Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS and I, unfortunately, have never been to Marseille

Vacation 2: Marseille not Montpellier

The Uber car pulled up as close to the Gare de Lyon as it could. The family of three got out, the woman taking the little girl's hand and two backpacks, before crossing the road. The man went to the trunk of the car to fetch their two suitcases. He thanked the driver and crossed the road to meet up with his wife and daughter.

The DiNozzo's were going on vacation again, this time to Marseille. The past couple of years they had gone to Montpellier, and Tony and Ziva considered going back a third time. They wanted Tali to have memories of going to the same place on vacation every year like Ziva had memories of Haifa.

But Tali came home from school one day and started talking about how Marseille is one of the oldest cities in Europe and that the Greeks and Romans lived there and that so many of her classmates had been to Marseille on vacation. Ziva started doing her own research and sooner enough, Tony was booking train tickets and Airbnb in Marseille.

Tali looked up at the train station's big clock tower. Perhaps she would draw it on the train journey. Ima had bought her a brand new pad of paper the other day, and Tali had spent a couple of days ago sharpening all her colouring pencils.

'Come on Tali' said Tony, who was still pushing their two small suitcases. As per usual, Tali had slightly more clothes then Ziva and Tony but compared what Tony used to pack with a toddler Tali, it was a significant change.

'Where is she?' asked Tali, looking around the front of the train station.

'I think she is inside' said Ziva. Tali ran ahead and into the station. She looked around again and spotted the black pigtails she was looking for.

'Auntie Abby!' Tali cried and ran over to her godmother.

'Tali-kins!' Abby stood up and hugged her goddaughter tightly. 'Oh I've missed you.'

'Missed you too' said Tali.

Tony and Ziva appeared next to their daughter and hugged their old friend. Abby had gotten the Eurostar from London the day before and stayed over in a hotel nearby, before meeting up with Tony, Ziva and Tali at Gare de Lyon the next day. Senior had decided not to come, as he was no longer flying but Tali made sure that they would Facetime him at least once during the vacation.

Making sure they had all their suitcases and bags with them (Kelev was tucked safely in Tali's backpack), the four of them headed to the correct platform. Ziva held onto Tali's hand tightly. One of her main fears and worries was that she would get separated from her daughter again.

A good mother always knew where her child was.

Tony put their suitcases in the luggage holder, helping Abby's with hers. Tali sat down next to the window and stared out at the platform. People walked up and down it, trying to find the right door to their seats, or running really fast because they were on the wrong platform and their train would leave within the next five minutes. Tali loved trains. She much preferred them to riding on the bus or in cars. Buses and cars always got stuck in traffic which was just boring.

Tony sat down opposite Tali, Ziva next to Tali and Abby next to Tony. Tony had book four seats with a table. It gave Tali space to spread out and so the others could talk face to face.

'Good morning ladies and gentleman' said a disembodied voice in French. 'This is the 10.17 to Marseille.'

The train started moving forward, Tali bouncy in her seat as it pulled out of the station.

'You excited, T?' asked Tony, knowing fully well the answer.

'Yes I am' Tali replied, happily.

'Well, that is good' said Ziva, kissing Tali's head.

Ziva reached into her backpack and pulled out a thick folder, along with some pens and a notebook.

'Zi, come on' said Tony. 'We're on vacation.'

'What's going on?' asked Abby.

'Zi brought her school work with her. Even Tali hasn't done that' said Tony.

'Tony has clearly forgotten about the exams that happen at the end of every year at college' said Ziva to Abby.

'You're assuming he actually turned up them' said Abby back to Ziva, a smirk on her face. Tony was not impressed.

'I have you both know I turned up to all my finals' he said, waggling a finger at them.

'But did you turn up on time?' asked Abby. Tony paused, giving away his answer. Ziva and Abby laughed.

Abby now reached into her own bag. She pulled out a ball of wool and some knitting needles. Tali cocked her head to the side.

'Auntie Abby, what's that?' she asked, pointing to the wool and needles.

'It's knitting' said Abby. 'I'm knitting hats, scarves, socks and gloves for the people who use the shelter. We get more people in the winter.'

Tali watched Abby cast on and begin to knit. Her eyes grew wider as she watched the scarf Abby was knitting get longer.

'That's so cool' said Tali, leaning over the table to get a better view.

'Tali, be careful' said Tony as he rescued a water bottle that was about to fall over.

'Sorry Daddy' said Tali, going back to her seat. 'I just wanted a closer look.'

'I can switch seats with Abby' said Ziva, and the two women swapped. Tali leaned closer to see how Abby knitted the scarf.

'You want to have a go?' asked Abby.

'Can I?' said Tali, slightly surprised. 'I don't know how to do it.'

