julia's house, while the men had congregated in the Guest Cabins.
"Breathtaking." Julia added with a smile adjusting the ribbon in Lara's hair.
"You look like a beautiful princess!" Lara giggled and twirled her own tiny white and flowing dress that matched her sister Lena's. "We all look like princesses!"
The women in the room laughed softly with the little girls and at their adorable cuteness in love with their Flower Girl dresses.
Ziva couldn't tear the smile from her face looking at herself for the first time in her wedding gown without her scars racing across her open backed dress or down the front of her chest. The only scar that was visible now was the one she wanted to keep; the one that matched Tony's; the small pucker of pink flesh over her heart as the exit point of her bullet wound. This would be the only scar that Tony would see today as every other was now gone.
Tony had loved her Engagement gown so much as something he'd picked out himself for her to wear, Ziva had tried to find something similar in design to surprise him with on their wedding day. Something elegant and simple and flowed with her body's natural curves, especially now that she was pregnant and had a beautiful small baby belly to show for it. The Roman and Greek inspired theme of this dress was perfect in everywhere.
Liat finished tying the soft satin ribbon that tied crossed around Ziva's neck and across and down her back, tying in the small of her back before flowing down the rest of the dress and right into her small train. She looked perfect. Spectacular.
Ziva had intended to wear her hair down in long and soft flowing curls that danced around her back and helped to hide some of her scars, anxious about exposing those to her guests for the duration of the ceremony with her back to them. But now, after Julia had healed her, she was proud of her flawless skin and had changed her mind. Her hair was now pulled up in an elegant design of soft braids and a loose French twist with soft and wispy curls framing her face. Tiny and delicate real wild flowers from the valley where the ceremony was taking place had been picked by her Flower Girls earlier in the morning and now adorned Ziva's beautiful hair and that of her Bridesmaids. They all looked incredibly beautiful and perfect for such an outdoor wedding.
In contrast to Ziva's hair being pulled up, all of the other Bridesmaids and Flower Girls had their long and beautiful hair down and all done in the same way. Big soft spiraling curls hanging down their backs with the sides braided in a crown and wildflowers woven into their hair along with matching satin ribbons. The subtle Greek and Roman theme from Ziva's hair and dress had been carried over into her Bridesmaid's gowns and hair as well, with their dresses down in a similar flow, cut and fashion with each woman and child in a different color that matched the wildflowers blooming in the field where they would be married.
Liat's dress was a perfect mint green which accentuated the hazel flecks in her eyes; Abby's was a perfect and soft yellow and given her own personalized touch from Ziva of having a matching diamond rhinestone covered dog collar for her jewelry to match. Breena's dress was a beautiful light orange while E.J. wore a light blue color and Julia's was a soft purple, which made her dark and golden eyes sparkle as well. Ziva had done her best to choose a color that suited each woman beautifully, wanting them all to adore their gowns and hair and not think of it with dread but rather with fondness when they looked back on this memory. The adorable tiny Flower Girl's wore a soft matching pink dresses much to their delight and looked just like the older women, just in smaller form.
"What a beautiful group of women." Annika smiled taking photos of them all as they'd gotten ready. Photography, was one of her many talents and Ziva and Tony were happy to have her capture their wedding day seeing her beautiful work everywhere in Julia's homes. "The men are very anxious and excited to see you all." She smiled with a laugh having come from their location not long ago. "You will certainly take their breath away, Ziva." The beautiful blonde smiled at Ziva with awe in her voice and smiling eyes. "You're absolutely gorgeous. A true goddess. Tony won't know what hit him."
"He will forget to breath." Abby agreed with a raging smile looking at Ziva. "I have never in all my life seen you looking this radiant and beautiful, Ziva…and that is saying something considering how beautiful you always are!" She already felt the tears welling on such an emotional and happy day. "Tony is going to cry like a baby." She laughed softly thinking of her big brother who was going to turn into a puddle of mush when seeing Ziva for the first time.
Ziva laughed softly with the rest of them at Abby's comments. "I can't wait to see him standing down there and waiting for me." She smiled inhaling a slow deep breath and trying to calm herself. "I'm so ready to marry him."
"Eight years." Abby smiled more widely at the memory. She hadn't liked Ziva at all when they'd first met; she was an outsider and felt threatened by Ziva's presence within their tight knit group after Kate had been killed. Their' bond had grown over the years and now were like sisters. "I am so happy for the both of you." She beamed with pride and reached around Ziva carefully to hug her.
"Are you ready?" Liat asked with a raging smile of her own and blinking back tears of happiness for Ziva. "It's time to go."
"Waiting all my life for this. I am ready." Ziva smiled and took hold of Liat's hand to walk with each other out of the room and down the stairs where Gibbs was waiting.
The women and the little girls all filed out first and it was Ziva with Liat coming down the steps last and smiling with tears of joy when Gibbs turned to see them coming.
*Portuguese Love Theme (repeat)
Gibbs gasped softly with a smile and tears welling in his eyes to see Ziva for the first time in her wedding gown. He'd never seen her look so beautiful either and the smile lighting up her eyes was the brightest he'd ever seen. Carefully he took her hand from Liat's and stare at her with tears in his eyes and hers before leaning in and kissing her cheek softly. "You look so beautiful, Ziva." He smiled widely gently thumbing away her fallen tears as to not ruin her makeup.
"Thank you." She smiled back at him as the other's watched. "For everything." Ziva added quietly thinking of all that the man before her had done to change her life. "I love you…so much." She smiled again and leaned forward, kissing his cheek this time. "Thank you, for being my dad." She knew this day was special for him as well with everything they'd been through.
"I love you, Ziver." He smiled answering her quietly. "Thank you, for being my daughter." He looked intently into her eyes and felt more tears flood his own, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I could never have guessed when you walked into our lives eight years ago today, that we would be here today. You are my angel, a gift, Ziva." He spoke quietly thinking of all the ways his heart had been healed by the beautiful young woman before him. "I am so proud of you and so proud, to be your dad."
