Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS.

It's another long one

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

'Daddy?'

Tony looked up from the checkers game he and Tali were playing. They were sitting on Tony and Ziva's bed, Ziva at the library, studying before the Christmas break.

'Yes T?'

'Is it cold in DC?'

Tony smiled at his daughter.

'Yes it's cold in DC.' He moved his piece across the board.

Tony, Ziva and Tali were flying to DC to spend Christmas and New Year there. In the past, Senior usually came to Paris, but that was when Sahar was alive and kicking, and Tony was reluctant to travel outside of Europe with little Tali. When Ziva came back, and the three of them had their first Christmas together, ever, the world was in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, trying to move past the second wave most countries seemed to be having.

Now that the pandemic was more or less under control, Senior had invited Tony, Ziva and Tali to DC for the holidays. Tony wondered if his father (who was almost eighty) was getting tired of flying.

'You looking forward to seeing Papa?' asked Tony. Tali nodded.

'Yes.' Tali had missed her Papa since he went home at the end of September. 'Will it snow when we're there?'

'Maybe' said Tony. 'DC can get a lot of snow sometimes.'

'So we can build a snowman and make snow angels?' asked Tali.

'Yeah, I think so' said Tony. 'The house we're staying in has a backyard.' Tali liked the idea of this. She was such a city child in many ways, and they loved their cosy Parisian apartment, but Tony and Ziva missed having a backyard, especially during the lockdown.

Tali moved another piece into a new square on the board. She watched her father try and strategically plan his next move.

'Daddy?'

'Yeah?'

'Will Santa know where to deliver my presents?'

Tony looked up.

'You're assuming that you're getting any of course' he said, with a grin. Tali put her hands on her hips and scowled at Tony. She looked so much like Ziva.

'I've been a very good girl this year Daddy.'

'You always are' said Tony. 'And I'm sure Santa will know where to deliver all your presents.'

'He won't accidentally deliver them here?' Tali seemed genuinely concerned.

'Tali, has Santa ever got it wrong before?' Tali shook her head. 'Then I think we'll be fine, OK?'

'Ok' said Tali, agreeing with her father. She looked at the board and smiled to herself. Tali picked up a piece and one, two, three…

'I win' she declared. Tony looked down at the board in disbelief. He had on piece left on the board, yet Tali must six or seven.

'How… how…?' asked Tony quietly and Tali giggled.

They heard the front door open and Ziva walked into the apartment. Tali hopped off the bed and went to say hello.

'Hi Ima' she said, hugging her mother.

'Hi Tali. You have fun Daddy?'

'I won our Checkers game.'

'Well done' said Ziva as she took off her coat. Tony came out of their bedroom. 'I hear you are playing board games.'

'More like losing them' said Tony, making Tali laugh again. Ziva smiled.

'Tali, it has gone 7. You need to have a bath now' said Ziva.

'But?'

'No buts T' said Tony. 'Go on.'

Glumly, Tali walked to the bathroom and closed the door.

'How was the library?' Tony asked Ziva.

'Busy.' Tony laughed. Typical university library. 'But it was my last big study session before we leave and I got a lot of work done.'

Tony and Ziva leaned forward and kissed.

'Ima!' Tali called from the bathroom.

'Coming motek' replied her mother.

Tony smiled and watched Ziva go and help their daughter have her bath. The second anniversary of Ziva coming home would be during their time in DC. Tony was very much looking forward to this trip.

Gibbs stood at the top of the stairs to his basement. He glanced back at his living room that was filled with Team Gibbs members, other halves, children and Tony, Ziva and Tali.

It was Christmas Eve and somehow Ducky had managed to persuade Gibbs to host a Christmas holiday party at his house. Gibbs wasn't sure how it happened. Might have involved a bottle of bourbon at some point.

Anyhow, Gibbs now had a house full of people, food, warmth and good cheer. It was interesting to see the dynamic of the wider Team Gibbs. Tony and Ziva sat on the sofa, chatting with Tim, Delilah, Ducky and Senior. Ellie, Nick, Jimmy and Kasie were standing around, drinks in hands chatting. Jack and Leon also stood nearby, watching it all unfold. The kids were outside, with Breena.

Gibbs turned and looked into the dark basement. It was his sanctuary, his safe space. No matter what had happened in his life, his basement had always been there for him.

Ellie laughed loudly, the wine making Nick's jokes funnier than they actually were. Gibbs rolled his eyes ever so slightly. Everyone knew how those two saw each other. They weren't as bad as Tony and Ziva, but still.

Gibbs switched on the light and descended into the basement. His latest project, another boat, was sitting in the middle of the room. He walked over to his workbench and poured some bourbon into an empty jar.

