Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Tony at on his bed, Tali and Tilly curled up on either side of him. It was 7.30 pm and Tony was reading his daughters' their bedtimes stories. Ever since he became a father, Tony enjoyed bedtime. He and Ziva took it in turns to put the girls to bed and read them one story each.

'Then the princess… went…' Tony moved the book back and forth, trying to figure out what the word was.

'To the kitchen' said Tali, finishing the sentence for Tony.

'Yes. Then the princess went to the kitchen' said Tony.

'Daddy' began Tilly. 'I think you need new eyes.'

'Tilly, where am I supposed to find new eyes?' asked Tony.

'I don't know' she said, shrugging her shoulders.

'What about glasses?' suggested Tali. 'Like Papa and Gib.'

Tony looked at his eldest daughter.

'Tali, did you just compare me to Papa and Gibbs?' he asked. Tali giggled.

'I think she's saying you need glasses Tony.' Ziva walked into the bedroom.

'Zi, I do not need glasses.' Tony sounded quite adamant about it.

'Tony, it is fine. We all have to get them at some point. I am sure I will need to.'

'I do not need glasses' Tony said again.

'But, Daddy, you can't read' said Tilly.

Tony closed the book.

'Why do I feel like the three of you are ganging up on me?' he asked, looking from his wife to his daughters. Tali and Tilly giggled, Ziva chuckling. She went and sat on the bed.

'We are not ganging up on you, Tony, are we girls' said Ziva.

'No' said Tali and Tilly together.

'We are just concerned' added Ziva. 'This is not the first time you have squinted when trying to read.'

Tony sighed. Over the past few weeks, or months, reading the odd word had become a little more difficult. Emails on the computer, bank statement, bedtime storybooks. Not that Tony would ever admit that, especially to Ziva.

Tony's forty-ninth birthday was approaching, a little too fast for Tony's liking. It was the last birthday before the big 5-0, and whilst his life was infinitely better than what Tony used to imagine, he wasn't looking forward to actually turning 50.

Why, was something Tony couldn't quite put his finger on. He didn't feel scared of turning 50, or even 49 really. Maybe it was because it meant that probably more of his life was over. There were times were Tony felt like he had wasted his youth, but then so did everyone else probably. For Tony at the moment, getting glasses meant that he was getting old.

'I am not getting glasses' announced Tony to the room. 'I do not need them and that is the end of the discussion. Now, who wants to go to bed?'

Tony's birthday appeared quickly. Tony went to bed as normal on the 7th, only to be woken by two little monsters jumping on top of him.

'Happy Birthday Daddy' cried Tali and Tilly together. 'Wake up!'

'Five more minutes' groaned Tony.

'No' said Tilly. 'Get up now for birthday pancakes!' She started trying to pull the duvet off Tony.

Tony glanced around his bedroom.

'Where's Ima?' he asked.

'In the kitchen' said Tali.

'Making birthday pancakes' added Tilly. She kept pulling at the duvet.

Tony chuckled.

'Ok girls. Let's go downstairs' he said, eventually getting out of bed.

'Yippee!' cried Tali and Tilly, and they led the way downstairs to the kitchen. Ziva was making pancakes, exactly as Tali and Tilly had told Tony.

'Good morning' said Ziva. 'Happy Birthday' she added.

'Thank you' said Tony. He leaned over to check the pancakes. 'Pancakes look good.'

'The first batch will be ready soon' said Ziva. Tony smiled and kissed Ziva.

'Eww' said Tilly.

'I know right' said Tali to her sister. Tony and Ziva burst out laughing.

'Shall we give Daddy his presents' suggested Ima.

'Do I get presents?' asked Tony, jokingly. Tali and Tilly giggled and went to get Tony's birthday presents.

Tali and Tilly had made birthday cards for Tony with the Worlds Best Daddy written across it, Tony pulling them into a big hug.

'I love you two so much' he said.

'Love you too, Daddy' they replied.

