Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Tim walked into the crowded diner, looking around for Ziva. He spotted her and chuckled. Ziva was sitting at their usual booth, reading. Tim walked over to her.

'What you reading?' he asked, sitting down. Ziva looked up from her book and smiled.

'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.' Tim had a quizzical look on his face.

'Don't think I've heard of that one.'

'Oh, it is brilliant Tim. It is set in 1946 and told through letters and is about this woman, Juliet, who learns about what it was like living on the isle of Guernsey during WW2. It was the only bit of Britain that was occupied by the Nazis.'

Tim nodded along and laughed at Ziva's enthusiasm for the book. It was another thing the two friends shared. Their mutual love of reading.

The waitress came over and took their order.

'How are you Tim?' asked Ziva.

'I'm good, Ziva. Really good. No nightmares like I thought there would be. Yet.' Ziva chuckled.

'I'm glad Tim.'

The one year anniversary of Tim and Gibbs' rescue from the RAC in Paraguay had just passed. Tim and Ziva had spoken about as it got closer. Ziva talked about having so many mixed emotions about her anniversary. In the year after Somalia, Ziva had resigned from Mossad, cutting ties with her father, became an NCIS Probationary agent and a US Citizen. In the year since Tim had been rescued, he had become a father to twins, who were now fast approaching their first birthday.

'I spoke to Abby the other day. Said she was praying for me and Gibbs and the kids at church.'

'She has found one then?' asked Ziva. It had been a mild concern of Abby's when she moved to England. Finding a new church was not an easy task.

'Yes. By the sounds of things she really likes the one she's at.'

Their food came and Tim and Ziva continued talking; spouses, children, work, books, Gibbs. The MCRT's workload hadn't been that much in recent weeks meaning that Tim and Ziva had been able to meet up on a more regular basis. With the beginning of September coming up soon, everyone was looking forward to Ducky's Labour Day party.

Tim and Ziva finished their food and looked at the time on their phones. 7.30 pm.

'Bedtime' said Ziva.

'Bedtime' replied Tim and both went home to put their children to bed.

Senior walked through Tony and Ziva's house, whistling. Tony raised an eyebrow as Senior came into the kitchen and past the kitchen table that Tony was working at.

'Dad? Everything OK?'

'Everything's fine, Junior.' Tony didn't quite believe it. His agent-senses were tingling.

'So, the whistling has nothing to do with the old school friend you bumped into the other day?'

Senior's smile gave it away completely. The previous Saturday, Senior had been babysitting Tali and Tilly as Tony and Ziva were shooting a wedding. They had been in the park when Senior's high school sweetheart, Maggie York, and her dalmatian, Penny, came over to say hello. Senior and Maggie had gone out for drinks and dinner a couple of days ago, reconnecting after sixty years. It had been nice to reconnect with an old friend.

'You going to see her again?' asked Tony. Senior smiled again.

'We might or might not be having dinner later this week.'

Tony chuckled, going back to work. He had always found odd and awkward when it came to his father's girlfriends, but Tony had to admit that he had never seen his father this happy before.

Ziva's phone buzzed. She glanced at the time. 2.05 am. The caller ID read Andrew. Ziva ducked into the bathroom to answer it.

'Andrew, everything alright?'

'Callie's gone into labour. Can you come and pick up Arthur?' Ziva smiled.

'Yes. I will be there ASOP.' Ziva went back into the bedroom and started getting changed. Tony rolled over, now awake.

'What's going on?'

'That was Andrew. Callie is in labour. I am going to pick up Arthur. I said I would be there ASOP.'

'ASAP, Zi. Not ASOP.'

'Whatever.' She leaned over and kissed Tony. 'I will be back soon.'

When the alarm woke up Tony, daylight was coming through the curtains. He went downstairs and found his wife sitting at the table, reading, and his daughters playing with his godson in the family room.

'Morning' said Tony, sitting down with a cup of coffee.

'Morning' replied Ziva.

'Any news?' Ziva shook her head.

'Not yet.' Ziva went back to her book as Tony got some breakfast. Ziva had finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and was now reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Tony had just finished reading Finding Ultra by Rich Roll.

'Tilly, no' came Tali's voice into the kitchen. Tony popped his head into the family room. Tilly was sitting on the floor, Tali and Arthur kneeling nearby.

'Everything alright?'

'Tilly's messing up the game, Uncle Tony' said Arthur.'

'Guys, Tilly's only eighteen months' said Tony, going over to the three children. 'She doesn't understand the rules of the game like you two.'

'But-' began Tali.

'No buts Bean. You just have to be patient with her.'

Tony went back to the kitchen.

'Asking a four-year-old to be patient with her little sister is like asking a fish to climb a tree. It is impossible' said Ziva. Tony chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. Ziva's phone buzzed.

'Hi, Andrew. Oh, that is wonderful. Yes, I will bring him.' Ziva went over to Arthur. 'That was Daddy, Arthur.' The little boy sat up, excited. 'Do you want to meet your new brother?'

Tali stood in front of the mirror, pulling a face as Tony tried to put her hair into pigtails.

'Tali, I can see your face in the mirror' said Tony.

'You're not very good at this, are you Daddy?'

'I don't normally wear pigtails, Tali. This is why Ima normally does your hair, perhaps even teach you so you can do it yourself.'

Ziva came into the room.

'Everything ok?' she asked.

'No. Daddy's doing my hair wrong' said Tali. Tony sighed in surrender and handed over the hairbrush and hair ties to Ziva. In a matter of minutes, Tali's hair was in two perfect pigtails and she went downstairs happily.

Tilly was sitting on the floor next to the door, waiting for her parents and sister. Today everyone was going to school with Tali. It was a big day; Tali's first day of pre-kindergarten at Sherwood School. It would only be for the morning, very similar to the preschool Tali had been going to for the past year, but the fact that it was at an actual school, where Tali would be in until 8th grade and the fact that she had to wear a school uniform (navy blue dress, cardigan with school logo) made it so much more official.

'OK, Tali' said Ziva, holding a camera. 'Stand still.' Tali smiled sweetly, then helped Tilly stand up for another photo.

'Are we done Ima?' asked Tali. Tony chuckled.

'You excited Bean?' he asked. Tali nodded. 'OK then. Let's go to school!'

Hope you enjoyed it. It was a little rushed than normal.

If you want to know more about Senior and Maggie, please read A Second Chance.

All the books mentioned are real. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is the best book I've read in 2019.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.