Ziva tried hard to stem the surge of tears and the emotion as she looked at him and heard what Gibbs had said. He was so proud to be her dad. Her mind had flashed back to the moment in the basement when she'd told him for the first time what he really meant to her, through tears, after he'd accused her of using him in order to gain trust. She could see in that moment, what it had meant to him when she'd said, 'the closest thing I have to a father…' and she could see it again now: love. Unconditional love.
She didn't know what else to say, afraid she would break down sobbing on such an emotional day and instead, leaned forward, hugging him tightly. "I love you, Dad." She repeated and then kissed his cheek with a smile before stepping back.
"Are you ready? He asked offering her his bent arm to hold onto with a smile.
"Yes." Ziva smiled wrapping her fingers and hand around his arm.
"Are you okay, Tony?" McGee asked quietly standing beside him at the front of the aisle waiting for the wedding to begin. Tony looked like he was about to pass out standing under the Jewish chuppah, trying to take deep breaths.
"I can't believe this is actually happening." Tony pulled at the collar and bow-tie around his neck with a slight grin looking at the beautiful canopy before him with its white fabric dancing in the slight breeze and gorgeous wildflowers surrounding them. The backdrop was surreal with the beautiful vast wilderness surrounding them. He felt like he was in heaven looking at the purple mountains in front of him and the sky changing colors as the sun began its descent into the horizon. "Eight years." He repeated with a smile growing and thinking about Ziva and the first moment he ever laid eyes upon her. "I knew the moment I saw her…something was different." He smiled sharing a glance with both Ducky standing with Schmeil in front of him and to McGee to his side. "And I know, when I turn around and see her again now…I'm going to feel the same way. That something is different."
"And what will be different this time, My Dear Boy?" Ducky asked with a pride-filled smile seeing the Bridesmaids in the back lining up and Ziva stepping into view for the first time on Gibbs arm.
"That today is forever, Ducky." Tony smiled feeling his heart starting to pick up speed hearing the gasps behind him and knowing that those in attendance must be reacting to the arrival of the Bride.
"Forever indeed." Ducky smiled back at him. "She looks spectacular." He leaned in closer with a raging smile and whispered with a wink to Tony, grasping his shoulder in support with a squeeze. "Breathtaking, My Boy." He shook his head softly with immediate tears already in his eyes at just seeing Ziva and the wedding hadn't even begun yet.
McGee gasped turning around to look for the first time as well, "Oh wow…" He marveled immediately with an immediate raging smile of his own. His eyes flashing back to Tony's and shaking his head softly. "Wait 'til you see her, Tony." He smiled proudly getting choked up already. "There are no words." He added quietly realizing that were the most true statement he could ever make. Ziva and Gibbs stepped behind a white sheet to hide her from Tony's view until the right moment and the Bridesmaid's took their places. "Here they come." He beamed and touched Tony' lightly on the back, "You can turn around now."
*Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Tony finally turned around to look over their small gathering of guests and down the aisle to where Breena was smiling radiantly as she began her slow march down the aisle. When she'd reached the end, she smiled at Tony widely and took her place while E.J set off down the aisle next and then Abby.
"Wow." Tony gasped softly with a smile to see how gorgeous Abby looked in her beautiful dress and hair with flowers and he couldn't help but chuckle as she approached and winked at him, showing off her matching dog collar necklace that was glittering in the setting sun.
Julia was next and breathtaking in purple with the sun reflecting off her golden eyes as she smiled taking her place beside the other women.
Liat was the last to go as the Maid of Honor and Tony couldn't help but smiled widely hearing Malachi gasp loudly beside McGee at first sight of her. She looked gorgeous in the light green with such golden tan skin and radiant glow about her in her third trimester. She was breathtaking as she smiled walking by them and whispered to Tony, reaching out to squeeze his anxious fingers, "Wait 'til you see her." She smiled proudly of her beautiful sister she knew was going to steal Tony's breath away.
The more people who said that to Tony, the more anxious and excited he became to see Ziva.
A loud 'aww' arose from everyone when the tiny trio of two Flower Girls of Lara and Lena with Rurik as the Ringer Bearer were next in line and walked proudly down the aisle in their adorable dresses and little tux. Their smiles were and giggles were infectious as they took their time coming up the aisle before taking their places with the others as well.
The gorgeous bridesmaids in their soft flowing and colorful dresses in the golden light of the setting sun, looked like a brilliant rainbow against the brilliant blue sky. It was perfect and magical and missing only one thing. The bride.
*Marry Me
"Here we go." Gibbs voiced quietly with a smile to Ziva before stepping out from behind the partition and taking the last few steps towards the end of the aisle.
Tony gasped loudly at first sight, swaying slightly and feeling light headed. He was sure his heart had quit beating and time stood still looking at Ziva smiling back at him at the far end of the aisle. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes upon in his life. The light in her eyes sparkling off unshed tears, the glow of her exposed skin against the brilliant white dress and the way her soft curls blew in the breeze around her face as she walked slowly towards him on Gibbs arm. Her smile was the most brilliant he'd ever seen and it was just for him.
She was breathtaking and she was his. He smiled through raging tears finally taking a long staggering breath when she came to stop before him with Gibbs between them.
"Who here, gives this woman to marry this man?" Ducky stepped forward smiling from ear to ear.
"I do." Gibbs answered quietly with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. He kissed Ziva's cheek, and then hugged her, before doing the same to Tony and then laying Ziva's hand gently in Tony's with a smile and an encouraging head nod. He stepped back and found his place amongst the other groomsmen, sharing their smiles and tear filled eyes.
Tony was trying to drink in all of her standing before him and gasped again with wide eyes when he looked down and realized something was missing, something was different. "Your scar?" He gasped in a near whisper with wide astonished eyes seeing the wide scar now missing from her chest from her throat and down the middle of her cleavage.
