Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Tony looked around the one-bedroom apartment that Ziva had found. It was a straightforward apartment, with even a reasonable sized patio area. Ziva was chatting with the real estate agent as Tony looked around. It had pretty much everything they needed; the living/ dining area could become a meeting room and shooting space, with the only bedroom becoming their office and storage for all their cameras and equipment. It wasn't that different from their basement office, but there was something niggling at Tony's stomach.

'What do you think?' asked Ziva, coming up behind him.

'It's fine' said Tony.

'But?'

'If we're going to get a space like this, why not just use my old apartment?' asked Tony. Tim and Jimmy had moved back in with their families months ago, and Tony and Ziva were struggling to find a new tenant. They did not have disclose the bodies Paul Triff was responsible for, but in the four years Tim lived there, he added two more to the body count. It seemed to be putting people off the idea of living in the apartment.

'Oh' said Ziva, a little surprised. 'I had not thought of that. I guess a new place would give us a fresh start.'

Tony nodded. He understood where Ziva was coming from, but buying another property would not be cheap, and Tony had finished paying the mortgage on his old apartment years ago.

'Let's go have a look at it again' he suggested. Ziva nodded in agreement. They left the new apartment and pulled into the parking space at Tony's old one.

It had been several months since they had been there. Just after Tim and Jimmy move out, to make sure everything was OK. Once upon a time, Tony and Ziva attempted to check on the place once a month, especially when it was empty. However, work, children, and marriage had kinda stopped that from happening.

Tony unlocked the door and they walked in. Memories flooded back to them. Countless movie nights on the sofa, with Tony trying to teach Ziva the finer points of film. When Ziva stayed over after Eli's death and how close they got. After Bodnar's arrest, when Ziva came over and they made love for the first time. When Ziva was six months pregnant with Tali, and Tony proposed.

'You OK?' asked Tony. Ziva nodded.

'Just memories coming back.'

'I know the feeling' said Tony. He had even more than Ziva. For so long this apartment had been his sanctuary, fortress of solitude as Tim sometimes put it.

'So you can picture this as our office?' asked Ziva.

'Kinda' said Tony. 'Similar set up to what you were thinking with the previous one, except this one is a lot cheaper. Almost free.'

Ziva chuckled. Tony was right. The bedroom would become their office. The lounge had enough space for meetings, and what was the dining room was big enough for photoshoots. The building had a lift for those who struggled with stairs and they already knew everything about the building. As did the neighbours.

'What do you think?' asked Tony.

'I get it' said Ziva. 'I really do.'

'But?'

Ziva smiled.

'If we are going to work in this apartment, I want to renovate it.'

'What?'

'Renovate it, Tony. Paint the walls a different colour. Change the storage set up. Add bars on the ceiling so we can hang lights. Things like that. I know it is technically our apartment, but I still see it as yours.'

Tony walked over to Ziva and they wrapped their arms around each other.

'So, if I agree to renovating, you'll be happy to have this as our studio/ office?'

Ziva smiled and nodded.

'Yes. I am.'

'Excellent' said Tony and he bent his head to kiss Ziva. 'Who's going to tell the real estate agent?'

Tim peered out of the window, watching the children run around the garden. After living in Tony's old apartment for years, Tim loved that they now had a garden. They had added a large patio and a wide paved path so that Delilah could wheel her chair more easily.

Tim turned back to the room. Tony, Ziva, Jimmy, Breena, Kasie, Ellie, and Nick were mingling with a few of Delilah's friends and her sister. It was Delilah's birthday and after the debacle of the previous year, she had opted for a sort of party. Nothing too specific or themed. Just plenty of food and drinks, and good company.

Tim spotted Tilly wander sneakily over to the table with all the food on it, including Delilah's birthday cake. He watched as Tilly scooped some frosting off the cake with her finger and ate it.

'What do you think you are doing?' he asked very quietly.

Tilly jumped slightly but then smiled.

'Hi Uncle Tim' she said, trying to sound as sweet as she could.

'Perhaps not do that again' said Tim. 'How about a cupcake instead?' He produced one in front of Tilly, her brown eyes getting big. She took the cupcake, ran off, ran back, and kissed Tim on the cheek.

'Thank you Uncle Tim' she said, before running off again.

'What was that about?' asked Tony.

'Only me bribing your daughter not to destroy my wife's birthday cake' said Tim. Tony laughed. 'How's the apartment reno going?' he asked.

'Slowly' said Tony. 'Ziva is still deciding which colour to paint the walls.' Tim laughed. 'We started packing things up at home though' said Tony. 'Figuring out what we want to keep and what we can get rid of. There are somethings we bought four years ago and have never used them.'

'Usually the way' said Tim. 'What about the sales from the course?'

