I would really like to thank everyone for their reviews and alerts AND their patience. I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to get this chapter up. It isn't long but it was the best I could do at the moment. More soon I hope . I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 21

The front door flung open so hard it almost bounced off it's startled adults and two stunned little girls who were waiting not too patiently while their candy was checked, all looked up as the three miscreants were ushered none too gently into the room.

"Do you know what they did?" Tony spluttered. "They used that damn slingshot to put an egg through one of the neighbours windows!" Ziva glared at the boys.

"Why would you do such a thing?" She asked. They all had the good grace to look down guiltily.

"I dunno...Kyle said. "Trick or treat...that was the trickin didn't wanna break his window...it was just supposed to make a mess." Michael rolled his eyes.

"Not helping." he whispered out of the corner of his mouth. Tim looked a little guilty. He really hadn't thought the whole trick or treating thing through either. You had to be so literal with these kids. Gibbs looked smug.

"I think the boys should wait upstairs while we're having this conversation." he said.

"Go." Tony said. "Leave the candy!" he snatched it off all three before they ran up the stairs.

They all waited until the boys were out of sight and Kim had taken the girls into the kitchen. Maddie craned her neck to make sure she wasn't missing anything but the bowl of candy that was thrust at her appeased her enough to keep her minding her own business...for a little while at least.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxooxoxo

"What?" Ziva said with her hands on her hips as she turned on Gibbs. "You KNEW they were going to do this?"

Gibbs held his hands up to slow her down from what promised to be a rant.

Jimmy and Amber watched the exchange like they were watching a horror film. One where you feel like yelling. "Don't unlock the door!" To their surprise it was a decidedly mellow Gibbs that answered.

"Not exactly this..." he said with a smirk. "I...imagined... they might be up to something."

"Then why did you not tell them...?" Ziva said, first pointing to Tim and Tony...and then poking Gibbs in the chest. She was so incensed that she almost forgot who she was talking to...and poking. Gibbs was more amused than angry. She was pissed and he didn't blame her. Her focus would shift soon enough.

"I did...Ziva." All eyes in the room widened ...well those that were open. The babies all slumbered on regardless of the adults bickering.

"Really..." Abby said with a twinkle in her eye. She found the whole unravelling of this latest stunt more interesting than dreadful... They shouldn't have done it but hey, they were kids and it was halloween after all. Tony and Tim being oblivious didn't surprise her at all. They both had their eye on this evening's prize. Tony's had been on actual candy and Tim's was waiting inside the policewoman's outfit she was wearing. Not that Tony wouldn't have been over the moon to peel HIS lovely wife out of a halloween costume...but the chances weren't great after dealing with two overtired babies. Ziva muttered something indistinguishable under her breath. Not only were Tony's chances not great...they were negligible, at best. Tony ducked the cushion that came flying towards his were non existent.

"You did not listen?" she asked her husband who now shared Tim's guilty look. Tony looked at Tim for support. He tried, but a pissed Ziva was nothing to sneeze at...she could be scary.

"Well...we kind of...well we thought they'd be ok." Tim said with a wince. Abby nodded.

"Should have gone with Gibb's gut." she added helpfully with a grin.

"Thanks Abs." Tim said.

"Welcome." she said with a smile. She loved halloween, all end of surprises and fun.

"This is not funny Abby." Ziva said. "It was very naughty of the boys to throw eggs." Abby nodded seriously. "And the window will have to be paid for."

"I know hon...I'm sorry. We'll pay half...won't we Tim?"

"Of course we will." Tim said. "And Dyl can come over and the boys can apologise and clean up the mess."

"Thank you." Ziva said, a little appeased."But they cannot pick up glass..." Ziva said.

It was Tim that looked at Tony this time. His turn to let her in on the rest. Tony sighed. At least there were witnesses.

"There may have been some toilet paper involved too." Ziva surprised them all and burst into tears.

Tony crossed the room and wrapped her in a hug. He was gonna bust those boys butts. They made their mother cry. There was no greater sin.

"It'll be ok." he said. " I told him to call the glass repairer and I'd be back with a credit card."

"Ok." Ziva had all become too much, all of a sudden she was beyond tired and as if on cue, both girls started crying. Baby Jack blinked open his tired eyes and his lip wobbled. This wasn't his bed...and the room was filled with awful wailing. He searched the room until he found his Mommy and then he opened his mouth and joined in with the girls wailing.

"Time we left." Jimmy said. He didn't have to tell Amber, she'd already grabbed a distressed Jack out of his pram and was doing the rounds of saying good bye. Now in familiar arms, Jack was happy to wave goodbye.

"You know what Zi?"Abby said, looking at her own son sprawled out in his stroller sound asleep. "Why don't I help you get the girls to bed and then we'll take Dyl home and kill him there?"

"We'll take Jess if you like hon and drop her back in the morning." Kim said from the kitchen doorway.

"Good idea." Gibbs said. He found any woman crying to be uncomfortable, but Ziva...she rarely let her guard down at all and it broke his heart. He really would have liked to have taken all three of those boys home for a trip to the basement, but it wasn't his place. He was going home to read the little girls a story.

"Is that ok?" Kim asked.

"Thanks Kim." Abby said. "That'd be great."

"Awww." Maddie said from behind her Mom. Jess's face was crestfallen.

"Don't ya want me to stay?" she asked.

"Cause I do silly." Maddie said as she took her friends hand. "But we not gonna get to see the all the fun."

"There will not be fun here Maddie." Ziva said. "No fun for the naughty boys..."

"I'm not naughty am I Daddy?" Maddie said.

"No your a little witch." he said with a grin. "Come on girls!" he called. Jess ran out and took his hand and the four said their good byes and left.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Upstairs the boys were of course trying to lay the blame.

"It was my turn...you shouldda just let me take it." Mike said.

"You were happy to share." Dyl grumbled. "If you weren't pulling it so much it wouldn't of gone the wrong way."

"Na ah."Mike whined. "You pulled it down towards you."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Kyle was standing peering through the crack of the door. He couldn't see anything and he could barely hear, but he did hear one thing...his Mom was crying.

"Shut up you idiots." he said. "We made Mom cry."

TBC