Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. Warning, characters vomiting towards the end of chapter.


'Tali, breakfast' called Ziva. Tali came out of her bedroom and sat down at the table. She was in her school uniform; navy blue dress and cardigan with the school logo on it. Ziva placed a plate of pancakes in front of Tali who picked up the fork and began to attack her breakfast.

Tony came in from the bathroom and also sat down.

'You ready for school, munchkin?' he asked. Tali nodded, mouth full of pancakes. 'You looking forward to going back?' Tali shrugged her shoulders. She enjoyed school but she got to play with her toys more during vacation. She had playdates with Ottie and Maddy and spent time with Ima, Daddy, and Clara. Plus there was no math.

But Tali was starting first grade today. She was a big girl now and she and her friends got to play on the bigger climbing frames at lunchtime.

Twenty minutes later, Ziva was standing by the door, waiting for Tali.

'Tali, what is taking so long?' asked Ziva as she went to Tali's bedroom. She literally bumped into her daughter as Ziva opened the door.

'Oh, sorry Ima.' Tali tried to make her way past Ziva, but Ziva's ninja senses were tingling.

'What is going on?' she asked.

'Nothing Ima.' Tali tried to get past Ziva again.

'Have you got something in your bag?' asked Ziva.

'No Ima I don't.' Ziva was still not buying it.

'Can you show me your bag please?' asked Ziva. Tali sighed in defeat and opened her school bag. Kelev was tucked up in it. Ziva crouched down and pulled out the stuffed dog.

'Kelev needs to stay at home, Tali.'

'But he wants to come to school. He wants to see my new classroom and meet my new teacher.'

'Another day.'

'But-'

'Tali, what if you forgot to bring Kelev home? Then what would you do?'

Tali thought for a second. She did struggle to sleep without Kelev, even if he would enjoy having a sleepover at school.

'OK,' Tali said, eventually. She took Kelev from Ziva and placed him on the bed. 'See you after school Kelev.'

Ziva smiled and chuckled. Tony walked into the room.

'What's going on?' he asked. Ziva and Tali just smiled. Tony looked at Tali. 'You ready for school?'


Tali settled in back into school relatively easily. On the very first day, she was a little nervous about going into a new classroom, especially with the bigger kids in the corridor. She grasped tightly on Ziva's hand. However, once Tali found Ottie, and then Maddy, she was fine.

'Bye Tali' called Tony and Ziva.

'Bye Ima. Bye Daddy' said Tali, waving back. Tony and Ziva smiled and walked out of the school, Tony draping his arm around Ziva's shoulders. Nine months Ziva had been home and they still got looks from the other parents. Tony had hoped it would have died down by now.

'I wish I had been at all her first days' said Ziva, quietly. Tony smiled and squeezed Ziva's shoulder for support. Yet the words popped up in his mind.

I wish I had been there on her very first day

Over the past few months, they had talked more about their separation and explored more about why things happened the way they did. Tony kicked himself mentally for not helping Ziva more after Eli died and when she decided to stay in Israel. Ziva hated that she hadn't asked for help when she needed it, that she let Eli have an effect on her, and that she blamed Eli for so much. Yes, he was her father, her commander. But she left him, went to Tony and NCIS. Ziva could have moved on entirely from Eli, yet that hope of a good father/ daughter relationship lived in her for so long. Seeing Tony and Tali, and Tali and Senior interact helped a little.

Tony and Ziva got back to the apartment, Tony going to work. He was starting a little later than normal so that he could take Tali to school, something that he wouldn't have been able to do with 80 hour weeks at NCIS.

Ziva stood in the hallway, thinking for a minute, before going into the lounge and pulling out her journal. A leaflet was tucked inside it. The American Library in Paris. Ziva had spotted it on a shelf in the building of their dentists. The library had volunteers and there was information on the back.

Ziva loved being an Ima to Tali. She had therapy, the support group, temple, and her exercise classes, but nine months after returning, Ziva was starting to feel that she wanted to do more.

She looked at the back on the leaflet and found the website. Ziva opened her laptop and typed it in, ready to fill out the online application.


Ziva opened her eyes and sat up slightly. Something was not right. She paused. This was not her demons. They were at bay for now. No, Ziva's parenting senses were tingling. Tali was upset.

Ziva climbed out of bed and went to Tali's room. Tali was whimpering.

'Tali, sweetie, what is the matter?' asked Ziva.

'Ima, I feel sick.' Ziva flicked on Tali's lamp on. In the low glow, Tali did look unwell. Ziva stroked Tali's hair and cheek.

'Shall we go read a story?' she suggested. Tali nodded and climbed out of bed. They went to the lounge, curling up on Ziva's favourite armchair and began to read Pippi Longstocking.

'Ima' said Tali, suddenly.

'What is it?'

'I don't feel well.' Ziva looked at Tali and followed her parenting instincts.

'OK, OK. Let's go to the bathroom.'

After Tali was sick in the bathroom and were sitting on the floor, Tony poked his head around the door.

'Everything alright?'

'Tali is not very well' explained Ziva. Tony came in and sat down next to them. It was crowded with the three of them on the floor.

'Oh, Tali.' Tony kissed the top of his daughter's head. Tali sniffed. 'It's OK, baby' said Tony, reassuringly.

'Shall we get some water, change clothes and maybe read some more of Pippi?' suggested Ziva. Tali nodded.

As they watched Tali get changed into clean pyjamas, Ziva turned to Tony. He was leaning against the doorway, yawning his head off.

'Go back to bed Tony. Get some sleep.'

'You sure?' he asked. Ziva nodded.

'Tali and I will be fine.' Tony smiled, kissed the top of Ziva's head and went back to bed.

Tali and Ziva went back into the living room and to Pippi Longstocking. Slowly, Tali began to fall asleep. Ziva pulled out the sofa bed and the two settled down.

Ziva was literally about to go to sleep when she was suddenly woken by the sound of someone vomiting. She looked to her right. Tali was still asleep in bed. Ziva got up and went to the bathroom. Tony had his head in the toilet.

'Tony are you alright?' asked Ziva.

Tony threw up again. Ziva nipped to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water for Tony. She handed it to him as she sat down on the bathroom floor.

'How are you feeling?' asked Ziva. Tony gave her a look.

'Terrible, yet also better. Makes no sense.' He took a sip of water. Ziva chuckled quietly. 'I don't think I'll be going to that meeting tomorrow.'

Ziva chuckled again, nodding.

'Hazard of being a parent. Catching bugs and being sick' she said. Tony nodded.

'You going to be OK?' he asked. Ziva nodded. She got up and held out a hand for Tony, who took it.

'I will be fine Tony. This is what I wanted when I was on the run.'

'You wanted me and Tali to be sick?' Ziva rolled her eyes. She quickly changed the sheets on the bed, before Tony got back in. She went back to the bathroom and wiped down everything. Ziva could have gone to sleep, but she was wide awake and this would not be her last all-nighter.

Ziva checked on Tony. He was awake, watching Netflix. Hopefully, he would get some sleep. Ziva went back into the living room and found Tali. She was asleep.

Ziva climbed back into bed with Tali. There was a high chance that she would catch whatever Tali and Tony had. Ziva did not care though. This was exactly where she wanted to be.


Hope you enjoyed it. I hope no one was triggered by that last little bit.

The American Library in Paris does exist and was founded in 1920.

Thank you for reading. See you soon :)