'It's early days still' said Tony. 'But things seemed to be good.'

In fact, Bean and Bug had made several hundred dollars by selling their online course in a couple of weeks. Now that they weren't also purchasing a new property, they were making even more savings.

Tali, Johnny, Morgan, and Tori suddenly appeared at Tony and Tim's feet.

'What is it guys?' asked Tony.

'Can we have cupcakes too?' asked Tali, in the exact same sweet tone as Tilly. Tim laughed before fetching the plate of cupcakes from the table.

Ziva stared up at the blank ceiling in her bedroom. It had been painted white, but it, along with other parts of the house, was in need of a new coat of paint. Ziva mentally added it to her to do list. It was getting rather long. Again.

She glanced at the time. 1.52 am. Ziva groaned internally. Was she ever going to get to sleep again?

A few nights ago, Ziva had a nightmare. Memories of Somalia had resurfaced after walking past an alley that smelled of cigarette smoke and urine. The exact same smell of her cell in that hellhole. Tony had walked into their bedroom, finding Ziva spraying lavender room mist over their bed. Unfortunately, it did not help and Ziva was now in the usual insomnia stage.

She glanced at Tony. He was asleep, though worried about his wife.

'I wish I could take those memories away for you' he said, gently.

'Like in Internal Sunshine of the Spotted Mind' suggested Ziva, making Tony smile and laugh.

'Eternal, Zi. Not internal, and it's spotless not spotted.'

Ziva looked at her clock again. 1.53 am. She rolled her eyes. This was exhausting, just waiting for sleep to take her. Ziva quietly got out of bed and made her way towards the stairs. She was passing Tilly's room when she heard Tilly talking. Ziva crept towards her daughter's bedroom and poked her head around it.

'Ima' said Tilly, sounding tired but definitely awake.

'Tilly why are you awake?' asked Ziva, as she moved into the room and towards the bed.

'I had a dream I didn't like so I woke myself up' explained Tilly. It sounded so simple and straightforward. 'What about you?' she asked.

Ziva smiled.

'I too had a dream I did not like' said Ziva. She prayed that Tali and Tilly would never find out what her nightmares were about. She hated telling Tony.

Tilly shifted over in her bed and patted the mattress. Ziva smiled again and climbed into bed with her four-year-old.

Tali had inherited Ziva's love of reading. Tilly had inherited Ziva's adventurous side. Tony joked that out of the two girls, Tilly would end up driving like Ziva used to.

'Where is Orville?' asked Ziva.

'Orville is on the moon' said Tilly, as if this was a common thing to happen. Ziva and Tony were still waiting to find out what Orville looked like.

'Orville is from the moon?' asked Ziva.

'No Ima. Orville is from Arizona' said Tilly. Ziva chuckled very quietly.

'Then why is he on the moon tonight?'

'His parents live on the moon' said Tilly. 'His daddy is a space cowboy.'

'Ok' said Ziva, not sure what to do with this information. 'Are you looking forward to school on Monday?' she asked. Tilly nodded.

'I miss my friends when I'm not there' she said, sounding a little sad.

'Perhaps we can have a playdate' suggested Ziva. 'You can go outside on the climbing frame and show them your skills with basketball.'

Tilly looked happy at that suggestion. Since getting the hoop and ball for her birthday, Tilly had been playing basketball constantly. Tony was usually out there and one day Ziva found both of them practicing the same shot with their respective hoops. If Tali had inherited reading from Ziva, Tilly had clearly inherited basketball from Tony.

When Tony woke up the next morning, he found his bed empty. No Ziva. He assumed that she must have gotten up and was reading downstairs. Going to the bathroom, Tony then made his way down the hall. He stopped outside Tilly's bedroom.

Lying in a twin bed was Tilly and Ziva, Ziva's arm draped over Tilly's little body protectively. They looked so alike; Ziva and their daughters. Ziva's breathing seemed to be steady and Tony was very grateful that it seemed she was getting some sleep.

Tony turned and crept out of the room.

'Tony?' He looked over his shoulder and saw Ziva coming out of Tilly's bedroom.

'Hey. You OK?'

Ziva nodded.

'Yes. I feel much better. I must have actually gotten some sleep.'

'What happened?' asked Tony. Ziva smiled.

'I was going downstairs but saw that Tilly was awake. I climbed into bed and we must have both fallen asleep.'

Tony chuckled and tucked a strand of Ziva's hair behind her ear.

'What do you want to do now?' he asked.

'Be with you' said Ziva, and she led him back to their bedroom.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

Just FYI, at the end I was picturing Tony and Ziva watching TV in bed, not having sex.

I can't believe this is chapter 30! Only five more left.

Stay safe and see you soon :)