'What you doing?' Gibbs turned and saw Tali standing at the top of the stairs. She was the spitting image of her mother. He smiled and Tali smiled back.

The three DiNozzos landed on the 21st December at Dulles Airport, after a very long flight, Tony carrying a sleeping Tali in his arms to the car they had hired. On the drive to their Airbnb, Tony thought how he managed to travel to Tel Aviv, then Cairo and then to Paris, by himself with a two-year-old. How had he done it? He glanced at Ziva who was driving. Tony no longer had to shoulder the burden of being the only parent.

Not anymore.

The Airbnb Tony and Ziva were renting was perfect for their two-week stay. A short walk from Gibbs' house, with a backyard and a separate room for Tali. Hotels don't work with young children.

They had spent all their time so far with Senior and the wider Team Gibbs, including this impromptu party. Senior had practically moved into the Airbnb, taking a break from his own small apartment, in a building specifically for senior citizens.

Tali's worries about it not being cold enough or there being no snow quickly disappeared when she woke up the morning after they arrived. Tony, Ziva and Senior either watched or helped Tali make snow people or snow angels, something they didn't think would happen, once upon a time.

Back in Gibbs' basement on Christmas Eve, Tali walked down the stairs and stood opposite Gibbs.

'Why aren't you playing with the other kids?' Gibbs asked Tali.

'Why aren't talking to the other adults?' replied Tali. Gibbs chuckled. She was definitely Tony and Ziva's daughter. He looked down at the workbench and saw some sandpaper.

'Come here' said Gibbs and he placed a stool next to the boat. Tali stood up on it and took the sandpaper Gibbs offered her. 'With the grain of the wood, OK.'

'OK?' said Tali, unsure what they were doing.

Gibbs stood behind her and began to guide Tali's hands and the sandpaper.

'Gibbs?'

'Yeah?'

'How are you going to get the boat out of the house?' asked Tali. Gibbs chuckled again.

'You know Tali, I haven't figured it out yet.'

Upstairs in the main house, Ziva looked outside and saw Tori and the twins playing in the snow. There was no sign of Tali.

'Tori' called Ziva. 'Do you know where Tali is?'

'I think she went inside' said the little girl. Ziva smiled and went inside as well. She spotted the basement door open and wandered over.

Peering around the door frame Ziva found her daughter and former mentor chatting and sanding down his boat. She stood and watched them for a bit.

Tali glanced up and saw her mother.

'Hi Ima' she said, sounding happy.

'Hi motek. Are you having fun?' Tali nodded.

Ziva left Tali and Gibbs to the boat and sat back down next to Tony.

'Did you find Tali?' he asked.

'She is in the basement with Gibbs, sanding his boat.' Tony laughed.

On their way home Tali turned to Tony.

'Daddy, do you know how Gibbs gets his boat out of his house?'

Ziva and Tony glanced at each other, smiling.

'Sorry T. Haven't a clue how he does it.'

The house was warm. The Christmas tree was lit up and empty of the presents that had sat there for three days. Ziva and Tony were in the kitchen, prepping the food for Christmas lunch as it had just passed 11.30 am. Tali, Tony and Senior would all be wanting lunch sooner rather than later.

Sitting on the floor in her Christmas tree patterned dress, Tali flicked through her new books. Amongst her Christmas presents this year, she got a Roald Dahl book, a book about a girl who was a secret agent and a book about a year in her life. It had space for Tali to write about her friends and family, about her hobbies and what she did each day.

Fortunately, Daddy had been right, and Santa didn't go to the wrong house (or country) and delivered Tali a lot of presents. Besides the three books, she also got a watch, a colouring book and pencils, a new Jellycat stuffed bunny, hair accessories and some sweets. Ima had said that she need to ration out the sweets and not each them all at once. Tali didn't like that idea so much.

Senior was also flicking through one of his Christmas presents. It was a cookbook on Mediterranean cooking. There was a woman in his building he was getting close with and wanted to impress her with some home cooking.

Senior's favourite presents though were the photo from Tony and Ziva's wedding, of Tony, Ziva and Tali, along with some of Tali's artwork. A part of Senior understood why they stayed in Paris when Ziva came home. Their lives were there now, but he had been disappointed that they didn't move back to the US. As he got older, Senior was unsure how many times he would be able to make the long flight to see his beloved family.

Over in the kitchen, Ziva looked over at Tali and Senior, both with their noses stuck in books. When she found the 'A year in my life' book, Ziva snatched up straight away. She hadn't been much older than Tali when she started writing in her journals. Ziva thought the blank page might frighten Tali's writing a little and that this book was the perfect way for her to get her daughter interested in journaling. Ziva had come to depend upon it.

