Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS
Tony sat at the table in the dining room. Ziva was in the basement editing photos and she liked to edit to music. Tony was going through bank statements which could be an anxiety riddled job and therefore required a different kind of concentration. It had never been a fun task but when he was a federal employee, Tony didn't really need to worry too much, even when Tali was a baby. The same amount would be deposited into his account at the end of every month, the taxman taking a portion. Now that Tilly was here, and Tony and Ziva were homeowners as well as small business owners, they needed to keep a closer eye on what was going in and what was going out.
Bean and Bug Photography was doing well. In the almost two years that it had been open, Tony and Ziva had been able to build a solid client base; family portraits, engagement photos, pregnancy photos, newborn photos, weddings, events and photos for businesses. Jobs were consistent and now that Tony had completed his video editing course a few months ago, he was hoping this would help expand Bean and Bug's services. He had recently been put in contact with a YouTuber based in DC who wanted to work with a video editor. Things were looking promising.
Tony turned one bank statement over and grimaced slightly. Yes, Bean and Bug income was regular, and Tony and Ziva had savings and were not stupid when it came to money. That being said, November and December were always rougher months. There were fewer weddings booked for those months, which brought in the bigger paydays, plus Hanukkah, Ziva's birthday, Tilly's birthday and Christmas. One area they could relax in was that Eli's fortune paid school fees for Tali, and would pay for Tilly as well. However, Tony still would have preferred for there to be a little bit more money coming in. Tony had witnessed too many close calls in his life for him to relax when it came to finances.
Waking up the sleeping laptop, Tony started googling for a wedding fair before Easter and began to make notes on a marketing campaign.
Ziva sat on the floor in the walk-in-wardrobe, wrapping paper and presents surrounding her. Tali, Tilly and Tony were at their usual playgroup on a Saturday morning. Ziva decided to take the opportunity of an empty house and wrap some Christmas presents. She was able to hide things from the girls on the top shelf of the wardrobe, but at some point, Ziva was going to have to find another hiding spot. Tali was starting to cotton on to the idea of looking for presents.
Figuring of gifts for Hanukkah and Christmas had taken some research, planning and negotiating. Now that Tali and Tilly were getting older, Tony and Ziva decided that they would get the same number of presents for both Hanukkah and Christmas. They also decided that Ziva would get presents at Hanukkah and Tony would get presents at Christmas. It was confusing and needed explaining and checking regularly, but it worked last year, so fingers crossed. A couple of things that added confusion a little was that Hanukkah didn't have fixed dates like Christmas, plus Tilly's birthday was 12th December, which would collide with Hanukkah sometimes. It meant a lot of planning ahead of time.
Ziva had the cellotape poised and ready to cut when she heard the front door open and her husband and daughters walk into the house. Quickly, Ziva hid the presents and wrapping paper as best she could before hearing Tony walk into their bedroom.
'Hey Zi' called Tony. Ziva flew out of the wardrobe, leaning against the doorway.
'Hi. How was playgroup?'
'It was alright, but Tali got upset with Tilly again for not following her rules.'
Ziva sighed heavily. This was a recurring problem with their daughters but one that didn't have a clear and obvious answer except wait for Tilly to grow up she would understand better, and try to teach Tali how to be patient.
Tony stepped towards the wardrobe but Ziva blocked his way by throwing up her arm.
'Um, I need to get in there' said Tony.
'Well, you cannot' said Ziva.
'Oh, yeah? Why not?'
'Because I said so Tony.'
'That might work on the girls, Zi, but it won't work on me.' Ziva thought quickly.
'How about this?' she offered. Ziva stepped on her toes and whispered something into Tony's ear. He thought for a second.
'I… I suppose I could go make lunch instead' he suggested, trying to sound casual. Tony turned and winked at his wife as he walked out of the bedroom.
Gibbs stood in the kitchen, listening to Jack sing to the baby. The baby that Team Gibbs had discovered after a suspect took aim and fired at Ellie. The baby that was now a stolen baby.
'How were they going to find the parents? Any parent? At Christmas?' thought Gibbs. Sounds of Nick and Ellie waking up jolted Gibbs out of thoughts. He wandered over to them.
'Jack?' asked Nick
'Hey what about skiing in Vermont?' asked Ellie
'Uh, I made the mistake of checking in with Vance before I left this morning. One mention of a stolen baby and I thought you guys might be a little shorthanded' explained Jack as she rocked the baby.
