Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. This chapter is set during the 2020 pandemic
Tali sat in her room, pushing a toy train back and forth across the carpet. She was feeling rather sorry for herself. Today was her birthday and because of the stupid pandemic, Ima said she couldn't have a birthday party. Tali hadn't seen any of her friends in four months and she really missed them. She loved Tilly but it got boring playing with just your little sister every single day. Tali wanted to play with her friends.
There was a knock at her bedroom door.
'Hey Bean.' Tali looked up and saw Daddy standing in the door way. She shuffled around so her back was facing him.
Tony sighed.
'Tali, come on.'
'No' said Tali, cross. 'I want to play with my friends and I can't.' Tony moved and sat down next to Tali. 'Tilly's going to get a birthday party because her birthday's in December. I wanted a pool party and now I can't have one.'
Tony stroked Tali's hair. She looked so sad, sitting in her room, playing by herself.
'We can still swim. You, me, Ima and Tilly.'
'It's not the same' complained Tali.
'I know, baby, but if you come downstairs Ima and I have a surprise for you.'
Tony got up, smiling, at the look on Tali's face. He went downstairs, leaving the door open. Tali eventually got up and followed her father. She found him standing outside with her mother and Tilly. Ziva had put balloons and streamers to decorate the outside of the house.
'Daddy, what are we doing here?' asked Tali.
'Just be patient for a minute' said Tony.
Tali stood, trying to be patient but it wasn't working. She wasn't impressed with her father's attempts to get to enjoy her birthday.
A car turned onto their street and started driving towards their house. As it got closer, it started honking its horn.
'Happy Birthday Tali!' cried the occupants inside. The car had a poster outside it and balloons.
'Molly!' cried Tali, happy to see her friend. She ran over to the car, along with Ziva, who was carrying a party bag. She passed it to Molly's mother.
'Give Tali her present' she said to Molly. Molly handed Tali her present, who put in a box that Ziva was holding. The girls chatted for a little bit more, before Molly's mom drove them home.
The next car had her friend Eddie in it. The same thing happened; Ziva gave Eddie's mom a party bag and Eddie gave Tali his gift. Orla was in the next car, then Katie, then Sati and Padma. One by one, Tali's friends drove past to wish her a happy sixth birthday.
Tali had a massive smile on her face when another car drove by.
'Hello, hello, hello' said the passenger. 'I'm looking for a six year old girl. You haven't seen her, have you? Looks a lot like my granddaughter'
Tali looked over.
'Papa!' cried Tali and Tilly. They both ran over to say hello to Senior and Maggie.
'Where's Penny?' asked Tilly. The adults laughed.
'Penny's at home' said Maggie. Tilly looked disappointed.
'Are you staying?' asked Tali. Senior shook his head.
'Sorry, Bean. We can't stay.'
'But why?' asked Tali, getting sad. Tony bent down to Tali's height.
'I know it's sad, Bean, but we still need to be careful' explained Tony.
'Would you like your birthday present?' asked Maggie. Tali's face lit up and Maggie handed her a gift bag. Tali went to open it.
'Not yet Tali' said Ziva and Tali handed the gift bag over to Ziva. Ziva disappeared inside to quickly wipe down the presents before Tali started unwrapping.
'What are you going to do today?' asked Senior.
'We're going swimming' said Tali.
'Yippee!' said Tilly, jumping from foot to the other. Senior, Tony and Maggie laughed.
'And we'll watch a movie tonight and maybe build a den perhaps' said Tony. Tali's face lit up, as did Tilly's.
'It sounds like you will be busy. You'd better get started' said Maggie.
'We'll see you soon girls' said Senior, waving. Maggie started the car and began to drive away. Tali and Tilly waved madly at the grandparents.
'Bye Papa! Bye Granny!' they both cried. Eventually the car was out of sight.
'Tali Joy DiNozzo!' Tali, Tilly and Tony jumped slightly at Ziva coming outside. 'Are you staying outside or coming inside. There are lots of presents that need opening.'
Grinning, Tali ran inside to open her presents.
A week and a half after Tali's birthday, the DiNozzo household had another birthday.
'Tali' asked Tilly, the morning of Tony's forty-eighth birthday. 'How old is Daddy?'
'He's older than Uncle Tim and Babby' said Tali. The two girls were lying on Tali's bed, gazing up at the ceiling.
'And Ima' said Tilly.
'Yes. Daddy's older than Ima, but he's younger than Gib' said Tali.
'How old's Gib?' asked Tilly.
'I don't know Bug. It's like his boat. How does he get it out of his basement?'
'Maybe he's got magic, Bean' said Tilly.
'Maybe' said Tali.
Outside Tali's bedroom, Tony and Ziva were listening to their daughters' conversation. Tony stifled a giggled.
'Shh' whispered Ziva, but too late. The door opened and Tali and Tilly stood on the other side. 'What are you doing?' asked Tali.
'Nothing Bean' said Tony. 'Who wants pancakes?'
'I do' said both girls.
'OK then' replied Tony and he went downstairs to the kitchen, Tali following him.
Tilly tugged on Ziva's hand.
'Ima, how old's Daddy?' she asked.
Ziva chuckled as she bent down and whispered in Tilly's ear. Tilly's eyes got wider and she suddenly ran downstairs to tell her sister.
A couple of hours later, Tony found himself prepping the grill for the barbeque they were having with Senior and Maggie. The restrictions had relaxed enough for them to be able to come over. Everyone still had to be on alert and careful, but families were allowed to see each other. Plus Tony and Ziva had a side entrance to their garden, meaning Senior and Maggie didn't have to walk through the house if necessary.
