NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 25: Weekly Family Dance

Morning came early for Tony and Ziva. It was Saturday, so all the teenagers decided to sleep in. Ziva awoke to Tony absentmindedly playing with her hair.

"Morning". She said sleepily.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty". Tony said, grinning. "Slept well?"

Ziva nodded, groggily. "What time is it?"

"8:30".

"I slept in that late?!"

Tony chuckled. "Relax, Abby isn't even up yet".

"Oh". Ziva said, wrapping her arms around Tony's torso. "When do we have to get up?"

Tony kissed the top of Ziva's head. "Soon. I can hear my mom and dad cooking pancakes downstairs".

Sure enough, Ziva could hear the banging of pots and pans in the kitchen, and the coffee maker grinding coffee.

"Let's get ready before my mom call us down for breakfast". Tony suggested. "And before our weekly family dance".

"Weekly family dance?" Ziva asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Every Saturday, my parents play songs that we dance together as a family. This week, I think it's Kenny Rogers".

Ziva giggled. "Kenny Rogers? The country singer?"

Tony chuckled. "Yeah, him". We have about ten CDs of him. My parents really like him".

"I've never heard any of his songs before". Ziva confessed.

"WHAT? You've never heard any Kenny Rogers songs?!" Tong asked in disbelief.

Ziva giggled and playfully smacked his chest. "No, silly. I haven't".

.
Abby, Ziva and Tony just finished getting ready, when Jenny's voice floated up from the kitchen.

"Breakfast!!"

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Breakfast was delicious. Jenny was a very good cook. Ziva quickly ran upstairs to grab something when she heard country music playing downstairs. When a male voice started singing a song called 'The Gambler', Ziva assumed it was Kenny Rogers. She smiled to herself and crept downstairs.

Ziva sat at the foot of the steps, watching Jenny dance with Tony, and Gibbs dance with Abby. Abby giggled as Gibbs spun her around and around .

Ziva sighed, and rested her head on her hands. She observed the happy family dancing with each other to the soothing voice of Kenny Rogers. Her family never did anything like that. Ziva began to daydream about how life would be like if her family was like the Gibbs'. They would be happy, of course. And peaceful. There wouldn't be any fighting, name-calling, or screaming; just unconditional love.

Ziva suddenly felt a tap on her should as the song 'Islands in the Stream' begun to play.

"Dance with me?" Gibbs asked as Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton sung together.

Ziva broke into a huge smile, and she took Gibbs' hand. He pulled her into the dancing circle, and began to dance with her. Gibbs laughed as Ziva began to boogie, and soon enough, Abby and Jenny joined in Ziva's boogie. Tony and Gibbs placed their arms around each other's shoulders, and sung along to the chorus as the girls were dancing with each other.

"Islands in the stream.
That is what we are.
No one in between;
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me,
To another world.
And we rely on each other, ah-ha.
To one lover to another, ah-ha".

Ziva laughed and laughed as Abby and Jenny danced around her. They then impersonated Dolly Parton's singing voice, which only made Ziva laugh harder.

"Having fun yet, Zeevah?" Tony asked, teasing her. He held both of her hands and swayed side to side with the beat.

It was nearing the end of the song, so everyone then stood around in a circle, and placed their arms around each other's shoulders. They jumped up and down to the bear as they sung the chorus together.

"Islands in the stream.
That is what we are.
No one in between;
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me,
To another world.
And we rely on each other, ah-ha.
To one lover to another, ah-ha".

They sung it again. This time, a little louder.

"Islands in the stream.
That is what we are.
No one in between;
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me,
To another world.
And we rely on each other, ah-ha.
To one lover to another, ah-ha"!

.
The song ended. Another one started, and Tony's eyes lit up. "Ooh this is a good one". He said, and grabbed Ziva's waist.

Ziva gazed into Tony dazzling green eyes as they slow danced to the song 'Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer' by Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes. Tony rested his forehead on Ziva's, and mouthed the chorus.

Ziva sighed contently, and snaked her hands around his neck. Tony responded by increasing the pressure of his hand on her back; pulling her closer to him.

.
Jenny and Gibbs exchanged looks. Abby sneakily pulled out her phone, and took a quick picture of the cute non-couple.

Much to Ziva and Tony's disappointment, the song ended. They broke apart, and gazed into each other's eyes. "Like our song, sweetcheeks?" Tony whispered to her; grinning.

Ziva smirked. I wasn't aware that this was our song". She whispered back.

"It is now".

"It's kinda sad though". Ziva said. "But I love it". She added.

Tony winked at her. "We can have more than one song".

The next song began playing, and Tony took her hands in his again. "How about this one?" He asked .

It was 'You Decorated My Life', by Kenny Rogers. The soothing melody, and beautiful chorus captivated Ziva. "I love it". She whispered. "I love our two songs".

Tony took her into his arms again, as they slow danced. "I love it too". He whispered in her ear.

The chorus started up again, and Tony held Ziva closer.

"And you...decorated my life.
Created a world, where dreams are a part.
And you...decorated my life.
By painting a world, all over my heart.
You decorated my life".

"Thank you Tony". Ziva whispered to him. "For decorating my life".