Gibbs brought the coffin to the DiNozzos later that evening. Somehow he felt that they would be glad to get the funeral out of the way as soon as possible.

"Thank you, Jethro," said Faith gratefully. "Tilly will love it."

"Love it?" asked Gibbs sceptically.

"You're right. Love is probably the wrong word. But she'll be pleased you made it," said Faith with a half-smile.

"DiNozzo in?" asked Gibbs.

"No, he's gone to the airport to pick someone up."

"His father?" asked Gibbs.

Faith politely suppressed a shudder, "No, not Senior … it's … oh, excuse me, there goes Jacob!" she said as a wail sounded from the family room.

"I'll leave you to it," said Gibbs getting ready to beat a retreat. "Er … when's the …"

"Tomorrow," said Faith, "Tilly has decided it should be at high noon on Saturday. She thinks it's the right time."

"Huh," said Gibbs non-committally. "Hey, you'd better go. Jake's got healthy lungs."

"You know," said Faith, "The books say you should leave babies to cry sometimes. That it can be good for them," she sighed, "How could people do that?"

Gibbs nodded sympathetically and watched her hurry away.

NCISNCIS

The DiNozzo household prepared for Cherry-pie's obsequies with due solemnity the next day.

"Cherry-pie's what?" asked Tony.

"Obsequies, Daddy," said Tilly importantly. She saw Tony's blank look and relented, "It's another word for funerals."

"Oh," said Tony in what he felt was a rather weak response.

"You need to change, Daddy," continued Tilly.

"I do?"

"Yes. Wear that nice grey suit …" Tony was about to protest about wearing a suit on the weekend but Tilly continued, "It makes you look handsome."

"OK, sweetheart," said Tony. "And what does Mommy need to wear?"

"Mommy's going to wear her little black dress," said Tilly informatively.

Tony kept a straight face, "And what are you going to wear?" he asked politely.

"My new dress. In the right light it looks purple. And that's what people wear for obsequies."

Tony nodded gravely. The purple dress was pink but he wasn't going to argue.

Tilly went off to change and Tony went into the kitchen, "Obsequies?" he asked Faith.

"Ducky phoned yesterday afternoon," said Faith simply.

"Say no more," said Tony, pleased to have one mystery solved. "Jethro made a good job of the casket. Although I think it looks as if it was going to be a pencil box originally."

Faith grinned but then her expression softened, "He carved little cherries on the top."

"Yeah," said Tony, "The man drives me insane and then he does something like that."

"You want a coffee?" she asked.

Tilly came into the room before Tony could reply, "You need to get ready," she said sternly, "We have to start on time."

"Yes, Tilly," said Faith. She waited until her daughter had left the room once more before saying, "I think she's beginning to enjoy this."

"Yeah," agreed Tony. "Who do you think she gets it from?"

"Gets what from?"

"This flair for the dramatic? 'Cos you've got to admit that given a chance she'd have called the Pope and asked if he was free to take the service."

Faith giggled but said, "You think she's got it from me? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror recently?"

"What do you mean?" protested Tony, "Who's the one who makes a living standing up in court making people listen to her?"

"Mommy! Daddy!" said Tilly appearing at the door looking as if she wanted to stamp her foot in impatience.

"To be resumed," said Tony in a low voice. "All right, Tilly, we'll go and get changed."

Tilly followed her parents up the stairs to make sure they didn't get distracted.

NCISNCIS

Somehow Tony wasn't surprised to find that the DiNozzos weren't the only people to attend Cherry-pie's obsequies. Shortly before noon, Gibbs arrived,

"Thought you might need help with the coffin," he said offhandedly.

Tony nodded his appreciation of the thought as well as Gibbs wearing his charcoal grey court suit.

"Hey, Boss," said a smartly dressed McGee as he arrived a little later, "Gibbs told us about Cherry-pie."

"Us?" asked Tony.

"Uh, yes. Kate's on her way. We thought … well, we thought … er … is it OK for us to be here?"

