Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. The drinking age in France is 18

Date Night

January 2022

Ziva drained the last remnants of her teacup and up it on the tray. The café at AUP was busy but Ziva had been fortunate to find a table. It was always a struggle to find somewhere to sit at lunch on her university days, but she managed today. Ziva was packing up her bag, putting her laptop away when she heard her name called.

'Ziva!'

She looked up and saw her friend, Ruby, walking over to her.

'Hi Ruby. You ready for class?' Ruby smiled and laughed.

'Just about' she replied. 'Let's just last semester was a shock.'

'Definitely' agreed Ziva. She swung her bag onto her shoulder and she and Ruby left the café.

It was the first day back after the Christmas holidays. Tali, Tony and Ziva had returned from two weeks in the US a couple of days ago. It had been a sad, teary goodbye, especially with Tali and Senior. It would probably be several months before they saw each other again and no one liked that.

That morning Ziva had dropped Tali off at school before making her way to campus.

'How was Christmas?' asked Ruby. 'Sorry, Hanukkah.'

'Both were good' said Ziva. 'It was nice to spend it with family again. What about you?'

'It was fine' said Ruby. 'After being in Paris for three months, it was a little bit of reverse culture shock I guess.'

'I suppose so' said Ziva. She remembered going back to Israel, three times and how different it was from DC and America, and how different America was after two months in the hellhole of Somalia

'Listen, it's my birthday next Monday' said Ruby.

'Really?'

'Yeah, so I'm having a bit of party on Saturday. You're more than welcome to come.'

'Oh thanks' said Ziva. 'Tony and I are having a date night on Saturday.'

'Bring him' said Ruby.

'Bring my husband to a college party? He'd love it' said Ziva, chuckling. Ruby would never get the reference.

'Well, if you're free on Saturday night. It'll be up in my dorm.'

'Thanks, Ruby. If we are free, I might coax Tony over.'

Ruby opened the classroom door and the two walked in to bring their class.

The rest of the week went by and the DiNozzos found themselves getting into a new routine. Tali had school five days a week, Ziva at university three days and working for Abby's foundation on the other two. Tony was also going into the office a little bit more due to his promotion to senior consultant.

As a result of a busy week in January, Tony and Ziva were looking forward to their date night, without a seven-and-a-half-year-old.

Tony poured the last of the wine into Ziva's glass.

'Tony I have had enough' said Ziva.

'The bottle's empty Zi and I've had my fair share of it.' Ziva leaned forwards and kissed her husband.

'It is a good thing we did not drive' she said.

'Zi, we live in Paris. We'd be mad to drive.' Ziva laughed, the wine in her glass making her a little giddy. Tony raised his hand and waved at the waiter.

'Yes, monsieur?'

'Could we have the cheque please?' asked Tony.

'Of course monsieur.' The waiter left and moments later returned with the cheque. Tony pulled out his wallet and waved his card at the card reader. So much of life had become contactless because of the pandemic. It had been two years and the majority of people on the planet now vaccinated, but there was still a level of caution around the world.

Ziva drained her wine glass and got up. Tony wrapped his arm around Ziva's waist. Many of the patrons and staff in the restaurant would think that Tony and Ziva were newlyweds, or were still in the early phases of a relationship, still in the honeymoon dating period. In many ways they were. They might have a seven-year-old daughter, but Tony and Ziva had only been together properly for two years.

The air outside was cool and Ziva pulled her coat around her.

'You cold David?' asked Tony. Ziva smiled and stepped closer to Tony who wrapped his coat around the both of them. 'I love you' he whispered as they kissed.

'I love you too' said Ziva. 'You know, we are not that far away from campus' she said.

'Oh?' said Tony, intrigued. Soon after she had started, Ziva gave Tony and Tali a little bit of a tour around the AUP campus.

'Ruby's having a birthday party. Do you mind if we drop in a say hello on the way home?'

'Not at all' said Tony. Interlocking their fingers, Tony and Ziva started walking down the street.

It was obvious which floor Ruby's party was on. Tony and Ziva could hear it as they climbed the stairs, with music blaring. Sugar, We're Goin Down by Fall out Boy. They were also a little overdressed, having gone to dinner first. That sounded so grown up.