Ziva nodded ever so slightly with a raging smile and new tears in her eyes seeing the smile lighting his face and tears in his eyes.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered looking directly into her eyes, "If I wasn't already madly in love with you…I would be falling all over again." He reached up gently touching her cheek and wiping away the falling tears.
Ducky was talking but neither, Ziva or Tony heard anything he was saying as the rest of the world faded away and they were lost in their own little world, staring deeply into each other's eyes.
It was only when Schmeil had concluded his prayer in Hebrew and explained its meaning that they realized they were supposed to do something when he cleared his throat loudly and the others around them laughed softly that they'd been so lost in each other, they hadn't heard a thing that was being said.
Rurik was looking up at them giggling and holding the small ring pillow towards them.
"Repeat after me, Anthony," Schmeil smiled widely watching Tony's nervous and shaking hand, slowly take the ring from the pillow and hold Ziva's hand. "Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel."
Tony smiled repeating exactly what Schmeil had said, "Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel." The beautiful white gold band hovered just over Ziva's fingertip as he said his vows in their mixed traditional ceremony, repeating everything as Schmeil instructed. "I, Anthony Michael DiNozzo, Junior, take you, Ziva Elise David, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." He smiled finished the traditional vows and adding their own, "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Ziva and I promise to live by the Rules of Engagement for the rest of our lives. To never waste the good and to never take anything for granted."
Gibbs smiled and swallowed the lump in his throat to hear they'd included those rules into their marriage vows to each other. He could feel Shannon smiling down on him, to have shared those 'gifts' of life and love with his 'children.'
Tony continued, finishing the last of his vows by speaking in Hebrew to Ziva's heart repeating the inscription on her wedding band. "Ani l'dodi, ve dodi li…I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." He smiled radiantly repeating it in English. Ziva inhaled a soft cry with her smile when he slid the ring onto her finger.
"Ziva," Schmeil turned to her with the same pride filled smile as she took the ring from Rurik. "Repeat after me. Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel." He smiled more widely that Ziva and Tony were once again, going their own way with their wedding vows.
Ziva smiled through her tears, speaking quietly and just to Tony with eyes holding fast, "Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel." The beautiful white gold band that matched her own wedding ring, hovering just over Tony's fingertip, she began her own vows. "I, Ziva Elise David, take you, Anthony Michael DiNozzo, Junior, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." She smiled widely at him seeing his grow at hearing her vow to him. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Tony and I promise to live by the Rules of Engagement for the rest of our lives. To never waste the good and to never take anything for granted." She added as the vows they'd agreed upon that night in the bathtub. And this time, she she finished, she spoke to Tony's hear in English first and then repeated the vow written on their weddings. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. Ani l'dodi, ve dodi li." She smiled sliding the ring onto his finger.
Schmeil began the traditional Sheva Brachot, or Seven Blessings in Hebrew, with Ducky then repeating them in English right after each one was said.
Tony was given the glass of wine first and then Ziva and when they were finished, Schmeil wrapped it in delicate white cloth and set it before Tony's feet with a raging smile.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife." Ducky declared smiling widely, "You may kiss your bride." He laughed as did everyone else when Tony didn't even wait for him to finish before he was kissing Ziva passionately. "I know pronounce to you, husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DiNozzo, Junior."
Tony could barely contain his excitement as he looked at the glass lying at his feet and stepped down, crushing it with his right foot with everyone jumping to their feet with applause and yelling "Mazel tov!"
*This Years Love
"Ani ohev otach, Ziva DiNozzo." Tony smiled through his tears, cupping Ziva's face gently and addressing her for the first time as such with a raging smile and pounding heart. "My wife." He whispered in aww and kissed her tenderly. "My beautiful, beautiful wife." He repeated kissing her lips over and over while everyone continued to cheer for them, everyone crying in happiness at the beautiful couple before them.
"I love you, Anthony DiNozzo. My husband." Ziva smiled in aww as well that it was finally real, they were married.
Together, they walked down the aisle holding hands and glowing in love.
"So now what do we do?" Tony smiled at her when they were alone in the little white tent set up beside the where their ceremony was held. He couldn't stop looking at her, she was so incredibly beautiful. His fingers dancing lightly over her skin, up her arms and over her shoulders.
"We have to spend twenty minutes in here alone to complete the ceremony." Ziva smiled at him leaning closer to his lips with a soft giggle, her palms pressing against his chest.
"Mmm," Tony smiled widely and met her lips with a sweet kiss, "Twenty minutes alone with the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. This must be heaven." He kissed her again, wanting to savor every touch and taste and commit it to memory.
"You look so handsome, Tony." Ziva smiled at how incredible her husband looked in his tuxedo. "My husband." She repeated outloud her thoughts and shook her head softly. "I cannot believe you are finally my husband."
"I cannot believe that I convinced you to marry me!" Tony laughed softly with wide eyes. "You are the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes upon, Ziva DiNozzo." He smiled at using her married name. "And you're all mine…my wife, my love, my life."
Ziva pulled his head down gently to kiss him again with hand to the back of his neck and felt Tony's hand sliding up her back.
He gasped when he pulled back with eyes widening slightly at feeling something different. "Ziva, turn around…" He instructed her quietly with aww and pounding heart. The ridges of burned flesh were gone beneath his fingerstips and when she turned exposing her back to him for the first time, he inhaled loudly with astonishment. "They're gone…" His eyes met hers over her shoulder and looking back at him. The scars that had once wrapped around her torso like giant claw marks were gone and only flawlessly brilliant skin remained beneath a single soft satin ribbon. "When?" He asked with new tears flooding his eyes to see them in her own and know what this meant to her to have done such a thing.
"Last night." Ziva smiled softly and turned back towards Tony, pressing herself into his body and looking up at him as his hands roamed gently over her healed flesh. "I asked Julia to heal me and leave the past behind." She smiled with a single tear falling. Her fingers reached up to dance briefly over the one scar that remained. "I asked her to leave this, like yours…as a reminder of what we've survived and to never take our love for granted."
