Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Ziva pulled Tali's bedroom door too and went into the living room. Tony was sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

'Munchkin asleep?' he asked.

'No. I think she is reading under the covers with a torch. I spotted it and a book under her pillow.' Tony laughed.

'Like mother, like daughter, eh?' Ziva chuckled.

As the weeks progressed, Tony, Ziva, and Tali got into a rhythm and routine. Tony worked Monday – Thursday from home. Ziva took Tali to school and picked her up every day, Clara helping. Ziva had therapy appointments twice a week, usually in the mornings so that Ziva could walk to them after dropping Tali off at school. Dr. Leroux reminded Ziva every session that she was making progress.

'I just want to get to the end, for everything to be fixed' Ziva would say.

'Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination, Ziva' Dr. Leroux would reply.

In the afternoons, Ziva would spend them reading, writing and anything else that she wanted to look into. On Friday afternoons and weekends, Tony, Tali, and Ziva would spend time going around museums, art galleries, and book shops, reconnecting and rebuilding relationships.

One thing that Ziva was seriously considering was going back to the synagogue regularly. She hadn't done it in three years. Regular attendance didn't quite fit in with life on the run/ in hiding. Tony suggested that Ziva talk to Clara about it, maybe even tag along with her one day. Ziva was a little unsure. She was still a very private person and she wondered if something like this should remain private for a bit. But then Dr Leroux reminded Ziva that she should be trying to make new friends and expand her world. Despite this though, Ziva was still trying to build up the courage to go in the first place.

Back in the present, Tony and Ziva continued to watch TV. Another part of their routine, watching TV after Tali went to bed.

'I have a question' began Ziva.

'Oh, yeah?'

'Do you want to go back to DC?'

Tony looked at Ziva. The idea of returning to DC had occurred to him several times over the past three years.

'I don't know' he said. 'I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not.'

'What do you mean?' asked Ziva. They moved so they were facing each other.

'More than once I've thought about going home. Dad would be around, which Tali and Dad would love. Team Gibbs is there, it's home territory and I'm sure there are other reasons that haven't occurred to me.'

'But?

'Tali's life is here in Paris and after three years, I think so is mine. Yes there's family in DC and it's home, but there's been something about living in Paris. I don't know whether it was because I felt connected to you by being here, or the distance from old territory made me feel safer. The security firm I consult at is here in Paris. The NGOs they work with are either in France or in Europe. Tali hasn't been back to the US since we first left. Dad has always come to visit us. What about you? Do you want to go back?'

'Honestly, Tony, I wanted to know what you thought' replied Ziva. 'Israel stopped being my home so long ago. DC took over that role. When I went back to Israel, I thought that sense of home and belonging would return because I felt like I had lost it, but I was trying to force something that was not there. Not being in DC for so long, I am not sure if it is home anymore. I think I have too many difficult memories in both DC and Israel. It has been so long since I felt like I had a home.' Tony nodded. 'Do you remember when Dr. Cranston interviewed us?'

Tony nodded.

'Mandatory psych evals. Such fun.' Ziva smiled.

'I told her that I wanted something permanent, something that could not be taken away from.' Ziva's voice was full of emotion. Tony squeezed her hand for support. 'You, Tony. You and Tali are my something permanent, and now after talking to you, I think it might be the better idea to stay in here, in Paris.'

'Really?' Ziva nodded slowly.

'I have happier memories of Paris than in other places. Like you said, Tali's life is here. She is only five. '

'Five and a three quarters' corrected Tony. Ziva laughed.

'She is only five and three quarters, yet her life has been turned upside down so many times because of the decisions we made.'

'So, we stay in Paris. Make this our permanent home?' suggested Tony. Ziva nodded.

'Yes. I think that is the right decision.'

Tali was excited. Like really, really excited. She was practically bouncy on the way home from school.

Papa and Auntie Abby were coming to visit.

'I'm going to show Papa all the pictures I've done' said Tali to Ziva, as they walked home. 'And show Auntie Abby my bean sprouts.'

