Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: I'm going to end this story here, because I think it's reached its end. I do have a sequel in the works, which takes place... three months or so AFTER this story ends.

Gibbs looked up at the sound of car doors slamming. He shuffled to the door and stepped out onto the porch, to find the small wedding party making their way up the walk. He chuckled as Tim grabbed Asher's hand; the boy had gotten distracted by something and moved to wander off, but Tim's firm hold on his small hand prevented him from doing so. "Mr. Gibbs!" Tim let Asher go when the boy spotted his parents' boss, and rushed towards the older man, throwing his arms around Gibbs' waist. The older man looked up, giving his parents a small smile as they joined him.

"I am nervous, Tali." Ziva sat at the window in one of the guest bedrooms, letting her sister pull her hair back into a very beautiful, loose French braid.

"It's perfectly normal to be nervous, Zivaleh. You're about to get married. Nerves are part of it. Just as long as you don't run, you'll be fine." Ziva turned to her, eyes wide.

"Run where?" Taking her sister's head in her hands, she turned her back to face forward before returning to the braid.

"It's an expression. I'll explain it later." Sarah giggled from her place on the bed as she slipped her ballet flats on.

"I still can't believe it. Timmy's getting married!" Tali chuckled as someone knocked on the door and Sarah rushed to get it. "Who is it?" Sarah spent several minutes talking with the person on the other side of the door, before finally allowing Asher in, confident that he was alone. Once inside the room, he rushed to Ziva.

"Ima, you look so pretty!" Ziva gave her son a small smile, reaching out to take his hand.

"Toda, my angel." She reached up, brushing her fingers through her son's dark curls. "And you look very handsome." The boy smiled, pressing a kiss to his mother's cheek.

"Are you scared, Ima?" He asked, biting his lip.

"I am nervous. Are you?" He nodded. She took his face in her hand, brushing her thumb over his cheek.

"But we'll be a family soon." He grinned, wrapping his arms around Ziva in a hug.

"I love you, Ziva. I... I can't think of... anything more profound or simpler than those three little words. You've given me a chance at a life I never considered, and for eight years, I didn't even know it. But now that I've found you- both of you- I can't let you go. I won't. I spent eight years without you in my life, and I'm not going to do it again; this time, I'm gonna hold on and never let you go. I love you, and that's... that's all I can think to say." She reached up, gently caressing his cheek, mouthing softly to him. After a moment, she took a deep breath.

"You... you gave me a precious gift, Tim." She whispered, glancing at Asher, who stood between his parents. "And for eight years, Asher was all I had left of you. I was forced to lived without you... I know what it is like to not have you in my life, and I never want to experience that again. I lost you once, and it was out of my control. But not this time, not again. I will never let you go again. I do not always express my feelings, but... but I love you, Tim. I have always loved you. And this time, I am never letting you go." She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight to him. Neither heard the minister pronounce them married, or let them know they could kiss, and for several minutes, they didn't. Tim just cradled her face in his hands, searching her eyes.

"I love you." She smiled and whispered it back, before finally meeting his lips in a soft kiss.

Once the small reception was over, the small wedding party gathered in Gibbs' living room, chatting and enjoying the time together. Asher sat on Tim's lap, with Ziva curled into his side. "So, you're officially a family." Sarah couldn't help her excitement. She stopped, sipping her champagne. "Wait, so does that mean Asher takes your name, Timmy?" Her brother glanced at Ziva, who reached up, brushing her fingers through their son's hair.

"He has always had Tim's name, I have just never..." She sighed. "Never had the courage to give it to him." She met Tim's gaze, Rivka's words ringing in her head.

"Someday you will have the strength to give your son his father's name."

He gently reached down, cradling her head in his hand. "Until... Until now." The boy turned to his mother.

"So... what is our last name, Ima?" He glanced back and forth between his parents, as Tim took Ziva's hand and pressed a kiss to her wedding ring. He grinned at his son, reaching up to gently caress his head. The boy returned the smile, glancing at his mother as his father pressed a kiss to his head, saying,

"McGee."