Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Ziva stood at the arrivals gate at Dulles Airport. Nettie's flight had landed not that long ago, but getting through security still took a little longer due to the pandemic, even if it was more or less under control. No one on the planet wanted a second wave or third wave of the infection.

Eventually, the doors opened and people streamed through. Ziva was so excited to see her aunt. Nettie was supposed to visit in 2020 but of course, that did not happen. The moment international travel became safe again, Nettie booked a flight, with an open-ended date, just in case she needed to go back to Israel at a moments' notice.

'Nettie!' cried Ziva, waving towards a woman with long grey hair.

'Oh Ziva!' said Nettie, pulling her niece into a hug. 'I have missed you. It has been too long' Ziva smiled.

'I have missed you too' she replied.

'Just you?' asked Nettie as they made their way to Ziva's car.

'Yes. The girls are at school and Tony's at home working.'

When they got home, Nettie and Ziva did indeed find Tony sitting at the dining table, working.

'Tony' said Nettie, pulling him into a hug.

'Hi Nettie. It's good to see you. You must be tired' replied Tony.

'I will be fine' said Nettie, waving her hands mid-air. 'If I sleep now it will only ruin sleep tonight.' Tony and Ziva laugh as Nettie and Ziva went into the kitchen. It was 11.30 am, Nettie having a layover in Paris. Ziva would have offered Nettie use of the Paris apartment, except that they had been booked up solid all summer. People could finally travel again and they were making the most of it.

'Cup of tea?' asked Ziva and Nettie nodded.

'So, how are things my dear?' she asked, sitting down.

'Oh, they are fine. Not much has changed since the last time we spoke' said Ziva. Nettie chuckled. The two women talked at least once a week, more during November and December. 'We have almost finished painting the new studio and office space. Gibbs is helping with some storage and installing a few things. Tony wants to have an official launch party.'

Nettie chuckled.

'What do you think?' she asked. Ziva shrugged.

'Maybe. When we first started Bean and Bug we had an official start date, something to focus on and give us a deadline. Perhaps it will help again. The problem is that I do not really have the time to plan a launch party.'

'What if I did it?' suggested Nettie. Ziva looked at her aunt. What she said seemed out of the blue.

'Nettie, no' said Ziva eventually.

'Why not?'

'Because you are on vacation' said Ziva.

'Ziva, I will be here for three months. I will have plenty of vacation time, along with lots of family time with you and girls, but please let me help you with this.'

Ziva stared at her aunt, unsure what to say when Tony walked in.

'Are we having lunch anytime soon?' he asked, scratching his stomach. 'I'm getting hungry.' He looked around the room. 'What's going on?'

'Nettie has offered to plan our launch party for us' said Ziva.

'Hey, that's great' said Tony, smiling. He caught Ziva's eye. 'Or maybe not?'

'Ziva is under the impression that I cannot have a vacation and plan a party at the same time' said Nettie.

'Ok?' said Tony, unsure which side to take.

'I just do not want you to feel like we are forcing you to help, or expect you to pay for it all. Bean and Bug is our business' said Ziva.

'And I want to support you and that business. It is incredible what you and Tony have built.'

Tony grinned. Ziva rolled her eyes at his grin.

'Fine' she said eventually, Tony and Nettie high-fiving. 'But we will give a fund from Bean and Bug. Not a single penny of your own money goes on this party, understand?' said Ziva.

'Understood' said Nettie. The two women shook on it. 'Now, if you do not mind, I think I will go and have a short nap.'

Later that day, Senior, Maggie, and Penny came over for the usual Friday family dinner. As usual, Tilly and Tali made a beeline for Penny, who had grown accustomed to the two little girls, and was rather fond of the large backyard where she could run around, happily.

'Nettie!' cried Senior when he saw her. 'How are you?'

'I am good, Anthony. You?'

'I'm excellent. This is my girlfriend, Maggie' he said, introducing the two women. 'Nettie is Ziva's aunt.'

'Hi' said Maggie, and the two women shook hands.

Tony felt someone tug on his hand. It was Tilly.