Ziva listened to Tali chat, smiling the entire time. She loved listening to her daughter and was happy that Tali was happy. However, Ziva was also nervous. This was the first time she would have seen Senior and Abby in several years. She was worried about what Senior and Abby would think and say about Ziva's past actions.

'Dad already knows' said Tony a couple of nights ago, surprising Ziva.

'What?'

'Yeah. I wasn't planning on telling anyone that you were alive, but it just came out.' Tony explained how his father came to how Ziva was alive and how much he knew.

'In the end, I think it was a good thing. If heaven forbid, anything was to happen to me, Tali would live with Senior. It also meant that at least one other person who knew that you were alive. If you came back, Senior would already know. If you didn't or couldn't, there was still someone else who knew, and he could tell someone who he trusted. I also named Abby Tali's godmother when I redid my will.'

When Ziva, Tali, and Tony reunited, Tony told Abby and Senior that Ziva was alive and well. Senior already knew she was alive. Abby did not and had been very confused when Tony told her. Ziva was worried about when the two women would see each other. It had been an odd reunion when Ziva came back to NCIS after her ordeal in Somalia.

When Tali and Ziva got home, Senior was sitting in the living room. He must have arrived after Ziva left to get Tali.

'Papa!' cried Tali when she saw him.

'Tali!' cried Senior. He picked up his granddaughter, hugging her tightly. 'Did you have fun at school?'

'Yeah, I did. I've got lots of pictures to show you.' Ziva came into the living room. 'Look Papa it's Ima.'

Senior stood up and turned around. He and Ziva stared at each other before Senior moved around the sofa and pulled Ziva into a hug.

'How are you, my dear?' he asked.

'I am alright' replied Ziva.

'Papa?' began Tali. They looked at her. Her head was cocked to the right and her face was screwed up in thought. 'Do you know Ima?'

Senior and Ziva laughed.

'Yes, Tali. I know Ima. We met a long time ago.' Senior and Ziva sat down on the sofa.

'Oh, OK' said Tali causally, leaving the room.

'Where is Tony?' asked Ziva.

'Oh, he went to pick up Abby from the train station.'

Ziva nodded. London and Paris. Two cities connected by a 2.5-hour train journey. Both Tony and Abby had taken advantage of the Eurostar over the years.

Tali came back into the bedroom, holding a stack of paper. It was all her artwork over the past few months, since Senior's last visit. Ziva sat in her armchair and watched Tali show Senior her artwork.

When you look up adoring grandparent in the dictionary, there is a little picture of DiNozzo Senior. The love between Tali and Senior was obvious the moment Ziva saw the two of them interact. It was what she hoped for before the bombing. It was what she hoped for after the bombing. During her darkest moments on the run, Ziva pictured Tali surrounded by love and happiness. It turned out to be true.

Thirty minutes after Tali and Ziva came home from school, Tony and Abby arrived.

'Hey Tali-kins' said Abby.

'Auntie Abby!' cried Tali and she ran over to hug her godmother. 'You need to see my bean sprouts. They're growing.' Abby laughed.

'So are you, Tali. Are you sure you're only five?'

'Five and three quarters, Auntie Abby' correct Tali.

'I'm sorry, Tali.' Abby stood up and saw Ziva. 'Ziva.'

'Hello, Abby. It is good to see you.' Ziva sounded nervous and awkward.

'It's a miracle to see you' replied Abby. Tim had said something similar, though his tone was warmer compared to Abby's.

'Ima, you know Auntie Abby too?' asked Tali. Her little world was getting slightly bigger. Ziva smiled and went over to Abby and Tali.

'Yes. Auntie Abby and I used to work together, with Daddy and Uncle Tim' explained Ziva.

'Oh. Ok.' Tali went back to the coffee table and her drawings. Abby grabbed Ziva's wrist and took her to the kitchen. She closed the door.

'Talk' said Abby. 'Now.'

'Abby, I…'

'How could you not tell Tony about Tali? How could keep him in the dark for almost three years, Ziva? Tony was heartbroken when we thought you died.'