Tony's eyes flashed down to the single scar left on her gorgeous body, he smiled as he bent his head forward and kissed the spot with a lingering kiss and heard Ziva's soft inhale of a cry.
"Forever starts today." He smiled cupping her face again gently and staring into her big brown eyes. "And all the heart ache and pain we've been through has been worth it, hearing you say 'I do." He kissed her lips gently again.
"Forever and always." She smiled returning the kiss and feeling the same way.
"Contents priceless…handle with care." He smiled trailing soft kisses down her jaw and neckline, and letting his hands wander over her body. When he felt their baby move beneath his palm on her belly he smiled at how true that statement actually was. "I am in love with my life." He kissed her belly gently and looked up again to find Ziva's eyes filled with the same love. "No matter what happens in our life together, I am happy to have you beside me."
Ziva nodded and failed to blink back her tears, "I love you so much, Tony…you are my life. You saved me." She added quietly folding into his arms again and thinking of all the ways the man before her had truly saved her from a different life.
Tony didn't say anything, only smiled at her softly and brought his lips to hers once more, kissing her more tenderly than he ever had before.
Their first dance as a couple left everyone in tears as they watched them on the dance floor. The candle light illuminating the large white tent only added to the brilliant natural sky surrounding them and adding even more romance into the air.
*What a Wonderful World (repeat)
When Tony and Ziva's first dance ended, it was time for the Father Daughter Dance and this time, Ziva had planned another surprise for Tony as she winked at him from the dance floor over Gibbs shoulder.
"May have I this dance?" Julia asked Tony with hand extended and smiling radiantly.
"What?" Tony asked with eyebrows rising and choking immediately on the lump in his throat with her standing before him.
"Please?" Julia prompted him softly with sparkling eyes, "Trust me, Tony." She nodded at him softly.
Tony's eyes flashed back to Ziva's who was still dancing in Gibbs arms and smiled at him with a head nod, that she wanted him to do this.
Tony had a feeling he knew what this was about. His mother wasn't there for the traditional Mother Son Dance and this was Ziva and Julia's way of giving him this moment. His mind was flashing back to Julia in the hospital room and seeing his mother as she looked at him now and he nodded softly with pounding heart accepting her hand.
Quietly, they walked onto the dance floor with Ziva and Gibbs and Tony brought Julia into his arms.
"Is this going to be like Whoopi Goldberg and Demi Moore in Ghost?" He asked with a nervous smile and pounding heart remembering that scene from the movie.
"Just relax," Julia smiled at him speaking quietly, and pressed her body into his, "Close your eyes." She instructed laying her cheek against his own and winking at Ziva over Tony's shoulder. She could feel Tony's heart pounding wildly against her own pressed this closely together.
Tony did as Julia instructed and relaxed against her body, feeling her cheek tingling against his own he closed his eyes and started swaying with the music. Within moments, his mind was filled with memories of his mother, dancing with her as a little boy, the way she smelled, the way she held him and the way she felt in his arms. Tears started falling silently down his cheeks as he danced with his mother in Julia's arms. He could hear her voice in his head, her laugh and telling him how proud she was of him, how much she loved him.
Ziva was crying watching them dance and seeing the tears on Tony's cheeks. Everyone watching them understood what Julia was doing in channeling his mother and Tony's father was in tears, seeing only Isabella in Tony's arms. Julia was giving him this memory and experience as well by letting him see only his beloved wife and son.
Tony's entire life and memories with his mother was flashing before his eyes in his mind as he held onto Julia with cheek pressed against hers. She'd recalled memories that even he'd forgotten, being too little at the time, just a baby and toddler in some and played it all before him like a beautiful movie, recalling all of those emotions in his soul. Emotional memories.
He was crying in tears of happiness when the song was ending and felt her body pressed to his again, a wave of the way she smelled overcoming his senses and gasped with tears in feeling her skin one last time as he ran his fingers down Julia's arm. He heard her voice say, 'I love you, My Little Prince' into his ear before feeling her lips against his cheek.
When Tony opened his eyes, his cheek was still pressed to Julia's and he smiled as held her close looking at Ziva over her shoulder and thanking her with a small head nod for this gift. He pulled back for the briefest of moments, only seeing his mother smiling at him before she faded away and stared into Julia's eyes still swimming with gold from her efforts and leaned in, kissing her cheek gently in thanks as well. "Thank you." He whispered into her ear and then hugged her tightly for giving him the gift of dancing one last time with his mother on his wedding day.
Liat was holding her mother's framed photo in her hands at the Remembrance Table they'd set up with both Tony and Ziva's mothers honored with photos, candles and roses wanting them to be a part of this day.
"You really do, look so much like her." Schmeil smiled at her coming up to stand beside her.
Liat was startled by his presence and comment as she was lost in her thoughts looking at the woman she was still getting used to as her mother. The similarities between them were glaring and obvious.
"When I first met you," Schmeil began softly, "I thought instantly, of how much you looked like my daughter…my Rivka. But I thought, it was perhaps the wishes of an old man longing to see his daughter again in the face of another. A fool's heart playing tricks on me." He smiled looking between the photograph of Rivka and Liat.
"You look so much like her, Liat. More than either Ziva or Tali." He smiled and saw the tears welling in Liat's eyes. "She loved you so much, you know. She was so excited about having twins. She named you." He smiled and saw the surprise in the older man's eyes. "Her Liat and her Tali." He paused for a moment as a sad smile came over his eyes and features. "I watched my daughter's heartbreak for the first time when she was told that you did not survive birth. She never got over losing you." He looked deeply into Liat's eyes. "Your mother always, always loved you Liat. She thought of you and missed you, with each beat of her heart." He smiled softly gently palming Liat's face. "She would be so happy for you and Ziva to have found each other. Her girls, together again." He smiled at her and looked over at Ziva on the dance floor. "I am so happy to have found my other granddaughter." He leaned forward, gently pulling Liat's face towards his and kissing her cheek. "I love you, Child. Welcome home." He smiled widely and saw the happy tears and smile slowly grow on her face. "Would you do me the great honor, of dancing with your grandfather?" He asked with a slight bow and smile.