"Yes," said Tony feeling a surge of warmth towards his crazy team. "Ah, here's Kate. Also in her court suit."

"Well, sure," said Kate as she drew near, "It's a funeral. You need to be respectful."

"Actually," said Tony, "I'm reliably informed it's obsequies," he added. He saw the puzzled expressions on the faces of Tim and Kate, "Ducky called last night."

"Ah," said Kate. "How's Tilly?" she asked anxiously.

"Oh, she's doing well," said Tony. He was about to explain further when he saw Ducky walking up the path carrying a large bag. "Ducky," he said, "Are you here for the obsequies?"

"If I'm not intruding," said Ducky courteously.

"Never," said Faith as she drew near.

"Um, Ducky," said Tony who was looking at Ducky's bag with curiosity and increasing trepidation, "What's in the bag? You haven't brought your bagpipes, have you?" Tony had a feeling that their neighbours already thought the DiNozzos were the eccentrics of the area and he didn't want to enhance that reputation with the sound of bagpipes echoing through the streets.

"No," said Ducky, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you wanted them. I could go back and get them but I confess that I am sadly out of practice and I'm not sure my lungs are quite up to maintaining the notes in the way I was once accustomed."

"That's fine, Ducky," said Faith soothingly, "It'll be fine without them, I'm sure."

"So what's in the bag?" asked Tony. "Ouch," he said when Faith kicked him to be quiet.

Ducky was unperturbed, "I found my old croquet set. I thought Matilda might enjoy learning the game. Oh, my," he added before Faith and Tony could reply.

Tony and Faith swivelled around and saw what had caught Ducky's attention. Tilly was walking towards them draped in a lacy black shawl she had found in the dressing up box.

"It's time," she announced. "We're going to have a profession …"

"Procession," whispered Faith.

"We're going to have a procession," said Tilly grandly. "I will go first because I'm the chief mourner. Then Mommy and Daddy with Jacob. Because they're sad too. Then Uncle Gibbs and Uncle Ducky. Auntie Kate and Uncle Gee after them."

Faith (the high-powered employment lawyer) and the elite MCRT got meekly in line and followed Tilly on her stately procession to the burial site. At the tiny graveside, however, Tilly's flair for the dramatic wavered in the face of what was really happening and she leaned into Tony and sobbed quietly as Ducky delivered a simple eulogy.

"Cherry-pie was not with us long," he said, "But she brought joy and love to everyone and we are all better people for having known her." Several loud sniffs sounded from the congregation and he smiled benignly at the impact of his words. "And now we lay her to rest in the home of the people who loved her and whom she loved in return. A tree will blossom over her and remind us always of the fruit of love. I remember …" Gibbs coughed. "Ah yes, that is a story for another time. So now, we lay our dear Cherry-pie in her last resting place."

The rest of the ceremony didn't take long. Tilly placed the former pencil box in the hole and sprinkled earth over the top. Gibbs filled the rest of the hole while Tilly buried her face in the skirt of Faith's little black dress. The mourners stood respectfully for a moment or two and then someone spoke from behind them,

"I have made us all some tea. And there are sandwiches and cakes."

The MCRT and Ducky looked at the new arrival and Gibbs remembered Faith saying that Tony had gone to pick someone up from the airport.

"Consie!" squealed Tilly happily, "You're awake!"

"Consie?" asked Ducky as he walked towards a statuesque brunette who was in late middle-age.

"It's Consie," said Tilly who had grabbed her by the hand and was swinging it enthusiastically.

"Gently, Chiquita."

"Sorry, Consie," said Tilly as she immediately stopped swinging the hand. The others looked on impressed.

"Everyone," said Tony as he remembered his responsibilities as host, "This is Consuela Marquez …"

"You're the one who makes that drink that Tony likes!" said Tim.

Consuela smiled graciously, "Yes, that's right."

"Tony swears by it," said Kate.

"And it is very good," said Tim.