'Abby…'

'I was the one who had to tell him, Ziva. Me and Tim. We were the ones who told Tony that you were dead, and then out of the blue I get a phone call four months ago saying that you're actually alive? What the hell Ziva?' Abby glared at Ziva.

'I am sorry Abby. I did not mean for you to grieve for me. I thought…'

'You thought what?'

'That Gibbs would find me, would rescue me. I waited…' Ziva started crying. Abby went over and pulled Ziva into a tight hug.

'I am so glad that you are alive, Ziva' said Abby, this time sounding kinder and warmer. 'I'm so glad Tali has her mom back.' Ziva nodded.

There was a knock at the door and Tony poked his head around it.

'Everything OK?'

Ziva and Abby pulled apart, Ziva sniffing. They both nodded.

'Good' said Tony.

Ziva wondered how much he had heard. Almost four months reunited and they still hadn't had that conversation. They needed to have it soon, otherwise they would live in limbo forever. It was hanging over them like a dark cloud at the beginning of the storm, getting bigger and bigger. Dr. Leroux had suggested that Tony accompany Ziva to therapy one day. It was something that she was considering.

The adults sat around and watched Tali chat away, showing her pictures and bean sprouts and toys. Ziva remained mainly quiet throughout the evening. Abby and Senior were staying at different hotels. There wasn't enough room in the apartment for four adults and a lively five-year-old. Sorry, five and three quarters year old.

Ziva cooked dinner. It was something she had naturally just taken over post-reunion. Tony's cooking wasn't terrible, and he never gave anyone food poisoning. But Ziva preferred to cook. She loved to cook and, like with attending temple, there was no opportunity when on the run.

Ziva was quiet at dinner. Everyone was chatting. Abby talked about the Rose and Clayton Reeves Foundation. Senior spoke of his friends and a particular woman called Edith. Ziva saw Tony's eyes roll when he heard this. She smiled to herself. So little had changed, yet everything had changed. Tali started telling stories, of her adventures with Tony; going to Disneyland Paris, visiting Abby in London and Cousin Crispin in sunny Cornwall. Tony told stories of when Tali was little, and the funny things three-year-olds do and the traveling they did throughout Europe. Ziva listened to it all, intently.

Everyone finished eating the main course and Ziva collected the plates. She placed them next to the sink. Leaning against the side, she tried to fight back the tears.

'Ziva?' It was Tony.

'I am alright, Tony. I will be there in a minute' sniffed Ziva. Tony didn't buy any of it. He went over and pulled Ziva into a hug, his t-shirt becoming stained with Ziva's tears.

'It's OK, Ziva. It'll be alright.' Ziva continued to cry. Hearing the stories at dinner reminded her so strongly that she had missed so much. Abby had more stories about Tali than her own Ima.

'Is Ima OK?' asked Tali. She was standing in the kitchen doorway.

'Yes, Tali. Ima's alright.'

'Why is Ima crying?' Ziva pulled away from Tony and went over to Tali.

'I am sad, Tali' said Ziva.

'Is it because we told stories about when you were away?' asked Tali.

'Yes' said Ziva. She crouched down to Tali's height. 'I want to hear them, Tali, but they make me sad because I was not there with you.'

'Then we'll have to make new stories to tell' said the five-year-old. Tony and Ziva laughed at Tali's simplicity. It was the right solution though. Make new stories, with their whole family.

Abby and Senior watched Tony, Ziva and Tali have a group hug. Senior felt a little guilty about telling those stories, but what else was he supposed to talk about.

Tony, Ziva, and Tali came out of the kitchen, Ziva carrying dessert.

'Ooh, that looks delicious' said Abby.

'It's called Babka' said Tali. 'I helped Ima make it.'

'Did you?' asked Senior. Tali nodded and as Ziva served Baka for dessert, Tali launched into the story of how they made it.

As Tali said, they just had to make new stories to tell.

Hope you liked it.

The next chapter will have Tony and Ziva talking.

Thank you for reading. See you soon.