Author's Note-Okay we see our first slight time jump in this chapter. It's only a few hours but I'd get used to it. It has taken me twenty one chapters to cover three days. If I carry on like this I'll be writing this forever. It won't happen too often and I will do it in such a way that hopefully will still keep you satisfied. I hope you enjoy this chapter, after the last one my muse decided we all needed it, and don't find it too OOC. I hope I managed to keep it true to them but if not, meh, it's fun. Now, there will be my usual prize (a chapter of your choice (if it doesn't fit I will try to make it into a one shot for you)) for the first person to tell me which song is in this chapter, I'm currently obsessed with it. Okay, wow, this is long. Read, review, enjoy. NYLF xx

LJ slowly forced herself to walk away from the kitchen wall the moment she heard Ziva sob. She hadn't meant to listen in, she'd merely gone to get a drink but had instead stumbled on possibly the most intimate conversation she could have. She walked into the lounge and sat with a thud in the armchair just in front of Tony.

"Hey, Kiddo. Everything alright?" She startled at his voice before nodding and clearing her throat.

"Yeah, where's my mom?" She asked quickly, noticing that, for the first time since Shaun had called, Pennie had left Tony's side.

"Having a lie down. It's been an emotional day for her." LJ nodded distractedly. "You sure you're okay?"

"Mhmm." She nodded. Tony studied her for a moment but shook his head, quickly noticing that she was just as stubborn as the people she was living with and would come to him if she needed to. He instead grabbed the guitar from beside him and swung it over his knees.

"I noticed your guitar, how long you been playing?" LJ seemed to pull herself out of her own little world and dragged her attention to him.

"Sorry?" Tony chuckled.

"I asked how long you've been playing the guitar." She smiled.

"Oh, a couple of years. I started listening to some acoustic versions of my favourites and really liked it, so I brought a second hand 'How To' book and guitar the next week and started learning. I mostly play by ear to be fair." Tony smiled.

"Me too. Reading music isn't my strong point but I love to play." Tony strummed a couple of bars quickly before tilting his chin towards the stairs. "I could teach you a couple if you like? Give us something to do while the grown ups are sleeping and in deep conversations." LJ giggled. "What?"

"You don't include yourself in the 'grown up' category?" Tony chuckled.

"Why should I? No one else does. I figured if you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em." LJ giggled again. "So, you up for that?" She hesitated before nodding quickly. "Go on then, go grab your guitar. Why don't you also grab your brother while you're up there, I'm sure he'll be awake after his nap by now." LJ nodded before scurrying off. Tony sighed leaning back into the couch. If he could distract that little girl from her dad calling, her mother being severely shaken up and Ziva crying in the kitchen for goodness knows what, he would sure give it a go.

"Okay, so I think you got it. You wanna play?" Tony asked not even thirty minutes later. LJ nodded enthusiastically, setting her fingers into the first chord. "Okay, one, two, three, four." LJ started strumming while Tony watched. She flashed him a smile in between watching where her fingers were going. Ziva appeared at the doorway with Ethan on her hip fresh from his bath with an amused smile on her face. Tony winked at her before joining in with LJ just as Ziva started singing along, taking Ethan's hand in her own in a mock slow dance and gently swaying them around the living room much to his delight.

"It's nine o'clock on a Saturday, and the regular crowd shuffles in, there's an old man sitting next to me, making love to his tonic and gin." Tony smiled broadly at the surprise on Lauren's face once the angelic singing voice of his partner filled the room. Tony made a split decision and set down his guitar, grabbing LJ's before Ziva had finished the first half of the verse and stood her on his toes as he waltzed her round the room while the two adults sang.

"He says, son, can you play me a memory, I'm not really sure how it goes, but it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete, when I wore a younger man's clothes." The children giggled while Ziva and Tony sang and waltzed around the room in a figure of eight between them.

Gibbs leant against the door frame watching with a true fully fledged smile painted across his face when Pennie came to stand beside him. He smiled at her while both of their partners danced and sang with her children.

"He's good with them." Gibbs chuckled as Tony dipped a giggling LJ never once stopping singing. Pennie nodded beside him, threading their arms and leaning against his shoulder.