Ziva had given a couple of books and DVDs that Tony had been wanting to read and watch, along with a new camera strap and some new wireless headphones.

'Thank you' said Tony quietly to Ziva. Ziva smiled and kissed her husband. He had been eyeing up the earbuds for a couple of weeks as Tony's old over-the-headphones were starting to not work properly.

A few minutes later, Nettie, joined everyone in the kitchen.

'Good morning' she said, sitting down at the table. Tali and Tilly had mouths full of pancake. 'Is that delicious?' she asked. Both girls nodded their heads.

'Would you like some pancakes Nettie?' asked Ziva.

'Yes please.' Nettie produced a box covered in wrapping paper. 'Happy birthday Tony' she said.

'Thank you Nettie' said Tony. He tore off the wrapping paper.

'What is it?' asked Tali.

Tony held it up. It was a luxury coffee giftset; bag of coffee, some chocolate and a mug.

'Thank you very much Nettie. I shall enjoy that today.'

'You are welcome Tony' said Nettie. Ziva placed a plate of pancakes in front of Nettie.

'Ok girls. Time to get ready for school.'

Tony and Ziva walked down the street, enjoying being in each other's company. It was still Tony's birthday. They had left Tali and Tilly home with Nettie, Senior and Maggie, and went out for dinner at Tony's favourite restaurant. Mateo, the maître di, gave them their favourite table in the restaurant; tucked in the corner, with a view of the patio. The table was also round, which meant that Tony and Ziva were able to sit next to each other. Which they both liked.

Earlier that day, Tony had done a little bit of editing, testing out his new headphones. They were perfect; comfortable, noise-cancelling and gave clear sound of whatever Tony was listening to/ watching. Senior and Maggie came over in the afternoon once the girls had finished school, Senior giving Tony his usual gift (a very nice bottle of wine).

Tony's phone buzzed. It was a message from Abby, wishing him a happy birthday, and demanding to know when the family were going to visit.

Ziva looked at her husband when she heard him chuckle.

'What is it?' Tony showed her the message. Ziva laughed.

'Abby will keep asking until we book' said Ziva.

'Next year perhaps?' suggested Tony. Ziva nodded.

'I noticed the text size is bigger on your phone.'

'Yeah, I think Tilly got into it. You know how she is with tech.' Tony and Ziva had to change their passcodes regularly so that Tilly couldn't get into them.

'Tony, what is it with you and getting glasses?' asked Ziva, stroking her husband's arm.

'I don't know Zi. I guess I feel like it's a sign I'm getting old.'

'You are not old Tony.' Tony raised an eyebrow. 'You are not old' Ziva repeated. 'You are distinguished and handsome.'

'I guess I just don't want to be the old dad with grey hair in the playground, picking up the girls' said Tony eventually. 'I want to be able to keep up with them, and you never know, maybe any grandchildren we have the future.'

'You will' said Ziva. 'You are active and healthy, and definitely not the oldest dad at the girls' school.'

Tony chuckled a little.

'I guess not' he said.

'Come on' said Ziva, leading her husband towards the car. 'Let's go home. I have one more surprise for you.'

Tony grinned at the twinkle in his wife's eye.

Two weeks later, Tony collected his glasses from the ophthalmologist.

'What do you think?' he asked Ziva.

'Very handsome' she said, kissing him on the cheek. 'Girls, what do you think?'

Tali and Tilly came into the kitchen.

'Well?' asked Tony.

Tilly tugged on her sister's arm.

'He looks like Papa' she whispered, making Tali giggled.

'What?' asked Tony, his smile falling from his face.

'Nothing Daddy' said Tali as they ran out of the kitchen.

'I like them' said Ziva. 'Will approvement from your wife suffice?'

'I guess so' said Tony. 'I love you Zi.'

'I love you too, Tony' replied Ziva.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

Apologies for not updating sooner but inspiration took a vacation and only just came back today.

Two more chapters left.

Stay safe and see you soon :)