'I can help' said Abby. She handed the needles to Tali, showing her how to hold them. Following Abby's help, Tali wrapped and weaved the wool around the needles until an entire row was finished.

'Look Daddy' she said, proudly showing him what she had done.

'Looks great T' said Tony.

Abby took the knitting back and Tali watched amazed at how fast Abby was able to knit.

'We might have to get you your own needles' said Abby.

'Really?' Tali liked the sound of that. Abby nodded.

'I'm sure we can find something in Marseille' she said. Tali gave her godmother a big smile, before staring out of the window again.

'Why don't we play a game?' suggested Tony. He reached into his bag and pulled out a pack of card. 'Uno anyone?'

Tali and Abby ran into the warm Mediterranean sea, shrieking with laughter. Tony took photos of the two of them jumping up with the waves, laughing and giggling. Tony completely understood why Senior had decided to fly. Travelling can be exhausting, especially when you're pushing 80 years old, but he knew the old man would be missing his family, in particular his little granddaughter. Tali had already drawn lots of pictures for her Papa, Tony promising that they could mail them to Senior in the US.

Tony looked over at Ziva. She was sitting on a lounger, her study notes out and constantly checking the time.

'Zi, come on' said Tony. 'Stop studying and looking at the time. Come and enjoy yourself.'

'I have a ton of work to do Tony' argued Ziva. 'None of it is going to do it by itself.'

'But we're on vacation, and you're missing it. You studied all day yesterday and now we're at the beach and you're still studying. '

Ziva closed her book and picked up her bag.

'I think I will go and have a look at that shop' she said, standing up and pointing to some tourist souvenir shop. 'See what they have it.' Ziva started walking away from Tony.

'Zi!' he called, but Ziva was not in the mood to talk to her husband right now.

'Where's Ima going?' asked Tali.

'To have a look at the shop. I think she needs some alone time' said Tony.

'OK' said Tali, a little sad.

'Shall we build a sandcastle and take a picture for Papa?' suggested Tony.

'Yes' said Tali, grabbing her bucket and spade.

It was 8 pm and Ziva came out of the room Tali was sleeping in. Tony was sitting on the sofa and Abby putting the clean dishes away from dinner. Ziva cooked, Tony and Abby taking it in turns to wash up.

'Tali asleep?' asked Tony.

'Nope' said Ziva. 'I heard the lamp next to her bed switch on when I walked past.' Tony laughed. Tali had a habit of reading after her bedtime. Tony and Ziva were unsure whether to leave her to it or get her to sleep. They wanted to encourage her to keep reading, but Tali did need to sleep as well.

'Right' said Abby, getting up from the kitchen table. She turned to Tony and Ziva. 'You two are going out.'

'What?' asked Ziva.

'You two are going out. A date, or at least some child-free, married couple time' said Abby, waving her hands in the general direction of outside.

'What about Tali?' asked Tony.

'Did you or did you not name me her godmother?' asked Abby to Tony. It was a rhetorical question. Tony and Ziva knew that Abby would defend and protect Tali to death. 'Shoes on and go outside.'

Tony and Ziva put their shoes on, grabbed the Airbnb keys, sun hats and headed out.

'Any idea where you want to go?' asked Tony to Ziva.

'Not really' said Ziva. 'To be honest I am rather tired.'

Tony draped an arm over Ziva's shoulders, Ziva wrapping an arm around Tony's waist.

'You thought I was going to say something else' said Ziva.

'No' protested Tony.

'I saw it in your face, Tony' said Ziva. 'You thought I was going to want to study.'

Tony sighed.

'Yeah, Ok. I thought you were going to say that. It's just that you were so looking forward to this vacation.'

'We all were' interjected Ziva.

'Exactly, and I know it's only been two days but it-'

'It seems like I have spent more time studying than on vacation' finished Ziva.

'Kinda, yeah' said Tony. Ziva looked like she was going to say something. 'What is it Zi? Tell me.'

Ziva sighed heavily.

'I am afraid I will fail my finals' she said.

'What?' Tony was shocked.

'I may have more life experience than my classmates but they know how to write essays and how the whole academic system works. I had to get help with my referencing whereas Ruby knew exactly what to do. I do not want to fail because then the past year would have just been a massive waste of time and AUP is so expensive and the money could easily go to something that is actually important than some twenty-year-old pipe dream.'

'OK, ok' said Tony. Ziva was talking fast. 'Take a deep breath.'

Ziva took a deep breath Tony suggested. She worked so hard on a daily basis to feel like she had her anxiety under control. She wrote in her journal multiple times a day. It was the beginning of summer and Ziva was already on her third journal of the year.

Ziva exercised daily as well; running, walking, dancing with Tali. She knew what her triggers were, how to avoid them, and if she couldn't avoid them, both Ziva and Tony knew what to do. Whilst she no longer had weekly sessions with her therapist, only meeting once a month, Ziva went to the PTSD support group every Thursday night.