"It's probably kept all of us going at some time," smiled Gibbs. He held out his hand, "I'm Jethro Gibbs."

Faith and Tony exchanged a startled look as they sensed a change in tone from Gibbs. Ducky took a position very close to Gibbs,

"Am I to understand that you were Anthony's housekeeper when he was a boy?" he asked. "He has always spoken most highly of you."

"I do like to hear full names used," said Consuela approvingly.

Ducky preened himself for a moment but Gibbs butted in, "This is Ducky Mallard," he said.

"Ducky?" asked Consuela in surprise.

"A nickname," confessed Ducky, "My actual name is Donald Mallard. Dr Donald Mallard."

"I am pleased to meet you," said Consuela, "Dr Mallard."

Faith broke the ensuing silence, "Consuela is staying with us for a little while," she said. "Before she starts her new … position."

"Are you going to be a housekeeper here in DC?" asked Kate.

Consuela smiled at her, "I suppose you could say that. In a manner of speaking."

"Consuela," said Tony …

"I would be happy to show you some of the sights of Washington," interrupted Ducky. "Although I am not a native of this fair city I like to think that I know it well. Indeed, sometimes it takes a stranger's eye truly to appreciate its beauties."

"I know some places too," said Gibbs, "I could show you some places off the beaten track. Sometimes it takes someone who was born in a country to really understand it." He smiled at Ducky in a way that the others found hard to interpret.

"I think someone mentioned cake," said Tony in a bid to get things back on track.

"Indeed." Consuela smiled at Tony: it was a smile quite different to the stately one she had employed with the other adults. In the smile for Tony there was pure affection and delight and Tony smiled back in similar vein. She led the others back to the house in the second procession of the day although this one took longer as Jacob had attached himself to Consuela and wanted to use his newfound walking skills.

It was clear that Consuela was on affectionate terms with the DiNozzos but also practised at meeting strangers and engaging with them. The tea she had made was of a standard to please Ducky and, when she realised that Gibbs preferred coffee, that was made perfectly too.

"I thought you lived in Spain," said Gibbs as he remembered a long-ago conversation with Tony.

"I lived there for some time," she agreed. "After I left the DiNozzo household I returned to Spain but then I married and moved to Santa Maria."

"Santa Maria?" asked Kate.

"Married?" asked Ducky.

"It is a small island in the Caribbean," replied Consuela, "A proud nation in its own right."

"I went there," said Tim.

"You did?" asked Consuela, turning a pleased look on him.

"Yes. I was on board the USS Seahawk; we did a goodwill tour of the Caribbean. We called into Santa Maria. It was beautiful." Tim smiled a little smugly; he had enjoyed his temporary posting as Agent Afloat and now recognised another benefit of the assignment. Kate looked a little glum, so far her own posting to the Arctic Ocean had not produced many benefits.

"Married?" repeated Ducky.

"Yes," said Consuela sadly, "Unhappily, he died some years ago. For a time, I worked in Spain once more but recently I returned to Santa Maria. But I lived in many parts of the world."

"And now, here," said Gibbs.

"And now here," agreed Consuela giving him a soulful look over her cup of tea.

Tony coughed, "Ducky, you said something about croquet?"

Ducky was always the soul of politeness but he looked a little irritated at this suggestion that he tear himself away from Consuela.

"Well," he began, "I'm not sure …"

"Croquet?" said Consuela, "I haven't played croquet in years."

"You play croquet?" asked Ducky.

"Not well," temporised Consuela, "But it brings back happy memories. I once attended the Oxford/Cambridge match in Oxford."

"Then we must set up the hoops," said Ducky happily.

"Croquet?" asked Gibbs.

"It uses wooden balls," said Tony cunningly.

"Really?" said Gibbs as he grasped at this excuse to become interested in the game.

"And mallets," said Tony.

"Come on then, Ducky, let's get this set up," said Gibbs commandingly.

