Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS.

Ziva stood in Tilly's room, an empty bucket at her feet. She opened the closet door and started to put the rocks and stones into the bucket.

'No Ima!' cried Tilly running in. 'What you doing?'

'Tilly, you cannot have these rocks in your closet anymore' said Ziva firmly.

'But it's food for Orville' said Tilly. Ziva stopped what she was doing.

'Who is Orville?' asked Ziva.

'Orville' said Tilly, pointing to the closet. She tried to drag the bucket of stones back into the closet.

'What's going on?' asked Tali, coming in.

'Tali, who is Orville?' asked Ziva.

'Tilly's pet' said Tali, as if Ziva should know this already. 'He lives in her closet, Ima.'

'And Orville eats stones and rocks?'

'Don't be silly' said Tali. 'Orville eats chocolate.'

Ziva watched Tilly try and put the rocks and stones back into the closet. She was so confused. Who was Orville? She had never heard of him before but Tali seemed to know who he was.

Tilly stopped dragging the bucket and began to carry the rocks one by one. Ziva decided to give up and just accept her daughters wild imaginations

'Ok Tilly. You can keep Orville's food in your closet.'

'Yay!'

'But, you keep them in the bucket please?'

'OK' said Tilly, agreeing.

Ziva found Tony doing admin work in the basement.

'You know those rocks Tilly was collecting?'

'Yeah?'

'Turns out they are food for Tilly's imaginary pet, Orville' said Ziva.

'What?' asked Tony. He was the one who was confused now. 'Since when did Tilly have an imagery pet?'

'I have no idea, though Tali does. Apparently Orville has been around for a while.

Ziva stood in the line outside the community centre. It was the same community centre that had the playgroup Tony and the girls went too. Tony had already voted after dropping the girls off at school, Ziva going once he got back.

The line moved forward a couple of places. Due to the pandemic, there was distancing measures in place, including standing two metres apart and wearing masks. Ziva always enjoyed voting. Ever since becoming a US citizen in 2011, voting had become more important. She had fought for her citizenship, ending an old chapter with her father and Mossad, and starting a new one with NCIS and Tony. Ziva had felt so proud and excited the first time she got to vote as a US citizen.

The line moved again, Ziva now actually standing in the building. Now that it was November, parts of life started to resemble life before the pandemic. More and more places were open, though now it was winter, a lot of seasonal places were closed. The girls were back at school, Tali as a first grader and Tilly still at preschool. Tony and Ziva now had bookings in the Paris apartment and Haifa beach house, and were in the process of securing a new tenant at the DC apartment. Bean and Bug Photography had several bookings for holiday and winter themed photoshoots. Tony and Ziva were busy working on their online courses, as well as working Education Restart on the online resources and the business course. Ziva and Gloria were hoping to launch it in early 2021.

The line moved again. Ziva went to collect her voting card and went into a booth. Seconds later she emerged and placed the card into the box. Voting took so little time and yet it was so important. Ziva always felt a sense accomplishment afterwards, if that was the right word.

Ziva got into her car and drove over to the Hope Rises Homeless Shelter. Senior was standing outside, waiting for her. Ziva waved when she spotted him, Senior waving back.

'How are you my dear?' he asked, kissing Ziva on the cheek.

'I am good. Just voted.'

'Me too' said Senior. He offered her his arm and they went into the building.

Hope Rises was having a blessing in bag packing session. Amongst some of the consequences of the pandemic, there was the increase of those experiencing homelessness. Hope Rises had seen an significant increase in those requesting emergency accommodation, as well as those needing new places to live. There was a real concern about a second major spike during the winter, plus the flu and everything else that happened health wise during winter.

Senior and Ziva got settled on a table and began packing bags. It had been five years since Senior started volunteering at Hope Rises, and he loved it. He loved the people he worked with, the sense of accomplishment he had again, and on top of that, Senior loved he was helping people who really needed help. His ability with people worked wonders in the fundraising team, and his charm and stories helped to cheer up those seeking help, even if it was only a little bit.

'Hey Ziva.'

She looked up and saw a man in his forties walk towards her.

'Hi Carlos.' Carlos was the director of Hope Rises. 'How are you?'

'I'm good. You?'

