Hey everyone! This idea came to me one night and would not leave me alone until I explored it. This first chapter is just a test really to see if people are interested so please let me know what you all think.

Thanks so much and enjoy!

The First Step

Tony put the phone down on the table as he released a deep breath. He had just gotten off the phone with Tim and was still trying to digest everything that he said. Today really had been one hell of a day.

Abby was okay, for now. That was the most important part but Clayton was gone, He died protecting Abby. Tony took a moment to look up and send up a silent thank you.

He put his head in his hands and released another deep breath.

He couldn't understand why bad things kept happening to good people, to his good people. Could things have been better if he had been there? Would that have changed anything?

Before he even realized, tears had started to fall down his cheeks and he didn't have the willpower to stop them.

He had been in Paris for just about 2 ½ years now. After over 6 months in Israel with lead after lead only confirming that Ziva really had died in the fire, he took Tali to Paris and together they started building a new life.

Tony was consulting with Interpol but was always around for Tali. Like he had told Gibbs, he was all she had and he didn't want to waste a single moment. Losing Ziva had really proved to him just how precious time was and he didn't want to waste a single moment with his little girl.

Tali was growing up to be so much like Ziva. She was quiet and stealthy and with one look, could get him to do just about anything. She really was all Ziva, except the eyes, those were all him, though as she got older, her personality was becoming more like him. She had his love of movies, currently anything Disney was playing on their TV on an almost constant loop.. Tony had to have them special ordered from the U.S. to get ones not in French. Tali's vocabulary was an interesting mix of English, French, Hebrew, and 5 year old babble. Tony didn't care. Her voice was one of his favorite sounds on earth. That, and the sound of a saw going over and over on a piece of wood.

Tony was drawn out of his thoughts by the feeling of two little hands coming to rest themselves on the sides of his face.

"Why Abba cry? Tali doesn't like Abba sad."

Tony hadn't even heard her come in. How long had she been watching him? How much of the conversation with McGee had she heard?

"Abba's not sad, these are happy tears." he tried to choke out, hoping to fool the 5-year-old.

She turned her head to the side and gave him this stare that again was something she had probably picked up from Ziva in the early years.

"I promise Tali, everything is okay. Why don't you go play?"

"Dolls?" She asked, slipping into Hebrew for a moment. She tended to do that when she was unsure about something.

"Yea. I'll be there in a minute." He said with as smile that hopefully would fool the toddler.

She looked at him for a moment like she was going to question him, then turned and headed back towards her room.

As soon as she was out of sight, he let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

He knew what he had to do. He grabbed his laptop and booked two tickets to Washington. It was done in under five minutes. He set his laptop down and made his way back to his bedroom when he stored his and Tali's luggage. He got to the doorway and looked at a photo hanging on the wall. It was taken the night before he left for Israel. Senior had watched Tali for a few hours so Tony could have one last night out with everyone and everyone had come out. Abby had insisted on a group photo. Tony was in the middle with Gibbs and Abby on either side and Clayton, Palmer, Ducky and Ellie right behind them. Various NCIS personal and friends were all around. Tony had a big smile on his face knowing soon he would be back with them.

The flight was long, longer than he remembered, but he was thankful Tali had slept through most of it, the rest of the time she was content watching a movie. Tony spent most of the flight staring out the window.

He didn't tell anyone that he was coming home, not even Senior. He wasn't even really sure what he was going to do once they got back. As soon as he got off the phone with Tim the day before, he knew that it was time for him to go back home. The thought had been in the back of his mind the last few months, the last few years really if he wanted to be honest with himself. He really hadn't been the best at staying in touch with everyone and as Tali grew up, they talked with Gbbs a few times but it made him realize that he wanted them all to be around to see it.

When Deiliah had the twins and he wasn't there for it, it broke his heart and ever since the thought to come home had been nearly always on his mind. With everything with Abby and Clayton, it was the wake up call that finally gave him the push to finally make the leap.

He was able to get everything arranged pretty quickly. He packed all the things that him and Tali would need for the next few days and packed a few boxes and had them arranged to be shipped and those would get them through the next few weeks while the rest of their things were packed for them and sent to them … wherever they ended up. Tony had no clue what they were going to do once they arrived.

He knew what he wanted to do, but part of him wanted some time once they were back on U.S. soil to get everything sorted out and figure out what he really wanted to do next. This back and forth lasted the entire flight. It was only after they had touched down and they were walking off the plane that he knew what he had to do.

He got himself, Tali and all of their carry ons right inside the gate before steering them over to chair.

"Hey Tali, can you sit for a minute while Abba makes a call?"

She gave him a quick nod and then he handed her one of her favorite books to keep her occupied. He stepped not even a foot away and pulled out his phone. It took a moment to power up. He dialed a number by memory and was surprised when the person answered on the first ring.

"Hey … yea it's really me. I know this is the last minute … but I need a favor."