Tali & Monique, Age 5

            December 3^rd, 2023; The morning of Tali and Monique’s fifth birthday, Ziva was up at the usual time she got up at and started kickboxing in the living room before her husband, son and daughters woke up that morning. Kickboxing had always been therapeutic for Ziva.

            “You still have it.” Monique said as she came into the doorway at the moment when her protégé landed a roundhouse square on the kickboxing dummy.

            “I learned from the best.” Ziva replied as she grabbed the towel she had nearby.

            After Ziva had wiped her brow before she went to hug her mentor.

            “I’m glad that you were able to make it, Monique; it means a lot and the girls will be so thrilled to see you.” Ziva said.

            “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Ziva. I’d run into a hail gunfire for those girls.”

            Ziva smiled. Tali and Monique were two very lucky girls.

            “I can’t believe they’re five years old already, it seems like they were just born yesterday.” Ziva said.

            “I know, I can’t believe that you took my advice from all those years ago and finally settled down. And I have to say that I am a bit jealous, Ziva. You have three beautiful daughters, a handsome son and a drop dead gorgeous husband; your mother would be proud. So would your sister.”

            “They would, Ari on the other hand…”

            “Who the hell cares what Ari would think?”

            Shortly after that Tony, Madalyn and Asher wondered into the kitchen still half asleep.

            Tali and Monique on the other hand were anything but quiet.

            “Aunt Monique!!!!” the duo shouted as loudly as their five year old lungs allowed them too.

            “My god would you two put a lid on it.” Asher said to his kid sisters in Hebrew.

            “Asher Ari DiNozzo, apologize now.” Ziva demanded.

            “Sorry Tal, sorry Momo.”

            “You’re forgiven.” the girls said as they hugged their mother’s mentor and Monique’s mentor.

            At one point Ziva a sad look in Tali’s eyes as she watched her twin hug her namesake.

            “Tali, I know it’s hard for you to see your sister hug your Aunt especially on your birthday since Aunt Tali isn’t here like Aunt Monique is, but Aunt Tali is here in spirit just like Kate and Kassidy felt Aunt Kate and Aunt Paula’s presence at their party a few weeks ago.”

            Oh sweet baby girl, I am always with you so you don’t have to be sad. I am always with you just like I am always with your Mommy.

             “Aunt Tali?” Tali question when she thought she heard her aunt’s voice.

            Happy fifth birthday my beautiful niece, Happy birthday to both of my beautiful nieces.

            “She’s here, Mom; Aunt Tali is here.” Madalyn said.

            Ziva smiled.

            “I knew you would be here, little sis.” Ziva said.

             I would miss this for anything, Ziva. Those girls remind a lot of mom. And Asher has bit of Ari’s personality. Watch him.”

            I resent that.

            “What is it?” Tony and the elder Monique asked when they saw Ziva start to laugh.

            “Nothing, it just sounded like Tali and Ari were arguing like they did when they were alive when three of us were kids.”

            Some time later Tali and Monique’s party was underway at the D.C. location of Fun Zone. Everyone from NCIS was there with their respective families. Senior had taken a train down from New York and had just made it to the party. Eli on the other hand was unable to fly over from Israel for his granddaughters’ fifth birthday. To make up for it Eli initiated a video call via Skype so that he could wish his twin granddaughters a happy birthday.

            Eli being absent was nothing new to Ziva. After all he had missed every single one of her dance recital from she was child. Eli had become an absentee grandfather for all four of his grandkids just as he had been an absentee father for the majority of all three of his kids’ lives. And yet he wondered why Tali never got along with him when she was alive, why it was so easy for Ari to betray Eli and Mossad when he joined Hamas prior to murdering Kate as well as before he is own death. And most of all why Ziva saw Leroy Jethro Gibbs as the father figure in her life. And why it was beyond easy for Ziva to leave Mossad, Israel and Eli all those years ago to become a U.S. citizen along with becoming an NCIS Agent.

            All the kids were having a blast at Fun Zone. Their parents along the older siblings of the DiNozzo twins and the Gibbs twins had been watching.

            “Happy 5^th Birthday, my loves.” Ziva said to her girls silently as she watched them chase Kyle Luca through the massive climbing toy.

Aliyah, Juliet & Zoey, Age 5

            September 15^th, 2022; On this particular day Jaylyn was the first one up in the house. Kasey was still in bed as were Aliyah, Juliet and Zoey.  This day had been tough and bittersweet for Jaylyn. As she made herself a cup of coffee  wished the sons she had lost five years earlier a happy fifth birthday while she tried to fight back the tears. NCIS Agents don’t cry, Jaylyn reminded herself. Jaylyn pushed her hair back while her mind had transitioned from her sons to her mother.

            I hope the boys are giving you and Dad a hard time up there.

            They are fine, baby girl. Just focus all your attention on those beautiful granddaughters of mine today.

            I’ll try mom, these past five years have been hard.

