Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. This chapter mentions the 2020 pandemic.

January 2021

Ziva pulled her front door too and jogged across the road. Five minutes ago, she had spotted a large moving van pull up outside the house across the street.

'Sally' called Ziva. A woman with red hair waved and walked over. Men wearing overalls started moving furniture and boxes into the truck.

'Hi Ziva' said Sally.

'Sally, what is going on? Are you moving?' asked Ziva.

'Yeah, we are. Moving in with my parents back in Wisconsin as well.'

'Why?' asked Ziva.

'Me and Martin were both made redundant because of COVID' said Sally, sounding sad and disappointed.

'Oh no' said Ziva, sympathetically. 'That is terrible.'

'Yeah. Without work, we can't afford the mortgage. Mom and Dad said we can live with them. They live on a farm, and had plenty of space for the four of us.' Sally and Martin had two children (Charlotte and Tom). Before the pandemic, Charlotte and Tom would play frequently with Tali and Tilly. 'We may not stay there permanently but at least we'll be able to have a break and regroup.'

'I wish you the best' said Ziva.

'Thanks. Um, I was going to ask, do you and Tony mind if you just keep an eye on the house until we sell it?'

'Not at all' said Ziva. 'I am sad to see you go. Tali and Tilly will miss playing with Charlotte and Tom.'

'Same' said Sally. She heard someone call her name. 'I better go see what that's about.'

'Bye Sally' said Ziva, as she jogged back over to her own house.

'What's going on?' asked Tony. He was standing on the porch, coffee mug in hand.

'They are moving to Wisconsin' said Ziva. 'Sally and Martin have both lost their jobs because of COVID, so they are moving in with Sally's parents for the time being.'

'That sucks' said Tony, draping an arm over Ziva's shoulders.

'Yes, it does' agreed Ziva. She was always grateful that Eli's fortune meant that Ziva and Tony's mortgage was smaller than others, but right now, it meant the world that they were able to keep a roof over their heads.

Tony was in the car, driving home after dropping Tali and Tilly off at school. Tony loved his daughters more than life itself, but after six months of lockdown, he was very glad when they went back to school in October last year.

The Magnum Pi theme tune started. Tony looked down briefly and realised his phone was ringing, Bean and Bug's business line.

'Bean and Big photography' he said, pressing the phone button on the car dashboard.

'Hello, is that Tony DiNozzo?' came a man's voice over the line.

'Yep. That's me. How can I help?' asked Tony.

'Um, my name is Greg Bai. I run the White October Art Gallery in Alexandria.'

'Oh, yeah I've heard the gallery' said Tony. 'Over on Acre Street.'

'Yes, that is the place.' Tony was curious why an independent art gallery was calling Bean and Bug. 'As you can probably imagine, the gallery has had a drop in income due to the pandemic.' Tony chuckled. 'Over the past few months, I've been thinking of ways to generate some PR and hopefully revenue, for the gallery. I came up with the idea of working with local photographers, like you and your wife.'

'How?' asked Tony. 'Bean and Bug does weddings and family portraits. Not exactly what White October sells.' The gallery tended to sell more artistic photos.

'That is true' said Greg. 'But this exhibition is not only about promoting the gallery, but also local photographers. You would be able to display your own work, previous photos you've taken in the gallery for three months. If any of your work was sold, you would earn 50% of the final figure. I have invited five photographers so far, including Bob Kim. I believe you've worked with him before.'

Tony smiled at hearing Bob the photographer's name.

'Yes. We know Bob very well' he said, turning the car around a corner.

'What do you think of displaying your work in my gallery, then?' asked Greg.

Tony thought for a moment. Maybe it couldn't hurt to see what happens.

'I'm intrigued' he said. 'Could you forward all the details to me?'

'Of course' said Greg. Tony could hear him tapping away at a keyboard. A second later, Tony heard the swooshing noise of a new unread email.

'I'll talk it over with my wife and let you know' Tony added.