Gibbs' phone rang.
'Yeah, Palmer?' he said, walking into the kitchen.
'So did you come back for the case or the baby?' asked Nick to Jack.
'Oh come on, who doesn't love a baby?' said Jack. 'I especially love a baby in a safe and happy home' she continued in a baby voice as she put the baby back in Kelly's crib. The crib that Gibbs had made.
'We're still no closer to finding that safe home' said Ellie.
Gibbs walked back into the room, holding four cups of coffee.
'Palmer found a witness. We need to go and dig up footage.'
'Looking for what?' asked Nick.
'Anything to do with our victim or suspect or the baby' said Gibbs.
The door open and Tim, Ziva, and Tilly walked in.
'Gib!' cried Tilly and she went over to him for a hug.
'McGee? Ziva?'
'Hey, guys' began Tim. 'I couldn't sleep a wink, so I'll get a later flight.' Tim had holiday plans in Chicago with Delilah's family.
'What are you doing here?' asked Jack to Ziva.
'Tim called. Told me about the baby and I thought you might want another pair of hands.' Everyone chuckled. Tilly lunged around Gibbs' living room in some sort of odd shape. Ziva went to see the baby. 'I also heard about the shooting. Are you OK, Ellie?'
'Nelly OK?' asked Tilly. The adults laughed.
'Yes, Tilly. I'm OK' replied Ellie.
The baby started to fuss a little and Ziva went to pick him up.
'Hi baby' she said, bouncing him a little. The baby seemed to calm down a little.
'You're a natural' said Nick.
'No. I just have two of my own.' Tilly came over and peered at the baby in her Ima's arm.
'Baby' she said.
'Yes, Tilly' said Ziva. 'I think he likes you.' The baby hadn't taken his eyes of Tilly.
Gibbs walked back into the room.
'OK. Let's go.' Tim, Ellie, and Nick made for the front door. Gibbs turned to Ziva. 'Can you stay?' he asked.
Ziva nodded.
'Yes, go. I have done this before. Just find the parents.'
'Formula's in the fridge' called Jack as everyone left.
The baby slept peacefully in Ziva's arms. Tilly was sitting on the sofa, reading through the books they had bought. Reading wasn't the word as Tilly was only two but both Tali and Tilly loved their books and Gibbs did have a very comfortable couch. It had been a few hours since Team Gibbs had left. Tony had texted thirty minutes ago that he was picking Tali up from school and they would be over soon.
As if on cue, Ziva heard the car pull up outside and Tony and Tali walked into Gibbs' house.
'Hi Ima' said Tali.
'Hello motek. Did you have fun a school?' Tali shrugged her shoulders. 'Well, what did you do?'
'We did Math' said Tali, somewhat dejected. Math was not Tali's favourite subject. Tony chuckled as he sat down next to Ziva. Tali sat down at the coffee table and started drawing. Art was Tali's favourite subject.
'This must be the little guy that I hear so much about' he said, looking at the sleeping baby in Ziva's arms. 'You OK?' he asked his wife. Ziva nodded.
'Yes. Takes me back, having a sleeping baby in my arms.' Tony chuckled again.
'Well, we might have another one in a couple of years.' Ziva smiled.
Tali came over and showed her parents the picture that she had drawn. It was of Ziva, Tony, Tali and Tilly. There was an odd shape near Ziva.
'What's this Bean?' asked Tony.
'It's the baby' said Tali, pointing to the baby in Ziva's arms.
'That's sweet, Bean' said Tony. 'But the baby isn't coming home with us. You know that right?'
'But where's he going?
'He is going to his own family and home' said Ziva.
'Home?' asked Tilly. She had made her way over to them. Ziva and Tony nodded. Tali and Tilly peered over to look at the baby. He had woken up now and seemed to enjoy having new faces to look at.
Ziva liked the idea of a third child. She had grown up with two siblings herself, and she and Tony had been on their own for so long that a large family sounded nice and noisy. Ziva had fought to have a family and for a long time, she didn't think that she would ever have children.
But there was something gnawing away in Ziva and she couldn't figure out what it was.
Hope you enjoyed it.
This chapter might feel a little different than previous ones. It does to me. Be patient. The story is not over and I am still planning on writing Moments 3.
Thank you for reading.
Happy New Year!