            Baby girl you have your sister, your brother-in-law and that gorgeous guy of yours to make things less tough. Despite what your father says; you and Jenny don’t always have to be tough as nails. It’s more than okay to be human.

            I hope you are proud of me. Who would have thought your baby girl would be a mom. We all knew Jen would be a mom but me that was a stretch.

            “Oh Jaylyn, my sweet baby girl; I am always proud of you and I am always proud of Jenny too. I always will be. Now do me a favor.

            Anything mom.

            Go spoil those girls of yours for me and tell them that their Granddad and Grandmama love them so much.

            I will, Mom. Love you Mom.

            Love you too, baby girl.

            Jaylyn took a sip of her coffee and looked up towards the ceiling.

            “Thanks mom.”

            With that Aliyah, Juliet and Zoey rushed into the kitchen bouncing off the wall with excitement.

            “Mommy, mommy, mommy; guess what?” the girls asked in unison.

            “What?”

            “We’re big girls now.”

            “You are. Last time I checked you three were my funny little four year olds. How can you be big girls?” Jaylyn asked teasing her daughters.

            “It’s our birthday today, Mommy.” Juliet said.

            “We’re five years old today, Mommy.” Aliyah continued.

            “Are you three sure about that?” Kasey questioned as he joined his girls in the kitchen.

            In the intervening years; Kasey had proposed to Jaylyn. The two got married in their backyard a few months prior to the girls’ third birthday.

            “Yes Daddy, we’re sure.”

            Jaylyn had insisted that she would keep her maiden name when she got married and that she wasn’t changing the girls’ last name from Shepard to Mitchell. Kasey agreed.

            “Well then if you girls are five then; Mommy and I should throw you a party or something.” Kasey said as the doorbell rang.

            “Why don’t you girls answer that.” Jaylyn said as she and Kasey followed close behind the girls.

            “Happy Birthday Aliyah, Juliet & Zoey!!!!!” Kasey’s parents said when the girls opened the door.

            “Thank – you, Nana and Pop Pop.” the girls said.

            “Hi Mom, Hi Dad.” Kasey said greeting his parents once the girls let them in the house.

            “Hello son.”

            “Mom, Dad; thank –you for coming.” Jaylyn said to her in-laws.

            “Nothing in the world would make us miss this day, dear.” Kasey’s mother said as Kasey took her jacket from her.

            Jaylyn smiled.

            “So when do the festivities begin?” Kasey’s dad inquired.

            “The party starts at noon, Dad. Jen has to get some coffee in Jethro, their twenty-three year olds, her step-daughter and son-in-law before they get the twins ready. Plus Jethro wants to see the Eagles game before the come. Apparently he has some sort of bet going with Tony, something about the Eagles beating the Packers today.”

            “Oh.”

            “Yeah. Jen, Ziva and I leave them to their games when they are on.” Jaylyn stated.

            After that Jaylyn, Kasey and the girls spent the remainder of the morning with Kasey’s parents until the rest of the guests arrived for the girls’ party.

Kate & Kassidy, Age 5

            November 19^th, 2023; Kate and Kassidy were turning five years old. Jenny and Jethro had the hardest time getting the girls to go to bed the night before their birthday. Kate and Kassidy were beyond excited that they were going to see their older sisters the following morning when they woke up. They didn’t want to sleep at all; Kate and Kassidy were persistent four year olds the night before their birthday.

            Kelly and Charlie were on their way over when Kate and Kassidy finally started to drift off to sleep. Delilah, Emiliana, Arabella and Madison were stepping out of the car they came in when their parents were stepping out of the twins’ bedroom after the twins had fallen asleep.

            “We made it.” Madison called up.

            “Shh!!!” Jenny reprimanded her daughter as she and Jethro came downstairs.

            “We just got your sisters to fall asleep.” Jethro said.

            “Sorry.” Madison said.

            “Nice going, Mads” Arabella said as the twins raced down the stairs.

            “Lila, Lena, Aria, Maddy!!!” the twins shouted in unison.

            “Happy Birthday Kat.” the quads said to Kate.

            “Thank-you.”

            “Happy Birthday Kass.” the quads said.

            “Thank-you.”

            “Now the four of you get to put them in bed. Your father and I are tired.” Jenny said as she grabbed Jethro’s hand.

            “You got to be kidding me.” Emiliana said.

            “No, I’m not. Put your sisters to bed.”

            With that Jenny and Jethro went up to bed leaving Kate and Kassidy in the care of their sisters. A few minutes after Jenny and Jethro had gone to bed, Kelly and Charlie came in.

            “Keke, ChaCha!!!!!” the twins said.

            “Happy Birthday girls.” Kelly said to her kid sisters.

            “Thank-you.” the girls said in unison.

            “Happy Birthday.”

            “Thank you, ChaCha.” the girls said.

            “Where’s dad and Jenny?” Kelly asked.

