Hi Friends,

I know, it has been far too long since I have written. I was looking back and saw that my last chapter I posted was in April! My writing muses have returned upon my graduation with my Masters in Social Work degree a few weeks ago. So here is the first of a two or three-shot story of TIVA in the pandemic. I'll be updating Weekend with Grandpa Gibbs next, for those of you who follow that storyline. Thanks to MaidenMoonshine for the first read of this! Please read and review and stay well!

Close Quarters

Tony flipped a pancake with less zest than usual as he waited for coffee to brew.

It was Sunday morning, or maybe it was Saturday? Tony absently pondered as he stood with his spatula at the ready. The DiNozzo family of three – soon to be four – had been quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic for three weeks. With Ziva quite pregnant and Tali's school closed, Tony had decided – possibly after a gruff command and head slap from Gibbs – to take leave from NCIS to shelter in place with his girls.

"Family first, DiNozzo," Gibbs barked out as Tony had rubbed the sting from his head. "You go take care of Ziver and my granddaughters."

Gibbs didn't say that he also wanted Tony quarantined because he had had the plague. But that was also a driving factor in his head slap. He needed his kids to be safe.

Tony petitioned for leave, which was granted before he knocked on Vance's door. Nearly a month later, Tony's dedication to his job – mixed with the frustration of cabin fever – left him longing for the endless work days tracking down suspects and solving cases.

These days Tony's trickiest cases involved finding Mr. Max for Tali at bedtime or correctly anticipating Ziva's cravings when ordering groceries for the week. Error in these arenas didn't mean a guilty man would go free, but the consequences of an unhappy Tali or an agitated wife were just as grave in Tony's eyes.

Tony fervently hoped it was Sunday as he added another pancake to the pile. Sundays were pancake days for the DiNozzo clan. Derailing the family's culinary routine might just be the last straw that pushed them all into unbridled chaos.

Tony startled from his worries about another unstructured and apartment-bound week when he heard the door open and Ziva enter.

"Zi, running again? I thought we talked about you cutting down."

Tony frowned a little but approached his wife and kissed her sweaty forehead while rubbing her growing bump. He felt a little kick and kept his hand still to see if more were coming.

"I had to go out, Tony," Ziva said. "This quarantine is too much. I am not meant to just sit and shelter!"

At that declaration, Tony felt a tiny flurry of kicks against his palm as though their unborn daughter was backing up her Ima. Tony was definitely outnumbered with Ziva, Tali and another feisty female on the way.

"Tali still asleep?" Ziva asked as she untangled herself from Tony's embrace and headed for the couple's en suite bathroom.

"Yeah, she's exhausted. We need to get her to bed earlier."

Ziva narrowed her eyes but kept her tone light as she shed her clothes and stepped into the warm shower.

"You say that every morning, Tony. And every night you two are both looking at me with kitten eyes when it is time for Tali to go to bed."

"Puppy eyes, Zi. Not kitten eyes."

Tony couldn't help but correct Ziva as she mangled yet another American phrase.

"Puppy? Kitten? It does not matter. When the time comes, I have to be the bad guy."

"Well, Zi," Tony said. "She has to see the classics. She's a DiNozzo, after all."

Ziva rolled her eyes at that comment as she heard the shower door open and felt Tony's arm around her. She leaned her head back into his chest and he kissed her neck softly.

"We do not have time for this, my love," she murmured, not moving all the same.

Tony snorted.

"All we have is time, Zi. Haven't you noticed, we're in lockdown."

Ziva smiled and turned around to face her husband. He rubbed her pregnant belly as he kissed her. Tony found Ziva even more attractive during pregnancy, if that were possible.

"You know what I mean," Ziva said. "Tali will wake any moment."

She shut off the water and stepped out of the shower.

"Tonight, my little hairy butt. For now, I am starving. This one cannot wait any longer for food."

Tony smiled as he quickly left the shower as well, dried off and redressed. Ziva threw on yoga pants and a t-shirt before heading toward the kitchen. Tony smiled to himself as he watched her go. Maybe quarantine wasn't so bad after all.