Author's note: Well I have decided to try out a continuation on my first NCIS story Chelsea. This is not a consecutive story, some are one shots, some are two-shots, and I'll be trying to write the stories for each age range, like this one is for when she is three. This is also a prologue. I am trying to make this better than my original story. Please read and review. I need to know if this is worth pursuing. Thank you

LINE BREAK

Timothy McGee was exhausted. Who knew hosting a three-year-old's birthday party was so tiring? He closed his eyes and leaned back in his arm chair. He would probably only have a few moments before-

"Tim! You said you would fold these tables back down!"

McGee groaned at the sound of his wife of three months voice. Yes, he did promise to fold the damn tables. He reluctantly left the comfort of his chair, wanting to avoid his lovely bride's temper.

"Coming Zee." he called, heading out to the patio.

The past six months had been a whirlwind of craziness. In that short amount of time, McGee had helped solve a major case, gotten married, bought a house, and adopted a child. His life had gone places he never thought possible. And he had married Ziva David of all people. She had been one of his partners at NCIS for eight years and suddenly she was his wife and the mother of his child. His child. The moment he laid eyes on the little blond haired, blue eyed girl in the café that morning, he knew he was a goner. Chelsea. Chelsea Laurie McGee. Her mother had been a naval officer that had been killed in a long string of murdered women. Her mother had left Chelsea in his care after a child sales murderer threated to take her away, and she lost her life for it. McGee already worried about having to explain to Chelsea someday what had happened to her birth mother.

"A dollar for your thoughts?" Ziva said, coming to stand in front of her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck loosely.

McGee smiled and kissed her softly. Lousing up idioms was one of Ziva's fortes and it was incredibly endearing.

"I messed that up, did I not?" she asked with a giggle.

"Aww Geez, can't you wait till I leave!" yelped Tony dramatically, who had stayed to help take down Chelsea's party.

"Go already." McGee grumbled playfully, stealing another kiss.

Ziva slapped his chest lightly and pushed him away with a laugh.

"Quiet. You will wake Chelsea." she scolded the two men, "McGee, fold those tables."

"Yes ma'am" McGee saluted.

"You too." she said, jabbing a finger in Tony's direction before re-entering the house.

"She acts like she's my wife too." Tony groused.

"I heard that!"

McGee laughed as Tony quickly started to collapse one of the folding tables. Some things would never change. Ziva still scared the hell out of them. McGee glanced over at Tony's gift that sat on the patio. Tony had gotten his little girl a battery operated little red Ferrari that she could ride around in. McGee smiled. Chelsea's favorite thing at the office was Tony's toy Ferrari that he had on his desk.

"Thanks to you, Chelsea is going to have a taste for very expensive cars."

Tony grinned.

"You bet."

"You're paying for insurance." McGee said.

"Anything for my little Chel-belle." Tony responded playfully, though he was serious.

McGee knew he was telling the truth. Tony had fallen for the little girl just as he had. So had the rest of the team. Chelsea adored Gibbs and had started to call him grandpa after hearing Tony jokingly call him that. Much to their surprise, Gibbs didn't mind at all. They had even caught him introducing Chelsea as his granddaughter and he seemed very proud of that fact. Tony and Abby had become the ultimate aunt and uncle, showering the tiny blond with gifts, hugs and kisses. Tony began saying that Chelsea was his only Kryptonite in his otherwise awesome life. Ducky referred to Chelsea as his Little Gem because her eyes were the color of the aquamarine stone. Jimmy was a little scared of Chelsea at first, but quickly warmed up to her after he found out that he wouldn't drop her and now he loved to hold her. Director Shepard didn't mind Chelsea coming into the office every once and while. But without a doubt Damon Werth was her favorite person. It was like she knew how he had tried to protect her. Plus, there was always Jell-O at Uncle Damon's apartment and sometimes, much to Tim's displeasure, Aunt Sarah was there to play with too.

"Daddy?"

McGee looked up to see Chelsea standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.

"What are you doing up?" Tony asked, picking her up quickly, making her laugh.

"You are supposed to be in bed missy." McGee scolded lightly.

Ziva must have forgotten to close the baby gate at the top of the stairs. Luckily all Chelsea ever did was scoot down the stairs on her bottom.

Chelsea put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips in an eerie imitation of Ziva.

"No." she said firmly.

"Yes." McGee countered, taking her from Tony's arms, "It's time for little girls to be in bed."

"I'm big girl." Chelsea argued, poking her father's cheek with a little finger.

"Ah, she's got you there." Tony snickered, "We've been calling her that all day."

"How about if Uncle Tony reads you a story?" McGee volunteered, "If he knows how."

Tony sent him a glare. Chelsea seemed to consider this a moment before smiling toothily.

"Story Dino." she demanded.

"Oh, alright." Tony playfully pouted, "Your daddy can clean up the yard by himself."

McGee laughed as Tony took Chelsea up the stairs. He finished folding up the chairs and tables and walked back into the house. He was surprised to see Ziva sitting at the dining room table, face in her hands. He walked up behind her and cleared his throat. He had learned the hard way to announce his presence because Ziva still reacted on instinct Mossad style. She looked up, her tired eyes sad.

"What's the matter Zee?" he asked softly.

"He called me." she said cryptically.

"Who called you?" McGee asked, sitting in the chair next to her.

"My father."

McGee fought the urge to growl at the mention of the David patriarch. He was not a fan of the man that made his wife's life hell on many occasions.

"What did he want?" he asked, reaching out to rub his hands up and down Ziva's arms.

"To congratulate me on my wedding." she said flatly, "The invitation just got to him."

McGee sighed. Only the director of Mossad would get his only living daughter's wedding invitation three months too late. Honestly.