Faith watched as Gibbs, Ducky and Consuela trooped off to their lawn followed by Kate and Tim. Tilly trailed behind them still holding a cookie.

"You sure it's a good idea to give Gibbs and Ducky mallets? The mood they're in?" asked Faith disapprovingly.

"They're adults," said Tony confidently. "They'll be fine," he thought a moment, "Won't they?"

"And you denied that our daughter got her flair for the dramatic from you," said Faith.

Tony lifted Jacob on to his knee, "I'd say she got it from both of us, wouldn't you?"

"I guess," agreed Faith reluctantly.

"And what about this one?" asked Tony as he hugged his son closer, "Is he going to be over dramatic or have we given all those genes to Tilly?"

"Who knows?" said Faith, "But my money is that he's going to be a placid one. Once he sleeps through the night, that is."

"Daddy," said Tilly as she came back for another cookie.

"Yes?"

"Can we go get Cherry-pie's tree? Please."

Tony was about to say they should wait but then he realised that Tilly had come down from her chief mourner high and was once again just a very sad little girl.

"Of course we can," he said. "Mommy's done lots of research about the right one to buy so we'll go right now."

"What about the others?" asked Faith as she gestured towards the game of croquet going on noisily in their back yard.

"Somehow," said Tony, "I don't think they'll notice we're gone!"

"Are we going?" said Tilly excitedly.

"Yes, we're going," said Faith.

As they all sat in the car, Tilly leaned forward and said,

"It was a lovely funer … I mean, obsequy, wasn't it?"

"Yes, darling. You organised it very well," said Faith.

"I did, didn't I?" said Tilly modestly.

"Yes, you did," affirmed Tony.

"But I was very sad," said Tilly.

"I know," said Faith.

"Were you sad, Mommy?"

"Yes, I was," said Faith.

"Were you sad, Daddy?"

"Yes, I was," agreed Tony.

There was silence for a few seconds,

"Daddy …"

"Yes?"

"After we've got the tree …"

"Yes?"

"Could we get ice-cream?"

Tony and Faith smiled at their daughter's changes of mood.

"Yes, of course," said Faith.

"It was a lovely wake, wasn't it?" asked Tilly as she used another of her new words.

Tony and Faith sighed as they submitted to another catalogue of questions from their daughter.

NCISNCIS

Faith DiNozzo had become used to members of Tony's team dropping in unexpectedly but she found there was an increase in visitors once Consuela's presence became known. Kate and Tim still came for visits but Ducky and Gibbs arrived more frequently and somehow Faith didn't think it was due to the attraction of her lasagne.

Tony largely watched on in amusement. So far, Ducky had taken Consuela to the cultural jewels of Washington while Gibbs took her on long walks in the parks around the city. Tony knew her well but couldn't tell if she favoured one over the other as she bestowed the same gracious smile on each of her escorts. Tony remembered hearing about a team leader who had imposed a rule against members of the same team dating: he was beginning to wonder if he would need to impose a variant of that … no trying to date the same person.

"You're home early," said Faith, one afternoon a few days after Consuela's arrival.

"Yeah. Thought I might pick Tilly up from kindergarten," said Tony a little gloomily.

"OK," said Faith cautiously, "Although Consuela said she'd go. And Jethro went with her."

"Gibbs?" said Tony.

"Gibbs," confirmed Faith. "You're the one who gave him the day off."

"Oh yeah," said Tony.

"So?" asked Faith.

"So what?"

"Why are you home early? You could've picked Tilly up on your way home."

"Morrow," said Tony still more gloomily.

"What's the Director done now?"

"He's decided he definitely wants to make the Assistant Director's job permanent."

"Ah," said Faith.

While on secondment to another agency, Director Tom Morrow had created the temporary positon of Assistant Director to lighten the load of the Acting Director. Tony had taken the post which involved supporting and managing the teams at the DC field office. Morrow had been impressed with how it worked and tried to persuade Tony to remain in the role when the secondment ended. Tony had been hesitant and they had compromised by Tony continuing to lead the MCRT some of the time while helping lead the other teams as well.

