Ziva didn't know what to think. Would her life ever be normal again? Probably not. But at least she was amused. Plus… Tony would probably be sent spinning (in a comical way) after she told him what was happening now. It would absolutely be par for the course.

But then reason caught up with her.

She had encountered Anthony DiNozzo Senior: the father of the man to whom she was engaged. Tony had not clued him in on this particular life milestone. Yet. And Ziva knew this be a fact.

But because the man upstairs was having a chuckle, things were just… happening ahead of schedule. Also par for the course. Majorly.

With some swiftness, however, Ziva recovered from her surprise.

"I do not believe that we have met before." she told her future father-in-law. "How do you know I am Ziva?"

Senior laughed. "I am not so far out of touch with my son that we never talk, but the last time we did, he mentioned you."

"Oh? And what all did Tony say?"

"My son called you his best friend." Senior said warmly.

Ziva's heart bloomed. "Tony is most certainly my best friend."

She then found herself moving to the nearest chair and sitting on it. Rivka Faith had suddenly begun kicking her with both feet. Unpleasant.

"Excuse me." Ziva told her new acquaintance. "I am very pregnant, and my daughter has been very jumpy since we arrived here. It has been a weird morning. For us both."

Ziva cradled her belly with both hands for a moment. Her NCIS-issued windbreaker had been obscuring the size. But now it was clear.

Senior took the chair closest to Ziva. He hadn't forgotten why he wanted to speak with NCIS in the first place. But his first inquiry out of the gate wasn't exactly helpful.

"Is Junior nearby?" he blurted before he could stop himself.

"Yes. But he is occupied for the moment."

Ziva withdrew her note-taking materials from her windbreaker pocket, and prepared them.

"What would you like to discuss now?" she asked Senior. "I am all ears."

"There is no easy way to say this, but… I know—I knew the victim."

"Do not quit there."

Senior said, "This man was in a sailor suit, right? Otherwise you wouldn't be here?"

Ziva nodded. "Correct."

"I took the train in from New York City last night." Senior began. "Wanted to have a rest before I called my son for a surprise visit."

"Oh, he will be surprised. I assure you." Ziva replied. "When did you arrive here?"

"At dinnertime." remembered Senior. "Then I went down to the restaurant because I was quite hungry. Doing so caused my path to cross with him. Owen Peters."

"I see. Did he tell you his rank?"

"Yes. He said that he was a USMC Lance Corporal." Senior leaned back in his chair as he began to recall memories from the night. "He opened up to me because I'm a chatty kind of guy. And the only seat at the bar was next to him."

Ziva looked up from her note-taking. "For about how long were you with Peters at the bar, then?"

Senior shrugged. "Fifteen minutes, max. Place was packed. The restaurant host had me sit there until a table opened up."

"That is reasonable. What did you and Peters discuss?"

"Very normal small talk. But..."

Ziva could see that the old man was pondering a new thought. What amused her the most was that she had seen Tony make the same expression before.

But she still said, "What are you thinking?"

Senior now seemed a touch forlorn. "Peters told me that he'd been given permission to come back from combat early. He was going to visit his father. Apparently, the man is ill and doesn't have much longer. They live in Silver Spring."

Ziva made a note in her book that her witness' words were so far backing up what they'd learned on the third floor. It was a win she would happily take.

"Did Peters happen to mention why he was here, instead of going to Silver Spring already?" she queried.

"That young man was dead on his feet. He wanted to sleep before going to see his family."

Ziva arched an eyebrow. "The lance corporal was a stranger to you. Do you have any idea why he opened up as he did?"

"Not a-one." Senior gave a second shrug. "People just trust me."

"Indeed… What happened after that part of the chat?"

Senior searched his memories again. "A man spotted Peters from the other side of the room and walked over."

Ziva's note-taking increased. "Could you tell if they knew each other?"

"Yeah. Peters called him Weintraub."

"A surname, then. Did they leave together?"

"Yep." Senior confirmed. "Weintraub said something about 'business that needed discussing.' I also gave Peters my card."

Ace in the hole, thought Ziva. "Why?"

"To be honest… I'm not sure anymore. Peters was very pleasant. Like someone you'd want to get to know. He was also gracious about taking my card. I also thanked him for serving our country." reflected Senior. "Peters paid his bill, told me good-bye, and left out with Weintraub after that. I didn't see either of them again."

"Okay. Did Peters appear to be expecting his old acquaintance?"

"No." Senior said solidly. "He didn't even notice Weintraub until he called his name. Peters was definitely surprised. It looked like they hadn't seen each other in awhile."

Ziva pressed, "How was this Weintraub man dressed?"

Senior seemed to have no trouble here. "I guess like a civilian with money: khakis, a button-down shirt, and nice shoes. Oxfords. He was also wearing an actual trench coat. Burberry would be my guess there."

Ziva was quiet for a second. She had not yet revealed that she was engaged to this man's only child because she had a desire to stay professional. But… With each passing moment, her amusement was increasing. Senior was just like Junior. And vice versa. It was also now very plain to see whom Tony had inherited his fashion-savvy ways from.

But Senior broke through her thoughts. "Do you think it's odd that I know so much about fashion?"

"I do not. Such knowledge is helpful to me right now. Thank you." answered Ziva. "Sir, do you remember what this Weintraub man looked like?"