"Ok. She's down." Tony said in a loud dramatic whisper, then paused and whispered again, "What's wrong?"

"Eli." McGee said simply, by way of explanation.

Tony scowled and narrowed his eyes, having the same opinion of Eli David as McGee did. He squeezed Ziva's shoulder sympathetically.

"It is fine." Ziva said, and she seemed fine until she promptly began to speak in rapid, angry Hebrew.

"Whoa." Tony said, stepping back, "I'll let you deal with that Tim-o. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." McGee waved as his friend exited their house.

McGee gently pulled his angry wife into the living room and sat with her on the couch, holding her in his arms.

"That is it." she said quietly, but with conviction, "He is no longer my father."

She began to cry. McGee held her tighter. He knew that though she nearly hated him, Eli was still her father. Letting him go was still a hard thing to do.

"Call Gibbs." she murmured, "I want Gibbs."

McGee nodded. This was something for Gibbs to handle. He kissed the top of her head and slid out from behind her. He went into the kitchen and dialed.

"Hey Gibbs." McGee said once the phone picked up, "Code Eli. Yeah, see you in a bit."

LINE BREAK

Gibbs arrived fifteen minutes later and Ziva fell into his arms. McGee let them talk and went upstairs. He wandered into Chelsea's room. She was fast asleep on her red Ferrari bed that Tony bought for her as a house warming gift. He sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the room that Gibbs had skillfully crafted.

"I'll be there for your wedding. I'll be there for your graduations. I'll be there for your first kid. Of course that would only happen when you're thirty." McGee whispered the promises into the darkness of the room, "I'll be there for everything."

He must have dozed off, because Ziva was suddenly there in her nightgown and her long hair neatly brushed, shaking him.

"Tim…come to bed." she whispered.

"Are you ok?" he asked groggily after they had quietly made their way to their room.

Ziva smiled and nodded, climbing into bed.

"I do not need Eli. I have you, Chelsea, Gibbs, and everyone else." she said with finality, fluffing her pillows, "I am happy. And if Eli does not want to be a part of this happiness it is his loss."

"I'm glad." McGee said, settling next to her, rolling to face her., "I love you."

Ziva gave him a chaste kiss before turning out the light beside her.

"And I you."

LINE BREAK

The piercing shriek of his cell phone summoned McGee out of his sleep the next morning. McGee groaned, and absently reached around the night table beside him, not even lifting his head from his pillow. Ziva was already answering hers. She had been up way before her husband, for she still went for her five AM run.

"David." she answered, she had kept her maiden name for work purposes, "Ok Gibbs, we're on our way."

Realizing they had a case, McGee called Chelsea's nanny. Sixty-five year old June Berkowitz was Ziva's former neighbor. She acted more like a thirty year old with all the energy that practically oozed from her pores. She liked to be called Nanny June and she adored Chelsea who returned the feelings.

"Hey Nanny June, we've got a case." he said, then smiled at the woman's enthusiastic response.

"Will you wake Chelsea?" Ziva asked, "I have to shower."

"Sure thing." McGee answered, sneaking a look of a sweaty but delectable Ziva.

Chelsea was already sitting up when McGee entered the room. Chelsea was an early riser like Ziva, but she didn't get out of bed, preferring to look at her books until McGee came to get her up.

"Up time?" she asked.

McGee smiled. She said that every morning. So he did what he did every morning as well. He scooped her into his arms and began to tickle her, her shrieks of laughter music to his ears.

"Your mom and I have to go to work."

"Me go?" Chelsea said, pulling out the puppy eyes.

"Wellll-" McGee said, falling into a trance-like state at his daughters eyes, "No! That will not work little missy!"

Chelsea giggled. After putting Chelsea in a green checkered dress and Mary Janes, McGee carried her into the kitchen and set her in her booster seat. He quickly put a bib on her, not wanting to change her again and hear from Ziva how he should have put a bib on her. McGee would get Chelsea going until Ziva was ready, then they'd trade off.

"What'll it be today young madam?" McGee teased, "Fruit Loops, Cheerios, or Apple Jacks?"

Chelsea tapped her chin like McGee did when he was writing, making him smile.

"Jacks."

"Alright, Apple Jacks it is." McGee got out the bowl and Apple Jacks, "Do you want apple juice to go with it?"

Chelsea nodded eagerly. McGee put the Apple Jacks in her Disney Princesses bowl and the juice in the matching sippy cup. After she was situated he crammed down a peanut butter sandwich, helping Chelsea when needed.

"Your turn." Ziva said, appearing in the kitchen in black slacks, a tank top and jacket over top with some tasteful jewelry.

McGee took a moment to appreciate the woman that was his wife. Ziva rolled her eyes and head slapped him.

"Go get ready. You have 25 minutes."

That got him going. He showered, chose his suit and was cramming his feet into his Italian shoes when Nanny June arrived. She hadn't rang the doorbell or anything. The atmosphere just seemed to change when she came into the house. McGee wasn't sure or not if he was trapped in one of those Mary Poppins types movies when Nanny June came around.

"Hello Nanny June." he greeted, then froze.

Nanny June's hair was blue.

"Timothy!" Nanny June gushed, giving him her classic cheek kiss.

Tim glanced at his watch and grimaced. Damn, he didn't have time.

"I'd ask you about this Nanny June, but we have to go." McGee said as Ziva yanked him towards the door.

"By Chels!" Tim called.

"Bye Tetelah." Ziva said.

It was difficult for them to leave. Nanny June pushed them out the door.

"We will be fine. Have a wonderful day!" Nanny June called, Chelsea in her arms, waving.

"Bye Bye Mommy! Bye Bye Daddy!"

Parenthood had just begun for the McGee's.