"You know it can't go on like it is," said Faith.

"I guess," said Tony a little sulkily.

Faith smiled at how like Tilly he looked. "You're working too hard," she said, "Doing two jobs at once."

"It's been OK," said Tony.

"And it's not fair on Jethro," said Faith, "He doesn't know when he's going to be lead or if you're going to be with another team."

"I guess," said Tony again.

"So?"

"So, Tom said everything you said," admitted Tony.

"And?"

"And he said he wanted to make it permanent … and full-time."

"And what did you say?"

"That I'd think about it."

"And what do you think?"

"I think the Director is cunning."

"Do you? Why?"

"He said if I didn't take it, he'd think of offering it to Leon Vance!"

"Leon? But I thought he didn't want to work in DC?" said Faith.

"I think he could be persuaded, for a promotion," said Tony.

"And what are you going to do?"

"What do you think I should do?"

"Do you want to report to Leon Vance?" asked Faith.

"No way," said Tony.

"And you enjoy the work," said Faith.

"I guess," said Tony less sulkily this time.

"And you're good at it," said Faith.

"I am," said Tony.

"Well then …"

"You're right," said Tony. "I'll tell him tomorrow. You know the argument we were having about flairs for the dramatic …"

"Discussion," said Faith firmly.

"Discussion," said Tony.

"Yes?"

"It's definitely you that Tilly gets it from."

"If you say so," said Faith serenely. "But …"

"But?"

"The real master of the dramatic isn't either of us."

"It isn't?"

"No, it's definitely Tom Morrow!"

Tony laughed ruefully. "True. It'll be weird …"

"What will?"

"Not sitting opposite Gibbs every day …"

"And the team will need a new Senior Field Agent," said Faith thoughtfully, "And a new junior agent. I guess Kate or Tim could step up."

Tony groaned, "I've got a headache coming on at the thought of it all. Perhaps I'll change my mind. Keep it simple."

"And report to Leon Vance?" said Faith guilelessly.

"You're a wicked woman," complained Tony.

"Go and fetch your daughter," laughed Faith.

"Thought you said Consuela and her shadow had gone?"

"Tilly would prefer to see her father," said Faith. "Go on!"

NCISNCIS

Tony arrived at Tilly's school and found Gibbs and Consuela waiting outside. As Tilly ran out, her teacher approached Tony,

"Mr DiNozzo? May I have a word?"

"Tilly, stay with Gibbs and Consie. I won't be a moment," said Tony hoping that he was telling the truth.

Tilly nodded happily and began chattering to Gibbs and Consuela about her day.

"Yes, Ms Garnett?" asked Tony wondering what his daughter had done this time.

"I just wanted to say that Tilly is coming along very well," said the teacher.

"Good. Thank you, that's good to know," said Tony with a pleased smile. He went to turn away but Ms Garnett coughed.

"She could perhaps be a little less … enthusiastic."

"Enthusiastic?"

"We had show and tell today."

"Oh?"

"Tilly did very well."

"Good?" said Tony hopefully.

"Yes, the class learned a lot about funeral practices."

"Ah."

"Your daughter has a flair for the dramatic," said the teacher.

"Really? I hadn't noticed," lied Tony.

"Yes. The class was in tears when they heard the story about Apple-pie's funeral …"

"Cherry-pie," corrected Tony.

"Cherry-pie. Yes, she was most eloquent. It was very moving … but, perhaps you could suggest … a little less detail?"

"I understand," said Tony, "I'll … what?"

There was a sudden screech of brakes as a large van stopped by the sidewalk. Three men jumped out with guns and run towards Tilly, Gibbs and Consuela. They bundled all three into the vehicle and slammed the door. As the van began to move off, the door opened and Tony saw Tilly being pushed out.

"Daddy!" she yelled.

AN: Consuela has been mentioned in a couple of the other Upside Down stories so I thought it would be good to meet her in person.