Meant to Be

The Game: Part One

The ride to the wedding reception was quite enjoyable. Tony and Ziva had privacy due to the tinted windows of the limousine. Also the fact that Tali was with Gibbs and Senior on the ride to the party, helped the newlyweds to have some quite time alone. Much to Tony's delight, he could be as affectionate as he desired, although Ziva told him that he should save his excitement for the night because there would be plenty of time to make up for it.
Pouting a bit, Tony finally agreed and promised to behave at least for now. He also told her that he would try to the best of his abilities, to behave at the reception as well. Ziva laughed at how he seemed to be itching to get as close as possible to her. To think, at one time, I thought I didn't deserve any man, especially Tony. She quietly pondered.
The rest of the ride to their destination, they held each other close and occasionally stole a kiss or two. If I don't keep myself under control, I will want to tell the driver to skip the reception destination and just head straight to the airport! I'm almost as bad as Tony! Although he has always seemed to have that affect on me. Ziva thought to herself as she felt herself getting slightly warmer by the way Tony was caressing her leg.
Thankfully they made it to the party not too long after.
As they entered the hall, arms intertwined, an applause broke out as soon as it was announced the man and woman of the hour had entered the building. Tony and Ziva both felt slightly overwhelmed with emotions. Most of which where pure happiness and utter shock still at the fact that they were now officially married. They both glimpsed around the hall as they made their way to the Bridal table. Where their family sat. Senior, Gibbs, Tali, Abby, McGee and Delilah. Along with Ducky and Palmer with his wife and daughter Elizabeth, who, much to Tony and Ziva's delight is very close in age to Tali and is a good playmate.
As they get to their seats Tony stops Ziva from just sitting down and he pulls her chair out for her. He gestures in a formal manner as he takes her hand while she sits down. After he takes his seat as well, both husband and wife get bombarded with attention.

"Oh my gosh! Tony and Ziva I'm soooo happy for you guys!" Abby exclaims as she leaps from her seat by Gibbs and Delilah. She hugs them both with her typical Abby strength and rushes back over to her seat. She then takes Tali, who is currently sitting in Delilah's lap demanding to have her Ima and Abba's attention, back over to her parents.

"Ima's pretty!" Tali says with a big smile.

"Why thank you my baby! Did you enjoy throwing the flowers with Auntie Abby?" Ziva asked as she looked at her daughter with such admiration. Tali nods her head and then looks over to her father.

"Abba!"

"Hey Tali my girl! Tony said as he took Tali from Ziva and she look at him happily. Abba missed you so much." Tony dramatically told their little girl.

"Tony you been separated from her for only not even twenty four hours. How are you going to cope with her not coming with us to our honeymoon!" Ziva questioned amused by her husband's bond with their daughter.

"Oh... ah I haven't even thought about that! Well let's not bring it up right now Imma." He is mainly speaking to the toddler. "Instead let's start this party and have a good time!"

"Yes! Party!" Tali exclaimed with as much enthusiasm as her father.

"Hey Auntie Abby." Tony gestures to Abby and she quickly looks over. "How about you and the little ninja go start inspiring people to start hitting the dance floor while we wait for our food?" Abby got the hint that Tony wanted to wait a bit longer before leaving Ziva's side.

"Yes! Come on Tali let's go request a song to the DJ and start dancing our booties off!"

"Yay!" Tali nearly squealed jumping up and down in complete excitement.

As Abby and Tali walk off Gibbs says, "Oh boy."

Senior asks Gibbs, "What's wrong Gibbs."

"Well you know Abby and her music. Knowing her, she is going to start the party off with some heavy metal." McGee answered.

Senior nods in acknowledgement as Tony gets a "deer caught in the headlights" sort of look.

"Don't worry Tony. There will be plenty of opportunity for different music request, just let them have their fun."

"Okay sweet cheeks your wish is my command." Tony replied as he seemed to completely relax once more.

While the guests waited for the main meal, everyone started to converse in separate conversations and talk about memories and how well the wedding was arranged.

"So Tony, where are you and Ziva going for your honeymoon." McGee asked curiously, his senior agent investigating skills kicking in almost by instinct.

"Well Timmy," Tony replied in a teasing tone, "You know that is the wife and yours truly, concern only."

"Come on man," McGee practically begged his brother like friend, "What are you guys hiding? Why does it matter if we know where you are going?"

"Well Mccurious, that is because the gorgeous wife and I came up with a little game for you all."

"Oh really and what might that be?" Replied McGee rather fast tired of playing games.

"The bridal table will have to guess how many gems are in this glass jar," Ziva pulls a glass jar that has been sitting rather oddly in front of her. It has in it black and white marbles that to Mcgee, look like marbles you would put at the bottom of a fish bowl. "Whoever guesses gets to make a speech to us as the bride and groom."

"Well that is a good idea." McGee complimented.

"Thank you Mcgoo! I thought it was rather brilliant myself." Tony answered in a cocky manner.

"Since we couldn't decide who we would like to do the speech, Tony came up with this alternative." Ziva explained further.

"When do we put in our guesses?" Delilah asked, seeing that she heard Ziva explain the game.

"After dinner and before the cutting of the cake." Ziva replied cheerfully.

Not too long after the food arrived to the bridal table did it then arrive to the guests. It was a lovely course of a choice of chicken parmesan or flounder with a side of fresh vegetables. The talking slowed down quite a bit and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

Both Tony and Ziva could not have been happier and could not wait to commence with the next events to the wedding celebration. Ziva glanced over to Tali who wanted her Auntie Abby to help her cut her Chicken Parmesan, much like Tony she had the same stomach. As Ziva watched her daughter chew away she thought, You are so precious my girl. Because of you, myself and your father learned to put the past aside... well it wasn't easy. Very difficult indeed seeing that Tony had trust issues which were completely understandable given that I never told him about you and I had to hide the fact that I was actually alive for a few months. All in all Tali, Ziva thought as if she was giving a blessing to her little girl, that does not matter now. What does matter is that your Abba and I raise you in a happy environment. You are the light to my world, your Abba and I love you more then you will ever know. After this thought Ziva was brought back to the moment at hand and was asked by Bishop what kind of cake they decided to choose.

This was an awesome chapter to write seeing that I had to completely go off of my imagination and still stay true to the characters. I hope I did well and you all enjoyed this part! Thank you for continuing to follow me, it means alot to me. Like always, if you have any requests just message me and I will see what I can do!

Sarela25