'That's great, Tony. Thank you so much. I hope to hear from you soon.'

Tony pulled into the drive, parking his car. He found Ziva in the basement, editing photos from their most recent photoshoot.

'I've just had an interesting phone call' said Tony, sitting down at his own desk.

'Oh, yeah?' said Ziva, paying more attention to the photos than her husband. 'Sorry.' She turned to face him and Tony told her about his phone call with Greg Bai.

'What do you think?' he asked.

'It sounds interesting' said Ziva.

'That's what I thought. We've done quite a bit of marketing since the holidays, but I don't know how many wedding fairs are going to happen this year. I think after last year, we can't really say no to any publicity. This could be really good publicity as well.'

'That is true' said Ziva. She reread the email Greg sent. 'We can submit two photos each. That would be four in total. If any of them sell, we get 50%.'

'I want to do it' said Tony. Ziva looked at her husband and smiled. His confidence in his own photography skills had grown so much over the past year. Even with a pandemic happening.

'Ok. Let's do it' she said. Tony kissed her before starting going through their archives of photos.

Three weeks later, Tony and Ziva were dressed up and wandering around White October Art Gallery. It was opening night for the local photographers' exhibition. There were seven, including Bob Kim, Tony, and Ziva, a total of fourteen photos, all in black and white.

The photographs on display ranged in style and subject. Palm trees and a beach. A vintage car and rain falling off an umbrella. Tony's selection included a portrait of Ziva intensely reading and a closeup shot of some flowers. Ziva had chosen a closeup shot of a man kissing a woman's hand and one of a staircase at a hotel. Both were from previous gigs and Ziva had asked permission before submitting them.

'Ziva, Tony!' They turned around and saw Bob Kim walking over to them.

'Hi Bob' said Ziva.

'How are you guys?' he asked.

'We're good, thanks' said Tony. 'You?'

'Not bad. Glad it's the new year.' Ziva and Tony laughed.

'So does everyone else' said Ziva.

'How are Tali and Tilly?' asked Bob. Ziva pulled out her phone and showed him some pictures. Senior was babysitting again for Tony and Ziva. Ziva made a mental note to get him something to say thank you.

'I can't believe how big they are' said Bob.

'Neither can we' said Ziva. She spotted Greg Bai, owner of White October Art Gallery walk over to them.

'Everyone OK?' he asked nervously.

'Yes' said Ziva, smiling. 'You should relax a little' she added quietly. 'The whole evening has been great.'

'I'm glad' said Greg. 'I had a little voice in my head trying to convince me that it wouldn't work.'

'Well, I think it has' said Ziva. 'Tony and I have really enjoyed taking part.'

'I'm so pleased' said Greg. 'If this works, I might do it again next year.'

Two weeks after the exhibition opening, Tony was driving home after dropping Tali and Tilly off at school. The phone began to ring again.

'Hello. Tony DiNozzo speaking.'

'Hi, Tony. It's Greg Bai from White October.'

'Oh Hi. How's it going?' asked Tony.

'Very well, thank you. I have some good news for you.'

'Oh?' Tony sounded intrigued.

'Your photo, the woman reading, has been sold.'

It was a good thing Tony was driving on a quiet suburban road near his home.

'Seriously?'

'Yep' said Greg. 'It sold for $154. After I take off the gallery's commission, you will have earned $77.'

Tony was speechless.

'Thanks for letting me know' he added quickly.

'You're welcome. Pleasure doing business with you as well' said Greg.

Tony went home and told Ziva. Her face burst into a big smile.

'I am so proud of you, Tony' she said, sitting on his lap and hugging him.

'Thanks, Zi. I'm kinda proud of me too' he added.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. It means a lot.

I'm not a photographer or a gallery owner so I researched. I hope it's correct. I like writing about Bean and Bug, and how Tony and Ziva are developing as photographers and business owners. I am planning a little bit more in future chapters.

With the first section, I wanted to show the after effects of the pandemic.

Stay safe and see you soon :)