She and Tony had also been good this year and therefore Santa delivered them presents too. Tony had asked if she wanted Hanukkah presents, but Hannukah had been at the beginning of December and Ziva wanted to share the whole opening of the presents with Tali, so she waited a couple of extra weeks. She was most please with her new laptop protector and case, and the spa voucher Tony got from a local spa in Paris. One that was too expensive for regular treatments but perfect as a gift.

'Zi? You OK?' Ziva turned to look at Tony.

'Yes. Why?'

'You've stopped chopping veg' said Tony, smiling. Ziva looked down and saw that she had only managed to cut up half a carrot. She had become lost in her thoughts. 'Want help?'

Ziva smiled and handed Tony the knife.

Three hours later, everyone was full of Ziva's excellent dinner. Tony and Tali were curled up on the sofa, watching The Grinch, a classic Christmas movie. Ziva was at the kitchen table, fitting her new laptop protector when Senior wandered over.

'How are my dear?' he asked.

'I am good. You?'

'Pretty good too' said Senior, sitting down. 'Thank you for coming to DC for Christmas.'

'Of course' said Ziva. 'It has been good to come back and see people. I think we might do it more often. What is it?' she added at the look on Senior's face.

'I am starting to think about flying less' he said. 'I'm driving less and less, preferring taxis or walking or the metro.'

'Honestly, I am not surprised' said Ziva.

'Really?'

'Tony and I wondered when you invited us for Christmas. Something about a particular birthday approaching.' Senior chuckled. He only had about eighteen months left until he reached the big 8-0.

Tali giggled at something in the movie and Ziva and Senior looked over. They both loved watching Tali and Tony interact with each other.

'It's something I never thought I'd get to see' said Senior.

'What?'

'My son and grandchild together.' Ziva smiled sadly. She knew Senior was not referring to her not telling Tony about Tali, but of Senior's past relationship with Tony. Once upon a time, the two men hardly spoke to each other.

'I am glad the three of you get to spend time together' said Ziva.

'Me too' said Senior.

The movie finished and Tali came over to Ziva.

'Can we go outside?' she asked. 'Make snow angels again?' Ziva smiled.

'Go put your coat on first' she said and Tali ran to fetch her coat of its peg.

Ten minutes later, Tali, Ziva and Tony were all lying down on the snow in the back yard, making snow angels.

Tony and Ziva wandered down the DC street. It was the week between Christmas and New Year. They had left Senior and Tali at the Airbnb, watching TV and playing Checkers. Tali had already beaten Tony twice and Senior once since the arrived in the US.

Tony had wanted to take Ziva away on a date. Only dinner but a few hours of just the two of them.

'Dinner was lovely' said Ziva.

'So was the company' added Tony. Ziva laughed as Tony leaned over and kissed her.

When they broke apart, Ziva went to walk forwards, but Tony pulled her back.

'Tony, what is going on?'

'Don't you know where we are?' he asked. Ziva looked around but had no idea what he was talking about. Sensing Ziva didn't know what going on, Tony nodded to the building across the road. Ziva looked at it.

'It's just a hotel' she said, still confused.

'Not just any hotel' said Tony. 'The Embasero Hotel.'

Ziva looked over at the hotel again, actually looking at it. Tony was right. The Embasero Hotel. Taking Tony's hand, Ziva led them over the road.

Whenever they thought about how they met, Tony and Ziva naturally thought of their conversation in the bullpen.

Having phone sex?

But that conversation outside the Embasero Hotel, over pizza and espresso, was the first proper conversation Tony and Ziva had, just the two of them. It was the first time Ziva told Tony about her sister Tali, how losing her had been the most difficult thing in her life.

If only they knew where it would lead them.

Tony twirled Ziva under his arm and pulled her close. He kissed her passionately.

'Toda' whispered Ziva.

'Prego' replied Tony.

Tony stood in the orange room, wearing a nice shirt and jacket. It was the NCIS New Year's Eve party. It was getting a little loud and warm, and Tony just needed a few moments of peace and quiet.

God, he was getting old. Once upon a time, it would have been Tony who would have been the loudest one the room.

How times had changed.

'You OK?' Tony turned around and saw Ziva standing behind him.

'Yeah. Just reminiscing.' Ziva chuckled. 'You know there's one thing I never got to do in the bullpen.'

'Slap Gibbs around the head?' suggested Ziva. Tony laughed.

'Never' he said. 'Not that. Something else.'

He stepped forwards and pressed his lips against Ziva's. She wrapped her arms around Tony's neck and they pressed their bodies together.

'We would definitely get a head slap for that' said Ziva. Tony laughed quietly and wrapped his arms around his wife.

They looked over at the bullpen, the desks still arranged the familiar layout. It would probably never change. There was no need to and it made sense.

