Author's note: Disclaimer- Anything you recognize is not mine. And for once I don't have a whole lot to say. Please read and review. Enjoy.

LINE BREAK

Chelsea held her breath as cleaned up after Lucy's messes in the yard. She had been thrilled that her parents had let her keep the puppy, but didn't realize how hard it was to train a puppy. It had taken her awhile, but Lucy was now potty trained, didn't beg, and didn't jump on people.

"Smelly 'Sea." Tali said from the sandbox.

"I know T." Chelsea said, throwing the "stuff" in the trash.

"Who left the door open?" Nanny June called out from the house.

Chelsea kicked the door closed in frustration, then opened the door again to shut it softly so as not to get in trouble.

"Hi!"

Chelsea jumped and turned to see a boy with white-blond hair and blue eyes peeking over the fence.

"Who are you?" she asked cautiously.

"I'm Mackenzie Knight. But I like to be called Mac. Who are you?"

"My name is Chelsea McGee." she answered, eyeing the boy critically.

"I'm new. I just moved in." Mac announced.

Chelsea remembered seeing furniture being moved into his house, but she hadn't known who was moving in.

"Is that your dog?" Mac asked, pointing to Lucy who was napping in the sun.

"Her name is Lucy."

"How old are you?"

Chelsea narrowed her eyes at him. This boy sure asked a lot of questions. Her daddy said to watch out for that.

"Why do you wanna know?"

Mac sent her a hurt look.

"I was just wondering." he said, "Wanna play?"

"I'm eight. Play what?"

Mac grinned.

"Tag."

Chelsea smiled back. They could be friends.

LINE BREAK

Ziva called them the Terrible Trio. McGee just called them a mess. Standing before him in the front yard were three muddy eight year olds. Ever since the second grade started, Chelsea, Amy and Mac had become inseparable. McGee ran a hand down his face.

"Mac, go home and get cleaned up." he pointed to the right of them, "Girls, wait here while I get Ziva."

He walked up the porch steps and yelled into the house.

"Ziva! Clean up on aisle 12!"

"Clean up on what?" Ziva said, coming out of the house, but spotted the girls, "What on earth?"

McGee retreated into the house as Ziva scolded the girls.

"Where is Mac?" Ziva asked, maneuvering the two into the backyard.

"Daddy sent him home." Chelsea said, glaring.

"I am most certain that this was his idea." Ziva said.

After hosing them down, drying them off and re-clothing them, they got ready for lunch. Mac came back over.

Both Mac's parents worked from home, but paid very little attention to him. The McGee's house had become sort of a safe haven for him and his parent had no qualms about paying Nanny June to keep him out of their way.

"Mac, you set out the silverware, Amy the napkins, Chelsea, the plates." Ziva rattled off.

Amy and Mac were over so often, they had their own chores.

"Mac, how'd you do on your math test?" McGee asked.

Mac grinned, set down the silverware down noisily and ran to his backpack by the door. He brought back a piece of paper with a sticker that proclaimed "Great Job" in big letters.

"The sticker says it!" McGee exclaimed, smiling at the boy who desperately wanted affection.

"Where is Tali?" Ziva suddenly asked, mid-tomato slice.

They all looked around. Tali's newest thing was hide and seek. Amy, of course, taught it to her and now she played the game all the time even if no one was counting

"Shit." McGee said.

"Dad!" Chelsea cried out at her dad's cursing.

"Nobody eats until the three year old is found!" McGee grinned, "First person to find her gets the biggest piece of pie!"

They all split up. They knew that Tali wouldn't have gone up the stairs thanks to the baby gate.

"I found her!" Mac called, "She's in the laundry cloths."

Ziva groaned.

"Let me guess. The muddy laundry."

Mac led Tali out of the laundry room. Ziva would have to laugh or she would cry. Her littlest was covered in mud.

"Ah, my little Ahuvi." Ziva sighed, picking the girl up and holding her away from herself, "You guys go ahead and start lunch. This little one needs a bath."

McGee grinned and waved at Tali who giggled and waved back.

"Do not encourage her Timothy McGee!" Ziva admonished, causing the trio to laugh, "And you Tali Rivka McGee are headed for a bath."