"They both are. Y'know, Ziva would make a great mom." Gibbs' smile faltered slightly but no one noticed.

"Yeah, yeah she would." Pennie smiled and clapped as the foursome brought their impromptu dance performance to an end with Tony giving LJ one last twirl. Ziva felt colour warm her cheeks as she noticed Pennie and Gibbs.

"I am sorry, I was not aware we were performing for an audience." LJ giggled at her clear embarrassment.

"I had no idea you were all so musical." Pennie teased before exchanging wide smiles with her eldest.

"Music is an excellent healer, and a better distraction." Tony winked at her before turning to Ziva and bowing low making Ethan giggle on her hip. "M'lady it has been a pleasure." Ziva tipped her head to him. He then took LJ's hand and kissed her knuckles. "Thank you for letting me have this dance." LJ giggled before curtsying. Tony laughed out loud before turning to his boss. "Just a bit of fun Gibbs." Gibbs shook his head.

"Did I say a word DiNozzo? It's good to see you smiling." He met Ziva's eye and his smile softened into something akin to the intimate ones he had reassured her with in the kitchen. "All of you." Ziva winked at him with a similar smile before turning to Ethan and LJ.

"So, shall we go decide what we want to eat tonight? You can help cook if you like?" LJ nodded enthusiastically. "How about you Ethan?" The toddler tilted his head to the side.

"I p'efer eating to cooking." All the adults laughed before Tony quickly grabbed him and put him on his shoulders.

"My kind man. Lead the way Zi, me and Ethan will supervise." Ziva chuckled before walking into the kitchen hand in hand with LJ.

"Fine. We cook, you clean." Tony chuckled and leaned in to kiss Pennie gently, for both of their comfort.

"She wishes." He murmured making her smile.

"I heard that." Ziva's call carried from the kitchen. Gibbs laughed before gently head slapping Tony.

"You shoulda seen that one coming." Tony's murmurs followed him into the kitchen as he went to help out.

Ziva gently laid Ethan down beside LJ as she sat up in bed, before sitting on the edge beside them and gently stroking the strands of hair from his face.

"And you are sure that it is okay with you that he sleeps here?" LJ nodded, stifling a yawn.

"Where else would he sleep? Mom needs Tony tonight and they don't want to have to deal with a squirmy toddler all night and I doubt you and Gibbs are up for sharing your bed with a three year old." Ziva smirked.

"No, I do not think Jethro would be overly impressed with that action plan."

"Right then. Besides, the amount of times he's ended up in my bed; I almost miss him when he's not there." Ziva's smile turned somewhat sad before she leant over LJ and pressed a gentle kiss to Ethan's forehead. She then lifted the covers from around LJ's waist.

"Come on, lay down and get comfortable." LJ smiled before doing as she was told. Ziva suddenly found herself blinking back the tears in her eyes at the rush of warmth spreading through her chest as she tucked the blankets around her. "Now, we are just down the hall if you need us. Do not worry about waking us okay?" LJ nodded, covering another yawn with the back of her hand. "Okay. Lailah Tov Sweetheart. Sweet dreams." She softly kissed her forehead before standing. She watched for a moment, just taking in the sight before her, of the two children she already loved, cuddled up in bed, safe and warm, before silently making her way over to the door. She lingered in the door way for a moment. "I love you." She murmured before carefully pulling the door ajar and making her way to her own bed.

Tony slipped into bed behind Pennie and wrapped his arm around her stomach, pulling her close while he leant on his other bent arm. He heard her breathing waver and instantly pulled her over so she was leaning into his chest. Her arm slotted around his waist while he held her close.

"It's okay Honey. You're safe now. He can't hurt you here. No one can." He gently kissed her crown as he stroked her back comfortingly.

"I was so scared Tony." She murmured into him as he felt the first tear wet his t-shirt. Tony sighed.

"I know. I know Baby okay? But we're gonna get him. We're gonna keep you safe. I'm gonna keep you safe. I promise." She sobbed into his body and he gently rocked them both. "Shhh, it's okay. I've got you. You're safe now. I've got you."