Alas, the end is nigh. I have to say I have had fun writing this. I do hope that you have gotten equal or even maybe more enjoyment out of reading it. I have drafted up one or two one-shots that continue the tales of this family, but they will probably be uploaded separately, seeing as they will not be in chronological order.

"How're you doing?" Tim asked, leaning his arms on the banister of the balcony next to her.

"I am doing fine." She flicked her eyes to the French window into the SecNav's house, wondering what was going on in there.

"It'll all sort itself out eventually."

"I know." She looked out across the lawn.

"So, you think anymore about that thing I asked you about?"

"About me coming back to NCIS?" She pursed her lips and gazed emptily at the tree she had climbed a good many years ago when the ICE agent was killed. "I have missed it here. I have missed you, and Gibbs, and Tony, and Abby and Ducky. I have missed you all." She moved backwards and slipped down the wall to sit down. "But I have a daughter, too, McGee."

"I don't follow." He frowned, still leaning on the banister.

"Working here helped me to grow, and I loved it here. I never really minded the late nights and the weekends and the travel, I actually enjoyed it sometimes. But with Caitlin now… My father never spent much time with me as a child – I do not want to make the same mistake. If that means not doing the work that I love then that is how it has to be. I will be getting something better out of it. And I need to be there for her."

"But you are staying in DC?" He asked, trying to understand her motives and only really grasping the edge of it.

"Part of me wants to go back to Israel. Part of me wants to take Caitlin traveling, show her the world." She sighed and shook her head. "But I have to think what is best for my child, and I would do anything for her."

"So you're staying?"

"If that is what Caitlin wants, and what Tony wants, then yes." She smiled slightly. "I left NCIS for a reason, McGee. I did not want to kill anymore." Her voice grew quiet. "I am happier now, I have something to live for; I do not want to start again." She shook her head.

"The team needs you, Ziva." McGee said and she laughed.

"No. No, you do not need me, you need to move on – find someone who you can work with. If I am staying in Washington, then I can come and visit whenever. We can all spend birthdays together and we can go for lunch together." She smiled. "Besides, I do not think the team dynamo that we used to have would be the same."

"Team dynamic." McGee laughed and Ziva joined in.

"Yes, that as well."

"What about you and Tony?"

"I love him more than anything in the world, McGee. Do you know what that is like?"

"No." He shook his head. "Sometimes I think I might, but then I realise that I'm wrong."

"How's Caitlin doing?" He asked, looking over when she sighed.

"Her nightmares are worse. She does not like to be alone. I have barely seen her smile." Ziva rubbed her forehead. "She is with Abby now."

"Wise idea?"

"She wanted to go and see Abby. I cannot see how it will do any more harm."

"Where are you going to be living?"

"Caitlin does not want to go back to our old apartment, not after we were shot at there."

"Tony's place?"

"Maybe." She nodded and the glass door opened. Tony and Gibbs stepped out into the sunlight.

"You shouldn't be sat on the floor like that." Tony held out his hand.

"Three weeks is plenty of time to heal. I am fine." She shrugged. "Besides, I have only seen the sunlight out of a hospital window for almost a month now, I want to sit in the fresh air."

"Alright. Just this once." He smiled slightly. "We're done, we can go home."

"Caitlin is in Abby's temporary lab, can we pick her up now?" Ziva asked as they walked through the Secretary of the Navy's lavish home.

"No need. We're not going home." Gibbs shrugged and directed them to the opposite end of the building.

"Well where are we going then, boss?" Tim frowned, his face splitting into a grin when he saw Abby and Caitlin waving from a helicopter.

"The beach." Gibbs smiled, watching his family climb into the helicopter and taking their seats. Yeah, it would take some time, but they were gonna get there in the end, and when they did, well, who knew where they would go next.

X fini X