Tali clapped her hands. She didn't have the same aversion to baths that Chelsea did at that age. McGee settled down for lunch with the kids.

"Mr. Gee?"

McGee refrained from rolling his eyes. Amy insisted on calling him that.

"Yes, Ames." he responded in turn.

"Could you be my daddy? Chelsea said I could ask."

McGee stared in shock at the red-head, turkey dangling from his mouth. Chelsea shoved a napkin his way. He quickly wiped his mouth and cleared his throat.

"What-what about your daddy?" he asked.

Amy looked down at her sandwich.

"He's gone and mommy says she doesn't know where he is. Will you, Mr. Gee, will you be my daddy?"

McGee was at a loss. His heart was breaking and he was falling into those pouty green eyes.

"I-well-how about this? When you're here, you can call me dad." he said.

He was glad that he had offered as a smile lit up Amy's face.

"Thanks dad."

Later that night, McGee relayed the conversation to Ziva.

"Has Tara said anything to you?" he asked, getting into bed.

"I only spoke to her the other day." Ziva said, brushing her hair in the doorway of their bathroom, "I do not know how she is working if Clive really left. Jeremy is nearly 5 and Stephanie and Steven just turned one. I will have to call her."

"Sounds good." McGee said as Ziva got into bed, "I love you."

Ziva kissed him and snuggled into his arms.

"I love you too."

LINE BREAK

Ziva decided to go over to the Flowers' house instead of call. She had a feeling that she wouldn't get the truth over the phone. She knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked louder. Suddenly a frazzled Tara opened the door. Tara paled.

"I-" she was interrupted by crying, and sighed, "-could use some help."

Ziva nodded and entered the externally pristine house. But inside, toys, dishes, and clothes were everywhere. Ziva didn't ask any questions, just helped get the house in order, put the kids down for a nap and food in Tara's stomach. Ziva and Tara finally got to sit down with a cup of tea.

"I take it you know." Tara said, avoiding eye contact.

Ziva covered one of Tara's hands with her own.

"Tell me what happened." Ziva said gently.

"I don't even know where to start." Tara sighed.

"The beginning is always best." Ziva advised.

"Clive was sent undercover by his department. That was fine. He was supposed to infiltrate and report on some prostitution ring. That was fine also. What wasn't fine was the fact that he "fell in love" with one of the prostitutes. It wasn't fine that he got "Trixie" pregnant. And now he wants to "start over" with her."

The last of it was said through hysterical tears. Ziva moved to sit next to the shaking woman.

"How did you find out?" Tara sniffled.

"Amy asked Tim to be her daddy." Ziva said quietly, putting her arms around Tara, who let out a disgusted laugh.

"He left us. Saying how one rarely gets a chance to start over. That Trixie was his chance. The kids are confused. Amy only partly gets it. She gets it enough to ask for a new dad, a good one at that."

Ziva's heart broke for her friend.

"I have taken a leave of absence from work, but I only have so much saved. Clive says he can't help me. He lost his job because of Trixie, but I know for a fact he's gotten another. Ziva, what do I do? The five of us can't just live on what I make and have."

Ziva hugged Tara. She knew exactly what to do.

LINE BREAK

McGee zeroed in on Clive sitting at the bar immediately as he entered Skippy's Bar.

"Right there." he said, pointing for his companion's sakes.

After Ziva had told him that Clive was refusing to help Tara and the kids money wise, he was furious. He had called Gibbs, Tony, Damon, and Jimmy. If anyone could persuade Clive to pay up, it would be them.

"Easy." Gibbs warned Damon.

"Clive!" McGee shouted.

"Tim?" Clive blinked blearily, indicating a few drinks.

Gibbs grabbed him by the collar.

"We're gonna take this outside. We don't want to bother the barkeep." he said, nodding to the barkeeper who just nodded back.

"Hey, you can't do this!" Clive yelled.

"Watch us." Tony said, giving him a shove.

"Help!"

No one moved to help, so Gibbs shoved him out the door. Clive landed in a heap on the ground.

"Let's have a little talk." McGee said, "About Tara and your children."

"I'm not going back to her!"

"You better not!" Jimmy snapped.