'Why did Papa call Granny his girlfriend?' she asked.

'Um…' began Tony. Maggie leaned over and kiss Senior.

'Eww' said Tilly as she left the room, making all the adults laugh.

By the time Tony and Ziva collapsed into their own bed, a lot had happened, but it had been a very good, happy evening.

Dinner, of course, was delicious (chicken pot pie) and Tali and Tilly enjoyed throwing Penny's ball for her. Tilly, as usual, cried when Penny had to go home with Senior and Maggie. Tony would bet good money that Tilly would have a dog when she got her own house, or at least work as a dog walker.

Nettie talked about the plans she had for her stay. She would be in the US until mid-September hopefully. She wanted to see more of DC, and the Smithsonian. Tali and Tilly had already invited Nettie, Granny, and Papa to the annual dance recital that Georgie had every year. When there was no lockdown of course.

The biggest thing that Tony and Ziva got by the end of the night, was a very strong sense of family. For so long, the family had been almost non-existent. Holiday seasons spent working or on their own. The same for birthdays. Now, their dining table was full of people, every Friday, with Tali and Tilly, Senior and Maggie, and for the next three months, Nettie. It was something neither Tony nor Ziva could imagine at one point in their lives.

A week later, the backyard was full of laughing children. Some parents were dotted around the garden, along with Senior and Nettie. Tim and Delilah were chatting with Breena, Jimmy. Sam was chatting with Callie and Andrew, all their kids in the pool. Ziva was busy getting the food and birthday cake ready. Tony was playing the role of lifeguard, watching the laughing children play in the pool.

It was Tali's seventh birthday party. Unlike last year, this year she was able to have an actual party, still wanting the pool party she never got. Tony and Ziva didn't mind. A pool party was nice and easy to plan and organise.

Ziva gave Tony the signal and he blew his whistle. Everyone turned to look at him.

'Everyone out of the pool. The food is ready.'

There was a sudden scramble to get out of the pool, dry off, and sit down. Tali had pride of place at the table, Tilly sitting next to her.

Tony smiled, looking at the two of them. The last time Tali had a pool party was four years ago, for her third birthday. Tilly had only been six months old back then, and now she was four and a half, and about to start pre-K.

Thirty minutes later, everyone started singing Happy Birthday as Ziva brought out Tali's birthday cake. This year, Ziva had made a mermaid-themed birthday cake, to go with the theme of the pool party. Tali loved her cake, as did everyone else.

'One day you are going to have to teach me how to make a cake like that, Ziva' said Delilah. Everyone laughed.

'Hello?' called someone from the side path to the garden.

'Gib!' cried Tali and she and Tilly ran over to Gibbs as he stepped into the garden.

'You came' said Tilly.

'Of course, I did' said Gibbs. 'Happy Birthday Tali' he said, passing her a large box.

'What is it?' asked Tilly as Tony crouched down next to them. Tali ripped off the paper to reveal a writing slope box that Gibbs had carved, the perfect size for Tali herself.

'For all your writing' said Tony. Gibbs had heard through Ziva that Tali was always writing little stories, becoming a budding author.

'Thank you Gib' said Tali, hugging the old man again.

'You're welcome Tali' replied Gibbs. Tony took the writing slope off Tali and their girls went back to the table.

'Hi Gibbs' said Ziva, hugging him also. 'Would you like some food?' she asked. Gibbs looked around the garden. Team Gibbs waved at him, as did their children.

'Why not?' said Gibbs, and he wandered over to sit with Tim and Delilah.

'Hello Agent Gibbs' said Delilah.

'Delilah. Tim' said Gibbs, nodding curtly. A few minutes later Ziva handed him a plate of food. He took a mouthful and paused.

'It's good, isn't?' said Tim. Gibbs had to nod.

When the kids finished eating, they all wanted to get back into the pool, the parents reluctantly letting them. Ziva wandered over to Tony and wrapped her arms around his waist.

'You OK?' she asked. Tony smiled and nodded.

'Never better' he replied.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

Nettie will be around until the end of the story.

Stay safe and see you soon :)