"Yes. And please call me Anthony. I would say call me Tony…"

Ziva finally did laugh. "That would just lead to confusion. Do you have any questions for me?"

"Just one." Senior said in a most straightforward way. "I heard whispers this morning that a sailor was dead, and I realized from there on my own that it had to be Peters, but you have been looking at me for some reason that I just can't place. Did your team locate my card?"

"Yes. In fact, it was literally I who did."

Senior was almost as amused. "Well, well. How about that for an interesting turn of events now?"

But Ziva found herself nodding in agreement. "You said you remember what Weintraub looks like. Would you be able to describe him to a sketch artist?"

"Absolutely. I have a knack for being able to remember faces."

"Outstanding. Are you willing to come to NCIS with us?"

"Of course. Anything you need—I'm your man." Senior said seriously. "But…"

Senior's words trailed away. It seemed as though he was having a new epiphany now.

Ziva showed him kindness. "Anthony, are you alright?"

He smiled at her. "I am. This is just a hell of a way for me to see my son again, huh?"

"It is. But I will make sure that he does not 'wig out,' as the saying has been said."

Ziva's company gave her another fond look. "My son is very lucky to have you. The universe picked a perfect person."

"Your words are most kind. Thank you again." Ziva put her things away and rose to her feet. "Now if you'll excuse me, I will be right back."

"Okay. I won't leave. But here."

Senior held the door open for Ziva. If he could get on the good side of someone his offspring cared about, then he would. Just to make Tony happy.

Ziva had naught but a few moments of silence before she noticed someone making their way towards her.

Tony.

She lit up at the sight of him. "Hello, my love."

The man was immediately on his guard. "Z, I only just saw you upstairs. 'My love,' huh? Everything okay?"

"Perfectly so." she answered him. 'Did Gibbs tell you to come down here?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. But it was more like a tempered suggestion."

"Ah." Ziva fixed Tony's tie when she noticed it was crooked. "You will never guess who is on the other side of that door."

"Try me." Tony said casually.

"It is one Anthony Dashiell DiNozzo Senior."

There was a moment of silence on the part of Ziva's fiancé. Understandable. It had only just been on Christmas Day that Tony had decided to call his dad.

And what was the stipulation? He would do it, unless his father became involved in a case first. But had Tony been banking on the stipulation coming true?

Of course not. Yet… Here they were. Why? Because his hand had been forced.

God was laughing at him.

Tony sighed as he said to Ziva, "Why is dad here?"

"It turns out that he is a very useful witness. Your father even to come back to NCIS to talk to a sketch artist because it is needed." Ziva said. "I was actually about to ask you to come join me here. The punch has been beaten."

"I'll say. Does he know about us?"

"Not. Not yet."

Tony was only a smidge vexed. "Why?"

"Because the conversation did not go that way. It is also a revelation I would like you to be there for. Please?"

"Alright." Tony squeezed Ziva's hands gently. "Has he seen that you're sporting an engagement ring?"

"No. The conversation did not go that way. Besides, I do not go showing it off to every Mick, Chuck, and Jake that comes along."

Tony paused. "What? Mick, Chuck, and J—You're getting things mixed up again. That would be 'every Tom, Dick, and Harry,' Ziva."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Senior is a sharp man, yes?"

"Very."

"The moment you and I set foot in that room together," Ziva pointed to the door. "He will most certainly connect the dots. But we have important matters to discuss yet."

"Like making it back to HQ." Tony realized.

"Precisely. Do keep your cool."

"For you, my love, I can even do this."

Tony opened the door with a sweeping flourish for Ziva. Greatly amused, she strolled back in. The other DiNozzo stood on ceremony this time. He respected the authority that this woman wielded.

And he asked her, "Were you able to do what you needed?"

But Ziva admitted, "That has not happened yet. I have… bumped into someone."

"Who?" But Senior already had a suspecting idea.

"Me." Tony said as he strolled in from the hallway.

A surprised quiet fell from Senior at the sight of his child. Ziva didn't know what to make of it. But who could blame her?

So far as she knew, neither Senior nor Junior were wholly estranged from each other. They just didn't speak often. But it definitely said something that the elder DiNozzo had recognized her on sight.

How she adored her family. 'Uniqueness' be damned.

But Senior hugged his offspring and looked at him with joy. "Tony, I'm so happy to see you!"

The feeling was mutual on Tony's part. And if Ziva had been able reconcile with Eli, he could do the same with Senior. It was important to him that his children also have their other grandfather in their lives.

Tony happily hugged Senior and shook his hand. "Hi!"

Ziva cleared her throat. "Do not forget about the agenda..."

Tony straightened himself out. "Right. Dad, we—"

But Tony fell quiet very quickly. at Senior's expression. It was one of observation-turned-steadfast-scrutiny.

Senior eyeballed the people before him, his eyes flickering from Ziva's middle, to her engagement ring, and back to the pair once more. It all came into place very fast.

"Are you two a couple?" Senior asked them.

"Y—"

But Tony's words were cut off yet again. This time by a call from Gibbs. He excused himself back to the hallway.

Tony's tune was different upon his return.

"Everything alright?" Ziva wanted to know.

Tony bobbed his head, but didn't seem convinced. "Mhm."

"Well? Just what did Gibbs tell you?"

"That we have to go back to the ranch. Which means…"

Both Tony and Ziva looked back at Senior.

But the old man perked up. "Come on! This'll be fun!"