"I would be honored…Grandfather." Liat smiled in barely above a whisper and wiped at her tears, already in love with the old man before her.
Ziva's smile lit her face from ear to ear at seeing Schmeil and Liat dancing and the smiles and tears on both their faces and in their eyes. Finally, her family was complete she thought as she looked from them to those around her, and landing on her brother smiling madly at them both. The future for them all was looking bright and she couldn't be more excited to bring her baby into this world that was growing more wonderful by the minute.
*Forever
"Come on Grandma!" Rurik giggled tugging on Katherine's hand and pulling her onto the dance floor watching as everyone else was lining up in two lines to dance. "Let's slow roll!" He laughed holding his hands up and rolling his torso slowly down while everyone cheered and laughed. "Come on!" He encouraged her when she still hadn't joined in.
"Okay," Katherine smiled and laughed joining her grandson as they danced and slow rolled as a pair down the two lines of clapping and dancing guests with everyone taking a turn showing off their best moves.
"Whoo-hoo!" Tony clapped loudly and cheered for them both seeing the tiny little boy in the tuxedo busting a move Katherine Thorne and slow rolling their bodies in a waving motion down the dance floor. "I will never look at her the same way again." He whispered into Ziva's ear laughing as they watched the former Secretary of State and future President, do a belly rolling dance with her grandson at their wedding with radiant smiles.
E.J. smiled shyly at Asa standing across from her as the next to go and then grinned more widely when Asa started his own dance moves by rolling his hips with a lasso motion and everyone roared with laughter at the Dynamic Duo, recalling their horse adventures as the best cowboys. E.J. mirrored his moves and laughed and smiled her way towards him acting as though he'd caught her in his rope and then gasped when he swooped her up into his arms, tossing her over his shoulder and continuing to dance the rest of the way down the path while everyone was laughing.
Kevin and Lara went next and everyone awed at their too cuteness with the break dancing moves and then slow robotic moves, the perfect pair with raging smiles. He was her new prince for the evening, now that Tony and Malachi were both seemingly off the market.
Next up were Abby and McGee who rocked it with moves no one had ever seen before coming from Timmy and had everyone howling with laughter when he did a Michael Jackson spin and slide at the end.
Julia and Jack came next and their hotness factor had everyone fanning themselves with wide smiles seeing the looks between the two that ended with Jack swooping her up against his chest at the end of the line, lifting her off her feet with his height to hers and kissed her soundly to a thunderous round of applause and wide smiles from their children.
Kristoff and Annika came after with proud smiles and giggles. Both were astoundingly good dancers that had everyone's eyes wide while Kristoff moon-walked perfectly around Annika in a circle and then pulled an Usher move with his body tipping and rolling in perfect motion with a raging smile as Annika did the same and then kicked it back to him. Their' efforts got the loudest thunderous round of applause from everyone.
"My God, that kid can dance!" McGee smiled widely at Tony who was nodding in agreement with wide eyes of pride.
Agent Abigail Borin stare down Gibbs standing across from her with a gleam in her eyes and knocked back what was left in her champagne glass with a soft laugh. Gibbs shook his head with a smile and stepped towards her while the others cheered them on. Borin danced around him, swaying her whole body and hips in his direction in a sassy little groove and causing some to whistle and others to blush.
When Gibbs grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, his eyes staring into hers and catching her by surprise, everyone gasped with her and then cheered loudly when he did his own hip roll that had Abby screeching and bouncing with excitement, grabbing at Ziva's arm with wide-eyes to see Gibbs move like that.
"Holy hell…" Tony gasped with wide-eyes and laughter seeing their bodies shimming down the aisle. "Whew!" He waved at the hot factor that just increased immensely between the two. Working a case with the Coast Guard was never going to be the same again. He would never look at either of them the same way again…
Fornell surprised everyone by jumping by himself from the sidelines and snatching Lena out of Jack's arms, dancing with the tiny toddler down the centerline to cheers and laughter as he smiled widely. His giant kiss to the little beauty's cheek at the end and her giggle had them all 'awwing' again.
Schmeil and Ducky brought down the house with their rousing saunter down the centerline followed up quickly by Palmer and Breena's spectacular performance that kicked the hot factor up yet another notch.
Liat and Malachi were the next in line and her come-hither finger calling Malachi across the dance floor while biting her lip sent up an immediate roar from the crowd of those dancing and clapping along with the song. Malachi gladly arrived with a smile, his hands going to her hips and rolled his hips against her and around her as they danced down the middle. His hot trailing kiss across her shoulder and then final kiss to her belly and their baby sent another 'aww' through the group.
Tony and Ziva were next and smiled madly at each other with shared winks when their dance blew up the hotness scale with body rolls and looks and licked lips that mimicked what everyone was sure was their bedroom dance moves. A not-worthy bow from everyone quickly followed the insanely in love newlyweds.
"This is the best night of my life." Ziva smiled widely at Tony when he wrapped his arms around her, seeing the smiles on everyone's faces around them, all laughing and dancing together now. Julia and Jack were dancing with their children beside them, the kids were going crazy and all smiles as were their parents.
Katherine and William were enjoying themselves with wide smiles as well and laughing, each dancing with a baby against their chests in Rafe and Jillian.
Annika was tearing up the floor with Ducky who was completely smitten with the enchanting Swedish blonde with beautiful eyes and a larger than life presence in any room. She had everyone in constant smiles and laughter any time she opened her mouth or made an expression.