            “They went to bed after we arrived, Mom told us to put them to bed after Madison woke them up.”

            “I’ll take care of them.” Kelly said.

            “Fine they are all yours.” Delilah said handing over the responsibility of putting their younger sisters to bed.

            “Kat, Kass. Come with me.” Kelly instructed.

            Kate and Kassidy did as their sister said. Kelly led her two youngest sisters up to their bedroom and opened the door. Kate and Kassidy didn’t know what to make of what was going on. All Kelly did once the bedroom door was open was nod towards the girls’ beds. Kate and Kassidy knew what Kelly’s nod meant; Jethro had used it on them before when it was just him putting them to bed when Jenny would work late.

            Kate and Kassidy knew that their sister meant business so they wasted no time going to their beds. As Kelly turned off the light on the dresser that was near the door she noted that their father had finished the project he had been working on since the twins’ fourth birthday. Jethro had carved out the letters of each twins’ name out of some pieces of cherry oak wood and painted the letters in the girls’ favorite colors.

            Kate’s name was hanging over head in her favorite color of hot pink. Kassidy’s name was hanging over head like her sister’s but in lavender instead. Seconds later once Kelly was assured that her sisters were asleep had rejoined her other sisters downstairs.

            “It’s been far too long since the five of us have had time to ourselves like this.” Emiliana said.

            “It’s been years, Em.”

            “You want something to drink, Kelly?”

            “Yeah, pour me some whiskey.”

            “Mom and Dad don’t have that in their wet bar.”

            “What is there then? Where’s Charlie?” Kelly asked.

            “They have red and white wine along with half a decanter of bourbon.” Delilah rattled off.

            “Charlie went up to bed as you were putting Kate and Kassidy to bed. He said that he had a long day.” Arabella said answering the remainder of her sister’s inquiry.

            The quintet then stayed up a bit longer and talked over their drinks of choice. The following day things got a bit more chaotic even if was just a small get together that consisted of Abby, McGee and four year old Kyle Luca, Jaylyn, Kasey; six year olds, Aliyah, Juliet and Zoey.  Ducky was there with a date, Palmer and Breena also came. Tony, Ziva, thirteen year old Asher, four year olds Tali and Monique were there just as their older sister; eighteen year old Madalyn had driven down from Ohio State to attend the birthday party for Kate and Kassidy. Rachel had also come to the party. Jack and Ann were also attending their granddaughters’ birthday party.

            So while the kids ran around the backyard and played in the inflatable bouncy house that had been rented for the party, Jethro barbequed while everyone else conversed. Madalyn and Asher were attached their phones. Once Jaylyn had arrived with her family she made a beeline for the drink table and picked up one of the chilled bottles of Budweiser. Within seconds Jaylyn had down at least half of the bottle before Jenny had taken the bottle from her.

            “What’s wrong?”

            “The girls asked why they don’t look anything like Kasey before we came.”

            “Ouch.” Abby said as she sipped her Budweiser.

            “Ah yeah, Abby.  They also asked where their brothers were.” Jaylyn said as she took her Budweiser from her sister.

            “And what did you tell them?” Jenny asked.

            “Tell me Jen, how do you tell three six year olds that their brothers died before they were born and that the man that they have thought to be their dad isn’t their dad, that their actual dad has been dead for years?” Jaylyn asked.

            “I don’t know.”

            Rachel had been able to wish Kassidy a happy birthday and was searching for Kate. It wasn’t long before she found the quirky five year old.

            “Hi Aunt Rachel!!!!”

            “Happy Birthday Kate.”

            “Thank-you Aunt Kate.”

            “You’re very welcome, sweetheart.”

            Kate smiled as she hugged Rachel.

            “Aunt Kate, can I ask you something?”

            “Go ahead, honey.”

            “What was Aunt Kate like when she was my age?”

            “My sister was a piece of work when she was your age. Aunt Kate was constantly playing some sort of game with our brothers outside.”

            Like every one of the twins birthdays there was a sense of family but this year was special. It was just as special as the day that Kate and Kassidy were born.

            Happy Birthday, Kassidy.  Paula said to Kassidy as she brushed her hand against her namesake’s cheek.

            Happy Birthday, Kate.  Kate said to her namesake as she brushed her hand against her sister and her namesake.

            “Aunt Paula.” Kassidy said before took another jump in the bouncy house.

            “Kate.” Rachel said.

            “Aunt Kate.” Kate said.

            Abby saw the girls and Rachel look around.

            “What is it Abby?” Ziva asked.

            “Kate and Paula are here.” Abby responded.

            “Well that’s the way it should be, my dear. We all felt their presence when Kate and Kassidy were born.” Ducky said.

            Abby smiled at the thought that her friends were at the party in spirit. Rachel was happy that her sister was there with everyone. Tony was just as pleased as everyone else was that Kate was there, he was also happy with the fact that Paula was there too.