The stress and worry of the upcoming exams had been a surprise to Ziva. In the past, she had thrived on pressure. It helped keep her alert, with the right level of adrenaline. This time though, Ziva was not infiltrating a criminal's hideout, or interrogating a suspect, or even using her extensive knowledge of religious extremists. This time, Ziva had to sit in a room, with fifty nineteen-year-olds, and take a written exam.

'I cannot fail, Tony' said Ziva again.

'As far as I'm concerned, that is your father talking, Zi' said Tony. There was a flicker of something in Ziva's face. It was always a little odd when Eli was mentioned. You will be fine' continued Tony. 'You aced your US citizen test, didn't you.'

'Yes' said Ziva.

'And you've got high marks on all your assignments throughout the year.'

'Yes' said Ziva again.

'Then you have nothing to worry about' said Tony. 'You are not the only student at AUP who will be freaking out about exams.'

'They are not almost forty' pointed out Ziva.

'True' said Tony. 'But they will still be worrying. No one wants to fail.'

'I feel I am more aware of the cost of education' said Ziva. 'It is easy to be nonchalant about it when you do not know anything else.'

Tony tucked a lock of Ziva's hair behind her ear. She had seen so much in her forty years. By the time they met back in 2005, Ziva had seen more than most at twenty-three.

'If you want to take a break, then that's fine' he said. 'But I don't think that's what you want, is it?' Ziva shook her head.

'I want my degree' she said quietly, smiling.

'Then you will get your degree. It is money well spent, Zi' said Tony. 'You know the money for Tali is in a separate trust. It covers all her education expenses and more. My salary covers our living expenses and yours goes into savings. When we go home, we can review the system' Tony suggested. 'See if anything needs changing or shifting around.'

'Maybe' said Ziva. She felt tired. 'Let's go back to the Airbnb' she said.

'As long as you're OK' said Tony.

'I do feel better' she said. 'Thank you Tony.'

'Anytime Zi' Tony added, placing a kiss on his wife's head.

For the rest of the vacation, Ziva put her study books away and enjoyed herself. They went back to the beach for more jumping with the waves and building sandcastles. They walked around the old town, checked out the mirrored canopy at the Vieux Port. Tali was fascinated by street art. At the end of the week, Tony, Ziva, Tali and Abby went to the beautiful Calanques.

Since telling Tony about her worries regarding her exams, Ziva felt better. She still did a little bit of studying each day, but for an hour max, and after Tali went to bed. Ziva did not want to miss out on spending time with her daughter.

'Can we come back to Marseille next year?' asked Tali, on the very last day, before they took the train home.

'I don't see why not' said Tony, looking at Ziva who seemed to agree.

'And Auntie Abby can come too' added Tali. Everyone looked at Abby.

'Course I'll come' said Abby. Tali gave her a big smile. 'You can show me your knitting.' Tali laughed. On their first day, Abby had found a shop that sold child-friendly, knitting-for-beginners kits. She bought one and presented it to Tali. Tali had loved it, and whilst her knitting skills were something to be desired, she was only seven and had only just started.

'Tali, it is bath time' said Ziva.

'Oh' said the disappointed seven-year-old. The next bath she took would be back home.

'I know' said Ziva. 'I do not want this vacation to end either.' Mother and daughter got up and went to the bathroom. Tony smiled, watching them. He was glad that Tali had happy vacation memories. He certainly did not.

'You OK Tony?' asked Abby.

'Yeah' he replied. 'Just thinking about how different life is these days.' Abby laughed. It was very different from when she first met Tony.

The train pulled into Gare de Lyon and everyone piled off it. Paris might be in the same country as Marseille but it felt different to Tali. Perhaps because Paris was home.

On the train home, Tony, Ziva and Tali agreed that every spring break, they would spend some of it in the south of France, visiting old places and discovering new ones. Tali liked that idea. Abby said she would also try and come as often as possible, but as London was so close to Paris by train, there was no reason why the DiNozzo's couldn't come to visit Abby. Tali liked that idea a lot.

'Tali-kins' said Abby, sounding a little sad as she pulled Tali into a hug. 'I love you so much.'

'Love you too Auntie Abby' replied Tali. 'Why can't you stay?'

'Auntie Abby has a train to London tonight' said Ziva, crouching down to Tali's height.

'So?' The adults laughed.

'We'll see each other soon' said Abby. 'Perhaps in the summer' she suggested.

'We can come to you' said Tali.

'Possibly' said Ziva. She and Abby hugged, followed by Tony. 'Stay in touch' Ziva added.

'Of course' said Abby. 'Love you guys.'

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

I'm not 100% sure about this story. I'm not sure I wrote Ziva's exam anxiety right.

Stay safe friends and see you soon :)