Abby and McGee were completely lost in each other with raging smiles dancing across the way.
Liat and Malachi were dancing beside them, smiling and laughing softly at shared whispers while their hands linked fingers over her baby belly.
Gibbs and Borin were still tearing up the dance floor laughing and smile and enjoying themselves while Breena and Palmer did the same beside them.
Everyone, was having the time of their lives celebrating Tony and Ziva's marriage and letting loose after a stressful year.
"Ahh," Ziva gasped with wide eyes and smiling catching Tony's eyes to look where she was and saw Asa leaning in for his first kiss with E.J. in a corner across the tent and had to stop from screeching out loud and cheering when she saw it turn heated rather quickly, with both of them then pulling apart and looking shyly at each other.
"Way to go, cowboy." Tony smiled with pride and winking across the room at Asa making the poor man blush. He stood quickly and extended his hand to E.J. excusing themselves out of the tent and out into the fresh air to have some privacy.
*Good Life
Paris~
Tony smiled widely when he woke in the morning. Ziva was laying draped over his chest with wild dark hair spilling over behind her. His smile grew as he took in their surroundings. The first night of their honeymoon had been spent in the exact same room they had spent their' first together in Paris years ago. After a beautiful night of making love, he'd woken up to her in the exact same position that she'd been in then and his heart melted. This time, she was his. She was his wife. And they were finally together. His hand was no longer resting on her hip, but on her belly, their baby…their love. His dreams were coming true in more beautiful ways than he could have ever imagined. He dropped a kiss to Ziva's head and smiled as the sun filtered in on them from the balcony and the sounds of Parisian café music filled the air.
Ziva couldn't help but smile waking up as well. She knew that Tony was awake as she felt his fingertips trailing over her naked flesh and smiled at where they were and what had changed in their lives since their last visit.
She turned her head around to look at him with her drop-dead gorgeous smile, "Good morning." She smiled repeating history and instead of leaving the bed this time, she slowly dropped her head to capture his lips. "I love you."
"Ani ohev otach, Mrs. DiNozzo." Tony smiled widely against her lips, kissing her repeatedly. "You are my dream come true, Ziva." He smiled thinking about wanting to wake up next to her for the rest of this life after waking up next to her in this same bed years ago.
"And you are mine." She smiled with a soft laugh of sheer happiness as she straddled him.
Tony's hands immediately going to her belly and palming it, leaning forward to kiss his baby good morning as well, "Now…I get to make love to my wife, the way I wanted to that morning." He smiled with a dangerous smile and hands roaming up Ziva's naked flesh scar free and flawless. "You are so gorgeous, Ziva DiNozzo. I am the luckiest man on the planet." He smiled looking up at her and the wild dark mane of curls falling around her shoulders and breasts. "Beautiful, gorgeous…perfection."
Ziva had never felt more beautiful than now, staring into Tony's eyes and looking down at him in their room in Paris where everything had changed. Where they both knew waking up that morning that 'this' was the life they both wanted. And now, they were living it.
"I love you, Tony." She smiled leaning down to kiss him again. "Forever and always, My Little Furry Bear." She added in her French accent she knew turned him on.
"Forever and always, Sweetcheeks." He laughed softly and smiled grasping her butt cheeks firmly with his hands as she sat on top of him with a naughty smile.
"Well get to it, DiNozzo." Ziva ordered him with a slanted eyebrow and naughty grin of her own, sliding back against his already raging morning excitement. "Let's see… exactly what you were thinking about doing to me that morning." She smiled when he gasped as her naked flesh landed on top of his, "See, if it comes anything close… to what I had in mind." She giggled softly and raked her nails down his chest.
October 2013-
"Mal," Tony sighed with exasperation shaking his head as they kneeled before the wall, "Haven't you ever seen the Karate Kid? It's up and down and back and forth, like this!" He demonstrated the painting techniques as they attempted to paint Eden's nursery together in Liat's new house in Virginia. "Oh, very good Daniel-son." Tony smiled nodding his approval with Malachi matching his technique. "Paint the fence!" Tony demanded in his best Mr. Miyagi voice.
"What does it matter? We put paint on the walls either way!" Malachi sighed covered in paint speckles of various girly colors of pink, purple, yellow and greens.
"It matters because you keep painting over and over the same spots and wasting paint and it looks crazy with those strokes! Do you want this to be perfect for your little girl or not?" Tony asked with narrowing eyebrows. "Perfect your technique, Gidon!"
"All right!" Malachi sighed while McGee, Fornell and Gibbs chuckled behind them painting the other walls in a group effort.
"Up! Down! Up! Down!" Tony continued on in a smile with his Mr. Miyagi voice enjoying this moment way too much. "And when we're done, we all go over to my house and do the same!" He laughed softly.
"What?!" McGee gasped in disbelief. "Tony, we've painted it three times now!"
"Well, what can I say? My wife can't make up her mind about the perfect color." Tony shrugged with a chuckle. "The wife wants, what the wife wants!"
"Glad to see you have taken my advice, DiNozzo." Fornell laughed reaching for another beer from the cooler. "Happy wife, happy life."
"I have never known Ziva to be this indecisive in all my life!" McGee grumbled.
"Just wait until Abby's pregnant. Then you'll understand, Probie. Then you'll understand." Tony chuckled again.
"Thank God, Liat is set on these colors." Malachi shook his head thinking of all the painting the others had already done in Tony and Ziva's new home. This was his first house painting lesson having come back from Israel for the week to help Liat get settled. They were still taking it slow, enjoying their relationship and building on a solid foundation with neither in a hurry to move things along more quickly. Everything was perfect right now in their relationship and he was excited every chance they were able to spend together with his flying back and forth every couple of weeks and Skyping over video calls before she went to bed every night and he ate breakfast when they were apart.
The baby's due date was rapidly approaching in the beginning of November and now at the end of October, they were preparing the nursery in her new home, not far from Ziva and Tony's and Julia and Jack's. Liat was surrounded by her new family and he was thrilled that even when he wasn't there with her, she was never alone.