He and Damon hauled Clive to his feet.

"But you will pay child support." Tony said.

A sick grin spread across Clive's face.

"Or what?"

Gibbs had him up against the wall in seconds; hand around the man's throat. Clive struggled and gasped.

"We are trying not to hurt you." McGee clicked his tongue, "But you are making it really hard."

"Tara put you up to this?" Clive rasped.

"No, my wife did." McGee said with a grin, "We're only the opening act. You've pissed my wife off. You don't listen to us, you deal with her."

"She's real handy with a knife." Tony said.

"You're real lucky she sent us first." Damon added.

Clive's eyes widened and he slipped from Gibbs' grasp. But in a surprise move, Jimmy tripped Clive and tackled him to the ground. Gibbs pulled Clive back up.

"We are not done!" Jimmy spat.

McGee smiled at Jimmy and pulled his friend up off the ground proudly. Jimmy was coming into his own.

"Not that it's worth anything," Tony growled, "But do we have your word that you will pay child support? Like we said, next time someone has to speak to you, it will not be pleasant."

Clive defiantly didn't answer. Gibbs shook him.

"Do. We. Have. Your. Word." Gibbs ground out.

Clive nodded.

"Use your words." McGee said sweetly.

"Y-yes."

Gibbs released him with a shove.

"We'll be checking up." Damon said, smacking Clive upside the head rather hard.

"This is assault!" Clive called as the men walked away.

The five of them never looked back.

LINE BREAK

McGee was writing in a notebook in his arm chair when Chelsea came and sat on one of the arms.

"Yes Chels?"

"What really happened to Amy's daddy?" she asked seriously.

McGee sighed. This was not something he ever wanted to talk about with his eight year old daughter, but knew it was a topic he would have to discuss and some point.

"And don't say that it's complicated or that I'm too young." she said.

McGee sighed and pulled her into his lap.

"He did leave their family Chels. He left for another family."

"That's sad." Chelsea said, "So Amy doesn't have a daddy?"

"Clive will always be her father, but I don't think he'll ever be her daddy again. Do you know the difference?"

"I think so." Chelsea said; face scrunching in thought, "A daddy is like you, a father is like Amy's dad."

McGee smiled and thanked the heavens for Chelsea's understanding.

"You won't ever leave, right daddy?" she asked.

"Never." he promised, kissing her temple.

"Where's mommy?" she asked.

"She's helping Amy's mom right now."

"Amy's mom is sad, right?"

"Yeah Chels," he murmured, "she is."

LINE BREAK

"Thank you for helping me Ziva." Tara said, collapsing onto the couch.

"It is not a problem. I have news though. Clive will be paying child support." Ziva said.

"What? How? Really?" Tara babbled.

"Let's just say that my family is very good at persuasion." Ziva said, leaning back in her chair with a smirk.

"Oh my god. Is he dead?" Tara exclaimed.

Ziva laughed.

"No. Unfortunately he is alive and well. My family just had a few words with him. If it didn't work, they'll send me in."

Now Tara laughed. Ziva was happy to see her smiling once again.

"Just how many of your family members "spoke" to Clive?" she asked, giggling.

"Just Tim, Gibbs, Tony, Damon, and Jimmy."

"Just?"

Ziva shrugged.

"They are the best."

"Thank you." Tara said, feeling very relieved.

"I also spoke with Nanny June." Ziva said, "She said she would be happy to watch your children while you work."

"She already watches over your two and Mac! How can she take on four more?" Tara said, "I can't pay her."

"She loves kids. She doesn't mind at all." Ziva assured her, "And you don't have to pay her right now."

Tara started crying again, but this time they were happy tears.

LINE BREAK

Chelsea stared up at the puffy clouds that moved across the blue sky. She was lying on the grass with her best friends. Amy lay between her and Mac. She felt Amy start to shake and sniffle beside her. Amy was missing her dad. This happened a lot lately. All she and Mac could do was hold Amy's hands.

"You guys wouldn't leave me would you?" Amy asked in a small voice.

"No. Never." she and Mac said.

Chelsea's mom had told her that Amy was going to be sad for a while and that they should just be there for her.

It would be ok. Chelsea and Mac would make sure of it.