Tali and Tilly were playing on the climbing frame when their grandparents arrived. Ziva had sat them down earlier to tell them that even though Papa and Granny were visiting, no one could have a hug or anything, because of the virus. The girls very reluctantly agreed to this.
'Hello?' called Maggie's voice, and seconds later, she and Senior appeared.
'Granny! Papa! Look at me!' called Tilly, waving from the top of the climbing frame.
'Hi Tilly' called Senior, waving back. He waved at Tali too, who was making her way up the climbing frame.
Ziva came out, with a plate of uncooked burgers.
'Hello' she said, putting the plate next to Tony. He placed some on the grill.
'Hi Ziva' said Maggie. 'This feels weird, not being able to hug you.' Ziva laughed.
'It does a little. Would you like a drink?'
'A drink sounds lovely, thank you.'
Senior and Maggie sat down, Ziva appearing from the house with a tray of drinks for everyone.
'Happy birthday Junior' said Senior.
'Thanks Dad.'
'Forty-eight. I can't believe it.' Ziva chuckled. 'What is it Ziva?'
'The girls were trying to guess Tony's age earlier today.'
'Aww, that's so sweet' said Maggie.
'According to Tilly, Tony is really old.' They laughed, Tony glaring at his wife. He flipped the burgers he was cooking.
'If Junior is really old, what does that make me and Maggie?' asked Senior.
'I have no idea' replied Ziva, and everyone laughed.
'I was thinking' said Senior. 'In a couple of years' time, we're both having big birthdays. What if we had a joint birthday party?'
'Um…' began Tony, slowly sitting down. His father's idea of party didn't line up with Tony's. Though that was before Maggie.
'That sounds like a great idea' said Maggie.
'Yes' agreed Ziva. 'Especially after this year.'
'What do you say, Junior?' asked Senior.
Tony looked at his father, wife and unofficial step mother, staring back at him.
'If I must' he replied. He got up and went back to the barbeque.
It would be a joint 50th and 80th birthday party. Tony's birthday July, Senior's in August. Perhaps it would be a good thing, though Tony had no intention of letting Ziva and Senior know.
'Girls' called Ziva, waving them over. Tali and Tilly ran over. 'Whilst we are waiting for the burgers, shall we give Daddy his birthday present?'
'Yes' they both cried. Ziva got up and they went inside. A few minutes later, they came out, Ziva carrying a large box covered in wrapping paper, and Tali and Tilly carrying cards.
'Happy Birthday Daddy' said Tali, hugging Tony.
'Yes. Fifty-nine' said Tilly.
'I'm forty-eight Tilly. Please don't age me' said Tony. He wrapped his arms around his daughters. 'I love you two so much' he said, a little quieter.
'Love you too, Daddy' they replied.
Ziva slid the present over. Tony tore the wrapping paper off to reveal…
'A basketball hoop?' said Tony surprised. Ziva nodded, smiling. She produced a gift bag which had a basketball in it.
'You have been saying you wanted to get back into basketball a little' she said. 'I have seen you bounce the old ball we have against the wall. Hopefully this might be a little better.'
Tony leaned over and kissed Ziva.
'I love it' he said quietly. 'I love you, Zi.'
'I love you too, Tony' replied Ziva.
Soon enough the burgers were served and everyone sat down to eat.
'These are good burgers' said Senior, everyone nodding in opinion, mouths full.
After he finished eating, Tony began to set up his new basketball hoop. Tali and Tilly acted as his assistants. Thirty minutes later, everything was assembled. Ziva handed Tony the ball.
'Go for it' she said, coaxing Tali and Tilly away.
Tony bounced the ball twice on the patio, aimed, and threw it towards the basket.
'Wow!' exclaimed Tilly, her entire face lit up.
'Woohoo!' cried everyone as the ball went into the basket.
'Do it again' cried Tilly, jumping up and down.
'Again?'
Tilly nodded. Tony bounced twice, aimed and threw, this time missing the basket.
'Oh.' Tilly was disappointed.
'It's OK, Tilly bug. We'll have another go' said Tony. He bounced the ball twice, aimed and threw it.
'Yay!' cried Tilly as the ball landed through the hoop.
A few days after his birthday, Tony walked through the house, wondering where everyone was. Tali was filling in a colouring book in the play corner and Ziva was sitting in the dining room, working.
'Zi, have you seen Tilly?' he asked.
'I think she's outside' replied his wife. Tony went outside and found his three year old daughter playing with his basketball. Tilly threw it with all her might towards the basket, but missed by quite a bit.
'Ugh' said Tilly. She sounded frustrated.
'It's OK, Bug' said Tony, picking up the ball.
'How did you get into the basket?' she asked.
Tony looked between Tilly and the basket.
'It might be a bit far for you sweetie' he said, crouching down. Tilly didn't like that. 'Why don't we just practice throwing it between the two of us?' he suggested.
Twenty minutes later, Ziva came into the kitchen and found her husband teaching their youngest daughter how to play basketball.
A couple of readers have told me that they are finding this story boring compared to my others. If you are finding this story boring, then please stop reading. There's no need to tell me in a comment. This story is different than my previous ones as it moves away from canon, which I like to follow.
Those of you who did read this chapter, I hope you liked it. It's more of a filler chapter than anything but I want Tony and Ziva to celebrate something.
Stay safe and see you soon