Ziva scanned the room looking for Ruby, noticing many of her classmates and friends, all of whom were between eighteen and twenty-three.

'Ziva! You came!' cried Ruby, happily. She came over and hugged Ziva tightly.

'Happy birthday Ruby' said Ziva.

'Thanks. This must be Tony' she said.

'Hi' said Tony. 'Happy birthday.'

'Thanks. He is good looking' she added to Ziva. Tony grinned and Ziva rolled her eyes slightly.

'Ruby, how much have you had to drink?' She seemed a little tipsy.

'A few of shots' said Ruby. 'My tolerance for alcohol is a little low' she said. Ziva and Tony laughed as Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone started playing.

'Didn't this come out like in 2004?' said Tony.

'2005' said Ruby over the music. 'That's the theme of the party. 2005.'

'Seriously?' asked Ziva. Ruby nodded, a serious look on her face. 'Tony and I met in 2005.'

'You're kidding' said Ruby, who was now dancing to the music. Ziva nodded.

'Go and dance' said Ziva.

'Help yourself to food and drink' said Ruby as she got dragged away to dance. Tony and Ziva wandered over to the buffet that had been set up, both grabbing a plate each and some food. Neither were particularly hungry but wouldn't say no to free food and drink.

'This takes me back' said Tony.

'Which bit?' asked Ziva.

'All of it' said Tony. 'College party, the music. Listening to Kelly Clarkson and Destiny's Child in 2005.' Ziva grinned and laughed.

'Is that before or after you played charades?' asked Ziva. Tony grinned, flashing his million watt smile at Ziva. He put down his plate and stepped forwards towards Ziva. She stepped back a little and hit a wall.

'You know, it's been a while since I made out with a college girl' he whispered into Ziva's ear.

'Oh yeah. What exactly were we doing last night?' asked Ziva.

'Let's just say there are something things you do with a college girl and not with your wife.'

'Like page 57?' suggested Ziva.

'Mrs DiNozzo, you read my mind.'

Giggling, Tony leaned down and started placing soft kisses along Ziva's neckline. They wouldn't do much but they were in the corner of a dark college party and both had been drinking. Not to mention Tony and Ziva were in love. Madly in love.

Tony continued to kiss along Ziva's neckline, Ziva wrapping her arms around Tony's neck.

'Oh my' she suddenly said.

'What is it?' asked Tony.

'The time. It is ten-thirty.'

'Seriously?' Ziva showed him her watch. 'We'd better get back. Clara will be wanting to go home.'

'You call a car and I will say goodbye to Ruby' suggested Ziva.

'Meet you outside' said Tony and he began to make his way to the exit. Ziva scanned the room, looking for Ruby.

'Hey Ruby' called Ziva over the music, which was now playing Jesse McCartney Beautiful Soul. 'Hey Ziva' said Ruby, more excited than before.

'Tony and I have to go, I am afraid.'

'Oh no. Is everything alright?'

'Yes. We just have to relive the babysitter.'

'Ok' said Ruby.

'Lunch is on me on Monday' said Ziva. 'Happy birthday' she added, pulling her friend into a hug.

'Thanks' said Ruby. 'See you Monday.'

'Don't forget to drink some water and take two painkillers before bed tonight, or first tomorrow morning.' Ruby laughed. 'Make sure you eat something as well' added Ziva.

'Thanks Mum' said Ruby, making Ziva laugh.

Ziva's phone buzzed. It was Tony telling her the car was here. She made her way towards the stairs. On her way out, Ziva remembered her nineteenth birthday. Back then, she was in the IDF, and it was her first birthday since her mother had died. Unbeknownst to Ziva, it would also be her last one she would spend it with her sister, Tali. The following year, when Ziva turned 20, they were in different locations, and soon after that, the fateful bomb went off in Cairo, killing her beloved baby sister.

Tony was outside, standing by the car.

'Everything alright?' he asked. Ziva looked a little pensive.

'Just thinking about the past' said Ziva. 'Life at nineteen was very different.'