"No," Tony laughed shaking his head at Malachi's comment about Liat not changing her mind all the time about paint colors. "She just can't decide what crib she wants. Do you know that I've already assembled three for her in your absence and then had to take them apart again?"
"And I've done two." Gibbs added laughing softly with Tony about Liat's own indecisive moments. "The next one, you're building!"
"But I have time, yes?" Malachi asked with wide-eyes, "Eden will sleep in the cradle we've made in Liat's room until she is older?"
"That doesn't stop her from wanting the nursery done and perfect before the baby comes." Tony shook his head, having wrongly believed the same thing about both Liat and Ziva. That they had time to work on things. Once he saw the look in Ziva's eyes, he quickly shut up and set to work.
"The baby isn't due for another week. We'll get it done." Gibbs lay a gentle hand on Malachi's back seeing the panic in the young man's eyes about getting it all done before the baby arrived.
"Well, we'd better hurry up." McGee looked at his watch and started painting faster. "Jack and Julia are going to be here for the Halloween party at 5:00 to take the kids Trick-or-Treating. It's already 2:00."
Malachi started painting like a wild man again and Tony caught his arm mid-stroke.
"Up! Down! Up! Down!" Tony corrected him with raised eyebrows again speaking like Mr. Miyagi. "Don't rush it, Adam…all you have to put on is a loin cloth of leaves anyway." He chuckled shaking his head.
"What?" Malachi asked sharply with voice rising and eyes widening.
"She didn't tell you?" Tony laughed holding his belly, "You're going to be Adam from Adam and Eve for this party. Liat is Eve and you're Adam…and that means a loin cloth of leaves and nothing else, my friend."
"Oh Dear God!" Fornell shook his head, "The last thing I ever needed to see was the Director of Mossad in a loincloth."
"Ah, Tobias." Gibbs chuckled having similar thoughts, "The last thing I ever needed to see you in was lycra spandex either."
"Spock happens to be a classic, Jethro." Fornell countered and then smiled widely with a deep laugh at his costume. "It will be worth the look on Diane's face alone." He smiled devilishly at his ex-wife and daughter who would also be joining the party.
"She's going to be too busy making googly eyes at the Supreme Elf Lord, over there." Tony nodded at McGee with a raging smile.
"Tony!" McGee chided him immediately, not wanting to open that Diane Can of Worms again.
"Well, DiNozzo in a skirt won't be much better!" Fornell shook his head at their atrocious costumes for this party.
"It's not a skirt!" Tony corrected him immediately working on the trim of the baby's room. "I'm Mark Antony! And I have rather sexy legs to be wearing Roman sandals." He laughed shaking his head, "Anything for my Cleopatra." He smiled thinking about how beautiful Ziva was going to look as the last gorgeous pharaoh of Egypt.
"Poor Kevin, he got roped into being Lara's Alladin to her Jasmine." McGee laughed softly thinking about his friend.
"He secretly loves it! It's his chance to play Improv and with that adorable little girl, how can anyone resist?" Tony smiled widely thinking about her. "Little girls."
"Our lives are about to be filled with them." Malachi smiled at Tony thinking about their daughters coming soon, joining Lara, Lena and Jillian as the tiny trio already in their lives.
"Thank Heaven...for little girls." Gibbs smiled softly thinking about them.
*Life is Beautiful (repeat)
They paced anxiously back and forth in the waiting room of the hospital. Tony up one side, Gibbs down another with everyone else sitting in the chairs around them.
"He's coming." Julia smiled widely from her seat catching everyone's attention at what she knew and their eyes flashed quickly to the doors.
Malachi appeared looking dazed and euphoric, standing in his leaf covered loincloth and nothing else.
"She's here." He smiled widely, "And she's perfect…absolutely perfect." He smiled with pride. "6lbs 1oz and 18 inches long. Beautiful blonde curly hair and Liat's eyes." He inhaled a soft cry with tears in his eyes as everyone cheered. "Liat was amazing."
"Liat's okay?" Gibbs asked with concerned but smiling eyes as any father would be for his daughter.
"She's perfect." Malachi smiled. "Ziva is with her now as the doctor is finishing now but, she's perfect. They're both perfect!"
"Can we see her?" Rurik asked impatiently jumping up and down in his Thor costume as it was Halloween and Liat had gone into labor while they were trick-or-treating with her water breaking just after ringing a doorbell.
"Yeah, we can see them." Malachi smiled widely and scooped up the little boy hugging him tightly and so thankful to him for his bathroom conversation about the importance of a Daddy and being there from the beginning. "Let's go meet, Eden." He set Rurik down again and kept hold of his hand, leading the band of costumed misfits down the hallway while the nurses snickered at the assortment of costumes, from Roman Legionnaire, Adam in a loincloth, Thor, Michael Jackson, Jasmine and Alladin with pointy shoes, Spock, Julia as Sheera to Jack's He-Man, Snow White, John Wayne and the list went on.
Liat couldn't tear her eyes away from her perfect and beautiful baby in her arms. She was quiet now, asleep after nursing for the first time and exhausted from birth, but she was beautiful and perfect and everything she could ever imagine her baby girl to be.
Ziva leaned over and kissed her sister's temple with pride and tears in her eyes. "She's gorgeous." She added softly hugging Liat around her shoulders as they looked down at Eden. Both she and Malachi had been in the delivery room, with Liat holding both of their hands. Ziva laughed softly at Liat's wild blonde mane of crazy hair now that matched her costume of Eve perfectly earlier in the evening. "Your Eden born to Adam and Eve." She chuckled softly seeing Malachi enter the room again still in his loincloth and bringing along all of the excited faces still in costume behind him.
They all surrounded the bed with excited eyes and tear filled smiles.