'Same' said Ziva.

'Any plans for your birthday?' asked Carlos. Ziva smiled. Her thirty-eighth birthday was a week and a half away.

'Just dinner with Tony at a restaurant.'

'Very nice' said Carlos. 'I'll see you guys around.' Ziva waved bye as Carlos walked away.

'I take it you and Tony would like me to babysit on your birthday' said Senior, a small smile on his face.

'Yes please' said Ziva. 'If you and Maggie are busy, we can find someone else though. Tali has been begging to see Gibbs.'

Senior chuckled.

'Don't worry, I can babysit. I've missed those girls.'

Ziva smiled.

'They have missed you too. Word of warning, Tilly now has an imaginary pet called Orville. He lives in her closet.'

Senior burst out laughing.

'That is precious' he said, chuckling.

'Yes, it is. It also explains why Tilly started collecting rocks and stones in her closet.'

'Orville eats rocks?'

'No, according to Tali, he eats chocolate.' Senior laughed again.

'Those girls and their imaginations.'

Ziva's birthday dinner was exactly what she and Tony needed. A night out (or at least a couple of hours) away from the house and the girls. Had there been no pandemic, Tony and Ziva would have had time schedule just for the two of them. Plans changed though and it had been almost a year since they had any kind of date night. Their fifth wedding anniversary had been the last time and that was back in February.

As previously agreed, Senior came over to babysit. Within seconds of his arrival, Tali had asked where Penny was, and Tilly had introduced Papa to Orville.

'He's going to have fun' said Tony, as he pulled out of their drive. Ziva chuckled.

After a lovely dinner, with no kids (which was a bonus any time really), Tony and Ziva went for a walk.

'You enjoying your birthday?' asked Tony. Ziva smiled.

'Without a doubt' she replied.

That morning, Ziva had gone downstairs and was greeted with her favourite breakfast, hand drawn birthday cards from Tali and Tilly, and a mountain of presents. Tony reckoned that Ziva got more presents that he did. Callie had spoilt Ziva to lunch, before having a playdate with their four children. Oscar, Callie's youngest son, was now two years old and was following his big brother Arthur, Tali and Tilly everywhere.

Tony and Ziva turned a corner and walked across a courtyard. A musician was playing the violin, and Tony took Ziva by surprise by twirling her under his arm. He pulled her close and they swayed to the music.

'I love you Tony' whispered Ziva quietly.

'I love you too, Zi' replied Tony.

Two days after her birthday, Ziva walked down into the basement and found Tony had turned into a cinema room.

'Tony?' called out Ziva. Tony poked his head from the small bathroom that was in the basement.

'Hey. The girls settled?'

'Yes. They are camping in the blanket fort you built, watching Trolls. Madagascar is sitting in the queue.' Tony chuckled. 'What are we doing here?'

'Well, I know you're disappointed about not going to the opera this year.' Ziva sighed a little. The Kennedy Centre was still closed and would be until Spring 2021. 'So, with the help of Tim again, we get to go to the opera here.'

'Tony…' Ziva didn't know what to say. How many times had he done something like this? Ziva walked over to her husband and hugged him. 'Thank you' she added quietly.

'Anything for you' Tony replied quietly. He kissed his wife.

They sat down on the sofa they already had in the basement and Tony pressed play. A filmed version of La Traviata. Tony draped an arm around Ziva, who snuggled up against her husband.

'Perhaps we could turn the basement into a cinema room when we get our new studio space' suggested Tony. Ziva chuckled.

'You and your movies' she said.

'What's wrong with wanting a cinema room?'

'Nothing, though I have a feeling Tali and Tilly will take over this room when they are teenagers' said Ziva.

'Not going to happen' said Tony, shaking his head slowly.

'What, the girls taking your cinema room?'

'No, them becoming teenagers.'

Ziva burst out laughing.

'One day, Tony, you will be the father of two teenage girls, and as a former teenager girl, I wish you luck. You will need it.'

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

I will never tell anyone who to vote for, especially if we live in different countries. I will, however, always urge everyone to vote. Voting is important.

Orville will make at least one more appearance. Gibbs and Team Gibbs will be in the next chapter.

Stay safe and see you soon :)