'Definitely' said Tony. He had been at college, the summer between his freshman and sophomore years at Ohio State. He spent the summer bouncing around friend's houses to family houses, even to a brief stint with Senior and a potential new step-mother.

'What do you think Tali will be like at nineteen?' asked Ziva, as the car got closer to their home.

'I have no idea' said Tony.

'You do not want to think about it, yes?'

'She's our baby, Zi. I want her to stay our baby.'

'Our baby will be eight in six months' time' added Ziva.

'Do not remind me' said Tony.

The car pulled up outside their building, Tony promising the driver a five star review of their service. That was another thing to change since Tony and Ziva were nineteen.

Clara was curled up on the sofa, watching Netflix when Tony and Ziva burst through the apartment door, laughing.

'Shh,' she said quickly. 'Tali's asleep.'

'Sorry' said Tony, still giggling a little.

'How much did you drink?' asked Clara.

'About a bottle of wine between the two of us' said Ziva. 'Thanks for babysitting Clara. Add this to your monthly invoice.' Clara issued Tony and Ziva an invoice once a month with all the hours she looked after Tali for them. It was a well oiled system that had worked for years.

'Will do Ziva. See you guys on Monday.'

'So, Mrs DiNozzo, college girl' said Tony, as soon as Clara left. 'How about we continue this in the bedroom?'

Tali woke up as normal on Sunday morning. The night before her Ima and Daddy had gone out to dinner, leaving her at home with Clara. They had fun together, playing games, and watching TV whilst eating dinner. Tali absolutely loved Clara and was always a little sad when she went home.

Tali looked at the clock. 7.45 am. It seemed a reasonable time to get out of bed to Tali, so she swung her legs out of bed and put on her sparkly purple slippers and fluffy dressing gown. It could be cold in the mornings at the moment. Like Ziva, Tali wasn't a big fan of the cold.

The kitchen was empty as was the living room. This was a little weird as Tali usually found Ima in one of those rooms, either cooking, reading or writing. Since Ima started university, she usually got up early to catch on work.

Tali tiptoed to her parents' bedroom. She peered around the door and found both her parents still in bed. This gave Tali an idea.

'Wake up!' she cried, jumping onto the bed.

'Tali' groaned Tony. 'Go back to bed.'

'But' began Tali, a little disappointed. 'I want breakfast.'

'It is OK' said Ziva. 'I will get up. I was practically awake already.' Ziva climbed out of bed and took Tali to the kitchen to get her breakfast.

'Did you have fun with Clara?' asked Ziva.

'Yes' said Tali and she launched into telling Ziva everything she and Clara did the night before. 'Ima what are you doing?'

'I am making some jasmine tea with lime for me and something for Daddy.'

'Is that a DiNozzo Defabulator?' asked Tali.

'Defibrillator' corrected Ziva. 'And yes. I have a feeling he will need it.'

Thirty minutes later, Tony emerged from the bedroom.

'Hi Daddy' said Tali.

'Morning Tali' replied Tony, yawning a little.

'Ima made you a DiNozzo Defabulator. It's in the kitchen.' Tony chuckled.

'Thank you' he said in Ziva's direction. He picked it up and drank as quick as he could, gagging slightly on the unpleasantness of the concoction.

'Daddy, what is a DiNozzo defabulator?' asked Tali. 'What does it do?'

'Tali' began Tony, sitting down on the sofa in the living room. 'You do not have to worry about that until you are much older.'

Tali stood in front of her parents on the sofa. Both looked almost unwell and there was an air of mystery about the previous night. It had been weird that Ima hadn't gotten up early to do her work or read. Daddy looked like he was about to throw up and definitely did not enjoy drinking that thing Ima made for him.

'Ok' began Tali, hands on her waist. 'What exactly happened last night?'

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

I have a few more ideas for this series of one shots. They all take place in chronological order but are self-contained stories set in 2022. I've been doing NaNoWriMo this month so I've been preoccupied with my own story.

I don't know about you, but I'm really glad NCIS is back and I can't believe the next episode will be the 400th episode. I'm really looking forward to it.

Stay safe and see you soon :)