"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to Eden Ziva Ben-Gidon." She smiled taking hold of Malachi's hand and introducing her baby girl for the first time.
"She's so perfect!" Abby cooed with a wide smile.
"Gorgeous." E.J. cried through a smile dressed as Jane, with Asa nodding beside her wearing a wide smile as well and dressed like Tarzan.
"Like her mother." He smiled at both Liat and Malachi. "Congratulations."
Everyone else joined in congratulating them as well with everyone taking turns holding her and awing over her cuteness.
"So what do you think, Rurik?" Malachi smiled down at his favorite little guy who was now holding his baby girl sitting back against the arm chair still in his Thor costume with fake bulging muscles.
"She's beautiful." Rurik smiled dropping a kiss to Eden's forehead with a raging smile. "My baby." He added softly nuzzing his face gently against Eden's soft downy blonde hair.
"Your baby?" Malachi chuckled at hearing the possessive note already in Rurik's voice.
"Yep. She's going to be my wife. My future Empress." Rurik smiled with pride and the others laughed softly at him staking his claim already. "It's true!" He looked at them with serious eyes and a smile, "Gabriel told me." He added and everyone's faces and expressions froze.
"Gabriel told you…Eden will be your wife?" Liat asked with tears forming in her eyes and swallowing the lump in her throat looking at the precious little boy in front of her, holding her brand new baby girl. "When?"
"Just now." Rurik answered with a smile. "He was just here."
"He was?" Liat gasped softly looking around the room.
"He delivered her." Rurik smiled and then pointed to the name of the doctor written on the message board in Liat's hospital room. "See."
All of their eyes flashed to the board. Liat had gone into labor so quickly that her regular OB was not available and the doctor On Call stepped into the room at the last minute to deliver her baby, disappearing nearly as quickly though they hadn't noticed until now, so caught up in their joy over their baby.
Sure enough, the name on the board read Dr. Angelo, Gabriel.
"My God…" Malachi gasped with astonishment looking back to Rurik holding his baby and then to Liat with tears in his eyes. Both of their eyes flashing to Julia for some sort of confirmation to the statement.
"It's true…for now." She nodded softly with a slight smile. "The future can always change. But I am told…they are soul mates." Julia spoke softly with tears in her own eyes looking at her son and future daughter-in-law in his arms.
"How long have you known?" Liat asked with tears running silently down her cheeks and a smile on her face to hear that her daughter had already found her soul mate on the day she was born and that her future apparently included being the Empress of Russia if marrying Rurik.
"When I died," Julia began with eyes flashing from Liat to Tony and they all understood what she meant and when. The mission to rescue Liat in Iran. "When I waited for my body to heal and they spoke to me of the future. I was told then, who Eden was, and why our paths were meant to cross." She smiled back at Liat. "She has a great future. A very important one." She smiled with pride, already in love with the baby who would be her daughter-in-law one day.
The gentleness in the way that Rurik was holding Eden and how relaxed she was in his arms was breathtaking to behold. His sweet little smile as he closed his eyes and gently brushed his lips back and forth over her soft head, it was already clear the connection and love he felt for her. "I've missed you." They heard his whisper into Eden's ear as if he'd known her before and found her again. The light in his eyes and smile was something they'd never seen before and brought tears to all of their eyes as another piece to their collective puzzle snapped into place.
Malachi looked at the little boy before him holding his daughter and felt his heart swelling with pride and understanding how and why it was, that it had been Rurik who spoke to his heart that night in the bathroom and made him realize what was really important. Rurik was already unknowingly looking out for his soul mate, in securing her family and the love she needed before she was even born. He leaned over and kissed Rurik's soft blonde curly hair with a smile.
"Thank you." He told him again softly for talking sense into him that night with such an old soul's wisdom.
"It's okay." Rurik smiled widely at both Malachi and Liat, "I will take good care of her." He beamed with wisdom far beyond his years having just celebrated his own fifth birthday recently.
"I'm sure you will." Malachi answered with a soft smile looking down at his perfect and beautiful baby, already safe and content in this little muscular boys' arms. His gentle and kind soul was obvious to anyone who knew him and his humorous personality was endearing as it was charming. He would no doubt grow up to be a heart breaker for a lot of other young women, but his heart clearly already belonged to the tiny one he held in his little arms. Their journey to finding each other again was still ahead of them, no doubt filled with their own trials and tribulations but it would be worth it.
"He also told me that Toffee was going to marry Sarai. She is his soul mate and they are meant to be." Rurik added with a gleaming and brilliant smile at Tony and Ziva whose mouths fell open looking at the little boy standing beside them.
Kristoff's eyes were wide staring at Rurik like the rest of them, clearly stunned with this news and shifting uncomfortable. "What?"
Tony and Ziva both looked down at the little boy who Tony had grown such a fondness for, had found a kindred spirit in and had already taught him so much about life and was only nine years old. They smiled at his wide blue eyes clearly as stunned as they were with this news and looked over to Julia for confirmation as Liat and Malachi had done. She only smiled with the slightest of head nods to them, seeing the panic in her son's eyes at the idea he would be marrying the baby Ziva was carrying.
"They will be the same age apart as you and Aunty Ziva!" Lara squealed with excitement looking at Tony. "And I will have two new sisters!" She bounced with glee at the idea of growing up with them. "We will all be good friends!"
Tony and Ziva exchanged glances looking at each other and then to Kristoff with Ziva's hand resting on her very large baby belly and thinking about the truth of that statement. Tony had been this same age as Kristoff, when Ziva had been born. The difference in age had served them both well.
"And take good care of the world." Rurik nodded with a smile looking down once more at the baby in his arms. "We are a good team."
"All of us." Lara smiled brushing her fingers lightly over Eden's tiny fingers. "Gabriel said so."
The adults in the room exchanged glances watching the children before them now, with smiles on their faces and hope for the future that made all of their heartaches and sacrifices in their own lives worth it.
AN: Next chapter up immediately after!