'So much happened in this room' said Tony.

'It is where we met' said Ziva.

'Fell in love' added Tony.

'All those late nights, chasing down leads and filling out paperwork' said Ziva. She looked at Tony's face. 'What is it Tony?'

'There are good memories here, but also bad ones. Too many for my liking.'

They thought back to why they first met after Ari killed Kate. When Gibbs resigned and Tony became the team leader. There was when Tony was mending his heart after hurting Jeanne, and a year later, mourn the loss of Jenny. It was the setting for them rebuilding their friendship and relationship after Ziva returned from Somalia, and where Tony returned to after leaving Ziva in Israel.

'I found out about the farmhouse here' said Tony. 'It was on the news on that screen.' He pointed to one of the plasmas.

'Did you find out about me here?' asked Ziva, referring to her 'death'.

'No' said Tony. 'I was at mine, packing for my flight to Tel Aviv. Gibbs sent Tim and Abby to tell me.' Tears began to well up in Tony's eyes

'Hey' said Ziva, wrapping her arms around her husband. 'I am sorry for bringing up bad memories.'

'It's OK' said Tony, sniffing. 'It all worked out in the end, didn't it Mrs DiNozzo.' Ziva laughed as Tony kissed her.

'There you are.' Tony and Ziva pulled apart and saw Tali walking towards them.

'You OK T?' asked Tony.

'I couldn't find you' said Tali.

'Oh Tali, we are sorry' said Ziva. Tony bent down to Tali's height.

'Want to know something cool?' he asked. Tali nodded. 'This room is where me and Ima met.'

'Really?' asked Tali. Tony and Ziva nodded, both still smiling.

'Just over there' said Ziva, pointing to Tony's old desk, now Tim's. 'Sixteen years ago.'

'Wow' said Tali. 'You're really old' she added, making Tony and Ziva laugh.

'Well, Daddy is old' said Ziva. 'I'm still under fifty.' Tali laughed.

'Really ninja?' said Tony and he started tickling Ziva.

'Tony' said Ziva, laughing. 'Stop it.' Eventually, he did. Tali turned to her parents.

'Daddy, why do you call Ima ninja?' she asked. Tony smiled and draped an arm around Ziva's shoulders.

'Because she snuck up on me and stole my heart' he said, quietly, and not taking his eyes off Ziva.

Ziva laughed happily, making Tali laugh in turn.

'Do you know what tomorrow is, Tali?' Ziva asked her daughter. Tali thought for a moment.

'First of January'

'Well, yes' said Tony. 'But it is also the second anniversary of Ima coming home.'

'Really?' asked Tali. 'Two whole years?' Ziva nodded.

Tali flung herself at her mother and hugged her tightly.

'Best two years ever!' she declared loudly, making Tony and Ziva laugh.

'DiNozzo!' The three DiNozzos looked over and saw Gibbs standing in his USMC hoodie and jeans. It looked like he had just arrived. 'Almost midnight.'

'You came' said Tali, running over to him.

'Of course' said Gibbs. 'You invited me.' He took Tali's hand and the four of them went back to the party, just in time for the count down.

'Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!' cried everyone. Tony pulled Ziva towards and kissed her.

'Happy New Year Mrs DiNozzo.'

'Happy New Year Mr DiNozzo.'

They pulled back the covers on their bed and climbed in. It had been a long day and night, with the New Year and the party. Tony and Ziva were tired and it had taken some serious negotiating to get Tali home, into pyjamas and then into bed, but they finally managed it.

'Goodnight Tony' said Ziva, leaning over to kiss her husband.

'Night Zi' replied Tony.

They were just about to switch the bedside lamps off when they heard creaking outside the bedroom door.

'Tali?' asked Tony. The door opened and Tali popped her head around it.

'Hi' she said. Kelev was tucked her arm.

'You should be in bed Tali' said Ziva.

'Can't sleep' replied the little girl.

Tony and Ziva looked at each other and decided in seconds. Ziva beckoned Tali over and the little girl climbed into bed, sitting between her parents. The three of them snuggled down.

'Are you happy Tali?' asked Ziva.

'Very happy' replied the little girl. 'Are you happy Ima?' she asked.

'Yes I am' said Ziva.

'Daddy? Are you happy?' Tony looked at his wife and daughter.

'The happiest I've ever been' he replied.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

I really enjoyed writing this story, but it will be the last for a little bit. As it's more one-shots, I'm going to take a break and write other stories I've got floating around in my head. I have a couple of ideas for The Paris Archives, continuing Tali, Tony and Ziva's story so I won't mark it complete. I will write them eventually but I want to do the other ideas first.

Stay safe and see you soon :)